Wednesday, july 6, 2016

CBN directs bank employees to declare assets Tony Chukwunyem

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed all bank employees in the country to declare their assets,

New Telegraph has learnt.

According to sources in the industry, the regulator wrote a circular to the management of commer-

cial banks, which stated that all bank employees are required to declare their assets.

A senior manager of a

tier one lender, who asked not to be named, said the bank’s management had instructed that the asset declaration by employees

would be done in phases with staff from the position of managers and above being the first to fill the forms, to be followed

Skye Bank's GMD assures on safety of depositors' fund }37

by junior employees.

He said: “I have seen the forms, although I’m yet to fill them. But I will do so before Friday this week as we were given only a week CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

EFCC: How Fayose took arms funds, kickbacks from contractors }5

/newtelegraph /newtelegraph

Vol. 3 No. 868

Robbers chop off DPO's ear, strip him }9

Politicians hijack NFF's search for Eagles' coach }45

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

Again, militants bomb NNPC, Chevron facilities in Delta }2

N150

Terrorists plan to attack Lagos –US Fayose

Idris

Pinnick

…expatriates, hotels likely targets during Eid-el-Fitr holidays

Kachikwu

}2

lSecurity beefed up in Abuja lCritical national assets under surveillance

A cross section of indigenes and non-indigenes of Osun State boarding free train provided by the state government from Lagos to Osogbo, at Ido Railway Terminus, Lagos …yesterday

Controversy trails police recruitment lNorthern forces take over process lTop officers' sack raises dust }3 Common chemicals damage babies' brains, lower IQs }7

2

NEWS

WednESDAY, July 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Terrorists plan to attack Lagos –US

Juliana Francis and Emmanuel Onani

T

he United States has warned of likely terror attacks in Lagos during the Eid-el-Fitr holidays.

The warning, posted on the US embassy’s website yesterday, said the attacks would be against expatriates and foreign visitors in Lagos.

The statement added that groups associated with terrorism might be planning attacks against hotels in Lagos frequented by international visitors, including those located on waterfronts, during the Eid-el-Fitr holidays.

“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria advises that groups associated with terrorist activity might be planning attacks against hotels in Lagos frequented by international visitors, including those located on waterfronts, during the Eid-el-Fitr holidays.

“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria reminds you to review your personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and moni-

tor local news stations for updates. Be vigilant and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security,” the statement stated.

The warning is coming just as Muslim faithful ended their fasting and prayer in the country.

The warning didn’t mention any particular group, but urged American citizens to review their personal security plans, be conscious of their surroundings, including local events, and to monitor local news stations for updates.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, said it was not out of place for US Embassy to place alert for its citizens.

She said: “But the Lagos State Command has put up operational strategies to combat any form of crimes and criminalities in Lagos State. We have been on that. So, if they come out now to say that, we are saying it is not out of place for them to say it. But we are on ground to ensure that all citizens and residents in Lagos State are safe. There are strategies already in place to safeguard citizens.

“We have beefed up security in Lagos State, not because of only bomb or threat, but it is our duty to beef-up security. We are doing that. Lagosians should go about their lawful duties. There is no cause for alarm.”

Also, security has been beefed up around a critical infrastructure in Abuja, to forestall a planned attack by suspected terrorists.

New Telegraph gathered from highly placed security sources, that there had been 'round-the-clock surveillance' around the massive infrastructure, which cost millions to construct.

It was gathered that for over three weeks now, the national edifice has been under discrete security cover.

Investigations revealed that a relevant para-military agency responsible for fire control was also deployed around the area.

The heightened security in the area is being carefully coordinated to avoid panic and apprehension.

“I can tell you that we got actionable intelligence of plans by suspected terrorists, to bomb a national centre in the nation’s capi-

tal city, Abuja.

“But, as a result of increased intelligence and synergy, we mobilised our operatives to the area, and we have been around for a while now.

“To tell you how broadened our scope has gone, we alerted a certain paramilitary agency, which presence since then, we appreciate,” the dependable source said.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State government has ordered a beefed up of security in the state.

The order is fallout of intelligence gathering that some groups are planning to bomb major hotels, Mile 12 Market, Third Mainland Bridge and the Computer Village.

Not leaving anything to chances, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, according to a security source, had a brainstorming session with the police, Army and Department of State Services (DSS) on measures to put on ground.

“We have also beefed up security around the Third Mainland Bridge. The Niger Delta Avengers are threatening to blow up the bridge,” a senior police of-

ficer said.

On Saturday, DSS operatives and other law enforcement agents swooped on Computer Village, after news filtered out that members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) might attack the market. It was gathered that some arrests were later made.

Another law enforcement agent said: “Yes, there is security beefed up in Lagos. The first security beefed up was in Computer Village. Although some people are insisting that IPOB will never attack Computer Village, authorities said security should be beefed up there. There is also an order that security should be beefed up in major hotels. Army and police have taken over most of the major hotels like Oriental Hotel, Sheraton Hotel and others.”

It was also gathered that Governor Ambode ordered a raid on all criminal hideouts.

The source said: “The governor said that street trading should be stopped.

He said some of the traders were criminals, pretending to be hawkers. Each area

Gunmen kidnap expatriate in Lagos Muritala Ayinla

L-R: Director, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Skills Acquisition, Mrs. Theresa Anosike; Director-General, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure; Managing Director, Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo; Director, Development Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Mudashiru Olaitan and CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, at the flag-off of the N3 billion Youth Innovative Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YIEDP) in Abuja.

G

unmen have kidnapped one of the expatriate contractors handling the extension of the Epe township road projects.

Lagos State government had, last year, engaged the Granebury Construction firm to extend the roads

95,542

The official capacity of The Rose Bowl, Pasadena, USA. Source: Businessinsider.in

Again, militants bomb NNPC, Chevron facilities in Delta

lNigeria’s crude exports hit 47.43m barrels in June Adeola Yusuf and Ola James

N

iger Delta Avengers (NDA), the militant group that has been claiming responsibilities for attacks on oil facilities, on Monday night attacked two manifolds operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) at Batan community in Warri South West Local Government area of Delta State.

The militant group blew up two other trunk lines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the area.

Also the NDA, again, de-

stroyed a Chevron oil well 10 at Mararaba community in Gbaramatu Kingdom.

Several security sources confirmed to New Telegraph yesterday that the bombings took place between 10p.m. and 11:20p.m. on Monday without any resistance from the military.

He said the militants were having a field day because of the scaling down of military operations in the kingdom, the area where ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias "Tompolo" hails from.

The highly placed security source disclosed that the attack at Batan took

place at about 10:35p.m. and 11:20p.m. on Monday while that of Chevron occurred about the same time.

Claiming responsibility for the latest attacks later, the Niger Delta Avengers said it blew up the Chevron Well 10 close to Otunana flow station.

In a terse statement signed by its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, the group also claimed that other attacks were carried out at 11:15p.m.

"Niger delta Avengers blew up NPDC Manifold close to Banta and two PPMC/NNPC crude oil trunk lines," it added.

Meanwhile, Nigeria ex-

ported 47.43 million barrels of crude oil in June, surging the oil revenues by the country and oil companies to $2,371,500,000.

The crude export from Africa's biggest crude producer, which stood at a daily average export of 1.53 million barrels in June, was a 90,000 barrels a day export increase from May. At an average crude price of $50 per barrel, the NNPC, which holds and control Nigeria's stakes in production and International Oil Companies (IOCs), raked in $2.3715 from a cumulative export of 47.43 million barrels from the country in June, according to Bloomberg.

Oil prices retreated in

commander had been instructed to raid criminal hideouts in his jurisdiction.”

Last Friday, hideouts in Elemoro and Ajah areas of Lagos were raided. An uncompleted building at Elemoro was raided and a locally made gun, cartridges and several handsets were recovered.

“The directive is from the governor because of threat of bomb. The intelligence gathering says that some major areas would be bombed in Lagos. Places like Computer Village.

The intelligence gathering didn’t say IPOB was targeting Computer Village.

What we got was report of major hotels, Computer Village and Mile 12 Market,” a senior security agent said.

The security beef-up has extended to coastal areas where militants, otherwise known as pipeline vandals, have taken over.

Soldiers, mobile policemen and DSS operatives have been deployed in some areas within Lagos and Ogun states, perceived to be crowded with criminals.

Asia yesterday, with Brent easing below $50 on news of increased production from Nigeria following the repair of infrastructure damaged in militant attacks.

Bloomberg News reported that Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer, pumped an average 1.53 million barrels a day last month, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, had last month said that a ceasefire with rebel forces had allowed the Nigerian government to repair the damaged oil pipelines.

Twitter also confirmed that it had shut down the handle of the Niger Delta Avengers.

into dual carriageways as part of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration’s effort to open up Epe axis.

New Telegraph learnt that the expatriate, whose name has not been disclosed, was kidnapped on Monday evening while working on the site.

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

She said efforts were on to rescue the expatriate.

Although Badmos did not explain details of security surveillance mounted in the area to rescue the expatriate, sources in the police said detectives had been deployed in the town and its environs.

At the time of filling this report, the expatriate’s whereabouts were still unknown.

An Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) had been stationed at the project site as police officers mounted surveillance in the area.

Some of the officials of the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, the client of the construction firm, could not confirm the report.

The ministry officials said they were yet to be briefed.

But impeccable sources in the ministry said government had also been duly informed about the kidnap.

NEWS

WednESDAY, July 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

3

Controversy trails police recruitment, sack of top officers Geoffrey Ekenna and Chukwu David

E

ven before the first set of men and women are enlisted, controversy appears to be trailing the ongoing police recruitment exercise in which the Federal Government proposes to hire an additional 10,000 officers and men to beef up the civil force to enhance security of lives and property across Nigeria.

This is coming on the heels of the alleged insistence of some northern power brokers that the recruitment of 7,500 constables, pencilled down for the exercise be based on local governments instead of states.

Sources within the Police Service Commission (PSC) told New Telegraph that many members of the Commission, especially from the southern part of the country, are furious over the move which will give more men to the north than to the south.

It was gathered that the move to use local governments instead of states is spearheaded by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir Lawal, and the Minister of Interior, Lt.-Gen. AbdurahmanDambazzau.

By the allocation of the position, each local government will produce 10 constables in the 7,500 slots allocated for the Constable cadre. In the ASP cadre, each state has been allocated 12 slots each. That is the same case with the rank of Inspectors and Specialists, where allocations were made based on states.

There are provisions for 500 ASPs, 500 Inspectors and 1,500 specialists like engineers, medicals, communications etc.

New Telegraph gathered that the issue of recruitment of constables, which has a total of 7,500 has been a major sour point for the PSC and all stakeholders in the recruitment exercise as the south fought vehemently to have it done state by state.

But the North, led by the two top officers in the President Muhammadu Buhari administration insisted on local government as the basis for the recruitment. The battle was taken to the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, where the position of the South was defeated.

“On the day the matter got to the Senate, sadly, most of the senators, who would have opposed the move, did not attend the committee hearing. Thus, we were left with no option than to accept the superior number of the North. That was how we lost out,” said

a source privy to the meeting.

It was further gathered that before the committee ratified the local government model, many state governors and senators in the South were contacted on the implications of the model. But most of them did not lift a finger. Even some very high ranking senators from the SouthEast in particular, who were contacted, considering the disadvantage of local governments in the zone and those from the South-South were not present on the meeting day.

It was gathered that efforts by the Chairman of the PSC, Sir Mike Okiro, and other members of the Commission from the South to stick to the stateby-state policy in line with Federal Character hit the rocks.

A former governor in the South-East, who spoke with New Telegraph on the matter, lamented the poor attitude of legislators and governors of the region to such issues.

According to him, “What the development means is that Kano and Jigawa states, with a com-

bined total of about 70 local governments, would have almost the same number of representation with the South-East, which has only 95 local governments.

We have constantly told the South-East representatives, be it governors, Senators or House of Representatives’ members to be alive to their responsibilities. But that appears not to be the case.

“The Nigerian Police Force is an important institution. In the next 30 years, people will be complaining that there is no Inspector-General of Po-

lice of Igbo extraction. The foundations are what are laid today. When you are nonchalant to the recruitment process, how would you think of an IGP when you are outnumbered from the beginning?”

It was further learnt that even with their nonchalance, a governor in the South-East recently submitted 13 names of people he wanted in the ASP cadre, to the chagrin of members of the PSC. “We wonder where he was when the whole uproar was going on. He did as if it did not concern him

when he was informed. He brought 13 names when the state only needed only 12 names. That means he is the only one that would fill the slot for his state,” said a source within the Commission.

Another governor from the South-South, whose state is poor in local government numbers, was also informed about the danger. He promised to act, but did not.

The former governor added that he was disgusted by the attitude of those who call themselves CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

First class Business deal Get a better Return on Investment when you fly Business Class on our Airbus A330-200* aircraft.

• 180 degree lie-flat seat bed • 2-2-2 seating configuration • 3 automatic seat adjustment & in-seat massager

• Large 17 inch personal monitor • USB connector and Power supply socket

• Onboard bar and lounge area • Award winning wines and gourmet cuisine

Lagos – London Heathrow 7 days a week

Lagos – New York JFK 3 days a week

Lagos – Johannesburg 7 days a week

*Airbus A330-200 operates to London Heathrow and New York JFK

Book on www.arikair.com or call +234 1 279 9999 or contact your travel agent

West and Central Africa’s Leading Airline

4

NEWS

WednESDAY, July 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria risks low passenger traffic for 2016

Andrew Iro-Okungbowa and Wole Shadare

N

igeria is at the risk of experiencing declined air traffic following the withdrawal of airlines and the cut down of capacity on the lucrative Nigerian routes by foreign airlines.

The implication of this situation is that the revenue expected to go to agencies like the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Ni-

gerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and, by extension, other agencies and Nigerian service providers in aviation, will be adversely affected.

National President of the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA), Bankole Bernard, at a press briefing yesterday, admitted that high fares by both foreign and local carriers, which have affected air travel, would also have

17-year-old Nigerian stabbed to death in London

A

17-year-old Nigerian student, Fola Orebiyi, has been stabbed to death on the street in Nottinghill London.

Orebiyi, who was studying at Chelsea Academy after completing his GCSES at Holland Park, was reportedly stabbed to death in front of tourists and passers-by after fleeing from a gang of youths on bikes on July 3.

Two boys have been ar-

rested in connection with the murder.

Eyewitnesses revealed that fight broke out in a nearby estate before Orebiyi was chased into the busy road where he was attacked.

Reports say Orebiyi was stabbed in the neck and passersby tried to help the teenager as he staggered down the busy road after which he eventually collapsed outside a shop.

adverse effects on revenue that should accrue to government occasioned by sharp reduction in passenger traffic.

Bernard disclosed that the exit of Iberia and United Airlines has created a vacuum, which he regretted that Nigerian carriers like Arik and Medview are not capitalising on by also raising their fares astronomically.

He noted that the policy of the government on foreign exchange is really hurting the operations of the foreign airlines and forced a lot of travel agencies to close shop.

While Spanish carrier, Iberia, and American airline, United, have both departed Nigeria as a result of poor patronage and other reasons, British Airways has reduced capacity on the Nigerian route by deploying a relatively smaller airplane – B777 while taking off its super jumbo B747-400 it operated to Lagos for

533,387

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Armenia in 2000.

Source: Itu.int

more than three decades.

The B747 is a 400-capacity aircraft while the B777 has capacity for 250 passengers depending on the configuration.

On July 1, Emirates, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) flagship carrier, reduced its frequencies to Lagos from two daily flights to one.

The foreign carriers cited reasons of dwindling passengers, difficulty in repatriation of their trapped funds in Nigeria, among others as reasons for their decisions.

To the dismay of travellers and travel agents, the mega carrier, Emirates, closed reservation on one of its two daily Dubai-Lagos services, saying the afternoon flight EK781/782 would no longer be available for reservation.

Also, reservations and ticketing officials at the airline's office located inside the international wing of Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) confirmed the development to our correspondent.

Also a check on the airline's booking page

L-R: Chief Executive, NTA-StarTimes, Jack Liu; Vice-President, StartTimes Group of China, Ms. Zhao Yueqin; Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Director, Project Financing, Xu Yu; Managing Director, NTA Enterprises, Mr. Maxwell Loko and the Director Project Management, Joshua Wang, during a visit to the minister in Abuja… on Monday.

FG to merge NERFUND with BOI, Development Bank Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

A

s part of efforts to resolving the lingering operational problem of National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND), the Federal Government is considering merging the Fund with the Bank of Industry (BOI) or the proposed Development Bank of Nigeria.

Multiple sources from Finance Ministry and key officials of NERFUND privy to the meeting held by senior government officials confirmed the latest decision to New Telegraph.

Already, it was learnt that the reinstatement of the interim management of the Fund, Managing Director Mohammed Kollere

and Executive Director, Mr. Elenowor Inua, on the directive of Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, is a temporary measure pending the posting from BOI of a new helmsman.

This position was affirmed last week at a brief meeting conveyed by NERFUND’s interim executive management with the staff, an insider source that attended the meeting told New Telegraph yesterday.

The merger option with the BOI, according to toplevel officer from Finance Ministry, is a proposal long overdue.

The source added that the subsisting huge liability on the side of NERFUND did not encourage BOI management to accept the integration option.

"But another option on

the table is to upload NERFUND into the new Development Bank of Nigeria which is about to take off.

Recall that the bank was formed during the last administration and the present administration is sustaining it. The ministry is looking closely at it as a very good alternative open to resolving NERFUND logjam. The Minister of Finance has scheduled appointment with members of the National Assembly in matter of days and I'm sure the NERFUND issue and solution will be discussed," a source within Finance Ministry collaborated.

A leading member of the NERFUND staff union said: "The original plan right from beginning was to merge NERFUND,

Nigeria Infrastructure Development Bank (NIBD), Nigeria Bank for Commerce and Agriculture to form the Bank of Industry (BOI). But, unfortunately, the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo that proposed the merger could not initiate the repeal of NERFUND Act. This is the problem.

For us as staff of NERFUND, we will abide by government decision.”

