Tuesday, september 6, 2016 binder1

No plan to hike fuel price, says NNPC

lEx-GMDs are Nigeria’s enemies – Senate lTUC vows to resist increment Anule Emmanuel, Johnchuks Onuanyim and Chukwu David Abuja

G

roup Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru,

has said that the Federal Government was not contemplating any further in-

crement in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) also known as petrol.

The NNPC group managing director and the Minister of State for

Cracks in FG's direct sale of refineries’ crude

}4

Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, yesterday held a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja.

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Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

26 FRSC officials convicted for stealing }44

/newtelegraph /newtelegraph

Vol. 3 No. 930

Oyeyemi

Army arrests journalist, Salkida, over link with Boko Haram }4

Salkida

Bread bakers hike prices by 20% }10

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

Buhari

N150

Pastor arraigned for defiling 13 underage girls }9

Nkwocha

Herdsmen turn N'Stadium, Abuja to grazing reserve }2

$300m facility rots away 240-room hotel overgrown by weeds

A view of the National Stadium, Abuja

Back view of the abandoned Stadium Hotel

Inside The Velodrome

Four soldiers drown as boat capsizes }4

New contact lenses cuts glaucoma blindness }39

NEWS

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Herdsmen turn National Stadium, Abuja to grazing reserve Adeolu Johnson ABUJA

I

tinerant herdsmen have invaded the $300 million National Stadium Complex in Abuja, turning it into a grazing reserve for their cattle.

This is in spite of an existing order prohibiting open grazing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), an order the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) is empowered to enforce.

The herdsmen, who usually invade the stadium in groups to feed their cattle, sometimes overwhelm the stadium security officials who try to stop them from their activities, especially at the Package B section of the stadium.

“It has been a routine for these herdsmen to herd their cows to this place for grazing, especially in the last one year. They invade the stadium at will and it seems nobody is ready to stop or caution them,” said a security official attached to the stadium.

When our correspondent sought the view of the stadium manager, Mr. Sati Mbok, he said that the management has been making frantic efforts to stop the herdsmen, but they have rather continued to increase in their numbers.

New Telegraph learnt that the herdsmen, who

2.13m

The total number of active mobile (CDMA) lines of Nigeria in October 2015.

Source: Ncc.gov.ng

£9.53m

The amount of money received

by Aston Villa as facility fees for the 2015/2016 season.

Source: Goal.com

are usually armed with some dangerous weapons, have become a source of concern to those who are managing the expansive stadium.

In September last year, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) issued an order banning the practice of open grazing of cattle in the territory and charged the AEPB to enforce the ban.

One year after, the herdsmen and their cows are still roaming the streets and highways in Abuja.

Public Relations Officer of AEPB, Mr. Sam Musa, told our correspondent that the agency has taken several measures to tackle the problem of the herdsmen, but have encountered a lot of impediments in their bid to flush the cows out of the city.

"We've really been warning and sensitizing them and the process is ongoing because you know some of them are new in the city and they keep having the information. We have been working together with their leaders to also sensitize them. You know education is number one; once you educate people and they can understand why they should not do it, our job becomes easier," Musa said.

New Telegraph investigations have, however, revealed that beyond the challenge posed by these herdsmen, underutilization and poor maintenance culture has turned the $300 million National Stadium, Abuja, into an abandoned edifice, with many of its key facilities rusting away and a huge chunk of the expansive sports complex overgrown with weeds.

The multimillion-dollar edifice was built when Nigeria hosted the 8th All Af-

Fayemi to address investors at ADU, Australia

T

he Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, will be discussing investment opportunities in the Nigerian mining sector tomorrow, at the 2016 African Down Under (ADU) Conference, in Perth, Australia.

Fayemi, who leads the Nigerian delegation to the conference, is among African Ministers of Mining billed to make presentations at the ADU, which holds between 7th and 9th September.

A special session on Nigeria, where recent developments in the country’s minerals and mining sector would be the focus of engagement by international investors, operators,

academics and professionals will also hold on Thursday.

The African Down Under Conference is renowned as one of the leading fora for facilitating discussions on how to grow investments and participation in the African mining space. It attracts significant interests from organisations prospecting for business opportunities in the mining sector in Africa.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC), last week, approved the new roadmap for growth and development of the Nigerian mining industry as well as a change of name for the ministry, now known as Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

rica Games 2003 (COJA) 13 years ago, but has become a shadow of itself over time.

Investigations by New Telegraph revealed that the Stadium hardly hosts events since most of the sports federations took their activities outside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where they would enjoy corporate sponsorships due to lack of funds.

Often times, the main bowl serves as venue for religious and cultural activities, which pay little or nothing in return.

Unlike the entertainment and social recreation venues, social functions, such as inter-house sports and games amongst schools and other institutions, which generates revenue for the National Stadium in Lagos, the reverse is the case in Abuja which groans under lack of funds for maintenance.

New Telegraph gath-

ered that the challenge of neglect of the stadium became compounded following the recent directive by the Minister of Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, that the staff of the scrapped National Sports Commission (NSC) be moved back to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The most dilapidated section of the stadium is a 240-room hotel facility with a Conference Centre that have been overgrown by weeds and taken over by rodents and reptiles.

A visit to the facility also showed a portion of it is now inhabited by some poor Nigerians who use it as their shelter in the face of lack of accommodation in the city.

A visit to the stadium revealed that apart from the main bowl of the stadium, which usually hosts international matches involving Nigeria, most of the other facilities were in

a deplorable state.

The Velodrome, one of the key facilities in the stadium, has been under lock and key for the past one and a half years. A closer peep revealed that there were thousands of gas cylinders and cooking stoves in the main bowl of the Velodrome. New Telegraph learnt that the items were kept there by a political party during the last general elections. According to a security guard at the complex, the items were supposed to have been distributed to the supporters of the unnamed political party, but was later suspended just before the 2015 general elections.

Currently, the Nigeria Cycling Federation (NCF), which used to operate from there, has been sent packing and made to carry out its business from the Package B area.

However, a visit to the Package B area of the com-

plex also showed that it has largely been neglected given the bushy outlay of its entrance.

The surrounding of the complex is overgrown with weeds while a corner of the entrance now serves as a waste dumpsite, a situation that has turned that section of the complex into a filthy zone.

The Olympic-size swimming pools have become home for tadpoles, toads and frogs as the water in them have turned greenish and stinking.

When New Telegraph asked why the pool was abandoned to mosquitoes and tadpoles, a staffer in the complex, who would not want his name in print, explained that the water in the pool was not dirty, but that it was the basement of the pool that had accumulated much dirt, which left the pool polluted.

“The pool is being mainCONTINUED ON PAGE 4

L-R: Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Abubakar Bawa Bwari; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and President Muhammadu Buhari, at the presentation of the Aeromagnetic map of the Nickel discovery and its Independent volumetric analysis in Abuja…on Friday.

Nigeria ranks third highest in global malnutrition Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

N

igeria has been ranked first in Africa and third globally in the latest statistics on malnutrition rank.

Disclosing this in Abuja yesterday as part of activities heralding the kick-off of nutrition week, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, lamented that majority of Nigerian children still had malnutrition as a major problem.

The minister said it was alarming that 53 per cent of Nigerian children, under five, died annually due to malnutrition.

The wife of the president, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, is billed to launch national policy on food and nutrition today in Abuja.

Ahmed said: “The poor nutrition indices in Nigeria, 2008 and 2013 are traceable to several factors that include poor infant and

young child feeding practices, poor stewardship, and policy implementation, poor access to health care, water and sanitation and high level of poverty.

“Although nutritionsensitive interventions remain crucial to devising solutions, it is essential that efforts be intensified to achieve food and nutrition security to address the major causes of malnutrition in Nigeria.”

She said the revised national policy on food and nutrition to be launched would address specific targets ranging from reducing proportion of people who suffer hunger and malnutrition by 50 per cent by 2025, increase the percentage of children aged six months and above who receive appropriate complementary feeding from 19 per cent in 2013 to 40 per cent by 2025; increase exclusive breast feeding rate from 17 per cent in 2013 to 65 per cent by 2015 and reduce stunting rate among

under five children from 37 per cent in 2013 to 18 per cent by 2025.

The minister added that the decision of the Federal Government to relocate the national committee on food and nutrition to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning was in accordance with the Geneva declaration in 1991 that nutrition planning and coordination should be considered from a nonnutrition related ministry where planning can effectively take place.

This is to enable the ministry, in line with its bread mandate, coordinate and provide leadership in articulating the policy and action plan that can effectively reduce malnutrition considerably in the country.

Earlier in his remarks, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described malnutrition as a big issue in Nigeria, but largely neglected.

He said: “Malnutrition goes beyond agriculture; how much food do we produce in the country? It is an issue that has to do with our lifestyles. The problem in North-East has been there, but only escalated

by Boko Haram. What are the issues? Breast-feeding.

“If a child does not have a good six-month breast feeding, the child is likely to suffer from malnutrition. Hygiene is also very important because diarrhoea is also a major killer.

Access to portable water.

We have the highest rate of open defecation and quite a sizeable number of malnutrition. Borno State has 256,000 cases of malnutrition, 45,000 in Lagos and 460,000 in Kano State.”

The Federal Government has said it will appropriate N500 billion in 2017 budget to cater for social intervention programmes.

The same amount was also appropriated for school pupils’ feeding in the current budget.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Four soldiers drown as boat capsizes Pauline Onyibe

T

he military exercise, Operation Crocodile Smile, yesterday suffered a major loss following a boat accident along the

Brass Water Front in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The accident led to the death of four soldiers by drowning.

Also missing were service rifles belonging to the

missing soldiers.

New Telegraph gathered that the incident occurred at about 10a.m. It was said to have created panic among newly deployed soldiers.

Though the mission

of the soldiers in the area could not be confirmed, it was said to be not unconnected to the security operations against renewed militancy, sea piracy and search for those threatening to hoist the Niger Delta

Army arrests journalist, Salkida, over link with Boko Haram ecurity operatives yesterday reportedly arrested Ahmed Salkida, one of the three people wanted for alleged links with terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Salkida, who arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja aboard an Emirates flight, EK 785, was arrested at the door of the aircraft and taken away to an unknown destination.

According to online newspaper, SaharaReporters, a passenger, who claimed to have been on the same flight and sat next to Salkida during the journey, disclosed that Salkida, a journalist, was nervous throughout the flight, apparently because he knew he was going to be apprehended on arrival.

According to the passenger, Salkida confided in her that he expected to be arrested upon arrival because he was traveling with an Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) and that the Department of State

$300m stadium rots away

Oil swap: Cracks in FG's direct sale of refineries’ crude

Abuja

S

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

tained by the federation that has not got subvention for a long time now.

However, what you see now will soon be a thing of the past, as the pools are being worked on. The machines that pump water into it are being serviced and where necessary, are being replaced.

“The painting of the structure will commence soon. Cleaning the swimming pools and its diving slabs may cost nothing less than half a million naira and the cleaning exercise has to be done on a regular basis, but the funds are not there.

"It is for this reason that we are calling on members of the public to come and patronise the facility so that we can have returns to maintain the place. The Sports Ministry is not always forthcoming when it comes to releasing funds for facility maintenance,” he said.

Full report on Inside Abuja on Pages 18 &19

Adeola Yusuf

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racks have emerged in the direct-sale purchase contracts for refineries crude between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the refiner-contractors, threatening the $1 billion revenue targeted by government.

Investigation by New Telegraph showed that the arrangement, which government entered into in February, began to have issues in July with considerable improvement in refineries’ efficiency.

A financial intelligence report obtained by this newspaper showed that NNPC is "clearly" making moves for "more crude-forproduct swaps or receiving oil products in exchange for crude," when "the refineries returned to their epilepsy."

The report, which is already available to some refiners in Europe, is pumping up actions

Boko Haram sect, said he had visited Nigeria three times within the past year on the invitation of the Nigerian government, in an effort to rescue the abducted girls.

“As a testimony to the credible and professional values of my access, since May 2015, I have been to Nigeria three times on the invitation of Federal Government agencies. I made personal sacrifices for the release of our Chibok daughters,” Salkida said.

rifles missing and struggling out of the water.”

It was gathered that as at 2p.m., the military authorities sought the help of local divers and youths to assist in the search for the missing soldiers. One of the youths confirmed that the high tide of the water was impeding the search for the missing soldiers.

The State Chairman of the Maritime Union, Comrade Lyyod Sese, who confirmed the incident, said the union had received the report on the boat incident, “but don’t have details on the numbers of casualties.”

Also confirming the incident, an official of Brass Local Government Council, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the development. “But we thank God it was a natural incident,” he said.

Services (DSS) was aware of his coming.

His arrest could not be independently confirmed as at press time.

The Nigeria Army had, last month, declared Salkida and two others wanted for their alleged links to Boko Haram, the insurgent group that kidnapped over 200 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State.

The others declared wanted were Ahmed Bolori and Aisha Wakil, a female lawyer. The trio allegedly committed offences that contravened the Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2011, by not providing information about the terrorist group, to facilitate the rescue of the students who have been in captivity for over two years.

After he was declared wanted, Salkida had expressed readiness to return to Nigeria to honour the invitation and explain his roles in the efforts to rescue the Chibok girls from captivity.

Salkida said the Army was declaring him wanted simply for carrying out his professional duties as a

Onwuka Nzeshi and Emmanuel Onani

journalist, adding that he did most of his work with “total allegiance and sacrifice to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

“Clearly, my status as a Nigerian journalist who has reported extensively, painstakingly and consistently on the Boko Haram menace in the country since 2006 is an open book known to Nigerians and the international community,” he said.

Salkida, who has written extensively about the

Republic flag in the area.

An indigene of the community simply identified as Okpoi, told New Telegraph that attempts by community youths and other soldiers to assist in a rescue operation failed, as the drowned soldiers could not be found.

He said: “In recent times, we have been noticing increased movement of soldiers in our area.

The boat that capsized was conveying a new batch of soldiers to the waterfront. I was going to dispose of refuse at the waterfront and I saw uniformed soldiers struggling to rescue their colleagues in a capsized boat.

“When the confusion subsided, four soldiers were found to be missing with their rifles and other military gear. Some others that were rescued had their

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (left), presenting a souvenir to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, after Buratai's visit to the governor in Port Harcourt… yesterday

and expectations of the government's return to the Offshore Processing Agreement (OPA), otherwise known as crude for product swap contracts.

Part of the intelligence report, which was published by Bloomberg, showed that the Europe refiners are targeting 400,000 barrels of oil daily on tips of the NNPC return to crude swap deal.

"Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, wants to reduce the country's reliance on fuel imports. Clearly, more crude-for-product swaps or receiving oil products in exchange for crude, would help," the report entitled: "Nigeria Has a Valley of Tears to Cross Before Benefits," read.

With a sub-head: "Refining & Marketing, Europe Dashboard," the report, based on research by Salih Yilmaz, Bloomberg Associate and Philipp Chladek, Bloomberg Senior Industry Analyst, the report noted: "Europe, with refining utilisation rates below 90

per cent for several years, may be a good partner for Nigeria, a net exporter of crude.

"This would facilitate Europe's access to Nigerian crude and give the country a new export channel after losing market share to shale producers in North America."

Nigeria replaced crudefor-product swaps with direct-sale purchase arrangements early this year, but fuel shortages forced Nigeria back to crude-forproduct deals.

"Swaps should be an interim solution for Nigeria until local supply capacity increases," the report stated.

The Federal Government, it would be recalled, on February 2, declared end to crude-for-products exchange arrangement popularly referred to as crude swap, stating that this initiative would fetch the country $1 billion.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources who then doubled as Group Managing Director of

NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, maintained that the crudefor-product exchange arrangement was replaced by a Direct- Sale-DirectPurchase (DSDP) arrangement, which took off in February.

Kachikwu disclosed this when he appeared before the House of Representatives’ ad hoc Committee set up to investigate the corporation’s offshore processing and crude swap arrangement for the period from 2010 to date at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

A statement by NNPC quoted the minister as announcing that the price modulation policy had rid the Federal Government of the burden of subsidy on imported petroleum products in January 2016.

He noted that the DSDP was adopted to replace the crude oil swap initiative and the Offshore Processing Arrangement.

The DSDP option, according to government, eliminated all the cost elements of middlemen and

gave the NNPC the latitude to take control of sale and purchase of the crude oil transaction with its partners.

“When I assumed duty as the GMD of NNPC, I met the Offshore Processing Arrangement (OPA) and, like you know, there is always room for improvement. My team and I came up with the DSDP initiative with the aim of throwing open the bidding process," Kachikwu said.

This initiative, he continued, has brought transparency into the crude-forproduct exchange matrix and it is in tandem with global best practices.

24%

The percentage of the population of men above 60 years of Germany in 2012.

Source:Un.org

£53.4m

The amount of money spent by Tottenham in the whole 2015-16 transfer window.

Source: 101greatgoals.com

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METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

I’m a cultist, not armed robber, says suspect Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

A

Recession: Father of two commits suicide Taiwo Jimoh

A

30-year-old man, Yusuf Olubu, has committed suicide at Aboru community on the outskirts Lagos metropolis for his inability to meet his financial obligations.

Olubu’s body was found in an uncompleted building at Acquisition Estate on Sunday morning.

The body was later evacuated by policemen attached to Oke-Odo Police Station.

The body, it was learnt, was deposited at the morgue of the Ikeja General Hospital.

This came in less than a week after a 50-year-old man, Chief Ekanem Edet, took his life at Mbiabong Itam in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Edet, according to report, left a suicide note blaming President Muhammadu Buhari’s policies which reportedly led to the recession for his inability to care for his family. Accord-

ing to the note, this informed his decision to commit suicide.

However, Olubu, who had a National Diploma in Business Administration from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State, was a commercial motorcyclist until the motorcycle was stolen last week.

This aggravated the man’s economic woes, which made him to end his life.

Neighbours said Olubu’s wife and two children had earlier abandoned the man because he could no longer provide for their needs or pay his rent.

At Aboru, those who knew the victim gathered in groups near his house at 22, Tokyo Street, Edun, to discuss the incident.

A neighbour, who gave his name simply as Sheriff, said Olubu was yet to pay fully for the stolen motorcycle, which he bought on instalment.

“Olubu was frustrated. He could not provide for his family because his stolen motorcycle was his source of livelihood. Also, the pressure from the landlord added to his problem. I still

saw him this morning (Sunday),” the neighbour said.

A man, who described himself as Olubu’s friend, Tosin Shorinmade, said he was shocked.

He said: “Yesterday night (Saturday), we were together after watching the Nigeria-Tanzania match. He was complaining that he had no money. He also said the owner of the stolen motorcycle was harassing him because he was yet to pay up fully.

“But I advised him not to work himself up. I told him things would change for the better very soon.”

According to his friend, the late Olubu became a commercial motorcyclist because of his inability to secure paid employment.

“He committed suicide owing to the present economic hardship. He told me before his wife left him with his kids that to put food on the table for his family was a big problem. He also said his rent had expired. He was always hiding from his landlord to avoid embarrassment. It is so sad,” Shorinmade added.

25-year-old final year student of Public Administration, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Samuel Effiong, yesterday told journalists that he was a cult member and not an armed robber.

Effiong, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, was among the suspects paraded by the Abia State Police Commissioner, Mr. Leye Oyebade.

The commissioner said Effiong was arrested for robbery.

But the suspect said he was a member of the Supreme Viking fraternity and was arrested after a revenge mission on a rival cult group, the Black Axe. According to him, members of the Black Axe had attacked a member of his group, robbed him of his phone, money and inflicted machete cuts on him.

He said: “We had a problem with another cult group who attacked one of our members and collected his phone. He reported the matter to us and we decided to intervene immediately. While going to meet them, we saw some members of Black Axe group. We asked them why they attacked our member. We also asked them to return the phone but they refused to give us the phone. Then, we started fighting.

“I was sleeping in my house when the police came and arrested me. The guns (which the police recovered) are not mine; I don’t know how they got the guns. They searched the premises where I was living and got a gun and said it is mine. I have sold the phones we collected from them Black Axe members.”

His accomplice, Obioma Ubani, said he was a member of the cult group but not a student.

Ubani said he was selling Okirika (secondhand clothes) at Ngwa Road Market, Aba. According to him, he embraced cultism because he needed a relationship having lost his parents years ago.

He said: “I needed protection and relationship because I don’t have anybody. My parents are late.

I am from Obingwa Local Government.”

Oyebade said Effiong was arrested in an uncompleted building at Umuwaya Ohuru Isimiri, Aba. The commissioner said the suspect and four others robbed the occupants of 16, Anyaumunna Street, Eziama, Aba, of their belongings.

City Briefs RCCG Mega Grace holds career inspirational programme Police arrest notorious cultist M

ega Grace Sanctuary, of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Ota, will on Friday embark on a three-day programme to end joblessness among members of the church and people living in the area.

The programme will hold on the church premises, 7, Olanrewaju Oshifowora Street, Fashogbon, off Idiroko Road, Ota. The church said in a statement that the programme entitled: “Achieving Career Excellence,” was specifically aimed at finding solutions to why people often fail interviews.

“The church is worried at the rate of joblessness in the country even as the Assistant Pastor in Charge of Parish (APIC), Deacon Akinyemi Ajibola, says this three-day event is one of the corporate responsibilities of the church to its members and neighbours,” the statement reads in part.

According to Ajibola, the programme will become an annual event.

He added that top resource persons had been invited for the maiden edition.

Among those expected as facilitators are Regional Business Manager, Kellog, Oluyemi

Oloyede; Group Head, Human Resources, Rain Oil Limited, Tayo Opatayo and Principal Consultant & Coach, WesternEzra (HR & Dev), Adewale Bakare.

Ajibola said the workshop would be declared open by the Ogun State Province 14 Pastor, Prof Samuel Daramola.

He urged participants to register free online.

“Meanwhile, the church is also set for an evangelism/welfare outreach to Ilaro Prison on September 17 to minister the word to the inmates as one of the divine assignments the Lord mandated for His Church,” the pastor added.

Charles Onyekwere and Kenneth Ofoma

P

olice in Enugu State have arrested a 24-year-old suspected notorious cult member cum armed robber, Elo Eze. Eze, who hails from Akpoga Nike in the state, was arrested through intelligence gathering.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement that the suspect had been a torn in the flesh of inhabitants of Emene and its environs as well as parts of Enugu.

The PPRO said Eze belonged

to a gang which the police smashed recently at Bisalla Road (Independence Avenue) axis.

The suspect was apprehended near Eke Obinagu junction axis of Emene by Emene Depot, Enugu.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, has applauded the efforts of his men as well as the level of partnership between the police and stakeholders in the state.

Ojukwu promised that the police would continue to work hard to create remain safe and secured environment in the state.

METRO

tuesday, september 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Jealous wife bought machete two weeks before hacking husband’

‘Death threat, payback for my boss’ Camillus Nnaji

D

Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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housewife, Mrs. Oluwakemi Otun, who reportedly inflicted life-threatening cuts on her husband, Kehinde, has told the police that she bought the machete two weeks ago.

Oluwakemi had on Saturday hacked her husband at Erinlu area of IjebuOde, Ogun State, over the man’s alleged moves to marry a second wife.

Kehinde is currently receiving treatment at the State General Hospital, IjebuOde. The state Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the suspect had confessed to interrogators that she deliberately bought a new machete two weeks earlier solely for the purpose of hacking Kehinde.

He said Oluwakemi explained that after purchasing the machete, she hid it in her apartment and waited for an auspicious moment to strike.

It was learnt that the suspect had invited her husband over to her residence to spend the weekend. The man honoured the invitation without suspecting that danger was lurking in a corner of the room.

The husband got warm reception and

Security guard held for ripping employer’s stomach Taiwo Jimoh

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22-year-old security guard, Tanko Abdulateef, who allegedly murdered his employer and stole her phones, trinkets and clothes, has been arrested.

Abdulateef reportedly stabbed the employer, Mrs. Mabel Mba, to death in her apartment at Ajah area of Lagos on August 17 while she was sleeping.

The suspect reportedly ripped opened the woman’s stomach.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, said after killing Mba, the suspect took away her valuables which included three phones, trinkets and a lot of clothes.

Badmos said the victim was sleeping in her room when the security guard broke into her apartment at No J68B, Close 9, Victoria Garden City (VGC), and stabbed her to death.

According to her, the suspect thereafter ransacked the room and carted away valuables.

She said: “After the incident, the guard was nowhere to be found. The body of the victim was examined and it was discovered that she was stabbed in the stomach which was ripped opened.

Her body was evacuated and deposited at the mortuary.

both reportedly made love.

It was while he was sleeping that the wife inflicted severe deep cuts on his chest and other parts of the body.

Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the machete used by the suspect had been recovered by the police.

He said: “The woman has told the police that she bought the machete she used in inflicting cuts on her husband two weeks before she attacked him.

“She had claimed that she attacked her hubby following moves to marry a second wife.”

The PPRO said the suspect would soon be charged to court with either “wounding or attempted murder” at the Ijebu Division of the Ogun State judiciary.

A close source told our correspondent that Oluwakemi had five children for her husband, with only three surviving.

Oluwakemi with the machete

Pastor arraigned for defiling 13 girls Camillus Nnaji and John Chikezie

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eneral Overseer (GO) of Tongues of Fire Restoration Ministry, Sogunle, Lagos, Pastor Chukwuemeka Nkwocha, was arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court yesterday for grievous assaults and defilement of 13 young girls.

Nkwocha, however, was denied bail by the magistrate, B. O. Osunsanmi.

This was sequel to the bail application by the defence counsel, A. K. Olajuka, seeking bail for the accused on liberal terms.

Osunsanmi described the offence as highly grievous which needs the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

According to her, the case should be referred to the High Court.

Nkwocha allegedly committed the offence between 2014 and August 30, 2016 at No. 5, Omolade Street, Oshodi in the Lagos Magisterial District.

According to the charge sheet, Nkwocha did abduct the teenagers without their consent and thereby committed the offence punishable under Section 266 of the Criminal Laws of

Nkwocha

9

Lagos State, 2011.

The 13 girls are identified as Adedeji Mosadoluwa (19), Glory Friday (12), Millicent Chukwu (13), Okeke Chiamaka (16), Nwadocheli Precious (13), Ada Akwarandu (13), Emmanuel Faith (17) and Anyaoha Chidera (14).

Others are Chinecherem John (16), Etoh Adanne (18), Precious Amarachi (16), Audu Promise (15) and 13-year-old Chinecherem Odozor.

Nkwocha was arraigned on a fourcount charge bothering on sexual harassment, assault, defilement and procurement of noxious drugs with intent to defile.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel, Olajuka, laid his bail application on the grounds that the prosecutor, Inspector Simon Imhowua, had over-exaggerated the matter and thereby not provided substantive evidence to buttress the case.

Olajuka protested that one of the acclaimed victims was a cousin to the pastor and that the pastor had a charity organisation which had been catering for the girls in the past four years.

He said the girls were neither abducted nor held against their will.

The counsel added that he would not want to state the antecedent of the case but pleaded that it was in the judicial prerogative of Her Lordship to grant bail.

On the contrary, Imhowua said although the defence had applied for bail, the grave implication of the case should not be overlooked and the bail conditions should not be on liberal terms.

The Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Idowu Akande, said all the victims were discovered in the pastor’s residence.

etectives attached to Area ‘J’ Police Command, Lekki/Ajah, Lagos State, have arrested a man who used to threaten his victims with death and abduction through text messages, in order to collect money from them.

According to the police, the 29-year-old suspect, Sunday Eloko, and others at large, specialised in threatening and kidnapping their victims.

The suspect, however, met his downfall when he attempted to play the same game on his boss.

It was learnt that Eloko’s modus operandi was to get victims phone numbers and start threatening them. Most of the victims, fearful of being harmed or killed, would succumb to his monetary demands.

Once he was sure a victim was ready to play ball, he would give them a venue to drop the ransom. But before the victim gets to the place, Eloko would have placed a red banner there. He would instruct the victim to drop the money at the spot where the red banner was placed.

Eloko, who hails from Cross River State, was arrested at Ikate area by the police.

The suspect claimed to have decided to deal with his boss because the man delayed his salary.

He said: “I was a driver to my boss, but decided to leave in February because he owed me salary. He, however, later paid me.

In August, my friend, Timothy Danda, and I, called and started threatening my boss. We told him to pay us N2 million. We threatened him through text messages. We told him that we would kill him, after kidnapping him, if he refused to pay us the N2 million.”

Eloko said he and Danda belonged to a syndicate called ‘Badoo Boys’.

He added: “We always ask them to drop ransom near a red flag.”

Luck ran out on Eloko after he threatened his boss, residing at Unity Estate in Eti-Osa. He was alleged to have threatened his boss through text messages.

Rather than rush to pay the ransom, his boss went to Area ‘J’ Police Command. Police immediately began the manhunt for the group.

One of the text messages Eloko sent to his boss, states: “It is our time to visit you this year. You and your wife; we are ready for you. Settle us now or we are coming for you. We are going to use police as ‘suya’, if you involve them. We need our cash from you - Badooboys.”

The text message initially unsettled the victim and his family, forcing them to abandon their home for a while.

The victim was said to have played along with Eloko, while the police kept track of the gang. The victim haggled over the ransom until they settled for N200,000.

While this was going on, police kept surveillance, dialled his number and asked him to come for a job appointment. When Eloko arrived, he was arrested.

Eloko displaying the red flag

10 NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

TUC vows to resist further hike in fuel price

Sunday Ojeme

F

ollowing last week’s statement issued by the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that the current price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) was no longer sustainable, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria, has vowed to resist any further increase in the price of the product due to current economic difficulties.

The Federal Govern-

ment has, however, warned against increasing the product under any guise.

In a statement made available to New Telegraph yesterday, the congress said it was annoying that the call came even when the Federal Government is yet to fulfill its promises and agreement reached with organised labour during the protest against the last hike in May this year.

“The congress will resist further hike in the price of petrol if that is what it will take to get the government

Bread bakers hike prices by 20% Taiwo Hassan

C

iting harsh economic woes and increase in cost of production, Masters Bakers Association, Lagos State chapter, has increased prices of bread in the state by 20 per cent.

The new price took effect on September 1.

The association said many members were facing difficulties in sourcing for flour and other key raw materials for baking bread in the country.

Chairman of the association, Jacob Adejorin, said in Lagos that cost of items had skyrocketed.

He linked the crisis to hike in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) foreign exchange policy, restriction of 41-item im-

porters from official access to forex, low power supply, hike in natural gas/ Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and uncertainty in business environment.

According to him, the bakery sector is also affected by the country’s economic recession and “we are appealing to Lagosians to reason with us at this period of economic recession in our country because cost of production has gone up astronomically.”

A visit to bread sellers in the state showed that many of them have adjusted to the new price.

They also expressed shock to see that prices of bread had increased from the bakeries across the state.

Currently, prices of loaves of bread now range from N150 to N350.

APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION WITH THE NIGERIAN CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY

as a Cargo Agent

This is to inform the general public that Messrs First Unit Global Service (Nig.) Ltd of Rm 3, 2nd Floor Nahco Complex MMIA, Ikeja which intends to provide cargo services has applied to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority as an Cargo agent.

Any objection or representation regarding the registration should be forwarded to the Director General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Aviation House, P.M.B 21029, 21038, Ikeja, Lagos. Such objection or representation which should contain reasons for so doing should be made within 28 days of this publication.

Signed:

Management

into thinking out of the box. We do hope it doesn’t get to that. We urge the government to fulfill its promises for which it set up the joint Government-Labour Committee to determine a new more economically realistic national minimum wage and proffer ways by which pains of the last increment can be ameliorated,” the union said.

The statement, signed by the President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and acting Secretary General, Comrade (Barr.) Simeso Amachree, pointed out that in case the management of the NNPC had forgotten, the economy is in crisis

and life has become very difficult for the common man who now can hardly afford two meals per day.

It noted: “The present minimum wage can longer purchase a bag of rice.

Businesses are shutting down, leading to millions of job losses, which of course have accentuated increased cases of crime and other vices. If all the members of the NNPC team can offer us recipe to contain this scourge of economic downturn is to hike the price of petroleum products, then they are not fit to manage the sector and should throw in the towel.

“If the country had

other sources of forex or produces most of what it imports, the economy would not be what it is now.

What stops the government from building more refineries and diversifying the economy?

“The Federal Government should maintain some stability of forex, taking into cognisance the fact that Nigeria is an import-dependent country.

The implication of refining outside the country is enormous: if you are refining outside, you must pay for cost of transportation, insurance and port charges, etc. We just cannot continue to tow the same line.”

The union said the economy was already on its knees, and that the priority of government now should be how to salvage the situation through other creative and resourceful avenues such as downwardly reviewing the cost of governance, creating friendly business environment and jobs, diversifying the economy and setting up an economic team that would creatively fashion out modalities to navigate the stormy waters of recession.

“If persons in government feel our pains as it claims to do, then the news that people are already exchanging their children for bags of rice should prick their conscience,” the union added.

L-R: Vice-President, Etisalat, Ibrahim Dikko; Executive Vice-Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Danbatta; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Mr. Sonny Echono and Managing Director, NigComSat, Abimbola Alale, during the ITU Telecom World 2016 Stakeholders' Forum in Lagos… yesterday.

No plan to hike fuel price, says NNPC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The meeting between the president and chief executives of the nation's oil industry, New Telegraph gathered, is not unconnected with the recent call by stakeholders for further increment in the pump of petrol considering the continued scarcity of foreign exchange, which is said to be making it difficult to import the product.

The Federal Government liberalised the downstream sector of the petroleum industry on May 11, and announced an increase in the pump price of petrol from N86 and N86.5 per litre to between N135 and N145 per litre.

Baru, who was accosted

by State House Correspondents to comment on the rumoured plan by government to increase petrol price after the meeting with the president, which lasted for about one hour, said, "there is nothing like that".

He referred reporters to make inquiries from the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). “Go to PPPRA,” he noted.

But the PPPRA said it has no plan to increase the pump price of petrol.

