Thursday, october 13, 2016 binder1

FAAN: FG sacks, demotes directors, GMs lPanic as NAMA, NCAA top shots face same fate Wole Shadare

T

he Federal Government yesterday began the restructuring exercise in the Federal

Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) with the demotion of some directors and 10 General Managers of the agency even as the Ministry of Transporta-

tion insisted that the new positions are the officials’ appropriate grade levels.

Many of the officials

were gripped with fear, as there are also indications that many have been slated for retirement and could

start receiving their letters immediately.

The Winnifred Oyo-Ita committee on restructuring of the aviation agency had recommended proper

CBN: Nigerian banks strong to weather headwinds }4

placement of personnel in all the aviation agencies.

A member of the committee who spoke under the condition of anonymity confirmed the exercise to New Telegraph, saying CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Thursday, October 13, 2016

How ex-director siphoned N24bn pension fund –EFCC }6

/newtelegraph /newtelegraph

Vol. 3 No. 967

NLC seeks probe of Nigerians in Panama leaks }3

Shiites, youths' clash claims four in Kaduna, Kano }43

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

Legislative aides protest unpaid salaries }5

N150

DSS set to arrest three Supreme Court justices Magu

Wabba

Operatives probe assets linked to judges FG : NJC has no monopoly over discipline of judges Wike: I didn’t bribe judges with N5bn Petitions against judges flood DSS }2

el-Rufai

Saraki

Amnesty beneficiary now NCAT instructor

8 killed, 15 injured in Maiduguri explosion }4

Scene of the bomb blast at Muna garage, Maiduguri, Borno State ...yesterday

Police recruitment: Commission suspends final selection }2

Ex-Niger Delta militant and amnesty beneficiary, now Instructor at Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Henshaw Bassey (left) and Coordinator of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh, after Bassey embarked on a flight from Zaria to Abuja…on Tuesday.

Calcium supplements could damage your heart }6

2

NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

DSS set to arrest three Supreme Court justices Our Correspondent

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here seems to be no let-up in the ongoing attempt to clean the Augean stable in the judiciary as the Department of State Services (DSS) is set to arrest three more justices of the Supreme Court.

Highly placed sources told New Telegraph that two of the apex court’s justices to be picked up are from the Southern part of the country.

“Except the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmoud Mohammed, intervened on behalf of the three justices to guarantee their appearances before the DSS for interrogation, they will be arrested any moment from now,” one of the sources told New Telegraph.

The source told our correspondent that the DSS has concrete evidences of the involvement of the jus-

tices in corruption practices. They were alleged to have jointly shared in bribe over a case.

“We have recorded voices and videos of their involvement in corruption.

Some of their fronts and relations we have quizzed have made useful statements indicting them. So, we have confessions from those we have quizzed on some assets and accounts owned by the judges.

“We didn’t just arrest some judges; it was the last leg of the investigative procedure. We have petitions against them and we have been investigating them for over seven months.

“As you are aware, we have arrested two justices of the Supreme Court. We are in the process of picking up three others from the apex court. There are other judges still under investigation.

“In the course of our investigation, we have traced

money and properties to the relations, children and fronts of the judges. Some of these people have been interrogated and they have made useful confessional statements, which were duly recorded, to be used as evidence against the judges upon arraignment.”

A total of seven justices of the highest court of the land are being investigated by the DSS in connection with alleged corrupt practices.

The planned arrest will bring to five the number of Supreme Court justices that would have been arrested, as Justices John Okoro and Sylvester Nguta were picked up on Saturday morning. They have since been released.

The Secret Service had, last weekend, embarked on sting operations across the country, leading to the arrests of former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike, Justice

Nnamdi Dimgba, and Justice Adeniyi Ademola, both of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Other judges arrested were: Justice Kabiru Auta of Kano State High Court, as well as Justice Muazu Pindiga of the Federal High Court, Gombe.

Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

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he National Judicial Council (NJC), after a two-day emergency meeting held at the headquarters of the council, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, refused to speak on the recent arrest of some judges by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged corruption.

The council headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, began its emer-

NJC has no monopoly over discipline of judges –FG Anule Emmanuel Abuja

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he Federal Government has declared that in the implementation of the anti-corruption war, sensitive toes have to be stepped on to ensure the success of the policy.

Also, the central government said that the right to discipline judges across the courts of the country did not strictly rest in the Nigerian Judiciary Council (NJC).

“Again, they have tried to muddle issues by trying to say that the NJC is the only authority that can attend to complain and discipline, the answer once again is no.

“There is a difference when a judge is accused of professional misconduct.

This is quite different from what is happening now. If you suspect anybody, including governors who have immunity, they are still subject to investiga-

let’s remove emotion from facts.”

He said: “I want to state clearly that this government believes very much in separation of powers.

This government has a lot of respect for the judiciary and for obvious reasons, not just because the constitution says so, but I think probably this is one cabinet that has the highest number of lawyers as ministers.”

Mohammed noted that the present executive council was made up of members of the Nigerian bar, mostly senior legal practitioners, including Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).

“And also look at Mr. President himself; four times he sought to be president, three times it was thwarted and all the three times he took his case to the judiciary. So, I can say clearly that this administration has a lot of respect for the judiciary,” he added.

The minister also dis-

choice properties and bank accounts allegedly owned by the justices undergoing investigation.

The source revealed that some of the properties and accounts were acquired using the names of their children, nephews and other CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Judges' arrest: NJC keeps mum

L-R: Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal; Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

tions,” Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated.

He, however, said government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari believes strongly in the separation of powers.

Mohammed was speaking on the heels of weekend raid and arrest of seven judges by the Department of State Services (DSSS).

Speaking to State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the president, the information minister explained that the criticism that trailed the arrest and subsequent release of the judges was misunderstood by members of the public.

The information minister noted that “in the process of fighting corruption, it’s not unusual that you step on some very sensitive toes, but the question to ask and I think these has been adequately answered by the Attorney General,

A competent source, who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph yesterday, said the DSS has established prima facie cases against the justices, to warrant their possible arraignment in court next week.

For instance, investigators are said to have traced

pelled insinuations that the Federal Government was beaming its anti-corruption searchlight on the judiciary to alter the possible emergence of a Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

FEC, at its meeting, approved a cost variation worth N700 million for the completion of on-going construction of six Federal Secretariat Complexes in six states of the federation.

The states where the projects are located are Anambra, Gombe, Osun, Zamfara, Bayelsa and Nasarawa.

Another undisclosed cost variation was approved for the construction of a 10-megawatt wind farm in Katsina State, which was abandoned after the engineer handling the project was kidnapped.

2.5%

The annual population growth rate of Solomon Islands in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

gency meeting on Tuesday.

A source close to the council told New Telegraph in confidence that members allegedly expressed divergent views over last weekend’s raid of the homes of some judges, including two justices of the Supreme Court.

The source further stated that the two-day meeting was the most stormy session in recent times.

NJC is a creation of section 153 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) with constitutional powers to hire and discipline erring judicial officers.

According to the source, some members of the Council apportioned blame to themselves over the development, even as some would not want to hear such position.

“What I can tell you for now is that all the members agreed that the commandostyle used by operatives of the DSS was not only barbaric, especially in the 21st century, but also condemnable.

“There was no dissen-

sion on that. But it was a heated argument when the issue of arrest was raised,” he added.

The DSS had, at the weekend arrested about seven judges over alleged corruption.

The council, thereafter, called an emergency meeting to discuss the development.

The source, in addition, told New Telegraph that the council had decided to make its position on the judges’ arrest public today.

According to him, “at the meeting that just ended, many members were of the opinion that the council’s position should be made public. After exhaustively considering the unfortunate incident involving some of our judges, council members strongly condemned it.

“The council finally agreed that the successor to the out-going CJN should be the most senior justice of the court, as that is the tradition and council is not ready to depart from the tradition for the sake of peace,” he stated.

Wike: I didn’t bribe Supreme Court justices Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

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ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has denied ever bribing the Supreme Court with N5 billion to secure the judgement that upheld his victory in the 2015 governorship election.

The governor, who stated this through Simeon Nwakaudu, his special adviser on electronic media, dismissed a report in the media that he bought his victory at the Supreme Court, stressing that he was voted by the people of the state.

He accused an online platform, which published the report of attempting to cast aspersions on the validation of the electoral victory of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, by the Supreme Court.

He said: “Ordinar-

$2,773.36m The capital importation of the Shares sector of Nigeria in Q1 2014.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

ily, we would have ignored the sponsored falsehood targeted at their perceived political enemies.

“But, we have to set the record straight because of unsuspecting Nigerians who may be misled by this deliberate falsehood.”

Wike described the report titled: “Justice Mary Odili Wept and Begged Supreme Court Judges To Accept N5 billion bribe on behalf of Governor Wike,” as “patently false, manifestly unpatriotic and a continuation of the ugly assault by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their sponsors on the nation’s judiciary.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Wike did not bribe any Supreme Court justice or justices to get his election validated.

The governor has always had confidence in the judiciary to uphold the tenets of the law.

“The Supreme Court upheld the election of Governor Wike in line with the same principles of law and facts that it upheld the elections of APC governors, especially Lagos, Kaduna, Zamfara, Oyo and Ogun.”

NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

3

Police recruitment: Commission suspends final selection Our Correspondent

T

here were strong indications yesterday that the Police Service Commission (PSC) may have suspended the final phase of selecting 10,000 successful candidates for recruitment into the Nigeria Police.

New Telegraph gathered from highly placed sources that the decision to suspend the last phase (final selection) was informed by pressure from some National Assembly members.

The bone of contention,

it was gathered, is the alleged demand that the Commission adopt the “local government by local government” arrangement.

This request was said to have been rejected by the Commission, which insisted on sticking to the “state-by-state” tradition, in accordance with the federal character principle.

Investigations further revealed that the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, had allegedly written to the PSC, wherein he was said to have reminded the Com-

DSS set to arrest three S'Court justices CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

fronts.

Determined to present watertight cases against the affected justices, this newspaper learnt that operatives are currently analysing the call logs of the senior judicial officers, with a view to establishing their conversations within a given period.

This development, the source added, will help the secret service to also trace those that may have facilitated inducements of any nature.

To underscore the seriousness attached to the ongoing probe of alleged corrupt enrichment of these justices, the DSS is said to be intensifying efforts at tracing assets believed to have been acquired through alleged proceeds of crime.

While this lasts, there are indications that the headquarters of the DSS was being inundated with petitions against alleged ethical breaches by judicial officers.

According to the source, since the DSS arrested some of the judges, there have been series of petitions against some judges.

These petitions, according to the source, bothers on alleged corruption.

The security agency is also said to have furnished the National Judicial Council (NJC) with the development, even as it expects the highest judicial body to make some far-reaching recommendations, at the end of its meetings, which held on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We are almost through with investigation. The ongoing investigation is not supposed to go beyond this week.

“We have written the NJC about what has happened and we expect the NJC to take some decisions about the affected judges this week. Once that is done, hopefully by next week or thereabouts, we should arraign them in court.

“For now, more facts in the form of petitions are trickling in about the judg-

es. It's like everyone who has had cause to go to court for one reason or the other, has been a victim.

“More facts are trickling in and we cannot ignore them. It is our statutory responsibility to investigate painstakingly every complaint. Some victims have even indicated their readiness to testify in court,” he said.

The source assured that the Service will do justice to all the petitions.

On the alleged illegal acquisition of assets, the source noted: “We are investigating all the properties linked to them.

“The kind of things we observe as regards the forms they submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) is another kettle of fish. We discover a judge filling three different forms with different information either in terms of assets declared or even personal information like age.

“Imagine one judge filling three different forms with different information just to deceive. Just as I said, we will do a thorough job.”

mission that it (PSC) has since ceded the power to recruit Constables to the Police.

It was learnt that the Commission had ceded that responsibility to the Force Headquarters, but with the understanding that it will be carried out in conjunction with the PSC. This was even as it was alleged that some officers working with the Commission in Jigawa State, where the commissioners and the Chairman, Sir Mike Okiro, had temporarily relocated to, were allegedly withdrawn.

Okiro and his commissioners were said to have moved to Jigawa State to stave-off pressure, thereby selecting the “best” for the Police.

One of the sources, who spoke in confidence with this newspaper, said the chairman and other commissioners have since left Jigawa.

“I’m not speaking to you officially, but I want to inform you that the Com-

mission has suspended the last phase, which is the final selection of the 10,000 successful candidate for training.

“The suspension - please note this - of this phase, is because the signals the Commission is getting is not clear at all. Some highly placed personalities are insisting that the local government-by-local government arrangement be adopted. The leadership of the Commission insisted on sticking to the state-bystate tradition, which, they believe, is what the constitution and the federal character principle favour,” he said.

Asked to name who these “highly placed personalities” are, the source said: “The chairman of one of the Committees in the House of Representatives (name withheld) had called to make the demand.

He insisted, and even went to the extent of saying it is not the job of the Commission to recruit.

“The chairman and his

commissioners were doing final selection where nobody will disturb them.”

According to him, “they chose Jigawa State because they wanted a quiet place to enable them select the best.”

Another source told New Telegraph that: “Usually, when the Commission is doing recruitment, they call the Police, like the senior officer or officers in charge of training, police doctors and tailors to take measurements.”

Asked what will happen now that the final selection, which was to be concluded this week, has been put on hold, he noted: “The Commission needs to know the position of the Presidency, which will guide our direction.

“As I speak with you, our Chairman and the Senate

Committee Chairman on Police Affairs are still trying to have an appointment with Mr. President, who is the final authority on this matter.”

The source alleged that: “Representatives of the Police (Force Headquarters) were there, including the Jigawa CP, but they were withdrawn last Friday.”

New Telegraph was still expecting a reply to a text message sent to the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Mr. Don Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), as at the time of filing this report.

Out of the 10,000 personnel to be recruited, 500 are Cadet Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs), 500 will be Cadet Inspectors, 1,500 will be specialist officers, while 7,500 will be Constables.

€33.8m $4,575.25m

The estimated transfer value of Marco Reus of Borrussia Dortmund in 2016.

Source: 101greatgoals.com

The capital importation of the Shares sector of Nigeria in Q2 2014.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

L-R: Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Isaac Okorafor; Deputy Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc., Cathy Echeozo; Director, Banking Supervision Department, CBN, Tokunbo Martins; Managing Director, Skye Bank Plc., Tokunbo Abiru; and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Yinka Sanni, after a meeting of the Bankers' Committee in Lagos…yesterday

NLC seeks probe of Nigerians in Panama leaks Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to probe Nigerians named in the Panama Papers leaks, which suggested that over $50 billion is taking away from African annually through tax evasion and illicit financial flow.

This was as the Congress also charged the Federal Government to put in place measure to ensure that all citizens pay correct tax in accordance with the country’s extant laws, pointing out that there must be tax justice in the country.

The Labour umbrella body, in a letter to the president, also asked government to cancel all tax treaties with tax havens and stop signing new trea-

ties developed nations, especially those aiding illicit financial flow.

Panama Papers is a leakage of sensitive documents detailing how political world leaders, celebrities, athletes, and FIFA officials, among others, laundered money using anonymous shell corporations across the world.

Prominent Nigerians named to have links with the offshore assets revealed in the Panama Papers include Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Senate President David Mark and former Delta State Governor James Ibori.

Others are business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, his cousin, Sayu Dantata and a former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd).

Speaking at a rally yesterday in Abuja, which was aimed at halting illicit

financial flow from the country, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the country can only develop when individuals and corporate bodies operating in the country pay correct tax.

Wabba stated that a situation where only the working class pay correct tax is no longer acceptable.

He said the campaign was to demand tax justice.

His words: “Sufficiently, the African Union report on illicit financial flow out of Africa have put a conservative figure of $50 billion annually being taken out of Africa through illicit financial flow. Most multinationals as well as powerful individuals don’t pay tax, but wire their taxes to tax heaven.

“You are aware that the Panama paper leaks has given us enough information. So, this is another leg

to the fight against corruption, which should not be only on issues of solid cash within our country.

“If you don’t pay tax, there are provisions for you to be sanctioned. But the starting point is to investigate the Panama paper leaks because we must be interested in how those issues are concluded.

“It will provide an opportunity in this time of recession to look at our potential. But Nigeria is a very rich country with a very large population of the poor with a few people controlling those resources.”

However, in a letter to President Buhari, the Congress said Nigeria must commit to genuine and effective implementation of the recommendations of the AU report on Illicit Financial Flows (IFF) from Africa.

It said further that government must “aggressively pursue the creation and sustainability of a progressive tax base as a sure and steady way of domestic resources mobilisation.

“We strongly urge the Nigerian government to continue to pursue asset recovery as loot by public and private officials and not accept regressive advice such as national assets sale. To this end, we ask the Nigerian government to investigate and prosecute Nigerians found wanting from the recent Panama papers leaks.

“We trust that the Nigerian government will take the lead in Africa’s efforts to curtail dependency on aid, provide better public services to our people and gain stronger control of our path to sustainable development,” NLC said in the letter to Buhari.

4

NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

CBN: Nigerian banks strong to weather headwinds Tony Chukwunyem

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igerian banks have strong capital buffers to weather the headwinds assailing the industry, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has affirmed.

CBN Director, Banking Supervision, Mrs Tokunbo Martins, stated this while briefing the press after the Bankers’ Committee meeting in Lagos, yesterday.

She said that although the banking industry was feeling the impact of the country’s economic challenges, it had the capacity to weather the crisis.

The apex bank’s top official said: “The banking sector is feeling the headwinds, but this is not strange given the global

economic challenges. We have Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) of 11 per cent, but the banks have the capacity to absorb the losses. They have strong buffers; they also have great capacity to generate the income to absorb the losses. Furthermore, can the NPLs turn into performing loans? Yes.” She dismissed as “false” a recent report by a foreign analytical firm, which alleged that Nigerian banks were facing a full-blown financial crisis.

According to her, though banks’ NPLs hit 11 per cent, they were not as high as the bad loans of countries in Europe and other advanced economies, which are in the range of 15 per cent to 18 per cent.

The CBN director disclosed that the Committee also decided that henceforth, people who violate the regulator’s directive limiting withdrawals on naira debit cards to $50,000 per annum risk being denied access to foreign exchange.

She said: “In a bid to manage forex demand, the CBN had directed that withdrawals on naira debit cards should not be more than $50,000 per annum across the industry. For a while, people have been breaching that directive.

The CBN has been taking many steps to stop that, but people continue to breach it. We have decided that it is time to stop it. If people continue to breach the directive, they will lose access

to forex.”

Although she did not explain how the banking watchdog intends to enforce the directive, she pointed out that all cards are linked to a particular Bank Verification Number (BVN) and that it is with the BVN that customers are allowed to withdraw $50,000 per annum on their naira debit cards.

Following CBN’s reduction of the usage limit of naira debit cards for transactions overseas to $50,000 from $150,000 per person, per annum in April last year, there were reports that customers were circumventing the directive by obtaining multiple naira debit cards linked to different bank accounts, thereby allowing them to have ac-

cess to foreign exchange above the limit stipulated by the regulator.

Meanwhile, the Bankers’ Committee has stated that it had decided on new measures to improve manufacturers’ access to forex.

Deputy Managing Director (DMD), Guaranty Trust Bank Plc., Mrs Cathy Echeozo, who disclosed this while briefing journalists, said that the committee had a meeting with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria

8 killed, 15 injured in Maiduguri explosion Ahmed Miringa MAIDUGURI

A

t least, eight people were killed and 15 others injured when an Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) suspected to be detonated by a female suicide bomber exploded in a Golf car yesterday.

The explosion took place while the car was attempting to enter a convoy of military vehicles accompanying some persons to Gamboru Ngala town at the Muna area of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, an eyewitness said.

Mallam Modu Garba, an eyewitness, said the suicide bomber was among the five passengers of a Golf taxi car with registration num-

Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, receiving a plaque from Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Udom, during the Southern Governors' Wives Forum (SGWF) quarterly meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State… yesterday CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

some of the top officers may have to go after the exercise is completed today.

Some of the general managers are said not to have the requisite qualifications to man some of the sensitive positions they held, as some of them, including deputy general managers, were said to have left universities 10 years ago and could not have qualified for the office they held.

Equally affected are virtually all the directors, but an influential female director and the managing director were spared.

An Acting Director of Finance was demoted to Grade Level 10 and redeployed to the department of Information Communication and Technology (ICT).

The affected officers were demoted from Grade Levels 17 and 16 to levels 10, 12 and 14, indicating the exercise could also be replicated in other agencies such as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in the coming days owing to the over-bloating of these agencies.

This is coming as

FAAN: FG sacks, demotes directors, GMs NAMA may get a new managing director before December this year, as the Acting Managing Director of the agency is expected to proceed on terminal leave by December 2016, paving the way for Acting Director, Safety Electronics and Engineering Services (DSEES), Farouk Ahmed, who had been pencilled down to mount the saddle.

Government is said to be worried with the engagement of close to 40 general managers, creation of many directorates that amounted to duplication of duties, thereby raising the overhead of FAAN to over N800 million monthly.

Consequently, government has perfected plans to reduce workers’ strength by way of restructuring to cope with the current economic reality.

It was gathered that some of the downgraded workers in FAAN had been handed their letters, asking them to report to their hitherto junior colleagues who had now as a result of the exercise become their superiors.

Also on the card is the plan by government to

prune the number of directorates in the aviation agencies in its restructuring exercise.

The reduction in the number of directorates would affect two major aviation agencies – FAAN and NCAA. The exercise could affect NAMA, but not as much as other agencies.

The two other agencies’ directorates (FAAN and NCAA) were expanded four years ago by former Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, to between six and 10.

The implication of the exercise expected to be carried out would lead to job losses. A director in one of the agencies, who confirmed the development to this newspaper, said workers are already bracing up to the reality of job losses.

He added that this is coming at a time government is talking about creating jobs.

The source stated that the creation of these directorates led to efficiency and huge revenue generation to the coffers of government, adding that reduction in the directorates would not guarantee effi-

ciency and productivity.

Aside the directors that could be out of job whenever government decides to carry out the exercise, many of the general managers could also lose their jobs. Under the directorates that were created, many departments also emerged, headed by general managers and deputy general managers. This could bring the total number of people to be axed to over 1,000, aside people who risk being sacked because of ‘redundancy and inefficiency.’

Four years ago, former Minister of Aviation, Oduah, expanded the directorates in FAAN from six to 10. The six were Directorates of Administration, Commercial, Finance, Engineering Operations and Security.

After the expansion, Directorate of Legal Service, which was a department under the Managing Director’s Office, emerged alongside Directorates of Cargo, Projects and Human Resources.

The new exercise would see Directorates of Human Resources and Administration come together as it was before;

(MAN) where discussions were held on how access to forex can be improved for manufacturers.

She noted that the manufacturing sector was critical to the economy because of its capacity to employ a large number of people.

The committee also reiterated that no bank was planning to sack workers.

It said speculations that banks had concluded plans to lay off workers en masse due to the tough economic climate were unfounded.

Directorate of Project go back to Engineering Directorate and Cargo Directorate revert to Directorate of Commercial.

At the beginning, the NCAA had Directorate of Airworthiness Standards (DAWS), Directorate of Airports and Aerodrome Standards (DAAS), Directorate of Operations and Training (DOT), Directorate of Finance and Administration (DFA), and Directorate of Air Transport Regulation (DATR).

Almost immediately Oduah assumed power, the DFA was split into three directorates and two departments.

The minister had explained that the expansion was done to bring ‘efficiency and creativity’ to the parastatals.

$37.4m

The total pay (including salary/ winnings & endorsements) of Zlatana Ibrahimovic (Soccer) for 2016.

Source: Forbes.com

49.8%

The percentage of the urban population of Slovenia in 2012.

Source: Un.org

ber, JERE 349 XA and body S/No RTEAN 7179.

It was said to have picked up the suspect along the roadside, where she detonated the IEDs, killing herself, three other female passengers and the driver.

Three other people were killed by the roadside.

He said the incident occurred about 8:30a.m. when the motorists were busy trying to enter the military convoy for an onward movement and escort to Gamboru-Ngala, which have been a routine exercise since the Army re-opened the road in July this year.

A taxi driver, Mallam Isah Audu, called on the general public, especially, commercial drivers not to pick passengers except at the motor parks and always be vigilant, as in recent times, many people have relaxed It would be recalled that suicide bombers have been trying to infiltrate Maiduguri to inflict mayhem on innocent residents, but have always failed, as they end up killing themselves without casualties from innocent residents or security operative.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Victor Isuku, said five people were killed and that the suicide bomber, who was believed to be female was picked along the road side, adding that the IED exploded when they were attempting to join the convoy to Gamboru-Ngala town A statement from the Police said: “Please be informed that at about 0830am today (Wednesday), there was an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion on board a Golf 1 motor vehicle with reg.

No JERE 349 XA, body S/ No RTEAN 7179 taxi colour.

“The car was carrying five people – four females and a male driver,” Isuku said.

He, however, said that the explosion did not affect the other vehicles on the queue as everybody rushed out after the explosion.

national | news

thursday, october 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Legislative aides protest unpaid salaries at National Assembly

Philip Nyam Abuja

L

egislative aides to senators and House of Representatives members yesterday staged a protest over owed salaries and unpaid allowances estimated at N1.5 billion.

The aides warned that they would target Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara in the next protest should their owed salaries not be paid.

One of the legislative aide, Uche Kingsley, who spoke to the media, said

many of his colleagues had endured different forms of hardship. He also said after over a year of working at the National Assembly, legislative aides had not been sent for training.

He said: "Today is the 12th day of the month and our salary has not been paid for the last month. Our entitlements such as transport allowance for five quarters of the year, this is since last year -has not been paid to us. It's the same for our 28Day allowance which has not been paid to most of us.

We are entitled to training at least one each quota but till date, we have never been sent for training.

£53.2m

"Nobody has come to address us; nobody has come to speak to us. When we ask, they give us excuses from the problem being from management or that person. All we want for our salaries to be paid on time, the same thing for our entitlements which we are being owed".

Another aide, Yusuf Sherrif Modu, accused the management of paying permanent staff and neglecting legislative aides.

"I don't know why this discrimination exists despite the important role we play to senators and members of the House of Representatives. Today's protest is to tell management that enough is enough. Next time, we

storm this place, we will not allow the Speaker and the Senate President enter the chambers until they address us", he said.

But president of the National Assembly Legislative Aides Forum (NASSLAF), Samule Melaye, in a telephone interview agreed that some of his members were still being owed salaries and allowances, complained that he only heard about the protest after it has been held.

"I am not against what they are protesting about.

But there is always the need to follow due process in anything we want to do and I believe that a stakeholder, I should have been informed about the protest".

Reps want convicted honours holders stripped Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he House of Representatives yesterday passed for second reading, an amendment to the Nigerian National Merit Award Act which requires that any awardee convicted for a criminal offence shall be stripped of the honour.

The bill, sponsored by Hon. Ayodele Oladimeji (PDP-Ekiti), was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

Leading the debate on the bill, Oladimeji explained that the amendment was aimed at strengthening the anti-corruption war being fought by the President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.

Buhari off to Germany for security talks Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari will today depart for Berlin, Germany, where he is expected to confer with Angela Merkel on issues of shared interests between Nigeria and Germany.

A statement yesterday by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, said the trip would further the cooperation between the two countries on security, and humanitarian situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and rehabilitation of the North-East, as well as trade and economic

relations between both countries.

According to Adesina, during the trip, Buhari, who will be accompanied

by Governors Kashim Shettima of Borno and Rochas Okorocha of Imo states respectively and representatives of the National Assembly, will meet with Federal President Joachim Gauck.

"In furtherance of the administration’s objective to attract more foreign investment and create economic opportunities in the country, President Buhari will participate in a Business Forum in Berlin with leading German companies already active in Nigeria and other prospective investors.

Estate agent jailed 3 years for N6.9m fraud John Chikezie

J

ustice Kudirat Jose of the Ikeja division of the Lagos High Court yesterday jailed an estate agent, Femi Alabi, three years for swindling 21 prospective tenants of N6.9 million.

Alabi, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), pleaded guilty to the commission of the offence.

EFCC lawyer, Mr M.S. Usman, said Alabi and an accomplice, Lateef Azeez, conspired to commit the offence between November 2011 and March 2012 at 62 Brickfield Road, Ebute Metta (West), Lagos containing various units of apartments and deprived Alhaja Ololade Hija,

Mr Akeem Olawole, Miss Dupe Ajayi, Mr Samuel Daniel, Mr Tochukwu Onyekwere, Mr Sunday Eze and Mr Vincent Aneke of their resources on the pretence of helping them to secure accommodation.

According to him, the convict’s offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

Justice Jose however convicted Alabi on 27-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences preferred against him as the judge said that the convict’s action had inflicted tremendous hardship and a grave turmoil on the victims, especially, by callously depriving income earners of their hard-earned money.

"There is need for the law to be amended. This will strengthen the anticorruption war of the government of the day.

"In view of the current development in our economic and political life, the law requires an amendment which will make the Act live up to the expectations of contemporary times.

"It is on this basis that this bill seeks to strengthen the Federal Government aims and objectives in fighting corruption in all fields of life.

"This would be through the introduction of section 8 (2) to the principal Act which provides "Any Awardee convicted of any criminal offence shall be stripped of the National Honour."

L-R: Wife of the Chairman, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Victoria Aboh; her husband, John Aboh; President of Malawi, Prof.

Arthur Peter Mutharika and his wife, Mrs. Arthur, during the 2016 International Forum on African Leadership in Regis Hotel, New York, U.S.A.

The amount of money spent by Tottenham in the summer 2015 transfer window.

Source: 101greatgoals.com

Anule Emmanuel

5

National economic development plan ready before 2016 –FG Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

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comprehensive national development plan for economy capturing all sectors will be released before the end of 2016, the Federal Government said yesterday.

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, disclosed the plan at the closing session of three-day National Economic Summit.

Speaking on behalf of President Muhammadu

Buhari, the minister said that the comprehensive document is a publication that would contain various sectoral plans adopted by the present administration.

He enjoined the private sector to show greater commitment to the Federal Government’s desire to make the country self-sufficient in essential goods and services in the shortest possible time.

The government also pledged to create the necessary environment to enable robust private sector involvement in growing

$500m December date for airports not feasible Wole Shadare

T

he $500 million airport terminals under construction by the Chinese construction firm, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) may not meet December 2016 deadline.

The project would not be completed in the middle of next year.

The House of Representatives, however, expressed disappointment with the slow

pace of work, stressing that the Lagos terminal was delaying the quick completion of the four terminals.

Nigeria and China had, four years ago, signed a $500 million loan pact for the construction of the four new international airport terminals in Abuja and three states.

The 20-year, 2.5 per cent interest loan for the project has a grace period of seven years before payment.

and sustaining the country’s economy.

“To spend two and half days deliberating on economic issues in Nigeria, spending two and half days supporting government, extending your support and promising to work together with government to solve issues that we face; this is something that we are very grateful”, Udoma said.

He said the President was looking forward to the report of the Summit as was indicated in his address at the opening.

“He is waiting anxiously for the recommendations because of the importance of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group.

He knows the importance of working closely with the private sector. In the course of the last two and half days, we have heard very useful suggestions.

Many of them actually re-enforced some of the things that we believe in, and already doing; and so, we feel that it is a re-enforcement of the fact that we are moving in the right direction.”

EFCC declares Ibru wanted over alleged diversion Emmanuel Onani Abuja

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has declared a businessman, Mr. Goodie Ibru, wanted over allegations bordering on conspiracy, capital market fraud, and money laundering.

A highly placed source, who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph yesterday, said

Ibru was alleged to have diverted billions of naira and assets belonging to Ikeja Hotels.

"The EFCC has declared Goodie Ibru wanted for an alleged case of conspiracy, capital market fraud, diversion of funds, and money laundering.

"He is wanted for allegedly diverting billions of Naira and assets belonging to Ikeja Hotels," the source, who pleaded anonymity, said.

6

NEWS | national

Buhari nominates environment minister to AU committee Anule Emmanuel Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has nominated the Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed, to serve in the African Union Reform Steering Committee.

A statement yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity,

Garba Shehu, said the committee, headed by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda is tasked with ongoing institutional reforms of the AU Commission and its organs.

The committee, which comprises eminent persons from the continent, would work on part-time basis to produce a report for presentation to the 28th African Union Summit in January 2017.

thursday, october 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Witness: How ex-director stole N24bn police pension fund Tunde Oyesina Abuja

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Prosecution Witness in the on-going trial of seven accused persons over their complicity in the N24 billion Police Pension Fund yesterday told an Abuja High

Calcium supplements could damage your heart Appolonia Adeyemi

T

aking calcium in the form of supplements may raise the risk of plaque buildup in arteries and heart damage.

According to findings of a study published in the ‘Journal of the American Heart Association’, a diet high in calcium-rich foods, however, appears to be protective.

Cholesterol plaques can be the cause of heart disease. Plaques begin in artery walls and grow over years. The growth of cholesterol plaques slowly blocks blood flow in the arteries. Worse, a cholesterol plaque can suddenly rupture. The sudden blood clot that forms over the rupture then causes a heart attack or stroke.

After analysing 10 years of medical tests on more than 2,700 people in a federally funded heart disease study, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine and elsewhere concluded that taking calcium in the form of supplements may raise the risk of plaque buildup in arteries and heart damage.

In a report on the research, published October 10, the researchers cautioned that their work

only documented an association between calcium supplements and atherosclerosis, and does not prove cause and effect.

The ScienceDaily reported that the results add to growing scientific concerns about the potential harms of supplements,

and they urge a consultation with a knowledgeable physician before using calcium supplements.

An estimated 43 per cent of American adult men and women take a supplement that includes calcium, according the National Institutes of Health.

Court how a former Director, Police Pension Board, Esai Dangabar, used fake names to siphon the said money.

Testifying yesterday, fourth prosecution witness, PW4, Mustapha Gadanya, gave a graph detail on how the accused persons used fictitious names to open different accounts to siphon police pension funds.

The anti-graft agency is prosecuting, Esai Dangabar, Atiku Kigo, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira, Uzoma Cyril Attang and Christian Madubuke.

Led in evidence by counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Gadanya

Chukwu David Abuja

T Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki with Rapporteur of the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER), Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli, at the 22nd Edition of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) in Abuja …on Monday.

We’ll investigate Tinubu, Patience Jonathan, others, says EFCC

Tunde Oyesina

Juliana Francis

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former Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, yesterday approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja division to challenge his conviction by the Code of Conduct Tribunal for failing to declare his Plot 2057 Asokoro District property to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

The Federal Government had dragged Orubebe before the Tribunal over non-declaration of assets.

In his judgement, the tribunal on October 4, convicted Orubebe and ordered seizure of the said property.

Not satisfied, Orubebe through his counsel, S. Lar-

the account of Marine Logistics and Leisure Integrated Services Limited at Skye Bank Plc to make fixed deposits of over N800million, adding that, the certificate to that effect was found in his office during a search.

According to him, “We further requested for the instruments used to make the cash deposits where we discovered that they all had the same handwriting bearing different fictitious names with no further details of the depositors.

“We invited the account officer who was accompanied by the branch manager, Ngozi Ehibe. In her statement, Ehibe revealed that the account was operated by the first defendant and that she (Ehibe) filled the bank instruments for deposit with the instruction of the first defendant”.

The witness also testified that another fictitious name, Patrick Idokapolo, was used as the signatory to the account, but when the compliance department of the bank insisted on seeing the account signatory, the first defendant substituted it with his name.

Senate seeks to make election debates mandatory

Assets seizure: Orubebe appeals CCT judgement Abuja

narrated how the first defendant (Dangabar) used fake names to operate various accounts running to millions of naira at different banks, including an account he opened with a picture of his son, Maila Esai Dangabar.

According to the PW4, whose testimony started on February 11, 2016, “Investigation and review of the account opening package of the accused account at Zenith Bank revealed that the account was in the name of one ‘Taure Shaudi’ but the picture on the mandate card was that of his son, Maila Dangabar.”

Upon that discovery, the PW4 stated that Maila was invited to volunteer his statement wherein he denied the account.

“The driver’s licence used for the opening of the account, had Maila’s picture but bore Taure Shaudi’s name. The account had a turnover of about N103million. When the account officer was invited by the Commission, she revealed that the account belonged to the first defendant, Esai Dangabar”, he stated.

Gadanya further narrated how Dangabar used

ry, SAN had approached the appellate court.

In a notice of appeal, Orubebe sought an order setting aside the October judgement of the CCT. He raised three grounds of appeal, arguing among others, that the tribunal misdirected itself in reaching its decision that was not supported by evidence led by the prosecution.

Orubebe submitted that the tribunal erred in law when it held that the prosecution proved its case and ordered the forfeiture of the property in issue, Plot 2057 Asokoro District, to the Federal Government.

295.1m

The estimated total population of Eastern Europe in 1980.

Source: Un.org

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday said it would probe the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; wife of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience; exRivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and others over corruption allegations.

The Deputy Director of Operations, EFCC, Mr. Iliyasu Kwarbai, said this on the telephone, minutes after he received a petition from Human Rights Defenders and Advocacy Centre group, which staged

a protest to the EFCC’s Lagos office.

The petition urged the EFCC to probe Patience Jonathan, source of APC campaign funds used in the last elections, Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi and some former presidents of Nigeria.

Kwarbai said: “We’re investigating Patience Jonathan and if she’s found wanting, she wouldn’t go free. If anyone is indicted, no matter how highly or lowly placed the person is, the person would be arrested. The person’s status is immaterial to the EFCC. The most important thing is evidence.

If there’s evidence that the person stole public funds, the person wouldn’t go free.”

he Senate, yesterday, said that it had become imperative to make election debates among elective office seekers compulsory in Nigeria. That is to ensure that only the best candidates emerged at elections.

Consequently, the Red Chamber passed for second reading, a Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Political Debates Commission, with responsibility of conducting debates for candidates of political parties seeking elective positions in the country.

The Bill, which was sponsored by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (Oyo North), seeks to give legislative backing for the establishment of a commission with responsibility to organize and conduct debates for all the candidates of political parties cleared by the Independent Electoral Commission( INEC) to participate in elections into the offices of the president, vice president, governors and deputy governors of the 36 states of the Federation.

In his lead debate, Buhari said that the bill would strengthen the nation's democracy and bring it in conformity with practices in other renowned democracies of the world.

He stated that when passed into law, the debate would be used to sample the candidates' knowledge on a wide range of issues such as a detailed analysis of how they intend to drive the economy, foreign, health and education policies among others.

Buhari said that the potential impact of the debate would be its capacity for agenda setting, pointing out that voters would learn from debates and be able to describe the platform of the candidates with regards to their pedigree as potential leaders.

He said:" Anybody who desires to be governor or president should be confident enough to lay a detailed analysis of his or her plans before the electorate. This will offer the electorate the avenue to evaluate candidates and they will vote along ideological lines rather than on ethnic or religious allegiance as is prevailing in our country today.”

thursday, october 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tunde Oyesina Abuja

T

he Federal Government, yesterday, told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that it has four additional witnesses to prove the allegation

Fenda

FG to present more witnesses Ibrahim wins NLNG’s Nigeria Prize for Literature to testify against Badeh

of money laundering slammed against the former Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and his com-

pany, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited.

The Federal Government, through the Economic and Financial

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME

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HAGGAI

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OKECHUKWU

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ABBA

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All documents bearing my former name remain valid. Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Federal Civil Service Commission, NBA, Usman Dan Fodio Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Banks and general public should note.

