Tuesday, june 21, 2016 binder1

Forex: Naira slumps to N280/$ on interbank market

lCBN appoints 15 FX primary dealers Tony Chukwunyem

T

he naira plummeted against the dollar on the

interbank yesterday, as the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) new forex

policy commenced on an impressive note after an initially slow pace.

The banking watchdog sold a total of $616.5 million on the first day of trading under the new system, initially selling $530 mil-

lion for N280 per dollar at a special auction to clear $4 billion forex backlog and later selling a further $86.5 million directly on the in-

Senate queries CBN, BOI, airlines over N500bn intervention funds }2

terbank market at between N280 to N285, Thomson Reuters data showed.

The banking watchdog, in a statement, also confirmed that it cleared CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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Jonathan's aide, Dudafa, gets N500m bail }10

Biafra: Kanu drags Justice Tsoho to NJC }3

N150

Nigerians reject immunity, pension for Saraki, Dogara lTUC, SERAP, Balarabe, Junaid, others kick Ize-Iyamu

Yakubu

Dufada

Kanu

}2 & 5

lFG may arraign Senate president, Ekweremadu today Civil servants protest, demand removal of Finance Minister

}5

Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun

Staff of the Federal Ministry of Finance protesting at the gate of the ministry in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Campaign funds: EFCC freezes Fayose’s account lGovernor accuses Buhari’s wife of corruption

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Too many selfies could speed up ageing

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NEWS

TUESday, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigerians reject immunity, pension for Saraki, Dogara

Felix Nwaneri

A

nger and condemnation yesterday trailed the demand for life pension and immunity for presiding officers of the National Assembly.

A cross section of Nigerians who spoke on the issue with New Telegraph, expressed disbelief that the federal legislators could come up with such “irresponsible” demands at a time the nation is experiencing hard times.

Members of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review had, during their two-day retreat on Constitution Review in Lagos at the weekend, proposed life pension and immunity for the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and deputy speaker.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and his deputy, Yusuff Lasun, are expected beneficiaries of the proposal.

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) said it would resist the proposal.

Among those who condemned the proposal were former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa; Second Republic presidential adviser, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai; National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie; Second Republic lawmaker and convener, Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed and former members, House of Representatives, Ralph Obioha and Eseme Eyiboh.

Others were former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Monday Ubani and groups such as Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), and Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL).

TUC on its part, advised the lawmakers not to ask for more since they earn well. The group in a statement by its president, Bob-

boi Kaigama, and acting Secretary-General, Simeso Amachree, said it is regrettable that such proposal is coming when the economy was not well-off.

“We want the politicians to be abreast of the groaning of the masses.

Lawmakers are proposing life pension at a time when there is massive job loss and poverty.

“We are worried that members of the National Assembly are not perturbed by the prevailing realities in the economy. Are they bent on frustrating the effort of the president at revamping the economy,” the statement queried.

It said that the benefit of the office of the Senate President and other principal officers was too juicy to demand for more.

TUC urged the lawmakers to jettison the proposal and make laws that would improve the lives of the people else its members would be forced to protest.

SERAP in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, called on Saraki

and Dogara to show leadership and refocus their lawmaking functions to rid the country of impunity for corruption.

“Granting senators and representatives’ immunity and life pensions will neither enhance governance, accountability nor contribute to the betterment of Nigerians. Nigerians will reject any self-serving attempt by the senators and the representatives to ‘tear up’ Section 308 of the 1999 constitution to grant their leaders immunity from prosecution for corruption and money laundering.”

Similarly, CACOL, through its Executive Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran, urged Nigerians to reject life pension and immunity for principal officers of the National Assembly.

“Those pushing the proposal are those who commit the worst form of corruption crimes and are desperate to escape justice by every means possible.

Asking for life pension for National Assembly members is like asking to

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo, after his resumption from vacation in Abuja… yesterday.

be paid for rendering no service; it is like asking for legalisation of stealing public funds. Already many of National Assembly members have been accused of drawing pensions, sometimes salaries, from places they earlier served as public servants while still drawing salaries from their present assignment at the National Assembly."

Musa, who described the proposal as another scandal that Nigeria cannot afford at the moment, said: “The planned life pension and immunity for presiding officers of the National Assembly is another distraction and scandal that Nigeria cannot afford at the moment.

So, I call on Nigerians to resist it.”

Okorie, who also condemned it, said the proposal is in bad taste. “The proposal is in bad taste and insensitive to the feelings of Nigerians. We argued that immunity had made some people to act with impunity and the legislators want to add to the list of people, who would be acting with impunity. To me, it is a gross abuse of office and privilege.”

He also warned the lawmakers against the likely consequence of the proposal, saying: “The state of our economy does not warrant this type of selfish legislation. So, the legislators should know that Nigerians are not happy with the way things are going and provoking them the more may trigger off a kind of revolution, which they may be the main target. If the legislators are patriotic enough, they should not give the proposal a sec-

Senate queries CBN, BOI, airlines over N500bn intervention funds Chukwu David Abuja

T

he Senate yesterday queried the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the beneficiaries of the N120 billion released to the aviation sector out of the N500 billion intervention funds given to Aviation, Power and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) by the Federal Government in 2011.

The Senate Committee on Aviation and AntiCorruption, at an investigative hearing held at the National Assembly complex, frowned at the way the N120 billion allocated to the aviation sector as bailout, from the N500 billion intervention funds was diverted to other areas than the original goals of the funds.

This was even as the Minister of Transporta-

tion, Rotimi Amaechi, told the committee that his ministry and agencies under it, based on available records, were not aware of the funds.

Amaechi's submission made the committee to demand from the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, represented by a director, Mudashiru Olaitan, to explain how the money was used in view of the financial problems still militating against the sector.

Air Nigeria, re-christened from Virgin Nigeria, was the highest beneficiary of the Aviation Intervention Funds, receiving N35.5 billion.

Other airlines that had benefited included Aero, which received N20 billion, Arik Air got N15 billion, Kabo Air got N6.66 billion, IRS and Chanchangi Airlines got N3.4 billion each.

Some of the least beneficiaries included Dana

Air, which accessed N618 million, Caverton Helicopters got N1.348 billion, Overland Airways got N805 million and FirstNation Airways got N271.7 million.

In its submission, the CBN said out of the N120 billion intervention funds injected into the aviation sector, only N39.5 billion had been recovered while the remaining N81.2 billion was still outstanding.

Olaitan, however, admitted that some of the 10 airlines that benefitted from the funds, were now moribund or out rightly folded up which, according to him, was against the intendment of the funds.

He named Air Nigeria and Chanchangi airlines among those that already folded up while Arik, Dana, Aero, Kabo, Overland, and First Nation were the ones still in operation on the strength

of the funds.

When asked why some of the 10 airlines folded up in spite of the intervention funds, the CBN said responsibility for monitoring the implementation of the funds by the beneficiaries was given to the Bank of Industry (BOI), being the facilitator of the loans.

But, other stakeholders at the session like John Nnorom, who served as Finance Director of now defunct Air Nigeria, said diversion of the funds to other ventures led to the collapse of the airline.

According to him, "the N34.5 billion drawn from the funds by the Air Nigeria was diverted to other personal business by the owner of the airline, Jimoh Ibrahim.

"The very moment the N34.5 billion intervention funds was paid into the airline's account, it disappeared into one of the pri-

vate accounts of the owner without any amount from the funds injected into the airline, paving the way for its eventual collapse."

Efforts by the committee to make further enquiries about the alleged diversion, was frustrated by the absence of BOI Managing Director and other relevant stakeholders.

The committee, however, mandated the CBN Governor and heads of other agencies including airlines, to appear in person before it today.

0.14%

The capital importation percentage share of Transport of Nigeria in 2007.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

N109.88bn The total amount of Imports from Netherlands for the 2014 Q4.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

ond thought.”

Junaid Muhammed, who described the proposal as irresponsible and unconscionable, said: “The proposal clearly demonstrates that the overwhelming members of the National Assembly are not patriotic and are not serving the country but their personal greed. In a more profound way, the impunity with which business is carried out in the National Assembly is a clear indicator of the basic weakness in the multiparty system that we are operating, particularly in the two major parties of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic (PDP).”

Eyiboh, who is a former Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, equally condemned the proposal, describing it as madness and a dance of the ostrich.

His words: “When the legislature is now seeking for immunity, you would want to ask: Immunity from what and for what? I think that they are trying to overreach themselves.

“When you talk of life pensions, do you produce principal officers the way you produce governors? In some cases, you have up to three sets of principal officers within a legislative session. I think that there are more serious issues to look at in the polity. We are in very challenging times.

They should not be thinking about themselves all the time. If they feel they cannot serve without immunity and bogus pensions, they should not present themselves for future elections.”

Another former member of the House of Representatives, Obioha, also said the proposed life pension and immunity for principal officers is unnecessary.

Ubani, who urged Nigerians to resist the lawmakers, said: “We cannot allow such request to stand. How can they give themselves immunity when we are talking about removing immunity from governors?”

Yakasai, who differed, expressed support for the proposal on the ground of what he described as “skidding of Nigeria’s democracy” under President Buhari.

According to the Second Republic presidential aide, the move for immunity for the National Assembly leadership is nothing but to protect the nation’s democracy given the way the executive under Buhari is treating the legislators.

On life pension for the principal officers, Yakasai said: “What is good for the executive is also good for the legislature.”

NEWS

TUESday, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

3

Campaign funds: EFCC freezes Fayose’s accounts Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen the personal account of Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, with the Zenith Bank.

Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwajaren, told New Telegraph that nobody is above investigation.

“Governors only have immunity against prosecution not investigation.

So, if in the course of investigation, the EFCC traces suspicious transactions to an account, it will block the account no matter the status of the owner of such account. So, this is what has happened,” he told New Telegraph.

It learnt that the freezing of the account was in connection with the ongoing investigation of campaign funds for the June 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Officials of the EFCC had last week raided the Ikoyi, Lagos residence of the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, in connection with the governorship election in Ekiti State.

The governor, who

spoke on the freezing of his account in a chat with journalists at the premises of the bank in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday, blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for the move by the anti-graft agency.

"The Federal Government lacks the power to freeze my account. If such must be done, they have to follow due process," he said.

Fayose explained that he got wind that his account had been frozen but needed to confirm by visiting the bank located at Onigari GRA area of the state capital and issuing a countercheque, upon presentation of which he was informed the account had been restricted.

Citing Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, Fayose said he enjoys immunity as a sitting governor.

His words: "If you want to fight corruption, you fight corruption based on rule of law. I'm a sitting governor and under Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution I enjoy immunity. When they did this in 2006 based on the poultry project allegation, court refused to attach my properties.

"You must do anything you want to do within the ambit of law. This government has no respect for

constitutional provisions.

They should not be in a hurry. In 2018, I will be done. I will come to them myself. I have become a figure in this country that I have nowhere to go.

"This rascality of EFCC must stop. Did they not contest election? Where did they get the funds from? Is it because they are the sitting government? So, any other person that conducted election apart from the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a thief? We will take every legal step to get things right. They can't continue with this

rascality.

"I'm not leaving this bank until they have given me a statement confirming that the account has been frozen because on their system they said my account is restricted by the EFCC and they must put it into writing because EFCC under the law has no power to touch my property.

"It is not new. I fight every day and God grants me victory every day. They want to destabilise this state; they want to take the state at all cost and it is not going to be possible. I'm on ground. I'm not going to

shy away for life, death or incarceration. They will not coerce me and take away my rights.

“They did not communicate me. They want to destabilise the state and we will use all legal means to make them obey the constitution. They can investigate me, but they can’t coerce me,” the governor said.

Fayose stated that Buhari was not a saint, alleging that the president’s wife, Aisha, was discovered to have been involved in the Jefferson’s Halliburton scandal in the United

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

€44.5m

The estimated transfer value of Douglas Costa of Bayern Munich in 2016.

Source: 101greatgoals.com

Forgery: We’re investigating Senate's allegations – Oyegun Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said that the party had commenced investigation into the allegations that the party and the Presidency was plotting to destabilise the National Assembly.

The Senate had on Sunday alleged that the Presidency and some leaders of the APC were plotting to destabilise the leadership of the Senate.

The allegations came through a statement from the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

The Senate alleged that there was a sinister plot to arraign the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; former Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Benefict Efeturi, in court for alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules 2015.

National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who responded to the allegations on behalf of the party said

the party would investigate the allegations by the Senate.

"At this stage, I don't think there is anything to say. In fact, everything is still a guess work. Nobody has said yes or have they been arrested or asked to make statement or whatever.

"As a party, we do not think it is part of our business to interfere on judicial matters of that nature. We will just wait and see as we are even making investigation to be sure that is the situation," Oyegun said.

"You see we have to change the way we do things in this country; we have to start telling people what is right and what is wrong and to choose what is right as against what is wrong. This is where I expect you to start. Don't start making it party verses executive issue. The point should be: Was an offense committed? Established that first and then you can now move on," Oyegun said.

However, the National Secretary, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, has described the allegations levelled against the party as baseless.

The party scribe did elaborate on his claims.

States during ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.

He said: “Even the president cannot claim to be an angel. The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted over the Halliburton scandal. When that American, Jefferson, was being sentenced, the president's wife, Aisha, was mentioned as having wired $170,000 to Jefferson.

Her name was on page 25 of the sentencing of Jefferson. We can serialise the judgement for people to see and read. So, Buhari and APC should not see themselves as saint.”

A professor of Law, Itse Sagay (SAN), has justified the freezing of the governor’s account.

Sagay told New Telegraph that the EFCC was only investigating not prosecuting Fayose.

His words: “The court can freeze account of persons who the EFCC is investigating when they suspect that some assets consist of proceeds of crimes. They can apply to court to get the court order to freeze those assets pending the completion of

443.7m

Leader, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu (right), at the Federal High Court, Abuja …yesterday.

The estimated total population of South Eastern Asia in 1990.

Source: Un.org

Biafra: Kanu drags Justice Tsoho to NJC lTrial adjourned till September 26

Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

he detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday said he had filed a petition against the trial judge, Justice James Tsoho, before the National Judicial Council (NJC) over alleged bias.

The Federal Government is prosecuting Kanu, alongside David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu, on the sixcount charge, bordering on treason.

The defendants however asked Justice Tsoho of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to disqualify himself from trying them.

The defendants, in a fresh motion on notice filed by their counsel, Ifeanyi Ehiofor, submitted that there is a manifest case of bias against the court, which complaint is also a subject of scru-

tiny by the NJC, currently probing the allegations of misconduct and manifest bias against the court in charge No: FHC/ CR/383/2015.

The defendants further submitted that by virtue of the scrutiny, the court's impartiality in further proceedings in the charge shall be reasonably questioned.

An affidavit in support of the motion, deposed to by one Ayoola Emmanuel, averred that a complaint has been lodged at the NJC against the conduct of Justice Tsoho in the case of the IPOB leader and his co-defendants.

According to the affidavit, "Following the present action by the NJC, it will only be tidy and most honourable that the judge disqualifies himself forthwith from further proceedings in the matter."

It was averred also that the defendants' constitutional rights to fair hearing will be grossly

impeded upon if Justice Tsoho proceeds with the hearing of the charges against them.

The affidavit stated that the court had, in the course of its ruling on April 26, openly expressed serious prejudice against a member of the defence team, adding that it will be in the interest of justice for the application to be granted, to preserve the sanctity of the judicial office.

The prosecution counsel, Shuaibu Labaran, accused the defence of frustrating the trial of the Biafran leader and his codefendants.

"We were served this morning (yesterday) with a strongly worded motion and from the face of the motion, there is a clear indication that the defendants are again out to truncate the proceedings," Labaran told the court.

Meanwhile, the second defendant in the matter, Benjamin Madubugwu, has engaged the services of a new counsel, Chief Amobi Nzelu, leaving

Chief Chuks Muoma (SAN) to represent the first and the third defendants, Kanu and David Nwawusi respectively.

When the case was called yesterday, Muoma complained to the court about the development. He said that his client ought to have informed him that he was engaging a new lawyer in the matter he has been representing him since the case started.

However, when the judge asked the second defendant to clarify the issues on his representation, he said: "My Lord, I want to make it known to the whole world that Chief Amobi Nzelu is my lawyer."

On that note, Nzelu asked the court for time to enable him get copies of the processes filed in the matter and to also study them so as to effectively represent his client.

Tsoho, having heard from all the parties, adjourned till September 26 to hear the defendants’ motion and for trial.

4

NEWS

TUESday, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Osinbajo, Dogara, Fashola differ on constituency projects

Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he controversy trailing constituency projects undertaken by legislators was brought to the fore yesterday as VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, took parallel positions on the functions of lawmakers.

Similarly, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, declared that the policy has been used as a conduit to siphon funds just as the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, advised lawmakers not to usurp local council projects in the pursuit of

constituency projects.

The personalities spoke yesterday in Abuja at a one-day national summit on political representation and constitutional and zonal intervention services organised by the House and the Conference of Speakers in conjunction with the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS).

In his remarks, the vice president said the primary function of the legislature to make laws has been misconstrued by most constituents hence they should use the summit to properly define their roles for their constituents to know.

Represented by his special adviser on political affairs, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, the vice president urged the lawmakers to de-

fine clearly what constituency projects are meant “so that constituents will not conceive your primary role as building roads, providing water, and providing electricity. Most of those roles belong to the executive but often it is misconstrued.”

“The primary role of the legislator is to make laws, but for most constituents, these to them do not matter. No matter the fine points of law you raise, no matter the bills and motions you raise in all your deliberations, the constituents believe that until you provide them with boreholes, generators or transformers and until you build roads you have not achieved much. That is nothing.

“So, I would advise that your roles be clearly

defined as people who supervise the executive and not execution of projects,” Osinbajo counselled.

On his part, the SGF lamented that government had in the past spent huge sums of money in the name of constituency projects without commensurate results, adding that the present administration was committed to correcting the anomalies of the past.

He said: “It is true that the government has spent so much on execution of constituency intervention projects in the past without any arrangement for their monitoring, evaluation and post implementation review. It is also true that constituency projects have often been avenues for the embezzlement and diversion of projects cost in the

L-R: Former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo; Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase; Police Force Public Relation Officer, ACP Olabisi Kolawole and DIG, Logistics and Supply, Mr. Mamman Tsafe, at the inauguration of Nigeria Police Finance Building in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

past. This has led to gross impunity and wastages.

“Presently, President Muhammadu Buhari is determined to correct these anomalies. This government can no longer afford to be complacent in the way it deploys scarce resources. All projects will now be properly integrated for functionality and sustainability to ensure that constituencies derive benefits from the projects.

I assure you that this administration will gladly adopt any good and implementable recommendations that come out of this summit,” Lawal said.

Fashola, in his presentation, noted that constituency projects are not provided for in the constitution.

“Therefore, in seeking to find perhaps the legal framework for the operation of constituency projects, we must avoid the risk of crowding out, where legislators at the national level are made strictly to implement constituency

52.32

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Andorra in 2000.

Source: Itu.int

74

The age (in years) Michael Bloomberg in 2016.

Source: Forbes.com

projects that involve primary health care centres which are projects meant for the local councils,” he said.

While declaring open the summit, Dogara maintained that contrary to the position of Fashola, constituency projects were constitutional.

He explained that the idea of constituency intervention projects arose as a result of the demand

by Nigerians for equitable and even distribution of infrastructural development projects.

His words: “Some pundits have criticised constituency intervention projects on the ground that it offends the constitutional separation of powers doctrine as legislators are perceived to be dabbling into exclusive functions of the executive branch. I think that this criticism misses the point.

“At least in the last three budget cycles, Mr. President has always included constituency projects in the Appropriation Bills sent to the House, including that of 2016. So, the executive in effect initiates the projects under S. 81 of the Constitution, although with the tacit understanding of the legislature.

“It is erroneous to contend that there is currently no legislative framework for constituency projects in Nigeria.”

Fayose accuses Buhari’s Forex: Naira slumps to N280/$ on interbank market wife of corruption CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

all the backlog of $4 billion pent-up demand for foreign exchange with the Naira exchanging at 280 to the US dollar.

The naira yesterday appreciated by 7.6 per cent against the dollar at the parallel market.

The Nigerian currency gained N26 to exchange at N344 to one dollar, from N370 it closed on Friday.

The naira also traded at N450 and N370 against the Pound Sterling and the Euro respectively; appreciating against both currencies.

Traders at the market attributed the rise in the value of the naira to the fallout of the implementation of the flexible exchange rate policy by the CBN. This cheering news came hours after the apex bank appointed 15 Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) as FX Primary Dealers (FXPDs), Reuters reported.

Yesterday’s exchange rate was significantly weaker than the N197 peg that the apex bank had maintained for 16 months

before abandoning it last week in a bid to alleviate chronic forex shortages and stop the economy from sliding into recession.

According to dealers, the naira had traded just twice by midday, before the CBN held its special auction to clear a backlog of forex orders. Less than $1 million had changed hands, prompting an extension of the trading day to 5p.m., dealers said.

However, the local currency strengthened on the parallel market, as dealers quoted the naira at N325 to N345 to the dollar, up to 10 per cent stronger than on Friday, on expectations more hard currency liquidity on the interbank market would reduce demand on the street.

The acting Director, Corporate Communications of the Bank, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, said last night that the CBN was happy that the objectives of the Bank to clear the FX demand backlog, perform its role as strictly as a market intervention participant; and re-launch a functioning and efficient inter-bank

market, were being met.

He said: “The CBN, in line with its desire to promote a transparent, liquid and efficient market, and in order to engender market confidence and ensure credible price formation, intervened in the market through a special Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) addressing the issue of the FX demand backlog by clearing $4.02 billion through spot and forward sales. This served in no small way to stimulate price discovery, with the determination of a marginal rate of $/N280.00 through the Special SMIS process.

“So, we can state to you categorically, that the FX demand backlog has now been cleared and behind us for good.”

He gave assurance to the market participants and the general public that the CBN was resolutely committed to making the Nigerian FX market globally competitive, credible, transparent, liquid, and efficient.

He lauded market participants that collaborated

in their conduct to achieving these feats and looked forward to another successful and historic day on June 27, when the market launches its innovative hedging product, the Naira-settled OTC FX Futures.

Meanwhile, some of the lenders appointed as FXPDs, according to the traders, included Stanbic IBTC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, UBA, Sterling Bank and FCMB. Last Wednesday, the CBN had unveiled the guidelines for the commencement of a new foreign exchange policy, revealing that it would appoint eight to 10 primary dealers, described by the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, as “Grade A” dealers.

Others were classified as “Grade B”, whom the CBN termed as non-primary dealers, but shall remain valid and eligible to participate in the market.

Traders are betting the naira will further depreciate more than 10 per cent in three months, forward contracts show.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

investigation and then possible prosecution.

“Immunity protects a governor from being arrested and tried but it doesn’t protect him from being investigated. So, from what happened, probably there is an investigation and as a result of that, they have identified some assets, which they regards as being proceeds of crimes they are investigating now.

“Anybody who is being prosecuted always looks for political reasons. I think the best way to debunk any investigation and trial is come out and challenge the person, EFCC or any other agencies to prove it. That is the best way and if you prove it and they cannot prove it, you can then say you have been vindicated.

You should stop saying everything is political, that is blackmail as far as I am concerned.”

But Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) differed. He described the action as illegal.

“It is illegal and barbaric for the account of a sit-

ting governor who enjoys immunity under Section 308 of the constitution to be restricted, frozen or blocked. The governor enjoys immunity in conjunction with president, vice president and deputy governor. And Section 308 says you cannot initiate any criminal proceedings against them when they are still in office, until they leave office. And if you are blocking an account of a sitting governor purportedly to investigate him, and investigation can only lead to prosecution and you cannot prosecute him.

“So, it throws us back to the Hobbesian state of nature when life was short, nasty and brutish. And it invokes sad memories of military dictatorship for the account of a sitting governor to be frozen and I think we should not go down low to that level.”

New Telegraph had last week exclusively reported that accounts of leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been frozen by the EFCC in continuation of investigation into the campaign funds for the 2015 general elections.

NEWS

TUESday, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

5

Civil servants protest, demand removal of Finance Minister Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

F

or over five hours yesterday, a joint protest by staff of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Federation, crippled official activities at the Ministry of Finance situated in the Central Business District of Abuja.

The protesters, who barricaded the main entrance to the ministry, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to replace Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, the Finance Minister, with a “more competent hand.”

They employed derogatory language to convey

their anger, describing the minister as “very incompetent and arrogant” in the discharge of her duties. They also accused her of showing little or no concern for the welfare of civil servants in the ministry.

The crowd of protesters also brandished placards bearing various inscriptions such as: "Adeosun, you're destroying finance ministry," “You must go," “You are incompetent" and “You are killing GMB change agenda."

According to the group, the decision of President Buhari to post Adeosun to the Ministry of Finance was not only wrong but a misnomer, adding that the decision was capable of derailing the change agenda.

Although, the leadership of the protesters could

Money laundering: Ex-NNPC GMD, Omokore arraignment stalled Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

he planned arraignment of the owner of Atlantic Energy Limited, Jide Omokore, and six others before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over money laundering was yesterday stalled due to the absence of some of the suspects.

The court had however rescheduled the trial for July 4.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is to arraign the accused persons before Justice Binta Nyako.

Others to be arraigned alongside Omokore are a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu; Mr. Victor Briggs, Mr. Abiye Memnere, Mr. David Mbanefo, and Omokore’s companies – Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited.

Omokore is a close associate of the immediate past Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacob (SAN) while confirming the new date said that the trial could not go on as scheduled because all the suspects were not in court and that the prosecution would not want to arraign them in piecemeal.

According to him, "The accused persons are scattered across the country and we are trying to avoid a situation whereby the accused persons will be arraigned separately.

"What we are trying to do now is to gather all the accused persons together and I believe we should be able to arraign them on

July 4."

He, however, added that the prosecution will amend the charges earlier filed against the accused persons.

Omokore's company, Atlantic Energy Limited, was one of the companies that allegedly received multibillion dollar worth of public assets without due process during the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2011.

The company, which was created less than a year earlier and had not produced a drop of oil, was allegedly awarded controlling stakes in two lucrative oil blocs – OML 30 and 34 – for just over $50 million each.

The deal, which was signed by the immediate past Minister of Petroleum, Diezani AlisonMadueke, gave Atlantic Energy Limited a controlling 55 per cent stake in the oil bloc.

Curiously, Shell, which owned the remaining 45 per cent stake, fetched $1.3 billion for a single field after an open and competitive bidding process.

The company was also accused of lifting crude oil, but only remitted a fraction of its worth to the government.

In 2012, Atlantic Energy paid $168 million into the government’s account, but lifted about three million barrels – valued at over $350 million.

In 2013, it also lifted about two million barrels of crude valued at about $240 million, but paid only $68 million.

Similarly, in 2014, Atlantic Energy paid zero cashcall, but lifted about 500,000 barrels of crude oil, valued at $54 million.

SPOG, another of Omokore’s companies, is also being investigated for an alleged N400 million petrol import fraud.

not be identified, a source in the Ministry of Finance who spoke with New Telegraph on the condition of anonymity disclosed that the grievances were mainly issues of staff welfare which has been ignored by the minister.

"Before this minister was appointed, the staff of the ministry were entitled to three training sessions in a year. During the tenure of former minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, it was reduced to two but when Adeosun came, she doesn't want to approve it.

Overtime used to be part of the ministry's work schedule because any staff who work beyond the normal 4p.m. official closing hour is entitled to claim, overtime allowance, but since Adeosun came on board, she stopped it.

"Again, there used to be

performance allowance the ministry staff used to receive at the end of every year. This allowance is drawn from cost of revenue collection of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The practice is at the end of every year, the minister of finance will take the proposal to the president for approval.

This has been the practice up till when Okonjo-Iweala handed over.

“But, Adeosun has refused taking this proposal to Mr. President for approval. The staff performance allowance on her table is N1.2 billion and she refused to present it to the president for approval. She is boasting around that, she is not working for the ministry but for Nigerians and every move made by the leadership of staff union to dialogue with her

0.18%

The percentage contribution of Stamp Duty to total collection for 2015 Q4.

Source: Firs.gov.ng

€16.5m

The annual salary of coach Pep Guardiola of Bayern Munich in 2015 season.

Source: France Football

was rebuffed," our source said.

However, the management of the Federal Ministry of Finance has dismissed the protests as having no justifiable grounds.

In a statement released to newsmen, the ministry’s Director of Information, Salisu Na'inna Dambatta, explained that the "payment of what the protesting staff called a

Special Overtime (SOT) was stopped by the last administration in 2014 on the ground that it was not listed in any extant government circular, financial regulations or the public service rules."

"The sum of N1.2 billion computed by the staff union for payment could not have been budgeted for in 2016 in the first place, not only because of the paucity of funds, but also the fact that the SOT allowance was not part of the remuneration in the Federal Public Service; and Federal Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, do not individually or collectively, owe any of their personnel their salaries," Dambatta said.

School children walking across Ogun River, covered by water hyacinth at Kara cow market, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway… yesterday.

PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

Forgery: FG may arraign Saraki, Ekweremadu today lWe’ve not been served --Senate president, deputy

Tunde Oyesina and Chukwu David ABUJA

I

ndications emerged yesterday that the Federal Government may today arraign the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, before an Abuja High Court over charges bothering on forgery of the Senate Standing Rules.

Also, the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) had last week fixed today for the continuation of Saraki's trial over anticipatory/ false assets declaration.

The Senate President is expected to argue his application seeking the disqualification of the tribunal chairman, Danladi Umar, from presiding over his trial.

Saraki's fresh application was premised on alleged bias based on the remark made by Umar at the last proceedings on June 7,

wherein he (Umar) said that the Senate President would face the full consequence of his trial despite the delay tactics employed by his lawyers.

New Telegraph learnt that Saraki, Ekweremadu, a former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and Clerk of the Senate, Benedict Efeturi, may be arraigned by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation before Justice Yusuf Halilu on two-count of forgery and criminal conspiracy.

The Federal Government had on June 10 accused the defendants of criminal conspiracy and forgery of the Senate Standing Rules used for the leadership election of the presiding officers of the Senate on June 6, 2015.

The offence of conspiracy is punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code Act; and offence of forgery with “fraudulent intent” punishable under Section

364 of the same law.

Meanwhile, Saraki and Ekweremadu, yesterday said that they had not been served either court summons or copies of purported Police invitation.

The two presiding officers were allegedly charged to court by the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, on allegation that they forged the 2015 Senate Standing Orders (as amended).

There were speculations yesterday that Saraki and Ekweremadu would appear in Abuja high court today.

However, investigations carried out by New Telegraph indicated that they had neither received court summons nor invitation letter by the Police.

It was also learnt that the Senate would pass a vote of confidence on its leadership, particularly the embattled presiding officers.

Our correspondent reliably gathered that senators of both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been contacted to sign their signatures to a motion to this effect, which would be brought to the floor of the Senate by one of the strong loyalists to the Senate leadership.

The proposed confidence vote is still being treated confidentially while pro-Saraki and Ekweremadu senators were being contacted for the signatures.

A source told New Telegraph that those championing the idea of confidence vote during today's plenary were advised to keep the matter secret to avoid attracting contention to the arrangement.

If the plan succeeds, it would be the third time the senators would be passing a vote of confidence in the life of the 8th Senate, which is just one year in existence.

6

NEWS | national

FG suspends tenure policy in civil service

Ebere Ameh

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he Federal Government has suspended the tenure policy in the Federal Civil Service with immediate effect.

Tenure policy is that policy, which stipulates when civil servants can retire from service. There were three avenues by which one can retire from service- one is when you reach the age of 60, second is when you reach 25 years in service and third is when you spend eight years as a Director. That tenure of eight years is what has now been suspended. So the retirement is now based on 35 years in service or 60 years of age.

Tenure policy was

initiated by the former Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Ahmed Al-Gazali, and the former Head of Civil Service, Stephen Osagiede Oronsaye, had in August 2009. It provided a four-year term, renewable once for permanent secretaries and eight-year term for directors.

According to a statement signed by the Director of Communication, Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Haruna R. Imrana, the directive was contained in a circular to all Ministries Departments and Agencies and signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita.

Edo guber primaries: Masari submits report Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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he Governor of Katsina State and Chairman of the seven-member Committee for the Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Primary Election, Aminu Bello Masari yesterday submitted the committee’s report on the governorship primaries held on Saturday in the Edo State.

The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who received the committee’s report at the party’s Na-

tional Secretariat in Abuja, thanked the Masari-led seven-member Election Committee for successfully conducting the governorship primaries in Edo State.

The members of the Election Committee included: Hon. Andrew Uchendu (Secretary), Hon. Yusuf Maianguwa, Dr. Tunde Esan, Alh. Shuaibu Musa, Alh. Ibrahim Soja and Mr. Amara Iwuanyanwu.

The Committee’s fivepage report recommended that the party’s leadership convenes a reconciliatory meeting with aspirants and other stakeholders.

tuesday, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ofon field: FG targets 25,000 bpd production increase

Adeola Yusuf

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he Federal Gover nment declared yesterday that it targeted additional 25, 000 barrels per day crude production from Ofon field in the Niger Delta.

Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investments Management Services (NAPIMS), Mr. Safe Sejebo, who said this at the commissioning and sailing away of locally-made oil Platform in Lagos, maintained that the platform, was expected to bring Production at OFON field to 65,000 bpd.

The platform, Sejebo said, would go a long way to actualise the country's aim of increasing its crude oil reserves.

"Following years of challenges, we are proud

T

he perennial scarcity of aviation fuel yesterday led to stranding of passengers as marketers raised the price of the commodity from between N114 and N116 to between N150, N160 and N170 per litre depending on the location.

In Lagos, aviation fuel, otherwise known as JET A1, goes for N150 per litre,

while it costs N160 and N170 in Abuja and Kano respectively.

Consequently, passengers across the country’s airports were left stranded as airlines rescheduled their flights over scarcity of the commodity.

Most of the airlines had their flights either rescheduled or cancelled, prompting many others to take to road.

Managing Director

that was needed to implement the plan was an enabling environment and a partnership between the government and stakeholders.

"Value addition is very important in implementing the automotive plan and the government needs to create an enabling environment for the plan to work "The whole essence of the plan is to foster backward integration and

domestic and industrial needs in line with the Federal Government's power sector objectives.

Nigerdock is the west Africa's leading indigenous company with expertise in Oil and Gas construction, Shipyard and Marine Services, Logistics Support and industrial training.

"We have trained over 6, 000 personnel in our training facility recently and we have developed world class systems and processes for Nigerdock driven by competent and professional Nigerian workforce.

In this high risk and HSE-critical work systems and environment, Nigerdock has executed over 5 million man hours of productivity and achieved over 3 million Man hours without a lost Time Incident."

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

of FirstNation Airlines, Mr. Kayode Odukoya, confirmed Jet A1 scarcity when New Telegraph sought to know what led to flight rescheduling.

Aviation fuel is central to the operations of an airline as it constitutes between 35-40 per cent of an airline's cost. The price of the commodity - laden with taxes - in Africa is the highest in the West African sub- region.