According to the agency, the management of the PPPRA has not, in any way,

discussed any increase on the fuel pump price.

Spokesman for the PPPRA, Mr. Lanre Oladele, did not pick his phone to get the agency's clarification on the rumoured new price hike.

He did not also respond to a text message sent to his cell phone.

A source at the corporation, however, said that the NNPC GMD is only trying to use the agency as a "scapegoat."

The PPPRA, he said, is "an agency with that responsibility (pricing modulation), but everyone knows that the decision to hike or reduce the prices of petroleum products is a political one that squarely lies with the president.

"We can only do that only when the coast is clear form Aso Rock."

Former GMDs of the NNPC met at the weekend with the management of the corporation where they raised concerns on the current pump price of N145, arguing that it was not commensurate with the liberalisation policy.

The meeting of the exGMDs, which was at the instance of Baru, insisted that the flexible foreign exchange rate policy and other price determining components such as crude cost, Nigerian Ports Au-

thority (NPA) charges, among others were making importation impossible.

Our correspondent learnt that Buhari is under intense pressure to allow for further increase in the price of petrol as the only means to guarantee availability of the product.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Senate, Aliyu Sabi (APC, Niger North), yesterday hit hard on the NNPC boss and his predecessors, describing them as enemies of Nigeria.

At an interactive session with journalists in Abuja yesterday, Sabi cautioned the Federal Government from implementing such advice when Nigerians were groaning under severe economic hardship.

The lawmaker described the GMD and his predecessors as enemies of Nigerians and the present government by giving what he considered a wrong advice when Nigerians were undergoing severe economic pains.

He said: "I read the newspaper reports just this morning and I was disturbed, worried and I think for all intent and purpose, I am very much disappointed in the former NNPC GMDs over their call for fuel price increase, having at one time or the other, contributed to bringing us

to where we are today.

"The NNPC as an institution was expectedly to be the life wire of this nation. As we have all known, refineries that we have in Nigeria have not been functional because if they have been functional and if that institution had been up and doing in tandem with its peers in other countries that have similar resource endowment like ours under the directorship of these former GMDs, we wouldn't have been in this mess.

"Let me make it very clear that all of them that are speaking do not have the moral standpoint to even advise us on what to do because they had a hand in it and I cannot see how you can solve a problem under the same condition that created it. They are more or less acting as enemies of the people and even the government they are advising.

"I think Albert Einstein is quoted to have said doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is insanity. Are we expecting these people's advice to change the narratives? As far as I am concerned, maybe they are sent to destroy this government and, as far as I am concerned, we would not allow them to do that."

11

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Edo decides INEC, police declare readiness for poll

Politics

Edo Helping INEC overcome inconclusive polls

12 13

Cracks in Okorocha’s kitchen cabinet Steve Uzoechi writes on the crack in the kitchen cabinet of the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, which has pitted key two members of the cabinet – the Deputy Governor and Chief of Staff against each other

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all it a cold war or battle of attrition, you would not be wrong but what is certain is that a yawning crack has emerged in the political structure of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. When it started and how long it has lasted cannot be easily determined but the recent swirl of rumours around the health of Okorocha brought the distinct split among key personnel of the governor to the fore.

Efforts at cover up have proved to be more cosmetic than enduring. For the observant and indeed most personnel at the Imo Government House, it is no longer secret that top functionaries in the Okorocha administration are split between two power blocs led by the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere and the Chief of Staff to the governor, Uche Nwosu.

Those lining up behind the Deputy Governor are largely motivated by the sentiment that Owerri zone, where he comes from is favoured to produce the next governor after Okorocha and they reason that the deputy governor stands a better chance with his incumbent position. Several appointees from the zone as well as functionaries drawn from Ohaji Egbema, Orlu, Okigwe zone and others, who believe that Madumere influenced their appointments, are loyally tagging along though a number of them are also playing double game.

For Nwosu, the bulk of the appointees in the government lean towards him. Not just because he is the Chief of Staff but largely

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Okorocha

because he is the governor’s sonin-law. Modestly put, Nwosu’s office is the clearing house as far as government businesses are concerned and he has the ear of the governor more than any other appointee.

Nwosu’s ambition in 2019 may not be very clear like the ambition of the deputy governor, but it cannot be ruled out that he is being primed for a table-turning shot at executive power especially with his bold political stance in recent times.

While political machinations between these two power blocs have been kept under wraps for a time, the seeming inability of the deputy governor, during Okorocha’s three-week foreign trip, to assert his position when the death rumour of his boss dominated small talks in the country, has thrown up angry expressions pitching him not against the Chief of Staff this time but deliberately against his principal whom he has dutifully served over the years.

A government house source, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity stated that the actions or perhaps inactions of Madumere during the three weeks the death and ghost rumour swirled amounted to the deputy governor shooting himself on the leg.

He said: “A deputy governor should be a deputy in all situations. If there is an issue concerning the governor and he is not in the country, his deputy should take initiative and fill the gap.

What would it take for the deputy governor to call an elaborate press conference and possibly put a call to the governor who he knows is alive, in a live press conference for the world to hear? He left the

Madumere

Nwosu

Some minor adjustment in structure may be inevitable in the days ahead

vacuum to remain open and unknowingly allowed the rumour to fester and gain ground. Now some are wondering if it was just an innocent oversight or an act of convenience.”

Another source who confided in our correspondent said Madumere is only being careful due to the sensitivity of the issue. “Let us look at these issues fairly; in the power structure operated by Okorocha, how much power does the deputy wield in such cases as this? Put yourself in his place and you will realize he is working carefully not to be misunderstood or misconstrued. You may not understand how these things work but ask yourself how many times has Okorocha left the country for a long stretch and handed over to

his deputy as acting governor? It has not happened before, so you see the young man may have been constrained to doing only what he is instructed to do,” the source said.

The justifications for the deputy governor’s actions and inactions, notwithstanding, the secret sparring between his camp and that of the Chief of Staff, however, came to the fore on Sunday, August 21, when some persons, who felt strongly about the activities of the number two man in the state bared their minds on the social media.

The Chief of Staff (Nwosu) had on the said day, wrote on his Facebook wall that “enemies keep making my mentor and hero popular every day. The more they lie, the more popular the man becomes.

Don’t stop please, keep popularising my governor. Most people that fought or said evil about Owelle Rochas Okorocha end up going down at the end of the day. The history is there…be careful.”

Knowing who would have become the beneficiary in the event of demise, the Director General of the Governor Rochas Okorocha’s governorship campaign, Barr.

Iheukwumere Alaribe commented under Nwosu’s post: “Thank God that it is not true. But assuming it were, just imagine what would have happened: Gate to Commissioners quarters, Owerri blocked to stop Jude Ejiogu, Campaign DG and one other person from crossing; Uche Nwosu sacked; Chidi Ibe sacked; SSG (Secretary to the State Government) sacked; Gertrude Oduka sacked; Exco dissolved; Eke made SSG. I will join APGA. Then there will be a state wedding for a new Nneoma (First Lady). God forbid! Owelle is alive.”

While the Chief of Staff did not fault the post, one Godstime Samuel, former Executive Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs and a kinsman of the deputy governor was swift to condemn the post.

Few days later, Nwosu made another post on the return of Okorocha. He posted: “My Governor is back… Now back to sender. When I said they keep making him popular, I really meant it, the airport was agog as workers and travellers at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, besieged Owelle Ndigbo to welcome him. Keep shining my Governor.”

Again Alaribe commented: “That’s great. The enemies have been shamed including those hoping to become governor before 2019. We give God the glory.”

Samuel quickly attacked Alaribe, accusing him of making “comments of doom in the sysCONTINUED ON PAGE 16

12

POLITICS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

INEC, police declare readiness for poll Stories by Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

O

fficials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday said they have put necessary logistics in place to ensure a free, fair and credible election in Edo State.

This is as a the new Commissioner of Police in state, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, who resumed duty in readiness for Saturday's poll assured of a hitch free exercise.

Special Adviser to the INEC chairman, Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, Prof.

Mohammad Kuna, disclosed the commission's readiness during a stakeholders meeting and public presentation on “Security threat assessment for the governorship election,” organised by the

CLEEN Foundation.

Prof. Kuna stated that the commission has been well equipped with human and capital resources to carry out the exercise, while tasking all stakeholders to ensure a violence-free poll.

He said: “It is important that the people must own the process of electoral system as it has been observed that whatever the modalities INEC has put non ground to conduct a credible poll, the people must ensure that they behave in a civil manner to help democracy grow in the country.”

Also speaking, Prof.

Mim Abutudu of the University of Benin, noted that fear of electoral manipulation and rigging constitute high risk factor that could raise the level of violence during polls. He urged INEC to ensure that materials are deployed on time to the

Obaseki

Yakubu

Edo DECIDES

various polling units.

Executive director of CLEEN Foundation, Mr. Benson Olugbuo, expressed the resolve of the body to continue to monitor and report security threat to the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

Stakeholders at the event were unanimous that the activities of security agencies including that of INEC officials must be checked to ensure that the poll is violencefree, credible and fair.

Meanwhile, the outgone Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr.

Chris Ezike, yesterday blamed the challenge of inconclusive election to security challenges.

Ezike who stated this while addressing Divisional police officers and other top hierarchy of the command to herald the take off of leadership of the command by Mr. Adeoye, said he was leaving the state better than he met it.

He said: "Nigerians are looking forward to a successful government election in Edo State” and wished his successor well in his new assignment.

Responding, the new police boss assured that his tenure would sustain everything that has been put in place and to improve on them as “an apostle of crime prevention.”

He added: “I want to say that I am an apostle of crime prevention, so we are going to sustain

Ize-Iyamu

Buhari leads Osinbajo, APC governors to grand rally

T

he Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari would lead other chieftains of the party to Benin today for the governorship campaign grand rally.

The state chairman of the party, Mr. Anselm Ojezua, who disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Benin yesterday, said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and all APC governors would be at the event.

Ojezua said that the rally would take place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, adding that the party’s National Campaign Council for the election headed by Governor Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State was already in Benin to prepare grounds for the rally.

According to him, all arrangements had been concluded to ensure that the event was hitch-free.

“All logistics to ensure

free movement of the visitors and party supporters across the state have also been perfected,” he said.

“Anytime APC is holding rally, there is always mass mobilisation. Once the people know that the president is coming this time around, our people

will be so excited to receive him," he added.

The party chairman called on the people, in respective of party affiliation, to come out en masse to welcome the President and his entourage to the state.

Meanwhile, the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium,

the venue of the rally is wearing a new look ahead of the event. Soldiers and other security operatives have taken charge to ensure adequate security ahead of the event. They were also seen at major roads leading in and out of the stadium.

Group decries manipulation of debate outcome

A

group, Edo Independent Media Survey Group (EDIMSG) has decried what it described as media manipulation of the conduct and outcome of the Edo governorship election debate organised by Channels Television in collaboration with Enough is Enough Nigeria Group.

In a statement by its coordinator, Mr. Francis Ehigiator, EDIMSG said it was sad and a great disservice to the organisers of the debate and the electorate in Edo State for a section of the media to deliberately distort, fabricate and manipu-

late "the true reflections of the debate."

It stated that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu performed better than its All Progressives Congress APC) counterpart, Mr. Godwin Obaseki as well as the other two candidates of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Osaro Onaiwu and Labour Party (LP), Mr Areologbe.

According to the group, "at a time when we thought the political debate organised by the Channels Television and Enough is Enough (EiE)

group has finally afforded the people of Edo State and the bulk of the undecided voters a great opportunity to make an informed choice in electing a preferred governor on September 10, we have sadly been regaled with tales of dangerous manipulations of its outcome by a section of the media.”

It added: "They have ingloriously taken an advantage of the influence of the media in the public space to distort, fabricate and outrightly manipulate the true reflection of the debate."

all the crime preventive strategies that have been put in place by the outgoing commissioner and that is to say that we are going to reinforce policing though security is everybody's business.

“We want the people to discard the idea that policing should be left to the police and other security agencies. We are going to ensure that we enlist their support in the policing of their own communities.

Community policing, like

democracy, is the policing of the community by the people and for the people, so the communities will be actively engaged in the policing of the society.”

Adeoye tasked Edo people to be law abiding as they go to the poll on Saturday, saying: “Our message is that everybody should be law abiding, nobody should take the laws in his hands; election is a process of choosing leaders, so people should learn to do it peacefully.”

Students, parents protest over poll, exams clash

T

here was confusion in Benin the Edo State capital yesterday as thousands of angry secondary school students took over major roads and key government institutions calling for a shift of the gubernatorial election scheduled for Saturday.

They lamented that the day of the election clashed with the date for their Mathematics test in the ongoing West African Examination Council (WAEC) General Certificate Examination (GCE) exams.

The students during the protest stormed the Government House, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office and the state House of Assembly with placards of various inscriptions.

They insisted that holding the examination and the poll same day would deny them the opportunity to write the examination they had toiled to prepare for.

The students also kicked against any plan to be moved to other states for the examination as planned by WAEC, saying that would not only disorganise them but also put them at a disadvantage.

Spokesman for the students, Iko Emmanuel Moses, said: “The plan to re-

locate us out of Edo State to sit for the examination because of the September 10 election as scheduled by INEC is an ill wind, which will affect our chance to perform well in the examination. We have found this situation very disturbing, discouraging and we cannot take the risk.

“We enrolled for this examination in Edo State and we have prepared for the examination in Edo State environment. We are used to the environment for safety, comfort, accessibility of examination centres and psychology.”

Addressing the students, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, said he would pass their protest letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the election was fixed by INEC which is an independent body.

He further said: “There are two examinations that are due, one for the people of Edo to write exams on whom they want to be their governor, and you yourselves to write exams, which will constitute the foundation of your future.

“But I promise you, as fast as I can, I will forward it to ensure that it gets to the Villa today (yesterday) and I know that the President is concerned about the future of our children.”

PFN denies endorsement of any candidate

T

he leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), yesterday, denied endorsing of any of the 19 governorship candidates for the September 10 election in Edo State.

PFN in a statement signed by Deacon Ralph Okhiria on behalf of the national president of the body, Rev. Felix Omobude, noted that reports in the media concerning the recent visit of the APC governorship candidate,

Mr. Godwin Obaseki to the Rev. Omobude, was distorted and laced with falsehood.

The statement said: “Rev. Omobude is saddened by attempts by these publications to drag his name into partisan politics. He wishes to assure all the contestants and political parties that he remains apolitical and prays that God’s choice for Edo State would emerge through this democratic process.”

POLITICS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Voters in Edo State will, this weekend, elect a new governor; but there is apprehension that the poll may be inconclusive like Kogi and Bayelsa elections, writes ABIODUN BELLO

13

Edo: Helping INEC overcome inconclusive polls

T

here has been so much public opprobrium for the nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the spate of “inconclusive” elections. To many Nigerians, INEC is today synonymous with inconclusive polls.

Some have derisively changed the Independent in INEC to Inconclusive.

When Prof. Mahmood Yakubu was appointed in October 2015 to head the electoral body, to many Nigerians, success of the commission in elections was a fait accompli. This, it was presumed, was a natural flow from the accomplishments of the body under the headship of Prof Attahiru Jega, particularly the last general election.

But for Jega’s cool mien and maturity, the presidential poll could have been inconclusive.

Efforts were overtly and covertly made by politicians to thwart the election, even at the collation stage. With that, Jega, sort of, created a template for his successor.

But Yakubu’s debacle started barely two weeks after he assumed office with the Kogi State governorship poll which was declared inconclusive. Of course, the country’s constitution and Electoral Act did not envisage what transpired in Kogi State as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abubakar Audu, died mid way into the declaration of results. So, no one really blamed the commission for declaring that election inconclusive.

He said: “The Kogi election came within two weeks that we assumed office and with its peculiar challenge. I don’t think anyone should blame the commission, but we found a way out.”

But it almost became a tradition as virtually all major elections, or so it seems, conducted thereafter, from Bayelsa State to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were declared inconclusive.

The spate of inconclusive polls gave INEC a bad image as the electoral umpire gained notoriety. The commission scored very low in public perception.

But at a recent interactive session with journalists in Lagos, Yakubu dismissed the swirling assumption that almost all the elections his commission had conducted were inconclusive.

The INEC chairman said since he assumed office, commission had concluded about 137 elections, 80 of which were rerun while the remaining were iso-

Electorate casting their votes during the last general elections.

lated polls as witnessed in Kogi and Bayelsa state as well as the Area Councils in the FCT. While giving his commission a pass mark in terms of the number of polls conducted conclusively, Yakubu said INEC had conducted more elections, outside the general election, than any other electoral body in the country.

According to him, the commission, under his headship, has continued to conduct elections almost every weekend.

The professor of Political History and International Studies, however, listed a number of factors responsible for inconclusive elections in Nigeria. He located some of the causative factors in the inordinate ambition of candidates, the do-or-die attitude of political parties as well as the gullibility of electorate.

According to him, most of the acts culminating in inconclusive elections are not under the purview of the electoral commission.

He said for any election to be conclusive, it must be conducted in a clement environment devoid of violence of any form such as shooting, maiming, killing or even ballot box snatching, etc.

These factors, the chairman said, were responsible for inconclusive elections which, he noted, did not start now.

The INEC chairman recalled some of the major elections that were not concluded in the past.

In 1979, according to him, the presidential poll was not conclusive, leading to the ‘19 two third’ farce.

“You remember it was the court which decided the outcome of the 1979 presidential election,” he added.

Some others, according to him, occurred in Bauchi and Imo states where elections were

Most of the acts culminating in inconclusive elections are not under the purview of the electoral commission

suspended for two weeks in 2011 as well as Taraba State in 2015.

He also recalled that the general poll was suspended “in the middle of the election in 2011”.

Dismissing insinuations that the commission was doing the bidding of the ruling party or the Presidency, Yakubu said all elections his commission had declared inconclusive were in line with the electoral law.

He said: “We won’t conclude elections at all means. But we will only always conclude elections with regards to the laws of the land and the Electoral Act.” Surprisingly, the INEC said he could not guarantee conclusive polls in 2019.

This, according to him, is because he will be pressurised into compromising the provisions of the Electoral Act. He said: “I can’t guarantee conclusive elections in 2019. I cannot second-guess Nigerians and I don’t know where they would head in 2019.

“You can’t second-guess any election. You can’t conclude an election on behalf of the people.”

However, this declaration has got many Nigerians alarmed, especially as the nation awaits governorship polls in Edo and Ondo states.

This also comes on the backcloth of the declaration by the INEC chairman that off-season polls are more difficult to conduct than the general election.

This, according to him, is because everybody, especially political parties and candidates have the ample time to mobilise resources and everything at their disposal for the elections.

In less than a week, specifically on September 10, electorate would troop out to elect a new governor in Edo State. But Nigerians can assist the commission in ensuring elections, not only in

Edo and Ondo states but across the county, are conclusive.

One of the things to check is electoral malpractice, which is a major determinant in concluding elections.

Section 53 of the Electoral Act mandates INEC to cancel election when there is over voting, according to Yakubu.

One of the ways to check electoral malpractice, the chairman said, was to amend the Electoral Act so that the total number of registered voters should not be used for the assessment of elections in the country.

Nigerians can also help by shunning money for ballot, parties should stop deploying thugs while candidates need to discard the win at all costs mentality.

The chairman also disclosed that the commission is preparing to send a bill to amend the Electoral Act to the National Assembly. One of the things to include in the amendment, according to him, is the prosecution of electoral offenders and penalty for electoral offence.

Inclusion in the Electoral Act, of substantive replacement of candidates, especially in elections into the legislatures, as it is done in some other countries, will also reduce the number rerun polls.

For instance, Yakubu said in Niger Republic, regarded as one of the poorest nations on the African continent, there were no rerun polls.

According to him, once a candidate is filling form to be submitted to the electoral body, he includes the name of an alternate candidate to replace him in case of death, resignation or incapacitation.

He said: “This, to my knowledge, is done in the United States, with the exception of about four states.”

14

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Nnamdi Kanu and the price of freedom My Word CLEM AGUIYI totalpolitics@ymail.com 0803-474-7898 (sms only)

F

or those who want me to stop writing about the Igbo because they have to hear the truth I say again that I will not be silent. Because of my Igbo brothers I will not be silent. My stance is the path I have chosen carefully I will remain committed to that path until Nigeria is restructured for the common good of all.

The below piece was written by my friend Dr. Eke Eke. Eke is a medical doctor practicing in the UK. He is one of the most cerebral and logical minds I have come across. I believe his writing was influenced by the worries of many lovers of freedom about the dictatorial tendency of the regime in Nigeria. What Eke wrote summarized all that is on my mind. I decided to share his kind thesis verbatim so that we can all be inspired and to know there is a price for freedom and liberty and that is what Kanu is paying. I never knew much of Nnamdi Kanu until President Buhari introduced him to me by locking him up and refusing to obey court orders. I have never held my word against government trying to achieve conviction against citizens at all cost.

In Dr. Eke’s words, ‘It is their fate that those who seek for change risk much. Therefore, anybody, who is supporting or fighting for a cause must first count the cost and convince himself that he is prepared to pay it before he starts.

In a country like Nigeria, which is still struggling to allow a culture of the rule of law and individual freedom to take root, there is need for those who have taken it upon themselves to fight for a better society to count the cost of freedom.

The cost of what one believes or intends to do have been the determinant factor in whether he succeeds or fails, as only those prepared to pay the price of success succeeds.

'For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he has sufficient to finish it? Luke 14:28

The Igbos say that 'anaghi aso mgbabu aga ogu'.

Those who go to war, do not fear death.

'For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Matt. 15:25' Freedom is invaluable and at the same time costs a lot to secure. Often, the love one has for his people or country is shown in their preparedness to pay the ultimate price if required.

Jesus recognized this and summed it as the ultimate demonstration of love.

'Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:23' During the Second World War, many people willingly paid the ultimate price to secure the freedom we enjoy today. The words of John Maxwell Edmunds immortalized at the Kohima epitaph sums up the price of freedom and show of ultimate love.

“When you go Home, tell them of us and say; ‘For your Tomorrow, we gave our Today” John Maxwell Edmunds 1916 The single litmus test for true and honest leadership, which has no deceit is the preparedness to pay the ultimate price. I call it the Mandela Test.

'My freedom is inseparable from the freedom of my people'. A leadership that sees its welfare and happiness as inseparable from the welfare and happiness of the people is what Jesus meant, when he talked about the good Shepard.

For several years, ANC, behaved towards Apartheid the way Igbos are behaving today towards, corruption, islamisation and Fulani terror.

"Who will deny that thirty years of my life have been spent knocking in vain, patiently, moderately, and modestly at a closed and barred door? What have been the fruits of moderation? The past thirty years have seen the greatest number of laws restricting our rights and progress, until today we have reached a stage where we have almost no rights at all." Chief Lutuli, President of ANC 1953 and winner of Nobel Price for Peace.

Things changed, when Nelson Mandela took over and realized that there is a place for 'just violence' in response to responds to subjugation, injustice, terror and discrimination of the type apartheid imposed on his people. He made a clear distinction between terror and use of violence in the fight against tyranny and demonstrated that, while terror is evil and targets innocent people to instill fear and subjugate, violent response is used to incapacitate the oppressor and force him to see the evil of

Things changed, when Nelson Mandela took over and realized that there is a place for 'just violence'

his way. Could this analogy of great Mandela be the difference between Boko Haram , the Fulani Herdsmen and the Niger Delta Avengers?

I scoffed when the President was quoted as saying he will deal with the Avengers the same way he has dealt with Boko Haram. You don’t for God’s sake treat freedom fighters the same way you treat terrorists.

Mandela demonstrated for all time the right and justifiable way to use the one of the languages oppressors respond to in achieving freedom and civil society. In essence, he said, one cannot be docile in the face of tyranny and a man who wants you dead, does not deserve to live either. Why are the people of the South East docile in the face of terrorists attack by supposedly Fulani herdmen?

Mandela had penned the following words "During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die". Nelson Mandela Anyone, who is not prepared to lose his life for the good of his people and what he believes is right, honest ,loving and of good report is an imposter. However, this must not be through recklessness, it must be when other peaceful and non-violent means have been exhausted.

The oppressor must know during our peaceful negotiation, that the freedom we seek, is nonnegotiable and that we prefer death to servitude.

Only then will the oppressor count the cost of oppression’.

Leadership requires the risking of what we value most, our freedom and lives. Freedom is not cheap. The question is: Are we ready to invest in the future we desire and the freedom of people and pay the price. Today Nnamdi Kanu is paying the price of freedom . His continued incarceration is only designed to weaken him and destroy his spirit, including demoralizing those who share in his vision of freedom for his people. I again call on the Federal Government to free Nnamdi now, dust up the CONFAB report or set another table so that we can as free men and men talk about the future of this country.

Buhari: Kalu’s call for Igbo unity Odimegwu Onwumere

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here has been rofo-rofo in some quarters since May 2016 that a former Governor of Abia State and renowned businessman, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu was captured in an interview saying that “Buhari’s govt’ll favour Igbo more.” One area that is sensitive in that interview was where Kalu sent in his advice to Ndigbo, saying, he has been praying to God to remove the ‘I know too much’ from Ndigbo and give them love. He said that Ndigbo need to be given the heart to love one another than intelligence; they are too intelligent for his liking and they are too distrusting in liking their brothers.

He added that the Igbo should love one another, because the Igbo are the trustees of the dream, they are the salt of the nation; they are everywhere in Nigeria. They should also love other Nigerians because it takes a good Christian to admit a

good Muslim and the other.

Those who think that they have brought Kalu to the cleaners because he said that Ndigbo will benefit more under this government when it was glaringly showing that there is terrific hardship under the Major General Muhammadu Buhari-led government, do not know the stuff Kalu is made of.

Kalu seems to be a student of Napoleon Hill (which I’m), who said in his book –Think And Grow Rich – that, every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit. This might be what Kalu who is best described as a seer had seen and wanted Nigerians to see through his lenses. Kalu is one man that can be said loves Ndigbo very much, and I will explain more.

He has fought Igbo battles more than any person or group might think that he had not. The absence of love is the cause of many problems that are associated with the world today. Inter alia, lack of love is the cause of disunity among peoples. But if there is any man who is cosseted to love, that man

is Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. I’ve always said that his love for his people – Ndigbo – is irrefutable. He frowns at any environment where there is a lack of love, hence his several calls for Igbo unity.

These calls have no measurement. It’s coming after some Igbo organisations that Igbo businesses were placed on their feet seemed to have failed. Dr. Kalu formed Njiko Igbo in that admiration to organize Ndigbo and to make them to love each other.

Acting as transient coordinator, he is spending millions of dollars in making the attainment of love among Ndigbo a reality, no matter minuscule discordant voices to his visions with Njiko Igbo; one of which visions was for Ndigbo to actualise Igbo presidency in 2015. But Nigerian saw how the election and zoning hand clock changed in 2015.

The exceptional aspect of the Njiko Igbo is that it is not affiliated to any political party. Njiko Igbo is not into partisan politics, not against any political party in Nigeria. There are Shylocks, traitors, detractors and traducers any-

where in the world. There are people with these traits among Ndigbo, and they have fought and been fighting Kalu in making sure that he goes somber in his benevolent act of love for Ndigbo, but he has refused to relax in his obligation; rather he prefers loving Ndigbo by consulting widely on how to make Ndigbo to be their brother’s keeper, and not their brother’s killer.

He was with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, at their palaces in his love pursuit for Ndigbo, to discuss the issue bothering them. From Abia to Anambra, Kalu has not been relaxing in the lock-up of his comfort; he has been sojourning for this onerous task.

During one of Kalu’s visits to the palace of Obi of Onitsha in 2012, Igwe Achebe observed that the desires of Ndigbo in Nigeria can only be actualised if they are in unity. Achebe fingered the sizable investments that Ndigbo scattered across the world.

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

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

As polio fights back

N

igeria’s laudable efforts to eradicate the polio virus were dashed recently with news that two new cases were reported in Jere and Gwoza local government areas of Borno State. This setback was recorded after the country had clocked two straight years without a new case of an outbreak of the debilitating wild polio virus.

Nigeria was also removed from the list of polio-endemic countries in July 2015, leaving Afghanistan and Pakistan in the odd group that had 125 members as at 1988.

Last month, on the occasion of Nigeria’s second year without any outbreak, President Muhammadu Buhari had in a joint statement with Nigeria’s development partners expressed much joy that Africa and the world were getting closer to eradicating the “devastating disease.” The statement did not go without a caveat: “But our job is not yet done.

We must protect the gains we have made and stay on course to tackle the challenges that remain on eliminating polio for good.” It was just as well that Nigeria took the advice of its development partners seriously otherwise the fresh outbreak may have gone unnoticed. Interestingly, the fresh outbreak was recorded within the North-East, where the development partners had called for surveillance.

Acting World Health Organisation Representative for Nigeria, Dr. Rex Mapazanje, had on the occasion of the two-year feat warned that Nigeria must remain vigilant, especially in the areas of the North-East mostly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency as well as neighbouring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger. It is salutary to note that with the new

discovery, all hands have been on deck to set the train back on the desired route to total polio eradication in Nigeria.

Already, an emergency polio vaccination programme has kicked off in Borno State and is intended to reach one million children immediately. In the next few months, the vaccination campaign will increase the number to five million children across three more states. A report by Reuters says the emergency campaign will extend to children across the Lake Chad region, comprising parts of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. Thousands of volunteer community mobilisers will educate families on the importance of immunisation and inform them on when and where to have their children vaccinated, the re-

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

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Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor, Publication & Operations n Emeka Obasi

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

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sect by the Nigerian government and its North-Eastern neighbours.

The significant military successes recorded by these governments have made it possible for health officials to reach thousands of people trapped in areas hitherto under the sect’s control.

The Nigerian military needs to be commended for liberating many communities and giving new hope to their beleaguered inhabitants.

Also, the commendation must extend to local and international NGOs and aid agencies, whose personnel risk their lives to reach dan-

All hands must be on deck to remove the nation from the odious list finally

port added. “These people are coming from communities that have not been reached in three years due to the conflict in the North-East,” said Mohammed Ibrahim, UNICEF Programme Officer for immunisation in Borno State.

“The crowded conditions in the camps make diseases spread faster, and this puts children at higher risk of polio infection,” he said. The report notes that teams of vaccinators are already working in Internally Displaced Persons’ camps, which are home to tens of thousands of people. It must be noted that the polio eradication efforts would not have yielded much dividend in the North-East without the degrading of the Boko Haram

DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED

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

gerous areas where insurgent activity has been reported. Some of these aid workers have even lost their lives. However, the warning

by Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof.

Isaac Adewole, that the virus could reach other states must not be tricked with.

While giving an assessment report to journalists and stakeholders on August 17 in Abuja, the minister had said that the risk of spreading was as a result of population movement within and around Borno State and neighbouring countries. Adewole particularly pointed out that the new cases came from areas where security was lax and the people had limited access to health services.

Thankfully, the minister said he had already approved a review of the polio virus outbreak response plan put together by the National Primary Healthcare Develop-

ment Agency and its partners.

Outlining his Marshal Plan, the minister said: “The response plan includes five rounds of polio campaigns, three of which are focused on 16 Northern states and two to be conducted nationwide. These campaigns will be synchronised with the affected regions of Chad, Niger and Cameroon.” Giving specifics, the minister said no fewer than 57 million children would be vaccinated between October and November 2016 while the military was providing security for immunisation volunteers in volatile areas.

With the renewed determination by Nigeria and its regional and development partners to eradicate the virus, all hands must be on deck to remove the nation from the odious list finally. Also, efforts must be made to improve the conditions in IDP camps to guard against the emergence of the virus. Words must be matched with action in the drive to kick polio out of Nigeria. Government should also enlist the support of religious organisations, clerics and traditional rulers to ensure maximum cooperation by all Nigerians.

The regular awareness campaigns should go beyond mere jingles to serious sensitisation on social media and the regular media. Politicians, civil rights activists, women organisations and advocacy groups should be enlisted in the campaign. The National Orientation Agency should deploy its resources in this forum, using as many languages as possible. The task must not be left to only the Federal Government and a few enthusiastic states but must be embraced by all state governments.

Every Nigerian must see himself or herself as a stakeholder in this campaign to eradicate polio from our shores.

16

POLITICS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Bauchi: Between Dogara and Abubakar Ibrahim Mohammed

I

recently read comments credited to the governor of Bauchi State, His Excellency, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara is leading other federal lawmakers to wage a political battle against him because he was not in support of his emergence as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

It is instructive to note that the Speaker himself has never been on record to have said anything negative about the governor. I have searched in vain for a shred of evidence.

The governor reportedly told State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday August 31, 2016, that, "My problem with Hon. Dogara Yakubu started during the election for the leadership of the National Assembly, I stood on the side of the party. I directed every Bauchi lawmaker to toe the line of the party by voting Femi Gbajabiamila as speaker. At that time, nine out of the 11 lawmakers did that, and later the candidate of Bauchi (Dogara) won.”

The governor also said that the Speaker, who hails from the same Bauchi South zone with him, is the brain behind the troubles he is witnessing in the state and federal level.

This came as a surprise, considering the well known fact that it was the Speaker who gave Governor Abubakar a consolidated bloc vote of delegates from Bogoro/ Dass/Tafawa Balewa during the primaries where he ran against his fellow lawmaker and friend, Hon. Yusuf Tuggar and former federal minister, Dr Yakubu Lame and won by 36 votes only.

There is no informed Bauchi indigine including the governor that will deny the known contributions of Speaker Dogara to his emergence as governor of Bauchi State.

On the contrary, this gesture was not returned by the governor, as he himself confessed that he refused to support Dogara during his race for the seat of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Instead, he mobilised Bauchi members to vote against him. But the Rt. Hon. Speaker is not one to bear grudges.

Interestingly, the governor presently does not have the support of 11 out of these same 12 Reps members. As a testimony to what the Speaker stands for, even Hon. M. S. Abdu, his own brother from Bauchi State, who nominated his opponent during the Speakership election is now a committed ally ditto so many Hon members who voted against him.