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FCMB Plc and the general public should please take note.

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Adeyale

national | news

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The general public should please take note.

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ANIOKE

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Victor

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The general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

DIVINE NEWLIGHT REVELATION MINISTRY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration Under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts,1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Adeniran Ezekiel Olushola – General Overseer 2. Adeleke Adegboyega – Trustee 3. Adebiyi Olayinka Adedeji – Trustee AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WORLDWIDE. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: Secretary

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Godknows

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Inaku

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Alex

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IITA, BANKS and general public note.

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Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Badeh over alleged diversion of N3.9 billion belonging to Nigeria Air force.

The anti-graft agency has called six witnesses so far and all of them had given evidence in the 10-count charge preferred against Badeh and Iyalikam Nigeria Limited.

The sixth witness, who is currently a director in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Air Commodore Mohammed Lawal Sini, was asked what the N120 million the first prosecution witness, Air Commodore S. A. Yushau mentioned in his testimony was used for.

He, however, responded that the money was allocated for the running of the official duties of the Air House (official residence of the Chief of Air Staff), which include movements of the Chief of Air Staff, maintenance of the Air House and any task related to the Air House that Yushau gives from time to time.

The witness added that the disbursement of the funds on monthly basis was done according to the instruction of the director.

Nkire hails release of arrested judges Mojeed Alabi

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member of the Board of Trustees of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Sam Nkire, has hailed the release of the seven judges recently arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS over allegation of corrupt practices.

He said the development was a demonstration of the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to the rule of law, adding that it would go a long way to clear the doubts of those he described as doubting Thomases “that what was on trial was actually corruption and not the judiciary.”

He, however, said the senior judges deserved to be treated with decency like all other Nigerians, adding that detaining them anytime longer would have been questionable and high handed.

According to him, the All Progressives Congress considered judges and the judiciary to be very important partners in the war against corruption and therefore would at all times uphold the esteemed images and dignity of the judicial arm of government.

Appolonia Adeyemi and Tony Okuyeme

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bubakar Adam Ibrahim has emerged as the winner of the 2016 edition of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas’ Nigeria Prize for Literature. The Prize is awarded with cash prize of $100, 000.

However, the Advisory Board for the Science Prize, led by Prof. Akpoveta Susu, announced its decision to carry over the competition with the theme “Innovation on Malaria Control” to 2017 at a press conference in Lagos yesterday. It said that 15 entries for the award of the price did not meet the quality required.

But the Chairman of the

7

Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Literature, Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, announced Ibrahim as the winner of the 2016 Price for Literature.

Susu said: “After a thorough evaluation of the fifteen (15) entries received, it was decided that the theme be repeated and the call for entries extended for another year.”

The Science Prize is administered by the Board consisting of Professor Susu, Professor Michael Adikwu, another past winner of the science prize; Professor Elijah Mshelia, a nuclear physicist; Professor Barth Nnaji; renowned scientist and former Minister of Power; and Chief Dr. Nike Akande, President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Herdsmen: Reps ask FG to introduce electronic identification Philip Nyam Abuja

A

s part of measures to eradicate all problems associated with herdsmen, the House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to incorporate electronic animal identification system to end cattle rustling in the country.

This followed the adoption of a motion brought yesterday by Hon. Ali Isa (PDP, Gombe) on the need for electronic animal identification system to minimize rustling.

Isa, in his lead debate, noted that in recent times, crimes related to cattle rustling have increased across many states that gunmen with automatic weapons now storm settlements with a “misplaced sense of military frenzy, killing people, destroying property and livelihood and taking away cattle” He said that prompted

by these incessant cattle rustling cases, a taskforce named the “Task force on cattle rustling and associated crimes” was constituted and charged with the responsibilities of preemptive intelligence gathering, anti-cattle rustling and allied crimes patrols, as well as investigation and possible prosecution of the reported incidents of cattle rustling.

The lawmaker argued that it was imperative for the government to device modern means to fight the menace saying the electronic animal identification system was one of them.

According to him, the ‘electronic animal identification system is becoming more common in livestock rearing in the western world, and as a result of this identification and verification process, more cattle are being individually identified, which has led to reduction of cattle rustling”

Clerk pledges enhanced capacity for NASS staff

Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omoroli, has reiterated the resolve of his administration to enhance the capacity of the workforce of the Assembly for better productivity.

Omoroli gave the assurance when he declared open a 5-day training workshop on Network Support Services organised by Microflex Nigeria Ltd for staff of the Assembly's Information

and Communications Technology (ICT) Department.

The CNA tasked all the benefiting staff to fully utilise the training and make the different show in their daily output.

He expressed his desire to make the department effective and above board especially in this era of computer.

In his remarks at the event, Director of Information and Communications Technolgy (ICT), Mohammed Umar applauded the CNA for the laudable gesture in putting together the training.

8

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Four shot, two electrocuted, student, girlfriend murdered

Clement James, Uchenna Inya and Cephas Iorhemen

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t least, eight persons were killed in different parts of the country in the last couple of hours.

Four persons were shot dead; an undergraduate and his girlfriend were hacked while two others were electrocuted.

A police inspector yesterday allegedly shot dead a commercial motorcyclist, identified as Gabriel Saa, over a N50 bribe. The incident occurred on Aliade-Awajir Road in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State.

Another police inspector, Mr. Edet Archibong, was shot dead while a sergeant, Owo Obongha, is currently receiving treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) after a gun battle with suspected cult members on Tuesday night.

Two suspects were shot dead on Wednesday at Bogobri by Queen Duke Junction, Calabar, when about 50 cult members engaged the police in a gun battle.

An English pistol and two locallymade pistols were recovered from them.

Yesterday, an 18-year-old Senior Secondary School Student of Jesus College in Otukpo, Master Godwin Ejeh, was electrocuted.

Also yesterday, a 30-year-old carpenter, Nome Ogodoali, was electrocuted at Azugwu in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Witnesses described the commercial motorcyclist’s killing as accidental. The police inspector, whose name was not disclosed, was said to be negotiating with

Juliana Francis

I

nspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Idris Ibrahim, has read the riot act to kidnappers, who have been terrorising citizens, vowing to fight them and check the scourge.

Ibrahim said this while reacting to the arrest of four suspected kidnappers who abducted three landlords and their aerobics instructor at the Isheri area of Lagos State a few weeks ago.

Speaking on behalf of the IG, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPPRO), Mr. Don Awunah, said that four members of the kidnap gang that abducted the landlords were arrested in different parts of the country, where they ran to, after sharing the ransom they collected from their victims.

The suspects are Natei Okun-

Suspected cult members

a commercial motorcyclist over N50 bribe when Saa arrived the place and stirred up an argument.

According to some witnesses, there was an accidental discharge which killed Saa. The killing infuriated youths and other motorcyclists who torched the Awajir police station.

The angry mob thereafter took to the main road connecting the area with neighbouring Vandeikya Local Government Area.

The protesters, who were singing solidarity songs, barricaded the road for many hours.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident, however, denied that the victim was killed as a result of an argument over N50 bribe.

According to him, the incident

occurred when a toll collector wanted to snatch the inspector’s rifle.

At a press briefing in Calabar yesterday, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, DCP Tunde Gbolarumi, said Archibong was shot during a protest.

Gbolarumi, who stood in for the Police Commissioner, Mr. Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, also disclosed that two patrol vehicles were set ablaze by the suspects.

He said: “Men of X-Squad unit/Operation Skolombo, while on a joint patrol on Ikwa Street off Iyamba Street, Calabar, were attacked by some hoodlums suspected to be cultists, shot Inspector Edet Archibong who later died while Sergeant Owo Obong-

IG reads riot act to kidnappers

The suspects

na, gang leader, James Kegbe aka JJ, ThankGod Segede and Trust Bourdilon.

Awunah said that the invigorated Intelligence Response Team (IRT) under the auspices of the office of the IG launched a massive

onslaught on the kidnappers after the abduction of the landlords, leading to their arrest.

He said: “This feat was achieved as a result of due diligence and intelligence-led policing exhibited by members of the force and the zeal

ha is still receiving treatment at UCTH. Two patrol vehicles were set ablaze by the hoodlums.”

The DCP said eight suspects had been arrested in connection with the killing while investigation was on-going.

He said the suspects would soon be arraigned.

Gbolarumi also said that operatives from the Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS) raided Oceanic Ripples Hotel at Asari Eso also in Calabar and arrested 12 members of a 419 syndicate, popularly called “One Chance,” who used the hotel as their hideout.

Also, residents of Otukpo town in Benue State were shocked when Ejeh was electrocuted.

The sad story of the student shown by public-spirited citizens to rid our society of crime.

“It will be recalled that some residents of an estate in Isheri area of Lagos State were kidnapped on September 27 and were subsequently released by their abductors.

“The suspects were arrested at different locations where they had gone to spend their share of the ransom. They, in the course of investigation, volunteered confessional statements admitting their involvement in the kidnap incident.

“The IG wishes to restate the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to fight crime, especially the prevalent scourge of kidnapping to a bearable and tolerable state. He urges Nigerians to always be lawabiding and to see themselves as stakeholders in this noble cause.”

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

came just as a rival cult group also butchered a 200 level student of the Benue State University identified as Aseer Uwua aka Fabulous, and his girlfriend, Lizzy, in Nyorgyungu, on the outskirts of Makurdi.

It was learnt that Ejeh was electrocuted in the school’s hostel while trying to charge his mobile phone on a naked wire inside the electricity distribution box.

Ejeh’s mates poured water on him, while others gave him milk with the hope of resuscitate him.

Sensing that their efforts could not work, they rushed Ejeh to the Otukpo General Hospital where doctors confirmed him dead.

The Principal of the school, Mr. Samuel Ella, confirmed the incident. He said the deceased climbed a double bunk bed in the hostel to charge his phone directly from a naked wire from the power distribution box when he was electrocuted.

He said: “I received a call from one of my staff while I was in the bank that one of my students has been shocked by electricity and that I should rush down to the clinic immediately, and on reaching the clinic, I met his dead body.

“On getting back to my school, after some findings, I discovered that incident happened while he was trying to charge his phone, according to another student by the name Lucky, who witnessed the incident. I sincerely sympathise with the family of deceased and I pray his soul rest in perfect peace.”

It was learnt that the cult incident occurred when the group stormed Lizzy’s house and ordered the couple out of their room.

Sources told our correspondent that the ‘boys’ asked Lizzy to leave, but refused and even threatened to expose them should anything happen to her boyfriend.

Annoyed, the cultists pulled their machetes, killed Fabulous and Lizzy. They left the victims in a pool of blood.

Yamu confirmed the incident.

He said five suspects had been arrested in connection with the killing.

In the Ebonyi State incident, Ogodoali was electrocuted by a high-tension cable while taking the measurement of the roof of a building under construction at Azugwu.

He was reportedly contracted

by Nwachukwu Collins, the owner of the building said to be very close to high-tension cable.

Ogodoali’s tape touched the hightension cable while measuring the building.

The victim hailed from Ogboji community in Ezza North Local Government Area. His elder brother, Chikodili Nome, who identified the body of the deceased, said the family was not suspecting any foul play. He demanded the release of the body for burial.

METRO

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

9

Abduction: I had divine assurance on my child –Parent lFreed students, treated, united with families, says Lagos

Students returning to hostel...yesterday Some journalists at the gate of the school

Muritala Ayinla and Taiwo Jimoh

P

arents of the abducted students of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, were ecstatic and effusive in their praises to God yesterday over the safe return of their children.

The six victims – the vice principal, a teacher and four students – were freed by their abductors late on Tuesday night.

It was learnt that the victims were brought back through the bush path, near the school gate, where they abducted them on Thursday.

The victims were said to have been kept in the creek,

about five hours’ journey on speedboat.

It was also learnt that only two relatives of the victims were allowed to wait for them at an undisclosed point.

They were said to have waited for four hours, only to receive a call from the kidnappers directing them to proceed to the school’s direction, where they later met their relatives.

One of the parents, who did not want his name in print, said his son told him they were not assaulted by the kidnappers.

He said: “My son said they treated them nicely and they did not beat them.

Their fear was that they

might rape the only female among them, but to their surprise they did not touch her.

“When she fell sick, they treated her with some drugs and it was because of her that the kidnappers released them early.”

Another parent, Mr. Oluwafemi Adebisi, said his son also told him they were not molested.

He said: “I was told by my son when I saw him in the school that they were not molested by the kidnappers. But their fear was that of their colleague’s health challenges.

“I received the news of the kidnap of the victims, including my son, with rude shock and since then my family has been disorganised. My wife and I had relocated to Epe since our

son was kidnapped.

“I thank God when the school management called me by midnight that the victims had been released.

When I arrived the school, I saw my son alive. I was not afraid something sinister might happen to Isaac or other victims. I have been praying alongside many other sympathisers and I have the assurance that they would come out alive.

God has really done it.”

When asked how much he paid, Adebisi said “let us not talk of ransom, I did not pay any. I don’t know whether anyone paid. I did not pay.

My joy is that my son and others are hale and hearty.”

Adebisi also thanked the state government and the police for their quick response while the victims were in captivity.

Efforts to speak with the victims proved abortive as their relatives and the school management resisted, claiming they were still traumatised by the ugly incident.

When our correspondent visited the female Ward 5 at Epe General Hospital, where the victims were taken for medical check-up, a nurse said they had left the hospital after their medical examination.

She said: “The victims were brought here by the school authorities with the police for medical checkup. They were examined and counselled by the chief medical director. They were all brought to the female ward because it was a special case.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badamos, said the command had been on the trail of the kidnappers ever since the incident occurred.

She said: “We have cordoned off all escape routes.

Immigration repatriates 35 illegal aliens Juliana Francis

Robbers, kidnappers held with seven rifles N Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

P

olice in Ogun State have arrested three suspected armed robbers and kidnappers. They also recovered seven assorted rifles from the suspects.

The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Federal Special AntiRobbery Squad (FSARS) at their alleged hideout at Ipoji area of Sagamu.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the arrest in a statement, said the suspects had been terrorising Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu areas for some time now.

He gave the names of the suspects as Abibu Onasanya, Kamorudeen Abdulahi and Olalekan Ogunbowale.

The police spokesman added that they were apprehended following a tipoff about their hideout.

According to him, the suspected bandits are still undergoing interrogation.

He said: “Recovered from them are two pump action rifles, one double-

barrelled gun, one English gun and three locally-made single-barrelled guns.”

Oyeyemi added that the Police Commissioner, Ahmed Iliyasu, had directed that the suspects be thoroughly investigated with a view to arresting other members of the

gang.

He said: “The commissioner also appealed to members of the public to always give police necessary and useful information in order to rid the state of crime and criminality because security is everybody’s business.”

Some of the kidnappers

There will be no escape for them. We must get them arrested. The abductors released their victims about 12a.m. We have re-united them with their families and their school. They are hale and hearty.”

Lagos State government also confirmed the release of the victims.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, who disclosed this in a statement, said the government would soon begin demolition of buildings close to waterfront suspected to be used by kidnappers.

Ayorinde said government would spare nothing until it rid the state of criminals.

According to him, the illegal structures on the waterfront provide a leeway for criminals to plan and execute their nefarious activities.

The commissioner added that the rescued children had undergone medical check-up after which they were reunited with their families.

igeria Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos State Command, yesterday repatriated 35 immigrants.

The illegal immigrants included 19 Nigeriens, nine Beninese, three Togolese and four Ghanaians.

It was learnt that the illegal immigrants were among those arrested following a raid at the Lekki area of the Lagos metropolis.

The state NIS Comptroller, Mrs. Clara Okojie, said that the command would continue to carry out raids. She said there was no hiding place for illegal immigrants in Nigeria, especially in Lagos.

Okojie appealed to Nigerians, to ensure immigrants they offer employment to, have proper documents per-

mitting them to work in the country.

She said: “While the ECOWAS protocol allows citizens of member states to move freely among ECOWAS territory, citizens desirous of staying in Nigeria for 90 days, as provided by the protocol, should get registered in Nigeria Immigration Service divisional offices in local government areas of residence.”

According to Okojie, failure to get registered will ultimately lead to arrest and subsequent repatriation.

The state NIS Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Jide Ogungbe, a Deputy Superintendent of Immigration, said: “After a thorough screening, immigrants with proper registration documents were released. A total of 35 immigrants were found to be without any form of documents.”

City Brief Mojeed Alabi

M

anagement of Caleb University, Imota, Ikorodu, Lagos, has assured parents and other stakeholders of improved security within and around the institution.

The assurance came on the heels of increasing spate of violent abduction within the Ikorodu and Epe areas of Lagos

Convocation: Caleb varsity assures of safety The management added that the institution’s adoption of improved technology and strong partnership with security operatives were parts of the measures to curb any unfortunate development.

Speaking at a press briefing to herald the university’s

sixth convocation ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aina Ayandiji, decried insecurity in the country and urged the government to confront the challenge in more diplomatic ways.

Ayandiji said the university, as a strong entrepreneuriallyfocused institution, would con-

tinue to partner both local and international organisations to ensure national growth and development.

Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, is scheduled to deliver this year’s convocation lecture while oth-

er dignitaries including the university’s Chancellor, ProChancellor and its founder, Sir. Mobolaji Johnson, Prof. Peter Okebukola and Dr. Ola Adebogun respectively, would be in attendance.

Ayandiji explained that 355 students would be graduating out of which 15 would bag First Class from the university’s four colleges.

10

NEWS | national

Senate moves to repeal FEMA Act, sets up FRA Chukwu David Abuja

T

he Senate, yesterday, in line with its determination to improve on the conditions of roads across the country, passed for second reading, a Bill for an Act to repeal the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FEMA) Act, 2002 (as amended) and to establish Federal Roads Authority (FRA) as a replacement.

The Bill, passed for second reading following a clause by clause consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on

Works, presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South).

While leading the debate on the general principles of the Bill, Gaya, explained that the legislation was designed to promote a safe, efficient and cost effective management of roads network in Nigeria.

He noted that the Federal Roads Authority, which would be a semi-autonomous road agency, would be responsible for the professional management of federal roads in the country, involving planning, design, construction, rehabilitation and maintenance.

The lawmaker pointed out that if passed into law, the proposed road authority would end the current duplication of functions between FERMA and the Highways Department of the Ministry of Works.

Persuading his colleagues to pass the Bill for second reading, he noted that over the years, the country had established Maritime Authority, Inland Waterways Authority and Airports Authority lamenting that the road, which according to him, is the most essential link for all other transport modes, had no Authority to take care of it.

CACOL condemns withdrawal of forgery case against Saraki Temitope Ogunbanke

T

he Executive Chairman of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Mr. Debo Adeniran, has described the withdrawal of the forgery charges against Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu by the Federal Government an embarrassment to the anticorruption drive.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos yesterday, Adeniran said that the withdraw-

al of the forgery charges against Saraki and others member of the National Assembly represented an embarrassment to the anti-corruption drive and its crusaders, who have cheered the government on the crackdown on corrupt public officials and other persons found culpable in sharp practices.

Adeniran posited that there were political undertones to the forgery charges; noting that if there were no political undertones against Saraki and his

deputy, then they should have been willing to prove their innocence judicially and can in turn sue the government for defamation of character and other damages if found not-guilty.

“It leaves a lot of doubts in the minds of the majority in terms of what could happen to the pending corruption cases against Bukola Saraki with the withdrawal of the criminal charges bordering on forgery levelled against him by the Federal Government."

Reps: Nigeria now world’s capital of kidnapping Philip Nyam Abuja

W

orried by the prevailing rate of kidnaping in the country, the House of Representatives yesterday urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on kidnapping.

The House consequently asked the executive arm to urgently convene a security summit over the increasing cases of kidnapping across Nigeria.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Babatunde Kolawole (APC, Ondo) under matters of urgent public importance.

Adopting the motion, the House said the security summit should include

stakeholders, such as all security agencies in the country, all the telecommunication service providers, the House's committees on national intelligence, army, air force, navy, police and communication, with a view to fashioning out an effective response against kidnapping.

It further directed that adequate budgetary provisions be made in the 2017 budget being expected, for the procurement of high tech equipment that can facilitate the tracking of kidnappers.

Similarly, the House also mandated its committee on legislative compliance to ensure that the resolutions were complied with, while a periodical update report was expected from the committee on the

level of compliance.

While leading debate on the motion, Kolawole lamented that a Londonbased intelligence gathering firm, NYA International, had in the past ranked Nigeria as the country with the highest kidnapping attempts in the world, "accounting for 26 per cent of all recorded incidents, followed by Mexico with 10 per cent".

The lawmaker, who went down memory lane to list out some high profile kidnap cases in the country, to the latest involving students and teachers of a Lagos school, said "Nigeria is now ranked kidnap capital of the world having risen from 475 reported cases in 2011, 500 in 2012 and presently over 1,500 cases annually".

Fasehun condemns invasion of judges' residences Wale Elegbede

N

ational Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Dr. Frederick Fasehun, has said that last weekend's raid and arrest of some judges was illegal, stating that the invasion represented an unjust

clampdown on the Judiciary.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Lagos, Fasehun said the invasion of the homes of the Judges was a gross and blatant violation of Rule of Law, the Nigerian Constitution and commonsense.

"I condemn this Gestapo-style invasion of the

private homes of Nigerian Judges. The invasion is invidious, infantile, illegal and unconstitutional; it smirks of a scripted and premeditated operation aimed specifically at intimidating the Judiciary and giving judicial officers a bad name in order to devalue their reputation.

thursday, october 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Purge accelerates Islamist radicalisation in Turkey Ebubekir ISIK

T

urkey is being split by the continuing conflict between the globally active Gülen movement and the increasingly Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) that Turkey is being split by the continuing conflict between the globally active Gülen movement and the increasingly Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) that has been in power for over a decade. Both foreign and local audiences have been surprised by the intensity of the dispute, which is now peaking in the aftermath of the recent coup attempt.

Beyond any doubt, the attempted coup against the elected government in mid-July has changed the entire social and political context in the country, not only for the Gülen movement but also for the Turkish government. Many pundits claim that the failed coup, which Erdogan described as a “gift from God”, is allowing him to consolidate his power over the military, which used to be the ‘guardian of the secular regime’, and to crush any criticism of his rule through the ongoing State of Emergency. The ongoing purge leaves no room for doubt that the Turkish government is ready to go to any lengths to eliminate the Gülen movement.

But eradicating the Gülen movement from society will have its own cost and is part of a process producing other very negative social and political repercussions in Turkey.

The impact of the post-coup era can be seen already in many aspects of Turkey’s social and political patterns. Turkey is known to have become a haven for thousands of foreign fighters over the last three years, but the current rise in homegrown Islamist radicalization is another sign that Turkey’s social fabric is undergoing a noxious change. The major effect of this change has been damage to the traditional mainstream understanding of Islam in Turkey, which had always stood aloof from any form of extremism. Now, this moderate notion of Islam is evolving into a new form of political identity capable of turning to violence against any other segment of society that does not fit into the established concept of Turkish nationalism and Islamism.

The political elites, both Islamist and secularist, are increasingly spreading anti-Western animosity inspired either by a die-hard Turkish nationalism or a radical interpretation of Islam or a blend of both. Many political observers were lost for words when, during a rally this year, President Erdogan publicly proclaimed: “Don’t even think that the struggle that began 1,400 years ago between the truth [Islam] and fallacy [other beliefs] is over. Don’t even think that those who set an eye on these lands 1,000 years ago have given up their ambitions. This long-standing struggle is going on and will go on.’’

Worryingly, many officials are following this path, including Turkey’s minister of economy Nihat Zeybekçi, who defined Gülen movement sympathizers as traitors and threatened, ‘’These traitors are going to be punished as the public wants. Not only the death sentence, we are going to punish them so that they will beg us to kill them.’’

Conventional wisdom tells us that action always follows such hate speech.

Just as with the Gülen movement, through the compliant media, the po-

Erdogan

litical elites are increasing pressure on a number of moderate religious communities which adhere to a peaceful understanding of Islam, and excluding them from the public arena. These are communities that are known to deter society from any form of religious extremism. Expelling these long-standing communities from the public arena with draconian measures creates a vacuum that is rapidly filled by a number of radical groups with very extremist narratives. This, in fact, paves the way for further Islamist radicalization in the country.

In one of the clearest examples of this trend, an imam addressed the crowds outside Erdogan’s house: “What we took from the traitors became the property of this nation. Their 15 universities are all yours. The hospitals are all yours. A thousand schools are all now yours. Use them and enjoy them.’’

This declaration is alarming because in declaring their property “spoils”, the imam is effectively declaring the movement and its participants to be “outside Islam”. This tactic is vanishingly rare in the more traditional moderate forms of Islam in Turkey (because there are religious prohibitions on using it), but typical of Islamist radicals and terror groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS. Such a strong assertion and the dangerous trend it represents can only have an impact on mainstream Islam in Turkey if it has institutional and public support. There are already many reliable reports of the institutional capacity of radical groups in Turkey, including ISIS, with a number of propaganda centers in various Turkish cities. According to a survey by a prominent polling center, public support for ISIS has reached 19.7 percent and 23.2 percent of Turkish society has sympathy for this terrorist organization.

This Islamist radicalization may be forming part of the ongoing State of Emergency. The government decree that shut down and seized thousands of private science schools is in itself a crucial indicator of how the social fabric of the country is being changed. In a worrisome development, many of the private science schools which were confiscated after the coup attempt are now being transformed into religious education facilities (imam hatip schools).

Observers may argue about the extent to which Islamist radicalization is deepening in Turkey. However, the recent trend demonstrates that Turkey as the only Muslim-majority country in NATO is becoming disposed to further radicalization and this process poses a serious threat to its secular and democratic characteristics.

•This article was originally published in the Huffington Post

11

THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Razak Special status for Lagos’ll strengthen Nigeria’s economy

Politics Chief Chekwas Okorie is the National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP). In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, he speaks on the recent arrest of some judges by officials of Department of State Services (DSS), anticorruption war and leadership crisis in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), among others

What is your take on the recent arrest of some judges by the men of the Department of State Services (DSS) over corruption related issues?

My view is that the method adopted in arresting those judges amounts to an invasion of their homes, which could have been avoided. At the unholy hours that their homes were stormed, the innocent family members may have been deeply traumatised and that cannot be quantified in monetarily in terms of what it may have caused to their health and psychology. That is the only thing that I have against the exercise. I believe the DSS should have adopted a more decent and civilised approach to achieve a better result.

Having said that, I will add that the judiciary, particularly judicial officials have constituted themselves, a threat to the nation. The level of corruption among them is unprecedented, embarrassing and scandalous. They act with impunity and display their ill-gotten wealth. President Muhammadu Buhari, myself and many Nigerians are living examples of serious travesty of justice in the courts.

Many Nigerians would remember my cases where the court allowed the treasurer of a party to take over as national chairman. I remembered that during the 2015 general elections, when the presidential candidates including former President Goodluck Jonathan signed an accord at the Conference Centre in Abuja, I demanded in my remarks that the Chief Jus-

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@yahoo.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Onwe Why Umahi appointed 191 aides

13 14

APGA’ll cease to exist after Anambra guber poll – Okorie in their names or in the names of surrogates. Nigerians should be involved if they want the judiciary to be properly cleansed to get things right. Cases of former governors who were accused of corruption by by EFCC under Nuhu Ribabu are still pending in courts since 2007 because some judges will take bribe to adjourn cases and rule on perpetual injunction in favour of somebody suspected of crime. For nine years, the court cannot bring any former governor to justice despite files containing evidences of corruption and corrupt enrichment.

Okorie

tice of Nigeria, who represented the judiciary and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be signatories to that accord. I said so because I believe the judiciary has been responsible for the confusion in the polity. And 99 per cent of the corruption in the judiciary has to do with election petitions and political matters.

So, I commend President Buhari for his initiative and he should not be blackmailed into slowing down. Any judge who is found to be corrupt should not be spared. Nigerians are solidly behind the President and if the blackmail continues, I will mobilise political leaders and other Nigerians to show open solidarity to him. The truth is that outside the method used, overwhelming majority of Nigerians are happy with the searchlight beamed on the judiciary. We are in a country where no rich man has lost a case; no matter how criminal his case is, he will always get away with justice. We cannot continue like that and there is nothing like progress in Nigeria if the aspect of justice is not addressed.

Are you surprised by the huge amount of money recovered from the residents of the judges arrested by the DSS? It shows that Nigerian judiciary is pathologically and irredeemable

After the Anambra governorship election, APGA would be buried

corrupt and therefore requires a very drastic action to bring sanity back to that very important arm of government that claims to be the last hope of the common man. As a matter of fact, I am not surprised by the amount of money recovered from the judges because having been a victim of serial travesty of justice, I know the amount of money that passed through my opponents to the judiciary to obtain the type of judgement they obtained and sustained for good eight years. I am talking from a very painful experience and I can tell you that if the DSS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) put their intelligence and investigative machinery effectively on ground, they will discover that the amount they said they recovered from the judges were not too much. Some of the judges own large estates home and abroad. Their children are attending schools that ordinarily they could not afford in foreign countries and they live very lavish life style. Can you imagine a serving judge having 15 cars in his fleet, including a Rolls Royce?

What is the man doing with 15 cars and a Rolls Royce and still earning salary?

This is a call on Nigerians to help to provide information as to how this people are laundering money and where they have hidden some real estate, either

But some people have alleged that the present government is selective in its anti-corruption war...

Are those judges in question members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or United Progressives Party (UPP)? There is a common saying among the Igbo people that a river can only drown somebody who puts his leg in it.

If you don’t go near the river, you cannot be drowned but once you go into the river, you will be drowned.

There are people who have access to public funds and public treasury and they helped themselves.

The Buhari government has a term of four years except it is renewed and the President will start from somewhere. Government is continuous and if anybody thinks that he is not balanced enough, he should wait and let his party get to government and continue from where government stopped and nothing stops someone from going back to what the President has overlooked. Let us not try to justify corruption hiding under partiality and bias. That is not being fair to Nigerians and the government that has taken the bold step to look corruption in the face and tackle it. I won’t be part of that. I am in opposition but I do constructive opposition and not attacking or abusing the government.

You said that you are once a victim of travesty of justice...

I am a victim of the serial travesty of justice by the judiciary. I went to Supreme Court three times without Supreme Court being able to resolve my matter. As we speak, the Supreme Court was not able to pronounce Victor Umeh as APGA chairman until the time he left. All they did was striking out cases on technical grounds because they didn’t find it easy to explain how a treasurer will become chairman.

So, the cases lasted for eight years and after that there were so many CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

12

POLITICS

THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Omotoso: Ekiti Assembly not Fayose’s rubber stamp Hon. Samuel Omotoso, representing Oye Constituency 1, is the Chairman, Ekiti State Assembly’s Committee on Information. He speaks in this interview with Sulaiman Salawudeen on governance in the state How do you react to the allegation that the current Ekiti State House of Assembly is a rubber stamp in the hands of Governor Ayodele Fayose?

Anybody can call us whatever they like. Let them call us rubber stamp. If not working at cross purposes with the executive arm of government is what they mean, then leave them to their allegation.

Because the state House of Assembly is established under the law to do legislation for the people and also to ensure accountability, to monitor and to deliver on the dividends of democracy for the public. So, the state Assembly was not established to create rancour and acrimony with the executive arm of government, which it is supposed to work for the progress of the state and not against the state.

But our people are so used to such a useless and unprofitable trend.

If the Assembly is not fighting with the executive, to the people outside, you are not working.

It is a misnomer that people have now in that respect come to accept that as the norm. But if you have a state Assembly, which has decided to push back personal interest to promote the group and corporate interest of the people, there will be calm. This is the experience now and it is in the best interest of this state. Let me quickly add here that the luckiest people on earth today are the Ekiti people, especially the workers. Factors like the much reduced federal allocation, very low Internally Generated Revenue and the all-pummeling recession offer ready excuses for Governor Ayodele Fayose not to do most of what you will bear me witness he is doing for the state today, especially the workers.

He is not only compassionate; he is compassion itself. He is doing all these because he is the very epitome of transparency, accountability and responsiveness. Fayose is giving the best to Ekiti because he feels for the people and understands the art of governance.

rections. When you know if you do this, it will lead to complaints, you won’t do it.

Has the House had any cause to oppose Governor Fayose in the course of exercising its functions since its inauguration?

The truth of the matter is that if you are competent in what you do, you have fewer corrections. It has been very rare for us to correct the governor, sincerely speaking.

I must state clearly here that the lack of correction is not based on our incompetence or inadequacy.

It is precisely because the governor is competent and understands the brief. And if you are grown to the point that you can reverse roles; that is putting yourself in the position of the people at the receiving end, before you take some actions, you rarely get cor-

APGA’ll cease to exist after Anambra guber poll – Okorie

One of your colleagues, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, has accused you of engineering his travails, saying it is because you are eyeing the House of Representatives that you orchestrated his suspension. How true is his allegation?

My ambition in life is to become a professor and I pray that God will help me to achieve that. There is nothing that can be more fulfilling to me than becoming a professor, not even being the president of this country.

I will be more fulfilled as a professor, a learned person, somebody that is full of knowledge than any other thing else politically. And that is why academically I am progressing. As my option B, immediately I leave this House of Assembly, I will apply to the university as a lecturer and will start writing my papers and after few years, I will become a professor. So, when Hon. Aribisogan talks about ambition, I look at him as a lazy man because all our life should not be about politics. We should have other things that to do.

How many bills has the House passed so far?

The ones we have passed are 15, while there are other ones at different stages of consideration by the House. When it comes to laws passed by the House of Assembly since we came in, it is many compared to the number of sittings that we have had and the amount of time we have put into the schedule because to pass a single bill into law takes a very serious homework, serious dedication and commitment from the people. Sometimes, some of the laws require public hearing for which you have to go into town to sensitise people because before

Omotoso

you apply any law to the community, you must ensure such a law is given a human face. That is why for any law that has to do with the people, we have to embark on public hearing.

The state Assembly was not established to create rancour and acrimony with the executive arm of government

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

cases and up till now, no pronouncement was ever made by the Supreme Court and if they ever made any pronouncement, let them publish it. This is my case and I know so many people who have suffered like that. So, we have come to the conclusion that instead of the judiciary being the last hope of the poor man, the judiciary is a doom of the poor man because no poor man wins a case against a wealthy man in this country. And this has been like that for several years.

APGA has continuously been enmeshed in leadership crisis since you left the party and

How many of the bills emanated from the executive?

Over 90 per cent of the bills were from the executive.

Has the Assembly had any cause to reject any executive bill?

There has not been any cause for the Assembly to reject any one.

The social security trust fund, which is to ensure security of life and property in the state, is a bill that cannot be reject ed. Also, the bill on kidnapping and antiterrorism is one the House cannot reject. Several other ones like that are clearly community oriented bills aimed at ensuring positive and better life to the people. There was no time that we rejected any bill.

How has the laws impacted on the people?

In my view, the laws have been entirely to the credit of this ad-

only recently, the national chairman of the party, Chief Victor Ike-Oye, was suspended.

How do you feel about the lingering leadership crisis in the party you founded?

I am a very spiritual person and and very deep Christian. I returned the certificate of APGA voluntarily to INEC and asked my lawyer, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) to discontinue with the cases; that I was done with fighting for the soul of the party and I told my associates that we are going to set up a new party. I later issued a public statement which was published by most of the Nigerian media that the soul and the spirit of the party has left with me and that what I left for them was mere carcass and that it would be a matter of time when that

ministration, the comfort and progress of the people and the development of the state. If anyone is in the state and you have an issue with the court of law and you cannot afford legal representation, there is now a state sponsored process of granting such a person free legal services. This is not the Federal Government promoted Legal Aid Council. No. It is free legal services provided by the state. All the laws we passed have affected the common man on the street positively.

Before, they used to languish in prison when they lacked the financial muscle to hire the services of lawyers. Also, the social security trust fund; initially there was no funding for the security sector in the state which was very bad. That bill has made it easier for people to contribute money to ensure stability, peace and orderliness in the state. Also there is the kidnap and anti-terrorism bill which has already been passed into law. There used to be a time kidnap malaise became rampant.

So many people were kidnapped and kept in the bush, like those kept in the bush at Esure Ekiti.

carcass will start decomposing and it will be buried. It was a statement I made with heavy heart and God gave my statement efficacy and that is why they have never known peace and they will never known peace until that party is eternally buried.

So, you believe APGA will soon cease to exist?

It would be buried very soon. In fact, by next year after the Anambra governorship election, APGA would be buried. The burial is nearer; it is about a year from now.

And there is UPP that has the same vision, ideology and a better status with the same founder. So, the progressives’ family has not lost so much because there is a viable alternative.

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

13

Special status for Lagos’ll strengthen Nigeria’s economy – Razak A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State and a former governorship candidate, Chief Lanre Razak believes that the Senate should not have rejected the Lagos Status Bill sponsored

by Senator Oluremi Tinubu. He also speaks in this interview with Felix Nwaneri, on governance in Lagos and the state of the nation What is your reaction to the rejection of the Lagos Status Bill by the Senate?

I felt very bad when I heard the news. It shows that our senators are not true Nigerians. They are working and behaving as if they are different people. Those who come from the North see themselves as northerners and they have nothing to do with Lagos.

Those who come from the East and opposed to the bill see themselves as easterners, that they don’t have anything to do with Lagos forgetting that Lagos occupies a very sensitive position in the economy of this country. Look at Lagos contribution to the Value Added Tax (VAT). What is the give back from the Federal Government? We know where we get oil and a Ministry of Niger Delta was established to give back to them.

Special percentage of our earnings, 13 percent assigned to give back to them.

Lagos State is responsible for about 70 percent of the total VAT generated in this country, what do we get for that? Lagos consumes about 60 percent of our fuel. That means the Federal Government is earning a lot of money from the fuel consumed in Lagos but what do we get back to improve and sustain infrastructure in Lagos? It is not Lagos that they denied special status; they denied Nigerians the opportunity to strengthen the economy of this country to have a better nation.

So, they are playing dirty games, dirty politics with the lives of Nigerians whether from east, west, south or north. The denial is very saddening. And I believe God will touch their mind, they still need to change their mind and reconsider their stand.

They should know that for every action there is a reaction, equal and opposite. Lagosians need not behave as if we are militants, we don’t need to do that. I believe that people in Lagos are civilized but I still believe that those senators that did that to Lagos have done terrible things to themselves and to those of us who live in Lagos, who should enjoy the benefits of the bill they rejected. I want to appeal to them to have a rethink.

There is renewed clamour for restructuring of the country. Where do you stand on the issue?

It is not strange to hear that. I congratulate the politicians and Nigerians. We have been under military rule for long and at the

time the military were leaving office, a lot of strange bedfellows came together and said let the military officers go. They are gone. Like minds may likely regroup, political parties with same ideologies may emerge. If that is what you mean by restructuring, let it be. Yes, we know the party that cares; we know the party that truly wants to serve the people; we know the party that its main thinking is how to acquire power through political structure to milk the nation to death. During the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration, we didn’t see serious impact of a party in government. I am yet to see the cohesiveness, the bond in the All Progressive Congress (APC) to give support to their government to deliver its campaign promises to the people. As long as the situation on ground remains like this, people will be asking for political restructuring.

What is your reaction to the current debate on autonomy for the local governments?

That is the way the thing should be. We should give autonomy to local governments. But when you look at the attitude of Nigerians to government, local governments should be one of the strongest of the three tiers in the country.

They are the closest to the people; they need more money to meet the needs of Nigerians at that level.

