Thursday, september 15, 2016 binder1

Nigeria airlines spend N6.3bn on offshore pilot training lArik resumes operations, reschedules flights }3

Wole Shadare

N

igeria spends a whooping N6.3 billion annually

to have her crew go for recurrent pilots’ training overseas, New Telegraph

has learnt.

This, according to a 2014 report published by the

Federal Government, is because of lack of simulator aircraft to train Nigerian

pilots locally.

It has been ascertained that an airline with four aircraft spends at least $600,000 on simulator

Cement price fallout: Block moulders up prices by 40%

}4

training for its pilots. This means that the airline spends $150,000 on pilot training for each aircraft.

Consequently, major airlines spend $8.3 million CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Dubai jails Nigerian for swallowing 100 cocaine wraps }8

/newtelegraph /newtelegraph

Vol. 3 No. 939

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Abia North: Tribunal delivers judgement today }41

Tambuwal opposes }3 restructuring, advocates new revenue formula

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

N150

Paralympics: Nigeria breaks world record, }45 wins eighth gold

Kukah bombs Buhari ‘ Kalu

Tambuwal

Ugwunwa

‘

Cocaine wraps

We didn’t vote a government to complain about yesterday. If we wanted yesterday, the new government would not be there. It is really about taking responsibility... you take power to solve problems, not to agonise

Special Report:

Learning in a dangerous environment

}2

lPDP demands president, ministers’ resignation

}18 - 20

Plateau

Imo

Benue

L-R: Publisher, Ovation Magazine, Mr. Dele Momodu; Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem; Chief Executive Officer, Ebonylife TV, Mo Abudu; Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi and Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, during the City-to-City Lagos party at the on-going TIFF in Toronto, Canada…on Tuesday

Militants embrace peace, surrender arms to Okorocha }3

Hope of fertility without eggs rises }6

2

NEWS

ThurSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kukah to Buhari: Stop blaming Jonathan for economic woes

Babatope Okeowo Akure

C

atholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has told President Muhammadu Buhari to stop blaming the immediate past administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for the present economic woes being faced

by Nigeria.

Pointedly, Kukah told Buhari to take the bull by the horn and rebuild the nation’s economy, which he said is comatose, instead of passing the buck.

Buhari has repeatedly blamed Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) for misrule in the past 16 years resulting in the economic crisis that the country is facing.

Just on Monday, Buhari stated that his government inherited “no savings, no infrastructure, no power, no rail, no road and no security” from 16 years of the PDP government.

Apart from Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, hordes of ministers and leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have blamed the present economic recession on the PDP administration, saying the past government squandered the resources of the country when in power.

But Kukah, on Tuesday

night in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), told the APC-led Federal Government to stop the blame game and concentrate on rebuilding the economy.

The secretary of the 2005 National Political Reform Conference asked the Federal Government not to focus only on the fight against corruption, but put in place policies that would check corrupt practices and improve the standard of living of average Nigerian.

The fiery cleric regretted the blame game over the state of the economy and the dwindling living

standard of the average Nigerian since Buhari came into office on May 29, 2015.

According to him, government should continue with the good things done by the Jonathan's administration while the bad polices of the administration should be jettisoned.

He said those who committed crime against Nigeria state should be made to face the wrath of the law.

Kukah said: “The previous government didn’t only do bad things; it did a lot of good things. And I think the business of government is not our business; our business is: if the previous government did badly, that is why we voted a new government.

L-R: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Executive Director, Marine & Operations, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Sekointie Davies; Managing Director, NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman and Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Prince Anofi Elegushi, during a visit by NPA management to the governor in Lagos …yesterday.

Muhammad Kabir Kano

T

lSays APC's ineptitude, cause of economic woes

ABUJA

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blamed the current economic recession in the country on crass ineptitude of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

The party also called for the immediate resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari and his entire cabinet for running the nation's economy aground.

PDP, in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, attributed the cause of recession to fall in output and increase in government borrowing.

"The crass ineptitude and lukewarm attitude of this APC government is no longer tolerable and, therefore, we are calling on President Buhari and his team to return Nigeria to its state of booming

to go to prison should go to prison. But sending people to prison will only be useful if it puts bread on the table of people.”

While faulting the manner the war against corruption is being fought by the Buhari administration, Kukah said clamping people into prison should not be the ultimate, but proffering solutions to what make people corrupt.

His words: “I have always said, you can’t cure malaria by just providing tablets; you might provide tablets to cure malaria, but you have to look at the cause of malaria. As long as dirty waters and mosquitoes are around, there will still be the disease. My argument has always been that we are really fighting corruption; we started off with the assumption that corruption is all about people stealing money.

“But stealing money is actually the other end of corruption. The reason we don’t seem to make much progress is based on the kind of diagnosis; how we diagnose the problem.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Sanusi to FG: Seek experts’ advice on recession

PDP demands Buhari, ministers’ resignation Onyekachi Eze

“We didn’t vote a government to complain about yesterday. If we wanted yesterday, the new government would not be there. It is really about taking responsibility. No matter how much you praise or abuse Jonathan, he is not the president of Nigeria.

“I think that people must understand, you take power to solve problems, not to agonise. As the head of a family, no matter how bad things are: no food in the house; you as a father can’t enter the house crying. It is the question of developing the mechanism that can solve the problem.

“Even my best friends in APC now realise that nobody can sing the song about Jonathan being responsible for the problems we are in. We are not asking you to change the whole world, but Jonathan created problems: we are now riding a train between Abuja and Kaduna. The train wasn’t there before.

Things that Jonathan did that can help Nigeria, let’s continue with them. The bad things that Jonathan did and those who deserve

economy before they assumed office on May 29, 2015 and then quit immediately to allow other capable leaders recover our ailing economy," the statement added.

The party wondered whether the statement credited to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, that "recession is a word" was made out of ignorance, lack of patriotism or in line with Buhari's comment that his ministers are noise makers.

PDP regretted the suspension of operations by three local and international airlines and their staff sent on indefinite leave due to poor state of Nigeria’s economy.

"Nigerians are aware that the PDP government invested heavily in most of our airports in the country that resulted to obvious ‘facelift’ and improved operations through remodelling, construction of new airports, refurbishing and equipping of the

local and international airports to meet best practices in the aviation industry.

"But the APC’s administration has frittered away all the good policies and programmes which the PDP put in place, thereby crumbling the aviation sector in the country amongst other catastrophes it has caused," the party said.

It added that what Nigerians want from this administration are results and not for it to resort to throwing tantrums on the PDP at every given opportunity.

"Our call for the president to return the country to how he met it in 2015 is justified on the following grounds: a bag of rice was N7,000 and now is above N20,000; a mudu of beans was N150 and now is N500; one US dollar was trading for N197, but now over N400; a litre of fuel was N87 but now N145; cost of transportation and other services have sky-rocketed.

"Given our observation since the inception of this government, they have nothing to offer and as such, quitting will be a solution because nobody can give what he/ she does not have. APC has failed," the party declared.

According to PDP, governance is a serious business and not about someone's body language and de-marketing strategies of Mr. President while 'globe-trotting'.

"When this government came to power in May 2015 riding on the achievements of previous PDP administration, President Buhari's handlers and his party, the APC, claimed it was his 'body language' that brought some positive changes the country was witnessing at that time; so we want to know what are the results of the socalled 'body language'?"

PDP demanded.

It called on Nigerians to keep praying for God's intervention for the recovery of the country's ailing economy.

he Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II, has called on the Federal Government to seek the advice of economic experts in tackling current economic crisis in the country.

Sanusi gave the advice yesterday during the traditional Sallah Durbar (Hawan Nasarawa) at the Government House, Kano.

He noted that Nigeria needs experts to tackle the economic challenges.

According to him, consulting the experts would help in enunciating proper solution to the crisis and reduce the hardship people were currently facing in the country.

The emir, who is a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), urged wealthy Nigerians to support the less privileged in the society in order to alleviate their suffering.

He added that Nigerians, irrespective of religious beliefs and political inclinations, should continue to pray for economic growth and development of the country.

He also urged the people of Kano to remain law-abiding and be their brother’s keeper, irrespective of religion or ethnic background.

Sanusi appealed to the state government to help the people to acquire skills

that would make them selfreliant.

In his remarks, acting governor of the state, Prof.

Hafiz Abubakar, told the Emir that the state’s independent power project works would be completed by the end of this year.

The deputy governor/ acting governor explained that when completed, the power project would service the state’s industrial sector and streetlights in Kano.

Abubakar stated that paying salary of workers was not a privilege but an obligation, which the state had continued to meet.

He pointed out that the economic crunch had made it difficult for no fewer than 28 states out of the 36 in the country to pay workers’ salaries.

Abubakar said that the state government was spending N62 million weekly for the feeding of boarding school students across the state.

He called on the people to continue to pray for peace, unity and progress in the country.

$19.06m

The capital importation of the Construction sector of Nigeria in Q1 2013.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

$4.33m

The capital importation of the Construction sector of Nigeria in Q2 2013.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

NEWS

ThurSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

3

Militants embrace peace, surrender arms to Okorocha Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

M

ilitant agitators from the oil-bearing communities of Imo State who had hitherto held the state by the jugular through destruction of oil installations and terrorising locals, yesterday surrendered their arms and ammunition, including AK47 assault rifles, to Governor Rochas Okorocha.

The ex-militants, numbering over 500, who arrived the Imo Government House in Owerri, the state capital, shortly before midday all dressed in white Tshirts bearing the inscription, “Disarmament of Agitators Powered by the Niger Delta Youths Volunteer Peace Advocacy,” intermittently chanted Niger Delta solidarity songs.

The ex-militants, in the presence of security chiefs in the state, did not hide their distaste with the activities of oil companies operating in their commu-

nities.

The Deputy Chief of Staff and chairman of the disarmament committee, Engr. Kingsley Uju, who had earlier received the ex-gunmen, including the dreaded Niger Delta Red Squad, said that the occasion was in response to the mandate given to his committee by the governor to find lasting solution to the restiveness in the oil bearing Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta local government areas of the state.

Uju regretted that since 1953 when the oil firms commenced operations in these communities, they had failed to address the yearnings and aspirations of the indigenes, hence the frequent violent outbursts in these areas.

He lamented the wanton neglect of the host communities by the oil companies, which had often led to violent confrontations and commended the youth; some of whom he said had been in the bush for more than three years fighting,

for finally embracing peace by laying down their arms.

The aggrieved youths, who later spoke through their respective leaders, accused the multinational corporations of criminally precipitating confusion, exploitation and violence among their people.

They lamented that there is neither pipeline

surveillance nor the presence of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in these oil-bearing areas unlike the situation in the neighbouring Rivers and Delta states.

They implored the Imo State Government to release their members still being held in detention.

After receiving the

arms and ammunition, Okorocha commended the youths for their display of patriotism, assuring that security agents would no longer invade their areas.

He also assured that their demands; grievances and agitations would be articulated and forwarded to the appropriate quarters for prompt action.

N1.905trn The total value of payment channels made by NIP of Nigeria in January 2015.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

100%

The percentage of the urban population of Singapore in 2012.

Source: Un.org

We'll capture Buhari with our hands – Boko Haram Emmanuel Onani Abuja

F

or the third time in less than a year, the Boko Haram group has released another video, where it threatened to "capture" President Muhammadu Buhari.

In the latest video, which was shot during the Eid-elKabir celebration, the violent group vowed to carry out deadlier attacks in future.

In the video, the fighters

were seen observing the Eid prayers. While some did so inside a mosque, others prayed outside.

An Imam, who led the prayers, had issued the threats.

The latest development may add to the confusion already created by the apparent division within the sect.

While this group, which acknowledged its allegiance to Abubakar Shekau and threatened more attacks, the sect's commander that appeared in the last video, had given the release of

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha (sitting left), with others and militants surrendering their arms and ammunition, during a peace meeting in Owerri, Imo State…yesterday

its fighters, as condition for the release of over 200 Chibok schoolgirls, who have remained in captivity since April 14, 2014, when they were abducted.

"Brothers, this is our Eid for the year 1437 AH (2016) under the leadership of our leader, Abu Muhammad Abubakar Ibn Mohammad Ashakawi (Shekau).

“We extend our greetings to our people and fighters all over the world; and to our leader, the leader of Jama’atu ahlus-sunnah lidda await wal jihad, Imam Abubakar Shekau.

"May Allah guide us to follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). May Allah make us triumph over all the infidels of this world. May Allah protect our leader, mallams, wives and everybody all together," the transcription reads.

On its plot to "capture" the president, the Imam said: "Our message to those who are fighting us, especially their leader, the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, is that he should know that we are still in this religion. And like they keep saying that they have defeated us, it is indeed not true, because we

are in good health and succeeding in our cause. We are very strong and doing very well.

“Buhari is saying that he will finish us. Let him know that before he said so, other people said so before now and they couldn’t.

“Buhari is saying that he will finish us, he should know that by the grace of Allah, he cannot finish us.

"By the will of Allah, under the leadership of our leader (Shekau), we will capture Buhari with our hands.”

After posing for a photograph, the Imam directed his threat at the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.Gen. Tukur Buratai, vowing to attack the army chief.

"My last message is to you Buratai (Tukur, Nigeria’s Army Chief), Kukasheka (Sani, spokesperson of Nigerian Army) and the rest.

“Under the leadership of our leader, Shekau, we will step further henceforth and will destroy what we never destroyed before.

“We are ready and even stronger now. We will go to where we never were before now and destroy what we never destroyed before now."

Tambuwal opposes restructuring, Arik resumes operations, advocates new revenue formula reschedules flights

Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

S

okoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has opposed the call for the “geographical” restructuring of the federation, saying Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable.

He, however, advocated the review of the revenue allocation formula to ensure federating units get more allocation than the Federal Government.

Speaking yesterday in Sokoto when he hosted various groups who paid him Sallah homage, Tambuwal noted that with good governance in place, all Nigerians would be made to have a sense of belonging.

His words: "We believe in the unity of the country and the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable. Dialogue is also the most potent tool to resolve all problems, any-

where and at anytime.

"There are really challenges in Nigeria and it is not peculiar to the nation, and these challenges are surmountable.”

Tambuwal stated that the states and local government areas deserve more allocation because they shoulder overwhelming responsibilities of the citizens of the country.

"There's urgent need to review the allocation formula in the country because doing so will strengthen the Nigerian federation and help to shed off some of the excess powers the Federal Government currently has," Tambuwal said.

According to him, states and the local governments are the closest tiers of government to the people, but they are getting less than the Federal Government's allocation from the federation account.

"The ugly trend should be reversed in favour of the federating units, to enable them meet the overwhelming demands of the people at grassroots level,'' the governor added.

The governor described the residents of the state as equal partners in running the affairs of the state.

He also promised that his administration would not discriminate against anybody, irrespective of his tribe or religion.

Tambuwal also challenged various groups to offer constructive criticisms to the government.

The President of the Sokoto Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Alhaji Kabiru Tafida, as well as the chairman of the Association of Resident Communities, Mr. Augustine Onumba, hailed Tambuwal for his steadfastness in governance.

Wole Shadare

N

igerian flag carrier airline, Arik Air, yesterday resumed flight operations 48 hours after shutting its services owing to issues bordering on insurance renewal.

The airline’s first flight took off about 1p.m.

Arik announced that it had resumed operations in a statement to New Telegraph.

The carrier, however, asked members of the public to discountenance what it described as the disparaging allegations, unsubstantiated and uninformed claims about the airline’s inability to meet its financial obligations to aviation fuel marketers and a purported withdrawal of insurance services to Arik Air by its

insurers.

“While the current scarcity of aviation fuel (JET A1) has impacted on the operations of airlines in the country, Arik Air is in good standing with its fuel suppliers and has been meeting its obligations to them and to our insurers. With the regularisation of the required documents relating to the renewal of the insurance, Arik Air will be resuming its normal flying schedule from 1100 hours on Wednesday, September 14, 2016,” the airline stated.

The airline said it regretted the unfortunate inconvenience caused to its customers and reassured its customers of expedient rebooking of any affected flights.

While the crisis lasted, scores of passengers across the country and

from New York, Johannesburg and London, booked on Nigerian Arik Air, were left stranded following the inability of the airline to airlift them to their destinations.

The airline had created panic in the aviation sector on Tuesday after it announced the suspension of flights.

The action held prospects of shrinking flight options for travellers, especially as two other domestic airlines have grounded operations.

Aero Contractors, Nigeria’s second biggest domestic operator, saddled by huge debts, announced late August it was suspending operations indefinitely from September 1st.

First Nation followed, but promised to resume operations on September 15.

4

NEWS

ThurSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cement price fallout: Block moulders up prices by 40%

Dayo Ayeyemi

B

lock manufacturers under the auspices of the National Block Moulders Association of Nigeria (NBMAN) have jacked up the price of sandcrete blocks by 40 per cent.

Consequently, 90 by 120 inches block now sell for N210 from N150, while sandcrete block of 60 x 90 inches now sells at N185 instead of N130.

This is coming barely one week after the price of a bag of 50 kilogramme of cement was suddenly increased from N1,700 to N2, 300 by manufacturers.

Similarly, it is coming one week before the end of the two-week ultimatum issued to the Federal Government by the Lagos State Bricklayers Association to take urgent steps to force down prices of

£1,409

The daily salary of Jonathan Spector of Birmigham City in 2014/2015.

Source: Paywizard.co.uk

cement.

Sandcrete block is a composite material made up of cement, sand and water, moulded into different sizes for building production.

However, survey by New Telegraph showed that many block moulders have commenced implementation of the new price regime, while a few are still waiting for further directive.

A block producer in Magboro, Ogun State, Alhaji Sulaimon Omolade, said his blocks now sell for between N180 and N210, depending on customers.

He explained that it would be difficult for any block manufacturer to price below N180 if he wants to continue in business.

Another commercial block moulder in Ojodu, Lagos, who identified himself simply as Baba

1

The total number of open play goals conceded by Ecuador at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

Kukah bombs Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

I still believe that unless we get to the root cause of poverty, inequality, which is really the evidence and symptom of corruption; you can talk of fighting corruption all the rest of your life and very little is going to happen.”

Kukah advised the government to communicate more with the people and proffer practical solutions to the problems.

Although he said things are extremely difficult for Nigerians, but said the situation can bring out the best in the people.

According to him, “These are trying times and they can actually help to bring out the best in us.

And I think that really, it bears no repeating that I think the challenge government is facing is this: just to be able to explain to people that this suffering has something redemptive about it because if you know that at the end of this suffering something good is going to happen, people will be ready to live with the consequences.

“So far, I don’t think government is communicating effectively with ordinary Nigerians and to know where we are and the state of things. So, this is why you increasingly have a situation which people are not willing to make sacrifices because they still believe that their obligation is to protect themselves. I think unless government openly explains and en-

gage people very constructively, what you are going to face is a situation which ordinary citizens are finding the best ways to protect and defend themselves.”

Despite the harsh economic situation, Kukah said Nigerians are still the highest consumer of champagne aside from France, saying some people still buy a bottle of champagne for N1.5 million.

He counselled the government to take practical steps in addressing the challenges confronting the country.

The cleric said: “All government needs to do is to think out, a bit more clearly, how it can engage ordinary Nigerians. It is not enough to tell people to get back to the farms; the issues are much more than that. It is not enough to say you have big plans for agriculture; it is developing very clear, short, medium and long term solutions to the present situation.

“People are suffering from combination of both physical and psychological insecurities, and also, the very real threat that is poised by all kinds of agencies: the herdsmen, armed robbers, kidnappers and many more. In an environment like this, if somebody does not take control, I think that is the responsibility of the Nigerian state. We are sliding into a situation that could end up creating far more problems for us. And this is really the time we all need to come together.”

Ahmed, said: “I have increased the price of 90 x120 inches and 60 x120 inches blocks to N200 and N180 since last week.”

Speaking with this newspaper, President, Association of Building Artisans of Nigeria, Prince Jimmy Oshinubi, who confirmed the development, said that the decision to jack up prices of sandcrete blocks by 40 per cent, was arrived at after rigorous deliberations and research by the association’s executives.

Moreover, Oshinubi said the decision to increase sandcrete blocks’ prices was also to prevent sharp practices among block moulders, which

could lead to production of sub-standard materials by members.

To forestall that, he hinted that the association had raised a team of task force to monitor the sub-sector in order to ensure production of quality blocks.

The president lamented that major increase in the prices of cement is affecting the housing sector badly, adding that block moulders and home seekers are worst hit.

Oshinubi expressed fear that many block moulders, bricklayers and other artisans are going to be thrown out of jobs if nothing is done by the government to reduce prices of cement.

He said attempt to persuade cement manufacturers to reduce their price fell on deaf ears, as they claimed that the current foreign exchange policy and pipelines destruction by militants have increased their cost of production.

An official from Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria attributed recent cement price hike to difficult operating environment, which had led to dwindling capacity utilisation of their plants; disruptions in gas supply; and high cost of Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO), among others.

However, housing experts have predicted hard

times for low-income earners seeking a roof over their heads, following the escalating prices of cement and sandcrete blocks.

Meanwhile, President of Lagos State Bricklayers Association, Deacon Abel Olukayode, has called on the Federal Government to intervene in reducing the price of cement.

He said one of the fallouts of the development was that many buildings would collapse.

“We have been lamenting over rising incidents of building collapse in the country. Are we not going to lose more lives and property, following the astronomical rise in cement price?” he asked.

L-R: Olusin of Isanlu-Isin, Oba Solomon Oloyede; Emir of Ilorin/Chairman, Kwara State Traditional Council, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu Gambari; Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed and his wife, Omolewa, during Sallah homage to the governor in Ilorin...yesterday

Nigeria airlines spend N6.3bn on offshore pilot training CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

(N1.25 billion) every six months, and $16.7 million (N6.4 billion) every year.

Flight simulation reduces significantly the cost of flight crew training.

The Federal Government had, in 2014, said it would purchase full JetFlight Simulators (5000 Series B737) to be located at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

But as lofty as the proposal appears, two years after the contract was awarded, not much has been achieved to install the facility. Also, many domestic airlines’ pilots are reluctant to use the facility.

Reason: they earn allowance in foreign currency when their employers send them out for training. Having such facility in Nigeria would put an end to such funds.

Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, said the contract, which had been awarded to Messrs CAE of Canada, would cost $21.459 million, stressing that the project was expected to be completed within 24 months.

He stated that the venture would serve as a source of revenue generation for the country, but

that has not materialised as there are no signs of the multibillion naira JetFlight Simulators arriving for installation more than two years after Chidoka made the disclosure.

Proficiency, rather than hours logged, is a primary and essential ingredient in air safety. Many pilots seem to view recurrent training such as a Flight Review (FAR 61.56), or the Instrument Proficiency Check (FAR 61.57d), as the only training they perform after receiving their last rating.

Routine flights do not prepare a pilot for unusual situations, whether there are unexpected crosswinds or systems/engine anomalies. Professional pilots receive regular recurrent training to include emergency procedures whether they fly as an astronaut, an airline pilot, a military pilot, a law enforcement pilot, an EMS, charter or corporate pilot. Some of their training is United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated, some company mandated or pilot requested. Professional pilots’ recurrent training is a vital factor in safe aircraft operations.

The professional pilots' periodic training is

required to enhance their aviation knowledge and skills, train on new equipment or avionics, learn new and revised regulations and procedures, and ensure a certain level of proficiency is present.

Most of these pilots receive training at least once every six months.

There are indications that cost could be as high as N10 billion annually owing to the dwindling fortune of the naira, which has made flights to be on the high side, including having to pay to the institution where the trainings are conducted in dollars.

Recurrent training is so important that some insurance underwriters offer up to 7.5 per cent premium credit for qualified annual recurrent training.

An aircraft pilot and aviation safety advocate, Capt. Dung Rwang Pam, said that N6.3 billion spent on training abroad annually would have been able to build type rating training organisation in Nigeria.

Pam lamented that the government was negligent in not planning for the future to curtail capital flight.

He equally berated the government for not having aircraft maintenance facil-

ity in the country, stressing that Nigeria cannot have a national carrier without a maintenance base.

Pam blamed airlines, which are in dire strait, for their woes.

His words: “First of all, I will blame the airlines themselves. They submitted a business plan, which I assume they did and the business plan spelt out exactly how the business is going to be run. Running the business involves keeping maintenance reserve so that you can do your check.”

“Many times, you are expected to lease another aircraft for the one week or two weeks the aircraft has gone for that C-Check.

That is a stopgap measure.

The aircraft returns from C-check and you continue operations seamless without anybody knowing.

How many times have you heard foreign airlines ground their operations because of maintenance? I would like to add this. The government is complacent on this matter; I won’t say the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).”

He noted that even the maintenance reserve would not have seen them through because forex had doubled.

national | news

thursday, september 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

5

$15m: SERAP asks FG to prosecute Jonathan’s wife Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

he Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) yesterday asked the Federal Government to prosecute the wife of the former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, over the unexplained $15 million seized from her.

The group, in a letter to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), asked him to use his good offices as a defender of public interest, and exercise his powers under Section 174(1) of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), to urgently institute and undertake criminal proceedings against Mrs. Jonathan over $15 million frozen in four companies’ accounts.

SERAP, however, urged the AGF to take step on the issue within seven days of the receipt of its letter.

The group further threatened that it would institute legal proceedings to compel the discharge of constitutional duty in the matter, should

the AGF fail to act.

The letter, signed by SERAP’s executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, stated that Mrs. Jonathan is a politically exposed person under anti-corruption standards.

"She is also covered under the definition of ‘public officials’ contained in the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party. Under article 2 of the convention, public officials include Mrs. Jonathan or any other family members of the former President Goodluck Jonathan who exercised official duties while he was president.

"According to Article 2 for the purpose of some specific measures contained in chapter II of this Convention, ‘public official may mean any person who performs a public function or provides a public service.’

“Thus, Article 2 makes it very clear that any person, such as Mrs. Jonathan performing a public function, entrusted with a public task or to whom public functions have been assigned are public officials, regardless of whether they have been elected or appointed, paid or unpaid."

L-R: Elder Chief Ekekwe Egu, Sen. Chris Adighije; Princess Ikodiya Uche; Chief Godwin Onyemaucheya; Chief Tony Ukasoanya; former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; a guest and Hon. Chibuike Jonas, during a solidarity visit to Kalu in Abuja …on Tuesday.

Apologise to Chibok girls' parents, BBOG tells IGP Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

T

he BringBackOurGirls (BBOG ) advocacy group campaigning for the release of the 218 abducted Chibok Secondary School girls has asked the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to tender unreserved apology to the parents of the girls and the Chibok community for using officers of the Nigeria Police to disorganize their procession

on Tuesday September 6.

The group, at a press briefing in Abuja, said the Police action had caused the parents who were already distraught more distress.

Reading the message of the group at the Unity Fountain, Veronica Bakam, said that the IGP must also immediately tender apology to the Nigerian and the global public for misleading them in his public announcements and pronouncements, causing unnecessary and unwarranted inconvenience to motorists on Shehu Shagari Way and

for portraying the Nigeria Police Force in extremely bad light by their words and actions.

The BBOG’s other demands from the IGP were " that the IGP immediately and officially retract all the statements levelling allegations and accusations against us (which are patently false, vindictive, and in bad faith). This is important for the public record to reflect this, and for posterity sake. A mere volte face of a counter-announcement denying banning our movement does

not suffice.

That the IGP immediately tenders and widely publishes his unreserved apology to our #BringBackOurGirls movement for violation of our individual and collective rights and freedoms, causing inconvenience to us, orchestrating a hate campaign and disseminating false accusation against us with the intention of tarnishing the reputation of our movement.

“Further to the unreserved apology, that the IGP makes a public pledge and commitment to never again infringe the Nigerian constitution by using the Nigerian Police as a tool of oppression against us, our movement and other citizens and civic organizations.”

Buhari reiterates no fuel price hike order to NNPC, PPPRA Air crashes in 2005, 2006 in Nigeria Adeola Yusuf

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated "no fuel price hike" orders to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulating Agency (PPPRA).

A source at the Presidency told New Telegraph yesterday that the President who just returned from Sallah holiday instructed the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru and the executive secreatary of PPRA, Mrs

Iyoyo as part of his first set of assignments that fuel price hike is a no go area.

He had last Monday summoned the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and Baru to the villa where he first he told them to subdue any suggestions relating to this.

Kachikwu, Baru and the entire government have stepped up efforts to keep fuel flowing into Nigeria without repeating the price increase of May and risking civil unrest.

Shortly before the meeting former Manag-

Court declares detention of Mohammed illegal Tunde Oyesina Abuja

T

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, declared the arrest and continued detention of retired Air Commodore Umar Mohammed by the Department of State Security as illegal.

Mohammed, a member of the presidential team investigating the arms deal in the country was arraigned by the DSS over allegations of money

laundering, possession of fire arms and violation of Official Secret Act. Mohammed had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was admitted to bail in the sum of N100 million.

But despite the perfection of his bail, the DSS is still keeping him in detention.

One Emeka Ohazurike and 19 others had however approached the court challenging the continued detention on Mohammed.

ing Directors of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had said such an increase may be needed.

Marketers have, according to Reuters, said that steep devaluation of the naira currency has made sales of petrol at government capped prices unprofitable.

Months of unrest in the Delta region has also cut Nigeria's oil output and left as little as half the crude available that it needs to swap for refined motor fuel from trading companies.

"Fuel is the top priority" for NNPC, said one oil

industry source who, like many in Abuja was meeting daily with officials in the oil company. The company, and government, the source told Reuters, "will do whatever they can" to stop shortages and keep prices stable.

"The government is unlikely to remove the price cap introduced in May, meaning that the fuel shortages will continue throughout the third quarter, further hurting the already faltering economy," said Malte Liewerscheidt, senior analyst for Africa with UK-based risk advisory group Maplecroft.

Globacom, GTBank, MTN biggest Nigeria advertisers –Report Chris Ugwu

F

oremost indigenous mobile telecommunication outfit, Gobacom, has been rated as the biggest advertiser in the country in the last 10 years.

According to Mediafact Nigeria’s 10-Year Trend Review (2006 to 2016), the telecoms firm was closely followed by GTBank, while another telecommunication giant, MTN came third.

The contributions of the companies and others enabled the newspaper industry to garner as much as N143 billion during the period under review.

The development revealed a wavy pattern that reached its peak in 2014 with N25 billion, and declined to N23.7 billion at the end of 2015.

According to the Review, the N4.4 billion advert income in 2006 moved up to N4.8 billion and N4.9 billion in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

man-made, Fani-Kayode alleges Wole Shadare

F

ormer Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, yesterday disclosed that one of the plane crashes that occurred in 2005 was as a result of a bomb planted inside the illfated aircraft. He described all the crashes that occurred between 2005 and 2006 as man-made.

The former Minister did not mention the name of the airline, but everything points to Bellview B737-200 airplane that crashed in Lisa, Ogun State killing all 117 passengers on-board.

The manner the aircraft disintegrated shortly after it took off and created a crater made many to believe that the airplane was bombed.

A report on the Oct. 22, 2005, crash of a Bellview Airlines flight that killed 177 people, including a U.S. citizen, showed the plane nose-dived into the ground at high speed.

Investigators reportedly found only human remains that were "nothing bigger than toes and fingers," the report read.

He carpeted former Nigerian leaders as coldblooded, whom he said were working for a hidden

hand and some very dark and sinister forces.

“It is in that context that you can understand their exceptional callousness.

They are cold-blooded reptiles and certified psychopaths.”

Fani-Kayode stated that between 2005 and 2006, just before he was redeployed as a Minister of Aviation, there were five plane crashes in Nigeria in one year, stressing that 453 innocent souls perished in those crashes in that year alone.

“In one case, a bomb was planted on the plane.

I know this because I took over as Minister and stopped it. I had access to all the reports, particularly the American National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) reports.”

“I wrote to the powers that be and demanded an international investigation only to find out that they were involved too. I was asked to drop it in very clear and almost threatening terms.”

He noted that despite he told the Senate Aviation Committee in 2008 at a public hearing what his views were, stressing that he spoke about a blood cult that was in the aviation sector that derived their power from causing crashes.

6

NEWS | national

thursday, september 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fashola: FG plans credit to housing developers Caleb Onwe Abuja

T

he challenge of access to housing finance that has remained one of the major problems to the Nigerian housing sector may soon be addressed holistically by the present administration's plan to de-risk lending to approved housing developers.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at an ongoing Housing Finance conference organised by the African Union for Housing Finance (AUHF) in conjunction with Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC).

The conference, themed,"Housing and Africa's Growth Agenda", being the 32nd edition, is said to be a deliberate effort of African Union Housing Finance Institutions and other critical stakeholders toward addressing a common problem that has impeded African housing sector.

Fashola, who was represented by the Director of Public, Private Partnership (PPP) in the Ministry, Arch. Eucharia Alozie, noted that provision of housing was a major tool to reduce corruption, and

Appolonia Adeyemi

B

ritish scientists have conducted a landmark experiment that could one day make it possible for men to have babies with each other.

The breakthrough study published in the journal ‘Nature Communications’ showed that sperm and skin cells, or any other kind of non-egg cell, might be all that is needed for conception.

Such a scenario would mean men could conceive a child without the female side of reproduction, which is the norm traditionally.

Scientists admitted that

therefore planning to provide guarantees and other credit enhancement to developers.

"To make the housing sector attractive, viable and stimulate growth, the present administration plans to de-risk lending to approved housing developers. This entails the government providing guarantees and other credit enhancement to developers", he said.

He also acknowledged that lack of housing finance in the public and corporate institutions and double digit housing, population explosion, high cost of building materials, among other factors had inhibited development in the sector.

To tackle some of these challenges, he said that government was poised to issue promissory notes to reduce developers' financing requirements.

"Government recognises that provision of leverage and guarantees are critical in attracting private sector funds into the industry thereby creating thousands of affordable houses," he added.

The Chairman, Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of AUHF, Mr. Oscar Mgaya, in his remark, said that the organisation was working hard to connect member countries to the

progress of policy, and opportunities for investment and growth in their own local contexts.

He added that to tackle the problem of housing finance in Africa, AUHF will support members through capacity building, research and business opportunities through networking.

On the efforts of Nigerian Mortgage Refinancing Company to improve access to housing finance, the Managing Director, Prof. Charles Inyangete, said that the conference was designed to reflect a balance between the need to craft policies that will drive sustainable housing finance on the African continent.

Police recruitment: Final list out next week

Emmanuel Onani Abuja

I

ndications emerged yesterday that the Police Service Commission (PSC), is set to meet over final interview for the recruitment of 10,000 police personnel.

New Telegraph gathered from highly placed sources, that the meeting, which is scheduled for September 19, would enable the Commission's Chairman, Sir Mike Okiro, meet with his Commissioners, with a view to releasing

the list for the final interview.

It was also gathered that the idea of polygraph (Lie Detector) test for successful applicants, was muted by the PSC, after a meeting with the Police Management Team.

One of the sources, who spoke in confidence with New Telegraph, said: "What I can tell you now is that the PSC will meet next week, where they are expected to come out with a final list of applicants.

"They will take a decision in respect of the final interview for successful

L-R: Executive Director, Corporate Strategy and Planning, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company, Dr Chii Akporji; President, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Mercy Itortyer; and Managing Director, Fesadab Communications, Mr Festus Adebayo, at the 2016 African Union for Housing Finance and Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company Conference and the 32nd Annual General Meeting in Abuja … yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Hope of fertility without eggs rises

the scenario was "speculative and fanciful", but did not rule it out in principle.

The Mirror, an online website based in the United Kingdom (UK), reported that the scientists working with mice, produced healthy offspring while bypassing the normal process of fertilising an egg cell with sperm, and without cloning.

The extraordinary result means that sperm could potentially be fused with ordinary cells derived from skin or other tissue to create viable embryos.

It also raises the possibility of ethically question-

applicants.

"You are aware that the Commission held Aptitude Test for applicants a few weeks ago."

He added that: "Let me also let you know that the polygraph test is our idea."

A total of 110, 469 applicants were shortlisted for the Aptitude Test, which was held across the country about three weeks ago.

President Muhammadu Buhari had last year, directed the PSC to recruit 10, 000 police personnel, to boost manpower for the Nigeria Police.

able applications that turn nature on its head by doing away with the female side of reproduction.