He is also not known to hold any resentment against his main challenger, the Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who later became the House Leader. The question agitating my mind is why should the case of Governor Abubakar be different when the Speaker has reconciled with those who worked against him?

Instructively, all the three senators from Bauchi State have parted ways with the governor be-

Dogara

cause they are not happy with the hardship his style of governance is bringing to the good citizens of the state who fought hard to bring him to office.

The question Governor Abubakar should be asking himself is: Why is it that nearly all National Assembly members from the State are not with him? Why are nearly all Bauchi elites not with him? Why is he being stoned all over the State? Why are preachers and traditional rulers against him? Are all these happening to him simply because he refused to support the emergence of Speaker Dogara? Certainly not.

Indeed, not even a fool would fail, in the present circumstances, to see that the governor's problems are much more deeper than just a mere issue with the Speaker over his emergence as Speaker. The sooner the govenor realizes this, the better for him. It seems it is the entire people of Bauchi State or an overwhelming majority of them that have had enough of the govenor and his antics and have decided to face him on their own.

Why is the governor scared to mention other reputable stakeholders like Mallam Adamu Ad-

Abubakar

Governor Abubakar does not have to look far to identify the cause of his woes

amu, Senator Ali Wakili, Senator Nazif Gamawa, Hon. Yusuf Tuggar, Dr. Yakubu Lame and others too numerous to mention, who are all strongly united in rejecting his retrogressive brand of politics? Is it cowardice or share brinkmanship? Is he saying they are not important enough to warrant his attention? Is he telling us that all these principled and distinguished stakeholders from Bauchi have abandoned him and joined forces with Speaker Dogara to fight him for no reason other than what he alleged? Where are the marines that would buy the governor's story? He talked about lies been spread about him without telling us what the lies were in specific terms.

Has Speaker Dogara become so central to the politics of Bauchi so much so that he can orchestrate a counter revolution at will or spread lies so well that the mass of Bauchi will start stoning the governor in all the Local Government Areas he visit? Come on, your Excellency, were you elect to insult Bauchi people and some of us who are keen watchers of political developments in Bauchi State? You really believe you are

been stoned for not supporting Speaker Dogara to emerge as Speaker or for lies Speaker Dogara is peddling about you? Is that how stupid Bauchi people have become, stoning their governor for an election that was settled more than a year ago? You really believe that? May be you don't know what it means for people to stone a leader they voluntarily elected. I am sure you don't, otherwise you won't have trivialized the matter that way.

From all indications, Governor Abubakar does not have to look far to identify the cause of his woes. Neither the speaker nor the federal lawmakers are responsible for his troubles. His anti-peoples policies and actions are clearly the reason for his estranged relationship with the Bauchi people. As if that is not enough, the governor is incurring the wrath of Bauchi people for sabotaging the APC in Bauchi in making his key appointments including composition of local government area caretaker chairmen and committees.

Since 2015, he sanctioned an unending salaries verification exercise for all public service staff to remove "ghost workers" and all this while, most workers and pensioners who have been denied verification have not received their salaries and entitlements. An exercise which Governor Abubakat himself admitted in a BBC Hausa interview that is a failure.

It is time to focus on building the state and its institutions to serve the people of Bauchi. This can be achieved faster if there is a synergy between the governor, speaker, Mal Adamu Adamu, senators, legislators and other stakeholders. Honestly any fight with any or all the major stakeholders, as is presently the case, will not do the governor any good.

It is the governor's responsibility to provide the needed leadership by uniting the people behind him and to deliver on the APC change mandate which will end the stoning. No smart adviser would counsel otherwise. But if the governor hopes that he can go alone and still succeed, then goodluck. Time will tell!

•Mohammed writes from Alkaleri, Bauchi State

Crack in Okorocha’s kitchen cabinet C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 1

tem.” This perhaps roused Nwosu to issue a half-hearted caution. “Alaribe my brother, this post is not good at all. Please stop,” he wrote.

Despite Nwosu’s attempt to douse tension, it is however a known fact that Chief Jude Ejiogu, the former Chief of Staff before Nwosu, was also enmeshed in a cold war with the deputy governor until he was redeployed to the SSG position before he was removed from office for reasons best known to Okorocha.

While Madmere’s kinsmen in Mbieri, Mbaitoli council area have even gone on air to beg Governor Okorocha to come to their rescue as there is no single motorable road to their community from the state capital, political pundits are musing on the theory that the cause of the infrastructural dilapidation in the area may be more of an issue of politics than an issue of capacity.

Today, Madumere, has become a byword for all that is bad in Mbaitoli council area as he has been unable to attract any substantial infrastructure to his community as deputy governor of Imo state. The Achi Mbieri community of the deputy governor is something next to an abandoned enclave.

Not even the Eke Ubomiri-Achi MbieriRenaissance road leading directly to the Deputy Governor’s country home is worth a second look.

On the other hand, Nwosu’s Eziama Obaire community which is almost a 45-minutes drive from the state capital has evidently been overhauled, infrastructurally.

While the cold war rages between the Madumere and Nwosu camps, Okorocha has since his return from abroad been trying to put his house in order. On the same day he arrived Owerri, the Imo State capital, he scheduled a meeting with all his appointees, while a meeting with his

commissioners was held the next day.

Though little has been said officially by the state government, there is no gainsaying the fact that Okorocha felt abandoned in his brief moment of crisis. Not even his Commissioner for Information, Vitalis Ajumbe, thought it worthwhile to repudiate the rumour and tell the public the true position of things until it was late.

Though the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, issued a strongworded press statement, it came at a time the rumour has already gained ground far more than what a press statement by could redress.

As calm and unpredictable as the governor could be in handling sensitive issues, it may not entirely be far from the truth to adduce that some minor adjustment in structure may be inevitable in the days ahead.

According to analysts, there are too many clutters in the governor’s kitchen, but there is still time to put his house in order.

17

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sports $300m Abuja National Stadium wastes away

Inside Abuja

One of the pedestrian bridges

Damagaza Sleepy community hit by mysterious deaths

18 21

Another market scene on the pedestrian bridge

FCT declares war on hawkers The construction of pedestrian bridges across the major highways in Abuja came as a big relief to motorists and residents of the city. However, these bridges are fast becoming a nuisance as traders, the destitute and even hoodlums have taken over these passages. YEKEEN NURUDEEN reports

M

any roads in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are death traps due largely to their wide and smooth

Onwuka NzeshI

ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF nzeshi@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

nature. Many pedestrians have been knocked down by fast moving vehicles.

But residents blamed this on absence of pedestrian bridges within and across the city which boasts of some of the finest roads in the country.

Over the years, however, the FCT administration hearkened to cries for pedestrian bridges in Abuja and constructed those bridges in strategic places across the city as the administration constructed more roads in the city.

Places such as Area 3, Finance Junction, Mabushi, Lugbe, Karonmajigi, Banex, Gwarinpa, Galadima are few of the locations where the pedestrians are situated to ease the movement of pedestrians who risk their lives while attempting to cross the highway.

The purposes for which the bridges were constructed appeared to have been defeated as residents are not using the pedestrian bridges out of fear of being attacked by hoodlums and hawkers who have turned them into markets With such bridges, deaths resulting from accidents on highways are reduced significantly as there will be no one expected to run through a road when there is a bridge to be used.

Inside Abuja reports that most of the pedestrian bridges in the capital city are being taken over by traders, many of whom deal in fairly-used items, foodstuffs and other household goods .

Also, at the foot of these bridges are street urchins who peddle prohibited substances such as hard drugs and engage

Residents are not using the pedestrian bridges out of fear of being attacked by hoodlums

in riotous behaviours which often make innocent passers-by vulnerable to being assaulted.

While some of the traders resume to display their wares as early as 8a.m. several others, especially those who sell fairly-used clothes for men and women, shoes and wrist watches take over the bridges at about 4p.m. when workers are closing from their offices.

Many residents have expressed concerns over this growing development which has denied pedestrians the use of the bridge.

Gbenro Samuel who lives in Dutsen Alhaji, a suburb of Abuja lamented that “the hawkers do not come out until late in the evening when many people would crowd the area."

They have customers who buy these things from them regularly. If you want to see them, come under the bridge around evening,” he added.

Another resident, Ifeoma George attributed the growing number of hawkers on pedestrian bridges to the need to make ends meet by Nigerians, noting that since pedestrian bridges attract large number of people especially at peak periods, hawkers have good markets there.

Inside Abuja discovered that due to this high number of people coming up and going down the bridges, hawkers of all kind of goods, including vegetables are finding these bridges to be free market grounds. Many of them recklessly display their wares and at times block the passage-way completely.

A vegetable seller on Lugbe pedestrian bridge, who simply

identified herself as Mama Grace, said she found it more comfortable to sell on the bridge than on the ground.

“We see more customers here than on the ground.

People that are coming from work don’t have to stop at the market. They buy these things from us. When they get down the bridge, they take a bike and go directly to their homes. And here, nobody runs after us; we do not pay any money to anybody,” she said.

However, inundated by complaints of attacks on the bridges and other reasons, Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has ordered a clampdown on hawkers trading at all the pedestrian bridges in the city.

The minister specifically directed the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the FCT Task Team on Environment to as a matter of urgency stop hawkers using pedestrian bridges for their activities in the FCT. He gave this directive when he paid an unscheduled visit to Pedestrian Bridge in Ludge last Thursday.

Bello warned that hawking and other activities are not acceptable on the pedestrian bridges across the territory and called for stern enforcement.

He reiterated that such bridges were constructed for easy movement and passage of residents crossing the highways but not meant for hawking, begging or for other nuisances and therefore a stop must be put to it forthwith.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

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Inside ABUJA | SLUMS

The National Stadium, Abuja is an imposing structure close the City Gate and conspicuous to those entering and leaving the federal capital city. Thirteen years after, the multibillion naira structure is fast becoming an abandoned edifice due to neglect by the relevant authorities. ADEOLU JOHNSON reports

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

$300m Abuja National

Headquarters of the Nigeria Football Federation

Front view of the abandoned Stadium Hotel

The Velodrome

VIP entrance to the Velodrome

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he National Stadium, Abuja caught the attention of the world when the edifice hosted the 8th All Africa Games 2003 (COJA) with an imposing state of the art facilities that can boast of being among the best in Africa and any part of the world.

Thirteen years after the Games, the structures built during the era of President Olusegun Obasanjo to the tune of $300 million are fast degenerating with some of the roof tops blown away by winds while other structures have caved in due to neglect.

Abandoned edifice The most dilapidated structure is a 240-room hotel facility with a Conference Centre that have been overgrown by weeds and taken over by rodents. The large structure is now inhabited by some poor Nigerians who use it as their shelter in the face of lack of accommodation in the city.

The herdsmen too are not left out of the show as they choose the expansive green areas around the stadium complex as grazing fields for their cattle, The stadium hardly hosts events since most of the sports federations took them outside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where they would enjoy corporate sponsorships due to lack of funds.

Often times, the main bowl serves as a venue for religious and cultural activities which pay a little or nothing in return.

Unlike the entertainment and social recreation venues, social functions such as Interhouse sports and games amongst schools and other institutions which generate revenue for the National Stadium in Lagos, the reverse is the case in Abuja which groans under lack of fund for maintenance.

Apart from few recreational games of tennis, badminton, swimming, gymnastics and cricket that are held at the Package B, the Stadium is more or less a grave yard, particularly on weekends.

The Package B with vast acres of land wasting away would have been turned into Housing Estates if the authority has taken

advantage of it.

A first time visitor to the Package B which is divided from Package with an overhead bridge that runs across the City Gate, will see nature at its best with the different kinds of animals that stroll through in the vast land around a little stream.

Recent movement of the staff of the scrapped National Sports Commission (NSC) back to the Ministry of Youth and Sports by the minister, Solomon Dalung, has not helped matters with the facilities suffering neglect.

Herdsmen and insecurity The herdsmen who usually invade the stadium in groups to feed their cattle some times overwhelm the stadium security officials who tried to stop them from their activities, especially at the Package B of the stadium.

“It has been a routine for these

Inside the Velodrome

The most dilapidated structure is a 240room hotel facility with a Conference Centre that have been overgrown by weeds and taken over by rodents

herdsmen to herd their cows to this place for grazing, especially in the last one year. They invade the stadium at will and it seems nobody is ready to stop or caution them,” said a security official attached to the stadium.

When our correspondent sought the view of the stadium manager, Mr. Sati Mbok, he said that the management has been making frantic efforts to stop the herdsmen, but they have rather continued to increase in their numbers.

Lack of maintenance A visit to the stadium by Inside Abuja last week was revealing.

At the Package B of the complex, one was greeted with bushy outlay that leaves one wondering if the entrance is a disused village path. As if that was not enough, the two Indoor Sports Halls of the stadium have not witnessed

any competition that could attract just more than the participating athletes and their officials in a long while.

The surrounding of the complex is overgrown with weeds and a corner of the entrance now serves as a waste dumpsite, a situation that has turned that section of the complex into a filthy zone. Daily experience of workers in the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) and the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVF), whose offices are situated at the Indoor Hall, is better imagined.

Further down the trail, is the Olympic-sized swimming pool, which has become a home for tadpoles, toads and frogs. A staffer at the complex, when asked why the pool was left unattended, jokingly said that the pool was only fit for a ‘point and kill’ fish farm. Another staffer, who would not want to be quoted, however, added that the water in the pool was not dirty, but that it was the basement of the pool that had accumulated much dirt, which left the pool polluted.

“The pool is being maintained by the federation that has not got subvention for a long time now.

However, what you see now will soon be a thing of the past, as the pools are being worked on. The machines that pump water into it are being serviced and where necessary, are being replaced,” he said.

“The painting of the structure will commence soon. Cleaning the swimming pools and its diving slabs may cost nothing less than half a million naira and the cleaning exercise has to be done on a regular basis, but the funds are not there.

"It is for this reason that we are

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Stadium wastes away

A view of the swimming pool

Abandoned fire trucks rotting away at the stadium

Hotel facility abandoned in the bush

A view of the National Stadium, Abuja

calling on members of the public to come and patronise the facility so that we can have returns to maintain the place. The sports ministry is not always forthcoming when it comes to releasing funds for facility maintenance,” the staffer added.

The engine room to the pools are equally not an encouraging site.

Meanwhile, down the same route are the Tennis Courts for the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF). There, the canopies covering the seating areas of the centre courts have been uprooted.

Although more courts have been added to the ones that were used for the All Africa Games back in 2003, most of the new ones are already showing signs of disrepair. Some parts of the arena are being threatened by erosion. The fence around the courts towards the generating room is crumbled, such that it could be hazardous going after any ball that strays out of the playing area towards the fence.

The outdoor courts for basketball are far from being encouraging, as most of the backboards are in bad state. The rims in some of them are hanging precariously, ready to fall any moment. Moreover, that area is also overgrown with weeds, even as a part of the area has been converted to farmland.

When our correspondent spoke to a woman and her child who were harvesting millet on the ‘farmland in the complex’, the woman said: “My husband works here (at the stadium) as a security man and since we are here with him, we farm here to grow what we eat. The land is fertile.”

At the far end of the Package

B, is the National Institute for Sports (NIS), which has to itself a large expanse of land mostly serving as farmland by these illegal occupants.

The Astroturf for hockey within the Package B remains one of the best on the African continent, but the problem of underutilisation is telling on it.

Again, the scorching heat of the sun, which beats it regularly, is fast changing its colour.

It was difficult to have a good look at the scoreboard in this section because the board is partially covered by overgrown weeds, just as some areas around the artificial turfs have different shades of shrubs creeping into the area.

Cricketers in Abuja, who see no reason why they should waste a valuable space, have converted the arena that was used by the Baseball Federation during the 2003 All Africa Games to a cricket pitch.

The Velodrome The most painful site at the Abuja Stadium complex is the main bowl of the velodrome that also houses the cycling arena. Currently, the Nigeria Cycling Federation (NCF), which used to operate from there, has been sent packing and made to carry out its business from the Package B area. A look around the velodrome leaves one totally dejected, as the facility has been turned into a glorified carpenter’s workshop.

However, taking a look inside the complex leaves one wondering if the velodrome would ever come alive again. Investigations have it that it has in the past been put to use for exhibitions, concerts and all manner of events

Government alone cannot continue to fund sports

such that the real purpose for which it was constructed is far from being achieved. Planks of various sizes are littered all over the racing tracks as well as around the seating area. There were woods everywhere, but no furniture maker in sight.

A closer peep revealed that there were thousands of gas cylinders and cooking stoves in the main bowl of the velodrome. Inside Abuja learnt that the items were brought there by a political party during the last general elections. According to a security guard at the complex, the items were supposed to had been distributed to the supporters of an unnamed political party but was later suspended just before the elections were concluded On security outlay, the Package B arena is almost a free zone to walk into. Aside the security men at the main entrance, who check vehicles as they drive out, there was no sign of security inside the arena. For the two occasions our correspondent were at the Package B, despite arriving the arena in the early hours of the morning and staying till late afternoon, nobody acted as a security man in that area of the stadium complex.

Power Cuts The NSC was at time indebted to PHCN to the tune of millions of naira which resulted in the offices relying on generating sets to work.

The sports minister on assumption of office pointed out the inability of successive administrators to maintain the structures due to lack of continuity. He was of the opinion that in line with the change mantra of the present administration, he

Inside ABUJA

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will not embark on any elephant project while the existing ones continue to suffer neglect pointing out that all the government owned stadia facilities are near collapse and need urgent turn around maintenance and renovation.

Dalung maintained that as a Nigerian and as an athlete who had once competed at the national stadium in Lagos, he felt pained to see what has become the fate of the old national stadium and have decided to pay more attention to bring it and others alike back to their old glory instead of embarking on projects he could not complete due to the short tenure of ministerial appointees and lack of continuity that has become the bane of successive governments.

While blaming the rot in our national monuments on the insensitivity of past leaders, Dalung also blamed the commercialisation of such venture without a corresponding utilisation of accruing resource to their maintenance.

Another reason for such decay in the system, Dalung pointed out was the lack of public private partnership in the development of sports and sporting facilities.

While promising to engage the private sector in his desire to see the Lagos national stadium regain its old centre of attraction, Dalung said government alone cannot continue to fund sports while allowing multinational corporations in the country not to live up to their social responsibilities to the nation.

Utilisation options The issue of non-public/private partnership in the development of sports therefore brings us to the issue of the edifice called the Abuja National Stadium.

Former Director General of NSC, Dr. Amos Adamu, has advised the government to privatise the Abuja stadium immediately after the 2003 All-Africa Games in order to maintain its standards and avoid the vandalism of facilities.

The Federal Government who owns 100 per cent equity on the property at the moment, has faced a lot of antagonism both locally and internationally. The average estimate for annual maintenance since its inauguration runs into millions of naira and government has not been able to provide it in its yearly budget.

The government has been seeking options for privatisation of the facility. Through the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the Federal Government intends to grant a concession to a sole concessionaire who will enter into an investment commitment, and essentially operate the stadium with a primary goal of generating revenue from the proceeds of sporting events, concerts, religious activities, corporate sponsorship, corporate advertising and other promotional activities.

The concessionaire has the choice of assuming the role of Facility Manager for the property encompassed in the National Stadium and the Indoor Sports Complex, or employ a firm to perform the task. The BPE will act as the monitor in the arrangement.

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INSIDE ABUJA \ NEWS

CSO blames recession on lack of coordination of economic policies Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

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he Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has blamed the current recession on lack of policy coordination between fiscal and monetary authorities in

the country.

Lead Director at CSJ and budget expert, Barrister Eze Onyekpere, said that,the Wednesday’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicating economy contracted by -2.06% in second quarter

was a mere pronouncement long foretold.

He said signs that economy was hiding southward had been visible to all.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on the import of a recess economy at a roundtable session on 2016 budget implementa-

tion, Onyekpere said both the monetary and fiscal authorities had been working at a cross propose.

“Part of the challenges we have is, monetary policy is heading west and fiscal policy is heading south. You cannot be having a contractionary

Governor, Dr. Abubarka Sani Bello (fourth left); his wife/founder of Raise Foundation, Dr. Amina; wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari (fourth right) with the wives of the state governors during the unveiling of the Raise Foundation Cancer Screening Centre in Minna, Niger State …at the weekend.

FG wants local manufacture, launch of satellites into space Clem Khena-Ogbena Abuja

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he Nigerian government is desirous of locally manufactured and space-launched satellites, capable of addressing the incidents such as oil thefts and allied crimes as well as develop the nation's agriculture to the maximum, as applicable in developed countries of the world.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who gave the indication at the oneday 16th Annual National Space Dialogue, with the theme "Space Technology for Self-Reliance and Sustainable Development", organised by the National Space Research and Development Agen-

cy (NASRDA), in Abuja, added that the country had to look inwards in search of solutions to the nation's challenges, as it could not afford to be left behind in space science and technology. He stressed that indigenising the nation's satellite programme would go a long way in promoting science and technology.

Expressing regret over the country's large dependence upon other nations for its needs, the minister pointed out that the enormous potential of the space had not been fully understood, while blaming the non-participation of Nigeria in space science much earlier on its ancestors, who had failed, according to him, to do so when others did.

His words: "The great

potential of space is not yet fully understood. Nigeria should aspire to locally manufacture and launch satellites into space. We must join other nations in the exploration and exploitation of space. We cannot afford to repeat the mistake made by our ancestors centuries ago, when some nations sent their citizens to explore the oceans of the world and determine the boundaries of continents, our ancestors did not participate.

"We cannot continue to depend on other countries to meet our needs. The sharp drop in commodity prices has taught us bitter lesson. We should take advantage of the opportunity created by this situation to become selfreliant. We must look inwards in the search for so-

lutions to our problems."

Earlier, the DirectorGeneral, NASRDA, Prof.

Seidu Mohammed, had noted that Nigeria had reached the level, where sole dependence on petrol dollars could no more sustain its economy, adding that space science and technology would provide formidable alternative to oil.

According to Mohammmed, "The global telecom market is about $200 billion annually. Out of this amount, an estimated $2 billion leaves the country as capital flight, due to foreign telecom operators in Nigeria, who import foreign bandwidth and related services annually."

He called for the diversification of the economy by embracing space science and technology.

monetary policy, trying hedging the economy; trying to mop up liquidly every time.

“At some point the government is saying we want to run an expansionary budget, you want to spend your way out of recession while on the other end, the monetary policy is contractionary.

I wonder what is happening between economic management team of fiscal and monetary policy.

And that is the beginning of the crisis we have in our economy. There is no harmony between these two key policies. There is no raking economy policy framework,” he said.

As a way out of the economic quagmire, he implored both the executive and legislature at all levels of government to show good example by cutting down on their frivolous expenses.

“Now is the time for the government to declare emergency in economy.

We must be ready as citi-

Abuja

A

s part of its objectives to promote better management of migration in Nigeria, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has held a day's training for Interior correspondents in Abuja, the nation's capital.

The thrust of the gathering was to broaden re-

porters' horizon as well as equip them with a better understanding of issues relating to migration and other global trends.

IOM is an inter-governmental organisation, which was established in 1951, with the objective of facilitating migrants' movement from Europe.

The IOM began its operation in Nigeria in 2002, after signing an agreement with the Nigerian government, to align its

objective with government's domestic and foreign policies.

In the course of the workshop, it was disclosed that in 2012, about $21 billion was received by the Nigerian government, as remittances from Nigerians in the Diaspora.

During the training, Inside Abuja learnt that the term"illegal migrant", in relation to a person, who entered another country without proper documen-

tation, is inappropriate.

Rather, reference should be made to the person as an "irregular migrant".

It was also disclosed that smuggling of migrants, has elements of "freeness", in which case, the migrant would have expressed interest in travelling abroad, through illegal means.

The difference between smuggling and trafficking in persons, is that the former bears imprints of "in-

zens to sacrifice more if we want the economy to move forward. We need a charismatic leadership.

We must be ready as citizens to sacrifice more if we want the economy to move forward. Charismatic in the way of thinking, charismatic in how to carry Nigerians along. If President and National Assembly cut down today, cut down their frivolities, Nigerians can now say let’s pay more. But today, it’s difficult to ask Nigerians to sacrifice when they are not in the forefront in the sacrifice.

“For instance, what is President Muhammadu Buhari still doing with 11 jets? Why National Assembly should be pickling N115 billion, which they are not ready to account to anybody? So they should be in the vanguard of leadership sacrifice. I don’t see the reason why the president, Senate President and the Speaker cannot drive Peugeot?

These guys simply don’t get it; they are misleading us. Somebody should tell them to stop misleading us. A state of emergency in economy should be declared by cutting down on their wasteful and prodigal lifestyles,” he said.

Residents decry economic hardship Ruth Monday Abuja

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he residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the continued suffering as a result of the economic challenges facing the country.

Respondents who spoke with New Telegraph expressed bitterness over the situation which some of them described as a national emergency that requires urgent attention.

Some of the respondents at the popular Sky Memorial Complex in Abuja were of the view that the present administration has not been able to fulfil its promise of change to the people.

The first respondent, Mr. Idris, who said he is computer analyst in one of Information Technolo-

IOM trains journalists on migration and related issues Emmanuel Onani

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

terest" and "willingness", while the latter is steeped "coercion" and "exploitation".

Also, while smuggling of migrants cannot be done within a country, trafficking of persons can.

Inside Abuja further learnt that Mauritania, Agadez (Niger), Morocco, and Libya, are some of the migration routes, where irregular migrants explore to enter Europe.

gy firms, said that though the Muhammadu Buhariled government is yet to fulfil its promises, he still prefers it to the past administration.

"Currently Nigerians are pleading with the government to come to their aid. The masses are suffering, lot of graduates have no job, there is constant increase in the price of foodstuffs," he said.

Another respondent , Suleiman Abubakar, a civil servant, emphatically passes the buck on the past administration, which he accused of plunging the country into a huge foreign debt.

He said the past administration borrowed so much from the international financial institutions without considering the economic consequences.

"I am experiencing hardship and it is obvious that we are passing through all these because the past government did a lot of borrowing and it is affecting us right now," he said.

Suleiman also said that no matter the economic situation he will still vote the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mrs Hassan, a business woman at Wuse market exonerated the government from the continued hardship.

She advised that people should look beyond the present condition and see the light at the end of the tunnel.

INSIDE ABUJA

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Recently, nine children died mysteriously in a rural community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), writes CALEB ONWE

Damagaza: Sleepy community hit by mysterious deaths

Kabiru who tried to persuade them to talk, at a point, just summarised their experience thus: "These people's case is just like the case of every other person, the sickness just came, the children's belly swell up and before they go to hospital, the children died."

D

amagaza, a small rural settlement in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was relatively unknown until the angel of death visited the community and snatched away nine children of different ages within one month in circumstances that raised both suspicion and fear among the residents.

The sudden deaths occurred in Unguwar Hausawa, a filth-ridden enclave subsumed within Damagaza community. Apart from inflicting the bereaved parents with traumatic sores, the death of their beloved children also awakened in them the consciousness for personal cleanliness and environmental sanitation.

Though, still in agonizing pain and sorrow that could be read from their facial expressions, Inside Abuja observed that many of the residents of Unguwar Hausawa, dominated by Hausa/Fulani, were voluntarily carrying out environmental sanitation, a vocation that was presumably alien to them before now.

The deceased As the initial media reports of these mysterious deaths hit the airwaves, Inside Abuja made efforts to track down the families of the deceased to establish the identities of these children whose destinies mysteriously evaporated at a very prime stage.

The expected success on that adventure was somehow undermined by cultural inhibitions and language barriers. Most of the people who were available to respond to the inquest of our reporter were children and women garrisoned in several sack shanty shelters structured in a manner that suggest "Ba shiga" in Hausa language, meaning 'no entry'.

With the existence of such subculture, male/female interface and communication is restricted, except with the permission of the head of the family.

Where the reporter had unfettered access to the women, 'ba turenci' meaning ' no English' was the readily available refrain.

However, tracking down the head of the settlement, known as the "Mai Sarki Hausawa Damagaza", meaning the Chief of the Hausas in Damagaza, provided a little respite.

Meeting the chief, Alhaji Abdulhameed Ibrahim, also encountered yet another communication challenge, since the reporter does not have the mastery of Hausa language and the chief does not understand English language.

Nonetheless, another respite came when a man who identified himself as Kabiru Bala and claimed to be the Secretary to the Chief appeared. Kabiru has just sparse ability to communicate in English, but managed to provide a helpful interpretation.

Unfortunately, like the angel of

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Mysterious deaths Inside Abuja's investigation revealed that initially residents of the community had divided opinions borne out tremendous cloud of confusion that engulfed them about the inexplicable emergency situation.

While some of the residents attributed the sudden death to witchcraft activities which they claim was endemic in the area; others argued that it was an outbreak of epidemic that is inevitable considering the poor hygiene and sanitation culture in the area.

Damagaza road

death that visited every household in the biblical Egypt, killing every first born of both human beings and animals, including those of King Pharaoh; the Mai sariki of the Unguwar Hausawa, Damagaza, was not exempted from the venomous pangs of this unwanted guest that swooped on the community, taking away their joy that define the essence of their existence.

Alhaji Ibrahim, in his late 60s was almost breaking down emotionally when he brought out the picture of his adorable female twins, Hassana and Husseina, who were hacked down in an interval of one week by the angel of death at the age six.

He explained through the interpreter how he battled to save the life of his twins. He said that the trouble started in his community when children of various ages began to develop swollen stomach with multiplier effects of uncontrollable passing out of greenish watery substance mixed with mucus from their anus.

He went further to explain that one of his twins, Hassana, was the first among the twins that was struck down. He alleged that by the time he rushed Hassana to Asokoro District Hospital, since no primary health care facility was within reach at Damagaza, her case had deteriorated so badly that the hospital rejected them.

All the children had fever and diarrhoea; their abdomens were distended

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

The minister said that the administration was not prepared to take excuses anymore, saying that the agencies concerned must carry out their statutory duty.

The minister seized that opportunity to talk to the crowd gathered around the pedestrian bridge on why people should not use such places as shopping malls.

He told them that pedestrian bridges were also not constructed for miscreants and further warned that all ac-

According to him, another attempt was made to save Hassana by taking her to another hospital in faraway Suleja in Niger State.

Unfortunately, on arrival at this hospital, it was discovered that her intestine had ruptured and in a matter of seconds after they arrived at the hospital Hassana died.

At his point, with his slightly shaking hand, he was still holding the picture, admiring the lost treasures with an intermittent interjection "Allah Serki, Allah Serki" He told Inside Abuja that Husseina, the second of his twins, also died in the same circumstance in one week interval. The chief confirmed that a total number of nine children died including his twin girls.

Kabiru, the interpreter who claimed to be the village's secretary, shared his own experience.

He said that his little child was affected by the suspected epidemic but survived after taking the belated vaccine that health workers came and administered on the villagers.

Inside Abuja pressed very hard to get pictures of the remaining seven deceased children, but, shockingly discovered that two of the parents that were available do not have pictures to keep the memories of their departed souls alive.

Also getting them to share their story was like forcing a camel to pass through the eye of a needle,

Government's intervention Kabiru confirmed that Abuja Municipal Area Council chairman had visited the village with a team of health workers who intervened with vaccination that apparently humiliated the pangs of the angel of death which empirical evidence and experts opinion had proved to be an epidemic.

One of the reports alleged that the World Health Organization, FCT public health department and the FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, as part of interventions aimed at preventing the extinction of the whole community, had set up camp in the community to test, treat and vaccinate children exposed.

Inside Abuja did not see any camp with the resemblance of a health facility. However, this reporter confirmed from different sources that medical team actually came vaccinated and also created awareness on the need to imbibe good sanitation habit.

Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, said "all the children had fever and diarrhoea; their abdomens were distended; and their stool was mucus and greenish."

According to Mohammed, the disease could be a result of water contamination as residents of the community depend on stream and wells for water. He also said that their stool samples had been taken to Asokoro and Maitama district hospitals and Ibadan for definitive diagnosis.

Inside Abuja gathered that the plague has abated and other children who were infected by the disease had recovered and now in good health.

FCT's war against hawkers

tivities must be very far away from the expressways. “These expressways are the gateways into the Federal Capital City and the seat of power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and therefore everything must be done to keep Abuja clean from all environmental nuisances in line with the vision of its founding fathers,� Bello stressed.

The Director of the Abuja Environ-

mental Protection Board, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olanipekun, and the Chairman of the FCT Task Team on Environment, Squadron Leader Abdullahi Adamu Monjel, accompanied the minister on the unscheduled visit.

While this is a welcome development, it is a matter of time to see if the FCT Administration would have the political will to enforce this directive and also to ensure continuity.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Features

Averting another flood disaster in Benue Benue State government needs to intensify proactive measures to prevent loss of lives and property to imminent flood, reports CEPHAS IORHEMEN

T

he Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) recently sent warning signals to 11 states, asking them to take proactive measures to prevent the imminent flood disaster.

The states on the danger list are Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Kwara, Yobe, Nassarawa, Zamfara and Benue.

According to NIMET, the flood is to be expected between August and October.

The agency, in its reports on rainfall situation and prospects of flooding in August to October, signed by Head of Corporate Communication, Eva Arinze, revealed that the situation of soil moisture in the affected states was due to cumulative high intensity rainfall in June and July.

In the wisdom of the agency, the alert was to put governors of the affected states on their toes to evolve ways of averting a repeat of what occurred in 2012 where in Benue State, for instance, thousands of people, especially those living in the coastal plains of River Benue and other communities, were forced out of their homes by the flooding.

Research has shown that flood control, which refers to all methods used to reduce or prevent the detrimental effects of flood, has several approaches. Some of them, as applied in both developed and developing countries, include dams, water gate, diversion canals, self-closing flood barriers, river defences, coastal defences, temporary perimeter barriers and property level protection among others.

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Š Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

A flooded community in 2012

Ortom

Flood is caused by many factors which include heavy rainfall, highly accelerated snowmelt, severe wind and water, unusual high tides, Tsunamis, failure of dams, levees or retention ponds.

Flood can be exacerbated by increased amount of impervious surface or by other natural hazards such as wind fires, which reduce the supply of vegetation that can absorb rainfall.