We're committed to implementing automotive policy –Enelamah T he Federal Government has restated its commitment to implementing the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP).

Mr Ikechukwu Enelamah, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, made this known at a stakeholders' forum on the policy, tagged "Setting an Implementation Agenda for the NAIDP" in Lagos yesterday.

Enelamah said that all

Mr. Anwar Jarmakani, stated that the OFON Platform projects was the first Engineering, procurement, Construction and Onshore Commission (EPC) contract awarded to an indigenous Contractor.

According to him, "Following the start of this project, it has been a celebration of one milestone after another, culminating into the full completion and delivering of the project work scope.

"The project will bring about additional oil and gas production from 25,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (bpd) to 65,000 bpd. It also helps to stop gas flaring on Ofon and deliver gas to Bonny LNG plant via Amenam fields.

"This injection of gas feedstock will significantly boost the domestic gas market and provide critical power for Nigeria's

L-R: Chairman, Primewater View Holding Limited, Prince Adetunji Ogunwusi; Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos Council, Comrade Deji Elumoye; Group Managing Director/CEO, Primewaterview Holdings Limited, Mrs. Morola Babalola and National President, Nigeria Association of Women’s Journalists (NAWOJ), Mrs. Morola Ifeyinwa, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of NUJ/NAWOJ Pen Estate with Primewaterview Holding Limited in Lagos… yesterday.

Passengers stranded as aviation fuel hits N170/litre Wole Shadare

that the sail-away is done today. I'm glad that some Nigerian companies have come up to provide opportunities for value creation through capacity building.

"As we mark the sailaway, it is remarkable to note that this is the first complex job, in terms of engineering and highly technicality, to be awarded to a Nigerian company.

We have ongoing Egina FPSO by TOTAL and its 40 per cent job is being done in-country.

"We must continue to build more indigenous capacity and I want to assure that more jobs will come to this facility.

The safety record is commendable and it must be sustained," he said.

Speaking at the commissioning and the SailAway ceremony, the Chairman of Nigerdock,

local content utilisation in vehicle assembling, which will in turn create jobs for our productive youths.

"There is a great need to continuously engage with the stakeholders and this is the main reason for this forum.’’

He said the government recognised the importance of such engagement in order to revive the industry, using local content.

Too many selfies could speed up ageing Appolonia Adeyemi and Oreoluwa Aboderin

N

igerians who are in the habit of taking too many selfies could be damaging their skin.

According to demartologists, too many selfies may cause wrinkles.

Dermatologists believe that regularly exposing the face to the light and electromagnetic radiation from smart phones could damage the skin as well as accelerate the ageing process.

A selfie is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a digital camera or camera phone held in the hand or supported by a selfie stick.

Selfies are often shared on social networking services such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

They are usually flattering and made to appear casual. In Nigeria, taking selfies is a socially acceptable practice, especially, among young people.

Some doctors even claim they could tell which hand a person holds their phone in just by looking at which side of the face is most damaged.

Speaking at the Facial Aesthetic Conference and Exhibition - or FACE - in London on Sunday, experts said even the blue light emitted from smart phone screens can promote wrinkles.

Although, the problem arising from selfie’s impact has never been documented, doctors insisted that the magnetic waves produced by modern gadgets damage the skin in a similar way that too much exposure to the sun causes wrinkles.

Dr. Simon Zokaie, medical director of the Linia Skin Clinic in Harley Street in the United Kingdom (UK), said: “Those who take a lot of selfies and bloggers should worry.

“I think there is a gap in the market for products

which protect because I know there are people who take lots of selfies, and bloggers who come to me and I have seen that there is damage there and there; and ageing taking place.’

Speaking further, he said: “It’s a different wavelength of radiation.

So, sunscreen will not block it.’

Dr. Zein Obagi, a dermatologist of the Obagi Skin Health Institute in Beverley Hills in the United States (U.S), added: “Your cell phone will damage your skin.

“It is not documented, but in my clinical observation, I can tell whether someone uses their right hand or left hand to hold their phone.

“You start to see dull dirty looking texture that you cannot identify on one side of the face.

“I think we need to create a defence mechanism, light has some sort of magnetic think that is happening to the skin."

national | news

tuesday, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ikpeazu to Abia South: I'm governor of all

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bia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has called on the people of Ukwa/Ngwa to be fair minded in their demands on him as the governor of the state and also consider people from other parts of the state, saying that he is the governor of all.

Governor Ikpeazu spoke yesterday during the concluding phase of the ongoing Abia State town hall meeting in Abia South.

Ikpeazu, who hails from Ukwa/Ngwa axis of the state that didn't produce the governor of the state until 2015, when the current governor emerged as the 4th democratically elected governor, also assured the people that everything due to them will be given to them.

Speaking at the Obehie venue of the meeting, Ik-

peazu said: "I'm here to fulfill the promise I made to you during the campaigns.

I promised that I will always return to you as the owners of the mandate I'm holding in trust, to report to you on what we've done, what we are doing and what we want to do.

"I'm not your ruler, but your servant. Therefore, I'm here to tell you what we've done in the first one year of our government and what we plan to do in the next one year, or our second year of our four years tenure. I will also give you the opportunity to ask me questions, and I will answer all your questions here, that's why we are here.

"I will not lie to you because I don't have any reason to do so. You elected me as your governor to tell you the truth always, and not to lie to you."

ASUU, students, disagree on sexual harassment bill Chukwu David Abuja

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he Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday opposed the Sexual Harassment Bill presently before the National Assembly for passage.

The body said it was totally against the proposed legislation, because it was targeted at the members of its academic community alone.

This was as the Na-

Supreme Court judge, Niki Tobi, dies at 75 Tunde Oyesina Abuja

E

rudite jurist and a former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Niki Tobi is dead.

The retired judge passed away last Friday at the National Hospital, Abuja, at the age of 75.

Justice Tobi, who would have clocked 76 by July 14, was said to have been ill for some time.

His remains had, however, been deposited at the Garki Mortuary Hospital, Abuja.

Justice Tobi, who hailed from Esanma, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, was born on July 14, 1940.

He retired on July 14, 2010 as an associate justice of the Supreme Court.

There was no official statement from the Supreme Court as at the time of filing this report.

tional Female Students Association of Nigeria, protested and raised the alarm over alleged harassment of its members in universities across the country by randy male lecturers.

The two groups made their positions known during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, on the bill titled; 'Sexual Harassment Bill 2016', which was sponsored by Senator Omo Agege (PDP, Delta Central).

In his presentation at the public hearing, ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said from the intent of the bill, the lecturers in the higher institutions were targeted and had become endangered if the bill scaled through.

He argued that the bill had many ambiguous clauses, which anybody could exploit to blackmail and intimidate innocent lecturers, saying that the bill was only a waste of time, resources and unnecessary repetition.

MTN names Vodafone Europe head as new CEO Kunle Azeez

F

ollowing a near eight-month hunt for a boss, MTN Group yesterday finally named Vodafone European cluster head, Mr. Rob Shuter, as its new chief executive, even as the telecommunication company has got a fair ratings from a global rating agency, Moody’s.

Shuter, who will start not later than July 2017, replaces Sifiso Dabengwa, who resigned last November after a $5.2 billion fine in Nigeria exposed corporate governance flaws at Africa's biggest mobile phone operator.

Shuter, an accountant with experience in managing risk, inherits a company in the middle of overhauling its corporate governance standards and in search of

new revenue streams as tough competition hit profit margins in its key markets.

“MTN is confident that Shuter will bring experience and new insights to the CEO role, having had many years in the telecoms sector both in Africa and Europe,” MTN said in a statement.

Phuthuma Nhleko, who temporarily took over as an executive chairman, following Dabengwa's resignation, will revert to his role as nonexecutive chairman as soon as Shuter starts his new role, reports Reuters.

Shuter has been CEO of Vodafone Netherlands since April 2012 and in October 2015; his role was expanded to include the other European countries, excluding the four large European markets.

MTN said it’s confident

ABUJA

A

case has been made for the amendment of section 78 of the Electoral Act to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) up to 240 days for the production of ballot papers and other electoral materials to be used in elections.

The commission was

Group’s Baa3 global issuer rating, the Aa3.za national scale issuer rating and Baa3 rating on the senior unsecured notes issued by MTN Mauritius Investments.

Obligations rated Baa3 are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics while obligations rated Aa3 are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

According to Moody’s, the affirmation is based on the view that the fine and payment terms, recently imposed by the Nigerian authorities and agreed to by MTN Nigeria, are within the funding capabilities of MTN Nigeria and will not require funding support from MTN Group.

L-R: Supreme Court Judge, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo and Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Rahmon Ade Bello, during the first National Judicial Roundtable on the Intersection between Law and Religion in Abuja … yesterday PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN…

Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

T

he Federal Government yesterday said it would soon commence the completion of the second Niger Bridge and the Zik Mausoleum project.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, gave the assurance yesterday when he visited Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra, to inspect the progress of work on the

Minister: 2nd Niger Bridge project, Zik’s mausoleum to be completed soon second Niger Bridge and other major projects.

The minister said when completed, the bridge will bring an improvement to the area and accelerate the economic prosperity, transportation and exchange of goods and services across the country.

“I come here in pursuant of the commitment of the Federal Government

INEC advised on timely production of ballot papers Onyekachi Eze

Shuter will bring “experience and new insights to the CEO role, having had many years in the telecoms sector, both in Africa and Europe, as well as in banking, where his expertise will help as MTN continues to develop its new business strategy.”

Investors have always been comfortable working with Shuter and his experience from Europe with Vodafone has added a new dimension to his management skills, an analyst at Arqaam Capital, Ian Brink, said toldBloomberg by phone.

“The European telecommunications market is a more mature market and in many instances the African market is also starting to move in that direction,” Brink said.

Meanwhile, ratings agency, Moody’s, yesterday affirmed MTN

7

further charged to create a data base of Nigerians in diaspora so as to allow Nigerians abroad vote in elections.

These were some of the recommendations made by INEC operations and logistics officers after their one week workshop in Lagos.

The recommendations, which were contained in an INEC bulletin issued yesterday in Abuja, called for an introduction of "out

of country voting" into the national electoral process to avoid disenfranchisement of Nigerians of voting age living abroad.

According to the statement, before this could be done, there should be a legal framework, eligible criteria, a logistics framework; conduct of pilot schemes and the acquisition of necessary platforms and gadgets for its implementation.

and that of President Muhammadu Buhari, to complete the bridge.

“It would give relief to the first Niger Bridge and also help in ensuring that it is now kept in a good state of repair and maintenance,” the minister said.

Fashola assured the people that the Federal Government would compensate appropriate land owners and as well ensure that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is taken care of.

He said the bridge was the Federal Government’s first move towards a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with some investors.

The minister also described the project as one of the largest infrastructural work been embarked upon by the Federal Government.

He called for commitment on the part of host communities, urging

them not to interrupt the progress of the project or engage in hostilities while assuring that government will dialogue with the communities so that work continues in the larger interest of the country.

On the late Nnamdi Azikiwe’s mausoleum in Onitsha, the Minister assured that the abandoned project would be completed, saying that it was one little way to appreciate those who served the country.

In his remarks, Governor Willie Obiano, who stressed the importance of the second Niger Bridge to the people, expressed hope that the project would be completed in good time.

Obiano commended the efforts of the Federal Government in refunding about N43.8 billion used by the state government to reconstruct and rehabilitate some federal roads.

8

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

Again, gunmen kill 13 in Ikorodu community

Muritala Ayinla and Taiwo Jimoh

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t least 13 people were feared killed yesterday when gunmen believed to be oil pipeline vandals again invaded Elepete community in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

The invasion, which came on the heels of Friday attack on the community in which about 15 people were killed, was despite the presence of policemen and soldiers in Ikorodu.

Many residents fled the community yesterday amid sporadic shooting.

Commuters, traders and pedestrians scampered into safety as markets, businesses, schools, among others were hurriedly shot. Parents rushed to schools to pick their children.

Several residents were said to have fled to Igbolomu and Agbede areas of Ikorodu.

It was learnt that the suspected vandals invaded Elepete and neighbouring communities between 9am and 10am.

While some residents said the hoodlums were Ijaw militants, others said they were pipeline vandals who wanted to break the rings of the security formation around petroleum

Soldiers on patrol

pipelines in the area.

For nearly 45 minutes, gunshots were heard in the area as people ran helter-skelter.

A witness, who pleaded anonymity, said the suspected vandals invaded a school in the area, but allowed the children to go, warning them not to return to school again.

City Briefs

Narrating his experience, Uduimoh Ipeakhai, a resident of Igbolomu, said streets in the areas were now deserted as people had fled their homes.

He added that 13 people were killed in the attack by the militants, who gained access through the creeks and water bodies in Ikorodu.

Meanwhile, three Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) have been deployed to the area as armed military men and the police were patrolling the area.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the attack.

She, however, denied the report of the killing of 13 people.

Teenager commits suicide after quarrel with boyfriend

Navy inaugurates sickbay

Taiwo Jimoh

T

A

19-year-old girl, identified as Uche Obiora, has reportedly committed suicide at Alhaji Ede Avenue at Igando area of Lagos.

Uche was said to have killed herself on Sunday after a disagreement with her boyfriend, Ernest Ihaaza.

The boy later reported at Igando Police Station that Uche had killed herself.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the story.

She said: “The girl, identified as Uche Obiora, allegedly drank sniper insecticide

after a quarrel with her boyfriend, Ernest Ihaaza.

“The boyfriend of the deceased reported at the Igando Police Station that his girlfriend had committed suicide by drinking sniper insecticide. We are investigating the matter.”

Flora Onwudiwe he Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command (WNC), Rear Admiral Ferguson Bobai, yesterday re-commissioned the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft Sickbay at the Naval Base, Apapa, Lagos.

The Head of Sickbay, NNS Beecroft, Lt. Commander Oluwole Busari (a surgeon), conducted the Commander of NNS Beecroft, Commodore Abraham Adaji, the representative of Director of Medical Services, Nigerian Navy, Navy Captain Ibrahim Ahmed and other senior naval officers.

Bobai said the wellbeing of the officers and ratings of the Nigerian Navy was very important to the leadership of Navy.

He said: “If we don’t have a healthy manpower, their efficiency development will be affected.

So for me, I am very delighted to be party to what I am seeing today.

“This is very encouraging. If we have a sickbay like this that has all these equipment maybe we can replicate it in all other

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

Badmos said everything was now under control.

She said that the police had deployed well-armed policemen to maintain peace in the area.

The PPRO added that the soldiers had also been deployed in the area to prevent further crisis.

Also, police have arrested a 27-year-old man, Victor Worimegbe, in connection with the killing of 15 people at Elepete on Friday.

Also yesterday, it was learnt that the gunmen engaged officials of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in a gun duel.

Two of the suspected vandals were said to have been shot dead while one sustained gunshot wounds in the encounter.

The police were said to have arrested Worimegbe near the creek in the community on Sunday night.

“During interrogation, Werimegbe confessed that he is a member of the gunmen that invaded the community. He said they lodged in a hotel where other gang members were lodging before they carried out their operation on that fateful day,” a police source said.

Badmos confirmed Werimegbe’s arrest.

She said: “Operatives were deployed in the place and they succeeded in arresting one of the suspects, Victor Werimegbe, who took policemen to Topkath Hotel where other gang members were lodging.”

Badmos listed some of other fleeing members as Ekpokime, Abule and Ebimobese.

According to her, the suspects opened fire at the policemen while trying to escape and the operatives responded.

units.

“We have some civilians that are working alongside with the Navy medical personnel. We have almost 100 naval personnel in charge of the place.

“With the equipment we have here, the officers that are closer to this place can use this opportunity to come here and check their health in terms of blood pressure, sugar level, etc.

Bobai cutting the tape to inaugurate the sickbay

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Muritala Ayinla

F

ire broke out yesterday at the popular Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, and destroyed property said to worth several millions of naira.

For nearly two hours, officials of the Lagos State Fire Service had a hectic time combating the fire.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the police, among other emergency responders, were on ground.

It was learnt that the inferno started about 5:14am.

However, at press time, it was difficult to ascertain the cause of the fire.

Areas affected in the inferno are the second floor of Harold Building, the entire computers section of the Banquet Hall, Osun Hall and Halrod Kitchen. The kitchen was totally burnt. But the adjoining structures and other buildings in the compound were salvaged.

An official of LASEMA, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that the agency received an alert via the emergency number of

Fire guts Airport Hotel

Fire-fighters at the scene

Lagos State 767/112 of fire outbreak at Airport Hotel, Awolowo Road, lkeja, about 5:14am.

He said: “This prompted the quick response of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) of LASEMA and other stakeholders which include the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service and the police to the scene of the incident.”

On his part, the General Manager, LASEMA,

Mr. Michael Akindele, said that the agency could not ascertain the cause of the inferno.

But, according to him, some staff of the hotel suspected power surge from a section of the Banquet Hall.

He said: “Investigation carried out by the ERT at the scene could not ascertain the real cause of the inferno but a source suspected power surge from one part of

the banquet section of the Banquet Hall.

“The Lagos State Fire Service from Alausa Station and Ikeja were able to stop the fire from spreading to adjoining structures within the hotel complex.

“There was no loss of life or injury sustained by anyone. However, property worth millions of naira were destroyed by the inferno. Three rooms - rooms 270, 271, 272 - on the second floor of Harold Building were affected, the entire computers’ section of the Banquet Hall, Osun Hall while Halrod Kitchen was totally destroyed by the inferno.”

Akindele said that the adjoining structures such as Harold building and all other buildings in the compound were salvaged.

The GM said that proper investigation would be carried out by appropriate agencies to ascertain the real cause of the fire outbreak.

Akindele, however, advised companies and property owners to ensure they put in place emergency response plan and safety precautions to avert future occurrence.

Dry cleaner pours hot stew on policeman Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

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Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, yesterday remanded a 33-year-old dry cleaner, Imole Emmanuel, in prison custody for pouring hot water on a police corporal, Kayode Akingbade.

Emmanuel, slammed with a three-count charge, was said to have on June 13 about 5.30pm emptied a bowl of steaming soup on Akingbade’s face and uni-

Akingbade

form.

He was said to have in the process equally at-

tempted to snatch the policeman’s service rifle.

The charge sheet reads in part: “That you Emmanuel Imole ‘m’ on 13/06/2016 about 5:30pm at Baptist junction, Ilawe Road, AdoEkiti in the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District did threaten with violence one Corporal Akingbade Kayode attached to New Iyin Road Police Station, Ado-Ekiti by pouring hot stew on his face and police uniform before trying to struggle with his rifle and thereby committed an of-

fence contrary to and punishable under Section 86(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C16 Vol. 1 Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria 2012.”

At the sitting yesterday, police prosecutor, Bankole Olasunkanmi, said five witnesses were ready to give evidence against the accused. He, however, said that only three were in court.

The prosecutor prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him study the case file and assemble the witnesses.

Man, 67, defiles six-year-old girl Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

P

olice have arrested a 67-yearold man, Yahaya Umar, of Tudun Wada area in Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State for allegedly defiling a six-year-old girl, Safiya Mohammed, in an uncompleted building on Monday last week.

Narrating how the incident happened to journalists yesterday, Safiya’s mother, Hindatu Mohammed, said she sent her daughter to buy detergent after returning from school.

According to her, Safiya did not return as early as expected.

Hindatu added that she was worried over her daughter’s delay.

IG, Arase

She said: “Suddenly, one boy came to my house to inform me that my daughter has been raped.”

The victim’s mother said the boy told her that a woman, who was just passing by, caught Umar in the act in an uncompleted building and raised

the alarm.

Hindatu added that the suspect was arrested and taken to Tudun Nupawa police station.

She said that her daughter was then taken to a hospital, where a series of test was carried out on her.

However, according to her, the doctors said that Umar was not the first person who had defiled Safiya.

He said: “I am so afraid that she might be infected with HIV/AIDS. I was told that after the doctors’ investigations, it was discovered that she had been raped earlier by another person before the 67-year-old man did it.”

Hindatu said that her daughter named a 30-year-old man, Mohammed Awwal, their neighbour, as the person who first slept with her.

METRO

9

Barricade Ogun River to avert tragedy, residents beg Amosun Muritala Ayinla

R

esidents and commuters yesterday called on Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State to immediately barricade Ogun River to avert tragedy.

They said the blocked river could open up anytime, which could claim many lives.

When our correspondent visited the area yesterday, youths were still playing on the part of the river overgrown by seaweeds.

Some were posing for pictures on the part of the river already covered by water hyacinth.

Many other people were riding motorcycles on the river where the commuters hitherto used canoes to navigate.

One of the respondents, Olanrewaju Cocker, said Amosun should come to the aid of the residents.

According to him, it is not enough to raise the alarm on the dangers of moving on the blocked river but there is need for government to prevent people from moving close to the river.

He said: “We want the governor to cordon off the area to prevent people from risking their lives. We will be glad if the government can do this since the job of government is the protection of lives and property.”

Also, a motorist, who pleaded anonymity, said

it was strange for a river which ‘swallowed up’ a lorry sometimes ago to dry up and people would be walking on it.

Meanwhile, Lagos State government yesterday warned the people to stay away from Ogun River.

The Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Adebowale Akinsanya (an engineer), gave the warning in a statement.

Akinsanya said it was dangerous for people to besiege the dry area as the flow of the river was still active beneath.

He said: “Last weekend, the river was taken over by vegetation, caused by a heavy storm, which created a compacted layer over the river.

“It is important to notify the public that have been worried about the environmental consequence of a dried up river to note that the flow of the river is still active beneath the vegetation and the situation is been evaluated.

“However, because of the compacted nature of the vegetation, residents and onlookers are of the erroneous belief that the river has suddenly dried up and can walk across the vegetation.

“A lot of people that have turned the place to a tourist destination are unaware of the danger lying ahead.”

Some people walking on Ogun River … yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Police recruitment: Three held for age falsification Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

P

olice in Ebonyi State have arrested three persons for alleged aged falsification in the ongoing nationwide police recruitment screening exercise.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP George Okafor, disclosed this to our correspondent yesterday.

Okafor said the suspects would soon be charged to court to serve as deterrent to others.

The PPRO added that the exercise was transparent and called on those yet to report to the screening

venue to do so.

He said: “There are various techniques and procedures outlined for this purpose and they must be strictly adhered to shortlist candidates.

“We screened the candidates properly and discovered that some of them forged some of their credentials and we are not going to leave them. If you know you have false declarations don’t near this screening place because if we catch you, we will charge you.”

Okafor advised the public to continue to provide useful information to the police for efficient service delivery.

10

NEWS | national

tuesday, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Alleged N5.1bn fraud: Ex-President Jonathan's aide gets N500m bail Akeem Nafiu

A

n aide to exPresident Goodluck Jonathan, Warpamo Owei Emmanuel Dudafa, who was recently arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commis-

sion (EFCC) over alleged N5.1billion fraud was yesterday granted bail in the sum of N500 million with three sureties in like sum

by Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court, Lagos.

Also admitted to bail was Dudafa's co-accused,

Iwejo Joseph Nna a. k. a Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah).

He was granted bail in the sum of N250 million with two sureties in like sum.

Justice Idris in his ruling on the two accused bail applications ordered

that their sureties must have landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court.

The accused persons were also directed to deposit their international travel passports with the court's Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR).

Debt: AMCON takes over Jimoh Ibrahim’s NICON, Global Fleet, other assets

T

he Federal High Court Lagos Division has granted an interim injunction for the takeover of NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited belonging to Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim on the application brought before it by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

Justice Saliu Saidu while granting the application of Mr. Yusuf Ali SAN, counsel to AMCON restrained NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited and Mr. Jimoh

Ibrahim from dealing with any assets or funds of the company.

The court also made an order freezing all bank accounts of the affected companies and their promoter, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, until the matter was finally determined. The court order covered the assets of NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited and Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim in Abuja, Lagos, Dubai and London.

The freezing order also affected all bank accounts held and/or

Customs arrest 12 over fake jobs, auctions

Bayo Akomolafe

N

igeria Customs Service (NCS) has arrested 12 suspected internet fraudsters, who specialise in extorting money from people under the pretext of offering them jobs, auctions and contracts.

In a statement by the service's spokesman, Wale Adeniyi, a deputy comptroller, the service said yesterday that the integrated approach on social media, was coming on the heels of recent upsurge of fraudsters using the name of the Nigeria Customs Service to solicit applications for non-existent job offers for a fee to be paid into personal bank accounts

According to him, the advert currently circulating on the WhatsApp platform was the latest of those criminal attempts to mislead desperate jobseekers, with a clever insertion of the NCS website address.

Adeniyi said: “To achieve their criminal objective, the same advert directs applicants to visit a fake website www.customsrecruit.com.ng. Victims are eventually asked to make some payments to complete the phony forms.”

He advised people to discountenance the advertisements placed in any online platforms except those released on the NCS authentic and authoritative platforms.

FCTA releases N5.7bn counterpart funds to partners Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

T

he Federal Capital Territory Administration has released the sum of N5.7 billion to various development partners as counterpart funds for the projects being executed in the nation's capital, Abuja.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye made this disclosure yesterday at an interactive session with the Information Officers under the FCT administration.

He stated that some of these counterpart funds had not been paid for several years, which according to him had painted FCT Administration in bad light over the years.

According to him, the FCT Administration had taken the step to redeem its obligations and image with the international development partners in tandem with the change agenda of the Federal Government.

Ajakaiye revealed that the sum of N1,787,077,262.75 was released to the Universal Basic Education Board.

maintained by NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited and Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim in First Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, United Bank of Africa Plc, Access Bank Plc, City Bank Nigeria Limited and Sterling Bank Plc. Others include Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc, Heritage Bank Limited, Keystone Bank Limited, Skye Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Unity Bank Plc. The court also ordered the freezing of all the bank accounts to which Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim is a signatory either alone or with any other person in NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil and

Gas Limited in any of the banks and financial institution on the list.

AMCON was also granted the possessory order to take over Jimoh Ibrahim’s Nigeria Re-Insurance Company Plc, NICON Insurance Company Plc, Nigeria Stockbrokers Limited (NSL) and NICON Trustees Limited.

The trio of NICON Investment Limited, Global Fleet Oil and Gas Limited and Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim owe AMCON over N50 billion, which have become subject of protracted negotiations and court battles as a result of their inability to repay the staggering debt.

But with AMCON’s debt recovery efforts in full swing, the corporation yesterday took over the assets of Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim in both Abuja and Lagos.

Hijab crisis: MURIC urges CAN to go to Appeal Court Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

A

s the crisis over the use of hijab by female Muslim students in public secondary schools in Osun State continues, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has challenged the leadership of the Christian Association of Ni-

geria (CAN) in the state to go to approach the appellate court against the ruling lower court favouring the use of hijab in the state.

Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Lakin Akintola, said the Christian body should approach the court rather than inciting minors to engage in disorderliness in the state.

No plan to streamline workforce –Oyo-Ita

Ebere Ameh

T

he Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, has dispelled the claim that the Federal Government plans to streamline its workforce, stating that rather, the government was doing everything possible to improve the welfare of workers especially in the areas of housing, health and pension matters.

Oyo-Ita made this disclosure yesterday in Abuja during an interactive

session with participants of class 22 of the Policy, Strategy and Leadership Course of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS) Kuru in Jos. In a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Media Relations, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mohammed Manga, she noted that, her office had recently embarked on the verification exercise of directorate level officers in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.

They were, however, to be remanded in prison custody pending when they would perfect their bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned till July 4 and 5 for commencement of the accused persons' trial.

The two accused were arraigned before the court by the anti-graft agency on a 23-count charge bordering on alleged N5.1 billion fraud

by the EFCC. They had since pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

In the charge sheet signed by Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC, alleged that Dudafa, and Joseph Nna, who also claimed to be Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah, had between June 11, 2013 and June 2015, used different companies to fraudulently steal and commit the alleged offences.

CHANGE AND CONFIRMATION OF NAME

matthew

I formerly known as MISS BELEMO OGUARA now wish to be known and addressed as MISS BLESSING MATTHEW. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

suotie

I formerly known as AFRICANUS TARIYE GBORIANGA now wish to be known and addressed as GEKU SUOTIE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

godsword

I, PAUL KISCO KWEKU GODSWORD do hereby state that my complete name is PAUL KISCO KWEKU GODSWORD which was written as PAUL KWEKU GODSWORD in my Sterling bank.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as PAUL KISCO KWEKU GODSWORD. All former documents remain valid. Sterling bank Plc and the general public please take note.

UNACHUKWU

I, formerly known as NWOKO OGECHI JULIET now wish to be known as UNACHUKWU OGECHI JULIET. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ukpe

This is to confirm that the name EKAIDEH UKPE ESSIEN and EPHRAIM VICTOR UKPE belong to one and the same person and henceforth wish to be known and addressed as EPHRAIM VICTOR UKPE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

abdulahi

I formerly known as RAUFF ADISA OLUFUNMI now wish to be known and addressed as ABDULAHI ROUFU OLUFUNMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

peace

I was formerly known and addressed as MISS FLORENCE TEMI AMINEBIREN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. FLORENCE TEMI PEACE. All documents bearing former name remain valid. General public should please, note.

nwadinma

olorunfemi

I, formerly known as OGUNTULU OLORUNFEMI MIKESON now wish to be known and called OLORUNFEMI MIKESON OLORUNFEMI. All former documents remain valid. UAC of Nigeria Plc, MDS Logistics Ltd, Stanbic IBTC Pensions and the general public please note.

aguda

I, formerly known as FAGBAYIBO, MODUPE AJOKE now wish to be known and addressed as AGUDA, MODUPE AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

Otuu

I formally known as MISS OBILA EUNICE UCHENNA OTUU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OTUU EUNICE UCHENNA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

oluwaseyi

celestina

I formerly known as IHEJIRIKA UCHE GODWIN now wish to be known and addressed as IHEJIRIKA UCHE CELESTINA. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known as NURUDEEN OLAYIWOLA PETER now wish to be known and addressed as OLAYIWOLA PETER OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

I formerly known as MISS VIVIAN NKECHI AKOBUNDU now wish to be known and addressed as MR. VIVIAN NKECHI NWADINMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public, please take note.

umoh

I formerly known as VICTOR ISAIAH KUFRE now wish to be known and addressed as VICTOR ISAIAH UMOH. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

imonikhe

I formerly known as OJIEZOGBOW CHARLES MAXWELL now wish to be known and addressed as OJIEZOGBOW CHARLES IMONIKHE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

musi

I formerly known as JAMES JONATHAN now wish to be known and addressed as KEMEWARE MUSI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

SEAT THE LORD’S OF AMAZING VINEYARD GRACEDELIVERANCE INTERNATIONALMINISTRY MINISTRY The General Public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied for registration with the corporate Affairs Commission Abuja under part C of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Prophet Obadiah Kunle Egbaelo – General Overseer 2. Pastor (Mrs) Obadiah Juliet Ngozi 3. Bro. Iwalokun Abiodun Adeleye 4. Pastor Gabriel David Kayode 5. Pastor Akinyele Kunle Kazeem AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. To foster love, peace and unity amongst brethren.

3. To proclaim the good works of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

11

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Politics National Assembly on the spot Members of the National Assembly have drawn the ire of Nigerians following their demand for life pension and immunity for their presiding officers, FELIX NWANERI writes with additional reports from correspondents

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nger and condemnation have trailed the demand for life pension and immunity for presiding officers of the National Assembly, which the federal legislators made at a-two day retreat on Constitution Review organised by the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review in Lagos at the weekend.

According to the lawmakers, presiding officers, who should enjoy life pension and immunity are the Senate president, Senate deputy president, speaker and deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

The Senate Deputy President and Chairman of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on the Review of 1999 Constitution, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who supported the pension proposal, said: “This has nothing to do with an individual.

It is about the institution. Let us not politicise it. Nobody elected the Chief Justice of Nigeria but he enjoys pension. But if we cheapen our own institution, so be it. Let us not make this a personal thing.”

He was backed by Senators Stella Oduah and Ahmed Yerima, who wondered why legislators should not enjoy such benefits like other arms of government.

“The executive enjoys it. Let us stand by our leaders. They should enjoy this benefit. They act on behalf of us. They are equal to the executive and judiciary and should therefore enjoy the same benefit,” Oduah said, while Yerima insisted that “governors, who spend just four years enjoy it, so presiding officers should enjoy it too.”

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Saraki

However, there were dissenting voices from Senators Ali Ndume and Godswill Akpabio. Ndume, who is the Senate Leader, said the case of state governors and their deputies is different as they are elected by the public. “I am against any excessive privileges given to the Senate President or the speaker. All of us were elected.

If we are doing anything, it should be for all members of the National Assembly,” he said.

Akpabio, who is the Senate Minority Leader said: “The governor of a state and the president cannot stay in office for more than two terms. But a senator can stay in office for 35 years.”

On immunity clause for their principal officers, it was 21 votes in favour and 15 against. Senators Ndume, Akpabio and Kabiru Gaya (Chairman, Senate Committee on Works) were endorsed the proposal.

Gaya said the essence of immunity was to guard some public office holders against any form of distraction while discharging their duties. “There are three tiers of government and only two arms enjoy immunity. See what is happening to the president of the Senate now. We are not saying the case in court should be stopped. But even yesterday (Friday), we read in the papers that there is a fresh case of forgery of Senate Standing Rule against the presiding officers and some other persons and all is to destabilise us.”

Ndume, who also supported it, however said it should be limited to civil offences committed by the officers. “For criminal issues, there should be no immunity, but for civil offences, there should be

Dogara

Nobody elected the Chief Justice of Nigeria but he enjoys pension. But if we cheapen our own institution, so be it

immunity. Whoever it is that is involved in a criminal matter should be prosecuted,” he said.

Akpabio proposed that the immunity should be enjoyed by all national and states Assembly members. “I propose that all principal officers of the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate, should enjoy immunity like the executive. So, all parliamentarians who have criminal cases can be invested but they should serve their punishment after office.”

But, the Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn N’Allah, argued that Nigerians might misconstrue the proposal for immunity for the legislature to mean that they were arrogating so much power to themselves.

His fear was confirmed shortly after the retreat as a cross section of Nigerians, who spoke on the issue with New Telegraph, expressed disbelief that the federal legislators could come up with such “irresponsible” demands at a time the nation is going through hard times.

Among those who spoke on the issue were former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa; Second Republic presidential adviser, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai; National Chairman of United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie; Second Republic lawmaker and convener, Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed and former members, House of Representatives, Hons. Ralph Obioha and Eseme Eyiboh.

Others were former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly,

Hon. Kehinde Ayoola; former Minister of State for Education, Prof.

Jerry Agada; Secretary General of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Chief Willy Ezugwu; National Chairman of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Peter Ameh; National President of Igbo think-tank, Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike; National Publicity Secretary of Yoruba Unity Forum, Dr. Kunle Olajide; professor of Political Science, Ayo Olukotun, National President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Shettima Yerima; a delegate to the 2014 National conference, Asiwaju Bisi Adegbuyi and Coordinator, Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA), Comrade Taiwo Otitolaiye.