Gay men, for instance, could have babies with each other, and a man could even fertilise his own cells to produce offspring containing a mixture of genes inherited from him and his parents.

More realistically, the technique could allow women whose fertility has been wiped out by cancer drugs or radiotherapy to have their own children.

While eggs can be frozen before cancer therapy and later fertilised in an

Invitro Fertilisation (IVF) clinic, currently nothing can be done once they have been lost.

Conception using sperm and somatic cells would also aid the preservation of endangered species, since it avoids the need to recover eggs.

Reacting to the development, the Lead scientist, Dr. Tony Perry, a molecular embryologist from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom (UK), said: "Our work challenges the dogma, held since early embryologists first observed mammalian eggs around 1827 and observed

fertilisation 50 years later, that only an egg cell fertilised with a sperm cell can result in live mammalian birth."

But he stressed that the early work demonstrated only a principle, and major hurdles would have to be overcome before reproduction without egg cells became technically feasible.

He added: "This is speculative - it's entirely speculative and fanciful."

For the experiment, the scientists started off by creating "parthenogenote" mouse embryos. These are all-female embryos made

without sperm by tricking an egg into developing as if it has been fertilised.

Mammalian embryos produced this way usually die after a few days because they lack the right programming.

But Dr. Perry's team of researchers found that injecting the parthenogenotes with sperm transformed them into normal embryos that went on to produce healthy offspring.

The outcome is hugely significant because parthenogenotes share much in common with ordinary cells such as skin cells.

Both kinds of cell multiply by means of a nonsexual form of cell division known as mitosis.

GOC: Army in control over Boko Haram Buhari hails Barret, veteran journalist at 75 Abuah to be buried Sept 16 –Presidency

M

aj.-Gen Kasimu AbdulKarim, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Ibadan, says the Nigerian Army has totally decimated the activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the country.

AbdulKarim disclosed this on Tuesday during an interactive session with newsmen at the Tiger’s Den, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Ibadan.

“If you look at what has been happening before now and make a comparison yourself, you will know that the Armed

Forces are in charge.

“We have not been having incessant attacks on either hard or soft targets,” he said.

AbdulKarim said that the division would continue to provide adequate security within the western region of the country.

According to him:“This division has not actually had so much security challenges as compared to other areas.

“The western region is the most peaceful in the country and we will uphold it,” he said."

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Jamaican veteran journalist, Carlton Lindsay Barret, on the occasion of his 75th birthday.

The President, in a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, joined the media and literary world in wishing the Jamaican-born veteran goodluck.

Buhari described him as a poet, novelist, academic

and versatile journalist, who has lived and worked in Nigeria for 50 years, since 1966.

"As he turns 75 years, the President commends Barret for his love for Nigeria, which inspired his relocation from the Caribbean to settle in the country, raise a family and also take up citizenship in the 80s.

“President Buhari said he believes the thematic thrusts of Barret’s writings on Africa, Africans in Diaspora and Afro-Americans have contributed significantly to global discourse on the history and identity of the black race."

T

he remains of the late Director of Information in the Presidency, Justin Abuah, will be laid to rest in Abuja on Sept. 16, an official in the Presidency has said.

The information is contained in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Adesina, who quoted a burial programme released by the Abuah’s family, said the inter-

ment will take place at the Apo Cemetery after a funeral service at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral in Area 3, Garki, Abuja.

He said that the Service of Songs and Night of Tributes will hold on Sept. 15 at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Area 10, Abuja, at 5 p.m.

Abuah, who was the Head of Department in the Media and Publicity Department in the State House passed away in an Abuja hospital on Aug. 14.

national | news

thursday, september 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

7

Dutch firms seek investment FG moves to resolve crisis in health sector friendly environment F G Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

overnment of the Kingdom of Netherlands yesterday said that more of its companies would invest in Nigeria if the right investment environment would be created.

Netherlands’ Ambassador in Nigeria, Ambassador John Groffen told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that many Dutch companies that would have invested in Nigeria were currently being discouraged.

Groffen said Nigeria’s current forex policy was among other factors being considered by Dutch companies that had indicated interest in doing business in the country.

“One of the biggest problem that is prevent-

ing more Dutch companies from investing or coming to do business in Nigeria is the government’s forex policy.

“These companies, due to the current forex situation, have some reservations on what the future may bring them.

“But, let me say that as soon as the forex policy situation improves, there is every tendency for more Dutch companies to want to come to Nigeria for business deals.

“If the Nigeria Government wants more of Dutch companies into its country, it has to make sure that the business environment is friendly and attractive to these companies,” he said.

Groffen, who noted the

Federal Government’s ongoing efforts at making the country attractive to investors, said more companies were still watching to see certainties in Nigeria’s investment environment.

According to him, the current economic situation in Nigeria had so far resulted in a decrease in exports and imports between Nigeria and Netherlands.

The ambassador restated his government’s commitment to sustain its partnership with Nigeria during and after Nigeria’s current economic situation.

“The Netherlands is well-placed to continue to be a good partner to Nigeria now and in the future."

National Assembly commission appoints new clerk Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) has approved the appointment of a former Deputy Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mr. Ed-

here Uzezi Basil, as the substantive Clerk of the House.

The commission, in a letter signed by its Chairman, Dr. Adamu Fika, said it took the decision at its 445th meeting presided by its chairman.

The letter reads in part; “I am writing to inform

you that the National Assembly Service Commission has at its 445th meeting held on Thursday, September 8, 2016 approved your appointment as Clerk to the House of Representatives. The appointment takes effect from August 31, 2016.

ederal Government’s negotiating team in the resolution of the lingering crisis in the health sector, yesterday took another firm step towards restoring industrial harmony in the sector by setting up a committee to look into the problem.

The team, which comprises of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, Minister of State for Health, Dr. O. Ehanire, Chairman of the National Income, Salaries and Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr. Clement Iloh, met yesterday at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment.

The meeting took far reaching decisions, among which was the setting up of two committees to look

$3,046.7m The capital importation of the Shares sector of Nigeria in Q4 2013.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

L-R: Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga; Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona at the 2016 Ojude Oba Festival... yesterday

Obiano to Ndigbo: Develop culture of insurance Pamela Eboh Awka

A

nambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, yesterday called on Igbo people to develop the culture of insuring their lives and property, saying that it was one sure way of mitigating the adverse effect of disasters whenever they occurred.

Speaking during the flag off of Anambra State Fire and Safety Summit in Awka, the governor said the people of the South-East pay no attention to insurance, hence the reason they were usually worse hit whenever disasters occurred.

While advising people

to form the habit of taking insurance policy rather than depending on the government anytime disaster occurred, Obiano said his administration had acquired 10 sophisticated modern fire-fighting trucks to boost activities of the state fire service.

He said: “My expectation is that our people will be better informed about disaster and its management after listening to the various speakers at this summit.”

The Executive Secretary of Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Chief Paul Odenigbo, said the scores of fire accidents and building collapse raised a huge concern from the government.

No mining licences awarded by FG, says Fayemi M inister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday said the Federal Government under the current dispensation has not issued licences for mining of coal for power generation.

Fayemi spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting on preSustainability in the Extractive Industries (SITEI) at the ministry in Abuja.

The minister was represented by the Technical Adviser/Chief of Staff to the Minister, Mr. Egghead Odewale.

He said the Federal Government had stated that coal mining licences would be issued only to companies interested in generat-

ing electricity from coal.

According to the Minister, the ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, to ensure that coal contributed to power generation in the country.

He said: “One of the processes for the issuance of such licences is that applicants must have power generating licences before they can be granted licences for coal-mining in the country.

“We have dedicated that coal deposits in the country would only be awarded for power and licences for mining of coal deposits would only be awarded to those who want to generate electricity."

into the issue of the circular on salary adjustments and the payment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure skipping arrears.

According to Ngige, who addressed the press at the end of the meeting, there was an overriding need for social dialogue as the only sure way to industrial peace.

"We have set up two committees; one is to look into the issue of JOHESU’s demands for relativity circular to enable them get reasonable wages while the other is to look into the issue of skipping, because members of the Health Sector Unions, Nurses and Midwives Association, Laboratory Association

want to skip a particular grade level," Ngige said.

He revealed that the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) also made a joint position on skipping, hence the need to harmonise the positions in the spirit of collective bargaining, bearing in mind the current economic downturn in the country.

Similarly, the Minister of Health, Prof. Adewole, emphasised the essence of peace in the all-important health sector, promising that "this is the beginning of lasting peace. We wish to take every complaint on board. We will look at them critically in a way that will remove any form of interruption in the national healthcare delivery system."

Lagos police command yet to replace 104 redeployed officers Muritala Ayinla

L

agos State police command is yet to replace the redeployed 104 officers attached to the state task force on Environment and Special Offence Unit, New Telegraph has reliably learnt.

This was even as the taskforce served quit notices to a new set of owners of property located under high tension cables in Lekki.

When New Telegraph visited the Alausa headquarters of the taskforce yesterday, it was still visible that officers were yet to be replaced.

It was gathered that the redeployed officers might be replaced this Friday.

Explaining the delay in the deployment of another set of police officers to the taskforce, insider sources in the Governor's Office, said the governor was interested in only officers that will not harass innocent citizens and respect the rights of others regardless of their status.

"The police command has to study the profile of the new officers. The government is interested in upright officers, who will key in to the ethical and professional conduct expected of a good officer.

Somebody who will not rubbish the gains of making Lagos a 24-hour economy by harassing innocent citizen," the source said.

It will be recalled that Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, sent a formal request to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, asking for the redeployment of some police officers attached to the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences Unit, following unethical conduct of the police officers attached to the unit.

The governor in the request sought an immediate redeployment of several of the taskforce officers from the unit and possibly from the state over what he called ‘unacceptable conduct.’

Group: Why National Assembly should criminalise torture Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

A

Port Harcourt-based human rights group, Human Rights, Social Development And Environmental Foundation (HURSDEF), has urged the National Assembly to pass a bill to make torture a criminal offence because it is ‘barbaric, inhuman and unjustifiable.’

The group said the torture of suspects held in detention by security operatives was widespread across the country, even as it persisted despite criticisms against it from dif-

ferent quarters.

Executive Director of HURSDEF, Mr. Justin Ijeomah, who stated this during “The stop Torture Enlightenment Campaign” in Port Harcourt, said if the National Assembly would pass such bill into law, and makes torture a criminal offence, security operatives who derive pleasure in torturing detainees or suspects, would have a rethink.

Ijeomah said the bill was already before the National Assembly, but faulted the delay in its passage, noting that HURSDEF would continue to create awareness on the bill until the National Assembly takes action.

8

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Motorists, commuters groan as rain lashes Lagos

Camillus Nnaji

C

ommuters were stranded yesterday across Lagos metropolis while many streets were flooded and several houses were submerged as torrential rain lasted for over six hours.

Motorists were trapped in gridlock occasioned by flood.

This came on a day work resumed after a two-day public holiday declared by the Federal Government to mark the Eid-el Kabir.

The rain, which started about 11:30a.m., was still falling till about 6p.m. Some of those who defiled the rain were

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

stranded at bus stops, while the flooded roads caused gridlock for several hours.

Despite the impediment to movement, some people made money from sales of umbrellas, raincoats, rubber shoes and women hair cover otherwise called shower caps.

At Berger area of Lagos, the construction work going on the Ojodu-Berger Road caused gridlock, while several pedestrians fell into the gutter because of the slippery nature of the muddy soil.

At Ikeja, Allen Roundabout, Ikeja under-bridge and some portions on the road to the Lagos State University Teach-

Stranded commuters at Ikeja

ing Hospital (LASUTH) were flooded. Oba Akinjobi Road where Ikeja Magistrates’ and High Courts as well as Old Secretariat are located was filled with water.

A lawyer, who Mr. Benson Idahosa, said the rain caught everyone unawares.

He said: “Though we are in the rainy season when rainfall cannot be predicted, today’s own has taken many of us by surprise. During the rush hour, there was no sign of rainfall. People had rushed out to get to work early; many were still on their way when the rain started. Many people

did not take their umbrellas or shower caps. The rain did not stop till closing hour. I cannot continue to wait for this rain to stop because if I do so, I will reach my house very late.”

A rider of tricycle, popularly called Keke Marwa or Keke NAPEP, who identified himself as Ayo, said the rain was a blessing in disguise.

He said: “It is a blessing because after the sallah there must be rain to prove Allah (God) has answered our prayers. It is also a blessing because in my own business today, places people refused

to pay a certain amount of money; they are even paying more to get there.”

An insurance policy canvasser, who identified herself as Ronke, said she did not see any customer because of the rain.

She said: “If I had known, I would have stayed back at home. There is nothing to cheer about in this cold weather after paying transport fare to come to work. On a good day, I would get an average of five customers for insurance, but today none.”

Also, hawkers stayed off the road for lack of patronage.

City Briefs Police recover Ondo NUJ official’s car Dubai: Nigerian jailed for swallowing 100 cocaine wraps Babatope Okeowo Akure

P

olice in Ondo State have arrested two persons whose identities have not been disclosed for the armed robbery attack on the Financial Secretary of the state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Adeola Adekunle.

Adekunle, who works with Adaba FM, was attacked on Sunday night at her home near Akure High School by suspected armed robbers who also disposed her of her valuables, including her newly purchased car.

Barely 48 hours after the incident police arrested the two suspects. The police also recovered the car on a bush path on Akure-Owo Road.

Reacting to the development, the NUJ commended the police for responding promptly to the robbery attack.

In a statement, the state NUJ General Secretary, Leke Adegbite, also expressed appreciation to all journalists including the women’s wing – National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) - and media houses in the state who had been calling for the arrest of the suspects.

The union described as unprecedented the zeal at which policemen, especially men of the Anti-Cultism Squad, trailed the suspects since on Sunday until two of them were apprehended at a hideout near Shasha Market in Akure.

According to the statement, the suspects were arrested two days ago but only confessed to the crime yesterday.

A

42-year-old Nigerian transit traveller, caught at the Dubai International Airport with 100 capsules of cocaine in his stomach, has been sentenced to 10 years in jail.

The Court of First Instance convicted the Nigerian man arrested on August 17 of smuggling drugs via transit, and ordered him to pay Dh100,000 worth of fine.

The sentencing will be followed by deportation, the court ruled, and ordered confiscation of the drugs.

“I was assigned to stand guard on the accused at the hospital. He had just been referred by the airport police officers after he was suspected of smuggling capsules containing drugs in his stomach,” a police-

man told the prosecutor.

The policeman, according to Khaleej Times, added that he entered the operation room and witnessed as the doctors operated on the defendant to take the drugs out of his stomach.

He added: “As many as 100 capsules containing drugs were found. I seized

Cocaine wraps

and handed them over to the anti-narcotics department.”

According to a report from the General Directorate of Criminal Evidence, the 100 capsules seized from the accused contained cocaine and weighed 1.9kgs.

The verdict has been appealed.

METRO

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

9

Man remanded for drowning three-year-old stepbrother

Eight die in Ebonyi auto crash

Uchenna Inya

Uchenna Inya

ABAKALIKI

ABAKALIKI

A

E

n Abakaliki Magistrates’ Court yesterday remanded a 25-year-old man, Ogobuchi Ogonna, for allegedly drowning his stepbrother, Wisdom Ogbonna Amagu.

Ogobuchi allegedly tied a big stone to Wisdom’s waist and threw him into a stream in the area.

The incident occurred at Ndiebor Nchoko, Igbeagu community in Izzi Local Government Area of the state.

Yesterday, he was arraigned on a onecount charge.

After the charge was read to the accused, the magistrate, Nnachi Olughu, ordered that the suspect be remanded in prison custody till November 18.

Olughu also ordered the case file to be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.

“The accused person has no counsel to represent him to enable (the court to) take his pleas. This court hereby orders that he be remanded in prison custody till November 18, 2016,” he ruled.

ight persons lost their lives when the driver of a commercial bus, EBOTRANS, with registration number Ebonyi EBA 245 XA lost control and the vehicle somersaulted at Iyere Edda in Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Seven of the victims died on the spot while the remaining one died a few hours later in the hospital.

Other passengers sustained varying degrees of injury.

A witness, who resides in the area, Iheanacho Okam, told our correspondent that the bus was returning from Aba in Abia State when the accident occurred.

He said: “The driver lost control of the vehicle and seven people died on the spot. Some other passengers were injured. Some of them were taken to a hospital at Ekoli Edda in the area while others were taken to the Owutu Edda General Hospital for treatment.

“Also, the dead were deposited at the morgue of the Owutu Edda General Hospital. People have

Victor Mba

P

olice have arrested three members of a five-man gang for theft of electricity installations at Obikabia village in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.

The suspects were arrested after they had removed some vital parts of a transformer in the area.

A top police officer gave the names of the suspected vandals as Obirinachi Chijioke, Chigoziem Okereke and Ikemsinachi Okereke.

According to him, two other members of the gang are on the run.

Chigoziem and Ikemshinachi were caught vandalising the electricity installations by shop owners and residents of the area.

Scene of an accident

been going to the hospital to know if their relatives are among the victims. There is tension in the area.”

Okam said officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) had not visited the scene except policemen who came in

their patrol vans.

When our correspondent visited the state FRSC Comand Headquarters, the Sector Commander, Mr. Charles Aborchi, was said not to be in the office.

Aborchi, however, did not pick his calls to confirm the report.

Three held for vandalism, theft But for the prompt arrival of the police the suspects would have been lynched.

Chijioke, who broke his leg while running away from the surging crowd, was arrested by the police patrol team.

In another development, police from World Bank Estate Police Division, under the Aba Area Command, have arrested a suspected cultist/ armed robber identified as Chibuike.

About 10:55p.m. on Monday, Chibuike and seven other members of his gang invaded a drinking joint on Ukonu Street by MCC Road where

they attacked and dispossessed their victims of cash and other valuables worth over N30,000.

A source in the division disclosed that Chibuike and other members of his gang, now at large, are members of ‘Aro’ cult group in the town.

The source said that police mobilised to the scene after a tip-off that the robbers were operating in the area.

According to the source, other members of the gang escaped on sighting the police, but luck ran out on Chibuike who was arrested by the patrol team.

18 escape death in Lagos accident Body of 60-year-old flood victim recovered

Muritala Ayinla

Adeolu Adeyemo

A

t least 18 passengers escaped death yesterday when a 20 feet container truck rammed into a commercial bus at Ilupeju near Anthony bus stop on Ilupeju-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, stopped his convoy and coordinated the rescue of the trapped victims supervised.

Five injured passengers were rescued by those in Owoseni’s convoy.

It was learnt that the propeller of the truck with registration number Lagos AGL 895 XE conveying 20ft container pulled out. The truck then rammed into an 18-passenger Toyota Hiace bus marked Lagos MUS 684XC. No life was loss but five persons were injured. They were rescued and handed over to the officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), who gave them First Aid and took them to Gbagada General Hospital for further medical attention.

The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management

Osogbo

B

Scene of the accident

Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Michael Akindele, confirmed that five people were injured.

He said: “The agency received a distress call about 9:40a.m. today (yesterday) of a container accident at Ilupeju-Oshodi Expressway inward Anthony.

“On getting to the scene of the accident, it was discovered that the 20ft container with registration number Lagos AGL 895 XE, while on high speed, developed a mechanical fault, swerved to the next lane and rammed into a moving 18-passenger Toyota Hiace commercial bus with registration

number Lagos MUS 684XC. “Other responders who played great role in the rescue include Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA), LASAMBUS, the LASEMA Emergency Response Team (ERT) and the police from Ilupeju Division.”

Akindele added that the agency ERT towing trucks were used to move the vehicles off the road to allow free flow of traffic.

The LASEMA boss appealed to motorists to ensure safety and roadworthiness of their vehicles before putting them on the road to avoid incidents.

ody of a 60-year-old man identified as Elder Olabode, who got drowned in flood at OkeOnitea area Osogbo, Osun State capital, was recovered yesterday.

Sympathisers wept profusely when the body was recovered from River Okooko by Hausa divers after several hours.

A witness, Thomas Onaolapo, said the deceased was driving home when he was swept away by the flood.

He said: “Some people told him to go back but he refused. We all warned him to go back but he did not listen. After moving for a few minutes, the intensity of the flood forced open the booth of his car and the flood snapped him up.

“Two people standing

nearby made attempt to rescue him and one of them nearly got drowned in the process.”

The state Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ayodele Philips, warned people to avoid flood-prone areas.

He, however, condoled with the family of the deceased.

Philips prayed to God to Olabode’s family members the fortitude to bear the loss.

Aregbesola

10

NEWS | national

Sunday Ojeme

T

he Federal Government has finalised arrangements with a Russia arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, to take delivery of some helicop-

Russia plans export of military helicopters to Nigeria

ters.

Disclosing this in South Africa yesterday, the head of delegation for Rosoboronexport to the Africa

CHANGE AND CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Aina: I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Tajudeen Omolola Rukayat, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aina Omolola Rukayat. All documents bearing my former nameremain valid. General public please take note.

ROBERTS

I formerly known and addressed as AGHANTI ANTHONY CHIBIZOR now wish to be known and addressed as ROBERTS ANTHONY CHIBIZOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OSISAMI

I formerly known and addressed as IBIDUN OLUBUKONLA MAYUNGBE now wish to be known and addressed as IBIDUN OLUBUKONLA OSISAMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

nworie

I formerly known and addressed as OKAFOR GLORY CHINWE now wish to be known and addressed as NWORIE GLORY CHINWE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

EHICHIOYA

BOLAJI

I formerly known and addressed as OLAGUNJU YEMISI BUKKY now wish to be known and addressed as BOLAJI YEMISI BUKKY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEBAYO

I formerly known and addressed as BABATUNDE BOSE JUMOKE now wish to be known and addressed as ADEBAYO BOSE COVENANT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

nwabuko

I formerly known and addressed as MISS JESSICA CHINYERE EKEH, now wish to be known and address as MRS. JESSICA CHINYERE NWABUKO. All documents bearing my former name remain valid.

Caleb University, Lagos and the general public should please take note.

banji

I formerly known as JOEL EHIMUDIAMHEN IKPEKUE now wishes to be known and addressed as JOEL EHIMUDIAMHEN EHICHIOYA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I formerly known as OYENIRAN ADEDIJI, BANJI ADEDIJI, NIRAN ADEDIJI now wishes to be known and addressed as BANJI OYENIRAN ADEDIJI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Philip

Ajibua

I, formerly known and addressed as Ovire Emmanuel now wish to be known and addressed as Philip Emmanuel Ovona. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Frank

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Rosdine Echeonwu and Echowu Ego Frank now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Frank Roseline Ego .E. All former documents remain valid. FCMB Plc and the general public should take note.

Ndubuisi

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Mercy Omotola Ogunsiakan now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mercy Omotola Ajibua. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Chima

This is to notify the general public that the names Samuel Michael Chima and Michael Chima .S. refer to one and the same person. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as Samuel Michael Chima.

Also my date of birth was wrongly written as April 24, 1987 instead of April 6, 1986 which is my correct date of birth. All former documents remain valid.

GTB Plc, Diamond bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Anighoro Gloria Obakpororo and Samson Gloria now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gloria Afereokhai Daniel. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc, Diamond bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Sylvanus

Ubochioma

This is to notify the general public that the names Nwonu Sylvanus and Nwonu Sylvanus Mkpuma refer to one and the same person. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as Nwonu Sylvanus. Also, my correct date of birth is May 15, 1961. All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Asikaebiri Sunday now wish to be known and addressed as Emmanuel Sunday Ubochioma.

All former documents remain valid.

GTBank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Cornelius

Wenetugbekumor

I, formerly known and addressed as Kingsly Chukwu Ogochukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Cornelius Chukwu Ogochukwu.

All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Gbolos Otuma now wish to be known and addressed as Wenetugbekumor Gbolos Otuma. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc, Fidelity bank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Olodi

Akpanari

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Penninah Onoye Amida now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Penninah Wilfred Olodi.

All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission and the general public

I, formerly known and addressed as Akpanari Anderson Bonkky now wish to be known and addressed as Akpanari Anderson. All former documents remain valid. FCMBank Plc, Ecobank Plc and the general public should please take note.

Ihugba

Pogi

Nwokoma

I, formerly known and addressed as Emmanuel Ijeoma now wish to be known and addressed as Nwokoma Julia Ijeoma. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

Aerospace and Defence Expo in South Africa, Yury Demchenko, said between this year and 2017, his firm planned to continue exporting helicopters to Nigeria, Angola, Mali and Sudan.

“Our position in the African helicopter market is solid. So, we are optimistic about the prospects of cultivating it further," the delegation chief added.

The expected choppers are the Mi-8/17 and Mi24/35 models.

Two years ago, the Federal Government had mooted adding 40 attack and transport helicopters to its fleet as part of strengthening its arsenal against Boko Haram.

In May this year, the United States Government also sought approval to sell as many as 12 A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to Nigeria to aid its battle against Boko Ha-

I, formerly known and addressed as Pogitere Ebebi Borobuebi now wish to be known and addressed as Pogi Ebebi. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

Ukworu

I, formerly known and addressed as Akudo Emmanuel Nworie now wish to be known and addressed as Akudo Emmanuel Ukworu. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

ram.

Officials, who were privy to the deal, expressed confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari’s drive to reform the country’s corruption-tainted military.

The possible sale, which the officials said was favoured within the U.S. administration but subject to review by Congress, underscores the deepening U.S. involvement in helping governments in North and West Africa fight extremist groups.

Demchenko pointed out that helicopters remained one of the most soughtafter types of military hardware in Africa. In 2014-2016, Russian-made helicopters were exported to Angola, Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda.

Besides, many African countries prefer to purchase inexpensive equipment, and in particular

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO CHANGE NAMES OF REGISTERED TRUSTEES

The general public is hereby informed that the Registered Trustees of SOLID ROCK PRAYER AND DELIVERANCE MINISTRIES INC. Benin City proposes to make changes in the names of Registered Trustees under the Companies and Allied Matters Act. 2004, as follows:.

Names of existing Trustees: Names of Proposed Trustees: 1. Evang. (Mrs.) Mray Josiah Olotu 1. Evang. (Mrs.) Mary Josiah Olotu 2. Elder Bamidele Johnson Olotu 2. Pastor Bamidele Johnson Olotu 3. Elder Ikponmwosa Omoragbon 3. Elder Samson Osarienmwinda 4. Deaconess Charity Ovbeibo 4. Mr. Victor Osagie 5. Sister Patience Amayo 5. Elder Igunbor Aghafekoghian Osaretin 6. Elder Samson Osarienmwinda 6. Deaconess (Mrs.) Elizabeth Enabulele 7. Mr. Victor Osagie Ewemade Names of Trustees to be removed: 7. Deaconess (Mrs.) Helen Enogiomwan 1. Elder Ikponmwosa Omoragbon Osunbor 2. Deaconess Charity Ovbiebo 3. Sister Patience Amayo 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: J.O ADJEKUGHENE ESQ. Solicitor & Notary Public, No. 150B M.M Way, Benin City

Daniel

This is to notify the general public that the names Nwibo Ndubuisi and Nwibo Ndubuisi Christian refer to one and the same person. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as Nwibo Ndubuisi.

All former documents remain valid. First bank Plc, Ebonyi Local Govt. Area and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Faith Lucy Onyekwere now wish to be known and addressed as Ihugba Lucy. All former documents remain valid. Union bank Plc, Ecobank Plc and the general public should please take note.

thursday, september 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

PUBLIC NOTICE

GRACE OF GOD SPIRITUAL SHEPHERD MINISTRY SEAT OF AMAZING GRACE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY The general public is hereby informed that the above named organisation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for the registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act Cap C20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The below listed persons have been appointed as Board of Trustees: 1.

2.

Mrs. Oladosu Felicia Omolara Mr. Michael Abiodun Oladosu

The Objectives of the Association are listed below: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

To preach the word of God. To promote the teachings of Jesus Christ.

To establish chapels, churches and house-fellowship centres for the benefit of residents and promote the scriptures according to the Holy Bible.

To establish Mission Houses, Pastoral houses for the residence of our ministers and missionaries worldwide, shelters for the needy and homeless, pantry services; To uses any or all means permitted by law for communication such as: established religious radio stations, tele-broadcast net work, also to write, publish and distribute religious literature such as the Bible, books, magazine and allied service; To establish, extend and otherwise carry on any or all of the aforesaid purpose into a worldwide ministry movement;

Any objections should be forwarded to the under listed address within 28 days of this publication: The Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission SIGNED: Mrs. Oladosu Felicia Omolara

PUBLIC NOTICE

JESUS THE LIFEGRACE GATE CHURCH ETERNAL GOD OFMINISTRY OUR REFUGE SEAT OFBELIEVERS AMAZING INTERNATIONAL The general public is hereby notified that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied matters Act 1990.

TRUSTEES (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Pastor Emmanson Peter Ibanga (G.O) Prophetess Elijah Emmanson Peter Bro. Idongesit Moses Ekanem (Sec.) Elder Godwin Akpan Joe Elder Friday Nelson Akpan Elder Amos Ibanga Bro. Gideon Emmanson Peter Ibanga

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: (1) To proclaim and preach the name of the Saviour Jesus Christ.

(2) To develop its members spiritually and morally.

(3) To proclaim and preach victory over sin and death as the goal of the true gospel.

(4) To contribute generally to the upliftment of the society.

(5) To preach the gospel of total deliverance of soul and body.

Any objection to this 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: Pastor Emmanson Peter Ibanga Bro. Idongesit Moses Ekanem General Overseer General Secretary

used equipment, the Russian delegation’s head noted.

"For example, we export those Mil Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters to this region that have gone through major renovation," he elaborated.

According to the official, Russia’s militarytechnical cooperation with the African countries has been steady on the ascent for the past few years and

a number of African countries have already joined the list of Russia’s main trading partners.

"By and large, the share of Africa in the world export of weapons is relatively small. For instance, sub-Saharan Africa accounts for about two per cent, but the statistics of Russian weapons sales by Rosoboronexport in Africa showed steady growth for several years."

Envoy promises better accommodation for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia Ibraheem Musa Makka

C

harge d’Affairs of Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Salisu Umar and the Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria(NAHCON) , Abdullahi Muhammad Mukhtar have assured Nigerian pilgrims that they will do everything possible in order to secure accommodation for pilgrims close to the Jamarat, where the symbolic stoning of Satan takes place.

Umar, who made the promise while carrying out inspection tour of the states' tent at Muna, said that Nigeria will use its membership of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to table the matter with the Saudi Arabian authorities.

According to the envoy, Nigeria is a sovereign country and should not be treated like a country without origin, definition and resources. He further said no country is superior to another in Islam.

Earlier, the Emir of Kaltungo and Chairman of Gombe Pilgrims Board, Alhaji Saleh Mohammed, as well as the Secretary of Kaduna State Government, Alhaji Lawal Balarabe Abbas, had complained about the degrading treatment that is given to Africa/ Non-Arab countries in Hajj affairs.

Similarly, the Chairman of NAHCON said it has held series of meetings with the Saudi Arabia authorities but they often argued that area where Nigeria pilgrims want to pitch their tents in Muna is surrounded by rocks which generates heat.

Troops kill 15 bandits, injure more in Zamfara roops of the 223 Light Zurmi Local Government T Tank Battalion , Gusau, Area during which seven Zamfara, have killed 15 bandits were killed, while bandits in two separate operations in the state, the Commanding Officer of the battalion, Lt. Col. Abdullahi Adamu, said.

Adamu, who made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau yesterday, said the operations were carried out between September 7 and 10.

He said an early morning raid was launched on a suspected bandits’ hideout in Dumburum forest in

many others escaped with bullet wounds.

The commanding officer said one round of 2.7mm calibre ammunition and a pair of army desert camouflage uniform were recovered from the camp of the fleeing bandits.

He said the troops then invaded Bagega area in Anka Local Government Area, but that the hoodlums had already fled before their arrival.

We don’t miss you, PDP BoT Chairman tells Sodangi

T

he National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees (BOT), Sen. Walid Jibrin, yesterday said the party would lose nothing over the defection of Sen.Abubakar Sodangi to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Jibrin told newsmen in Nasarawa, his country home in Nasarawa State, that the accusation of im-

punity against the PDP by Sodangi was laughable.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sodangi, served as senator for Nasarawa West between 1999 to 2011 under the PDP. He defected from the party to the APC due to what he called the inability of the PDP to purge itself of impunity and imposition of candidates.

11

THURSDAY, September 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nwoko FG lacks power to investigate states’ accounts

Politics Recently, you and some APC leaders from Bauchi visited President Buhari and levelled allegations of impropriety against your governor.

Could you give an insight into the visit?

First of all, I will say it is really unfortunate, having all come from the same political party with Governor Abdulahi Abubakar. That is, myself, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the three senators representing the state, the 12 members of the House of Representatives and the Minister for Education. We had to speak up against the governor’s policies, or lack of policies; the divisive politics that he has been practicing and the threat posed by his style of governance to our state.

This is why as leaders and stakeholders, people could not look the other way while our state is being destroyed by one individual and his praise singers.

But the governor described your group as Abuja politicians, who are not in touch with the people?

It is not enough to just label people as Abuja politicians because that is the song that governor and his aides and praise singers have been singing but what defines an Abuja politician?

If you are elected as the speaker of the House of Representatives or as senator or member of the House of Representatives, where are you supposed to reside for most of the year? Are you not supposed to be serving in Abuja?

So, is it not laughable for us to be labelled an Abuja politician? And if you take somebody like me, I am not holding any public office.

Yes, I used to be a legislator, but at the moment I am not holding any public office. When Bauchi has been ruined, there are no opportunities, I am a businessman, do you expect me to go and just sit in Bauchi. So, there are no opportunities that have been created. It they want us to become Bauchi based politicians, then the governor should make sure he puts Bauchi in order.

Did you made efforts to reach out to the governor before going public?

That was why we decided to come together and take these steps. It is not personal; it is based on issues, it is based on several attempts that failed to make him see the light, to make him change his ways. We all

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@yahoo.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Abure Edo people’ll resist inconclusive poll

13 14

Why we dragged Bauchi gov before Buhari – Tuggar Hon. Yusuf Tuggar, a former governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in 2011, lost the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket to Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State in 2015. In this interview, the former chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Public Procurement explains why he and other APC leaders dragged the governor before President Muhammadu Buhari. PHILIP NYAM reports

Tuggar

come from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Some of us, have been in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), we created the CPC together with President Muhammadu Buhari before we merged with the other parties to form the APC and Abubakar joined us after the merger, after we had already created the APC. Prior to that, he was a member of the PDP and before that he was an INEC Resident Commissioner in Rivers State. So, for somebody like that to come and take charge over a state like Bauchi and for all of us to even accept the flawed result of the primaries at the time simply because we wanted to win, he should have been careful.

In specific terms, what are those allegations that you have against the governor?

There is a saying in Hausa that

We had to speak up against... the threat posed by his style of governance

you can tell a Friday that is going to be good from Wednesday.

Things started going wrong even during the campaigns, we could tell that there were issues but I am not going to go on to that for now. Immediately after the elections, there was a transition committee that was constituted. That committee itself came up with its own issues because then we started talking about how much exactly the transition committee spent. The handling of funds for the transition committee itself was not transparent. There were allegations that the transition committee collected N565 million for instance, from the outgoing governor, Isa Yuguda, before swearing in and this has not been accounted for. Apart from that, you could see that there was uncertainty as to what agenda Governor Abubakar had for Bauchi.

He didn’t appear to have any blue print.

Shortly after he became governor, there were some contracts that were awarded like the 4.5 kilometres of road from the Central Bank in Bauchi metropolis towards the railway for N2.3 billion. If you do the arithmetic, that amounts to N517 million per kilometer. Do you even construct road for N517 million per kilometer in the Niger Delta? And this contract was awarded to a company called “Qumex” with a Kaduna registered address. Okay, you have been awarded this huge contract, we would have expected that you are going to roll out new equipment to commence the work but they are using manual concrete mixers. This is not just about us, it is about the people of Bauchi who are seeing it and are putting pressure on us as leaders to do something about it. And that is why it is incumbent upon us to act and when you talk to someone privately and he does not listen, you have no choice but to make it public, so that the whole world knows what is going on.