The Federal Government don’t need as much as 56 percent revenue from the federation account or national revenue that it is keeping and that is why we have too much corruption at the national level.

They should increase the amount of money that is allocated to the state and local governments but the quality of service, quality of people at the local government level need to be re examined. We need key professionals to be in charge so that we can have quality jobs done at that level and quality service rendered to the people.

Again, the political heads, a lot of them are there for economic reasons not because they are matured enough to handle the duties of heads of government at the local government level. They are not matured but that is not the reason we should not give the councils autonomy. I am an advocate of economic and political autonomy to local governments.

As a politician and industrialist, how would advise President

Razak

Lagos State is responsible for about 70 per cent of the total VAT generated in this country, what do we get for that?

Muhammadu Buhari to alleviate the suffering in the land as it seems that the patience of Nigerians on his government is running out due to the economic recession in the country?

People are clamouring for the devaluation of the naira but this economy is not export driven; what is the basis for devaluation?

I cannot imagine how many companies are engaged in full production of goods, so that if we devalue, we will have opportunity to produce more for export. If you devalue and you only import, it will make the cost of the products very expensive when they are brought to Nigeria and it will hurt the country more. My advice is that Mr. President should look at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Are we getting it right at the CBN? He should look at his Economic Management Team; are we getting the best advice at that level? Let there be a serious pathological examination of all structures of government.

We said that PDP mismanaged the nation for 16 years and most of the people in key positions and parastatals now are those appointed by the PDP. In one and half years, they have not deemed it fit to remove some of the elements of the PDP in government.

Do you think these elements will wish APC government well? They may have their reason for keeping them in government but I don’t think that is the right thing. If you have been given the position of president of Nigeria, you should be able to effectively manage the values and resources, both animate and inanimate objects that

are available for you to give Nigerians a very good government that would meet their needs. That is what I think the President should do.

But opinions are divided on this; there have been calls on Mr. President not to be partisan but to consider merit in making appointments especially those who should run the economy in view of the recession.

Loyalty is key in whatever you want to do. If you want to run a media house for example, the first set of staff you should look for are those who are committed to the set goal; who are loyal to your mission; who can be there and feel that you don’t run by eliminating the principal. How can I honestly work for you? I agree that there are Nigerians that you don’t need to be partisan in appointing them into positions and they will do the job. But there are some that got their appointments on the ticket of a political party and the party in government didn’t appoint them; they can never wish you well; they can never wish you success, and those are the things I think the President should look at and be properly advised.

Electoral reform is an unfinished business and the President had set up the Senator Ken Nnamani-led committee to look at the electoral process and proffer the way forward.

How do you view this?

There is no way you can stop war unless you stop the cause of war. What are those things reCONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Why Umahi appointed 191 aides, by Onwe Mr. Ifeanyi Onwe is a former Special Adviser to Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State on Inter-Party Affairs, but now Special Adviser on Student Matters.

In this interview with UCHENNA INYA, he speaks on the appointment of 191 new aides to the governor made up of members of opposition parties, as well as other issues affecting the state Governor Dave Umahi recently appointed chieftains of All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as Senior Technical Assistants (STAs) and Technical Assistants (TAs)? Do you think it is aimed silencing the opposition ahead of the 2019 elections as being speculated in some quarters?

I don’t believe that the appointments are connected to 2019. It is too early for anybody to talk about 2019 and the appointments by our dear governor was done in good faith. It is for the good of all Ebonyians. The governor had earlier on assumption of office said he will be governor for all and he has displayed that in both appointments and distribution of social amenities in all parts of the state.

He has been preaching that Ebonyians are one and he has taught us how to play politics by carrying everybody along; both members of his own party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition parties. Before now, if you are in opposition or opposed to government in power, you don’t come close to the government. But Governor Umahi has changed that phenomenon and extended hand of fellowship to all the opposition parties in the state. Those who worked against the emergence of this government are today members of the state executive council.

To me, it is a good development.

It is like the reunion of people of Ezza-Ezillo/Ezza communities in our dear state, following the peace brokered by the governor.

We all knew what happened in the two communities and it was as if peace will not return to the area.

It was as if the people will no longer do things together but you saw how the governor united them as a man of peace. He brought everyone irrespective of political affiliations into the government. He said that for the fact that they worked for another candidate during the last election and against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not mean that they are not Ebonyi people. Despite the economic challenges facing the country and the state, he has appointed these 191 new aides made up of members of the opposition parties and his own party. He wants everyone to have something doing and contribute to the development of the state. This type of appointment has never happened in the history of the state and people should be happy

that it has happened and it is not connected to 2019.

Do you think that members of the opposition parties are happy with their appointments and will not challenge the governor and the PDP in 2019?

I think they are really comfortable with the governance of our dear governor and have joined to move the state forward. This is to show you acceptance of the policies of the governor. They believe that this is our state and we should all collaborate to develop it. Our presence in politics today is to evolve polices that would alleviate poverty facing the people and get Ebonyi State developed. Members of the opposition parties are not self-seeking because they have not identified with the state government for material gains. They have only offered themselves for service to the state. This is because of the transformation drive of the state government, which is manifested daily in the form of new roads, street lights, pipe borne water and provision of other social amenities for Ebonyi people.

The opposition parties are happy with the state governor. What we are seeing in Ebonyi State is unprecedented, which has surpassed other south eastern states.

They have the belief that this is a government they can partner with; a government with selfless intention. We have no other place to call our state than Ebonyi, so all hands must be on deck to rapidly develop the state. You can attest to the fact that since the inception of the present administration, nobody has said anything negative about it, not that we do not welcome constructive criticisms because we listen to correction. To me, 2019 is like a bridge so when we get to the bridge, we will cross it. The interest of the governor now is to concentrate and develop all sectors; empower the people which he has started doing and build a united and peaceful state.

You talked about the Ezillo-Ezza/ Ezillo war which claimed over 100 lives. As a stakeholder from the community, do you think peace has actually returned to the area?

Peace is a cardinal point of this administration and we came on the platform of Divine Mandate. This is to tell you that whatever we are doing is under the inspiration of God Almighty. God is a God of peace and whoever is serving Him should also

Onwe

emulate Him and that is what our governor has done. He has brokered peace among the two communities; he has brought the people together and a lasting peace has actually returned to the area because the governor has handled the nagging issues among the two communities maturely. The people are happy with the way the matter was handled and I tell you that there can never be any problem in the area again.

Members of the opposition parties... have not identified with the state government for material gains

Ebonyi State came 10 out of 36 states in this year’s West African Senior School Examination Council (WASSEC). To many people in the state, it is a good development, while to some, the state is still far in education. What is your take on that?

It is only in the present administration that the state took this position. That we are 10th in the entire country in WASSEC is a great feat because before now, we were nowhere. The governor is just a year and some months in office and he has turned things around in the education sector.

Are you not happy that Ebonyi State’s name is coming up in the WASSEC? In a country of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, we are among the best 10. It shows we are doing well and in the next examination, we will move up to the best three, and we have put everything in place to achieve this.

There is effective monitoring and supervision of all the schools in the state to ensure proper teaching and learning. Funds have also been mapped out in the education sector for total transformation of the sector. Modern desks have been acquired for students and pupils to ensure they feel comfortable and receive their studies. A lot of good things have happened in the education sector since the present administration came on board and we believe that in the next WASSEC, we will come top.

Governor Umahi promised during the campaigns to reduce fees in the tertiary institutions but that has not been done. Is that promise still sacrosanct?

The government actually promised to look into students’ tuition

fees during the electioneering campaign and it has not reneged on that promise. The only thing is that you cannot just reduce fees without putting necessary things in place for the betterment of the students, which is what the governor is doing. If you go to the state university, you will see light, water and other amenities built by the governor for the students. He is also paying N200 million monthly subvention to the university and doing other things for the upliftment of the institution. There is no way school fees can just be reduced without first of all putting necessary things on ground. There has to be laid down procedure in reducing the school fees and I think that is what the governor is doing.

As the special adviser to the governor on student matters, what is the relationship between the government and the students like?

The relationship between the students and the government has been a cordial one because the government is an open one. It is a government you can channel your complaints to and receive immediate attention. So, all the tertiary institutions in the state are enjoying the administration and it had never happened in the history of the state. They are included in whatever the government is doing. To demonstrate they are happy with this government, the students gave recently honoured the governor, his deputy and even myself with awards. They said they decided to thank him on the road he built for them.

The governor completed a vital section of the Afikpo/Abakaliki federal road that was abandoned and the students out of joy said they must appreciate the governor and later gave him the award.

They said it used to take them two hours from Afikpo to Abakaliki but that now they spend less than an hour to get to the capital city.

Working as special adviser to the governor on student affairs has been so interesting because it has really exposed me to young men and women, who are coming up.

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oliver Okpala

T

he legendary Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” This is in sync with the holy books which enunciate that tough circumstances are to bring out the best and creative ingenuities in determined and focused people.

It is in this regard that the current economic recession in the country has began to throw up new champions, one of who is Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State.

Following his conviction that there would be likely protracted suffering as a result of the recession, Governor Obiano recently took a radical interventional step as it affects the people of his state. In an uncommon feat, he abolished some critical levies and taxes in the state, a move that left many Nigerians dumbfounded and in awe of the exemplary and courageous leadership style of the governor.

In a special broadcast, he explained that the abolishment of the levies and taxes was to cushion the effect of the economic downtown on the people. The governor considered it as his duty to alleviate the effect of the economic situation on the grassroots.

Governor Obiano's move is no doubt a stimulus package that will ease the pain of the recession and help the state bounce back to prosperity. The truth is that the country is in a painful journey at this time in its history and all kind hearted governments and privileged individuals should find creative ways of alleviating the suffering of the people. This is what Obiano has done.

The government's intervention came in four key areas: tax relief programme, special intervention programmes for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises, social intervention programme for low income households as well as intervention in Infrastructure-for-Jobs.

The tax relief programme was meant to evaluate existing taxes, levies and fees in the state and in-

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Obiano and Anambra’s economic fortune

Obiano

troduce some waivers and in some cases scrap the collection of some illegal levies imposed on the people and this would go a long way to cushion the impact of the recession on households in the state. It included the suspension of the sale of consolidated emblems, the collection of Hawkers Permit on all streets, the collection of Wheelbarrow Tax in all markets, and the imposition of unapproved levies on students in public primary and secondary schools.

According to him, his role as governor is to envisage challenges and provide solutions that will ensure a speedy comeback from difficult situations that require the might of a state government.

The overwhelming feeling was that a governor has come out to show the way in an unlikely man-

Obiano and his team have shown that... they can turn Anambra State into Nigeria’s new postcard for excellence

ner, because in time such as this, governments look for more ways of taking from the people, but the Obiano administration instead, chose to sacrifice for the common man.

This is not the only such peoplecentred intervention by the governor. Only recently, the administration donated N10 million as palliatives to victims of the OseOkwodu Market fire incident of April 2014 in the state. Presenting the money to the 97 beneficiaries at his Aguleri country home in Anambra East Local Area, Governor Obiano said that the gesture was in keeping with his promise to the people to continue programmes that will impact positively on their lives.

The government has also donated a 32-seater Toyota Coaster bus and N5 million to students of the Federal College of Education (Technical), FCET, Umunze, Anambra State. This was as the governor promised to carry out palliative work on the road leading to the permanent site of the college.

The governor with the same heart of the milk of human sympathy cried out recently over the poor state of federal roads in the state and called on the Federal Government to hasten to save the roads from imminent collapse, and mandated a construction company to the site to start palliative works to save the roads.

These and many more other interventions are without prejudice to his agricultural policies and various other intervention measures which are all aimed at sustaining hope and improving life for the people. His widely known security measures have since transformed Anambra, which used to be the den of criminals and kidnappers to the safest state in the country.

The administration has also set an impressive record in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) with a remarkable increase from

the N500 million monthly that it inherited to about N1.3 billion per month.

The state government has opened up the state for rapid industrialization, embarked on massive rehabilitation of bad roads and constructing new ones as well as strategic interventions in the education and health sectors.

One of the achievements under Governor Obiano is the massive investment inflow that the state has witnessed in the last two years courtesy of the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA).

In a very short time, the agency has justified the governor’s background as an investment banker with remarkable statistics.

Governor Obiano and his team has shown that given time and resources, they can turn Anambra State into Nigeria’s new postcard for excellence; one can only pray that the good people of the state continue to support the governor’s efforts to build a strong, dynamic, virile, industrialized, economically viable and prosperous Anambra State.

With all of these, it is believed that the people of Anambra State would no doubt continue to support the government for more dividends of democracy, especially as the governor would soon be seeking their blessings for a second term in office.

With heart full of milk and honey, Obiano has shown in practical terms that he is the peoples governor who deserves their votes for a second tenure in office.

We are confident that the judgment of the people of Anambra State will be fair and favorable as the governor has proven to be a firm believer and a practitioner of good governance. He therefore deserves a second term as governor of Anambra State based on his pedigree and performance in office.

•Okpala, a political analyst, writes from Awka, Anambra State

All structures of govt should be overhauled, says Razak C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

sponsible for the monetization of the electoral process I Nigeria? Eradicate poverty and a lot of things will change for the better.

How would you rate the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State in the area of provision of infrastructures?

We are lucky to have Mr. Ambode as governor of Lagos state. Also, I use this opportunity to thank APC National Leader and former governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for his choice of people managing Lagos. Look at the achievements of former Governor Babatunde Fashola and look at what Mr. Ambode is doing in Lagos. He is simply fantastic. He is fantastically doing good things in Lagos and he is a fair minded person. He is spreading development to the nooks and crannies of the state. Recently, he took members of his cabinet to Badagry for two weeks, holding execu-

tive council meeting and going round on projects inspection, trying to ascertain where there is need to provide the right infrastructure to boost tourism in the Badagry area. He is working in Alimosho and Abule Egba, providing flyovers, also providing overhead bridge in Ajah and other amenities. He is also in Epe, upgrading existing roads and providing new ones. But there is one critical thing he should do for us in Epe. We appreciate all that he is doing for us but we may not be able to maximize the benefits if we don’t have our road from Ibeju dualized to Epe. Again, Ambode has a special way he studies the infrastructural facilities and needs of people regarding traffic management in Lagos. Look at the Third Mainland Bridge; before now, If you leave Lagos Island around three o’clock on work day, there was constant traffic from Lagos until you get to the old toll gate on Lagos-Ibadan expressway. But he deployed experts to study that area and they discovered that the need was not

as much as envisaged. After a scientific study, the bus stop at Oworoshoki on both sides was improved tremendously and the traffic congestion there fizzled out. They also moved to Alapere. There, the government created a road to link Alapere straight and that showed that it is people that are turning to Alapere from Ogudu that are causing the traffic bottlenecks and once that was done, the problem was solved.

He has saved not only man hours, which cannot be quantified in terms of monetary value. It has a lot of multiple effects on our economy. For the transporters, it has tremendously improved their turn around. Instead of doing two or three trips daily, they can now do more than 20 and they earn more money from their transportation business.

So, even as a business man who will be thinking how he will go to Lagos once a day and that is the end of the day’s work, you can now go as many times as possible because the traffic situation has improved tremendously. The Light

Up Lagos Project is another worthy of commendation. Even with the high cost of diesel, N210 per litre, and at a time some states cannot pay their teachers, Ambode is still getting money to buy diesel to light up Lagos. If you get to most parts of Lagos at 2.am, Lagos is still awake. That is fantastic and that is Ambode for you.

The salaries of civil servants and teachers as well as pensions are being paid as and when due. We need to encourage and support Governor Ambode and that is why I felt terribly bad when I heard of the decision of the Senate to reject the Lagos Status Bill sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu representing Lagos Central senatorial district, a bill to consider Lagos as a state that needs special attention. Ambode is working and Nigerians should pray for God to give him good health, long life, wisdom to continue with this good job he is doing in Lagos. We are very proud of him most especially those of us from Epe, where he hails from.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Opinion The mysterious Bermuda triangle Turning Point MIKE ARAYUWA WILKIE pmikky1950@yahoo.com 0802-3097-251 (sms only)

T

here are some mysterious occurrences in the world, which by all means, have volunteered to defy acclaimed theories; scientific and technological explanations; findings; analyses and intellectual essays. Mankind is therefore puzzled, perplexed and frustrated, as long as there are no temporary or permanent solutions to these mysteries of nature. One of such satanic mysteriosophy, is the “Bermuda Triangle” which is generally referred to as the “theater of death” where ships, boats and aircraft disappear into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Triangle is located between Bermuda, Puerto Rico and close to the tip of Florida in the United States. It also stretches to the Atlantic Coast of Cuba and Santo Domingo.

In 1609, “The Venture” got wrecked near the eastern end of Bermuda Island and by extension, the Triangle. The Commander, Sir George Somers and his crew were rescued, and were the first to settle on the said Island. In 1812, Theodosia Burr Alston, daughter of Vice President Aaron Burr was a passenger on-board “The Patriot”, which sailed from Charleston in South Carolina to New York. On December 30, 1812, “The Patriot” was declared missing. In 1814, “The USS Epervier” and her crew also disappeared, while carrying the peace treaty to end the war between America and the North African Barbary States.

In 1855, “The Schooner James B. Chester” was only found floating with the crew missing,

while the lifeboats were intact. “Mary Celeste” had many misadventures but the Bermuda Triangle mystery ended her last voyage in 1872.

From 1881-1941, there were the disappearances of five vessels in The Triangle. Some other instances of disappearance were: On December 5, 1945, flight 19, TBM Avenger Torpedo Bombers was missing over the Bermuda Triangle along with 14 crew members.

During the search for the missing aircraft, a “Martin Mariner Flying boat” equally got missing with 13 men. In 1947, the C-54 plane was a victim of the Bermuda Triangle and in 1948, the Tudor Star Tiger IV aircraft disappeared at the same spot before it was to land at Bermuda Airport. “The Flight Douglas DC-3 NC16002” plunged into the Triangle, 50 miles, South of Florida, and was to land at the Miami airport in the United States on December 28, 1948. “Flight 441”, a super constellation Naval airliner met its waterloo in the Triangle on October 30, 1954.

The “Marine Sulphur Queen”, 524ft carrier of molten sulphur, left Beaumont in Texas with 39 crew. It disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle on February 4, 1963. “The Witchcraft”, a 23ft cabin cruiser was missing in the Triangle on December 22, 1967. So also was the disappearance of “The USS Scorpion” (SSN-589), a nuclear powered submarine of the United States in 1968.

The Sylvia L. Ossa, an Ore carrier with a crew of 37 disappeared, 140 miles from Bermuda in 1976.

On June 20, 2005 and April 10, 2007, two “PiperPA planes” were missing, while on December 15, 2008, a “Britten-Norman” 3-engine Trislander was missing with 12 persons on-board. On October 1, 2015, “SS EL Faro Cargo”, of about 790ft deep container along with 33 crew were wrecked at the Atlantic Bermuda Triangle. It is instructive to appreciate that the list of the Triangle’s havoc is endless.

However, the reasons advanced for the incidences at Bermuda mysteries are as untenable

What is then the permanent solution to the monster destroyer?

as the incidences of its natural phenomenon.

A school of thought amongst the scientists believe, that a “Comet”, of unknown composition, crashed into the earth, more than 11,000 years ago, and that such object in-there, in the Bermuda Triangle, is competent to possess a powerful electromagnetic characteristics, at the Bermuda Oceanic bed and cause anomalies.

Another school of thought however, believes that the disappearances “fall beyond the boundaries of human error or acts of unexplained nature”. For a few others, it is the paranormal, a suspension of physics or activity by extraterrestrial being of popular culture”. In recent times, some Norwegian scientists suggested that there are “giant craters in the Barents sea, which explodes natural gas”, and that “there exists vast fields of methane hydrates on the continental shelves of the Atlantic Ocean” with Bermuda Island inclusive.

In the interim, these men of knowledge appear to show interest in the cause of, and myth behind the secret of Bermuda Triangle. What is then the permanent solution to the monster destroyer? The scientists and others, who were involved in their researches and findings, obviously did not make any attempt to cross-over the Bermuda Triangle. I am of the opinion that the analyses written, were done several thousands of kilometers away from Bermuda. How could they have researched into Bermuda Triangle without doing a field work? If the researchers had gone to the field in the Triangle, it would have been a complete disaster of additional disappearances.

Nobody crosses the way of Bermuda Triangle and still sojourns on this earth. Whoever is interested in the triangle’s research should endeavour to move down to its oceanic bed and do the required research. And, before this commencement, such researchers ought to write, sign and seal their wills, hand it over to their families.

However, they will only die as Martyrs.

Tinubu’s crisis and the Yoruba way forward Dele Awogbeoba

A

lot has been said (mainly by people within the PDP) emphasizing the supposed cracks between the Presidency and the most influential political figure from the South West of Nigeria in the person of Bola Tinubu.

The narratives seems to be that the Presidency is trying to whittle down the influence of Bola Tinubu and it has been given expression in the release of the list of Buhari’s ministerial nominees, the Kogi substitution of Bello for James Faleke (which with the benefit of hindsight has been proved to be the correct decision in law (as confirmed by the Nigerian Supreme court)) and the outcome of the Ondo party primaries.

On the flip side, Tinubu’s alliance has yielded a number of positives for the Yoruba nation politically.

Today, the Vice President, Senate President (although this has more to do with the Northern Yoruba than Tinubu), Deputy Speaker, Chief of Defence Staff, ministries of Power, Works, Solid minerals, Communications and the head of the economic team are headed by Yoruba. A significant turnaround for the Yoruba in Nigeria especially when compared with their relatively weak power position pre May 2015.

The facts on the ground now are simple. The Buhari government at the

centre is fast losing support outside his main area of core strength during his CPC days. His support in the NorthCentral, South-West and Edo is weakening irrespective of whether he stands in good stead with Tinubu or not. Edo state had in 2015 for PDP nationally and APC locally. It followed that pattern a month ago by voting for APC locally but with even less convincing numbers than in 2015. Buhari’s support in the South South seems to continue to be negative.

Strangely enough, Buhari has been positive towards the Akwa Ibom/ Cross River axis. He has given influential positions to that axis in the form of Chief of Naval staff and Minster of Budget and National planning. It is too early to state whether that will move the needle in 2019 in that part of the SS. What is clear is that Buhari cannot win re-election in 2019 without the Yoruba support which covers seven states and a third of Kogi state. Tinubu should also realize that the Yoruba interests should and do exceed the emotional attachment to one man. That said, It is not in the wider Yoruba Interests to let Tinubu (for all his faults and assets) be humiliated.

The Yoruba should therefore ensure that it does the following. 1. Coalesce around Tinubu within the APC and make it clear that it is all for one and one for all. Once the Northern elements of the APC know and realize that there is no room for a divide and conquer scenario they will have to retreat to the drawing board whilst calling off their attacks against Tinubu. 2. Refrain from

being goaded into leaving the APC in the near term. It is a major stakeholder in the APC and a critical component of the coalition that brought this APC government to power. For the duration of Buhari’s four year government, the Yoruba must stay fully involved. 3. Make sure the federal ministers of Yoruba extraction are kept away from the political power play. Let them concentrate on their professional responsibility associated with their offices. They are required to support the president in the furtherance of government and they must not be distracted from doing that.

The Vice President should limit himself to his professional duties and ignore the undercurrents going on between Tinubu and the President. 4. By the third year of Buhari’s government, the Yoruba will need to have been well along the line with another core strategy of reaching out significantly to the Middle Belt and the South South. This can be done in two ways (both must however be subtle).

The first is to advance moves to take up vigorously opposition to the herdsman killing. All Yoruba states should be encouraged to pass the Ekiti type law restrictions of herdsmen activity.

Subsequently, Yoruba members of NASS should start efforts to replicate such laws at the national level. Those laws will be opposed by the Fulani North. That opposition is what is desired and what needs to be highlighted. The herdsmen issue should form the basis of meetings between the Middle belt, South West and the South East on the gover-

norship level. That effort needs to be initiated by a South West Governor that is not overtly political. The South West should be seen as leading this effort. The Yoruba should (as a parallel strategy) start the subtle rehabilitation of Goodluck Jonathan. Jonathan still represents the source of significant support within the South South.

The Yoruba should reach out to him and start the process of overcoming the irritation that his marginalization gave rise too from the Yoruba perspective and the South South irritation with the part the Yoruba played in his removal. GEJ should be invited to open new structures in the South West and to chair initiatives that bind the South West and the South South together. All these steps must be subtle and incremental. The recent interview given by Edwin Clark indicates that the South-South under his leadership recognizes the historical relationship between the SW and Edo and Delta states. Moves should be made to ensure that Edo and Delta are reincorporated into the Odua group (as Lagos was recently reincorporated) which they were inequitably deprived membership of once the Mid West was created out of the Western region.

Once the South-South and the South -West re-align, the South-East (eager for South South approval and friendship) will not be far behind. The Yoruba then need to delegitimize the Fulani led Islamic council.

•Dele. Awogbeoba@gmail.com

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Judiciary: A president’s burden

here is something between President Muhammadu Buhari and the judiciary, from his days as a maximum ruler to the present democratic dispensation which clearly spells out the functions of the three arms of government and gurantees the independence of one from the other.

The recent arrests of seven top members of the judiciary in what the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has described as Gestapo style operation by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) has further opened old wounds. It has also done more damage to the fight against corruption.

Supreme Court Justices Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta, Justice Mohammed Tsamiya of the Court of Appeal, Ilorin, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja, Chief Judge of Enugu State, Jusice I.A. Umezulike, Justice Kabir Auta of the Kano High Court as well as Justice Muazu Pindiga of the Gombe High Court, were taken from their homes in a midnight raid.

The DSS slammed allegations of corruption on the judges, claiming that huge sums of money in various denominations were recovered from the homes of some of them.

While we applaud President Buhari’s fight against corruption in all facets of the society, it is important that he goes about it mindful of the fact that since

he swore to defend the constitution of the Federal Republic, there is need to follow the due process and the rule of law.

No citizen is above the law.

Judges who have the power of life and death over compatriots, must also subject themselves to the laws of the land. Breaching the law is as criminal as the common criminals who are sentenced to the gallows.

However, it is also nauseating for operatives who are paid with tax payers sweat to go to the homes of any body, hooded, to carry out arrests at odd hours and in the presence of terrified family members including women and minors.

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followed. The National Judicial Council (NJC) has the statutory duty of handling cases involving judges and has not been a dormant part of the fight against corruption. Before the raid, the body had recommended Umezulike, Auta and Tsamiya for sanctions.

It is also to the credit of Justice Mahmoud who is spending his last days as CJN, that a lot of reforms have taken place in the judiciary. In all this, it is possible that President Buhari had been kept in the dark. His presidency

In all this, it is possible that President Buhari had been kept in the dark

Expectedly, condemnations have trailed the invasion. The Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, could not conceal the embarrassment. He said: “It is indeed very saddening and deeply regrettable, the distressing and unfortunate incident, which occurred on Friday October 7 and Sunday October 8, 2016.

President of the NBA, Abubakar Mahmoud, did not mince words: “We view these actions as illegal and unconstitutional and a threat to the independence of the judiciary and must be aimed at intimidating the judiciary and the legal profession,” he said.

It is sad that due process was not

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

covers the DSS as well as the Nigeria Police Force.

While superior officers may be planning a mass purge of the police

in Rivers State, we commend the state police commissioner for aborting what could have been bloodshed in Port Harcourt.

The DSS, which was created from the police, does not have the power to do the job of the police.

It also does not have the power to usurp the functions of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (CPC) or stand in for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Governor Nyesom Wike had to wade in when the DSS operatives stormed another judge’s home in the Garden City. As the Chief Security Officer of Rivers State, the governor did the needful because

it was not clear to him at the time that those hooded invaders were not a band of insurgents who could have come to disturb the peace of the state.

The judiciary acts as a check to balance our democracy. While not absolving anyone of any wrong doing, we urge President Buhari to beware of some of the men around him who may be doing jobs outside their jurisdiction. At the end, no one would remember what they did, posterity can only remember what the president did not do to check them.

During the president’s tenure as military leader, there were actions and decrees which brought the judiciary to disrepute. Justice Adebayo Desalu will continue to be remembered as the judge who chaired the tribunal that sentenced three young Nigerians to death for drug related offences. Many flawed the retroactive effect of the punishment.

Justice Gregory Okoro-Idogu never recovered from his role in sending Afro beat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, to jail over possession of foreign currency. The same Fela cost him his plum job even under maximum detention.

The president must resist the temptation to step into the realm of the judiciary and the legislature, that is one sure way of enjoying his tenure and giving his best. And he must not allow politicians to trick him into a field that will create more confusion. There are clear ways of fighting corruption.

18

THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Insight Living at the mercy of kidnappers

Suspected kidnappers of Mrs. Margaret Emefiele, wife of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor

Military uniforms used by the suspected kidnappers

Money recovered from the suspects.

In the last couple of months, gun-wielding men have continued to terrorise every nook and cranny of Nigeria, kidnapping for ransom. In many cases, they usually leave in their trail blood, sorrow and tears, writes ABIODUN BELLO

O

n Thursday October 6, apprehension, like a thick cloak, covered the firmament of Lagos over report of abduction of what the rumour mill called over a hundred of students from a government school.

The social media was agog. It was feared the dreaded Boko Haram had made a dangerous incursion into the Centre of Excellence because, it is believed, the sect is the only group in the country with record of and capacity to organise and execute mass abduction.

The abduction of over 200 girls from government secondary school in Chibok, in frenzied moves, parents and guidance rushed to schools to pick their children and wards, while some schools immediately reinforced their security arrangements to forestall attacks from abductors.

But it was later discovered that the abduction occurred at Igbonla

Senior and Junior Model Colleges in Epe. In the attack, four students, the vice-principal of the junior college and a teacher were abducted, although not by Boko Haram.

Nonetheless, it did not reduce the anxiety in Lagos, especially with the manner the abduction was carried out.

The gun-wielding men, said to be about seven, in a commando style, stormed the assembly hall of the junior students about 8a.m.

The men, who were shooting indiscriminately like a scene in the American movie, Rambo, picked the Vice-Principal, Mr. A. O. Oyesola, a teacher, Mr. Lateef Oyerinde, and students, Adebisi Isaac and Okonkwo, among others.

Thursday’s abduction was not the first time gunmen were invading Lagos schools.

On February 29, kidnappers invaded Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary, Ikorodu, and abducted three female stu¬dents. Many

That was the second time Ofulue was abducted within a week

days later, the girls were rescued at the Igbokuta area of the state.

Also on September 17, gunmen stormed Isheri, a border community between Lagos and Ogun states, and abducted three landlords and their aerobics instructor. The victims, mainly landlords from Oshorun Estate, had gone to Lekki Gardens Estate Road with four others for their daily routine exercise, when the kidnappers wearing military camouflage uniforms struck.

The kidnappers demanded N300,000 million for each of the victims, totalling N1.2 billion.

Earlier on July 5, an expatriate with Granebury Construction, the firm working on the dualisation of the Epe township expansion project, was kidnapped while on inspection of the project site.

About 10 days later, a gang of abductors went to Iba community and kidnapped Oba Goriola Oseni, the traditional ruler, after killing his security guard.

Also, gunmen swooped on Ishawo in Ikorodu and abducted an official of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Peter Ofulue, as well as two other residents.

That was the second time Ofulue was abducted within a week.

He was preparing for a thanks-

PHOTOS: Elijah Olaluyi

giving in his church over his release from the kidnappers’ den when the gunmen stormed his compound, shooting to scare away residents before abducting him. His wife and relatives were already waiting for him in the church.

Worried by the surge in kidnapping, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode warned abductors to desist from their nefarious activities.

The governor said his administration was poised to spread its security dragnet to every nook and cranny of the state.

He said: “We know that Lagos is safe. We are reiterating once again and sending a final warning signal to all the criminals and miscreants who have been disturbing the peace of Lagos. This time around, we would be in every nook and cranny of Lagos to secure the life of everyone.”

To boost security at the grassroots, Ambode recently signed into law the Neighbourhood Safety Corps bill passed by the House of Assembly for effective policing.

Also, the state House of Assembly, at a sitting on July 18, called on government to intensify efforts to secure lives and property of Lagos residents.

The House described the spate

INSIGHT

THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Those who allegedly kidnapped Oba Oseni

Suspected kidnappers of Falae displaying the money recovered from them.

of kidnapping as shameful, especially the abduction of the traditional rulers.

For instance, in a motion moved

by Victor Akande from Ojo Constituency 1, the lawmakers also urged Ambode to mobilise the state police command to man all the strategic points in the state and ensure the effective use of the current dedicated lines for better security.

While reacting to the abduction of Oba Oseni, Lagos Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, said that despite government’s efforts on security, it was surprising that the security of the people could not be guaranteed.

He said: “The state government spent a lot of money to provide equipment for the state police command yet all these are happening. It means what we have done is futile.

“It is shameful and disgraceful if a monarch could be kidnapped in his palace. It is so sad that we lose people to kidnapping and killings every day. People now take to self-help on security in the state.”

Also, security experts have charged Ambode to rejig his security apparatus in the state and put in place more programmes and reforms to encourage security personnel.

A senior security officer, who pleaded anonymity, told New Telegraph that some initiatives of the previous administration where Divisional Police Officers were rewarded monthly based on improved security in their areas

had been jettisoned by the current administration.

According to him, it is not enough to have security equipment in place without good welfare packages for the personnel.

At a state-organised town hall meeting, former Commissioner for Rural Development, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, had raised the alarm over the increasing rate of kidnapping.

Ojelabi said his four-year-old grandson was kidnapped and was yet to be rescued several months later.

The former commissioner said that the boy was kidnapped in January.

The kidnappers, it seems, have spread their tentacles, like an octopus, across the country.

On September 29, a group of heavily armed men abducted Mrs. Margaret Emefiele, the wife of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele on the Benin-Agbor Road.

Four other women and a driver were reportedly abducted along with Emefiele.

The CBN gov’s wife was one of the biggest abductions in the country in the recent times and it reflected the high level of insecurity in the land.

In his confessional statement, the leader of the kidnap gang which abducted Emefiele told police detectives that the woman was the gang’s biggest catch.

The suspect, Musa Mohammed, who described it as a random abduction, said his members took to

Falae was abducted in his farm at Ilu-Abo

the dance floor because they had hit it big.

“After we kidnapped the woman, we thought God had finally blessed us,” he said.

Revelation during the parade of nine suspects arrested in connection with Emefiele’s abduction confirmed Mohammed’s claims that the abductors were ecstatic when they abducted the CBN governor’s wife.

Each of the suspects said they got N10 million from the ransom paid for the release of the apex bank’s governor’s wife. Police also recovered N14.7 million from the suspects.

Earlier in September 2015, former Secretary to the Federal Government, Chief Olu Falae was abducted in his farm at Ilu-Abo in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) was in his farm when suspected herdsmen swooped on him.

He was released after the family, in conjunction with the state government, paid N5 million ransom.

Those arrested in connection with the abduction are now standing trial before an Akure High Court.

Former Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, who was also a governorship aspirant on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Victor Olabimtan, was kidnapped on Lokoja-Abuja Road.

The former Commissioner of the Federal Civil Service representing Ondo, Ekiti and Edo states, was travelling when he was abducted by men dressed in military uniform.

His family and political associates had to raise N3 million before he was freed.

Also, the state Chairman of the Muslims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Ajifowowe, was abducted on his way to Abuja on official duties. He was released after a ransom was paid.

Kidnappers stormed the palace of a foremost monarch in Irele Local Government Area of the state, the Laragunsin of Iyasan, Oba Abiodun Oyewumi.

Oyewumi was released after spending about a week in the den of his abductors.

Also, Reverend Sisters Apo Perpetual and Roseline Familade as well as their driver, Zwugwa Zibai, were abducted when they were travelling to Ogun State for

19

a programme.

They were abducted at Kajola village on Benin-Ijebu Ode Expressway in Odigbo Local Government Area of the Ondo State.

On April 4, the owner of Bovina Hotel, Ilorin, Kwara State, Chief Boniface Okoli, was kidnapped by men dressed in military uniform.

This came barely seven months after a failed attempt to kidnap him.

Earlier, Okoli, popularly known as Ify-Bosco, was kidnapped on January 20, 2011.

Barely two months after Okoli’s latest kidnap, the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Ishola Fulani, and the Secretary of the party, Chief Bode Adekanye, were kidnapped at gunpoint on Lokoja-Okene Road.

On March 23, police paraded four men said to be behind the recent spate of kidnapping in the Omu-Aran axis of Kwara State.

The last operation which led to the arrest of the suspects, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ajayi Okasanmi, said was the abduction of Aliyu Harande, the head of the Fulani community in the town. Harande, according to the police, was kidnapped while praying in a mosque behind his house.

In May, the mutilated body of a housewife, Rafat Azeez, was found days after her disappearance. This came after some suspected kidnappers had called her relations to ask for a N3 million ransom. The incident occurred at Arandun in Irepodun Local Government Area.

Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed said his administration was doing everything possible to stem the tide of abduction in Kwara State.

Ahmed, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Dr. Muideen Akorede, said the government was concerned about kidnapping, like any other issue impacting on the security of the state.

“The Kwara State government views the issue of kidnapping, like every issue impacting the security of Kwarans, with serious concern, although kidnapping is comparatively low here. Besides partnering and supporting the operational efficiency of security agencies, the government is also working with community leaders to promote vigilance.

“Additionally, the state government is embarking on media advocacy to provide citizens and residents with security tips on how to avoid kidnapping and other crimes.”

The state Police Commissioner, Olusola Amore, the command had a robust community policing strategy.

According to him, community members and vigilantes are working with the police.

He said: “With that, we always have ample chance of getting to know many things before they happen. Also my strategy of displaying my telephone number is working because every now and then we have people calling us and I can even tell you now I hardly sleep because I have to attend to those calls.

“What that has taught us is that the moment you make the police accessible to the people, they will give you information. There are some people who have information in the community but because they don’t know who to talk to they keep quiet. So, that strategy of CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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INSIGHT

THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Abductors: Lords of the Manor CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

community involvement is working in Kwara.”

On his part, the National Legal Adviser of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Chief Rafiu Balogun, said the relevant institutions like the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies must be strengthened and empowered by way of training and must be wellequipped to tackle the menace of kidnapping.

He said: “Intelligence-gathering is germane so as to always nib in the bud the likely abduction. Furthermore, the stringent punishment being enacted by some states now ought to be imbibed by all the states in the federation and ensure speedy trial of the offenders.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kehinde Eleja, said abduction had reached a very alarming proportion which, according to him, necessitates drastic legislative intervention such as prescribing death penalty or life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of the offence.

“In addition, proceeds therefrom including properties acquired therefrom should be forfeited on conviction. Bail should also not be granted as of right while the trial lasts,” he added.

In Benue State in April, the highly revered Catholic priest, Rev Fr. John Adeyi, was kidnapped while on his way from Okpoga to Otukpa.

Residents of Otukpa community were, however, shocked when they discovered the decaying body of Adeyi, who was the priest of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo.

The body was abandoned behind the local government council secretariat, Obu Otukpa.

This came about two months after his abduction and after a N2 million ransom was paid.

After his arrest, one of the suspected kidnappers, Saidu Abdullahi, confessed to have killed the Adeyi and abandoned his body inside the bush.

He said that after killing Adeyi, he still went ahead to pretend that the priest was alive just to collect the ransom from his family.

Abdullahi also said he used his share of the ransom to build a four-bedroom apartment.

Abduction also seems not to know colour, creed, faith or sex.