After weeks of protracted staff protest leading to shutdown of NERFUND

by Finance Minister, the ministry, in a memo addressed to the staff dated June 29 with reference F.12891/s.3/T1 signed by Permanent Secretary/ Chairman of IMC, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, directed staff to resume.

showed that only one daily flight is now available from Lagos to Dubai.

The NANTA President said in order for the carriers to maximise profit, the few that offered to give travel agents commission have withdrawn them. He cited the case of Etihad, which wrote to them that they are now coming up with zero commission to recoup what they might have lost to foreign exchange crisis.

Travel agencies may have been forced by airline operators to restrategise on other routes to remain in business as the total zero per cent commission policy on ticket sales being adopted by almost all airlines

has taken a toll on their operations.

According to Bernard, “The zero commission policy was adopted as a result of the high cost of doing business and change in operational environment. As a result, airlines have commenced full ticket sales on their websites, forcing many travel agencies to repackage the ticketing business.”

Formerly in the ticket sales business, both international and domestic airlines were offering about 10 per cent commission on a ticket sold to a customer but it gradually reduced to one per cent and as a result of overhead cost, the commission was outrightly scrapped.

CBN directs bank employees to declare assets CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

to complete and submit them.”

Similarly, a middle level staff of another tier one bank confirmed that every employee, including cleaners, has been directed to fill and return the asset declaration forms.

“I’m yet to collect my forms, but the management has said that everyone is expected to fill and return them. Even cleaners are not exempted. We don’t know the reason for the directive, but of course we have no choice but to comply. I suspect that it must be related to what is happening in the wider economy,” the bank official told New Telegraph.

A bank source familiar with the issue revealed that the asset declaration by bank employees was an initiative of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

According to him, the CBN was only acting at the behest of the Commission.

The source further disclosed that he doubted if many bank employees would be able to comply with the directive, as there were issues with the format of the asset declaration forms prepared by the ICPC. According to the source, “The forms cannot be completed electronically and they are up to nine pages long. They also contain the names of some defunct banks. Besides, the ICPC had stated that the completed forms must get to it by June 30 and I don’t think any bank was able to meet that deadline.”

Commenting on concerns expressed in some quarters about whether it was legal for the Federal Government to mandate citizens working in the

private sector to declare their assets, a legal practitioner, Mr. Patrick Halim, told New Telegraph that the action was backed by the Bank Employees Declaration of Assets Act, which was enacted in 1986, but incorporated under the laws of the Federation 2004.”

His words: “The provisions of the Act say that each bank’s management will compile the assets declaration forms filled by its staff and submit to either the President or Secretary of the Federation. So the law has been there, the government must have its reasons for wanting bank employees to comply with it at this time.”

Financial analysts believe that the directive is part of the Federal Government’s campaign to combat corruption and boost transparency in the public and private sectors.

It will be recalled that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had, last January, directed its personnel to make full disclosure of their assets.

A statement from the Customs Public Relations Officer, Wale Adeniyi, explained that the directive on assets declaration was in compliance with “The Bank Employees Declaration of Assets Act Cap B1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

“Though the Act provides for asset declaration by all bank employees, it also empowers the president to extend this application to other categories of persons,” he added.

The Nigerian Army had also compelled soldiers to declare their assets. Just last week, the Inspector-General Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, declared that all police officers must declare their assets.

NEWS

WednESDAY, July 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

5

EFCC: How Fayose took arms funds, kickbacks from contractors Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti how a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and a former Minister of Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro moved about N1,299,490,000 part of the money meant for the purchase of arms to Ekiti for the campaign of Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Dasuki is standing trial over alleged diversion of $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of arms to fight the Boko Haram insurgence under the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan, while Obanikoro is outside the country.

The anti-graft agency had earlier frozen the account of Fayose with the Zenith Bank in Ekiti on ground that the account is on investigation over alleged financial crimes.

Fayose had in turn, through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) approached the court seeking for an order to compel the anti-graft agency to defreeze his account.

Responding to the suit, the anti-graft agency, in its counter affidavit, explained how the said sum was moved from Abuja to Ekiti.

In an affidavit deposed to by an operative of the EFCC, Tosin Owobo, the agency averred that between the 5th and 17th day of June, 2014, Obanikoro, in grand conspiracy with Fayose and Dasuki, fraudulently removed the sum of N2,260,000,000.00 from the account of the office of NSA which was transferred to a company known as SYLVAN MCNAMARA LTD with account No. 0026223714 domiciled with Diamond Bank Plc. The EFCC further stated that the principal signatory to the said account is one Ibrahim Babajide, the son of Obanikoro.

He further averred that on the receipt of the money, Obanikoro conveyed same to Akure for the use of Fayose and that before the conveyance of the funds to Akure Airport, one Mr. Alade Oluseye, a staff of Zenith Bank, was informed by his colleague in the bank, Lawrence Akande, that a particular customer would be bringing cash to the Akure Air-

£2.43m

The annual salary of Dirk Kuyt of Fernerbache in 2014/2015.

Source: Paywizard.co.uk

port for lodgement and that since the volume of the cash is quite heavy, there would be a need for Oluseye to use the bank’s bullion van to convey the cash.

In addition, the antigraft agency noted that on June 17, 2014, Oluseye, in the company of one Biodun Agbele who is an ally of Fayose, went to the Akure Airport wherein they took cash delivery of N724,500,000 from Obanikoro and his aide de camp, Lieutenant Colonel A.O Adewale.

Also, he averred that on June 18, 2014, the following day, another sum of N494, 990,000 was also delivered to Oluseye by the minister in the same manner.

He revealed that the said amount was conveyed to Akure Airport by Obanikoro through a chattered aircraft with Registration No: HS125-800 5N-BMT belonging to GYRO AIR LTD. Furthermore, the EFCC averred that on June 19, 2014, after Oluseye took delivery of the money, being the proceeds of crime, Agbele received an instruction from Fayose to collect the money and made cash deposit in the sum of N219,000,000 to De-privateer Ltd account No. 1013835889 domiciled with the Zenith Bank Plc. and that on the same day, Agbele made another cash deposit in the sum of N300 million, being part of the proceeds of crime to the said De-privateer Ltd’s with Zenith Bank.

Also, the anti-graft agency further averred that on June 23, 2014 the sum of N200 million being part of these proceeds of crime, was also deposited to the said De-Privateer Ltd’s account domiciled with Zenith bank.

It added that on June 26, 2014 the said Biodun Agbele, on the instruction of Fayose, further dissipated the proceeds of crime by depositing the sum of N137 million to account No. 1003126654 domiciled with the Zenith Bank in the name of Fayose.

The deponent also averred that on the 22nd and 27th day of August, 2014 Agbele also deposited the sum of N50 million and N118, 760,000

respectively to the said account and retained in the account, the sum of N300 million was put in a fixed deposit account No. 9013074033 in the name of Fayose on April 5, 2015.

He, however, added that the said N300 million is still in the account.

He also added that on June 17, 2014 the same Agbele made another cash deposit of N100 million to Spotless Investment Ltd with account No. 1010170969 domiciled with Zenith Bank. The company is owned by Fayose.

EFCC further averred that on June 23, 2014 the sum of N49 million was also deposited to Spotless Investment Ltd Account with Zenith Bank, adding

that there is still a balance of N89, 454,765.00 in the account.

The anti-graft agency further submitted that apart from the said sum moved to Ekiti by Obanikoro, Fayose also received gratification in form of kickbacks from various contractors with the Ekiti State Government such as Samchese Nigeria Ltd, Tender Branch Concept Nig. Ltd, Hoff Concept Ltd, and Calibre Consulting Ltd. The commission said that Fayose received these kickbacks and gratification through Still Earth Ltd and Signachorr Nigeria Ltd and that, in turn, he instructed the Still Earth Ltd and Signachoor

Nigeria Ltd to use the funds to acquire properties for him.

According to the antigraft agency, “that in complying with the applicant’s instruction, Still Earth Ltd and Signachoor Nigeria Ltd acquired properties on behalf of the applicant (Fayose) in the name of company known as J.J. TECHNICAL SERVICES LTD belonging to the applicant and his wife.

“That the applicant also used the name of one Mrs. Moji Ladeji (the applicant’s sister) to acquire a property situate at No.44, Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja from the proceeds of the alleged offences of receiving gratification and kickbacks.”

The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Arrison (left) and High Commissioner of Rwanda to Nigeria, Mr. Stanilas Kamanzi, during the Rwandan National Day celebration in Abuja … yesterday

Controversy trails police recruitment, sack of top police officers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Igbo leaders. “Can you imagine that in a serious matter of this nature, none of Ohanaeze, Aka Ikenga, governors, senators or even members of the House of Representatives or Houses of Assembly has spoken out? They are keeping quiet, only to start lamenting in future.”

By the arrangement on local government basis based on 10 per local government, it means that on zonal basis, the North-West would get 1,850 officers; North-East – 1,110 slots; North Central including the FCT – 1,200; South-West -1,370; South-South – 1,230 while South-East would get 950 officers.

But that is not the only problem the PSC is battling now. New Telegraph was informed that members of the Commission are not happy with the way the recent retirement of Deputy InspectorsGeneral of Police (DIGs), and Assistant InspectorsGeneral of Police (AIGs) was conducted.

It was learnt that rather

than emanating from the PSC, the retirement of the 21 senior police officers emanated from the Presidency.

Last week, there were rumours that the IGP, Ibrahim Idris had demanded the resignation of all officers above him from the presidency. They were retired last week.

Their retirements paved the way for the appointment of seven new DIGs on Monday. Those affected were AIGs Bala A. Hassan, AIG Zone 2; Yahaya Garba Ardo; Irmiya F Yarima, AIG Zone 9; Danladi Y Mshebwala; Tambari Y. Mohammed, AIG Zone 10 and Bala Magaji Nasarawa, AIG Zone 7, Abuja.

Others are Musa Abdulsalam, Adisa Bolanta, AIG Zone 6; Mohammed J Gana, Umaru Abubakar Manko, AIG Zone 2, Lagos; Lawal Tanko, AIG Zone 8 and Olufemi A. Adenaike, AIG in charge of Training.

Also retired are AIG Johnson A Ogunsakin, Adenrele T. Shinaba, Commandant Police College, Kano, James O. Caulcrick, Olufefemi David Ogum-

bayode, Edgar T Nanakumo, AIG in charge of Works, Kalafite H. Adeyemi, Patrick D Dokumor, Mbu Joseph Mbu and AIG Sabo Ibrahim Ringim.

But the rumour of a disagreement with the PSC was quickly dismissed.

New Telegraph was informed that Okiro only received a call from a top aide of the president, who informed him that the affected police officers were retired by the president.

A source in the commission said it was a dispirited Okiro, who then ordered the issuing of a statement by the PSC to that effect. “We have never experienced what is happening now. It is terrible.

The retired police officers even pledged to work with the new IGP, even though he was third from bottom on the list of AIGs, but he insisted on their going. The PSC was only informed about their retirement. The Police Force is being destroyed now because we retired the best we had at the head,” said the source.

It was gathered that the

battle for the IGP favoured DIG Femi Adenaike from Ogun State.

Senator Sam Egwu, representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, has suggested that the pending police recruitment in Nigeria should be based on the population, rather than on local government basis.

Egwu was reacting to the raging controversy on the appropriate model to be adopted in the police recruitment scheme.

He said that the most appropriate model should be on state basis because that would give fair and equitable representation to all the states of the federation.

However, the lawmaker, on a second option, argued that since representation in the Senate was based on state and that of the House of Representatives, on population, a middle point should be taken, which is on the basis of federal constituencies or population.

He said that the insistence of some northern political leaders that the recruitment of 7,500 con-

stables be based on local governments instead of states was not fair and justifiable.

Egwu said: "I do not support the recruitment to be done on local government basis because it is not justifiable and equitable. I believe in fairness; if they want fairness, they should do it based on state basis. This will give equality and equitability in the sharing.

"However, the next option is to adopt federal constituency basis; at least it is better than the local government option.

The South-East is usually the worst hit in all these things, because we have few number of local government areas in the zone.

"The House of Representatives is based on population. So, if they cannot rely on state representation in the police recruitment, let them go by federal constituency because it is definitely better than the local government basis so that one part of the country will not overwhelmingly dominate the other."

6

News|National

WEDNESDAY, JUly 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Expect better days ahead, Buhari tells Nigerians

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that the current hardship being experienced across the country was temporary as better days were near.

The President, in a message to mark this year’s EidEl-Fitri celebration, said his government was aware of the challenges Nigerians were currently facing as a result of the down turn of the economy and is taking deliberate steps to address upturn the situation.

He said: “I promise you all better days ahead even as we remain grateful for your

unflinching support to our administration.

“I am not unaware of what Nigerians are going through and I want to use this medium to commend the amazing sacrifices of Nigerians in the face of the temporary economic and social challenges and also reassure Nigerians that my administration is working assiduously towards providing basic needs and other amenities,” Buhari noted.

The President appealed for the support, understanding and patience of all Nigerians and international partners.

He said the Federal Government was exploring the fastest means to end the economic sabotage in the

Niger Delta and amicably resolve the conflicts within the region.

While congratulating Muslims in Nigeria and around the world on the successful completion of month-long spiritual journey of fasting, prayer and almsgiving in obedience to the Divine Command, he prayed that the Almighty Allah would reward the sacrifices with increased blessing and a more prosperous future.

“Let me also use this opportunity to reaffirm that we will not relent in the fight against corruption and we will ensure that all appropriate and legal measures are deplored to root out this malaise.

“I commend the Armed Forces and security agencies for the gains recorded in the fight against terrorists and the rescue of hostages in the North East part of the country,” he added.

Buhari explained that “on this happy occasion, it is my strong belief that all true followers of Islam have been rejuvenated on the true meaning and essence of life and through the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). We have learnt to imbibe the virtues of piety, sacrifice, love, self-denial and good conduct in our daily relationship with one another.

“As we celebrate another Eid El Fitr, I admonish all

patriotic Nigerians to uphold these lessons and also appreciate the numerous material and human blessings God has endowed us with.

“Let us learn to show gratitude, respect and tolerance to one other, irrespective of our religion, tribe, language and political leanings, as we forge ahead to build on our strengths and opportunities to make Nigeria great again,”Buhari said.

He noted that “on Monday this week, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other government officials joined me to host Iftar reception at the State House with Nigerians of different backgrounds including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), artisans and Physically-challenged persons.

“Like I said during the reception, I want to once again appeal to those of us who have the means, to remember the millions of

Nigerians who are suffering deprivation because of violence perpetrated by terrorists.”

Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, yesterday called Buhari on phone to felicitate with Muslims in Nigeria on the occasion of this year’s Eid-El-Fitr.

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the two leaders spoke early hours of Tuesday.

Erdogan, whose country had recently suffered terror attack at the Atartuk airport, rejoiced with Nigerians on the successful completion of this year’s Ramadan fast despite all distractions.

Buhari had, last week, in a letter written to the Turkish President, commiserated with him and the entire people of Turkey in the wake of the bombings at the Ataturk airport in Turkey.

Only PDP can salvage Nigeria, says Gov Emmanuel Wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Wuraola Zainab Ogunwusi (middle), with some children, during her visit to the Internally Displaced Peoples Camp in Abuja …yesterday

NEITI, EFCC join forces to enforce accountability

T

he Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) is to sign a pact with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a bid to enforce accountability in the extractive sector.

The Director of Communications of NEITI, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, made the disclosure yesterday in Lagos.

He was speaking at a capacity building training for 25 media practitioners,

sponsored by the Natural Resource Governance Institute at the Pan-Atlantic University in Ibeju Lekki.

Orji said that NEITI was currently interfacing with the EFCC and other antigraft agencies with a view to prosecuting economic offenders in the extractive sector.

“We have gone to borrow teeth from the EFCC, so that we can bite companies found wanting in accountability and transparency issues,’’

he asserted.

Orji said that the management of NEITI and the EFCC were fashioning out a memorandum of understanding on the modalities for a smooth working relationship between the two

£9,720

The daily salary of Dirk Kuyt of Fernerbache in 2014/2015.

Source: Paywizard.co.uk

bodies.

The NEITI chief said that to ensure accountability and transparency in the oil and gas sector, there was need to partner the anti-graft bodies to track funds accruing to government.

17.02%

The percentage by which the total number of NSE Pension Index of the NSE dropped from Jan. 2015 – Dec. 2015) Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

Buhari condoles with Saudi FG extends public holiday to Thursday over suicide attack by the President General Johnchuks Onuanyim Anule Emmanuel Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the suicide bombing in Madinah, which occurred on Monday in Islam’s second holiest city.

The President, while condoling with Saudi authorities over the reprehensible attack, said the development was a desecration of all that was sacred and holy, as it took place near the Prophet’s Mosque, and on one of the holy days of Ramadan.

He said: “The merchants of evil have once again shown that there is nothing religious in their mindless acts, by striking near the Prophet’s Mosque. It validates the claim that terrorism really has nothing to do with Islam. Purveyors of terror are simply agents of the devil.”

“The fact that the Madinah bombing came the same day as a suicide bomber struck near the US Consulate in Jeddah, also in Saudi Arabia, shows that it was an orchestrated plan to foul up the Eid-el-Fitr celebration,” President Buhari asserted.

Abuja

T

he Federal Government yesterday included Thursday July 7 as public holiday for the celebration of the Eid-el-Fitr, which marks the end of this year’s Ramadan fast.

The government had earlier declared Tuesday and Wednesday as public holidays before including Thursday yesterday.

Extending the public holidays, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Bassey Okon Akpanyung, in a statement, said, “Following the directive

of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, to the effect that the Ramadan fast continues today as a result of the non-sighting of the moon, the Federal Government has declared Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th July, 2016 as public holidays.

“In making the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. (Rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, urged Nigerians to use this period of sober reflections to ensure unity in the country.”

A

kwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party-PDP remains the only party capable of taking Nigeria out of her present economic situation.

Emmanuel stated this in Benin City during the official flag-off of campaign for Edo State (PDP) governorship flag bearer, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, ahead of the September 10th gubernatorial election.