Apart from that, Bauchi is one of the states that had domesticated the Pubic Procurement Act. There is a public procurement law that was passed many years ago by the state House of Assembly. I was chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement, so I know exactly what public procurement entails. There are certain criteria that you must follow before you award a contract, and I can confidently say there hasn’t been a single contract that has complied with that law; because there are no adverts, no invitation to tender.

There is also the issue of Bauchi debt profile itself. It is very important to establish how much Bauchi is owing because failure to do so gives room for corrupt practices. The governor claimed that Isa Yuguda left a debt of N125 billion, then the transition committee came and said he left a debt of N96 billion.

Isa Yuguda himself claimed he left a debt of N86 billion. So, it is very important for us to even establish that. The administration CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

12

POLITICS

THURSDAY, September 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Intimidation can’t stop PDP’s victory – Orbih Stories by Cajetan Mmuta Benin

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, yesterday declared that no amount of arrest, intimidation and harassment of its leaders and members by the security agencies will stop the victory of its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, in the September 28 election in the state.

The party therefore challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to convince Nigerians and Edo people in particular that it has the capacity to conduct a free, fair, credible and conclusive governorship election given the credibility issue surrounding its name in the present circumstance

…we’ll trounce your party silly - Afegbua of election shift and other pending challenges in the conduct of the exercise.

The state chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, who spoke during a press conference to review the state of affairs ahead of the rescheduled poll, said: “The governorship election in Edo State is a challenge to INEC to convince Nigerians that they have the capacity to conduct free and fair election without external interference.”

Orbih said that information available to the party shows that Governor Adams Oshiomhole, in collaboration with an unidentified federal commissioner of INEC from Kaduna State has perfected the plot to “ensure that all Electoral Officers (EOs) in the 18 local governments would be

Edo DECIDES

posted out of the state before the election. He is going to bring in other EOs from APC states to come and conduct the election.”

Orbih maintained that INEC postponed the election to enable the APC to manipulate it and to also import members from APC states to buy up the unclaimed Permanent Voters Cards (PVC’s), so that they can cast their votes for the

ruling party on election day.

His words: “The postponed election is to give the APC ample time to manipulate the card readers especially in areas where they know that they are weak, so that when the card readers fail to function they will use the manual register and the incident forms.

“Part of their plot is to arrest many of our leaders and members, so that they cannot mobilise members to vote for the party and they have started doing that. Their purpose is to keep our leaders out of their homes, the governor have paid huge money to militants and lodged them in hotels.

“Instead of canvassing for support for their candidate, they are resorting to intimidation of our mem-

bers and attempt to induce them with Prado Jeeps and for those who refused, thugs were sent after them.

They are attacking our members just for the fact that they know the election would be won by Pastor IzeIyamu.”

But the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua in a swift reaction said: “It is obvious the PDP leaders and members are jittery over the elections because of their mosquito campaigns as opposed to community campaigns with a grand finale that shook the entire state at Ogbe Stadium before the unfortunate postponement.”

He added: “While we took over the state by storm with our grand finale, PDP governors sneaked to town and held their own rally in a 12 by 13 room size. What does that tell you? We were more prepared for the election than the PDP. “Secondly, following the arrest of some militants who are being arraigned,

it was obvious that the security threat was real. The police and DSS have been able to make successful arrest of militants who were hitherto recruited to cause violence in the state and their confessions have simply explained the devilish intention of the PDP. “Thirdly, it is only PDP that has the notorious ingenuity to buy PVCs from voters because they have never loved the voting process or our mantra of one man, one vote. If there is anyone buying PVCs, it is the PDP and we have made useful arrest too.

“By and large, PDP is guilty as charged. Whatever alarm we have raised, has been confirmed by revelations and arrests that have been made. Rather than prepare for the election, they are busy carrying out nocturnal meetings and recruiting thugs and militants to the state to perpetrate evil. We will meet them at the election ground and trounce them silly in our typical fashion.”

Odubu denies rift with governor

E

Oshiomhole

Orbih

Odubu

Oshiomhole desperate to cover his tracks – Rivers PDP Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

T

he Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State as a drowning politician, who is desperate to cover his tracks by resorting to anti-democratic tendencies to ensure that the All Progressives Congress (APC) wins the September 28 governorship election.

The party, which spoke against the backdrop of Oshiomhole’s allegation that Governor Nyesom Wike gave N2 billion to

Edo PDP to prosecute the governorship election as well as supplied 8,000 exmilitants with his Delta State counterpart, Ifeanyi Okowa, noted that Oshiomhole was merely spreading falsehood to cover up his failure as governor.

The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Samuel Nwanisike, who spoke to reporters in Port Harcourt, noted that Wike only appealed to Edo people to go out and vote and to defend their votes.

He said that Oshiomhole lost touch with the people of the state when he failed to deliver on his campaign promises, but now wants

to impose Godwin Obaseki to cover his tracks, stating that Edo people don’t favour the move.

His words: “Because Governor Nyesom Wike advised Edo people to protect their votes, Oshiomhole is linking him to militants, and cash donations, but he should be assured that Wike will continue to speak. In today’s Nigeria, more than four million Nigerians have lost their jobs, hunger and starvation is the order of the day. That is the reality on ground.

Calling Wike names and linking him to militancy is a shame. Militancy has been on before Wike be-

came governor, and before amnesty was granted to militants.

“Long before the election, Edo people had made up their mind on the candidate to vote as governor.

They want a candidate to bail them out of the economic mess confronting Edo. Even if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shifts the election again, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu will carry the day. He is the man on ground in the state and his popularity continues to rise. But Governor Oshiomhole is banking on federal might for Obaseki to win.”

We’ll work devotedly for Edo people – Obaseki T

he candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 28 governorship election in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has promised that his administration will work devotedly for the progress and development of the state as well as for the prosperity of Edo people, irre-

spective of their tribe or religion.

Obaseki made the promise at an interactive session with members of the Igbo Union, a sociocultural group in Edo State.

He said: “Let me begin by saying that while I respect our cultural diversity, I see you as my

brothers and sisters, and when elected governor, our administration will not discriminate against any persons or groups but we will work conscientiously for the good of all Edo people.

“It is a pity that for 16 years of PDP rule they did nothing to better the state; they failed to build

roads, schools or hospitals but stole all the money for themselves. I grew up in a comfortable home where my parents taught us that you do not go into government to make money; you go there to serve, to make a positive impact on the lives of the people. And so I know that government should be about public good.”

do State deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, yesterday, denied having an altercation with the Governor Adams Oshiomhole, over the shift in the governorship election from September 10 to 28.

Odubu in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Kelly Odaro, described the alleged rift between him and Oshiomhole as falsehood.

The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the falsehood being circulated by some disgruntled elements on the social media especially by one Ugiagbe Josh Eseiwi that the Deputy Governor, Dr Pius Odubu is at war

with his boss, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, over the shift in date of the Edo gubernatorial election.

“For emphasis’ sake, Dr. Odubu is a perfect gentleman who is imbued with the principles of honesty, integrity, respect for authority and above all the fear of God. Edo State government and Governor Adams Oshiomhole have no power to fix, regulate or shift elections as being canvassed by the authors of this falsehood.”

Odubu urged Edo people to disregard the post as he and Governor Oshiomhole will continue to enjoy a harmonious relationship.

APC takes campaign to Etsako Temitope Ogunbanke

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) took its campaign to Iwiekpe, Itogbo and Erevuekpe communities in IgiodeAgenebodu in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state during the Sallah celebration with a message that its candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has a clear plan on how to develop every segment of the society.

A chieftain of the party in the area, Mr. Benjamin Atu, who addressed chiefs, elders and members of the respective communities, said: “Politic is not a game of promises but a game of passion and the APC governorship candidate has the passion and the will to bring development. A

vote for Obaseki will not be regretted because he has the wisdom and capacity to provide effective governance and empower the people.”

He maintained that Obaseki has so much developmental plans to implement and would not have time to hunt anybody when he become the next governor of Edo State, adding: “A friend who loves us is better than a brother who has nothing to offer the people of Igiode and Afemai land.”

He cautioned Edo youths against violence during the poll, saying the battle is not against one another but between political parties because Obaseki has warned that “his ambition is not worth the blood of any individual.”

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

THURSDAY, September 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

You recently went to court to obtain injunction stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and their agents from investigating the accounts and records books of Akwa Ibom State. Are you preempting the agencies?

We are not preempting, we acted against the illegal activities of the investigating agencies of the Federal Government, particularly the EFFC and ICPC. They started writing letters to banks that deals with Akwa Ibom State government, agencies of the state government, local governments, ministries and departments and they wrote these letters demanding for details of accounts, details of transactions, statements of accounts, contract payments and all manner of information arising from the operation of the state government over the years.

But we feel that by Section 125 of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 (as amended), it is only the state House of Assembly as empowered by the constitution to carry out investigation, probe and auditing of the state government accounts, no other authority has such powers.

The EFCC does not have such power not even the president of Nigeria have such power. We are upset that as a government of a component unit of the Nigerian Federation to find out that agencies of the Federal Government are asking questions over the finances of the state when there is no such powers vested on them. To that extent, we decided to respond as a law abiding of the Nigerian Federation. So we decided to approach the court to interpret the relevant sections of the constitution whether there is any provision that vested in these agencies of the Federal Government the power to probe into, investigate or audit the account of the state government. We are not acting in suspicion or anticipating. We have as exhibits some of the letters written by them and I still have many more on my table.

But you are aware that a serving governor’s personal account has been frozen by the EFCC in order to carry out an investigation. What is your take on that?

Of course, it is not right and we cannot encourage that in Akwa Ibom State. There is an appalling level of madness in the operations of the EFCC and the ICPC. Apart from not obeying the court, and not following the constitution, it is now getting to a point they enter people’s house and ask how they eat their breakfast. They are not guided by the constitution, the law or any known statute but their whims and caprices. Imagine what they are doing to a sitting governor with immunity. They said they are holding the accounts and not the man, what is the difference between the man and his accounts?

Their activities are absolutely unacceptable and the government of Akwa Ibom State is taking a definite stand.

We are a federating unit of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not part of the Federal Government. As a federating unit, we are entitled to some level of independence as seen in the spirit of the constitution. There is nothing

FG lacks power to investigate states’ accounts – Nwoko Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko is the Akwa Ibom State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. In this interview with Tony Anichebe, he speaks on on why the state government sought and obtained court injunction restraining the anti-graft agencies and other similar agencies of the Federal Government from investigating the state’s financial records. Excerpts: called the Nigeria concept of the federalism. A federation is a federation whether in the United States, Canada, Australia or India. It has some marks and characteristics.

In Nigeria, our federation is being bastardized distorted and panelbeated out of shape and this can no longer be called a federation and people must say so.

Are you aware that arrangements are in top gear as directed by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for the probe of past governors by the EFCC? In Akwa Ibom , ex-Governors Victor Attah and Godswill Akpabio were named, will the state cooperate with the commission?

I recently told the AGF clearly that he must begin to work on the concept of creating an ideal federation. He must put together a legal framework and structures that must guarantee an ideal federation in Nigeria. I said so at a meeting he had with other state Attorneys-General. I said that whatever we are doing we should bear in mind that Nigeria is a federal state. The Federal Government has no power to investigate the activities of the Akwa Ibom State government from 1999-2015 and even thereafter. Before he would do that investigation, the Supreme Court will have to decide

Nwoko

There are so many wrong and unpractical things with the Nigerian federation which informs why we have so many challenges

on the matter and that is why we are in court.

We are in court because it is not within the powers of the AGF or his boss to determine how to go about this but the Constitution of Nigeria and we must pursue this cause to a logical conclusion in the courts of the land. Is Nigeria a federation? If yes, then does the Federal Government have powers to look into the accounts of the state?

Does the state have the power to ask the Federal Government how they are spending their money? If it doesn’t have, then why should the Federal Government ask the states? Sadly, the Federal Government has not shown any interest in many other challenges facing the states.

The Federal Government is not investing its money in state primary schools, hospitals, roads or any infrastructure, they only come all the way from Abuja to ask where is your money and how do you spend it. It got to a very ridiculous level when the ICPC wrote the Secretary to the State Government, asking him to furnish it with the resolution of the State Executive Council, where the decision to recruit people into the state civil service was taken. Even a year one Law student will not write such letter. Are they the ones who

13

will recruit people for Akwa Ibom State government? Are they ones who will pay salaries? Why should they write such letters demanding such information?

They write all sorts of letters to the local governments. It is the state that oversees the activities of the councils constitutionally. These agencies of Federal Government claiming to have both physical and spiritual powers write letters to local governments to investigate them, where do they derive such powers from?

This madness must stop starting from Akwa Ibom State. We will not allow that. The AGF will meet us in court. I have asked him to come with his books, so that we can settle the matter in court.

In your opinion, what is really wrong with the Nigeria federation?

There is no federation in Nigeria. We are running a caricature of a federation. When the military interfered in the affairs of the country, they used military fiat to make all manners of laws. When you see the size of the American constitution, it is less the size of your phone but for the Nigerian constitution we packed all manner of things inside it. It is a compendium with substantial volume because things that have no business being there have been buried there for the selfish interest of certain section. Why do we have federal prisons and no state prisons? Why should somebody who steals a goat in a state, tried by the state court and convicted by the state court be sent to a federal prison to be fed with federal money? What kind of federation is that? Why should the Federal Government be in absolute control of power generation, evacuation and distribution?

Even a state with capacity to do so would still need permission from the Federal Government to generate power.

Even Akwa Ibom with a Federal Government license to generate 625 mega watts of electricity is helpless because it can only generate but cannot evacuate it for its own use because the Federal Government is solely in charge of evacuation and distribution through its transmitting lines and has insisted that all power generated must be tied to the national grid. The same overheated national grid that cannot carry itself.

Even the transmitting facilities are completely outdated and that informs incessant fire outbreaks at electrical installations across the country.

If broken into smaller units with states allowed to generate and transmit power, it will be much better and when they have excess, it can be transferred to the national grid. There are so many wrong and unpractical things with the Nigerian federation which informs why we have so many challenges. I want to say that this contraption called the Nigerian federation have outlived its usefulness. It is time we should sit on a roundtable and re-negotiate the unity and oneness of our country and come out on clear terms on the basis of our relationship and continuous staying together as one indivisible people and as a federation. If it is not comfortable then we should part ways. I am not afraid to say this. I am not interested or desperate to a Nigerian.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

14

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

Barr. Julius Abure is the National Secretary of the Labour Party (LP).

In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE and CAJETAN MMUTA, he speaks on the rescheduled Edo State gubernatorial election, his party’s chances and the Muhammadu Buhari administration What is your take on the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reschedule the Edo State governorship election?

My reaction can be expressed in the form of mixed feelings because the constitution provides that the principal purpose of government at all levels is to secure lives and property. However people may feel about it, since the postponement is as a result of security issues, there is nothing one can do about the postponement because lives and property are involved. And when security agencies, who are supposed to secure men and electoral material are saying that they cannot guarantee security, one need to tread cautiously, and I think that is what INEC has done because if it had gone ahead with the election as earlier scheduled and there was loss of lives and property, people will blame the commission.

Secondly, you cannot even trust the security agencies. They can even go ahead to perpetuate mayhem and disaster on that day and come out with the excuse to say that they initially said that Edo State was not safe for the conduct of election.

So, first and foremost treading with caution, especially where lives and property are concerned is the best because there is nothing we can give in replacement of life. But having said that, majority of our members feel very strongly that the postponement was a ploy by the ruling party to perfect arrangement; not only to rig the election but to allow them to do more leg work.

I am sure that some political parties are afraid and therefore feel that perhaps they have not done enough to be able to win the election and that was why they asked for the postponement. The generality of our people on the streets are feeling very strongly that there is a deliberate attempt by the ruling party to perfect either an arrangement to rig the election or perhaps do more work in other to be able to win.

Are you invariably saying that the All Progressives Congress (APC) masterminded the postponement and not the security agencies as claimed?

My members and I feel so very strongly. President Muhammadu Buhari was in Edo few days ago (last Tuesday) to campaign for his party; he was not kidnapped and he was not killed. In fact, one can say that Edo State for now is one of the most secured states in the South-South. Initially, we had issue of kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities but you will agree with me that crime and criminality in Edo State has drastically reduced in the last

THURSDAY, September 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Edo people’ll resist inconclusive poll – Abure eight months.

Do you think your party would have made any good outing if the election had hold on September 10 as earlier scheduled?

The governorship contest is open. That is the truth as people are highly dissatisfied with the APC in Edo and even at the federal level because of their abysmal performance, hunger, poverty, unemployment and other problems in the land. If you go to the streets and see the level of hunger and poverty, you will weep for this country.

I have continued to maintain that Nigerians are suffering in the midst of plenty. We have no reason to be in this state that we are. And this takes us back to fact that the problem we have in this country is leadership.

There is no single explanation you can give for the failure of our present state of economy. So, the poverty and hunger in the land is ascribed to poor and ineffective leadership.

The people on the streets are dissatisfied with the ruling party and that is going to have a very strong effect on the result of the Edo State governorship election whether we like it or not.

Those in power are usually very arrogant with power. When the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in power, they were very arrogant; APC is in the same state.

Behold, if INEC had gone ahead with the governorship election on September 10, I can assure you that APC would have been defeated. The point I am making in fairness is that any party could win governorship election in Edo State. Forget about the noise they are making on the streets. Forget about hiring of thugs for campaigns. The crowd you see are hired crowd. We are Nigerians and we know how they do it. They give money to people they hire for campaigns. And of course, you will agree with me that in a situation where we have high rate of unemployment in the state, N2,000 can make someone participate in a rally. So, forget about the crowd you see during campaigns, that is not a true reflection of what is happening in Edo State. The governorship election in Edo will spring a lot of surprises.

But some people are of the view that Governor Adams Oshimhole has performed creditably compared to the PDP administration that was before him and therefore his performance will be a plus for APC during the election...

Yes, comparatively Oshiomhole’s administration has performed well when you compared to the 10 years of the PDP administration in Edo State. There is no doubt about that because what somebody has, you give it to him. But we are looking at hunger on people’s faces at the moment. You will also agree with me that the present economic condition will have a very big effect on whatever will happen during the election. After all, the same APC lost federal elections in Edo to the PDP during the last general elections. But because Buhari won the presidential election, it had an

Abure

overwhelming effect in the House of Assembly election. Therefore, whatever goes on at the federal will also have a very great effect in this election. So, the performance of Buhari with the hunger on the streets will definitely have effect on the Edo governorship election.

The postponement was a ploy by the ruling party to perfect arrangement; not only to rig the election, but to allow them to do more leg work

You have expressed your dissatisfaction for the APC and PDP administrations; do you see Labour Party as reliable alternative?

Labour Party is the alternative.

That is the truth. We are in the problem we are today because people have not embraced the alternative and we will continue to be in trouble if we don’t embrace the alternative.

Labour Party is the only party that has the answer to the socio-economic problems of Nigeria. People should try us and they see a lot of surprises that we will spring up if we are voted into office. Give us the opportunity; you will see what we will do with the economy because Labour Party will create wealth. We will turn around the economy of Nigeria, which is in bad state. There would be full employment; workers would be happy, industry and agriculture will strive, the economy will boom and people will be happy.

An example is what we did in Ondo State. You will agree that we turned Ondo around for the few years that we were in power in the state and it has become a model all over the federation. The Mother and Child Hospital in Ondo State built by Governor Segun Mimiko was acclaimed by world bodies as a standard for Africa. We are capable of replicating this across the country if we are given the opportunity.

Since Mimiko left Labour Party, you can go and check his antecedent whether there is performance.

Do you have trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

conducting a credible election in Edo State?

Over the years, particular during the tenure of Prof. Attahiru Jega, there was high level of credibility on the part of INEC. The current chairman also performed in Bayelsa State because people felt that APC would rig the election. However, the election was well conducted though at a stage, it was characterised by crisis and some places were declared inconclusive but at the end of the day, the wishes of the people still triumphed. Even the Kogi State governorship election was conducted by the present INEC chairman.

To that extent, I have confidence and faith that INEC will conduct a credible election in Edo. Do you foresee the September 28 election ending on inconclusive note like many other past elections under the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC? You cannot rule that out. It is also part of the fear that people are having that the APC may want to use INEC to declare the election inconclusive. But if they try it, the people of Edo State are also ready to confront the situation.

What is your message to people of Edo State ahead of the rescheduled governorship election?

Edo people should go and prepare for the new date and be ready to cast their votes for Labour Party. Labour Party is the alternative; we have answers to the socio-economic problems of not just Edo State but Nigeria. We can use Edo State as the spring board. So, I will appeal to the people of Edo State to use their votes wisely by voting for Labour Party and they won’t have regrets. But voting for PDP or APC will be another regret and another wallowing in poverty, hunger and unemployment for another eight years.

THURSDAY, September 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 1

in Bauchi has not been able to do that, which is quite dangerous.

Everyone knows that Nigeria has economic problems at the moment and there are challenges to pay salaries, not just in Bauchi State, which is what the governor continues to echo but the point he is missing is that in other states, you don’t have a governor sending for a plane from Abuja to come to Bauchi empty to pick him up and take him to Sokoto at a time when there are pensioners and workers that have not been paid.

This is what the people of Bauchi State consider an affront because they know that prior to winning the election, they had never seen Abubakar in a private jet but all of a sudden, he is flying all over the place. And you are not even doing it prudently because when you fly for over a hundred kilometers, you are paying over $12,000. If you total this movement that I am talking about, it is probably about N30 million.

In one day! Now, N30 million is enough to pay the school fees of 30 schools in Bauchi because you have schools where there are only five teachers. Juxtapose that with just using it to pay a private jet.

And you are looking the people in the eyes and telling them sorry, I can’t pay you salaries because there is no money.

Is this not a gang up by the elite against the governor?

What will be the reason for the gang up? Why did we not gang up before to reject him? This is the question you should be asking and he should be asking himself.

It is easy enough to just play the victim and say there is a gang up

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

15

Abubakar has no blueprint for Bauchi – Tuggar

Tuggar

against you but you have to look at the reasons. He has to examine himself to see what he is doing that is wrong and he has to also bear in mind that 12 members of

the House of Representatives, three senators, minister and some of us who are stakeholders that actually help build this party in Bauchi State and Nigeria are coming from different walks of life and different constituencies.

It is not likely that all of us will simply wake up one day and decide that we want to gang up on the governor. And even before the visit we made to the national secretariat of the party, some of us, I wasn’t present, had actually invited him for a private meeting and had tried to appeal to him to change his ways, to be more conciliatory towards people in the state. There were certain actions he is taking that was alienating him from not just us that you referred to as elite, but also civil servants in the state that were not been paid their salaries, teachers, traditional rulers from ward the level up, all of a sudden he decided he was going to dethrone and scrap.

Mind you, it is not a good excuse to just say you are going to scrap because the state can no longer afford them because when you were campaigning and making promises, you should have known that you are not going to be able to do that. You should have done your home work. It is deceitful to lead people who voted for you because they were comfortable that you are going to leave their traditional ruler

but you turn around to say you are not paying salaries. Besides that, he unilaterally sits down and decides that he is going to appoint local government caretaker chairmen. In fact, as a litmus test, this was one of the requests of those who sat down with him, including the speaker of the House of Representatives and some of the senators. They tabled that and he gave them, once against his word that he was not going to swear them in and he walked out of that place and the next morning, they were sworn in; people who were chosen without any consultation with key stakeholders in the state.

I don’t know if he consulted some people but I am sure that the state House of Assembly member from my constituency was not consulted. I know that the House of Representatives member from the constituency was not consulted. I know that the senator from my district was not consulted. So, tell me, who he sat down with to come up with this decision, especially when he was standing on very weak grounds. He was not even a part of this party, he just came in at the last minute, so he is not somebody that had familiarized himself with the people, with those who have been toiling and suffering under the yoke of the same PDP that he was part of.

‘FG lacks power to investigate states’ accounts’ C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

There must be something that creates a nexus of relationship between us and others. It is time we begin to look at these things critically. A Federal Government that will come in and appoint 49 security chiefs in the country and 46 are from the North and only there from the whole of the South is not a government that we want to relate with. That is why the restructuring of Nigeria is long overdue.

The Nigeria Federation has gotten to a point we need to overhaul it. Section 104(1) of the 1963 Republican Constitution of Nigeria made provision for 50 per cent derivation for every region producing a particular resource be it oil mineral or solid mineral but today it is 13 per cent and even that is still being struggled with. The military incursion destroyed the foundation of the understanding our founding fathers had. Today what we have is a government too desirous to favour one section of the country against the other. The question is not whether Nigeria needs restructuring but when do we start the restructuring.

Former Chief of Army Staff, General Theophilus Danjuma in a recent interview called for administrators to take over governance in the Niger Delta since elected governors cannot guarantee security of facilities in the region. What is your take on that?

He can afford to say so because he owns virtually all the oil wells in the region even though there is none in his backyard. He owns more than 20 per cent of the vessels in the South-South

and does not pay tax to any of the states.

He wants military administrators that will come and protect his investments.

He once openly acknowledged being very rich but he is not rich from the salaries he earned as a soldier. He should tell Nigerians how much he made from his entitlements throughout his sojourn in the military and when and how the fortune smiled on him.

In Nigeria we hardly ask questions.

As a military officer, the General has accumulated oil wells to himself long before he retired. So, he can afford to say what he said to protect his investments but that will never happen but rather he will someday answer questions on his contribution to the degradation of the resources and environment in the Niger Delta region.

Activities of the militants have adversely affected the country’s economy and equally debased the ecosystem. Do you think the demands of the militants are justified?

Are their actions justified? We will be deceiving ourselves if we don’t tell ourselves the truth. If you take a tour of Nigeria and for instance visit Abuja and see the amount of money spent on its development and further visit the northern part of the country and see the good facilities there and then realize that these monies were taken from the South-South and then take a cursory look at the developmental states of the South-South, if you have conscience, you will know that their struggle is not in vain and that somebody needs to address their grievances. They are fighting a course that anyone will find difficult to

convince even God that they are wrong.

The level of degradation in the region is alarming. Look at the proposed clean up of Ogoni land, we are setting up committees, board of trustees and others as sub heads to enrich some people. What do you need such bodies for to clean up a degraded environment? Do you need these bodies for the sole purpose of bringing in experts to clean up environment and restore it?.

Look at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) today, how many southerners hold key positions where the entire issues concerning oil and gas in the country is controlled. A particularly section of the country controls the NNPC, Navy, Army, Air Force, Prisons, Customs and Immigration, among others. Tell me where the SouthSouth man has a say in the Nigerian federation. So, militants are not mad people or demons, they were propelled by the pathetic state of cheating in the country.

The unbearable attitude of the Federal Government forced them to say that they must be heard. The South-South went to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s arranged Constitutional Conference, made a proposal for increase of derivation from 13 to 25 per cent, but our northern brothers vehemently opposed it. They came to the conference fully prepared to ensure that not even one per cent would be added to the 13 per cent.

This is the 13 per cent percent in operation since 1999 till date but they ensured the proposal died a natural death. So, if the north does not want to hear the voice of the South-South, the youth say they must be heard.

Are you justifying calls for self determination by some sections of the country?

They are justified over and over again. The Eastern Region or what you called South-East today, what is their status in Nigeria? To what extent is their interest secured in terms appointments, infrastructure and other developmental efforts? Can we truly say that since after the civil war, the south eastern states have been reintegrated into Nigeria? It may not necessary mean that they must have an independent country but they are seeking to be heard and for the Nigerian federation to treat them better than they are being treated now. They are seeking the fact that there is need to go back to the drawing board because this is not the understanding that brought them into the Nigerian federation as a component unit.

Efforts of the five federating states of the South-East at ensuring one Nigeria, what do they have to show for it?

As at 1960, when late Nnamdi Azikiwe brought them into the union, was this the understanding? Is this what Azikiwe signed for? If you want to know the terms that brought the South-East into the Nigerian federation, then go to the 1960 and 1963 constitutions and compare it with what is happening today. Of course, all their agitating groups have a reason to protest because the Nigerian federation have skewed and completely defrauded them of their entitlements.

Since fraud has been committed against the people, they have no other means of letting their frustration known but opted for agitations.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

16

Opinion Justice Abang and the law Turning Point MIKE ARAYUWA WILKIE pmikky1950@yahoo.com 0802-3097-251 (sms only)

J

ustice Okon Effreti Abang is an erudite legal scholar, who is currently a Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja. He was born on January 10, 1961 at OduoEbughu in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Justice Abang was involved in private legal practice with effect from September 1989 until he was appointed as a Federal High Court Judge on June 22, 2009. From the brief profile of the Judge, it is certain that he is still a young man with high hopes in the legal profession.

On June 27, 2016, Justice Abang sacked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State on the ground that he was convinced that the Governor forged his tax certificates. He further ordered that the plaintiff, Samson Ogah, also a member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) should be given a Certificate of Return

by INEC and be sworn-in immediately as Governor of Abia State.

Fortunately for the Governor, an Osisioma State High Court in Abia gave a counter-ruling, in which it said that Ikpeazu remains as the Governor of Abia State. On another date, Justice Abang reinstated the fact that his order of the sack of Okezie Ikpeazu as Governor remained intact. These inconsistent and contradictory orders of court became so pronounced to the extent that the law became a laughing stock in the eyes of Nigerians and perhaps, the comity of Nations.

Governor Ikpeazu’s only option was to file a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, in the interest of fairness and justice.

On Thursday, August 18, 2016, the Appeal Court affirmed Okezie Ikpeazu as Governor of Abia State. Justice Morenikeji Ogunwumiji led four other Justices of the Appeal Court to unanimously set aside the June 27 verdict of Justice Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja. The other Justices were Abubakar Yahaya, Philomena Ekpe, Ibrahim Bdliya and Saidu Hussaini.

The Appeal Court also knocked Justice Abang on his head, when it said that the Judge “stood the law on its head,” as well as adopted a “hostile proceeding” against Okezie Ikpeazu and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). The Appeal Court also noted that “the allegation of forgery and tax evasion leveled against Ikpeazu by Samson Ogah were very contentious,” saying that Justice Abang was wrong to have determined the case on the basis of an originating process instead of writ of summons.

According to Justice Morenikeji Ogunwumiju, Justice Abang, “spoke from both sides of his mouth” in view of the fact that the case before him bothered on Ikpeazu’s submission of forged tax certificate, and in another breath, insisted that he was invited to try a forgery case. Justice Ogunwumiju who delivered the lead judgment further said, “if the learned Judge (Justice Abang) cannot understand how Civil Servants present their tax clearance certificates, it does not mean that they were forged”.

From the totality of the judgment of the Appeal Court, it was clear that Justice Abang was seriously indicted due to his inability to have a firm grip of the law. It is my contention that Justice Abang may be issued with a query, by the National Judicial Council (NJC) to explain

Abang was seriously indicted due to his inability to have a firm grip of the law

the circumstances that led to his verdict. By this judgment, the Osisioma State High Court which gave verdict in favour of the Governor, is vindicated.

In another vein, the same Justice Okon Effreti Abang, suspended the scheduled National Convention of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) slated for August 17, 2016 in Port Harcourt. However, Justice Ibrahim Watila, of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, gave the green light for the convention to hold. He also ordered that the police, DSS and INEC should participate in the convention.

On August 9, 2016, Senator Ben Obi, Secretary of the PDP’s convention planning committee had approached the Justice Watila Federal High Court to secure an order.

It was intended to make the court direct the police and the Department of State Services to provide security for the convention, while INEC should monitor the exercise. The prayers sought by Senator Obi were granted

by Justice Watila. From the manner these security operative acted in invading the convention arena, it would appear to me that the Justice Abang Federal High Court is superior or perhaps an Appeal Court, when compared with the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.

My opinion is based on the fact that the security operatives dumped the order of court as pronounced by Justice Watila in Port Harcourt, while that of Justice Abang was obeyed and executed. It would further appear to me that there were other powerful forces behind Justice Abang, which ensured that his court orders were implemented. On this note, it is only proper to advise Justice Abang to be less controversial and be upright with the cases, which he handles. He should also endeavour to ensure that the due process of the law is not somersaulted for any reason.

Arthur Eze’s philanthropic ministry Odimegwu Onwumere

O

il tycoon, Prince Arthur Eze who embodies so many qualities of what a Prince represents – he is strapping, independent, a father, politician, philanthropist, dynamic and Chairman of Atlas Oranto Petroleum – was recently spotted at a wedding ceremony stoning a couple with bunches of money; showing what he knows how best to do – giving. There is a saying that philanthropy is a ministry and not a geographical term. Philanthropy flows from Prince Eze’s loving heart, not actually from his rich bank accounts and business empires. His gesture has since gone corkscrew on the internet, with bloggers making a gallery of pictures taken at the event, perhaps, to attract traffic to their blogs.

Prince Eze’s act is in appraisal with a statement by Mahatma Gandhi, suggesting that the simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer. Nevertheless, Prince Eze is not your everyday noisemaker, but he says his mind where necessary without fear or favour and donates unpredictably to both the rich and indigent without singing his praise, without deafening anybody’s ear for

cheap publicity. In the words of sages: A charitable man is like an apple tree – he gives his fruit and is silent; the philanthropist is like the hen. This epitomizes the attributes of Prince Arthur Eze. It was revealed that the word philanthropy is in connection with the Greek Language meaning ‘love for mankind.’ Prince Eze is one man who has decided to walk in the light of love, for mankind, for many to see him in the court of openness, than in the court of destructive selfishness. Many opulent Nigerians are found in the later; they are squirrels, magpies, stashers. They hardly give out! But Prince Eze has been carving his name on hearts, while others do on tombstones.

Prince Eze is living a legacy into the minds of many and the stories they share about him are immeasurable. The billionaire businessman that owns several producing and non-producing oil and gas assets across Nigeria, Liberia, Equatorial Guinea and the Gambia, is known for giving, for easing another’s heartache. In the recent past, a rating by Forbes suggested that Prince Eze donated $6.3 million (N1 billion) to flood relief efforts in Nigeria, apart from the donations he made to universities. The world believes that the most valued and consecrated moments of Prince Eze’s lives are

those filled with the spirit of giving.

One Joseph B. Wirthlin as if talking to Prince Eze, said that the greater the measure of our love, the greater is our joy. In the end, the development of such love is the true measure of success in life.

Just this June, Prince Eze put a smile on the lips of members of the Association of People Living with Sickle Cell Dis­order (APLSCD), by donating the sum of N5 million lifeline for a Sickle cell stan­dard clinic at Ukpo, Dunukofia Council Area of Anambra State, with expectation that the clinic would be commis­sioned on the World Sickle Cell Day by June 18, 2016. Prine Eze had also donated 1.8 billion naira ($12 million) to a Nigerian Church charity, St. Stephen’s Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Centre, for youth development.

The dude made the donation in Lagos at the church’s fund raising chaired by the then President Goodluck Jonathan, whose hometown church was the recipient of the funds.

Prince Eze has a heart reaching down and lifting people up. In July 2014, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, accompanied by his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke and the then National Chairman of APGA, Sir Victor Umeh, paid Prince Eze a courtesy call at his splendid home of Ukpo in Dunukofia Kingdom of Anambra State.

In that courtesy call, Prince Eze donated the sum of $1m for the programme in the state to crackdown on criminals. He also assured the sum of one billion naira to sustain the governor’s agricultural programme.

Hence, it can be regarded as mumbojumbo for some leaders of Abagana community under the aegis of Abagana Welfare Union (AWU) to petition the IGP, Ibrahim Idris, on August 9, 2016 and signed by Mr. Emma Ifeadike, accusing Prince Eze of engaging in acts of terrorism and asked the police boss to arraign him. This is said because a man like Prince Eze with such a heart of giving may not engage in petty and unscrupulous activity as terrorism.

Making the donation in his palatial home of Ukpo in Dunukofia Kingdom of Anambra State, when Governor Obiano, paid him a courtesy call, Prince Eze who is a famous philanthropist and a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, explained that the gesture was intended to encourage Governor Obiano’s efforts to make Anambra State a livable and business-friendly environment for all.

Apart from making donations in monetary aspect, Prince Eze donates his time for peace against party line.