In the last one year, more than 40 children have been abducted in Benue State.

A two-year-old baby strapped on the back of her mother, Ifeoma, was snatched by kidnappers and zoomed off in a waiting vehicle.

The incident occurred in the full glare of passers-by at Wadata sharp bend in Makurdi.

Also, a year-old baby, Emmanuel Ojo, was abducted from his mother near Hope Clinic, by Benue Crescent, Makurdi. Three school children were abducted near Wadata Rice Mill also in Makurdi.

A female abductor also deceived a mother and stole her baby at Wanune, the headquarters of Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State. The woman was said to have given the mother money

The suspected kidnappers of Adeyi

Falae

to buy food items while she would watch over her baby.

A 32-year-old mother of three, Mrs. Ngodoo Amiaser, told our correspondent that her son, Tersoo, a four-year pupil of Joel Vision School, Gboko Road, Makurdi, had been missing since August 29 last year.

Other women, including Wandoo Henkyaa, Charity Otumala and Doosuur Aer, said their children had been abducted.

Two Indian expatriates working at Dangote Cement Factory in Tse Kucha near Gboko were also abducted but later released following the intervention of the state government.

Sadly, kidnappers have extended their dragnet to the traditional institution in the state as they also abducted the paramount ruler of Gboko North, Chief Tsegba George, the father of Hon. Terngu Tsegba, former Speaker Pro-tempore in the House of Representatives.

The octogenarian was abducted in his palace at Adekaa in GbokoEast by armed men, who stormed the area in two unmarked cars.

The monarch was released later.

Perturbed by the growing cases of abduction and other criminal activities in the state, Governor Samuel Ortom has introduced an amnesty programme aimed at recovering illegally-acquired arms and ammunition in circulation to

Adeyi

Abdullahi also said he used his share of the ransom to build a four-bedroom apartment

make life safe for the people.

The amnesty programme, however, failed to succeed as the prime target, Terwase Akwaza aka Gana, who after surrendering over 100 arms to the government was suspected to have gone back to his old ways. He was allegedly embroiled in the gruesome assassination of the governor’s Senior Special Adviser on Special Security, Denen Igbana, alongside others.

Only recently, Ortom handed over five of the children rescued from abductors to their parents in Makurdi. The children were Emmanuel Abedi, Favour Oleka, James Adanu and Joseph Abode.

Ortom told journalists that the rescue of the kids and arrest of their abductors followed the stick approach his administration adopted at the expiration of the carrot approach.

The suspects were apprehended following a tip-off by men of the vigilante group service who discovered that they were operating in Makurdi and Otukpo local government areas of Benue State as well as Okigwe in Abia State.

The suspects included Adejo Ogiri who was the syndicate’s anchor man in the state, Michael Ezekiel, Afonne Nwokocha, Henry Ndukwe and Ifeanyi Isaac.

Ortom said the success being recorded through the stick approach of the amnesty programme was a manifestation of

the commitment of his administration to security.

According to him, his administration cannot surrender the state to criminals.

The governor vowed that those who refused to embrace peace and were involved in abduction, child trafficking, armed robbery and cultism, would be pursued to their holes and made to face the music.

He promised to continue to support the children whose parents were yet to come to identify until they were reunited with their parents.

Ebonyi State government has enacted anti-kidnapping law which prescribes death penalty for convicted kidnappers. The law was enacted by the administration of former Governor Martin Elechi.

Although no high profile kidnap has been recorded in the state in the recent times, when the present government came on board, it made it vowed not to tolerate kidnapping and other violent crimes and warned that anyone caught would be dealt with according to the law.

While addressing the people at the Abakaliki Township Stadium on May 29, Governor Dave Umahi said he would not hesitate to sign death warrant of anyone convicted of kidnapping as provided for in the state anti-kidnapping law.

Also last month, while swearing-in his new Senior Technical Assistants (STAs) and Technical Assistants (TAs), Umahi said he would hold accountable the leaders of any area where abduction took place.

Kebbi State government said it had taken a drastic measure to check the recent kidnapping cases in Yauri and Zuru emirates.

The Deputy Governor, Col. Ismail Yombe (rtd), told our correspondent that before the 2015 general election, there were serious cases of the kidnapping in the two emirates.

He said: “We equip our securities agencies in the state in order to find the lasting solution to the menace. They used to kidnap people from Niger State and hide them in Yuari and Kotangora in Niger State. Our security men arrested some kidnappers last year and they have been charged to court.”

Yombe said with the support of the two emirs, the state had not experienced abduction cases again.

He then admonished other states and the Federal Government to employ the services of the traditional rulers and security agencies to end the menace.

Also, the Secretary of the Yauri Emirate Council, Alhaji Ibrhaim Garba, commended the effort of the emir and the security agencies for fighting kidnapping to a standstill in the area.

Garba urged both the state and the Federal Government to involve the traditional rulers and other stakeholders in fighting the menace in the country.

•Additional reports by Biodun Oyeleye, Babatope Okeowo, Muritala Ayinla, Abubakar Abdul,Cephas Iorhemen and Uchenna Inya

21

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthEastFocus

Beating recession with urban-rural migration

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Benin agog for new monarch

24

While many moan over the economic situation the country has found itself, some other people in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State, are finding a way round the crisis. Their solution? Relocate to the rural areas, as IGBEAKU ORJI reports

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hallenges are the drivers and true test of the human instinct for survival.

Interestingly, providence generously endowed everyone with a measure of that instinct.

The use however that one makes of his gift makes the difference between a wise man and a fool.

That the Nigeria’s economy has plunged into recession is no more news but while some people spend their time complaining and blaming government, others are finding a way around it, knowing that no condition is permanent. The recession means different things to different people. To some, it is a time of tapping the opportunities hitherto overlooked while others go on wining and grumbling.

The recession, unarguably has offered some people time for deep reflection. Such category of people have come to the realization that it is no use staying in the city to pay bills, rent and other demands of the city.

They have seen that they will survive better if they relocate to the village, hence, the increase in urban rural migration in Abia State.

In the city, for instance, everything one’s needs is bought, some argue. In the village, there are fallow pieces of land that can be cultivated and it is just a matter of time before one’s or family fortune will change as crops are ready for harvest.

As the country sinks deeper into economic crisis, some families in Umuahia, have been forced to relocate to rural areas in order to cope with the biting situation.

Most businesses have collapsed and there is no wisdom in paying

for a shop in the city when there is no business to do in it nor is it proper to continue to pay house rent just to live in the city when one can conveniently relocate to a less expensive environment.

A recent check in the state capital showed that many families have opted to either return to their villages or to relocate to less expensive parts of the town.

This has brought the reality of the hard time to the fore.

Many people did not understand the implication of the recession when the alarm was raised earlier but now it has dawned on them that it is time to weigh the options.

To stay in the city and buy kerosene at N200 per litre or source alternative fuel; to adjust and bear the brunt of increase in petroleum product with the attendant increase in inter and intra city transportation; to continue to pay house rent in the city or to complete the house in the village and live there; to continue to roam the streets of the city in search of nonexistent jobs or see what to do with the available land or implement other ideas hitherto in the cooler.

Recently, several lorry loads of people and their belongings were seen being conveyed towards rural areas. At Ohobo road, along Olokoro in Umuahia South Local Government Area, a couple was seen packing their belongings into a waiting Mitsubishi lorry while their kids folded their hands watching in confusion and wondering why their parents decided to take them home unceremoniously.

Also at School Road, right op-

File: The Abia Tower in Umuahia

As people relocate, they start small business or farming and contribute to economic growth of the community

posite the Umuahia Township Stadium, another family was seen packing out of their building.

At Ohafia/Arochukwu Park, beside the Umuahia North Local Government headquarters, the situation was so pronounced as the number of families travelling to rural areas with heavy luggage has increased.

One of the parents who decided to relocate to his home town, Mr. Calistus Onyemere, a civil servant and father of four, said he could not afford to maintain his house rent at Agbama Housing Estate, Umuahia.

He said he agreed with his wife to use their salaries to renovate his house at the village and use the remaining part on their children’s school fees.

His words: “I find it hard to feed these my children properly.

So, it is better to find them a good but affordable school. I thank God that I have a three-bedroom house in my father’s compound at Olokoro. I will rent out one and use the other two for my family. I will now spend small money on transportation to and from Umuahia

town”.

Also giving his reason for relocating, Chikezie Okoronkwo, an artisan from Ozuitem in Bende Local Government Area, said that he planned to go into agriculture to survive the harsh condition in the country.

A landlord at Low Cost Housing Estate Umuahia, Chief Harbour Uwaegbulam, lamented that most of his tenants had not paid him for several months.

Harbour also lamented that two rooms were still unoccupied in his house after the previous occupant packed out.

He passionately appealed to the governments at all levels to reduce the sufferings of the people before they take to revolution.

Commenting on the positive aspect of the urban-rural migration, Engr. Uchegbuo opined that it could help improve the economic condition of the community. “As people relocate, they start small business or farming and contribute to the economic growth of the community and by the time the recession is over we will be better for it,” he said.

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News|south-east

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

That Igbo culture don’t die CHARLES ONYEKWERE writes on the recent World Igbo Day celebrated by Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu

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he World Igbo Day is an annual event of Ndigbo across the globe and also a day set aside for the people to speak with one voice.

On 29th September,2016, the Auditorium hall of apex socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo was filled to capacity as the group marked their Igbo day celebration held at the National Secretariat,7 park Avenue, Enugu.

Prominent Igbo leaders comprising the five Eastern states of the region of Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states were in attendance with the theme “Ojemba chetakwa ulo”, meaning that we should “think home and invest home” At the occasion, the president General, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey, whose address was presented A cross-section of by his Deputy, Chief O.A.U Ony- Igbo chiefs at an ema, stated that the quantum of event economic input and investments the Igbo man does in any area he finds himself was unavoidably enormous as the Igbo are natural enterprising and liberal in citing investments, in commerce, real estates and industries.

“We should therefore encourage all Ndigbo both at home and in the Diaspora to consider “home” and bringing all hands on deck in both industrialisation, and development of our place. We should give it a paramount consideration and deploy some of our investments to our home base-the South-East.

“We should not fold our arms to look-up to what government can do for us. Rather, with our own capacity and natural disposition, we can do things in our place that will remove burden from government, both at the state and the centre and

make our people and environment, the envy of all.

“Ohanaeze will soon create a committee that will help our people in handling some bottlenecks that impedes the aspiration in some of our willing brothers and sisters. We will be pleased to take complains on the issue, as it touches at the fulcrum of our imminent industrial revolution, commercial and technological explosion.”

On national issues, the leadership extensively opposed the proposed sale of national assets by the Federal Government. It believed that selling the assets built and developed by the previous governments in the country might not be the best way to suc-

ceed in an enterprise.

“We rather think that it might be better if we look inwards to get to the root cause of the recession and address same rather than disposing our hard earned national assets. Agreed that these assets might be poorly managed now, without yielding optional results due to some corrupt attitude and misplaced values of those entrusted with managing them.

“Ohanaeze believes that these assets’ viability, will surely manifest when our societal values change and when men of proficiency ascend to the management of our national enterprise with full cooperation of our society.

We believe that these priceless

Nnamdi Kanu: One year after It is exactly one year now that the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) and founder of Radio Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been in detention. He is on trial by the Federal Government for alleged treasonable felony. UCHENNA INYA, in Abakaliki, reports.

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orty-six year- old Nnamdi Kanu was arrested by the Department of State Security at a hotel in Lagos in October, 2015, on his way back from the United Kingdom. He was subsequently charged to court for alleged treasonable felony. Initially, the court ordered that he be remanded in prison custody.

Since then, Kanu has been languishing in Kuje prison. His arrest, continued detention and trial sparked off protest and agitations by pro-Biafra groups for his release.

Also, Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, called for his release. Two high courts had granted Kanu bail. The courts orders were not adhered to by the Federal Government and DSS prompting more protest and agitations for Kanu’s release.

In some of the protests, the agitators clashed with security agents which led to high casualties on the part of the ProBiafra groups and security agents.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, while marking this year’s World Igbo Day in Enugu last month, had given the Federal Government a matching order to release Kanu unconditionally, saying his continued incarceration may escalate more damages in the South-East zone of the country.

President General of Ohanaeze, Chief Gary-Enwo Igariwey, whose address was read by the Deputy President General, Sir O.A.U Onyema during the occasion, urged the Federal Government to obey the order of a High Court which earlier granted Kanu bail.

“Ohanaeze feels that there should be

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration till now does not seem to be palatable and does not seem to pass a positive message

Kanu

a critical look at the reasons why the young man who was agitating without arms or element of violence should be incarcerated,” urging the Federal Government to re-evaluate the circumstances which made the court of law to earlier grant him bail and see to which extent it can be useful in putting things straight.

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration till now does not seems to be

assets already acquired, stand at the centre of the economy and if managed well will give growth and hope to our posterity.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo strongly advice against the attempt or proposal to dispose our national assets like the NNPC, NLNG, refineries at this point in time.”

The group also expressed dismay over the dilapidated state of federal roads in the South- East zone of the country, describing it as unholy situation and unfortunate which has remained in the state of disrepair and virtually impassable.

“A hitherto hour trip from Enugu to Onitsha now takes almost five hours due to the unbelievable state of the two wings of the expressway and the old Trunk-A road. It is completely unpalatable to connect any of the South-east states capitals from another. This bad state of the federal roads has become so embarrassing that Ohanaeze begins to wonder why? We call on the Federal Government to please declare a state of emergency on the federal roads in the zone.

The apex socio- cultural Organisation charged the entire South-East governors to do more and focus on the federal roads as their people are the end users and the feel the brunt.

On the continued incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB), the group reiterated their position and appealled to the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari to release him unconditionally from detention.

“This had earlier on been resolved and communicated after our last IMEOBI meeting of November 5, 2015. Ohanaeze feels that a critical look at the reasons why the young man was agitating will help to put things straight in our country. We urge the Federal Government to re-evaluate the circumstances which made the court of law to earlier grant him bail and see to which extent it can be useful in putting things straight. Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration till now does not seem to be palatable and does not be pass a positive message.” palatable and does not seem to pass a positive message”.

Already, the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has made public the charges brought against its detained leader, Kanu by the Federal Government, describing it as frivolous and out of place.

In a statement signed by its spokesmen, Emma Mmezu and Clifford Iroanya, IPOB leadership said that the frivolous charge brought against Kanu by the agents of the Department of State Services (DSS) bothers on the importation of equipment into Nigeria.

“That you, Nnamdi Kanu, between the months of March and April, 2015 imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulusiuzor town in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State within the jurisdiction of thishonourable court, a radio transmitter known as TRAM 5OL concealed in a container which you described as containing household items, which you so declared and that, you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 47(2) (a) of the Customs and Excise Management Act.”

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthSouthFocus

Since the joining of his ancestors by the late Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’edo Uku Akpolokolo, Oba Erediauwa, the kingdom has waited for his successor. Exactly one week from today, the heir apparent will be crowned the new king.

CAJETAN MMUTA in Benin reports

Oba gha to kpere! ...ise!

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ike a carnival of sorts, the entire metropolitan City of Benin and residents of the ancient kingdom exploded in ecstatic celebration last week Saturday.

It was one like no other considering the richness, scenes and personalities involved. There were staccato of drumbeats, eulogies and war songs, deep and high level spiritualities, traditional and customary rituals.

The gods and ancestors of the kingdom were almost stirred up alive. The sick, who were close to death flung off their wrapped selves from the beds while those engrossed in socio-economic activities abandoned them to file out to behold the earthshaking revelry and seeming Biblical triumphant entry of His Royal Highness, Ambassador Eheneden Erediauwa, the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, heir apparent and eldest son of the late traditional ruler of Benin Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba Nedo Uku Akpolokolo, Oba Erediauwa.

It was indeed a royal treat as the Crown Prince walked tall, passed his way into the royal kingdom amid thrilled fanfare, glory and cheers by thousands of crowd of admirers, family members, associates, friends and well wishers, both high and low.

It was indeed a feat of mystery wrapped in power, might, influence, tradition, culture and honour.

He was the cynosure of all eyes as he was accompanied by high calibre of richly dressed palace Chiefs, courtiers, heavily armed security operatives, palace warriors, spiritualists and diviners, as well as cultural troupes who were identified by their high flowing attires of variegated colours, who treated the enthusiastic fans, royal family and others to different rhythmic tunes as the royal procession lighted all nooks and crannies of the ancient kingdom, its precincts and adjoining towns.

It was a marvel and rites worthy to behold going by the symmetrical manner of the royal procession and rhythm with which the colourful ceremony flowed to the excitement of many.

The crown prince (middle) in a procession

Indeed, it was a once in a life time event and ritual and anyone who witnessed it has a lot to tell his world.

More fascinating was the filing out of both the old and young; traders, market women, men, artisans and visitors who stood by the roadsides to wave in admiration as the Crown Prince and his train walked a 10 kilometre distance on foot from the traditional ground at Uselu community in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State to Eko-Ohae (bachelors camp) in present day host capital town of Oredo Local Government Area in the South Senatorial District of the state.

On his way, the heir apparent had to climb a 500-year-old palm tree as part of the rich tradition and culture of the people.

So, began his journey to the throne of his forefathers. The Crown Prince, no doubt, would this month October 20th be crowned the 39th Oba of Benin Kingdom.

His first task for the plum but revered seat was to trek a distance of about 10 kilometres from his temporary palace at Uselu back to the royal palace in Benin City.

It would be recalled that Omo N’Oba Nedo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa who joined his ancestors last year had reigned for 37 years on the exalted throne of the kingdom and his ascendancy to the

I was about 29 years old when Erediauwa was crowned.

I was not a palace Chief then

throne in 1979 was the last time the historic procession was held in the Heart Beat state.

However, Prince Erediauwa left Uselu at about 3:45pm accompanied by a large crowd, mainly indigenes of Uselu. Commercial activities were paralysed along the routes as he trekked through from the Benin-Lagos road, to Lagos Street and finally at Ekpo-Ohae, where he spent three days and was guarded by hordes of security personnel and palace guards at the popular Urhokpota hall within the Kings square area of the City centre. He had left the richly decorated temporally shield on Monday for the main bowl of the ancient palace preparatory for the heroic coronation event which programmes have already lined up by the planning committee headed by Professor Gregory Akenzua. Besides, the symbolic climb of a sacred palm tree (Udin Amamieson-amiuwa) at about 4:30pm, a feat first carried out by Oba Ewuare in the 15th century, Prince Erediauwa also offered some sacrifices in the process before he moved to the Iyan-Akpan now known as the popular five-junction on Benin-Ugbowo road, where Chiefs from Uselu community handed the royal Prince over to top Chiefs from Benin who in return escorted the Crown Prince to Benin City amid endless rhythmic tunes from various cultural troupes, like the Iten Edo Theatre Group and

Benin Royal Dynasty Trust Dance, who entertained the crowd.

Speaking on the remarkable ceremony, a resident of Uselu community, Mrs. Omouwa Omoregie, said the three months spent by the Crown Prince in Uselu had ushered in peace and tranquillity to the people of the community.

She said it was her first time of witnessing the coronation of a new king of Benin and that she was now in a better position to talk about the ceremony and to relate the story to her children.

Also, Chief Osamede Adun, the Aiyobahan of Benin Kingdom and popular businessman, said he was 29 years old when the late Oba Erediauwa was crowned king in 1979 and that he stood among the crowd to watch the procession and coronation.

Adun said, “I was about 29 years old when Erediauwa was crowned.

I was not a palace Chief then. It was how they did it then that is taking place now.”

According to him:”Today, I am the happiest person. Back then, I was looking from the crowd but today, I am a top Palace chief. Where I can get to now, you cannot reach there. I am very happy to be near my Oba.” He described the Crown Prince as a man who abhors lies and derives pleasure in the truth.

“Edaiken himself as king does not like lies. If you want to be closer or be his friend, tell him the truth.

And once he finds out that you are not truthful, he will not be happy with you. I am advising all my fellow chiefs, if you are talking with our king, give him the true picture of things and when he later finds out that you are telling him lies, he will never be happy with you”, he said.

On his part, Chief Ada Igbinovia, the Edosomwan of Benin Kingdom, said those who are witnessing the coronation ceremony should count themselves very lucky as it was an event, an experience.

A chief who claimed to have witnessed the coronation of Oba Akenzua, Chief Osarobo Orue, the Oba Iyekeagbon of Benin Kingdom, said the reign of the new Oba of Benin would bring peace than his predecessors.

“This is the third time I am witnessing the coronation of Oba of Benin. I witnessed the coronation of Oba Akenzua, Oba Erediauwa and that of Edaiken N’Usele. I will join in the trekking. I am 100 years old now”, he said.

Chief Egharevba Igbinehi, the Ohanwan of Benin, said his forefathers were among the Chiefs that came with Prince Oranmiyan from Uhe (Ife).

CONTINUED ON PAGE22

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News|south-south

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

He said his function is to pray for the Oba before he begins any ceremony.

One needs ask why in the first instance the Crown Prince’s sojourn to Uselu. Shortly after Oba Erediauwa joined his ancestors and subsequent formal announcement by the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, there laid the great expectation of people of kingdom for the emergence of a new monarch to preside over the affairs of the ancient kingdom. Before the ascendancy of a new Oba, the people and the world were greeted with the passage of one of not only Africa’s great first class traditional rulers but also Nigeria’s foremost Permanent Secretaries whose indelible marks, dexterity, industry and frank disposition to issues of both national and domestic attention till today had remained a reference point.

The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, for the 37 years on the saddle, made history as one whose reign and words contributed in no small measure to shape the history of the Heart Beat state of Edo and the nation.

As a product of lasting and permeating peace, unity and development, Oba Erediauwa’s historic reign brought enormous relieve to many as he was reputed for handling issues with all sense of maturity, fearlessness, fairness and applied wisdom.

These were demonstrated in most communal crises and leadership conflicts among various interest groups. His influence as chairman of the traditional council and even as major stakeholder in giving direction on policy matters and national issues were exemplary.

As a mirror and role model in the sanctity of traditional and culture, he remained untainted.

The rich potentials and fatherly disposition of Oba Erediauwa is what today has continued to endear him to many and attract large crowd of sympathizers on learning about the end of his peaceful reign and reuniting with his ancestors.

To the people of the ancient kingdom of Benin, the monarch was referenced as a god as he was a rallying point while alive.

It was therefore not surprising when the large army of subjects of the kingdom including non indigenes, politicians, friends and associates alike joined the bereaved family members, made up of the monarch’s children, wives and in-laws at the ancient palace in Benin to sympathize with them on the passage of their sage and man of many parts.

The Oba died at the ripe age of 93 years. Although, the Benin traditional council had before now placed a ban on anyone from making reference to the late Oba’s age, even no mention was made about it for several years even during his birthdays while on the throne. This is seen as one way to preserve the spiritual and sanctity of the rich culture and tradition of the people.

Before the formal installation of the heir apparent, HRH Eheneden Erediauwa as the new Oba of the kingdom, the top hierarchy of palace chiefs led by

Benin agog for new monarch

the Iyase of the kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, broke the big chalk to announce the passage of Oba Erediauwa.

The heir apparent had in the last few months been led through and completed in the process some mandatory traditional rites of spiritual fortification and preparations to enable him carry the task ahead of him.

It was at the end of the all important exercise that he was ushered into a royal procession to the traditional palace ground at Uselu preparatory to the formal ceremony that today has culminated to the flurry of activities for his coronation as the next Oba of the kingdom.

On October 6, 2015, he was formally initiated into the royal palace chamber of Iwebo in keeping with the ancient Benin custom and was subsequently installed as the Edaiken of Uselu (Edaiken N’Uselu) on March 12th 2016,thus making him the next Oba. After three days at Eko-Ohae, the Edaiken continues his journey to Usama, the venue of the traditional coronation rites, a site where Oromiyan, the father of Eweka I, built the first palace and all succeeding Obas from Eweka 1 were crowned and lived there, until Oba Ewedo in the 13th century moved the palace to the present site in the heart of the City centre. He is expected to remain in Usama for a period of seven days to carry out some rituals.

Within the seven days, the Edaiken visits a village a few kilometres outside Benin, to

On ascension to the revered throne of Oba of the kingdom, he will become the 39th Oba of the kingdom

perform the next ceremony that leads to choosing a befitting title he will be addressed to as the new Oba of kingdom. The feat of title taking ceremony was first carried out during the reign of Oba Eweka 1 whose maternal grandfather, Ogie-Egor, lived in nearby Egor village.

Taking into account the long history, the Edaiken will return to Usama where he would be crowned at a colourful ceremony by the Oliha, the leader of the Uzama who proclaims him with the new title of Oba of Benin.

It is of great significance to note that until the ceremony is performed at Use, the Edaiken never knows what name he is to be crowned with.

From that moment, he ceases to use his personal names and is known by the new title as the Oba. It should be noted that in both at Egor and Uselu, there still exists in their original forms shrines established by the diviners, traditional worshippers and native doctors who brought the magical Akhue seeds from Uhe. After the new Oba must have been crowned, he leaves Usama on the seventh day for the City centre to be proclaimed and presented to Benin people amid admiration, fanfare and in joyous mood for a new dawn. On his way to the City the new Oba stops at Isekherhe to perform the ceremonial crossing of a bridge, a reminder of the historic day of Oba Ewedo, who embarked on a similar journey of an erected bridge to enable him pass Isekherhe territory without stepping on the ground.

Some chiefs on procession

The Oba and his entourage proceed to Urho-Okpota, the gate of Okpota which existence dates to the era of Oba Ozolua about 15th centuries ago.

The UrhoOkpota, which is the present and popular Ring Road or Ring road in the heart of Benin City habouring some of the cultural exhibitions and the Oredo Local Government Area secretariat complex.

History has it that Okpota was a powerful native doctor, who prepared a charm of good luck for any Oba and the charm is usually buried at the entrance gate of the ancient palace and it brings prosperity and peace to the kingdom.

The past Oba of the kingdom was said to have lodged the Okpota in a house near the palace within the location of the present exhibition centre of the council. With the completion of the coronation ceremony at Urhokpota, the new Oba now moves into the palatial home as the new Oba of Benin.

It is the peoples wish and expectation that the new monarch toes the path of his father, who to them remained an epitome of love, humility, mirror of hope courage and justice.

On ascension to the revered throne of Oba of the kingdom, he will become the 39th Oba of the kingdom. After the coronation, he will be greeted by all with the traditional Oba gha to’ kpere, meaning, “may the king last long” Born in 1953, he is a former Nigerian Ambassador to Norway and Angola. Eheneden holds Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Economics and Sociology from the University of Wales and is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

He has been active in leading positions within the Nigerian business community, especially, in the oil and gas industries.

Prince Erediauwa is married to three wives; Princess Iroghama (Obazuaye N’Erie, Princess Iyayiota (Obazuwa N’Erie) and Princess Ikpata (Ohe N’Erie) respectively.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Industry

Business INCLUSION Licensed mobile money operators should deepen financial inclusion in rural areas across the country

Manufacturers battle to stay afloat

eWorld Smart ICT solutions as panacea for IGR growth

27 29

Why mobile money is not growing in Nigeria, by telcos

Kunle Azeez

N

igeria’s potential N1trillion mobile money market may remain untapped until the government changes its current model for a more workable standard of running mobile money operations in Nigeria, New Telegraph has learnt.

This formed the results of synthesised views of telecommunications companies in Nigeria under the auspices of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).

According to the telecoms operators, despite the large number of mobile operators already licensed in the country, the current model of bank-led introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may have to be changed by making the sector telco-led.

ATCON President, Mr. Olusola Teniola, said: “We believe that a review of our mobile money segment of the nation’s electronic payment is needed so as to ensure that, as a country, we leverage the over 152.8 million active telephone lines to drive financial inclusion in the country.”

Already, 59.6 million adults are unbanked in Nigeria, according to the CBN, while plans are ongoing to ensure

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

L-R: Chairman, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Chief Kola Jamodu; Governor,Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode; incoming Chairperson, PZ Cussons PLC, Mrs Caroline Silver and outgoing Chairman, Richard Harvey when PZ Cussons Board paid him a farewell visit at Alausa.

that 80 per cent of Nigerians are banked by 2020.

“We are seeking a change in the mobile money model in Nigeria. We would like to see a situation whereby, the industry is telco-led, as it is the case in other countries such as Kenya,” said Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya.

Meanwhile, investigations have showed that non-bank mobile money operators licensed by the CBN are losing focus on reason for granting them operating licences.

In an exclusive interview with this newspaper in Lagos, Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement Systems (NIBSS), Mr. Adebisi Shonubi, said non-bank mobile money operators were licensed to provide services such as transaction channels and as agent for deepening financial inclusion in rural areas across the country.

He, however, noted that this category of mobile money licensees had turned away from their mandate of driving financial inclusion in the rural communities.

“They now operate in the cities to compete with the same customers being targeted by the big commercial banks,” he said.

He attributed the development to ‘misconception’ and ‘misunderstanding’ of the objective of the licences given to the mobile money operators.

As part of the cashless economy initiative of the apex bank in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, about 20 organisations have been issued m-payment licences to operate in Nigeria with majority of the licensees being non-bank organisations.

Shonubi stated: “I think a lot of the mobile money operators have some misconceptions about their licences. Some of them believe they got a banking licence. Yes, you get a financial licence but mobile

INFLATION RATE August 2016..........................17.61% July 2016................................17.13% June 2016..............................16.5%

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

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Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

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Senior Correspondent Energy

Reporter

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

EXCHANGE RATE

WHAT'S NEW

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parallel Market October 7)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N474 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N595 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N512

l Foreign Reserves – $24.420bn as at 10/10/2016

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Nnamdi Amadi

Being the number of unbanked adults in Nigeria, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Rates Dashboard

Taiwo Hassan

Chuks Onuanyin

59.6 million

money is not banking licence.

“In essence, they are transaction companies. For instance, customers have the balance with the bank but we are creating a platform for them to transact on it through mobile money.”

He also explained that most of the licensees picked up the licences because it was cheap without knowing what to do with it.

“Because of the initial low cost of getting the licence, a lot of people ran into it without understanding that it is a retail business and retail business takes a long time to go. So, many of them were not adequately capitalised.

For that reason, they always look for the closest thing they can hang on with to do their business.

“That means, rather than go to the village and there are only 100 people there, they chose to start doing their businesses in the cities, where there are thousands of people, half of whom already understand what the technology is, since most of them have smart

(Interbank as at October 7)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N304 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N385 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N340

Source: CBN

NMRC to raise N20bn for mortgage finance

OPS to FG: Initiate investor-friendly policies

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STRATEGY The firm’s projected contribution to capital market to hit N140 billion in 2019

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NMRC to raise N20bn for mortgage finance

L-R: Public Relations Officer, Association of Agriculture Products and Equipment Manufacturers in Nigeria (INDIGENOUS), Mr.Onwuka Paul; legal Adviser to the Association, Hon. Ben Kadiri; President, Chief Eric Umeofia and Secretary General, Alhaji Umaru Abdullahi, during the press briefing by the Association on deliberate attempt to close down indigenous Manufacturers by MDS’s , in Lagos.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Dayo Ayeyemi

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n a bid to increase affordable home ownership among Nigerians, the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC) may raise N20 billion from the capital market, New Telegraph has learnt.

Managing Director of NMRC, Professor Charles Inyangete, disclosed this in a presentation he made in Lagos, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent.

He said the fresh fund is meant to further deepen mortgage refinance in the country.

In the last one and half years, he said that the company had provided finance for the Primary Mortgage Banks and others to the tune of N7.6 billion in 12 transactions across the country.

Inyangete listed some of the housing finance firms that have benefited from this largesse to include Stanbic IBTC, which got N1.8billion in one transaction and Imperial Homes that received N1.7 billion in three transactions.

“Others are Trustbond Mortgage Bank with N700 million in three transactions; SunTrust Bank with N1.3 billion in two transactions; Homebase Mortgage Bank with N500 million in one transaction; and Sterling Bank with N1.6 billion in two transactions respectively,” he said.

Inyangete stated that the apex nation’s mortgage refinance bank would be intro-

ducing a new class of high quality long-term assets to investors, adding that it had a projection of moving from N8 billion mortgage finance in 2015 to N140 billion projected contribution to capital market by 2019.

The NMRC is a private sector-driven mortgage liquidity facility with the purpose of promoting home ownership in Nigeria by raising long-term funds through the capital market.

The managing director stated that the key role of NMRC was to leverage funding for mortgage refinancing, provide liquidity for the mortgage market; improve affordability by reducing mortgage rates, extend mortgage terms, lower deposit; enhance standardisation of aspects of the market;

Why mobile money is not growing in Nigeria, by telcos CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

phones and mobile money operators, thus, considered this easier for them to do business,” he explained.

“Unfortunately, that is the same people the banks are targeting. What you now find is ‘rivalry’ because everybody is targeting the same audience and that is not the original intention when they were being given licence,” he added.

Besides, Shonubi noted that mobile money operators were given licences to encourage other people to come into the financial space, using wallets for payment; “not the same customers that the banks are targeting who already have bank accounts using their phones and applications that the banks have given them. That is why it appears they are in rivalry.”

He said that with the ongoing measures being taken to ensure that mobile money operators are able to leverage a shared agency networks being supported by the CBN, the licensee would be able to focus

on their raison deter of driving financial inclusion in the country.

“I hope with the way they are now working together to create a shared agency network, it would be easier for me to now go to village, create one agent network and all other mobile money operators can connect to that agent and I would get paid, because if you don’t allow other mobile money operators to connect to that agent platform, you will never create enough business for that agent to begin to see the business as profitable,” he said.

Shonubi also stressed the need for mobile money operators to create a niche for themselves to be able to offer services that are not exclusively provided by the banks.

“There is absolutely nothing that a mobile money operator can do that banks cannot do, as long as a bank sees that person as its customer. So, as long as the mobile money refuses to create a niche for itself, it is going to remain a big issue in the industry,” he added.

introduce new products and accelerate the creation of new mortgages.

On NMRC’s achievements, he stated that the company had been able to generate uniform underwriting standard (industry standard for mortgage origination); create new debt instrument (Bond Issue); developed Model Mortgage; and Foreclosure Law (MMFL); provided mortgage market infrastructure by rolling out a technology platform for the mortgage market, and created

mortgage market information portal to build a national mortgage market information portal.

Besides, he stated that the bank had signed Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) with various states to adopt its MMFLs. He said: “The inequality created by the lack of affordable housing in Nigeria places a moral obligation on us all to use every tool at our disposal in finding solutions to providing access to sustainable af-

fordable housing finance.

“The NMRC is responding to its vision to be the dominant housing partner in Nigeria by providing liquidity and access to affordable housing finance in Nigeria.”

NMRC partners include National Bureau of Statistics (NBS); Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing; and Mortgage Banking Association of Nigeria and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.

OPS to FG: Initiate investor-friendly policies Taiwo Hassan

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he Organised Private Sector (OPS) has urged the Federal Government to fine-tune its economic policies to prevent local and foreign investors from deserting the nation’s industrial sector.

Chairman, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Small and Medium scale Group (SMESG), Jon Kachikwu, made this call in a chat with New Telegraph in Lagos.

He said that it was worrisome to see that many blue chip companies operating in the nation’s manufacturing sector recording heavy losses in their financial results last year.

“They attributed the losses to the looming economic challenges, especially the foreign exchange crisis and harsh operating environment,” he explained.

Indeed, blue chip firms such as Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc and C&I Leasing Plc are said to have collectively incurred about N1 trillion in losses mostly due to the forex crisis in their financial statements for 2015.

Kachikwu said that many industrial firms had adopted cost-saving measures in running their day-to-day activities but that government’s policy summersault was one of the salient issues fueling business

uncertainties in the industry.

He said this had prompted local and foreign investors to shun investing in the economy since the operating environment was not conducive for them.

He said that it would be a huge task for the country’s economy to turn around positively soon if the government continued with its monetary policy stance, adding that investors would continue to shun the Nigeria economy, thereby jeopardising the investment growth of many blue chip manufacturing companies in the country.

He said: “For now there is anxiety in the system. Most of the foreign investors are not just comfortable with policy summersaults of the present government. The major challenge we have in the economy now is lack of government’s consistency to drive the economy forward due to its harsh economic policies, which are disincentives to willing investors to come in.

He continued: “So the foreign investors are not willing to come into Nigeria’s economy to invest because of the policy summersaults of this present government.

“Most of the exporters that are supposed to bring in the funds are not doing so or even repatriating the monies because they are not sure of the rates the commercial banks would exchange the pounds,

dollars and other foreign currencies from them. This is the general apprehension in the economic landscape of this country now, until the government sits up and does the needful.”

Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Peter Ndegwa, in a chat with New Telegraph, said the management had adopted strategic plans to reduce spending on imports, increase exports and generate more foreign exchange into the company.

He said that the continued high inflation rate in the country had raised the cost of doing business in Nigeria astronomically.

Guinness’ earnings after tax fell 83 per cent in the nine months through March, while revenue dropped 18 per cent to N69.6 billion ($220 million).

Similarly, Chairman, C&I Leasing Plc, Chief Chukwuma Okolo, said that the company’s profit dropped by 20 per cent from N507 million to N406 million in 2015.

He said the drop was largely due to foreign exchange losses of N123 million (2014: gains of N34 million) and N96 million (2014: Nill) for the group and company respectively and impairment loss provisions of N130 million (2014: N53 million) and N129 million (2014: gain of N67 million) for the group and company respectively.

THURSDAY, october 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

InDUSTRY

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A bottling plant

Manufacturers are still finding it difficult to stay afloat as recently reechoed at the 44th edition of their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja. TAIWO HASSAN reports

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o doubt, these are not the best of times for the Nigerian economy especially the manufacturing sector due to the various challenges that have impaired the segment’s growth and development.

With revelations from different quarters showing that the country’s economic indicators are nose-diving, there is a need to unfold strategies to overcome the problems and also chart a new and prosperous course for the sector.

Govt acknowledges difficulty In his opening speech at the MAN AGM, President Muhammadu Buhari admitted that the country’s economy was indeed passing through daunting challenges in the annals of Nigeria’s existence as a nation despite the various economic policies put in place.

He said the event was timely and the theme, ‘Diversifying the Nigerian Economy: The Role of Government in Manufacturing,’ was quite apt, as it was coming at a time the nation is faced with urgent need to diversify the economy.

He noted: “As you know, the dramatic fall in crude oil and other commodity prices has had a serious negative impact on world economies, especially countries like Nigeria, which depended on one commodity for its export earnings.

“This administration is convinced that the key to our quest for economic diversification and therefore survival

Manufacturers battle to stay afloat lies in agriculture and the manufacturing sector.

“A strong manufacturing sector will create more jobs and wealth for our people. It will usher in sustainable economic prosperity because we will produce what we consume as a nation and generate foreign exchange by exporting any surplus.”

Buhari explained that the manufacturing sector was well positioned to be a major driver of Nigeria’s economic growth because of its immense natural resources and the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerians.

He said that the gover nment was therefore focused on implementing necessary policies and strategies aimed at unleashing the full potential of manufacturing in Nigeria.

“We will rely heavily on your ideas and inputs at all stages of for mulation and implementation of new industrial policies.

“For our part, we will remove bottlenecks and create a more business friendly environment,” Buhari noted.

MAN remarks Also speaking at the event, president, MAN, Dr. Frank Udemba Jacob, aligned with President Buhari’s view on the economy and the manufacturing sector, saying the country’s economy was under severe pressure despite gover nment’s fiscal and monetary policies aimed at giving the industrial sector a surgical solution.