Some lawyers who also condemned the demand include a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Monday Ubani, Wahab Shittu; Executive Director of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Adetokunbo Mumuni, Wahab Shittu and the National Chairman of Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), Olanrewaju Suraj.

It would be recalled that controversy has persistently trailed the earnings and entitlements of members of the National with most Nigerians even advocating for a part time legislature to address the nation’s huge cost of governance and recurrent expenditure.

Nigerian legislators are said to be among the highest in the world. According to a document released by the National Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS) in October last year, each of the 109 senators and 360 representatives earn an annual basic salary of N2,026,400,00 and N1,985,212, 50, respectively. So, the Nigerian government spends about N4.85 billion as basic salary of the lawmakers in four-year tenure.

But beyond this, the lawmakers receive a bouquet of allowances which hike their take home pay to N12, 902, 360.00 (senators) and N9,525,985.50 (reps) annually. The allowances are on vehicle fuelling/maintenance, constituency, domestic staff, personal assistant, entertainment, recess, utilities, newspaper/periodicals, house maintenance, wardrobe, estacode and duty tour.

They also earn special amounts in every four-year period on accommodation, vehicle loan, furniture, and severance allowance, which make every senator and representative to pocket N24,090,000.00 and N23,822,00.00, respectively within the period.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

12

POLITICS

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Life pension, immunity: Nigerians C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 1

Musa: It’s scandalous The former governor of old Kaduna State, who described the demand for life pension and immunity by the National Assembly leadership as another scandal that Nigeria cannot afford at the moment, said: “The planned life pension and immunity for presiding officers of the National Assembly is another distraction and scandal that Nigeria cannot afford at the moment, when the nation is passing through hard times, so I call on Nigerians to resist it.”

It’s in bad taste – Okorie Okorie, who also condemned it, said it is in bad taste. “The proposal is in bad taste and insensitive to the feelings of Nigerians. Even before now, many people, including myself as a presidential candidate in the last elections, canvassed for the removal of immunity clause for the president, governors and their deputies.

“We argued that immunity had made some people to act with impunity and the legislators want to add to the list of people, who would be acting with impunity. To me, it is a gross abuse of office and privilege.

The former presidential candidate pointed out that some of the lawmakers are former governors who are on life pension, while others have retired and enjoying pension before going into politics, warning that the action of the legislators could trigger a revolution.

“The state of our economy does not warrant this type of selfish legislation. So, the legislators should know that Nigerians are not happy with the way things are going and provoking them the more may trigger a kind of revolution, which they may be the main target. If the legislators are patriotic enough, they should not give the proposal a second thought,” he said.

Mohammed: It shows irresponsibility The former lawmaker, who particularly described the proposal as irresponsible and unconscionable, said: “The proposal clearly demonstrates that the overwhelming members of the National Assembly are not patriotic and are not serving the country but their personal greed."

He added: “In a more profound way, the impunity with which business is carried out in the National Assembly is a clear indicator of the basic weakness in the multi-party system that we are operating, particularly in the two major parties of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic (PDP). It is now clear that the two main parties were not formed on any principle or ideology, and there is no difference between the two.

“APC is not yet a political party. It is only a personality cult around President Muhammadu Buhari. Whether in the All Peoples Party (APP) of the past or All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and now APC, there has never been a suc-

Musa

Okorie

Mohammed

Shittu

Ubani

Eyiboh

cessful party system with clear principles and ideology.”

Ezugwu: Nigerians should Occupy NASS The CNPP scribe, , on his part, described the proposal as evil and urged Nigerians to be ready to occupy the National Assembly should the legislators go ahead with the plan.

He said: “We will lead Nigerians on a protest against them if such a thing happens. Members of the National Assembly are expected to put the country first above selfish interest. Nigerian legislators are the highest paid in the world, so it is unfortunate that they are coming up with such arrangement at a time when so many families cannot put food on their table.

“We are aware that most of the legislators are on life pension, having served as governors before getting elected into the National Assembly. These same people are the ones asking for life pension again because they got into the National Assembly through dubious ways, while most of them are supposed to be in jail by now. I am totally against it because it is evil and I call on Nigerians to occupy the National Assembly until the

leave that place if they go ahead with the plan. We must be ready to chase them out of that National Assembly.”

Nigerians are not happy... and provoking them the more may trigger a kind of revolution

Uwazurike: It's uncalled for The Aka Ikenga president, who also spoke in the same vein, advised Nigerians to resist the proposal as it is not in the interest of the nation.

According to him, “it is appalling that the legislators will come up such proposal at a time when the country is battling serious economic crunch. It shows that they are insensitive to the situation in the country.”

He added that it is abnormal for politicians, who merely served between four and eight years to be entitled to life pension like civil servant, who put up to 35 years in the service of their father land.

“It means that one can get elected as a lawmaker at the age of 35, retire after four or eight years in the National Assembly and be on pension for life. That is abnormal and it doesn’t happen anywhere in the world.”

Eyiboh: Legislators overreaching themselves The former member of the House of Representatives and one

time Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public affairs, equally condemned the proposal, describing it as madness and a dance of the ostrich.

His words: “The immunity currently enjoyed by the state governors is already suffering degradation by time, so why is the National Assembly looking for it? Are they no longer the representatives of the people? All over the world, parliament does not enjoy immunity other than the one provided by the constitution. They mostly regulate themselves by precedents and what is obtainable in other jurisdiction. I do not know where they are borrowing this from.

“The legislature is the only feature that distinguishes a democracy from dictatorship because you always have the executive and judiciary in a military government. When the legislature is now seeking for immunity, you would want to ask: Immunity from what and for what?

“I think that they are trying to overreach themselves by the provisions of Section 4 of the Constitution which states that the legislative powers of the Federal Government rest in the Senate and the House of Representatives. If that is rested upon them, seeking immunity is like trying to

POLITICS

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

berate legislators' insensitivity time for this kind of proposal. The country is facing hard times already. We are facing a recession in our economy. This is a wrong time for anybody to propose for life pension for any public office holder.

“If the economy does not survive, how do they think they can get money to service such venture? Are they not bothered about the welfare of the masses of Nigeria? How could they intend to be scooping privileges of such nature from this wobbling economy?

I do not support that idea.”

Obioha

Uwazurike

overreach themselves.

“When you talk of life pensions, do you produce principal officers the way you produce governors? In some cases, you have up to three sets of principal officers within a legislative session. I think that there are more serious issues to look at in the polity. We are in very challenging times. The economy is becoming more challenging and it requires the legislature to develop some strategic initiatives to be able to complement what the executive is doing to be able to take us from where we are. They should not be thinking about themselves all the time. If they feel they cannot serve without immunity and bogus pensions, they should not present themselves for future elections.”

Obioha: It’ll create more impunity Another former member of the House of Representatives, Obioha, also said the proposed life pension and immunity for principal officers of the unnecessary.

“The plan by National Assembly to get life pension and immunity for presiding officers in the constitution is unnecessary. They should not create more difficulty for the country. The idea of giving life pension for people who are enjoy-

Olajide: They can’t be lifetime burden on us YUF scribe, Olajide, also kicked against the proposed plan by presiding officers of National Assembly to enjoy immunity and life pension, saying they cannot be a lifetime burden on Nigerians.

His words: “I think it is a biggest joke of this century so far.

The membership of the National Assembly is by election and anybody willing to be a member of the National Assembly goes to the people and offer himself for service. He is not employed or recruited by the Nigerian people.

And if somebody gets elected and he is paid for the period he is serving, I don’t believe he has to be a lifetime burden on Nigerians when we did not recruit him.

“In fact, personally, I am not in support of what they receive now as severance allowance. There should be nothing like that when people who served the country tirelessly for over 30 years don’t get their pension.

“On the question of immunity, I believe the House enjoys parliamentary immunity. They don’t need immunity outside parliament and not immunity when they breach laws of Nigeria. They are covered by whatever they do in the parliament but cannot have immunity from criminals and civil prosecutions outside legislative functions.”

Yakassai

Ameh

ing in office and creating immunity for them to create more impunity behaviour is unnecessary now.

“What every Nigerian, who love the country should be concentrating on now is to find a way we can get out of the economic difficulty we are in. The energy the National Assembly wants to devote into getting immunity should be devoted into concentrating on how to increase energy output,” he said.

Ayoola: It'll trigger crisis Former Oyo Assembly speaker, also condemned the idea, saying that it is capable engendering rat race among the lawmakers, while it's subsequent effects cannot be palatable to the whole nation.

Wondering whether the legislators want to compound the country’s problems, Ayoola, queried: “What of its implication on the economy? The problem of salary payment is still in many states of the federation, as many state governments owe their workers up to about six months. Do the lawmakers want to compound this problem? I do not support the idea of life pension at all.”

Olutokun: Timing is wrong Prof. Olukotun, in his reaction, said: “I don't think this is the right

Life pension and immunity for presiding officers are impunity of the highest level

Yerima: We’ll mobilise against it The AYCF boss, who also urged Nigerians to get ready to battle the legislators on the issue, averred: “The question to ask is: Why are they eager to push for immunity?

It is simply because over 70 per cent of them have skeletons in their cupboards. They should know that they are members of that chamber because we elected them to represent us and we the people gave them our mandate on trust, so they must come back and consult us.

“I am sure any attempt by any of them to come back to us and bring the issue of immunity and life pension, will be met by stiff resistance and they will be pelted with stones. They should not try it and we are watching. When we are already looking at removing the immunity of governors who can't even pay salaries, they are saying they want to take it up. We cannot allow impunity; those days are over, Nigerians are now well aware of what is going on. Nobody can deceive any other person anymore. Let them not make the mistake, Nigerians will resist it, we will mobilise them against it.”

Adegbuyi: Focus should be on cost reduction Adegbuyi, who was a member

13

of the 2014 Constitutional Conference, blamed the development on said.disconnect between the legislators and generality of Nigerians. “It just appears to me that at a time when we should be talking on how to reduce the bogus cost of governance, people who are supposed to come up with laws that would assist in reducing the cost of governance are coming up with proposals on how to add more cost.

“Nigeria cannot make progress when less than 10 per cent of our population continues to appropriate the country's resources in the region of 70 per cent to themselves. I do not think it is proper for anybody to suggest life pension that would add cost to already over bloated cost of governance.

Majority of our people are even opposed to the immunity of various occupiers of offices. Let them concentrate their efforts on giving us a new constitution that would bring the cost of governance down; that would devolve powers to the constituent; that would enhance security; and that would general improved the welfare of the Nigeria people and not their personal welfare,” he said.

Agada: Economy weak to accommodate such Former Minister of State for Education, Prof. Agada, in his reaction, said enshrining life pension and immunity for presiding Officers in the Constitution at this time of economic recession is not necessary.

Noting that majority of the members of the National Assembly are either former governors or retired military officers, argued that granting them life pension in the National Assembly, would be tantamount to giving the country more load to carry.

“We are crying that there is no money and the ordinary people already on pension are not even paid because there is no money.

My advice is that the National Assembly members should be contented with the severance allowances they collect and avoid inflicting unnecessary burden on both government and the people,” he said.

Otitolaiye: Demand amounts to impunity Adding his voice, Comrade Otitolaiye, said: “Life pension and immunity for presiding officers is impunity of the highest level.

The pension is a primitive fiscal regime to allocate commonwealth to a few ruling cabals. The National Assembly as it is presently constituted is remunerated above her responsibility to the citizenry. It is a greedy aspiration that can be likened to the tenets of the jungle for wild predators.

“The ordinary people are suffering as a result of primitive accumulation of commonwealth by ignoble leadership of our country.

Immunity clause for the presiding officers is an aberration. Past and serving political office holders have hidden under the immunity clause to defile our resources and also promote criminality against the people. The extant immunity CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Thoughts on Obama’s African legacy My Word CLEM AGUIYI totalpolitics@ymail.com 0803-474-7898 (sms only)

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nything that has a beginning has an end. Such is the law of nature and so it is for President Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United State whose presidency the sun is slowly beginning to set on. When he was swept into office as a Rock Star, I danced on the street. Now I don’t think I will miss him much.

He is utilizing all ounce of power from his remaining time in office, battling gun control, nominating a Supreme Court justice, making a historic visit to Cuba and barging into Britain's debate over whether to leave the European Union, he is also in the mix campaigning for his would be democratic successor , Mrs. Hilary Clinton.

Whatever catch-up Obama tries to do the inexorable ebbing of time and influence that overtake second term presidencies is becoming more noticeable with every week that passes by as some of his official duties begin to take on a poignant, valedictory tone.

"I still have a few more months," Obama joked during a town hall meeting with British young people in London when asked how he viewed his legacy, he also added he would not have a good sense of his legacy for another 10 years.

In the most tangible sign yet of Obama's long goodbye, The New York Times reported that presidential aides have begun the process that will transition the mammoth U.S. government into the hands of the 45th President next January. The coast is now clear for a contest between Hillary Clinton who will be flying the flag of Obama’s continuity and Donald Trump the outsider who is determined to cause an upset.

Whether the world is now safer or worse under Obama leadership is an issue for another day.

In this article my concern is not about Obama’s legacy to the world but about his legacy to Africa and perhaps to Nigeria.

With his presidency nearing an end, Barack Hussein Obama in my view may find his legacy in Africa nothing to be proud of and for Africans nothing to cheer about.

As Bill White put it and I agree with him, ‘when it comes to the dark continent, Obama has done

more to kill and impoverish black people than any American leader in recent memory, he has wrecked so much havoc that black people should be ashamed of his presidency.

Across the African continent, Obama and his advisors have targeted nearly every honest nationalist leader they can find, while consistently promoting despotic cronies, who pocket all they can while bleeding their people poor.

Take Libya’s assassinated leader, Muammar Qadaffi, for example. Despite its tiny population, Qadaffi turned Libya into a growth engine for Africa. The peoples welfare and standard of living were the best Africa can boast of. In 37 of Africa’s 53 countries, Qadaffi set up joint development banks, which were profitably investing in African infrastructure—something the United States, Britain, Russia and China have all failed to do in a meaningful way.

Besides subsidizing food, gas, education and housing for his own people, Qadaffi was making a minimum annual investment of $6 billion in African countries—a huge amount given the tiny size of Africa’s economy. More importantly, Qadaffi had set up a Libyan foreign exchange bank, which made a currency trading market in those 37 nations, allowing them to trade among each other. While Africa is not a nation, under Qadaffi’s influence it was acting like an autonomous economic entity.

This, of course, is why Obama, dancing at the end of strings held by international bankers, murdered Qadaffi and destroyed his banking system and today Libya is in turmoil. In killing Brother Qadaffi Obama acted like one of the old African chieftains, willing to sell his own people into slavery.

Today Libya is the home of Al Qaeda and radical Islamists. It will take decades before Libya will recover from the destruction and disruption of its stable system. No thanks to Obama.

Or take Jean-Pierre Bemba, the Congolese leader currently facing trumped-up war crimes charges in The Hague. Bemba was elected president of the Congo with 70 per cent of the vote. He and his staff held all-night meetings to brainstorm how to bring industry and information technology into their impoverished nation. Independently wealthy, Bemba was incorruptible, and so he had to go.

When Bemba intervened to stop members of the Central Africa Republic from butchering one another, some of his soldiers may have raped women.

Bemba, a family man, had no involvement, but he wasn’t useful to the Western bankers, so he’s on trial in The Hague. In his place has come a network of Rwandan Tutsis plundering and pillaging the resources of Congo.

Many Tutsis consider themselves Jewish. Is-

He never made it public to the world that his hostility towards the Jonathan administration was the latter's signing of the Anti-Gay Bill

rael does not concede this status to them, but the Mossad has been bankrolling Tutsi expansion in Central and Eastern Africa.

It is no surprise but Rwandan President Paul Kagame has recently taken up a cry more familiar to America’s manipulated and ignorant black masses—the cry of blame for the white man.

Like in every “liberated” African nation, from Libya to South Sudan to Nigeria, South Africa is also facing economic collapse and extreme violence; it is likely only years away from joining the other three in civil war. White people are being blamed for the problems there, and their property is being seized.

Remember Darfur? The Western powers would prefer that you forget it. It’s currently in the midst of a brutal civil war fuelled by the West. Nigeria?

Obama sent David Axelrod there to “change” the government on the pretense that the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan was corrupt and too weak to fight Boko Haram, but Boko Haram isn’t going anywhere despite his aiding President Muhammadu Buhari to power.

He never made it public to the world that his hostility towards the Jonathan administration was the latter's signing of the Anti-Gay Bill and of course the implementation of the Local Content Act in the oil sector which removed substantial amount of business from the multinationals and diversification of the economy. Nigeria. Today, the once robust and prospering Nigeria economy has collapsed completely and all the gains of democracy including human rights and rule of law reversed by nearly 80 degrees to the delight of Obama.

Extra judicial killings by state actors and detention of opposition leaders without trial are back like in the days of old which of course are good jobs for the administration. Obama has no time to weigh in to the mass killings of pro Biafra agitators and at-least ask for the respect of the right of the people to demonstrate in a civilized manner.

Everywhere you look in Africa, Obama has impoverished his father’s own peoples. And everywhere you look; global bankers are getting rich off black poverty and destruction of Africa.

America’s worse mistake by November 2016 will be electing Mrs. Clinton as President as that will be handing over a third term mandate to Obama, thereby prolonging the reign of ISIS, Boko-Haram and Al-Queda in Africa.

Except may be for Obama himself, no one who witnessed how he and Hillary promoted and enabled Boko Haram will be interested in the continuation of his anti-African legacy. For me Obama should just go and bid us his long goodbye.

Osun: The explosive Hijab/Cassock war Bukola Faturoti

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ictures of secondary schools students wearing religious robes to the school which littered newspapers and social media sites are the outcomes of the Hijab-School Uniform saga in Osun State. Some of us that may have seen these pictures would have laughed them off. We are ignoring a problem that is brewing in the South West of Nigeria. This type of problem will be different from what we have seen in the country in the past. This is a case of an implosion waiting to happen.

In the South West of Nigeria, Christians and Muslim do not only mingle but they intermarry and they are intertwined in various areas of life. I am not sure if we have the type of interrelationship we have in the South West in other parts of Nigeria. There

are families in South West where both husbands and wives belong to different religions. There are children who bear both Christian and Muslim names.

During my secondary school days, some of my reliable friends were of the Islamic faith. I would wait for them to bring my “eran ileya” sallah meat while they too would patiently wait for me to share my Christmas chicken and turkey with them.

During morning devotion, they sang Christian songs with us. They never thought of insulting Jesus Christ. It was never within my thinking to blaspheme Prophet Muhammed. Now, in the name of garment we have dragged our children into this religious bigotry.

We have sown a seed of discord in their hearts. We have taught them to realise that their religion is superior to that of their neighbour that live across the road. We have taught them that the Mu-

kaila, the John, the Abdulafatai and the Oluwapelumi they play football with every day is a pagan that will go to hottest part of the hell fire/Jahannam.

Many of us only claim to be fighting for this God. The God whose tenet we only follow when it pleases us. We wear hijab! We wear cassock! We wear turban! We adorn rosary! Our religious apparels are white but our hearts are black as a raven’s feathers.

We killed our long-time friend because of power yet we concluded our promises with Insha Allah. We stole the money meant for the public and the pension for the poor yet we are singing Abraham’s blessings are mine. We all claim to be servants of God. A God who will not want to touch us with a pole not to talk of Him embracing our leprous body.

This case should not have gone to the court at all. Relevant stakeholders on both sides of the religion should have

sat round the table to mediate this.

This is when we need that Alternative (Amicable) Dispute Resolution. Both Bible and Quran have always encouraged dialogue. For Bible see Matthew 5:25. Proverbs 25:8. For Quran, see alHujurat, 49:13, al-‘Ankabut, 29:46.

It is thus right at this point to appeal to the conscience of both the government and the governed that whatever becomes the consequence(s) of our action will reflect in the future of the nation. We should, therefore, emphasise less of sentiments whether religious, ethnic and gender.

Because crisis is societal, human race cannot avoid conflict and Nigeria will only be great again when we all come together to embrace dialogue whenever such situation arises instead of taking to violence.

•Faturoti wrote in from UK.

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Biafrans, Avengers and herdsmen

ar is a series of surprises, the little sparks we ignore are enough to grow beyond comprehension. It is an undeniable truth that no nation can be led to a path which it does not wish to pursue. Civil war unlike lightening may strike more than once in in a particular area. Of course, is difficult for a country to survive two Civil wars.

Nigeria today is as divided as never before. Beyond the crushing economic crisis there are drumbeats of war from the North down to the South. Insurgency in the North East has not become history yet.

While troops battle Boko Haram a new front has opened in the Oil rich Niger Delta where the Avengers have plunged the economy to almost Ground Zero. In the South East the ghost of Biafra is walking the region, from the North Central to the South West and beyond Fulani herdsmen have gone beyond cattle grazing .

During the Civil War years, General Yakubu Gowon insisted that to keep the country one was a task that must be done. With his policy of No Victor No Vanquished he tried to create a conducive atmosphere for re-integration.

From the Military to the Second Republic and even during the later Dictatorships of Generals Ibrahim Babangida and and Sani Abacha the South East did not feel so alienated from government at the centre.

Not that an Igbo was able to rule the country though. Attempts were made to arouse consciousness when such groups as the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra ( MASSOB) and the Biafra Zionist Movement emerged.

Populated by young men and women, they chose non violence as key to their struggle. A splinter group later appeared wearing the

brand Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB). Still preaching non violence, the new group led by Nnamdi Kanu made use of technology to advance their cause through what to government became the pesky Radio Biafra.

What the Federal Government did was to throw Kanu into detention.

While Kanu gained grizzled beard in custody, herdsmen ostensibly of Fulani background began to terrorise all nooks and crannies of the North Central, South West and South East. The Fulani and their cattle were welcome guests until recently when instead of controlling th cows with sticks they began to patrol the the land with automatic weapons.

As the Fulani continued to pillage the South, a new group emerged in the creeks. Niger Delta Avengers are the latest in the band of armies giving the economy cough and head-

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Many more were killed in Asaba, Port Harcourt, Onitsha and beyond.

The worst carnage played out in Onitsha as the various groups gathered to remember 49 years of the declaration of Biafra. They organised prayers with prominent Christian leaders billed to address them.

These men of God included Francis Cardinal Arinze. Like thunderbolt, troops emerged with weapons and fired into the crowd leaving so many dead and more wounded.

The Avengers stayed in the creeks and were determined to give the

It is also the responsibility of all those in government to look beyond party politics

ache.

What we expected the government to do was to open a line of communication with these groups, to know their grievances and the way forward. That was not done. President Muhammadu Buhari, a Civil War veteran who today wears the flowing gown of a politician harped on a military solution. That could be the best strategy if it was a full blown war. These agitations are more political than our defence chiefs think.

The security agencies did not spare those calling for the release of Kanu. They descended on people who chanted Biafra with all their might.

In Aba scores were killed and their bodies buried in unmarked graves.

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

military a good fight. Those who live in the Warri Delta area bore the brunt of military attacks.

Villages were heavily bombarded leaving scores lifeless.

That did not help the government as the militants blew up as many oil

facilities as could dwindle national finances.

It is absurd that the herdsmen did not feel the might of the military while all this transpired. From Agatu in Benue state to Nimbo in Enugu where the killers spilled red blood, no detachment of the Army or Airforce, not even a platoon was sent to stem the rampaging Fulani.

In a country with a lot of diversities as ours, a lot must be considered.

It is likely that the Biafrans are crying over marginalisation in appointments made so far by the Buhari government. The Avengers believe Niger Deltans are being persecuted for supporting their kinsman Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. Government must sit down

with these groups and hear them out.

May we remind our leaders that the 1919 Treaty of Versailles which dealt with Germany after the First World War also led to the Second World War because the Germans saw it as Diktat (imposition). The lesson is that the South-East and Niger Delta should not be punished for backing Jonathan. Only dialogue will let them understand what Abuja thinks.

It is also the responsibility of all those in government to look beyond party politics and the 2015 elections to chart the way forward.

Government is collective. When the Second World War ended, neither Adolf Hitler nor Benito Mussolini stayed alive to face trial. All ten men who were hanged at the Palace of Justice after the Nuremberg Trials in 1946 were in government or had some form of influence including newspaper Editor Julius Streicher.

Foreign minister Joachim Ribbentrop, Interior minister Frick Wilhelm, Hans Frank, Alfred Jodl, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Keifel Wilhelm, Alfred Rosenberg, Fritz Sauckel and Arthur Seys-Inquart all died by hanging for being part of a government that committed crimes against humanity.

Even soldiers who are called to shoot defenceless protesters should learn from the experience of Jodl, Chief of Operations, German High Command. He said at the trials,"Secondly, I don't see how they can fail to recognise a soldier's obligation to obey orders. That's the code I've lived by all my life."

In all these, Nigeria should be different. We call on the Federal government to drop the military solution card and adopt a political solution. Only justice and fair play can save the situation. And we can achieve this through dialogue.

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C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

clause in the constitution for presidents and governors should be expunged and not exacerbate our present conditions. The law makers should rather concentrate on laws that will reduce the level of abject poverty and squalors in Nigeria.”

Ubani: Nigeria is no banana republic Ubani, who urged Nigerians to resist the lawmakers, said: “If it is true, it is highly condemnable and Nigerians should rise up to resist it. We cannot allow such request to stand. You see, from the look of things, it is obvious that these crop of legislators want to turn Nigeria into a banana republic and we must say no. They want Nigeria to be a country where anything goes.

May be, they think Nigerians are ignorant and that we don't know anything. How can they give themselves immunity when we are talking about removing immunity from governors?

“Under what circumstances are they making the request? Even, in America that we borrowed the so called democracy from, there is nothing like that. We are complaining that these people were the highest paid legislators in the world and instead of them to be ashamed, they are there talking about immunity and life pension in an economy where ordinary Nigerians are lamenting.

It is like we have elected the most wicked people on earth to represent us at the National Assembly. The request is the absurdity of the highest level and it is so shameful and disgraceful for these lawmakers to even contemplate that requests. I am alarmed and ashamed of them.”

Shittu: Subject it to referendum In his own submissions, Shittu, who also doubles as a university lecturer, said there is no point extending the categories of officials covered by the immunity. “Already the categories of officials recognised by the constitution as being covered by immunity are enough. We are even saying that immunity should be restricted to civil proceedings alone. Immunity should not be a license for a public officer to engage in corrupt acts or stealing while in office. So, I don’t see the need to extend immunity to other categories of officials. If the judiciary does not enjoy immunity, what right does the legislature have to enjoy immunity?

“As for life pension, I think such an issue should be referred to a referendum, so that it would not amount to these presiding officers donating privileges and entitlements to themselves. The constitution should be taken back to the people in whom sovereignty resides for them to decide on issues like that.”

Mumuni: Proposal self-serving SERAP boss, Mumuni, said the request is strongly condemnable because it is self-serving and despicable. “Granting senators and representatives’ immunity and life pensions would neither enhance governance accountability nor contribute to the betterment of Nigerians. We reject any selfserving attempt by the senators and representatives to tear up Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution to grant their leaders immunity

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

'Immunity'll encourage impunity'

Mumuni

Suraj

Ezugwu

Yerima

Adegbuyi

Agada

from prosecution for corruption and money laundering.

“Nigerians will also reject the despicable attempt by the senators and representatives to grant themselves life pensions. We will pursue all legal avenues nationally and internationally to compel the senators to drop the immunity and life pension proposals. This is a gross injustice and double jeopardy for millions of Nigerian pensioners, who continue to be denied the fruit of their labour in old age. It is a massive let-down for those elected to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the country to prioritise their own personal interests over and above those of millions of Nigerians who continue to suffer the effects of high-level official corruption, he said.

Suraj: It's a cover for corrupt legislators The National Chairman of CSNAC, Suraj who described the proposal as reactionary, said the parliamentarians are looking to provide cover for criminals to find haven in the parliament. Calling for the immunity enjoyed by the president and governors to be reviewed, he said Nigerians will mobilise against any immuñity for parliamentarians.

Ameh: NASS presiding officers need

Immunity should not be a licence for a public officer to engage in corrupt acts

immunity National Chairman of PPA, Ameh, who aligned with others on the issue of pension, however, differed on immunity for the principal officers of the legislature.

He said: “It would be unfortunate if we allow senators to be immune to trials and prosecutions. It would not be fair that after having pension as a former governor of a state, they would also become pensionable as senators.

“But for a person who have risen to the level of Senate President, which is number third in hierarchy of governance, we should be able to give him some level of immunity because of the political environment is tensed. If it is not so, the Senate president can be arraigned for whatever reason and that would cripple the Senate the more.

“If a Senate president has any case to answer, the cases can be compiled and after he leaves office, he can be tried. Every other member of the Senate or the House of Representatives should not be immune from trial or pensionable. If you noticed, Senator Bukola Saraki didn't have problem until he became the Senate president. If we protect the office of the Senate President, the desire of senators to aspire for the position of the Senate president would be high and this would help our

Senate and our democracy.

“The reason why the Speakers of the State House of Assembly are too loyal to the governors is because a governor can wake up anytime and remove a speaker.

There should be a proper defined process of removing a speaker and they should be secured as soon as they enter office, so that they can have confidence in discharging their duties.

Yakasai: Immunity’ll save democracy Yakasai, who expressed similar view, hinged his position on what he described as “skidding of Nigeria’s democracy” under President Muhammadu Buhari According to the Second Republic presidential aide, the move for immunity for the National Assembly leadership is nothing but to protect the nation’s democracy under Buhari given the way the executive is treating the legislators.

He said the target of the executive is to turn to the judiciary after it is through with the legislature.

He warned that should the executive be allowed to have its way, Nigeria should forget democracy.

On life pension for the Senate president and House speaker, Yakasai said what is good for the executive is also good for the legislature.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Survival Our agony, by Abuja artisans

Inside Abuja

Development Control officials addressing scrap dealers at an illegal metal dumpsite, in Mabushi District, in Abuja.

Power Murg Plaza: One shop, one generator

18 21

Illegal metal dumpsite in Abuja.

The bulldozers are coming Residents of Abuja have had many encounters with bulldozers pulling down structures to make way for either drainages or sewage lines. Now, anxiety is mounting again as the Department of Development Control perfects strategy for yet another round of demolition of illegal structures. YEKEEN NURUDEEN reports

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he Federal Capital Territory Administration has sent jitters down the spines of residents of many illegal structures as well as traders and artisans operating in places designated as illegal in the nation's capital.

There is bumping gloom among thousands of such traders and

Onwuka NzeshI

ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF nzeshi@newtelegraphonline.com

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artisans as the FCT Development Control Department is putting final touches to preparation for swift removal of inappropriate structures, defacing the beauty of the city.

Authorities of the Development Control Department, under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), had two weeks ago issued a one-week ultimatum to all owners and occupants of illegal structures, operating in various parts of the nation’s capital city, to voluntarily remove their properties and vacate the unlawful places.

In recent times, the FCTA had expressed deep concerns over the swelling number of illegal structures sited in strategic places in and around the capital city, even as it stressed that the menace cannot be curbed without the cooperation of the people.

The acting Director of FCT Department of Development Control, Alhaji Hamza Madaki, confirmed in a telephone conversation that the department was preparing for a demolition exercise.

“We are going to start demolition very soon; we are sensitising the people to remove their properties before we mobilise to site. In two weeks’ time we should go out there,” he said.

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, had in January said he would stop at nothing to restore the Abu­ja master plan and declared that at the end of the planned demolition, there would be no slum in the FCT. At a press briefing in Abu­ja, Bello promised to “deal with violations to the Abuja Master Plan,” stressing that he would not allow the emergence of slums in the Abuja and would pull down all the existing slums in the na­tion’s capital.

Bello said: “Buildings on sewer lines, green areas and areas of public interest that are not authorised

We are going to start demolition very soon; we are sensitising the people to remove their properties before we mobilise to site

will be removed.”

To the owners of undeveloped plots in the FCT, Bello warned that “beneficiaries of undeveloped lands in Phase 1 and Phase 2 stand the risk of forfeiting them.”

And in demonstration of its expressed desire to pursue the elimination of inappropriate structure from the FCT, the development control officials, accompanied by security operatives, daily visited and sensitised artisans, traders and residents in illegal trading spots, mechanic workshops, tipper park and shanties, in Mpape, Asokoro, Mabushi, Kado Kuchi (Jahi), Daki Biu, Jabi, Utako and Garki Districts, respectively.

As expected, the would be affected residents are now living under serious state of hopelessness, as they lamented that the seven-day ultimatum to remove their belongings or face the bulldozer of the department was not enough, thereby putting them under immense pressure.

Succinctly expressing the growing despairs in the air, Chairman, Gongon Cooperative Society, Abuja, an umbrella body of the scrap dealers (scavengers) in Mabuchi, Salisu Mohammed Rabiu, revealed that almost 1000 people are going to be dislodged by the exercise.

“We started doing business here since 1991. And now we are almost 1000 people here. We are ready to move out from this place. We are happy with how they came and talked to us, to make us understand what they are going to do here,” he said.

Similarly, Secretary, Gongon Cooperative Society, Abuja, Alhaji Muhammed Inua, who acknowledged that the site where they are carrying out their activity was illegal, said: “We are asking the government to come to our aid, by providing us with alternative place

and necessary equipment for recycling of waste (scrap metal). We are a cooperative society that is registered with Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), and we send some of our trashed scraps such as aluminium, copper, iron-steel and plastics to Lagos and Kano states.”

According to the acting Director, Development Control, Hamza Madaki, described the exercise as a government-public advocacy initiative.

On the areas to be affected by the looming demolition exercise, Madaki said: “There are so many areas, we just started and we will continue through this week and even next week. So, everywhere there are illegal structures, we are going to go there and speak to the people there.

“And I’m sure that when we keep doing a lot of sensitisation like this, a lot of people will remove the unwanted structures on their own.

There can’t be sanitisation without any injury to anybody or destruction of property."

And on the timeframe for voluntary removal of the unwanted structures, he pointed out that the most important thing is the willingness of the concerned persons to do so. “If you say give me more time, I want to see compliance first. If I see you comply, and that time you have given to do so, would not be enough for you to fully comply, then one can understand. But somebody will just want to be given more time, but will not take steps to remove them, and be dragging their feet. So, we are not here for that. They should start removing the unwanted structures.

“If there is anything we are not happy with, we will first come and inform the people concerned. It’s not about coming with machines, police and soldiers to scatter evCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

18

Inside ABUJA | SLUMS

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

The plight of artisans in Abuja is really pathetic.

As brick layers, masons, carpenters and painters, they build the city but live in slums. CALEB ONWE caught up with some of them and now reports

L

ife is a phenomenon with so many ironies and sometimes mysteries that the only wise God can understand and unravel. When you consider some of the ironies of life, you will not stop wandering about some of the wisdom that is so richly encoded in the holy books we use for religious gratification.

The situation of the artisans in Abuja can be liken to the story as found in the Bible, Ecclesiastics Chapter 9:15 “...But there was found in it (a city) a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.”