Emmanuel, who represented the South South PDP Governors, assured the people that the party was ready to reclaim the state from All Progressive Congress (APC) in line with its resolve to keep the region as a stronghold of

the PDP, which would deliver dividends of democracy and engender steady growth and development in the oil rich region.

He described Pastor Ize-Iyamu as a credible candidate with a mission of repositioning Edo State and called on the people to vote into office a peoplecentred government for effective governance.

Earlier, Pastor Ize-Iyamu, who announced the former Chairman of Esan North Local Government Area, John Yakubu, as his running mate, expressed gratitude to God and PDP supporters for the opportunity given to him to fly the ticket of the party, stressing that the party was blessed with leaders, who can change the fortune of the state.

‘Millions disabled Nigerian children out of school’ Chukwu David Abuja

W

orried by the large number of disabled children, who are out of school in Nigeria, the Royal School of Educational Therapy (RSET) Foundation is working towards setting up schools for inclusive education to help tackle the problem.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja, the Director of the RSET Foundation, Dr (Mrs) Badewa AdejugbeWilliams, expressed concern that as many as about Seven million (7,000,000) disabled Nigerian children were not in school.

She therefore, promised that her foundation had begun to articulate a conceived plan to set up a school of therapy in the six geo-political zones of the country to cater for this special population.

The education therapist said that the statistics of the disabled children out of school in the country was a product of the latest research report by the United Nations Education Children Fund (UNICEF).

According to her, the Seven million children comprised those with different physical and learning disabilities, which could be assisted to maximize their inherent potentials when put in special school that could cater for their needs.

national | news

wednesday, july 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ibraheem Musa and Uchenna Inya

T

he Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF) has advised the Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups that are engaging in the destruction of oil and gas pipelines, to lay down their arms and embrace the Federal Government's offer of dialogue, in the spirit of Eid el Fitr celebrations.

In a statement signed

by Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, the National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, ACF noted that

7

ACF, Rep advise militants to lay down arms ‘’destroying oil pipe line installations and polluting the environment is not a solution to whatever perceived grievances groups may have against the government/oil companies. ‘’ According to the statement, ‘’development and prosperity can only take place in an atmosphere of peace and understanding and not violence and destruction.’’

While wishing Muslims a peaceful and Sallah celebration, the Forum equally urged them to

continue to devote themselves to prayers for unity and peaceful coexistence in view of the security, social, economic and many other challenges confronting Nigeria.

The statement recalled that Muslims had prayed fervently for peace, unity and understanding among Nigerians, during the Ra-

£202,500 The monthly salary of Dirk Kuyt of Fernerbache in 2014/2015.

Source: Paywizard.co.uk

madan fasting, adding that ‘’they also helped the less privileged and the poor in our midst in view of the prevailing economic hardships and other inequalities nationwide.’’

Also, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, Hon. Linus Okorie, yesterday pleaded with the Niger Delta Avengers, the Boko Haram sect and other militant groups in the country to use the peaceful message of the Eid el-fitr

to ceasefire and return the country to a state of calm.

In his Ramadan message, Okorie noted that Nigeria has been tormented and traumatized in the past several years by different militia groups, and urged the hostile groups to embrace peace and dialogue.

He said that since the Eid el-fitr was a unique spiritual festival, the agitating groups should turn a new leaf of love, kindness

Military helicopter carrying senior officers crashes in Turkey A military helicopter carrying 11 Turkish soldiers, including senior officers, crashed in the province of Giresun in the Black Sea region of northern Turkey on Tuesday, the private news agency Dogan reported.

It said a brigadier general, a colonel and two ma-

Customers at a frozen chicken seller's shop in preparation for Eleid Fitr celebration in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

and mercy for humanity and avoid further human and material destruction that have hitherto attended their attacks.

Okorie also prayed that God would also use the end of Ramadan to ignite wisdom, understanding, compassion, fairness, equity and respect for the rule of law and the constitution on the part of the government to navigate and bring peace and prosperity to the troubled nation.

jors were among those on board when the helicopter crashed as it flew to meet locals marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

There was no immediate information on casualties or the cause of the crash. Rescue teams were trying to reach the wreckage.

Mohammed commends China's support for Nigeria Temitope Ogunbanke

Common chemicals damage babies brains, lowers IQs Appolonia Adeyemi and Eleazar Nwanti

T

he brains of fetuses and growing children risk damage over exposure to common chemicals that are found in plastic bottles, pollution and even makeup.

This is the findings of a new study published in the journal ‘Environmental Health Perspectives’.

According to the research, chemicals that are of most concern include lead and mercury, organophosphate pesticides used in agriculture and gardens, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) found in flame retardants, and phthalates, found in plastic bottles, food containers and beauty products.

Information sourced from the webmd.com stated that lead poisoning, at levels that do not cause immediate symptoms, can permanently damage kids' brains. Before their second birthday, children are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning.

Similarly, high mercury exposure results in permanent nervous system and kidney damage. Mercury is commonly found in thermometers, manometers, barometers, gauges, valves, switches, batteries, and high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps.

Furthermore, flame retardants and traffic

pollution and from wood smoke can also affect brain development in both the womb and in childhood.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), once used as coolants and lubricants in electrical equipment, are also of concern.

According to a report published in the mailonline, scientists said these chemicals could lower children's intelligent Quotient (IQs).

Although these were banned in the United States (U.S) in 1977 and in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1981, they still linger in the environment including developing countries for decades.

Scientists are studying infants and their mothers to determine whether prenatal exposure to phthalates and other chemicals leads to changes in the brain or behaviour.

Professor Susan Schantz, of the University of Illinois in Chicago, U.S, said: “These chemicals are pervasive, not only in air and water, but in everyday consumer products that we use on our bodies and in our homes.

“Reducing exposures to toxic chemicals can be done, and is urgently needed to protect today's and tomorrow's children.”

She continued: 'The human brain develops over a very long period of time,

starting in gestation and continuing during childhood and even into early adulthood.

“But the biggest amount of growth occurs during prenatal development.

“The neurons are forming and migrating and maturing and differentiating and if you disrupt this process, you're likely to have permanent effects.”

Professor Frederica Perera, at Columbia University, added: “There is overwhelming scientific evidence that early-life exposure to neurotoxic chemicals is contributing to a host of developmental problems in children.

“Exposure to these chemicals is pervasive, warranting action now to reduce their production and use.”

Some of the chemicals of concern are known to interfere with normal hormone activity.

Most pregnant women in the U.S test positive for exposure to phthalates and PBDEs, both of which disrupt thyroid hormone function, the researchers found.

Professor Schantz said: “Thyroid hormone is involved in almost every aspect of brain development, from formation of the neurons to cell division."

T

he Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has commended China's decision to support Nigeria in its quest to actualize the transition from Analogue to Digital broadcasting.

Speaking while receiving StarTimes Group of China delegation led by its Vice-President, Ms. Zhao Yueqin, in Abuja on Monday, Mohammed said Nigeria was irrevocably committed to meeting the June 2017 Digital Switch Over deadline in order to protect broadcast signals from interference and also to unlock the creative potentials of Nigerians in technology and content development.

The minister, accord-

ing to a statement issued by its Special Assistant, Segun Adeyemi, said: “The process of digitalization is unstoppable and irreversible; it’s not a matter of choice. If we do not follow the world to digitalize and meet the June 2017 target, it means that our telephones, televisions and radios will not be free from interference.

As a matter of fact, planet earth today does not know the extent of the dividends of digitalization and how far it will go.

“Digitalization is going to affect the way we perceive and understand broadcasting. It will act as a catalyst to unleash the creative potentials of our youths. It will also provide the panacea to piracy. It will create so much possibility that will enable

Fraudsters invade NIMASA platform AYCF urges judiciary to resolve Abia crisis Bayo Akomolafe

F

raudsters have floated a scholarship programme at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)’s online platform to defraud admission seekers in the country.

The scholarship programme was tagged: "NIMASA Scholarship 2016/2017."

However, the Director General of the agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said in Lagos that the advertisement was the handiwork of some unscrupulous elements to rip off unsuspecting members of the public.

He explained that the agency had collaborated with security agencies to investigate the matter, vowing that the people behind the fraud would face the full wrath of the law.

In a statement by the agency’s Head of Corporate Communications, Hajia Lami Tumaka, the director general advised people not to patronise fraudsters.

Peterside explained that agency was not recruiting at the moment and that members of the public should not be deceived that the NIMASA had engaged a recruitment firm to employ on its behalf.

Temitope Ogunbanke

W

orried by the political crisis in Abia State over the claims by Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and Sampson Ogah, to the state governorship, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has urged the judiciary to take necessary measures to ensure that the state did not implode with avoidable violence and bloodshed.

AYCF in a statement issued by its chairman, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, also implored the people of Abia State to resist any attempt to use them to foment trouble in the state.

He reminded them that no development takes place in

a state of anarchy.

“What is happening in Abia State today is a travesty of justice, a smear on decorum and an attempt to rubbish the democratic ethics and principles as well as the rule of law that we Nigerians have worked for.

“We condemn without reservation the attempted civilian coup in Abia State.

The events we witnessed in Abia are unprecedented and purely the civilian version of a military coup with elements working at INEC, security services and the judiciary involved in a plot to remove a democratically elected governor without allowing due legal process.

8

wednesday, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

METRO

ABIODUN BELLO abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com 08023938212

...CRIME, CITY WATCH, COURTS

How robbers stripped Fred Amata, by source

Juliana Francis

F

resh facts have emerged on how gunmen suspected to be robbers attacked a top Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Mr. Fred Amata, at Surulere area of Lagos.

Amata was returning from Victoria Island (VI) on the fateful day when the robbers swooped on him.

A source close to the president of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) said the gunmen robbed him of was robbed of his Toyota Lexus 470 Sport Utility Vehicle.

“Not only that, the robbers stripped Amata. He was stark naked,” the source added.

Meanwhile, police in Lagos said they had recovered Amata SUV, which was snatched two weeks ago. The vehicle, which

was stolen on June 25, was recovered on Monday at Ejigbo area of Lagos.

But the source close to the actor said the robber accosted Amata at Aguda in Surulere and asked for his Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card.

He said: “When they couldn’t get his ATM card from him or money, they ordered him to remove his shoes, shirt, trousers and boxers.

They abandoned him on the Fadeyi Bridge, stark naked.

He could not move because he did not know the next thing to do since he was naked. Luckily for him, he saw a police patrol van and flagged it down. The policemen gave him a T-shirt to wear to cover his nakedness. The policemen took him to Area C’ Police Command, where he wrote a statement.

They later took Amata to his house in Surulere.”

It was learnt that after leaving VI, Amata drove to a friend’s home, at Aguda, Surulere. He was outside the gate of his friend, waiting for him to come and open the gate, when four armed men, on two motorcycles, surrounded his car. The incident occurred about 2:30a.m.

They ordered the film producer to the back seat of his vehicle and took over the wheels.

They also abandoned their motorcycles.

When they couldn’t get money from him, they stripped him and drove towards Fadeyi B r i d g e , where they abandoned him.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, urged the actor to come and pick his recovered vehicle.

She said: “The eagleeyed policemen who spotted the vehicle with some male occupants gave it a hot chase. The men, realising they were being trailed by the police, abandoned the vehicle and fled.”

Badmos said the command was still on the trail of the suspects who snatched the car from Amata, while the recovered vehicle would soon be handed over to the owner.

City Briefs

Carnival claims two Babatope Okeowo Akure

I

t was meant to be a youth carnival, but before the end of the one-day event, two persons had been shot dead while several others were injured at Kogbona area of Ondo in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State on Monday evening.

The event, according to residents of the area, also led to the arrest of some youths by policemen.

The residents said the incident was as a result of a bloody clash that broke out between two rival cult groups in the community during the carnival.

It was learnt that before the incident, two rival cult groups had earlier engaged each other in a free-for-all, leading to the injury of some people. It took the intervention of security agencies before the situation was brought under control.

Thereafter, the youth embarked on a procession around the town with branded T-shirt dancing and singing with a truck fitted music gadget.

It was, however, gathered that during the procession, some group of boys wanted to disrupt the celebration. Argument, a witness said, ensued between the groups suspected to be rival cult groups.

The recovered vehicle

Amata’s friend and colleague, Matthias Obahiagbon, narrated the sad incident on Facebook.

“He was on his way back from a business dinner, on behalf of his guild, very tired and looking forward to the warmth of his bed. As he waited almost

endlessly for the street gate to be opened by the security guards, lo and behold some four fierce looking gun-toting men appeared from the dark night, no thanks to PHCN, and off they went with him as captive in his own car,” Obahiagbon wrote.

Osun NUJ vice-chairman arrested

NUJ Chairman, Waheed Odusile

Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

P

olice in Osun State yesterday arrested the Vice-Chairman of the state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Kehinde Ayantunji, for allegedly refusing to hand over the union property to the caretaker committee set up by the National President of the union, Waheed Odusile.

At press time, Ayantunji was

being detained at the Dada Estate Police Station.

Trouble started a few months ago after the conduct of the union election which restored Abiodun Olalere, the incumbent chairman for the second term in office.

After the election, the national representatives of the union, who oversaw the exercise from Abuja, sworn in Olalere as the new chairman. However, they later pronounced the election undemocratic and annulled it. This came after a petition written by a group in the union to dissociate itself from the exercise.

The development infuriated virtually all members of the union who disagreed with the stance of the national body but the leadership insisted that the caretaker committee members would take over the affairs

of the union in the state.

This led to the appointment of a three-man caretaker committee led by Ojuolape Bassey. This was vehemently opposed the setting up of the committee by some members who described it as unholy and kangaroo.

The matter degenerated yesterday when the committee through the national president invited the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ataoja Estate, Osogbo to force Ayantunji to hand over the property at his disposal to the caretaker members.

But owing to his refusal, Ayantunji was arrested and detained.

The union stakeholders in the state, however, appealed to the national leadership of NUJ to solve the matter amicably rather than involving the police.

METRO

wednesday, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

9

Vigilantes nab 40 kidnappers, robbers Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

A

Some of the robbers

Robbers chop off DPO’s ear, strip him Pamela Eboh Awka

P

olice yesterday paraded a nine-man gang that had been terrorising the people of Nanka in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The gang led by Ifedilichukwu Nwankwo allegedly chopped off the ear of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ajali Division (name withheld) who was at Nanka to make arrest.

Okechukwu also said that the gang burnt down a police Hilux van during an arrest in the community.

He said: “On June 20, 2016 a team led by the DPO in charge of Ajali Division, was ambushed at Nanka by the gang when they went to effect arrest.

“The DPO was robbed of

his handset and cash. He was stripped while one of his ears was chopped off. Equally, his uniform was torn to shreds.”

According to him, the DPO is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

The police image maker added that several cases of armed robbery/kidnapping, rape and assassination were trailed to Nanka, the reason police detectives made several but unsuccessful attempts to arrest the kingpins.

Also, the gang was said to have lured Adimora Emmanuel (now late) of Agbaja village, Abatete to Atani where they robbed him of his Toyota Camry car with registration number FST962 DL valued at N950,000.

According to him, the suspects beat Emmanuel to death and dumped his body in the bush at Atanihe.

He added that the decomposing body was discovered after four days.

The suspect, who had been on the run, was later arrested last Friday and had confessed to the crime, the PPRO said.

Also paraded was another gang of suspects led by Elochukwu Ikechukwu aka Idemili, a National Diploma student of a higher institution in the state, alleged to have conspired with others at large.

Parading the suspects at the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office at Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ali Okechukwu, said the Nanka community had been liberated by the arrest of the gang.

He said: “On February 2, 2014 about 9a.m., Okechukwu Udezuka of Oraifite and Ebuka (surname unknown) were shot dead at Tarzan in Nkpor

by a gang of armed robbers.

“In the course of investigation, Emmanuel Nwabudu, Chigozie Nweke aka Achito were arrested.

“The suspects confessed that Ifedilichukwu Nwankwo of Nanka and others as those who attacked and killed Okechukwu Udezuka and Ebuka.

Every attempt to arrest Ifedidilichukwu and his gang members proved abortive.”

The PPRO added that on June 27, following a raid of Nanka community, Ifedilichukwu Nwankwo, Chidi Nwankwo and Udoye Kenechukwu were arrested.

According to him, the gang led by Ifedilichukwu Nwankwo has on several occasions prevented the police from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abuja, zonal headquarters, Umuahia, from making any arrest at Nanka.

Abductors free Sierra Leonean envoy

Woman beats, blinds 12-year-old houseboy

Camillus Nnaji

A

12-year-old houseboy, identified simply as Peter, has been blinded by his ‘madam’ at the Ikeja area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that residents, who could no longer stand the violence meted out on the boy by his ‘madam,’ decided to raise the alarm.

The latest cruelty meted out on Peter, leading to injuring in his eyes, was said to be over improper washing of kettle.

The yet-to-be identified woman resides at No. 14b, Olu Akerele Street, Balogun Bus Stop off Awolowo Way, Ikeja.

According to neighbours, how Peter, a Togolese, was employed by the woman was not clear. What is clear, however, is that Peter was always being subjected to constant beating.

A resident, who gave her name simply as Tayo, said: “We feared the unexpected with the manner the woman used to beat the boy. He has a deep sore on his leg.

When I asked him about it, he said it was from burnt from fire. He said the swollen eye was caused by beating from his madam for not washing a kettle properly.

“He has been subjected to violence for a long time. You know everybody used to mind his or her business in the compound. When I saw the boy last, he was looking sickly. Hence I decided to seek help from the appropriate agency.”

Another resident, who pleaded anonymity, said the woman was well known for being violent. He said everyone on the street used to keep the woman at arm’s length.

He added: “If the boy comes to watch television with them in the parlor, he would be beaten. On school days, you will see the boy leaving home around 9.30a.m.

This is an ideal case of child abuse and child labour. We need the intervention of child protection network in his case.”