During the 2012 disaster, which affected about seven local government areas including Makurdi, the Benue State capital, many lives were lost while property worth billions of naira were destroyed.

It is disturbing that during that disaster, the Federal Government under former President Goodluck Jonathan doled out N500 million, through the then Governor Gabriel Suswam-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government, as compensation

Suswam

The affected communities today have stories of woes to tell

for the victims, but the money was not used for the purpose it was meant.

The Suswam government claimed it used the money to develop the affected communities, but barely two years after he the governor left office, the areas he promised to develop with the flood money are still an eyesore as residents accused government of diverting money. The affected communities today have stories of woes to tell as nothing was done to justify the huge amount of money.

Some of the drainage channels which were blocked, for example, those linking the state university to the Judges Quarters and Ikyabiz Hotels are still today begging for completion. It goes to show clearly that if another flood is witnessed in the state, residents in such areas would suffer.

Even Governor Samuel Ortom, while receiving a delega-

tion from the Federal Ministry of Environment led by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Nana Mede, shortly on assumption of office, said that the money was diverted.

Ortom said that nothing was done to address the problems of the people displaced by the flood and called on the Federal Government to construct buffer dams along River Benue and Katsina-Ala as a solution to perennial flooding along the banks of the two rivers.

He also called for the completion of the Idye and Demekpe basin canals as well as construction of what he described as mega drainages in three major towns of the state to enable free flow of water.

Already, as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of the impending flood disaster in the state, Ortom has directed all those residing along the banks of Rivers Benue, Katsina-Ala and Buruku to vacate those areas.

The governor gave the directive while inspecting floodprone areas, drainage channels and areas threatened by erosion in Makurdi recently.

Ortom insisted that residents of the Fulani herdsmen-ravaged communities in Agatu, Guma, Makurdi, Buruku, Gwer-West and Katsina-Ala local government areas should heed the warning.

He said even as government had taken steps to avoid the repeat of the 2012 flood disaster, those residing in flood-prone areas should not wait for the rivers to overflow their banks before moving out. The governor particularly warned residents of Makurdi and other towns against blocking drainage channels with empty water sachets and plastic containers. Such negative attitudes, according to him, make many areas to be prone to flooding.

Ortom also said that the state environmental sanitation agency had stepped up efforts in refuse collection and advised citizens to drop refuse at designated spots for collection. He promised that his administration would continue with the preventive measures until Benue records a flood free-year.

Other steps taken by the Ortom administration to check the negative impact of the disaster is clearing of blocked drainage channels within Makurdi metropolis by the office of Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Utilities, Environment and Sanitation headed by Mr. Nathaniel Ikyur.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Homes & Property

Business PLAN PTDF may be repealed and the NCDMB law amended to accommodate subsuming PTDF under NCDMB

Tumult over sudden cement price increase

Aviation Any hope for Nigerian airlines?

27 29

Execution of Oronsanye’s report: Sack fever grips PPPRA, NOSDRA staff

Adeola Yusuf

F

ear of a mass sack has gripped workers at the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulating Agencies (PPPRA) and the National Oil Spill Detection and Management Agency (NOSDRA,) as the federal government mulls the revisit of the Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals and Commissions, due the recession that had hit the Nigerian economy.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NB) last Wednesday confirmed that the country had slid into recession, first time in 27 years.

A source at the Presidency told this newspaper that part of measures “under serious consideration by government to cushion the effects of the recession is the Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions.”

The committee led by exHead of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye had recommended 38 agencies for scrapping and the 52 agencies to be merged.

“Those in the services of multi-national companies like banks and oil firms are feeling this heat and I can tell you that

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

L-R: Head, Education and Training, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr. Chukwudi Nga; Head, Department of Economics, Mountain Top University, Makogi Oba, Ogun State, Professor Michael Adejugbe; Registrar/ Chief Executive, CIS, Mr. Adedeji Ajadi and Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, Mountain Top University, Professor Joshua Ojo, during career talk in Lagos.

it will soon be felt here too. The government is considering recommendation first on merger of agencies as provided by the report and this will be made know soon,” he said.

The Presidential Committee seen by New Telegraph, recommended the scrapping of the PPPRA, and the government is beginning to think in that line following the removal of subsidy and partial deregulation of the downstream sector.

The subsidy removal had stopped the quarterly allocation of fuel imports as well as the pricing regulation for petroleum products, which are some of the core duties of the PPPRA. Others in this category are National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA); Petroleum Technology

Development Fund (PTDF), Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), Ajaokuta Steel Company and National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO).

“The recession has brought back our fear my brother. We think that government is reconsidering the Oronsanye’s report and we are talking with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in case of the undesirable,” a source at the PPPRA said.

He added that the feeling is the same with other agencies affected.

“At least, I am sure of happening in NOSDRA and PTDF,” he added.

These highlights are contained in a 110-page Executive Summary submitted to the Office of the VicePresident.

Although Oronsaye Panel had recommended the abolition of 38 agencies, merger of 52 and reversal

INFLATION RATE July 2016.................................17.3% June 2016...............................16.5% May 2016............................15.6%

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

Adeola Yusuf Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Taiwo Hassan Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

EXCHANGE RATE

WHAT'S NEW

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parallel Market September 2)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N420 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N540 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N466

l Foreign Reserves – $25.417bn as at 31/8/2016

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Chuks Onuanyin

Being the amount spent annually to subsidise Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol

Rates Dashboard

Energy Editor

Wole Shadare

N1 trillion

of 14 to departments in ministries, a comprehensive list of those to be abolished was not made known to the public because a few ones mentioned (like EFCC, ICPC) generated controversy.

Some of those on the list are: the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), National Salaries and Wages Commission; Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission; Infrastructure Concessionary and Regulatory Commission; EFCC, ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau; Fiscal Responsibility Commission and National Board for Technical Education.

Others are National Commission for Colleges of Education; Federal Character Commission; Gurara Water Management Authority (GWMA); Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC); National Inland Waterways Authority

(Interbank as at Septemnber 2)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N314.77 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N401 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N341

Source: CBN

Nigeria, other developing countries’ Internet access still 40%, says report

Infrastructure growth triggers rise in global construction market value

p.24

p.24

24

BUSINESS |NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria, developing countries’ Internet access still 40%, says report INPETUS Nigeria is licensing seven infrastructure firms, in addition to existing licensed telecoms operators, to deepen Internet penetration

Kunle Azeez

D

espite the efforts being made by Nigeria and other developing countries to deepen their Internet/broadband market, aggregate Internet penetration in these countries remains at just 40 per cent, a latest report released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has revealed.

The study, titled: ICT Facts & Figures 2016, a copy of which was obtained by New Telegraph, showed that penetration is poorer in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which have an aggregate of 15 per cent penetration. But Internet penetration rates tell a different story, with eight per cent in developed countries.

However, of the 180 million population in Nigeria, available data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) show that there were over 93 million Internet users as at last June.

In Nigeria, telecoms industry regulator is on the verge of licensing additional five broadband infrastructure companies, in addition to two it had earlier issued licences this year – MainOne and IHS – with a view to accelerating broader

Sack fever grips PPPRA, NOSDRA staff CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

(NIWA); Commercial Law Department; and Centre for Automotive Design and Development (CADD).

Also included are Standards Organisation of Nigeria; Consumer Protection Council (CPC); National Orientation Agency (NOA); National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO); Nigerian Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Studies (NIHOTOUR); National Troupe and the National Theatre; National Gallery of Arts; Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) and Nigeria Leather Science Technology. Others are National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT). National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA); Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI); FIIRO, NASENI, NCAM; National Rural Electrification Agency (NREA); National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN).

About N1trillion is being spent annually to subsidise petrol.

access to broadband in Nigeria.

According to the ITU report, developing countries now account for the vast majority of Internet users, with 2.5 billion users compared with one billion in developed countries.

Globally, the report noted that 3.9 billion people remain cut-off from the vast resources available on the Internet, despite falling prices for ICT services.

“Access to information and communication technologies, particularly broadband, has the potential to serve as a major accelerator of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Global interconnectedness is rapidly expanding, however, more needs to be done to bridge the digital divide and bring the more than half of the global population not using the Internet into the digital economy,” said ITU Secretary-

General, Mr. Houlin Zhao.

Also commenting, Director, ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, Mr. Brahima Sanou, said: “2016 marks the year when the international community is embarking on the implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their 169 targets.

ITU, given the tremendous development of ICTs, has a key role to play in facilitating their attainment.”

Sanou explained: “ITU statistics inform public and private-sector decision makers and help us accomplish our mission: to make use of the full potential of ICTs for the timely achievement of the SDGs.” The report also reveals that mobile phone coverage is now near-ubiquitous, with an estimated 95 per cent of the global population – or some

seven billion people – living in an area covered by a basic 2G mobile-cellular network.

Advanced mobile-broadband networks (LTE) have spread quickly over the last three years and reach almost four billion people today – corresponding to 53 per cent of the global population.

But while the number of mobile-broadband subscriptions continues to grow at double digit rates in developing countries to reach a penetration rate of close to 41 per cent, mobile-broadband penetration growth has slowed overall.

Globally, the total number of mobile-broadband subscriptions is expected to reach 3.6 billion by end 2016, compared with 3.2 billion at end 2015, the report said.

Also, global fixed-broadband subscriptions are expected

to reach around 12 per 100 inhabitants in 2016, with Europe, the Americas and the Commonwealth of Independent States regions having the highest rates of penetration.

Strong growth in China, the report said, is driving fixedbroadband in Asia and the Pacific, where penetration is expected to surpass 10 per cent by end of 2016.

Meanwhile, mobilebroadband services have now become more affordable than fixed-broadband services, with the average price for a basic fixed-broadband plan more than twice as high as the average price of a comparable mobilebroadband plan.

“By the end of 2015, 83 developing countries had achieved the Broadband Commission’s affordability target,” it said.

L-R: Operations Support Supervisor, GOtv, Bisi Olayinka; Marketing Manager, Johnson Ivase and Public Relations Manager, Efe Obiomah, during the GOtv Customer Forum in Lagos.

EXPECTATION The construction industry in Nigeria is expected to expand greatly from 2016 to 2020 Dayo Ayeyemi

R

ising demand for infrastructure and renovation projects are driving global market for construction aggregates with the calculations that consumption will reach 43.3 billion metric tons (BMT) valued at $350.2 billion at the end of 2016.

According to a new report published by Persistence Market Research, “Global Market Study on Construction Aggregates: Industry Analysis and Forecast 2016-2024,” the market is anticipated to witness 6.3 per cent year-on-year growth in 2016 and consumption is projected to reach 62.9 BMT at the end of 2024 in terms of volume.

Aside from rising infrastructure’s demand, the study stated that advanced commercial construction, t h r iv i n g re s i d e n t i a l

Infrastructure growth triggers rise in global construction market value …Market value to hit $350.2bn in 2016

construction, enriched tourism and manufacturer preferences to opt for recycled aggregates and manufactured sand are expected to fuel demand in the global market.

A recent report by Trimetric had revealed that the construction industry in Nigeria is expected to expand greatly from 2016 to 2020 with its output value increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.49 per cent.

This exponential growth in the construction industry in Nigeria is expected to be driven by the infrastructure development investments, housing projects, manufacturing plants, healthcare and education facilities.

In terms of region, the global construction aggregates market is segmented as Northern Europe, Southern Europe, CIS Countries, North and Central America, South America, India, China, Australia and New

Zealand, Rest of Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa.

Meanwhile, a recent report by Trimetric has revealed that the construction industry in Nigeria is expected to expand greatly from 2016 to 2020 with its output value increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.49 per cent.

The exponential growth in the construction industry in Nigeria is expected to be driven by the infrastructure development investments, housing projects, manufacturing plants, healthcare and education facilities.

On the other hand, the report

by Persistence Market Research added that depleting natural resources, rising environmental pollution due to extensive construction, and transportation and technological challenges are major restraining factors in the global market.

In terms of product, the global market is segmented into

crushed stone, sand, gravel, and other aggregates.

“The sand segment is the leading segment with 44 per cent share in terms of revenue in 2016 and generates maximum demand. Sand is expected to register absolute incremental opportunity of almost $89 billion through the forecast period. Crushed stone segment is anticipated to generate higher revenue compared to gravel and other aggregates,” the report said.

In terms of application, according to the report, global market is segmented as commercial, residential, industrial, and infrastructure.

The infrastructure segment is anticipated to be the largest revenue generation segment owing to the increasing investment by public and private sector companies, and the governments for infrastructure development and real estate.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

25

ENERGY

Nigeria has continued to pay dearly for her over-dependence on oil. But has the country learnt any lesson? ADEOLA YUSUF asks in this report

F

or the first time in over 27 years, Nigeria – now Africa’s second biggest economy – officially slid into recession. The bad news came from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) last Wednesday and this has given a clear indication on roles played by oil in Nigeria’s worse economic contraction.

The gross domestic product (GDP), NBS data showed, contracted by 2.06 per cent after shrinking 0.36 in the first quarter.

The lower prices dragged the oil sector down, just as non-oil sector declined due to a weaker currency.

Nigeria is an oil-centred economy and the roles played by oil sector in the recession are significant.

Oil and sabotage The fall in prices of crude, which account for over 70 per cent of government revenues, has hammered public finances and the Nigerian currency, the naira, causing chronic dollar shortages.

Compounding the impact of low oil prices, attacks by militants on oil and gas facilities in the southern Niger Delta hub since the start of the year, has cut crude production by about 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 1.56 million bpd. Government’s 2016 budget had assumed 2.2 million bpd.

Last Wednesday, the statistics office said annual inflation reached 17.1 per cent in July from 16.5 per cent in June - a more than 10-year high - and food inflation rose to 15.8 per cent from 15.3.

Nigeria’s sovereign dollar bonds fell across the curve to their lowest value in over two weeks after the NBS released its data.

“The Nigerian economy contracted more deeply than we had expected in the second quarter,” Chief economist, Africa, at Standard Chartered bank, Razia Khan, had said.

“With a wider current account deficit, it remains important for Nigeria to maintain a credible policy response, in order to attract much-needed stabilising inflows,” she added in an interview with Reuters.

The latest data from the NBS show that GDP contracted by -2.1 per cent year in year (y/y) at constant basic prices in second quarter of 2016, compared with -0.4 per cent the previous quarter.

Economic analysts had expected worse figures. The oil economy shrank by -17.5 per cent y/y as a consequence of the heightened sabotage.

The NBS commentary estimated average oil output at 1.69 mbpd, compared with 2.10 mbpd in the first quarter. For the non-oil economy, the contraction picked up from -0.2 per cent y/y to -0.4 per cent. By most criteria, Nigeria has

Oil rig

Sweet crude triggers sour recession How overdependence on crude oil, price rout

heightened economic downturn now entered a technical recession.

The NBS figures showed Nigeria attracted just $647.1 million of capital in the second quarter, a 76 per cent fall year-on-year and nine per cent down from the first quarter.

Nigeria’s economy was last in recession, for less than a year, in 1991, NBS data showed. It also experienced a prolonged recession from 1982 until 1984.

President Muhammadu Buhari was in power for some of that period as a military ruler after seizing power in a December 1983 coup and remained head of state until the military pushed him out in August 1985.

The office of the vice president, which oversees economic policy, said in a statement that it expected a “better economic outlook” for the second half of 2016 “because many of the challenges faced in the first half either no longer exist or have eased.”

Niger Delta Avengers, the group claiming responsibility for most of the attacks in the oil-producing region in the last few months, said last week Monday it had ceased hostilities.

A presidential economic advisor, Adeyemi Dipeolu, attributed the recession largely to a “sharp contraction in the oil sector” caused by the militant attacks.

“The rest of the second quarter data is beginning to tell a different story. There was growth in the agricultural and solid minerals sectors,” he added.

The naira remained at the record low of 428 per dollar last Friday on the black market, as dollar shortages curb activity on the official interbank market where the currency was offered as rates as weak as 365.25 this month before gaining ground after central bank interventions.

Putting recession in perspective A report by analysts at the First Bank Nigeria (FBN) showed that the NBS commentary made a cute distinction between the seven seg-

The finance minister expressed optimism that Nigeria as a country would get out of the recession

ments of the non-oil economy, which managed positive growth in Q2 and the 19 which did not, many of which were “substantially, indirectly dependent on the oil sector”.

“We do not see how any segment outside the subsistence economy is not dependent on the sector,” the report stated.

“The special economic advisor to the president, citing separate data, noted in his comments on the national accounts that investment/GDP had risen to 17 per cent, its highest level since 2010.

“The comparable figure for 2015 (calendar year) was 15.2 per cent according to the NBS. We assume that this investment would have been predominantly domestic,” the FBN said.

The NBS also released its Capital Importation report for Q2, and the news was also not better. The figure of just $647 million for the quarter represents declines of nine per cent q/q and 76 per cent y/y. The exchangerate and other reforms should together bring a pick-up from this low level.

What FG learnt Worried by the state of the Nigerian economy, the Senate summoned the duo - Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun.

Emefiele, who was the first to appear before the senators, painted a gloomy picture of Nigeria’s economy, with inflation and stagnation being experienced simultaneously.

Unlike Emefiele’s session that was held behind closed doors, the appearance of Adeosun was not held in an executive session. She used the briefing to unveil plans and administrative actions that were aimed at promoting private investment in roads, and other infrastructures.

Adeosun did not mince words.

She said that the nation’s economy was sick and that Nigeria as a country was in recession and “in a very tough place.”

During the session, the minister told the senators that the President Muhammadu Buhari government

inherited negative reserves and heavy salary and wage bill of N165 billion. She disclosed that so far, government had released capital vote of N247.9 billion, with plans to release an additional N60 billion very soon.

She said that the Federal Government has released N74 billion to works in the last two months, compared to N19 billion the ministry received for the whole of 2015.

Agriculture has also got the sum of N21.9 billion, compared to the N4 billion the ministry got last year, adding that transport got N22 billion compared to the N6 billion it received last year.

Adeosun also used the session to react to recent report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the nation’s economy.

She said that government was not disturbed over such remarks, urging Nigerians not to always panic every time the IMF speaks.

The finance minister expressed optimism that Nigeria as a country would get out of the recession because Nigeria is not the only country experiencing recession at the moment.

Conclusion With focus on agriculture, the Federal Government, through the statement credited to minister of finance, has shown that it has learnt some lessons.

Meanwhile, one of those who expressed the belief that myriad of lessons are in the recession for Nigeria are the analysts at FBN Quest Research.

Base effects suggest further deep contraction year-in-year-out for the oil industry in the third quarter.

The renewed militancy in Niger Delta cut down Nigeria’s production and worsened the effects of low oil prices on the country’s economy. As a result of this, the analysts said that the issues of the Niger Delta should be addressed with a long-term solution.

26

BUSINESS | ENERGY

OUTPUT Talk on oil production freeze may thaw out ahead of Algiers meeting

Adeola Yusuf

T

he plan to freeze Nigeria’s 1.8 million barrels per day production quota by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is uncertain, as controversy at the weekend mired the plan by the cartel.

Ahead of an informal side meeting in Algiers later this month that OPEC has hinted might include the discussion of freezing production, other countries are lining up to say they will show up, but they don’t think it’s necessary.

The organisation gave 1.8 million barrels quota to Nigeria (approximately) although the country is doing less based on renewed insurgency in the Niger Delta.

While many countries believed that the output freeze is unnecessary, it is still hard to be certain where some nations actually stand.

For example, Russia’s energy minister said recently that as long as prices are around $50 per barrel, there’s no reason to talk to other oil exporters about freezing output. Still, within hours of that statement, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, said a freeze would be the right decision. In any event, they are expected to attend the discussion.

Just a month ago, Alexander

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria’s 1.8m bpd quota freeze uncertain ●As controversy trails OPEC’s plan Novak was on the record, saying there would be no discussion about coordination between Russia and OPEC on maintaining production levels.

In Iran, where production is steadily climbing to reach presanction levels, leaders have said they will attend the Algiers talk.

Saudi Arabia has been ambivalent about a production freeze, but given that the largest producer in OPEC is reaching record levels, a freeze there would do little to reassure commodity markets.

In fact, Mike Coleman, founder of RCMA Asset Management Pte Ltd in Singapore, told Bloomberg a freeze would be a symbolic move rather than a substantive one.

“The production freeze doesn’t do anything,” he said.

“To have a meaningful impact on prices, you need a production cut.”

And given that a previous attempt to negotiate a freeze fell apart this summer in Doha, some analysts aren’t convinced the chat in Algeria will yield re-

Analysts say Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal would lure inward investments Adeola Yusuf

T

he termination of N1 trillion annual subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol has increased profitability for refining and marketing in Nigeria.

A study by two senior economic analysts, Salih Yilmaz and Philipp Chladek, obtained

by New Telegraph revealed this.

The duo maintained that Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal would also lure inward investments.

The Federal Government had on May 1 officially announced the termination of subsidy on fuel, a decision that jacked up the cost of the product from N87 to about N145 per litre.

Companies impacted, according to the financial intelligence expert, are Exxon Mobil, Total, Forte, Conoil, Oando and MRS, which are among active fuel “In the long-term removing

members of the cartel that would suggest the contrary.

“There is certainly no downplaying the growing desperation within certain countries, namely Venezuela, Nigeria, Libya, and host-country Algeria, regarding crude price improvement as a means of staving off complete geopolitical fallout,” he said.

“A production plan would accelerate a price recovery, and that is why we reserve a modicum of optimism for the Sept.

26-28 meeting.”

A section of the Port Harcourt refinery

N1trn yearly subsidy removal raises refining profitability ATTRACTION

sults at all.

“We remain dubious that the upcoming meeting will materialise in any sort of deal,” James West, senior managing director and partner at Evercore ISI, said in a recent note to investors. “Nevertheless, ‘nothing is impossible’ as OPEC Secretary General, Mohammed Barkindo, put it in his recent comments.”

Wests explained there is a growing realisation within OPEC that producers must be proactive in regard to production management, but some

fuel subsidies should attract investment by making refining and marketing profitable. Since fuel prices will no longer be fixed by subsidies, efficient distributors should realise better margins,” the study stated.

“This would lead to more supply of oil products and lower prices at the pump. It took Nigeria’s government several months to pay arrears due to oil distributors after the removal of subsidies. With no import quotas, distributors will also be able to import as much as they can sell. Fuel subsidies, designed to make fuel affordable for consumers, has strained Nigeria’s budget,” the report noted, adding that this “hurt their earnings and is likely to dissuade them from further investment.”

The reliability of fuel supply, the analysts said, would, however, depend on how successful government proves in reducing pipeline sabotage and oil theft. “Nigeria could cut its need for fuel imports by making more use of its refineries, but theft and violence has made this difficult,” the report noted.

Noting that the country “should benefit from removal of subsidies and import distributors in Nigeria quota,” the report noted that several months of fuel shortages this year buoyed the elevated prices at the pump and long queues.

“Nigeria is aiming to reignite inward investment into its oil infrastructure and refining by raising the profitability of selling fuel in the country.

“While the removal of subsidies will raise prices for consumers in the short term, potentially they will decline as investment raises the supply capacity.

“Several months of fuel shortages this year led to elevated prices at the pump and long queues, hurting consumers and the economy,” the report stated.

Nigeria’s government, the industry intelligence report showed, is seeking to reform its fuel market by improving distributors’ margins and raising incentives to import, after fuel shortages this year that led the economy to grind to a halt.

Ikeja electric mulls instant response

●As customers’ complaints rise

I

keja Electric Plc, said last weekend that it had launched an online “Live-Chat” service, which enables customers engage with trained customer service representatives on a real-time basis A statement from the distribution firm by its Head of Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, said that this measure was put in place to address the rising complaints by electricity customers.

“The online chat service, which is compatible with all Android, IOS and Blackberry devices, is user friendly, interactive and robust with customers receiving instant responses to enquiries, complaints and questions they post, on the go,” he said.

The deployment of diverse customer facing technology solutions, the press statement said, is a deliberate attempt to bring the brand to closer to IE Customers.

“As a customer-oriented company, we are constantly developing initiatives and services that deliberately bring us closer to the customers, right where they

are, as individuals. This is just one of the ways we can also delight them and earn their confidence as well. So, if they have something to tell us, it is also right that they do so at their convenience,” the statement quoted Ofulue to have said.

Integrating the service on various operating systems provides seamless access, via mobile devices, tablets and desktops, to IE customer care representatives.

“So, they speak to us conveniently while we listen. Our customers deserve this type of access, and we are pleased to provide it,”he said.

In a related development, Ikeja Electric said it had also unveiled plans to roll out “Do-It-Yourself ” Point of Sales (PoS) terminals in all of her six Business Units to allow paying customers process their payments on secure terminals by themselves. The pilot terminal deployed at the company’s Corporate Headquarters is already well received with several customers seen processing their bill payments on their own, the statement said.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

HOMES&PROPERTY

27

Last week’s sudden increase in price of cement by 35.29 per cent has affected the plans and expectations of housing experts, contractors, artisans and accommodation seekers. DAYO AYEYEMI reports

N

igerians, especially home builders and accommodation seekers, were shocked last week when the price of a 50 kilogramme (kg) bag of cement was suddenly increased from N1,700 to N2,300.

The latest increase in the price of cement came at a time the Federal Government plans to build one million housing units annually to bridge the nation’s 17 million housing deficit.

The new price regime is coming almost two years after Dangote Cement Plc announced a major slash in the price of its brands.

Since the latest increase, real estate stakeholders have been raising posers over what could have led to the price hike.

Those that bought some bags of cement last week Monday at N1,700 in Lekki, Lagos, could not understand happenings in the building materials market, as they were told by traders that cement price had increased to N2,300.

A survey by New Telegraph revealed that while the product is sold between N2,300 in Lekki corridor, it is being sold between N2,150 and N2,200 in Ikeja, Mowe and Ibafo axis.

Reacting to the development, a cement retailer in Ibafo, Mrs Ibidun Oke, said: “My supplier just told me yesterday (last week Monday) that cement price has gone up from factory.

“You know we are in change period and many things have happened since this government came on board.”

Cement manufacturers Efforts to get spokespersons of Cement Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (CMAN), Dangote Cement Plc and Lafarge Cement to comment on the issue proved abortive, as they did not pick their calls.

It was, however, gathered that operators under CMAN increased prices of their brands by N600 per bag in factories, including additional N100 cost for haulage.

Members of CMAN include Dangote Cement Plc, which is emerging as a market leader with factories in Gboko, Benue State; Obajana, Kogi State and Ibeshe, Ogun State.

Others are Lafarge Cement WAPCO Plc; Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc; Ashakacem Plc and Cross-River-based United Cement Company.

However, it was gathered from one official that the hike was not unconnected to the difficult operating environment.

He noted that manufacturers have had to contend with dwindling capacity utilisation of their plants due to disruptions in gas supply, while the high cost of Automotive

Tumult over sudden cement price increase Gasoline Oil (AGO), which used to sell between N110 and N130 per litre (now N200 per litre), has made alternative power supply unbearable.

Lamentations Condemning the new price increase, a home builder, Mr. Sanmi Agbele, handling construction of two units of three bedroom flat in Lekki, Lagos, said he was totally confused when he was told that price of a 50-kilogramme bag of cement had increased from N1,700 to N2,300 last Wednesday.

He said that he had priced the product a day earlier at N1,700 per bag at Jakande Roundabout, LekkiLagos and promised the trader he would come back to buy in bulk.

Agbele said: “I was shocked when she (trader) told me the price is now N2,300. Initially, I thought she was joking, but after a while, I realised she was serious.

“I was confronted with two challenges of how to inform my client, who managed to release money to me after serious argument and the temptation to continue with the project, but reduce the quality to accommodate the budget.”

The homebuilder lamented that with the current price increase, it would be difficult to complete the project as scheduled, adding that many other housing schemes under construction would be stalled.

Except owners of projects show understanding, Agbele predicted huge abandonment of on-going housing schemes until the economy gets better.

Speaking on the hike, the Vice President, Nigerian Institute of Building, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, described it as”sad news” for builders and prospective home owners in Nigeria. He added that more citizens would be denied access to cheap houses.

He said: “Cement manufacturers, in unison, have increased the price of 50kg bag of cement by N600. Hence, the bag will now sell

Affordable or low cost housing programme of government is in jeopardy

for N2,200 and above, depending on location.

“Affordable or low cost housing programme of government is in jeopardy.”

According to him, contractors would have to sit and renegotiate with their clients on on-going projects.

Awobodu also advised clients to phase their projects to avoid abandonment, predicting high cost of construction, especially for on-going housing projects, “People who are about to commence new construction will have to go back to the drawing board to review their costs, ” he added.

On his part, a former President of Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Chuks Omeife, said that the latest hike was confusing.

“We don’t know what is going on here. We are confused because there is no explanation adduced for it,” he said.

However, he blamed the situation on foreign exchange and monopolistic nature of cement manufacturers in Nigeria.

If the situation persists, Omeife stated that housing projects would be delayed with increase in cost of delivering affordable units.

He said: ‘If price increase in cement remains for a long time, it is going to compound the problems of affordable housing in the country because it will trickle down to block manufacturers and artisans.”

When contacted, President, Artisans’ Association of Nigeria, Mr. Jimmy Osinubi, refused to comment on the issue, saying he was still meeting with cement’s stakeholders.

Experts’ view A Lagos-based estate surveyor and valuer, Mr. Ume Udoetuk, corroborated other stakeholders, stating that the implication of the new price meant that construction cost would increase with Nigerian’s economy in recession.

According to him, rent might nosedive.

A Lagos resident, Mr. Oko Enoyoh, stated that contrary to

Bags of cement

Udoetuk’s submission, rent would move northward due to the fact that less funds would be available for new developments.

“There will be fewer accommodation because of higher cost,” he said.

The immediate past President, Association of Town Planners Consultants Association of Nigeria (ATOPCON), Mr. Moses Ogunleye, expressed worries over the anticipated effects of new cement price regime on Nigerians.

He said homelessness would increase while cost of constructing houses goes up, adding that the number of likely housing projects to be completed over a period would reduce.

“Let government pump money into the sector. This will generate jobs and lead to wealth creation,” Ogunleye suggested.

Expressing worries over the situation, the Managing Director of Megamound Investment Limited, developer of Lekki County Homes, Mr. Olumide Osunsina, predicted massive job losses and dearth of affordable housing if the situation persists.

The managing director said that the increase in cement price was too much, adding that developers may have no option than to limit housing construction activities and also increase house price to stay afloat.

Effects of low construction activities, Osunsina said, would lead to sack of construction workers, high cost of housing units and increase in homelessness among Nigerians.

Cement sector A review of unaudited financial reports of many of cement manufacturing firms for the first half of 2016 revealed a struggle between balancing rising input cost pressures and passing the inflationary pressures on already constrained consumers by raising prices of some products during the period.

Some of the input cost pressures being encountered by many manufacturers border on foreign exchange losses on dollar loans, inability to access foreign exchange, high cost of production, as well as poor electricity supply and tariff hike.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

28

TUESDAY, september 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Business | Homes & Property

DEFICIT Nigeria requires 720 housing units yearly in next 20 years Stories Dayo Ayeyemi

P

erturbed by the on-going economic recession, which has eaten deep into citizens’ disposable income, promoters of real estate development have urged citizens, especially accommodation seekers and working-class people, to invest in real estate business.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Megamound Investment Limited, Mr. Olumide Osunsina, made this call at the company’s site (Lekky County Homes) in Lagos.

He explained that some people that borrowed money to buy property at a cost of N50 million in one of his estates in Lagos 10 years ago later sold them at N150 million, making huge profit from the investment.

To encourage more people to hook on the property ladder, the real estate developer said his firm had expanded the coast with the sole aim of providing affordable homes to workingclass/middle income Nigerians seeking a roof over their heads.

The Megamound boss disclosed that his firm had introduced a new housing model-mainly flat apartments-to encourage would-be accommodation seekers and investors in the Lekki axis of Lagos State.

Comprised 123 bedroom flats at nominal price of N24.9 million each and many serviced plots,

Developers to Nigerians: Invest in property

Osunsina said his firm had scheduled to commence the development of these buildings between November and December.

Meanwhile, the firm of M.I Okoro and Associates has been officially appointed as main estate agent and marketing consultants for the sale of both finished houses and serviced plots in the estate to the general public.

Looking at the enormity of projects already executed cou-

Others are prolonged gas supply shortage, which forced companies to rely on more expensive backup, monetary policies, and constrained consumer purchasing power.

According to the reports filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Dangote Cement Plc’s profit after tax for last year operations slipped to N106.3 billion, representing a decline of three per cent from N123.1billion declared a year earlier.

The company attributed the loss to foreign exchange constraints in the country, which prompted it to reconsider the pace of its expansion. It now believes a five-year building programme is more appropriate.

The backward integration policy of Nigeria’s cement industry can be traced to 1960 when Lafarge WAPCO was established as a result of the country’s vision to gain economic freedom alongside its national independence.

In a bid to further bridge the gap between supply and demand of cement in the country, former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002 launched the backward integration policy on cement production in Nigeria.

The backward integration

According to Osunsina, all necessary formalities including approvals have been obtained from the Lagos State Government Physical Planning Authority.

He said that the construction of flat apartments would be completed within 24 months.

With 30 per cent down payment, he explained that would be homeowners would have the opportunity to spread the balance over a period of 36 months, adding that there are banks and

Units of luxury houses in Carlton Gate Estate, Lekki

Tumult over sudden cement price increase CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

pled with ongoing ones by Megamound, Managing Director of M.I. Okoro and Associates, Dr. Meckson Okoro, tasked both federal and state governments to use the developer as a model for Nigerian housing delivery in the country.

There are other finished housing units ranging from duplexes, terrace houses in the estate. Lekky County Homes is located on Lekki- Ajah road, between Chevron and Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos

mortgage institution ready to facilitate loans for prospective home owners.

The idea about construction of the apartments, he said, came due to research by his company as regards pricing, quality of homes and the desire to give would-be beneficiaries value for money, noting that flat apartments were scarce in the region.