It is absolutely not fair to associate the artisans with poverty in the context of the biblical reflections in the scriptural quotations above, but one can easily identify some similarities that best describe the plight of Abuja artisans.

The poor old man in the bible verse above allegedly used his ingenuity to deliver a city that was probably besieged by enemies, but alas, his sacrifices, and if he was a Nigerian, one would add, that he patriotically served and saved his fatherland but never gained any recognition from the people who ascended to high positions to enjoy the fruits of his labour.

Inside Abuja roamed round the city talking with these people who demonstrated by their responses that they have great skills that undoubtedly have been exploited in developing the City reputed to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

The irony of the situation is that most of the artisans who deployed their skills and ingenuity to build many of the monumental structures that make Abuja the New York of Africa, lives in the slums and are regarded as illegal occupants at the places they pitch according to their economic power.

When you move around the town every blessed morning you will find them clustering around, in most cases in groups according to their areas of expertise, including: Concreting, Masonry, Plastering, Carpentry, Electrical Installations and Maintenance, Plumbing Installation and Maintenance, Tiling, Painting and Steel Fabrication.

Their agony Mr. Jude Osuigudu, is the Chairman of Abuja Artisans Union. Our correspondent’s encounter with him reveals how much the society falters in appreciating the wonderful gifts of creation that is all around.

According to Jude, successive administrations in the Federal Capital Territory have continued

An artisan working on a building in Abuja.

Our agony, by Abuja artisans to neglect the artisans who make great sacrifices on a daily basis to make the city what it is today.

He alleged that they are not only underpaid by those who have the connection to get big contracts, from organisations, individuals and governments, but are also used and dumped by them.

Jude said that he is a professional carpenter and has brought his expertise to bear on many of the buildings in Abuja. He told Inside Abuja that he participated in building the magnificent office complex, being occupied by the Ministries of Works and Housing and that of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, all located at Mabushi district.

“My brother, let me tell you that all those people who parade themselves in different project sites claiming to be engineers and architects, what they have is only paper qualifications, what they do is to get the contracts, and will sublease it to us at small amount,” he said.

The story of Jude who told our correspondent that he has spent 34 years in Abuja as an artisan is an attestation to the philosophical logic propounded by some scholars of realism “that hard work does not make one rich, but rather working right” A discernible mind cannot agree less with that presumptuous pronouncement, when a lucid evaluation of many of the ‘labourers’ or those who are addressed in the construction parlance as unskilled workers.

“Many of us you see here are not living in the town, many come to work here from far places, and those that live in the cities are either squatting in an uncompleted buildings or in some shanty settlements with a very bad

environmental conditions. Like me I was living at Karimo, but ElRufai came with his bulldozers and chased us away. After the demolitions, I was forced to move to Maraba in Nasarawa State, from where I come to work here every day,” Jude added.

Jude also told Inside Abuja that every morning engineers who have big projects come around where these artisans hang around to hire them. He lamented that the government has not deemed it fit to provide artisans village which many successive government in FCT have promised them.

Those that live in the cities are either squatting in an uncompleted buildings or in some shanty settlements

Demands for Artisans’ Village One of the heartfelt prayers of the Abuja artisans which many of them are prepared to fast for an accelerated answer from God, is for the Muhammadu Buhari administration to build an artisans’ village for them, where members of the body will have shelter and other modern facilities, while they contribute their quota in the development of the city.

One of the compelling needs for the artisan village as revealed by the chairman of the union, is to escape the prowling eyes and the harassment they face on a daily basis from the agents of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) who are always chasing, arresting and prosecuting members of the artisans union for gathering at places which the AEPB agents often claim are not designated for such gathering.

One of the places the artisans gather and receive unprecedented harassment from AEPB task force team is along the popular WuseMabushi express way. They can also be found at Nicon Junction, in Maitama area of the town.

“You see this place we sit or

stand under the tree every day waiting for people who will come to hire us, AEPB task force don’t want to see us here. They will come and arrest us and sometimes prosecute us claiming that we are not permitted to gather here. Tell me, where they want us to stay, when they have not provided a place for us to stay,” Jude explained.

How we control quackery Another concern which Jude said the union need an officially designated site to be known as artisans’ village, in order to address, is the infiltration of people who lacks prerequisite qualifications to fulfil their obligations when they are hired in any area of work.

He stated that provision of artisans’ village will help them to achieve better organisation that will close up every loophole for quackery.

He, however, said that they are doing their best in identifying those who lacks the qualifications to do any work they claim to have expertise for. “ Even now, once we get any complaint about any of our member who fails to deliver satisfactory services which he is hired to render, we can stop the person from coming here,” Jude said.

Another artisan who was friendly in responding to Inside Abuja’s inquiry, is Musibau Afolabi. He told our correspondent that he lives in Suleja, Niger State, but comes to Abuja every day to search for plumbing work, which he claims to have been doing since 1998, the year he came to Abuja for greener pastures.

He said he decided to live far away from the city centre because his income cannot afford him the luxury of staying in the FCT. He added that he has been able to raise a three-bedroom apartment in Suleja, where he is presently living with his family members.

“I thank God because he has blessed the works of my hands, the small money am getting from this plumbing work has helped me to build a house in Suleja where my family stay,” he said.

Inside ABUJA

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

19

Earning a living from gardens In an era where many young men and women are jobless and unable to fend for themselves, a group of youngsters have found for themselves a job with nature.

ONWUKA NZESHI encountered two of them and now reports

Y

ou will find them along the streets tendering flowers and selling same to those who need them.

They are the horticulturists, the magic fingers and silent forces behind the beautification of Abuja.

Nnadozie Ebuka is in his early 20s but he is engaged in the business of horticulture. He runs Chi-Best Gardens, a flower shop at Maitama Gardens located opposite Penniel Apartments. He also sells beautifully made flower pots and vases. He has been in the business of flowers for about four years.

He describes the job he does as part of agriculture and something anybody can do to earn a living.

He came into the trade after his secondary education and learnt horticulture under a master who happens to be his own brother.

"It's all about flowers – knowing how to take care of flowers, knowing how to take care of them as well as knowing the flowers and their names. We have indoor and outdoor flowers. We sell trees for shade. We have tree seedlings for panting and we have fairly grown trees in our nursery.

"The clay pots you see are things we think can help our business. Sometimes people would want to buy not only the flower but the flower pots. Not many people know how to plant the flowers.

But then, some people want the flower planted for them in the pots and vases. “We don't make the flower vases, clay pots, cement pots and plastic pots; we purchase them from those who make them and we then sell to our clients who need them for the purpose of keeping their flowers.

"We have indoor and outdoor flowers. We sell trees for shade. We have tree seedlings for planting and we have fairly grown trees in our nursery. There are long vases for keeping artificial flowers. We have dry flowers and artificial flowers made in China.�

According to Ebuka, the clientele for flowers are essentially foreigners working in the embassies and others working in the diplomatic community.

"We Africans don't know or care much about flowers. We learnt from the white people who normally come to buy flowers.

They live flowers and they always come for different kinds of flowers. However, our own black brothers have learnt it and they equally come here to buy flowers," he said.

C

Flower vases

Flowers and vases.

Although the business cannot be described as a money spinner, Ebuka said that he got enough clients to keep him busy for a whole day. However, there are boom times like festivities and public holidays like Christmas.

"You know, the Christmas time is when many people like to buy many things including flowers.

During the Christmas, people want to decorate their homes so that it will look fine and more appealing to visitors. Again, we do make a lot of sales during the dry season because many clients do have problems with their flowers during the dry season because there is no water and plants could whither easily. They come to buy new flowers because the ones they have at home must have died as a result of the harsh weather. But during the rainy season, we don't make much sales," he said.

Inside Abuja also observed that some concrete flower vases bearing the Nigeria coat of arms and

We have indoor and outdoor flowers. We sell trees for shade.

We have tree seedlings for planting

national colours were on display.

It was learnt that most times, it is government officials who go for such specially branded flower pots.

In addition to planting, nursing and selling flowers, the horticulturists also indulges in landscaping whereby they are contracted to work in a compound in order to beautify its surroundings.

"Sometimes we get jobs to do general landscaping and planting indoor flowers to beautify the house. When that happens, I have some boys who go with me to do the job. I direct them to do the job, but they are already used to it," he said.

Ebuka is not happy at the downturn of the Nigerian economy. He said that apart from the hike in transport fares, staple foodstuffs have risen to an astronomical level beyond the reach of the average family. He appealed to the Federal Government to do something positive to make the economy better.

According to him, sales have been very low since the beginning of the year.

Victor Ubara is another horticulturist who runs a flower shop along the Ibrahim Babangida Way in Maitama District. Victor who hails from Delta State has been on the job for a long time. He learnt the business of flower tendering and sales like a vocation. He believes it is a business that requires full devotion because flowers are very fragile plants and demands a lot of care.

Inside Abuja observed that there were a lot of species and colours of flowers in the garden, including croton, cactus, aloe vera and golden palms.

He expressed gratitude to God that the business has been good and enabled him to pay his bills.

"We thank God that government has not been stressing us too much. I think that they like the way we are beautifying the city. We are also happy that the Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) have not been disturbing us. The only thing they tell us is that we should not block the walkways.

"However, we need government assistance in form of soft loans to expand the business and employ more hands. You know we also spend money in buying seedlings and cuttings to grow these flowers, we also treat these plants to ensure they are in good shape. We fumigate the garden to drive away pests and rodents that sometimes attack these flowers," he said.

Ubara said that the horticulturists in Abuja belong to a common association, known as the Green Flower Garden Association that meets regularly to discuss the welfare of its members. They also meet regularly with the FCT Department of Parks and Recreation which supervises the issue of beautification of the city.

20

INSIDE ABUJA \ NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FCTA reads riot act to hawkers, beggars Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

T

he Chairman, FCT Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection, Squadron Leader, Abdullahi Adamu Monjel (rtd) has said that street

hawkers and beggars apprehended in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) stand the risk of spending time behind bars if found guilty by the court.

Monjel made this disclosure shortly after he led members of the Task Team on a “show of force” of its security personnel at the Jabi and

Wuse Districts of Abuja.

The chairman, who reiterated that the time for sensitisation for the beggars and street hawkers to leave the Federal Capital City had elapsed, noted that his team was going all out against offenders to completely remove them from the streets of Abuja.

According to him, “We have already given them the benefit of the doubt and now the time has elapsed. What is left now is to enforce the relevant municipal laws.

Anybody we arrest will be taken to court and prosecuted accordingly.

“If somebody refuses to comply with the rules

L-R: State Overseer, Deeper Life Bible Church FCT, Pastor Joshua Esho; Kubwa region Overseer, Pastor Sunday Udosen and his Bwari counterpart Pastor Richard Dare, during a press briefing in preparation for the Night of extraordinary wonders with Pastor W.F. Kumuyi crusade, at the National Stadium, in Abuja…yesterday.

Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

FG to build 1,000 houses for workers

T

he Federal Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build 1,000 houses for the federal civil servants in the country.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Press Relations, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mohammed Manga.

The signing ceremony, which was between the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board (FGSHLB) and

with the directives as stipulated by the Abuja environmental laws.

He also disclosed that the team has started sensitisation for operators of Keke Napep, unpainted taxis and motorcycles, adding that when their time expires, they too will be removed from Abuja streets and for the Keke Napep would be restricted to the very large estates.

According to him, “the phase two is Keke Napep, then unpainted taxis.

However, we don’t want to start with unpainted taxis, Keke Napep riders now.

We want to give adequate time for sensitisation so that by the time we start impounding, nobody will say ‘I didn’t know’.”

FCT Minister condoles with NUJ over death of ex-chair

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Ebere Ameh

and regulations based on what we have said, then we will arrest the person accordingly.

“As a matter of fact, we don’t want hawkers and beggars within the city centre of Abuja.

They should keep away from the streets of Abuja. Anybody that wishes to come out, we are ready for the person as we will take him/her to court where he will be prosecuted and taken to jail.”

Speaking on the cleanup campaign it carried out on Friday, tagged “show of force exercise”, the chairman said it was essentially to tell the public that the Task Team was equal to the task and would arrest whoever fails to comply

a Chinese Housing Development Company, China Nangtong Sanjian Construction Company (CNTC), took place on Thursday at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Mrs. Winifred OyoIta, and had the Executive Secretary, FGSHLB, Dr. (Mrs) Hannatu Fika signing on behalf of the Federal Government.

In her remarks, Oyo-Ita said that the occasion was a significant event as it provided another opportunity to promote one of the welfare packages for the federal civil servants

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 7

erybody.This is a new period; we want to carry everybody along. So these people are very happy even though we are asking them to remove their structures.

“The fact that we came to warn to remove the unwanted structures, they felt dignified, thereby willing to cooperate with us. Honestly, if we have been getting this, am sure we make a lot of headway, and we will not be having acrimony between the government and the people.

“When we tell them to remove their illegal structures by themselves, let them obey and remove the things. We are being very honest, we are not hiding anything,” he explained.

Notwithstanding, the Vice Chairman of the Automobile Mechanic Association in the site under Power High Tension, near Mpape Tipper Park, Jibril Suleman, said that “the owner of this piece of land gave it to the mechanics not the Development Control.”

Also, a mechanic in another illegal spot in Mpape, Mr. Frank Sunday, said: “The government gave us one week to vacate this place. But we have stayed more than 10 years here. So one week is just too short for us to leave.

by the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

According to her, the country’s significant demand for housing had continued to rise as housing deficit is of 20 per cent and over 80 per cent of public servants do not own houses.

Oyo-Ita expressed optimism that developing the housing sector would help stimulate economic growth as well as create jobs in the economy.

Meanwhile, the Vice General Manager of CNTC, Mr. Tee Ching Seng, said his company was ready to share their

wealth of experiences with Nigerians.

He assured that his company would deliver the most quality and affordable houses to the federal civil servants.

Also, Fika assured that the houses would be allocated to only genuine federal public servants.

She added that the company was nominated

by Shelter Afrique which is funded by the United Nations and that indigenous workforce would be used to implement the housing project which is expected to be completed within 18 months.

M

inister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has paid tribute to the immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Abuja Chapter, Chuks Ehirim, who died on Thursday in Garki Hospital, Abuja after a brief illness.

The minister in a condolence letter addressed to the chairman of Abuja Council of NUJ delivered by a delegation led by the Special Assistant on Media to the minister, Malam Abubakar Sani, described late Ehirim as a thorough bred journalist who practiced the profession in line with its ethics.

The bulldozers are coming

“We are appealing to the government to give us more time to leave the place at least five to eight months, or better still till the end of this year. And by next year, we would have found another place to take our trade to. That will be okay.”

When the officials registered their presence at the illegal Pantaker site near Grand Garden Estate, in Mabuchi District, Development Control’s Deputy Director, Monitoring and Enforcement, Kuchume S. Bawa, who led the team, noted that the government needs to regulate activities in the FCT. According to him, “Unlike before, what we do is just move in and start carrying out removal of illegal structures, but now that is not what we do; we first dialogue with them (the affected people), so that we will now know what their problems are and the best strategy to be used to remove illegal structures.

“Despite the fact that we know the trade they (scrap dealers) engaged in is good one, it’s something that needs to be encouraged, but they are not supposed to practised it within an area that has been

earmarked for different purpose.

“We know how Abuja has been designed like a body where various parts have been allocated for a particular thing, you can’t just go ahead and then start carrying activity or developing something that is not compatible. And this site is a residential zone, but the situation is different now. And you know people of different characters are here.”

On addressing the complaints of the would be affected persons, he said: “As a department under the AMMC, one of our mandates is to remove all illegal structures, but we will look into their appeal for provision of an alternative place to take their trade to. We will come up with a report, which we will send to the appropriate authorities for further action.”

On the capacity of the department to carry out the removal of illegal structures, he insisted that the government is serious about its work.

“You can see how systematic approach we are handling the issue, because this is a government of change. And we do it according to the law. Definitely, we are ca-

While praying that God Almighty grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss, the minister also expressed his condolence to the NUJ, Abuja Council for this great loss.

Receiving the delegation, the Chairman of the NUJ, Abuja Council, Mr. Paul Ella Abechi, appreciated the minister’s gesture; noting that this is the first high level delegation to come officially to commiserate with the union over the death of its former chairman.

The chairman promised to forward the minister’s message to the family of Ehirim as well as the entire NUJ family.

The delegation includes Muhammad Hazat Sule, Deputy Director / Chief Press Secretary, FCT and some officials of the FCT Administration.

pable of doing that,” he stressed.

On the timing of the exercise, he explained that: “There is no time that is wrong, it depends on the approach. But we have to do what we can to control development in the FCT within the time and the finances we have. Are we supposed to go to sleep, because of the issue of whether there is money or there is no money in the country? What is worth doing is worth doing well. And I think this is the right time. This is the right government to do it.”

Asked if the department will on the expiration of the ultimatum swing into action, he said it was going to be systematically pursued. “After the sensitisation, we will go round again, to see the effect of what we have done, that’s the level of compliance with our directive (seven days ultimatum) before we start actual removal of structures.

“Definitely, it will come to a time that we will start removing structures. But the defaulters have assured us that they will comply with the directive. What we are doing has a human face,” he said.

INSIDE ABUJA

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

21

Generating sets at Murg Plaza, Abuja.

Murg Plaza: One shop, one generator Amidst the deafening sound of multiple generators and the passionate pleas for rescue from the power of darkness, NNAMDI AMADI navigates through Murg Plaza, Abuja's foremost printing hub, where every man is his own "Minister of Power"

I

t is strategically located at the centre of the city. It is sandwiched between the Cyprian Ekwensi Cultural Centre and the Area 10 Garden market. Murg Plaza, an edifice which is now synonymous with printing and publishing in Abuja is a Mecca for all sorts of printing and graphics solutions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A visit to the plaza will reveal that from dawn till dusk, the printing machines are clanking and whistling. Clients and service providers could be seen moving in and out of the plaza that attracts people from far and wide. The place is a beehive of activities even on weekends.

The level of business transaction that go on there run into millions of naira on a daily basis as the influx of people into the plaza has also necessitated the citing of other ancillary businesses such as eateries, boutiques, stationery shops and a host of other enterprises.

Due to the high rate of human and vehicular traffic into the very expansive premises, clients often encounter shortage of parking space and gridlock in and around the entrance of the plaza.

As boisterous as activities there are, the printers and other shop owners in Murg Plaza are not happy due to some challenges. The businessmen there also complained of lack of government financial support and pa-

tronage as well as government's insensitivity to their yearnings.

They are complaining bitterly about the increase in the high cost of machines which are imported. Amongst other big problems they have, they particularly lamented over the epileptic power supply they experience in the area, coupled with the fact of the increased petrol pump price from N85 to N145 all of which are making doing business within the plaza and its environs difficult.

Due to the epileptic power supply to the area, a first time visitor to the plaza may think generators are part of the aesthetic design built into the magnificent plaza as generators and wires are sited all over the plaza, from the staircases, to the verandas of all the shops, both at the back and front of the plaza. All over, as if there is a ground rule in the plaza that says "One shop, one generator."

Your worst time as a client / visitor in the plaza will definitely be that particular time when power outage occurs and then within a split of seconds the whole ambience of the plaza gets turned into a bedlam let loose with the loud deafening sound of generators coming up from different angle of the plaza as if there was some sort of "noise competition" in the area.

Ironically, despite the health and environmental hazard emanating from this printing hub, the people in the plaza go about their normal business unperturbed by the "madness" around them. The atmosphere at the plaza when there is power outage is worse than a helicopter taking-off or landing scene. In fact, it is worse than a train station as people communicate with one another practically yelling at the top of their voices so as to be able to hear the other person clearly. It is that bad!

Upon enquiries about the power situation in the area, most of the shop owners and traders lamented that they could count the number of days they have electricity in a month. According to them, since they work with heavy duty machines, they have no choice than to source power independently.

"As you can see everybody here is using generator because

Our ear drums are under constant pressure from the terrible sounds of the generators

there is no power supply, it has not really been easy for us, coupled with the fact that fuel price has been increased by the government, all these things affect our business," said Mrs. Mariam Salihu, the manager of a printing press in the plaza.

She therefore begged the government to intervene by looking at the factors militating against the supply of adequate power to the area. According to her, economic activities in the area will pick up tremendously if the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) will fulfil its obligation to its customers.

As for Haruna Tanko, a Monogramming Specialist, doing business in the plaza has not been smooth as the irregular power supply and over bloated power bills are all affecting their capital.

"We spend a lot of money on fuel and diesel, we expose our health to hazards of the carbonmonoxide, our ear drums are under constant pressure from the terrible sounds of the generators which we cannot do without here because they are our only alternative source of power in the face of poor power supply from AEDC," he said.

Haruna lamented that they give them light anytime they want, sometimes less than four or five hours in a day and they are still expected to pay full bill, adding that due to the epileptic power supply, the work they are supposed to do for three hours, they end up doing it for eight hours.

Plaza management Murg Properties, the facility management firm that oversees the day to day running of the plaza, added its voice to the pleas for improved power supply to the area. The manager of Murg Properties, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi Amana, in an interview with Inside Abuja, said although power supply to the area has improved a bit, there is still need for improvement as availability of power is key for the success of the businesses within the plaza and the area as a whole.

"A place like this require 24 hours power supply, but there is

nowhere in Nigeria you can have 24 hours power supply. As for the issue of numerous generators in the plaza, of course what do you want them (shop owners) to do when there is no light?" he queried.

"You can't take a job from your client and when he comes to collect the finished job, you tell him there is no light. Of course it is not done. That is why they definitely had to go for their own generators.

"As a matter of fact, we don't even accept generators here in this plaza because of the noise and environmental issues but sometimes there is nothing the management can do because most of the big generators are outside the fence of the plaza, you only see the small ones within the plaza. We don't permit generators in the plaza but because we are after their progress, along the line, we had to allow small generators to be used."

The management of the plaza further stated that they had earlier made several efforts to provide a 2000KVA central generator for all tenants of the plaza to subscribe into but it wasn't possible because the tenants seemed to prefer every man to himself.

"We discovered that the generator will consume one drum of diesel for every hour of its operation. So you see it wasn't even a very profitable venture for the investors to come and put the generator and these tenants are not ready to subscribe. Out of 600 we only have just one per cent, so the best thing for us was to just allow them to use their own generators. We are not happy the way generators are being used. Also, we are not happy the way we are not having constant power supply, but we can't help it," he said.

Amana lamented further that in a bid to ensure that tenants pay for the power supplied, the plaza was made to switch to pre-paid meter, adding that they paid for it and supplied it to all the tenants yet there is no constant power.

"He therefore urged government to improve on the power sector as it will go a long way in boosting the operations of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and on the long run, strengthening the economy.

22

INSIDE ABUJA

EBERE AMEH reports on the ordeals of 162 Nigerians repatriated from Libya last week

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Our ordeals in Libya – Repatriated Nigerians

W

ith the help of the funds from the Swiss Secretariat of Migration, under the project Provision of Humanitarian Repatriation and Reintegration for Stranded Migrants in Libya, the International Organisation for Migration, Libya last week, assisted 162 stranded Nigerians migrants, including 28 women and three children, to return home to Nigeria from Libya.

Of the group, 146 had spent months in immigration detention centres, namely Abu Saleem, Qarapoly and al Zawia detentions centres.

In a statement signed by Communication Assistant, IOM, Abuja, Ikechukwu Attah, the circumstances of this group were similar to the other migrants who were previously repatriated by IOM from Libya as almost all the migrants traveling on this charter were detained after they were intercepted at sea, trying to get to Europe.

Some of the migrants who spoke to IOM narrated their ordeal and explained why they felt compelled to embark on these perilous journeys.

“I made it to Libya six months ago, and I settled in Garaboli city, 60 km east of Tripoli, with the intention of travelling to Italy, where I was arrested by a militia member together with other migrants,” Omar, a 19-year-old, tearfully said.

“He threatened to send us to prison if we refused to work for him. We worked at his farm, for no money at all. When we tried to escape he asked us to pay 500 dinars ($360) for our release.

Then he put us in a room and shot at us with his gun. I was shot in the leg. He then threw gasoline on us and set us on fire.

I was severely burned. I managed to escape from the farm and I was eventually taken to the hospital by police who found me lying on the side of the road."

For Adama, a 38-year-old father of three, the story was not totally different. Living with his mother, he had to borrow $5,000 – ‘price of salvation trip’, he called it. He arrived in Libya five months ago and spent three months in the detention centre.

"It does not matter which country, any country in Europe is a paradise for me and worthy of any risk to reach, even if the price is my life,” he said.

Abdul is a 25-year-old hardworking paraplegic. His physical condition did not prevent him from working as an auto

Nigerian returnees from Libya on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos …recently.

Some of the returnees.

mechanic in Nigeria, after dropping out of school, to help his parents and his brothers.

However, he lost his job and struggled to survive. His frustration meant that he was easily convinced when his friends in Italy persuaded him that there would be plenty of opportunities for him under Italian disability laws.

His journey was much harder than other migrants anyone else because of his condition. When he arrived in Libya, he was forced to work for two months in an electronic repair shop owned by a brother of one of the smugglers in Sabha (South Libya) to pay for his passage to Tripoli.

Upon his arrival in Tripoli last February, he tried to find work to raise money for his passage on the boat.

He was however, arrested just two weeks after he arrived. "I chose the humanitarian repatriation although I’m sure that the situation at home is much worse. I have to face my family with empty hands after all that

A returnee on a stretcher

Any country in Europe is a paradise for me and worthy of any risk to reach, even if the price is my life

they spent to get me here in the first place. I hope the organisation (IOM) will help securing income same as it helped me to secure my return to my country," said Abdul.

For Aicha, a 39-year-old mother of two, she arrived in Libya five months ago via the desert.

She had left her two children with her husband in search of a better life. She told the IOM: "It was a long and hard trip where my life was threatened twice when I fell down from the truck between Agadez (Niger) and Al Qatrun (Libya) because of huge amount of migrants that were on the back of the truck. After my arrival in Tripoli, I found work as a maid in one of the connection houses – which is more like houses of prostitution. Eventually, I had to escape and began to think seriously about the return. Luckily I heard from a friend that IOM organises voluntary repatriation so I registered with the embassy."

Despite their journeys of

hope ending in detention centres, these migrants consider themselves lucky to have escaped death trying to cross the Mediterranean, which this year has claimed the lives of 2,438 migrants and refugees on the central Mediterranean route.

The repatriation, which was done in close co-operation with the Libyan authorities, the Nigerian Embassy in Tripoli and the IOM mission in Nigeria, was on board a charter flight that departed Tripoli’s Mitiga Airport and arrived in Lagos the same afternoon. The repatriated migrants were received by IOM Nigeria at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and were provided with cash grants upon arrival. Of the group, 20 will be provided with some reintegration supports.

Before departure, all migrants were provided with hygiene kits, clothes and shoes. A mobile patrol from the Libyan Directorate of Combating the Illegal Migration (DCIM) escorted the buses to Mitiga airport.

23

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Energy Assets’ declaration: Big question mark on NNPC staff

Business What's news Trans Forcados: FG, oil firms’ losses hit N125.55bn p.24

Cash crunch dims access to affordable mortgage p.24

Aviation Drone proliferation puts civil aviation on the spot

25 29

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE May 2016.................................15.6% April 2016.................................13.7% March 2016..............................13.2%

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

EXCHANGE RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(BDC as at June 17)

(Interbank as at June 17)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N350 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N490 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N400

l Foreign Reserves – $26.443bn as at 16/6/2016

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

Source: CBN

L-R: General Manager, External Relations, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr. Igo Weli; Managing Director, SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor and Communications Manager, Mrs. Sola Abulu, at the official launch and presentation of Shell Briefing Notes to journalist Editors in Lagos at the weekend.

Nigeria may adopt low cost airline model NEW STRATEGY The Business Desk

There is a concentration of low cost carriers in few markets

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

Wole Shadare

T

here are indications that Nigeria might eventually adopt low cost airline model as a result of low traffic occasioned by tough economic situation rather than the willingness to do so.

Already, because of the huge seat capacity that airlines provide on the domestic scene with low passenger traffic, many of the airlines offer air fares as low as N12, 000 depending on the time of booking.

The operators, investigations revealed, want to concentrate on huge volume to be able to apply the model because Nigeria provides such market to succeed.

They hope that at a very low cost, they would be able to attract more passengers to fill their aircraft, which would make up for the fares they are going to charge.

Vice President, International Air Transport Association (IATA), Raphael Kuuchi in an interview with New Telegraph said that low cost airlines wherever they exist play a very critical role contrary to thinking by some legacy carriers that low cost carriers have come to take over their market.

He noted that the model has a tendency to stimulate additional demand and come up with a new market segment that in most cases has not been seen before.

He however, lamented that “unfortunately, what we are seeing in Africa is a concentration of low cost carriers still in a few markets,” adding that this was because the low cost business was based on low price and high volumes and in many markets in Africa, they have the volumes.

He said, “The volumes are in South Africa domestic market. To some extent, Nigeria might eventually come up with low cost model in the future. You see that in North Africa, we have low cost model in Egyptian market, in Morocco because of the volumes there.

“Within Africa, it is a huge challenge because the volumes are not there. The second limitation in the growth of the low cost carriers is

40% lower costs Being analysts’ estimate of the low-cost Southwest and JetBlue have over the mainline carriers.

the existing limited Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).”

It would be recalled that Aero Contractors, seven years ago introduced low fares on all the routes it operated. The fares were as low as N5, 000.

The model it adopted led to huge traffic for the carrier and huge cash flow for the airline, as passengers thronged the carrier.

The model entailed that intending travellers made their bookings at least two weeks before their next flight.

Low-cost airlines are taking off across the region, serving routes that cater to the continent’s growing middle class.

It hasn’t been easy for them. African nations signed an “open skies” agreement in 1988, similar to the one in Europe that cleared the way for successes such as easyJet. Most countries are yet to actually implement the agreement. But as the number of potential travellers grows, the new low-cost airlines are slowly convincing governments about the benefits of increased air travel.

One of the most ambitious of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

24

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |news

DAWDLING 300, 000 barrels daily loss to Trans Forcados shut down lingers Adeola Yusuf

T

he revenue losses by the Federal Government and oil firms from the shutdown of Trans Forcados pipeline has hit N125.55 billion ($627.75 million) in last 45 days that the installation had remained closed, New Telegraph has learnt.

This came as hope dimmed on the June target for line reopening of the Forcados terminal, while the Force majuere declared by Shell, operator of the export line had also exceeded 45 days last weekend.

Checks by New Telegraph revealed that over 13.5 million barrels had so far being shut-in by companies in the west-

Trans Forcados: FG, oil firms’ losses hit N125.55bn Hope dims on June re-opening target ern Niger Delta, which flow their products through the 48-inch underwater Trans Forcados export pipeline, operated

by Shell.

Though operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), the pipeline belongs to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Shell, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Shoreline Resources Limited, Neconde, First Hydrocarbon Nigeria (FHN) and NPDC are some of the companies operating in the western Niger Delta

that convey their crude oil through the pipeline.

Some marginal field producers such as Pillar Oil, Midwestern Oil and Gas, Platform Petroleum and Energia also convey their crude oil through the pipeline.

With $46.5 average price of crude (based on $53 pb highest and $40 pb lowest price during the period under review), the Federal Government and all the oil companies connected to the line suffered a cumulative loss of $627.75 million loss in at least 45 days that the line had remained shut.

55 per cent of that equity crude and the corresponding loss belong to the federal government alone.

Shell had on May 5, 2016 declared force majeure on 400, 000 barrels per day Forcados crude exports, where as the pipeline through, which the export terminal is fed produced 300, 000 barrel per day as at the time of its shut-down.

The company said in a statement that it has declared force majeure on the evening on May 5 following “a series of leaks” in the Trans Forcados pipeline that brings the oil to the export terminal. The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) operates the pipeline itself.

Several cargoes of Forcados for May loading were as a result of this, suffered with around

189,000 barrels per day (bpd) scheduled for export in six cargoes. The June export programme, with a total of 158,000 bpd, also suffered this same fate.

Meanwhile, militants have dashed the hope of meeting the June 30 target to re-open the pipeline following incessant threats and attacks on the line.

A top management staff of Shell who revealed this to this newspaper on the sideline of an event in Lagos, added that the militants now write direct mails to contractors who have been employed Shell to fix the damaged section of the line.

“The militants write

L-R: Chief Marketing Officer, NICON Insurance Limited, Mr. Samson Davies; Captain of Basketball team (male) of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, Master Benjamin Okoko and a team mate, Master Bolu Jebutu, the winner of the Loyola Cup, Basketball Competition, male category, during the presentation of cash reward, at the college, Abuja, by NICON Insurance Limited.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Cash crunch dims access to affordable mortgage SET BACK No hope in sight for the planned N250billion recapitalisation

Dayo Ayeyemi

T

his is not the best time for prospective home seekers under the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme, as the current downturn in the economy has inhibited the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) from granting affordable housing loans to contributors, New Telegraph has learnt.

According to a reliable

source, the apex housing financial institution has not been able to grant approvals to mortgage seekers under the NHF and Estate Developers’ loans due to the current financial difficulty confronting it.

FMBN’s approvals imbroglio, which stemmed from Nigeria’s financial woes, were triggered by the slump in the price of oil at the international markets, where Nigeria earns about 70 per cent of her revenues and 80 per cent of her foreign exchange earnings. Oil that had earlier traded for as high as over $100 per barrel more than a year ago, has just recovered to $50 per barrel. These developments have swept virtually all the states off their feet financially. Most of them

have backlog of unpaid salaries and can neither embark on any capital project nor continue with the existing ones.

The source said the development was compounded by the inability of employers at both public and private sectors to pay salaries of their workers, who are major contributors to the NHF. The source said: “Many state governments and private companies under the NHF scheme have not been able to pay salaries to workers in the last five months. Also, banks are laying off staff under the guise of the difficult operating environment.

“This has reduced the volume of cash flow to the National Housing Fund. The bank has been finding it difficult to

grant loans to contributors and developers of housing estates.”

Besides, the source said that the planned recapitalisation of FMBN to the tune of N250billion has not come to fruition due to current financial challenge.

FMBN was established as a direct Federal Government intervention agency to accelerate its housing delivery programme. The bank is expected to expand and coordinate mortgage lending on a nation-wide basis, using resources from deposits mobilised and equity contributions by the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at rates of interest below the market rates. Since it became operational in 1978, experts said the

bank had failed to fulfill its mandate to the home seeking Nigerians due to inadequate funding.

However, the National Housing Fund (NHF) was established by Act Number 3 of 1992 in response to the need to create a sustainable pool of funds rather than reliance on budgetary allocation for housing delivery.

The Act also identified resources of the fund as contributions by workers of both public and private sectors (2.5 per cent of monthly income); investments by commercial banks (10 per cent of credit portfolio) and insurance companies (40 per cent of life and 20 per cent of non-life funds); and financial contributions of the federal government.

direct mails to our contractors threatening them to go ahead with the repairs and see what we happen,” he said, adding, “There is no point going through all these and later get the line attacked at another point.”