• Onwumere (odimegwu@journalist.com) wrote in from Port Harcourt.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

17

EDITORIAL

Our VISION To build a newspaper organisation anchored on the sanctity of truth.

Sanctity of Truth

Our MISSION To publish a newspaper of superior value, upholding the fundamental ethics of journalism: balanced reporting, fairness, accuracy and objectivity.

S

Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Enhancing quality justice

ecurity challenge in the country has affected partially every facet of the nation’s socio-economic and political development.

First hit was the economy even as other factors were not isolated especially as security of inmates in the prisons has had a taste following incessant jailbreaks being recorded across the nation.

Security in the country has become a fundamental headache not only to the government but the governed. This is already having a toll on prison management as according to the 2014 Prison statistic, the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) has so far managed no fewer than 240 prison facilities, ranging from maximum security prisons, medium term security prisons, satellite prisons, other institutions for the juvenile, farm centres, open prison camps and female prisons.

Some of them had, in recent years, witnessed an unofficial or illegal release of inmates from custody.

This has led to no fewer than 20 cases of jail breaks being recorded in the country. While some can be attributed to negligence on the part of security agents, others may be due to conspiracy, security deficit in prisons, inadequate personnel, and lack of modern security gadgets.

Besides, judiciary and qual-

ity of the nation’s justice system have been fingered as factors responsible for frequent jailbreaks especially if the words of an Assistant Controller of Prisons, Othman Musa are anything to go by.

Musa had in a recent interview said frequent adjournment of court cases, congestion and dilapidated facilities are responsible for the rising wave of jailbreaks in the country.

He said: “Most of our facilities are virtually as old as Nigeria because most of them are over 100 years old and the same structure, housing large number of

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

Funke Egbemode

Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor, Publication & Operations n Emeka Obasi

Managing Editor, South n Emeka Madunagu Managing Editor, North & Abuja n Laurence Ani (Leave of Absence) Editor n Ayodele Ojo Editor, Sunday n Juliet Bumah Editor, Saturday n Waheed Bakare Deputy Editor, Group Head, Newsroom n Geoffrey Ekenna

Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed Sales/Circulation Manager n Oyebanji Abiodun Head, Arts & Creative n Ugochukwu Nnakwe Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

the jailbreaks saga.

It is obvious that the expectation of the public is yet to be met by the judiciary with regard to the removal of delay and the toleration of delay tactics by lawyers. When cases are not concluded, the negative impression is given that crime pays and jailbreaks abound.

This is why we are worried and concerned about this observation coming as it were from a Controller of Prisons

Access to justice in any society is critical and fundamental

inmates.

“These are buildings constructed during the colonial period and they house as many as 40 inmates, more the thrice its capacity. So, you find out that at any given time, there is congestion which is not unconnected with frequent adjournment of court cases.

“We have more awaiting trials than the convicted inmates.

So, where you are supposed to have 10 people in a room and 20 or 25 people are crowded in, there must be problem.”

Musa’s view however is an eyesore, bringing us to the role being played by the judiciary in

DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED

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

and reflecting a subject matter of general concern.

There are questions begging for answers if the incessant

jailbreaks must be addressed.

First, we need to address the quality of the nation’s justice system and its attendant implications on prison congestion and jailbreaks. How many Nigerians have access to justice?

What is access to justice?

Access to justice in any society is critical and fundamental. Indeed it is not only the most basic requirement of any system of justice or the most basic human rights of any system that purports to guarantee legal rights but also the hallmark of any sane and civilized society.

One of the nation’s revered

lawyers and Senior Advocate, Chief Wole Olanipekun at a public lecture organized by the Nigerian Law Reform Commission in 2009 stressed the importance of justice this way: “To the average Nigerian, especially a lay man, justice is probably the most expensive intangible commodity today.

As the global economic meltdown takes its toll on Nigeria and the process of adjudicating justice becomes increasingly strenuous and winding, there appears to be a concomitant decline in the hope of a common man having access to justice within a reasonable time.

Therefore, we need to address barriers to both quantity and quality of justice; strengthen the capacity of our justice delivery system including address issues of welfare packages and conditions in which justice is delivered in our country; enhance physical access to justice including guaranteeing the luxury of justice to citizens through provision of legal aid to the citizens; support the enforcement of remedies and ensure that such remedies are adequate and commensurate with the nature of the offence.

These and more need to be done very quickly to guarantee access to justice and forestall jailbreaks: where necessary, reforms must be undertaken.

18

THURSDAY, September 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Insight

A school structure in Benue State.

Ogbe Secondary School, Benin

Teaching, learning in a dangerous environment Dilapidated school structures, lack of instructional materials, poor learning environment, among other challenges, make acquisition of knowledge a herculean task for Nigerian children, writes KAYODE OLANREWAJU

E

very Nigerian child, irrespective of socioeconomic status, aspires to acquire functional education in a more congenial environment. But the aspiration is constantly threatened.

To many of them, the dream has become a forlorn hope as their education is destined to fail, owing to lack of basic facilities and key components that make the teaching and learning process effective.

These are not good times for most children who are daily facing the difficulty of acquiring quality and functional education, especially resulting from the myriad of challenges bedevilling the primary and secondary school sub-sector.

Palpable neglect, shortage of facilities, dilapidated and poor school infrastructure, leading to cracked buildings, leaking roofs, broken windows, cracked classroom walls, decayed teachinglearning environment, dearth

of functional libraries, lack of laboratories for science subjects, shortage of quality teachers and obsolete instructional materials owing to lack of political will on the part of the Federal and respective state governments to address the educational needs of Nigerian children through provision of enabling environment that will nurture functional education, are the major crises hindering the development of education in the country.

Today, in many primary and secondary schools across the country, it is not strange seeing pupils learning under trees and sheds. Worst still, many others sit on pockmarked floors owing to apparent lack of school furniture, shortage of classroom facili-

There is the need for a modified education policy

ties and dilapidated structures as a result of long neglect.

This, to a large extent, has resulted to the sharp decline in the performance of students in internal and external examinations, which is traceable to drop in the quality of teaching and learning process. Stakeholders have always blamed this deplorable state of schools on the failure of the government at all levels to set aside 26 per cent of the nation’s annual fiscal budget on education as benchmarked by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The sector is grossly underfunded such that education in many states of the federation receives about five per cent of the

Students in a session under a tree at Senior Girls Secondary School, Agege, Lagos.

budgetary allocation, which is a far cry from the UNESCO stipulation.

Worried by the development, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Michael Alogba-Olukoya, lamented that all efforts by the union over the years to canvass increased budgetary allocation to education had failed to yield any fruitful result due to the insensitivity of government at all levels to invest in the children through education.

Alogba-Olukoya, who said learning environment in school contributes significantly as morale booster to pupils and teachers, as well as the teachinglearning process, bemoaned the poor level of facilities in schools, which he blamed on inadequate funding and lack of the political will on the Federal and state government to fund the sector.

“There is the need for a modified education policy in which parents and old students should be encouraged to contribute to education through tax to fund the schools,” the union leader added.

He called for a yearly education summit, which according to him, will serve as a platform for key stakeholders and other major players to come together to reassess and review the state of the sector, especially primary and secondary school levels, which has continued to suffer neglect over the years.

The NUT president, however, added that the current state of economy of the country might pose another hindrance in the government’s plan to adequately fund the sector.

Given the above situations,

INSIGHT

THURSDAY, September 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Two blocks of classrooms at LEA Primary School, Muri Road in Kaduna

Ihenworie Secondary School, Ahiara, Imo State.

most of Nigerian children have one sad tale or the other to tell and are apparently disgusted for learning under the most horrible environment and condition.

While narrating their predicament, Kikelomo Abogunje, a Senior Secondary School (SSS) student of Senior Girls’ High School, Agege, Lagos, decried the deplorable state of the school, which she attributed to age-long neglect by the Lagos State government.

She said: “Going to school here is a harrowing experience. Imagine this place called a school, where we are learning under trees and sheds due to shortage of classrooms and chairs to seat.

Many students are packed into the big hall, where we have 10 classes without any partition or demarcation. Some people sit on the ground outside to receive lessons.

“The government is being unfair to us. While some of our peers in other schools are learning under a conducive environment, we are subjected to this kind of hardship all in the name of coming to school to acquire knowledge.”

However, Abogunje’s plight represents the predicament of the over 3,000 students and 54 teachers in the school, who groan on a daily basis about the level of rot in the school.

“Whenever there is rain, some of our classrooms would be flooded, thereby forcing us to be moved to other classes, and making the environment unbearable and uninteresting. Lagos State government should help us, we are tired of learning under trees and in congested classrooms, where

Going to school here is a harrowing experience

teaching-learning is nothing but hell,” some of the students said.

When New Telegraph visited the school, the level of infrastructure breakdown in the school was an eye-sore as a class was holding under trees, while some classes are under sheds, and 10 classrooms were cramped into a big hall without demarcation.

“How could effective learning take place in such a noisy environment, akin to a market place, and as you can see how the students are howling, eating or walking about, while some classes were ongoing,” a teacher, who pleaded anonymity, said.

In this instance, Lagos State schools are not only in this theatre of absurdity as almost all public primary and secondary schools across all states of the federation are worst hit by the challenge of poor school environment.

The 2013 Education For All (EFA) Global Monitoring report, facilitated by the UNESCO, painted a gloomy picture of the nation’s primary and secondary schools. The report, which condemned the inclement condition of the education in Nigeria, says over 10.5 million children are out of school. No wonder that the country failed to meet the 2015 target of the EFA goals, which it became a signatory to about 16 years ago. Also, over 200,000 teachers were required for Nigeria to meet the 2015 target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Still, the report says the country will require about 212,000 primary school teachers, representing 13 per cent of the global total

between 2011 and 2015 to shore up the astounding pupil-teacher ratio, but which the country is yet to meet.

Apart from inadequate teachers’ training and re-retraining, the report notes that one of the biggest constraints of the country towards achieving the MDG 2, as well as the critical massive increase in enrolment and guaranteed quality education for the children, is the failure to deal with the huge gap in professional, well-supported teachers’ programmes.

Despite this gloomy picture, it is, however, lamentable that various developmental plans and agenda initiated by the government for the nation’s education sector are still bogged down by numerous challenges which stakeholders feel should have been addressed. Most affected in this are the primary, basic and secondary education, the supposed foundation of the children’s education, where the states’ inability to access the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) counterpart intervention funds has remained a serious challenge and constraints for the delivery of quality basic education for all.

Over the years, many states, reports have shown, are yet to access the UBEC funds because of failure to pay their counterpart funds, as part of guidelines to access the funds.

At the last count, about 32 states are yet to access over N56 billion matching grants from UBEC in the last eight years which is meant to cater for the primary and secondary school needs of the states. The money is lying fallow with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

While it is believed that government alone could not meet the needs of all the children, there is the need for the Public Private Partnership (PPP) intervention, which should be encouraged at all levels of the nation’s development.

To reposition the system, efforts should be made to revitalise the Community Accountability and Transparency Initiative to enable the people to monitor and demand accountability of expenditure in the education sector.

On efforts of the Lagos State government in the sector, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Olabisi Ariyo, said government was in constant touch with the Senior Girls High School, Agege, with a view to completing the two-storey 18-classroom building under construction and other schools in similar conditions so that adequate classroom spaces would be provided to enhance qualitative education.

She said: “Government is embarking on massive infrastructural development of the public schools in the state, and the case of Senior Girls High School, Agege, is not an exception.”

Ariyo added that efforts were being intensified towards the provision of libraries, laboratories, computer laboratories and classrooms in all the schools so that none of the children would be denied the required facilities and instructional materials to aid their learning.

She said: “It is the policy of the Lagos State government to

19

provide qualitative education in a more congenial environment and make teaching and learning effective in all the state public schools through massive provision of facilities and laboratory equipment.”

The students, while bemoaning their predicament, however, blamed government for its failure to tackle the challenges of shortage of classrooms, dearth of facilities, lack of library and laboratory facing their school, as well as the problem of erosion because of the topography of the area.

According to them, while most of their colleagues in other schools are learning under a conducive and enabling environment they are subjected to the worst learning environment.

They, therefore, appealed to Governor Akinwumi Ambode to have compassion on them by making the school environment more child-friendly.

“Coming to school every day has become uninteresting. We want Governor Ambode to come to our rescue because we are learning under harsh and terrible condition which in the first instance should not have happened in a state such as Lagos,” the students lamented.

According to them, meaningful learning can only take place in an ideal and conducive environment.

Meanwhile, it is the same story of woes in Imo State, which is famous for its orchestrated free education programme, where school structures in most of the primary and secondary schools are dilapidated.

Specifically, the construction of one-storey classroom block promised by Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration across the 305 wards in the 27 local government areas of the state, has not addressed the shortage of classrooms since the project is still begging for attention in many areas.

While the projects are yet to be completed across the state, the existing decayed school structures are neither rehabilitated nor given a facelift.

For instance, at Orji Primary School in Owerri North Local Government Area, where prior to the rain season, a wall of the new structure had collapsed, the roof that was blown off had not been repaired, thus posing a grave danger to pupils and teachers.

Similar challenge is also bedevilling Ihenweorie Secondary School, Ahiara, in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, which is in a shocking state of disrepair, due to its utter neglect by successive administrations in the state.

In fact, attending classes for the students poses a great risk as a result of the collapsed walls.

Community leaders have continued to express concern over the decayed structures.

A community leader, Prophet Godfrey Gbujie, called on government, corporate bodies and spirited individuals to urgently intervene by rehabilitating the secondary school in order to provide congenial learning environment.

Out of the 13 buildings constructed in the school, which was founded in 1978 by Oguama, CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

20

INSIGHT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

Akabor, and Obodo Ujuchi autonomous communities, only two buildings are fairly manageable for students’ use.

“The dilapidation is beyond the capacity of rural communities and requires government’s attention. This school has more than 550 students without classrooms, laboratories and examination halls even for those sitting for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE),” Gbujie said.

Also, in Benue State, public primary and secondary school structures are in a sorry state owing to the dilapidation, as a result of the insensitive posture of successive administrations to boost education at that level.

This is traced to lack of adequate budgetary allocation to the sector, which has led to illmotivated personnel, poor remuneration and in-conducive environment for teaching and learning.

However, the schools were said to have received relative attention during the eight years of Governor Gabriel Suswam’s administration, through massive provision of furniture and upgrading of infrastructure, as well as implementation of 27.5 per cent salary increment for the teachers, regardless of payment of the new minimum wage.

Despite the government’s deliberate policy aimed at enhancing and improving primary and secondary schools in the state, the schools are still beset with dilapidated infrastructure and poor learning facilities.

At the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Primary School, Ahume in Gwer-West Local Government Area, it is a story of woes. Like some of its contemporaries which are begging for government’s attention, the conditions of the schools are so precarious that the students are still learning under makeshift structures, under trees and pockmarked floors.

Reacting to the level of degeneration of LGEA Primary School, a parent, Tarfa Yongo, told New Telegraph that the management had repeatedly assured them of plans to build more structures in the school, but to no avail.

This development, an official of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) told New Telegraph, could be attributed to

A newly renovated school in Edo State.

THURSDAY, September 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Learning with tears insufficient funds at the disposal of the board, which supervises over 2,350 primary schools under its purview.

But, miffed by the sorry state of the schools, Governor Samuel Ortom, on assumption of office last year, kicked off the state public school enrolment campaign tagged: “Our Schools Shall Rise Again,” to boost quality of education and combat low enrolment and poor school structures in the schools.

The initiative, according to SUBEB, will further tackle the sharp drop of about 500,000 in school enrolment since fighting broke out between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in 2012 in six local government areas of Makurdi, Guma, Agatu, Gwer West, Gwer East and Kwande, with Guma having the highest number of out-of-school children.

The SUBEB Chairman, Dr. Philip Tachin, told New Telegraph that already, Ortom had approved the release of N3.8 billion as counterpart fund to UBEC to access the state funds to improve the schools. The project is expected to gulp N7.6 billion, under which over 700 contracts had been awarded for the provision of structures and facilities in the primary schools.

Meanwhile, despite the 2,000 and 4,000 classrooms said to have been renovated and constructed in the secondary and primary schools in Edo State by the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led administration, the story of most public primary and secondary school is that of a failed system when New Telegraph visited some schools.

For instance, the deplorable state of Ogbe Secondary School, located behind the Palace of the Oba of Benin, depicts a school begging for urgent attention due to its state of dilapidation, decayed structures, shortage of furniture and essential instructional materials.

But the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Gideon Obakhan, said efforts were on to rehabilitate the dilapidated school structures.

“Rehabilitation of schools is an ongoing project and government will continue to invest in it as a matter of priority,” he said.

The story of most public primary and secondary school is that of a failed system

In Kaduna State, however, Governor Nasir el-Rufai was said to have inherited 4,225 public primary schools in poor conditions, with classrooms without windows and doors as well as lack of toilet facilities. No doubt, it will take deliberate efforts on the part of government to fix the system.

Investigations by the New Telegraph further indicated that over two thirds of the pupils in public primary and secondary schools in the state are sitting on the floor to receive lessons, owing to lack of benches and desks.

The challenges of classroom congestion in which some schools have about 200 pupils in a classroom meant to accommodate only 40 pupils, is one of the challenges of education development in the state.

The LEA Primary School, Muri Road in Kaduna metropolis is an eye-sore going by its state of dereliction.

Apart from the fact that there were no windows and doors in most of the classrooms, there is the problem of inadequate furniture as pupils sit on the floor in some classes to receive lectures.

Piqued by the challenges in the state education sector and the urgent need to address these shortcomings, especially that of low enrolment, one critical step taken by el-Rufai’s administration was the launch of the school feeding programme, as part of efforts to salvage the sector. It is expected to cost the state more than N1 billion monthly.

The aim, among other things, is to increase enrolment in school and ease the parents’ financial burden of feeding their children.

Specifically, the initiative, according to the government, has increased enrolment in primary school from 1.2 million to 1.8 million in the last 10 months that the free meal was introduced.

Apart from the crisis of leaking roofs, which make LEA Primary School, Muri Road, a no go area during rainy season, as most of the classrooms are flooded, the school premises is usually converted to a mini-stadium by youths, who used the playground for training sessions.

When New Telegraph visited the school one night, the com-

LGEA Primary School, Newo, Plateau State.

pound was being used as a hideout for miscreants and hoodlums smoking Indian hemp and engaging in other sundry delinquent activities.

Worse still is the case of the 34-year-old LGEA Primary School, Newo in Foron District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, where the pupils are unhappy going to school, following the level of dilapidation and collapsed school structures that have become a major concern for the community.

Lamenting the deplorable condition of the school, the Village Head, Da James Dung, during a chat with New Telegraph, expressed displeasure over what he described as “pathetic and sorry state of our school”.

The development, Dung said, has continued to affect the pupils’ academic activities adversely.

He said: “The only block of six classrooms in the school has almost collapsed, forcing the management, teachers and pupils to desert the school whenever it rains.”

New Telegraph, however, learnt that despite various representations to Barkin Ladi Local Government and SUBEB to draw attention to the pitiable school structures, nothing had been done about the collapsed school buildings.

According to the Head-Teacher of the oldest primary school in the state, which has over 600 enrolment, Mr. Job Davou, several letters with photographs of the school buildings had been sent to the council and board, without any concrete effort to savage the school.

But, the Commissioner for Primary and Secondary School Education, Mr. Joseph Maigari, while reacting to the deplorable state of the schools, told New Telegraph in Jos that government was not leaving any stone unturned to ensure conducive learning environment for pupils and students of public schools across the seven local government areas of the state.

•Additional reports from Steve Uzoechi, Cephas Iorhemen, Cajetan Mmuta, Ibraheem Musa and Musa Pam

19 21

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthEastFocus South South Focus Overtaken by evil spirits

23 News A helping hand for the needy

24

Nwigwe inspecting destruction on her farm

A looming bloody clash Unless urgent measures are taken, the people of Mgbom Ugwulangwu Autonomous Community in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Ishiagu Community, Ivo Local Government Area of the state and herdsmen may be heading for bloody clash.

That is following the destruction of over 70 hectares of their farm crops by cattle.

UCHENNA INYA, in Abakaliki, reports

T

he people of Mgbo Ugulangwu woke up early morning of last Friday to see their cassava crops completely eaten up by cattle. The people are predominantly farmers. Not only that their crops were destroyed by cattle, some of their household property were smashed by cows trying to pass through their surroundings to various routes in the area.

The destruction, which occurred at about 4:am brought anger, sorrow and untold hardship to the people with their resolution to avenge for the invasion.

The people said they have been pushed to the walls by the herdsmen, who they said have continued to rape their women, attack them and destroy their crops.

Speaking to New Telegraph

Our women no longer go to farm for fear of being raped or attacked

over the situation, the village chairman, Chief Eze Joseph, called on the state government to urgently intervene in the looming clash between the community and the herders.

“I am afraid that any moment from now, we may witness unpleasant things with the way cattle are destroying our farmlands. The people are very angry over this and I have been calming them down but they have ran out of patience and said they are ready for showdown with the herdsmen.

They have refused to listen to me and I am afraid there may be serious crisis in this area the way our crops were eaten up with some destroyed by cattle.

“Look at the way our crops were destroyed and you expect the people to continue to listen to our government to remain calm? How long will they continue to do this when their means of livelihood have been destroyed? We are predominantly farmers and our lives depend on farming. You can

GEOFFREY EKENNA COORDINATOR

goeekenna@yahoo.co.uk 08068774740

see the quantity of destruction, about 30 farmlands have been destroyed and all the people whose farms were destroyed are crying.

“The worst part is that these herdsmen are usually armed with rifle and cutlasses each time they move around this area. They are armed to teeth as if they know the people will confront them because of their nefarious activities. Our women no longer go to farm for fear of being raped or attacked’’, he said.

A mother of seven, whose farm was among those destroyed, Josephine Nwigwe, who wept uncontrollably on seeing her crops destroyed, said she makes African salad from the cassava in her farm and use the proceeds to train her children but that now can no longer do that.

She explained that she borrowed money to cultivate the cassava with a promise to payback her creditor if the cassava matures for harvest.

Meanwhile, in Ishiagu community, Ivo Local Government Area of the state, no fewer than 5,000 women on Friday staged a peaceful protest against the destruction of farm crops by herdsmen to the palace of the traditional ruler of the community, Ezego Moses Ngele.

The women, mainly peasant elderly farmers, marched peacefully to the palace of the monarch. They demanded urgent action to end the alleged indiscriminate destruction of cash crops and other farm produce by herdsmen grazing their cattle in the area.

Chanting war songs and brandishing green leaves, the women urged the traditional ruler to prevail on the herdsmen to stop using their cattle to destroy their crops. The protesters also requested for immediate exit of the herdsmen from the community to save their farm lands and the people from imminent famine.

Spokesperson of the women , Mrs. Janet Aja, said that they were at the palace to register their grievance over the destruction of their crops by herdsmen who allow their cattle to feed on their cash crops and other farm produce in their farms.

She noted that all the crops including yam, cassava and rice, among others, have been destroyed prematurely by the rampaging herdsmen.

They expressed fears that the farmers might be left with nothing to harvest.

She said that farmers, especially the women in the community, were at present not able to go to their farms for fear of CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

20 22

NEWS|SOUTH-EAST

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nteje: Profiting on people’s pains Okegwo Kenechukwu ONITSHA

T

here is this Igbo adage that says, “Obodo adighi mma bu uru ndi nze” meaning that social crisis in every community is a blessings in disguise to the titled men, popularly called Ndi Nze .

This is exactly the situation at Nteje community in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, where the youths of the town have taken the advantage of the bad portion of the Onitsha/Enugu Expressway to be gainfully employed where they make millions of naira every day.

The Anambra State government, under former Governor Peter Obi, had initiated a 5kilometre road bypass from Nteje through Umunya community, but the road construction was abandoned half way at a dilapidated bridge built by the colonial masters in the 19th century.

When the express way became practically impossible for motorists to pass, they negotiated through the bypass. Following this development, the youths of Nteje quickly cashed in on the opportunity to repair the bridge through self help project and commercialized it the through collection of toll.

It was gathered that a community leader in the town, who sponsored the project has employed not less than 50 able bodied young men that work at the toll gate of the bridge.

When New Telegraph visited the area, young men were seen busy controlling vehicular movement while others were collecting the tolls on every vehicle ranging from N50 to N100. The area also became bustling as hawkers thronged the place to make brisk business.

It was also gathered from some of the workers that because there are no other alternative routes to Awka or Enugu through the Onitsha/Enugu expressway, they make between N700, 000 to N800, 000 on daily basis.

Meanwhile the Onitsha/Enugu expressway has completely been cut off as its takes about 4-6hours to travel from Onitsha to Enugu, which usually took an hour to travel.

I spent millions of naira, killed a lot of cows and made other rituals

A failed portion of the Onitsha-Enugu road

Following the dilapidated nature of the road, the cost of transport from Onitsha, Aba, Owerri to Enugu through the expressway now costs between N1, 500 on mass transit and N2, 000 on other commercial vehicle.

Some of the motorists interviewed told New Telegraph that they have no choice than to pay the toll, blaming the Federal Government and the representatives of the South East geopolitical zones in the National Assembly for not leaving up to expectation.

Mr. Kenneth Obiorah, a driver with Peace Mass Transit, expressed shock on the new development, warning that if the Federal Government failed to embark on the immediate repair of the Enugu/Onitsha expressway, the road would in no distant time degenerate to a state of no return.

According to him, the expressway had been completely abandoned and even the old road rehabilitated from Enugu to Amansea

by former Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime’s administration has also washed away while trailers and big lorries fell everyday on the road.

He appealed to the governors of the South East states, particularly the governor of Anambra State to embark on palliative measures on the road to, at least, make it accessible especially during the Christmas/New Year period.

Chigozie Ogboh Madubueze, aka (Nwambada Ogbuefi), who claimed he singlehandedly sponsored the repair of the bridge, said the project gulped millions of naira, even as some of the workers objected to his claim saying that only planks used in the bridge was paid for.

Mr. Chiagozie said that the Nengo River had some time ago swallowed a bulldozer used by the contractor handling the construction of the road project but because there must be some ritual sacrifice to appease the god of the river, the contractor abandoned the road project.

He said the only way to make the road project possible was ritual sacrifice and consultation with the people of Ifite Nteje, who are the custodian of the Nnego River deity.

“I am from Nteje and I singlehandedly initiated this project.

This place is owned by five villages in Nteje and over 200 youths are now gaining from the revenue we collect here”. I spent millions of naira, killed a lot of cows and made other rituals”.

“I also want to inform you that the money we collect here were also used to carry out repairs and keep the road motorable.

“The road is also the link road to Anambra State airport, Umueri in Anambra East Local Government Area under construction.

“The contractor of the airport had also abandoned their own link road because it was difficult for them to construct another bridge across the river and today we are reaping the benefits of the Nengo River and this will continue until the deity is settled.”

A looming bloody clash C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

The bridge at Nteje

being attacked by the herdsmen.

“The women are in your palace to inform you that our crops and farm lands are destroyed daily by cattle herders and that we no longer go to our farms for fear of being attacked, raped or killed.

“Our rice, yams, cassava and other crops in our farms have all been destroyed and eaten up by their cattle.

“We demand urgent action from you as the community father to end the indiscriminate destruction of crops and farm lands by these foreigners.

“We don’t want the killings and destruction we hear that happen in other communities between them and farmers to happen in

our own community.”

She said that the women would employ every peaceful means to ensure that the herdsmen stopped their nefarious acts in the community as well as ensure that they were evicted from the town.

“We hope that your Majesty will handle this situation by providing a lasting solution to the menace. Otherwise, the women of this community will protest naked at Government House in Abakaliki, ” she added.

Ngele, while commending the women for their peaceful disposition, said that the palace would collaborate with other stakeholders and security agencies in dealing with the problem.

He expressed regret over the destruction of economic crops and

assured the women that a permanent solution would be found.

“We sympathise with you over on the indiscriminate destruction of your farm lands but want to assure you that we will not relent in our efforts to find a last solution to the menace.

“It was good that you first registered your grievances with the palace and this shows the enormous respect you have for the institution and for me.

“We want to assure you that no stone will be left unturned in providing a lasting solution to the problem.” He further assured the women that governments at all levels were making concerted efforts to stem the security challenge and urged them to remain law-abiding and respect constituted authority.

21 23

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

SouthSouthFocus

What could have led an 18-year-old boy to murder a married woman of 27 and rape her corpse? That is the big question the Police in Delta State are trying to unravel. But the boy told the world that he fought a beast, not a human being as DOMINIC ADEWOLE reports from Asaba

W

hat language shall we use to explain this?

Strange, animalistic or demonic?

For the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Zanna M. Ibrahim, who paraded the suspect, alongside 41 others, including suspected kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists, impersonators and murderers, it is satanic.

According to CP, “We have read and heard about people, who for love of money abandoned the comfort of their families, wives and homes to sleep with mad women at ungodly hours. Some have gone to the extent of passing a night at the graveyard to acquire money at all cost, but this one is satanic.”

It was satanic to the CP, because, he could not comprehend the scenario, considering the age distance between the suspect and the victim, and how innocent looking the suspect was.

What was the matter?

An 18-year-old boy, one Chukwudi Ijeoma, killed a 27-yearold lady, one Blessing Ogamma, at Aboh in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, and thereafter, raped her lifeless body.

Little did the husband of victim, Felix Ogamma, know that his wife had been murdered. He went to the nearest police station to lodge complaint that his wife was missing.

Prior to the victim’s murder, she lived at Akala Street, Utagba Uno road at Kwale in NdokwaWest Council Area of the state.

Their neighbours joined forces with the local vigilante in the area to comb the bushes around the locality. Inquiries were also made to ascertain whether a hitand-run driver killed anyone along the road. No auto-crash was recorded along the route, involving the victim as well.

The story however changed on Wednesday, September 6, when the victim’s decomposing

Ijeoma (middle) being paraded by the Police

Overtaken by evil spirits body was found in a bush path, leading to farm yards of the indigene of the town.

The CP, who confirmed the murder and rape saga at the command headquarters on Saturday, September 10, in Asaba, while parading the suspect, said the victim went to Aboh town on Tuesday, September 5, to hawk plantain before her corpse was discovered at the bush end of Ogbeogonogo Street in the locality.

Troubled by the blood of the victim, the suspect said he confessed to his father how he strangled a lady along the bush path and thereafter had sexual intercourse with her.

Although, the suspect said his father was disturbed by the sad tale of the innocent blood, the suspect was however silent on the action taken by his sick father.

The suspect was later smoked out of his hideout by detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Homicide Section, in his Johnny’s Compound in Aboh.

“Sequel to the development,

I saw myself naked and the beast also turned to a naked woman

detectives commenced discreet investigation and on September 6, arrested the suspect, an 18-yearold boy, of Johnny’s Compound, Ogbeogonogo Street, Aboh in connection with the heinous crime”, the CP said.

He said the suspect has since confessed to the crime and attributed the killing and rape to some spiritual influence.

When the South-South Focus interrogated the suspect, he linked the act to an unknown metaphysical attack, citing some spiritual influences, which has been troubling him since when he was in Port-Harcourt, River State, with his parents.

He said he returned to Aboh, owing to the protracted ailment that befell his father after he had passed out of the Living Spring Secondary School in the Treasure base of the nation state.

According to him, it was a beast he fought and killed on the fateful day and not a human being.

He said he had complained on several occasions to his parents, his only sister and six other brothers, about his health challenges,

maintaining that, at times, he would find himself in a trance.

He would find himself in a battle with strange animals.

He said his parents did their best to cure him of the strange vision (possession) but to no avail.

He explained: “They took me to some pastors for spiritual cleansing but the problem remained.

In this case, I suddenly went into trance again. There, I saw myself fighting with a beast that was tormenting me. I did not use any dangerous weapon to defend myself. I fought with my hands. I merely hit the beast with my hand.

“Immediately, I did that, the beast fell down. I saw myself naked and the beast also turned to a naked woman. That was how it happened.

When I finished, my eyes opened and I realised what I have done.”

He said that it was the remorse he suffered after the crime was committed that prompted him to report the case to his father.

He pleaded for clemency, even as he appealed to any anointed man of God to come and deliver him from the bondage, “if I am still alive”, he said with regret.

22 24 NEWS|SOUTH-SOUTH

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Bishop Okpebholo praying for the three inmates before their release

A helping hand for the needy Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

F

or the growth of any society at whatever levels, the leadership must focus its attention on the people and their welfare. This is so because neither the family nor the community even at smaller units, comes to the fore without reference to the people as essential factor for meaning growth and development.

It explains more the reasoning that building the people means building a nation and the future of any nation depends strongly on how many the men and women have worked in preparedness for their future. That further reaffirms the enormous contributions made by past and present crop of leaders and stakeholders to fashion a viable path that would assist younger generation towards achieving greatness and realizing their dreams, ambitions as well as aspiration.

For Bishop Ray Okpebholo, life and living are not about dropping names, money and influence nor power. The Cleric through his foundation, a nongovernmental organization, Ray Okpebholo Foundation, last week doled out about N25million to over 500 indigent Edo students in various institutions of higher learning to assuage the pains and sufferings of their

parents as well as boost the education of youths in the state.

The largesse has been an annual ritual and scholarship award to some of the beneficiaries. This year’s programme was part of activities lined up for the 66th birthday of the Uromi born man of God and Bishop of the Church of God Mission Inc. Aside the students, some inmates of Ubiaja Prison had smiled home during the ceremony as they were asked to go and sin no more courtesy of the kind gestures of the philanthropist and businessman.

Okpebholo had facilitated the release three of the prisoners, who have been in detention camps of the service for failure to pay the fines imposed on them by the court for various offences they committed. The three inmates were released after their fines were paid by Okpebholo. The cleric said everything he has done was as a result of how God has instructed it to be done. In his sermon when he visited the inmates to offer prayers and hope to them in the prison, Okpebholo tasked them to remain hopeful even in the face of their predicament.

According to the bishop, “You are here with hope. The worst thing to a prisoner is to be hopeless. You have to know that God knows why you are here. It has come and it will pass. You will leave here for the palace.

Former President Olusegun

I will let them know that taking somebody’s property is not good

Obasanjo was in the prison but when he left, he went straight to Aso Rock. You need to encourage yourselves. No man can change your destiny. Don’t feel disappointed.”

The relief by the philanthropist had elicited joy for the beneficiaries, who sang praises and thanks to God for coming at the nick of time when all hopes were lost. One of the released inmates who identified herself as Mrs. Ivie and an indigene of Uromi, told New Telegraph that she was remanded in prison because she could not afford N20, 000 for her bail until the cleric came to her aid.

She said, “I fought with a woman and that was what brought me here. I have spent three weeks in this place. I am a native of Uromi.

I don’t have husband again. We are separated. My children are with my mother. I won’t fight again and I beg other women not to be carried away with mere provocation that could land them in prison. I feel happy for what the Bishop has done for me. I thank God for everything.”

Also, another beneficiary, Lucky Bright, said he was detained in the prison because of hunger.

“I went to steal motor bike. I am from Ekpoma. My family is very poor and there is nothing for us to keep life going. I will follow Bishop home and I am ready to do any work I see. And after then, I will go and let my people

to know that somebody of this nature helped me out of this my present situation.”

He promised: “I will let them know that taking somebody’s property is not good. I have been here for about nine months. My advice to would-be-robbers is that they should stay away from robbery because it doesn’t pay.

May God continue to bless the man of God.” A third inmate, Ogah Abraham, expressed happiness about his sudden release. “I am from Uzairue. I have been here for four months. I stole a bunch of wrapper with a valued cost of N60,000 and I was asked to bail myself with N200, 000. My advice to those who have the intention to steal is to forget the intention. I have suffered for these four months I have been kept in this prison. I have got some terrible experience too. My family is from Uzairue.”

He stated that “the Bishop has said he will give me work but l will go and see my family, then come back to resume the work.”

Okpebholo, during the visit, also donated coolers of rice, toiletries, soaps and others to the prisoners to support their upkeep. In his address earlier, the Assistant Controller of Prison, Ubiaja, ACP, Ariabure John, said the service has about 300 inmates in the prison.