When our correspondent visited the compound to seek the woman’s response, the gate was not opened after repeated knocking.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, was yet to respond to a text message sent to her mobile line on the issue at press time.

vigilance group, Aljan Security Networks, said it had arrested about 40 suspected armed robbers, kidnappers and rustlers in various parts of Taraba State in the last one month.

The leader of the group, Alhaji Shehu Aljan, disclosed this while addressing journalists at Tella village in Gassol Local Government Area of the state.

Aljan also said the group recovered different types of firearms and ammunition from the suspects.

He explained that more than 400 herds of cattle were also recovered and handed over to their owners.

The group leader said he was invited by the Taraba State government to partner with security operatives in fishing out criminals who had continued to wreak havoc on innocent citizens, especially in the central and southern parts of the state.

He listed the weapons recovered to include six AK47 rifles, bags of ammunition, several short guns and charms used by the suspects.

Aljan added that the suspects would be handed over to the police in Jalingo for further investigation.

According to him, two members of the gang, identified as Shede and Charlie, were behind the recent kidnapping of Hajiya Belli, the mother of Taraba State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Haruna Manu.

Aljan also showed journalists N800,000 cash which, according to him, was used by one of the suspects to bribe him.

He promised that no stone would be left unturned in the fight against kidnappers, rustlers and armed robbers in the state.

Confirming Aljan’s claims in Jalingo, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Joseph Kwaji, said the command had been working with the group to rid the state of crime.

He disclosed that the operation of the group along with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was yielding results in addressing the proliferation of firearms, rustling and kidnapping.

Nelson

Juliana Francis

S

ier ra Leonean Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Alfred Nelson (rtd), who was kidnapped on Thursday, was rescued yesterday.

Nelson, who was kidnapped on Abuja-Kaduna Expressway in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was abandoned by his abductors on the same road.

Nelson was abducted with his driver on his way to Kaduna to attend a function at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College. While his driver was released al-

most immediately, Nelson was held captive, with his abductors later demanding N44 million ransom.

It was gathered that Nelson was abandoned about 4p.m. yesterday.

A police source said: “The General was released about 4p.m. today (yesterday). He wouldn’t have been released if not that his captors panicked over the ceaseless efforts of policemen mounted for his rescue.

“The pressure was intense. There was both land and air patrol for the General. The General is in good condition. He has requested that police medical teams should examine him. Right now, he has been reunited with the Sierra Leonean High Commission and his family.”

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Don Awunah, confirmed Nelson’s release.

Awunah said that the acting Inspector-General

of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had assured members of the diplomatic corps and expatriates of their security.

The FPRO also denied that any ransom was paid to facilitate Nelson’s freedom.

He said: “Yes, he had been released. He was released about 4p.m. today (yesterday). He is visibly in good condition. There were intense police activities for his rescue. There were intelligent reports and technical supports, police were able to mount intense pressure and manhunt through land and air. He had been reunited with his family and Sierra Leonean High Commission.”

Asked if ransom was paid to aid the release of the diplomatic, Awunah said: “No ransom was paid. The IG wish to assure members of the diplomatic corps and international dignitaries in Nigeria of their safety and security in Nigeria.”

10

NEWS | national

wednesday, july 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Eid-el-Fitr

Don't discard Ramadan lessons, UI VC felicitates with Muslims Oshiomhole tells Muslims T Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

E

do State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday urged Muslims to be guided by the invaluable lessons learnt during Ramadan as this would greatly mould their lives in the right path prescribed

by Almighty Allah.

Oshiomhole in his Eidel-Fitr message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, said the message of love, perseverance, self-denial, almsgiving and others learnt during the holy month of Ramadan should not be discarded, but should be applied daily by Muslims in total obedience to the injunctions of the Almighty Allah.

He said: “While I congratulate the Muslim faithful for the successful completion of the Ramadan, I urge them to sustain the spirit of godliness, charity, perseverance and spiritual intercession for the nation, which were some of the lessons learnt during the holy month.

According to him, "Having observed strictly the injunctions of Almighty

Allah through fasting and prayers and by offering Zakat, the lessons learnt during the holy month should not be lost, rather they should be part of the daily lives of a true Muslim in his dealings with fellow Muslims and people of other faith.

The governor said: "The spiritual intercession offered by the faithful during Ramadan for peace, progress and stability in Edo State and the nation

should be sustained, especially as the state goes into another phase of its political life.

“I appeal to the faithful to continue to live in peace and harmony with all; to continue to lead by example in supplications to Allah for continued progress and development of our dear state.

He wished the faithful a joyous celebration and showers of Allah’s blessings. Barka da Sallah.”

Olubadan: Consolidate the gains of Ramadan Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

A

s Muslims worldwide celebrate Sallah today, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Aje Ogungunniso 1, has implored Muslim faithful in the country to consolidate the gains of Ramadan by fleeing from all appearances of evil.

In a message signed by Adeola Oloko, his Director, Media and Public Affairs, made available to New Telegraph to congratu-

late the Muslims, the first class monarch said there were lessons for those who wish to learn from the fasting and prayer during the Ramadan, noting that "as soon as Muslims are ready to seek God first and submit to His perfect will, God is always willing to answer prayers and solve problems."

He added that, "Despite the socio-economic challenges confronting our people, such as liquidity crisis, corruption in high and low places, kidnapping, among others, nothing is too difficult for God to do."

he Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof.

Abel Idowu Olayinka, has joined other well-meaning Nigerians to felicitate with Muslims across the country, especially the university’s Muslim community during this Eid-el-Fitri.

He congratulated them on the successful comple-

tion of the 30-day Ramadan period, which he described as a period of prayer, fasting, self-denial and charity-giving.

Olayinka, however, urged them that as they celebrate the Sallah, they should not to lose sight of the lessons of Ramadan, which is in fulfillment of Allah's injunction.

Tambuwal to Nigerians: Work for nation’s unity S

okoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has urged Nigerians to close ranks and work for the unity, stability and progress of the nation.

In a message to commemorate this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration issued in Sokoto by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal

Delta deputy speaker preaches tolerance Gabriel Efeduku Ughelli

A

s Muslims mark the end of the Ramadam season in a joyful mood, the Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday Ossai Osanebi, yesterday urged Muslim faithful in the state to use the spiritual benefits of Ramadan to contribute to the peace and development of the nation.

In a message congratulating Muslims for

completing the monthlong Ramadan period, Osanebi called for tolerance and peaceful coexistence, adding that prosperity and development can only be achieved in an atmosphere devoid of rancour.

He assured Delta people that the PDP led administration of Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, would continue to build on the firm foundation for sustainable development, which it has already established in key sectors of the polity.

Ortom assures on security during celebration Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

A

s the Muslim faithful celebrate the Eid-elFitri across the country, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has urged them to maximise the spiritual benefits derived from Ramadan, which are love, peace and justice for the development of the state.

The governor said the Eid-el Fitri celebration has come at a time when the nation was gripped by steep economic recession, which calls for sober reflection, spiritual

rejuvenation and unity of purpose in tackling the numerous challenges facing the nation.

He called on the people to embrace dialogue in address matters affecting them and resist the temptation to take the law into their hands while assisting security agencies to guarantee the safety of lives and property in all parts of the state.

Ortom expressed confidence that the isolated cases of crime will soon become a thing of the past as the present administration will not surrender the state to hoodlums.

The Vice-Chancellor, in a statement signed by the university's Director of Public Communication, Mr. 'Tunji Oladejo, enjoined Muslims to use the lessons of Ramadan "to modify our personalities and character in order to promote harmony, peace and love across all religions, tribes and nations."

L-R: Father of the Hydrocephalus Patient, Malam Abubakar Shitu; Medical Director of Holistic Specialist Hospital, Dr. Joseph Maigari; Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Debt, Senator Shehu Sani; Mother of the Patient, Hajiya Jumai Abubakar, and Hydrocephalus Patient, Hawa'u Abubakar, during a Sympathetic visit by Senator Shehu Sani to the patient, in Kaduna…yesterday.

PHOTO: NAN

enjoined Muslims to use the opportunity of the Sallah to offer prayers to God for peaceful co-existence among the different ethno-religious groups in the country.

“Even though the Ramadan period is over, we must continue to live up to the tenets of our faith through acts of charity, peaceful coexistence, obedience to the injunctions of Holy Qu’ran and sacrifice,” the statement quoted the governor as saying.

Aregbesola calls for peace sun State Governor, O Rauf Aregbesola, has called on Muslims nation-

wide to pray for peace as the country is going through tough economic and security challenges.

This was contained in message to adherents of the Islamic faith on the occasion of the Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, admonished the Muslims to imbibe the salient lessons of Ramadan and emulation of the humility, good neighbourliness, understanding and love exemplified by the life of Prophet Muhammad.

According to him, Muslims must exhibit qualities such as commitment, discipline, obedience to and love of Allah and apply same in their daily relationship to their fellow human beings irrespective of ethnic and religious affiliations.

Amosun, Isiaka task Nigerians Lalong urges Muslims to reflect Ajimobi urges modesty, vigilance Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

A

s Muslims across the world celebrate Eidel-Fitr, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has called on Nigerians to shun all forms of corruption and violence after the holy month of Ramadan.

Amosun, who said this in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Adejuwon Soyinka, congratulated Muslim faithful for the successful completion of this year's Ramadan.

He also used the occa-

sion to admonish Muslims to imbibe the values represented by Ramadan and make them an integral part of their lives.

Also yesterday, two Ogun State governorship candidates in the 2015 elections, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, and Otunba Rotimi Paseda, urged Muslims to pray for the peace and economic revival of Nigeria as they celebrate the Eid-el-Fitri.

In separate statements made available to reporters in Abeokuta, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) candidates respectively.

on importance of Ramadan

Musa Pam Jos

P

lateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, has urged Muslim Ummah in Plateau State to reflect on the significance of the religious obligation, by putting to use the spiritual lessons learnt during the period of the 30-day Ramadan fast, in consolidating on the peace the ptate.

Governor Lalong, in his Eid-El-Fitri message in a statement signed

by his Director of Press Affairs, Mr. Samuel Emmanuel Nanle, felicitated with the Muslim Ummah in the state, Nigeria and the world at large on the occasion of the successful completion of the Ramadan fast and celebration of Eid-El-Fitri.

He said the virtues of sacrificial love for humanity in giving arms to the poor and needy, will reflect the gratitude of the Moslem faithful to Allah for their fulfillment of one of the pillars of Islam.

O

yo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has wished Muslim adherents across the country a joyous and crisis-free Eid-el-Fitr, following the completion of the monthlong Ramadan period.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, urged Muslims to be modest in their celebration and to be on their guard against terrorists, who might want to wreak havoc during the celebration.

Ajimobi said: “Let me

on this occasion congratulate my Muslim brothers and sisters on the successful completion of the Ramadan. It is my hope that the mandatory annual religious obligation will renew our strength and faith in Allah.

“I want to enjoin Islam faithful to maintain their piety beyond the fasting period and rededicate themselves to the worship of Allah and obedience to His injunctions, especially at this period when our country needs the prayers of the saints."

11

WEDNESDAY, JUly 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Petitions Politicians seek help from abroad

Politics

Interview El-Rufai running uninformed govt – Maiyashi

12 14

Abia guber crisis: No end in sight VICTOR MBA reports on the unending legal battle for Abia State governorship seat, which has impeded governance after the 2015 general elections

T

he 2015 gubernatorial elections in the county had come and gone, but in Abia State it is still uncertain who is the governor of the state. While many states have settled down to the business of governance and delivering of democratic dividends to the electorate, Abia State had been enmeshed in a prolonged legal battle that seems unending.

For now, it is uncertain who would steer the ship of state till 2019, when the tenure of the present dispensation elapses as the political scenario in the state can be termed “total uncertainty” due to various legal knots yet to be untied, and which have resulted to judgments coming in rapid succession.

In fact the people of the state have had an over dose of these judgments from various courts of various jurisdictions, and they have cast on the political environment, confusion and rancor, especially on the people of the state who are eager to see the party in power fulfill its campaign promises.

The gubernatorial election had triggered off series of legal battles, which has seen the various interest groups traversing from the Election Petition Tribunal to the High Court, Court of Appeal court and the Supreme Court.

While the legal tussle that is inter party ending at the apex court in favour of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. There are other inter-party issues that have taken the centre stage. On Monday June 27, the state was jolted by a judgement

FELIX NWANERI

GROUP PoLITICAL EDITOR nwanerif@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Ikpeazu

of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which ruled that Governor Ikpeazu was not qualified to contest the election. Consequently, the court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to Dr. Uche Ogah, who came second in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries.

While many political watchers in the state saw the judgment as ill-timed because it will truncate governance and take the state miles back in the race for development, others believe that it is a divine will that must be respected.

Initially, there was fear in the state, especially in the commercial city of Aba known for its restive nature, when news of Ikpeazu’s sack filtered in. The people’s fear was borne out of the fact that Aba is the centre of Ngwa land and the man (Ikpeazu) at the centre of the battle is an Ngwa man.

But for the first time, inhabitants of the commercial town and indeed the indigenes exhibited high sense of maturity and political sagacity as there were no protests or destruction of lives and property. No doubt, they have really embraced the need for peace in the city that had witnessed several bloodbath in the past when faced with such situation.

Even though some adduced the reason for the calm atmosphere that pervaded the city to the fact that the battle is within the party

Ogah

Resources meant for the development of the state... would be deployed by the administration as it challenges the judgement

and also due to the fact that Governor Ikpeazu has the Appeal and Supreme Court to decide his fate, the people should be commended at least for once on their decorum.

When compared to the spontaneous reaction of the people of Aba when the Court of Appeal declared the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Oti, winner of the election, their action penultimate Monday, shows that the people have come of age.

It could be recalled that the streets of Aba witnessed violent protests by some indigenes, who trooped out to express reservation to the judgement of the appellate court that declared Oti winner of the poll even when they knew that there was an opportunity to challenge the decision at the Supreme Court. But as the people went wild, security operatives were brought in to restore normalcy.

A notable politician in the state, Mr. Okon Awah, who spoke on the recent judgement of the Federal High Court, lamented that it is capable of throwing spanners into the works. According to him, the sudden twist in the affairs of the state will definitely delay the drive by the present administration to give the state a new lease of life.

His words: “All the administration will be looking forward to is how to vacate the court judgement both at the Appeal Court and at the Supreme Court. You cannot

expect the government of Okezie Ikpeazu to fold its hand over the judgement.”

He added that issues raised in the ruling were grave and if not properly trashed, the decision maybe the same at the appellate court. He however said that the people of Abia are tired of judgements on the gubernatorial election, which have come in rapid succession.

He also expressed the fear that the resources meant for the development of the state, especially Aba that had suffered infrastructural decay would be deployed by the administration as it challenges the judgement at the appellate court.

Despite the worries, some are of the view that the matter should be pursued to a logical conclusion by the parties involved.

A politician, Chief Ezekiel Ezeugo, who reasoned along that line said the judgement, if it will bring out the best in the leadership in the state, so be it.

“We have suffered a lot as the last administration did little or nothing to put the state on an infrastructural highway. The level of neglect is such that the people may be patient to wait for a Moses to come to lead the state to the Promise Land,” he said.

While the legal fireworks over the Abia governorship rages, the people are wondering when the dust will settle for governance to commence.

12

POLITICS PLATFORM

Ikpeazu’s judicial coup won’t stand – Ezugwu

National Secretary of Eastern Unity Forum, Chief Willy Ezugwu, in this interview, speaks on the political impasse in Abia State over the sacking of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu by a Federal High Court and issuance of a Certificate of Return to Dr. Uche Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

FELIX NWANERI reports

Your group, Eastern Unity Forum (EUF), recently demanded the immediate enforcement of the order of an Abuja Federal High Court that removed Okezie Ikpeazu from office as governor of Abia State. What informed the demand?

We have watched with dismay the current development in Abia State, and wish to state in clear terms that we are disappointed with the delay in swearing in Dr Uche Ogah as the governor of the state as directed

by Abuja Federal High Court. It is very clear, even to a lay man that Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu is no longer the governor of Abia State as his Certificate of Return has been withdrawn by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a Certificate of Return issued to the Governor-elect, Dr. Ogah. And going by common sense analogy, there can’t be two valid Certificates of Return for one governorship position for Abia State.

But the argument of the governor is that he has appealed the judgement, so he cannot be removed from office until he exhausts all legal options as regards his appeal.

In the eyes of the law, notice of appeal does not constitute a stay of

Ezugwu

5 Questions

execution of the order of the court.

So, our view is that INEC has not broken any law by issuing the Certificate of Return to Ogah. And by the judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Justice Okon Abang, Ogah became the instant governor of Abia State until that order is set aside by a higher court.

What of the injunction Ikpeazu obtained from a High Court in the state, restraining the swearing in of Ogah as the governor of Abia State?

For Ikpeazu to rush to another Court of coordinate jurisdiction to arrest the unambiguous judgment delivered by Justice Okon Abang, which ordered that Ogah be sworn in immediately, is nothing but a delay of tactics and judicial coup that must not be allowed to stand.

What is the way out of the impasse?

We are calling on the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director of Department of State Services (DSS) and all other security agencies and law enforcement organs of the Federal Government to wake up and be alive to their constitutional duties and ensure that Ogah is sworn in as Abia State governor without further delay. Anything to the contrary will amount to institutionalising impunity in the South-East. If the security agencies fail to do the needful, the people will be mobilised to enforce the order of the Abuja Federal High Court.

Don’t you see such mobilisation leading to more crisis as there is already tension in the state?

If you have been following political events in the South-East, the zone is the only part of the country that has remained shortchanged for too long.

A case in point before this rape of due process in Abia State is the lack of representation in the Senate from Imo North Senatorial District due to the lingering inconclusiveness of the rerun election.

The same is the case in Anambra Central Senatorial District where the court has ordered for rerun election which has not been conducted several months after the order was given. Now it is the turn of Abia for impunity. This must not continue. If the agencies of the Federal Government saddled with the responsibility of enforcing the order of the court fail to do their job, our members across the South-East region shall be mobilised to ensure that Ogah is sworn in. To continue to shortchange the South-East is a clear call for anarchy in the region. Enough is enough!