He said the administration of President Buhari had taken bold initiatives since its inception, especially in the recent policy announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria

A strong manufacturing sector will create more jobs and wealth for our people

(CBN), allocating 60 per cent of all available foreign exchange to the manufacturing sector, partial deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, adoption of flexible foreign exchange policy, among others.

According to him, accepting EPA in its present for m would have spelt doom for Nigeria’s industrialisation programme.

More so, the MAN boss noted that studies car ried out by both the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and European Union revealed ne gative impact of EPA on Nigeria’s economy especially the industrialisation programme.

“If your excellency had not taken this position, the manufacturing sector and the economy generally would have been in shambles now that the country is in recession,” he said.

Jacobs pointed out that the choice of the theme was borne out of the belief that the manufacturing sector is important for economic diversification being promoted by this government.

Investor’s perspectives On his part, President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said the economic diversification was arguably the single most topical issue in Nigeria today and basically aimed at increasing the range of products (and services) in the economy through domestic value addition.

He explained that the policy was also to enhance export opportunities for a variety of products and in so doing, create multiple streams of foreign exchange inflows into the do-

mestic economy.

Dangote reiterated that the role of the government in manufacturing simply referred to those things that it should do to expand the manufacturing sector, enhance its productivity and improve its competitiveness.

On the state of Nigerian manufacturing sector, Dangote noted: “In the sixties and seventies, Nigeria’s nascent manufacturing sector showed plenty of promise, making appreciable contributions to employment generation, wealth creation and economic growth.

“Although the industrial sector experienced some teething problems, it encountered more severe challenges in the mid-eighties and nineties as the operating environment became increasingly hostile.

“Relative stability in the macro-economy in the recent past, coupled with some encouraging gover nment policies did offer temporary respite to manufacturers but this was short-lived, as the operating environment in the last couple of years has resulted in a marked decline in the fortunes of the sector.

“Recently, figures show the manufacturing sector contracted by -2.9 per cent in 2015 as against growth rates of 21.8 per cent and 14.7 per cent in 2013 and 2014 respectively.”

Conclusion Although the AGM may have been a citadel for working out the modus operandi to get the country’s economy out of the current recession, the industrial sector still holds the ace towards fine-tuning the country’s economic growth and development.

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THURSDAY, october 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Recession: Investors seek tax cuts INCENTIVE Corporate Income Tax should be reduced for manufacturers in order to attract more investments

Stories Taiwo Hassan

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anufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has asked the Federal Government to adjust the country’s taxes (Corporate Income Tax, Value Added Tax, and Personal Income Tax) downward due to the ongoing recession.

President of the association made this call in Abuja during the grpup’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

He said that it was not advisable to increase CIT, VAT and PAYE since the country’s productive sector was already severely hit with dwindling investments.

Besides, he said that the government should reduce CIT to 15 per cent for manufacturers as a way of attracting more investments aimed at pulling Nigeria out of recession.

He noted that this initiative had been adopted in other countries with success stories, stressing that any further increase would crowd out more investments.

He said it was unfortunate

that the country’s economy had plummeted into recession, urging the government not to backtrack on its backward integration policy.

Jacob noted: “The resourcebased industrialisation policy/ local sourcing of raw materials, which MAN has been canvassing for sometime now, involves the utilisation of abundant natural resources in manufacturing the products that the country needs.

“This is a more sustainable and enduring form of industrialisation, compared with the import-dependent indus-

trialisation, which has been practiced in Nigeria for long.

“I am happy to say that manufacturers have gradually but increasingly utilised higher percentage of locally available raw materials over the years.”

For instance, he noted that local sourcing increased from 48 per cent in 2013 to 52 per cent in 2015. This was possible because of the backward integration policy of the government.

He said: “The adoption of this policy by the present administration, I believe, would enhance productivity in the

manufacturing sector and reduce the import bill of the country.

“In order to successfully achieve this policy, however, government should create attractive incentives for investors who would engage in the processing of the abundant agricultural and mineral resources from primary produce to secondary or intermediate products.

“This would go a long way in attracting potential and current manufacturers into the use of local raw material inputs.”

On how the manufacturing sector could get out of recession, the MAN president said the industrial sector, especially the manufacturing sub-sector, should be strengthened by removing all obstacles restraining the growth and competitiveness of the sector such as indiscriminate changes in Monetary Policy Rate (MPR).

This he said, will enable the sector to be optimally productive and play its expected role of employment generation, capital mobilisation, wealth creation and technology acquisition.”

L-R: Deputy President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Chief Babatunde Paul Ruwase; Country Director in Nigeria, Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), Mrs Omowunmi Gbadamosi; Managing Director, CIPE, Andrew Wilson and Vice President (LCCI), Dr. Michael Olawale - Cole, during the courtesy visit of CIPE to LCCI headquarters in Lagos.

BUA to invest $300m in Lafiagi sugar refinery

Why we raised prices of our products, by PZ Cussons

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n line with its backward integration programme, BUA Group has disclosed its intention to invest over $300 million in its Lafiagi sugar refinery in Kwara state.

Group Executive Director at BUA Group, Kabiru Rabiu, said this during the company’s sugar stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos.

He said the investment was aimed at covering the firm’s plantation, sugar mill, refinery, ethanol and power plant as well as completing agricultural aspects of the project.

Rabiu said that BUA was committed to the realisation of Lafiagi sugar company refinery.

He said that upon full completion, the Lafiagi sugar mill, with refinery, would have capacity to crush about 7,000 tons of cane per day and produce over 140,000 tons of pure refined white sugar, about 25 million litres of ethanol, generate 35 megawatts of electricity, as well as create employment opportunities for over 10,000 people.

In his own speech, Rabiu said that expanding the backward integration of its sugar plantations in Kwara was one of the keys to actualising the company’s backward integration programme for sugar production in the country.

His words: “Extensive work is ongoing in Lafiagi, Kwara state with over 20,000 hectares and we

have another 50,000 hectares of farmland in Bassa, Kogi.

“These two operations form the fulcrum of our backward integration programme for sugar and this will further reduce the country’s dependence on imported raw sugar, while supporting the value chain in sugar production within Nigeria.

“Similarly, we expect to replicate the successes we have recorded through the deep integration of our cement operations.

“With most raw materials for cement currently being sourced locally, we have been able to scale up operations significantly with minimal dependence on foreign exchange and will soon start exporting to neighboring countries from both our Obu and Sokoto plants, which are currently undergoing 3.5million MTPA and1.5 million MTPA capacity expansions respectively to bring the group’s cement production capacity to around 10 million MTPA by 2018.”

Recently, BUA announced the divestment of its flour milling business to Olam International in a deal valued at $275 million (N71.5 billion).

While responding to the divestment exercise, Rabiu said the exercise was part of the company’s diversification plan to take advantage of business areas with greater potential for export.

he Board of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc has admitted that foreign exchange crisis compelled the company to review the selling price of their products, which subsequently put pressure on the company’s total category volumes.

Chairman of the company, Chief Kolawole Jamodu, said this at the 68th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja.

He acknowledged said the business environment caused by sharp decline in global oil prices was extremely challenging for PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc. He explained that these shocks manifested through various challenges including scarcity of foreign exchange, price hike and weakening consumer demand including down trading.

Jamodu noted that these, coupled with disruptions in the northern part of the country, particularly in the North East, impacted on the company’s performance.

He said: “The negative impact was more severe on the industrial sector, which experienced a contraction of 2.24 per cent in 2015, and the decline accelerated further to 5.49 per cent in the quarter one of 2016 (January to March).

“Even though challenges still exist in the economy, we are optimistic that the flexible exchange rate policy introduced in June 2016 will result in improved prospects in the coming years.

“Despite the deteriorating operating environment, our company remained focused and managed to deliver a steady performance for the year to grow shareholder value.”

On the company’s market performances in the year under review, the chairman said: “We continued with our strategic initiatives aimed at increasing shareholder value and sustaining long-term growth.

“Innovative projects to improve efficiencies in supply chain continue on track, while attention was increasingly focused on our core brands.

“We streamlined our product portfolio to make the business more agile in an increasing competitive and fast-changing market.

In addition, we launched key projects to improve our processes and to strengthen our back office and business systems.”

While breaking down the company’s products segments performances, Jamodu explained that the business environment for the fastmoving consumers goods sector was extremely challenging during the period under review.

He noted that the company’s focus brands in the personal care and home care categories performed relatively well in line with expectations, though the company experienced some decline in the traditional trading brands.

eWORLD

THURSDAY, october 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Smart ICT solutions as panacea for IGR growth

Stakeholders who gathered at the recently concluded e-Government Summit in Abuja have suggested effective deployment of smart technological innovations, collaboration and infrastructure sharing as panacea for addressing dwindling internally generated revenue (IGR) by the governments. KUNLE AZEEZ reports

in the country has become imperative towards realising the objective of bringing more people into the tax net and deploying innovative smart technologies to generate IGR from them.

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takeholders in public and private sectors in Nigeria recently converged on Abuja at the annual e-Government Summit to brainstorm on how to tackle a major socio-economic problem-dwindling internallygenerated revenue (IGR).

The 5th edition of summit, organised by E-Payment Providers Association of Nigeria (E-PPAN) in collaboration with the National Information Technology Agency (NITDA) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was a melting pot of ideas and discussions on how to address the declining revenue generations by the government through the deployment of smart Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools, among others.

Crux of 2016 forum This year’s forum with the theme: ‘Attaining Increased IGR (Internally Generated Revenue), Efficiency and Accountability Through Smart Innovations’ was attended by national and international experts from government, public and private sectors and other stakeholders.

According to the President of E-PPAN, Mr. Macauley Atase, who chaired a number of sessions at the two-day forum, “the 2016 Summit was based on the latest report on IGR, which revealed that there has been a 3.65 per cent drop in IGR from the 36 states of the federation.”

The report, according to him, also declared that 15 states might go bankrupt and may not be able to stay afloat outside Federal Government’s allocation.

He maintained that by leveraging electronic payment platforms

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his year’s edition of Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) is featuring 16 Nigerian startups sponsored by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

All carefully chosen by the Office for ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIIE) within the NITDA, the 16 startups, according to a statement, include Rotors & Pilots, Astrosand, ChowHub,

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CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

E-PPAN CEO, Regha Onajite

rather than manual collection of taxes and other levies, governments at all levels would eliminate false accounts and block leakages, which will then result in IGR growth.

This, according to him, gave rise to the goal of the summit, which is “to create a single platform to discuss, network, and set programmable agenda for e-government that will yield quantum result for sustainable economic development.”

Diversification Chief Executive Officer, E-PPAN, Mrs. Regha Onajite, emphasised that with the recent recession in Nigeria, the summit was organised to leverage on how ICT can boost IGR. “We should seek diversification to generate IGR through technological innovations and solutions,” she said, adding that the outcome of last year’s summit gave rise to various innovative projects such as Anambra State point of sales (POS) revenue collections scheme and the NITDA smart City Initiatives, which have further deepened e-government in the country.

Need for data harmonisation However, some stakeholders at the forum submitted that beyond deployment of technology, there is need to harmonise all the various citizens-centric data residing with different government agencies such as the National identity Management Commission (NMIC), the

We should seek diversification to generate IGR through technological innovations and solutions

National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), The Nigerian Police force, Immigration Service, the National Population Commission (NPC) and the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), among others.

Leading this discourse at a session, Senator Ayo Arise said Nigerian currently lacked a central data system, noting this has been a major challenge to tax collections as many still have the opportunity to evade taxes due to poor identity system in the country.

Founder, BudgIT, Mr. Olusegun Onigbinde, also delivered a paper, where he submitted, “the country was losing a lot of money because it lacks effective citizen database that provides accurate identities of Nigerians and businesses in the country.

Buttressing Arise’s position, Onigbinde said, “so, there is a need for data integration for strategic economic development.”

Consequently, Arise identified the need for a central data system that is accessible to all and which can also be harnessed to link up various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) for government with players in their sectors to avoid leakages in tax collections for easier check of taxes paid by individuals and businesses.

He, however, noted that the Bank Verification Number (BVN) scheme, remained one of the most credible database for Nigerians today, adding, “building a robust central data for individuals and corporate entities

16 startups to join NITDA at GITEX CloudBurst, and DIYlaw.

Others are Genii Games, GoMyWay, Jara Mobile, Logical Address, Mobidoc, Phinnx and Pinfoot, an online social network that connects football lovers.

The list also includes ArtNigeria, Transforia, Wecyclers, and Zobreus, which allows patients to manage and control all of their healthcare

data in a structured, mobile electronic medical record (EMR) so that the information is easily accessible to them and their doctors as needed.

The 16 Nigerian startups will be participating at the largest-ever GITEX Technology Week primed to drive the world’s smart digital transformation, and support

young entrepreneurs.

More than 400 Startups from over 60 countries will gather at what is already touted as the largest lineup of young entrepreneurs from across the globe. The more than 400 startups from 60 countries and over 1,000 entrepreneurs will converge on the GITEX Global Startup Movement to sell and learn.

Collaboration/infrastructure sharing In a presentation by the Head, Egovernment at NITDA, Mr. Bernard Ewah, he harped on the need for collaborations among the public and private sectors in order to minimise cost of deploying ICT tools and smart solutions needed to boost IGR. He said: “The fear is that most MDAs have always revolved around the cost of deployment. Of course, it does not make any sense for you to strive for increased IGR and you find yourself spending a larger percentage of the money realised through same IGR being channeled to IT budget.”

Ewah, who represented the then Acting Director General of NITDA, Dr. Vincent Olatunbji, said the solution to this scenario was to evolve an effective public-private partnership that allows for infrastructure sharing among the private and public sector players.

“Collaboration is key in addressing the challenge of dwindling IGR in our country. So, sharing infrastructure is the way to go,” he said.

Financial inclusion Meanwhile, Head, Financial Inclusion Secretariat at CBN, Mrs. Temitope Akin-Fadeyi (Mrs.), who emphasised government is target of increasing financial inclusion by 80 per cent by 2020, maintained that the task of promoting inclusive growth, drive IGR and sustainable economic development in Nigeria remained a key national agenda, which must be pursued by all.

According to her, the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, in particular, has been put in place to address the needs of excluded persons across the country while also providing opportunity for MDAs to be smart-oriented in going about their official activities.

She further explained that sustained stakeholder commitment and collaboration remained critical to enhance Nigeria’s progress towards the achievement of the strategy targets and overall inclusive growth in the country.

Recommendations At the end of the two-day deliberations at the summit, participants put forward a number of recommendations including the need for the government to fully embrace electronic payment as well as to boost IGR, the need to encourage citizens’ participation in the development of ICT policies; need for legislature to increase support on the development of ICT policies; creation of safe means of exchanging data between the government and the public and the need for increased number of public services online, job opportunities for citizens as well as centralisation of data in the states for easy information access, among others.

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business \ eWORLD

THURSDAY, october 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Policy, regulation key to telecoms growth’ HOPE Expert says regulator’s 8-point, which is fiveyears work plan, is an ace that holds hope and promise to stabilise the industry.

Stories: Kunle Azeez

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ffective policy making and adequate regulation have been identified as two ingredients needed to consistently put telecoms industry on the path of growth.

A former President of the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Titi Omo-Ettu, stated this in a document made available to New Telegraph.

Besides, he described the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)’s 8-point, 5-year work plan as an ace that holds hope and promise to stabilise the industry.

In the document, Omo-Ettu, provided a concise appraisal of the nation’s telecommunications industry in the past 56 years of attaining independence in Nigeria.

Telecoms industry, whose growth was revved up following the 2001 liberalisation policy is

today one of the fastest growing in the world with mobile voice subscriptions, Internet subscriptions and investment currently standing at $152.8 million, $95 million and over $35 billion respectively.

According to Omo-Ettu, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Telecoms Answers Associates (TAA), “Fifty-six years post-independence, the telecoms industry moved from a posts and telecom regime: poor, sluggish, uninspired, through restructuring, into a strictly telecom industry and after a successful liberalisation process transformed quickly into a communication technology

industry.

“To the extent that the accomplished components of the communication technology industry development objectives have been remarkable, especially regarding voice services and density of coverage, the unfinished tasks are easy to identify.”

He explained that the entire industry goals had summed up into only one task, which is that of providing affordable access to broadband Internet for all citizens as articulated in a Broadband4All Forum initiative of 2010.

Omo-Ettu said in recent years, four strategic plans were scripted using entirely local initiatives/

expertise and at minimum cost to government, namely: an ICT Policy, a Broadband Plan, an Entrepreneurship Roadmap and a Local Content Development Agenda. That leaves two focus areas to be expanded and plugged.

He said the four strategic plans were subsidy and regulation, adding: “Fragmented subsidy regimes face waste and overlap challenges and the fact that they emerged from old-style but genuine decentralisation suggests that fine-tuning is required via harmonisation here and there.

“That quickly suggests that the industry harmonisation as envisaged in the ICT Policy

R-L: Head, Public Relations and Communication, OLX, Uche Nwagboso; Brand Marketing Manager, Fifemayo Aiyesimoju; winner and student of Topfield College, Apapa, Elizabeth Braimoh and Founder/ CEO. Bestman Game Limited, Nimi Akinkugbe, during the presentation of prizes to the winners of Lagos Monopoly Under 17 Championship at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere in Lagos.

ITU: Toure, others for Nigeria’s Investment Forum

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ormer Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Mr. Hamadoun Toure, has been named the keynote speaker at Nigeria’s Investment Forum in ITU Telecom World 2016, Bangkok, Thailand.

The forum according to a statement, is the highpoint of Nigeria’s participation in the event that is due to run from November 14 – 17, 2016.

Minister of Communica-

tions, Mr, Adebayo Shittu is the chief host at the forum, which is slated for November 15, 2016.

Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir ElRufai and the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of Nigerian communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta have also been listed as panelists at the forum.

According to the Director, Public Affairs, at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, Chairman, Etisalat Ni-

Turkish Airline updates mobile app

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urkish Airline, the Europe’s Best Airline for the sixth consecutive years, has updated and built new functions into its mobile applications for its passengers in Nigeria and other countries around the world.

The airline, which currently flies to more countries and international destinations than any other airline, in a statement, said the upgraded mobile application offers better interaction experiences to its esteemed passengers in Nigeria.

Turkish Airlines, a Star Alliance member, is a 4-star airline with a fleet of 333 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 291 destinations worldwide with 242 international and 49 domestic.

Designed to provide the ultimate user-friendly lay-

out, with high quality visuals of destinations that Turkish Airlines flies to, the new mobile application offers the best experience to mobile users, the statement added.

“Users can buy ticket, make reservation and checkin, manage Miles&Smiles account and follow departure - arrival status via recent application,” the airline said in a statement.

Through the updated mobile app, which can be downloaded on AppStore and Google Play to all mobile devices, all processes can be done quickly under favour of the simple and easy to use design.

With the app, it’s possible to add passenger, display the latest airport searches, and gain time by choosing favourite airports.

geria, Mr. Hakeem Belo-Osagie, and Managing Director, MainOne Cable Company, Ms. Funke Opeke, have also been listed as panelists at the forum.

Dr. Henry Nzekwu, a consummate multi-sectoral team leader and Executive Vice Chairman of MessageWise Limited, will moderate the forum.

The theme for Nigeria’s participation this year is “Smart Communities: the key to a digital Nigeria”, which runs along-

side the global theme “Collaborating in the Digital Economy.”

Apart from deliberating on and presenting the vast investment potentials in Nigeria’s fast growing ICT sector, Ojobo said the forum will create opportunity for industry stakeholders, financiers and entrepreneurs to share experiences and examine key development trends in technology, regulation, policy, business models, services and applications.

New channel debuts on StarTimes

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OX Life, an urban contemporary entertainment channel owned by FOX networks Group (FNG), and customised for Africa has been launched on StarTimes channel 071 (Antenna) and channel 132 (Dish) in Nigeria.

Stating from October 1, the new stylish channel, according to a statement, will boost StarTimes growing entertainment portfolio, spice up viewers experience with flamboyant programming and enrich memorable digital TV moments.

Speaking in Lagos, StarTimes Head of Public Relations, Mr. Israel Bolaji, said the digital TV network is excited to further enrich its entertainment and lifestyle menu for improved viewers pleasure with the launch of FOX Life.

The new channel, he said, is part of an impressive FNG catalogue of channels in Africa, including FOX, National Geographic Channel and Nat

Geo Wild, all available on StarTimes.

He said: “The new channel would add a touch of magic to viewers’ experience and enhance memorable TV experience with quality programming including interesting television series, dramas, sitcoms, shows and movies, among others, which include some original programming in Africa.

“FOX Life will showcase latest and compelling Hollywood, Brazilian and African programmes including 2016 blockbuster “Real Housewives of Atlanta”, America’s Next Top Model, Clean House, and other thrilling and emotional dramas such as Empire, Pitch, and others.

“FOX Life offers StarTimes subscribers a global entertainment appeal with an interesting blend of lifestyle programmes from local and international scripted and nonscripted content.

(2013), which specifies a converged regulator should be completed. That hope may however, be dashed by the rather unclear path that the government at policy level chooses to travel at this time. It is difficult not to conclude, at least for now, that the industry may be up to a lockdown for a while.

“Good story is that this is an industry that its players made and the government’s (in)action can only cause, as has always, temporary setbacks.

Besides, the regulator’s 8-point, 5-year work plan is an ace that holds hope and promise to stabilise the industry.

“To catch up, the existing subsidy regime as articulated in the universal service provision fund laws requires that a review of the definition of ‘un-served’ and ‘under-served’ areas and communities be articulated to put a firm grip on broadband Internet access as the real service that is in focus.

“Good story, again, is that the managers of the fund have identified and strengthened the review ahead of putting it into statute. But who puts it into law and when will that be?” he asked rhetorically.

He stressed that much work lies with regulation, whose true strength will undoubtedly be the quality of minds that sit on commissions, boards, or agencies, which regulate the industry.

Glo opens 92nd Gloworld shops in Lekki

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igeria’s indigenous telecoms operator, Globacom, has opened another Gloworld shop at the Lekki-Ajah axis, bringing the number of customer service centres in the neighborhood to three.

Globacom also boasts of several Glo Zone outlets managed by the company’s business partners in different towns and cities in the country in addition to the Gloworld shops.

The new shop is situated at the Conoil Filling Station at Abraham Adesanya Estate Roundabout and it is the 92nd Glo customer experience centre in Nigeria.

The company disclosed at the opening of the new Lekki centre on Monday that its objective for commissioning the centre was to further enhance the customer care experience of Globacom subscribers in the Lekki-Ajah area who are paramount to its operations.

The new one-stop shop offers subscribers in the area easier accessibility to connect to the Glo 4G LTE network launched last week by the company.

National Sales Coordinator, Lagos 1, Mr. Akinloye Adebisi, said Globacom was proud to establish the third customer care centre in the axis which, he said, was central to the network’s operations.

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THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Health News Malaria, HIV still leading causes of death in Nigeria – Study

Health As global and national efforts shift to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the area of maternal mortality in Nigeria, quackery in communities continues to erode the gains in the health sector. APPOLONIA ADEYEMI reports

Interview Osibogun: Surveillance key to combating disease outbreaks

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How poverty, unskilled care fuel maternal deaths

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wo months after the traditional marriage ceremony between Mr. and Mrs. Anthony and Nkechinyere Agbasi was formalised, Mrs Agbasi conceived. The entire Agbasi family received the news with excitement.

Considering the African culture that perceives children as divine gifts from God, families, relations, friends and colleagues looked forward to the save delivery of the baby.

Although, Mrs Agbasi had been counseled on the need to get booked at the primary health care (PHC) centre in Ijora for formal antenatal clinic sessions, she ditched that wise counsel and continued to see a quack nurse who uses her one-room apartment as treatment centre for both pregnant women and other sick neighbours seeking care.

Expectedly at the onset of labour, in the ninth month of the pregnancy, Mrs Agbasi found it convenient to move into the home of the unskilled ‘nurse’ who monitored the labour.

Sadly, after delivery, she experienced profuse bleeding (haemorrhage) which lasted several hours.

However, without the basic facilities to handle haemorrharge, Agbasi died while the newly delivered baby boy survived.

The death of Mrs Agbasi shocked people in the entire neighbourhood of Ijora. Within minutes of her death, her relations and neighbours gathered and discussed the sad development in low tune. “What could have happened,” a neighbour of the late Mrs Agbasi asked.

According to the neighbour, all four children of Mrs Tina Cooker, another resident of Ijora, were delivered by this same nurse without any problem?

This neighbor and others that were shocked by Agbasi’s unexpect-

APPOLONIA ADEYEMI HEALTH EDITOR

appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Maternal mortality rate in Nigeria is high

ed death did not understand that postpartum bleeding or postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), which Mrs Agbasi experienced after delivery, is a major killer of women and a major contributor to maternal death in Nigeria. PPH is often defined as the loss of more than 500 ml or 1,000 ml of blood within the first 24 hours following childbirth.

Assuming that the death of Mrs Agbasi was an isolated case, it may have been written off as a non-issue but investigations by the ‘New Telegragh HEALTH’ has revealed that many pregnant women, during/ after child delivery die in the hands of quark nurses who lack the professional skills to tackle complications that arise from child delivery.

In another example that occurred six months ago, a quark nurse residing along Olojowon Street, Badia, Ijora in Lagos state, was woken up at about 11p.m on that fateful day by a pregnant woman whose labour had started.

She took them into her two-room apartment where she monitored the labour progress but after two days, it became clear that the baby could not be delivered due to an obstructed labour from a narrow pelvis, according to the post mortem report. That time was late night. By the time, the pregnant woman who was then unconscious, was rushed, under emergency to a private hospital nearby, she was rejected.

Nigeria constitutes two per cent of the world’s population but has 10 per cent of the world’s maternal mortality

Another quick move to take her to a nearby General Hospital at Awodiora along Mba Street in Ajegunle, Lagos, did not yield good result as she died on the way to that facility.

Thousands of these kind of activities in the name of providing illegal medical treatment go on, not only in Ijora, Ajegunle and other communities; it is now very common in the country. It is necessary to state that these are contributing to maternal deaths in the country.

The United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, estimates that Nigeria contributes 10 per cent of the worlds’ maternal mortality, resulting in about 111 women losing their lives on a daily basis. These were the submission of the Executive Director of the UNFPA, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin and the Permanent Secretary of the UK’s Department for International Development, DFID, Mr. Mark Lowcock at a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja in September.

Osotimehin, a former minister of health, at that meeting said, “Nigeria constitutes two per cent of the world’s population but has 10 per cent of the world’s maternal mortality.”

Similarly, the National Demographic and Health Survey, NDHS, estimates that Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio stands at 576 per 100,000 live births, LB, . However, different states have different maternal mortality ratio. In Ondo State for in-

PHOTO: www.dailymail.co.uk

stance, it is 189 per 100,000 lb.

While global and national efforts are on to reduce maternal deaths in this country, the contribution of some quacks to sustain the status quo should be of major concern to both stakeholders and those patronising them.

Proponents of traditional birth attendants, TBAs and quark nurses would simply argue that these same ‘nurses’ and TBAs have been taking deliveries in communities since ages and had become acceptable institutions. While this is true, medical experts also note that safe delivery arises from births that are not complicated.

The WHO estimates that between five to 15 per cent of child deliveries may result in complications and when that happens, a quark or unskilled personnel cannot handle it.

It raises risk of death or maiming for patients.

When severe post-partum bleeding occurs after child delivery like in the case of the late Mrs Agbasi, a quark nurse and an untrained TBA will become helpless and may not know how to handle such a medical emergency.

According to Dr. Oluwarotimi Akinola, an obstetrics and gynaecologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos, when severe bleeding occurs CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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HEALTH \ NEWS

Appolonia Adeyemi

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ew Global Burden of Disease study has revealed that income, education, and birth rates – while critical – are not the only keys to healthy living in 195 countries.

Nigerians are living longer lives than they were 25 years ago, according to the new scientific analysis of more than 300 diseases and injuries in 195 countries.

However, such progress is threatened by increasing numbers of people suffering from serious health challenges related to childhood wasting, unsafe water sources, and unsafe sex.

These and other signifi-

THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Malaria, HIV still leading causes of death in Nigeria – Study cant health findings are published in ‘The Lancet’ as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD). The study draws on the work of more than 1,800 collaborators in nearly 130 countries and territories.

“Despite the limitations of the data sources that formed the basis of these estimates in Nigeria, as with many developing countries, the analytical techniques and the key findings are sufficiently robust,” said Dr. Bolajoko

Olusanya, Executive Director at the Centre for Healthy Start Initiative and a GBD collaborator.

“This should inspire optimism if appropriate and timely interventions are put in place by the government and its developmental partners to accelerate health progress and the well-being of Nigerians.”

In Nigeria, malaria was the leading killer, resulting in 192,284 deaths in 2015. The second and third top causes of death were diarrhoeal diseases and HIV/AIDS, killing 143,689

Anopheles mosquitoes transmits the parasite that transmists malaria.

and 131,873, respectively.

But the conditions that kill are not typically those that make people sick in Nigeria. In 2015, the top three nonfatal causes of health loss were irondeficiency anaemia, low back pain, and major depression.

Globally, life expectancy increased from about 62 years to nearly 72 from 1980 to 2015, with several nations in sub-Saharan Africa rebounding from high death rates due to HIV/AIDS. Child deaths are falling

PHOTO: www.huffingtonpost.com

fast, as are illnesses related to infectious diseases.

But each country has its own specific challenges and improvements, from fewer suicides in France, to lower death rates on Nigerian roadways, to a reduction in asthma-related deaths in Indonesia.

In much of the world, giving birth is safer for mothers and newborns than it has been over the past 25 years. The number of maternal deaths globally dropped by roughly 29 per cent since 1990, and the ratio of maternal deaths fell 30 per cent, from 282 per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 196 in 2015.

“Development drives, but does not determine health,” said Dr. Christopher Murray, Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington in Seattle, the coordinating center for the GBD enterprise.

“We see countries that have improved far faster than can be explained by income, education, or fertility. And we also continue to see countries – including the United States, U.S, – that are far less healthy than they should be given their resources.”

Implanted device may improve breast cancer survival Oluwatosin Omoniyi

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new device implanted under the skin has shown promise in combating breast cancer by catching tumours early and slowing their spread to other parts of the body.

The new scaffold device, being developed by researchers at the University of Michigan, can extend survival by iden-

tifying metastatic cancer early, and allowing time to intervene with surgery or other therapies.

This is reported in a study, published in ‘cancer research.

“This study shows that in the metastatic setting, early detection combined with a therapeutic intervention can improve outcomes,” said study author Lonnie D. Shea, Ph.D. “Early detection of a pri-

mary tumour is generally associated with improved outcomes. But that’s not necessarily been tested in metastatic cancer.”

Studies conducted on mice found the device to be effective, building on earlier research showing that the implantable device effectively captures metastatic cancer cells.

“Currently, early signs of metastasis can be difficult to detect,” said study

author Jacqueline S. Jeruss, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Breast Care Center at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“Imaging may be done once a patient experiences symptoms, but that implies the burden of disease may already be substantial.”

The scaffold is made of FDA-approved material now used in sutures and

wound dressings. It’s biodegradable and can last up to two years within a patient.

The researchers envision that it would be implanted under the skin, monitored with non-invasive imaging, and removed upon signs of cancer cell colonisation, at which point treatment could be administered. The study was reported in Cancer Research.

Poverty, unskilled care fuelling maternal deaths CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

during delivery, what may be required to save the life of the woman may not be mere blood transfusion.

He added, “During severe bleeding, blood parts may be needed to stop the bleeding and save the woman.”

Akinola who is the vice president of the Society of Gynaecology & Obstetrics of Nigeria, SOGON, said often, the needed blood parts, may not be available in some health facilities.”

Apart from haemorrhage (bleeding), other factors that could lead to complications during child delivery include obstructed labour, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, infections/sepsis, anaemia, among others.

Clearly, when any of these

factors contributing to birth complications, occur in a delivery taken by a quack, both mother and the unborn baby may face the risk of either dying or being maimed.

What the above scenario translates to is that while quark nurses are able to deliver majority of the babies safely, those that are associated with complications may end in the death of mothers and some babies.

Whenever, a pregnant mother dies in the hands of the quacks, the attitude of relations is that the victim is destined to go that way. The questions that arise however are, “Should quark nurses contribute to care delivery?

Are they licensed to practice in the health sector? Is it appropriate that a living apart-

ment should be converted into a care facility where drips are set up for patients and other medical treatment provided by unskilled and unlicensed personnel at the detriment of the public?

While it has become clear that these activities are perpetuated because of financial gains, medical experts said it was time to curb the illegal practices, to save lives, sanitise the system as well as pave way for quality healthcare services in the system.

Dr. Leke Osunniyi, the Managing Director at Multishield Limited, said , the nation’s status books have lots of sanctions, fines and even imprisonment against quacks, “but these are not often implemented because of grey areas.” He added

that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN was set up precisely to address quackery.

However, Dr. Tunde Segun a public health physician, said “every woman should deliver in a health facility operated by skilled birth attendant or registered nurse/ midwife, adding that these were the categories of professionals the World Health Organisation, WHO, recommend as qualified to take delivery.

Speaking in similar vein, Dr. Kehinde Okuande a Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, said: “The moment a woman misses her menstrual period and finds out that she is pregnant through

Segun

a pregnancy test, I advise that the woman should register in a health facility by the third month (13 weeks) for antenatal.

“We encourage the woman to register so that if there is going to be problem in case of a high risk pregnancy, some provisions would have been made by obstetricians or healthcare providers to arrest the condition that may arise.”

Colour of bones

Did you know the colour of the human bones actually range from beige to light brown? The bones you see in museums are white in colour because they have been boiled and cleaned.

Long arteries If your arteries, veins and capillaries were laid out end to end, they would measure 62,137 miles (100,000 kilometers). That is nearly enough to stretch two and a half times around the planet!

A charged heart Since a human heart has its own electrical impulse, it can continue beating for a period of time even if it is separated from the body.

Eye for details If the human eye were a digital camera, it would have 576 megapixels. An eye can distinguish about 10 million different colours.

Sunburn damages blood vessels Extensively severe sunburn damages the blood vessels extensively but how extensively?

Studies have shown that it can take four to 15 months for them to return to their normal condition. Consider that the next time you are feeling too lazy to apply sunscreen before heading outside.

Miles to go If uncoiled, the DNA in all the cells from the human body would stretch up to 10 billion miles. That is the distance from earth to Pluto and back or 6,000 trips from earth to the moon.

Long-term storage space Your brain’s long-term memory, which develops until the age of 40, can hold as many as one quadrillion (one million billion) separate bits of information in a lifetime.

Human body contains gold There is 0.2 milligrams of gold in your body, most of which is in your blood.

The human body contains gold, but it is not enough to strike it rich. The body contains approximately 0.2 milligrams of gold that is most diffused with the blood. However, you would need to bleed 40,000 people dry just to collect enough blood to make an 8-gram souvenir.

HEALTH \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Akin Osibogun is a professor of Public Health at the College of Medicine University of Lagos (CMUL) and immediate former Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos. In this interview with APPOLONIA ADEYEMI, he discusses factors militating against rapid implementation of the National Health Act (NHA) strategies to effectively address persistent breakdown of radiotherapy machines and measures to tackle infectious disease outbreaks, among others You were the chief medical director, CMD, of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idiaraba, Lagos from 2006 to 2014. Since two years that you finished that assignment, what has changed in the health sector?

Well during the period I was there, I know that the government established additional teaching hospitals and virtually all the states of the federation have federal presence in terms of a tertiary health facility.

So, all the states of the federation have either a teaching hospital or a federal medical centre or a specialist hospital, a neuro-psychiatric hospital or ear, nose and throat facility, eye centres or eye specialist hospital. I think that is a positive development in bringing tertiary level services to every state in the country.

What we need to do however is to strengthen other links in the health system. The state governments which have responsibility of general hospitals need to upgrade those general hospitals. They need to renovate them and standardise them.

The state governments need to make sure that the general hospitals are functional and able to provide the services for which they are designated.

In addition, the local governments have to make sure that the primary health care, PHC, services are available and of good quality.

We need to make health centres functional. If health centres are functional then several disease conditions can be taken care of at the PHC levels.

Patients don’t need to go the teaching hospitals, which should be left to deal with specialised and complex care rather than having to treat simple malaria. Hence, we need to get all levels of government to be alive to their responsibilities.

Eleazar Nwanti

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takeholders in health care delivery have highlighted the need for community mobiliation in the fight against disease prevention in the country.

While calling on community members to become involved in activities geared to curb diseases, they noted that the provision of health information will enable them take care of their own health. These were the submissions of the stakeholders

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Osibogun: Surveillance key to combating disease outbreaks

By December 2014, the National Health Act, NHA, was also passed which is also another positive development. One per cent of the consolidated revenue will now be available to support health care delivery in the country.

Fifty per cent of that one per cent will go towards the provision of basic health care services as well. We are making progress, although we need to run faster because the rest of the world is not slowing down.

There is delay in implementing the National Health Act, NHA. What is your take on this?

Oh definitely, any delay will impact negatively because we need to run twice as fast as Europe and America because they are already way ahead. For us to catch up we need to run not even twice, maybe thrice or four times as far.

Any delay at all is not desirable but then we are the product of our environment. May be, there are circumstances that are in the environment that is hindering us, but then we need to work at it. I believe that the 2017 Budget will probably now take cognisance of all these issues and I think that the NHA, judging from what I have heard the minister of health say will now be implemented according to the law.

As we speak, radiotherapy machines in the country are not functioning.

Consequently, people who have cancer cannot get treatment. During your days as the CMD of LUTH, how did you address the problems of cancer equipment breakdown?

It has always been tough I must confess to you because if you look at the population of Nigeria and you look at the cancer treatment resources that we have, you will see that we are under-resourced and we are not only under-resourced in the health sector, we are also underresourced in various other sectors.

The way to look at it is to look at the gross domestic product, GDP, of a country like the United States, U.S, it is something in the region of $50,000 dollars per capita and the GDP per capita for Nigeria is only in the region of $3,000 to N4000 dollars per capita. Already, they have more resources than we have but that is not to adopt a defeatist attitude. I don’t think we should adopt a defeatist attitude.

God has blessed our country Nigeria. So, all we need to do is work hard, identify our resources and develop them so that we can catch up with the developed countries.

I have drawn the attention to the

Osibogun

The healthier the population is, the more productive we become and then economic indices will also start going up

economic levels of these two countries, the U.S and Nigeria so we can understand where and how funds can go into the health sector.

In one hospital in Europe, you will find that they will have two cancer machines or three cancer machines in one hospital but again, it is a function of the level of economic development because these machines cost money.

If we develop our economy then we will be able to put resources into health. If you have just one machine in a teaching hospital and you are flooding it day in day out, it will break down but in Europe where they have at least two such machines in a hospital, it is possible that they alternate the machines and the machines will not break down as frequently as we have in our own scenario.

Sir, we are in the 21st century, but it is surprising that we are still experiencing diseases like Lasser fever. What have we not done well to warrant such outbreaks?

Well every country and every community will experience some disease outbreak or the other. I am sure you are aware that even in America, in South America and North America, there is outbreak of Zika virus. So, there is no country, no human population anywhere in the world that will not experience some resurgence of diseases or dis-

ease outbreak..

What is most important is the level of preparedness of your country to mitigate the impact of such outbreaks; to rapidly control it, to put in place efforts to prevent it, and if there is any outbreak, such country should rapidly stop such outbreak.