He said: “The apartments come with designed exclusively for those who desire a truly unique social environment.

Each apartment incorporates a distinctive design with modern innovation to create homes with unique settings of spacious three bedroom with three baths.”

policy by the government was described by experts as “a very good policy.”

About 10 years ago, Nigeria was producing about two to three million metric tonnes of cement, but currently the installed capacity in Nigeria is about 30 million metric tonnes per annum.

Owing to its controlling interest in the industry, any action by Dangote has significant impact on the industry and its operators.

First was the war of different grades of cement in the industry, a development, which, among others, made some operators to reclassify their assets in the country as well as in the African continent.

Two years ago, Dangote Cement Plc also introduced a new price regime for both 32.5 as well as the 42.5 grades of cement.

Conclusion To stem homelessness among low-income Nigerians, there is an urgent need for government to reflate the economy by spending more money on infrastructure provision to douse tension in Niger-Delta region.

This would stem the attacks on oil and gas installations and improve investors confidence in real sector.

How to solve Nigeria’s housing deficit, by expert

B

oth the federal and state governments should roll out policies that will create accessibility to land and cheap fund for mass housing development in the country, Managing Director of M.I. Okoro and Associates, Dr. Meckson Okoro, has said.

Okoro, – a renowned estate surveyor and valuer, who spoke with New Telegraph in Lagos, blamed major challenges of housing on high cost of land and lack of finance.

He stated that these two obstacles limited developers in

H

ouse developers in Kenya have received a major taxation breathing space after parliament reduced the number of units that qualify for lower taxes from 1000 to 400.

In an amendment done on the Finance Bill, house developers in Kenya will now cash in 15 per cent in income taxes down from 20 per cent that was proposed

by Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Henry Rotich.

“The Bill will be amended by deleting and substituting the following new paragraphs in the case of a company that constructed at least 400 residential units annually, 15 per cent for that year of income sub-

their drive to produce cheap houses.

Apart from these, he also bemoaned the nation’s underdeveloped mortgage sector, saying that lack of efficient mortgage system had denied low-income earners home ownership.

He said: “Going forward, the only time I will find peace in my heart as a real estate professional is when common man would have access to their homes via an efficient mortgage system.

“Unfortunately, in this century, Nigeria cannot boast of

efficient mortgage system and freedom of access to land.

“When these twin problems are addressed through deliberate housing policy by state and Federal Governments the hope of common man in acquiring their houses would have been realised.”

Okoro also called on the government to support private developers by partnering with them through public-private partnership (PPP) in order to deliver houses of different types at reasonable and affordable costs.

New tax proposal: House developers in Kenya gets reprieve ject to approval by the cabinet secretary responsible for housing,” the amendment tabled in Parliament read in part.

This is a positive move to players in the industry who had complained that the 1,000 units as previously set was very high, a threshold that had locked out many developers in the industry.

By cutting down on the taxes and the number of units, the National Assembly has given more players in the industry an opportunity to enjoy the benefits.

The minister had intended to motivate investors to

put money into the sector with the tax cut from 30 per cent to 20 per cent in an effort to close the housing gap and boost construction of decent low-cost housing.

A cap on interest rates that may decelerate the rising prices of homes may also boost this.

According to the latest report on the banking industry, the average mortgage loan size rose from Sh7.5 million in 2014 to Sh8.3 million in 2015 as a result of increased prices of property.

The total number of mortgage loans in the market increased by 2,445 to 24,458.

TUESDAY, september 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

AVIATION

29

Aero Contractors aircraft in flight: Inset, Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika

Any hope for Nigerian airlines? ing the coming year.

The aviation industry in Nigeria has never grown. Every time, it is behaving like a toddler, writes WOLE SHADARE

E

vents in the last week show that Nigeria’s aviation industry is really going through turbulent times. Nigeria is no doubt, in recession and since aviation is part of the country’s economy that used to contribute less than one per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it cannot be isolated. Given the status quo, nobody is sure what the aviation industry contributes now to the country’s GDP. Bankruptcy Airlines, like any business, are susceptible to market fluctuations and economic difficulties. The economic structure of the airline industry may contribute to airline bankruptcies as well. One major element in almost every airline bankruptcy is the rejection by the debtor of its current collective bargaining agreements with employees.

High fuel cost; absence of a functional maintenance hangar; exorbitant insurance premium, a by-product of rising tales of air crashes and near-crashes; high interest rates by creditor banks; and the recent multiple designation of routes to foreign airlines under the existing BASA agreements between Nigeria and 88 foreign countries have all combined to render most domestic carriers unprofitable.

Mandatory fleet maintenance and statutorily payment of staff remuneration have been greatly hampered. But in the last three months, the high cost and scarcity of aviation fuel (Jet A1) has wrecked the most havoc on the airline industry leading to several flight delays and even outright cancellations. Given the weight of the existing challenges, industry analysts foresee a situation where most of the domestic

airlines would not be able to declare any meaningful profit for investors at the end of this year.

Call for rescue In the past, various palliative programmes designed to alleviate the plight of airlines had failed to yield any tangible dividend. Under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, attempts to buy and supply the airlines with new aircraft had failed to scale through. In the same way, about N200 billion was set aside as aviation sector intervention fund, but sadly, domestic airlines have openly refuted claims they benefited from the fund just as the National Assembly has demanded a probe into how the monies were spent.

Rather, what happened was that the funds released went to the banks in an effort to keep them afloat for bad debts owed them by airlines during the period of economic recession of 2011.

Sector goes burst?

The aviation industry has gone burst. It was just a matter of time for all these to become public knowledge. What has happened was predicted.

Over a dozen car riers - including recent casualties such as Aero, Air Nigeria, Chanchangi and IRS, among others, have become victims of soaring oil prices, credit squeeze and foreign exchange in the last one year.

And there could be more - experts have stated that the industry may experience ‘spectacular casualties’ dur-

Nigerian airlines can only survive if they agree to merge

Lamentation Some analysts lamented that the Nigerian civil aviation industry and, in particular, the domestic airlines, is gradually collapsing like a pack of cards if the sustained media reports about its comatose state have not been controverted by both the operators in the public and private sectors and even the regulator of the industry. It is better to voluntarily collapse them into manageable numbers for effective and efficient operations than to allow them go into extinction, particularly the domestic airlines.

Aviation security expert, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd) ,said the problem of the airline industry is not necessarily the lack of funds or scarcity of forex as the operators are now telling them daily.

He noted that generally, the problems are poor management structures and financial mismanagement of revenue earnings both in local and foreign currencies.

“There the problems of inadequate skilled manpower; inefficient supervision from line officers or assigned managers; ineffective or lack of professionally inclined inspectors to enforce regulations, and above all, interference from politically exposed officers within and outside the government MDAs.” He noted that the combination and persistent of the inadequacies of skilled manpower, poor financial management and ineffective oversight from the responsible authorities have brought the industry to its knees.

Ojikutu noted: Despite of the hews and cries by the operators about scarcity of forex, my knowledge of the industry, having served on various ministerial and presidential committees, tells me that there are sufficient forex earnings in the

IGRs of the public and private operators in the sector to sustain their operations annually without any recourse for forex concessions from government.

“This was the reason why l once called for the auditing of the financial earnings of all the operators following the revelations of recurring debts of domestic airlines to the ground and air safety services providers.”

He said that the call became necessary when some airlines were reported to be having controversial hangover of several billions of naira debts and the regulatory authority, that is mandated by law, specifically, NCARs (Part 12) to carry out oversight on economic stability of all operator to determine their suitability for continuous operations, became helpless for whatever reason.

All these problems have resulted in a limping sector neckdeep in debt to aviation agencies and fuel marketers. They complained that they might be unable to pay, as many of them now record losses due to low passenger movement since last year. The low passenger situation is attributed to the global economic meltdown.

The huge debts are responsible for the high operating cost of airlines, making it one of the highest in the world. It is very doubtful how the carriers could defray the debts.

The way things are going, airlines would need to think of their survival first before they can think of paying the debts put at $1.2 billion. In the past, operators enjoyed duty waiver on aircraft parts importation, but it had been scrapped in the last two years, hence the reintroduction of fees.

Further more, they complain about double taxation on aircraft parts (Customs Duties and Value Added Tax), which they said had a huge toll CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

30

TUESDAY, september 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | AVIATION

SETBACK The biggest problem airlines are contending with is the high cost of C-Check

New aircraft maintenance base to save operators $3bn yearly

Wole Shadare

A

irline operators can now heave a sigh of relief as they can now do heavy maintenance of their airplanes in the country to save costs, as a new aircraft maintenance base has been set up in Lagos.

With that, Nigeria will be saving $3 billion annually as airlines have indicated their interest to patronise the facility.

Speaking to New Telegraph, the Managing Director of Onedot Aviation, an aircraft maintenance-base in Lagos, Capt. Henry Oludotun Ogunyemi, said flying airplanes overseas for heavy maintenance like C-Check now has a far greater cost implication, advising airlines to use local Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facilities.

Onedot Aviation has been approved by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to carry out maintenance checks both line and heavy maintenance, for Beechcraft, HS-125 and Bombardier, among others, since 2014 and Boeing 737-200 Series and Boeing 737-300/400/500 series in June 2016.

Captain Ogunyemi added that Onedot Aviation has already successfully carried out a B-Check on an Air Stream’s Boeing 737-200 cargo aircraft, which is currently flying perfectly and encouraged other domestic airlines to follow suit as the services are top notch with qualified engineers and state of the art tech.

Nigerian operators have complained about the foreign exchange rate, which they said make maintenance overseas very difficult for them.

The biggest problem airlines are contending with in terms of maintenance is the high cost of C-Check, which has compelled some carriers to abandon their airplanes in countries of repairs.

Airlines periodically carry out checks on their airplanes.

The checks are A to D checks.

The A and B checks are lighter checks, while C and D are heavier checks.

On the domestic front, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Author-

An aircraft maintenance hangar

ity (NCAA) had imposed a calendar limit for a C-check at every 18 months and depending on the scope of work to be performed.

An average C-check costs $1 million. By today’s exchange rate of N410/$1, this can be conservatively N350 million per aircraft every 18 months.

It would be recalled that about 60 to 70 per cent of cost goes into labour, while the balance is the cost of parts and engineering services associated with the C-checks.

Presently, Nigerian airlines collectively operated a fleet of about 65 airplanes and with an estimated N350million for C-check, that is about N21.15 billion of capital flight every 18 months (N13.43 billion per annum).

Also, considering other incidental costs of about N21.7 billion ($70, 000) associated with each C-check done abroad, the cumulative for the fleet operated collectively was about N1.41 billion every 18 months.

The C-Checks became more problematic for the nation’s airline operators because most airlines were unable to pay for the checks and eventually abandon the aircraft at the foreign MROs who usually refuse to release the aircraft to the airlines until all invoices are settled.

The Onedot chief who listed some other benefits of carrying out heavy maintenance in MROs

Any hope for Nigerian airlines?

CONTINUED FROM PAG E 29

on airlines’ finances.

Experts, however, said for the carriers to remain profitable, the Federal Government needs to make available capital including low cost loans, access to vibrant capital markets so that the carriers can buy more reliable aircraft and train pilots.

A former Assistant Secretary General of Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON), Mohammed Tukur, said that profit margin on

airline operation was about two per cent.

He stated that government could help by way of the tax holiday for five years, including exemption from custom duties on spare parts.

Tukur stressed the need for government to give the airlines protection like it is done in the United States.

Virtually all the operators are in dire financial dire straits because of the harsh environment in which they operate.

Speaking in the same

vein, former Chairman, Aviation Roundtable, Capt Dele Ore, has said that Nigerian airlines can only survive if they agree to merge.

Conclusion Having analysed the problems of the airlines, the question is, how can these airlines be strengthened to offer safe and profitable services? The margin of profit for operators is about two per cent, which is very insufficient to sustain a capital-intensive venture like airline.

locally, said it would save the airlines a lot of funds, which can lead to business expansion for them.

His words: “There will be reduced stress on the dollar currency and this cut across all the airlines. It is cheaper for the airlines to carry out their maintenance in the country.

First and foremost, the ferry cost is saved as it takes time to ferry an aircraft to wherever it is done overseas.

“Even the ground time is saved as sometimes some aircraft stay six months and others stay a year so the airline will save in ground time. Saving money and ground time increases the profit of the

airline. So, all Arlines are free to check our services out.”

He also said using local MROs can enable the MRO increase its capacity and train and employ more Nigerians as well.

“We have experienced base engineers in Nigeria already that can take over from the expatriates who are already on ground with the initial know-how and technology.

With the MRO, there will be jobs for the teeming engineers that we have now. There will be job opportunities and there will be training and retraining of engineers to keep a base of sound technical hands who hitherto flew overseas,” he said.

Rwanda signs $818m deal for new Int’l airport

R

wanda has signed a deal with the African division of Portuguese construction firm Mota-Engil to build an international airport at a cost of $818 million, the company and government officials said.

In a statement by Rwanda, the duo said the first phase of the airport, which is part of a push to attract more tourists and boost Rwanda as a conference destination, would cost $418 million and is expected to start in June next year and be completed by December 2018.

Rwanda’s plans for the new Bugesera International Airport date back to 2011 when it first announced it was seeking bids from the private sector to design, build, finance, maintain and operate the airport through a 25year concession.

“The first phase is for 1.7 million passengers (per year) capacity and it gets all infrastructure associated for $418 million,” Mota-Engil Africa Chief Executive Officer Manuel Antonio Mota told reporters after signing an agreement with government officials.

Rwanda said that Mota-Engil would operate the airport for 25 years, with an option to extend

another 15 years.

When it first sought bids, the government said the first phase would involve building passenger and cargo terminals and a 4.2 km runway to handle large commercial airplanes, while the second phase would be for a second runway and more terminals.

Mota-Engil said the second phase costing $400 million was expected to raise the airport’s handling capacity to 4.5 million passengers per year.

Neither Mota-Engil nor the government said when the second phase would start.

The existing international airport in the capital Kigali has an annual capacity of 1.6 million, according to the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, though it has little scope for expansion.

“Bugesera International Airport is coming in at the time when it is badly needed because we all know that the current airport capacity is not matching the growth of our traffic in terms of aircraft, in terms of passengers,” James Musoni, Rwanda’s minister for infrastructure, said.

The coffee and tea producing country expects its economy to grow 6 per cent this year and 2017 and then 6.5 per cent in 2018.

31

TUESDAY, september 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Interview ASUU already running out of patience –Ogunyemi

Education

Donation Obiano hands over 32-seater bus to college

33 35

Adamu’s road map for education STRATEGIC PLAN

Education Minister last week, unveiled a road map that will leap-frog the education sector and position it for the challenges of the 21st Century

Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

S

everal years after a road map on education was developed for the sector by the then Education Minister, Dr. Sam Egwu, the Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu, last week, gathered key stakeholders in the education sector, to unveil another four-year action plan for the sector.

The event, which took place at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, offered the platform for stakeholders to examine and critique, what the minister tagged: “Ministerial Strategic Plan” for education sector.

The strategic plan was coming after a year that the duo of Adamu and Prof. Anthony Anwukah were named the Minister and Minister of State for Education respectively.

The event was tagged: “Presentation of Education for Change: A Ministerial Strategic Plan (20162019).

Setting the tone of the presentation of the work plan, Adamu, in his keynote address, said the Federal Ministry of Education, under his leadership undertook the development of the strategic plan in order to reposition the education sector to play its active role in the philosophy of positive change of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

The essence of the presentation, the minister explained, was to share with major players and stakeholders, the Ministry’s perspective and priorities as regards the issues and challenges facing the education sector; to highlight the strategies intended to adopt in order to address these issues and challenges; and to avail stakeholders the opportunity to highlight some issues related to their activities in various parts of the country and how they can link up with the ministry’s priorities and

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Adamu; Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwuka and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan at the event

strategies.

The document, he said, was designed to reposition the sector and lead to the increased prosperity and competitiveness of the nation in the global scene.

He lamented that “while the world is producing knowledge professionals, Nigeria is leading the world with the highest number of out-of-school children that are roaming the streets.”

According to him, the Federal Government is being confronted with the adverse effects of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East and the negative consequences on the education sector, especially in the affected states.

Worried by this development, Adamu said the urgent need to develop a marshal plan to address education in this emergency situations had become necessary.

While giving insights into the document, the Minister said the strategic plan sets out the key issues and challenges in the sector, as it also spells out actions to be undertaken by various agencies and institutions in order to address key issues.

Besides, the strategic plan, he pointed out, sets the time-frame and timeline for each activity and targets that must be attained if the issues and challenges in the delivery of qualitative education are to be resolved.

“These have all been synthesized and articulated in this document that would guide the education sector from 2016 to 2019,” the Minister explained.

However, on the specific areas addressed by the plan, Adamu noted that the strategic plan is built on 10 pillars based on the core strategic and measurable goals that are

This is to guarantee the political will and direction required for the effective implementation of the plan

needed to be attained.

Each pillar, the minister stressed, has clear and well-defined objectives with the strategies to be employed in achieving them.

The 10 pillars listed include: Addressing Out-of-School Children; Strengthening Basic and Secondary Education; Teacher Education; Adult Literacy and Special Needs Education; Education Data and Planning; Curriculum and Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard; Technical and Vocational Education and Training; Quality Assurance and Access in Higher Education; Information Communication Technology; and Library Services.

Adamu said the final document with the inputs of all stakeholders will be presented to the National Council on Education (NCE), the nation’s highest decision taking organ in the education sector and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.

“This is to guarantee the political will and direction required for the effective implementation of the plan,” he said, adding that a result-based monitoring and evaluation strategy will be developed to track performance and impact in line with the objectives set out for the strategic plan.

In his presentation of the document, the minister dwelt extensively on the following key issues to be addressed by the proposed action plan.

Foremost among the issues is the out-of-school children, in which he lamented that the country has the largest number, accounting for over 11.4 million children out of the 20 million in the world.

These, the minister said, include the girl-child, Almajiris,

children of nomadic pastoralists and migrant fishermen and more recently, the children of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by the Boko Haram insurgency in several camps across the country.

However, Adamu wondered that 60 per cent of the 11.4 million outof-school children in the country are girls and only a fraction of 17 per cent of the 3.1 million nomadic children of school age have access to basic education.

He said only a small proportion of the ministry’s 2010 estimate of 9.5 million Almajiri children have access to any form of basic education and an increasing number of displaced children who are estimated to be over one million are being forced out of school in the insurgency stricken states.

On the intended specific strategies to address the education needs of the citizenry, especially as espoused in the document, the minister said that the Federal Government would work to raise the National Enrollment Rate (NER) to ensure that all the out-of-school children are enrolled in basic education schools in the next four years of the strategic plans.

Specifically, he said the Federal Government targets enrollment of 2.87 million pupils annually for the next four years.

As part of the plans, he added that the government would renovate all schools destroyed by Boko Haram and construct additional 71,875 classrooms annually for the next four years to accommodate the anticipated increase in enrollment of out-of-school children.

Besides, the Federal Government, he explained would recruit CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

32

education

TUESDAY, september 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lagos SSG enriches LASU with N10m •Varsity appoints Noash as DVC

Fagbohun

Mojeed Alabi

T

owards repositioning the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos for quality service delivery, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello, has donated N10 million to the university.

The gesture was part of his support towards efforts of the new leadership at the stateowned institution to take it to

its loftier heights.

Bello, whose wife, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello is the Director of the university’s Directorate of Advancement Office, the section saddled with responsibility of raising funds and support for the institution, gave the donation during the maiden edition of directorate’s lecture delivered by a renowned economist, Mr. Henry Boyo.

The centre, which was established primarily for community service and fund raising, according to the director, is committed to mobilising individuals, corporate organisations and relevant stakeholders to rise in support of the university through cash donations and building of facilities, among others.

A statement issued by the

university’s Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations (CIPPR), noted that the money raised during the lecture was N10.404 million, adding that other stakeholders including heads of various government parastatals donated towards the advancement of the institution.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Olanrewaju Fagbohun, has also pledged to donate N1.2 million

NANS makes case for harmonious, peaceful atmosphere

Kano, Abia win semifinal ticket in TV quiz

R

epresentative of Kano State in this year’s edition of the on-going Cowbellpedia Mathematics Television Quiz Show, Abdullahi Shuaibu Maje, a pupil of NTIC Boys High School, Kano, has qualified for the semifinal stage of the competition.

After two preliminary rounds, Abdullahi picked a semi-final ticket for his school, while other contestants from four states from the north failed to proceed to the next stage.

With his performance, Abdullahi is the first from the north in this competition.

Abdullahi, a13-year-old Junior Secondary School (JSS III) student slugged it out with Efosa Osagiede of Obafemi Awolowo University International School, Ile Ife; Nyemike Atoh of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja; Glory Okoli of Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State; Victor Mgbemena of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; and Muhammad Hasimu of Government Junior Day Secondary School, Dangikka Bakaro, Bauchi, Bauchi State.

Abdullahi who scored 97 per cent in the qualifying examination to emerge as the State representative, joined Okoli who scored 98 per cent, in the semi-finals.

Going by his performance so far in the competition, Abdullahi, who is coming to Lagos State for the first time, promised to sustain the momentum in the final.

Tutor General, Education District I, Lagos State, Dr. Abiose Ayandele (2nd left); student of Abibatu Mogaji Millenium Senior Secondary School, Agege, Garba Ibrahim (middle) receiving his gift as the best student in Mathematics, and the Executive Director, Corporate Services, UAC, Mr. Joseph Dada with other members of staff of the company during the closing ceremony of the 2016 UAC Goodness League Free Weekend Classes. photo: suleiman husaini

with monthly contributions of N100,000 for a period of 12 months starting from August, this year.

Meanwhile, the university Senate has elected Prof. Adewale Olumuyiwa Noah of the Faculty of Education as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) for a two-year renewable term.

Noah, who polled a total of 75 votes, beat the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Senapon Bak’re of the Faculty of Science who had 29 votes.

According to Adekoya, a total of 106 ballot papers were circulated to accredited members of the Senate, who voted in the election.

With the development, the new deputy vice-chancellor has since resumed to office.

Musa Pam Jos L-R: Bishop Okonkwo; the winners: Saliu-Ahmed, Adebayo and Adeoye at the ceremony

Computers, cash rewards for essay winners Kayode Olanrewaju

I

t was praises galore last week for the winners of the 13th edition of the Mike Okonkwo Annual Essay Competition for Secondary Schools, as they received the rewards for their outstanding performance in the contest.

Leading the pack was Fadilah Saliu-Ahmed of Zamani College, Kaduna, who scored 75 per cent in the first and second round respectively.

For her outstanding performance, she smiled home with the star prize of N100,000; while the school of the overall winner school got three internet ready desktop computers and a printer.

A pupil of Roshallom International School, Lagos, Barakat Adebayo, who came second in the competition, having scored 70 per cent in the first round and 74 per cent in the second round, received N75,000 and her school got two internet ready desktop computers and a printer.

However, Wuraola Adeoye,

a pupil of Fountain Height Secondary School, Lagos, who scored 73 per cent in the first round and 68 per cent in the second round came third and went home with N50,000, while her school received an internet ready computer.

The theme of this year’s first round of the essay competition is “The State of the Nigerian Nation: Redefining Our Values,” while the topic for the second round is “Adopting and Practising Tolerance as a Core Value in Nigeria.”

The winners were rewarded at the 17th edition of Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecturer held at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, which is organised yearly to celebrate the birthday of the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Dr. Mike Okonkwo.

According to the Chief Examiner of the competition, a Professor of English at the University of Lagos, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, a total of 846 entries were received for this year’s edi-

tion of the competition.

On the grading of the essays, she told the guests including Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Chief Arthur Mbanefo, who chaired the event; former Information and National Orientation Minister, Mr. Frank Nweke II, one of the guest speakers and the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN), a social enterprise outfit Mr. Gbenga Sesan, the second guest speaker that the organisers introduced a filtering procedure and quality mechanisms, which ensured that only good and judgeable essays got to the judges for assessment.

“On the account of this, there is a decline in the actual number of scripts received by the judges relative to the two preceding editions when submissions were in excess of 2,000 scripts,” the don said.

But, she however, added that the decline did not suggest that there was less interest in the competition this year, saying on the contrary, the competition had become immensely popular, while the formation of the alumni association to track winners of the contest is becoming an increasing possibility.

According to the chief examiner, in this year’s edition, incidences of copying, collaboration and plagiarism that regularly characterized the exercise in previous editions had been reduced significantly.

The yearly lecture and essay competition were instituted by Mike Okonkwo Educational and Youth Initiative (MOEYI), a non-profit making and nongovernmental organization aimed at nurturing the minds of the younger ones.

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igerian students under their umbrella union, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have insisted that development, self-actualisation and economic growth cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of violence, acrimony and vindictiveness.

The Acting President of the association, Prince Miaphen spoke at NANS national retreat on non-violence and peace building at the Multi-purpose Hall of the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

According to him, Nigeria as a nation had had more than a fair dose of these crises and acts of violence of diverse proportion, which robbed us of the ambience and peaceful environment needed for development to thrive.

The student union body, however, lamented that peace and harmonious co-existence seemed to have taken a leave as the country contend with inter-communal clashes, tribal and religious wars all over the country.

NANS called on patriotic and concerned Nigerians to rise up to the challenges of fixing the country by playing their expected roles in promoting a violent-free society and a peaceful society.

Speaking on theme: “Shun Violence, Embrace Peace,” the guest speaker, Mr. Luka Panpe pointed out that no country is safe as far as violence is concerned, even as he added that between 2013 and 2015, over 1.8 million people died world-wide as a result of violence.

He lamented that the lack of political will on the part of the government to deal decisively with perpetrators of the violence acts is often the causes of violence, thereby encouraging such act to strive, most especially among the youths.

interview | education

TUESDAY, september 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

ASUU already running out of patience –Ogunyemi

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Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi is the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). In this interview with some journalists, he spoke on pertinent issues in the education sector including failure of the Federal Government to honour the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, suspension of post-UTME and the appointment of the former Vice-Chancellor of UNILORIN, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede as JAMB Registrar, among other issues. MOJEED ALABI reports In the recent times, ASUU seems to be agitating for one thing or the other.

What are the major issues this time?

ASUU remains the conscience of this country and it cannot fold its arms when things are not right.

What we are doing now is to tell Nigerians what our members are saying about the situation of things, particularly in connection with their constituency, which is education. As Nigerians, they are also feeling the heat of the economy and the general insecurity in the land and what they are saying is that they are running out of patience.

The belief among Nigerians is that ASUU is always interested in embarking on strikes, but that is not the case. We don’t take delight in strike because each time we go on strike, the future of this nation suffers, and we do not think Nigeria deserves that at this moment. That is why we are appealing to stakeholders to talk to the government to heed our call.

What are your specific demands?

There are many issues we are raising with the government, and these include the appointment of a new registrar for JAMB, state of the nation (economic, social and security), university governance and funding, violation of right to freedom of association, proliferation of state universities, shortfalls in personnel emoluments to federal universities/irregular payments of salaries at state universities, non-implementation of the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement and non-registration of the Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO).

We consider it our patriotic duty to call the attention of the government and citizens of Nigeria to these issues threatening the well-being and development of our nation at this critical period in our chequered history.

For instance, in 2009, the Federal Government freely entered into agreement with our union (ASUU) over funding of the universities; universities autonomy; and conditions of service and other miscellaneous issues confronting the Nigerian university system. The agreement, which was signed in October, 2009, is binding on both parties. In an effort to cause the FG to fully implement it, the union embarked on strike in 2012 and 2013, which led to the signing of Memorandum of Understanding.

To date, several aspects of the agreement are yet to be implemented. The government’s reluctance to implement this agreement resulted in a number of warning strikes culminating in the six-month strike of

2013. On the 4th and 5th of November 2013, the then President, Goodluck Jonathan, personally intervened to resolve the impasse and on the 11th December, 2013, the MoU was signed with the then NLC President, Abdul Waheed Omar, as witness. Based on this MoU, Nigerian universities required N1.3 trillion only for the revitalization of the universities in Nigeria in order to favourably compete with other universities around the world. The costing was arrived at after the FG conducted a Needs Assessment of public universities in July 2012. The 2013 strike action convinced the government of the need to implement the NEEDS Assessment Report.

However, instead of implementing the report in a maximum period of three years as in the 2009 agreement, government decided to extend the implementation period to six years between 2013 and 2018.

It was agreed that the government would pay the total sum of N200 million in 2013; N220 billion in 2014 and same in 2015 till 2018. But, as we talk to you today, the government is in arrears of N605 billion as at the third quarter of 2016.

At the moment, all Nigerian universities are in a state of serious funding crisis which is becoming worse by the day.

Similarly, budgetary allocation to education has drastically dropped from 11 per cent in 2015 to eight per cent in 2016. This situation has scuttled the smooth process of revitalization of the universities which started in 2013. We must add also that this agreement provides for a periodic review after every three years. In fact, all things being equal, this would have been undertaken in 2012 and with another review done in 2015. However, the government’s apparent reluctance to set up its renegotiation team for the review of the 2009 agreement, as consistently requested by the union since 2012, is getting our members increasingly worried and frustrated.

ASUU has consistently kicked against the recent suspension of post-UTME but many are of the view that rather than addressing the challenge of poor quality of candidates admitted, it is already being turned to revenue generation for the institutions. Do you think along this line?

Yes, we rose to defend post-UTME because we believe that its cancellation without a superior argument will be a reversal that will have grave impact on university education in this country and we have made that clear many times. We are yet to receive evidence that postUTME is not achieving its targeted

Ogunyemi

objective. The only modification we have advocated for are in terms of fees being charged and the mode of the screening which needs to be more practical and thorough, and not the usual computer-based test mode.

We have always advocated for the expansion of existing universities...

What is ASUU’s recommendation for the increasing figure of admission seekers and the proliferation of new universities?

We are just being hypocritical in Nigeria. We have always advocated for the expansion of existing universities and not creation of new ones by the government as if they are constituency projects. Let us take the big universities; even in Africa, University of Cairo has been developed to the point that it can accommodate as much as close to 200,000 students. But, here in Nigeria, which of our campuses can take more than 50,000 students at a go. Our position has always been to improve on existing facilities, expand the space and we can manage what we have. What new universities have done for us in this country is that you stretch the academics that are not even sufficient to service universities. You stretch academics such that vice-chancellors will have to beg and blackmail lecturers to come and teach as part-time and adjunct lecturers. In Nigeria, we establish universities without feasibility studies. See the speed at which some universities were created by the last administration. Instead of improving the two existing universities in the state, the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, went ahead to establish the third one in his hometown. The University of Science and Technology in Okitipupa has been abandoned that it may fold up anytime soon. As at today, the new Medical University in Ondo has just about 200 students on its enrolment.

So, what value has it added to the system? Similarly, Governor Adams Oshiomole, who has not funded the Ambrose Ali University in the last few months has gone ahead to establish a university directly facing

his compound in his village. Also in Bayelsa State, within 24 hours, Governor Seriake Dickson caused a bill seeking the establishment of a new university to be passed into law under 24 hours when the existing University of Niger Delta is suffering neglect.

ASUU has also kicked against the appointment of the new registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board. Why? Given our inside knowledge of Oloyede’s anti-democratic and anti-union antecedents, he is the last person that we expected to be so honoured with a national appointment of that status in the education sector. Some of the negative attributes associated with Prof. Oloyede include dictatorial tendencies, nepotism, and favouritism. Prof. Oloyede was indicted by the Court of Appeal in Ilorin for lying and tyrannical behaviour in orchestrating the illegal termination of appointment of a professor.

This indictment sums up Oloyede’s character. Oloyede’s anti-workers stance stood out in the case of the sacked UNILORIN 49. As deputy vice-chancellor, he led the administration’s team to as far as Lagos to testify falsely against the workers before the Industrial Arbitration Panel. When the members of academic staff were reinstated in 2009 by the Supreme Court, Oloyede, as then vice-chancellor refused to fully implement the orders of the court.

In 2008, Prof. Oloyede as vicechancellor boasted about his lawlessness when he declared that “we are happy without ASUU” while at the same time collecting money from UNLORIN academics in the name of ASUU without remitting same to the union. Oloyede’s stance shows lack of accountability. In the past years, the union has refused to attend any meeting where Prof.

Oloyede would be present. His history of antagonism towards the union therefore precludes him from heading a unit like JAMB, where CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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education

Adamu’s roadmap for education C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

additional 71,875 qualified teachers, through the deployment of the 14 per cent of the new teachers to be recruited annually to cater for the anticipated increase in pupils’ enrollment.

Under the plans, the government will raise the current enrollment of girls in basic education schools by 1.5 million annually for the next four years, if the six million girls currently out of school are to be provided with unfettered access to basic education as required by the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act. Under basic education, the strategic plan is set to highlighting the factors impeding the attainment of the national targets and the full achievement of the Education for All (EFA) goals to include corruption and mismanagement of funds meant for public education among others.

Towards this end, the Minister said the Federal Government would work in in collaboration with the state governments, ministries of education, civil societies and international development partners to address the challenges.

For Pre-service teacher education, Adamu said the quality of teachers produced by teacher education institutions and their classroom performance is generally unsatisfactory.

Hence, he said: “This feeling is anchored on empirical evidence on teachers’ classroom performance and pupils’ learning outcomes,” even as the minister lamented that up to 44 per cent of primary school teachers in the country are not qualified.

While noting that these teachers do not possess the minimum teaching requirement to teach at primary level, he stressed: ”Pupils’ learning outcomes in public schools are generally unsatisfactory and is a matter of concern to the government, employers, teacher educators, as well as parents and indeed all stakeholders.”

The minister, however, said the strategy for addressing all the challenges confronting teacher’s quality lie with the ministry and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) to take concrete steps to ensure that the ongoing C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 3

he would need to interact with ASUU either directly or through members of the union.