WEDNESDAY, JUly 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Petitions: Politicians Lately, politicians and some groups have devised means of taking domestic issues to the international community through petitions. WALE ELEGBEDE writes on the development

A

ccording to the Law Dictionary, a petition is a written address, embodying an application or prayer from the person or persons preferring it, to the power, body, or person to whom it is presented, for the exercise of his or their authority in the redress of some wrong, or the grant of some favor, privilege, or license.

Perhaps, the phrase "redress of some wrong" is the catchy word for some politicians and stakeholders in Nigeria as their penchant for penning petitions mostly against perceived enemies to other countries and international bodies, appear to be scaling up.

Of recent, catalogues of petitions laced with insinuations of victimisation have been regular occurrences to the international community, with writers of such petitions seeking external influence in the subject matter.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, grabbed the headlines last week, when he petitioned and called for intervention of the United Nations, United States (U.S.) Congress, United Kingdom, European Union Parliament and some foreign missions, barely 24-hours after he was arraigned alongside the Senate President Bukola Saraki and others for alleged forgery of the 2015 Senate Standing Rules before an Abuja High Court.

Ekweremadu noted in the petition that the nation’s democracy was in grave danger, adding that the forgery trial was an attempt to truncate Nigeria’s democracy and silence him as the leader and highest ranking member of the opposition party (Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the country.

In the two-page letter, entitled: “Re: Trumped Up Charges Against the Presiding Officers of the 8th Senate: Nigerian Democracy is in Grave Danger,” the deputy senate president, who attached copies of the court summons, and other relevant documents relating to the matter, asked the international community to decide whether or not the trial was worth it, justifiable or one that was purely borne out of political vendetta.

The letter read: “You may further wish to judge for yourself whether this unfolding scenario, coupled with the clampdown on the opposition, such as targeted arrests and indefinite detention of opposition figures and dissenting voices, in spite of court pronouncements and in clear violation of the Nigerian constitution, as well as the sustained marginalisation of the South-East and

Ekweremadu

South-South geo-political zones of Nigeria, does not constitute a grave danger to the nation’s hard-won democracy.

“I wish to forward to you the court summons containing the trumped-up charges preferred against my person, the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki and two others. I also wish to appeal to you to kindly find time to read through the annexures – petition by members of the Senate Unity Forum, statements by persons interrogated, and the police report – to see if our names appeared anywhere in these documents.

“You may also wish to judge for yourself whether this trial orchestrated against me is not a political trial, calculated witch-hunt, barefaced intimidation, and a clear attempt to emasculate the parliament and silence me as the leader and highest ranking member of the opposition in Nigeria.

“Meanwhile, it could also be recalled that an attempt was made on my life on November 17, 2015. The Nigerian security agencies did nothing, even though the incident was duly reported.”

Expectedly, the petition from Ekweremadu to the international community’s generated various reactions. Speaking with a national daily, human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said Ekweremadu was in order with his petition to the international community.

He said: “We need to draw the attention of the international community before things get bad in this country. I remember when All Progressives Congress (APC) was in the opposition, even last year, every little thing, they rushed to the international community. They even reported President Goodluck Jonathan to the International Criminal Court (ICC), alleging that he was not fighting Boko Haram. And one of the reasons the United States government did not support Jonathan in his fight against

CROSSFIRE I am still calling on Sheriff and his followers to join us so that we accommodate one another in a just, fair and equitable manner with a view to moving the party forward -Ahmed Makarfi

The order we have in Abuja is still subsisting. What it means is that unless the Court of Appeal decides otherwise, I still remain the national chairman of the PDP -Ali Modu Sheriff

POLITICS PLATFORM

WEDNESDAY, JUly 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

seek help from abroad

Fayose

Ban Ki-Moon

Boko Haram was because of the petitions APC leaders wrote to the international community.”

However, the chairman of the APC in Ekweremadu’s home state (Enugu), Dr. Ben Nwoye, wondered why the deputy senate president should take an internal matter of a sovereign nation to foreign lands. He insisted that the senator’s action was aimed at impeding the country’s judicial process because no indicted citizen of any foreign country had ever written to the Nigerian government to intervene in their matter.

His words: “Calling on UN to intervene on his matter amounts to ceding our sovereignty to foreign nations. The CIA director and many US senators and government officials were over the years indicted and convicted, did they write to Nigeria?

“Some of the officials pleaded guilty and resigned and never wrote to any foreign country including Nigeria. Those involved should face trial and stop invoking tribal, religious and ethnic sentiments. We want to advise them to stop heating up the polity,” he said.

Although the new found love for sending petitions to the international community did not start with Ekweremadu, it is noteworthy that most often than not, responses or action from the recipi-

Petitions to international organisation has effectively exposed the level of understanding of our politicians

ents of the letters are not usually known or made public.

Last June, Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, petitioned the Amnesty International, embassies of the United States and the United Kingdom (UK) over a claim that the Federal Government had placed a travel ban on him.

The petition, filed on his behalf by the state House of Assembly, also complained about the alleged refusal of an agent of the Federal Government, the Department of State Services (DSS), to obey a Federal High Court judgment, ordering it to pay N5 million damages on the illegal arrest and detention for 18 days of a member of the House, Hon. Afolabi Akanni.

In the wake of Rivers State governorship re-run election early in the year, the state government also sent a letter to embassies of 50 countries asking for diplomatic intervention over the poll.

In the letter signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Austin Tam-George, the Rivers State government accused leaders of the APC in the state, notably, the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi, and Dakuku Peterside of resorting to intimidating tactics and openly inciting violence against members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and any-

one who holds a different political perspective in the state.

The petition was sent to the governments of the United States, Australia, China, the European Union, the Chairman of the African Union (AU), among others.

Reacting on the development, a legal practitioner, Malachy Ugwumadu, told New Telegraph that politicians should exhaust municipal avenues of resolving crisis before penning petitions to the international community.

“It is display of ignorance with all due respect to Ekweremadu who is a lawyer and Deputy Senate President. You have not exhausted the municipal avenues of resolving your problem and you begin to write United Nations, UNESCO and OAU. It doesn’t portray them in any light that is above their imagination. It also exposes their ignorance as regard the operation of the international organisations.

“These are international organisations that deal with nationstate and not individual members of those states. The international organisations are concern about members state and not individual in those states. Writing petitions to international organisation have effectively exposed the level of understanding of our politicians, who are supposed to know by far more than what they are displaying at the moment.”

On his part, the executive director, Rights Monitoring Group (RMG), Mr. Olufemi Aduwo, said such petitions are only been used to raise unnecessary alarm. He noted that there is nothing that the international community can do over domestic issues because they don’t have jurisdiction on over them.

For the national chairman, Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, the move for foreign petition is only a propaganda being used by irresponsible politicians who are trying to evade the long arms of the law.

“Nigeria, first and foremost is a sovereign nation and no other country can mediate in our internal affairs. However, it is a different thing if they have written to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) or United Nations, which have jurisdiction on some issues but some are out of it, especially the foreign countries,” he said.

POLITRICKS Okei-Odumakin returns to school Courting the poor for political gains

R

enowned rights activist and president of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, on Monday, took many people by surprise when she appeared in the uniform of students of Babs Fafunwa Memorial Senior Secondary Grammar School, Ojodu in Lagos.

Okei-Odumakin's appearance in school uniform was informed by her decision to celebrate her birthday with the students. According to her, she decided to celebrate in a unique way with students of a

public school to encourage and motivate them to be positive role models in the society.

Right from the school assembly to classroom activities, many people were amazed seeing the activist in school uniform mingling with the pupils, who she regarded as her classmates.

She took active part in the school assembly and other school activities for the day with her friend and Nollywood actress, Chioma Akpotha. No doubt, ‘Dr. Joe’ as she is fondly called looks good in school uniform.

P

olitics, some say is the only profession that requires no formal training, which explains why political actors in most climes, especially developing countries resort to all sorts of gimicks to endear themselves to the people for cheap political gains.

Most politicians, while seeking for votes or relevance, usually prefer to celebrate with the poor but are quick to discard them immediately they get to power.

Just recently, a deputy gov-

ernor in one of the South-East states, who marked his birthday, opted to celebrate it at an orphanage in his state, but those who read in between the line described his action as another political gimick ahead of the 2019 general elections.

While the politicians action may have been borne out of genuine concern for the orphans, who need to be shown love, his critics may also have a point in their argument as the number two man has of late seen himself as the heir apparant to his state's throne.

13

POLITICAL NOTES

Insurrection and dangers of negotiation A

heated debate has sparked off over measures to be adopted by the Federal Government in tackling the resurgence of militancy in the oilrich Niger Delta region, which portends great threat to Nigeria’s peace and stability.

While many believe that dialogue remains the best option out of the crisis, there is a political school that insists that military action is the way out.

Members of this political school hinged their view on what they described as the unyielding posture of the Niger Delta Avengers, which had claimed responsibility for the most of recent attacks against oil installations in the region.

To these individuals, the Federal Government should deploy more troops to states of the Niger Delta to assist officers and men of the Joint Military Task Force already on ground to rout the militants.

But advocates of dialogue argued that rather than place emphasis on the use of force as a way of ending the crisis, the Federal Government should not only engage the major actors in dialogue but equally address those issues responsible for the Niger Delta agitation.

While the Federal Government appears undecided at the moment on the approach to adopt, some analysts opined that more dynamic ways of combating crime should be fashioned by security operatives to nip burgeoning problems in the bud before they become full blown crisis.

Though, these analysts sanctioned adopting dialogue in resolving the Niger Delta crisis as well as other agitations across the country, their preference was however not without a caveat.

According to them, caution should be the watchword in negotiating with armed groups. The approach, they reasoned, portends a great danger to Nigeria’s corporate existence as some elements may hide under the guise of marginalisation to destabilise the country.

FELIX NWANERI

14

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

WEDNESDAY, JUly 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

El-Rufai running uninformed Recently, the Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) split into two factions, with Mr. Mataimaki Tom Maiyashi as the convener of APC Akida, a group that is vehemently opposed to Governor Nasir elRufai’s policies and programmes. In this interview with IBRAHEEM MUSA, Maiyashi explains what led to the factionalisation of the party in the state The All Progressives Congress (APC) produced the government of Kaduna State; it also controls the state Assembly, has majority members in the House of Representatives and produced two out of the three senators of the state. With this overwhelming majority, why did you form ‘’APC Akida,’’ which is an opposition within the party?

The principle of the APC is to bring out fundamental changes in the socio-economic development of Nigeria and in particular, Kaduna State. It is part of our history that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ruled Kaduna State and indeed the Federal Government for 16 years. A number of developmental issues arose which became clear to the Nigerian people that there was need for a change. Some of these issues are economic issues, issues around social services, education and health, youth development, women’s issues and the quality of governance.

So, it was expected that if the APC forms a government, it should focus attention on these issues and to ensure that there is a distinct departure from what people have rejected in PDP. We in Kaduna believe that we should be a model because we have deeper political experience more than other states. An APC government in Kaduna State should demonstrate in practical terms, how to emancipate the masses, who have been languishing in poverty, who have been dehumanised and exploited. If you look at the movement that brought APC to victory, it was largely as a result of the momentum built by ordinary citizens of Kaduna State and they include the youth, market women, students and workers. So, the distinction of an APC government should be to lay a clear foundation in order to take this group of people out of the crushing poverty that has ravaged their lives.

Secondly, the APC is an amalgamation of four political parties – that is All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The amalgamation of parties of this nature has its own dynamics. We believed that as soon as elections were over, APC will settle down and blend all its membership and ensure that the party is properly run on a sound foundation. And to gain the momentum, so that it can fight future elections.

Now, after the elections, what we have is a government that is anti people, a government that is driving away poor people like beggars from the streets, salaries of workers are not been paid and so on and so forth. The question that people are now asking is: Is

it the change that we voted for?

What is the difference between APC and PDP? Now, we saw that if we allow this type of situation to continue, the party will lose its appeal with the people. And if that happens, we will be back to square one because we will be putting people in a state of uncertainty. They will begin to wonder; when people talk about change, what do they mean? People will lose confidence in the political leadership and we are really scared of this scenario; that is why we have taken steps to ensure that we find a platform, where we can call our governor to order, so that the party can sustain its appeal with the people, by embarking on those programmes and projects that will enhance their socio-economic development.

If the indices on ground are anything to go by, don’t you think that the government deserves some praise in these aspects?

Let’s take feeding as one of the issues or one of the policies that this government initiated. Everyday, the government spends N60 million from the official figures.

In a week, it is N60 million times five, that is N300 million. In a

What he has done is to mutilate the party, so that it is unable to play its role

month, it is about N1.2 billion.

Now, what is the essence of feeding children, when even their own teachers, who are the people facilitating learning in the classroom, are not being paid salaries? In the education sector, we say that two people are the most important in the education pyramid. The number one citizen in education is the learner. The second most important citizen is the teacher. And the quality of learning is determined by the quality of contact between the learner and the teacher. So, in a situation whereby you find that the teacher, who is the one facilitating learning, is not in a state of mind to be able to facilitate learning, then there is no school.

A school is not just a building; it is a place where learning takes place. Now, as we speak, there are teachers who have not received their salaries for upwards of eight to nine months. So, what is the essence of feeding?

Secondly, the teaching skills of these teachers need to be improved upon because teaching in the 21st century has changed dramatically from what we know it to be. The pre-service institutions that should train these teachers have limited capacities in order to provide adequate training. Those teachers who went to Colleges of Education or even those who studied Bachelor’s of Education in the Universities, they cannot go on teaching practise because the resources are not there. So, they graduated directly from the university to the classroom. Now, in such a situation, it only stands to reason, that you face these challenges squarely by providing pre-

service and in-service trainings, to make sure that these teachers acquire the necessary skills that will facilitate learning. Many of our children have finished primary schools but they cannot even write their names. So, what is the essence of free feeding? These are factual issues.

On the success in the West African Examination Council (WAEC), government should be honest to segregate this result for people to see where the performances of the students who passed came from. Did they pass Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics? Secondly, if you look at the figures of those who passed, what is the performance of the other northern states? If we scored 30 per cent and the others scored 25 per cent, of course we are first but it really doesn’t say anything. If you segregate the results further, the schools that will have scored the higher percentages in this performance in the School Certificate Examinations, you will find out that they are special schools. They are either Command Secondary Schools or Air Force Secondary Schools or Police Schools, Demonstration Schools like the one in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Kaduna Polytechnic.

The students of these schools are likely going to be the ones who performed best in the results that we are talking about. You are likely going to have 45 to 50 per cent of those who passed from these schools. Then, when you further segregate, you will find out that 60 per cent of those who passed out of the remaining 50 per cent or so, came from urban schools or private schools. After that, you will now be left with about 30 to 20 per cent amongst the rural schools.

Kaduna State has over 400 secondary schools and we have model schools that have not been able to produce five candidates, who passed five science subjects, including English and Mathematics. If you go to Ahmadu Bello University, which is on our own soil, you will not be able to find 15 Kaduna State indigenes, who are studying Physics Education.

Kaduna State has been a pacesetter in other spheres. For example, it was the first to rationalise the number of ministries, it was the first to embark on verification of its workforce and it is about the first to introduce the Treasury Single Account (TSA). Now, the Federal Government has said that it will introduce school feeding programme in primary schools across the country. Don’t you think that the administration deserves some plaudits?

We have spoken about feeding.

Yes Federal Government has decided to implement it. But go and check the policy, is it going to be like the way we are doing it here?

Maiyashi

In fact, it will be modeled after that of Kaduna State.

I am telling you that the way this feeding is going on in Kaduna, it is reckless. I am saying it without any apologies. I have given you my reasons and there is no point for the government

WEDNESDAY, JUly 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

govt – Maiyashi

to embark on a generalised feeding of hundreds of thousands of children in primary schools when their teachers are not even in the right frame of mind to teach. So, when the pupils feed, then what next! The feeding programme is coming from a pro-poor perspective. It will make more sense, if government utilises part of the money of this feeding to empower parents through agriculture, so that parents will have an enhanced economic status, to be able to take care of their children.

This is more lasting and sustainable. And I am telling you that this feeding is certainly not sustainanble. It is good that the government is plugging drain pipes like you said but how are the resources that are accrued being spent? That is the big question.

But the government has embarked on repairing of township roads, there are street lights everywhere, classrooms are being rehabilitated and so many projects are being executed at the same time.

Ok, let me give you a very practical example. As at the time that this government came in, the official primary school enrolment figure was 1.2 million. Out of this figure, the teacher-pupil ratio in some areas is one teacher to 100 pupils. How humanly possible can a teacher handle hundred pupils in a classroom? A teacher that is ill equipped in terms of skills! Again, the pupil classroomratio is equally the same. There are pupils who are sitting outside on makeshift arrangements to receive lessons.

But the present administration has recruited more teachers. In addition, government plans to send unqualified teachers on refresher courses and at the same time, it has removed the glass ceiling that was hitherto inhibiting teachers’ progress in the civil service. That means, one can still be a teacher and attain Grade Level 17. Are these not positive steps towards improving the situation?

The decision to remove the hurdle in the career progress of teachers was done even during the military. Then I was a commissioner. In fact, I was amongst the commissioners that tabled that memo at the National Education Council and it was approved.

If the government wants to train teachers, do you know how many teachers that we have in Kaduna?

We have over 30,000 to 35,000 primary school teachers alone. And if you add teachers of post primary schools, you will be talking of more than 50,000 teachers. So, when will the training start? We are already 25 per cent into the tenure of this government, when will the training start and where will it take place? So, these are very critical issues.

With all the best of intentions, what I am saying is that these things are much deeper than the way we are looking at them.

We cannot handle these issues cosmetically and just think that things will change. Assuming that every year, the government can be able to retrain 2,000 teachers and if you have 30,000 primary

POLITICS \ INTERVIEW

15

school teachers, it is going to take you 15 years for the training to go round.

Compared to what Governor elRufai met on ground from the last PDP administration and what other states are doing, some will say that he has not done too badly. Don’t you think that if he has not solved the problem, at least he has started scratching at the surface?