As a country, he said, “We need to find a lasting solution to this. We are undaunted. And as a company, we will not relent until we fix it and at the same time, we are appealing to government that we need to find a lasting solution to this issue.

“We cannot police all the lines but huge volume of that crude belong to us at Shell, but very substantial volume belong to companies like NPDC, Seplat and others because the line is an export line.

“The incident is a tragedy for these companies, which are still paying back loans. Fifty-five per cent of that equity crude belongs to the federal government.”

Nigeria may adopt low cost airline model CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

new carriers, fastjet took off in 2011 running domestic routes in Tanzania.

Over the last two years it’s expanded to four other countries. The airline has big experience and big backing.

Its boss, Ed Winter is a former executive at easyJet, which has a stake in the African venture.

The airline has set its sights on cracking the lucrative South African domestic market, while also negotiating new routes across the region.

Meanwhile, analysts estimate that low-cost carriers such as Southwest and JetBlue have labour costs 30% to 40% lower than the mainline carriers.

Mainline passenger airline flights include those operated by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and now defunct US Airways but it would not include flights operated by regional airlines Envoy Air, Executive Airlines, Piedmont Airlines, or PSA Airlines with regional jets or the services of regional airline marketing brands such as American Eagle, Delta Connection, United Express, or US Airways Express aboard lowercapacity narrowbody jets and turboprop aircraft, such as those produced by Embraer or Bombardier, that do not have transcontinental range.

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Energy

25

NNPC headquarters, Abuja

Assets’ declaration: Big question mark on NNPC staff The revelation that about 1,500 top staff of the NNPC shunned assets declaration directive calls the anti-corruption drive of the corporation to questioning. ADEOLA YUSUF reports

T

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) as kept tongues wagging following revelations from an exclusive report in the New Telegraph that over 1,500 members of staff, mostly at the top hierarchy of corporation, are yet to declare their assets.

Hitherto, the NNPC had for the umpteenth time, been enmeshed in various allegations of corruption but what made the revelation of nondeclaration of assets by staff including some management staff peculiar is that this was done in flagrant violation of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) provision.

Web of corruption allegation A KPMG report in December 2011, commissioned by the Min-

istry of Finance following concerns over the NNPC’s transparency, detailed the NNPC’s sharp business practices to include violation of regulations, illegal deductions of funds belonging to the state, and failure to account for several billions of naira that should go to the federation account.

The auditors found that between 2007 and 2009 alone, the corporation over-deducted funds in subsidy claims to the tune of N28.5 billion. It has not been able to account for the sum ever since. Also, in May 2008, Willbros Group Inc., a United States (US) company, admitted to making corrupt payments totalling over $6.3 million to officials at the NNPC and its subsidiary, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), in return for assistance in obtaining and retaining contracts for work on the Eastern Gas Gathering System (EGGS).

Aside from this, ABB Vetco Gray, another US company and its UK subsidiary, ABB Vetco Gray UK Ltd, in July 2004, conceded to paying over $1 million in bribes to officials of NAPIMS in exchange for obtaining confidential bid information and favourable recommendations from Nigerian government agencies.

In November 2013, after a report was published by Swiss Non-governmental advocacy

Bad eggs in the corporation worked hands in gloves with the criminals

organisation – Erklärung von Bern – allegations of heavy fraud surfaced, placing the NNPC under suspicion of siphoning off $6.8 billion in crude oil revenues.

On December 9, 2013, a letter from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor to the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, dated September 23, 2013, showed details that the NNPC had not remitted over $49.8 billion proceeds of crude oil sales to the government, surfaced.

On December 13, 2013, NNPC responded that no money was missing.

Reconciliation Committee (comprising representatives of CBN, NNPC, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), The Budget Office of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources) was set up.

The reconciliation committee estimated unremitted funds at $10.8 billion on December 18, 2013, while CBN changed its claim to $12 billion.

CBN then informed the Senate Committee on Finance, on February 4, 2014, that NNPC needs to account for $20 billion, as the apex bank could only confirm receipt of $47 billion out of $67 billion revenue

for the period under review.

The revelation Meanwhile, investigation by this newspaper revealed that the corporation, which has, for the umpteenth time, been enmeshed in various corruption allegations, could only, as at May 2016, get just 70 per cent of its about 5,000 core staff declare their assets after a rigorous anti-corruption drive of the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

A four-page NNPC document obtained by this newspaper showed that the 70 per cent asset declaration figure was achieved through a strategic effort began in August 4, 2015 to “stop the bleeding; shine the light; increase efficiency; manage performance and push and profitability.”

Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Igwe Achese had, last February, officially stated before the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, that the stateowned firm’s core staff were about 5,000. Just 70 per cent of this figure, being 3,500 staff, according to findings by this newspaper, have keyed in into the asset declaration after series of rigorous exercise.

“What obtained before AuCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

26

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Energy

CALLOUS Epie Community had an outstanding debt record of N60, 484,304.56 and a current bill of N2,321,327.78 Adeola Yusuf

S

taff of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) and the security personnel attached to them while on a disconnection exercise have been attacked by some residents of Epie Community in Bayelsa State.

The attack, which was spearheaded by youths, according to a statement from PHED, resulted in injury to three policemen, the Business Service Manager, Pere Alazigha, a linesman, Christian Umegbewe and other staff members involved in the disconnection exercise.

While Alazigha was left with a machete cut on his body, Umegbewe was pushed down from the ladder by the youths during the disconnection process.

Both of them were immediately hospitalized, the statement said.

The Head, Glory City Main Integrated Business Centre, Yenagoa, Mrs. Ngozi Manafa, said the Ford Hilux conveying staff to the venue was also damaged, leaving its windscreen shattered.

She confirmed that the Epie Community had

Debts: Bayelsa community attacks PHED staff, police an outstanding debt record of N60,484,304.56 and a current bill of N2,321,327.78, to which they paid 70,000:00 and 50,000:00 respectively.

The incident was the second to take place within the week, as two days before, disconnection team of PHED was also beaten up at Airtel Road.

Only last month, some residents of Akemfa community attacked PHED staff on collection drive with the Business Service Manager, Mr. Festus Owi taken to the bush by some angry residents, a situation that led other PHED staff running for cover.

This community owes the company over N47,130,2.26.

Several other attacks have also been witnessed in Koroma in Gbarain clan of Bayelsa state, where one PHED staff was held hostage and one of the hillux pick up was also damaged.

Reacting to the development, the Chief Operating Officer, PHED, Engr. Kingsley Achife, condemned the act, adding,

“PHED will not relent in their commitment towards serving their paying customers and this we hope to achieve by ensuring that customers pay for energy consumed”.

He appealed to the public to desist from attacking staff who are willing to render quality service to them.

Power substation

Big question mark on NNPC staff CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

gust 4, 2015, when the corporation got a new Group Managing Director in person of Dr. Ibe Kachikwu is that nobody cares about whether anybody declares assets or not,” a retired Group Executive Director at the NNPC told our correspondent by after his anonymity had been guaranteed.

Self-confession The NNPC also confirmed that 30 per cent of their staff are yet to declare their assets. In the Monthly Financial Operations Data of the NNPC for the month of May, published on its website, the corporation said that it “achieved 70 per cent compliance on assets declaration by staff of the corporation,” as a part of efforts to “enhance transparency and accountability and achieve zero tolerance for corruption.” The staff, further checks revealed, are scattered across the chains.

While some are at the headquarters of the NNPC in Abuja consisting of four

identical towers, others are also at the zonal offices in Lagos, Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri. Further checks revealed that the international office of the NNPC located in London, United Kingdom, is also peopled by some staff that falls culpable of flagrant disregard for the asset declaration.

New chapter on corruption The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, in its recent report indicted the NNPC for withholding and short-changing the country of over $13.29 billion over a nine-year period.

NEITI in its Audit Report for 2013, had accused the NNPC and its subsidiaries of failing to remit $3.8 billion and N358.3 billion in 2013, and over $12 billion between 2005 and 2009, stating that these outstanding payments were due from unpaid consideration from divested Oil Mining Leases (OML), cash call refunds, crude oil liftings and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, dividends over a nine-year

period.

In addition to the indictment by NEITI, the NNPC had been accused on a number of occasions of largescale graft, and serving as a conduit for the diversion of the country’s finances to private account. The NNPC had also been accused of entering into deals that were detrimental to the economy of the country among others.

Fortification of allegation As if this allegations were not enough, the Natural Resource Governance Institute, NRGI, also recently disclosed that within the first six months of the Buhari administration, the NNPC withheld over $4.2 billion, about N824.7 billion, out of a total of $6.3 billion, about N1.24 trillion, realised from crude oil sales in the second half of 2015.

The NRGI also accused the NNPC of causing the country to lose about $32 billion, about N7 trillion, due to its opaque Domestic Crude Allocation (DCA), questionable revenue retention practices and corruption-ridden oilfor-product swap agree-

ments. Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and present Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido, had also accused the NNPC of failing to remit about $20 billion to the Federation Account. These are just a few of the many accusations against the NNPC in the last three years.

NNPC’s defence The NNPC, the proverbial hen that lays the golden, in an attempt to clear its name, denied any wrongdoing.

The corporation claimed that its failure to remit about $13.294 billion to the Federation account over a nine-year period was due to the fact that the funds were utilised legally in running its operations, while the balance of the funds had been transferred to the CBN. Group General Manager, Debt Management/Federal Allocation of the NNPC, Mr. Godwin Okonkwo, told newsmen recently that a large chunk of the funds, with the approval of the Federal Government, were used to fund various gas projects in the country, while with

the advent of the current administration, the balance of the funds had been moved from the Treasury Single Account, TSA, to the federation account in the CBN. According to him, part of the spending for NLNG dividends was for the development of NLNG trains, Brass LNG and Olokola LNG. On claims that the NNPC and NPDC are yet to pay about $1.7 billion from the transfer of some oil assets to the NPDC, he stated that the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, would determine the actual amount, which is currently at the last lap of evaluating the amount to be paid.

Conclusion Most of the allegations of corruption leveled against the NNPC came into being because some staff that were bad eggs in the corporation worked hands in gloves with the criminals. Therefore, the cleansing at the corporation should be total. Only this will make Nigeria and the world to believe in the antcorruption of the current government.

TUESDAY, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Homes&Property

27

One of the estates constructed by Ogun State Housing Corporation in Abeokuta.

New forex policy: Experts predict rise in cost of housing Hope dims for lowincome earners, as stakeholders foresee rising cost in housing due to Nigeria’s new forex policy. DAYO AYEYEMI reports

F

ollowing the adoption of a flexible foreign exchange regime by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), stakeholders in the housing sector, most especially builders and developers, have predicted major increase in the cost of houses.

The experts, while expressing concerns for accommodation seekers under the new policy, stated that unless the Federal Government engages in direct housing construction and entrench a virile mortgage sector, the dream of an average working-class Nigerian to have a roof over his head will amount to nothing.

Experts’ view Speaking with New Telegraph, former President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Chucks Omeife, said that the new forex policy would lead to high cost of housing construction.

Justifying his prediction, Omeife pointed out that most of the building materials for housing construction were sourced abroad, adding that increase in forex would automatically lead to high cost of importation.

“Now that the CBN has adopted flexible forex policy, we expect between N250,00 and N300.00 per dollar instead of initial N199.00. This means that importers of building materials will pay more for importation and sell at high prices,” he said.

With high cost of importation, the NIOB erstwhile boss predicted a situation where contractors of ongoing housing projects would have to reschedule contract sum with owners.

He said: “Until you resolve the issue of not fixing foreign exchange, prevailing forex will determine cost of buildings.”

“Nigerians will pay more for housing; and since forex is not fixed, cost of materials cannot be fixed.”

Cor roborating Omeife, Immediate Past Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Lagos branch, Mr. Stephen Jagun, said that the new forex policy would affect the cost of new houses, adding that home-seeking Nigerians should be ready to pay more for accommodation.

Jagun, a former President of International Facility Management Association, Nigeria chapter (IFMA), stated that the cost of building materials would double due to the new policy on forex.

He said: “The new policy will dash the hope of many Nigerians seeking cheap accommodation due to high cost of building materials. It will push low-income people out of accommodation ladder.

“Except government comes

According to market survey in Lagos, 50 kilogramme bag of cement has risen from N1,300 to N1,700

in and make housing available with mortgage, many people may find it difficult to own their dream home,” he stressed.

Jagun pointed out that the current drive by the government to increase revenue has also not helped the situation, as local manufacturers of building materials have to pay more for different taxes.

“Gover nment is looking more at revenue but is not looking at the impact on people,” Jagun said.

Also, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), Bismarck Rewane, stated that adoption of flexible exchange rate would definitely lead to increase in cost of building property, adding that Nigerians should expect stabilized rents, as a result of price wars between developers Besides, he said that vacancy factor would decline marginally to 165 by the end of 2016.

He predicted aggregate housing demand to increase in the fourth quarter of 2016.

CBN’s 41 items The CBN had issued a directive removing some imported goods and services from the list of items valid for forex in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Markets.

Some of the building materials in CBN’s 41’ not valid for forex’ items include cement, cold rolled steel sheets, galvanised steel sheets, roofing sheets, steel pipes, wire rods, iron rods and reinforcing rods, wire mesh, security and razor wire. Others are wood particle boards and panels, wood fiber

boards and panels, plywood boards and panels, wooden doors, furniture and tiles.

Before now and due to the economic downturn, prices of building materials had skyrocketed.

Market survey According to market survey in Lagos, 50 kilogramme bag of cement has risen from N1,300 to N1,700, as iron rods(25mm steel) sell for N7,600; sharp sand per 20 tons sells for N50,000; roofing sheet per metre (0.75 grade) sells for N1,850; while vibrated 9-inch block (1 unit) sells for N120.00.

Affordable housing On how to enhance homeownership among Nigerians in the face of harsh economy, Chairman of HOB Estates Limited, Chief Olusegun Bamgbade, suggested that management of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) should recapitalise without much ado.

This, he said would help to increase access to mortgage among home-seeking Nigerians.

“FMBN needs to take up a saner thinking cap, especially on serious issues affecting its operations,” he said.

Besides, Bamgbade advised Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on affordable housing provision, saying that its modus operandi must be channeled through FMBN via real estate developers.

“It must be different from the previous gover nment’s Ministerial Pilot Scheme that CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

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TUESDAY, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Business | Homes & Property

Banana Island is most expensive quarters –Investigation COMFORT Luxury rental property formed the most popular lucrative house category in some of these highbrow areas in Nigeria Stories Dayo Ayeyemi

D

espite current downturn in the economy, which has drastically reduced demand for luxury apartments, investigation by New Telegraph has shown that properties in Banana Island

in Lagos still command high prices ahead of Maitaima, Asokoro, Victoria Island, Lekki and Ikeja Government Reserve Areas (GRAs).

Besides, luxury rental property formed the most popular lucrative house category in some of these highbrow areas in Nigeria.

Findings showed that most properties in these rich enclaves are mainly demanded by expatriates and nonresidents who are interested in running their business activities in Nigeria.

Based on data available, the most expensive real estate locations in Nigeria were identi-

fied in Banana Island in Lagos, followed by Maitama and Asokoro in Abuja, Lekki, Ikeja GRA, Ibadan and Port Harcourt.

According to current survey, price tags on a three-bedroom apartment Banana Island is in the tune of N100 million while a 5-bedroom house sells for N450 million.

Apparently, and due to high cost of acquiring properties, rental properties have become very popular, with rent for a three-bedroom apartment going as high as N10 million in Banana Island, Lagos.

A man-made island on Lagoon, Banana Is-

land is slightly curved in shape – like a banana.

It has one of the highest density of millionaires within its boundaries.

On the other hand, Maitama district in Abuja (Federal Capital) came second with property price in the tune of N430 million.

Also, property in Asokoro, Abuja sells as high as N418million, while same property sells for N250million in Ikeja GRA, Lagos and N145 million in Port Harcourt GRA and N145million in Lekki, Lagos.

A recent report on the Lagos real estate market compiled by MCO Real Estate Limit-

ed—a Lagos-based real estate research and consultancy firm—stated that Eko Atlantic City and Banana Island have shown strong price appreciation of about 22 per cent over the past year.

According to the study, while matured Ikoyi property market has not shown any appreciation in value over the year, Victoria Island with land prices averaging N365,000 per square metre (psqm) has held the title of the most expensive land in Lagos.

This, he said was due to its central business district’s location and its zoning designation for mixed commercial

use of up to 20 floors.

Okoye, the Chief Executive Officer of MCO Real Estate, confirmed that Eko Atlantic City and Banana Island have shown strong value appreciation with land prices currently at par within a range of N280,000 – N290,000 per square metre.

Analysts are of the opinion that this significant rise in the value of land in these locations means they possessed strong potential for high return on investment, which explains the growing interest in them international investors.

Okoye noted that with the growing awareness of international corporate organisations of the expanding opportunities for trade in Africa and Nigeria, there has been increased interest for commercial office space in the commercial hubs of Victoria Island and Ikoyi.

Experts predict rise in cost of housing CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

has not produced any tangible result so far,” he said.

Bambade war ned the minister to consider the peculiarities of each state for affordable housing design and provision. He also advised Fashola to allow estate developers to design and develop houses in each state in accordance to the sociocultural realities operative and acceptable in each region.

He said: “There are individual state peculiarities that must be considered on issues of this nature. The sociocultural system of every tribe or nation differs to a large extent. For instance, land is not an issue in most parts of the country other than Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and a few others.

“You cannot build high rise buildings for people in the eastern, northern, and even some western parts of the country and expect the same response as witnessed in Lagos.”

Conclusion T he gover nment must do everything possible to protect the low income earners by entering into agreement with private developers to build cheap houses, on mortgage arrangement, to enhance home ownership among citizens.

Ongoing Loko – Oweto Bridge over River Benue in Nasarawa/Benue States

200 local firms seek to expand access to affordable homes N o fewer than 200 indigenous building materials and real estate providers will converge on Abuja today to seek better ways to expand access to affordable homes among Nigerians.

The forum, tagged: “Abuja Housing Show”, which seeks to improve affordable housing delivery in Nigeria, will have participants from

10 advanced countries in world in attendance.

According to a statement, experts from Turkey, China, Netherlands, UK, USA, Ghana, South Africa, Ireland, Kenya and Brazil are expected at the forum.

One of the organisers , Mr. Festus Adebayo , told foreign investors and representatives of Ghana Home Loan Board, who have assured their partici-

pation about plans by President Muhammadu Buhari to revolutionalise the housing sector.

He urged participants not to just come for the event but bring along with them resources to invest in the housing sector, saying it would create jobs and render good returns to stakeholders.

He appealed to them to seek investment in af fordable housing,

stressing that it has been an area with huge and untapped potential, adding that Nigeria needs support from international financial organisations so as to re-engineer the mortgage system.

“Estate developers should be able to access loans that are not more than one digit. And we need loans that have long tenors,” Adebayo said.

Besides, he advised state Commissioners of Lands and Urban Development to take advantage of the forum to get new ideas about the construction industry.

The Abuja Housing Show is an annual one stop-shop for real estate stakeholders presenting new products, innovative services and technology and it’s the largest in West Africa.

TUESDAY, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

AVIATION

29

A Lufthansa aircraft under threat from a drone in an airspace

Drone proliferation puts civil aviation on the spot The rapid growth in drone use has increased concerns about safety and privacy. Curiously, regulators have been unable to keep pace, writes WOLE SHADARE In the beginning Until recently the domain of the military and a handful of hobbyists, play an increasing role in businesses, including agriculture, engineering and real estate. Still more untested uses are under consideration, such as using drones to deliver packages to customers.

Millions of consumers also are buying the machines and taking to the skies.

The violation of airspace by the deployment of drones has raised concern over air travel and not a few said it is a matter of time before a drone causes an air disaster.

Incidents Not long, a drone crashed into an Airbus A320 approaching Heathrow airport. Thankfully, the plane landed intact, but the incident is the latest in a series of increasingly worrying events.

Just last week, Dubai International Airport, said to be the world’s busiest airport for international travel, closed its airspace for 69 minutes due to unauthorised drone activity, causing 22 flights to be diverted, aviation authorities said.

Government-owned Dubai Airports, which operates Dubai’s two

main airports, said in a statement the closure lasted between 11:36 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. (0639-0745 GMT), and Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths said thousands of passengers suffered disruption to their journeys.

Spokesperson for Dubai airport said 16 of the diverted flights went to Dubai World Central and Dubai’s other main airport. Dubai, a trade, tourism and investment hub for the Gulf region, is one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Africa grounds drone usage Across Africa, drones have been grounded because the governments don’t fully understand the technology, and amateur pilots don’t understand how to fly them properly.

The regulation of drones in Africa is about more than if a machine can fly the skies of the continent unburdened; it forebears Africa’s relationship with new, disruptive technologies.

NCAA frets In Nigeria, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) recently said it is worried about the use of drones in the country and has taken cognisance of the growing requests for the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) leading to its proliferation in Nigeria.

The development of the use of RPA nationwide has emerged with somewhat predictable safety concerns and security threats. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is yet to publish Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), as far as certification and operation of civil use of RPA is concerned.

NCAA has therefore put in place Regulations/Advisory Circular to

Violation of airspace by the deployment of drones has raised concern over air travel

guide the certification and operations of civil RPA in the Nigerian airspace” The agency, through its spokesman, Sam Adurogboye reiterated that the NCAA would ensure that applicants and holders of permits to operate RPA/Drones must strictly be guided by safety guidelines while in addition; operators must ensure strict compliance with the conditions stipulated in their permits and the requirements of the Nig.CARs. Violators shall be sanctioned according to the dictates of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs).

According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), there have been 23 incidents involving drones at UK airports over the past six months, including 12 “category A” near-miss scenarios – four of them in January alone. The threat isn’t restricted to British skies.

The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) receives over 100 reports of drone incidents every month.

One was reportedly seen flying over Los Angeles Airport at 8,000 feet – the altitude at which aircraft fly in a holding pattern.

Kenya shows concern There is a general concern that without regulation, drones could be misused to create acts of unlawful interference, terrorism and other negative things,” said Capt. Gilbert Kibe, the Director General of the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.

Kenya is developing drone regulations that will be two tiered, Kibe said. Recreational drone users will have less restriction, while commercial pilots will face higher barriers to fly.

Drone abuse in Europe, US Last year, one was spotted over Istanbul Airport, the fifth busiest in the world, despite claims that the airport had been geofenced – that is, protected by an electronic exclusion zone that prevents the remotecontrolled craft from entering. The White House has had drones flown onto the lawn, and French authorities reported over 60 incidents over their nuclear facilities between October 2014 and February 2015.

Meanwhile, the global UAS (unmanned air system) market is predicted to grow 33 per cent to around $6 billion by 2020.

What started as a niche pursuit has turned into something potentially far more serious. So as their number is only going to increase and a serious crash is not beyond the realms of possibility.

In the UK, the CAA has mandated that drone should be within direct, unaided, line of sight of the pilot.

Experts said they should also be no higher than 400 feet above the ground, and 500 metres from the operator. Drones need to remain more than 150 metres away from congested areas, and should not be flown directly above people, vehicles, vessels and property, unless those persons are “under the control of the person in charge of the drone”. Unsurprisingly, these rules are constantly and flagrantly flouted.

Internationally, most aviation authorities are trying to enforce similar regulations – but with equally limited success. The problem is mainly one of detection: air traffic control radar systems are designed to identify large aircraft, CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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BUSINESS | AVIATION

Lufthansa to boost services to Nairobi

CONSOLIDATION Tourism to Kenya from Germany and US markets continue to increase Wole Shadare

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ufthansa German Airlines is to commence flight to Nairobi, the Kenyan capital on September 1st, 2016.

According to the airline in a statement, the development, which is great news for the Kenyan travel industry, will be operated exclusively with wide body aircraft, offering passengers four weekly flights with the latest Lufthansa long haul product and dramatically increasing the available capacity on the popular Frankfurt – Nairobi route.

Speaking on the proposed flight to Kenya during a media briefing, the Regional Manager for Lufthansa in East Africa, Tobias Ernst, said, “Following a successful introduction to the market last October, we are thrilled to offer our customers in Nairobi and those travelling to Kenya, an upgraded product in which we have invested

1 million Euros daily over the last three years.”

The airline stated that the four weekly flights would be initially operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays by an Airbus A340-300 in a three class configuration offering customers 18 Business Class seats, a new Premium Economy cabin seating 19, 261 Economy Class seats and a total of capacity of 298. Commencing on October 30th, Fridays will be offered instead of Saturdays.”

Already, popular with passengers since the launch of service, Lufthansa will maintain the late night departure from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

With an early morning arrival in Frankfurt passengers will have access to over 200 destinations from Lufthansa’s

growing raft of flights to Europe, North & South America, as well as Asia, including those of the carrier’s Asian and North American partners.

As a further positive development for the route, Lufthansa informed that its flights to and from Nairobi will carry its Star Alliance partner United Airline’s code, offering even more seamless connections to the carrier’s US network.

According to Ernst, “Tourism to Kenya especially from the German and US markets continues to increase and we are delighted to once again offer an additional frequency on the route commencing December 12th, 2016 through January 22nd, 2017. It is a true testament to the popularity of this beautiful country.”

It would be recalled that Lufthansa launched flights to Kenya

on October 25th, 2015, offering three weekly flights with a next generation Boeing 737-700 BBJI, operated by Private Air, a Switzerland-based airline that has had a long successful history of reliable service on behalf of Lufthansa.

Speaking on the issue, the Managing Director Sub-Sahara Africa for Lufthansa German Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines, Claus Becker, said: “Nairobi has long been known as the power house of East Africa, interlacing a vibrant, innovative economy in a captivating environment. For the Lufthansa Group it is a gateway to one of the most popular regions this continent offers to tourists and business travellers, alike. Moreover it is an important location for many Lufthansa Group companies across the entire array of aviation services offered.”

L-R: Fleet Manager Lufthansa Technik, Mike Ronneberger; Deputy Managing Director, Arik Air, Captain Ado Sanusi; Director Line Maintenace Network & Tech Ops Management Lufthansa Technik Maintenance International, Jurgen Hupe during the visit of Lufthansa Technik to Arik Corporate Headquarters in Lagos... recently

AIB advocates increase of TSC to 10% Wole Shadare

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he Commissioner, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Dr. Felix Abali has advocated for the increase of its share of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) from 3 per cent to 10 per cent to enable it discharge it responsibilities effectively.

Abali made this call during a visit of the House AdHoc Committee on Non-Oil Revenue and Remittances at the agency’s headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, (MMA), Lagos.

The 5 per cent TSC is collected at source from air passengers by the airlines on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

TSC is to enable all aviation agencies carry out

their responsibilities of providing safe, secure and efficient regulatory services for the overall benefits of all aviation stakeholders.

The TSC is shared among aviation agencies, which includes the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).

This is just as the agency lamented that paucity of funds had prevented the agency from carrying out its duties as a responsible accident investigator.

The AIB boss also appealed to the Federal Government to exempt its technical personnel from the current embargo placed on

foreign training since 2015.

Abali stated that AIB as parts of its succession plan required special funding to operate and hoped that the committee would use its good office to push for the upward review of the ticket sales charge for the agency.

He said, “For emergency and high profile accidents, AIB requires an emergency or special account to meet this need. Malaysia MH 370 and TWA 800 accidents, among others are apt examples. Stakeholders and public awareness campaign requires adequate funding. We request for support in this area.

“Accident investigation bodies are not expected to charge for their services and so the opportunity

to generate independent revenue is almost nil.

Based on Annex 13 of the Inter national Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, Manual, there should be special fund dedicated to cater for any major accidents. It has been very difficult to provide and keep this fund since every unspent money goes back to the Federal Treasury by December 31st of every financial year.”

AIB, he said needed to urgently meet the need for qualified personnel to takeover from the crop of ageing technical personnel, who according to him, were currently on contract, adding that huge fund was required for manpower development, majority of which is done overseas.

TUESDAY, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Drone proliferation puts civil aviation on the spot CONT INU E D FROM PAGE 29

not tiny drones flying at low altitudes at up to 45mph.

IATA cries out The Director-General of International Air Transport Association (IATA), Tony Tyler, said drones flown by the general public are “a real and growing threat” to civilian aircraft.

Tyler called for drone regulations to be put in place before any serious accidents occur. He said the threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles is still evolving.

“I am as excited as you are about the prospect of having pizza delivered by a drone,” he told a conference in Singapore recently.

“But we cannot allow [drones] to be a hindrance or safety threat to commercial aviation,” said Tyler.

“The issue is real. We have plenty of pilot reports of drones where they were not expected, particularly at low altitudes around airports,” he added. “There is no denying that there is a real and growing threat to the safety of civilian aircraft coming from drones.

“We need a sensible approach to regulation and a pragmatic method of enforcement for those who disregard rules and regulations and put others in danger.”

Drones were recently involved in four serious near-misses at UK airports, the UK Air Proximity Board said lasat January.

The board, which investigates near-miss incidents in UK airspace, said a drone had come very close to colliding with a Boeing 737 that had taken off from Stansted airport.

IATA’s primary concern is drones flying at low altitudes near airports that could threaten planes taking off or landing.

US floats guidelines Aviation regulators also want to make sure that the radio spectrum used to control the drones does not interfere with air traffic control systems, he said.

Last December, the US government set up a registration system for Americans who own drones.

Anyone who has a drone must register with the Federal Aviation Administration before the device takes its first flight. Owners have been told to register their details or face being fined.

The move comes after several reported incidents of drones hindering emergency services’ efforts in fighting fires and other dangers.

Conclusion Drone experts say that regulations are necessary, but that there is a way to target the problem without stifling innovation. They argued that despite the threat they pose to civil aviation, pilots are flying anyway. Restrictions, they said can be put on flying around airports or major cities, for example, but still allow for drones to fly in the rest of the country.

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TUESDAY, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Promotion Ortom assures teachers of regular promotion

Education

Equipment New laboratory equipment for UNIBEN pharmacy faculty

33 35

ANXIETY

Barely two days to assumption of office of the new substantive Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof. Ayobami Salami, the workers’ unions are insisting that he would not be allowed to take over the mantle of leadership of the ivory tower, fueling anxiety on campus Mojeed Alabi

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he palpable tension, which has since gripped the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) community in the last few weeks following the appointment of a new vice-chancellor for the 54-year-old ivory tower, may assume a new twist, when on Thursday the new helmsman assumes office.

Prof. Ayobami Taofeek Salami, the incumbent Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academics was few weeks ago named as the 11th substantive Vice-Chancellor to succeed the embattled outgoing vice-chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole.

The announcement of Salami as the vice-chancellor was greeted by protest by some sections of the university’s workers, who are insisting that he would not be allowed to formally take over the vice-chancellor’s seat of the institution.

But, in the face of the mounting tension, Salami is already savouring the euphoria of his official taking over of the mantle of leadership of the university, as he had unfolded his administration’s plans to take the ivory tower to another level.

As part of his agenda, the new vice-chancellor has promised all stakeholders, including the protesting workers an all-inclusive administration that will collectively reposition the institution in line with the dreams and aspirations of its founding fathers.

According to Salami, the outgoing vice-chancellor, Omole, as the 10th in the series of the vicechancellors that have governed the university, has closed the cir-

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

OAU main gate. Inset: Salami

Anxiety as OAU VC assumes office •Salami unfolds eight-point agenda •Workers: We’ll not allow him to resume cle of a round figure; thus as the 11th vice-chancellor-designate, he will open a new vista of opportunities for the ivory tower and set new standard for another group of 10 incoming vice-chancellors.

Banking on his experience as a thoroughbred alumnus of the university, Salami, who until his appointment as the deputy vice-chancellor in 2011, was the university’s Head of the Space Applications and Environmental Science Laboratory (SPAEL) and Coordinator, Climate Modeling Unit, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies of the university, said he will offer his best to lift the university that moulded him.

The new vice-chancellor graduated with a B.Sc Degree (Second Class Upper Division) from the same university in 1986, and obtained his M.Sc from the same institution in 1989, with a specialty in Land Use and Natural Resources Management.

He bagged his PhD Degree from the same university in 1996, having obtained, in 1990, a Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Remote Sensing Applications: Training in Environmental Data Generation/Handling and Geographic Information System.

As a renowned widely travelled academic, Salami, who was appointed a Professor on October

These are my hallmarks, and I pledge to turn around the fortunes of this great university...

1, 2003, was the Secretary of the university’s branch of ASUU between 2000 and 2002, and two-term member of the university’s Governing Council from 2003 to 2007.

He worked as a Senior Research Adviser, Corporate Environment Department, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Nigeria, between 2010 and 2011 as a Sabbatical Staff.

In his kitty, therefore, is a vast knowledge about the university, and this according to him, informed the contents of his eightpoint agenda, which he simply tagged: “Moving Great Ife a Notch Higher.”

According to him, the eightpoint plan will focus on improving Information Technology (IT); Academic Renaissance through Cutting-Edge Research Development and Innovation; Advancement Office and Alumni Relations; Future Physical Development and Municipal Services, as well as Investment in Entrepreneurship.

Other thematic areas of focus of his administration’s plan include Revenue Generation; Industrial Harmony and Beautification of the university community, through what he termed Campus Aesthetics programme.

He said: “OAU’s next vice-chancellor must be administratively experienced, methodically competent and academically up-to-

date. He must not only work as the chief executive, but must be the chief fund raiser, image maker, mentor and role model with constantly appreciating intellectual stock. These are my hallmarks, and I pledge to turn around the fortune of this great university, and move it a notch higher and secure a spot for it on the global radar.”

It would be recalled that the university’s Governing Council led by its Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof. Rowland Ndoma Egba, had penultimate week announced Salami, as the choice of the Selection Committee set up for the appointment of a substantive vice-chancellor for the institution, to pilot the affairs of the university for the next five years in line with the extant law of the ivory tower.

Despite the cries trailing his appointment among a section of the workers, the Council, has insisted that Salami’s appointment met all the laid-down rules and procedures governing the appointment of a vice-chancellor particularly in line with the university autonomy as spelt out in the 2009 Federal GovernmentASUU Agreement.

The new vice-chancellordesignate was chosen ahead of CONTINUED ON PAGE 33

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education

TUESDAY, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

AAUA don advocates plant biosecurity to tackle diseases, pests Kayode Olanrewaju

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Professor of Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Timothy Olubisi Adejumo, has pleaded with the federal and state government to establish plant biosecurity diagnostic network to combat diseases and pests.

This was as he said such move had become imperative for the country to be globally compliant.

This was part of the thrust of the ninth inaugural lecture of the university, which was entitled: “Microbes: Our Intimate Companions, Sometimes with Deadly Relationships.”

In his treaties, Adejumo said: “The government should establish Plant Biosecurity Diagnostics Network with Plant Health Diagnostics standards for high priority diseases and pests. This

FG seeks UNESCO’s support for data collection Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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he Federal Government is to reinforce its collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Institute of Statistics with a view to addressing the challenges of data collection and analysis in the nation’s education sector.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu noted that this in Abuja when he received the Regional Adviser of the institute based in Dakar, Senegal, Mr. Yacouba Djibo Abdou.