Oloyede took nepotism to unprecedented heights as vicechancellor of the University of Ilorin. The system was manipulated to employ his son and daughter and, within weeks, gave them awards for overseas training despite explicit regulations against the practice. In both cases, the pattern was that the children obtained admission to overseas institutions, and then the university was made to employ them and immediately “released them” to go away to these institutions while the university continued to pay them. His daughter was actually employed into a non-existing ‘unit’ in the department of Anaesthesia under false pretence.

It is noteworthy that UNILORIN Regulations expressly forbid nepotism. Apart from this, ICPC and Code of Conduct Bureau laws also forbid nepotism. In short, Oloyede should be prosecuted for such brazen acts of nepotism rather than appointed to head another institution.

Adamu displaying the road map

reforms of pre-service training are vigorously pursued.

In view of this, he added that adequate monitoring mechanism would be put in place to ensure full compliance by all colleges of education and other NCE awarding institutions in the country.

For Adult Literacy, in which adult illiteracy in the country is put between 35 and 40 per cent of the population, Adamu insisted that this has further been compounded by the more than 10 million school age children, who are currently said to be out of school and who, if care is not taken would soon swell the country’s adult illiteracy population.

With all the issues raised, the minister’s action plan will therefore refocus on successfully attainment of full universal adult and literacy in the country.

According to him, the campaign is to run for the next five years.

While reiterating the methods with which to achieve this, the minister expressed optimism that it is possible to substantially reduce the army of illiterate in the country within three to four years.

This, he said could be achieved, if a minimum of 10 literacy centres are established in each of the 9,572 wards with each centre enrolling a maximum of 30

learners in two sessions per annum; 5.7 million would be made literate at the end of each year under the national literacy campaign.

The minister said: “Thus, by 2019, roughly 23 million people would be literate, which will be a significant leap.

Additionally, this figure can even be increased by 20 to 25 per cent if effective mobilization of the civil society sector is aggressively undertaken. In other words, it is possible to achieve a threshold of 50 per cent reduction in illiteracy figure by the year 2020.”

On basic and secondary education curriculum and policy matters, the minister in the presentation explained that there were a number of problems associated with curriculum and policy matters at the basic and secondary levels of the nation’s education system.

But, he said the ministry in collaboration with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will work closely with the National Assembly and the Ministry of Justice to ensure the enactment of a bill on the National Book Policy and the conduct of National Book Survey, which will promote and regulate the development of books in the country as well as quality assurance of textbooks and other reading

TUESDAY, september 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

materials that get into the system and for general readers.

Adamu hinted that the plan would develop the National Language Policy (NLP) in compliance with regional and international initiatives endorsed by Nigeria on the development and use of indigenous and other languages.

On Technical and Vocational Education (TVET), the Minister pointed out that it required urgent and decisive action to reposition the country for technological take off. The high level of economic and technological progress recorded by some nations such as India, Brazil, Singapore and Malaysia could be partly attributed to the huge investments they made in education for several decades.

He said there would be regular review of TVET curricula by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the provision of necessary soft and hard ware, as well as facilities.

This was as he added that technology incubation would be added to spin off entrepreneurs and not just to teach theories in the schools.

“This is an area where countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea and others have gone far ahead of us,” the minister said.

For higher education development, the minister explained the ministry and its agencies and parastatals would focus on promoting transparency, accountability and good governance in higher education institutions and also create access and equity.

He added that efforts would also be made to enhance teacher quality and quantity as well as improve teachinglearning facilities and infrastructure in schools.

The minister restated the need for the government to improve funding of higher education institutions and build mutual trust between the Education Ministry and trade unions through regular consultations and timely implementation of agreements reached by government and the unions.

This, according to him, would engender greater understanding and minimise the disruption of academic activities and frequent strikes in the system by the unions.

Ogunyemi: ASUU running out of patience The Minister of Education recently set up panels to look into different cases in some institutions and the panels have since submitted their reports but the Federal Government is yet to release the reports.

What is ASUU’s position on this?

The Committees have completed their work and reports of the investigation submitted to the Federal Government for upward of eight months. Our union was very vocal in demanding for investigation to the atrocities being perpetuated in these universities, particularly at the Michael Opara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Given the frustration that we have experienced, our members have resolved to use all leg i t i m at e means at our disposal to get the gover nment to Ogunyemi release

the white papers on the special visitation exercise.

Your reaction to state of economy and is there any recommendation from ASUU on how to fix the system?

ASUU is deeply concerned about the state of the Nigerian economy. The adoption of the World Bank/IMF sponsored neoliberal policy of privatization and deregulation has meant the acceptance by the Federal Government of the stipulations by the two Western financial

institutions to massively devalue the Naira. The currency has since then continued to experience free fall, and this is to the extent that a US Dollars now exchanges for N395.

The consequence of this development, especially since the economy is import dependent, is the spiraling prices of essential goods and the intolerable hardship being experienced by the citizenry in general. What most of them earn has now been massively devalued, and Nigerians now find it extremely difficult to feed, pay rents, send their children to school or pay necessary attention to their health and those of members of their immediate families. To worsen the situation, most state governments no longer pay workers’ salaries as at when due. As things stand now, at least 28 of the 36 states of the federation owe workers’ salaries of between six and twelve months, and many state governors are unapologetic about it. They remain insensitive to the intolerable sufferings that the workers

serving in their different states experience, the degrading and humiliating things they have had to engage in, in order to make ends meet and the fact that several families have been torn asunder by the situation. A worker clearly deserves his or her wages and this must be paid as at when due. It is a crime to owe workers’ salaries members of the Nigerian ruling class seem to be oblivious of this.

Despite government claims to the contrary, the security situation in the country remains frightening. Right now, there are at least three major wars going on in the country. There is the one against Boko Haram in the North East, the agitations for secession being championed in the South East by IPOB and MASSOB, and the continued bombings of oil installations by different militant groups in the South-South.

These wars have been going on for quite a while and it is now becoming clearer by the day that government has no coherent idea as regards what to do to bring any of them to an end.

TUESDAY, september 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

campus

Obiano hands over 32-seater bus to college Lawrence Nwimo FCET Umunze

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nambra State Governor, Willie Obiano has donated a 32-seater Toyota Coaster bus and N5 million to the students of the Federal College of Education (Technical), FCET, Umunze, Anambra State.

This was as the governor promised to carry out palliative work on the road leading to the permanent site of the college.

The presentation of the bus was in fulfillment of the governor’s earlierpledge to the students during his visit to the institution in July.

While presenting the vehicle, the governor noted that the college was

key to the realisation of his administration’s vision to improve technical education in the state.

According to him, through its support to the sub-sector, his administration will train mid-level manpower that will drive the huge investments it has attracted across its key pillars of agriculture, industrialisation, trade and commerce, and oil and gas.

Obiano, however, tasked the college on the need to ensure that the vehicle is put to proper use in alleviating the transportation challenges of students.

Responding, the Provost of the college, Prof. Josephat Ogbuagu noted that by the gesture, the governor has redeemed all his administration’s pledges to the college, while the government has also commenced efforts to begin palliative work on the college road.

He described the presentation of the bus as the first time the college would benefit from the state government’s largesse since its inception, saying the donation would go a long way in boosting academic activities in the college, even as he pledged the college’s continued support to Obiano’s administration.

The President of the students union, Augustine Okoye commended the governor for the initiative towards improving the student’s welfare, saying what the Governor Obiano-led administration had done for the college would in no small measure, impact positively on the lives of the students.

The key to the bus was presented at the brief ceremony, which took place at Governor’s Lodge Amawbia in Awka, Anambra State.

Governor Obiano (2nd right) at the handing over of the bus to Ogbuagu

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Stakeholders harp on mechanized agric to boost food security Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

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ajor stakeholders and experts in the nation’s agricultural sector last week gathered at the Michael Okpala University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia State to brainstorm on how to chart a new direction, examine critical issues in agricultural mechanisation, and proffer solution to problems confronting the sector.

It was at a conference organised by the Department of Agricultural and Bio-Resources Engineering of the university, with the theme: “Mechanization of Root and Tubers Production and Processing in Nigeria.”

While describing the conference and its theme as apt and timely, the stakeholders, comprising professionals from diverse fields and scholars, said it would go a long way in helping the government at all levels to ensure self-sufficient in food production, create massive employment opportunities, and make raw materials available for agro-industries and increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and foreign exchange.

In his keynote address, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Dr. Mohammed Jibrin hailed the participants comprising scientists, engineers, technologists, technicians, craftsmen, teacher and professors in the agriculture and agricultural engineering sector as well as farmers, food processors and other stakeholders that their professional activities have contributed greatly to the enhancement of roots and tuber production, and processing in the country.

UNN consult puts smiles on indigent students’faces UNIBEN alumni choristers thrill students, staff James Ojo UNN

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scheme tagged: “Work Aid Scheme,” aimed at enabling indigent students in the institution to meet their financial needs, has been introduced by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Consultancy Services Limited (UNN Consult).

According to the scheme, indigent students that offered to work under the scheme will be entitled to preferential treatment such as less working hours, less tedious jobs and payment of stipends.

Its Director, Prof. Obi Njoku, said the essence of the scheme is to assist indigent students of the institution achieve their educational dream by meeting their financial needs, adding that such platform would also avail them the opportunity to acquire practical knowledge on their courses.

“The idea of the scheme is basically part of the ViceChancellor’s vision to enhance the welfare of the students. Through this method, indigent students and those who are financially handicapped would be able to pay their tuition fees and meet other financial needs,” he said.

Njoku, a former Head of Department of Biochemistry and Dean, Faculty of Biological Sciences, said the consultancy firm is committed towards bridging the gap between profit-making and quality service delivery, adding that addressing people’s problems should be a core concern for every business organisations.

He said the mandate of the Consult is to bring about university participation in national development efforts and to provide an opportunity for staff and students to put theoretical knowledge into practice, thereby acquiring practical experience and improving their creative problem solving skills.

He added that the firm also engages in SURE-P training of persons living with disabilities.

them after so many years they last sang together, UNIBEN spell bound for several hours. ome members of the It was a moment of University of Benin excitement for audience, (UNIBEN) alumni cho- who applauded amid thunristers last week returned derous ovation, what they to the institution several described as the beautiful years after graduation to renditions by the chorister. thrill members of the uniHowever, the combinaversity community. tion of the Choir Master’s It was at the Alumni Cho- grip of the exercise, as he risters’ Reunion of Saint was at his best controlling the choristers, and the choAlbert’s Catholic Church of University of Benin. reographic dancing steps The choristers, who of the choristers, added dressed in native attires, value to the performance. held their audience, who The event tagged: “Uma never expected much from Familia-One Family,” recorded massive turn out of students and other members of the university community, who were said to have arrived the venue of the event early for the red carpet session.

Speaking on the aim of the event, the Chairman of the organising committee, Dr. Peter Agbonrofo, a Consultant General Surgeon at UNIBEN Teaching Hospital, described it as home-coming for the The choristers at alumni choristers of the the event church, who graduated

Eddy Uwoghiren

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many years ago.

He said: “This Church over the years has been blessed with young and talented composers and singers, who have consistently churned out beautiful compositions in various languages almost on a yearly basis. Through the years, the standard of liturgical music ministration has been handled down and maintained by the younger generation of the student choristers.”

Agbonrofo noted that despite their leaving the choir years back following their graduation from the university, the choristers are readily equipped to thrill the audience with mind blowing song collections.

He commended the church for giving them the opportunity to horn their singing talents and serve God through singing when they were students, adding that he was impressed by the manner in which the younger choristers have sustained the tempo by winning the Forum for the Inculturation of Liturgical Music (FILM) in Nigeria.

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education

TUESDAY, september 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Union leader donates classroom block to Ogun school Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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he government and other stakeholders in the nation’s education project have been called to review the curriculum of primary schools in the country.

The President of the Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose, made the call during the inauguration and handing over of a block of two classrooms he built and donated to his alma mater, African Church Primary School, Ilogun-Orile in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The project, which included computer room, head-teacher’s office, a generating set and furniture, was inaugurated by the Chairman of Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Olatunde Okewole.

Bamgboye, in his remarks, noted that an urgent review of primary school curriculum was desirable as it would serve as good foundation for pupils’ education, even as he urged major stakeholders to

address the problem of lack of motivation for public school teachers to further enhance knowledge of students and delivery of quality education.

Meanwhile, he called for regular workshops and seminars to train teachers in order to meet the global demands of the education sector, saying: “If we can change our orientation, change our attitude to work, enhance motivation of teachers, review the curriculum and school operations, enthrone discipline, ensure regular attendance, training and retraining of teachers so as to meet the needs of the system.

“We have qualified people in public schools. The major problem that we have is the problem of motivation and change of attitude. If there is attitudinal change on the part of teachers, I am sure public schools will be better for it.”

Bamgbose, the first indigene of the village to obtain PhD, explained that donation of the school building is geared at securing the future of the pupils.

While saying that the government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of providing the needed infrastructure, he appealed to

well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations to complement the government’s efforts in revamping the education sector.

In his remarks, the SUBEB Chairman, Alhaji Olatunde Okewole, said education remains the best legacy that could be bequeathed to children, even as he noted that government alone could not meet the needs of the people in education, but enjoined individuals and corporate bodies to support the government.

He, however, assured that the state government would not relent in providing quality and affordable education to the citizenry irrespective of their socio-economic background.

However, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota, lauded the donor, who she noted had contributed immensely towards the education development of the state.

While calling on others to emulate his gesture, the commissioner, who was represented by Mr. Israel Olojede advised the school to make judicious use of the facilities for the enhancement of qualitative education in the school.

The classroom block

VC tasks scholars on critical, globally competitive policies Kayode Olanrewaju

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cholars, especially those in the field of Humanities have been challenged to initiate new areas of research and collaborations that would provoke new ways of thinking and result in critical and competitive policies.

The Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof.

Igbekele Ajibefun, made the call in his opening remarks at the maiden Faculty of Arts International Conference of the institution.

The conference with the theme: “The Humanities and National Development,” took place at the Nelson Mandela Hall of the university.

The vice-chancellor, who was represented by his Deputy in charge of Academic, Prof. Oluyemisi Adebowale,

said “Humanities as areas of study are known for intellectual banter.”

“This is the beauty of academics. There are bound to be arguments and counter arguments. But the synthesis of such arguments must be logically rendered in such a way that they can be actionable by both professional and academic. Participants at this conference should provoke a new way of thinking that will result in critical and globally competitive policies,” he stressed.

Ajibefun, who noted that Humanities play a central role in scholarship and the society, added: “To be sure, Humanities occupy a critical bend in the generation of seminal ideas and ideals that we need to navigate through the global labyrinth in a world that is in dire need of ideological finesse, without which hu-

manity will ebb lower or life will be very dull.

“In this way, Humanities cannot be lost in the cluster of ever forward-looking discoveries of science and technology.

In other words, despite the pride of place the Humanities enjoy, the challenges being faced now must be creatively confronted.”

The vice-chancellor, who, however, noted that Humanities have critical role to play in proffering lasting solutions to global religious and terrorist attacks on humanity and infrastructural formations, thanked the Dean of the Faculty, Prof.

Benson Akinnawonu, and the organisers of the conference for the stimulating conference.

Earlier in his welcome address, Akinnawonu had said that the conference was a response to a compelling passion to create an intellectual platform to promote scholarship and stimulate vibrant and intellectual engagements among scholars and practitioners in line with the university’s academic tradition.

EDUPEACE

with Mahfouz A. Adedimeji (08066372516, sms only)  Dr Adedimeji is a Senior Lecturer and Director, Centre

for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin

GMOs: Fire on the mountain!

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t the instance of the the largest supplier of ‘legally’ Nigeria Inter-religious acquired (without consent under Council (NIREC), a NHA 2014) human organs for transTechnical Committee plantation to all patients living in comprising top academics, sci- industrialized Western Countries! entists, scholars and profession- Nigeria will be the source for more als from our two major religious than 100 million human ovarian divides was inaugurated recently eggs poached from 10 million Nigein Abuja to examine the issue of rian women, who would die in 2-3 the Genetically Modified Organ- years or later from complications isms (GMOs). The Committee of ovarian hyperstimulation synmet between July 31 and August drome (liver failure, kidney fail3, 2016 and came up with insights ure, cancers, infections, etc.) Our on the various dimensions of the women of child-bearing age will controversial GMOs. die in millions and our population The August 29, 2016 editorial decimated! This program is supof “Premium Times”, entitled ported by leading Western coun“The Growing Menace of the tries, UN agencies, multilateral Monsanto-induced Pro-GMO organizations and donor agencies Lobby in Nigeria” further put owned by some Western counthe issues at stake in perspective. tries. This is because it would be The editorial further portrayed a cheap source of human organs the frantic moves of the GMO for transplantation for the Western advocates and lobbyists to buy countries. The gains of using ovarour minds. ian eggs poached from Nigerian Defined as “organisms (i.e. women to perfect the complicated plants, animals or microorgan- tissue cloning procedure called soisms) in which the genetic mate- matic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) rial (DNA) has been altered in a promises economic revenue of way that does not occur naturally thirty trillion USD, one third of by mating and/or natural recom- World economy…” bination,” the concept of GMOs What is the way out of this dire still sounds like Greek to many situation? Dr Njemanze strongly Nigerians. I have read much recommends a three-point soluabout it lately and I feel com- tion to the Federal Government. pelled to share part of the open According to him, “Repeal Secletter of Dr Phillip C. Njemanze, tions of the National Health Act Chairman of Global Prolife Alli- 2014 that permit organ poaching ance (GPA), dated September 2, without consent”, with specific 2016 to President Muhammadu reference to sections 48, 51.

Buhari: Secondly, Nigeria must stop all “The Global Prolife Alliance acquisition of already existing (GPA) and other stakeholders in public and mission hospitals by the health sector wish to bring to multinationals. This is because, your attention that as he argues, “health the entire Health sector is national seSector in Nigeria curity and hence is about to be acmust be under antiquired by Boston monopoly protection Today’s threats Consulting Group and must be open to and Bill Gates. healthy competiare more There is a covert tions”. biotechnological plan to take over Lastly, the PresiMission Hospitals dent is urged to ban than physical owned by Christhe sale, distribution, tian Churches in military combat! import and export of Nigeria. There are Genetically Modified indications that a Crops in Nigeria. In similar covert plan to take over other words, “All genetically modthe Islamic Hospitals is in place. ified crops of food staples must be The Federal Ministry of Health banned since the GM crops do not under the past administration improve crop yield, are toxic to appointed Bill Gates to head the human health and cannot solve Committee for implementation the problems in the agriculture of the National Health Act (NHA) value chain. The data about tout2014 along with 18 other ‘foreign’ ed health benefits of biofortified organizations and embassies in cassava and others was found to Nigeria. This is illegal under the be scientific junk falsified data 1999 Nigerian Constitution! A non- by a Committee of the Dan Forth publicly disclosed quasi-privatiza- Institute where it was published. tion under the past administration The National Biosafety Managecould handover the Federal Gov- ment Agency (NBMA) must be ernment health institutions to the reorganized and properly staffed foreign conglomerate. The Boston by knowledgeable and patriotic Consulting Group is in working Nigerians. It must be well funded partnership with the Bill and Me- to police GM crops and destroy linda Gates Foundation … to actu- them similar to fake drugs. It alize this plan. The aim of these must have the task of protecting acquisitions is to own the entire our Food Security and must be network of hospitals in Nigeria. an agency under the purview of “We have argued that the evi- the National Security Adviser dence points to human organ and and Presidency. Today’s threats ovarian egg poaching for human are more biotechnological than organ transplantation and stem physical military combat!” cell research for human tissue I share the belief that this is cloning. Nigeria would become the way to go.

BUSINESS |MONEY LINE

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

PENALTIES Banks will be punished for 18 infractions

Tony Chukwunyem

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved a sanctions grid to ensure that participating Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) comply with the terms and conditions of its Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility (CBNNEMSF).

The CBN launched the N213billion NEMSF in 2014 as part of efforts to improve power supply nationwide. It is disbursed at 10 per cent interest per annum through DMBs and has a 10-year tenure.

According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on accessing the NEMSF, which the apex bank signed with the Ministries of Petroleum Resources, and Power, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and other stakeholders, the NERC would reset the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO) to accommodate the repayment of the loan.

In the circular signed by the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Mr. Kevin Amugo, posted on its website yesterday, the banking watchdog listed 18 infractions that DMBs would be penalised for and the sanctions that would apply when any bank is found to have violated the terms and conditions of the NEMSF.

Power stabilsation Fund: CBN okays sanctions for non-compliance the act is remedied,” adding: “If there is a further infraction by the DMB after payment of the above financial penalty, the DMB’s participation as a Mandate Bank under the CBNNEMSF shall be terminated.”

Other infractions listed by the banking watchdog include,

For instance, the regulator stated that any DMB that fails to provide the refinancer/administrator with statements of accounts for transactions within five working days after the end of each month would first be issued a warning letter directing it to remedy the infraction within two working days.

According to the CBN, further infractions will include: “A financial penalty of a minimum of N500,000 daily until the infraction is remedied on each account that such infraction is committed,” adding: “If there is a further infraction by the DMB after payment of the above financial penalty, the DMB’s participation as a Mandate Bank under the CBN-NEMSF shall be terminated.”

In addition, the CBN stated that a DMB that does not comply with a request by the Refinancer/ Administrator to provide copies of bank statements for any of the Distribution Companies’ accounts maintained by it and such other information relating to the transactions within five working days would first be issued a warning letter instructing it that the infraction must be remedied within two working days.

“Failure to comply within two working will attract a financial penalty of a minimum of N500,000 daily until the infraction is remedied”, the CBN stated. It added that further infractions will attract: “A financial penalty of a minimum of N 500,000 daily on each account that such infraction is committed, until

F

irst Bank of Nigeria Limited announced the appointment of Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu as its new Chief Risk Officer (CRO).

Prior to this appointment, Olusegun according to a statement from the lender, was the Chief Risk Officer of Coronation Merchant Bank.

The bank said that Mr. Alebiosu’s appointment, which is still subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was consistent with its focus on corporate governance and best practice, and ensuring a balance of knowledge, judgment and experience at the highest decision making level in the Bank.

Before joining Coronation Merchant bank in 2015, Olusegun at various times, worked with African Development Bank group and United Bank for Africa Plc as an experienced Chief Credit Risk Officer and Deputy Chief Credit Officer respec-

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 July, 2016 07/07/2016 Mar 2015 5/9/2016 1/9/2016

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 104.65 114.59 111.96 120.58 109.60 100.54 83.82 97.56

1.07 3.24 3.87 5.82 7.95 9.81 14.31 18.29

NIBOR

Rate (%) 4.4583 9.1071 11.0102 12.3790

Bid Yield 10.38 10.55 11.60 11.44 12.27 12.40 12.44 12.49

Change (%) -2.50 ▼ -0.74 ▼ -0.65 ▼ -0.68 ▼

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲

Price 104.80 114.89 112.26 120.88 109.90 100.84 84.12 97.86

Tenor (Months)

Change (%) -0.02 ▼ -0.01 ▼ 0.00 ↔ 0.00 ↔ -0.07 ▼ -0.08 ▼ -0.03 ▼ 0.02 ▲

NITTY

Rate (%) 6.9949 7.2368 8.0819 9.2061 9.5872 10.5042

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 10.24 10.45 11.51 11.38 12.22 12.34 12.39 12.44

Change (%) 1.12 ▲ -0.27 ▼ -0.17 ▼ -0.11 ▼ 0.03 ▲ 0.42 ▲

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 30-Jun-16 7.92 7.67 7.82 -0.51 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 3.83 8.08 -0.51 ▼ 6-Oct-16 8.59 8.34 8.71 -0.31 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 4.33 8.99 -0.31 ▼ 16-Mar-17 9.36 10.28 -0.07 ▼ 9.11 9.98 -0.07 ▼

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.14

FX

Offer 199.24

Change (%) 0.57 ▲

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016 Spot($/N)

196.00

197.00

0.00 ↔

tively.

Olusegun has over 24years of extensive experience across various sectors of banking and has garnered diverse hands-on experience covering financial planning and control, Corporate, Commercial and Investment Banking, relationship management and risk management, which will be immensely beneficial to the Bank in his new role as Chief Risk Officer.

Olusegun is a qualified accountant with over 24years post-qualification experience and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations & Personnel Management and a Master of International Law & Diplomacy both from the University of Lagos. In addition, he obtained a Master of Science degree (MSc) in Development Studies from the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Sci-

ulated in the Account Administration Agreement; and where Collection Banks allow a withdrawal from a Feeder Collection Account (FCA) to the Principal Collection Account contrary to the terms of the Accounts Administration Agreement.

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) -1.75 ▼ -2.08 ▼

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

ence (LSE) and he is an alumni of Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

He is a member of various professional bodies, including Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Management (ANIM) and Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

According to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Subsidiaries, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, the choice of the new CRO is in line with the bank’s commitment to attracting the best resources in the industry, sustaining best practice in its operations, as part of the Bank’s overarching risk management framework initiative, by deepening specialization and strengthening the corporate governance culture of the 122 year old Bank.

Professionals to discuss population statistics at yearly confab

T

As at N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 17.13 14 10.77 US$46.35 US$25,390,008,205

where Collection Banks allow revenues (including cash collections and revenues received from all electronic or other platforms) generated by any Distribution Company(Disco) to be paid directly in any account other than the Feeder Collection Accounts as stip-

First Bank appoints Alebiosu as Chief Risk Officer

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

37

he Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Muhammad Bello and his Budget and National Planning Minister counterpart, Senator Udo Udoma, will this Thursday be among top government functionaries to open the Annual Conference of the Nigeria Statistical Association, NSA, scheduled to hold in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

The forum, which is expected to be attended by top government functionaries in the country, representatives of the World Bank, professional statisticians from Africa and other relevant organizations and agencies, has as its theme ‘National Population Statistics and Sustainable Development’.

Speaking during a preevent media chat in Abuja, the President of the NSA, Dr. Muhammed Tumala, in a statement, explained that the theme of the conference and topics slated for discussion at the forum were selected based on current global and national issues and how the use of statistics could help in mitigating the fiscal and other challenges being faced by the nation’s economy.

Tumala, who is a member of the Africa Statistical Association (AfSA) Interim Committee, hinted that apart from the opening session, which the Vice President will lead a team of government functionaries to declare open, plenary

sessions had been scheduled where economic and planning experts would discuss elaborately on emerging trends in statistical data collection, processing and utilization in all areas of national development, and policy dialogue.

“This is the 40th conference in the series of our yearly conferences being organised by the association in furtherance of our efforts to contribute our quota to national development.

We have secured the assurances of key experts, including representatives of AfSA, to attend this year’s forum and make useful contributions during the plenary sessions.

“On our part, we have made adequate preparations to ensure that all participants interact in a conducive and safe environment all through the deliberations. Given the topicality of the issues slated for discussions, we are very positive that the recommendations from it would be useful to the country in our collective efforts to build a globally standardised statistical database for Nigeria” The NSA President urged state governments and other relevant organisations to send their officials to the conference with a view to enabling them learn from the experiences of renowned experts in statistics development processes and by so doing, facilitate the creation of Bureaux of Statistics at the sub-national levels.

38

BUSINESS |FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

5-Sep-16

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

Bonds

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

Description 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 ^15.54 13-FEB-2020 14.50 15-JUL-2021 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 ^12.50 22-JAN-2026 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 ^12.40 18-MAR-2036

Price

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

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

15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 14.50 16.39 14.20 12.50 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.15 12.4000

480.13 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 606.43 179.59 605.31 719.99 391.02 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 1075.92 250.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

6,330.16

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

5,729.60

Rating/Agency

Agency Bonds Nil

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Description

Issuer

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017

FMBN

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 15-Jul-21 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 22-Jan-26 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34 18-Mar-36

0.64 0.89 0.99 1.73 2.81 3.13 3.44 4.86 5.39 7.52 9.38 12.23 12.71 13.21 13.88 17.86 19.53

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

19.52 20.37 20.69 18.27 14.69 14.77 14.86 14.83 14.82 14.91 15.13 15.07 15.06 15.05 15.03 14.94 15.07

19.25 20.16 20.50 18.16 14.62 14.63 14.75 14.74 14.74 14.84 15.06 15.01 15.00 14.97 14.96 14.88 15.02

97.38 91.76 90.32 89.10 102.88 81.04 101.76 98.83 105.64 96.84 87.00 99.56 85.59 62.86 70.97 82.69 83.28

97.53 91.91 90.47 89.25 103.03 81.34 102.06 99.13 105.94 97.14 87.30 99.86 85.89 63.16 71.27 82.99 83.58

6285.155565

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

03-Apr-12

17.25

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

0.90

03-Apr-17

0.28

2.94

17.25

99.97

19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21 09-Dec-21 16-Feb-22 27-Feb-22 30-Mar-22 31-Mar-22 27-May-22

0.62 0.58 1.32 1.14 1.15 1.33 1.34 1.51 1.72 3.21 1.79 4.23 4.32 2.55 2.57 3.13 3.34 3.37 3.31 6.46 3.45

1.00 5.71 2.39 1.00 1.00 3.82 3.56 3.82 2.02 2.01 1.00 1.30 3.76 2.53 1.00 1.52 4.01 1.00 2.52 1.79 3.04

20.44 24.99 22.04 21.28 21.24 23.45 23.17 22.83 20.34 16.80 19.09 16.14 18.60 18.16 16.58 16.29 18.83 15.83 17.33 16.62 17.89

94.15 94.27 91.13 93.22 93.19 90.51 90.22 91.26 93.52 94.40 93.83 92.06 89.55 93.04 96.86 98.14 94.65 101.62 100.35 101.32 97.82

0.90

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

0.90

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto‡ ; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR† Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto‡ A-/GCR A-/Agusto A-/Agusto Bbb-/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto Bbb+/Agusto A-/GCR

LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA *NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA *BAUCHI *OYO *BENUE *PLATEAU KOGI *CROSS RIVER

19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 31-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14 09-Dec-14 17-Feb-15 27-Feb-15 30-Mar-15 01-Apr-15 27-May-15

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 15.50 BAUCHI 9-DEC-2021 16.50 OYO 16-FEB-2022 16.50 BENUE 27-FEB-2022 17.50 PLATEAU 30-MAR-2022 17.00 KOGI II 31-MAR-2022 17.00 CROSS RIVER 27-MAY-2022

10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00 15.50 16.50 16.50 17.50 17.00 17.00

57.00 11.33 25.00 23.44 4.22 9.45 7.01 18.70 12.55 80.00 20.55 87.50 5.00 3.74 3.76 14.37 4.17 4.30 27.10 3.00 7.34

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

429.51 403.36

Corporate Bonds A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR Nil Nil Nil A/GCR BBB-/GCR Nil A-/DataPro†; CCC/GCR AAA/DataPro†; B/GCR A+/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto†; BBB+/GCR† BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR Nil A-/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB/GCR A/GCR BBB/GCR Bbb/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR AAA/GCR

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

NAHCO FSDH ***LCRM UBA *C & I LEASING #{r} *DANA #

*TOWER # *TOWER UBA *LA CASERA

#

*CHELLARAMS *DANA#{r} *FCMB NAHCO

*TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC *FCMB UBA FIDELITY *TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

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

13.00 14.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50 13.00

15.00 5.53 112.22 116.70 66.49 20.00

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

0.07 0.14 0.26 0.62 0.83 1.07

1.00 1.34 1.00 3.55 5.25 1.88

15.97 15.82 14.90 22.99 25.42 22.38

99.75 99.68 100.13 96.35 93.54 91.47

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.36

30-Nov-17

0.75

1.88

21.75

98.26

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

3.60

09-Apr-18

0.84

3.15

23.34

94.78

09-Sep-11

18.00

1.82

09-Sep-18

1.01

6.35

27.04

92.81

09-Sep-11 30-Sep-11

16.00 14.00

0.50 35.00

09-Sep-18 30-Sep-18

1.01 2.07

1.00 1.17

21.69 18.33

95.26 92.78

18-Oct-13

15.75

1.50

18-Oct-18

1.12

4.42

24.75

91.93

15.00 FCMB 6-NOV-2020 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14

18.00 16.00

0.23 4.50

17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19

1.45 1.32

6.11 3.28

25.33 22.94

91.74 92.80

06-Nov-15

15.00

20.87

06-Nov-20

2.17

4.47

21.30

90.06

15.50 TRANSCORP 4-DEC-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

4.19

1.00

15.84

98.16

14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

04-Dec-15

15.50

9.76

04-Dec-20

2.69

3.55

18.90

93.23

20-Nov-14

14.25

26.00

20-Nov-21

5.21

2.51

17.34

89.62

16.48 FIDELITY 13-MAY-2022 16.00 TRANSCORP 26-OCT-2022

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

5.32

1.00

15.83

102.12

13-May-15 26-Oct-15 30-Sep-14

16.48 16.00 16.29

30.00 10.00 0.10

13-May-22 26-Oct-22 30-Sep-24

5.68 3.85 8.07

1.00 2.77 1.00

15.83 17.62 15.98

102.30 95.74 101.36

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

8.07

1.00

15.98

87.84

29-Jul-15

14.90

7.86

29-Jul-30

9.24

1.00

16.11

94.61

10-Oct-20

2.31

3.37

19.73

91.37

14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

STANBIC IBTC

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

STANBIC IBTC *NMRC

14.90 NMRC 29-JUL-2030

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

536.02

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

515.65

Sukuk *OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

1.43

1.00

17.61

90.94

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

*AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

2.66

1.00

14.09

93.99

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

BBB-/Agusto

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

14.75

9.02

9.02 8.25

Supranational Bond

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

24.95 23.08 Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Outstanding Value ($’mm)

Coupon (%)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.29

6.06

101.72

102.61

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.58

4.19

100.95

101.64

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.50

6.34

99.31

100.18

100.26

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,509.93

Corporate Eurobonds B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.93

6.93

100.26

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

22.23

20.42

79.47

81.58

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.00

6.00

100.00

100.00

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.74

7.74

96.50

96.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

22.58

22.58

73.03

73.03

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

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

8.25 AUG 07, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

07-Aug-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

07-Aug-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

14.04 14.89 15.84

13.31 14.37 15.84

82.54 80.73 73.50

84.48 82.24 73.50

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

12.23

11.76

84.88

86.63

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

3,150.00 2,731.34 Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Yield @ Issue (%)

Outstanding Value (₦’bn)

Maturity Date

DTM

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Discount Rate (%)

18-Apr-16

11.00

16.80

18-Oct-16

43

2.03

16.64

16.33

Commercial Papers A-/Agusto

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY PLC

UPDC CP 18-OCT-16

16.80

**TREASURY BILLS^ DTM 17 31 38 45 52 59 73 87

FIXINGS Maturity 22-Sep-16 6-Oct-16 13-Oct-16 20-Oct-16 27-Oct-16 3-Nov-16 17-Nov-16 1-Dec-16

Bid Discount (%) 14.70 14.23 14.54 14.40 14.27 13.92 14.32 14.10

Offer Discount (%) 14.45 13.98 14.29 14.15 14.02 13.67 14.07 13.85

Bid Yield (%) 14.80 14.40 14.76 14.66 14.57 14.24 14.74 14.59

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 18.7917 18.5340 19.0056 21.2555

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

20.17

Tenor

Closing Rate ($/N)

O/N

22.42

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

314.20 318.13 319.52 321.21 325.42 328.38

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 21.67 19.50

national | news

tuesday, september 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

39

FG saves N8bn monthly from 40,000 ghost workers – Presidency Anule Emmanuel Abuja

T

he presidency yesterday said that it is currently saving about N8billion monthly through elimination of ghost workers on the Federal Government pay roll system.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, said about 40,000 ghost workers have so far been eliminated through a thorough checking method.