What el-Rufai is doing is uninformed. And I have no apology for saying this. Education issues should not be scratched on the surface, to use your expression.

Because education is the tool for development; the implication of not having sound education on the society is colossal. Many of our children who graduate from primary schools, even those who are able to read peripherally, they relapse into a state of illiteracy over a period of time. Look at the number of dropouts from schools, the number is huge. And look at those who are unable to pass their school certificate examinations and they are in the job market.

These are the same people that our political elites use as thugs.

What I am trying to say is that this thing is so deep and fundamental that it is not an issue of scratching on the surface. We cannot take this lightly because the consequence is going to consume all of us.

At your maiden press conference, APC Akida made it clear that it is neither a faction of the party nor in the opposition. But the way you sound, it is as if you are up in arms against the government. Have you ever reached the governor with these suggestions and the problems bedeviling the party?

If you decide to label me as an opposition because of the way I am talking, it is up to you. But I am talking to you as a professional. The education sector has been my life and that is what I want to live for. I have given you practical examples of what is happening. The issue of APC Akida has got nothing to do with my professionalism. When I finish doing my APC Akida, I still come back to my desk and do my professional job. And APC Akida is not my profession. Regarding what I am saying or how I am saying it, I don’t give a damn! I want the governor to contradict what I am saying. Let him come out with his own facts. Let me tell you what I have always been advocating as a professional, that education should be devoid of politics. APC Akida or not, our children should be educated to be able to attain their aspirations as Nigerians, to be useful to themselves, to the communities and to the Nigerian society. My position has nothing to do with APC Akida.

Some people have dismissed members of your APC Akida as inconsequential elements who after failing to get what they aspired for in the party, are trying to rock the boat in order to seek relevance.

How true is this allegation?

Whether we are ants that are available to be crushed or

Maiyashi

We want him to succeed because... if he fails, we cannot go to the people again to renew our mandate

whether we should go to Kufena hills and jump and commit suicide, as far as we are concerned, it is irrelevant. We are citizens of Kaduna State, we are citizens of Nigeria and there is nothing anybody can do about that. And if we are disgruntled, let the people be the judges. But we know that workers, farmers, market women and petty traders are not happy with this government. This is a fact. So, if we are disgruntled, all that the governor needs to do is to make sure that he does not give us whatever we are looking for from him. Whether we are looking for contracts or appointments, he should keep his contracts and appointments and leave us with our grudges! But let the people judge.

Look, we must have leaders who are humble; leaders must listen to the people because this is a democracy. If like he said in Giwa town, that we are just ants that are to be crushed, I don’t know how strong his legs are that he will be able to crush all of us. I was a commissioner in 1981; I don’t know where the governor was at that time. I have been in the Federal Service and rose to the position of a Director and I came back as Commissioner for Education and Youth Development. I have worked with International Agencies like Department for International Development (DfID), World Bank, United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF and I have gone all over the world. So, I don’t know what the governor has that he is going to give me to assuage my grudge.

I am telling you from the bottom of my heart that I wish the governor well. We want him to succeed because he is an APC governor because if he fails, we cannot go to the people again to renew our mandate.

One of your complaints against the governor is that he has given political appointments to some party officials and has handpicked his cronies to fill those positions in acting capacities. This is not peculiar to Kaduna State. There are several states, where party positions are yet to be filled with substantive

officials, why are you the first to cry out, when the national secretariat is trying to organise a special convention to fill such posts?

Everybody only knows where it is leaking in his own house. If other people’s roofs are leaking, that is their business. We only know our own. But in any case, there should be a distinction between the government and the party. The way that the government is going about this, is wrong.

The deputy governor was the state chairman of the party and he has kept these two positions even PDP didn’t do that. There is a deputy state chairman, who was duly elected and has certificate of return, why is he not allowed to take over the leadership of the party, pending when the special convention is organised by the national secretariat? Should the governor determine who should do what in the party?

The governor is under the party, the party can call him to order but what he has done is to mutilate the party, so that it is unable to play its role. The party is a lifelong institution but the governor has a term of office. The maximum that he can stay in office is eight years. So, the governor should stop behaving as if the party is his property because it is not. There is no way that he can continue like this and succeed because people will rise up against him. We are the responsible ones, who are now warning him to correct his actions before the day of reckoning. And we have no apologies for saying so.

What are APC Akida’s terms for reconciliation?

The governor should come down from his high horse and sit down with all stakeholders.

And we will put all these issues on the table. We have communicated these same issues to the national headquarters of the party but the governor is still adamant, he wants to have it his own way. The party does not belong to him, it belongs to the people. He is just an agent of the party in government and the party can discipline him.

16

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Season of the jackals TREASURES BOLA BOLAWOLE turnpot@gmail.com 0807-552-5533 (sms only)

“It must be stated that things do not happen overnight...It is a tough time now but change is possible if people come together with the government and move the country in the right direction” – Dehab Ghebreab, outgoing United States’ embassy Public Affairs officer.

I

love diplomats not necessarily because one of my early beats as a reporter was the foreign beat, which earned me many diplomat-friends and foreign trips, but also because diplomats have a way of telling bitter truths without incurring anyone’s wrath. That is their training. They say very unpleasant things in very pleasant ways, like the quote above from an American diplomat. Read between the lines or attempt contents analysis of that simple, seemingly innocuous statement and the full import of it strikes you like a nitrogen bomb. Things do not happen overnight; change does not and cannot happen overnight. If you promised to make change happen overnight, you told a lie. If you promised change overnight, you deceived the people. If you honestly thought change could happen overnight, then, you are ignorant of the processes that produce change.

And if you expect change to happen overnight, you are pedestrian and cheap. Change takes time; it takes meticulous planning and great efforts at execution. Change is not abracadabra; it is not a gift, either. It is not empty or deceitful words bandied at political hustings and electioneering meets to win votes after which they are abandoned, denied or mutilated. It is a combination of political, so-

cial and economic processes that need a high level of intellectual and engineering acumen over a period of time to bring it into fruition.

Of course times are tough now! What does that mean? It means no power supply in the face of high electricity tariff; high fuel prices leading also to high transportation costs; removal of petrol subsidy leading to skyrocketing prices of goods and services; default in the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions and the inability of contractors to get payments leading to defaults in personal and family obligations; inability to pay back loans or service them; decrepit infrastructure; rising crime rates; climbing unemployment figures; rise in anxieties, high blood pressures, frustration and despondency all over the place; and lower standard of living. It was not high before anyway; it was below two dollars per day or 70 percent of the population living below the starvation wage.

Now it should be below one dollar per day and more than 90 per cent of the population living below the poverty level. All of this can change, however, but there is a caveat: people must come together with the government to work hand-in-hand to move the country in the right – and not the wrong – direction. To say that change is possible means that there is no change yet. More than one year after the Muhammadu Buhari\APC administration, nothing has changed for the better. We still grope in the dark or, worse, we have regressed in many important areas. The economy, for instance, has witnessed serious downturn.

Incomes accruable to government have plummeted throwing all three tiers of government into tail spin as it were. Why is this so? Dehab provided the answer: People and government have not come together to work at the problems bedevilling the country; rather, there is so much pulling in divergent and opposing directions. There is so much heating up of the polity and there is so much in-fighting and confusion amongst those whose duty it is to come together and work together at the demons gnawing at the nation.

The conclusion is that the desired change

Change is not abracadabra; it is not a gift, either

may not come if we continue this way. The socalled direct foreign investment will not materialise because the conditions to attract them may not be prevalent. We may thus continue to remain a “potentially great country” without the potentials being transformed into actual greatness.

There is so much crises and confusion in the land today. The Niger Delta Avengers and the other mushrooming militants in the Niger Delta are a law unto themselves. Neo-Biafra forces are also flexing muscles on one side. The fourth most deadly terrorist organisations in the world, the Fulani herdsmen, continue to have jolly good ride all over the country, encouraged and buoyed by suspicions that they consider this government their own. An Evangelical Church of West Africa (EKWA) pastor was not only killed by the herdsmen in his farm in Nassarawa last week, he was also dismembered by them, in a fashion similar to ISIS bestiality. As usual, they have not been found! You would think they are spirits! But the herdsmen’s madness may soon come to a head.

In Enugu, Catholic priests last week took to the street in protest against the violent activities of the herdsmen. If peaceful protests fail to move the authorities, then, God help us!

All over the place, there was tension. This, indeed, is the season of the jackals! The sole opposition member in the Oyo state House of Assembly was hacked to death last week with his family watching from a distance. The Obafemi Awolowo University has been on the boil in the past few weeks. Unless a vice-chancellor acceptable to the community is appointed, that Ivory Tower may know no peace.

The exit of Solomon Arase, a Southerner, as Inspector-General of Police has suddenly encouraged hundreds of petitions hitherto dormant to be exhumed and resurrected against Gov. Ayodele Fayose, the only opposition voice left in the country. Squaring up to Buhari and the Fulani herdsmen, Fayose is known to have stirred the hornets’ nest and it will take a miracle to extricate him from their claws. In the midst of all of this, meaningful change is still possible if the right direction can be pointed to the powers-that-be – before it is too late!

Thirty days of simple hopes Anthony A. Kila

O

nce upon a time, there was a land wherein it was common practice for everyone to be happily affected by, and even actively participate in any kind of religious festival or event around them. It did not really matter whether it was a Christian, Muslim or Egungun festival, everyone in the various communities enjoyed the events and they all rejoiced with their associates, colleagues, neighbours or family members who were part of that creed even though they were not. The only difference between say a Christian and a Muslim on Christmas day was who paid the bill because everybody celebrated and those that belonged to the celebrated faith hosted or sent refreshments to those that did not.

All that was way before terms like diversity, multicultural, multireligious and tolerance became trendy in Europe and America. The land where such peaceful and joyous communion reigned was Nigeria and the period, not long ago, was before the Christians started seeing Satan everywhere and saying “I reject it” or “I am strong” and Muslims started feeling the need to wear long beard,

dress like middle easterners and competing for Sundays with Christians.

By the way, it must be said that what guided the behaviours of the peaceful religious era in Nigeria was not tolerance but wisdom. Those Nigerians were wise enough to see humanity in all religions; they were capable of reminding themselves that they all worshiped the same God via different formats. They were wise enough to believe that all religious festivals and events were to be celebrated by anyone alive and that whoever is alive, regardless of his or her professed creed can reap the blessings and hopes that the prayers and rituals of the celebrated religion can bring.

As Muslims all over the world and their thirty days of fasting, part of our simple hopes is that everyone everywhere should wish all the Muslims they know or meet a blessed Ramadan (Ramadan Mubarak) and a noble Ramadan (Ramadan Kareem).

We also hope that those fasting and indeed those around them will truly discover a fuller meaning of Ramadan, which as we are often reminded is one of the five pillars of Islam. I personally also like to remember that according to Islamic theology, “the night of power” (Lailut ul-Qadr) was

during the month of Ramadan. That was the night the holy Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God, was revealed.

Muslims believe that the month of Ramadan is filled with blessings, heaven knows that Nigeria and indeed the world needs a lot of it right now and it is our fervent hope that everyone can share from the blessings that these fasting and prayers will bring. Due to the nature of Ramadan, there are some blessings and some simple hopes that Muslims can help Nigerians fulfill after these thirty days.

Fasting is intended to teach Muslims to reflect and practice self discipline and self-restraint. It will be great blessings for Nigeria if henceforth our Muslim public officials can really follow the requirements of Ramadan and truly refrain from looting or wasting the country’s treasury they have the privilege and duty of managing for all. Imagine how blessed we shall be if all the Muslims in the country, from the policemen on our roads to politicians and other public officers from our local governments way up to Abuja decide to fully follow Ramadan and truly refrain from asking and taking bribes. Imagine what will happen

if because of them Nigerians of other religions followed suit.

Ramadan is also a time Muslims are asked to remember and reflect on the suffering of the poor. Those Muslims charged with the duty of managing the affairs of the country have the opportunity of individually reflecting on the plight of the poor, they have the challenge of bringing together other Muslims in the same spirit to come up with cogent plans to truly deal with the situation of the poor.

What a blessing it would be for the country if matters of health, education, unemployment and infrastructures are treated by those truly moved by the spirit of Ramadan.

After thirty days of fasting, Muslims are also asked to be generous, as a people, one thing Nigerians, rich or poor, can rarely be accused of is tightfistedness, on the contrary the practice is to be generous to a fault. Unlike elsewhere though, Nigerians tend to be generous only to individuals, without stopping that, it might just be great if as a people we start being generous also to causes, institutions and principles.

•Kila is a Jean Monnet professor of Strategy and Development. He wrote in from Cambridge in England, UK.

17

EDITORIAL

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

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

Sanctity of Truth

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

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

Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Bloody nights in Ikorodu, Arepo

“A

fter my husband had ushered the children in, he stepped out to urinate. What I heard next were loud sounds of gunshots. He fell down and died on the spot. I shouted, calling for help. My son ran to tell me that bullets had hit my daughter in the leg.

“The gunmen left me a widow.

My husband died, leaving four kids for me to carter for. We are scared that the militants may come back. The only security people we have in the community are members of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC). But even the OPC men ran out of the community.”

That was the lamentation of a widow, Mrs. Ramota Buhari, whose husband, Waheed Buhari, was among about 15 people armed men believed to be militants turned oil pipeline vandals shot dead on Friday (June 17) when they invaded Elepete, Imagbon, Ikajola and Ereko among other villages of Imushin community at Ogijo in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State.

According to report, Buhari’s 13-year-old daughter also died later in the hospital where she was rushed to. The gunmen, according to the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), were about 100.

As if that was not enough, on Monday, three days after the initial onslaught, the gunmen returned to the villages and reportedly killed at least 13 people. The villages are sandwiched between Lagos and Ogun states.

The invasion was despite the presence of policemen and soldiers deployed in Ikorodu.

The hoodlums had a field day

while the hapless residents ran helter-skelter.

It was reported that the gunmen invaded a school in the area, but allowed the children to go, warning them not to return to school again.

Another deadly attack followed on Friday June 24 as another band of militants descended on Igbolomu and Ishawo killing over 30 residents. Brandishing sophisticated weapons they spared neither children nor adults.

At the end of the deadly onslaught bodies littered both communities even as those who were lucky to escape annihiliation have

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

Funke Egbemode

Managing Editor, Business & Strategy n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor, Publication & Operations n Emeka Obasi

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

The police boss said militants were apparently finding it difficult to operate in the Niger Delta

vowed not return in a hurry.

The Ikorodu, Sagamu, Arepo and Ibafo axis, which cuts across Lagos and Ogun states, has always been in the news for the wrong reasons.

In September 2012, gunmen suspected to be oil pipeline vandals shot dead three engineers deployed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to repair breached pipelines.

On May 24, 2014, the armed vandals also murdered nine policemen at Arepo after breaking oil pipelines.

Also in September 2015, nine personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) were reportedly murdered by vandals at Konu, a border community between Lagos and Ogun states while scores of persons were declared missing during

DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED

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

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

an attack.

Many residents of communities in that axis have relocated because of constant attacks allegedly by former militants from the Niger Delta region, who now see vandalism of oil pipeline or kidnapping for ransom as a lucrative business.

Those who are unable to leave the area are too petrified to sleep at night while social and economic activities have been grounded.

In recognition of this, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, recently raised the alarm on the nefarious activities of pipeline vandals in the axis.

Ali called for

concerted efforts in warding off the emerging security threat posed to the state by the daredevil vandals.

The police boss said the vandals were now colluding with suspected militants to unleash mayhem on innocent residents of Arepo in particular.

Ali also recalled that many lives, including those of officers of the NNPC and DSS have been lost in some of the attacks in the area.

The commissioner admitted that if adequate measures were not taken, vandalism in Arepo axis might snowball into insurgency.

He, however, expressed the determination of the police to work with other security agencies towards reducing crime to the barest minimum in the area and the generality of the state.

A few days later, Ali also raised the alarm when he said suspected militants from the Niger Delta region were now desperately looking for a safe haven in the state.

Ali, who spoke against the backdrop of June 17 invasion of Imushin community in Ogijo area of the state by suspected militants, warned that the development must not be treated with levity.

The police boss said militants were apparently finding it difficult to operate in the Niger Delta region following increased military deployment to check their nefarious activities.

As a result, according to him, the militants are now breaking new grounds in order to continue to perpetrate oil theft, pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering.

He said the coastal areas of the Ogun State had become attractive to the militants, who, according to him, carry out attacks from the creeks and rush back.

The police chief also admitted that the same militants had been behind the recent spate of pipeline vandalism and economic sabotage in the Arepo axis.

The commissioner said he had already reported the emerging security threat to the “highest authorities”.

But it is yet to be seen what the police hierarchy had done to ward off these needless attacks and loss of valuable lives.

Urgent drastic measures must be put in place so that the axis is not turned to a hot bed of violence.

The militants may take the advantage in the change of guard at the Force Headquarters to strike in that area soon. So the security agencies must not be caught napping again.

18

POLITICS

WEDNESDAY, JUly 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari sharpens focus on Niger Delta Garba Shehu

O

ut of the blue, a group calling itself the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA spouts). They kill soldiers and policemen. They kidnap and kill oil company workers. Piracy on the high seas. They asked oil companies to stop operations and pack out of the Niger Delta region.

They blow up oil pipelines, power and other infrastructure.

They attack and kill prominent individuals, ransacking homes up and down the coastal areas, including lately, Lagos and Ogun states.

All these for what? It is still unclear what they want. From the diverse, if vague and inchoate voices of the militants, some say they want to take control of the oil resources in the region.

Sometimes when the rhetoric gets uglier, they call for the breakup of Nigeria as a country!

The scariest part of what is happening is that the media, in their appetite for sensational stories are egging them on to make a great display of seditious, antinational sentiment. In the last stages before her government's defeat of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher likened publicity for the terrorist to oxygen needed for survival. "We must deny terrorists the oxygen of publicity," and the independent English press gave the Prime Minister a free pass.

In the midst of these unfolding events, President Muhammadu Buhari had maintained an uncharacteristic aloofness.