He said: “We want to register our profound gratitude and appreciation to the good work you have been doing to the prison in Ubiaja.”

Ariabure noted that, “In realisation of the prison set goals and objectives of reform, you came to identify with us. Your concern towards the up-keep of these less privileged ones in the prison is indeed remarkable and unparallel.

God will reward you bountifully for it in Jesus name, (Amen.)”

Besides, there was also an award of N50,000 each to 500 final year indigent students from various universities and polytechnics in the state by the Ray Okpebholo Foundation. Each student was presented with a cheque as part of the cleric’s humanitarian gestures to mark his 66th birthday anniversary.

The donor said the bursary tagged “Nehemiah” was very dear to his heart and must be fulfilled.

According to him, “This project is very dear to me and I needed to fulfil it. Despite some financial setbacks, I kept believing God and he saw us through”, he stated.

During the event, indigent students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU) were found to be the highest recipients of the bursary award with over 200 students among the 500 awardees. One of the beneficiaries and a-500 level student of Animal Science Department, Christopher Adesuwa Jane, from University of Benin, commended Bishop Mathew Okhpebholo for the award. She explained that the money would serve for her project in school and promised to put it into good use.

Also, Blessing Onoje, a Student of Science Laboratory Technology (SLT), Federal Polytechnic Auchi, said he was moved by the Bishop’s rare gesture. He disclosed that the money would assist him in the pursuit of his education and church work.

25

THURSDAY, september 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Industry

Business

Tax holiday as elixir for revamping Nigeria’s economy

eWorld Refocusing efforts on data harmonisation

27 29

What's new ‘Nigeria loses $3.5bn yearly to non-patronage of ship chandlers’ p.26

Sustainable Devt Goals: Nigeria, others need $4.5tr yearly

An aerial view of Lagos Island.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE July 2016 ...............................17.1 % June 2016 ..............................16.5% May 2016...............................15.6%

p.26

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

EXCHANGE RATE

The industry is witnessing traction after initial lull

Kunle Azeez

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

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Taiwo Hassan

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

T

elecoms companies in Nigeria have regained 67 per cent of their lost 4.56 million phone lines on their various networks since October last year, New Telegraph’s investigation has revealed.

According to findings, as at October 2015, telecom companies, including the global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA) and fixed line networks, achieved their highest active subscriber base of 152.12 million.

Following this feat, the sanction on MTN to deactivate over five million unregistered subscribers and other industry factors adversely affected the figure, as overall mobile subscriptions started crashing month-on-month.

As at last April, the subscriptions had crashed to 147.56 million, representing a loss of about 4.56 million lines on various mobile networks.

However, latest report released by the telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for the month of July showed that telcos have recovered 3.04 million of the lost 4.56 million lines.

(Interbank as at August 26)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N423 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N564 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N470

l Foreign Reserves – $49.29bn as at 8/9/2016

REBOUND

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parallel Market as at August 26)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N306 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N408 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N345

Source: CBN

Telcos regain 67% of lost 4.56m lines The re-engaged subscribers, thus, represent 66.6 per cent of the total 4.56 million lost lines since October, last year.

Meanwhile, the total number of subscribers has increased rapidly over the past decade; at the end of 2005 there were 19,519,154 subscribers, but by the end of 2015, there were over 151 million, which is equivalent to an increase of 13.15 million every year, according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)’s second quarter report on telecommunications industry released recently.

However, growth has been declining more recently, possibly as a result of high market penetration, leaving less room for large expansion.

In June 2016, the end of the second quarter, there were 149,803,714 subscribers compared with 148.77 million in June 2015, which represents an increase of 0.69 per cent.

The yearly increase in total subscriber numbers has been decreasing steadily for the past year; in June 2015 the year-on-year increase was 12.05 per cent.

However, after falling between January and April 2016, the number of subscribers began to increase

151,017,244 Being the total number of active lines in Nigeria as at December, 2015

again, and in June the number was 0.71 per cent higher than at the end of the first quarter in March.

This increase is despite a sharp drop in CDMA subscribers; between June 2015 and June 2016 the number fell from 2,105,981 to 454,092, a decrease of 78.44 per cent (explored further below).

Although, CDMA remains the second most popular technology type, this decrease meant that the GSM technology type has entrenched its position as the dominant provider of mobile subscriptions.

This is illustrated in figure 2, which breaks down total subscriptions over the last year by technology type.

In terms of subscribers by technology type, subscriber data is broken into four sections according to the technology type used.

The first two are for mobile technology; Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Core Division Multiple Access (CDMA), whilst the latter two are fixed lines, either wireless or wired.

Mobile subscribers using GSM dominate, and accounted for 99.58 CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

26

BUSINESS |news

THURSDAY, september 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Nigeria loses $3.5bn yearly to non-patronage of ship chandlers’ LAX REGULATION Ship chandlers and government lost huge amount of money due to lack of enforcement

Bayo Akomolafe

N

igeria is losing $3.5 billion yearly to foreigners due to non-patronage of local ship chandlers operating in the maritime sector.

Former President of the

Telcos regain 67% of lost 4.56m lines CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

per cent of the total in June 2016, followed by CDMA with 0.30 per cent of the total, whist fixed wired and wireless make up 0.08 per cent and 0.03 per cent respectively.

The dominance of GSM users has increased since June 2015 when 98.46 per cent of subscribers used this technology type. However, this increase was largely as a result of the decline in CDMA users over the second quarter of 2016.

The proportion of subscribers using fixed lines has remained broadly stable over the past year, albeit at very small levels.

The dominance of GSM over CDMA in the mobile technology is characteristic worldwide; GSM accounted for over 80 per cent of the global market in 2009 Q2.

“With GSM technology, it is cited as being easier to switch networks, and it is regarded as being more accessible for international use, especially given that some markets (such as in Europe) have mandated the technology by law. However, CDMA is more prevalent in the United States,” the NBS report said.

Among the GSM operators, in June 2016, the total number of GSM subscribers was 149,179,083, an increase of 2,692,267, or 1.84 per cent relative to June 2015.

In both percentage and absolute terms, the year-onyear increases in GSM subscriber numbers have been falling steadily over the past 12 months.

In March 2016, the year-onyear growth rate was 4. 06 per cent, and in June 2015 the rate was 12.22 per cent.

However, the number of GSM subscribers increased throughout the second quarter of 2016, from 146.86 million in April.

The second quarter of 2016 saw a partial reversal of trends that had been recorded since August 2015.

Nigerian Customs Licensed Ship Chandlers’ Association (NCLSCA), Mr. Vickson Aghanenu, disclosed this to New Telegraph in Lagos.

He said that less than two per cent of local chandlers were patronised in the country.

The ship chandelling is the supply of essential provisions and services needed by shipping lines.

Over the years, he noted that Nigerian ship chandlers had expressed disaffection on the patronage of touts by foreign vessels coming into the Nigerian ports.

He stressed that the chandlers operating in the country had frowned at the indiscriminate issuance of licences by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to non-professional

chandlers.

Aghanenu explained that with over 10,000 ships operating within the nation’s eight seaports and 124 private jetties, the Federal Government had been losing huge amount.

He said: “This country is losing not less $3.5 billion yearly as a result of non-patronage of local chandlers by shipping line in the petroleum upstream sector. The shipowners prefer foreigners and this is capital flight. Foreigners are taking the money that is supposed to be in the country away.

“The areas that require attention in the upstream sector include the various Floating Production Storage Off shore Vessels, oil rigs, platforms, supply boats, LNG vessels, 11 oil terminals and bonga flow

stations.”

The president said that the association had met with the Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria several times in the past to patronise the licenced chandlers.

Aghanenu also said that unlicensed chandlers had taken over the industry.

He added that the best way to stop capital flight in the sector was for Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to halt the proliferation of ship chandelling in the country.

Aghanenu said that with a population of over 170 million, Nigerian ship chandlers could not cater for about 100,000 expatriates on board vessels and rigs in the petroleum upstream sector due to lack of enforcement by government agencies,

which licensed them.

The former president said: “The Federal Government should enforce the patronage of local chandlers by foreign vessels coming into the country’s ports. This would boost government’s revenue and offer thousands of jobs for Nigerians. We like to collaborate with all maritime organisations and government agencies for good working relations.

“Nigerian ship chandlers should be patronised by offshore maritime operators instead of foreign chandlers.”

He added that the country’s ship chandlers had been looking forward to a legislation that would ensure that vessels that call at the nation’s ports take their supplies and provisions from the local chandlers.

L-R: Senior Manager, Admin/HR, Centre For Values In Leadership (CVL) Ukabiala Francisca; Programmes Manager, CVL, Ebube Everest James; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mrs. Nike Akande; Senior Vice President, Strategy and Development, CVL, Adegbenro Rasheed and Director General, LCCI, Muda Yusuf, during a courtesy visit of CVL to LCCI at the Commerce House, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Sustainable Devt Goals: Nigeria, others need $4.5tr yearly INFRASTRUCTURE The World Bank forecasts that investment needs in infrastructure alone amount to $100 billion per year in Africa.

Taiwo Hassan

P

reliminary forecasts by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) showed that investments needed in key sectors in Nigeria and other developing countries related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could reach $3.3 trillion – $4.5 trillion per year for basic infrastructure.

According to the UNCTAD, this investment will be spent on infrastructure such as roads, rail and ports; power stations and water and sanitation, food security (agriculture and rural development), climate change mitigation and adaptation, health and education.

In a UNCTAD report titled:

“Economic Development in Africa report 2016 Debt Dynamics and Development Finance in Africa,” the UN agency also noted that total investment needs at a global level to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals will be between $5 trillion–$7 trillion per year during the 15-year delivery period.

The agency said that at current investment levels (both public and private) of $1.4 trillion per year in Sustainable Development Goals-related sectors, an annual funding gap of up to $2.5 trillion would remain in developing countries.

Based on Africa’s current share of nominal GDP in GDP of developing countries (around 8.4 per cent, based on UNCTADStat figures), this implies an annual funding gap of up to $210 billion in African countries.

This is likely a conservative estimate for African countries; given that their share of GDP is low and that their infrastructure deficit is higher than that of most of the other developing countries, their share of resources should be much higher.

The World Bank estimated

that investment needs in infrastructure alone amount to $100 billion per year in Africa.

Besides, average private sector participation in current infrastructure investment in developing countries is considerably lower than that in developed countries and may not address existing investment needs without significant up scaling.

Last year, the African Development Bank (ADfB) initiated the infrastructure fund Africa50, which aims to increase the level of investment funds channelled into national and regional projects in the energy, transport, information and communications technology and water sectors.

For example, the Fund intends to mobilise over $100 billion for infrastructure development, from the stock market, African central bank reserves and African diaspora, and will target lending to the private sector to enhance their participation in the development of the economy.

According to the report, this will help develop Africa’s infrastructure by lending to high-return infrastructure development investments to

unlock its economic potential.

Data from the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa and Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic study show that African countries lag behind other developing regions in terms of measures of infrastructure coverage, such as road, rail and telephone density, power generation capacity and service coverage.

While lower middle-income countries and resource-rich countries could meet their infrastructure needs with an attainable commitment of 10–12 per cent of GDP, low-income countries need to devote 25–36 per cent of GDP. The report further stated that infrastructure investment needs are already large including requirements related to the other SDGs raises this number higher.

Estimates made prior to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, determined that Africa would require close to $200 billion per year to implement sustainable development commitments under the social, economic and environmental dimensions.

InDUSTRY

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

T

ales of lamentations have marred the state of the economy with the Federal Government almost losing grip of the situation.

In one of his numerous pronouncements at pleading with Nigerians for their understanding, President Muhammadu Buhari, last week, gave assurance that his administration was doing its best at revamping the economy, stressing that the country would get out of the current recession soon.

He acknowledged that the state of Nigerian economy remained a source of concern to many, reaffirming that the situation had been further worsened by unbridled corruption and security challenges in the last few years.

Buhari noted that by June 2014, oil prices averaged $112 per barrel. But as at today, the price is under $50 per barrel.

To him, this huge decline is having a painful effect on the economy, while consumption has declined at all levels.

He stressed that in both the private and public sectors, employers had struggled to meet their salary and other employee related obligations, while small business owners and traders have been particularly hard hit by the state of affairs.

The president said: “The confidence of many might be shaken. However, I stand before you today promising that we will secure our country, rebuild our economy and make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger than it has ever been.

“The answers to our problems are not beyond us. They exist on our farmlands, our corporations, in the universities in the hearts and minds of our entrepreneurs, through the gallantry of our armed forces and the resolute spirit of Nigerians, especially the youth, who have refused to give up despite all the obstacles confronting them.”

This year in particular, businesses have seen a confluence of adverse conditions, including dwindling oil prices, capital flights, forex scarcity, higher interest rates and power failure, among others.

The manufacturing industry has been facing challenges and has continued to grapple with big issues, which include deteriorating road, inadequate power supply, worsening security concerns and unrest in the North East.

Tax holiday gesture Truly, the organised private sector (OPS) has been clamouring for the Federal Government to introduce tax holiday for prospective foreign investors in order to stimulate growth and development in the country’s economy.

The Executive Secretary,

Buhari

Fayemi

27

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah

Tax holiday as elixir for revamping Nigeria’s economy Last week’s pronouncement by the Federal Government to introduce tax holiday to prospective foreign investors willing to invest in the country is a positive step towards revamping the economy.

Taiwo Hassan reports Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Eke Ubiji, in an interview with New Telegraph, on the proposed tax holiday, said that it was a surgical solution that the economy needed at this period of economic recession.

He noted that the private sector group believed that introducing tax holiday would assist in boosting investor confidence in the economy.

He added that some economic instruments were vital at this period of recession.

Ubiji explained that the OPS had already submitted different proposals to government on the importance of rolling out tax incentives to prospective investors willing to establish in the country.

According to him, the association believes that SMEs operating in the country should also be entitled and be privileged to FG’s tax incentives, especially new SMEs, to stimulate growth.

He admitted: “Yes, we support government in its bid to roll out tax incentives in the mining sector to prospective investors willing to set up mining firms in Nigeria.

“We also want government to extend the gesture to the manufacturing and SMEs sectors of the economy. We believe that tax holiday will help to grow and develop our economy even at this period of economic recession.

“Already, we have some proposals with government ministries on tax holiday, which is under consideration.”

Prospective investors in Nigerian mining sector would enjoy three years tax holidays

Incentives Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said prospective investors in Nigerian mining sector would enjoy three years tax holidays as part of Federal Government’s incentives to serious investors.

The tax holiday, according to the minister, will commence from the date the investor commences mining operations in the country.

Speaking at the opening session of Africa Down Under Conference in Perth, Australia, Fayemi said the country was determined to return stronger to the global ore and mineral markets.

The minister listed other incentives approved by the Federal Government for investors in the mineral and mining sector to include exemption from customs and import duties on mining equipment.

The other incentive is the freedom for such firms to be wholly owned by the investors.

Fayemi also identified security as another major area government was investing in to ensure security of investment as well as lifes and properties.

He said: “Our government has a renewed commitment to the improvement of security across mine site, logistic related security and general terrorism.”

The minister, who presented graphic details of incentives obtainable in several other major mining coun-

tries, including Australia, USA, South Africa and Chile, told the audience, which comprised investors, operators and other allied professionals, that Nigeria was offering more generous incentives, including favourable tax regime and royalties.

He said Nigeria was determined to build a world class minerals and mining ecosystem designed to serve a targeted domestic and export market for minerals and metals, adding that part of the vision of the ministry was to contribute to job creation.

“We are focusing on rebuilding our minerals and mining sector in three phases. In the immediate term, we are achieving import substitution by winning over domestic users of industrial minerals.

“Phase 2, our focus is on further expanding our domestic ore and mineral asset processing capacity. Phase 3, we will return stronger to the global ore and minerals markets at a market competitive price point,” Fayemi added.

Nigeria is attracting a huge attention at the conference in view of the recent discovery of nickel in some parts of Kaduna State by an Australian mining company and the planned presentation of the country’s mining roadmap at the conference.

Conclusion Stakeholders in the manufacturing industry believe that FG’s move to introduce tax holiday for potential investors in the mining sector will be a boost for the economy and the country.

28

business \ industry

LAMENTATION FMN spent 22bn in finance cost in 2015 Stories: Taiwo Hassan

P

iqued by the country’s economic recession, the Group Managing Director of Flour Mills Nigeria (FMN) Plc, Paul Gbededo, has described the current economic hardships as a “perfect storm,” which has dealt a severe blow on the company’s operational capacities.

Gbededo disclosed this at the company’s 56th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos.

He said that conglomerates this year had seen a confluence of adverse conditions such as dwindling oil prices, capital flight, forex scarcity, higher interest rates, power failures, among others.

The GMD explained that the socio-economic challenge in the country was fuelling rise in the cost of producing goods.

He said these had caused difficulties in operating costs, which have continued to be on the high side.

Specifically, the GMD said that Flour Mills spent about N22 billion in finance costs and also paid about N30 billion as debt in the financial year under review.

According to him, the constant rise in the company’s finance costs and debt profile is an on going concern for the management.

He said the challenges, if not tackled head on, could lead to more of its subsidiaries going under.

He said: “Taken together, these factors have contributed to a perfect storm that has hit many other Nigerian businesses, especially those who had not taken the necessary precaution, but whereas much of the sector was brought to its knees this year.

“FMN has been able to navigate through these troubled times increasing market

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Flour Mills rues harsh operating environment

share and streamlining its cost structure.

“We have successfully navigated precisely because of our lower cost base and increased reliance on local raw materials. Coupled with the decision we took four years ago, we are now able to take advantage of the situation today.”

Gbededo noted that FMN in 2012 began a restructuring exercise where it split its businesses into three divisions; food, agro allied, and support services.

“I would like to begin my report by revisiting FMN’s strategic vision as set forth in our 2012 annual report when

we started on a restructuring exercise to better position our group for the future.

“The rationalisation of our business at the time into three distinct divisions- Food, AgroAllied, and Support divisionshas led to a better internal alignment of expertise with our strategic aims,” the FMN boss added.

On the FMN’s Rights Issue, Gbededo said that based on the company’s shareholders’ advice to the directors to raise up to N40 billion, the directors decided to undertake the rights issue through a Shelf Programme, which enabled the company to raise

T

The shareholders said that FMN had proved to be a responsible quoted company in the country that has strictly adhered to financial probity and prudence.

They noted that many companies listed on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) had been unable to declare dividends for shareholders because of the harsh economy.

In addition, the shareholders also commended the impact of FMN in the country’s agro-allied sector, saying this had really reinvented the company as a force to reckon with in the sector.

L-R: Director General, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. Dan Azumi Ibrabim and Chief Executive Officer, Friesland Campina WAMCO, Mr. Rahul Colaco, during a visit of NOTAP to the company, in Lagos.

Coca-Cola invests 8.2m euros in global sustainable devt C oca-Cola Hellenic Bottle Company (HBC), a leading bottler of the brands of the CocaCola Company, said it had invested about 8.2 million euros, representing 2.3 per

cent of its 2015 pre-tax profit, in improving community wellbeing.

The investment focuses on three key areas; active lifestyle, environmental & water stewardship and

Int’l money transfer: Appointment of more firms lauded he Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has applauded the actions of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to license 11 additional International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs).

The move is to liberalise the Foreign Exchange Market, ensure liquidity and make foreign exchange available to low end users.

In a statement signed by the National President, NACCIMA, Chief Bassey Edem, in Lagos, the private sector body said that the CBN’s decision was a step in the right direction in ensuring that remittances from Nigerians in the diaspora remain a viable source of foreign exchange for the Nigerian economy.

However, the association

the required funds in several tranches over a three-year period.

He said: “A N40 billion shelf programme has now been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We will continue to access the economic climate to determine the most appropriate time to launch the first tranche.”

Meanwhile, the shareholders of the company have commended the board of directors and its management for being able to declare N1 dividend for the financial year ended March 31, 2016, despite the tough economic challenges rocking the country.

urged the apex bank to reconsider its earlier stance that “(IMTOs) be required to remit foreign currency to their respective agent banks in Nigeria for disbursement in naira to the beneficiaries while the foreign currency proceeds are to be sold to Bureaux De Change operators for onward retail to end users.”

Besides, NACCIMA said : “It is our view that this policy will put price control and determination in a few hands and create an enabling environment for sharp practices within the forex parallel market. We counsel that beneficiaries of foreign currency proceeds be allowed to determine when they sell their proceeds and at what rate.

“This will create a situation of multiple supplier/

sellers to meet the existing demand in the parallel market and relieve the pressure on the inter-bank window.”

“The policy as contained in the said circular will constitute a disincentive to the beneficiaries of the inflow and they may consider other alternatives, which could be counterproductive and divert the inflows to unproductive ventures. This may lead to continuing increase in the price of the foreign exchange.

“As a leading member of the Organised Private Sector, our commitment remains the provision of an enabling environment for free enterprise and competitive markets that promote mobility of products, capital, labour and knowledge through simple, transparent and uniformly applied regulatory systems.”

youth development in partnership with more than 230 non-governmental organisations (NGO).

In a statement made available to New Telegraph, CocaCola HBC stated that the company is the most diversified bottler in the Coca-Cola System, serving almost 600 million consumers across 28 established, developing and emerging countries on three continents.

The company said that it was named sustainability leader of the beverage industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices assessment published last week.

The company noted that it achieved a total score of 90, which is 40-point higher than the industry average and three points higher than last year.

According to the statement, this is the ninth year CocaCola HBC has been included in the global assessment, as a result of its leading sustainability performance in 2015.

During the year 2015, CocaCola HBC continued to reduce its environmental footprint, posting a double digit decrease of its carbon emissions.

At the same time, it further reduced the amount of water used for producing a litre of beverage, as well as the amount of packaging materials, despite higher production and sales.

It added that the company was one of the first 12 companies in the world in 2015, to establish science-based carbon reduction targets for both direct and indirect operations.

“Putting an internal price on water and carbon in 2015 and committing to accounting for sustainability are practical ways how Coca-Cola HBC supports the global action to reach the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations,” the company said.

Breakdown of 2015 key performance highlights include 33.311 employees; 43.000 suppliers; 1.3 billion euros spent in direct procurement and 271 million euros total taxes paid.

Others are 11.7 per cent direct carbon emissions reduction year-on-year; Energy use ratio improving by 7.2 per cent year-on-year; 19.4 per cent increase in recycled PET usage year-on-year; and 87 per cent sustainable engagement score.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

eWORLD

29

Refocusing efforts on data harmonisation Increased efforts are needed on the part of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on inter-agency collaboration to achieve data harmonisation in Nigeria in record time.

KUNLE AZEEZ reports

T

he target by the Federal Government to harmonise all the biometric data already collected from Nigerians, which are now residing with various government agencies may not come anytime soon unless the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) strengthened its effort in aggressively working, in a cooperative manner, with other data-collection agencies in the country.

This is because of the slow pace by which NIMC has been going about collaborating with other agencies of the government that also collect data in the country.

While there are many government organisations in Nigeria that currently collect biometric data, including the National Population Commission, Federal Road Safety Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission and Nigerian Immigration Service, among others, the NIMC is statutorily saddled with the task of collecting and managing the biometric databases of all Nigerians from birth till death.

Presidential directive On August 10, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari had charged government agencies to harmonise the collection and usage of biometric data in the country, instead of replicating their efforts in this regard.

According to the president, who wondered why each agency would gather its own biometric data, when such data could easily be shared, “It will be more cost-effective if you work together. It helps even the credibility of the election process, as Nigerians of voting age can be identified easily.”

He, therefore, directed all the agencies to work collaboratively, instead of going in different directions, stressing that adequate data was necessary for planning and development in any country.

Data harmonisation c’ttee Following the presidential directive, NIMC immediately put in place a Harmonisation

Aziz

But, Aziz said, “Most of the unissued cards are lying in the NIMC State Offices, the owners are yet to come and collect them.”

As such, he said there were ongoing plans to outsource the personalising and printing of the National e-ID Card to private printing bureaus, so that the agency can clear the backlog of the unprinted cards and issue them to their owners before long.

“NIMC has also refocused its efforts on the harmonisation of data with other agencies, as it has become imperative to ensure we ramp up the records in the National Identity Database to deliver better service to the nation.”

Danbatta

Committee (HC), comprising representatives of the various Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and security formations concerned with citizens’ data collection and usage.

NIMC management has also started creating strategic collaboration among agencies to ensure harmonisation of citizens’ biometric databases in the country.

However, analysis of NIMC’s collaborations with other MDAs in the last 12 months when the presidential directive was handed down to it has shown that it had not made much in-roads.

For instance, it was gathered that only National Population Commission, the Nigeria Interbank Settlements System Plc (NIBSS) and the lately, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have been approached

by NIMC to get the data already residing with the three agencies onto the NIMC’s National Identity Management platform.

Challenges Meanwhile, the Director-General of NIMC, Mr. Aliyu Aziz, has suggested that the inability to accelerate collaborations with a large number of agencies in the last one year and to be more visible in its operations has been due

NIMC has only been able to enroll over 11 million unique data into the National Identity Database (NIDB)

to a number of challenges.

Aziz said, although the Commission is recently facing funding challenges, which seem to be slowing down its planned activities and timeliness; this was not peculiar to the Commission as the country is currently undergoing economic restructuring, and scarcity of funds, as such, allocations are not readily made available to MDAs, including NIMC. He, however, gave assurance that, this is a temporary interruption that will soon be over, as government was geared towards reinvigorating the funding mechanism for the Commission.

“The funding challenge has not deterred NIMC from carrying out its obligations as it has continued to provide service at its over 400 Enrolment Centres (EC) across the country, and the number of citizens, who have obtained their national identity numbers (NINs) has continued to increase,” he said.

Some statistics Since its creation in 2007, New Telegraph learnt that NIMC has only been able to enroll over 11 million unique data into the National Identity Database (NIDB), printed about a million National e-ID Cards and issued over 400,000 of these cards to their owners.

Projection Though, it has taken NIMC almost nine years to achieve its slightly over 11 enrolments in its database, by 2019, it is projected that NIMC should have over a 100 million unique records at the central database.

Meanwhile, industry analysts say aggressive collaboration to bring the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data to which the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, has given a nod to release to NIMC; the commencement of harmonisation of the over 21 million Bank Verification Number (BVN) records from which NINC had processed two million records from the BVN data collected; as well as data collected from other sister agencies collecting biometrics, would make 100 million target of NIMC feasible.

Conclusion Stakeholders have suggested increased collaborations between NIMC and other agencies as critical step in populating the National Identity database through harmonision and integration into the NIMC’s central repository of biometric data in Nigeria.

NOTAP harps on foreign technology domestication Kunle Azeez

D

irector General of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. DanAzumi Ibrabim, has underscored the importance of having adequate technical expertise and the need to create the right investment milieu before Nigeria can adequately domesticate foreign technologies.

Ibrabim stated this while making remarks on the African States as African Day for Technology and Intellectual Property (ADTIP), which holds on September 13 every year.

The commemoration is in compliance with the resolution made by the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now

African Union (AU) Council of Ministers and Assembly of Heads of State and Governments at Addis Ababa-Ethiopia in July, 1999.

The Nigeria government, through NOTAP, a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, is saddled with the Commemoration of African Day for Technology and Intellectual Property.

Meanwhile, Ibrabim said NOTAP had to shift the commemoration to next year considering the fact that the secondary schools, which normally showcase their inventions were still on holiday coupled with fact that the day coincided with Eid-El-Kabir celebration.

He said in realisation of the importance of the day to the

African, NOTAP annually celebrates the day through exhibition of some scientific innovations by some selected secondary and vocational schools across the Federal Capital Territory.

“This is to explore and develop the huge intellectual potentials in the Nigerian youths and at the same time, demonstrate the value which Nigeria and other African nations place on science, technology and innovation as panacea for national development,” he said.

Ibrahim explained that the commemoration of African day is to arouse the latent creativity and inventive spirit of researchers, entrepreneurs, inventors and innovators being one of the ways through which

rapid development of a nation can be assured.

He said the resolution to be commemorating the day was to further sensitise and facilitate the domestication of technology and development of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) system in Africa and reawaken the creative ability of the people in the continent to eradicate poverty and drive sustainable development.

According to him, intellectual property could be any innovation, commercial, artistic, symbol, logo or design used for commercial purposes.

“It can also be the creation of the mind, literature and artistic works belonging to a creator and can only be transferred or sold with the permission of the innovator.

30

business \ eWORLD

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Spam texts: N360bn rip-off to be eliminated, says NCC WARNING Regulator has, again, demanded full compliance to the DND directive issued to operators

Stories: Kunle Azeez

T

he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has given assurance to telecoms subscribers that the annual losses they incur as a result of unsolicited text messages from their network operators will soon be a thing of the past.

The regulator stated this even as it said it had observed that industry compliance with the directive to stop operators from inundating subscribers with unsolicited text messages did not seem to have matched the seriousness of the directive.

The directive issued to industry operators to activate the 2442 Do-Not-Disturb (DND) short code took effect from July 1, 2016.

Prior to the introduction of the directive, the over 150 million telecoms subscribers in the country were said to be losing an estimated N360 billion to cases of unwanted text messages majority of which are auto-subscriptions by the operators without subscribers’ consent.

The situation is worsened, as telecoms networks often use some clever ways of making it difficult for disgruntled subscribers to opt out from continuously receiving the unsolicited text messages.

Meanwhile, the Commission has reiterated its readiness to protect subscribers from the nuisance and irritations of unsolicited text messages and calls from mobile network operators.

Speaking on the development, Director, Public Affairs of NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, noted that there had been earlier warnings to telecommunication service providers to activate their DND facility.

The facility gives subscribers the freedom to choose the messages they receive, the Commission is still inundated with complaints by subscribers of continuing text harassment by operators.

Ojobo explained that the direction mandates the operators to take immediate action, which will allow the subscribers to take informed but independent decisions on what messages to

receive from the networks.

He observed that industry compliance doesn’t seem to have matched the seriousness of the direction thus, compelling the Commission to issue a final warning to the operators.

According to him, “the direction takes into cognisance the broad range of services, which include: Banking/Insurance/Financial products, real estate, education, health, consumer goods and automobiles, communication/ broadcasting/ entertainment/ Information Technology,

tourism and /leisure, sports, religion (Christianity, Islam, others), and directed the operators to give the necessary instructions and clarifications that will enable subscribers subscribe to a particular service/services/none at all.”

In fact, a Full DND, which is SMS ‘STOP” to 2442 does not allow the subscriber to receive any unsolicited messages from the operators at all, Ojobo said.

He also explained that there was a full list of various options available to subscribers to still be

receiving specific text messages from their networks in case they do not want outright blockage of all unsolicited text messages.

Ojobo called on the service providers to immediately comply with the direction, as further complaints from the subscribers would be taken as serious infractions to a major regulatory intervention by the Commission.

In the July 1, 2016 directive, a total number 13 MNOs were issued with the direction, namely: Starcomms, Megatech Engineering Limited, Gicell Wire-

L-R: Business Head, Nigeria & Emerging Markets, Midcom Nigeria, Kunal Bhardwaj; Managing Director, Consumer Business, Huawei Nigeria, Leo Jiang; Brand Manager, ICELL, Rohit Bhangar; and Chairman, Technology Distribution Limited, Leo Stanley Ekeh, at the launch of a latest Huawei smartphone in Lagos.

Online car rental solution gains traction

A

n online rental car solution, NG-ride, has recorded over 300 cars in its fleet, over 900 rentals and over 70 per cent full day hire since its launch in Nigeria in April.

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer, NG-ride, Mr. Osamede Evbakhavbokun disclosed this in Lagos.

According to him, NG-ride, combining the features of Uber and car rental solution, AVIS, has provided a marketplace for car owners to list their cars so that interested users can rent the cars and pay per hour at a predetermined price.

“We are marrying the features to create a solution for Nigerians. We are bringing something purely Nigerian and close to them as well, that they can also easily afford. So what we have done is bring the AVIS and Uber models to create a solution for Nigerians,” said Evbakhavbokun said.

According to Osamede, NG-

ride features from simple to affordable luxury cars, adding that these include luxury cars like limousine, Bentleys, Rolls Royce among others, which are cars purely owned by individuals who list them on the NG-ride marketplace for the sole purpose of monetising them.

“What happens is that we consider the fact that, firms like AVIS invest in car infrastructure, which has to depreciate. They also run drivers’ cost. All these contribute to

M

Adebayo Oke Lawal of Orange Culture to give customers who purchase the Huawei GR5 Mini a designer phone case for free.

“To Huawei is excited to partner with Orange Culture to deliver a premium experience for our customers,” said Managing Director, Devices of Huawei Nigeria, Leo Jiang, said.

According to him, “We value our customers’ need for mobile technology, which suits their lifestyles and meets their needs, and now we are

make the cars more expensive.

“For us, we are listing cars that are owned by individuals using their cars for regular businesses. This makes the cars cheaper and the customers get value for money because the cars are cheaper and easily accessible,” Osamede said.

Besides, he said: “Our billing is per hour. For instance, you want to go somewhere that will probably take you more than an hour, you can rent a car on NG-ride. But if

you are just moving to a short distance, it is cheaper to use an Uber.

“But if you have couple of places you want to go and you do not want to be rushed, our solution is cheaper. So, what you can do is to do a six hour booking for example and you can then have your meetings, catch-ups and do what you need to do.”

NG-ride, which is currently only available in Lagos also comes with a reverse logistics feature for trucks and haulage.

‘How I used OLX DIFM to my advantage’

A

mother of four, Mrs. Oluchi Afuberoh, has explained how she leveraged the OLX’s Do It For Me (DIFM) platform to sell her car.

The DIFM platform, a new premium product, was recently introduced by the country’s online classified site, where OLX Champs who are sales experts

Huawei: Mobile technology changing lifestyles

obile technology has become an important tool that has continued to change people’s lifestyles in a more efficient manner, a smartphone maker, Huawei, has said.

The company said this at the unveiling of the company’s latest device in the Nigerian market, Huawei GR5 Mini, designed to meet the demands of today’s young professionals.

Huawei also announced its partnership with Nigerian designer,

less Limited, Globacom, Danjay Telecoms, Gamjitel, Multilinks, MTN, Airtel, Smile, Etisalat, Visafone and Natcom.

The NCC, in the direction issued pursuant to section 53 of the Nigerian communications Act (NCA), 2003, noted that it had been inundated with complaints from subscribers about the menace of unsolicited text messages and calls from Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), which has impacted negatively on consumer quality experience in the telecom industry.

aligning with customers strongest passions, one of which we have discovered to be Fashion and Style,” he said.

According to him, the new smartphone, which features new generation fingerprint technology has been improved 100 per cent over the 1st generation, a sensor that performs in 0.5 seconds and has 360degree readability, builds on Huawei’s success in delivering powerful high-end smartphones with a high level of quality.

manage the entire selling process on the site from posting the item to closing the deal.

Afuberoh, a stay-at-home mum with four kids recently sold her car on the platform using the OLX DIFM service.

She stated that the juggling demands of four young kids are quite hectic, which was what

“Bound to be a delight for photo and selfie lovers, the GR5 Mini has an 8MP front camera with high chromatic resolution, 4P lens array and a 77 degree wide angle visual range, which takes sharp looking selfies and also allows selfie-lovers to capture more people in the shot.

“The rear-facing 13MP MP camera features a f/2.0 aperture, 78 degree wide angle visual range, 5P Aspheric lens array with a blue glass filter to improve photo quality.”

made her opt for the service.

“I was excited when I learned about this new service from OLX. I had used OLX previously to sell my fridge and buy several decorative items in my home like a bedside lamp and wallpaper for my living room. I did not want to be bothered with calls from potential buyers or make out the time (which I don’t have by the way) to meet with people,” she said.

She explained further: “In a matter of days, after the ad went live on the site, the OLX Champ informed me that my vehicle has been sold and I was so excited, especially because of the extra cash I now had to attend to my family’s needs.”

31

THURSday, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Interview ‘Foreign donors can’t sustain health interventions’

Health

A medical team handling a surgical operation

When emergencies occur during accidents, deliveries or fracture, hospitals sometimes fail to take in patients, hiding under various excuses.