While acknowledging the significance of data collection and analysis in educational planning and development, the minister listed some of the challenges facing data collection in the country to include funding, capacity building, infrastructural development and inadequate collaboration at various levels.

The minister called for the continued support of UNESCO and its member states towards ensuring improvement in the quality and analysis of data globally.

He described the visit of Djibo as timely, coming at a time the country has joined other nation of the world in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Adamu, however, sought the support of UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) in the area of capacity building in data management, development of indicators for Sustainable Development Goals reflecting the nation’s policy needs and priorities.

L-R: Adejumo; Ajibefun and Acting Registrar, Mr. Sunday Ayeerun during the lecture.

will allow rapid and accurate diagnosis of specific plant diseases and pests during incident responses, and ensure that the country meets its international plant protection obligations.”

The inaugural lecturer, who lamented the harmful nature of some microorganisms which were the causes of some diseases, especially in animals and crop plants globally, however, recommended “multidisciplinary and multinational teams and funds needed to support microbiology research programmes to

effectively meet the global challenges and deliver solutions to the nation’s food supply in the future.

His words: “There is the need to launch a nationwide effort to clean up harmful chemicals, prevent future accumulations, promote safe-handling techniques by working directly with farmers and strengthen the country’s institutional capacities to tackle the issue.

“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) should

revise, update and harmonize existing legislations on food safety to deal with mycotoxin problems, as some of them are outdated and not in line with current trends and advances in food safety. NAFDAC should also ensure that standards were adhered to on imported foods and those for local consumption.”

Meanwhile, Adejumo explained that mycotoxins represented one of the most important and sensitive problems of life as many products being used in diet were exposed to contamination.

He noted that there were hundreds of mycotoxins found in foods, while the most important ones are those that pose the greatest risks to human and animal health.

The don hinted that an average human has over 100 trillion microbes in and on his body, which affirmed that humans are 90 per cent microbial, but only 10 per cent human.

Adejumo added: “Our microbial partners come and go as the years pass by and as we change, but we will never be without a huge family of microbes. However, most often we live with these microbial inhabitants in a mutually beneficial relationship, by which we exchange valuable resources.

“Some of our steady partners make nutrients that we rely on for our health and well-being.

Some produce substances that are noxious to other, less familiar microbes, protecting us from invasion. In exchange for their services, we supply them with a steady diet and a warm place to live.”

He, however, expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Igbekele Ajibefun, and the management team, for giving him the necessary support to present the institution’s ninth inaugural lecture.

Adamawa NYSC decries camping corps members outside state

Dr. Akande (left) receiving a copy of the lecture from Oluwagbuyi, shortly after the presentation

Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

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Lecturer canvasses training for accountants to stem corruption

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Chief Lecturer at the Accountancy Department of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti (ADO POLY), Mr. Olusola Oluwagbuyi, has stressed the need for regular human capacity training programme for all career accountants.

Such training, the don noted, would stem systemic corruption in the country, since it would go a long way in exposing them to contemporary issues in the accounting field in terms of the latest packages and forensic accounting studies, as well as the automated accounting and audit software applications.

He spoke during the 20th edition of the Prof. E.K. Obiakor Inaugural Lectures Series of the Federal Polytechnic, AdoEkiti.

In his lecture, entitled: “Accounting and Accountability: The Bedrock of Sustainability and Consolidation in Public Sector and Corporate Organisations,” Oluwagbuyi noted that exposure of career accountants to current developments in their field was capable of stemming systemic corruption in every organisation.

He disclosed that the central focus of accounting and accountability is to ensure the optimization and maximization of all resources available for the sustainability and consolidation of the system.

The lecturer, who described accounting as a process, purpose and concept, stressed the need for proper accounting and accountability to be put in place in every organisation, even as he

said that “this will prevent leakages, wastages, lack of maintenance culture and encourage cohesion in hierarchical structure in the administration.”

Meanwhile, Oluwagbuyi, who noted that proper accounting facilitates accountability, further added that “accountability could not exist without proper accounting practices, in other words, an absence of accounting means an absence of accountability.”

The don, however, recommended among others things that for proper accounting and accountability to be put in workplaces in the public and private organisations, there is the need for the government to amend the Companies and Allied Maters Act so as to prohibit all other engagements that affect adversely the independence of statutory auditors such as book keeping by the audit firm, financial advisors and tax consultants.

damawa State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, Mr. Umaru Joro Daniel, has decried the continued camping of corps members deployed to the state outside Adamawa for the threeweek compulsory orientation course.

The NYSC camp in the state has for over two years continued to serve as the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp for the victims of Boko Haram insurgency.

This, he noted has forced the Adamawa State NYSC Secretariat to source for alternative Orientation Camp outside the state for its usual camping activities.

The 2016 Batch A’ corps members deployed to the state are currently undergoing their orientation exercise at the Jalingo NYSC Camp in Taraba State.

Umaru, who spoke to journalists during the opening ceremony of the orientation programme for the 1,965 corps members posted to the state, decried a situation in which they hold their activities outside the state.

In fact, he spoke of the urgent need to step up efforts towards conducting the NYSC orientation programmes in the state due to the vacuum created as a consequence of inadequate personnel.

education

TUESDAY, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

33

New OAU VC resumes office

Omole, outgoing VC C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

other candidates including the former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof.

(Mrs.) Olabisi Aina; former Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede; former Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Yisa Kehinde Yusuff; the former Dean of the Faculty of Education and two-term Chairman of the Committee of Deans, Prof.

Alao Kayode; former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Anthony Enisan Akinlo, among others.

But, the university’s staff unions, led by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) have since kicked against the selection process that midwifed Salami’s appointment, claiming that it was tilted in his favour in order to cover up alleged excesses and infractions of the outgoing vice-chancellor.

Since the announcement was made, the leaderships of the two unions have embarked on persistent protests and demonstrations, grounding academic and

non-academic activities on campus, which has led to the sacking of the university management from office for more than a week now.

Following the protest, the fresh students, who have since resumed into the campus, are said to be experiencing difficulties in their registration and verification exercises as all non-academic workers now resume at the protest grounds at the Senate Building and other strategic locations, where they daily dance and sing to protest against Salami’s appointment.

In an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, the Chairman of the institution’s chapter of NASU, Comrade Wole Odewumi, said the protest was not only against what he described as the lopsidedness in the selection process, but also against the outgoing administration which he tagged as the most corrupt in the annals of the 54-year-old ivory tower.

He accused the Governing Council of flouting the extant laws of the university by the appointment, and that the workers had resolved to continue their opposition against the administration he described as corrupt and anti-workers.

The workers have also approached a Federal High Court siting in Osogbo, Osun State capital, seeking the nullification of the process leading to Salami’s appointment and called for a new process.

But, last Friday, at the resumed hearing of the matter at the court, the Presiding Judge adjourned the case to Wednesday July 6.

NASU chair reiterated: “I can tell you emphatically that Obafemi Awolowo University has no new vice-chancellor for now. By Thursday (this week), we will prove to the world that this university belongs to the workers and students and not any corrupt cabal

anywhere. We will prefer that heaven falls than allow any Salami to resume as the new vice-chancellor because he has not been so appointed.

“We were at the court on Friday, where the counsel to the university in the matter said it loud and clear that the Council has not appointed anyone as the new vicechancellor. So, where the media got the ‘new’ is what is still strange to the NASU.” He, however, agreed that the Governing Council has the capacity to appoint an acting vice-chancellor pending the resolution of the matter before the court, but warned that any member of the outgoing administration including Salami will be fought to a standstill if so appointed.

“We have told the Area Commander in Ile-Ife at a meeting on Saturday, that we will not tolerate any swearing-in ceremony for any new vice-chancellor on Thursday,

L-R: Bursar, Mr. Tayo Hassan, Registrar, Mr. Lewis Akinwunmi Oladapo ,Vice Chancellor, Lagos state University, Prof. ‘Lanre Fagbohun, President, LASU Alumni, Major General Cecil Esekhaighe (Rtd),Chairman, LASU ALUMNI B.O.T, Mr. Sonoiki and the University Librarian, Dr. Adebambo Oduwole immediately after the inauguration of the newly-sworn in executives of the LASU Alumni Association at the Conference Room, Vice Chancellor’s office, Main Campus Ojo, Lagos recently.

McRoyal College shines at spelling bee contest Joy Okorie YABATECH

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he management, staff and pupils of McRoyal College, Obawole, a suburb in the Iju area of Lagos State are still savouring the excellent performance of their school at the National Spelling Bee competition, which took place in Lagos.

The competition in which more than 100 schools across the federation participated at the final round of the competition, which held at the Grange School, Ikeja, Lagos, was said to have begun with the preliminary stage at the Education District level.

The school’s representative at the competition, Mercy Otisi, who had scaled all the hurdles from the district level up to the zonal and the state levels, was crowned the overall first runner-up at the final stage of the competition.

According to the school’s

Principal, Mr. Nasiru Olawale, the success could only be attributed to the school’s commitment to quality education delivery through provision of conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning to thrive.

“The outstanding performance of our school in the competition can simply be attributed to sheer doggedness, dedication and hard work on the part of our students, the teachers and the school management. We give glory to God Almighty for crowning our efforts, even as we are proud to state here that excellence is neither by the physical appearance of a school, nor by its location, but by the quality of the education it offers to the students.”

In a similar development, the Proprietor of the school, Mr. George Feyii expressed delight over the success recorded by the school, describing it as “no mean feat” and encouraged the principal and his team to keep the flag flying.

Mercy (2nd right) displaying her award. With her are, Feyii (left) and other management staff of the school.

Ortom

Ortom assures teachers of regular promotion Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

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f the directive of the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, is anything to go by, teachers in primary and basic school levels in the state will now to be promoted regularly and as at when due.

This was as the governor directed the State Universal Primary Education Board (SUBEB) to conduct and ensure regular promotion of the teachers.

The governor, who gave the directive when the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Michael Alogba-Olukoya, visited him at the Benue People’s House in Makurdi, the state capital, said teachers have played positive roles in the development of education in the country.

Ortom further directed the board to work out other entitlements of teachers such as leave bonus, retirement and pension benefits so that all the emoluments will be paid as soon as the finances of the state improved.

On the payment of death benefits, the governor said the payment would be spread, noting that recruitment of teachers will pose a serious challenge due to paucity of funds.

The governor, who explained that his administration accords primary education top priority, pointed out that apart from the N7.6 billion being jointly spent on primary education by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the state government, another N2 billion is being sourced towards the development of education at the same level.

He allayed the fears of the teachers that the proposed handing over of schools to their owners would not jeopardize education delivery in the state, even as he noted that the government would be painstaking with the report of the committee set up for that purpose in such a way that no stakeholder will suffer unjustly.

He urged the Chairman of the state wing of NLC, Comrade Godwin Anya, to ensure that secondary and primary school teachers’ unions work together for the promotion of peace and harmony in the system.

While expressing regret that teachers were being owed salaries for five months because the state was not financially buoyant, the governor explained that the damage being caused to oil installations in the Niger Delta region by the militant group, Avengers as well as the oil glut have made federal allocation to the state to drop to about N1.3 billion monthly.

He expressed the fears that the situation might worsen if the group should continue with its onslaught, and appealed to teachers in the state to engage in serious farming so that the effects of the oil glut dwindling federal allocation would be reduced.

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education | public discourse

The FG’s free school feeding programme

Atinmo: Good idea if politicians don’t mess it up

Prof. Tola Atinmo is of the Department of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan and President, Federation of African Nutrition Societies

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here is no doubt, the programme if adequately implemented will go a long way in helping our education system through improved enrolment, children nourishment and improved healthcare. But, to be frank, I am afraid this programme does not flop or does not just end up on the pages of newspapers.

Till now, there is little anyone can say about the feeding programme because little or no informa-

tion about its details is in the public glare and it will be wrong for people like us to comment on what we do not know or know very little about. That brings about the issue of those behind the initiative. Who are those advising the government? Are they giving the best advice in terms of the quality of nutrition to be introduced and how could it be perfectly implemented to bring about the intended goal?

The Federal Govern-

ment must know that it does not need to look beyond this country to get specialists who could offer the best expert opinions and guidance, but unfortunately, up till now, not even the association of nutritionists has been contacted by the government.

So, that is why I am afraid some politicians do not just hijack it and mess it up.

Nigeria stands to gain a lot if properly implemented as I said earlier.

Dr. Rafiu Olasunkanmi Isamotu is a Paediatrician and former Special Adviser on Health to Osun State Governor

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and their performances in schools. We must emphasise that it took God’s grace for some of us to perform well academically because I know how difficult it was for us to have access to an egg when we were kids.

But, if a government is willing and ready to take up such a big task, then there is a better chance that several benefits will be recorded. One of them as I mentioned earlier will be brain development which

in turn will simply translate to good performance in schools. Also there will be increase in school enrolment as many kids, who ordinarily would not have attended schools for lack of what to eat, will surely be attracted to schools.

From the experience, we have seen in Osun State how this initiative has affected pupils’ performance and also increased the state’s school enrolment at the lower classes

Bada: Let’s not doubt govt’s sincerity Mr. Oluwole Niyi Bada is a Lagos-based legal practitioner

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will like to appreciate the efforts of the Federal Government towards improved nutritional values of our children, at least at school. There is no gain saying in the fact that there is poor malnutrition among the Nigerian children and any move to enrich their feeding pattern should be a welcomed development.

We should not begin to

Adetoyese Idris Alabi is a chartered accountant, an audit expert and the head of Accounts Department of Core Media

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f truly implemented by the Federal Government, this will be a laudable programme that will constitute a good boost to our troubled national economy. You may ask me how this will happen.

doubt the sincerity of the government about this policy at this planning stage, given the benefit of doubt that every measure should have been put in place to ensure its successful implementation.

But, if our memories should carry us, we should be reminded of the previous experience which offered every reason to doubt the sincerity of the government.

We can refresh our minds to the one introduced by the Kaduna State Government in which we were informed that most pupils after taking their meal leave the schools in droves.

Alabi: It’ll boost national economy The first point is that it will lead to employment opportunity for food vendors and caterers, while farmers will also have ready market for their products.

The exponential effects on the economy will be made possible by the circulation of money among the populace because the cooks and the farmers

The real issue with the OAU VC-designate Jedun Opaloka

Isamotu: Long-term benefits unquantifiable s a paediatrician we are always concerned that our children do not have good and fortified meals to take because this affects brain development.

We must understand that the age of these children is the critical stage when protein-fortified meals have great impact in their development. That is just what marks the difference between the children of the rich and those of the poor,

TUESDAY, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

who would be direct beneficiaries will also have no choice than to use the monies to patronize the markets.

We should also not forget the fact that parents will be more comfortable because they can keep the money for their kids’ breakfasts and only concentrate on their lunch and dinner.

interviews by mojeed alabi

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he appointment of Prof. Ayobami Salami as the new ViceChancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has now brought to an end the earlier suspended selection of a substantive vice-chancellor for a five-year term for the university.

The suspension of the selection process was occasioned by the violent protests by two non-teaching staff unions, the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), condemning the selection process because it was considered as a violation of university statutory provisions governing the selection of a new Vice-Chancellor.

Their claim was that the Governing Council usurped the statutory duty of the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board by shortlisting candidates before the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board was put in place in the first instance.

I have consciously followed the various events and politics that played out around the selection process from the viewpoints of both the candidates and the aggrieved unions through their statements and protests, as well as ASUU interactive forum, and also through comments from senior academic staff members and of course from the grapevine.

From all these, it was evident that the protests arose from lack of awareness and understanding of the current provisions that have made the Governing Council self-regulating with respect to the selection of a Vice-Chancellor. This ignorance then became a veil for aggregating and venting bottled-up displeasure with the out-going Vice-Chancellor, which was then, couched as a manipulation of the selection process to favour that the candidature of Prof. Ayobami Salami. The ignorance of the selection procedure also affected some of the candidates that applied, a situation that caught some of them unaware with respect to networking and establishing rapport with the ‘kingmakers’, that is, the Governing Council members.

They had thought the change of government would affect the composition of the Council, whose membership was inaugurated under the PDP-led government. This informed the persistent call for the dissolution of the current Council and the blackmailing of its members as having being compromised.

Rather than own up to the fact of their ill-preparedness, some of the internal candidates picked up grouse with Professor Salami. Their grouse with him lied in the choice of method he used to campaign for support as against that of other candidates for the office of Vice-Chancellor.

Indeed, I would like to liken the situation to our days of Nelkon and Parker (Physics) or Stone and Cozen (Biology) in the Secondary School WAEC/GCE syllabus. In those days, we always charged students of doing one of three different things in relation to the syllabus scope. Those that passed well were usually described, as having read within the syllabus, while those who did not do so well enough or those who failed as having done over syllabus, below syllabus or

under syllabus. For short, they had read outside the scope of the syllabus.

So far, there have been two syllabuses for those vying for the office of Vice-Chancellor in Nigerian universities. There was the ‘Old Syllabus’ which required that names of only three successful candidates should be sent to the Visitor to the university, who was vested with the power to pick and announce anyone out of the three as the vice-chancellor.

However, in the ‘New Syllabus’ underpinned by the autonomy granted to universities in line with the 2009 ASUU-FG Agreement, Governing Councils of universities have been vested with the responsibility to select and appoint vice-chancellors with a proviso to only notify the Visitor as a matter of courtesy.

In view of the foregoing, therefore, Prof. Salami could be viewed as having read within the New Syllabus, while some of his co-contestants hinged their preparations on the Old Syllabus and therefore fell into the undesirable category of under syllabus.

But, what has enabled Professor Salami to have read within the New Syllabus? The wisdom to do so must have derived from his unassailable, diverse and rich administrative experiences covering more than two decades in the university. Professor Salami was elected to the university Senate from the Congregation in a non-professorial capacity for two terms from 1996 to 2000. For those who usually nurse the ambition of being elected one day to sit at the helms of affairs in a university, the Senate is one of the most crucial training grounds in which members are exposed to the nitty-gritty of decision making and the political maneuverings required in serving the interest of the university community.

From the Congregation at first in 2003, he was also elected to the Governing Council of the university for a maximum of two terms, which ended in 2007. As the highest ruling organ of the university that always oversees the policy direction of the university and the selection of new Vice-Chancellors, the intricacies and subtleties guiding university administration must have further boosted his interest for higher leadership roles in the university.

While he was in the Senate in 1996, Prof. Wale Omole was the Vice-Chancellor. Prof Salami has been part of the transitions from Professor Wale Omole to Professor Roger Makanjuola and then to Prof Mike Faborode. All these selections were done under the Old Syllabus. As a member of the Council then, he participated very actively in the ushering in of the new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Faborode. From 2006, he was appointed Director of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies up till 2010, when he was named a Member of the Governing Council of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo in Ondo State from 2010 to 2014. As an insider and a member of the team that supported Professor Tale Omole as ViceChancellor in 2011, Professor Salami was elected to become the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university, a post he held till date. Professor Tale Omole became the first OAU New Syllabus Vice-Chancellor.

• Jedun Opaloka is a Research Assistant resident at OAU community.

TUESDAY, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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campus

Catholic medical students offer free health care Eddy Uwoghiren UNIBEN

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ome 150 residents of Usen community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State have benefited from a medical outreach and checkup, organised by the University of Benin (UNIBEN) chapter of the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students Association (FECAMDS).

The outreach, according to the President of the association, Raphael Oludele, is a yearly programme instituted by the association as part of its determination to reach out to rural dwellers with the message of Salvation and free health care.

“Many rural dwellers are in the habit of shunning medical checkup owing to the cost and distance of medical facilities to them, hence we have decided to bring the hospital close to the people,” he said.

He added that this year’s outreach medical outreach was unique as it coincided with the annual national health project of the association.

The students, who were said to have departed the Ugbowo

Campus of the university as early as 8am that Sunday, stopped over at the Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Church, where they worshiped with the villagers and flagged off the outreach programme.

As part of the programme, the students delivered several health talks, which include the one on Lassa Fever, which was delivered by Agatha Odaman, a 400-Level Medicine and Surgery undergraduate, who noted that unhygienic condition is mostly responsible for the breeding of the vector that causes the disease.

Towards this end, she enlightened the people on the causes, symptoms and means of preventing the disease, which the student listed to include among others; maintaining of clean environment, keeping foodstuff especially cassava flour or garri in covered containers, as well as visiting health centres whenever they feel any of the symptoms of the disease.

After the talks, a research on “Knowledge, Attitude and Prevention of Lassa Fever among Rural dwellers,” was conducted by the association, while the medical checkup, which began few minutes past noon, howev-

er, lasted four hours.

The people, during the exercise, undertook medical check on blood pressure check, urinalysis and visual screening, general body examination, malaria test for children under five years old, scaling and polishing of teeth, as well as free drug distribution.

Besides, the free mosquito nets donated to the association by the state Ministry of Health, were distributed to the people.

While responding, 58-yearold Otasowie Evelyn praised the students for what she described as the students’ wonderful gesture and encouraged them to take it to neighbouring villages.

On his part, the Reverend Father of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, thanked the students for bringing the medical health care and outreach to the door step of the people, saying that the importance of medical checkup could not be over-emphasised.

The clergyman, however, called on the people to make it a routine to undergo medical screening at regular interval.

He offered prayer to God for the students and encouraged them to be focused in their education in order to become competent medical personnel.

The students attending to some patients during the medical outreach

Akerele receiving some of the equipment from the students

New laboratory equipment for UNIBEN pharmacy faculty Ezekiel Efeobhokhan UNIBEN

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he Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin (UNIBEN) has taken delivery of new laboratory equipment, which aimed at boosting quality training of the students.

Presenting the equipment to the students, the President of Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS), Benjamin Idiakhoa said that the pains the students usually go through while using the laboratories propelled the association to purchase the equipment for the faculty.

The equipment include two binocular microscopes, two monocular microscope, three cartons of porcelain dishes, and four cartons of conical flasks, as well as eight weighing balances and 100 dispensing bottles.

While receiving the equipment, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. John Akerele, however, noted that this would be the first time, such intervention

EKSU alumni offer scholarship to indigent students N o fewer than 50 indigent students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti have benefitted from a scholarship scheme instituted by the Alumni Association of the institution.

The scholarship award, which is aimed at assisting the students in their studies, according to the, National President of the association, Prof.

Matthew Ayeni, is to ensure that the needy among the students were not left in the cold.

In fact, he said the gesture would go a long way in reduc-

ing the financial burden of the beneficiaries, adding that the scheme was part of efforts by the association to ensure that such students are assisted to acquire university education.

Ayeni, who spoke while handing over N10, 000 cheque to each of the students during the second edition of the Alumni Scholarship Scheme cheque presentation ceremony, urged the students to be focused and to develop clear-cut vision about life.

The president, who pledged that the scope of the programme would be widened by

next session, challenged wellmeaning Nigerians to award scholarships to indigent students as part of their contributions towards supporting the cause of the needy in the society and building a veritable future for them.

According to him, selection of beneficiaries of the scheme was “meticulously and painstakingly carried out by the Counseling Unit of the university” with the aim of assisting those who are in dire need of assistance.

Ayeni, however, reiterated the determination of the as-

sociation to partner the ViceChancellor, Prof. Samuel Oye Bandele to collectively move the university forward to attain the expected goal of a world class university.

“God be on our side, we shall continue to give him and his administration and the university in general all our support that is required to achieve this goal,” he noted.

The vice-chancellor, in his remarks, said former students of the institution had been giving immeasurable support to the university, citing one Dr. Seinde Olatunji, a 1989 gradu-

by the students would happen in the faculty.

He said: “It is very hard to find students to be committed to this kind of development needs. I wish all other student leaders could take a cue from this, as such contribution would go a long way in helping to develop the pharmacy profession.”

A lecturer at the Department of Pharmaceutics, Prof. Magnus Iwaugwu, commended the president of the association and the entire student body for what the don described as the proactive step taken by them to lift the faculty.

This was as he added that the equipment would go a long way in helping the department to properly conduct and carry out its practicals with convenience.

Meanwhile, one of the students, a 300-Level undergraduate of the Faculty, Josiah Omoba recalled the difficulty the students have to pass through as they have to wait endlessly to use the microscope in the laboratories.

Prof. Bandele

ate of Geography Department, who donated N300 million worth of ICT equipment to the university.

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education

Samsung, banks pledge N3.7bn loan for schools’ whiteboards Mojeed Alabi

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s part of its school support initiatives, Samsung Electronics has partnered some financial institutions to provide the sum of $100 million, about N3.7 billion in form of loan to educational institutions, willing to acquire its newly introduced electronic whiteboard solutions.

This was disclosed by the company’s Head of IT Business, Mr. Anuoluwapo Agboola, during the unveiling of the whiteboard at the company’s headquarters in Lagos.

On the initiative, Agboola said the world of teaching and learning is fast changing with the adoption of improved infrastructure for the comfort of the teachers and the learners, even as he added that the case of Nigeria could not be different, if the nation is truly committed to the diversification of its economy.

He, however, explained that the loans, which will be strictly meant for the pur-

chase of the whiteboard solution, will be at lower interest rates to encourage average schools to participate in order to ensure mass adoption of the innovation.

The company’s Technical Manager, Mr. Barnabas Olaleye, while displaying the new whiteboard solution, described it as an integrated all-in-one digital solution designed to help schools, government and corporate organisations towards enhanced learning and productivity.

According to him, the solution delivers convenience and compatibility through an upgraded design and enhanced functionality.

Also, the company’s Managing Director, Changwook Lee, said the highly connected interactive whiteboards with unique display solution is effective in such areas as decision-making, business processing, costs and risk reduction, and boosting business performance of workforce, adding that it will help to enhance the teaching environment for schools.

He said: “At Samsung, we

understand the unique challenges that owners face when it comes to selecting and implementing technology. This product was built to address the market’s need for a costeffective, easy-to-manage, professional-grade solution that is better suited for this environment. With Samsung Interactive White Boards, we are giving corporate organisations, schools and the government the power to optimize communication infrastructure to interact better, making meeting rooms and classrooms highly intuitive for use by every individual.”

Available in 65, 75 and 82inch display models, the interactive boards, according to Agboola, features an integrated touch screen, which he noted helps in simplifying content delivery.

“It is also equipped with the Samsung smart signage, pen tray, and touch overlay; a feature that allows for better interaction between the user and the board,” he added, saying: “The touch overlay and the smart signage are embedded as one, making the eBoards less bulky and more convenient to use.”

L-R: Olaleye; Agboola; Director, B2B Display of Samsung, Andre De Meyer; Sowemimo and Ogunde at the event.

Osun leads 2016 Cowbellpedia’s first stage exam Kayode Olanrewaju

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his will be cheering news to the Osun State Government: The state has led the pack in the 2016 Cowbellpedia Mathematics Qualifying Examination, conducted on March 19.

In the results of the first stage examination conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO), the state produced four out of the eight contestants that got the 100 per cent perfect score in both the junior and senior categories of the yearly competition, instituted 20 years ago by Promasidor Nigeria Limited, manufacturers of Cowbell brand of milk.

The students are Ayomide Nafisat of Reality High School, Osogbo; Osagiede Efosa of Obafemi Awolowo International School, Ile-Ife; Ajayi Ayomide and Aromo-

laran Adegoke, both of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesa.

Other students with perfect scores in the examination are Ukpabi Onyedikachi, Britarch Secondary School, Umuahia; Duke Favour, Deeper Life High School, Calabar; Udo Blessing and Daniel Oreofe, both of Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State.

A total of 46,698 students, comprising 24,255 in the junior category and 22,443 in the senior category sat for the qualifying examination in 235 centres across the country.

Out of the figure, 108 students (54 each for junior and senior categories) are to proceed to the second stage of the competition, which is the Television Quiz Show.

The second stage, which will be in a quiz format, will further be sub-divided into the preliminary, semifinals and final stages, while the TV Quiz Show will be serialized

in 13 episodes to be air on major television stations across the country.

The Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olivier Thiry, who acknowledged the support

by NECO, state ministries of education, school principals, teachers, the press and other partner agencies for the initiative over the years.

He, however, explained that the company has significantly increased the prize money for the finals for both students and teachers, saying this year, the top prize winners in each category will go home with N1 million in addition to other prizes, while the teacher will receive N400,000.

The first and the second runners-up will go home with N750, 000 and N500, 000 respectively, while plaques, mathematics textbooks and a desktop computer will be presented to the winners.

TUESDAY, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

EDUPEACE

with Mahfouz A. Adedimeji (08066372516, sms only)  Dr Adedimeji is a Senior Lecturer and Director, Centre

for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin

World peace from within

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weeklong workshop on “Teaching Peace in the 21st Century” for peace educators and educator interested in peace studies across the world was organised by the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA, in conjunction with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) last week.

At the beginning of that “Summer Institute for Faculty,” as it was branded, last Monday (June 13, 2016), the lead facilitator and Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame, George A. Lopez, gave all participants a seemingly simple question.

Everyone was given a piece of paper to write a few points on how to achieve world peace.

I took my pen and quickly wrote that we could achieve world peace by: a) entrenching social justice b) ending the occupation of other lands c) respecting diversity d) resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict e) promoting unity, not uniformity f) creating employment opportunities and g) stopping the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. That was where I got when the next stage of the task was to commence.

The next stage was that everyone was to form a team of four or five members across countries and discuss the various solutions individually proffered so that each group would be able to synthesise the points. I found it intriguing that members of my group had divergent approaches to achieving world peace, from the purely theoretical to the plainly otiose. I had a feeling that some people are so blessed that they had not experienced what would make them understand the enormity of the suffering that defines the human condition in many parts of the world.

Though we eventually agreed on four, I felt those who did not experience the privation of war and the pains of conflict would not a have deeper knowledge of the issue at stake. It was akin to to having a bachelor pontificate on marriage. Knowledge would actually derive more from experience in such a case. It was interesting that at least a group could not even agree on what peace is, so members argued front and back until they ended up submitting nothing.

It showed that some people are so much used to ease and peace that they don’t even know what peace is.

At the end of the discussions that day, I reached two conclusions. One, achieving world peace in the strict sense of is will remain a tall dream for a long time to come because

...Those that should work for world peace profit immensely from war

the world leaders are chichidodo. In his critically-acclaimed novel, “The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born” (1968), Ayi Kwei Armah tells us what chicidodo is: “Ah, you know, the chichidodo is a bird. The chichidodo hates excrement with all its soul. But the chichidodo only feeds on maggots, and you know the maggots grow best inside the lavatory. This is the chichidodo,” Armah wrote.

In other words, those that should work for world peace profit immensely from war.

Gone were the days that weapons were produced to fight wars. Wars are produced in our world in order to sell weapons.

The same thing applies to how diseases are manufactured to sell drugs.

Two, one can create a peaceful world within oneself if one is committed to it. In other words, world peace would be localised within oneself or internalised if one tries to be maintain the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would like them do to you. This further means that one will experience peace within one’s world if one undertakes always the FourWay-Test developed by Herbert Taylor, which has been adopted by the Rotary Club and the Ghanaian judicial system.

This Four-Way-Test, consisting of 24 words, is that every action that would take should be taken after satisfactorily answering the questions: “1.

Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

Ultimately, as Mahatma Ghandi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Even if the world is riddled with violence, you own world can be of abundant peace if you manifest and exude the beauty, the compassion, the character and honesty that elude the world around you.

You thereby make peace with the world and make smiles and omelet from the lime and eggs respectively thrown at you.

BUSINESS |Money Line

tuESDAY, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

37

FG announces new debt management strategy POLICY Nigeria’s public debt portfolio is dominated by domestic debt

T

he Federal Government has unveiled a new debt management strategy to run from 2016 – 2019 with a marginal increase in external borrowing, increased commitment to capital projects execution and long as against short term borrowing.

Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, revealed the three-year debt management strategy at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday.

According to Nwankwo, the new Debt Management Strategy approved by the Federal Executive Council last Wednesday, is aimed at economy recovery and diversification.

The DMO boss explained that the focus of the new initiative is to develop a debt management strategy that would ensure that in the face of macroeconomic and other financial constraints, the cost and risk profile of the public debt portfolio remains within acceptable limit over time.

He reiterated that the new debt management strategy is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision to generate maximum employment, reduce poverty and increase the living

standard of Nigerians.

Dr. Nwankwo further stated that for this to be effectively achieved, the government is making positive efforts in diversifying the economy as against the backdrop of structural collapse in oil prices and oil revenue.

“The Debt Management Strategy we are going to pursue over the next four years takes into account the fact that for now Nigeria’s public debt portfolio is dominated by domestic debt.

“After the Paris and London Club exits between 2004 and 2006, the country took a deliberate decision to develop its domestic bond market and to do most of the public borrowing from domestic sources so as to develop the domestic bond market, that objective has been sufficiently achieved.

“And therefore taking into account that external financing sources are on the average cheaper than domestic sources, it becomes more necessary to slant more of the borrowing in favour of external sources.

“Therefore one of the major elements of this strategy is that over the medium term, we will strive to remix the public debt portfolio from 84 per cent domestic and 16 per cent external to 60 per cent domestic and 40 per cent external.

“In addition taking into account other factors, the fact that over the next four years public borrowing proceeds will be devoted to capital expenditure an element of the strategy

is to ensure that we remix the current status of about 31 per cent short-term and 69 per cent long-term to a maximum of short-term 25 per cent and the minimum of long-term 75 per cent.

“So we are remixing between external and domestic and we are also remixing within the domestic, between short and long-term.”

Justifying the decision to remix in favour of external debt, he said the country will be able to achieve cheaper cost of funds, lower debt servicing and avoid the risk of crowding out the private sector from accessing the domestic market, adding that the private sector is still expected to play the lead role to compliment government’s effort.

While dismissing concerns on government’s decision to focus on external borrowing in a country currently facing foreign exchange constraints and harsh macroeconomic environment, he stressed that the new strategy is the best for the Nigerian economy as the government is currently making sustained efforts on diversifying the economy.

He noted that in the next 5-7 years, export proceeds accrued to the economy will increase and the exchange rate will be favourable.