Many had thought for instance that he would tackle the new onslaught on the economy with the same hawkishness that characterised his tenure as military Head of State in the 80's. But he did not panic, either.

In fact several of the political leaders of the Delta, themselves severely under pressure for their inability to keep up with salary payments have been in the forefront of the calls for the "strongest possible military action" against the terrorists. The country's third richest state, Delta State gave notice a week ago that workers salaries can no longer be guaranteed.

So far, the President has resisted the urge to pull the trigger. Yes, the army has mobilized to the region but military action has been stayed as the country absorbs the incredible shock that has come with the fall of oil revenues. Records of oil exports are at their lowest levels in 30 years.

The Punch Newspaper, in an editorial on Friday July 1, warned the government about inherent "landmines" in any negotiations: "It is like dealing with a blackmailer: he keeps making all sorts of demands, reasonable and otherwise. Worse, there is a high probability that other splinter militant groups will emerge based on the negotiations with the NDA. They will threaten the state expecting to be negotiated with. At the end of the day, the government would have numerous groups to contend with than

President Buhari (left) and King Diete-Spiff, when he hosted Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact Group at the State House, Abuja, recently.

it can handle."

In my conversation on this issue with the National Security Adviser (NSA), General Babagana Munguno, precisely two weeks back, he informed this reporter that he met 14 groups claiming leadership to the renewed onslaught on the nation's economic jugular vein.

Each of the groups had been brought to him by a serving governor or a former one; a serving minister or one that had left office with assurances that "this group is the one to talk to."

The amazing discovery he made from his meetings is the lack of unity among them as each group that came attacked the one that came before it as inconsequential.

Leaning on an editorial by the influential British newspaper The Economist, the Punch recommended strong military action. Quoting The Economist, the newspaper said: "Buhari should not try to buy them off. Rather, he should arrest those who have committed acts of violence or extortion."

At a meeting with the Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact group led by His Royal Majesty King Alfred Diete-Spiff at the State House last Thursday, President Buhari spoke most extensively on his own approach to the crisis in the region.

He told Diete-Spiff, himself a former military governor of the old Rivers State that peace and stability in the Niger Delta region and the country is the priority of his government and there will be no compromise on this.

To show respect for the visiting ruler, President Buhari recalled

We need to get as much intelligence as possible before we start talking

that he was "a bloody army lieutenant" when the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass was a military governor.

He disclosed that his decision on what to do dealing with the problem of the region will be based on the reports he is expecting from the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, who is interfacing with all stakeholders; the Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta overseeing the amnesty programme and the new management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Allaying fears that he would jettison the Niger Delta Peace Plan he inherited from the previous administration, President Buhari told his visitors that he had read the agreements and the gazette outlining the amnesty programme.

He said he had asked his officials on assignment on the Niger Delta to look around and see how many of the signatories to the amnesty agreement are still around.

"Let them find out what has been achieved and what is left and then write a report. I have asked the Minister of State Petroleum to work with the oil companies. We need to get as much intelligence as possible before we start talking.

"I sympathise with the investors who borrow money, half way through, their investment is blown away. I have encouraged law-enforcement agencies to contact leaders like you (Amanyanabo). When I move in, I will have plenty of information, so as to deal with the issue

once and for all. We will talk to as many groups as possible. We won't give up. Whatever remains of the Yar'Adua agreement will be met."

He then talked about the impact of the collapse of the oil prices, which averaged about $100 from 1999 to 2015, saying that its fall to about $30 a barrel some weeks ago was shocking. "I would have been in coma if not for the fact that I was in Oil (sector as a past minister) for three years."

He then sent an important message at this meeting: "We intend to rebuild this country so that our children and grandchildren will have a good place. But a lot of damage has been done. Tell the people to be patient.

"When you get together, pacify the people. Let them be patient.

We will utilize (their) resources with integrity."

The President's conciliatory note came a day after he hosted the National Council of Traditional Rulers to a Ramadan Iftar, at which event he asked the rulers to "beg the militants in the name of God to stop their sabotage of the economy."

He appreciated the efforts they and the oil companies were making and said he did not wish to undermine them. This equally signaled a highly conciliatory direction for the resolution of the crisis.

It is clear from the foregoing that the President is taking a bit of time but it is also because he is determined to find a lasting solution to the recurring crisis in the Niger Delta.

It is important for the country that a lesson be learned from the many past meetings and agreements between government groups and the militants that have yielded only short term political dividends. What is wrong with those agreements that they don't last?

How many of those agreements, joint statements, ceasefires and peace declarations do we have on record so far? Why haven't they given us peace?

Second issue the President is obviously weighing is the integrity of the country's internal capacity for the resolution of crises. Over the years, this country has evolved ways of dealing with problems, real or imagined that threatened its existence from time to time. The amazing thing about it is that solutions emerge from within, that is without the involvement of external influences. That is why we have come this far.

In his desire to build a country in which every part is carried along, he is mindful of the fact that if any part of the body is paralyzed, the whole body cannot be said to be alright. The President is mindful of the fact that the Delta region is an important part of the whole.

But as he charts his course for a permanent peace in the Niger Delta, it is important however that militants don't mistake his efforts as a sign of weakness. •Shehu is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity

19

WEDNESday, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Life in the city Katangua: Market where second-hand clothes are king

The Mega City

Life in Mega City Oshodi: All eyes on Ambode

...EXCLUSIVE LAGOS MAGAZINE

20 23

Beating the odds on the roads

Bad business for street hawkers Last week, the Lagos State Government announced a fine of N90, 000 or a six-month jail term, for both buyers and the sellers of goods on the streets. Will this declaration work or not?

MURITALA AYINLA reports

J

uly 2. Barely 24 hours after the governor's declaration, Mr. Kola Ogundaisi and his family were trapped in the traffic near the Lagos State Secretariat end of the Lagos Ibadan Expressway. The gridlock was said to have been caused by the unprecedented

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI CITY Editor

tosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com

Š Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

volume of vehicles coming from the annual vigil organised by Nasirullahi-Li-Fati Society of Nigeria otherwise known as NASFAT and the monthly Holy Ghost Service of the Redeemed Christian Church God located along the Lagos Ibadan Expressway.

Expectedly, hundreds of street hawkers with their goods had taken over the roads leading to the two worship centres following the traffic jam. His car and other vehicles were also held in the traffic from Mowe-Ibafo axis but on approaching Berger and the Lagos State Secretariat axis, the number of hawkers who were calling on the motorists as well as their passengers to buy their goods appeared to be on the increase.

It was a sunny and humid day. Kola and his three kids

Lagosians want us on the road. At least, na struggle we dey struggle

were thirsty. So, he called on a ice cream hawker, to buy creamy Fan Yoghurt. After taking the yoghurt to cool down his system, he was forced to ask one of the street traders if they were not aware of the state government's plan to commence immediate enforcement of the street hawking and trading laws.

According to Kola, the hawker retorted:" No be today, e don tail wey government don dey talk am.

Arrest who? For wetin? Na crime say we dey hustle for our lives? If at all, e no go be a day like this, Lagosians want us on the road.

At least, na struggle we dey struggle. As work no dey, wetin man go do? Even if they arrest us, you buyers too dey liable to N90, 000 or six months in jail term."

But for Ndubisi Namdi, who sells sun glasses at the Iyana Oworo axis of Third Mainland Bridge, he had remained at home since the governor's directive for the law enforcement agent to clampdown on street traders in the traffic.

He said the directive would worsen lives for many of his colleagues who eke a living on the street of Lagos through selling.

Following a clash between the hawkers and officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) over the death of one of them, who was reportedly crushed to death by a truck after he was chased by KAI officials, Ambode had said that anyone found selling or buying in the traffic gridlock would be liable to six months jail term or a fine of N90,000 from July 1, 2016.

Speaking during a live interview session on Television Continental, Ambode said that the renewed enforcement was in line with Section One of the Lagos State Street Trading and Illegal Market Prohibition Law 2003 which restricts street trading and hawking in the metropolis.

Although he sympathised with the family of the street hawker, who was knocked down by an articulated truck while trying to evade arrest from officials of KAI, Ambode regretted that the situation led to the destruction of public assets.

His words: "It is not in our DNA to allow someone to just die by road accident or the way CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

20 LIFE/MEGA CITY

WEDNESday, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Second-hand clothes on display

Katangua: Market where second-hand clothes are king The second-hand clothes market on the outskirts of Lagos is no longer news. But what will likely continue to be news is the economic boom going on in the market. This market knows no economic crunch, neither does it lack its usual large patronage as EMMANUEL UTI reports

A

n average Lagosian, who is exposed to latest fashion lifestyle, would term it impossible for high quality fashion items to be sold for cheap prices in the state amidst the increase in the uncontrollable exchange rate of dollars to Naira. But what is tagged impossible to many is possible at the Katangua market, Super bus stop of Alimosho Local Government, where different brands of used clothes items are sold for unbelievable cheap prices.

Be it Gucci, Versace, Next or whatever a fashion inclined person may call it, it will be found at the Katangua market, sold for cheap prices. Although some call the clothing materials found in the market names

like: “Cast away items, Okrika, second hand, bend down select, OK or Akube”, yet it continues to be choice of many Lagosians; perhaps, because of its price and quality.

When New Telegraph toured the market, it was observed that day in, day out, the market is always crowded and full of commercial activities, as both buyers and sellers interact ceaselessly. Some traders were seen ringing their bells in order to pull crowds to themselves, while others were shouting at the top of their voices. Some men, who are sales agent of the marketers, popularly called “Jaffas,” were seen persuading the buyers to patronize some particular shops. In the market, things were seen to be done in unity

Both new and fairly used are placed for low prices

even though the place is filled with people of different tribes.

Speaking with New Telegraph, Chibuike Sunday, who said he comes to the market frequently to buy clothes, said that virtually every clothing item many people call second hand can be purchased either in wholesale or retail. He said that the uniqueness of the clothes market attracts people from all walks of life.

He also said that one might be forced to think that it is only poor people that patronize the market, but such thoughts are wrong because they are based on assumptions. He added that the rich and poor visit the market daily. According to him, the major reason people visit the market en masse is that the materials are cheap and of good quality. “It is tested and trusted OK,” he said.

Explaining the reason for the crowd seen frequently in the market, a man that refused to say his name, also a trader in the market said that it is due to

the cheap prices of the clothing items. He explained that most quality items, both new and fairly used are placed for low prices.

This he said, compel people to come to the market daily to buy goods. He even said some people see it as an opportunity to buy in stock.

“For instance, I sell a pair of Chinos trouser for N500 and a shirt for N400. When a customer comes to me and decides to buy three trousers and five shirts, I reduce the price and still make my profit. Continuing that way for some time now, many young guys patronize me daily.

So between four to five hours, I would have sold enough because people will just keep coming to buy.”

According to him, students, business men and teenagers are mostly his customers as they patronise him daily. Since he sells only shirts and trousers, he has over the years become acquainted with many of them whom he now maintains close contact with.

LIFE/IN THE CITY 21

WEDNESday, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Similarly, another trader, Okeke Victor, whose father sells bags of different kinds in the market, said that many people cannot afford to buy new clothes and the locally made clothes because of their prices, so the people would normally prefer the market’s fairly used items over brand new ones because to them, it is affordable. He said that the fairly used clothes are not fake or second class as many think, but they are as good as new ones because it has been tested and can still stand the test of time.

He added that what one would buy for a cheap amount in the market is usually about 10 times the price of the same material in a standard boutique. According to him, only those who are financially stable would not patronize the market, but for an average person, the market is their own boutique.

Caleb Itunu, a student, who buys from Katangua market whenever he’s about to resume a new semester, said that after collecting enough money from his parents, he will navigate his way to the market. He asserted that in the market, he buys more than enough dresses, mends them there before he takes it home.

When he gets home, he presses them with an electric iron before he starts using them. “After collecting money from my dad, I will just go to the market to buy many clothes, adjust them, wash and iron them again. When I put it on, you will think it’s from an expensive boutique”, he said.

It was learnt that the market, on their market days, attracts many buyers from different parts in Lagos. Their market’s days, which are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays is usually a boom where many customers flock into the market to buy clothes. On such days, rare clothing items are seen. Different boutique owners patronize the market too.

One Iya Damilola, who sells clothes in her area at Meiran, said that every Monday, she goes to Katangua market early in the morning with other boutique owners to buy clothes. She said, “Very early in the morning on Mondays, my friends and I would go to the market to get first grade cloths we would later sell in our shops. Later in the day, people who buy for personal use will buy second grade after boutique owners would have selected most of the first grades.”

According to her, most boutique clothes are not new. The boutique owners go to Katangua to buy ‘Okrika’. Then after they leave the market, they wash the clothes, spray it, sometimes colour it and iron it. After this refurbishing stage of renewal, the clothes will appear new such that one wouldn’t believe that such clothes are Katangua property.

Information revealed, however, that the clothing items sold as second hand materials are directly used items imported from overseas. They are donated by foreigners as charity to nonprofit organisations in the name of giving it freely to challenged Africans. But the items, instead of being given freely to the poor and homeless people, get to be loaded into West African markets as a dumpsite for sale. Then these items, become either part of the

Jeans section of the market

Lagos bend-down market Till now, the market continues to thrive as people come en masse to bend down

items sold in other markets like Katangua and some small boutiques.

Even though the country has placed a ban on the importation of such clothes into the country, the trade continues to thrive in Katangua market. In fact, it is even a place where people believe to be clothes paradise.

Meanwhile, the market which has continued to be the source of over 30, 000 traders’

A dealer standing by her bail of Tokunbo clothes

income has been in existence for about 30 years now. Ifeanyi Abiamuwe, a trader, who specialises in selling children wears in the market, said that for over one year now, the proceeds he makes from the market has been sustaining him. He added that the market creates a symbiotic relationship between the people of the environment. “When customers come to buy from us, we make gains to sustain

ourselves and family. Also the Jaffas, who stand at the bus stop drawing people, like salesmen to our shops receive their own gain”, he said.

However, when the Babatunde Fashola regime threatened to evacuate it to a new site, many were already scared.

Luckily for the traders, such didn’t happen. Till now, the market continues to thrive as people come en masse to bend down, selecting their choice.

22 LIFE/MEGA CITY

WEDNESday, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

it happened in respect of the incident. But beyond the fact that we lost one person while crossing the road as a result of evading arrest by KAI officials, I need to tell Lagosians that over 49 buses were actually destroyed and it is costing us like almost N139 million to put those buses back on the road.”

With the development, the governor said his administration had also concluded plans to roll out a massive campaign which would warn both motorists and hawkers of the restrictions and the penalty for defaulters.

“We will be watching out for buyers and sellers and all we need is just scapegoat. Don’t buy plantain chips or any other item in traffic from July 1, buyers beware.”

He added, “What we are doing on traffic is that we are introducing new strategies to eliminate traffic but Lagos being a cosmopolitan city, you cannot totally eliminate it but now this is the case. In the next few days, you will see on the street of Lagos signs that will be that buyers and hawkers should be aware that there are consequences.”

The governor said aside the environmental hazards associated with the activities of street traders and hawkers alike, they also pose great security and health risks.

Lamenting the damage done to the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT buses by the hawkers and hoodlum after the death of one of the hawkers, the Managing Director of Primero Transport Services, operator of the damaged BRT buses, Mr. Fola Tinubu, said over 49 buses were vandalised by the hoodlums and hawkers.

According to him, no amount of provocation should justify the destruction of 49 new buses belonging to a private investor, who has provided over 2,500 jobs since commencement of operations in November 2015 and still counting.

The Managing Director, who said there was need for the Nigerian public to educate citizens on the difference between private investment and public assets, said the BRT bus was not responsible for the death of the hawker, describing the development as a clear setback on investment.

His words: “We need to seriously ask ourselves in Nigeria if we want private sector to create jobs, and want an employment in this country. We cannot continue to have this kind of incident, the whole world is watching, it’s a global village.

“If the governor and government are going out of the way to attract investors to Nigeria to create jobs and provide source of living, we can’t continue to destroy private properties. Nobody will want to invest their money in such an economy. There is the need to get all these hoodlums under control.”

But despite this cry and Ambode's announcement on the ban of street hawking and buying particularly in the traffic, some hawkers and buyers were

One of the damaged BRT buses

Kid street traders in action

Bad business for street hawkers

Hawking for a living

indifferent on the enforcement of the laws, saying street hawking in traffic will continue as long as gridlock persists in Lagos metropolis.

Speaking on the ban, a plantain chips hawker, who simply identified himself as Seun, said hawking remained his only means of survival, if he would not take to stealing.

"We want him to reconsider his stance. Honestly, street hawking and buying especially in Lagos has become part of us. Many of us have been fortunate as a result of selling on the street. At least, we are all familiar with the case of Olajumoke Orisaguna, the gerian Cinderella, who made it from street hawking. If Olajumoke didn't sell bread

on the street, how will she be discovered?"

A motorist said that the sociology of street trading is worth understanding, blaming the cause of hawking on high rate of unemployment as increasing number of people with low income and low education. But for Mrs. Shade Kelani, the planned enforcement of the law may not stand the test of time as long as Lagosians still spend hours in daily gridlock.

According to her," Just like the directive banning movement of heavy duty truck during the day time, this new directive won't work. Is it possible for anyone not to buy anything in the traffic? Either commercial or private vehicle, we all wind down to buy. What distinguishes the

We 'll be watching out for buyers and sellers, all we need is just scapegoats

rich and the poor is what they buy. Buying and selling in traffic have become part of us," she said.

Bright John wondered if the directive may be effective for long, saying even the law enforcement agents and convoy of government officials buy during traffic period.

"No doubt we enjoy buying in traffic more. It helps to just look out the window and buy any food item ranging from fish, to fried meat and shrimps, loaves of bread, biscuits, gala, meat pie, water, beer and any other drink.

I think what gave birth to traffic trading is gridlock. Let's see a traffic-free Lagos first before talking on the ban or enforcement of laws restricting them," John said.