Garba in an article on the state of the Nigerian economy said "see what the current administration is doing to sanitise the huge salary bill by eliminating payroll fraud,”.

He said: "So far, the federal payroll has been rid of about 40,000 ghost workers.

More than eight billion naira stolen monthly has been saved.”

The presidential spokesman explained that the Federal Government was also determined to enforce fiscal discipline across the states of the Federation to

check wasteful spending.

According to him, the Federal Government would force the state governments to reform their spending and build savings and while making investments in critical infrastructure.

Garba noted that the reform would include blockage of leakages that in the past allowed government’s

£66.62m

The total aggregate payments received by Aston Villa for the English 2015/2016 season.

Source: Goal.com

revenues to be siphoned into private hands.

“The Federal Government is not limiting the reforms to the centre, but forcing state governments to reform their spending and build savings or investments,’’ he said.

He said that the ongoing probe into the finances of the military authorities was part of the reforms aimed at checking corrupt practices in military establishments.

“Look at what a civilian administration is today doing to the military, investigating their finance and

Recession: Iredia, Farounbi, NMMA receives 886 entries, others to discuss media's survival calls for support Mojeed Alabi

I

n the face of the threatening economic recession in the country, media experts, including a retired former DirectorGeneral of the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Mr. Tony Iredia; ace broadcaster, Dr. Yemi Farounbi; Publisher of Thisday Newspaper, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena; Dr. Doyin Abiola, among many others, are billed to converge on Lagos to participate at a seminar aimed at proposing solutions to the numerous challenges facing the media sector in the country.

In a statement issued yesterday by the organiser of the event,

TV Express- an arm of the Nigerian Television Authority, and signed by Alhaji Biodun Ajijola, noted that the forum is scheduled to put “searchlight on contents, media management structure, training and capacity building, and enhancement of profitability without putting into jeopardy the elements of credibility, integrity and global best practices.”

Ajijola added that the two-day event will be declared open by the Speaker of the Lagos State of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, pledging that participants will receive sound mentorship from the array of professionals already scheduled to deliver

Mojeed Alabi

T

he Board of the Nigeria Media Merit Award, NMMA, yesterday disclosed that it has received a total of 886 entries for the 42 categories of the 24th edition of the annual media merit award competition.

The entries which, according to the organisers of the event, were submitted by a total of 648 entrants with 772 entries received from 558 print journalists, 47 entries from 36 entrants from the television platforms and 67 entries from 53 radio journalists.

Speaking yesterday at a media briefing to formally handover the entries to the panel of assessors, the

Chairman of the award's Board of Trustees, Mr. Vincent Maduka, an engineer, revealed that the 10 categories dropped this year by the organisation were due to non-availability of sponsors, urging Nigerians to rise in support of the initiative aimed at rewarding excellent media practice.

According to Maduka, the board is unimpressed by the poor turnout of journalists from other parts of the federation especially the southeast, south-south and the northern region.

He urged the media to popularise the project and that journalists across all media should be encouraged to take part and compete for prizes.

L-R: Chairman, Board of Trustees, Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA), Engr.

Vincent Maduka; Chairman, Panel of Assessors, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye and Administrator, Mr. Yemi Akeju, at a press conference to announce the grand hosting of 2016 NMMA Awards in Lagos… yesterday.

Abuja

O

peratives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have arrested a staff of the Federal Ministry of Environment in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Mr. Tariah O. Fred, over alleged fraud.

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Fred allegedly headed

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disowned Prince Deji Adeyanju as its director of New Media.

The party also announced the closure of its official twitter handle, @pdpnigeria, which Adeyanju uses to tweet messages on behalf of PDP. In its place, the party said it has re-launched a new handle, @officialpdpnig, and warned members against unauthorised statements on its behalf.

Adeyanju, one of the aspirants for the position of National Publicity Secretary in the August 17

a syndicate, which specialised in defrauding the public and corporate organisations, using the office of the Federal Controller of Environment in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Uwujaren further disclosed that the suspect allegedly used the name The Controller, Federal Ministry of Environment, Yenagoa, to open an account with a New Generation Bank, while he and a co-accused, Mr. Education Zghadina,

were signatories.

"The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested one Tariah Otumba Fred, a staff of the Federal Ministry of Environment in Bayelsa State for allegedly being a serial fraudster.

"The suspect is alleged to have been involved in forgery, extortion, obtaining money under false pretence, impersonation and other fraudulent activities.

"Fred is said to head a notorious syndicate who

defrauded unsuspecting members of the public and corporate organizations using the office of the Federal Controller of Environment, Yenagoa.

"The suspect is alleged to have opened an account, using the name, The Controller, Federal Ministry of Environment, Bayelsa State in which he was a signatory alongside one Mr. Education Zghadina who has also been arrested by the Commission," Uwujaren said.

botched National Convention, had issued a number of statements on behalf of PDP last week, which attracted wide publicity.

But the party, in a statement yesterday by Mrs. Chinwe Nnorom, head, Publicity Division, claimed that the closed twitter handle was hacked into, and urged members of the public to ignore and disregard any tweet from the Handle @pdpnigeria forthwith.

"In addition, the leadership has also frowned at the incessant and unauthorized statements that are being issued by some party members purported to have spoken for and on behalf of the party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

New contact lenses cuts glaucoma blindness

I

Alleged fraud: EFCC arrests environment ministry staff

He said that if these things had been done when oil price was as high as $140 per barrel, Nigeria would not be in the current predicament.

“We would not be suffering now if we had cash reserves, but we had regular supply of power, a good rail system, good roads and good housing.

“Now that the oil has fallen as low as 28 dollars per barrel, it is very difficult to do what is needed but they must be done to save Nigeria.

“There is no other way if we want to be honest."

PDP closes officials twitter handle, disowns Adeyanju

Appolonia Adeyemi and Eleazar Nwanti

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Emmanuel Onani

accounts that the military could not do to themselves.

“We are also saving on wasteful expenses like First Class Travel and Private Jets for official trips.

Garba also said government was increasing spending on capital projects, especially on infrastructure needed to make Nigerian businesses competitive and create jobs.

“Currently, there is focus on key sectors (apart from oil) that can create jobs and or generate revenue such as Agriculture, Solid Minerals and Manufacturing.’’

n order to reduce the number of people with vision impairment worldwide, scientists have found a therapy that can stop blindness from glaucoma from getting worse.

According to findings published in the journal ‘Ophthalmology’, researchers said the eye drops can’t repair the damage but they can stop it from getting worse.

Although, the scientist have tried to make drugdispensing contact lenses before, but have struggled to control the rate at which the medicine is released into the eye.

The mailonline reports that the researchers from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in the United States (U.S), packed the drug in a polymer film that releases the medication slowly and steadily for up to 100 days.

The drug-polymer film sits at the edge of the lens, leaving the centre clear enough to see through.

Glaucoma is a disease

that damages the eye's optic nerve. It usually happens when fluid builds up in the front part of the eyes. That extra fluid increases the pressure in the eye, damaging the optic nerve.

Glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness, is a complicated disease in which damage to the optic nerve leads to progressive, irreversible vision loss.

As the population ages and life expectancy increases, the effects of open-angle glaucoma will become an increasingly greater burden on society, especially in the developing world, according to Rohit Varma, a surgeon , who opened the scientific program of a meeting celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Wills Eye Hospital glaucoma fellowship programme in the United States (U.S).

However, in the in the tests on monkeys with glaucoma, lenses that dispensed a low dose of the glaucoma drug latanoprost were just as good as drops at reducing the damaging pressure rise in the eye.

40

News|NATIONAL

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Contractors disrupt NYSC’s technical bid opening Caleb Onwe Abuja

D

issatisfied contractors and prospective bidders, yesterday disrupted the opening of technical bids for the production and supply of kits for the 2016 Batch ‘B’ Corps members held at the National Youth Service Corps Directorate Headquarters (NYSC) in Abuja.

The contractors numbering over 30, stormed the venue of the event with rowdy complaints

and accusation that those officials have a grand plan to scheme them out of the process. They complained that some of them arrived the venue as early as 8am, to have their bid documents registered before the closing time, which is 11am, but nobody was available to attend to them.

They also alleged that the agency technically shut the door against them by assigning only one staff to attend to them, making the process to slow to the extent that they were not given the opportunity to beat

the closing time. Despite their protest, their bids were ruled out on the excuse that they had failed to submit within the time allowed by the law.

The Director General of the Service, Brig. Gen. Suleiman Zakari Kazaure, represented by Director General Services, Alhaji Salisu Yakassi, said that the technical opening exercise was one of the basic elements in the procurement procedure as contained in the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

Kazaure stated further that the exercise was aimed at ensuring

transparency, accountability and integrity in the procurement process of the scheme, in line with the change agenda of the present administration.

He also urged the 214 bidders that participated in the technical opening process to see themselves as stakeholders in the NYSC project.

“You are not only contractors, but also dependable partners in the implementation of one of the major cardinal programmes of the scheme which is the orientation exercise”, he said.

Mass rally for the 7th Memorial Programme for the late Gani Fawehinmi,

by Gani Fawehinmi Organisation (GAFAMORG), along Ikorodu Road, Ojota, Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

EFCC case: I’ve no role in FUNAAB finances, says Ogunlewe Kunle Olayeni

Abeokuta

T

he Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, yesterday insisted that he does not have access to the funds of the institution.

Ogunlewe, a former Minister for Works, said this following his alleged interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with a petition detailing allegations of fund mismanagement in the varsity.

The anti-graft agency had also quizzed the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, and Bursar, Moses Ilesanmi.

But Ogunlewe, in a statement signed by his Personal Assistant, Tosin Oyesanya, said it was untrue that the EFCC quizzed him over a N250million scam.

The statement was titled “Re: N250m scam in FUNAAB: Pro-Chancellor has no access to university

funds.”

The former minister attributed the petition to intrigues associated with the process of appointing a new Vice Chancellor in the university and the refusal of the Bursar to vacate his post.

He described the action of those who wrote the petition to the EFCC as “illconceived” and assured parents and students that the university management was on top of the situation.

The statement partly read, “Every federal university has a management team comprising the Vice Chancellor, who is the chief executive officer, as well as accounting officer of the university. At least, two Deputy Vice Chancellors of the university, the Registrar, the Bursar and the Librarian are members of the management team.

“This team assists the Vice Chancellor in the day to day running of the university. The Governing Council meets only four times in a year, with specific function of formulating policy and possible guide the management team as appropriate.

“Secondly, the refer-

ence to N250million by the petitioners who called themselves Concerned Stakeholders must have emanated from the assumption that the management team spent the sum of N250million in four years to service the Governing Council in the area of transportation, accommodation, feeding and sitting allowances.

“Their calculations with documents leaked to them by the bursar was that at the rate of about N8million to N10million per meeting, with four meetings in a year will equal to N32million to N40million. This amount was multiplied by four years equal to N128million or N160million.

“So the reference to the headline that EFCC quizzed Adeseye Ogunlewe over a N250million scam is just a fairy tale.

“The tenure of the ViceChancellor will end in another eight months. So, the race and intrigues associated with the process of the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor does not need to attract internal attrition, since the process of appointing a new Vice Chancellor is already stream-lined in a recent circular.”

Immigration gets 28 additional centres Emmanuel Onani

Abuja

I

n an effort to ease the production and issuance processes of resident permits in the country, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has commissioned 28 additional Combined Expatriate Resident Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) centres.

This brings the total number of centres for the production of CERPAC to 36, as the NIS continues its push towards automating its operations.

While commissioning the centres yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Interior, Lt.Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, (rtd), said the development was part of

measures by the Federal Government, to create an enabling environment for Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).

“This initiative, which will certainly enhance the capacity of the NIS to discharge its statutory duty of internal monitoring and control of foreigners in Nigeria, is equally in tandem with the letter and spirit of the recent executive order on promoting transparency and efficiency for the creation of an enabling business environment,” Dambazau said.

Earlier, the ComptrollerGeneral of the NIS, Mr. Muhammad Babandede, had charged officers manning the CERPAC centres, to up the ante.

Abang returns El-Zakzaky`s case file to CJ T

he Federal High Court, Abuja, has returned, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, leader of Shi’a Movement in Nigeria, case file to chief judge for reassignment.

The judge, Justice Okon Abang, returned the case file in Abuja yesterday for reassignment to another judge when the court resumes from vacation.

Abang said that the vacation court would not be able to commence and determine the case before the ending of the vacation

on Sept. 9.

Abang at the last hearing declined El-Zakzaky`s application seeking his immediate release due non-service of court to process to Department of State Services (DSS) and Attorney General of the Federation.

At the resumed hearing, the parties were absent and were no legal representation from both parties.

El-Zakzaky is seeking his immediate release from detention of DSS.

NCC says investment in ICT sector over $35bn T

he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that over $35 billion had been invested in the nation’s telecommunications industry from Foreign Direct Investments.

4

The total number of open play goals scored by Cote d’Ivoire at Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Fifa.com

£1.24m

The amount of money received

by Aston Villa as merit payment for the 2015/2016 season.

Source: Goal.com

The Executive Vice Chairman of the commission, Prof. Umar Danbatta, made this known in Lagos during a stakeholders’ forum for International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecom World 2016.

Danbatta said that local investments in the sector were also in billions of dollars in the past 15 years.

He said that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector had recorded significant growth, as it moved from below 500,000 active lines in the past years to the current 157 million.

According to him, the sector has surpassed the

100 per cent threshold for teledensity, as it stands at 107 per cent, while internet connectivity rose from 50,000 in 2001 to 97 per cent currently.

“Our story of successes is very long but we, as regulators, are not resting on our oars. ‘’We are not there yet; what we have is work in progress. We have to go to ITU Telecom World to attract more investments.

“We are here to re-strategise on how we can attract more meaningful investments into our country; we are here to fine-tune our story about the growth and attraction of our sector.”

Customs arrest 23 smugglers over N250m contraband Bayo Akomolafe

T

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Lagos has seized some contraband valued at N250 million between July and August, 2016.

The unit said yesterday that 23 smugglers were arrested over the contraband.

It noted that N63.6 million was recovered from vehicles and other goods due to under-payment, undervaluation and false declaration.

In a statement by the command’s Public Relation Officer, Jerry Attah, between

July and August, 2016, about 225 different seizures were recorded.

He listed the seizures as foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products, fairly used vehicles and general merchandise.

According to him, 4,474 bags of 50kilogramme valued at N29.1million were seized.

Also, Attah said that the unit intercepted some 7,676 cartons of frozen poultry products valued at N41.5 million; 11 units of assorted vehicles value at N8.8 million; vegetable oil, new and

used textiles, shoes, bags, used tyres , used fridges , furniture sets valued at N107.6million.

He noted that the Controller of the unit, Comptroller Umar Mohammed Dahiru, had said that the NCS’s antismuggling unit would continue to thwart any antics that might be deployed by smugglers.

Dahiru urged patriotic Nigerians to help the NCS in the fight against smuggling by providing necessary intelligence report that would assist its operations for a better return on investment.

south-west | news

tuesday, september 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC leaders seek cancellation of Ondo primaries Babatope Okeowo Akure

R

ather than abate, the crisis over the emergence of Mr Rotimi Akeredolu SAN as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Ondo

State governorship election fixed for November 26 worsened yesterday.

Leaders of the party are seeking outright cancellation of the exercise which produced Akeredolu as the party’s standard bearer.

The aggrieved leaders had petitioned the Appeal Committee of the party,

Unemployment: FG trains 41,000 graduates, targets non-oil sectors Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

T

he Federal Government yesterday restated its commitment towards tackling high rate of unemployment in the country by developing special programmes for nonoil sectors of the economy.

Project Director, Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), Mr Dennis Chukwu, who spoke at the orientation training for interns in Abeokuta, said the current administration had placed premium on job creation and capacity development for Nigerian youths.

Chukwu, represented by the GIS Operations Officer, Emmanuel Eronwu, disclosed that no fewer than 41,161 graduates had

already benefitted from the scheme with many of the beneficiaries given credit facilities and grants for business expansion.

It was at a three-day training tagged, "Orientation and employability skills training for interns and firms' representatives in Ogun State", organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Chukwu expressed concern over the nation's unemployment indices and concluded that the expansion of the scheme would go a long way in addressing some of the attendant problems.

According to him, the GIS was a platform for graduates to distinguish themselves so as to secure employment in organisations or become self-reliant.

protesting the outcome of the Saturday’s governorship primary which produced Akeredolu as the candidate of the party.

The leaders from Akure South, Ondo East and West Local Government area of the state described the primary election as a sham and asked for the cancella-

tion of the exercise.

The petitioners including the APC Central senatorial chairman, Mr Adegboyega Adedipe, the Ondo East Chairman, Mr Akintunde Samuel and Mr Adeola Ademulegun for Ondo West APC exposed what they described as the 'behind the scene' manipu-

How I'll drive Lagos economy with effective transportation, says Ambode Muritala Ayinla

L

agos Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday said that his administration would not deviate from its commitment to drive the state's economy through efficient transportation.

According to him, his government would not lose sleep until there was an improved infrastructure that would reduce the burden of gridlock in the state.

Speaking while commissioning another layby at Iyana-Oworoshonki along Third Mainland Bridge, Ambode described lay-bys in the traffic prone areas as a strategic approach of his administration to resolve the recurring traffic grid-

lock in the state, especially along the Third Mainland Bridge axis.

Ambode, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Transportation, Prince Anofi Elegushi, at the brief commissioning ceremony, said the construction of the lay-bys had so far created orderliness in the state's transportation system as the government had also provided other road infrastructure that would address some of the problems of congestion on Lagos roads.

New Telegraph gathered that the lay-bys have the capacity to accommodate 20 buses simultaneously with features such as perimetre fences, perimeter height, Teflon bus shelter among others.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (right) with the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, during the closing ceremony of the 34th Holy Ghost convention of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, in Ibadan… yesterday.

lation of the exercise.

They made allegations of fraud, inducement, intimidation and delegates swap before and during the Saturday primary election.

The aggrieved APC leaders called for outright cancellation of the primary in order to pave the way for a fresh exercise that would reflect true reality of the election.

The petition stated that “a strange delegate list was introduced on the night of the election after everybody has gone to sleep only for us to wake up in the morning of the election to see a massively corrupted delegate list.

“Names of 47 percent of the delegates in Ondo East were either deleted or substituted with people who are unknown to the party as executive members. Some of the injected names are not even aware

of the development and so did not come for the primary election.

“We wrote a petition to the primary Election Committee Chairman on the morning of the election and it reiterated that only people that had been voting in previous primaries would be allowed to vote with a promise to stand down the voting process for Ondo East and West Local Government Areas. We were shocked that the committee never honoured the pledge.

“In all, a total number of 64 names were injected into the delegate list. The names were unknown to the party. For instance, somebody who never contested any election and some even unknown to the party suddenly became ward chairmen in wards four, six, two and seven of Ondo East Local Government."

189,517

The total number of active fixed wired/wireless lines of Nigeria in October 2015.

Source: Ncc.gov.ng

PDP crisis: George, Kashamu, others to strengthen party in S’West Wale Elegbede

L

eaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West, including former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, a former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Senator Buruji Kashamu, among others, yesterday resolved to ensure that the party was strengthened in the region with a common vision and purpose.

The leaders, who gave this pledge in a communiqué issued yesterday, tagged, "Yoruba Unity Statement," after the end

PHOTO: NAN

41

of its 3-day parley in Lagos, also expressed their rejection on attempts by what they perceived as some external forces to distort the will of the Yoruba people through manipulation of the approved list of delegates at the last botched PDP National Convention in Port Harcourt, the River State capital.

The meeting, which was held under the leadership of George and attended by a former Minister of Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe; Senator Robert Koleosho, Dr. Saka Balogun, Senator Ayo Adeseun, Erelu Olusola Obada, among others, also took a number of resolutions.

South Africa partners Lagos on 50th anniversary Ondo APC Senatorial chair resigns as Wale Elegbede

S

outh African ConsulGeneral in Lagos State, Darkey Africa, has expressed the readiness of his country to partner with Lagos State on its 50 years anniversary.

The Consul-General stated this yesterday while speaking with newsmen during his courtesy call on the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa in his office, Alausa Ikeja. Africa told his host that there was the need to strengthen the already existing symbiotic relationship between Nigeria and Africa as the

country and the continent shared many things in common.

Africa said: "We partner for the benefit of the two cities. We know that Lagos is celebrating its 50 years anniversary, we wish all the people of Lagos the best as they celebrate, we will be there to support the city.”

While sharing his experience in the State, Africa said "it is wonderful.

As Africans, we enhance people interaction so that the two countries can benefit. But we can also build more collaboration between the people of the two countries."

He went on: "We thought it is necessary to come and make visit to

the Speaker as we do with the Governor and because we are hosted here by Lagos state.

"We also want the people to know why we are here and what we can do together within the context of our bilateral relationship. We are here to say to the Speaker, South Africa is ready to do business in Lagos State and to share experience in relation to government matters.

Responding the Speaker, Obasa said "we are big brothers in Africa. We need to chart a path to improve our GDPs; a path of peace to end insecurity.

We should take advantage of our relationship to work in the interest of Africa.

plot to sack Kekemeke thickens

Babatope Okeowo Akure

T

he emergence of Mr Rotimi Akeredolu SAN as the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) ahead of the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State has claimed its first casualty. The party’s Central Senatorial District chairman, Mr Gboyega Adedipe yesterday resigned from his position.

Adedipe, an ally of the Chairman, Mr Isaacs Kekemeke sources said resigned following the

emergence of Akeredolu rather than the endorsed aspirant of the National Leader of the party, Dr Segun Abraham.

The source also said Kekemeke was considering an option of resigning rather than being kicked out from office as plots to sack him again thickened at the weekend.

Party’s Publicity Secretary, Omooba Abayomi Adesanya confirmed the development to our correspondent on the telephone.

According to him, the former senatorial chairman of the party had

returned all the party's property in his possession to the party's secretariat in Akure.

Adesanya said: "I can confirm to you that Mr. Adedipe has resigned as the chairman of the Ondo Central Senatorial District of the APC. He said he took the decision for peace to reign in the party and also for the progress of the party.”

It was however gathered that Adedipe resigned following the emergence of Chief Rotimi Akeredolu as the candidate of the party for the governorship election.

42

News|SOUTH-EAST

Kenneth Ofoma ENUGU

T

he National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday expressed concern over multiplicity of fake and adulterated malaria drugs in the country despite efforts by the agency to curtail its spread.

Fielding questions from journalists in Enugu during a three-day sensitisation workshop for staff of the agency on anti-corruption, SERVICOM and gender issues, Head of the Reform Unit of NAFDAC, Ozo-Onyali Ikenna, said the agency had stepped up its enforcement activities to nip the menace in the bud.

“You know for every method you bring to checkmate importers of fake drugs, they tend to always

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

NAFDAC laments fake malaria drugs, warns buyers

monitor you and move on as you are moving as well.

We know that we have a lot of fake malaria medicines within the system and that is the simpler reason why we have done this.

“You know we insisted that manufacturers of anti-malaria and antibiotic medicines should be able to put in what we call ‘scratch and text system,’ that when you buy your malaria medicine you scratch and send the number to the code that will be on the pack of the medicine to confirm the authenticity or otherwise of the medicine before you buy.

“It will either reply genuine or fake and if it is fake, then you are not expected to buy it and you are expected to report that

complaint to the nearest NAFDAC office for enforcement agents to step in,” he said.

Ikenna stated, however, that so many arrests and prosecution of importers and manufacturers of fake and substandard drugs were ongoing, noting that it would remain a regular process in order to stamp out the illicit business.

Earlier in a remark, the Acting Director General of NAFDAC, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, said the sensitisation workshop was packaged for staff of the agency drawn from all the states of the South-East, the Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and Enforcement and Investigation Department of the agency.

“The first day will be the anti-corruption day; the second day, service deliv-

APC can’t last beyond 2019, says ex-SSG Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

A

former Federal Commissioner in the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Abuja, Chris Okewulonu, has predicted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will not last in power beyond 2019.

According to him, there were ample indices indicating that the APC may not last in power beyond 2019, stressing that the party

was already standing on the precipice.

In a statement issued in Owerri, Imo State, Okewulonu, who was a former Secretary to the Imo State Government (SSG), attributed the internal crisis prevalent in the APC national leadership and the National Assembly leadership on one hand as well as the friction among members of the party in various states of the country, as indicators that the party was not ready for governance yet.

He said: “APC is a collection of strange bedfellows hurriedly put together to undermine the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but winning an election is one thing while managing the victory is another.”

Okewulonu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed delight that; “contrary to the expectation of some antiPDP forces, we have continued to march on successfully under the leadership of Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi.

PDP remains the only true

ery day; and the third day is gender day. The whole essence of this workshop is basically to sensitise members of staff on the anti-corruption agency towards effective and efficient service delivery and mainstream gender issues within the system.”

The director-general, who was represented by the Director, Special Duties in the agency, Dr. Abubakar Jimoh, said resource persons were drawn from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) as well as the Department of Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Department (CMED) of the agency.

About 200 staff of the agency are expected to participate in the workshop,

national party in Nigeria, catering for the linguistic, tribal and religious diversities of the country.”

He advised the factional National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, to have a re-think, noting that waging endless war against the same party he was struggling to lead, would not portray him as a good leader.

“Today, Sheriff is on AIT and tomorrow, he runs to Channels TV, trying albeit unsuccessfully, to blackmail PDP yet, he is still aspiring to lead the same party and people he was painting black.”

which Ikenna said would enable them work out all that they have learnt with a view to improving ser-

6%

The percentage of the population of men above 60 years of Guyana in 2012.

Source: Un.org

FG inaugurates Ebonyi’s N350m Lassa fever hospital Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

T

he Federal Government yesterday inaugurated the N350 million Lassa fever virology diagnostic and treatment centre built by the Ebonyi State government.

Inaugurating the hospital built at the Federal Teaching Hospital 2, Abakaliki, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, expressed delight at the con-

struction of the hospital.

He assured the people that the hospital will be made functional by the Federal Government and converted to South-East Diagnostic and Treatment Centre.

“I am actually short of words; I am yet to recover from shock over this giant stride. This actually surpassed my expectations and I must say clearly that we should see this as a partnership. The Federal Gov-

ernment cannot refund you for this.

“Let me say clearly Your Excellency, that we will make this hospital functional. We stated in January that we want to build six virology centres in the country and the budget processes were made and was signed

by Mr. President in May. “This will be the centre for the South-East. We need to partner with the Chief Medical Director (CMD) and the Commissioner. We

should use the N350 million you ask us to refund for the construction of the centre for the procurement of more equipment for the centre.

“This centre will actually turn things around.

Your Excellency, you have shown great interest in health and we are proud of you. In terms of commitment to health, you are one of our star examples in the country. We will continue to partner with you,” he said.

$350m

The net worth of Jessica Alba in 2016.

Source: Fropky.com

CONFIRMATION/change OF NAME Abdulsalam: I, formerly known and addressed as Aishat Olabisi Ewetayo now wish to be known and addressed as Abdulsalam Aishat Olabisi. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Abdullahi

This is to confirm that Abdullahi Buhari and Ishaka Saidu refer to one and same person. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as Abdullahi Buhari. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Oladipo

I, formerly known and addressed as Oladipo Oluwatobi John, now wish to be known and addressed as Oladipo Tobi John. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

Akpa

I, formerly known and addressed as Sarah Boma-Siaminabo, now wish to be known and addressed as Sarah Akpa. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. General public take note.

Kalafere

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Glory Emmanuel, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Glory Moses Kalafere. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

Onuoha

This is to confirm that Onuoha Celestina and Onuoha Celestina Amarachi refer to one and same person. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as Onuoha Celestina Amarachi. All former documents remain valid. Ecobank Plc and general public take note.

Binaebi

L-R: Minister of Agricutlure and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi; Minister of Health, Prof. Issac Adewole and Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Umezuruike, at the inauguration of the ultra-modern Virology (Lassa Fever ) Centre built by the Ebonyi State Government at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki … yesterday

vice delivery within the system and getting rid of any form of corrupt practice within the system.

I, formerly known and addressed as Salo Pere-Ere, now wish to be known and addressed as Salo Binaebi. All documents bearing my former name remain valid.

General public please take note.

Calestus

I, formerly known and addressed as Ezeala Calistus, now wish to be known and addressed as Ezeala Chibuzo Calestus. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

Wright

This is to confirm that Wright Oluyimika and Wright Oluyimika Abosede refers to the same person. Henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Wright Oluyimika Abosede. All former documents All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

Umaru

This is to confirm that Umaru Magari and Umaru Abu refer to one and same person. Henceforth I wish to be known and addressed as Umaru Magari.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Jamiu

I, formerly known and addressed as Aminu Oneye Saratu, now wish to be known and addressed as Jamiu Saratu. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

Sola-Odesye

I, formerly known and addressed as Olaitan Hamidat Kareem, now wish to be known and addressed as Olaitan Hamidat Sola-Odesye.

All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

Zubairu

I formerly known as Chindor Zubairu Yusuf now wish to be known and addressed as Zubairu Yusuf. All Former documents remain valid. General public and Ecobank Plc please take note.

Adegoke

I, formerly known and addressed as Salam-Adegoke Taofeek Adetunji, now wish to be known and addressed as Adegoke Taofeek Adetunji. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public please take note.

Awudese

I, formerly known and addressed as Dugo Hannah now wish to be known and addressed as Awudese Hannah. All former documents remain valid. Unity bank Plc and the general public please take note.

Jimoh

I, formerly known and addressed as Ojelade Adijat Ronke now wish to be known and addressed as Jimoh Adijat Olaronke. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

Abudumaliki

I, formerly known and addressed as Sumaila Abdulmalik Lucky now wish to be known and addressed as Sumaila Abudumaliki. All former documents remain valid.

Ecobank Plc and the general public please take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PRACTITIONERS

The general public is hereby notified that then above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Company and Allied Matters Act. 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Inimfon Henry Ebe.............Chairman 2. Ekaete Abanasang Anwana 3. Blessing Imo Udofia 4. Stella Maris Victor Mkpong 5. Emmanuel Eyo Essien AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To cater for the welfare of members 2. To promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)N practices 3. To advance professionalism among ADR members 4. To network with other NGO’S for conflict resolution in rural communities.

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

SIGNED: Chairman

News|south-South

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Commissioner: We’ll work to realise Emmanuel’s five-point agenda Tony Anichebe Uyo

T

he Akwa ibom State Commissioner for Economic Development, Dr. Emmanuel Ating Onwioduokit has restated the resolve of his Ministry to continue to engage in programmes and projects that would help actualize the five–point agenda of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

Onwioduokit stated this yesterday at the ongoing 2017 Capital Estimates Bilateral Discussions with ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

The commissioner pledged to use his position as the Chairman of the Coordinating Committee for the 2017 Bilateral Discussions to give guidance and policy framework to ministries to ensure that their plans and projects syncs

with the vision of the present administration, geared towards revenue generation, fiscal discipline and wealth creation.

Onwioduokit said his committee would work towards choosing a mix of best strategies which would speedily address the socio-economic needs of the state and consolidate on the gains made so far to attain inclusive growth, and therefore sued for cooperation from MDAs. Presenting the 2017 Capital Estimates for her Ministry, the state Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Elizabeth Obot said her ministry would engage more on capacity building and youth training on ICT, as well as ensure the commencement of a digitized state to make egovernance a reality in Akwa Ibom.

Nigerian youths innovative, tenacious, says NIS Director Pauline Onyibe YENAGOA

T

he Programme Director, Graduate Internship Scheme, Mr. Denis Chukwu, yesterday lauded Nigerian youths for their enterprising spirit, describing them as innovative, self-reliant and tenacious in whatever they find themselves to do.

Speaking yesterday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa Sate capital, Chukwu, who spoke through the Assistant Director Federal Ministry Of Finance, Vitalis Egemba, during the exit programme of the graduate internship scheme, said the youth of this country had equally proven that when they were focused, no amount of pressure, threats and inducement would derail their resolve for change.

He said: “The changes

we are currently seeing in Nigerian are a product of the resilience of the Nigerian youth. As you may all be aware, the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) since its inception had demonstrated high prospects for job creation and social protection of our youth.”

He added that the programme had presented an opportunity for graduate interns to gain employment in organisations where they work, in other organisations or self-employment.

Stating that the monthly stipend paid to graduate interns had demonstrated high prospects for achieving the social protection and inclusive growth objective of government, stating that the idea was to prospect for skills building and job creation, adding that the scheme had developed special programs for non-oil sector.