Once you are prepared as a country as it were in the face of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, to some extent, you are able to quickly control it within three months.

How should we prepare?

We need to have a robust surveillance system to monitor all kinds of signs and symptoms of diseases and this should also be backed up by laboratory system that is able to do bio-markers of diseases.

There are different ways you can test to know whether there is a particular disease in the community.

So, we must have a robust health information system backed by a robust laboratory service system but all these require highly trained manpower.

We must train our manpower to look out for diseases; to know what they are looking for; to know what method to use to look for those things and to know what to do if they found those disease conditions rearing their heads in the community in details with regards to how to map it out in their different models.

Role of community mobilisation in fighting diseases during the Lagos State End of Programme Dissemination in conjunction with Partnership for Transforming Health System Phase 11 (PATHS 2).

The theme of the programme is: “Health Systems Strengthening, Lessons, Legacies and the Future.”

In his address, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. .Jide Idris praised the efforts of PATHS 2 towards uplifting

health care delivery at the local level.

“The fact is that they have done a wonderful job considering the time we have together in this country and in facilities in Lagos State. They have impacted positively and are moving towards a new phase in the grass root health care.

“Information is key. You cannot make any progress in this sector if you don’t mobilise the

community. There is no way any country will successfully contain any infectious disease disaster without mobilising the community. That was one of the underlining mechanism that made it possible for us to contain the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD,” he said.

The Divisional Vice President, International Health Division, Dr. Diana Silimperi identified increased awareness

and sense of ownership among communities as important tools in disease control.

She said: “Increased awareness and sense of ownership could hold health system , adding that making health facilities accountable is important in disease control.

According to her, one of the ways this can happen is the development of World Health Communities.”

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HEALTH \ NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

PCN: Medicine vendors to sell only listed drugs Obinna Odoh Abuja

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Participants at the walk, raising awareness on childhood cancers

Appolonia Adeyemi

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ith about 80 per cent of children afflicted with cancer losing their lives to the scourge, medical experts have shifted focus to prevention, while alerting the public especially parents and caregivers on signs and symptoms to watch out for in kids.

According to a paediatrician adopting the Saint Siluan Warning Signs will help the public detect signs and symptoms of childhood cancer on time and pave way for treatment before the ailment gets out of hand.

Consultant Paediatrician, Dr. Nneka Nwobbi who unveiled these recently in Lagos, said it has become necessary to reverse

Tackling childhood cancer early the trend of high death rate of children coming down with cancers and assured that it is doable.

To achieve this goal therefore, she said any child that is suspected of having cancer, must as a matter of urgency seek medical help for persistent symptoms.

She disclosed these to mark the 2016 Awareness on Childhood Cancer, when over 300 participants engaged in a walk from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idiaraba, Lagos to the National Stadium in Surulere and back to LUTH in September. September was designated as Childhood Cancer Month.

A second walk was also carried out simultaneously on the same day from Dowen College, Lekki to Ikoyi link Bridge and back to Dowen College.

During the walk, fliers were distributed to the public, educating them on the signs to watch out for in children.

Speaking further, the consultant paediatrician said among symptoms to watch out for in kids are white spots in the eye, new squint, blindness, bulging eyeball; lump in the abdomen and pelvis, head and neck limps, testis and glands.

Also, Nwobbi who is also the founder of Children Living With Cancer Foundation, CLWCF, said

other signs to watch out for include unexplained fever, loss of weight and appetite, pallor, fatigue, easy bruising or bleeding from the gum or the urine.

Similarly, she noted that aching bones, joints, back and easy fractures should be followed up so as to get to the root of the matter.

Not to be left out, according to the founder of CLWCF, are change in behaviour, balance gait and milestones, headaches and enlarging heads. “Many children in our country are never diagnosed because their symptoms are not recognised or they are diagnosed too late for effective treatment.

he Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has ordered all Patent Medicine Vendors nationwide to stock and sell only the drugs listed in their yearly publications or face confiscation of products and sealing of their shops.

Registrar of PCN, Elijah Mohamed during a town hall meeting with Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) in Abuja recently explained that the agency organised the town hall meeting in order to create opportunity to foster discussion and rewarding interaction with the FCTNAPPMED members with a view to getting them properly enlightened to avoid excuses bothering on ignorance.

Mohammed added that the reasons for the licensing authorisation of nonpharmacist for stocking and selling of simple house hold medicine was to redress the lack of health facilities particularly in the rural and should not be seen as an opportunity for exploitation and disservice to Nigerians.

He stressed that the aim for the meeting was to facilitate the assurance that NAPPMED members are adequately carried along in the implementation of PCN regulatory activities.

“An important element

of the National Drug Policy is to ensure availability and affordability of essential drugs, which are safe, effective and of good quality within the national health care delivery system.

“Further to this, an approved drug list for stocking and sales of drug in licensed patent medicine shop throughout Nigeria has been published and reviewed over the years.

The President of FCTNAPPMED, Comrade, Theophyllus Odoh, on behalf of union disclosed that the purpose of the town hall meeting is to demystify already existing believe among the members that PCN is not accessible and to further enhance a cordial relationship between PCN and NAPPMED. Comrade Odoh appealed to PCN to consider and remove some of the beaurocratic bottleneck associated with issuance of licence by the agency which is posing a serious challenge to members of NAPPMED. In highlighting some of the challenges he said “in a situation where members of NAPPMED who are coming new to establish patent medicine shop are asked to bring the receipt of three years tax which the cost is estimated between N70,000 and N100,000 is not fair and discourages members.”

How to manage diabetes naturally (2) The first part of this report was published last week. Here is the concluding report.

I

f you do not have the illness called diabetes, then be happy. And be sure you do all you can to prevent it, for prevention is better than cure. The symptoms of diabetes are many and varied.

At the earliest stage, diabetes does not show any symptom. In many cases, the disease is diagnosed accidentally when undergoing check-up for other complaints.

Diet for diabetics Food is medicine. Food is the most natural medicine on earth. One cannot talk about diabetes without talking about food, about dietary habits. Food is a major factor in any illness. This is especially true in the case of diabetes.

Any treatment of diabetes should begin with proper food combination. It is good to note that drugs do not cure any illness. Drugs only help to strengthen the immune system and aid the system in fighting against illnesses.

So many people come to me and say, “Father, I have diabetes, give me medicine to cure it”. My first question is always: “What do you eat; how do you eat”?

And the answer is nearly always the same: “My doctor told me to eat plenty of meat, beans, plantain and avoid yam, cassava, honey, fruits and sugar. “How many times do you eat in a day? At times

twice, and at times thrice.” They would respond.

As a diabetic, it is not good for you to eat only twice or thrice daily, for such meal is often heavy. If you take a heavy meal even once a day, your sugar level will rise, because there is insufficient insulin in the body to metabolise the food.

The secret is to eat a little as often as you wish. In other words, eat five or six times daily, but just a little at a time. Failure to observe this simple rule has sent many diabetics to the grave. Despite all the complicated and expensive medications, they did not get better.

Our food consists of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, Vitamins and minerals.

To be healthy, we need to maintain a balance of these nutrients in our diet.

Carbohydrates include sugar, starch, cassava, yam, rice, etc. Protein is found in meat, fish, eggs, milk, beans, etc. Saturated fats are found in butter, coconut oil, palm oil, fish, meat, and eggs. This kind of fat is dangerous for the system and can lead to heart disease. Unsaturated fats, which are derived from groundnut oil, Soya bean oil, cottonseed oil and castor oil, are healthier.

Vitamins and minerals come mainly from fruits and vegetables. Keep in mind that these fruits and vegetables are best when taken in their natural state. Raw vegetables are more nourishing than cooked ones. So often, I hear diabetics say that they have been told to abstain from eating fruits like pawpaw, banana and oranges, as well as natural juices like honey. But honey is good for the body.

What is not good for the body is diluted or mixed honey. The sugar in honey is pre-digested and cannot be compared to the artificial, refined honey sold in the market. The sugar in honey is only seven per cent, even though it has a very sugary taste.

And if diabetics do not eat fruits, how can they survive? What is bad is not the fruits itself, but the manner of eating it.

Do not combine fruits with any other food. This is a mistake, which so many diabetics make. If you want to eat pawpaw, please eat only pawpaw, not in combination with rice, beans or any other food. If you want to eat banana, please take a little at a time and do not combine it with any other food. If you want to eat green vegetables, please do. But do not combine it with Pawpaw. The secret is to eat a little at a time.

Eat plenty of onions, carrots, garlic and ginger. As much as possible, eat your green vegetables in their natural state. Green leaves such as bitter leaf and pawpaw leaves are very good for the body. So often, people squeeze out the bitterness from the bitter leaf before cooking, thereby rendering the leaves useless.

The bitterness is what actually makes the bitter leaf medicinal. Okro is very good for diabetics. Learn to eat your plantain or beans with okro soup.

Herbal treatment for diabetes In treating diabetes with herbs, the aims are: • to repair the pancreas

• strengthen the kidney • eradicate the symptoms • prevent sugar or glucose from escaping in the urine • help the body to find its natural balance Points to Note The following points should be kept in mind when treating diabetes with herbs: A. Juvenile diabetes or Insulin dependent diabetes is more difficult to cure than non-insulin dependent diabetes.

B. Those who develop maturity onset diabetes at age fifty or above respond more quickly to herbal treatment than those who develop the disease at age thirty or forty.

C. It is not recommended that insulindependent diabetics stop injecting themselves as soon as they begin herbal treatment. They will need to combine both medications for two weeks after which they will then reduce the volume of Insulin they inject to half its usual volume while they still continue with the herbs.

It is only after four weeks that they can leave aside the Insulin injection but only on the condition that they check their urine and blood from time to time, so as to monitor their sugar levels.

35

THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

MOM’S ALERT

Mom&Parenting

Ignorantly raising a brat

Parenting ‘Girl under-15 marries every seven seconds’

36 36

Girls in Africa, Nigeria in particular, are often seen moving around in cities, towns and villages, hawking items of paltry value. Instead of spending quality hours in classrooms, they are rather main target for odd jobs such as domestic chores, breaking stones at quarry sites or market places.

Often time, they become prey of harassment from men. Sandra Dickson-Oyetayo reports

I

t is in this regard that the United Nations, (UN) highlighted the odds against the girl child at the A cross section of participants at the event Shell Hall of Muson Centre with the theme: ‘Girls progress equals goals Progress: what count for girls.’

Dr. Ulrike Schmueser, President, Zonta International club of Lagos, said that the essence of this year’s girl day is to help bring to the fore their hidden treasures and for them to learn from other young women who are making a difference in their girls, sexual violence and harmful chosen careers and endeavors. “We child marriage. “Investing in girls is want girls to know there are many the right thing to do because it has a opportunities out there, and we powerful ripple effect across all areas are willing to help you become that of development.” He added that no person you want to be.” girl would be left behind because all She pointed out the disadvantage girls count.

Also speaking on the importance and discrimination borne by girls globally on daily basis. “The girls of a girl-child under the sub-theme: are the ones not given education, Investing in a hope, great expectations married off early, abused and often for the invisible,’ during the event, violated,” she said. was the founder of the wellbeing The UN secretary general, Ban- foundation, Toyin Saraki, wife ki-Moon ably represented by the of the Nigeria Senate President, director, information center Nigeria, decry the rate at which there are so Mr. Oluseyi Soremekun implored many ‘Invincible girls’ in Nigeria the girls to ensure they get educated. as a result of cycle of poverty and He informed that there is a strong social determinants of individual link between illiteracy and poverty, development. “As we are all aware, as such he urged the girls present at generations of families can get the forum to ensure that they do not trapped in a cycle of poverty. Having drop out of school. low family income, means that However, Mr. Ban-ki-Moon access to food, healthcare and other in his statement pledges the amenities are restricted; therefore UN’s commitment to ending hunger, poor sanitation, poor discrimination and violence against education and so on prevail including malnutrition. Ultimately, a resulting lack of employment and lack of skills will result in low income. And the cycle continues. To break this cycle, education is crucial especially for the girl-child.”

Other highlights of the program include an interactive session with Mom&Parenting panelists drawn from information technology, banking, the United

Oluwatosin Omoniyi States consulate, office of the public City Editor defender and Zonta. The panelist From Acess bank, Ope Yemi-Jones implores the girls to cultivate the habit of saving early enough because this could help shape their future. Bolaji © Daily Telegraph Publishing Fati from the office of the public Company Limited defender calls on the girls to speak up

The Girl Child: What counts for her

Investing in girls is the right thing to do because it has a powerful ripple effect across all areas of development

Group of girls at the event

when there are ills militating against them, be it sexual violence and other vices. Darcy Potter disclosed that the reason she is in Nigeria to support the girls is because the United states believe it is important to invest in the girls because women rights are human rights.

Some of the girls spoke to New Telegraph, expressed their joy for being among the selected few to benefit from wealth of the program.

Cassandra Rothman from Queens College said she has been able to realise that girls have so much strength built within them. “I am taking home the fact stated here that girls have so much power and influence and I can achieve what I set my mind on to achieve.” She was excited at the discovery that she is no less than any human being and that she is not built to belong to anybody

but herself.

Ibu Jane, another attendee of the program from Jethoban secondary school said,“girls have the voice and we must be able to use the voice to make changes. After today, I would be more confident to hold my head high and work towards achieving my dreams.”

Omage Nancy from Holy child secondary school believes that, “Girls are meant to come together as driving agents. One of the role models, Lala Akindoju stirred it up in me that no one should ever look down on me because I have so much power and can achieve whatever I set my mind to achieve.

Other dignitaries who mentored the girls at the event include Nollywood actor, Lala Akindoju, Dr Adunola Okupe, Titi Sonuga among others.

36

Mom&Parenting

THURSDAY, OCTOber 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

i-Protect

Childhood Protection & preservation culture

with

Taiwo Akinlami principal@taiwoakinlami.com

One in three girls in developing countries (except China) get married before they turn 18

The preacher’s take

O

ctober 11, 2016 was the International Day of the Girl Child and I was on Metro 97.7 FM and Channels TV preaching the Glorious Gospel According to Child’s Rights/Protection and Family Strengthening, focusing on advocacy for the respect of rights of the girl child.

The International Day of the Girl Child which was declared in December 2011 by the United Nations to call attention to the many issues that the 1.1 billion girl children are faced with all over the world. It was marked for the first time on October 11, 2012.

According to UNWOMEN website (www. unwomen.org), ‘the theme for this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, on 11 October, “Girls’ Progress = Goals’ Progress: A Global Girl Data Movement”’ UNWOMEN further shed light on the theme as follows, ‘it is a call for action for increased investment in collecting and analyzing girl-focused, girlrelevant and sex-disaggregated data. One year into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, improving data on girls and addressing the issues that are holding them back is critical for fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals.’

The international Non-Governmental Organization, Plan International, which was in the forefront of campaigning for the declaration of the day by the United Nation and which is the lead campaigner concerning the day and what it represents for the girl child is today leading ‘more than 250 #GirlsTakeover events across the globe they will be demonstrating the strength, power and ability of girls to change the world. The focus of the campaign is to get ‘girls around the world step into the shoes of presidents, mayors, business leaders and more for on 11 October to demand justice and equality.’ The details of how to participate in the

events are stated on their website, www. plan-international.org.

One major issue that has come to the fore today is the issue of ‘child marriage.’

According to statistics, it has been found that ‘one in three girls in developing countries (except China) get married before they turn 18.’ This translates to the fact that 15(fifteen) million children may be ‘married’ out before they are 18 years and this act truncates their childhood, education, health and gets them to begin to have children when they are themselves children and are not prepared for same both psychologically and physiologically. It is found that 2(two) million children give birth under 18 and 120(one hundred and twenty) million children have experienced sexual violence. According to Plan International, ‘it’s estimated around 1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lives.’

Today provides us another golden opportunity to call attention gender issues in our nation and continent today. Gender is today a touchy issue for young people particularly in Africa. The reason is that we live in a society that is male dominated and many still nurse the backward notion that the girl child is inferior to the boy child.

This unfounded belief of the superiority of one gender over the other or inferiority of one gender to the other has passed from one generation to the other. It is sad that this belief is finding its way in the midst of today’s children and young people.

By virtue of what the society teaches, many young people believe today that they are superior just by the fact that they are boys. On the other hand many believe that they are inferior merely by the fact that they are girls.

‘Girl under-15 marries every seven seconds’ Oluwatosin Omoniyi

O

ne girl under the age of 15 is married every seven seconds, according to a new report by Save the Children, an international independent children organisation.

The study says girls as young as 10 are forced to marry much older men in countries including Afghanistan, Yemen, India and Somalia.

Save the Children says early marriage can trigger a cycle of disadvantage across every part of a girl’s life. Conflict, poverty and humanitarian crises are seen as major factors that leave girls exposed to child marriage. “Child marriage starts a cycle of disadvantage that denies girls the most basic rights to learn, develop and be children,” said Save the Children International CEO Helle Thorning-Schmidt. “Girls who marry too early often can’t attend school, and are more likely to face domestic violence, abuse and rape. They fall pregnant and are exposed

Former child bride Aisha, 15 with her two year-old daughter, Rayan

to STIs (sexually transmitted infections) including HIV.” The report, called Every Last Girl, ranks countries based on the hardest place to be a girl based on schooling, child marriage, teen pregnancy, maternal deaths and the number of women in parliament. Chad, Niger, Central African Republic, Mali and Somalia were ranked at the bottom of the index. The report says girls affected by conflict are more likely to become child brides. It says many refugee families marry off their daughters as a way to protect them against pover-

ty or sexual exploitation. The charity used the example of a 13-year-old Syrian refugee in Lebanon it called Sahar not her real name - who was married to a 20-year-old man.

Now 14, she is two months pregnant. “The wedding day, I was imagining it would be a great day but it wasn’t. It was all misery. It was full of sadness,” Save the Children quoted her as saying. “I feel really blessed that I am having a baby. But I am a child raising a child.”

The report says girls also suffer during humanitarian crises such as the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone where the shutting down of schools led to an estimated 14,000 teen pregnancies. The UN children’s agency, Unicef, estimates that the number of women married in childhood will grow from 700 million today to around 950 million by 2030. The Save the Children’s report coincides with International Day of the Girl on Tuesday.

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

Ignorantly raising a brat

O

ver the weekend, I over- quarrel starts after you ask your heard children playing husband why he can’t just throw outside, the usual – play- his dirty socks and underwear ing house. It’s amazing in the laundry basket instead of how children play out what they dropping them on the floor, and see or experience in their homes. he asks why can’t you just pick Aged between 8 and 3, the oldest them up? girl played mum while the oldest I once counseled with a young boy played dad. woman and she said to me she had The play is usually unscripted 2 babies - her husband and their and everyone knows their role. baby. Her husband was raised as ‘Mom’ gets busy like a real mom an only child and couldn’t do anyand then one of the ‘children’ thing for himself. At first she did calls out asking her to get some- it all to prove she loved him, but thing for him (can’t quite tell it had become so frustrating after what it was) and she goes, “Go the arrival of their baby.

While it is difficult to change and get it yourself !” I smiled.

Funny how that didn’t cause an adult with such attitudes, the an argument or tantrum like it focus should be on raising chilusually would in real life. It was dren that think and behave difa play and everyone must coop- ferently. By grandparents’ defierate. nition, all of our children today The play continued. I drifted. - with their Disney videos, hunI zoomed into each child’s life dreds of channels to watch on and tried to understand how DSTv, computer games, tablets, their real lives played out just smart phones and ballet classes, few minutes into their play. The could be considered spoiled. boy, who played ‘child’ about 6, But sometimes in the effort to happens to be an only child of a be nice, kind, gentle and more young couple living nearby. I had loving parents we don’t know seen him being carried to school where to draw the line. We want by his parents or other adults to give our children everything who probably lived with them. we didn’t have. We want them to My guess, he’s have a better life. Of probably used course, buying stuff to having things for our kids and takdone for him ing them out is fun, especially when we little wonder he asked ‘mom’ in do have the means. the play to do But giving children Giving children too too much can backsame. much can backfire, fire, making them The 8 year old to always look for girl, who played making them to ‘mom’, happens the next new thing to live in the instead of being always look for same compound satisfied with what next new things as I do and she they have. is the oldest of We don’t want to instead of being 3 siblings. She over work them, we often played the employ domestic satisfied with role of a mother staff in our homes what they have when their mom and since we pay them so much, we was away. She’s growing up to insist they do all the learn that she had to do things for chores. Why would the children herself, and she probably didn’t work when we pay someone else? see any reason why her ‘child’ in That sounds logical, but maybe the play couldn’t do the same. we need to remind ourselves that Motherhood sometimes feels domestic staff and dependents a bit like waking up to pick what will have to move on some day, every other person is dropping and the children will stay with around. Many may not under- us. stand what I’m talking about, but One of the lessons children moms with young children who need to learn, and early enough live without nannies is becom- too, is that there are no free rides ing the trend these days due to in life. Everyone has got a role to recent happenings. If you do have play to ensure the family unit domestic staff the only way you functions properly. One of the would understand what I’m talk- most powerful ways to teach this ing about is if you wake up one lesson is for us parents to assign morning to find your staff had children age-appropriate chores disappeared without a warning. that they must fulfill as members After you recover from the shock, of the family. you look round the house you Maybe we all should take andon’t know where to start from… other look at your children to see you manage to get through the if there’s need to address spoilfirst day, after all it’s your house! ing now, because we’re setting up The next day, on your way back patterns that will stay with our from work you stop at the market families for years to come. If your to buy groceries, you get home 23-month-old has never heard the tired yet you can’t rest, you have word no, for instance, how will to cook dinner. The kids have he handle hearing it when he’s 14 gone to bed and you are getting and wants to get a tattoo?

Let’s have your thoughts. things ready for the next day. A

BUSINESS | MONEY LINE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fitch: Nigeria’s economy’ll grow by 2.6% in 2017

FORECAST Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expected to contract by 1 per cent this year

start-of-year expectations for a 10 per cent NPL ratio by end2016: “the bad loans are not evenly spread among banks and sector NPL ratios are distorted by some exceptionally high concentrations.”

Consequently, it stated : “Some tolerance remains on NPL ratios for the banks’ Viability Ratings, which are all in the ‘b’ range. Other key concerns are tightening Foreign Currency (FC) liquidity, weakening Capital Adequacy Ratios and the sovereign’s ability to support banks, given its

a 1.5per cent expansion. We do expect a limited bounce-back and our 2017 forecast foresees a recovery to 2.6 per cent.”

The agency, however, said its medium-term growth outlook for the country was still lower than the 5.6per cent growth of 2010-2014.

It predicted that banks’ NonPerforming Loans (NPLs), which have been rising since the beginning of the year, would continue to climb: “Because operating conditions remain difficult.”

According to Fitch, while the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) latest financial stability report shows that banks’ NPLs rose to 11.7per cent of gross loans at end-June 2016 from 5.3 per cent at end-2015 and exceeding its

Stories: Tony Chukwunyem

B

arely a week after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that Nigeria’s economy will exit recession by growing by 0.6 per cent in 2017, international credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has forecast a recovery of 2.6 per cent for the country’s economy next year.

In a statement released yesterday, Fitch said: “We expect real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to contract by 1 per cent in 2016, against our previous forecast of

A

S

mall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and African countries are suffering the most from a deepening global trade finance gap, according to a new survey by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) released recently.

The ICC 2016 Global Survey on Trade Finance shows that 61 per cent of respondents— national, regional and global banks with trade finance functions—reported a global shortage of trade finance.

It also found that only 52 per cent of respondents reported an increase in trade finance activity, compared to 63 per cent in 2015 and 80 per cent in 2012.

The ICC said that the survey received 357 responses from 109 countries worldwide.

Amongst respondents, the the perceived shortfall came predominantly from regional and global banks: 78 per cent and 56 per cent respectively, compared to 41 per cent of national banks.

“We must emphasise the importance of trade finance.

of forex in the system was not caused by the current CBN leadership but that it was a result of the failure of Nigerians to take the right decisions in the past to diversify the sources of the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

According to him, the CBN does not manufacture forex and so had no choice but to keep on trying to ensure that the forex it has gets to the critical sectors of the economy such as manufacturing and the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector.

He emphasized that the CBN will not be deterred by criticisms and will keep on doing what is needed to grow the country’s economy.

As at N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015

17.61

August, 2016

14 10.07

26/09/2016 Mar 2015

US$52.23

12/10/2016

US$24,334,631,329

10/10/2016 Source:CBN

Bonny Light Ext Res**

Description 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.50 22-JAN-2026 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

FGN Bonds

TTM

1.06 3.23 3.86 5.81 7.94 9.80 14.30 18.29

Price 104.54 114.58 111.91 120.62 109.79 100.32 83.54 97.16

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.2500 8.2420 10.1127 11.7162

Treasury Bills

Bid Yield 10.45 10.54 11.61 11.43 12.23 12.43 12.49 12.54

Change (%) -0.21 ▼ -0.87 ▼ -0.90 ▼ -0.66 ▼

It is often forgotten; trade finance has dropped off the international agenda. We need to do more to communicate its central importance to the global economy,” ICC Secretary General John Danilovich said.

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were hit especially hard, accounting for 58 per cent of total rejections despite submitting 44 per cent of all trade finance proposals. By comparison, large corporates made up 33 per cent of rejections and 40 per cent of proposals; multinational corporations were nine per cent and 16 per cent, respectively.

Ninety per cent of respondents cited the cost and complexity of compliance requirements relating to anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) regulation as barriers to the provision of trade finance, up from 81 per cent in the 2015 survey.

The ICC said this led to 40 per cent of respondents reported terminating banking relationships due to compliance re-

T Change (%) 0.07 ▲ -0.01 ▼ 0.01 ▲ -0.01 ▼ -0.04 ▼ 0.04 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.06 ▲

Price 104.69 114.88 112.21 120.92 110.09 100.62 83.84 97.46

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

bad debts.

Significantly, it said: “If current challenges do not ease, the banks could face further downgrades. Our discussions with banks indicate that most impairments are concentrated in the private sector, which is affected by foreign currency shortages and the depreciation of the naira. Borrowers are struggling to access scarce FC and those dependent on naira income are finding it hard to meet escalating repayment costs triggered by the depreciation.”

quirements, with 83 per cent expecting compliance costs to increase in 2016.

Other impediments to trade finance noted by respondents included low issuing bank credit ratings (86 per cent), low country credit ratings (82 per cent), regulatory requirements (76 per cent), and low obligator or company ratings (70 per cent).

A decrease in the use of traditional trade finance was also evident in this year’s Global Survey report, with nearly 50 per cent of respondents reporting a decrease in commercial Letters of Credit, while nearly 35 per cent reported an increase in supply chain finance deals.

“This year’s survey highlights the challenges ahead, revealing that compliance is one of the main impediments to trade finance provision— with the majority of industry players only expecting complexity and cost to increase further over the rest of the year,” Daniel Schmand, Chair of the ICC Banking Commission, said.

Bank CEO charges entrepreneurs on capacity building

Economic Indicators M2* CPS* INF MPR 91-day NTB

weaker financial flexibility.”

The agency pointed out: “The industry’s NPLs would have been higher if banks had not undertaken widespread restructuring of loans to the oil and gas sector, which accounts for 30 per cent of total sector loans. Asset-quality indicators in these portfolios are therefore holding up as borrowers are able to comply with generous loan maturity extensions.”

Fitch averred that with the Nigerian economy remaining in recession, it would be difficult for banks to curb rising

New ICC survey finds worsening global shortage of trade finance

‘Emefiele: CBN will not succumb to blackmail’ gainst the background of reports that a group of protesters on Tuesday held a demonstration calling for the removal of Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr.Godwin Emefiele, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, has said that the Apex bank will not succumb to those trying to blackmail it into giving in to their unpatriotic demands.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos yesterday, Okorafor said the so called demonstrators were those who were not happy with the CBN’s forex policies.

He said that the shortage

37

Offer Yield 10.30 10.44 11.52 11.36 12.18 12.38 12.44 12.50

NITTY

Rate (%) 5.1731 6.4137 7.3300 8.8857 9.6247 10.5416

Change (%) 0.07 ▲ -0.01 ▼ 0.01 ▲ -0.01 ▼ -0.04 ▼ 0.04 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.06 ▲ Change (%) -1.82 ▼ -0.82 ▼ -0.75 ▼ -0.32 ▼ 0.04 ▲ 0.04 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 30-Jun-16 7.59 7.34 7.47 -0.35 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 3.75 7.73 -0.35 ▼ 6-Oct-16 8.37 8.12 8.47 -0.24 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 4.25 8.74 -0.24 ▼ 16-Mar-17 9.40 10.32 0.04 ▲ 9.15 10.02 0.04 ▲

Change (%) -0.08 ▼ -0.08 ▼

he Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of Skye Bank Plc., Mr. Tokunbo Abiru has charged entrepreneurs on the importance of capacity building to the success of their enterprise.

He made this call according to a statement, while speaking as a panelist at the just concluded Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja titled “Driving SME Growth for Made in Nigeria Products & Services”.

He highlighted key issues that capacity building offers, stressing its importance for business owners.

The Skye Bank CEO said business owners should seek to have contextual understanding of their business ideas by engaging in extensive research; building managerial skills and capac-

ity before approaching financial institutions for the required funding.

On the role of government, in the SME space, he explained: “In order to ensure the accelerated growth of SMEs in Nigeria, the government must play a frontal role in the provision of massive infrastructures like power, roads to enhance movement of goods and services across the country to optimise national productivity.” Noting that the environment should be conducive for businesses to thrive, he said: “When we patronise locally made goods, we are invariably contributing to enhanced operations of local manufacturers and entrepreneurs; create more jobs; improve quality of products and ultimately stimulate local consumption that impact the local economy.”

38

BUSINESS |FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

12-Oct-16

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

Bonds

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

Description 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 14.50 15-JUL-2021 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 ^12.50 22-JAN-2026 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 ^12.40 18-MAR-2036

Price

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

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

15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 14.50 16.39 14.20 12.50 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.15 12.4000

480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 606.43 210.59 605.31 719.99 421.02 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92 310.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

6,451.16

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

5,795.27

Rating/Agency

Agency Bonds Nil

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Description

Issuer

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 15-Jul-21 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 22-Jan-26 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34 18-Mar-36

0.54 0.79 0.88 1.63 2.71 3.03 3.34 4.75 5.29 7.42 9.28 12.13 12.61 13.10 13.78 17.76 19.43

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

17.82 19.61 20.28 18.72 14.67 14.92 15.16 15.00 14.93 15.15 15.45 15.34 15.32 15.30 15.27 15.10 15.51

17.51 19.38 20.08 18.60 14.61 14.77 15.05 14.91 14.85 15.08 15.38 15.28 15.25 15.22 15.20 15.05 15.45

98.63 93.10 91.50 89.10 102.82 81.24 100.90 98.29 105.13 95.80 85.64 98.12 84.38 61.98 69.99 81.86 81.05

98.78 93.25 91.65 89.25 102.97 81.54 101.20 98.59 105.43 96.10 85.94 98.42 84.68 62.28 70.29 82.16 81.35

6406.155565

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

0.60

03-Apr-17

0.30

2.94

19.98

99.18

19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21 09-Dec-21 16-Feb-22 27-Feb-22 30-Mar-22 31-Mar-22 27-May-22

0.52 0.48 1.22 1.26 1.27 1.23 1.23 1.41 1.83 3.11 1.79 4.12 4.22 2.45 2.47 3.03 3.24 3.27 3.38 6.46 3.35

1.00 5.71 2.39 1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 3.82 2.02 2.01 1.00 1.30 3.76 2.53 1.00 1.52 4.01 1.00 2.52 1.79 3.04

18.66 23.17 22.66 21.12 21.08 24.06 23.78 23.36 20.00 16.96 19.12 16.37 18.82 18.18 16.56 16.43 19.03 16.03 17.61 16.75 18.11

95.89 95.93 91.12 92.61 92.60 90.62 90.35 91.18 93.57 94.17 93.73 91.58 89.13 93.23 96.99 97.88 94.32 101.05 99.73 100.87 97.37

5.53 112.22 116.70 66.49 20.00 0.36 2.70

25-Oct-16 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18

0.04 0.16 0.52 0.73 0.97 0.65 0.99

1.34 1.00 3.55 5.25 1.88 1.88 3.15

17.94 17.78 21.21 24.44 22.74 20.45 24.18

99.83 99.58 97.78 94.82 91.93 99.34 93.27

0.60

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

0.60

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR† Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto Bbb-/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto A-/GCR

LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA *BAUCHI *OYO *BENUE *PLATEAU KOGI *CROSS RIVER

19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 31-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14 09-Dec-14 17-Feb-15 27-Feb-15 30-Mar-15 01-Apr-15 27-May-15

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 15.50 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 16.50 OYO 16-FEB-2022 16.50 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 17.50 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 17.00 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022

10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00 15.50 16.50 16.50 17.50 17.00 17.00

57.00 11.33 25.00 19.37 3.49 9.45 7.01 18.70 11.14 80.00 19.40 87.50 5.00 3.74 3.76 14.37 4.17 4.30 27.10 3.00 7.34

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

422.14 396.60

Corporate Bonds A-/Agusto; A-/GCR Nil Nil Nil A/GCR BBB-/GCR Nil A-/DataPro†; CCC/GCR AAA/DataPro†; B/GCR A+/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto†; BBB+/GCR† BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR Nil A-/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB/GCR A/GCR BBB/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR AAA/GCR

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

FSDH ***LCRM UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA#{r} *TOWER# #

*TOWER UBA

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*DANA#{r} FCMB

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.00 FCMB 6-NOV-2020

NAHCO *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC *FCMB UBA FIDELITY *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC STANBIC IBTC STANBIC IBTC *NMRC

16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022 16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030

15.75 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 15.50 TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

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

14.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 13.00 18.00 16.00

09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11

18.00 16.00

1.45 0.40

09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18

1.16 1.16

6.35 1.00

26.86 21.51

91.86 94.71

30-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 06-Nov-15 14-Nov-13 04-Dec-15

14.00 15.75 18.00 16.00 15.00 15.75 15.50

35.00 1.50 0.23 3.75 23.19 2.05 9.76

30-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 06-Nov-20 14-Nov-20 04-Dec-20

1.97 1.02 1.35 1.47 4.07 4.09 2.59

1.17 4.42 6.11 3.28 4.47 1.00 3.55

18.64 25.45 25.89 22.61 19.55 16.08 18.91

92.63 92.15 91.64 92.32 87.60 99.01 93.43

20-Nov-14 30-Dec-14 13-May-15 26-Oct-15 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-14 29-Jul-15

14.25 16.45 16.48 16.00 16.29 13.25 14.90

26.00 30.50 30.00 10.00 0.10 15.44 7.82

20-Nov-21 30-Dec-21 13-May-22 26-Oct-22 30-Sep-24 30-Sep-24 29-Jul-30

5.10 5.21 5.58 3.75 7.97 7.97 9.19

2.51 1.00 1.00 2.77 1.00 1.00 1.00

17.48 15.96 15.96 17.88 16.24 16.24 16.42

89.34 101.61 101.82 95.22 100.19 86.87 93.29

10-Oct-20

2.31

3.37

19.54

91.64

521.19

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

501.43

Sukuk *OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

1.33

1.00

18.01

91.05

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

*AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

2.56

1.00

14.15

94.06

Bid Price

Offer Price

BBB-/Agusto

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

14.75

8.63

8.63 7.91

Supranational Bond

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

24.95 23.11 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($’mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.76

6.52

99.94

100.84

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.85

4.40

100.45

101.19

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.86

6.72

97.39

98.16

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,488.87

Corporate Eurobonds B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

5.25

5.25

101.50

101.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

23.54

21.47

79.20

81.44

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.47

6.47

99.10

99.10

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.69

6.69

99.00

99.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

21.67

21.67

75.25

75.25

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

12.88 11.96 13.95

12.61 11.64 13.95

86.00 90.16 79.25

86.72 91.20 79.25

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

12.23

11.76

84.88

86.63

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

3,150.00 2,822.19 Issue Date

Yield @ Issue (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

DTM

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Discount Rate (%)

UPDC CP 18-OCT-16

18-Apr-16

11.00

16.80

18-Oct-16

6

2.03

18.60

18.54

FSDH CP I 28-NOV-16

30-Aug-16

16.64

0.81

28-Nov-16

47

1.00

17.73

17.34

FSDH CP II 26-MAY-17

30-Aug-16

21.89

14.17

26-May-17

226

2.49

20.89

18.50

Description

Issuer

Commercial Papers Bb-/Agusto A-/Agusto A-/Agusto

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY PLC FSDH MERCHANT BANK LIMITED FSDH MERCHANT BANK LIMITED

14.17

**TREASURY BILLS^ DTM 8 15 22 36 50 57 64 78

FIXINGS Maturity 20-Oct-16 27-Oct-16 3-Nov-16 17-Nov-16 1-Dec-16 8-Dec-16 15-Dec-16 29-Dec-16

Bid Discount (%) 13.26 13.85 15.90 14.17 15.93 14.62 14.21 13.73

Offer Discount (%) 13.01 13.60 15.65 13.92 15.68 14.37 13.96 13.48

Bid Yield (%) 13.29 13.92 16.05 14.37 16.29 14.96 14.57 14.14

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 13.4917 17.2815 18.3151 20.2651

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

13.17

Tenor

Closing Rate ($/N)

O/N

13.75

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

304.50 312.08 314.19 316.58 319.45 324.31

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 13.33 15.83

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 ^12.40 18-MAR-2036

28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14 18-Mar-16

15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.15 12.4000

75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92 310.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

6,451.16

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

5,795.27

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Agency Bonds

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

Nil

Issue Date

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE NEW TOTALTELEGRAPH MARKET CAPITALISATION

03-Apr-12

Coupon (%)

28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34 18-Mar-36

12.13 12.61 13.10 13.78 17.76 19.43

15.34 15.32 15.30 15.27 15.10 15.51

15.28 15.25 15.22 15.20 15.05 15.45

98.12 84.38 61.98 69.99 81.86 81.05

98.42 84.68 62.28 70.29 82.16 81.35

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

6406.155565

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Maturity Date

# Risk Premium (%)

BUSINESS |FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 17.25

0.60

03-Apr-17

0.30

2.94

19.98

39

99.18

0.60 0.60

Stock market halts 2-day gaining streak Sub-National Bonds

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR† Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto Bbb-/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto A-/GCR

LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA *BAUCHI *OYO *BENUE *PLATEAU KOGI *CROSS RIVER

BEARISH Banking, consumer goods stocks drag NSE ASI to red zone

K

ey performance indices, the NSE All Corporate Bonds Share Index (ASI) A-/Agusto; A-/GCR FSDH Nil and market capitali***LCRM Nil Nil sation, yesterday fell by 0.025 A/GCR UBA per cent to halt two days gainBBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING Nil *DANA ing streak.

A-/DataPro†; CCC/GCR DrivenB/GCR by decline*TOWER in value AAA/DataPro†; *TOWER A+/Agusto; A/GCR UBA of most banking and consumBbb+/Agusto†; BBB+/GCR† *LA CASERA BBB-/DataPro†; er stocks,BB/GCR the equities market *CHELLARAMS Nil *DANA closed negative.