Irrespective of reasons advanced, handling hospital emergencies as early as possible helps save patients, reports ELEAZAR NWANTI

T

he saying “when a mystery is discovered part of it is solved” should give hope to patients whose ailments have been diagnosed, with the belief that the treatment which would ultimately restore their health would commence immediately.

Appolonia Adeyemi Health Editor

appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

News Doctors, firms move against medical tourism

33 34

Using quick responses to save lives Ironically patients’ experiences in some of our hospitals negate this saying because they seem not to get the emergency medical care they require even after they have been diagnosed.

Over time, some patients who are in need of emergency medical care have complained over the manner at which they have been constantly turned down by hospitals or in some cases booked for appointments when their emergency cases ought to be attended to immediately. Sadly, what they get is that appointment date to see medical doctor is postponed for to a future date.

Patients that require an emergency medical care over one form of care or the other are always at the receiving end of this constant postponement of attending to their emergency medical cases. It is heartbreaking that many medical cases put as booked surgical interventions in our hospitals should have been handled as emergency cases.

It has been observed that in the Department of Orthopedics in our general hospitals, for example, patients who have fractured femur shaft, which should have been

Emergency medical cases that are not handled promptly could lead to loss of lives

handled as immediate surgical intervention, was given appointment of two weeks to return to hospital for treatment.

Some patients have attributed the delay in attending to their emergency medical care in our hospitals to bottlenecks in the existing health system in the country and the fact that surgical schedules are influenced based on who you are/who you know in the society.

A lady who identified herself as Mrs. Grace told New Telegraph HEALTH that she was booked for a thoracic surgery at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) since eight months ago and as at the time of filing this report, the surgery has not been done.

“I have persistent severe pain in my throat and I was told there would be surgery to tackle it. So, I was given a date to come for the surgery. It has been over eight months since I was told there would be a surgery and each time I come for the surgery I would be given some drugs and a new date.

“I am fed-up. I believe if I had been one important personality in the society or know someone in the higher authority in the hospital my case would have been settled long

ago”, added Grace.

Numerous cases like that of Mrs. Grace abound in our hospitals especially the public health facilities today and in most cases the patients do not live to tell their stories. They die while waiting for the surgery to be performed.

Not handling emergency surgical cases as emergencies or delaying booked surgeries has led to increased morbidity and mortality of some patients.

In another case which occurred in Lagos, a journalist who gave his name as Henry Ogudu was on his way home after closing very late at work, got involved in an accident.

He was riding in a tricycle popularly known as ‘Keke Napep’ when suddenly officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) gave the driver a hot chase following a traffic violation.

During the pursuit, the tricycle upturned warranting its occupants to be thrown out in motion. “I landed on my left shoulder and fractured it badly,” Ogudu lamented.

On being rushed to LASUTH, the closest facility with an Orthopaedic Unit, officials at that unit surprisCONT INU E D ON PAGE 32

32

Health\News

THURSday, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

WHO seeks holistic approach to health matters Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

A

cting World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in Nigeria, Dr. Rex Mpazanje, has called on Federal Government to give health matters in the country a holistic approach towards making whatever efforts put into it a sustainable one.

Speaking with journalists in Ibadan after the opening ceremony of 2nd African Federation of Public Health Associations (AFPHA) /3rd Society for Public Health Professionals of Nigeria (SPHPN) conference held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, the health expert said that only holistic approach covering all the 17 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) could guarantee a sustainable health system.

At the conference with the theme: “Public Health in Africa and Sustainable Development Goals” which had in attendance participants from some African countries, the WHO representative explained that there should be collaboration among all the health stakeholders in the country to ensure the wellness of the populace.

He acknowledged the efforts of the government at curbing the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) two years ago and urged that such

efforts should be put into stamping out Lassa fever, the occurrence of which was becoming periodical.

In his own contribution, the President of SPHPN, Prof. Micheal Asuzu commended the initiative of the current administration at making Primary Health Care services available to the general populace through the outcome of the inter-ministerial committee set up by the Hon. Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole early this year.

He however lamented that unless something was done about the inability of both the States and local governments to pay workers’ salaries as and when due, health workers would not be able to drive the government policy, noting that “it will be impossible to expect the best from an hungry worker.”

The medical expert equally hinged on the need for collaboration among the various people in the society, using his experience at Fiji Island where he had gone to sojourn for three years as an example of how community participation in health issues tremendously worked.

According to him, “in that small country, patients don’t go to health centres for treatment, the nurse goes from house to house to administer drugs and injections and in some situations, a member of the family is tutored on how to give health care to the sick member.

Some bacteria are useful to the body

A Onajole in (academic gown) with colleagues and friends after his inaugural lecture at the University of Lagos held last week

Don laments poor medical care for malaria patients, pregnant women Chidiebere Ejike

A

professor of Community Medicine and Public Health in the Department of Community Health and Primary Care, College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Adebayo Temitayo Onajole has lamented poor medical care given to malaria victims and pregnant women in the country.

The professor disclosed this while delivering the 15th Inaugural Lecture of the university with the topic, “Community Health – Key to Community Wealth” at the UNILAG Main Auditorium.

According to Prof.

Onajole, the rate at which children with suspected malaria and pregnant

women receive proper care remains quite low adding that Nigeria has increased access to and use of malaria intervention.

He said, “Nigeria has increased access to and use of malaria interventions since 2009; an important gain given that 30 per cent of the world’s malaria cases and deaths occurred within the country’s borders in 2013.

“Nonetheless, the rates at which high risk populations – children with suspected malaria and pregnant women receive proper care remains quite low. Indeed by 2013, no state recorded proper coverage of artemisinin-based combination therapies among children under five exceeding 20 per cent.”

While delivering the

lecture, he noted that caregivers of young children especially in rural communities have poor knowledge of malaria.

“Those in urban areas have better health seeking behaviour than those in rural areas and there is the need for urgent interventions to promote appropriate treatments of malaria,” he said.

Prof. Onajole also gave parents’ objection, disagreement or concerns about immunisation safety, long distance walking and long waiting time at the health facility as the most common reasons for partial immunisation and incomplete vaccination.

He added that the ultimate goal of the health system is the attainment of better health care services for all.

Delaying emergency treatment could be fatal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

ingly booked Ogudu for another appointment due three weeks away. The reason given was that some patients had previously been booked to see doctors on the day Henry was rushed to the hospital.

Shocked Ogudu with slinged left hand began contacting all the ‘who is who’ among his contacts.

It took the intervention of the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of that hospital to influence for Ogudu to get doctors’ attention the following day. What happens to millions of other poor and less privileged patients who may not have anyone to help them influence such?

Dr. Iheukwumere Nwaiwu, who works in the Emergency Department Unit, Federal Medical Center, Bayelsa State said not handling emergency medical cases as early as possible has effects on the patient and the medical personnel.

“Emergency medical cases that are not handled promptly could lead to loss of lives. It could lead to

complications; it increases morbidity and poor clinical outcome.

“Also on the part of the medical personnel, it can lead to litigation, low selfesteem and poor satisfaction”, Nwaiwu said.

A former 2nd Vice Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Chapter, Dr. Olusegun Akinwotu said this usually happens in government hospitals because the list of surgery cases is always long. However, he is of the view that emergency care should be based on first come first served and the emergency nature of the cases.

Akinwotu

“Patients must be attended to based on one; emergency nature of the case and not because I know a high ranking somebody in the hospital. Secondly, it should be based on ‘first come first served’. But you know the way our society is, “who knows who”, people would like to use that influence to get things done,” Akinwotu said.

“However in some cases for some reasons, maybe if there are so many people on that list and somebody who was booked before may suddenly become an emergency. Emergency can arise at any time. So

the person’s case might now be prioritised over those who came before him,” he added.

Dr. Akinwotu identified a number of factors which may lead to delay or cancellation of emergency or booked surgeries, which range from unavailability of power supply, unavailability of disposables used in the theater and shortage of specialist manpower.

“If there are inadequate sterilised kits for the surgery. Most at times, you find out that electricity is required to do the sterilisation and most often the gadgets are electrically powered; it can lead to delay or cancellation of surgery.

“If we need to do a kind of surgery that the person has to bleed beyond normal we may need to do some transfusion on the patient so that the blood loss can be replenished.

If there is no blood available they may not go ahead with the surgery and the blood must be compatible with the receiver’s blood,” said Akinwotu.

He also said that if any

of the specialists who are on the roaster for the surgery fails to show up and there is nobody to replace him that can lead to either a delay or cancellation of emergency or booked surgery.

Akinwotu advised that there has to be proper planning and retraining of specialised personnel in other to correct the menace of delay or cancellation of emergency or booked surgeries in our hospitals.

“To prevent all these proper planning is required and high level management potentials need to be put in place. We need to ensure that everything required to be on ground are provided; the man power is well staffed and there is no shortage of doctors.

“We need to continue training and re-training experts so that we can have people that have specialised skills in the kind of surgery we are talking about. There must be availability of water because proper cleansing and washing is required in the theater,” he added.

common bacterium, E. Coli, found in the intestine helps us digest green vegetables and beans (also making gases – pew!). These same bacteria also make vitamin K, which causes blood to clot. If we didn’t have these germs we would bleed to death whenever we got a small cut!

Cornea in the eye has no blood supply The only part of your body that has no blood supply is the cornea in the eye. It gets its oxygen directly from air.

Body position affects memory Memories are highly embodied in our senses.

A scent or sound may evoke a distant episode from one’s childhood.

The connections can be obvious (a bicycle bell makes you remember your old paper route) or inscrutable.

Your bones can selfdestruct In addition to supporting the bag of organs and muscles that is our body, bones help regulate our calcium levels. If the element is in short supply, certain hormones will cause bones to break down, upping calcium levels in the body until the appropriate extracellular concentration is reached.

A virus can cause obesity Adenoviruses are responsible for a host of ills, from upper respiratory tract problems to gastrointestinal troubles.

It also seems to increase the number of fat cells in the body as well as the fat content of these cells.

How the eye sees The farthest you can see with the naked eye is 2.4 million light years away! (140,000,000,000, 000,000,000 miles.) That’s the distance to the giant Andromeda Galaxy.

You can see it easily as a dim, large gray “cloud” almost directly overhead in a clear night sky.

Erection of men Men have erections every hour to hour and a half during sleep. This is because the combination of blood circulation and testosterone production can cause erections during sleep and are a necessary part of REM sleep.

THURSday, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

David Akpotor is the Senior Programme Officer with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), a member of the Nigerian Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFAH).

In this interview with APPOLONIA ADEYEMI, he discusses why the three tiers of government have failed to prioritise child health especially routine immunisation and factors that will increase contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) in the country

Health budgets in some key areas was slashed in this country. What is your take on this?

The problem here is about priority. The government of the day has not focused on priority areas. A good example is what happened in the budget of 2016. They went to the Federal Ministry of Health and removed counterpart funding and some essential areas in health like the eradication of polio, taking care of routine immunisation, the treatment of childhood killer diseases, pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria and nutrition.

Those were the areas our legislators removed funding from.

So, I think it is the issue of misplaced priority. The government of the day is not placing high premium on essential healthcare of the people.

So what would you advise the government to do?

Very simple! From what we have, the 2013 National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) which is the most recent, states that for every 1000 births in Nigeria 128 children will not live to see their 5th birthday. That is very alarming. What that one means is that for every eight children you have now one of them will not see his 5th birthday.

For a country like ours, I think the government has to place priority on this issue; that’s what the Nigerian Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFAH) is all about.

PACFAH wants government to place priority on four key issues. First and foremost, routine immunisation which is vital and is key to all other areas - nutrition, diarrhoea, pneumonia and treatment of all childhood killer diseases, as well as family planning.

If the government places priority on these key areas we will have good health outcome in the country and these will drive down child mortality rate of 128 per 1000. This data is very alarming; it is just too high for a country like ours to have 128 children dying. That’s a national figure.

For Kaduna State where we

Health\INTERVIEW

33

‘Foreign donors can’t sustain health interventions’ work, 185 children per 1000 die every year. We need to work on this. The government of the day has to place priority on these areas and has to make sure the work is done, during immunisation programmes.

It is certain that during Immunisation Week you will be seeing different conferences by different organisation but when it comes to the time of implementation there is no fund available and there is no commodities available.

Based on this background, how do you access health? How do you bring down the mortality rate? Therefore, the government has to place priority on these issues.

On family planning would you say Nigerian women are ignorant of this very important aspect of their health?

I wouldn’t say that. The main issue is about enlightenment and meeting some of the concerns people have. There are many misconceptions about family planning.

During our advocacy engagement with the communities we found out that different persons have different interpretations of family planning. Some see as you want to reduce the number of children you want to give birth to; and some see it as some western practice to reduce our population.

So, I think it is about awareness creation and the government has a major role to play in this area. The government needs to empower the communities; the government needs to actually make jingles for awareness creation around these issues.

Five to 10 years ago you heard jingles on radio and television talking about people planning families, but now it is all gone.

Why is it so? This is because they were donor driven. Now, Nigeria is no more among low income countries. Most donors are now restricting their fund for Nigeria.

So, the government needs to take ownership and make these sustainable. There is no project that will be sustained without the government intervention.

If you leave your health intervention for donors alone there will be no sustainability.

So, for family planning, I think there is need for more engagement with the communities.

There is the need for enlightenment and these issues are to be driven by the government.

The PACFAH group had earlier met with the commissioner for health in Lagos State and it was revealed that family planning commodities are available but the issue is taking the commodities from the stores to the last man in the health facilities. That’s where the issue is.

Government has to pay for that commitment and ensure that

Government must demonstrate commitment to fund health projects

funds are available to take those commodities from the stores to the last man.

The first thing is about engaging the communities and ensuring that the problems they have about family planning are appropriately applied.

Secondly, the government must demonstrate commitment to fund health projects. Thirdly, the health care providers should be well trained and should have the capacity. They should give out these family planning commodities and explain them appropriately to the women they are being delivered to.

On routine immunisation, what would you say is the reason for slashing the budget?

I want the media to enlighten the legislators. They need to be aware of what they have done.

Cutting the budget line of polio and measles from N8 billion naira to N4 billion by 50 per cent is a crime.

Personally, I believe it’s a

Akpotor

crime against humanity because if Nigeria does not bring this counterpart funding, the donors are not going to bring their own part of it. Let me tell you, the ratio about this. The donors want the government to bring N8 billion they will now bring N16 billion. The World Health Organisation (WHO) will bring N16 billion, Gate Foundation will bring N16 billion. Without Nigeria providing the N8 billion, we cannot assess the N32 billion.

Now, we are complaining that there is no money in the economy and someone is saying I will give you N32 billion if you can provide N8 billion. The president budgeted N8 billion and the legislatures slashed the N8 billion to N4 billion. It’s a crime.

If we don’t assess this grant, I’m very sure that before the end of this year, we will see the reoccurrence of polio in Nigeria.

Accessing this foreign fund is critical and routine immunisation cuts across the four issue areas we are talking about.

34

Health\News

THURSday, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG, Lagos partner physiologists over high disease burden Mojeed Alabi

A

s a result of the high burden of diseases and epidemics, which according to experts, is putting a big strain on the nation’s health facilities, the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government have pledged to implement the recommendations of this year’s International Congress of the African Association of Physiological Sciences and 36th Physiological Society (PSN) Scientific Conference.

Speaking at the programme, which was successfully rounded off last Thursday in Lagos VicePresident, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo said the new administration is interested in mobilising resources the country is endowed with to address its challenges.

Osinbajo was represented

by Prof. Babatunde Salako, the director-general of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos.

He lauded the society for bringing in experts across the globe to proffer solutions to the dearth of research in Nigeria and Africa by extension, say-

L-R: Chairman, LOC of the 36th Physiological Society Scientific Conference, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris with the plaque of appreciation presented to Lagos State by the Society, and the President of the Physiological Society of Nigeria, Prof.

Arthur Nwafor, at the opening ceremony of the conference

ing the Federal Government will be willing to receive the communique of the conference as soon as it is prepared for consideration and eventual implementation.

In a similar development, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has also expressed the determination of his administration to partner relevant stakeholders including researchers to address the numerous challenges facing the people and more importantly the health system.

The state’s Commis-

sioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said the state’s decision to partner the society in hosting the event was part of its belief in what the impact of the contributions of the stakeholders would be for the nation and the continent of Africa as a whole.

Meanwhile, speaking on the relevance of the programme, which featured participants including prominent physiologists, researchers and students from Egypt, Sudan, South Africa, United States, United Kingdom (UK), Canada and Australia, among others.

Doctors, firms move against medical tourism Ebere Ameh

P

iqued by the estimated $500 billion spent by Nigerians on medical treatment abroad, the Guild of Medical Directors in Nigeria has come up with plans to save the nation’s economy and health care services from crisis by cutting the amount by half in no distant time.

National President of the guild, Dr. Tony Philips, made this known in Abuja recently when the organisation signed a memorandum of understanding on instalmental payments for buying health equipment with Siemens Biostadt.

With the new arrangement funded by Fidelity Bank, any doctor managing their own hospital in the country could get any equipment they want with approval of the guild from the firm without any collateral, and they could pay just 10 per cent of the cost of the equipment they want, while the remaining payment is stretched to a period of time.

While the partnership seeks to allow doctors who operate their own hospitals buy health equipment at cheap prices from the company, while paying instalmentally, Amina

Babalola, who represented Fidelity Bank at the event said interest rate for the funding would be at a single digit and that the funding would be sustained.

According to Philips, medical tourism was one of the ways through which the nation loses its fortunes, adding that promises by government to halt the trend over the years have not yielded positive results.”

“We’ve been talking about how we could stem medical tourism down; there has always been talk and talk, but no action.

But, we want to work as we talk....The whole idea is that doctors can now choose equipment they want for their practices and pay for it in a friendly manner. It is not the pay back that will give you hypertension or make you die before you get the equipment, or to get the money. We had contact with other equipment dealers, but found out that Biostadt Siemens is the one that will benefit us. That is why we decided to go into this partnership with them.

“This is something that will be done all over the country for all our doctors, and they can always get this through the Guild of Medical Directors. This is our own contribution in bringing down medi-

cal tourism. And, we hope that our doctors will embrace it...

“The whole aim of this is that what you spend on tourism will be down.

You won’t travel. When you travel out, you get the equipment there. You pay for accommodation, you pay for transportation.

You pay for even the person that accompanies you.

But, when you have this here, from your house, you enter the clinic and you can go back to your house,” Philip said, adding that the devices to be purchased include those that are used for treating killer diseases such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes, hepatitis, among others.

Also speaking at the event, Secretary-General of the group, Dr Festus Osoba said: “Today, we are witnessing something important. This is our own way of saying that the change begins with us. What is the change that we need in the health sector to stem the tide of brain drain, of medical tourism, converting medical tourism from drain to gain? How do we do it?

It is by empowerment. We as health sector practitioners in the private sector render health care delivery to more than 60 per cent of Nigerians.

Become what you choose to be (2) O Nature G ver the last 20 years, I have been fully involved in treating people with different illnesses. I notice a tendency towards more subtle illnesses.

As human beings become more complicated and adopt a so-called modern, sophisticated mode of life, so also do our illnesses become more complicated.

However, as we build more highways, manufacture steel cars, build bridges, and make electronic gadgets, all of which absolve a great percentage of the universal energy field, we become prone to hitherto unknown and strange illnesses. While our bodies vibrate at a frequency as low as 35 or 40Hz, the electrical gadgets we use have a frequency as high as 250 Hz. It is no wonder then that we are physically weaker than our ancestors.

Expired drugs, deposition of toxic wastes, soaps containing mercury, air pollution; all these are contributing to the rapid decline of the health of our people, thereby increasing their need for chemical drugs. The sole beneficiaries, of course, are the vast pharmaceutical companies of Europe and America.

Thus the rich continues to grow richer while the poor grows poorer. I discovered, to my amazement, when I was in the republic of Ireland in May 2002, that there still exist some companies that manufacture medicated and skin-bleaching soaps for exportation to West Africa. These soaps contain, among

Most often, it is the poor, plundered countries of Africa and Asia who have to pay for the greed and crass materialism of the rich nations, who have beautified and developed their nations with the sweat from the brow of the poor.

However, the rich nations themselves are paying highly for their opulence. While conquering the world, and gaining control over it, and exploring it, they lost sense of the basic elements of life. Western man and woman have purchased materialism at the cost

of their soul, pulling themselves away from the earth, from nature. Humankind seems to have lost their conscience. The result is intense anger and bitterness; leading to violence and war.

The millions of immigrants from the plundered poor countries who sit at the gates of the rich nations without being given access to their opulence remind them that there will be no peace unless there is equity and justice in the world. The situation can be summarised in the words of this anonymous writer: “when the gap between the rich and the poor widens, the poor keeps awake because they are hungry, and rich cannot sleep because the poor are awake.”

Whether we like it or not, we are responsible for what we become. We are what we eat. Our happiness is in our hands.

Stress is a big challenge for modern man

PHOTO: www.standardmedia.co.ke

Power

Anselm Adodo

naturepower@paxherbals.net twitter: @anselmadodo

others, mercury, a chemical so dangerous that it severely damages and weakens the immune system. These companies were publicly banned in England, but the same English government helped them to shift their base to Dublin, the capital of the republic of Ireland. I walked round the city of Dublin and the only shops where I could find soaps containing mercury are in African shops, patronised by young African ladies, mostly Nigerians, who want their skins to resemble the European skin as much as possible.

Also, many brands of lipsticks and deodorants have been implicated in the spread of cancer among women. Study has shown that butyl benzyl phthalate, or BBP, can interfere with the healthy development of breast tissue, leading to breast cancer.

Many brands of lipsticks and deodorants have been implicated in the spread of cancer

Combination of ginger, chili pepper cut cancer risk

inger and chili peppers contain many healthful substances, including numerous antioxidants, but chili peppers have had a mixed reputation for their cancer-fighting ability.

According to a study published in the ‘Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry’, capsaicin combined with six gingergol, a pungent component of ginger, becomes a powerful anti-cancer weapon that inhibits the key cellular receptors on tumors responsible for their growth.

Ginger has been used for thousands of years to ease tummy troubles, and it is an anti-inflammatory that may help treat arthritis. Numerous laboratory studies have found that ginger also fights cancer, even deadly ovarian cancer, by stopping the growth of cancer cells and causing them to commit suicide.

Some other studies showed that ginger and chili peppers make cancer cells commit suicide by starving them of oxygen while not harming healthy cells.

35

THURSday, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

MOM’S ALERT

Mom&Parenting

Adopting a more peaceful parenting approach

Parenting Mama…Irreplaceable!

36 36

G

randparents are a true blessing but sometimes, whether they mean to or not, they can cause a little trouble for mommies especially young ones (and dads too). That’s the gift of being a grandparent: one can make mistakes and no one to be held accountable for the most part. Laura Liftshitz of www. circle of moms stated ways most lovely and sometimes controversial grandparents could sabotage the hard work of young parents, and how to handle the grandparent debacle!

The Sweet-Toothed Grandparent They can’t help themselves.

Grandparents enjoy doting on the little ones because now they don’t have to do the hard work of parenting. Still, it can be infuriating to pick up your child right before dinner only to find out that, lo and behold, Grandpa has given your darling a doughnut, “just because…..”

Before you get too steamed, know that it’s fun to spoil someone you love when you don’t have to reap the consequences of said spoiling. grandpa might not realise it’s too close to dinnertime for a doughnut, or if he did realises, he might figure a little doughnut won’t hurt, although we moms know all too well that a little donut is a big deal right before the dinner hour.

What you can do: If you know grandpa can’t resist handing out treats/sweets to your little ones, bring treats that you approve for him to hand out as he wishes. This way, perhaps you can trade that doughnut or cupcake in for a lollipop, which is not as much of an appetite-killer as a doughnut!

Another option? Ask grandpa to halve his sweets before giving to the kids. Explain that you understand his need to “feed,” so to speak, but that he’s hurting your child’s dinner time appetite, which means he’s going to bed hungry, and what grandpa wants to hear that his grandkid is going to bed on just a measly doughnut?

Discipline Drama When in grandma’ care, do they tend to poo-poo junior’s bad actions or, on the flip side, take on an aggressive discipline approach?

This is a tough topic to broach with grandparents. For the grandparents

Mom&Parenting

Oluwatosin Omoniyi City Editor

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

The Trent grandparents with Grandkids

Ways grandparents sabotage parents who laugh off your kiddo’s bad choices, keep in mind that they may simply feel uncomfortable laying down the law with your child because they’re not his or her parents. They want to be the good guys and be loved by your kid.

What to do: Respectfully address them.

Acknowledge generational differences.

Keep communication open. If grandpa and grammas can’t lay down the law when caring for your kids, ask them to simply give the warning that all consequences will be given out upon your or the other parent’s return, that way kids know a consequence is coming and will be delivered.

If you can convince the grandparents to lay down the law, it would be better.

Perhaps ask them to stick to short-term consequences such as time-outs — and then in situations when your kid really acts out, allow them to warn that a further consequence will be handed out upon your return.

The overly-aggressive grandparent may simply be the mark of personality or generation. Our generation is not resorting to spanking the way my parents’ generation did. You may find that your child’s grandparent resorts to yelling or threats of spanking when caring for your kid. This is not an appropriate action by a grandparent (or any parent in my opinion), although we all yell sometimes.

You’re going to have to be the tough guy and tell the grandparents that there is to be no spanking, no threats of spanking, and no yelling allowed (although a yell here and there is acceptably human). State that you understand how sometimes people

Respectfully address them.

Acknowledge generational differences

yell — it happens — but that you would like them to try to control or modify the amount of yelling and especially the words they’re using in regards to discipline. Be sure to emphasize that hitting, spanking, or threats of either are not acceptable, and if it continues you may not allow them to babysit or have alone time anymore.

The fact is that these methods of discipline may seem innocent or appropriate or not harmful to them because that’s what they were raised with. Keep this in mind when approaching them and explain that while you understand that they turned out beautiful and great kids, that you and your partner are trying a different approach in parenting with your kids, and you hope they will respect your wishes.

The Story-Teller Do grandparents occasionally tell your kids horror stories about the time you did X, Y, and Z, and X, Y, and Z are embarrassing or bad deeds you want no one else to know, especially your kids?

What to do: Well, chances are grandparents think those little “stories” are funny or they might just have a tendency to spill his guts or he wants to get you back for all the times you worried him to death. Whatever the reason, it’s most likely not with malicious intent that they are telling your kids about how you used to make out with your boy band posters as practice for the real deal. Still, you want them to shush it, so here’s how

PHOTO: WWW.DRVC.FAITH.ORG

to make that happen: The next time grandpa reveals another grand old story about you, you can tell a silly one about him if you want to fight fire with fire. However, this could become a challenging game for him on who can out-embarrass the other one first.

The most adult thing to do would be to sit him down and explain how, while you know he must mean no harm by his storytelling, it is hurting you and making you look like less of a respectable authority figure in front of your kids. Would he have wanted someone to do that to him? Most likely he will say no and need firm reminders to not spill his guts now and then.

What to do: The grandparent parent If you live with your children’s grandparents, expect them to be a surrogate parent of sorts, especially if they help with everyday care of your child. Occasionally, though, grandmother may try to run the show more than you would like her to. Understand first that in many ways, grandmother is given parental responsibilities, therefore most likely has a good opinion and knowledge of how your child is and what works with him or her. However, you are the mom first and foremost. How do you tell her when she should back off and when she shouldn’t?

Keep in mind that one day you will be a grandparent and will cherish and want time with your grandchildren as well.

Try to be generous, loving, and grateful for the fact that your children have active grandparents. As a woman who grew up with no living grandparents, I wish so badly that I could have known them and had time with them. Don’t sabotage your children’s chances to enjoy time with grandparents who love them even if grandparents sometimes make bad or silly choices, as long as they’re not hurtful.

Culled from POPSUGAR of www.circle of moms

36 MOM&PARENTING

THURSday, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

i-Protect

Childhood Protection & preservation culture

with

Taiwo Akinlami principal@taiwoakinlami.com

The unsuspecting caregiver finds all kinds of names to describe the products of their errors

MOM’S ALERT with

Grace Essen

grace.essen@gmail.com

Adopting a more peaceful The doctrine of tyranny: Another parenting approach crime against child’s humanity

A

crime against the humanity of the child is a crime against the entirety of humanity. The logic is very simple.

The child gives back to the society in adulthood what the society gives to him/her in childhood. I guess that is why Abraham Lincoln says, ‘a child is a person who is going to carry on what you have started. He is going to sit where you’re sitting, and when you’re gone; attend to those things, which are important. You may adopt all the policies you please, but how they are carried out depends on him. He will assume control of your Cities, States, and Nation. He is going to move in and take over your churches, schools, universities and corporations. The fate of humanity is in his hands.’

I think it is important we pay adequate attention the last sentence, ‘the fate of humanity is in his hands.’ It is simply means there is no better way to predict the future of a people except by the way they treat their precious children.

That is why I have dedicated the last three weeks to discussing these three (3) crimes against the fragile humanity of our precious children. My high and earnest hope is that, we will recognize the practices for what they and we will turn the tide in the favour of our precious children.

Permit me to round off our discussion by addressing what I consider as the last of the crime against the humanity of our precious children.

It is called the Doctrine of Tyranny: this doctrine says children do not have any contribution to make and they must not be allowed to air their views on any matter, simply because they are children.

The practitioners of this doctrine erroneously believe that adulthood is synonymous with the possession of exclusive views of life. The child’s view is not sought at all. When the child attempts to make a contribution, he/she is silenced shabbily and rudely too. He’s accused of being nosy.

Gradually, the child is robbed of his/her priceless curiosity. He/she has no faith in his/her own

views. His/her self-esteem and self-confidence is attacked. The unsuspecting caregiver finds all kinds of names to describe the products of their errors; they say the child is an introvert; the child is the quiet type.

In actual fact the child is not quiet, he/she is subdued. He/she does not know the characteristics of an introvert; he/she knows the characteristics of a defeated mind, he/she being the eloquent example.

The child has the right to freedom of expression, which is an offshoot of the child’s right to form opinion. What is the use of the right to form opinion to the child, if he/she will not be deliberately encouraged to give expression to those opinions?

Our great error is that we pretend to think and speak for the child as if we are in the child’s life. We forget that the state of affairs when we were children is different from the state of affairs today.

According to Dr. Maria Montessori, ‘if we are to help life, we have first of all to study it.

Studying it, means that we do not try to teach it, we learn from it instead. We learn from this living organism, the child, its needs and tendencies. Only when we know the child’s needs can we begin to learn how to cater for them.’

It is important to note that the best way to begin to learn from the child is to believe that he/she has an opinion to offer and give him/her the opportunity to give express such opinion.

Learning from the child also include allowing the child to ask questions, noting that the only foolish question a child will ever ask is a question he/she is not allowed to ask.

Permit me to begin to bring this discussion to a close by urging us to change our thinking about our precious children and give them room to express their minds to enable us to accurately identify their needs and meet same accordingly.

Please note that we earnestly look forward to hearing from you. Do have an INSPIRED week.

THE VIRTUOUS MOM with

Hameed Opeyemi abdulvirtuepen@gmail.com

MAMA… IRREPLACEABLE! Nothing can replace your heart to heart love That one which softens the strongest of all stones Free lunch, cool breakfast, and yummy dinner Fact files of natural care all from my noble mum Everything from your end means love all through Mama… the hallowed being that solo dad’s high tempo From the beginning of life you gave all to test in stress Letting us see the different of manmade and God made Of the most high, I feel your love that none can quench Of the love world, I feel yours here from the most high Of the parenting tag, you are for the world best award Mama… the only diamond that possess an invaluable value Here I cry day in, day out, wishing you live forever I see the moon out on a ferry of the river bank I feel the trembling pains cracking the back, day of delivery I feel, see, and know that sweet/sour labor Experience in the child labour- inexpressible!

The joy of your sagging breast while breastfeeding is nothing compared to the tiny bundle of joy in your arms Mama… an edge you display in that sack race of mothers Shoulder to shoulder with able farm men to inspire your child You surprised us by appearing to the call of mothers

You surprised us by winning with the spirit on the hold You surprised us by standing higher among all in view Even the so call father of the world marvel by your steps What can we compare to your care that is irreplaceable?

What will be the judgment of your daily stress of all time?

What will make the world to see the light from your room?

What can I say, when all I see is the love that witness no end?

What will replace that funky life when you are off here?

What! What! What! Nothing but praise to my irreplaceable…

Time for the market, she smiles on to get the kitchen things Time for cooking things, she mixed and turn for the best of meal Time for daddy’s call, she give herself out to the call of nature Time for the pregnant stress, she gives all to bring us here Time for the delivery in check, she pushed and cried in pain At all time of her existence, she work all day to serve the world Mothers of life, I wish the Everest stand firm for your reward Mothers of life, I hope for a feast to celebrate you at all time Mothers of ours, I pray for a reward that pays for a workstress Mothers of ours, I wish the heaven open to sing your praise Mothers of ours, I wish your judgment will be for paradise Mothers for real, I know all this will surely be for your world

F

or moms like me who have limits are, while maintaining warm, young children, it must have connected and supportive relationbeen two months of yelling, ship with them. separating fights and dealing Mutual problem-solving Adopting a democratic, mutual with lots of ‘misbehavior’ this long holiday. I was visiting with a friend problem-solving approach to parentfew days ago and for the twenty min- ing takes both the parent and child out utes we spent together we had to of the power struggle. This approach pause more than five times for her to teaches parents to relate primarily to yell, spank, pacify or ask the senior to the feelings beneath the behaviour just let the junior one be, even when and to respond primarily to the feelthe junior was obviously the trouble ings. When a child’s response shows maker! Same scenario plays out in upset, rather than criticizing them, we my home too. What can we do when can show care for their feelings, “My children having so much energy have son, you seem upset, come and tell me but minimal activities to expend it on, about it”. This helps children learn unlike when schools are in session. to identify their own feelings and inWe console ourselves that school will crease their emotional intelligence. soon resume anyway, but at the same Role modeling: Do as I do time beating ourselves up for not beOne of the most profound ways ing “perfect” moms. that children learn is by watching our I stumbled onto a term, peaceful behaviour. When we use manipulaparenting recently and it sounded re- tion, threats, bribes or punishments ally interesting. I studied some mate- of any kind, we are modeling to our rials from Peaceful Parent Institute children that this is what they should and I thought to share what I learned. do and how they should be in relationPeaceful parenting is an approach ships. Consequently, this will become that focuses on dealing with parent- their default mode in attempting to ing challenges in a more constructive make others act the way they want way. It makes us as parents aware of them to act. In other words, they will (1)what we’re modelling through our naturally think and feel in terms of responses to our manipulating, bribchildren, (2)the iming, threatening and portance of trying punishing. to meet the underWhy children behave lying needs that ‘badly’ One of the most may be driving Aggressive or hythe behaviour, (3) peractive behaviour, profound ways or speaking with the skills that the “whining” tones, are child needs to dethat children learn generally symptoms velop for future sitis by watching our of unmet needs. The uations and (4)the child may be hungry connection, care behaviour or exhausted, may and warmth in the be overstimulated or relationship. This contrasts with trathey may have a need ditional parenting approaches which to release their pent up stresses and often focus on the child’s behaviour in frustrations. It may well be an indiisolation, often using punishment as cation that there’s too much chaos a strategy for modifying behaviour. and aggressive tones in the family The key principles of the peace- and the child is feeling disconnected, ful parenting approach are based on defensive or overwhelmed. From the a combination of the following: peaceful parenting perspective, we Parenting without punishment should seek to explore what the unThis approach encourages sup- derlying needs may be that are driving porting children to make choices from the behaviour. When we give children a place of integrity, self-discipline and the safety and permission to feel and self-responsibility rather than fear of express their feelings, children can redisapproval or desire for reward. Not turn to balance and again live happily only is this an alternative to punish- in the moment. ment, it’s the only alternative that Parents also have needs leads to long term peace and harmoThe parent’s need for emotional ny in families and effectively meets support and release is just as big and children’s needs for emotional safety, valid as the child’s and the first is acsecurity, developing emotional intel- tually a prerequisite for the second. ligence and fostering unconditional Peaceful parenting puts into considerlove. ation how the patterns from our own Clear communication, boundaries and childhood influence how we parent. limits Although most of us try our best to Peaceful parenting encourages parent with patience and kindness, we clear and patient communication must keep in mind that putting this and trust in the child’s basic good- principle into practice won’t come so ness. When children don’t respond easy and it will be unfair to expect ourto us parents, instead of raising our selves to just be calm and non-critical voices or making a threat, we can when faced with parenting challenges make physical contact, come down to without lots of practice, support and their level, touch them kindly, calmly quite a lot of processing of our own get their attention, be clear about emotional hurts. It is therefore imporour expectations and ask them what tant that we have the opportunity and they’ve understood. Limits should be support to process our own emotional set with confidence, giving children hurts so that we can move in a more very clear understanding of what the positive direction with our parenting.