“One of the questions that will naturally arise and which many of you have asked us, has to do with the challenge of foreign exchange constraints,”

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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 15.6 12 10.77 US$47.61 US$26,445,433,756

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 May, 2016 23/03/2016 Mar 2015 20/6/2016 17/6/2016

Source:CBN

Description 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.50 22-JAN-2026 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

FGN Bonds

TTM

Price 104.54 114.58 111.91 120.62 109.79 100.32 83.54 97.16

1.06 3.23 3.86 5.81 7.94 9.80 14.30 18.29

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.2500 8.2420 10.1127 11.7162

Bid Yield 10.45 10.54 11.61 11.43 12.23 12.43 12.49 12.54

Change (%) -0.21 ▼ -0.87 ▼ -0.90 ▼ -0.66 ▼

Change (%) 0.07 ▲ -0.01 ▼ 0.01 ▲ -0.01 ▼ -0.04 ▼ 0.04 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.06 ▲

Price 104.69 114.88 112.21 120.92 110.09 100.62 83.84 97.46

Tenor (Months)

Change (%) 0.07 ▲ -0.01 ▼ 0.01 ▲ -0.01 ▼ -0.04 ▼ 0.04 ▲ 0.05 ▲ 0.06 ▲

NITTY

Rate (%) 5.1731 6.4137 7.3300 8.8857 9.6247 10.5416

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 10.30 10.44 11.52 11.36 12.18 12.38 12.44 12.50

Change (%) -1.82 ▼ -0.82 ▼ -0.75 ▼ -0.32 ▼ 0.04 ▲ 0.04 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 7.34 7.47 -0.35 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 3.75 30-Jun-16 7.59 7.73 -0.35 ▼ 6-Oct-16 8.37 8.12 8.47 -0.24 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 4.25 8.74 -0.24 ▼ 16-Mar-17 9.40 10.32 0.04 ▲ 9.15 10.02 0.04 ▲

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.14

FX

Offer 199.24

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016 Spot($/N)

196.00

197.00

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) -0.08 ▼ -0.08 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

Nwankwo said.

“At this point in time our exchange rate is not very favourable and our reserves are not as buoyant as they used to be and people are raising the question while would you go for external borrowing when you have foreign exchange constraints.

“However, a closer look at the issue shows that the strategy the government has chosen is still the optimum strategy and the secret to arriving at that conclusion is simply to differentiate between a short-term static situation and a long-term dynamic situation.

“Of course if we are simply focused on the challenges we have currently there will be undue concerns about our ability to service external debt, however, if you take into account that everything we are doing now are for the purpose of diversifying our economy in a sustained manner, so that in the next 5-7 years we will be exporting a variety of processed and primary products.

“We have all it takes in terms of variety of opportunities in agriculture and in solid mineral for example.

“The efforts being made by the government and private sector is to ensure that many of the products we now import will be provided locally, such as rice, sugar, flower, wheat, fruit juice, we can produce in abundance to satisfy our domestic needs and also have surplus to export.

“Then you will appreciate that in the next 5-7 years with Nigerians working hard and in a focused manner there is no doubt that our exchange rate should be more favourable as the years go by and our reserve will be more buoyant.

“So thinking in term of medium to long-term is a strategy is about right, because we are not bugged down by our current decision, rather we are inspired by where we must be.”

Nwankwo was upbeat that in the next few years there will be significant improvement in employment generation, poverty reduction and living standard of the people, adding that as part of the new strategy, the DMO will develop new products particularly the federal government saving bond and also diversify the sources of raising funds domestically.

ABCON seeks forex primary dealership licence

T

he Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to grant it one out of the Forex Primary Dealership (FXPD) licences to be issued by the apex bank.

ABCON President, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, who disclosed the group’s position at the weekend, said as a major and critical stakeholder in the forex business, it will be against standard business practice to exclude Bureaux de change (BDC) operators from the workings of the new CBN forex policy.

He said such licence would enable BDC operators access Diaspora remittances estimated at $21 billion annually thereby deepening dollar li-

quidity in the system.

ABCON is also asking the CBN to grant it self-regulatory status that would enable it monitor and supervise its members’ compliance with the extant regulatory requirement on the new forex regime.

He said there are about 3,000 BDCs under the ABCON umbrella, and that granting one out of the about 10 FXPD licences to the group, would be in the interest of the financial system and economy.

The FXPDs qualified lenders are registered authorized dealers designated to deal with the CBN on large trade sizes on a two-way quote basis.

They will serve as the bulk traders dealing directly with the CBN on forex matters.

Sterling Bank partners LCCI

S

terling Bank will tomorrow (Wednesday) co-sponsor the inauguration of the Medical, Pharmaceutical and Allied Services Group by the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Dr. (Mrs.) Nike Akande.

The LCCI Director General, Mr. Muda Yusuf, in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos said, “The idea of forming a health group is to have a more vibrant and focused advocacy on issues of health and related sectors; empower the Chamber to contribute to Government policies in the health sector from the point of view of private sector players; contribute to improving health

services in Nigeria such that capital flight through medical tourism will be reduced and protect indigenous businesses in the health sector from the influx of fake medical products from abroad”.

Mr. Yusuf, according to the statement, stated that the membership of the group will include Pharmaceutical Companies, Private Hospitals, Laboratories, Medical Equipment dealers, Health Maintenance Organisations and all other services related to the health sector.

He added that the Group will collaborate on a need basis with local and foreign institutions to achieve its legitimate objectives.

38

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

tuESDAY, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

tuESDAY, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

CAUTIOUS Sell pressure dominated market activities, as forex dealers were nervous about foreign exchange liquidity under the new policy

Stories by Chris Ugwu

T

rading activities on the floor of the Nigerian stock market yesterday ended downswing with a loss of N163 billion following the forex uncertainty

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

Stock market down by N163bn on forex concerns and concerns about the supply channels to the market and its effectiveness.

The bearish trend was recorded despite a 2016 high of N10.07 trillion, which saw investors gaining N760 billion as a result of the new foreign exchange policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

There are speculations among market waters that stocks may drop further if

IEI reports N710m loss in FY2015

I

nter national Energ y Insurance (IEI) Plc posted a loss after tax of N710.009 million for the full year ended December 31, 2015.

Key extracts of the accounts statement for the full year released to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) showed drop in growths in key performance indices, damping strong performance outlook of the insurance firm.

IEI recorded a loss after tax of tax of N710.009 million during the 2013 full year from a loss position of N2.164 billion in 2014.

Loss before tax stood at N698.383 million during the period under review from loss of N1.871 billion in 2014.

Gross premium written was down by 20 per cent from N4.830 billion in 2014 to N3.847 billion in 2015.

The Interim Board appointed by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to oversee the affairs of International Energy Insurance had embarked on reforms to take the firm to lofty heights.

The major task of the

39

board was to ascertain the vital areas of operations of the organisation that required immediate intervention and review to reposition the firm. Such critical areas were; corporate governance issues, investment policies, prompt payment of claims, products, human resources, cost management, sales growth etc.

As part of its corporate restructuring exercise undertaken to improve organisational efficiency, productivity and competitiveness, policies were put in place, including a revamping of human resources, which has necessitated a right-sizing of the work force.

The Interim Managing Director, Peter Irene, had said that 50 staff and 34 drivers were affected by the exercise would be given a special exit package.

“The brand pulse at the moment portends very positive signs of growth, now and in the future. We have addressed squarely, all issues bordering on the late submission of Annual Financial Statements,” he said.

forex supply to the market do not meet the demands by industry players, confirming experts worries about the sustainability of the new forex policy.

Consequently, the AllShare Index shed 477.37 basis points or 1.63 per cent to close at 28,769.90 index points, as against 29,247.27 recorded the previous day, while market capitalisation of equities depreciated by N163 billion or 1.63 per cent to close lower.

Meanwhile, a turnover of 416.6 million shares in 4,684 deals was recorded in the day’s trading.

The banking sub-sector of the financial services sector

was the most active (measured by turnover volume) with 195.7 million shares exchanged by investors in 1,080 deals.

Volume in the sub-sector was largely driven by activities in the shares of UBA Plc and Diamond Bank Plc. Also, premium sub-sector, boosted by the activities in the shares of FBNH Plc and Zenith Bank followed with a turnover of 105.3 million shares in 1080 deals.

The number of gainers at the close of trading session was 17, while decliners closed at 33.

Further analysis of the day’s trading showed that

Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc topped the gainers’ table with 8.89 per cent to close at 98 kobo per share, while Law Union and Rock Insurance Plc followed with eight per cent to close at 54 kobo per share and Champion Breweries Plc with a gain of 7.25 per cent to close at N3.70 per share.

On the flip side, ETI Plc and Nigerian Breweries Plc led the losers’ chart with a drop of five per cent each to close at N16.15 and N141.42 per share respectively. Nacho Plc trailed with a loss of 4.96 per cent to close at N4.02 per share, while PZ Cussons Plc dropped by 4.91 per cent to close at N21.11 per share.

Nigerian spot FX 2-way quote market goes live

F

ollowing the release of the revised Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines for the operation of the Nigerian Inter-Bank Foreign Exchange (FX) Market, the twoway quote (2-WQ) inter-bank FX Market yesterday went live on the platform of FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange (FMDQ), with the CBN’s Authorised Dealers (ADs).

This according to a statement from FMDQ, set the pace for a market-driven trading window through the FMDQ Thomson Reuters Foreign Exchange Trading System (the System).

The Guidelines, which set out a single and autonomous inter-bank FX market structure for the nation, support the CBN’s desire to enhance efficiency and facilitate a liquid and transparent Nigerian FX market.

The CBN according to the statement, will perform its role as a market intervention participant, in line with global

standards, while market forces are left to determine demand and supply dynamics of the market. CBN FX Primary Dealers have also been introduced to help facilitate the CBN’s market interventionist role.

Through the FMDQ Thomson Reuters FX Trading System, a dealing solution for the FX trading value chain (ADs, Authorised Buyers, International Oil Companies, Oil Servicing Companies, Exporters, End-Users etc.), towards providing an enhanced user experience, improved market access and ultimately, credibility in the nation’s FX market, will be provided.

The CBN Authorised Dealers (as well as the FX Primary Dealers (FXPDs) according to the statement, shall buy and sell FX among themselves on a two-way quote basis via the system, trade with the CBN, and will also offer oneway quotes (bid or offer) on requests-to-quote to other Authorised participants (Corpo-

rates, End-Users etc.).

According to Vice President & Divisional Head, Marketing & Business Development, FMDQ, Tumi Sekoni, the inter-bank 2-WQ FX market will, through the concerted efforts of the over-the-counter (OTC) Exchange and all market participants, serve to endear an even greater investor confidence in the Nigerian FX market.

“With its potential to drive transparency and liquidity, FMDQ, through the system, is adequately equipped to provide a complete and consolidated marketplace for FX trading and reporting, offering market participants and regulators a robust and flexible set of tools to support the full trade workflow. The reforming of the 2-WQ inter-bank FX market brings about a lot of promise for the resuscitation of the Nigerian FX market and by extension the development of the nation’s economy,” Sekoni said.

40

News|south-west

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Hijab crisis: South-West CAN relocates to Osun Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

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sun State Gover nor, Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday said neither his government nor himself has ordered the use of Hijab by female Muslim students in public schools in the state.

Aregbesola spoke yesterday at a roundtable on Development Collaborative Framework for Education Development and Advancement, organised by the Development and Advancement in Western Nigeria (DAWN) in Osogbo.

He challenged those who accused him of ordering the use of Hijab

by Muslims to bring concrete evidence to sub-

stantiate their claims.

This was just as the Christian Association of Nigeria, South-West zone, said it was relocating to Osogbo, the state capital, tomorrow to monitor the situation and iron out crucial issues concerning the crisis trailing the court verdict on the use of hijab in the state.

The state chapter of the body, at the weekend, warned the state government against taking any decision that would amount to expelling its members who wore choir robes to schools as their Muslim counterparts did last week.

But Aregbesola has challenged those accusing him of plunging the state into crisis to present a video or voice

recording or written speech, showing where he commanded or ordered female Muslim students to wear Hijab on their uniform.

He said all programmes introduced into the state’s education rebranding programme are the resolutions that came out of the education summit organised by his administration shortly after coming into office.

The governor noted that the resolution of the summit, headed by Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, never considered nor recommended any religion.

Speaking on education in the South-West, the governor said the downward trend in education should be worrisome due to the role of education in de-

velopment and in bringing enlightenment to the human mind, platform for leadership recruitment and the means for character building and good citizenship.

Meanwhile, the state CAN Chairman, Pastor Elisha Ogundiya, who warned against expelling students who attend school in their choir robes, said if the administration goes ahead to expel the students, it means it has drawn a battle line between the body and the state government.

New Telegraph gathered yesterday that the government has started compiling names of those who wore choir robes from the Christian circle alone to schools for expulsion as the governor earlier threatened.

APC to Fayose: Ekiti workers are dying Sulaiman Salawudeen Ado-Ekiti

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State yesterday urged Governor Ayodele Fayose to halt the trend of untimely death among workers in the state by paying their five months’ salaries and allowances.

The plea came on the heels of the purported death of six workers in the state, who were said to have fallen ill but were unable to settle their hospital bills.

APC in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said “misinforming the public on the state’s debts profile to justify the non-payment of salaries for five months is a callous conduct by the governor, who brands himself the

friend of the workers.”

According to the party, the purported death of the workers would have been avoided if the governor had made the welfare of workers a priority of his administration as promised during his campaign.

Olatunbosun accused the governor of using “misinformation and deceit to manipulate the people,” adding that all the points raised in his allegations against former Governor Kayode Fayemi were not new.

He said: “We have read time and again all the allegations the governor raised through his media aide and we have not found any merit that can mitigate the feeling among Ekiti people that Governor Fayose has a clear agenda to enrich himself while Ekiti people suffer.”

Synagogue church ignores request for documents on collapsed building – Witness John Chikezie Akeem Nafiu

A Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi (right), addressing a cross section of crowd, during a solidarity rally in support of Ajimobi in Ibadan… yesterday

Traders, artisans, students’ union, others rally support for Ajimobi

T

he city of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday became the cynosure of all eyes as traders, artisans, students’ union bodies and other professionals converged on the ancient Mapo Hall, Ibadan, to stage a peaceful rally in support of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration in the state.

The solidarity train, which comprised of over hundred groups, took off from Mapo Hall, through Beere, Oje, Gate and finally ended the peaceful rally at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat,

58

The number of refugees and people in refugee-like situation assisted by UNHCR in Nepal at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

$21m

The pay of Cesc Fabregas of Real Madrid in 2016.

Source: Goal.com

Ibadan.

While addressing the crowd, Ajimobi lauded the commitment and maturity with which the rally was organised, pointing out that the leaders of the various groups displayed sincerity of purpose and a high sense of maturity.

Ajimobi said the rally reflected government’s honesty and sincerity on various issues that came up for discussion at the recently held stakeholders’ meeting.

He said: “I want to appreciate the commitment and maturity of each of

the groups present here today. In fact, it was a reflection of honesty and sincerity of purpose, openness and transparency.

“This rally is in support of our democratic commitment to the people of the state and the promise we made when we assumed the mantle of leadership for the second time. Democracy is about discussion, consultation and all of us must participate in it because there is no other way out than to ensure the continued progress and development of our state

and the country at large.

“Dialogue is the potent weapon in any dispute and that is what I have been advocating.

It’s good to jaw-jaw instead of to war-war, the governor said.

Speaking on the proposed education policy in the state, Ajimobi reaffirmed that his administration has no plan to sell any of the secondary schools in the state, adding that it was a misconception and misinformation by some enemies of government that the government was planning to sell its schools.

The governor, who was Mimiko canvasses restructuringspeaking in Akure, the Ondo State capital, after as panacea to nation’s woes his trip to Chattam House

Babatope Okeowo Akure

O

ndo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday took a critical look at the state of the polity and canvassed a restructuring of the political

system as the only panacea to the myriad of problems bedeviling the country.

Also, Mimiko warned against what he described as the activities of centrifugal forces aimed at stalling the nation’s development.

in United Kingdom (UK) to deliver a lecture on his health policy, said the nation is currently faced with serious political and economic challenges.

The governor noted that there are some forces at play with the intention to derail the country.

witness in the ongoing trial of the two engineers indicted over the collapse of a six-storey building within the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Dr. Olusegun Oyenuga, yesterday told Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, of an Ikeja High Court that the church failed to respond to a request for documents on the collapsed building at the start of an enquiry into the incident.

Oyenuga, a civil engineer, made this revelation while being cross-examined by the defence lawyer, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

“The Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), sent a letter to Synagogue Church to furnish it with some documents that would aid investigation

into the collapsed building, but we did not receive any response from the church,” he said.

Oyenuga, who claimed to be an ex-President of the Nigerian Institute of Structural Engineers, disclosed further that the nine-man investigative committee that visited the site of the building collapse was put together by COREN in conjunction with the Nigerian Buildings and Roads Research Institute (NIBRRI).

“The investigative committee consisted of nine people, but there was no geophysists in the committee, he said.

Oyenuga, however, admitted that he neither had the knowledge of who delivered the letter of request from COREN to SCOAN, nor did he have an acknowledgement copy of the letter.

CP, senior officers restrategise over militants’ invasion Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

O

gun State Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali and senior officers of his command yesterday met to restrategise over the emerging threat of militancy in the state.

The meeting, held at the state command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, had in attendance Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers, among others.

This came as no fewer than 25 newly promoted Superintendent of Police, including the state

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, were decorated by the commissioner.

Ali, who spoke against the backdrop of Friday’s invasion of Imushin community in Ogijo area of Ogun State, said the police would unmask those behind the crime.

The attack, which was allegedly carried out by suspected Niger Delta militants, reportedly left 15 people dead and property destroyed.

The police commissioner said the command has the profile of the perpetrators and would soon arrest them.

News|SOUTH-EAST

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

No election in Arochukwu, Isikwuato, witnesses tell tribunal Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

A

witness to the petitioner at the Abia State election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia over Abia North rerun petition, yesterday, told the tribunal that there was no election in parts of Arochukwu and Isuikwuato during the March 5, 2016 rerun election.

The witness, Onyekachi Daniel Okereke, told the tribunal that agents of the 1st respondent, Mao Ohuabunwa, chased away the voters and thumb printed the ballot papers which were stuffed into the ballot boxes.

Ohuabunwa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the re-

run hails from Arochukwu but the witnesses, Okereke, from Amuvi village and Emmanuel Sunday from Obinkita Village both in Arochukwu, disclosed that there was neither accreditation nor voting because “thugs did not allow the people to exercise their franchise.”

According to Okereke, “Though, I ran away from the polling centre for fear of attack but I still watched what they were doing from a distance.”

Giving their testimonies yesterday at the tribunal, five witnesses including Nwachukwu Henry Bobby, Ifeanyi Martins Oluaka, Emmanuel Sunday and Onyekachi Ijoma, who served as the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA)

ward agents, affirmed that there was no election or accreditation in their areas of supervision.

They told the tribunal that reports from all over the wards during the election showed that Ohuabunwa’s agents were all over the place intimidating and harassing voters especially, PPA agents and supporters.

Earlier, the forensic expert, who was expected to mount the witness box could not do so because his testimony was opposed by counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) on the ground that his office was only served on Saturday and it was not possible to get in touch with INEC

to confirm what was contained in the service.

Counsel to the petitioner, Kelvin Nwufo (SAN) had also opposed the 1st respondent’s counsel’s, Mike Onyeka’s objection to the testimony of the forensic expert on the ground that it was served at their Umuahia office, whereas the lead counsel was based in Aba. He argued that it was the personal problem of the respondent’s chamber if it didn’t receive the service and not the concern of the tribunal, a position the tribunal agreed with.

INEC, which is 2nd to 9th respondents sought adjournment to confer with whoever that was in charge of documents that were brought to the tribunal by the forensic expert.

41

Empowerment: Irish govt offers training on palm oil farming Kenneth Ofoma Enugu

T

he government of Ireland, through its embassy in Nigeria has inaugurated a vocational training centre and palm oil mill for the people of Ugbaike community in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State in an initiative to empower the people.

The embassy said it was part of empowerment programmes of the Irish Government to rural communities in Nigeria.

Apart from the oil palm oil extracting machines, training, the vocational training centre was also equipped with sewing and hair dressing machines worth millions of naira for the training of people on the two vocations.

The projects were fa-

cilitated by the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) Africa and funded by the Irish Embassy in Nigeria.

Speaking during the inauguration of the projects, the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sean Hoy, stated that the embassy which he said was established in Nigeria in 1960, was delighted to support projects that adds value to the lives of communities in Nigeria.

The Irish Ambassador, who was represented by the Charge D’Affairs at the embassy, Mr. Eoghan McSwiney, stated that his country had embarked on similar projects in many other states in Nigeria.

Also in his remark, the Regional Director, CBN Africa, Dr. Felix Oisamoje stated they his organization was motivated by the need to help people.

Enugu DISCO, SEOF boost education in S’East Charles Onyekwere ENUGU

A L-R: Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano; 30-year-old Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mark Okoye and his wife, Phillipa, during his swearing-in in Awka…yesterday

Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

M

inister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has approved the rehabilitation of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Federal highway in phases.

This followed the representation of photographs and video clips of the collapsed

Fashola approves Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road rehabilitation

portions of the road to the Minister by the member representing Ikwuano/ Umuahia Federal constituency, Chief Sam Onuigbo.

Briefing newsmen on the development, Onuigbo said the attention given to the road was as a result of the collaborative effort with the

Senator representing Abia Central, Senator Theodore Orji.

According to him, the road was strategic owing to its use by heavy haulage vehicles, especially from the cement factories in Calabar Cross River State and oil drilling companies in Akwa

Imo Assembly seeks FG’s intervention as erosion sacks communities M

embers of the Imo State House of Assembly have called on the Federal Government to come to the aid of the people of Ozuomee Urualla in Ideato North Local Government Area of the state to arrest the incidence of erosion threatening the communities before it was too late.

The lawmakers made the plea during a visit

to a recent gully erosion site that submerged farmlands and cut off a major road in Ozuomee Urualla community.

The lawmaker, representing Ideato North, Hon. Arthur Egwim, said that the menace of gully erosion in the area had become a daily occurrence that had continued to sack communities and famers from their farmlands.

He said: “Most communities in this area have been abandoned since everybody now live in fear of being submerged by this natural disaster.”

Egwim pointed out that the state government alone cannot handle the magnitude of damage already done by the gully erosion.

He said the state

Ibom State.

He said that in the acknowledgement letter from the Minister, palliative work would commence immediately to make the road motorable, adding that full rehabilitation would commence in 2017 with solid pavement technology.

would need the assistance and intervention of the Federal Government through the appropriate agencies to ensure that life was restored to the community.

N1.45bn

The total revenue of 2015 Government Quarterly Actually Collection from Stamp Duty for the 2015 Q4.

Source: Firs.gov.ng

$40bn The net worth of Michael Bloomberg in 2016.

Source: Forbes.com

He explained that through the effort of himself and Orji, the palliative work was included in the 2016 budget which he said the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) would undertake in line with the approval of the Minister.

Onuigbo appealed to users of the road to be patient as they would have to contend with the inconvenience of the rehabilitation and flooding.

“The effort of Senator Orji and myself has yielded positive result because the money for the palliative rehabilitation is included in the budget.

“I was able to take photographs of the road which I showed to the Minister of Works; he also made commitment that after the palliative work this year full rehabilitation and reconstruction of the road will commence in 2017.”

s part of its Corporate Social Responsibility to South-East geo political zone, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC),in partnership with Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF),a non-governmental organization, at the weekend donated books and computers worth million of dollars to 15 tertiary institutions and 30 secondary schools across the South- East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. The benefiting schools made up of three tertiary institutions and six secondary schools from each of the states were nominated by their respective state governments.

In his welcome address, the Coordinator, SEOF, Hon.Tony Obi, commended EEDC in partnering the Foundation to drive its objective of development of the education sector, which he said the Foundation had been involved with across across the country over the years.

He said that the gesture

by EEDC was a worthwhile venture for the prosperity of the society.

Obi stressed that the books and other educational materials donated must be used for the purpose it was meant and charged the benefiting schools to ensure that their libraries were functional, as a monitoring team would pay unscheduled visits to the schools to monitor and ascertain the use for which the books and materials were being put.

42 News|south-south Cajetan Mmuta Edo guber poll over with BENIN ess than 48 hours Ize-Iyamu’s after the All Proemergence gressives Congress candidate in –Oshiomhole the June(APC) 18 governorship

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Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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overnor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State said yesterday that with the emergence of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, the September 10 governorship election is already won by Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

Oshiomhole stated this yesterday when he met with some delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state at the campaign office of Obaseki in Benin, the state capital.

He said while the APC will be busy campaigning based on merit, IzeIyamu will be running from the EFCC cell to the campaign ground then to the court room as a result of his past ordeal in the state.

Oshiomhole described Obaseki as a brainbox and everything that led to the success of his government, assuring the people that he would be outstanding in terms of governance to the state.

Oshiomhole thanked party leaders and supporters for their support during the primary and asserted that the September 10 election was already won by the APC.

primaries in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, was declared winner of the exercise, two of the aspirants who participated the process, yesterday, rejected the results declared by Chairman of the electoral committee, Hon. Aminu Masari.

Messrs. Kenneth Imasuangbon and Chris Ogiemwonyi, at an enlarged press conference in which they deployed one Okoh Chukwuka John, claimed that

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ogiemwoyi, Imansuagbon reject Edo APC’s primaries the process was rigged in favour of Obaseki in con-

N536.47bn The amount of the market State and Municipal bonds of Nigeria as of December 31, 2015.

Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

32.61%

The percentage by which the total bonds market capitalization of the NSE rose from Jan. 2015 – Dec. 2015) Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

nivance with the state government as well as forces loyal to the state Government House, Benin City.

John, who did not specifically explain his profession, said he carried what most persons at the conference described as a voodoo exercise and a political gimmick, burning of plain sheets of paper and using the ash to scratch the face of another and the appearance of disjointed figures, which he claimed was the name of Obaseki, that was

BENIN

D

elegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State yesterday elected Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the candidate of the party ahead of the September 10 governorship election in the state.

In a keenly contested governorship primaries held in Benin, the state capital, amidst tight security, and free, fair and credible process, Pastor Ize-Iyamu polled a total of 584 votes cast by 713 accredited delegates to be declared the candidate of the party.

He beat two other op-

Tony Anichebe UYO

A

kwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, has charged the leadership and members of the Independent Newspaper Publishers Association (INPA) to rise up and join in the development process of the state as championed by Governor

papers used for the conduct of the primaries which, according to him, was printed locally.

It would be recalled that Barrister Kenneth Imasuangbon scored 247 votes while Engr. Chris Ogiemwonyi polled 137 votes out of 2582 delegates that were accredited to cast their votes for the 12 governorship aspirants, who contested in the race held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Saturday June 18, 2016, in Benin City.

L-R: Leader, Inec Mediator, Rev. Cannon Chris Eke; Resident Electoral Commissioner, Inec Rivers State, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak and Representative of Commissioner of Police, Rivers, Mr Anache Abubakar, during a peace talk with all political parties in Rivers State …yesterday.

Ize-Iyamu emerges Edo PDP guber candidate Cajetan Mmuta

being pronounced by the committee members who announced the result of the primaries.

He alleged that the conduct and announcement of the governorship committee, which entered late in the night (from Saturday to Sunday morning) was a secret plot to bamboozle the delegates to pave the way for the results in favour of candidate of the party.

Ogiemwonyi accused the Masari-led committee of deploying cloned ballot

ponents in the primaries held at the indoor sports complex of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in the ancient town.

Others who contested alongside Ize-Iyamu, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), included Hon. Matthew Iduoyekemwen who came second with 91 votes while Chief Solomon Edebiri polled 38 votes.

There were no invalid votes during the peaceful process supervised by chairman of the electoral committee and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, as the chief returning officer of the election.

Pastor Ize-Iyamu’s emergence as PDP governorship

candidate has finally set the stage for the mother of all battles ahead of the September 10 governorship race between him, his party and Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his APC in the Heart Beat state in the South-South geo political zone of the country.

The PDP governors at a meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital few months back had vowed to take Edo State from the ruling APC, a declaration the ruling party in Edo State dismissed as a mere pronouncement that cannot stand the test of time.

Hordes of policemen deployed from the state and neighbouring states, DSS, and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense

Corps (NSCDC) were on ground to provide security in addition to soldiers who were stationed about one hundred meters away from the venue of the exercise.

The delegates were called out in orderly manner to cast their votes according to the 18 local government areas, hierarchy and positions within the party including members of the SEC of the party, National and state assembly members.

Earlier in the day the 713 delegates drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state were accredited by the electoral officials at popular Okada house, Emporium hotel and PDP secretariat, all in the state capital.

Akwa Ibom warns against libellous publications Udom Emmanuel.

Addressing the leadership of the association in Uyo, the commissioner urged the publishers to abide by the Dakkada philosophy which emphasises a rise to unity and togetherness and against biases and ethnicity, gender and all the things that divide us.

According to him, “criti-

cism is not bad and the Akwa Ibom State government under Mr. Udom Emmanuel is not against it. It is important in every society and there is no government that will not accept criticism, but it must not translate to insults.”

It does not also translate to disrespect to authority and leadership must be respected.

“If something is wrong, let us say so, if there is a problem in a particular place that requires attention, we should say so, government was put in place to solve problems. This is where the media comes; it should highlight such problem without insulting the leadership. When insult is introduced into a report the original message is lost.”

A’Ibom groans under huge pension bills

T

he Akwa Ibom government says it is facing huge financial burden as pensions of retirees in the state civil service keep increasing monthly.

The State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akan Okon, said this on yesterday in Uyo while speaking with newsmen in his office.

The commissioner noted that following the lean financial situation in the state, modalities were being worked out to revive the earlier suspended Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in the state.

Okon said that the reintroduction of CPS would guarantee sustainable pension administration.

He said that the state government had already constituted a committee to draw up efficient structural framework for the smooth implementation of CPS in the state public service.

He regretted that Akwa Ibom was the only state in the country not implementing the Pension Reform Act of 2014.

The commissioner ex-

plained that under the Act, provisions were made for states and local governments to adopt the contributory pension scheme.

He said that recent development with regards to inadequate funds affecting all states in the country had made it imperative to adopt the contributory pension scheme in the state.

Okon maintained that the CPS would guarantee better future for pensioners as it would facilitate quick payment of retirement benefits.

The commissioner lamented that payment of terminal benefits had been a major challenge to pensioners in the country as some had waited for years to get their entitlements, adding that apart from forestalling misappropriation of pension funds, CPS would relieve the state government of huge outstanding pension liabilities.

He, therefore, appealed to workers in the state employ to embrace the scheme as soon as it is reintroduced.

north | news

tuesday, june 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kano Assembly calls for Accountant-General’s sack

Muhammad Kabir KANO

T

he Kano State House of Assembly yesterday called for the immediate removal of the Accountant-General of the state, Danjuma Mahmoud Yankatsari for allegedly operating secret accounts without the knowledge of the state government.

The other sins of the embattled AccountantGeneral, according to the Assembly, was that he was not qualified to hold such exalted position.

New Telegraph gathered that AccountantGeneral is the last person standing as a high profile officer inherited by the administration of Governor Ganduje from the Musa Kwankwaso-led government.

The Assembly, which was not happy with attitude of the AccountantGeneral for disregarding several invitations to appear by the Assembly to explain a number of financial dealings made by his office, recalled that the House through its Chairman, House Standing Committee on Finance,

Habu Zakari, had sent over 10 requests seeking information on one thing or the other, but which the Accountant-General has always turned down.

The lawmakers said the only one information that Danjuma was able to respond to only succeeded in exposing his incompetency and as not being a qualified accountant general.

Ortom: I am finding it difficult to run govt in Benue Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

B

enue State Governor, Samuel Ortom yesterday declared that he is increasingly finding it difficult to run the government due to lack of funds to address the

Jos

F

ormer Governor of Plateau State and Senator, representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, Senator Jonah David Jang, has cautioned Governor Simon Lalong against probing his administration.

The governor, according to Jang, set up a probe committee to investigate the purchase and distribution of vehicles on loan to members of the public during his administration, which was aimed at tackling poverty in the state.

The former governor, in statement signed by his Media Aide, Mr. Clinton Garuba and which was made available to journal-

Zacchaeus Ozovehe Lokoja

T

he newly inaugurated administrators of the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state have blamed Senator Dino Melaye and Hon. James Faleke for being the architects of the incessant crises rocking the party in the state.

dress them.

According to the governor, what is disturbing him mostly is the looting of the state treasury by the previous administration, led by Gabriel Suwam, a situation, which he said prompted him to set up the Justice Kpojime-led panel that indicted the last admin-

L-R: Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Ahmed Aliyu; Governor Aminu Tambuwal and Secretary to the Sokoto State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, during the Muslim breaking of fast (Iftar) with Sokoto traders and religious scholars at the Government House, Sokoto…at the weekend.

Jang: Probe of my administration diversionary Musa Pam

immediate needs of the people of the state.

Ortom disclosed this during a town hall meeting with the people of Sankera constituency at Katsina-Ala, where he told the people about the challenges confronting his administration and sought their views and support on how to ad-

ists in Jos, the state capital, said that “it is obvious that Governor Lalong’s probe of the purchase of the vehicles is only but a diversionary tactics and deliberate plan to turn the people’s attention away from the real issues in the state.

"We call on Governor Lalong to take a step further by denouncing the grazing policy and tender apology to the good people of Plateau State for attempting to mortgage their future," the statement said.

The statement further said: "Coming on the heels of the flagrant display of political naivity by the Simon Lalong-led APC administration in Plateau State, it is obvious that it is only but a diversionary

tactics and deliberate plan to turn the Plateau people’s attention away from the burning issues. After spending the last one year searching for perceived wrong doings of the last administration, which was aimed at bringing the hard earned reputation of Senator Jang into disrepute, Governor Lalong and his handlers should by now realise that the last administration did its best in delivering the dividends democracy to the people following laid down procedures meticulously.

“Senator Jang advised Governor Lalong to live up to the expectations of the people and reciprocate the goodwill which it enjoyed as it prepares to give way for a more virile government in 2019."

nor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

He alleged further that both Senator Melaye and Hon. Faleke recently held a meeting with members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state House of Assembly with a view to making the state ungovernable for the governor.

istration of looting over N107 billion.

He lamented that the civil servants and Local Government Council workers in the state are presently being owed five months salaries arrears, stressing that though he had received the bailout funds from the Federal Government to pay the workers, the government is still grappling with problem depleting finances as the state’s Internally Generated Revenue which stands at N500 million per month is grossly inadequate to support the federal allocation to the state.

On the conduct of the forthcoming local government election, Ortom said the BSIEC had proposed over N1.5 billion, but which had been slashed to N850 million.

Towards this end, the governor tasked the people on the need to engage in proper consultation devoid of violence in ensuring that credible candidates, who are accepted by the people, are elected.

IFAD, Benue farmers sign MoU to boost rice production Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

T

he International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, Olam Group of Companies and Rice Farmers Association in Benue State, yesterday signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost rice production in the state.

The Vice President of Olam, Mr. Reji George, disclosed this during the flagging-off of the distribution of inputs to rice farmers by Olam under the auspices of the IFAD-Value Chain Development Programme at

4

The total number of goals scored by Spain at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

Tse-Terzar in Guma Local Government Area of the state.

Under the agreement, George explained that Olam, as the off takers, would provide rice farmers under the IFADVCDP in the state with inputs and technical assistance after which the company would buy off the rice after harvest.

He stated that it would be a huge investment on the part of the company, stressing that the company was looking at a projection of about N1billion, even as it commended the Federal Government for providing the platform, which would go a long way in boosting rice production in the country.