A-/GCR FCMB TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

#{r}

# #

#

#{r}

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB/GCR A/GCR BBB/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR AAA/GCR

10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00 15.50 16.50 16.50 17.50 17.00 17.00

LAGOS 19-APR-2017 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 EDO 31-DEC-2017 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 OYO 16-FEB-2022 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022

Consequently, the All-Share Index dropped by 7.09 basis points or 0.025 per cent to close at 28,027.23 basis points as against 28,034.32 recorded the previous day, while the market capitalisation of equities depreciated by N3 billion or 0.025 per cent to close at N9.626 trillion from N9.629 trillion.

Meanwhile, a turnover of 155.6 million 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 shares ex0.00/16.00 in LCRM 3,277 08-DEC-2016 changed deals was 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50in LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 recorded the day’s trading.

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 Banking sub-sector of the 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 financial services sector was MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25active TOWER 9-SEP-2018 the most (measured by 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 turnover volume) with 90.8 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 million shares exchanged by 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 investors in6-NOV-2020 1,194 deals.

15.00 FCMB

NAHCO *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC *FCMB UBA FIDELITY *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC STANBIC IBTC STANBIC IBTC *NMRC

T

F

he second edition of Speaking at a press conferVenture-Chivas Regal’s ence yesterday in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, ChocSukuk global search for the BBB-/Agusto *OSUN with OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 most promising start-ups olate14.75 City and the Head Judge, TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE an ambition to create positive The Venture 2016, Mr. Audu TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION change has began with over Maikori said the venture is Supranational Bond $1milion in fundingIFCand re- all about looking for entrepre10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P AFDB has 1-FEB-2021 sources. neur11.25 who the passion of Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P *AfDB TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE The Venture is Chivas’s changing the world.

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION global search to find and supAudu explained that the port the next generation Issuer of programme is openDescription for entreRating/Agency startups that want to succeed preneurs that are 25 years and FGN Eurobonds whilst making a positive im- above, adding that the busi6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P pact on the lives of others. FGN ness idea has to be profitable BB-/Fitch; 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P Last year’s competition and capable of making social BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 BB-/S&P saw five Grand Finalists pitch impact in the society.

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE to a panel of judges that inHe said that Angel AdelaTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION cluded, Eva Longoria, Sonal ja who was winner of last’s Corporate Eurobonds Shah, Joe Huff and Alexandre year’s Venture competition 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 Ricard in New York City . Conwon with her venture Fresh B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC ceptos Plásticos, a Colombian Direct, which aims6.00 toNOV make an 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC May 21, 2019 social startup that transforms agriculture B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC impact by making 8.75 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC plastic waste into building ma- cheaper and9.25/6M more accessible USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P BANK LTD terials for vulnerableFIRST commuthrough hydroponic agricul8.75 AUG 14, 2021 B-/S&P ECOBANK NIG. LTD nities was awarded the largest ture.

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE contribution from The VenHe called on entrepreneurs TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION ture fund, receiving $300,000. who have an idea that will AsRating/Agency Chivas, the Venture Issuer re- change the world Description to sign up turns to Nigeria for the second for the venture and stand the Commercial Papers UACN PROPERTY year, following the success of chance to18-OCT-16 win N1 million in UPDC CP Bb-/Agusto DEVELOPMENT COMPANY PLC last year’s completion. funding.

FSDH MERCHANT BANK A-/Agusto A-/Agusto

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

LIMITED FSDH MERCHANT BANK LIMITED

FSDH CP I 28-NOV-16

FSDH CP II 26-MAY-17

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

14.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 13.00 18.00 16.00

57.00 11.33 25.00 19.37 3.49 9.45 7.01 18.70 11.14 80.00 19.40 87.50 5.00 3.74 3.76 14.37 4.17 4.30 27.10 3.00 7.34

19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21 09-Dec-21 16-Feb-22 27-Feb-22 30-Mar-22 31-Mar-22 27-May-22

0.52 0.48 1.22 1.26 1.27 1.23 1.23 1.41 1.83 3.11 1.79 4.12 4.22 2.45 2.47 3.03 3.24 3.27 3.38 6.46 3.35

5.53 112.22 116.70 66.49 20.00 0.36 2.70

25-Oct-16 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18

0.04 0.16 0.52 0.73 0.97 0.65 0.99

the close of trading session was 13, while decliners closed at 20.

Caverton Nigeria Plc led the gainers’ table with 8.57 per cent to close at 76 kobo per share while Seplat Oil Plc followed with a gain of five per cent to close at N385.88 per 422.14Guinness Nigeria Plc share.

396.60 added 4.92 per cent to close at

1.00 5.71 2.39 1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 3.82 2.02 2.01 1.00 1.30 3.76 2.53 1.00 1.52 4.01 1.00 2.52 1.79 3.04

18.66 23.17 22.66 21.12 21.08 24.06 23.78 23.36 20.00 16.96 19.12 16.37 18.82 18.18 16.56 16.43 19.03 16.03 17.61 16.75 18.11

95.89 95.93 91.12 92.61 92.60 90.62 90.35 91.18 93.57 94.17 93.73 91.58 89.13 93.23 96.99 97.88 94.32 101.05 99.73 100.87 97.37

1.34 1.00 3.55 5.25 1.88 1.88 3.15

17.94 17.78 21.21 24.44 22.74 20.45 24.18

99.83 99.58 97.78 94.82 91.93 99.34 93.27

N79.74 per share.

On the other hand, UACProperty Plc led the price losers’ table, dropping 9.37 per cent to close at N3.58 per share. e-Transact Plc trailed with 4.92 per cent to close at N5.54 per share, while Learn Africa Plc trailed with a loss of 4.76 per cent to close at 60 kobo per share.

Forte Oil Q3 PAT drops by 35%

15.75 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 15.50 TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022 16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00 15.50 16.50 16.50 17.50 17.00 17.00

Volume in the sub-sector was largely driven by activities in the shares of UBA Plc and GTB Plc. The premium sub-sector boosted by activities in the shares of FBNH Plc and Zenith Bank Plc, followed with a turnover of 17.34 million shares in 489 deals.

The number of gainers at

Chival Regal begins $1m global search for start-ups TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 31-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14 09-Dec-14 17-Feb-15 27-Feb-15 30-Mar-15 01-Apr-15 27-May-15

orte09-Sep-11 Oil Plc has18.00recorded a 34.73 per16.00 cent 09-Sep-11 30-Sep-11 14.00 decline in profit after 18-Oct-13 15.75 17-Feb-12 18.00 tax for the third quarter 01-Apr-14 16.00 ended September 30, 2016.

06-Nov-15 15.00 14-Nov-13 in a filing 15.75 The group 04-Dec-15 15.50 with the20-Nov-14 Nigerian Stock 14.25 30-Dec-14 16.45 Exchange (NSE) said its 13-May-15 16.48 26-Oct-15 during16.00 net earnings the 30-Sep-14 16.29 period under review stood 30-Sep-14 13.25 14.90 at N2.796 29-Jul-15 billion as against N4.284 billion reported in 2015, accounting for a drop of 34.73 per cent.

10-Oct-13 14.75 However, its pretax profit grew by 6.52 per cent from N5.288 billion a year earlier to11-Feb-13 N5.633 billion in 10.20 2016.

10-Jul-14 11.25 Revenue was up by 32.16 per cent from N91.616 billion against N121.083 bilIssue Date Coupon (%) lion recorded during the period under review. 6.75 07-Oct-11 Forte Oil Plc had said it 12-Jul-13 5.13 planned to raise N50 billion 12-Jul-13 6.38 in fresh capital through debt instruments before the end of 2016 for the expansion of its operations.

25-Jul-12 7.25 09-May-13chief execu6.88 The group 08-Nov-13 6.00 tive officer of Forte Oil, Mr 22-Apr-14 6.25 21-May-14 8.75 Akin Akinfemiwa, made 07-Aug-13 this known recently at8.25 the 24-Jun-14 9.25 23-Jul-14 8.00 company’s Facts Behind 14-Aug-14 8.75 the Figures presentation on the Exchange in Lagos.

He said: “We will be raisDate in Yield @ Issue ing debt Issue capital 2016 and(%) we are in discussion with NSE but 18-Apr-16 for equity 11.00 fund raising, it will not hap30-Aug-16

16.64

30-Aug-16

21.89

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

pen 1.45 this year,09-Sep-18 maybe in1.16 the future.”

0.40 09-Sep-18 1.16 35.00 1.97 He added: 30-Sep-18 “We want is to 1.50 18-Oct-18 1.02 0.23 long term 17-Feb-19debts 1.35 raise and 3.75 01-Apr-19 1.47 make 23.19 our interest 06-Nov-20 rate very 4.07 2.05 14-Nov-20 4.09of predictive.

The first series 9.76 04-Dec-20 2.59 the 26.00 fund will be between 5.10 N10 20-Nov-21 30-Dec-21 5.21 and30.50 N15 billion.”

30.00 13-May-22 5.58 10.00 26-Oct-22 3.75 a Forte Oil had also made 0.10 7.97 declaration of 30-Sep-24 N3.45 kobo divi15.44 30-Sep-24 7.97 7.82to shareholders 29-Jul-30 dend for9.19 the 521.19

full financial year of 2015.

6.35 26.86 91.86 Although group in1.00 21.51 the 94.71 1.17 18.64 92.63 volved in retail oil business, 4.42 25.45 92.15 6.11 25.89 power generation and91.64 oil lift3.28 22.61 92.32 ing recorded a sharp fall in 4.47 19.55 87.60 1.00 16.08 year from 99.01 turnover last N170.1 3.55 18.91 93.43 billion to N124.6 billion, it was 2.51 17.48 89.34 1.00 15.96 101.61 able to hold other costs to re1.00 15.96 101.82 2.77 17.88 95.22 turn a wholesome PAT of 1.00 16.24 100.19 N5.79 billion, higher than the 1.00 16.24 86.87 1.00 16.42 recorded93.29 N4.45 billion in 2014.

Lender supports Lagos with N221m 501.43

W

10-Oct-20 ema Bank Plc has2.31 supported the Lagos State Government and the Justice Research Institute 1.33 Lim12.00 11-Feb-18 ited12.95 with N20 million to deliver 01-Feb-21 2.56 24.95 a world-class archiving service 23.11 aimed at transforming record Outstanding Value management in the Lagos State Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) ($’mm) High Court.

The lender28-Jan-21 in a statement 500.00 6.76 said500.00 in a bid to12-Jul-18 address the de4.85 teriorating state of the Lagos 500.00 12-Jul-23 6.86 High Court archives, the Lagos 1,500.00 State Judiciary and the Justice 1,488.87 Research Institute Limited, a private limited liability com350.00 25-Jul-17 5.25 300.00 02-May-18 pany , partnered to create a23.54 joint 400.00 08-Nov-18 venture, the Lagos Archives6.47 and 500.00 22-Apr-19 6.69 200.00 21-May-19 Property Litigation Registry 21.67 300.00 07-Aug-20 12.88 (LAPLR).

400.00 24-Jun-21 11.96 450.00 13.95 Apart from 23-Jul-21 the N20 million 250.00 14-Aug-21 funding

by Wema Bank,12.23the 3,150.00 lender 2,822.19also granted LAPLR a project finance facility to the Outstanding DTM Date tune N201 Maturity million.

Value of (₦’bn) Managing Director of Wema Bank, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, 16.80 18-Oct-16 6 while speaking at the launch of 8.63

8.63 7.91

0.81

28-Nov-16

47

14.17

26-May-17

226

3.37 19.54 91.64 the archives at the Lagos State High Court, noted that the bank identified the need to have a credible source of information 1.00 18.01 91.05 on1.00land and are 14.15property that 94.06 subject to litigation in Lagos State, hence the lender’s decision Offer Yield to (%) support Bid Price the project.

Offer Price “We lent our support in two Prices & Yields ways; corporate social responsi6.52 99.94 100.84 bility was part of the financing, 4.40 100.45 101.19 it wasn’t just loan,” Oloketuyi 97.39 6.72 98.16 said: “Even the loan was given at an extremely low interest rate and long tenor to ensure the repayment is101.50 easy. We did101.50 this as a 5.25 push company handling 21.47 for the 79.20 81.44 6.47 99.10 this project99.10 in partnership with 6.69 99.00 99.00 the Lagos judiciary , on the 21.67 75.25 75.25 need 86.00 86.72 to12.61 create value, an opportunity 11.64 90.16 91.20 13.95 79.25this project.”

79.25 presented by 11.76 86.63 The MD84.88 noted that when the project was conceived and the bank was contacted for financRisk Valuation Discount (%) Premium ing, “we contributed someRate ideas, Yield (%) (%) which were also brought into the picture to ensure the success of 2.03 18.60 18.54 the project.” #

1.00

17.73

2.49

20.89

17.34 18.50

12-Oct-16

14.17

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 **TREASURY BILLS^ FIXINGS Money Market Foreign timeliness, Exchange (Spot & Forwards) 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, completeness, DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) NIBOR performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the13.01 results of any action13.29 taken on the basis of the Information.

8 20-Oct-16 13.26 15 22 36 FGN Bonds 50 57 64 Rating/Agency 78 85 99 113 127 134 141 148 155 162 169 176 183 190 204 211 225 232 246 260 267 274 281 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 288 295CAPITALISATION TOTAL MARKET 302 309 316 Rating/Agency 323 337 Agency Bonds344

Nil

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

27-Oct-16 3-Nov-16 17-Nov-16 1-Dec-16 8-Dec-16 15-Dec-16 Issuer 29-Dec-16 5-Jan-17 19-Jan-17 2-Feb-17 16-Feb-17 23-Feb-17 2-Mar-17 9-Mar-17 16-Mar-17 23-Mar-17 30-Mar-17 6-Apr-17 13-Apr-17 20-Apr-17 4-May-17 11-May-17 25-May-17 1-Jun-17 15-Jun-17 29-Jun-17 6-Jul-17 13-Jul-17 20-Jul-17 27-Jul-17 3-Aug-17 10-Aug-17 17-Aug-17 24-Aug-17 Issuer 31-Aug-17 14-Sep-17 21-Sep-17

FMBN

13.85 15.90 14.17 15.93 14.62 14.21 Description 13.73 15.90 15.10 27-APR-2017 14.04 9.85 27-JUL-2017 17.47 9.35 31-AUG-2017 16.43 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.86 ^16.00 29-JUN-201917.89 17.09 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.70 ^15.54 13-FEB-202016.31 14.50 15-JUL-2021 16.93 ^16.39 27-JAN-202217.07 16.12 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 16.29 ^12.50 22-JAN-202618.09 15.00 28-NOV-2028 17.47 12.49 22-MAY-2029 17.65 8.50 20-NOV-2029 17.97 17.44 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 17.81 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 17.71 ^12.40 18-MAR-203617.37 17.62 17.86 18.10 18.25 18.36 18.41 18.41 18.46 18.44

Description

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

13.60 15.65 13.92 15.68 14.37 13.96 Issue Date 13.48 15.65 27-Apr-12 13.79 27-Jul-07 17.22 16.18 31-Aug-07 16.61 30-May-08 17.64 29-Jun-12 16.84 23-Oct-09 16.45 13-Feb-15 16.06 16.68 13-Jul-16 16.82 27-Jan-12 15.87 14-Mar-14 16.04 22-Jan-16 17.84 28-Nov-08 17.22 17.40 22-May-09 17.72 20-Nov-09 17.19 23-Jul-10 17.56 18-Jul-14 17.46 18-Mar-16 17.12 17.37 17.61 17.85 18.00 18.11 18.16 18.16 18.21 18.19

13.92 Bonds 16.05

14.37 16.29 14.96 14.57(%) Coupon 14.14 16.51 15.10 14.60 9.85 18.47 17.43 9.35 17.97 10.70 19.22 16.00 18.36 7.00 17.97 15.54 17.58 18.37 14.50 18.61 16.39 17.53 14.20 17.80 12.50 20.12 15.00 19.44 19.80 12.49 20.29 8.50 19.76 10.00 20.40 12.15 20.35 12.4000 19.98 20.38 20.79 21.20 21.50 21.73 21.89 Issue Date 21.99 22.25 22.32

03-Apr-12

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Rate (%) 13.4917 17.2815 18.3151 20.2651

Maturity Date

NITTY 27-Apr-17 480.13 20.00 27-Jul-17 Tenor Rate (%) 1M 15.0878 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 15.2232 300.00 30-May-18 3M 15.4293 351.30 29-Jun-19 6M 17.9244 233.90 23-Oct-19 9M 20.3378 606.43 13-Feb-20 12M 22.7546 210.59 15-Jul-21 605.31 27-Jan-22 NIFEX 14-Mar-24 719.99 421.02Current Price ($/N) 22-Jan-26 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX Rate 317.9375 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 1075.92 18-Jul-34 310.00 18-Mar-36

OBB

13.17

O/N

13.75

Tenor

REPO

TTMCall (Yrs) 1M 3M

Rate (%)

13.33(%) Bid Yield 15.83 16.83

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D 1M Offer2M Yield 3M (%) 6M 17.51 1Y

0.54 17.82 6M 18.00 0.79 19.61 19.38 0.88 20.28 20.08 NOTE: 1.63 18.72 18.60 :Benchmarks 2.71 14.67 14.61 * :Amortising Bond 3.03 Bond 14.92 14.77 µ :Convertible 3.34 15.16 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of 15.05 Nigeria FGN: Federal Nigeria 4.75 Government of 15.00 14.91 FMBN: Federal 5.29 Mortgage Bank 14.93of Nigeria 14.85 IFC: International Finance Corporation 7.42 15.15 15.08 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 15.45 15.38 NAHCO:9.28 Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 12.13 15.34 15.28 O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC 12.61Property Development 15.32 Company15.25 WAPCO:West Cement Company 13.10 Africa Portland 15.30 15.22 13.78 15.27 15.20 17.76 15.10 15.05 19.43 15.51 15.45

6,451.16

Closing Rate ($/N) 304.50

312.08 Price

Bid Price

314.19 316.58 319.45 Offer Price 324.31 333.15 349.83 98.78

98.63 93.10 93.25 91.50 91.65 89.10 89.25 NA :Not Applicable 102.82 102.97 ^ : Market Prices 81.24 Rate Bond 81.54 # : Floating 100.90 coupon bonds101.20 ***: Deferred DTM:98.29 Days-To-Maturity 98.59 TTM:105.13 Term-To-Maturity 105.43 ‡ : Bond rating under review 95.80 96.10 †: Bond rating expired 85.64 85.94 N/A :Not Available 98.12 in receivership 98.42 {r} :Issuer NGC:84.38 Nigeria-German Company 84.68 UBA: 61.98 United Bank for Africa 62.28 69.99 70.29 81.86 82.16 81.05 81.35

6406.155565

5,795.27 Coupon (%)

17.25

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

0.60

03-Apr-17

0.30

2.94

19.98

99.18

0.52 0.48 1.22 1.26 Implied Yield 1.27 1.23 15.68 1.23 15.06 1.41 15.16 1.83 15.19 3.11 1.79 4.12 4.22 2.45 2.47 3.03 3.24 3.27 3.38 6.46 3.35

1.00 5.71 2.39 1.00 Implied Portfolio 1.00 Price 3.82 135.0900 3.56 148.6885 3.82 109.3060 2.02 128.7687 2.01 1.00 1.30 3.76 2.53 1.00 1.52 4.01 1.00 2.52 1.79 3.04

0.60

TOTAL MARKETbonds, CAPITALISATION *for the Amortising the average life is calculated and not the TTM #

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

0.60

Sub-National Bonds

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR† Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto Bbb-/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto

LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA Modified Duration Buckets *NIGER *EKITI <3 *NIGER 3<5 *ONDO >5 *GOMBE Market LAGOS *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA *BAUCHI *OYO *BENUE *PLATEAU KOGI

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 Porfolio Market Value (₦’bn) 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 957.24 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 1,326.10 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 1,294.76 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 3,578.10 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 15.50 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 16.50 OYO 16-FEB-2022 16.50 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 17.50 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022

19-Apr-10 10.00 57.00 FMDQ FGN13.75 BOND INDEX 11.33 30-Jun-10 31-Dec-10 14.00 25.00 30-Sep-11by 14.00by Mkt 19.37 Total Outstanding Volume Weighting Weighting Bucket Weighting (₦’bn) Outstanding Volume Value 04-Oct-11 14.00 3.49 09-Dec-11 14.50 9.45 957.73 24.24 26.75 0.24 12-Dec-13 14.00 37.06 7.01 0.34 1,325.30 33.55 14-Feb-12 15.50 18.70 1,667.49 42.21 36.19 0.42 02-Oct-12 15.50100.00 11.14 1.00 3,950.52 100.00 22-Nov-12 14.50 80.00 12-Dec-12 14.75 19.40 27-Nov-13 13.50 87.50 31-Dec-13 15.00 5.00 31-Dec-13 14.50 3.74 06-Jan-14 15.00 3.76 09-Dec-14 15.50 14.37 17-Feb-15 16.50 4.17 27-Feb-15 16.50 4.30 30-Mar-15 17.50 27.10 01-Apr-15 17.00 3.00 27-May-15 17.00 7.34

19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 %30-Sep-18 Exposure_ Mod_Duration 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12.64 12-Dec-18 29.62 14-Feb-19 57.74 02-Oct-19 100.00 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21 09-Dec-21 16-Feb-22 27-Feb-22 30-Mar-22 31-Mar-22 27-May-22

18.66 23.17 22.66 21.12 INDEX 21.08 24.06 1,229.01 23.78 1,289.04 23.36 1,317.79 20.00 1,226.21 16.96 19.12 16.37 18.82 18.18 16.56 16.43 19.03 16.03 17.61 16.75 18.11

95.89 95.93 91.12 92.61 YTD Return (%) 92.60 90.62 10.9362 90.35 27.3036 91.18 30.8614 93.57 16.2086 94.17 93.73 91.58 89.13 93.23 96.99 97.88 94.32 101.05 99.73 100.87 97.37

40

News|south-west

Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

E

kiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, and a legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), yesterday berated President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government for last weekend midnight arrest of some top Judges.

Both described the development as “flagrant afront and erosion of the independence of the judi-

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Afe Babalola, Fayose fault FG on judges’ arrest ciary”, saying the situation portended grave danger for Nigeria’s fledgling democracy.

They spoke in reaction to the arrest in Abuja of the five judges, including two Supreme Court Justices for an alleged corruption by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Governor Fayose insisted that if judges who occupied powerful posi-

tions would be harassed in such manner by officers of the DSS, no other group or individual was safe, maintaining he would continue to accord the judicial arm of government every honour and grace and support every idea that would promote seamless administration of justice in the country.

They both spoke in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state capital,

yesterday at the foundation laying ceremony of a N1.29 billion Ekiti State New High Court Complex, as part of activities marking the governor’s second year anniversary.

His words: “I am particularly glad with what is happening today because the judicial officers had not done enough to put the executive at checks. I had earlier raised the alarm L-R: Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo; Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle; Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Ishola Adekunbi, after Olugbenle was inaugurated as the new chairman of the State Council of Obas at the Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta... yesterday

Strike: Why UCH’ll not send patients away, by CMD Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

A

gainst the five-day warning strike declared by resident doctors of the University College Hospital (UCH),

Ibadan which commenced yesterday morning over unpaid salary increment called skipping allowance, the hospital’s management led by the Chief Medical Director, Professor Temitope Alonge, yesterday declared that the hospital

Lagos empowers 1,110 teachers, partners DFID Muritala Ayinla

L

agos State Government yesterday said it has penciled down no fewer than 1,110 primary schools teachers across the 20 Local Government Education Authorities in what it described as ‘Jolly Phonics method’ of teaching.

Speaking during the flag off the training, the state executive chairman of Universal Basic Education, Dr. Ganiyu Oluremi Sopeyin, who disclosed this, affirmed that the trainning exercise was designed primarily to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public primary schools’ teachers in the state.

According to him, the training, being carried out in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), would also update teachers’ knowledge and skills with a view to giving the teachers a new outlook as govern-

ment which believed in capacity building of public schools’ teachers was ready to make them more competitive among their peers in the private sector.

This, Sopeyin said would make the teachers be exposed to novel techniques and synthetic phonics.

He said: “The training would also update teachers’ knowledge and skills with a view to giving the teachers a new outlook. We do not want our teachers to remain stagnant and unproductive in their operations.

Untrained teachers and Head teachers would remain shallow in knowledge, hollow in their subjects’ area, faulty in school management, and communication skills.”

Also, the state said it was ready to review its collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID) with a view to improving the quality of education in the state.

was not closed down, as its services were available to patients.

While addressing journalists yesterday, Alonge said that he received a letter from the Dr. Luqman Ogunjimi-led ARD at 10.00 Tuesday evening with regard to the non-payment of the August 2016 skipping allowance and gave a reply to it immediately, but that at 11 p.m, the doctors purport-

80,372

The official capacity of Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam, Malaysia.

Source: Businessinsider.in

edly held a congress and resolved that a 5-day warning strike would commence at 8.a.m yesterday.

According to Alonge, who described the action of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) as “unionistic rascality”, the said letter was delivered to his office at 9.00 a.m yesterday when the strike was said to have commenced at 8.00 a.m.

2,850

The number of fatalities in terrorists’ violence involving terrorists in 2001.

Source: Satp.org

Igbonla kidnap: Released pupils, teachers get special medical check-up

L

agos State Government yesterday confirmed the release of four pupils and teachers of a State Model College (Senior and Junior) Igbonla in Epe who were kidnapped by suspected ex-Ijaw militants on October 6, assuring that government would spare nothing until it rid the state of criminal elements.

Government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the children had undergone medical check-up after which they were reunited with their families.

It reads: “The Lagos State government today welcomed the release of the school pupils, vice-principal and head teacher of Igbonla Model College, Epe, who were kidnapped by suspected Ijaw militants on Thursday October 6, 2016.

“The children are doing well; they have been taken through medical checkup and have been safely reunited with their families.

“The determination of government to ensure 24-hour security of the state is evident in the huge investment in equipment and welfare of security agencies, especially the police.”

that something like this will happen, so the current predicament of these judges will teach a lesson that nobody is safe from harassment in Nigeria.”

Babalola described it as a constitutional faux pass that was too excessive to be contemplated.

He said: “I am particularly saddened by the attack. How can they be treated like criminals? The fact that the DSS released the judges on the second day showed that they did

not evade arrest, why should they then harassed and humiliated them in the first instance?

“It is a trite law that process of the court can’t be served after 7pm. Even if the DSS had the arrest warrant, they should not have gone on midnight raid of the houses of the judges.

“The NJC has the power to promote, appoint and discipline judges, this was done to ensure independence of that arm. So, I expect them to have approached the NJC.”

Kunle Olayeni

nesses in the state.

Amosun spoke at the inauguration of the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, as the new chairman of Ogun State Council of Obas.

At the event held at the Obas Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, a minute silence was observed in honour of the immediate past Chairman of the Council and late Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Michael Sonariwo, as well as the late Olota of Ota, Oba Moshood Alani Oyede.

House of Assembly had on Tuesday passed a bill into law, prescribing up to 25 years imprisonment, death sentence and fine, among others, for anyone found guilty of land grabbing.

The bill is entitled, “H.B. No. 03/2016 - A bill for a law to prohibit forcible entry and occupation of landed property, violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed property, armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and allied matters and for other matters incidental thereto or connected therewith.”

While commending the lawmakers for passing the bill, Amosun charged royal fathers to support the fight against land grabbing and omo onile syndrome.

Amosun urges monarchs to fight land grabbing

Abeokuta

O

gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday urged traditional rulers to complement his administration’s efforts in ridding the state of the menace of land grabbing and illegal encroachment.

He also warned the monarchs against being stumbling blocks in the way of genuine investors who require land to set up busi-

“This is the height of irresponsibility and recklessness because there was no notice to the effect and dialogue with explanations on the skipping had not broken down. The ARD said they declared warning strike when a training examination involving doctors from across West Africa is ongoing. This is a very unnecessary strike and I use this opportunity to tell Nigerians that UCH is not closed down. The hospital is in operation and our services are open to all.”

Alonge said that the issue of skipping which involved 54 tertiary institutions and the payment devolved on the Ministry of Health, had been generating recurrent crisis since

Ondo reinstates 900 sacked workers Babatope Okeowo Akure

T

hree years after they were sacked, the Ondo State government has reabsorbed 900 workers at the 18 Local Government areas of the State.

The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) disclosed this yesterday during a rally held to appreciate Governor Olusegun Mimiko for his support to the welfare of local government workers in the state.

The union however passed a vote of confidence on the Mimiko-led government for being sensitive and taking actions towards the plight

of the local government workers.

According to the union’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Victor Omodara thanked the Mimiko-led government for reabsorbing over 900 local Government workers affected by the 2013 screening exercise in the state.

They also appreciated the appointment of local government workers as supervisors in each of the 18 local government areas of the state and the approval of full implementation of local government scheme of service that would enable heads of local government administration attain an unprecedented grade level 17.

News|SOUTH-EAST

THURSDAY, oCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

41

NEWMAP assists Enugu communities to check erosion Kenneth Ofoma ENUGU

T

he Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) has embarked on intervention programmes to save two erosion-prone communities of Enugu State, Ngwo and Nsude, from being submerged.

Disclosing this to journalists in Enugu recently after inspecting the erosion prone areas at 9th Mile Corner and Nsude, Enugu State NEWMAP’s Project Coordinator, Mrs. Agatha Lechukwu, stated that 9th Mile Corner and Ajali Water Works Gully Erosion site were the first priority sites approved by the state government

for its intervention. She also stressed that erosion posed severe threat to the pipeline and twin-tank reservoir supplying water to Enugu metropolis.

Lechukwu further revealed that NEWMAP had taken control of erosion menace in 9th mile corner and Ajali Water Works, adding that about 493 beneficiaries participated in 50 percent of N20 million disbursed for alternative livelihood “Community Interest Groups”, (CIGS).

According to her, efforts were being made to control the two major gullies at 9th mile corner and Ajali Water Works gully, pointing out that they had posed serious threat to people’s residential, agricultural and commercial land.

Enugu NUT appeals for release of teachers’ outstanding promotions

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he Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), yesterday, appealed to Enugu State Government to release all outstanding promotions of teachers in the state.

Comrade Paul Nnaji, NUT Chairman in the state, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Nnaji noted that releasing the promotion would motivate and empower

teachers for greater productivity.

“We are appealing to the state government to direct Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board and Post Primary School Management Board (PPSMB) to release all outstanding promotions of teachers in Enugu state.

“The last promotion was released for secondary and primary school teachers in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

BoT member denies change in APGA’s leadership

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member of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, has denied any change in the national leadership of the party.

Ezeonwuka in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria in Awka yesterday said the board had reaffirmed its support for the national leadership of the party, led by Dr Victor Oye. The Chairman of the BoT and governor of Anambra, Chief Willie Obiano had last week Thursday summoned a meeting of the board to address some of the issues in the party, including the

purported sack of Oye and other officers.

Ezeonwuka described the meeting of the party’s BoT held Tuesday night at the Anambra governor’s lodge as fruitful and a watershed.

He said the BoT assessed the recent misunderstanding and arrived at the conclusion that the action was unnecessary, adding that they had to ‘let sleeping dog lie.’

“The national leadership of APGA got the blessing of the BoT during our meeting in Awka on Tuesday, Dr Oye remains the Chairman and there was no need for such misunderstanding.

Enugu State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo (left), receiving a merit award for human development, during the 30th anniversary of Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP), at Independence Layout, Enugu…yesterday

Owerri group evacuates refuse on Douglas road Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

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fter nearly two months of public outrage over the festering refuse heaps on Douglas road in Owerri, the Imo state capital, a socio-cultural group, Dozie-Mezie Owerre has finally evacuated the mountain of garbage. Representatives of the group who flew into the state from Abuja on Monday, led by Mr. Stanley Nkwazema and Chief Tony Nwadike, coordinated the exercise Nkwazema who is

Kenneth Ofoma ENUGU

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chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo, was yesterday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Abia over an alleged N36 million fraud.

He was docked on a three count charge of obtaining money by false pretence.

A statement from EFCC’s Enugu zonal office indicated that the accused person had pleaded not guilty to the charge

the spokesman of DozieMezie Owerre Worldwide, informed New Telegraph that, “The refuse had become a serious threat to the lives of our kinsmen and an affront to decent society. We saw no need to wait any longer which was why the leadership of Dozie-Mezie Owerre directed to do the needful.

“We hired thirteen dump trucks and three payloaders for everyday we work on Douglas road but we had already concluded that cost was inconsequential when lives were at risk”.

However, people were highly excited when Arch-

bishop Anthony Obinna of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri visited Douglas to witness the exercise around 11pm on Tuesday.

Addressing the crowd, he said, “Immediately I learnt that help has finally come, I came out here to see for myself, to encourage you all and to particularly thank the Dozie-Mezie Owerre group for this great deed.

We all agree that beyond being unsightly, the rubbish was a health hazard.

Now at least, I will have a clear path to embark on my pastoral visits.”

The cleric who offered

prayers for everyone participating in the exercise, noted that Dozie-Mezie Owerre has shown that Owerri people still had illustrious sons.

Meanwhile, efforts made by Hon. Ezenwa Onyewuchi, member representing Owerri Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives failed when his single payloader broke down and some thugs attacked his truck drivers who were heading to the Government dumpsite at Naze, forcing them to return the refuse to a dumpsite along Onitsha road, Owerri, owned by the Owerri community.

EFCC arraigns APC chieftain, Apugo, over N36m fraud while prosecution lawyer, Joshua Saidu, sought his remand in prison custody pending conclusion of trial.

Defence lawyer, R.M. Udechukwu (SAN) was said to have opposed the prosecution lawyer’s request and urged the court to allow his client continue on the administrative bail earlier granted him by the commission.

The silk was said to have earlier expressed his opposition to the arraignment of the politician on the ground that he is challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the matter. He

was however overruled by the judge.

The accused person was eventually granted bail in the sum of N10million with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties, according to Justice Osiagor, must be senior civil servants not less than Deputy Director with one of them having a landed property within Umuahia metropolis. The title documents of the landed property are to be deposited with the court’s registrar.

The judge further ordered the verification of the sureties by both lawyers and the court’s

registrar. The accused person is to remain in prison custody pending when the bail conditions are fulfilled.

The matter has been adjourned to 17th and 18th November for trial.

Earlier, Apugo had stor med the cour t with several security vehicles and not less than six ar med mobile policemen from the special protection units of the Nigeria Police, a development prompting the judge to demand that they move out of the court premises citing security concerns.

Female genital mutilation will end in 2036 – UNICEF Anambra House passes bill to stop diversion of state’s IGR Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

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he United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), yesterday said female genital mutilation in Nigeria will be eradicated in the next twenty years.

Child Protection Specialist in the organization, Mrs. Nkeiru Maduechesi, made this disclosure in Abakaliki

during a two-day training of community champions organized by UNICEF and the National Orientation Agency (NOA). The training was aimed at encouraging communities in Ebonyi state to abandon female genital mutilation.

In her speech, Nkeiru noted that female genital mutilation is one of the reasons women die during child birth and suffers from Vesico

Virginal Fistula (VVF), painful menstruation and sexual intercourse among others.

She said: “We have a target and a goal to ensure that female genital mutilation is eradicated within this generation and that is to say that in the next 20 years. So, we are looking at strengthening the community leaders because it is practiced by families and communities. It is a social norm.

Pamela Eboh Awka

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nambra State House of Assembly has passed a bill to stop government’s revenue agents from diverting Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state to private pockets.

The sitting yesterday which was presided over

by the speaker, Hon. Rita Maduagwu at the assembly complex had almost all the 30 lawmakers present.

The bill however introduced a new system of payment in the state known as use of bank point of sales for collection of government taxes, levies and sundry revenues. It also opened up ways to stop government agents from

collecting government money by cash but rather using point sales and bills.

The bill was sponsored

by Hon. Romanus Obi, member representing Orumba North Constituency, who sponsored the bill explained that the aim was to increase the IGR of the state and also prevent diversion of government money into private purse.

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News|SOUTH-SOUTH

THURSDAY, oCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Okowa: I didn’t collapse, but had head injuries Dominic Adewole ASABA

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elta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday faulted the highly speculated report about his health condition that allegedly led to his being flown abroad for treatment.

The governor, who tasked media practitioners on responsible journalism, harped on thorough investigation of issues before

66.1m

publishing, wondering who triggered the rumour.

Since last week, speculation rented the air that the governor slumped on the staircase to his office, broke his head and waist and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where his case assumed a dangerous dimension and was swiftly flown abroad for fear of internal injuries.

When the Deputy Governor, Kingsley Otuaro, thereafter appeared at

The estimated total population of Western Asia in 1960.

Source: Un.org

public functions where the governor was being expected, indigenes and residents of the state were forced to believe the story of the governor’s ill-health story.

But speaking at the Government House Chapel, Asaba yesterday, Governor Okowa said he was surprised at the blatant falsehood that was paraded by a section of the social and main stream media, suggesting that he collapsed

187,155

The total number of active fixed wired/wireless lines of Nigeria in December 2015.

Source: Ncc.gov.ng

and was flown abroad for medical attention.

He said: “It is unfair and uncharitable to disseminate false information. It is very unfortunate at this age and time that people will intentionally misinform others when there are opportunities to find out what might have happened.

“I am told that certain sections of the social media reported that I have been flown abroad for

0.54%

The capital importation percentage share of Trading of Nigeria in 2008.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

medical treatment. When and how did that happen, when I have been very busy treating hundreds of files on my table,” the governor added.

He continued; “The truth is that last Wednesday, I entered the washroom in my office and one of the tiles fell off from the wall and I had a minor cut on my head and I had two stitches, it was treated, and I was okay. People know I am a workaholic and that is why it didn’t stop

Group tasks Niger Delta oil bearing communities Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), yesterday called on oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta to rise to the occasion in the demand for a management board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) that is accountable, to guarantee development of communities and states in the region.

Executive Director of the group, David Ugolor, stated this during a brief-

Wife of the Rivers Governor, Justice Eberechi NyesomWike (middle) and students of the Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls Secondary School, during the school outreach programme organised by the wife of the governor to mark the international day of the girl child in Port Harcourt … on Tuesday

Tony Anichebe Uyo

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lectricity consumers in Akwa Ibom State have accused the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) of fraudulently extorting members of the public without corresponding power supply.

The consumers said the power company has completely neglected its responsibilities to members of the public, but has only made circulation of outrageous bills the most regular and visible aspect of their services to Akwa Ibom people.

Speaking with our correspondent in Uyo, the

Akwa Ibom electricity consumers chide Port Harcourt DISCO Akwa Ibom State capital, Mr. Idongesit Ekpenyong, a resident of Anwa Nsa Street, Uyo, expressed disappointment that such fraudulent activities could be allowed to go unabated in the state.

He said the entire PHEDC team in Akwa Ibom has displayed a high sense of irresponsibility and fraud against members of the public by forcefully and constantly placing charges for services not rendered.

He said the idea behind the estimated billing system

was the company’s calculated plan to make money at the expense of the public as any appropriate billing system would have revealed the true state of services rendered.

Citing his experience for instance, the consumer expressed disappointment that after one year of total blackout due to a faulty transformer in his area, the company, after installing a new transformer, facilitated by one of the residents, sent in bills covering the one year period of the total blackout.

He said: “Imagine a situation where you had no light in your area, not even a flash for one year, and for this reason, there was absolutely no point bringing in any bill, but after one year, one of the residents of the area facilitated the installation of a new transformer, two weeks after the new transformer was installed, they brought in bills covering the entire period of total blackout. So ridiculous it was that some flats were receiving bills of N150, 000 and single rooms between N50, 000 and 70, 000.”