BUSINESS | Money Line

thursDAY, september 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Unity Bank fires 215, hires 200

RESTRUCTURING Lender targets workforce transformation

following the relocation of its head office from Abuja to Lagos, was in sync with its plan to grow market share in viable clusters of the retail market.

According to the lender, it had also employed about 200 new staff to drive the transformation initiative began by the management in the last one year while about 100 other staff had been promoted.

The lender said that the 215 employees that were let go exercised the

Stories Tony Chukwunyem

U

nity Bank Plc has terminated the employment of 215 of its employees as part of a restructuring programme aimed at transforming its workforce.

In a statement, the bank said the move, which was also targeted at attracting specialist skills to its workforce

option to resign, adding that the management has approved severance package in line with the institution’s policy.

The slowdown in the economy has fuelled a high non-performing loan rate in the banking system, causing banks to record sharp decline in their profits for the 2015 financial year and the first half of 2016.

Following the development, banks have been shedding jobs to reduce their monthly wage bill. For instance,

in the first quarter of 2016, four lenders sacked over 3,000 staff. In fact, the spate of sacking was only halted when the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige , ordered banks to suspend the layoffs until after a general meeting of stakeholders in the industry.

However, the meeting, which was scheduled to hold in July was postponed indefinitely.

According to a report released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Nigeria drops further in African countries’ prospect rankings

G

lobal measurement company, Nielsen, said Nigeria has again declined in the prospects rankings of African countries, falling by a further three places from its previous ranking to seventh position on the firm’s 2016 African Prospects Indicator (APi) ranking.

According to the firm, while Nigeria topped its inaugural APi ranking in the first quarter of 2015, the country subsequently dropped to the fourth position in the second half of 2015.

The firm said:“Nigeria topped the inaugural list in Quarter 1, 2015, but has

subsequently dropped to a more moderate fourth position in the second half of 2015, and currently falls a further three places to seventh position.

Its retail, macro and business prospects have deteriorated, with the macro and business indicators, ranking eighth and sixth respectively.”

Nielsen noted that market conditions in Nigeria have remained extremely constrained, following the slump in oil prices. It added that fuel and power supply issues, the foreign exchange crisis, as well as the naira’s devaluation have also impacted the economy.

“In April this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised the Nigerian 2016 growth rate down from the original forecast of 3.2 per cent to 2.3 per cent. The five main reasons for this were: lower oil price, shortfalls in non-oil revenues, deterioration in finances of state and local governments, increased disruptions in the private sector activity due to constraints in access to foreign exchange, and a resurgence in security concerns,” the firm stated.

Nielsen said Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya and Tanzania maintain the first, second and third place on it latest prospects rank-

ing and currently provide more stable investment destinations than the larger economies of Nigeria, South Africa and Angola that have lower expectations.

The firm further stated that results reported in the 2016 APi (the third edition) are based on multiple, weighted data as at Quarter 1, 2016. The study covers multi dimensional, comparative indicators for nine of Africa’s leading markets, where common measurement information is available, and is representative of 70 per cent of Sub Saharan Africa’s GDP and 48 per cent of the population.

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF MPR 91-day NTB 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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 17.1

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 July, 2016

14 10.77 US$49.29 US$25,157,243,447

26/07/2016 Mar 2015 24/9/2016 8/9/2016 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 104.65 114.59 111.96 120.58 109.60 100.54 83.82 97.56

1.07 3.24 3.87 5.82 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.29

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.4583 9.1071 11.0102 12.3790

Bid Yield 10.38 10.55 11.60 11.44 12.27 12.40 12.44 12.49

Change (%) -2.50 ▼ -0.74 ▼ -0.65 ▼ -0.68 ▼

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲

Price 104.80 114.89 112.26 120.88 109.90 100.84 84.12 97.86

Tenor (Months)

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲

NITTY

Rate (%) 6.9949 7.2368 8.0819 9.2061 9.5872 10.5042

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 10.24 10.45 11.51 11.38 12.22 12.34 12.39 12.44

Change (%) 1.12 ▲ -0.27 ▼ -0.17 ▼ -0.11 ▼ 0.03 ▲ 0.42 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 7.67 7.82 -0.51 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 3.83 30-Jun-16 7.92 8.08 -0.51 ▼ 6-Oct-16 8.59 8.34 8.71 -0.31 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 4.33 8.99 -0.31 ▼ 16-Mar-17 9.36 10.28 -0.07 ▼ 9.11 9.98 -0.07 ▼

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.14

FX

Offer 199.24

Change (%) 0.57 ▲

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016 Spot($/N)

37

196.00

197.00

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) -1.75 ▼ -2.08 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

in July, bad loans in the banking industry rose sharply by 78.8 per cent to N649.63billion in 2015, indicating severe deterioration in the quality of the loan portfolio of the 22 banks.

The report also showed a general increase in bad/non-performing loans among the 22 Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) in the country. This was despite the 30 per cent decline in new loans granted by banks in 2015 to N5.78trillion.

The report also showed that 18 out the 22 DMBs recorded increase in bad loans and that the number of banks that exceeded the regulatory limit of five per cent for the ratio of bad loans to total loans rose from three in 2014 to eight in 2015, with three banks exceeding 10 per cent.

Despite the Federal Government’s opposition to lay-offs by the banking industry, financial analysts believe more lenders will fire a significant number of their workers in the coming months as they battle the effects of the economic recession.

An official of a new generation bank, who did not want to be named, said: “Other companies are sacking workers as part of efforts to survive the tough times, so why should banks be prevented from taking this step? Is the government going to pay the salaries of bank workers whose services are no longer needed? Banks like every other business were set up to make profit and job cuts are sometimes necessary to ensure companies’ survival.”

IMF: Africa has bright prospects for growth

S

ub-Saharan Africa has bright prospects for growth in spite of persistent slowdown in growth owing to the slump in commodity prices and a more difficult global environment, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.

While there have been quite significant slowdown in some countries in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in resourceintensive countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, non-resourceintensive countries like Kenya, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire have been able to maintain growth.

IMF Resident Representative for Ghana, Ms Natalia Koliadina, who

briefed members of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists on the IMF’s April 2016 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa, said there is the need for countries in the region to diversify their economies to minimise shocks from slumps in commodity prices.

This, she noted, would require policy as well as structural reforms, building of infrastructure and skills upgrade for its workforce.

She added that it is also important for countries to insulate themselves against the effects of commodity price slumps by building up buffers when the prices are high.

AfDB, Japanese bank seal deal

T

he African Development Bank (AfDB) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for business cooperation with Mizuho Bank, Ltd(MHBK) of Japan.

The signed LOI according to a statement, covers a broad range of financial services, including Treasury, Trade Finance and Project Finance to support the Bank’s High 5 development priorities, which are: Light up and power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.

The agreement marks the AfDB’s commitment to establish strategic partnerships that are catalytic to deliver its

ambitious development agenda on the continent.

Over time, the LOI will materialise with specific contract agreements that can strengthen the Bank’s work and add value to its development mandate. Mizuho Bank Ltd., a well-established international and top tier Japanese Bank with a significant experience in financing various initiatives in Africa, will thus become a key partner towards achieving the AfDB’s development objectives in Africa.

The AfDB is a regional multilateral development bank, engaged in promoting the economic and social development of its Regional Member Countries. Its mission is to mobilise.

38

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

thursDAY, september 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

thursDAY, september 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

39

Stock market extends 3 days gaining streak BULLISH Conoil leads gainers as market opens on positive tract

Stories Chris Ugwu

A

fter the two days public holidays declared by the Federal Government for the celebration of eid-el-kabir trading activities on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday opened on a positive territory, driven by sustained bargain hunting activities, which lifted the NSE ASI and market capitalisation by 0.26 per cent.

On Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th September, 2016 all Exchange facilities nationwide were closed for busi-

ness to observe the holidays.

Specifically, the AllShare Index gained 64.61 basis points or 0.23 per cent to close at 27.642.13 index points as against 27,577.52 recorded last Friday, while the market capitalisation of equities appreciated by N22 billion or 0.23 per cent to close at N9.495 trillion from N9.473 trillion.

Meanwhile, a turnover of 182.3 million shares exchanged in 2,776 deals was recorded in the day’s trading.

Banking services subsector of the financial services sector was the most active (measured by turnover volume) with 112.2 million shares exchanged by investors in 980 deals.

Volume in the sub-sector was largely driven by activities in the shares of Diamond Bank Plc and GTB Plc. P re m i u m sub-sector

boosted by activities in the shares of FBNH Plc and Zenith Bank Plc followed with a turnover of 24.9 million shares exchanged in 423 deals.

The number of gainers at the close of trading session was 15, while decliners closed at 19.

Conoil Nigeria Plc led the gainers’ table with 10.17 per cent to close at N26.21 per share, while Unilever Nigeria Plc followed with a gain of 4.99 per cent to close at N42.28 per share. African Prudential Registrars Plc added 4.84 per cent to close at N2.60 per share.

U

Stocks stabilise with bonds as metals rally, crude slumps

S stocks rose amid deals and a rally in Apple Inc., while Treasuries advanced as the rout that’s wiped some $2 trillion off the value of global shares over the past week shows signs of easing.

Crude slipped.

According to Bloomberg News, the S&P 500 Index rebounded from a two-month low, though fell from morning highs after oil inventory data sent crude tumbling below $44 a barrel. Apple surged to a five-month high on optimism over sales of its new iPhone.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index

Mutual Benefits’ HY 2016 PAT down by 85%

M

utual Benefits Assurance Plc has posted a profit after tax of N387.630 million for the half year ended June 30, 2016.

This represents a drop of 85 per cent over N2.661 billion recorded during the same period of 2015.

Profit before tax stood at N493.865 million in 2016 as against N2.747 billion reported a year earlier, accounting for a decline of 82.02 per cent.

According to a notice from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the statement of financial position as at the period under review, showed gross premium written also dropped to N6.373 billion in 2016 as against N10.087 billion recorded a year earlier, indicating a drop of 36.82 per cent.

Mutual Benefits Assurance posted a pre-tax profit of N1.195 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2015.

The pre-tax profit accounted for a drop of 81 per cent over

N4.980 billion recorded during the same period of 2014.

Profit after stood at N812.048 million in 2015 as against N4.980 billion reported a year earlier, representing a decline of 76 per cent.

The statement of financial position as at the period under review showed gross premium written dropped to N14.598 billion in 2015 as against N15.451 billion recorded a year earlier, indicating a dip of 6 per cent.

The underwriter recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cool World, a subsidiary of PZ Cussons, to provide insurance cover for its products.

The Group Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, said the partnership would expand its insurance service to more Nigerians.

“By this partnership, all products bought by customers of the firm in the country will be insured against losses such as household damage from fire, ma-

terial damage and theft among others,” he said.

Ogunbiyi said the company was taking this initiative to add value to the products sold by Cool World through insurance, adding that it hoped to extend this service to its customers in West African countries.

The Managing Director, Mutual benefits General Insurance, Mr. Segun Omosehin, said that the partnership made insurance more beneficial to the public.

With collaboration, he said, Mutual Benefits would be able to take insurance to the grass roots.

The Commercial Director, Cool World, Mr. Olugbenga Kolawole, said that the partnership would transform retail business in Nigeria.

He pledged that customers of the company would not have to worry about any damage they might incur from buying its products because they were fully insured by a reliable insurance firm.

erased gains amid its steepest slide since July. Treasuries edged higher along with sovereign securities across most of Europe after global yields surged to this quarter’s high amid concern global central banks are turning less accommodative. The dollar slipped.

Volatility roared back into financial markets over the past week as the Federal Reserve weighed the case for a US interest-rate increase, European Central Bank President, Mario Draghi, refrained from adding to stimulus and the BOJ continued its comprehensive review of the costs and benefits of its policies. Markets are losing confidence in the ability of central banks to boost inflation and there is a limit to how much quantitative easing programmes can accomplish, Harvard University Professor of Economics Kenneth Rogoff said.

“We are coming back from a very quiet summer period when volatility was unusually low,” said Daniel Murray, head of research at EFG Asset Management in London. “Markets woke up again, and investors have started to reposition their portfolios.”

The S&P 500 rose 0.2 per cent to 2,132.24 in New York, trimming a gain that reached 0.7 per cent. The gauge lost 1.5 per cent, its third consecutive swing of at least one per cent after going 43 sessions without one in a period of near-unparalleled calm.

On the other hand, Diamond Bank Plc led the price losers’ table, dropping 5.83 per cent to close at N1.13 per share. Sterling Bank Plc followed with 4.95 per cent to close at 96 kobo per share, while Tranex Plc trailed with a loss of 4.67 per cent to close at N1.02 share.

Apple Inc. rose to a fivemonth high amid positive sentiment on the latest version of its iPhone, while a rally in biotechnology stocks lifted the health-care group. Oil and gas companies were the worst performers, falling for a second day as crude futures retreated 2.2 per cent after a weekly report on stockpiles.

The benchmark for American equity has fallen almost 3 per cent from a record set on August 15. Nearly the entire decline has come in the past week, led by raw-materials producers, consumer-staples and phone companies. The benchmark has pared its gain this year to 4.1 per cent after rising as much as 7.2 per cent.

The Stoxx 600 climbed 0.1 per cent. Bayer AG jumped 2.4 per cent after agreeing to buy Monsanto Co. in a deal valued at $66 billion, winding up four months of talks to create the world’s biggest supplier of seeds and pesticides.

Banks were among the biggest losers among Japanese shares after Nikkei newspaper said the BOJ is considering delving deeper into negative interest rates, a policy that squeezes lenders’ earnings.

“The limits of monetary policy are being discussed, and it’s unclear whether the situation will improve even if the BOJ does add to its easing programme,” said Kiyohide Nagata, a senior global strategist at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute Co.

40

NEWS News|SOUTH-WEST

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ambode promises to tackle Apapa gridlock Muritala Ayinla

L

agos Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday reiterated its commitment to rid Apapa of gridlock as his resolve to free the state of unnecessary traffic remains a task that must be fulfilled.

He, however, expressed optimism that the Apapa perennial gridlock would soon be a thing of the past.

39,030

Speaking when he played host to the management team of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) led by its Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, Ambode said he was optimistic that the government’s ongoing efforts would permanently resolve traffic congestion in the Apapa axis, reiterating his administration’s commitment to restore the glory of the

The total area (in sq. km) of water of Sweden.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

area as he was desirous of transforming the Apapa axis to a beauty to behold.

Expressing confidence in the ability of the new NPA management to make positive difference, the governor said he was extremely delighted that the agency was being led at this time of economic turbulence by a thoroughbred professional who was equally grounded in the political terrain.

€35.1m

The estimated transfer value of Daley Blind of Manchester United in 2016.

Source: 101greatgoals.com

He said: “We have had issues about movement of cargo and every other vehicular movement that relates to traffic congestion in the Apapa axis and I think with the new management in charge of NPA, a whole lot of things will be resolved so quickly and I am very glad that this is the way we have decided to go and we will support everything to make Apapa a place that we will all be

410,934

The total area (in sq. km) of land of Sweden.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

delighted to speak about.”

Earlier in her remarks, Usman said she was at the Lagos House with her team to expand the existing relationship between the NPA and the Lagos State Government for the benefit of the people.

Speaking with Government House Correspondents, Usman said the major area of partnership principally centered on decongestion of Apapa

Flood disaster: PDP tackles Aregbesola over ecological funds

Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

O

sun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday tackled Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led government over an alleged abuse of the ecological funds.

It said there was nothing to justify judicious use of the funds following the flooding of the state after heavy down pour which sacked major streets in the state on Tuesday.

It, however, described as fraud the government’s claim that it constructed drainages and cleared wa-

Ondo State PDP Governorship candidate, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, (middle), with others, during a campaign rally in Igbekebo Ese Odo, Ondo State yesterday

College staff suspended over violent agitation Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

T

he Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Dr. Babajide Adelekan, yesterday disclosed that four staff of the College were suspended on the directive of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) because they were disturbing the peace of the college.

According to him, their restlessness was because of their to become members of ASUP and obtain

Babatope Okeowo Akure

G

overnor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has lamented the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying it had made it extremely difficult for it to play its opposition role effectively.

Mimiko, who hosted Catholic Bishops to a dinner in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday night also heaped blames on human rights groups and the civil societies for the rot in the country, accus-

Ph.D degree to qualify them for promotion.

According to the Provost, who relied on a letter referenced: ARCN/H/05/S.3/ II/174 and dated August 11, 2016 with the approval of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, the suspended staff were: Mr. Kokanola Olufemi, Mr. Oluade Eyitayo, Mr. Awogbade Yemi and Miss Adekunle Adenaike. Their offences bothered on gross misconduct, recalcitrance and insubordination.

He said: “They have at various times demonstrat-

ed in the college by chasing staff from office, students from classrooms, lecturers from lecture rooms, technicians from workshops and workers from the college farms, all in a bid to force home their demand for becoming recognised as members of ASUP. “They prevented the project defence programme of part time students from taking place and chased both lecturers and students from the venue. They have refused to submit scores and scripts of students claiming that they will

hold on to these until they are recognised as members of ASUP “They were issued queries for certain misconducts and invited to defend themselves before the staff disciplinary committee. Rather than do this, they abused members of the committee and they refused to answer to their charges. Well meaning people have advised them to go to Abuja to straighten things out with the authorities if they do not want to obey directives which they issued to us, but they have not done that to date,” he said.

and Ondo states, making it difficult for the party to play the role of major opposition to the All Progressives Congress (APC), led Federal Government.

This, Mimiko said, had taken tolls on the nation as the Federal Government no longer take political class serious following its manipulation as it did to the civil societies and the human rights groups.

He expressed regrets that many human rights activists had abandoned

their role of fighting for true federal federalism and restructuring of the polity, the governor said the centrifugal forces in the country were jostling to tear the nation into threads unless the Bishops and other men of God intervene, the country may soon collapse as the nation was facing different crisis including MASSOB, IPOB and the Niger Delta dispute which had led to pipeline vandalisation.

ter ways to avert flooding.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Sunday Bisi, who made the remark in a statement in Osogbo, said that if truly the government had done the needful, homes of many residents affected by the heavy downpour wouldn’t have occurred as they were flooded with water.

He queried the state ecological fund, describing the government’s claim on clearing of waterways as fraud and untrue as incessant downpour had turned the town into a sorry sight giving rise to flooding, loss of lives and property.

Excitement as Lagos pilgrims complete Hajj rites Muritala Ayinla

T

here was excitement in Saudi Arabia yesterday as Lagos State pilgrims completed their hajj rites without hitches.

New Telegraph gathered that the pilgrims, who were performing this year’s hajj arrived their base in Makkah, Saudi Arabia after five days in Muna to carry out different hajj rites including assemblage at Mount Arafat, Muzdalifah and stoning of devil at Al-Jamarat.

It was learnt that the pilgrims threw the last set of 21 pebbles at the Al-Jamarat, which signified the conclusion of necessary Hajj rites in early hours of yesterday.

While in Muna, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board staged a special prayer to thank Allah for a successful Hajj.

Speaking on the success recorded, Lagos State Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamot AkinbileYusuff, hailed the peaceful conduct and orderliness of the pilgrims.

Moshood Abiola Polytechnic generates N1.8bn in 7 months

How crisis robs PDP of opposition role, by Mimiko R ing them of being compromised by the government as they had left only men of God as the only voice of the people.

Mimiko said the only opposition voice was the PDP, lamenting that the party had been robbed of its role following the crisis bedeviling it.

PDP is divided into Senators Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff factions.

The factions also have two separate governorship candidates in Edo

gridlock as soon as possible and the success of the Lekki Deep Sea Port project, among others.

She said: “We discussed various areas of cooperation and one of the priorities was the decongestion of the Apapa area. We have looked at the priority activities that we need to do to decongest the area and we would proceed with that in the next few weeks.

ector of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Prof. Oludele Itiola, yesterday said the institution generated N1.8 billion as revenue between January and July. He said the institution was able to complete and furnish a 1000-seater classroom and a new science laboratory within the period.

Itiola made this known when members of the Ogun House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology, led by

its Chairman, Mr. Victor Fasanya, visited the school on oversight function.

Also, he told the visitors that the polytechnic attained over 80 per cent accreditation for its programmes just as it had partitioned and demarcated various halls to promote a more conducive learning environment as there was the need to provide more lecture halls with a view to increasing students’ carrying capacity for all its programmes.

News|South-east

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

MASSOB to Buhari: Nobody can crush Biafra lPolice confirm arrest of members in Umuahia

Steve Uzoechi and Igbeaku Orji

M

ovement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged threats of crushing Biafra and his comments warning Igbo corps members serving in Katsina to forget Biafra.

The group in a statement signed by its leader, Comrade Uchenna Madu, stressed that, “no man born of a woman can crush Biafra because God, history and humanity are on our side, the Biafran revolution is indestructible.”

The statement reads:

“Buhari’s militarised administration is the worst government Nigerians have ever experienced. His leadership style of enforcing and imposing a sectional agenda on the rest of Nigeria has by far justified our struggle for Biafra actualisation. His brazen ethno-religious interests have further re-awakened and strengthened the Biafran consciousness.”

MASSOB noted that arresting, detaining, dehumanising and torture of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Lotachukwu Okoli, Benjamin Onwuka and 23 other pro-Biafra detainees at Awka and Onitsha prisons, including the constant clampdown on Biafra agitators by Nigerian security forces, might seem for some, a solution to the problem, but as US Presi-

dent, Barack Obama said in his 2015 United Nations General Assembly speech, “a government that suppresses peaceful dissent is not showing strength; it is showing weakness and it is showing fear.”

Madu argued that colonialism would not necessarily bear a white face as most people think but added that any group that confines another to second class citizenship, and or denies another their full rights and autonomy to political, cultural and economic development is just as guilty of colonialism as the traditional White colonialists.

“Biafra agitating groups are not the problem, the Nigerian state as constituted is. Biafra agitation is only a reaction to the many injus-

tices, exclusion, marginalisation and other deliberate policies that promote such inequalities that now characterise the present day Nigeria,” he stated.

Meanwhile the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade, yesterday confirmed that five members of MASSOB were in its custody over the 17th anniversary celebration of the movement on Tuesday, September 13, 2016.

According to the Commissioner of Police, who disclosed this while parading 20 suspects for various crimes in the state, MASSOB members were handed over to the police by a Warrant Officer in the Nigerian Army, “Godwin Nnoka. “b” company of 145 battalion TAC Headquarters Umuahia on behalf of the Commanding Officer, one Lieutenant M Halilu.”

41

Anti-grazing bill: Don urges South-East governors to emulate Fayose Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

A

University don, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Abada of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) has challenged South-East governors to follow the steps taken by the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose in passing the anti-grazing bill into law to check the activities of Fulani herdsmen.

Abada, a senior lecturer in the department of political science and ASUU chairman of the university, appealed to the governors to emulate Fayose and ensure that they send the bill to their states House of Assemblies.

“There is need now given the rampaging activities of herdsmen for some time that have resulted in killing, destruction of farmlands and constant clashes of herds-

men with host communities.

“Governors of the SouthEast should emulate Ekiti State example by sending bill to their state assembly which when passed into law will prohibit certain areas of the state from grazing and stipulate hours in which grazing should be done in allowed grazing areas.

“This will go a long way in curtailing constant clashes of herdsmen with farmers and host communities that have led to killing of innocent people and destroying of farmlands.

According to him, such bill, if passed into law, would empower security agents like in Ekiti State to monitor herdsmen activities to know the real herdsmen and those who moved about with sophisticated weapons to commit atrocities under the guise of herdsmen.

Security operatives arrest Obiano’s supporter Pamela Eboh AWKA A cross-section of people hailing the surrendering of arms and ammunition by militants in Owerri, Imo State…yesterday.

Gunmen attack NTA Onitsha, Anambra offices

S

uspected gunmen yesterday attacked the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) office in Onitsha, Anambra, torching some equipment and Star Times section in the premises.

Acting Manager of the station, Mr. Chris Nwigwe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha that the incident occurred at about 1.40 a.m.

“Some armed men tried to attack the staff on duty but only succeeded in burning down the Star Times building,” he said, adding

that no life was lost in the attack.

An eyewitness said that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was planted at the security post of the station, while tyres were set around the premises to set the station ablaze.

“There was a gun duel between the armed men and policemen who are manning the office.

“They managed to burn down the Star Times office while the fire was later put out with the help of people around.

“This type of incident

has never happened,” the source said.

Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Sam Okaula, who visited the scene with the Anti-Bomb Squad to evacuate the explosive device, confirmed that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.

He said that investigation had begun to unravel the reason for the attack.

Okaula lauded policemen manning the office for their bravery, saying that their quick intervention prevented loss of

lives and destruction of more property in the attack.

He warned people against taking laws into their hands and assured that the police would get to the root of the incident.

“Those who take laws into their hands should be ready to face the repercussion,” he said, adding that the suspects would be prosecuted was after investigation is concluded.

NAN reports that three police patrol vans had been stationed in front of the station to beef up security.

Tribunal delivers judgement on Abia North senatorial seat today Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

T

he Abia North Senatorial rerun election petitions tribunal constituted to look into the election matter involving a former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) and Senator Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would deliver its judgment on the matter today.

The Abia North rerun election was conducted on

March 5, 2016. But after the election which the returning officer, Dr. Bertrand Nwankwo-Ojike, declared inconclusive, INEC ordered him to go ahead and declare the PDP candidate winner with 195 vote lead.

Abia North is made up of five local government areas: Arochukwu, Bende, Isuikwuato, Ohafia and Umunneochi.

To arrive at this point, the three-man tribunal headed by Justice James Abundaga, with Umar Abubarkar and Isa Gantsa as members, commenced

hearing on the matter on April 13, 2016. The process lasted four months, ending in August 9, 2016. While Kelvin Nwufo (SAN) led Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu’s legal team, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) led that of Chief Mao Ohuabunwa.

Dr Livy Uzoukwu was the lead counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The six months the trial lasted has been soaked with tension from both sides as the principal witnesses, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Chief Mao Ohuabunwa were at the tribunal to testify. On

August 9, 2016, the tribunal adopted the addresses and wound down its sitting.

Kalu, through his counsel provided preponderance of evidence and witnesses to support his claim that he won the election but was shortchanged through the manipulation of the PDP and its candidate and INEC. He prayed the tribunal to re-compute the result and declare him winner.

The forensic expert, polling agents and voters from Arochukwu, Ohafia, Isuikwuato and Umunneochi testified.

T

he third largest commercial town of Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State is currently sitting on a keg of gun powder following an alleged arrest and detention of Governor Obiano’s ardent supporter, Mr. Chijioke Okoli. Okoli, is the president of Anambra Patriotic Citizens Forum and managing director of the popular Ekwulobia Mass Transit was arrested by members of the dreaded Ocha Brigade, an arm of the state’s government security outfit.

Okoli was said to have been allegedly hunted by Ocha Brigade for refusing to allow the security outfit take over the running of

Ekwulobia Motor Park.

Speaking to Journalists in Awka, the Secretary General and Legal adviser of the organisation, Mr. Tony Anazor, who spoke in Awka, described as despicable the attempt by Ocha Brigade to use government agency to witchhunt genuine supporters of Governor Obiano like Mr. Okoli.

He stressed that the plot to arrest Chijioke Okoli was hatched by the leadership of Ocha Brigade to forcefully take over a park previously run by his late brother, Chief Obi Okoli, who was the founder of Ekwulobia Urban Mass Transit.

“Some unscrupulous elements started plotting to take over the management of Ekwulobia Park from Chijioke Okoli after the death of his brother.”

Enugu to access N1bn from World Bank for development

G

overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has approved the payment of N50m counterpart fund for World Bank additional financing for rural development projects in the state, under the state agency for Community and Social Development Project (CSDP).

Following this, the state would now access over N1billion from the World Bank under its joint venture business with the global body run by the state’s agency for Community and Social Development Project (CSDP).

The whopping sum, when accessed with the payment of the state’s counterpart fund as ordered by the governor, would enable the state’s CSDP to complete 49 on-going projects in already approved community development plans and the fund-

ing of new projects in about 100 communities in the state within the next two years.

The governor’s approval of the payment of the sum followed a request by the state commissioner for Rural Development, Ozo Gab Onuzulike, after the state Executive Council had last May confirmed the state’s readiness to ensure the payment to attract the World Bank’s additional financing of the projects under the CSDP. An elated general manager of the state’s CSDP, Dr. Maximus Asogwa, stated yesterday that the governor’s approval of the release of the counterpart fund was another huge gesture which would give his agency renewed vigour in carrying out projects under the joint venture with the global body.

42

News|SOUTh-SOUTH

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Minister urges APC to close ranks Clement James Calabar

M

inister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Usani Usani, has urged leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State to close ranks and forge a united front to ensure that the party was positioned for subsequent elections in the state.

Usani, who was rounding off his visit to the state after the Sallah celebration, spoke while addressing party leaders

in Calabar.

According to him, for the party to make any inroad in the state in future elections in the state, members must work together, appealing to party leaders to go back to the grassroots and mobilise the people.

“We as leaders of the party in Cross River State should stand together and do the needful to ensure that the party grows so that we achieve the vision and goals of the party in the state,” the minister said.

C’River set to build new cities – Commissioner Clement James Calabar

C

ross River State government yesterday said it was ready to build new cities in the state in order to attract investors and tourists.

Commissioner for New Cities’ Development, Mr. George Ekpungu, who spoke during a meeting with Community Relations Officers (CROs) in Calabar, reiterated

the commitment of Ben Ayade’s administration to build what he called Las Vegas City in Calabar, Connecticut City in Ikom and Amsterdam City in Obudu.

According to him, arrangements had been concluded with international estate development firms to start the clearing of identified areas, with the ground breaking ceremony expected to follow as soon as possible.

60,000 capacity hatchery underway in A’Ibom Tony Anichebe Uyo

D

etermined to actualise the vision of the Akwa Ibom State government in poultry revolution, work has commenced on a breeder farm that will accommodate 60,000 birds at the Akwa Prime Hatchery Company in Mbiaya Uruan.

Chairman of Akwa Prime Hatchery Board, Dr. Francis Ekeng, who disclosed this while taking newsmen round the project site, also said

the second phase of the breeder farm will soon take off at Odiok Itam.

He explained that the present capacity of the breeder farm will make it possible to harvest 300,000 to 350,000 fertile eggs each week, which would take care of the capacity of the incubator, which stood at 250,000.

Ekeng said the capacity of the hatchery will be easily increased to 1.5 million, adding that this would enable quality control and effective monitoring of chicks hatched in the farm.

L-R: Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Prof Kanaiye Ebeku; Social Investment Manager, Shell Petroleum Development Company (Spdc), Mr. Emmanuel Ekpenyong; Manager, Stakeholder Relations, Mrs Alice Ajeh and Principal, Excel Educational Center, Port Harcourt, Mrs Florence Dambani at the presentation of cheques for winners of the 2016 Nnpc/Shell cup football competition in Port Harcourt …yesterday

PHOTO: NAN

Traders protest colleagues’ death in Delta Dominic Adewole ASABA

N

o fewer than 100 traders from Ogbe Ijoh Market in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State, yesterday besieged the streets of Asaba, protesting the untimely death of some of their colleagues.

The women were angry that since Ijaw youths burnt down their market, three women traders had died of frustration and trauma.

At the Government House, Asaba, yesterday, the protesters, lamented the harsh condition and

0.052%

The capital importation percentage share of Drilling of Nigeria in 2009.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Ijaw leader seeks demilitarisation of Niger Delta Ola James WARRI

A

n Ijaw opinion leader, Chief Bare Etolor, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to commence the process of demilitarising the Niger Delta, insisting that the military option the Federal Government was pursuing will not solve the current crisis in the region, but that it will rather escalate it.

Etohor, who is the Chairman, Izon Council of Elders, Delta State, further said that Buhari should not do anything that will further heat up the polity.

The Ijaw leader, in a press statement made available to newsmen in Warri, further urged Mr. President to have a change of heart now

that all parties involved in the crisis had agreed to dialogue.

He frowned at Chief Edwin Clark’s involvement in the negotiation, adding that “the militants should have known that the inclusion of the former Minister of Information in the matter may stop, delay or bring negative results to the Niger Delta.”

He advised the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Niger Delta Avengers and other ethnic militant groups to nominate new leaders who had no political inclination as well as foreigners and human rights groups to the negotiation table.

This, he said, was “because President Buhari’s strong principles, integrity and courage will not

intimidation they had been facing from Ijaw youths, who had vowed to make life miserable for them if they refused to pay the N12, 000 each demanded from them.

Chairman of the protesting traders, Solomon Mathews, said the intimidation had become unbearable.

He said: “The boys are from Warri South West, while the market is situated in Warri South. They burnt down the market because the traders refused to pay N12, 000 each, which they demanded from them. The traders have been trading outside the market under the rain and as a result, we have

allow him meet with any group led by Clark, who claimed to be the father of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Those elders in the region, who are struggling to represent the militants in the negotiation with the Federal Government is laughable: Sadly, they did not remember that Niger Delta’s development is a continuous task that must be done by every government, including former President Jonathan’s tenure,” stressed Etolor.

He said Clark was silent on the development of the region throughout the six years Jonathan was in the saddle, so “he cannot suddenly wake up less than 18 months into a new government to convince President Buhari to start immediate development of the region.”

lost three women to cold and other illnesses.

“On Tuesday the youth came and destroyed the makeshift shed the women have been using and they beat up one of the women to a state of comma, the woman is now receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in Warri.”

He told Gover nor Ifeanyi Okowa’s Chief of Staf f, Mr. Tam Brisibe, who listened to their g rievances that the Ijaw youths had boasted that they would make life miserable for the traders until they pay.

He said all entreaties to Okowa through

0.86%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Bhutan in 2001.

Source: Itu.int

petitions submitted to his office, had fallen on deaf ears.

While appealing to the gover nor to urgently intervene in the matter, Matthews said the traders should be allowed to rebuild the market that was burnt since April 13, 2015 and that government should prevail on the Ijaw youths to stop intimidating them as they were not from their local government area.

The Chief of Staff said he would inform the governor, who had been out of the state, promising that the government will get back to the traders as soon as possible.

N31.613bn

The total value of payment channels made by ATM of Nigeria in January 2015.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Agip trains 730 vendors in oil sector

Chris Ejim Yenagoa

A

s part of efforts to build the capacity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the oil and gas sector across the Niger Delta region, the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC/ ENI) yesterday said more than 730 vendors has been trained so far in its capacity development programmes.

Disclosing this at the opening ceremony of a two-day Business Leadership Workshop by the oil giant for small and medium scale vendors, Vice-Chairman/Managing Director, Massimo Insula, said the training was geared towards entrenching small and medium scale businesses for

community content and sustainability.

Represented by Mr. Albert Ijuiwe, Manager, Nigeria Content Coordination District, said the workshop was designed to be an inspirational programme for business excellence as part of efforts to build their capacities.

As part of the two-day workshop, he said selected business role models will make presentation to participants vendors, telling their success stories, challenges and critical factors to business survival and sustainability in the prevailing Nigerian economic environment, especially in the oil and gas sector of the region.

He said: “You will recall that in the past, as part of the Capacity

Development Initiatives of the organisation, we have concentrated on Vendors Development Programme with 360 vendors trained so far, Vendors Awareness and Sensitisation Engagement, with 250 trained so far as well as Exhibition, Gap closure and opportunities engagements, where 120 vendors participated.

“Starting from 2016, we are diversifying into other areas of capacity development. Specifically, we are focused on developing and building capacities in the areas of small and medium businesses and community content with include business development, succession planning workshop and indigenous technology forum,” Insula said.