On his part, the State Project Coordinate of IFAD-VCDP, Mr. Emmanuel Igbaukum, applauded Olam for the partnership, saying that Benue State

ALGON: Faleke, Melaye Fear grips workers as Nasarawa responsible for Kogi APC crises fails to meet bailout conditions

The spokesman for the group and Administrator of Ijumu Local Government Council, Taufiq Isa, while addressing journalists yesterday, noted that they have at their disposal, credible intelligence linking the two lawmakers to the plot to incite the youths of the state against the gover-

43

Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

I

ndications have emerged that the financial crisis currently plaguing Nasarawa State may not be over soon.

This was as investigations revealed that the state could not meet conditions

for the proposed bailout funds being offered to states by the Federal Government.

The Federal Government, recently proposed N90 billion bailout funds to the states of the federation with some stringent conditions to enable states attend to their financial obligations, and especially the workers’ salary.

was the first under the programme to embark on dry season rice farming which was already being harvested.

He announced that the programme had already availed several youths in the state opportunities to embrace agriculture as means of livelihood, adding that the company was working hard to meet the target of its off takers.

In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. James Anbua, who was represented by a Director in the ministry, Mr. James Kerr, lauded Olam for the investment and intervention in the programme.

Anbua noted that the programme is all about encouraging farmers to boost food production and to ensure that everyone on the value chain did not record or suffer losses.

The state government, last year, received a total of N8.9 billion of the first phase of the Federal Government’s bailout funds to settle arrears of salary owed its civil servants.

But investigations have revealed that the state may not assess the current bail out due mainly to the failure of the state government to meet some conditions for the loans, especially for not being able to publish its statement of accounts within the specified period.

44

WORLD \ NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

US citizen charged with sexual assault for keeping 12 girls in house

P

olice in the US state of Pennsylvania have discovered 12 girls in residence of a man, who was later accused of sexually assaulting one teenager among the girls, local media

reported yesterday.

Police searched the home of 51-year-old Lee Kaplan after a neighbour called the authorities in growing concern about the weirdness of the house. It said that Kaplan

was found living with 12 girls from six months to 18 years.

The 18-year-old told police that she and Kaplan had a 3 year-old and six month-old baby.

The police said that the

teenager being sexually assaulted was given to Kaplan by her parents when she was 14 after the man helped solve a financial crisis of the family.

They said officials are

working to verify where the other children were from.

Report says Kaplan faces charges including sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and aggravated indecent assault.

Uganda witness for Muslim clerics' murder 'castrated'

A Protesters from the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) teachers’ union clash with riot police officers during a protest against President Enrique Pena Nieto's education reform in Oaxaca City, Mexico.

Six killed in Mexico as teachers, police clash

S

ix people have been killed in southern Mexico in clashes between protesting teachers and police. More than 100 other people, including many police officers, were injured.

The incident took place in the state of Oaxaca, where two high-profile union leaders were arrested last week, accused of corruption. Members of the CNTE union, which has a history of radical activism, have been blocking roads in southern Mexico ever since the union leaders were arrested.

The authorities said the police were trying to clear the roads when unknown gunmen began firing at both sides in order to create chaos and conflict.

Mexico's National Security Commission originally said in a statement that the police officers involved in the operation near the town of Nochixtlan were not carrying guns. But federal police chief Enrique Galindo later said that an armed unit was deployed after shots were fired at the police and the protesters by "unidentified people" not linked to the demonstration.

The state-owned oil company, Pemex, warned on Friday that it might be forced to close a refinery in the area if the highway linking Oaxaca to the capital, Mexico City, remained blocked.

The dissident CNTE union opposes education reforms introduced by President Enrique Pena Nieto in 2013. The changes include new measures to assess teachers' performance. Union

members say the corruption allegations against their leaders are politically motivated.

Ruben Nunez was accused of siphoning off money raised illegally from union members.

Prosecutors also accused him of money laundering. "He raised more than 24m pesos ($1.3m; £900,000) illegally between 2013 and 2015," said prosecutor Gilberto Higuera.

For two years the union demanded a 3.5 percent cut of purchases made by unionised members from some businesses in Oaxaca, according to Mr. Higuera. The money was taken from the education workers' payslips, which prosecutors say was controlled by the union. Mr. Nunez's deputy, Francisco Villalobos, was arrested for allegedly stealing textbooks.

witness in a trial over a spate of murders of Muslim clerics in Uganda was "beaten and castrated" because he agreed to testify, prosecutors say. The defence argued those on trial could not have been responsible for the attack as they were in jail.

The judge adjourned the trial, which opened yesterday, to give more time to protect witnesses. One woman and 31 men are on trial, including a cleric from the Tabliq sect.

The prosecution did not give any further details about the alleged attack on the witness but did say a court case had started on Friday. The spate of killings included the head of Uganda's Shia community, Sheikh Abdu

Kadir Muwaya, who was shot dead Christmas Day 2014 in Uganda's capital Kampala.

Three days later Sheikh Mustafa Bahiga, a leader of the Tabliq sect was also shot dead.

Sheikh Muhammad Younus Kamoga was one of the Tabliq sect's leaders in Uganda at the time of his arrest. The BBC's Patience Atuhaire reports from the High Court that the defence said police took the suspects out of jail and forced them to give information against each other.

Our correspondent adds that Judge Ezekiel Muhanguzi ruled that no suspects should be taken out of jail anymore and if police and other agents want access to them, it should be in the presence of their lawyers. The case is set to resume on 18 July.

France's first Shakespearean-style theatre vandalised

F

rance's first ever Shakespearean Globe-style theatre has been vandalised a week before its official opening. Slogans including "Irresponsible Politicians Shame" were spray-painted in orange over the theatre's all-wood exterior, south of Calais.

The theatre's British architect Andrew Todd said it was an act of "politically-motivated desecration" by the far right.

Critics argue that the theatre is a waste of money. Other slogans daubed on its exterior as well on walls in the neighbouring Chateau d'Hardelot included "Wart" and "The Debt".

"This was not the act of a bunch of teenage malcontents;

it was a well-organised, adult, carefully-executed stunt relaying through violence the messages expressed already in the political sphere by the extreme right," said Mr. Todd.

Situated about 30 miles (48 km) south of Calais, the Elizabethan-era theatre was commissioned by the Socialist-run Pasde-Calais department at a cost of around €6m ($6.8m; £4.6m).

It is due to be inaugurated with a series of performances next weekend.

But it has drawn criticism from opponents of the local government, who say it is an elitist waste of money. The far-right National Front has some of its highest scores in the region around Calais.

Congo declares yellow fever epidemic, 1,000 suspected cases Afghan lawmakers approve

D

emocratic Republic of Congo declared a yellow fever epidemic in three provinces including the capital Kinshasa yesterday after confirming 67 cases of the disease, with another 1,000 suspected cases being monitored.

Health Minister Felix Kabange said seven of the proven cases were autochthonous, while 58 were imported from Angola, where the outbreak began. A further two cases came from remote forested areas not linked to the current outbreak. Five people in total have died, Kabange added.

"I declare today a localized epidemic of yellow fever in the provinces of Kinshasa, Kongo Central and Kwango," Kabange told a news conference. Kinshasa is the main concern for global healthcare officials, because it has

a densely packed population of more than 12 million and poor health infrastructure.

Yellow fever is transmitted by the same mosquitoes that spread the Zika and dengue viruses, although it is a much more serious disease. The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients.

The global stockpile of yellow fever vaccines has already been depleted twice this year to immunize people in Angola, Uganda and Congo. It currently stands at 6 million doses but this may not be enough if there are simultaneous outbreaks in multiple highly populated areas. Almost 18 million doses have been distributed for emergency vaccination campaigns so far in the three African countries.

The current method for making vaccines, using

chicken eggs, takes a year.

World Health Organisation advisers have recommended using a fifth of the standard dose of yellow fever vaccine in the event of a global shortage; enough to immunize temporarily but not to give lifelong immunity. Manufacturers of the vaccine include the Institut Pasteur, government factories in Brazil and Russia and French drugmaker Sanofi.

Congo's outbreak, since January, comes at a time when political tensions linked to an upcoming presidential election and an economic crisis caused by a commodity slump is already putting a huge strain on the country's stability.

President Joseph Kabila is facing opposition, which has sometimes turned violent, amid concerns that he will try to cling to power beyond the expiry of his mandate at the end of this year.

defence, intelligence chiefs

T

he Afghan parliament approved President Ashraf Ghani's choices for defense minister and intelligence chief yesterday, ensuring continuity in command at time when the Taliban insurgency has intensified and more US troops are preparing to go home.

Parliament approved General Abdullah Khan Habibi as new defense minister, to replace Masoom Stanekzai, who will now head Afghanistan's intelligence agency, the National Directorate for Security (NDS). Their confirmation comes ahead of a NATO summit next month in Warsaw, where Afghanistan and the future role of international coalition forces are expected to be a major issue.

"There is ongoing fighting in almost 20 provinces of the country and the fighting strategy can-

not be administrated by caretakers," Farhad Sediqi, a member of parliament from Kabul, said as the lawmakers gave their assent to Ghani's choices.

The president had nominated Habibi and Stanekzai a little over a month ago, and the speed of their confirmation stood in contrast to the factional wrangling that followed Stanekzai's nomination as defense minister in the wake of the 2014 election.

At that time, lawmakers failed to confirm his appointment for well over a year as rival factions vied for greater influence in the unity government formed Ghani and government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah after the disputed election. The risky situation in Afghanistan has forced US President Barack Obama to consider altering plans to halve the 9,800-strong US force in the country by the start of next year.

45

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NT heads for SA

Sport Adekunle Salami

N

igeria’s tennis legend, Nduka Odizor, has condemned the poor preparation of the country’s athletes for the forthcoming Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Athletes are currently confused about training tour for the games while some are yet to start any form of preparation for the big competition.

The athletics are lucky that the African Championship is taking place this week which will serve as a good preparation but six other sports expected to be in Brazil are not busy.

The initial plan of having the athletes spend about eight weeks on training tour abroad is currently hanging due to the financial situation at the ministry of sports.

Odizor however stated that this trend had been a vicious circle that the country experiences not only for the Olympics but also other multi-sports events like the All Africa Games and

The Africa Senior Athletics Championship will start on Wednesday in Durban, South Africa.

New Telegraph’s CHARLES OGUNDIYA is on his way to the venue of the event to serve you, dear readers, a blow-by-blow account of happenings at the big event.

Charles Ogundiya Reporting live

June 22-26

Odizor condemns poor Rio Olympics preparations

Says sponsors turn back on sports due to corruption

the Commonwealth Games.

The tennis great who remains the only Nigerian to feature at the last 16 stage of a Grand Slam event said somebody must stop the bad trend.

“This problem every four years but it happens more often than you know.

All Africa Games and Commonwealth Games suffer similar problem but it is more magnified towards the Olympics.

That is going to continue from now till eternity, unless there is a national law that if anybody should withhold mon-

ey, that person should be jailed.

“It is a bad trend because in the past, when you release the money too soon, the administrators find ways to embezzle it. Then it ends up happening that you throw away the baby with the bath water by releasing that money too late and then they actually don’t benefit from it. It’s like a vicious cycle. Somebody has to stop the cycle.”

On why sponsors are not embracing sports like before Odizor said this was

due to corruption.

“I spoke to some of the sponsors in the past and they explained that when they give money up to like N40m for a tournament and less than 20 percent of that is going as prize money while the other 80 percent will be divided by the administrators.

After two years of sponsorship, they stop because people are not being honest. That is the overall complain about tennis sponsorship and other sports,” he noted.

EURO FIXTURES N.Ireland

vs

Germany 5pm

Ukraine

vs

Poland

5pm

Croatia

vs

Spain

8pm

Czech

vs

Turkey

8pm

James (left)

LeBron James inspires Cavaliers comeback to win NBA title 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

C

leveland Cavaliers became the first team to overturn a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven NBA finals as they beat Golden State Warriors.

A LeBron James-inspired Cavaliers won the deciding game 93-89 to complete their comeback against the defending champions, who had won a record 73 games out of 82 in the regular season.

James scored 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds to help Cleveland to their first NBA title.

“I gave it everything I had,” he said.

“I poured my heart, my blood, my sweat and my

James smiling with NBA title.

tears into this game.”

Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue, who replaced the fired David Blatt in January, said: “We made history tonight.

Cleveland, Ohio, we’re coming back, baby!”

Kyrie Irving scored 26

points for the Cavaliers, including a three-pointer with 52 seconds remaining when the scores were locked at 89-89.

Cleveland’s historic comeback was completed against the best regular season team in history.

Led by Steph Curry, the Warriors had set a new record by winning 73 games, beating the mark set by Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls side in 1995-96.

Cleveland’s success also ended the city’s 52-year wait for a major sporting title.

Their last significant success was an NFL crown for the Cleveland Browns in 1964.

The gap between victo-

ries represented the longest barren spell for any US city.

James was named Most Valuable Player of the finals for the third time.

He also won the award in 2012 and 2013 while helping Miami Heat to the title.

Following Sunday’s victory, James, who ended his four-year spell with Miami to return to his home-town side in 2014. said: “I’ve had a goal for two years since I came back to bring a championship to the city.

“I can’t wait to get off that plane, hold that trophy up and see all our fans at the terminal. To continue to be an inspiration to our city, it means everything.”

Iheancho doubtful for Rio Olympics

46 Page

46

SPORT NEWS

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Iheanacho doubtful for Rio Olympics Norwagian club frees Troost-Ekong for U-23 Eagles Emmanuel Tobi

S

uper Eagles striker, Kelechi Iheanacho’s chances of featuring for Nigeria U-23 Eagles at the Rio 2016 Olympics seems slim as Manchester City new coach, Pep Guardiola, has summoned all players to resume for preseason camping.

The 19-year-old striker under the tutelage of former manager Manuel Pellegrini had a great season with Manchester City last term scoring 11 goals and he is keen to play for Nigeria at the

Olympics but the change of guard at his club is threatening the earlier agreement that club had with the U-23 Eagles coach, Samson Siasia.

But with Guardiola coming in as the new City manager, the youngster may need to prove himself all over again and it remains unclear if he will be released to join the Nigerian squad.

Meanwhile, Norwegian club FK Haugesund, has granted permission for Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong to represent the country at

the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Initially, the club management was reluctant to release their skipper to the Nigeria Football Federation since the competition is not in the calendar for international matches approved by FIFA. But after several discussions with the player, his management team and the club, an agreement has now been reached, and he will train with the squad in the United States before their departure to Brazil.

CAF Champions League:

Pinnick wants Enyimba to retain focus

Iheancho (left)

Charles Ogundiya

Ugboaja Foundation invests in future stars Charles Ogundiya

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resident of Basketball Players Association of Nigeria, Ejike Ugboaja, has declared his intention to give back to the society by investing in the future of young and talented basketball players in the country.

The former D’Tigers forward made this declaration during the 10th anniversary of the Ejike Ugboaja Foundation at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

“I really want to see to the growth of basketball in the country and much more the welfare of the players,” he said.

“I want to make sure their career is on sound footing and as

well giving them a glorious opportunity to also further their studies. I see education as a necessity hence my decision to broker scholarship opportunities for young basketball and american football players.”

The former Cleveland Cavaliers, USA player revealed that about 12 universities in America were already in partnership with his foundation.

“Ugboaja Foundation is already in partnership with George Town University, University of Miami, Syracu University, University of Southern California, University of Georgia, Alabama University among others in the United States.”

CJN sports competition to boost business in Kogi – Ayoade Zacchaeus Ozovehe LOKOJA

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ecretary to Kogi State Government, Mrs Folashade Ayoade, has stated that hosting of Chief Justice Of Nigeria Sports Competition by the state will have positive effects on the growth of business activities in the state.

Inaugurating the 10-man Local Organising Committee in Lokoja on behalf of Governor Yahaya Bello on Monday, Ayoade assured that the state government would host a hitchfree competition slated for July 4 to 12, 2016.

The committee has the state commissioner for Youth and Sports, Comrade Arome Adoji, as chair man.

Other members of the committee are, Eseyin Adeola, Kingsley Fanwo, M. Omapariola, A. Abubakar, Coach Sunday Daku, Memeyin Olatunji, Ogazuma David, Mrs Catherine Obalola and Maximilian Tashilani.

Responding on behalf of members, the chairman of the committee, Adoji, thanked the state government for giving them the opportunity to serve in that capacity and promised that they would deliver on the assignment.

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resident of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has charged players and officials of Enyimba FC not to drop their heads or lose focus following Sunday’s CAF Champions League defeat by visiting Egyptian side, Zamalek FC. Nigeria’s flag –bearers in Africa’s most prestigious club competition fell by a lone goal against the Egyptians, who scored through Bassem Morsy in the first half at a waterlogged Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

“What matters is not the beginning, but how well you cope along the way and how strongly you finish. Nothing is lost. You are not nicknamed ‘People’s Elephant’ for nothing. I remember that it was not all smooth –sailing in the group stage when you won the trophy for Nigeria for the first time in 2003, and even when you went ahead to retain it the following year.

“Your spirit matters, and I know that

you do not lack the winning mentality.

The important thing now is to forget the loss to Zamalek and re –strategise, and believe you would not only top your group at the end, but go ahead to win the CAF Champions League trophy,” the NFF President said.

The Nigerian representatives next face Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in Pretoria, in a competition that rewards winners of every match with $10,000 and pays $1,000 for every goal scored.

Pinnick

Cameroon, Ghana, others for Ochei Wheelchair Basketball Olusegun Giwa

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asketball teams from Cameroon, Benin Republic, Ghana, Togo, have confirmed their participation for the 5th edition of the Sir Victor Ochei Inter national Wheelchair Basketball Championship billed for October 3rd to 8th in Lagos.

Bukola Olopade,

President, Wheelchair Basketball Federation of Nigeria, while speaking with New Telegraph, said the sponsor of the competition, former speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Sir Victor Ochei, was still committed to sports development.

He also commended Frank Momoh of Fort Group for his support to the association and

the game of wheelchair basketball in the country.

“The board will like to express our appreciation to Sir Ochei for his continued sponsorship of the championship after leaving office as the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly which showed that his love for the game goes beyond spending government money for sponsorship” Olopade said.

Sam Ocheho/InnJoo handball:

D-Defenders, Grasshoppers emerge champions

Emmanuel Tobi

I

t was a battle of titans at the weekend as D-Defenders of Abuja dethroned defending champions, Lagos Seasiders, 23-22 to win the male category of the third edition of the Sam Ocheho/InnJoo Invitational Handball Championships at the Lagos State Sports Commission Complex, Yaba.

With the victory, D-Defenders finished the competition

with 17 points from five wins and one draw while Seasiders came second with 16 points from five wins and a loss. ASPAC of Benin Republic were third in the category with 14 points after winning four matches and losing two.

In the female category, Imo Grasshoppers of Owerri won after finishing with 21 points from seven wins ahead of ASPAC of Benin female team that had 17 points from five wins and two

losses. The Flowers, also from Benin Republic, came third with 15 points from four wins and two losses.

Winners in each category were given N500,000 each while the runner-ups got N300,000 and the thirdplaced teams got N250,000. The Most Valuable Players in each category – Nura Mohammed of Rima of Sokoto and Udochukwu Ohakwe of Grasshoppers – were given mobile telephones from the sponsors, InnJoo.

President of African Handball Federation, Dr. Mansourou Aremo (left), and organiser of the 3rd Sam Ocheho/InnJoo Handball Championship, Sam Ocheho, presenting the women’s trophy to Imo Grasshoppers’ captain in Lagos on Saturday.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Otu, Babalola cruise in CBN Tennis Open Tribute : The Big Boss I knew

Ajibade Olusesan

Also victorious was John Otu that out-stroked Christopher Itodo 7-6.6-1 while the match between Sani Adamu and Onyedika ended 6-0, 6-2 in favour of the former.

Imeh Joseph defeated Aliyu Idris 6-0, 6-2 while Chinedu Uwangu beat Micheal Osawa 6-7, 6-4, 6-2. Edwin Christopher accounted for Christian Paul’s ouster while Bulus Christopher was also victorious by sending Sikiru Ismaila packing.

In the women singles category, top seed Christy Agugbom defeated Folarin Akosile 6-0, 6-0.

With a total of 10 players coming from the qualifiers to make men’s singles chat and four getting wild cards to enter the main draws, actions will continue today at the tennis courts of the National Stadium, Lagos.

In one of the matches, the pair of Otu and Adamu will face Essien Etim and Monday Igbinovia in the men’s doubles event while Anu Aiyegbusi and Aminat Quadri will be up against Ronke Akingbade and Blessing Anuma in the women’s category.

Only two women were given wild card to play while eight made the main chart from the qualifiers.

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homas Otu, began the defence of the Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Tennis tournament on a bright note when he defeated Etim Ekanem 6-4,6-1 in one of the men’s singles matches played yesterday while Abdulmumuni Babalola beat Ikakah Emmanuel 6-2,6-1.

Otu

Nigerian swimmers shine in Senegal

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igerian swimmers placed third at the just concluded CANA Zone Two Swimming Championship after winning overall of 35 medals in the competition that took place in Senegal.

The host county, Senegal, placed first while Mali, Nigeria, Cote d’ Ivoire and Burkina Faso followed in that order.

At the end of the three-day championship, Team Nigeria won 10 gold, 12 Silver and 13 bronze medals for a total of 35.

Nigeria’s female swimmers won more than 75 percent of the total female medals, which earned them the best female team award.

Ifeakchukwu Nmor, who won the 50m butterfly, received an award for the best performance (male), while Team Nigeria mixed medley relay is the record holder of the 4 x 100m.

Every member of the Nigerian team won at least a medal each, which saw the Swimmers on every medals table of each event.

NFF frees Giwa FC players for other clubs

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he Nigeria Football Federation has given provisional clearance to all players of erstwhile NPFL club, Giwa FC of Jos to join other clubs.

In a letter to the Chairman of League Management Company, signed by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi on Monday, the soccer body wrote: “Based on the LMC’s expulsion of the club from the Premier League and the NFF ratification of the same measure and with special reference to article 14 and 23 of the FIFA regulations on the status and transfer of players, all players of Giwa FC as pronounced by the LMC and the NFF Disciplinary Committee are free to provi-

sionally register for any club of their choice till the end of the 2015/2016 football season.

“All the players are to return to the management of Giwa FC after the last match of the 2015/2016 League Season.”

Former Giwa FC keeper, Ojo Olorunleke

Team Nigeria departs for South Africa Charles Ogundiya

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he country’s athletes to the CAA 20th African Senior Championship in Durban, South Africa, on Monday night departed for the tournament.

New Tele graph gathered that the home-based athletes were expected to meet

up with some of the foreign-based ones who had earlier arrived the host country on Sunday.

At least six athletes that included Divine Oduduru, Kelechi Nwanaga, Omolara Omotosho were onboard the South Africa Air alongside the president of the Athletic Federation of Ni-

geria, Solomon Ogba, the Technical Director of the federation, Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, and coach Gabriel Okon.

According to a source, other officials will be joining the team on Tuesday (today), for the championship scheduled to start on Wednesday June 22.

Andrew Iro Okungbowa

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ednesday June 8 started on a good note. After the family prayers and some domestic chores here and there, I got ready to take our five years old boy to school. This was around 7.30am only to be stopped on my track by my wife’s question: Is Coach Stephen Keshi dead?

I stopped and turned to her and said: ‘No, where did you hear that from? Then she replied and said that she just read the post on the facebook wall of one of my cousins, Nelson, a footballer plying his trade in South Africa, where he posted thus: ‘Adieu to The Big Boss, my mentor and coach.’

My countenance fell and I was wondering how true this could be because the news had not broken in any of our news media during the night.

My encounter with Keshi dates back to the 1980s when he lived in Benin City and played for the defunct New Nigeria Bank Football Club.

I guessed the only team then that dare rivalled Insurance, as is otherwise known was Arbico Football Club but NNB’s debut and later Flash Flamigoes Football Club too, changed the complexion of the game and heightened the level of competition and rivalry between the teams and their fans as well.

The Big Boss was one of these players alongside the likes of Bright Omokaro, Monday Eguavoen (The senior brother of Coach Augustine Eguavoen), Ozogula, Humphrey Edobor and Augustine Igbiniobaro. These were great youthful talents with accomplished artistry and delivered great joy to their fans on the field of play.

They were all amazing and fantastic players but Keshi stood out and was quite distinguishable with a unique style of play and character.

A great defender that we all emulated his astuteness and playing style then as Keshi was the lord of defence and the field, encompassing and straddling the field like a colossal in his unique roaring and sprinting style as if he had spring on his feet.

We admired Keshi then for many of his unique styles of play and one of them that we all loved to imitate was the way he throws the ball. Whenever his team won a throw in, he would caress the ball, wrapping it round his jersey, takes a few steps back and then charged to the touchline and with the ball over his head and then released it, a long throw into the opponent’s box for his players to contest.

Keshi was also very good at taking free kicks and he had long shots like what late Earnest Okonkwo would call ballistic missiles.

The era of Keshi at NNB was also the era when sports and the game of football were rich and ennobling art in the then Bendel State and this writer happened to be part of the players then that took part in youth football, graduating into academicals and played till two or three hundred levels in the university (University of Benin) but had to give up the game due to nagging kneel injury that one of the doctors at the university’s health centre said required an operation.

Once played for All Stars and later Black Stars then and Salvation Army Primary School now Izevbigie Primary School, was our home ground. I recalled with nostalgic feeling how Keshi used to come around with the likes of Omokaro to watch us play.

Whenever he came around especially during our Sunday evening games, with many of the professional footballers playing for Insurance and NNB, he would join to knock the play around with us and then gave us pep talks, inspiring and encour-

aging us and telling us our weakness and strength and how we could use both to overcome our opponents.

This was something that Keshi was quite good at. He had an overwhelming and respectable personality and used it to the fullest, not just to his benefit alone but to the benefit of the common good.

During his days at NNB, they made derby games between NNB and Insurance a mustwatch. Every football lover and fans of both teams made great sacrifices to see their live games.

I recalled that as a secondary school student in boarding house (Edokpolor Grammar School), every match day with some friends we would quietly escaped from the school through a hole we made in a section of the school’s fence.

Whenever it was risky to use this route, which we dubbed the junior student’s route, we would take to the route behind the girls’ hostel, which was dubbed the seniors’ route and God forbid that you are caught by any of them especially the likes of Ikpoba and Sam Amadi, you would pay with some of your provisions on your return from Ogbe Stadium.

This tradition and love for the game and seeing the rivalries between these two great teams ever to be produced in the state, continued to our university days. For example, Dr. Reuben Abati taught me in my year two during his NYSC days. There was this Saturday that he decided to fix his class and it happened to be a match day between Insurance and NNB. We, students who were fans of both teams pleaded with him to no avail. But you can trust that nothing would stop us as we decided to ‘stab’ the class and went for the game. For whatever strange reason, none of the male students attended the class.

Realising that we dared him, Abati conducted a test and failed all of us that were absent.

We made these sacrifices and took risk because Late Keshi we wanted to be part of history and watch our idols, Keshi, as one of them, entertain with great skills and mastery of football and also to learn and improve on our games.

Keshi will ever live in our memories as a great footballer, idol and also a pathfinder that was so selfless. It was him and few of his co-travellers then that were suspended by the Nigeria football authority, who later found their way to neighbouring Cote D’ Ivoire that opened the floodgate for the avalanche of professional footballers that this country ever produced in its heydays.

As Eagles coach, he was exceptional, right from when he first came on the scene as Shaibu Amodu’s assistant to his two missionary sojourns culminating in his winning the Africa Nations Cup in 2013. He remains the most successful coach aside Clemens Westehof and Jo Bonfere.

What a metaphoric way to end it for Keshi, choosing to have his final breath in Benin City, the city that gave him fame and riches. What a kindred spirit and soul that he had proved to be.

Okhia Owie (Goodnight) ‘Big Bros.’

END NOTE We may never know why Amodu, who also shared almost the same history with Keshi decided to bid us all farewell three days after Keshi left us. What a life! One hopes the country would give the both of them befitting goodnight.

On Marble Sometimes I wonder if men and

women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then.

Clem Aguiyi

Sanctity of Truth

Thoughts on Obama’s African legacy

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

–Katherine Hepburn

TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 2016

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Public arena T he column you write

Buhari presidency and the national question Brady Chijioke Nwosu

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king that transformed a jungle to a city will forever be remembered, at the same time, a king that turned a city into jungle forever would not be forgotten.

The way things are going, it is obvious that many nations are likely to emerge from Nigeria. When the histories of such nations that were hitherto Nigeria would be written, one name that would be scrolled in bold prints is President Muhammadu Buhari for presiding and writing the epitaph of one's country.

In this vein, “There was a country”, the last book of late literary icon, Prof Chinua Achebe becomes prophetic.

When in early 2000, it was alleged that the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had predicted that Nigeria would fragment in 2015, there was palpable tension in the country especially in the face of the general election that generated so much acrimony and hatred and the country was polarized along ethnic and religious divides. The election came and passed, many heaved sighs of relief, believing the worst was over.

True to their thoughts, the worst could have been over if the winner of the election, President Buhari was interested in the unity of the country. He could have embarked on reconciliation and unification across the country so that the grievances and disappointment that attended the election would be forgotten. Instead, he started to position people from one section of the country and equally started promoting his religion, while he saw the rest as conquered people, who should not impugn his authority even in a democracy.

How can somebody be pissing on your head and be telling you that it is raining?

Events in the last one year gave rise to the frenzy of self determination by various ethnic groups. Before it was only MASSOB in the South-East and right now more groups have sprung in the region all working in synergy towards self determination.

Then, like a joke, another uprising is going on in the Niger Delta region.

It started with Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), and now many other groups have come out working in the same direction for self- determination. They are holding the nation to its jugular and their persisted attacks on oil facilities have reduced the nation’s crude oil export from 2.2 million barrels to about 1.2 million.

The reason is that Buhari saw the SouthEast and the South-South as conquered people. He has been accused of having an agenda to Islamise the country and his actions and body language lay credence to such fears.

In his disappointing May 29 broadcast, the emphasis was how to crush militants in the Niger Delta and the unarmed agitators of Biafra, but he was mute over the Fulani herdsmen, who are carrying out heinous crime of genocide in the Middle Belt and the South. Should that be the position of a

Buhari

leader who is interested in the unity of the country? While Fulani herdsmen walk freely with sophisticated war/assault riffles, soldiers saw the gathering of Biafra agitators as an avenue to test their marksmanship; but thumb up the atrocities of Fulani herdsmen, which the Global Terrorism Index rates as the fourth most deadly terrorist organisation in the world. There is no way the country can stand by suppressing the other ethnic nationalities feeling the brunt of the Hausa/Fulani hegemony.

While the president was on official visit to his Kastina State, he dismissed the agitation of Biafra and said that for Nigeria to break up, it was better for all of them to be drowned.

That is living in the past. As it is, this country may not survive under him.

Nigeria is in a parlous state. It is dying, and it won’t be the first country that has ceased to exist as it were. This is the naked truth unless somebody is not looking at what is going on. There are cracks everywhere, the foundation has been weak, and has been destroyed. Ethnic nationalities are more than ever coming up agitating for self determination .

Nigeria is the only subsisting country cobbled together by the British, so anybody who is beating his chest that the country will not break up is whimsical.

Go down to history. Look at the former Federation of East Africa, which dissolved into Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The British also created the West Indies Federation, which also failed and you now have Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago; they also created Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, it failed. The only federation they created then that has not failed is Nigeria, which is bound to fail if we don’t sit down and talk and that is why when Biafra declared independence, the British fought tooth and nail to make sure Nigeria didn’t fail because they hold it as the only success they have in the British empire. They also created

the Federation of Malaysia and Singapore, but it failed. The time that Biafra was pulling out was also when Singapore was pulling out of the Federation of Malay, Singapore and North Borneo, put together by the British.

If President Buhari is conscious of this, he should not be belligerent in his tough talk of Nigeria being indivisible.

You don’t force national unity by fiat.

Like all pluralistic societies, Nigeria’s corporate existence will always be a subject of intense agitation. This is more so as the country is an artificial creation standing on a false federation. Presently, there's growing mistrust among all ethnic nationalities against one other.

All through history, it is common knowledge that no force has ever been able to permanently suppress ethnic nationalism.

By the President’s position , that it is better for all Nigerians to “jump into the sea and get drowned” than for Nigeria to divide, he is prescribing the 1994 Rwandan tragedy. He should come down from his high horse and to allow our nationalities to choose their preferences peacefully. Instead of holding on power

by Crisis Theory. Slobodan Milosevic failed to adhere to this wisdom in the defunct Yugoslavia; the outcome was a war that claimed 140,000 lives. His obdurate refusal to negotiate caused violent seizures and the country splintered into six different nations. The old Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is now history.

Sudan went the same raucous path, before South Sudan was carved out in 2011.

In the face of agitation for self determination, he should toe the civil line by replicating the September 2014 landmark, when Scotland held a historic referendum on whether to remain in the United Kingdom or not. The “Yes” side won with 55.3 per cent. The UK is holding another referendum this June to determine its membership of the European Union. The British Prime Minister David Cameron is only campaigning for the country to remain, not threatening his people. In 1993, the old Czechoslovakia arranged a peaceful separation, an exemplary model on how to organise an amicable political divorce between incompatible political entities.

An interim government arrangement maybe an amicable exit strategy. Nigeria cannot pretend about this artificiality any longer. No threat can crush these cleavages, as shown in Catalonia, which has been campaigning for independence since the 16th century. Instead of the agitation to wane in the face of the Spanish government’s repression, it is growing stronger.

Buhari is afraid of break up of the country, but he is not doing anything to arrest it. The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase who is on his way out of office added another comic relief after the massacre of unarmed Biafra agitators by soldiers in Onitsha and Asaba by directing the police to disarm the unarmed protesters, while allowing herdsmen to walk freely with AK 47 and

other assault riffles.

We should do a rethink before crediting Buhari with the success in the Boko Haram fight. It is on record that as at the time he was decimating the Islamic insurgent group, the military was yet to get new order for hardware. The success was because of the co-operation of Northern leaders. This is a nation of hypocrisy. We remember that when the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika was crushing Boko Haram to finish, Northern leaders started shouting genocide and threatened to drag him before ICC and Buhari equally called on former President Goodluck Jonathan to stop killing their people. But what happened, the military came down heavily on the sect under the present government and the Northern leaders didn’t cry genocide. Who is deceiving who?

The war against corruption is a mere peer struggle. It is just against those he felt had crossed his paths in the past. We remember that in 1984, the WAI in less than one year was ingrained in the consciousness of the citizens. But today, it is business as usual in the Police, Customs, Immigration etc, nothing has changed.

Presently, Nigerian history is not taught in both primary and post-primary institutions. This is to blackout upcoming generations to know how Nigeria as a nationstate was corruptively and fraudulently crafted.

We can't continue trying, the engine has finally knocked and needs either a complete overhauling to refix or a brand new one. Solution to puzzle 17 Everything has gone wrong with us and Nigeria as an entity.

•Nwosu wrote in from Okai, Eziama, Mbano, Imo State. (bradychijiokenwosu@gmail. com- 08023035430)

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.