CJ, Ogbemudia congratulate Edo governor-elect Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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do State Chief Judge, Justice Cromwell Idahosa, yesterday commended the state Governor-Elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, over his victory in the September 28 gubernatorial election in the state.

Idahosa in a congratulatory letter to the governorelect said: “For myself and family, and on behalf of all the honourable judges and the entire staff of the Edo

State Judiciary, I write to congratulate you on your victory at the poll in the just-concluded gubernatorial elections in Edo State.

“We pray the good Lord will give you the wisdom and good health of mind and body to discharge the onerous responsibilities of the exalted Office of the Governor of Edo State for the betterment of the good people of the state.

We are assured from your antecedents that you will take Edo State to a higher level of development to

the glory of God.” Similarly, two-time Governor of Midwest Region and later Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, lauded Obaseki for emerging victoriously at the poll.

According to Ogbemudia, “I warmly congratulate you for a very well deserved victory, let me note that from my own analysis of the poll, there is no ward in all the 192 electoral wards in Edo State that you did not do well by securing either

a clear victory or a pass mark. This, therefore, stands you out as a panEdo leader right from the beginning.”

He continued; “It is a rare feat and a great pedestal; an investiture of popular support, legitimacy and confidence. As you prepare to assume office, I wish you continued God’s grace, protection and blessings. I trust you to assemble a crack team as your commissioners, advisers, and aides,” he said.

me from working, I am hale and healthy.”

The governor expressed surprise that anybody would query why his deputy was representing him at public functions, maintaining that “even when it is a known fact that the Office of the Governor and that of the Deputy are one.”

He therefore advised media practitioners to always seek the truth at all times.

ing on the report of the implementation of Strengthening Advocacy and Civic Engagement (SACE) project in the region.

He also stressed the need for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the oil bearing communities to hold the NDDC and other developmental partners in the region, to account for the delivery of their mandates in the states.

Ugolor said the people desire effective, transparent and accountable institutions working collaboratively to develop the region.

Demolition: A’Ibom pays compensation to property owners Tony Anichebe Uyo

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wners of buildings and structures marked for demolition to give way for roads construction in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have been paid compensation by the state government.

However, properties affected by the demolition were duly assessed by private and government valuers before the owners were paid.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday, the Village

Head of Ikot Akpan Eshiet and his counterpart in Afaha Ubium all in Onna Local Government Area thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for the projects as well as the timely payment of compensation to those affected.

Commissioner for Works, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang, who personally ensured that the process went on without any hitch, however, advised those affected by the demolition to utilise the money given to them judiciously, especially those living in family houses.

Bayelsa Assembly lauds school proprietors on job creation Pauline Onyibe Yenagoa

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eader of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Peretubo Akpe, yesterday berated the state government for allowing private school owners to be the highest employer of labour in the educational sector.

He spoke yesterday in Yenagoa, when he chaired an event involving the National Association of Proprietors of

Private Schools.

Akpe commended the private school owners for thrashing the state government in the area of employment.

Describing the ratio of public schools to private schools as three to five, the legislature said there is a need for more public schools to be built in the state capital.

He, however, advised the government to give private schools grants so that they can control school fees.

News|north

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Gombe civil servants get residential renovation loans Willie Danjuma

Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shi’ites) on Ashura procession despite the state government’s ban on their activities. in Kaduna State … yesterday

Gombe

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ombe State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Mortgage Bank to issue loans of not more than N1 million to civil servants to renovate their residential houses.

According to the Head, Gombe State Civil Service, Dr. Daniel Musa Mohammed, the loan which has six per cent interest, would be repaid in five years.

He told journalists in his office that as major contributors to the Federal Mortgage Bank and one that has not been able to access the services of the bank, civil servants now have opportunity to benefit from the services of the bank.

He explained that all categories of civil servants in the state would benefit from the loans if they meet the requirements of the MoU signed with the state government.

Shiites, youths’ clash claims four in Kaduna, Kano Mojeed Alabi, Ibraheem Musa and Muhammad Kabir

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t least four people were feared killed yesterday in Kaduna when residents of Zango area of Tudun Wada clashed with members of the Shiites group in the city, burning the residence of the Kaduna State leader of the

Bello suspends N500m road project Dan Atori MINNA

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iger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, yesterday called for the immediate suspension of the ongoing Minna-Suleja road rehabilitation project due to heavy duty trucks plying the road.

He lamented that the heavy duty trucks have prevented the positive feeling of the impact of the over N500 million rehabilitation project being carried out on the road.

Governor Bello, who made the observation while inspecting the road project, however, called on the Federal Ministry of Works to enforce the use of weigh bridges across the country if the lifespan of roads must be

43

sustained and achieved.

“The manner in which over loaded weighing trucks between 40,000 and 70,000 tonnes instead of the lawful maximum of between 30,000 and 35,000 tonnes ply the road, whereas the roads were initially constructed to carry about 35,000 tonnes.

“The rehabilitation effort of the state government was aimed at reducing the hardship faced by the motorists, free flow of movement and make the road motorable,” he said.

The governor emphasised that he is in consultation with the state House of Assembly to introduce weigh bridges bill to ensure the arrest and prosecution of any over loaded vehicle plying through the state’s roads to ensure sustainability of the roads.

Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Malam Muktar Sahabi.

Also in Kano State yesterday, members of the group clashed with youths of the city as they attempted to stage a rally.

An eyewitness, who spoke to New Telegraph, said the killing happened around 10am, after a few members of the Islamic sect, who were dispersed along Bye-Pass Road attempted to hold a procession having converged at Sahabi’s residence, which doubles as the Kaduna headquarters of the IMN. Speaking to our correspondent after the incident, a Shiite member who did not want his name in print, said: “A mob just broke into our headquarters and

slaughtered our members like rams. The police was just watching; they even encouraged the thugs.”

A resident of Zango, Malam Abubakar Sadique, confirmed how the attack happened, arguing that the people of the area have been tolerating the Shiites for a long time.

“They have so rendered the public primary school useless that it is no longer conducive for learning.

Their members just occupy class rooms and disrupt lessons. Parents have withdrawn their children from the school,” Abubakar claimed.

According to him, the Shiites were in the habit of dancing and singing all day during their celebrations, thereby disturbing

the neighborhood.” Our people have had enough,” he added.

Meanwhile, members of the group met with stiff opposition yesterday in Kano as they were chased away while on a rally in the city.

The clash with group led to many of the members sustaining injuries.

The incident occurred around 1.10pm at Abattoir area of Kofar Mazugal while the Shiites were on their way to Abdullahi Bayero Fagge Mosque, where they planned to converge for onward processions to other parts of the state.

Also in Sokoto State, the state police command yesterday confirmed that angry youths killed a member of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria while on his way to

How to end Niger Delta crisis, by Tambuwal Umar Abdullahi

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okoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday gave an insight into how the crisis in the Niger Delta can be resolved. He said the crisis can be resolved politically than militarily.

“The crisis in the Niger Delta is one that requires more political engagement by all stakeholders. Rather than use military might, we should lay much emphasis on engaging all parties in a dialogue.

“The militants especially

must seize the initiative to restore peace in the region and ensure socio-economic stability,” the governor said on Tuesday in Sokoto when he hosted participants of Course 25 of the National Defence College, who were on a study tour of the state.

He said the ability of the country to rise to its challenges will ultimately define the true worth of its leaders.

“Every country in the world is facing one form of challenge or the other, what is important is the ability of the leadership to rally round, discuss and engage all stake-

holders to come to a peaceful resolution of such issues,” he added.

Tambuwal commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their efforts at ensuring internal security. He said the successes recorded in the fight against Boko Haram should inspire them to look for solutions to other security challenges like kidnapping and armed robbery bedeviling other parts of the country.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari has good intentions for the country, and urged the people to sup-

take part in a planned procession by the group.

The incident, according to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Alkasim Sunusi, happened at the Tudun Wada area of Sokoto North Local Government Area of the state.

Sunusi said that the victim was ‘seriously beaten and killed, while his Toyota car with registration number BRK 144 CM, was burnt.’

He said some members of the sect also engaged members of the public in a violent confrontation at Tamaje area of Sokoto South Local Government, adding that three motor cycles belonging to the sect members were also burnt, while one person was arrested with cutlass. port his efforts and embrace peace at all times.

On the theme of the tour, “Enhancing Food Security for National Development: The Role of State Governments,” Tambuwal said Sokoto has embraced modern farming techniques and has joined other entities in declaring food a major security issue.

“In the recent past, we have embraced many cash crops because of the need to diversify. In Sokoto today, we are leading producers of crops like millet, rice, sorghum, onions, tomatoes, cowpea and variety of vegetables.”

for Buhari’s anti-graft war Group laments gender gap in education Ganduje rallies support President of the NYCN, resource if the potentials

Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

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group, the High Level Women Advocates (HILWA), yesterday in Sokoto expressed worry over wide gap between the enrolment and transition rate of girls and boys in the state.

Chairperson of the group and Commissioner of Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Kulu Sifawa, made the

lamentation in Sokoto yesterday.

Sifawa, who spoke during a news briefing to mark the 2016 International Day of the GirlChild, was represented by her predecessor, Hajiya Kulu Nuhu.

According to her, “the 2015/2016 annual schools census conducted by the Ministry of Education indicates a gap in the 2011 primary schools across the state.

She said: “Enrolment stood at 712,619, with 436,547 boys and 276,072 girls, 61 per cent to 39 per cent ratio, transition stood at 14,066, with 11,749 boys and 2,317 girls, 83 per cent to 17 per cent ratio,” she added.

She said the statistics revealed that the gender gap was wide, adding that this required urgent attention and action by all stakeholders to reverse the ugly trend.

Mohammed Kabir

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ano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has urged the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) to mobilise youths for President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption and counter insurgency campaigns.

Ganduje made the call at the swearing in and inauguration of the Caretaker Committee of

Malam Murtala Garba, in Abuja.

Ganduje, who described the youths as the most productive and important segment of every nation, said the role of youths in eliminating corruption and extremism would not be overemphasised.

He said the vision of every country lay in the hands of its youths, adding that it would be a great wastage of human

of youths were not properly harnessed.

The governor commended President Buhari for equipping the military with necessary weapons to combat Boko Haram in the country.

“I advise the new leadership of the National Youths Council of Nigeria to embark on aggressive campaign and mobilisation of the youths to support Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade.

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onald Trump’s “deeply unsettling and disturbing” views make him a danger internationally, the UN’s human rights chief has said.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al-Hussein cited Mr. Trump’s comments on the use of torture and his attitude to “vulnerable communities”.

The Republican presidential candidate’s campaign has been marked by a number of controversial comments. Recent crude remarks

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

US election: Trump presidency ‘dangerous’, says UN rights chief about women have caused the biggest political fallout.

Overnight President Barack Obama, at a rally for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, condemned those comments, saying: “The guy says stuff that nobody would find tolerable if they were applying for a job at 7-Eleven.”

Mr. Hussein said at a news briefing in Geneva: “If Donald Trump is elected on the basis of what he has said already - and unless that changes I think it is without any doubt that he would be dangerous from an international point of view.”

Mr. Hussein said he was “not

keen or intent on interfering in any political campaign within any particular country”.

But he said that when an election could result in an increase in the use of torture “or the focus on vulnerable communities in a way that suggests that they may well be deprived of their human rights, then I think it is

incumbent to say so”.

Mr. Hussein has spoken out before on Mr. Trump’s policies, saying in June that “bigotry is not proof of strong leadership”, while in September he launched a scathing attack on Western populist politicians, branding them “demagogues and political fantasists”.

Child hunger costs Chad $1bn a year

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Ruins of air raids in Alleppo

Syria: Russian air raids kill 56 in Aleppo

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t least 56 people have been killed over the past 24 hours in the Syrian province of Aleppo as Russian air raids resumed over the countryside, sources told Al Jazeera.

The deaths from raids in Aleppo’s Bustan al-Qasr and Fardous neighbourhoods, as well as Ar-Rasheeqa city, were the results of the heaviest Russian bombardment in days on the city’s rebel held sector, people in the city said. Dozens were also wounded.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK based group that monitors the war through a network of informants in the country, reported a lull in fighting yesterday. “Silence is taking over Aleppo city. So far no gunshots or air strikes have been heard, since the air strike,” the monitor said.

The latest bout of violence

came as diplomatic efforts to stop the war intensified. Al Jazeera has seen a letter signed by at least 62 countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, calling on the UN Security Council to prevent further deaths from a “calculated campaign”.

The letter warns that the war in Syria is unlikely to be resolved by armies. It calls on all parties to adopt political processes for a political transition based on recommendations agreed upon in Geneva conventions and at the Security Council.

“The fighting, the bombardment and the siege have worsened conditions inside Aleppo,” said Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from the Turkish border with Syria. “The United Nations is warning that drinking water remains limited, medical supplies are urgently needed and the distribution food rations are being split in half aid

agencies are appealing for access to treat the wounded.” Separately, Turkey’s military said the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group was putting up “stiff resistance” in Syria’s north to attacks by Turkey backed rebels.

Turkey crossed the border two months ago in what it said was an attempt to drive ISIL fighters away from its frontier. Supported

by Turkish tanks and air raids, the rebels have been pushing towards the ISIL stronghold of Dabiq.

“Due to stiff resistance of the [ISIL] terror group, progress could not be achieved in an attack launched to take four settlements,” Turkey’s army said, naming the areas east of the town of Azaz as Kafrah, Suran, Ihtimalat and Duvaybik. The operation to drive the fighters away from the Turkish border, dubbed “Euphrates Shield”, was in its 50th day yesterday.

Burundi moves to quit International Criminal Court

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urundi’s lower house of parliament has overwhelmingly voted in support of a withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). The move comes shortly after the United Nations launched a probe into the country’s alleged systematic human rights abuses in an ongoing crackdown on a protest movement that began 18 months ago.

Ninety four out of 110 legislators voted in favour of the draft law yesterday, two were against it and 14 abstained. The legislation now has to be approved by the senate also dominated by the ruling party before being passed into law by President Pierre Nkurunziza .

No country has ever withdrawn from the ICC. Burundi has been plagued by violence since April 2015, when Nkurunziza sought a third term despite protests by those who called the move unconstitutional. Hundreds of people have been killed in the unrest. The ICC has said it will investigate ongoing violence in Burundi.

In April, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said she was conducting a “preliminary examination” of the situation in Burundi the first step towards a full investigation and possible prosecutions looking into allegations including murder, torture, rape, and forced disappearances.

And two weeks ago the United Nations launched a high-level probe into rights violations in Burundi after a report warned of possible “crimes against humanity” and the risk of genocide.

“It is perfectly clear that this is a plot to do harm to Burundi,” Gaston Sindimwo, Burundi’s vice president, said last week, referring to the investigations.

In August, Burundi also rejected the proposed deployment of more than 200 United Nations police officers to monitor the unrest.

Burundi’s move to leave the Netherlands-based court also comes amid rising resentment in Africa against the ICC.

hildhood hunger is costing Chad over 575 billion CFA francs ($982 million) a year in health and education costs and lower productivity in adult life, the African Union and UN agencies said in a joint study launched yesterday.

This is equivalent to 9.5 percent of Chad’s gross domestic product (GDP), the Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) study said. More than 56 percent of Chad’s adults some 3.4 million people suffered from stunting as children, and as a result are unable to achieve their full potential, according to the study.

Stunting, which leads to children being short for their age, is a sign of chronic undernourishment and occurs when

children lack the calories and proteins and sometimes vitamins and minerals they need to grow.

“The study provides us with compelling evidence of the consequences of child undernutrition as well as the justification to increase investment in nutrition,” said the World Food Programme’s Chad country director, Mary-Ellen McGroarty.

It also provides evidence of the “potential economic returns if we are to take aggressive measures toward eliminating stunting”, she said in a statement. Stunting among Chadian children under the age of five fell to 39 percent in 2010 from 45 percent in 2004, according to the 2016 Global Nutrition Report.

Hong Kong MPs defy China during swearing-in

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swearing-in ceremony to kick off Hong Kong’s legislative session descended into a farce, as newly elected pro-democracy politicians intentionally mangled their oaths in a show of defiance against Beijing.

The MPs also displayed flags declaring that Hong Kong is not a part of China, and called out for “democratic self-determination” for the semi-autonomous Chinese city during the oath-taking session yesterday.

The protests foreshadow what is expected to be a chaotic term for Hong Kong’s semi-democratic Legislative Council after a group of youthful candidates were elected in September, swell-

ing opposition ranks. The new MPs represent some of a new wave grassroots groups that emerged from the wake of 2014’s massive pro-democracy street protests, which failed to win concessions from Beijing but sparked a rising independence movement and a political awakening in many young people.

Al Jazeera’s Sarah Clarke, reporting from Hong Kong, said several MPs had chosen various forms of protest, with at least two declaring Hong Kong to be a nation.

Because all politicians were told “to stick to the exact wording, a constitutional requirement”, three of them had their oaths rejected. “We’re yet to find out what punishment will prevail,” Clarke said.

Over 200,000 still without power in US after hurricane

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he number of homes and businesses without power yesterday morning, after Hurricane Matthew pummeled the US Southeast’s Atlantic coast during the weekend, was down to 263,000, according to electric companies.

That compared with 532,000 at midday two days ago and a high of around 2.2 million on Sunday morning when the storm was still battering the North and South Carolina coasts.Matthew, the fiercest Atlantic storm since 2007, lashed

the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia and Virginia with heavy rain and wind after killing about 1,000 people in Haiti as it swept north through the Caribbean.

At least 30 people were killed in the United States. The hardest hit utility was Duke Energy Corp in North and South Carolina, which reported more than 1.3 million customers affected by the storm. Duke has restored service to over 1.2 million homes and businesses.

Duke has said it could take all week to restore power to customers in the hardest hit areas.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport News

Did you know?

Sport

Rohr backs Falcons to retain AWCON title

That Mesut Ozil has provided the most assists (35) for Germany since his debut in February 2009 against Norway

International Sport Messi back in training for Barcelona

46 47

Eagles will build on Ndola feat Onazi, Ikeme assure Nigerians

Adekunle Salami

S Onazi

Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi (left)

Ikeme

uper Eagles are looking to build on the remarkable 2-1 victory recorded in Ndola on Sunday over the Chipolopolo of Zambia in a World Cup qualifier.

Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi and goalkeeper Carl Ikeme said it was important to maintain the current momentum in the team and avoid any mistake.

Onazi said: “In the past, we do have problem of not starting well in major qualifying tournaments but we decided this time to go all out from the beginning.

This has worked for us and it is a challenge to maintain the current momentum.

“This is a new team evolving and it is why we have to work hard to get

the results for Nigeria.

We cannot afford to fail the country.”

Ikeme said he was particularly thrilled by the influx of young players in the team that played Zambia on Sunday in Ndola.

Six of the players in the starting line-up were under the age of 23.

Ikeme said: “We have a strong team now. The players are young and they have so much energy to compete well for over 90 minutes.

“It is important that we maintain our focus and that also include concentration during our games. The result we earned in Zambia was not easy but we can continue like that with hard work.

“We are going to take each match as it comes and ensure we win our home games.”

Russia 2018: Fresh crisis hits Algerian camp How players’ revolt led to Rajevac’s sacking Ubong Emmanuel

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

F

resh facts have emerged on why the Algerian Football Federation fired Coach of the Desert Foxes, Milovan Rajevac, ahead of the clash against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, stated for in Uyo on November 12.

The coaching crew led by Rajevac had been under pressure after blaming the players for Sunday’s1-1 draw with Cameroon in Blida.

New Telegraph learnt that the senior players didn’t accept the

coach’s argument instead they blamed him for his tactics which led to the draw against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon who dominated the game especially in the second half.

The for mer Ghana coach guided Algeria to a 6-0 win over Lesotho in his first game, before drawing his second game with Cameroon last weekend.

The football federation has less than 30 days to name a new coach and prepare for the game against the Super Eagles of Nigeria who defeated Zambia 2-1 and are now sitting atop the group.

Rajevac

Glo-CAF Awards: It’s Abuja again!

PG

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46 SPORT NEWS FANS’ ZONE

Nigerians want Eagles’ defence fortified A lot of commendations have trailed the Super Eagles’ 2-1 victory over Zambia in the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier but many Nigerians who spoke to New Telegraph believed the team’s defence needed to be fortified ahead of the game against Algeria next month.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

AWCON: Rohr tasks

Falcons on unity Emmanuel Tobi

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Rohr must replace Omeruo

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enneth Omeruo in particular is always putting the Super Eagles in a tight corner, he needs to be axed.

If one wants to review his past performances and matches he has played for the team, his blunders have always put the Eagles in difficult situation.

Omeruo should be replaced with a local defender.

Pastor Effiong Paul Lagos

Defenders need more confidence

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he Super Eagles’ defence is not yet perfect yet.

The coach needs to build the psychology of the players because most of them are not playing with experience and confidence. They need to step up their game against Algeria. Once they are confident, attackers will find it difficult to break through.

Eze Joshua Enugu

Omeruo, Echeijile poor

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lthough Nigeria showcased a wonderful performance against the Zambian boys, but one can’t deny the fact that the defence was obviously shaky, and that led to the only goal conceded.

It was a terrible and costly mistake from Kenneth Omeruo who had no business in the team. Elderson Echiéjilé should never be invited again; we have better left backs in the local league.

Genevive Ezike Anambra

Super Falcons’ forward, Francisca Ordega (left)

Civil defence wins taekwondo tourney Ajibade Olusesan

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igeria Security and Civil Defence Corps team has won the maiden edition of the Grandmaster George Ashiru Invitational Taekwondo Championship which was held at the indoor sports hall of the University of Lagos.

The security outfit emerged the overall champions with three gold, two

Oboabona for right back

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still don’t know why coach Rohr has failed to invite Godfrey Oboabona who can fit well in the porous right full back position. We watched him play in right back for Sunshine in the Nigerian league and the CAF Champions League before he moved to Europe and I believe he will be very helpful in that position just like Joseph Yobo did at the 2002 World Cup. Adu Moses Lagos

League players good enough

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e need to work more on our defenders because they played like they didn’t train together.

I feel we can inject some players from the local league, expecially players from Rangers who had impressive season in the league.

Comrade Ebhos Heroe Benin

Defence needs to be revamped

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feel Rohr should change the entire defence line, starting with the left and right full back which is weak but central back is a little bit okay.

Matthew Ikechukwu Lagos

Wing backs weak

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e have a very weak wing backs who struggled to curtail Zambian’s Kalaba and Mbesuma.

New players should be recruited in order to be able to stop the Algerian stars like Islam Slimani and Riyad Mahrez when we play them next month in Uyo. Sandra Ogbeide

Defence misses Balogun

I

think the defence is okay but coach Rohr needs to invite more home-based defenders. If not for injury, Leon Balogun is the best option to replace the ever-porous Omeruo.

Abiodun James Lagos

Compiled by Ubong Emmanuel, Samuel Ebhodaghe, Abiodun James

uper Eagles Manager Gernot Rohr has backed the Super Falcons to defend the 10th Women Africa Cup of Nations billed for November 19th to December 13th in Cameroon.

Rohr who was at the Falcons training on Wednesday afternoon charged the the team to stay together like one big family for them to be able to successfully defend the African title, which they won for the seventh time in Namibia in October 2014.

“You must have good team spirit because it is very important to not just play together but bond and have fun in

training and in the camp.

“To have fun but to be very serious. It is what we do in the Super Eagles. We have the family spirit of oneness and togetherness. Not just like a team but to live like a family. With this, you can become champions again. And I am going to be in Cameroon to support you.

“I see some girls here today but I know that professionals will join them very soon.

Very good players, some of them play in big countries like USA, Sweden and France.

The other teams in Nigeria group don’t have many of such players I think. So, it’s a good team and you also have experience,” Rohr noted.

silver and one bronze medals while Team Kano came second with two gold and one bronze medal leaving the third position for the Ogun State team that won one gold, two silver and one bronze medals.

Muhammed Baffa of Team Kano, who defeated Edwin Samson of the Civil Defence in the final of the Men’s-68kg weight category to win the gold medal, emerged the best male athlete while Chinazom Nwosu

of Civil Defence that won the gold medal in the women57kg weight class claimed the best female athlete award.

With 18 teams competing in the three-day championship that was originally meant for 16 teams, president of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, Grand Master Ashiru, who bankrolled the tournament, said the road to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games had actually started.

Glo-CAF Awards Etisalat U-15 regional It’s Abuja again! play-offs begin in Ibadan T

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he race for tickets to the Lagos national finals of the season three of the Etisalat U-15 School Cup football competition has got underway at the Ibadan centre with several matches decided inside the main bowl of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba and Wesley College Playing Ground, Elekuro.

Seven teams namely Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, Lagos, Ogun and Osun States are participating at the regional qualifiers but Delta is yet to report to the teams’ camp.

In some of the matches played, Lagos defeated Ogun State 2-1 while host state, Oyo overcame Osun by a lone goal as Edo walked over Delta.

Similarly, Ondo lost 5-2 to Ekiti in a match played with seven players due to the disqualification

of nine members of the 16-player team over breach of participation rules and regulations governing the championship.

Twenty-Four state school teams will be featuring in the other regional qualifying matches to be hosted consecutively at the Ilorin Township Stadium, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu and Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna between October 18 and November 4, 2016.

The national champions will get N2 million educational award with players getting N50,000 each.

The second-placed team will earn N1 million with N30,000 for players as third-place winners get N750,000 with players receiving N20,000.00 each.

he 2016 Gala event of the prestigious GloCAF Awards will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

This is the third time that the city of Abuja will host the Awards, having hosted the inaugural edition in 2005 and the 2015 edition.

CAF, Africa’s highest football body in a statement said “the 2016 Glo-CAF Awards will be held in the city of Abuja, Nigeria and the new African Footballer of the Year, the greatest African football legends and 15 winners in other categories will be unveiled during the gala night.”

Other categories include African Player of The Year (Based in Africa), National Team of The Year, Club of The Year and Coach of The Year.

Also to be unveiled are Most Promising Tal-

Aubameyang

ent, Women’s National Team of The Year, Woman Player of The Year, Referee of The Year, African Legend, CAF Fair Play Award, Platinum Award – which is usually reserved for the President of the host country, Africa Finest XI and Youth Player of The Year.

Gabon-born PierreEmerick Aubameyang who plays for Borussia Dortmund FC of Germany is the current African champion, having won the last edition while the 2015 African Player of the Year – Based in Africa- is Mbwana Ally Samatta of Tanzania.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Rohr meets Ranieri, Conte over Musa, Mikel Concessioning Sportscity?

The Muyiwa Daniel Column

md_muyiwa@yahoo.com 08023525087 (sms only)

Waits on Moses, Success, Ighalo

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Emmanuel Tobi

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uper Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr, has revealed his plans to seek discussions with Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri and Chelsea’s coach Antonio Conte over Ahmed Musa and Mikel Obi’s lack of playing time.

Since the arrival of Algeria’s Islam Slimani at the club, Musa has failed to feature in City’s last two games while captain Mikel is yet to play for Chelsea since his return from the Rio Olympics where he led Nigeria to win the football bronze medal.

“It’s not the best situation a manager will hope for. But we understand that they play for teams that have high competition for places.

“We will however in the coming days have a chat with them on the way forward.

“If needs be, talks with their respective managers will also be a welcome idea. For now we will stay put and see if they get games before our next game,”

Mikel

he said Meanwhile, Rohr has stated that Isaac Success, along with fellow players Victor Moses and Leon Balogun, as well as Odion Ighalo who was excused to visit his father’s grave, would be in contention for their next game against Algeria in November.

He said: “The three injured players and the one that had a family issue and had to be excused will all be back.

“We shall also look at other players who play regularly in their clubs who may join the team.”

Musa

Too early to be title contenders – Pochettino

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Pochettino

Lagos Gov’s Cup

Emmanuel, Enosoregbe in shock wins

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fter Nigeria’s Clifford Enosoregbe has made an unexpected win to the quarter-finals of the first leg (Futures 5) of the 16th edition of Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship Wednesday’s afternoon, his compatriot, Sylvester Emmanuel surprised tennis pundits in the evening of the same day as he stopped tournament’s number 6, Klegou Alexis to book a place in the quarter finals of the competition.

In the gruelling match that lasted 3 hours 15 minutes, Emmanuel saw off more experienced Benin Re-

public star, Alexis in a game that ended 6-7, 6-1, 7-6 (1).

The Nigerian player will have to face a stiff opposition from Egyptian Karim-Mohamed Maamoun in the quarter final on Thursday as he looks forward to qualifying for a historic semi-final of the International Tennis Federation, ITF approved pro circuit.

With overwhelming support from fans at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, tournament’s number 8 seed, Maciej Smola of Poland was no match for Enosoregbe who won the crucial game in 7-6(1),36,6-2.

ottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that it is “too early” to claim that the club are contenders for the Premier League title.

The North London outfit are unbeaten in the top flight having recorded five victories and two draws, taking 17 points in the process.

Spurs fell at the final hurdle in their chase for the crown last season, but they now have five more points than they had at this stage in the 2015-16 campaign.

After sweeping aside Manchester City in a 2-0 victory before the inter-

national break, Tottenham have been touted as serious title contenders, but Pochettino has called for calm.

“It’s difficult for me, it’s too early,” Pochettino told BBC Sport. “We are building a very nice project and a very nice team. We are in a moment that we need to believe and show that we are able to manage big things and big games.

“It’s a great opportunity to show that we are in the right way. I think only we need time. We have a young squad, but if we play with the passion that we showed against Manchester City all is possible.

Ozil eases injury concerns after substitution rsenal star Mesut The German naA Ozil has calmed tional team opted to concerns that he could poke fun at Arsenal be carrying an injury after being substituted while playing for Germany in Tuesday night’s World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland.

The 27-year-old was hauled off at half time, making way for Ilkay Gundogan in the world champions’ 2-0 victory in Hannover.

Ozil took to Twitter after the match, writing: “Thanks for taking care because of my substitution but everything is all right guys.”

fans’ relief over the playmaker’s fitness.

Arsenal will be back in action this Saturday when they take on Swansea City at the Emirates in the Premier League.

Ozil

he recent pronouncement by Youth and Sports Minister-Solomon Dalung-that the concessioning of the Abuja and Lagos Nation Stadia had been presented to President Mohammadu Buhari for approval had- no doubt- raised dust on the probable policy summersault of sports administration in the country. The simple fact remains that Dalung-a man in love with the fatigue and beret-should not have been saddled with the responsibility of this sector in the first place.

For the records, the Lagos National Stadium was designed by the government of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa under Chief J.M.J. Johnson to give the country a national monument that will extend the frontiers of development that will “replace” the dominance of the colonial edifice of the King George V(now Onikan) Stadium. Onikan provided football the avenue of expression as the colonianists had “fun” at the nehighbouring Race Course with Horse racing and cricket.

The Military regime of General Yakubu Gowon however, gave “birth” to the Stadium in 1972 ahead of the 2nd All-Africa games which country hosted a year later. Wow! It was a stadium to behold as a youth who had uncles that were prepared to guide one through the Onikan turnstiles hidden under their “Agbada” to watch matches. It was at the National stadium that the opportunity to watch Ethiopian- Abebe Bikila, KenyanKipchoge Keino,Egyptian- Fanten Afifit, Ghana’s Ohene Karikari challenge for honours in athletics and swimming at those games.

Top of it was the then three-star Hotel-National Institute for Sports hostel where the Green Eagles-out of the Red Devils clinch the gold medal for Nigeria in football at the soccer event. The stadium also presented the country’s sports men and women the platform to excel in various events as the facilities were there to exploit from football-within the bowel of the main bowl to table tennis and boxing at the Sports Hall while tennis (then lawn) had its well laid-out seven courts adjacent the Court for Squash and opposite the Olympic sized swimming pool.

Close to the NIS were the open courts for handball and hockey-a passion for the military which producedas youths from college-PMB, general Shehu Musa Yar’Aduah and Jerremiah Useni amongst others. Within all the 35 ramps of the main-bowl were facilities for eateries which provided the entertainment for those who came to watch club and national team matches.

These facilities also existed in others for the different sports. The NIS provided camping sites just like the Eric Moore Games Village built for the All-Africa Games.

Nigerian sports was at its best period after the games and the growth were in leaps and bounds with successive administrations promising to complete the “icingon-the-cake” with the construction of the velodrome for cycling as canvassed by long-standing Association Chairman-Revrend Moses Iloh.

The period of boom had as National Sports Commission Director-general-Isaac Akioye-a goalkeeper from the 1943 UK Tourists soccer team that played with crepe bandages instead of soccer boots. Akioye knew what sports policy implementation was and with fellow former athletes across the four Regions of West, East, North and later Bendel gave a meaning to competition and excellence in naturally endowed areas of physical discipline especially when competition heightened with the unveiling of the Liberty, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello and Aminu Kano stadia in Ibadan, Enugu, Bauchi, Kaduna and Kano. These were later to be followed by the Samuel Ogbemudia in Benin coupled with the Afuze Games village and the Liberation in Port Harcourt. The latest is that of Uyo. However, successive administrators turned back from sports development to just participation-just for the lolliesand it has now dawned on us that the seed of decay sown has now germinated as those stadia now serve as havens for destitute and drugs havens. Getting them back will not be through concessioning but by getting our heads on our necks again for the sports policies to be tinkered with.

The example of Egypt which hosted the All-Africa Games in 1991 suffices. In Cairo there opportunities for kiddies and toddlers to enjoy sports after school, followed by those in tertiary institutions to adults at the Cairo and Al-Ahly stadia, ditto in Zamalek and Alexandria. These were learnt from Nigeria when the East Germany had relationship with the NIS. Dalung should get beyond his fatigue and Beret.

On Marble

It is wrong to make anyone into an enemy; it is wrong to scare the people of one’s own country with that enemy and try to rally some allies on that basis.

Sanctity of Truth

Mike A. Wilkie The mysterious Bermuda triangle

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– Vladimir Putin

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016

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Buhari’s fang on the judiciary The moment a man claims a right to control the will of a fellow being by physical force, he is at heart a slaveholder. – Henry C. Wright.

Political Musings

an there really be a right or wrong way to catch a rogue?

Civilisation and rule of law demands that there must be a minimum way to handle an offender otherwise the intended narration would be lost. The real worry in President Muhammedu Buhari’s handling of his anti-corruption war is that the method he uses often attracts sympathy to corrupt persons. The apparent anger and the spiteful way with which he approaches it instead of helping to rightly hail the catch of a thief have often done the opposite. Rather it has been all media trials and obvious show of power. Experts have uttered severally that an anti-graft fight that would endure must focus on institutional instead of media trials.

The problem with media persecution is that it’s quick to convict but also quick to exculpate as it is more of a gallery show than real just as it also allows window of excuses.

Former Chairman of the EFCC Mallam Nuhu Ribadu can confirm this fact.

Some public officers especially former state governors he labelled “rogues” in his days, later sat at the front row of the political desk to determine his fate politically. Even President Buhari if his memory is still green, could remember that most of the politicians he hurriedly jailed in 1984 in the name of being corrupt later held sway and blocked his ambition for twelve years. I wonder why nobody is learning from experience that corruption fight by force cannot endure.

Even former American President Abraham Lincoln warned that “Force is allconquering, but its victories are shortlived” And another great mind Indra Gandhi noted that “Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary” One unfortunate double standard in this country is the fact that the state often rationalize its violence against the people as law and labels violence of the individual as crime.

Nothing can be more inappropriate and offensive to democratic ethos than last Friday’s midnight raid of the home of some Senior Judges in the land by the nation’s secret police, the Department of Security Services (DSS). Not even the era of military dictatorship did such act take place. One really empathizes with President Buhari’s spin doctors because of the needle eye chance of their spinning this act in favour of government.

The DSS and the president have said that their action was a sting operation targeted at corruption not judiciary but critical minds after weighing the mode of the operation are feeling otherwise and alleging entrapment instead.

When the DSS raided Akwa Ibom Government House last year and followed it up raiding Ekiti state House of Assembly not a few democratic watchers warned that the omen is not good. When the country’s number three citizen, Senate President Bukola Saraki was thrown into the crime box for an isolated resurrected asset declaration matter and government went further to frame up charges against

IKE ABONYI

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igwebuike2001@yahoo.com 0802-402-4029 (sms only)

DG, DSS, Lawal Daura

The DSS and the president have said that their action was a sting operation

they failed. The international community even fell into the trap and believed when Gen. Buhari declared himself a converted democrat.

Everybody fell for the new “messiah” believing that every ugly thing in the land would be fixed. For seven months the nation waited for the government to take off because they were searching for saintly egg heads to turn around the system. First indicator that the glittering may not be gold after all emerged when the much awaited cabinet came and it turned out to be the same ordinary list of persons whose antecedents have nothing extra ordinary for the obvious extra ordinary challenges ahead.

Nigerians were worried because they all knew that the enormity of challenges ahead required thinkers but the class of names they saw in the cabinet list and other appointments did not have outside box thinkers. It was therefore not surprising when the government and its operatives made blame game and excuses their biggest past time in line with the saying that a bad workman always searches for who to blame. This is notwithstanding a known fact that excuse industry produces nothing.

When the government made fight against corruption the centre of its programmes many watchers thought that something intellectual and enduring would be introduced to help check this

cankerworm that has eaten deep into our national fabrics. When the Prof Itse Sagay committee was set up to advice the administration on corruption, Nigerians looked forward to some unique method that would help establish an institutional corruption war. But what are we seeing?

The same old 1984 method that did not work then and they expect it to work now more than 30 years after and under a democratic setting.

The drama Nigerians watched last Friday is nothing but an apt interpretation of a body language by the DSS. Not even the police or other institutions of democracy like legislature, judiciary, civil societies and the media would have been able to decipher or code this body language.

In January 2016, President Buhari told his audience in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that judiciary was his main headache in the fight against corruption. He gave a hint then that far-reaching reforms of the judiciary remained a key priority for his administration.

“On the fight against corruption vis-àvis the judiciary, Nigerians will be right to say that is my main headache for now.

“If you reflect on what I went through for twelve years when I wanted to be the president, I attempted three times”.

From the forgoing therefore, discerning minds can deduct that the President’s rage with the judiciary has long history, But the anxiety is that if after 18 months in the saddle and twelve years of preparation for this job the best method thought out to tackle such disturbing matter as corruption is through violence and an obvious circumventing of the rule of law, then there is nothing learnt about democracy since 1984. The disappointing truth is that last Friday’s Gestapo style action in the name of fighting corruption has technically and tactically undermined the process. God help Nigeria.

him and his deputy for forgery although now withdrawn after they had been humiliated, everyone knew that an impatient sheriff ready and willing to intervene in the separation of powers has mounted the throne. If Friday’s brute force style could really nip corruption in the bud one can even try to adjust to it because of the inherent benefits but it hardly does going by experience. From all indications ,President Buhari is set to unleash his real self on the system different from the photocopy of him as a converted democrat sold to Nigerians by APC’s propaganda machinery.

US Democratic Presidential ticket holder Hillary Clinton recently warned Americans to be watchful and never to overlook the real person of her Republican rival, Donald Trump because it is his real self that would sprout out when he becomes Commander in Chief and not the spinner’s image.

American media have been digging all the holes to bring out Trump’s real person to help Americans make a good choice in next month’s all important Presidential election.

In 2015, during the Presidential campaign in Nigeria the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP did everything possible to bring to the fore that the All Progressives Congress APC candidate wasn’t what the spin doctors were dishing out but

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