News|NORTH

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Workers, students jittery as UNILORIN website is hacked Biodun Oyeleye lorin

T

here was palpable fear among students, academic staff and other members of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) community following the hacking of the data base of the institution.

It is believed that by the act, which occurred during the Sallah celebrations, many documents, including details about staff, students’ examinations, score sheets as well as official publications of lecturers have been wiped off.

Although the Director, Computer Science and Information Technology Centre (COMSIT) of the institution, Prof. Isyaku Musa in a chat with New Telegraph yesterday said the website was in the process of ‘maintenance and re-engineering,’ however, some stakeholders said they were afraid their data would have been stolen by the malicious hacker.

The institution, one

of the nation’s second generation universities, has a population of over 20,000 students.

The hacker, who introduced himself as ‘Coy Emerald’ in a note on the website portal, claimed to have taken the step because the developer of the site was ‘careless’ and also allegedly refused to respond to various warnings preceding the hacking.

Part of the hacker’s note reads: “Coy Emerald Administrator/Developer of this website should kindly contact me via Facebook. Me...www. facebbok.com/san.39. I defaced this page in order to prevent the loss of data in your website malicious attacker is here... and I have been warning you via email and other

means. Hacking is an illegal act, but the Administrator here is a bit careless too...sorry Admin.”

He also sent a second post on the defaced site which reads thus: “I don’t tamper any of your data! I don’t hack for fun. I don’t hack for money. I don’t hack to win scholarship (bcos I’m not a student). I only hack to show proof of the Notification I sent to website developer!!! Contact: www.facebook.com/ to.san.39.”

The university has been at the forefront of adopting technology for its academic operations since the tenure of Prof.

Ishaq Oloyede, who was named last month as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board

(JAMB).

However, a source at the university, has assured our Reporter that no data was actually lost as the hacker merely ‘covered’ the real face of the website to prevent any access to it without his input. The source, who asked not to be named because of the sensitive nature of the matter, (Editor Note My Brother), said the incident was believed to be the outcome of ‘ego war’ between one of the people in charge of the administration of the site and the hacker.

The source stressed: “It is actually an ego war, the guy had been telling one of the guys on the admin that he could do it but they told him it is not possible so he just want to show them, that

they are well covered but you know if you talk to experts they will tell you clearly that the university’s website has a porous firewall. Yes, many people have examined it.

So, this hacker actually did not steal their data, he only covered it and the only option for them is to acknowledge him and he will remove the cover or develop a completely new one which would mean discarding their old URL. You cannot actually trace him because the Facebook address he gave is actually a masquerade.”

As at the time of filing this report, it was still not possible to access the porter which would allow students to conduct any activity such as checking their examination scores.

1.1%

The annual population growth rate of Singapore Leone in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal (right), with Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, during the Sallah meeting with stakeholders in Sokoto.

N145

The average price of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) of Jigawa State in July 2016.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Muhammad Kabir KANO

D

espite the harsh economic condition and the paucity of funds confronting the states of the federation, the Kano State Government has come up with plans to spend N70 million weekly on feeding primary school pupils in

Kano spends N70m weekly to feed pupils the state.

This is in addition to another N68 million the state would spend weekly on provision of the needs of boarding schools across the state.

The Acting Governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, declared this while receiving

the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sunusi II, who paid him Sallah Homage yesterday at the Government House in Kano, the state capital.

Hafiz noted that the school feeding programme was a joint initiative of the state, local government

Lagos, Kebbi commence implementation of MoU on agric Abubakar Abdul Birnin Kebbi

T

he implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed between Kebbi and Lagos State governments has commenced with several thousands of rams and cows conveyed to Lagos from Kebbi State.

Briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi at the week-

end, the state Coordinator of Lagos-Kebbi Agricultural Development Partnership (LKADP), Alhaji Usman Dangaladima explained that the agreement covers agro-based commodities such as rice, wheat, soya beans, maize, groundnut and perishable products, as well as livestock and fish.

He further noted that the movement of the cows and rams to Lagos

were in full swing as part of the 2,000 consignments of rams and 200 consignments of cows ordered by the Lagos State under the MoU arrangement.

He said: “You see as I am talking to you, already 10 trucks of the animals have left Birnin Kebbi, while the first batch of seven trucks of the consignments had already arrived Lagos in good condition.”

and the communities hosting the schools.

However, the acting governor expressed worries that even as the state keeps faith with its promise of releasing the money on weekly basis as scheduled, the local government and the communities were not meeting their obligations.

But, he pointed out that the Local Government Councils rely on the state to pay their workers’ salaries, as they on monthly basis receive over N700 million from the state government to pay salary and other running cost.

Similarly, he explained that the state has paid another N300 million as scholarship to students in higher institutions in the country and those in foreign institutions.

According to him, the

state has concluded plans to resuscitate the sanitary inspection officers for the house-to-house inspection programme with the employment of over 1,000 new officers.

Hafiz also said that as at today Kano State remains one of the famous states, which does not owe its workers a dime in salaries.

He thanked the Emir for his fatherly advice and his stewardship in saying the truth as they are without fear or favour.

The governor told the Emir that his initiative as the Governor of Central Bank of Nigerian (CBN) for providing soft loans to small scale entrepreneurs is still working in the state, even as he said for this year over N2 billion had been distributed to some 20,000 people to enhance their businesses.

43

Gombe: Paucity of funds may halt water project Willie Danjuma GOMBE

T

he General Manager of the Gombe State Water Board, Mr. Isa Muhammad, has said that the provision of water to Gombe, the state capital and its environs may completely stop due to paucity of funds to maintain the multi-billion Gombe Regional Water Supply Scheme from the Dadin-Kowa Dam. The general manager, in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph over weeks of prolonged maintenance work on the treatment plant, which has put the state capital in acute water scarcity, the general manager he said the water board would soon engage a high powered task force that would begin a massive revenue drive especially from defaulters of water rates.

According to him, the glowing economic recession has made it mandatory for the water board to look inward and if not a time would come when people would be forced to get water through very expensive sources.

Muhammad, an engineer, who regretted that throughout last year, only a paltry sum of N6 million was realised from the payment of water rates, added that the people were used to the habit of not paying for their water consumption.

Deputy Governor urges Nigerians to be patient with Buhari Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

N

asarawa State Deputy Governor, Mr. Silas Agara, has urged Nigerians to exercise more patience with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

This was as he called on the people to sustain their fervent prayers for the government to deliver on its campaign promises.

He made the call yesterday when the APC Stakeholders’ Forum from the North Central zone in the state paid him Sallah homage at his Akwanga residence, headquarters of Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.

The deputy governor, who charged party leaders to be at the forefront of propagating the ideals of the party, however, called on them to dish out massages of the change mantra of President Buhari’s government.

44

WORLD \ NEWS

F

ederal prosecutors in Brazil have asked a judge to file corruption charges against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The prosecutors had been investigating whether Lula and his wife failed to declare ownership of a luxury penthouse in the seaside resort of Guaruja. He has denied owning the flat and says the case is politically motivated. The

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ex-Brazilian president, wife face charges in corruption scandal flat was built by a construction company implicated in a corruption scandal at state oil company Petrobras.

A former union leader, Lula served as president from 2003 to 2010. He announced plans

earlier this year to run for office again in 2018 but in July he was indicted on charges of obstructing investigations into Petrobras. His successor as president, Dilma Rousseff, was dismissed by the Senate last

month after an impeachment trial.

A judge is due to rule in the next few days whether to formally charge Lula. The flat was built by the giant construction company OAS, one of the

firms at the centre of the Petrobras affair. Six other people are also facing charges, including two executives from OAS. The luxury penthouse in the resort of Guaruja is estimated to be worth up to $550,000 ($415,000).

Obama lifts sanctions against Ivory Coast

U US President Barack Obama meets with Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi at the Oval Office of the White House in Washington DC yesterday

US lifts decades-long trade sanctions against Myanmar

L

ong-standing trade sanctions against Myanmar are to be lifted, US President Barack Obama has said.

The news came as Myanmar’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, arrived in Washington on her first official visit.

Myanmar’s access to trade benefits for poorer nations had been suspended in 1989 over human rights abuses. President Obama said the country should now be allowed to benefit from preferential tariffs as it emerges from decades of military rule. He confirmed the move in a letter to Congress yesterday, adding Myanmar - also known as Burma to the Generalised System of Preferences, a list which exempts certain countries from high import taxes.

Though many companies

will now enjoy lower tariffs, there are some sanctions which remain in place. These include a “blacklist” of at least 100 companies and individuals with links to the former military junta, as well as trade in jade and rubies.

President Obama said the lifting of some sanctions would happen “soon”, but did not give further details. “It is the right thing to do to ensure the people of Burma see rewards from a new way of doing business, and a new government,” he said.

He also paid tribute to the efforts made towards peace in the country, and the “enormous potential” of the country. Ms. Suu Kyi called on the US Congress to eliminate all remaining sanctions against Myanmar. “Unity also needs prosperity,” she said. “People, when they have to fight over limited resources,

forget that standing together is important.” “We think that the time has come to remove all of the sanctions that hurt us economically,” she said.

Ahead of Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit, Human Rights Watch said the sanctions targeted military officials, and “shouldn’t be fully lifted until the democratic transition is irreversible.” Ms Suu Kyi, who as opposition leader was kept under house arrest for 15 years, led her National League for Democracy party to victory in Myanmar’s first openly contested election for decades in November 2015.

She is barred from the role of president under the country’s constitution - instead holding the title of state counsellor - but is widely seen as the country’s leader in all but name.

S President Barack Obama yesterday lifted decade-old sanctions against Ivory Coast, the world’s biggest cocoa producer, citing a successful presidential election last year and its progress in tackling illegal trafficking of arms and natural resources.

The sanctions were imposed in February 2006 under President George W. Bush against Ivory Coast political figures for blocking a 2003 peace process. The country had been split in two since a 2002 civil war launched by rebels against then President Laurent Gbagbo.

Yesterday’s move follows

the lifting a 12-year-old arms embargo and asset freezes and travel bans against six individuals by the UN Security Council in April, including against Gbagbo, who is on trial before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity. “Côte d’Ivoire has taken important steps to strengthen its governing and economic institutions and reconcile the differences that led to war,” White House National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

“Challenges remain as the country continues to tackle difficult land reform issues and works to ensure that the benefits of economic growth are felt throughout the Ivoirian population,” he said.

Juncker proposes EU military headquarters

N

orth Korea’s military was prepared to stop any US moves, it said, with a closing warning to Washingt The European Union needs a military headquarters to work towards a common military force, the Commission president has told MEPs in Strasbourg.

Jean-Claude Juncker said the lack of a “permanent structure” resulted in money being wasted on missions.

Part of his annual state of the union address was devoted to the UK’s unexpected vote to leave the EU. He insisted that the bloc was not at risk but called for Brexit negotiations to take place as quickly as possible.

Modelled on the state of the union address by the US

president, the Commission president’s annual speech was introduced in 2010 to detail the state of the EU and future legislative plans. The Brexit vote has given added impetus to plans for greater defence cooperation, because the UK has always objected to the potential conflict of interest with Nato.

But Mr Juncker said a common military force “should be in complement to Nato”. “More defence in Europe doesn’t mean less transatlantic solidarity.”

A European Defence Fund would stimulate military research and development, he said. All EU members have military forces; most are also members of Nato; and several have extensive experience of operations abroad, from peacekeeping to war-fighting.

Libyan oil firm vows to restart exports after battle for terminals Powell: Trump is a national disgrace

T

he Libyan National Oil Corporation has said it will resume exports from contested oil terminals in the east of the strife-hit country.

Forces loyal to Gen Khalifa Haftar have seized at least three terminals from a rival militia force allied to the UNbacked government in Tripoli.

Gen Haftar is allied to a rival government based in the east.

The oil company says it is assessing damage and that it will carry out repairs immediately.

The Tripoli government has called for urgent talks over the seizure. Libya has been plagued by instability and infighting since the toppling of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in

2011. The seized oil ports at Ras Lanuf, al-Sidra and Zuitina lie between Tripoli and Tobruk, where the country’s two rival governments are based.

Gen Haftar is one of the most powerful military figures in Libya, who refuses to recognise the authority of the UN-backed Government of National Accord in the capital. The speaker of the Tobruk parliament, Agila Saleh, said Gen Haftar had “liberated” the oil terminals from occupying forces. Libya’s conflict has dramatically reduced the country’s lucrative oil exports.

In a statement, the National Oil Corporation said it currently produced 200,000 barrels a day, but now expected to

produce almost four times as much by the end of the year.

The US, UK and several European countries issued a statement condemning the seizure of the oil terminals, calling on Gen Haftar to withdraw his forces. The news comes on the same day as a committee of British MPs released a report criticising Britain’s intervention in Libya in 2011.

Since then, Libya has been largely controlled by thousands of local militias, loyal to one of three governing bodies - the UN-backed national government, the Tobruk parliament, or the Islamist parliament in Tripoli - as well as the encroaching so-called Islamic State group.

F

ormer Secretary of State Colin Powell has reportedly called Republican nominee Donald Trump a national disgrace, according to leaked emails.

The Republican retired four star general’s comments were revealed in a hack on his personal emails. The emails were posted on DCLeaks.com, which has reportedly been tied to other recent high profile hacks. Mr. Powell, who has been quiet during the election, said he had no further comment but was not denying it.

He also criticized Democrat Hillary Clinton’s hubris as he attacked the way she

handled her private email crisis. The remarks about Trump were part of an email sent on 17 June to Emily Miller, a journalist and Mr. Powell’s former aide. The former secretary of state, who served during George W Bush’s administration, also called Mr. Trump an international pariah who is in the process of destroying himself. “No need for Dems to attack him,” the email said.

Mr. Powell, who crossed party lines in 2008 to endorse Democratic Barack Obama, has tried to float above this year’s tendentious presidential election.

45

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport News

Did you know?

Sport

Eagles’ camp opens Oct 3 in Abuja

That Lionel Messi’s hat-trick scored against Celtic on Tuesday was the sixth in the UEFA Champions League and the highest in history by any player in the competition.

International Sport Europa: Mourinho rests Rooney for Fayenoord

46 47

Russia 2018: NFF

lines bumper packages for Eagles Players to get $5,000 each for away win, $4,000 for home victory

Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

D

esirous of the 2018 Russia World Cup ticket, the Nigeria Football Federation is ready to put up an attractive package to propel the Super Eagles to sucess in the qualifiers.

The Eagles are drawn in a group of death which includes Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia and the NFF Chieftains know that qualification could not be taken with levity.

Inside sources at the Glass House told New Telegraph that the NFF boss Amaju Pinnick was

sourcing for funds in order to pay the players bonuses immediately after matches.

This we learnt was to motivate the players to get results as the NFF could not afford to be absent at the Mundial knowing what is at stake if the Eagles win the ticket.

“It is not true that the players will not be paid bonuses. In fact the NFF is already working on what the players will get for an away draw or win.

“It is being worked out that the away bonuses will be paid in dollars while the home allowances and bonuses will be settled in local currency.”

The Glass House, we learnt, was considering between $3,000

Mikel

Katongo

and $5,000 for away win while the home victories will fetch them between $2,000 and $4,000 to be paid in naira.

“The NFF is also under pressure to clear all outstanding payments due to the players before the first qualifier against Zambia in Lusaka on October 9th,” the source added.

Outside the bonus issue, the chattered flight arrangement is being considered for the team to avoid jet lag and delay at airports before and after matches.

Rio Paralympics

Orji sets world record, wins Nigeria’s eighth gold Ugwunwa clinches women’s javelin gold

Emmanuel Tobi

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

N

igeria’s Orji Josephine on Wednesday took Team Nigeria’s gold medal haul to eight after setting a new Paralympics and world record in the Women +86kg category powerlifing at the on-going Games in Rio. The 37-year-old lifted 160kg to finish well ahead of Poland’s Marzena Zieba, who lifted 134kg to win the silver medal while The Netherlands’ Melaica Tuinfort claimed the bronze medal with a 130kg lift.

The world champion who won gold at the 2015 Asian Open with the world record of 153kg, was the cynosure of all at the venue with very few women in the category coming close to lifting that amount of weight.

Her closest rival in the category has been Zieba, who lifted 132kg in February but could not outclass the Nigerian in Rio.

Earlier in the day, Flora Ugwunwa set a new world record in the women’s javelin – F54 event on Tuesday at the Rio Paralympics to give Nigeria its seventh gold medal.

She recorded a throw of 20.25 metres after six attempts to win the gold medal and set a new Paralympic and world records, while Tunisia’s Hania Aidi won the silver medal with a throw of 18.88m.

South Africa’s Ntombizanele Situ completed the African sweep of the event’s medals by winning the bronze with a heave of 17.90m.

In other events participated by Nigerians, Opeyemi Jegede could only place fifth in men’s -88kg powerlifting, while Abdulazeez Ibrahim placed sixth in power-lifting men’s -97 kg Team Nigeria has now won 11 medals in total: eight gold, two silver and one bronze.

Ugwunwa posing on the podium

46

SPORT NEWS

Heartland players, officials injured in auto crash Ikenna Amadi

N

ine players and officials of Heartland Football Club of Owerri are now receiving treatments at an undisclosed hospital after their bus was involved in an auto accident in Maiduguri, Borno State, Wednesday afternoon.

The team which arrived in Maiduguri for their Matchday 35 Premier League match against El-Kanemi Warriors billed for Thursday at the Maiduguri Township Stadium had their bus colliding with a Nigerian Army Hilux Jeep on the Kano/Jos Road near the Ramat Polytechnic.

According to El-Kanemi Warriors secretary, Tahir Bala, “The bus conveying Heartland team from the airport to their hotel just had an accident with an Army car but no death was recorded rather about nine players sustained bruises.

“We are making frantic effort to take the injured to the hospital for treatment while arrangement is going on to take others to their hotel. That’s what I can say for now.”

Heartland captain, Chinedu Efugh

ZAM vs NIG

Eagles’ camp opens Oct 3 in Abuja NFF douses tension over Rohr’s work permit

Adekunle Salami

T

he Super Eagles camp for the crucial Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against Chipolopolo of Zambia will open on October 3 in Abuja.

Authoritative sources close to the Nigeria Football Federation informed that the 23 players expected to be invited for the away encounter would arrive Abuja that day.

“The NFF is not taking chances this time. Arrangements for camping are being concluded.

Abuja will host the exercise and the team will travel from there,” our source informed.

Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr, is planning to have about five training sessions in Abuja with the team before the players and officials depart on October 7 for the encounter billed to take place on October 9.

The federation is also working towards taking the team to Zambia with a chattered flight to make the travelling arrangement convenient.

“The money for the chattered aircraft will be paid in the next few days. It is almost certain and the federation is also working towards getting all the entitlements of the players ready early enough. The qualifiers will be taken seriously from the start,” our source added.

Iwobi relishes Arsenal’s draw

…as Henry advises youngster on marking Ugochi Akwueze

F

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa (right)

On the work permit of Rohr, the NFF’s Deputy Director, Communications, Ademola Olajire, told our correspondent that there was no cause for alarm.

He told New Telegraph that Rohr’s appointment followed all the due process

in accordance with the Nigerian laws and his papers will be issued soon.

“The work permit is being handled by the ministry of sports. The process began long ago and it is not going to affect the coach in anyway. That was why he was

on the bench for the match against Tanzania. It is being handled,” Olajire said.

The Zambia, Nigeria match is the first of the series of qualifiers for the Russia 2018 World Cup. Other countries in the group are Algeria and Cameroon.

Nikyu: FlamingoesreadyforU-17WorldCup Ifeanyi Onyaka

C

oach of Nigeria U-17 girls, known as Flamingoes, Bala Nikyu, has expressed confidence in the team’s ability to make meaningful impact when the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals begins in two weeks’ time.

Nkiyu who led Nigeria to a quarterfinal finish at the 2014 edition in Costa Rica said his new team was poised for success in

Jordan.

“There has been remarkable improvement in my players since they resumed camp in July.

I am happy to say they have been adhering to instructions during training sessions; they are much fitter now and are playing more cohesively. The mistakes that we noted when we started the camp have been largely corrected,” he told thenff.com.

The Flamingoes have

ormer Arsenal forward, Thierry Henry, has blamed Super Eagles’ starlet, Alex Iwobi, for the goal conceded by the Gunners in their opening UEFA Champions League clash against PSG on Tuesday.

Henry said that Iwobi failed to track defender Serge Aurier and this gave the PSG the opportunity Iwobi which Edison Cavani utilised. he Guild of Nigerian As at the last count, Team “Iwobi should have been on Sports Editors on Nigeria has won eight gold, Aurier, he didn’t track his man. account @alexiwobi.

Wednesday congratulated two silver and one bronze Some little discipline you need as Iwobi has yet to score in three Team Nigeria’s special athmedals to technically better a winger which I believe he has appearances for Arsenal this sea- letes, who have defied all the Sydney 2000 Paralymlearnt from the game. He had a son. odds to excel at the on-going pics all-time haul of seven good game overall. His confidence Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. gold, one silver and five on the ball and ability to thread bronze medals. passes is such a beauty to behold,” In a communiqué signed he said. by the Guild’s President, “In the second half, he gave a Tony Ubani, the body debetter display playing from the scribed the team’s feat as “remarkable and encouragright and Alexis Sanchez has pure ing in these difficult times, class when it comes to using the especially when it is considball in the opponent’s half,” he ered that they had little or no added. motivation from those who The match ended in a 1-1 draw were supposed to prepare after Arsenal’s Sanchez found the them for the competition.” back of the net to give the visiting It added: “It is instructive English team a late equaliser. that when Nigerians are reelMeanwhile, Iwobi has exing from the effects of the pressed excitement in the club’s current economic recession 1-1 draw with PSG despite missL-R: Special Assistant to the Lagos State Sports Chairman, Mr. Ishola Ayepekun; ravaging the country, a group ing good scoring chanses.

CEO of MGT, Enem Ema; Music artist, MI Abaga; Chief Executive Officer, Blaugrana of special athletes are in far “Tough Game. Glad To Get The Sports International, Mr. Leslie Oghomienor and Chief Executive, White Water Point. However Very Disappointaway Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Limited, Mr. Nsikan Daniel, during the ongoing registration of FCBESCOLA Soccer ed Not To Grab The Winner, he showing the whole world that School, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos…

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE tweeted” he wrote on his twitter we can rise above our adver-

participated in every edition of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup since its inception in 2008. They will tackle the U-17 women’s team of Brazil on Nigeria’s Independence Day (October 1) in their first match of Jordan 2016, before playing England and Korea Democratic Republic. A total of 32 matches will be contested between 16 countries at Jordan 2016 from September 30 – October 30.

Paralympics

Sports Editors hail Team Nigeria T sity to rub shoulders with the best in the world in any endeavour.

“We, therefore, urge the Federal Government, especially the principal officers of the Sports Ministry, to without delay show that Nigeria cares for them.”

“We also implore President Muhammadu Buhari to adequately reward these heroes and ensure Nigeria uses their success story to re-awaken the can do spirit of Nigerians in this harsh economic climate,’ Ubani further said and reminded the president about the need to revisit the sports sector for a surgical operation.

“All over the world, sports is not only seen as a recreation, but also as a business. Apart from its physical and mental benefits, sports also have psychological and social benefits.”

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Europa: Mourinho rests Rooney for Fayenoord clash

M

anchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been rested for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Feyenoord, manager Jose Mourinho said on Wednesday.

Rooney has played in all of United’s Premier League games this season and also captained England in their World Cup qualifying win over Slovakia earlier this month.

Mourinho said he wanted to keep his 30-year-old captain Rooney fresh for Sunday’s league game at Watford.

Rooney

“He (Rooney) has played every game since the start of the season. He has also played 90 minutes for the England team,” Mourinho said.

“I want him to be fresh for the next Premier League match. In the position he plays, I have lots of solutions and people that it has been really hard to have a chance.”

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard, who were taken off in the first half of United’s 2-1 defeat

by Manchester City in the league on Saturday, have also missed out on the trip to Rotterdam.

Neymar: Playing with Messi, Suarez always a delight

N

eymar says his partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez is so effective because the trio know how each other think.

The Blaugrana’s South American trident scored 90 goals between them in La Liga last term as they went on to lift the title.

Messi, Suarez and Neymar started alongside each other for the first time this season to fire Barca to a 7-0 win over Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Messi scored three, Suarez netted two, while Neymar had one goal and four assists - two of which set up Messi and another one for Suarez, while the latter two assisted each other as well.

“We are not playing for ourselves, nobody is looking for personal glory. It is always nice to score goals, but if I score, if Luis scores, if Leo scores, it doesn’t matter - we are as happy creating goals for each other as scoring them.

Neymar (left)

Ceferin emerges new UEFA President

U

EFA elected Aleksander Ceferin as its new UEFA president on Wednesday, filling the office previously occupied

by Michel Platini.

Ceferin, 48, won 42 of the 55 votes at the Extraordinary UEFA Congress in Athens, beating Michael van Praag of the Netherlands.

He will complete Platini’s four-year presidential term through 2019.

Platini resigned in May after he was banned by FIFA for taking a $2 million improper payment.

“Some people may have said that I am not a leader, that I am too young and too inexperienced to become the next UEFA president,” Ceferin said, according to the Associated Press.

“It’s not because you repeat again and again, loud and clear ‘I am a

leader’ that you are a leader. If you have to do it you are probably not a leader. You can say that I am young and experienced but I honestly think it disrespectful for all small and medium-sized federations who, 365 days a year, have to do more with less.

Ceferin, head of the Slovenian federation, is the seventh president of Europe’s governing soccer body.”

Klopp expects tough challenge against Chelsea iverpool coach Juer- er challenge when his side champions Leicester L gen Klopp enjoyed the return to Stamford Bridge City last weekend but first win of his Premier on Friday.

Chelsea now have ItalLeague career at a stumbling Chelsea last October but expects a much tough-

Ceferin

UCL FIXTURES Leverkusen

2-2 CSKA

Tottenham

1-2 Monaco

Legia Warszawa 0-6 Dortmund Real Madrid

2-1 Sporting

Brugge

1-3 Leicester

Porto

1-1 Koebenhavn

Juventus

0-0 Sevil a

Lyon

3-0 D’ Zagreb

Man City

4-0 M’gladbach

Williams (left)

Liverpool have been buoyed by the 4-1 thrashing of Premier League

ian Antonio Conte in charge and have made a strong start after last year’s slump.

“I’m very excited, games against Chelsea are always special things in the Premier League,” said the German, whose team won 3-1 in west London last year with Philippe Coutinho scoring twice.”They’re a strong side and in a good moment. They’re competitive, physically strong (and have) learned from the experience of last year.”

Last season was not a Chelsea season, obviously, and now they are back on track and that’s how it is and so we need to be ready for a real challenge.”

47

The Muyiwa Daniel Column md_muyiwa@yahoo.com 08023525087 (sms only)

Can Gumel, Popoola quit?

I

took time out to ruminate on Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde’s sound argument on radio Saturday through Bimbo Adeola’s outfit-Megasport- over various issues of Nigerian football and thought deep after watching the “noisy” neighbours-Manchester City- dump “Rich” Manchester United in that derby at Old Trafford. Onigbinde who led the Eagles to the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire and returned with a silver medal losing to Cameroon in the final, found holes in the myopic arguments of the Nigeria Football Federation on lack of vision.

Onigbinde can easily be dismissed by neophytes in football but his arguments cannot be dismissed as approached by the Sunday Dankaro-led administration that operated from the Ogunlana Drive Secretariat in Surulere, that has turned to rot having been donated by Stationery Stores FC founder-Israel Adebayo Adebajoin the days of “Father” Jelivalic Tiko and Otto Gloria.

These were times when order, deep thinking and planning was brought to the fore.

Dankaro and his team had success at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations hosted in the cities of Lagos and Ibadan and it has become a sordid affair after the Minister of President Shehu Shagari-Paulinus Amadike decided to pull the rug off the Administration’s Board on the lame excuse that they were friendly with the UPN government of Alhaji Lateef Jakande who was the Lagos State governor. The disaster of the Moscow ’80 Olympic Games was the beginning of the rot after Isaac Akioye left as Sports Director.

Akioye’s successors-Babayo Shehu and later Sole administrators-Chiefs Alex Akinyele, Silvanus Akinwunmi and Sola Rhodes-gave way to the dictates of the civil servants after Major-general Damien Kehinde Sho-Silva left as Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Decree 13 of 1971 as amended in 1973 took over as an “Act of the National Assembly” when General Abdulsalami Abubakar handed over to President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999.

Another of Nigeria’s gifted indigenous coaches, who has refused to lobby, cringe, back-bite or bid for the lollipop-Daniel Ajibode-a force with National Bank FC and the Lagos United/Greater Tomorrow-in giving it to the NFF that the Board members should desist from cutting their noses to spite their faces in soccer administration.

Ajibode posits that with the failure of Amaju Pinnick’s board after the Sunday Oliseh’s blunder and this recent “crash-of-ideas” should be enough to seek for foreigners to run our country’s soccer administration just to put things in perspective and not run the game through “Google Search” in an era when it took England just fortyeight hours to appoint “Big” Sam Alladyce as team boss to be replaced by David Moyes at Sunderland and NFF Vice-President-Seyi Akinwunmi’s reported ‘bailout’ of Samson Siasia and his team from “depression” in pre-Rio Olympic Games at a time FIFA President-Gianni Infratino visited our country with its football in tatters-forget the blame game by Emmanuel Amuneke over his players refusal to “play-to-instructions” in the 4-3 defeat to Sudan at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos after the 2-1 win in the Khatoum first leg.

In the same vein, I am still in awe that Nigeria Olympic Committee President-Habu Gumel and Secretarygeneral-Tunde Popoola- have not thrown in the towel after two successive crash at the summer games and watching the success train of the Paralympic squad at the Rio Olympics without any attempt at marketing and it. So it took the intervention by President Mohammadu Buhari to save athletes from “insolvency”.

Gumel is not only an Executive member of the IOC Board-after Judge Adetokunbo Ademola and General Henry Adefope- but also the Treasurer of its African version while Popoola is a consummate athlete and it is a shame that the duo could not summon the goodwill built for the Olympic movement in Nigeria by Alhaji Raheem Adejumo where preparations for games are made eighteen months back.

That is why Minister Solomon Dalung will not be too far from the idea of merging the NOC with the NSC-forget international sanctions-just like thought out by Chief Jim Nwobodo and Sani Ndanusa when they held sway. For now, Gumel and Popoola, should do the needful after Rio 2016 paralympics where the physically challenged are rescuing whatever pride we have left just like in London 2012.

The honours path is taken by men of courage. Gumel and Popoola should quit now, Period!

On Marble

“It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can stop him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.”

Sanctity of Truth

Mike A. Wilkie Justice Abang and the law

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

– Martin Luther King Jr.

}16

N150

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016

Our democracy also in recession Everybody’s for democracy in principle. It’s only in practice that the thing gives rise to stiff objections... MEG GREENFIELD

Political Musings

rom the perspective of economic experts, recession is a significant decline in activity across the economy of a nation lasting longer than a few months. It is usually visible in industrial production, employment, real income and wholesale-retail trade.

The technical indicator of a recession is two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth as measured by a country’s gross domestic product (GDP). All these manifestations have come through in our country and after dill-dallying; the National Bureau of statistics accepted and declared that we are right inside recession already. There has been enough literature, enough hullabaloos on this already and I don’t intend to dwell on it in this space. My concern really is the fate of politics in the emerging dispensation. Can a country already in such economic quagmire afford on its trajectory further political despondencies? Like in the economy it appears our democracy is also receding. Political watchers in our land should be fussed at the sprouting developments in our polity. Democracy as a form of Government has been declared beautiful by many political school of thoughts apparently because of the intrinsic ingredients it contains. What are these elements of Democracy you may ask?

They include but not limited to encouraging participation, openness to political tolerance, pluralism in ideological, ethnic, linguistic, Religious, as well as the operation of rule of Law. This system of government also guarantees minority Rights, as well as ensures freedom of thought, belief, expression, speech, debate, inquiry, assemble, association among others. After 17 years of practicing this form of government in this country, can we in all honesty say that we are ascending democratic ladder when viewed from the above listed requisites?

The successes recorded in some of our electoral reforms that culminated in the credible elections that saw an incumbent political party defeated appear to be waning. Upshots of the last few months should worry every discerning political thinker about the future of democracy in the country. The likes of American philosopher, Robert Hutchins foresaw a situation like this when he warned and drew the attention of political watchers to the fact that “The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment” A cross section of Nigerians are waiting thinking that only when a military coup upturns an elected government that democracy is touched, Hutchins lets us know that there are many ways of killing democracy and unfortunately most of the indicators are already with us.

We are all in one page when we say

IKE ABONYI

F

igwebuike2001@yahoo.com 0802-402-4029 (sms only) that democracy flourishes when all arms of government and other strategic partners are alive and active to their assigned responsibilities. Can we in all honesty say that this is the case of democracy in the last one year here?

How have other arms of government, Judiciary and Legislature faired? Are we not watching the judiciary being put under enormous stress while it strives to retain its independence? Ditto the legislature that is statutorily created to be a watchdog on the executive on behalf of the people, are we not witnesses to the endless harassment and intimidation enough to prevent them from carrying out genuine over sight functions and other duties that is constitutionally assigned to them? Has our legislature under this administration not fallen into what John Bercow a British politician said that “a legislature cannot be effective while suffering from public scorn?”

Also notwithstanding the undisputed position of experts that there can be no healthy democracy without vibrant opposition to keep the incumbent on their toes and continually hold them accountable, what is the situation with the opposition in this country now?

Since July, the National secretariat of the main opposition party, the PDP has remained sealed on the directive of federal security agencies over a contrived crunch superficially injected into their system to ensure that it remains weakened. Some bold moves by the party to get its act together through a convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers state last month was further frustrated as Police again sealed the venue and prevented the convention even after delegates were all in the city.

The Police in showing more than security interest on the matter curiously decided to pick which of the multiple court cases to obey. Just last week on Wednesday September 7, the same Police and the DSS shocked election watchers as they addressed a press conference calling for the postponement of Edo State gubernatorial election already slated for last Saturday September 10, fingering a curious intelligence report. The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC who has been squirming to show that it’s truly independent since the current Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu took over from Prof Attahiru Jega despite confirming to have mobilised up to 97 per cent for the election, was unable to withstand the pressure.

The Commission tried to resist the awkward security report especially from the angle of arrogance of the security agencies in rushing to press without first sharing the intelligence with them, but eventually capitulated

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC boss

when further pressure came rolling down. This is an INEC who had conducted general election in the troubled North East when terrorists held sway and there was no such embarrassing security report as found in Edo state.

Critical minds are imputing ulterior political motive in the action especially given the fact that Edo state has been

more peaceful than any other state in the South South region.

Political watchers believe that the independence of INEC has been sufficiently compromised on this matter and the fear is real that free, fair and credible election may not be feasible even in the adjourned September 28 date.

With all these indices therefore, the question is, should critical minds not be concerned that stakeholders expected to play roles in a democratic setting are not operating at optimal level because of the dearth of enabling environment?

We have seen equally that even expression of dissent views by aggrieved people in the society are vehemently resisted as can be attested to by the on-going tango between the Police and Bring Back our Girls Group.

Is peaceful protest no longer an essential component of democratic process? In the light of the forgoing therefore, Political Musing feels that it might be safe to also declare our democracy to be in recession so that in searching for solution to the economy, politics would be factored in because the two are entwined.

And if we really desire to genuinely tackle our problems, it would be wise for us to realise that economic answer cannot come speedily as we desire it in a setting where the politics is faulty. For instance, it’s not cheap rice or a strong currency that would stop Avenger from bombing or book Haram terrorists from attacking, rather genuine peace emerging from a sincere political strategy that recognizes the plurality of this country in all its ramifications is the key.

Any road map to lift us out of this economic recession without also addressing the fundamental issue of democracy based on Justice and FairPlay would amount to journey to nowhere.

God bless Nigeria.

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotlines: (Lagos 0902 928 1425), (Abuja 0805 5118488) Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: AYODELE OJO.