Lassa fever: Victim’s family, hospital, others regain freedom Dominic Adewole

ASABA

T

he National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has lifted the severe surveillance placed on 40 persons who were quarantined following the outbreak of lassa fever in Delta state.

They were the people that had first contact with Dr. Okeke, a Resident Doctor who was killed by the disease in Asaba, including his wife, children, driver and other 18 persons.

Also the El-Comfort Hospital, Bonsaac, in Asaba, where the late Doctor was rushed to and within hours referred to Nnamdi Azikwe University Teaching Hospi-

tal (NAUTH), Nnewi, has reopened for full-scale quality health care delivery.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Ajufoh Ben-Ifeanyi, yesterday at the hospital premises in Asaba, said the statuary incubation days had elapsed.

He added that the hospital had been offering its services to the public having been cleared and certified by both the Delta State Ministry of Health and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

“No El-Comfort Hospital doctor, nurse or staff is infected, and nobody died in the hospital of the disease. The surveillance on exposed persons has ended after 21 days required,” he said.

43

Wike, Burutai hold talks on Niger Delta security Emmanuel Masha PORT HARCOURT

R

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has held talks with the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Burutai over security issues in the Niger Delta and to enthrone peace in the region.

They spoke in Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday when Burutai paid him a visit to intimate on Operation Crocodile Smile, which he noted was introduced to train army personnel on the techniques of operating in the Niger Delta, just as he assured troops professionalism during the operation.

Buratai said that Op-

eration Crocodile Smile would address the security challenges in the Niger Delta, and create the enabling environment for effective governance.

He also stated the readiness of the army to intervene in critical areas of need for the communities, disclosing that the army had already embarked on medical outreach in Bille (Rivers State) and Nembe (Bayelsa State).

He said: “The Operation Crocodile Smile is an exercise to train our troops on amphibious

-37.49%

The percentage by which the average daily volume of the NSE dropped from Jan. 2015 – Dec. 2015.

Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

operations...

“Our waters are generally porous. The Nigerian Army has amphibious capabilities in conjunction with the Nigerian Navy to carry out limited operations within the creeks”.

In his response, Wike pledged his support for the Operation Crocodile Smile by the Nigerian Army, saying that he will do everything to ensure peace and security in the Niger Delta in order to create the right atmosphere for democratic governance.

8%

The percentage of the population of women above 60 years of Guyana in 2012.

Source: Un.org

Wike said: “The Rivers State government is fully in support of the Operation Crocodile Smile. I was fully briefed by the Brigade Commander and we associate ourselves with the programme because it will make the Niger Delta safer.

“One of the advantages of the programme is that hoodlums in the creeks are being uprooted for a safer Niger Delta. I support the programme insofar as it is done in line with the constitution.”

The governor also disclosed that the state has handed six new Armoured Personnel Carriers for the Police and in the process of concluding the acquisition of 10 gunboats for the Nigerian Navy.

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa (middle) with some traditional rulers from the state at the inauguration of Traditional Rulers’ Council in Asaba … yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

Army begins 3-day medical outreach in Calabar Clement James

CALABAR

T

he Nigerian army has said it will continue to contribute to the development and well-being of the people of the the Niger Delta region by intervening in the health sector in order to contribute to the quality of the health of riverine communities.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur.

Y. Buratai made this disclosure on Monday while

declaring open a three-day medical outreach in Calabar South local government area of Cross River State.

Represented by the Commander, 13 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Bulama Biu, the army chief said the medical outreach, which is part of the operation “Exercise Crocodile Smile” in the Niger Delta region, was aimed at impacting on the lives of residents in the area and encouraging militarycivilian relationship.

“We have come this morning to give you the little we can afford as your co-partner in securing the nation. We need more of your collaboration to sustain the peace,” he said.

Some of the medical services rendered to residents include blood pressure test, drug administration and provision of assorted food items.

While thanking the people for always supporting the military in the task of securing the nation, Buratai appealed

for greater collaboration in order to sustain the peaceful co-existence in the area.

Applauding the gesture of the army to residents of the area, Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong, expressed confidence in the capacity of the army to protect the people.

Asibong, who is also an indigene of the area, said: “I thank you for choosing Calabar South as your pilot centre. I have faith in your capacity to deliver; we want you to come back.”

Militant leader to surrender arms, warns Avengers against attacking Rivers Emmanuel Masha

PORT HARCOURT

A

militant leader, General Don Waney, who operated in Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government of Rivers State, where there had been high profile kidnappings of late, including the abduction of 14 oil workers on their way to Port Harcourt last Friday, has promised to surrender his arms and ammunitions and accept the amnesty programme

offered by Governor Nyesom Wike.

The militant leader, who head the Aggrieved Youth Movement, also urged the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other militant groups operating in the region to leave out the state in their attacks, vowing to fight back on any attack in the state.

He said he was no longer interested in operating from the creeks, but was willing to embrace peace to usher in development in the state, noting that those who were in the same

group with him initially were angered over the lack of jobs and poverty in their communities.

Waney expressed optimism that his acceptance of the state’s amnesty programme would encourage other militants to embrace the programme in the interest of peace, just as he lauded the Governor for coming up with such programme.

He said that the bombing of oil gas installations by the Avengers and other militant groups was not favourable to the commu-

nities where those installations were attacked, and appealed to the militant groups against attacking the local government area, and the Orashi region.

He equally appealed to the Federal Government to draft in new repentant militants in the region into the amnesty programme.

He said: “We are against the bombing and destruction of vital oil and gas installations in our communities. We shall not allow them or any of their type to enter our land.”

44

NEWS | north

26 FRSC officials convicted for stealing Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

N

o fewer than 26 officers of the Sokoto State chapter of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) have been arrested for their alleged involvement in criminal activities in the state.

Commissioner for Home Affairs, Alhaji Isa

Sadiq Achida, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the activities of his ministry held at the NUJ Press Centre along Zuru Road, yesterday.

He said the officials were involved in stealing and other related offences in the discharge of their official assignments.

Achida said some of the officials were convicted and were serving various jail terms while others

NDE commends Bello on youth empowerment Zacchaeus Ozovehe Lokoja

T

he Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Kogi State, Mr. Kunle Olayan, has commended Governor Yahaya Bello for being a vanguard in the task of youth empowerment.

The director-general, who was represented by the North Central Zonal Director of the NDE, Mr. John Aye, made the commendation while speaking at the orientation/induction programme for 25 unemployed youths in environmental beautification held in Lokoja, the state capital, yesterday.

Olayan also solicited the continuous intervention of the governor and other stakeholders towards boosting youth empowerment and alleviating hunger in the land.

The Director-General said the training programmes lined up for youths across the country had become imperative under the current economic recession so as

to create jobs that would reduce the hardship being faced by the people.

In his welcome address, Kogi State Coordinator of the NDE, Mallam Ndaman Abdul'Ibrahim, said the training would not only enhance the aesthetic view of our cities, towns and homes, but would create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths and stem the drift of our resources in the state which had been drawn by outsider's who had the skill in these areas.

He appealed to the trainees to take their training seriously as they would not only impact positively on their families, but become employers of labour in the near future.

The three months training will offer the participants the opportunity to acquire specialised skills in Soft Landscaping, Hard Landscaping or application of Plaster of Paris (POP) that would enable them become self-employed or key into the available opening for full employment in the construction industry.

were still being detained and investigated by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).

He added that those convicted were no longer in the service of the FRSC as a high-powered committee had been established to investigate inadequacies in the employment of the corps members and other challenges bedeviling the organisation.

He said the FRSC was able to apprehend 1,197 people involved in various criminal cases and handed them over to the police for investigation and prosecution since inception.

Damaturu

T

he Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Yobe branch has expressed dismay over extortion of money from motorists at checkpoints along the PotiskumMaiduguri Road in the state.

Chairman of the branch, Bashir Mohammed Salihu, disclosed this during a press conference in his office in Damaturu.

According to him, the present situation regarding security checkpoints in Yobe State was alarming, resulting in

long queues, especially in major towns across the state.

He said the checkpoints were intentionally created by security personnel, who were not checking anything but only extorting money from motorists, adding that the personnel even ‘go to the extent of giving drivers, mostly commercial vehicles change’ where the drivers do not have the required denomination requested," he said.

The chairman went further; "I appreciate the efforts of Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam and the state Attorney-General, Ahmed

1,663 inmates awaiting trial, 520 convicted in Nasarawa prisons –NPS Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

N

o fewer than 1,663 inmates are awaiting trials for various offences in Nasarawa State while 520 of them have been convicted and are serving different terms of imprisonment across the state.

Nasarawa State Comptroller of Prisons, Mr. Ekanem Ekwere Ekanem, disclosed this yesterday in Lafia, the state capital, while on a courtesy visit to the state’s office of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the state.

Ekanem said he was in NAN Lafia office to seek synergy with the news

7%

The percentage of the population of women above 60 years of Haiti in 2012.

Source: Un.org

agency as partners in progress.

He said: “We are here because we want you to help us sensitise the public that government alone cannot solve all the problems facing prison.”

According to him, the capacity of the prisons in Nasarawa State would only take 898 inmates, but regretted that the facilities had overshoot its initial capacity, describing the situation as unfortunate.

The comptroller added that the cost of this huge number of persons on remand had surpassed those convicted.

He said: “Those, who are convicted are the one we were supposed to

296.34m

The average Daily Volume of the Nigerian Stock Exchange as at Q4 2015.

Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

train, impact skills on, but what do we do, we are just managing to cope with the huge number so that they cannot give us problem and run away on the daily basis.”

Speaking on the challenges facing the command in the state, Ekanem added that the command lacked logistics to take the convicts to various courts in the state, as Lafia prisons alone covered 61 courts with only two vehicles and the major security prisons in Keffi, covered 82 courts and some of those courts were located right inside FCT Jabi, Kubwa and Utako in the Federal Capital Territory, with only one vehicle.

£53.4m

The total amount received by Tottenham in the whole 2015-16 season.

Source: 101greatgoals.com

Adamawa's Commissioner For Health, Dr Fatima Atiku (left), addressing some nursing mothers during the inauguration of the Unicef's one-week massive birth registration exercise in Yola …yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

189,517 Strike: Nasarawa loses N320m monthly

The total number of active fixed wired/wireless lines of Nigeria in October 2015.

Source: Ncc.gov.ng

NBA decries extortion at checkpoints in Yobe

Hassan Jirgi

tuesday, september 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mustapha Goniri and other cabinet members in securing the lives and property of the people of the state."

He appealed to the governor to take all necessary measure to ensure that security operatives do their jobs ethically and not prey on the poor people of the state by turning these checkpoints into money collecting centres.

Salihu also commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, for restoring peace to Yobe State and indeed the North-East part of the country.

Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

N

asarawa State government may have lost at least N300 million in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the ongoing strike embarked upon by labour unions in the state, investigation has revealed.

Sources at revenue generating agencies in the state like the Nasarawa State Board of Internal Revenue and Nasarawa Geographic Information Service (NAGIS), showed that a total of the state's IGR put between N400 million to N350 million in previous months before the strike, had dropped drastically to a little above N100 million.

Findings by New Telegraph showed that unlike the Nasarawa

Geographic Information Service (NAGIS), which generates revenue for the state from land administration, the state Board of Internal Revenue Service was worse hit by the drop in revenue during the two months strike.

It was also gathered that the inability of the state revenue board to collect the expected income from shop owners, kiosks, institutions and corporate bodies and other business outlets in the state, had been extremely difficult as a result of the strike, because junior workers had left their duty posts as a result of the ongoing strike coupled with the current harsh economic realities in the country.

A source at the Nasarawa State Board of Internal Revenue Service, who did not want his name in print, said

the amount generated monthly by the board had declined during the strike. He said: “Most of our revenue generation channels were blocked because of the ongoing strike coupled with the economic recession in the country.”

This also was confirmed by the state Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Dominic Bako, in an interview with newsmen recently. He said the state’s internally generated revenue that was hitherto between N350 million to N300 million had dropped to a little above N100 million.

Also corroborating the report, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ambassador Umar Suleman Azores, told newsmen recently in an interview that there was a sharp decline in revenue generation in the state.

45

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport News

Did you know?

Sport

Adepoju: Eagles must strategise for Russia 2018

That Uganda’s qualification for Gabon 2017 AFCON is the first for the country since 1978 (38 years) when they finished second behind Ghana.

International Clattenburg to officiate crunch Manchester derby

46 47

Pinnick

Nigeria midfielder, Kelechi Iheanacho

Salisu, Amakapabo divide NFF

Salisu

Pinnick, Green clash over coaches I‘ll sign a new deal this week, says Chief Coach Ajibade Olusesan

T

here was a tussle between the Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick and the chairman of the NFF Technical Committee Chris Green over the future of Coach Salisu Yusuf and his assistant Imama Amamakabo.

The future of the coaches is currently hanging in the balance as Salisu is yet to sign a contract despite being named the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles long before the arrival

of new manager Gernot Rohr while there has been a ploy to drop Imama from the crew outright. Goalkeepers’ trainer Alloy Agu too was yet to get his offer.

This development has not gone down well with a section of the board of the NFF which is led by Green.

According to our reliable source, Green is not happy the local coaches have been treated badly and this could further damage the image of the body.

The Chairman of Rivers State Football Association reportedly stood

his ground when Pinnick mooted the idea of dropping Imama, insisting that the Rangers coach would add value to the technical crew.

“They wanted to drop Imama if not for Green, “our source said. “Rohr seems not interested in having three Nigerian assistants when he’s already brought two foreigners and Pinnick appeared to have toed the same line but Green as the chairman of the technical committee insisted that it was important to make use of all available inputs so as to win a ticket to the Russia 2016 World Cup.

Amamakabo

“Pinnick’s argument has been about money, saying it is important they cut cost but everything seems to have been sorted out now,” he said.

Our correspondent approached Salisu asking if he was perturbed over the delay in signing his contract but the unassuming tactician said ‘It is true I am yet to sign papers but that kind of thing seems not too important now and I know that the NFF is working on that. I can confirm to you that I will travel to Abuja this week to sign the paper, that is the position of things

Williams sisters on course for semifinal clash 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

S

erena and Venus have been pictured preparing for their respective US Open fourth round matches side by side at Flushing Meadows.

The picture, which was uploaded to Instagram by Venus, shows the sisters hitting their trademark forehand shots on the practice courts in New York.

The pair, if all goes to plan, could face each other in the semi-finals if they both progress past the fourth round and the quarter-final stage.

World No 1 Serena plays Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova in the fourth

round.

The six-time US Open champion hasn’t lost a set at this year’s tournament.

Sister Venus faces a

much tougher test against 10th seed Karolina Pliskova from Czech Republic.

Venus, who is seeded 6th, hasn’t lost a set since the

Venus

Serena

first round when she beat Kateryna Kozlova.

Serena’s victory over Johanna Larsson in the third round was a record 307th grand slam match win for her.

The No 1 seed, clearly a little overwhelmed, said: ‘’That’s pretty awesome and what a place to do it, where everything first started.”

It meant that she moved ahead of Martina Navratilova and on level terms with Roger Federer.

She added: “To be up there with both men and women is something that’s super rare, and it actually feels really good.”

46

SPORT NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Adepoju: Eagles must strategise for Russia 2018 and with more inputs from the coach, just like they did against Tanzania, Nigeria will qualify,” the former Shooting Stars General Manager added.

“The game against Tanzaniaafforded the coach to meet the players as well as an opportunity for the coach to introduce his philosophy. It is a good thing that the team created many scoring chances even though they failed to convert their chances.”

He also urged that Nigerians should avoid putting pressure on the coach adding that: “We should just allow the coach to do his work and do what he wants to do. We have employed him and we should give him the necessary support for him to excel.”

Ifeanyi Anyaka

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ormer Super Eagles player, Mutiu Adepoju, has warned that Nigeria must perfect good strategies in order to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Adepoju in an interview with New Telegraph on Monday praised the Eagles for their 1-0 win over Tanzania at the weekend while seeking support for the new Manager, Gernet Rohr.

“We have everything to qualify for Russia 2018 World Cup but it all depends on the planning strategising.

I believe the coach is going to plan and know what to do to win crucial away games during the qualifiers.

“I believe the players are ready

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Eguma apologises to Rivers United fans

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he technical manager of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma, has apologize to fans of the club following their humiliating 4-0 loss to Enugu Rangers on match day 34 of the Nigeria Professional Football League.

United were comprehensively beaten by the ‘Flying Antelopes’ at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu following a barnstorming display by the hosts.

Eguma

Eguma said the game represented “one of the worst moments” of his career as a manager and was quick to apologize to the club’s faithful.

“We want to apologize to the fans of Rivers United for such a heavy defeat at this crucial stage of the season,” said the former U-23 assistant coach.

“We did not see it coming as we prepare very well for this game.

“I acknowledge that we were beaten by a better side but this is football and these things can happen.

“We apologize unreservedly to our fans and promise to come back stronger from this.”

United have four more fixtures, against Warri Wolves, Wikki Tourists, Abia Warriors and Akwa United, to navigate before the end of the season.

The Port Harcourt club currently sits in second position on the NPFL standings with 53 points from 32 matches.

Dalung woos stakeholders

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he Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has enjoined all stakeholders in the sports industry to come together to take the industry to the desired height.

Speaking after the Godwin Kienka chaired National Sports Reform committee on Sports submitted its report last week, Dalung reasoned that for the report to be fully implemented, everybody must contribute positively to actualize the dream.

“Part of reasons why we had to declare a state of emergency in sports is to take steps to regain public confidence which we have lost and this will take us to looking into what we have done in the past and where we didn’t do it well. We will also ensure that this report is made public and every stage of implementation is advertised and brought to the knowledge of Nigerians,” he said.

On accusations of mismanagement of funds leveled against the Ministry, Dalung said: “These are issues that have to do with law and investigation because you must have facts to make allegations of mismanagement. So, during the period of state of emergency, and when mechanism and steps will be taken, I will be glad if people with evidence of misappropriation

of funds will step forward with proof as this will help us build public confidence, “ Dalung stated.

Ahmed Musa (right) in action against Tanzania

2016 NCC Tennis League serves-off Sept 10

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he 2016 NCC Tennis League will start Saturday September 10 with a cracker between defending champions Team Tombim and star-studded debutants Team Offikwu at the tennis centre of the Abuja National Stadium.

Team Tombim which bagged a whopping N5m for the 2015 win has in their fold Moses Michael, current national No.1, Christian Paul, the highest ranked ATP player in Nigeria and Sarah Adegoke who has dropped to

BAUCHI

T

he Nigerian Football Federation said it would organise series of capacity building programs to train the country’s referees to make them competent to officiate international football matches.

General Secretary of

the Federation, Dr Sunusi Muhammed, made the disclosure stated this over the weekend at the Nigerian Referees Association 2016 Annual General Meeting held at ‘Zaranda’ hotel, Bauchi.

Muhammed expressed satisfaction with the performances of the Nigerian referees at local matches said plan is underway by the NFF to build their ca-

Paralympics: Gara-Gombe tips Team Nigeria for glory Ubong Emmanuel

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s the Team Nigeria athletes for the Rio Paralympics settle down to compete in the various sports events registered for, the former chairman of Gombe State Football Association, Alhaji Shauibu Gara-Gombe, has assured the country’s sports lovers that the Team Nigeria’s special athletes will conquer the world in Rio, Brazil.

“I am sure that at the Rio Paralympic Games, the athletes will far surpass the performance of the Team Nigeria to the Rio Olympics where the soccer team won just one

Aiyegbusi and Aminat Quadri.

Matches are scheduled to start 10am on Saturday with two men’s singles followed by the Ladies singles and the men’s doubles. The tie will be concluded Sunday with the men’s reverse singles and the mixed doubles.

The prize money for this year has been increased with the winner earning N7m, the runner-up N5m, third place N3m and fourth place N2m.

Ten teams are taking part in this year’s edition.

NFF to train refs for global games Nankpah Bwakan

Dalung

No.4 in the Ladies’ ranking.

Others are Henry Atseye, former national champion, Christopher Edward, Christie Mbadiwe and Loveth Donatus.

Team Offikwu will be in Abuja with the Emmanuel brothers - Sylvester, national No.2 and Sunday, USA based former national No.1, who is in Nigeria to take part in the league.

Others in the Offikwu team are Bikom Albert, Emmanuel Idoko, Anu

bronze which has been renamed a golden bronze.”

He stressed that, in spite of the fact that the readiness for the Games was the worst in the history of the country’s participation, the paralympians always have better inputs compared to the able bodied athletes.”

The coach of the Powerlifting team, Are Feyisitan, said his team as well as other Team Nigeria athletes would be looking forward to surpassing the last outing at the London 2012. At the last Paralympic Games, Team Nigeria won six gold, five silver and one bronze medal, totaling 12 medals.

The Nigeria Paralympics Team has 23 athletes and six technical officials for the Games that will start from September 7th to 18th, Nigeria will compete in three sports; athletics, powerlifting and table tennis.

Team Nigeria athletes

pacity so that they would be of world standard that could bring pride to the nation in the sports arena.

He also assured the football referees of the NFF’s commitment to provide them with adequate protection against thugs and aggrieved spectators adding that they had talks with the army, police, state security services and other security agencies on how to prevent the referees from potential attacks during and after matches.

Muhammad noted that referees are human beings who were created with shortcomings, appealed to people and fans of all football clubs to bear with them when they commit ‘human errors’ in the course of discharging their duties.

Speaking earlier in his remarks, the national president of the association Alhaji Tade Azeez explained that the AGM was aimed at assessing and appraising the performances of the Nigerian referees with a view to rubbing minds on how to improve them.

Clattenburg to officiate crunchManchesterderby M ark Clattenburg has been handed the whistle for the crunch Premier League derby between Manchester United and Manchester City on Saturday.

Following his impressive finish to last season - in which he took charge of the FA Cup final, Champions League final and Euro 2016 final - the 41-year-old has been given the reigns to the biggest clash of the season so far.

Mike Dean will be the

man tasked with keeping Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola in order as the fourth official at Old Trafford.

Clattenburg refereed United five times last season, with the Old Trafford outfit winning three and drawing two of those matches.

While in charge of City in the Premier League last term, Clattenburg oversaw one win, one draw and one loss - the latter coming against Tottenham at the Etihad.

Clattenburg

Barcelona confirm Messi’s injury B

arcelona have confirmed that Lionel Messi has sustained a ham-

Messi

string injury and may miss this weekend’s clash with Alaves.

The Argentina star picked up the injury during his nation’s 1-0 win over Uruguay on Thursday, in which he scored the only goal, and will miss Albiceleste’s next World Cup qualifier vs Venezuela.

Messi has so far played every minute of Barcelona’s La Liga campaign, though the Camp Nou club’s tie against Alaves on September 10 could be too early for a return to action.

The 29-year-old will continue with light training sessions and will be tested by club medics before Luis Enrique makes his decision whether to include him in his squad.

Messi has scored twice for Barcelona this season.

Forest fires force evacuation of 1,000 people in Spain

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panish firefighters are battling a huge forest blaze near Valencia that has forced the evacuation of thousands of people including tourists.

More than 200 firefighters have been deployed to tackle the fire some 350km (220 miles) south east of Madrid. The fire was deliberately started on one of the hottest days of the year, emergency authorities have said. The temperature in the area is forecast to reach 40C but officials hope winds that fanned the flames will decrease.

Officials evacuated over 1,000 people late two days ago from Javea and the re-

sort of Benitatxell, about 40km north of Benidorm, due to the threat from the flames. Emergency services quoted by the Associated Press news agency said they had the fire nearly under control two days ago but it rekindled when water dumping aircraft stopped work after sunset meaning the evacuation process had to begin immediately.

Valencia emergency services head Jose Maria Angel told Spanish radio that he believed three blazes that ripped through vegetation and destroyed buildings in the area were due to "the hand of man in a very

precise way". BBC Radio presenter Chris Stark was among those caught up in the blaze. "This is crazy. I think my car and maybe my apartment is on fire." he tweeted. At this time of the year, tourists make up a substantial proportion of residents in resorts such as Javea.

The latest fires have been fuelled by strong gusts and little rainfall, officials say. More than 300 people are reported to be taking sanctuary in local schools and shelters after emergency services fought the flames throughout two days ago night, supported by aircraft and military units.

A supporter of Brazil's former president Dilma Rousseff protesting

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Pogba (right)

aul Pogba’s former Juventus team-mates have been left perplexed by the midfielder’s recordbreaking transfer to Manchester United.

Pogba’s move to Old Trafford was one of the longest-running sagas of the summer transfer window. It was finally settled after United offered Juventus a staggering £100million to take him away from Turin.

A number of Juve’s top talents - including Paulo Dybala and Gianluigi Buffon - have suggested that Pogba told them he would be staying with the club, according to Italian newspaper Tuttosport. The paper suggested the club felt ‘betrayed’ by Pogba.

Dybala, regarded as a close friend of Pogba, was curt when

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Brazil: Police tear gas anti-Temer protesters

Pogba betrayed us, says former teammates

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WORLD \ NEWS

INTERNATIONAL SPORT

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

speaking in Malta this week.

He told media and supporters: “I’m sure I’ll see Paul once we are retired.”

The Italian newspaper also revealed that Juventus’s plan for the summer did not involve selling the midfielder.

Andrea Agnelli, president of Juventus, and Giuseppe Marotta, director general, had intended to keep the 23-year-old as part of the squad for the coming campaign as Juventus look to break the record for consecutive Serie A titles.

Agnelli and Marotta were even lining up a new contract for Pogba, one that would have included a significant pay increase.

However, Pogba’s deal with United will reportedly see him earn more than Juventus would have offered.

ens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Brazil to demonstrate against the government.

Organizers said 50,000 people, a record number, turned out in Sao Paulo alone for a seventh day of protests against the new President Michel Temer. Mr. Temer took office after Dilma Rousseff was removed from the presidency in an impeachment trial. The rally began peacefully but police used tear gas, stun grenades and water cannon as clashes broke out

at the end. They said they had been forced to take the measures to avoid vandalism. Several people were reportedly injured including a BBC journalist.

Some protesters responded by throwing bottles and stones at riot police, and building and setting fire to barricades.

Mr. Temer said the protests were "small groups, not popular movements of any size".

While at a G20 summit in China, he told reporters: "in a population of 204 million Brazilians, they are not representative."

A group of riot police suddenly decided to change course. I leaned against the wall to wait for them to pass. I was wearing a BBC Brazil vest and badge and I raised my hands and said I was press. "Move over!" said at least four police just before catching me with truncheon blows on the right forearm, left hand, right shoulder, chest and right leg.

My forearm swelled up and turned purple. The phone I was using fell to the ground and the screen was broken.

Protesters to Zuma: Top ANC leaders must quit party posts

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embers of South Africa's ANC chanted slogans outside its headquarters yesterday demanding President Jacob Zuma step down in a rare public show of anger in the ruling party after its worst election performance since the end of apartheid in 1994.

The demonstrators argue that Zuma, whose rule has been tainted by scandal, is responsible for the African National Congress (ANC) losing control of three major urban centers in local elections

last month by mismanagement of the economy that is now teetering on the edge of recession. Though the protesters numbered fewer than 100, the demonstration kept political tension high in Africa's most industrialized country, where markets have been rocked by a police investigation into Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Political analysts say Gordhan is the target of an ANC faction allied to Zuma. The president's office has denied claims Zuma was warring with

Gordhan. Camouflage clad veterans of the ANC's now disbanded Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) military wing, its Youth League and police with armored vehicles ringed the party's Luthuli House building in downtown Johannesburg, causing a stand-off with the protesters.

Some of the protesters carried placards, with one emblazoned: "Resign with immediate effect: ANC NEC and Jacob Zuma", referring to the party's National Executive Committee of Zuma and five other party leaders.

On Marble Leaders lead but in the end it's the people who deliver.

–Tony Blair

Clem Aguiyi

Sanctity of Truth

Nnamdi Kanu and the price of freedom

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

The butchers from the North (2) Crossfire

CONTINUED FROM LAST TUESDAY

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have made my observation about the fate of past Northern Prime Ministers, Heads of State and Presidents purely as a historian and as a fact of history and nothing more.

However one thing is clear to me and that is that the whole thing is spiritual.

It is being orchestrated and effected by the finger of God and not by any man.

It is God's way of saying that they were never meant to rule and be there in the first place and that He has rejected them. It is the work of the Ancient of Days and the Lord God of Hosts.

They believe that they were "born to rule" but in actual fact they have been rejected by the Living God. Those that employ mass murder, ethnic cleansing and genocide as a tool of conquest and a legitimate weapon of war, that consider their fellow Nigerians to be sub-human and that believe that those fellow Nigerians are nothing but chattel and serfs that are destined to be ruled over by some distant caliph are in grave error: they have not fully understood God's plan and purpose for this country.

They cannot comprehend or understand what is slowly unfolding. They do not appreciate the fact that no matter how much evil they visit on the rest of us that God is at work and His counsel alone will stand over our people and in the affairs of our nation.

The truth is that the Lord regards them as nothing more than unbelieving slaves and they are far below us.

They are of the darkness and we are of the light.

The bible describes it is a "great evil under the sun" when "the children of slaves ride on horseback" whilst "the sons of Kings walk around barefoot".

That is what has been happening in Nigeria since 1960. The children of the "bonded woman" have been riding on horseback whilst the children "of promise" have been walking around barefoot.

This is indeed "a great evil under the sun". It is a spiritual affliction. It is witchcraft. It is an abomination. It is unacceptable.

It is a total reversal of the way things ought to be. It is a rejection, usurpation and total corruption of God's original plan. It is ungodly and it is anti-Christ.

I blame no-one but the leadership of the body of Christ in Nigeria for this mess.

There are a few good ones amongst them who stood firm and spoke out when it mattered the most but sadly there are others who are more interested in collecting tiny crumbs from the President's table and buying fine clothes, expensive jewelry, fast cars and private jets than they are in standing up for their flock and effecting God's purpose and plan for Nigeria.

Worst still there is also a small handful, like that short and vocal Rev. Father from Enugu, who have chosen to sell their souls to the devil, collaborate with the enemies of Christ and serve as the principal cheerleaders to the tyrant.

If our men and women of God were bold and courageous and if they were doing their job properly the radical Mus-

FEMI FANI-KAYODE ffk2011@aol.com

Buhari

Abe

lims could not have turned Christians in Nigeria into second class citizens and toilet paper and Buhari would never have been in power today.

The bottom line is this: if you are not ready to die for Christ or to lose your life or liberty for defending and protecting the gospel, God's children or the faith then you are not worthy of being called a Christian.

We must help the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to stand firm and strengthen their collective resolve but we must not leave it at that.

We must also organise ourselves as well, not only in the political arena, but also by setting up strong Christian militias and defence squads to protect our churches and our people from the terrorists and butchers.

We must aspire to emulate the Christian Phalange militia in Lebanon which was formed just before the Lebanese civil war broke out in the '70's and 80's.

They were disciplined, well organised, gallant and courageous and they defended the lives of their people and the honour of their faith. The truth is that had it not been for the Phalange the Christians of Lebanon would have been wiped out by the Muslims in that war.

I abhore violence and neither do I advocate its use. However, we must accept the fact that, whether we like it or not, ultimately this matter will be settled not just by prayers, politics, long essays and press statements but also with guns and bullets.

This is because violence is the only language that the butchers from the North appreciate and can comprehend.

If the state is either incapable or refuses to protect the Christian community in Nigeria we will be left with no choice but

to defend ourselves and protect our own.

Permit me to conclude this contribution with the following.

I would urge all those that still love and support this government to take a long hard look at the pictures that are strewn all over the internet of their fellow Nigerians that have been mutilated and carved up like Christmas turkeys and sallah goats. This is the work of President Muhammadu Buhari's kinsmen, the Fulani militias and herdsmen.

He has refused to arrest any of them let alone bring them to justice. Instead he has ruined our economy, impoverished and destroyed the lives of our people and aborted their God-given destiny, divided our nation on religious and ethnic lines, demonised us before the international community and labelled every Nigerian, apart from himself, as being incompetent and corrupt.

This is a man that spends his time pontificating about corruption with long and boring speeches and pointing fingers at others. This is a man that told Mr. Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan at the Tokyo summit in Nairobi, that Nigeria's "business environment is not friendly to investors" and that consistently tells other world leaders how supposedly "corrupt" his own people are.

He has conveniently refused to tell those same world leaders how his presidential campaign was funded, how much money those that ran his campaign paid Mr. David Axelrod, President Barack Obama's campaign advisor and publicist, and how many cars and how much "allowance" was collected from Col. Sambo Dasuki, President Goodluck Jonathan's National Security Advisor, before being "elected" President.

The Bible says "let he who is free of

sin cast the first stone". Nigerians may not know the truth today but God does and He cannot be mocked. Let Him judge between us.

Yet the truth is that President Buhari's administration is not only essentially hypocrital but they also have no shame. All those that continue to support them and cheer them on are equally shameless.

Worst still their supporters are cowards because they cannot find the courage to admit that they were wrong in supporting a government that is manifestly divisive, insensitive, incompetent, corrupt and intolerant of criticism and dissent.

They are the ones that we must hold responsible and accountable for what has happened to those unfortunate people in all those pictures.

They are the ones that we must blame for what has been happening to thousands of others at the hands of the Fulani militants and herdsmen all over the country for the last one year and three months.

I say this because they are the ones that have encouraged and cheered him on. They are the ones that wanted, and still want, "mai chanji".

I say a pox on all their houses! Shame on them.

Permit me to conclude this contriburion with a startling revelation that is historically factual.

The Muslims of Turkey, after islamising what was once a Christian nation, slaughtered one million Turkish and Armenian Christians just to ensure that Turkey would never be Christian again.

Those that they did not kill, they herded into nazi-like concentration camps or deported to neighbouring Armenia. This must NEVER be allowed to happen in Nigeria.

May the souls of all the saints, believers and Christian martyrs that were cut

short by the butchers and barbarians from the North rest in peace and may the Lord God of Hosts avenge them speedily. Shalom.

Solution to B. Teaser 2

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