LIFE/IN THE CITY 23

WEDNESday, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oshodi: All eyes on Ambode

Prototype of Oshodi Regeneration

Abiodun Olokode

I

t is widely believed that enormous pain is part of a development process.

Plenty of fates are yet to be decided at Oshodi as the regeneration project of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has begun and is ongoing. Some garages and market places at Oshodi had been demolished and some are still likely to make way for the construction of the three bus terminals and shopping malls which are included in the regeneration plan of Oshodi.

Last month, Ambode disclosed his plan of regenerating Oshodi into a Central Business District, in order to suit the status of Lagos State as a Mega The ever busy Oshodi market City at a stakeholders meeting.

He said that the project would actions and the recent situacost the State Government sum tion of Nigeria’s economy has of N22.4billion. Already, the caused drastic reduction in development project contract the salary of monthly workers. had been awarded to Translink Most businesswomen selling at Capital Development Limited Oshodi are the bread winners along with the partnership of of their families but as things some other corporate organisa- are currently with the country, tions. their families are likely to go A businesswoman at Olo- through the eye of a needle to runsogo Curtain Market, Mrs. feed themselves now that those Quadri B. said, “I can’t deny women had been denied their the fact that I am not aware sources of income. of the regeneration project of The fate of businessmen and Oshodi with the ongoing de- women selling at Olorunsogo struction of garages and mar- Curtain Market are shaky due kets. Lagos State Government to the fact that it is not certain should just try as much as pos- if the market will continue to sible to favour the masses in exist or make way for the rewhatever development plan generation project. Olorunsothey have for the state”. go Curtain Market is a market However, Ambode should situated after the railway and provide an alternative before before the Mosafejo Market that destroying the shops of busi- was demolished at Oshodi. The nessmen and women. The mar- market is popularly known to be kets that were demolished left a place where curtain materials a lot of people with no shop can be purchased and sewn. to carry out their daily transMr. Peter Eze, a business-

man at this same market said, “I believe Governor Ambode is just suffering the poor masses by destroying markets and garages without providing them a place to stay. I don’t know if this market will be destroyed. I am just folding my arms waiting to see what our fate would be in this market”.

Eze was of the opinion that before the destruction of markets, Ambode should either compensate marketers or get them another place to carry out their businesses at an affordable price.

He believes the shopping malls that will be built along with the regeneration project of Oshodi are only going to be for the rich because people like them cannot afford to pay the amount that the government would demand for rent after the completion of the projection.

Mr. Julius Egbulonu, a trader, said, “I heard about the plan of Governor Ambode to develop Oshodi, but to me it was sounded

We are waiting to see what our fate would be in this market

like a rumour, not until some garages and markets were demolished and boards that are projecting the look of Oshodi after this development were mounted.

This project is a good plan because I believe it will not only regenerate Oshodi into a Central Business District, but also improve the security system of Oshodi.”

According to him, there was need for continuity in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole, but this seem to be the problem as the leaders are not ready to carry on with what their predecessors left behind. They are always going into governmental position with different motives and plans.

He added: “Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola helped in making Oshodi a better place today.

Before his tenure, Oshodi was a place where you would come with fear and trembling because of the criminal and violent activities of hooligans at Oshodi.

So I think Governor Ambode can actualize his development plan for Oshodi, but he should strive to consider the less privileged people in his regeneration plan.”

From customers’ point of view, a Lagosian who sought for the grace of being anonymous said the regeneration project would be a great one although many people will go through a lot of pain in the process of the development project. He said: “Oshodi was formerly a place where you would come and be insulted by traders if you mistakenly hit their goods, but thanks to Mr. Fashola who made Oshodi what it is today. The regeneration project of Governor Ambode can also help to drive Oshodi to a better and greater place.”

24 LIFE/MEGA CITY

WEDNESday, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Esther Bakare

A

Nigerians on the part of Ogun River which is now passable at Kara, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State...recently

'Why Ogun River dried up'

If the incidence is not properly checked, it will lead to massive flooding

Nigerians on the part of Ogun River, now passable at Kara on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State…yesterday

PHOTOs: GODWIN IREKHE

Lagos stressed further that the roles of geophysics to economic development can be witnessed in such areas as anti-terrorism, anticorruption, environment, roads, solid minerals, employment and transportation among others.

He said geophysics has zero tolerance for corruption thus is highly effective in the present anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari especially in the area of stolen money starched away in soak away and underground rooms.

“Such hidden cash are eas-

ily detected by geophysical tools thereby contributing to the government’s anti-corruption war.

Geophysics also plays a role in curbing activities of terrorists and criminals and in the unlocking of complex forensic issues such as detection of landmines and underground bunkers, identification of clandestine burials and detection of buried cache of arms”, he said.

Prof. Ayolabi also explained that in the area of Agriculture, it helps determine soil fertility, soil moisture, irrigation through

drilling of deep boreholes and monitoring of water table as well as improving Agricultural practice and crop yield for export earning and domestic food supply.

Following the perennial shortage of power in the country which has assumed an epic proportion, the don noted that the sole dependency of the nation on fossil fuel and hydroelectric power generation has not ameliorated the power paralysis.

He suggested that geophysics can be useful in exploration of geothermal resource as it plays significant role in earthen of power stations.

In the area of housing, the Geophysicist explained that geophysical survey in investigation of housing sites will provide information that will diminish flurry of building collapse across the country while it can also help in providing access to clean water, determination of ground water potential of an area, identification of dam site and determination of borehole site as well as detection of safe-line water invasion in coastal areas.

QUOTE

OF THE WEEK

You have the authority to challenge anybody working on the Lightup project so as to verify if the person is permitted to carry out any operation whatsoever with the Light-up project”, The Special Adviser of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Public Health, Dr. Femi Onanuga during a monthly meeting at Ikeja

IN NUMBERS JU LY

s controversies continue to trail the mysterious dryness of the river in Kara, a boundary between Lagos and Ogun State, which residents claimed dried up within 48 hours; a Professor of Geophysics and Vice Chancellor of Mountain Top University owned by the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Prof Elijah Ayolabi has given an insight to the likely cause of the phenomenon.

According to the first Professor of Geophysics of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, the river dried up as a result of manure from cow dungs which invaded it and fertilised the sea weeds thus their infestation within 48 hours. He warned that if the incidence is not properly checked, it will lead to massive flooding, thus affecting the community in the nearest future.

The don who also stressed the need for government to engage the capabilities of geophysics in its quest for development and economic revolution stated this while delivering the maiden distinguished lecture of the University titled “Relevance of Geophysics in the Present Economic Dispensation” which took place at the MTU Multipurpose Hall, Prayer City, Lagos/Ibadan express way recently.

According to him, any nation that wants to develop in the present dispensation will have to look inwards and find ways of diversifying its economy adding that a Geophysicist is one who explores and exploits the subsurface for the benefit of mankind while Geophysics is an interdisciplinary physical science concerned with the nature of the earth and its environment and as such seeks to apply the knowledge and techniques of Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry to understand the structure and dynamic behaviour of the earth.

“With the governments’ interest in diversification of economy away from oil based, solid mineral sector will be a high income earner for the nation. Many minerals abound in the country which are largely untapped or are being tapped by illegal miners.

Geophysics is useful in exploration of metallic and non metallic minerals”, he said.

The pioneer Head of Department of Geophysics at the University of

365 streets lit up in Lagos State

25

WEDNESDAY, july 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FCT

Business What's new Forex policy: Banking stocks gain N423bn in 3 months

CBN tames joblessness with youth empowerment

Money Tough first half ends with optimism

27 28

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE May 2016...............................15.6% April 2016............................13.7% March 2016..............................12.8%

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

EXCHANGE RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(BDC as at July 1)

(Interbank as at July 1)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N353 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N469 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N385

l Foreign Reserves – $26.363bn as at 30/6/2016

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N282.25 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N376 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N314

Source: CBN

p.26

Nigeria, others’ biometrics market to hit $24.4bn p.26

L-R: Company Secretary, eTranzact International Plc, Omowunmi Adedurotimi; Chairman, Felix Ohiwerei and Managing Director/CEO, Valentine Obi, during the 12th Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos.

REBOUND After months of decline, active mobile subscriptions on telecoms networks have sustained growth

Kunle Azeez

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Taiwo Hassan

Industry, Agric & Brands Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

T

elecoms industry is gradually witnessing a rebound in subscriber base, as active mobile subscriptions in the country have increased from 147.5 million in April to 148.8 million at the end of May, New Telegraph has learnt.

The growth in active subscription has also re-awaken the recovery in teledensity, which now stands at 106.32 per cent, according to the latest official data obtained from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

According to the analysis of the data, while the total number of telephone lines so far connected on telecoms networks till date remains constant in the last three months at 218.7 million, there was a surge in the number of active lines.

Of the 218.7 million total connected lines (including active and inactive), the active lines increased from 147.56 million to 148.84 million, with on the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication segment exclusively contributing the growth.

For instance, while GSM opera-

Telcos regain growth with 148.8m active lines

●Push teledensity to 106% tors, including Globacom, MTN, Etisalat and Airtel, increased their active subscriptions from 146.86 million in April to 148.18 million at the end of May, the code decision multiple access (CDMA) and fixed line operators lost subscriber from 525,743 to 487,141 and from 176,211 to 171,974 during the same two months period respectively.

Visafone, which was the only visible CDMA operator in industry and which was recently acquired

by MTN Nigeria, lost subscriptions from 1.17 million in March to 525,743 million in April.

The telecoms industry, which recorded its highest subscriber base of 152 million active lines in October last year with a teledensity of 108.57 per cent has witnessed some swinging growth in the last six months.

For instance, in January, February, March, April and May, teledensity stood at 108.11 per cent, 106.16 per cent, 106.25 per cent, 105.41 per cent and later rebounded to 106.32 per cent.

Teledensity is calculated based on the 140 million population as documented by the 2006 national census report in the country, NCC

218.7 million Being the total number of telephone lines so far connected on telecoms networks till date

said in its latest report.

Consequently, the NCC 2015 industry status report shows that teledensity grew from January to December by 7.28 per cent, rising from 100.59 per cent to 107.87 per cent respectively.

Accordingly, annualised teledensity figures posted by the Commission showed that teledensity increased from 0.73 per cent in 2001 to 1.89 per cent in 2002 and in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006; it increased to 3.35 per cent, 8.5 per cent, 16.27 per cent and 24.18 per cent respectively.

In 2007, teledensity rose to 29.93 per cent and in 2008, it hit a record 45.93 per cent. Also, the growth in active subscriber base leapt to 74.52 million by the end of 2009.

Teledensity also reached 53.23 per cent, while the figure rose to 63.11 per cent in December 2010.

In December 2011, teledensity was 68.49 per cent, 80.85 in 2012 and by the end of December, 2013, the figure rose to 91.15 per cent.

At the end of 2014 and 2015, teledensity further stood at 99.39 per cent and 107 per cent respectively, according to the NCC report.

Meanwhile, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, has said that Nigeria reCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

26

BUSINESS |news

Telcos regain growth with 148.8m active lines CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

mains a sure haven for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) investments.

He has also given assurance to the international community that the NCC’s eight-point agenda had been carefully packaged to cushion all aspects of investments, especially “as we move to the next frontier of ICT revolution, broadband for internet connectivity.”

He said two of the prominent goals are related to deployment of infrastructure for broadband and efficient utilisation of spectrum to benefit all Nigerians in all the regions.

Generally, the NCC boss had noted that the unserved population in Nigeria has been reduced from 36.8 million (24.5 per cent) in 2013 to 33.7 million (22.5 per cent) in 2015 based on the Access Gap study conducted by the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) and using the 150 million population benchmark.

Danbatta, however, gave assurance that efforts are ongoing at different quarters in the industry to further bridge the gap between urban and rural access to telecommunications services, stressing “with effective partnerships, we can achieve more in the coming years.”

According to him, the USPF will be playing significant role in achieving four of the eight points agenda of the commission earlier unveiled during the year towards repositioning the telecommunications industry.

Meanwhile, National Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr. Gbenga Adebayo, has reacted to the recent decline in active subscriptions on mobile networks.

He said: “In terms of total number of subscriber, active or non-active, I think part of what may have led to the reduction in the total number of active subscriber in recent past might be the issue of disconnection.

“However, what would have been helpful is for those providing the statistics to give us number before the directive was implemented and numbered after the directive was implemented. It would have been able to address that probability.

“But, I think the second part to me is more significant. It is actually in the buying power of the people because people’s economic power has gone down. So, those who normally will share service between two to three networks before now have begun to harmonise their needs by just using only one line and fuelling it with voice and data subscriptions and I think that is a factor that we must consider.”

RENEWED CONFIDENCE The new forex policies are bound to reduce uncertainty in the markets and help reduce pressure on Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves

Chris Ugwu

S

hareholders of banks quoted on the main board of Nigeria’s stock market recorded a gain of about N423 billion in three months (between March and June 2016) following the recent adoption of a more flexible foreign exchange rate policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The banking watchdog had some weeks ago adopted a flexible exchange rate policy, a

WEDNESDAY, july 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Forex policy: Banking stocks gain N423bn in 3 months shift from a peg for the naira seen as overvalued, which had hampered growth and investment.

A flexible exchange-rate system is a monetary system that allows the exchange rate to be determined by forces of supply and demand.

According to analysts, the forex policy had triggered share appreciation, lifting the stock market to near a five-month high since January 5, with banks leading the charge, driven by expectations that a more flexible foreign exchange policy will boost dollar supply and lure back foreign investors.

Checks by this newspaper showed that the banking subsector recorded a gain of N423

billion or 36.18 per cent to close at N1.592 trillion in market capitalisation on June 30, 2016, as against closing figure of N1.169 trillion at the end of trading on March.

Foreign and local investors have renewed interest on the banking stocks, which was unprecedented in recent times.

Before the recent action by the government, the subsector had witnessed persistent sell pressure, as the price of crude dropped into a bear market and on concern that measures the country’s apex bank put in place to stem capital outflows would hinder their ability to sell holdings in Africa’s top oil producer.

Assessing the implication of the policy, analysts at Cow-

ry Asset Management Limited said that CBN, by adopting a single market structure, solely recognises the interbank market as the only channel for foreign exchange supply to the economy.

The experts said: “In addition, the apex bank has allowed the foreign exchange market rates to be determined by the forces of demand and supply, which implies the removal of fixed exchange rates. Also, CBN is committing to periodically intervene in the market, being the major supplier of forex, in order to stabilise the market. The CBN will therefore operate as a market participant where it will either buy or sell at the prevailing market rate.

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, Bola Onadele. Koko; Special Adviser to the CBN Governor on Financial Markets, Emmanuel Ukeje; Director, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, Yinka Sanni, and Founding Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, at the launch of the Naira-Settled OTC FX futures market on FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Nigeria, others’ biometrics market to hit $24.4bn EXPERTISE Fingerprint biometrics technology has boosted government’s revenue Bayo Akomolafe

B

iometrics market has been projected to reach $24.8 billion by 2021 in Nigeria, United Kingdom, South Africa and some Asian countries.

The biometric market according to 6Wresearch, include fingerprint, face, iris, hand/ palmprint, voice, vein, keystroke dynamics and multimodal biometrics.

It listed other countries that would spend more on the electronic security to include Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, China and India. Others are Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, UAE,

Turkey, Israel and Egypt.

In its report covering technologies, regions, countries and applications and titled: “Global Biometrics Market (2014-2020),” the research firm explained that some governments had increased spending on national identification cards, projects, epassports and visas, rising crime rates, growing terrorist activities, cybercrimes and data thefts, which had spurred the market for various biometrics technologies globally.

The study noted that countries such as South Africa and Nigeria were the key revenue generating countries in African biometrics market. It stressed that fingerprint biometrics technology would maintain its dominance in South Africa.

Also, the report listed the key companies in global biometrics market to include Morpho Safran, 3M Cogent, NEC, Suprema, Nuance, Hi-

tachi, Crossmatch Technologies, Iris ID, ZK Technologies and others.

It added: “In global biometrics market, fingerprint biometrics technology has contributed for majority of the market revenues. Ease of usage and low cost of fingerprint based biometrics devices have resulted for their dominance.

“In the forecast period, fingerprint biometrics technology is expected to maintain its leadership; however, demand for other biometrics technologies based systems is exhibited on account of higher reliability and accuracy.”

It stressed that consumer electronics application was the fastest growing application in the global biometrics market.

The study emphasised that market for multimodal biometrics systems would surge owing to their increasing penetration in govern-

ment and transportation application.

It noted that the usage of the systems in national IDs and biometric passports and visas majorly had been fueling multimodal biometrics market.

“Further, m-commerce industry is witnessing exponential growth in various countries of the world, which would surge the shipment of biometric enabled smartphones and tablets in global market,” it added.

The report segments biometrics market by applications such as government and transportation, commercial offices, industrial, defense, hospitality and healthcare, banking and financial, retail and consumer electronics.

The study also gave insights on market share by companies, price trends, market trends, company profiles, upcoming government projects, product matrix.

WEDNESDAY, juLY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

fct business watch

ect jointly owned by 3-5 qualified beneficiaries can access up to a facility limit of N10 million.

The bank enlists some measures to shield the programme against fraud. The safety measures are a set of collateral to be met by would be YEDP loan beneficiaries. These include, graduate entrepreneurs to use their tertiary institution(s) certificate(s) and their NYSC discharge certificate. Serving Corp members will pledge their NYSC discharge certificate and their tertiary institution(s) certificates(s). Also, legal ownership of assets financed by the bank and third party guarantors will be requested as additional collateral from all entrepreneurs.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last week kicked off a workshop for the first batch of Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YEDP), which has the potential to reduce the nation’s threatening joblessness rate, writes Abdulwahab Isa Program Emefiele side the primary mandate of ensuring price stability and a stable national currency as encapsulated in the monetary and financial policy of the banking watchdog, it performs other auxiliary mandates geared towards tackling contemporary challenges facing the economy.

One area the management of the apex bank regularly inter- ployment rate by reviewing fundvenes in is youths’ empowerment ing for SMEs. He said, “Funding for SMEs in and employment creation. The apex bank’s unwavering commit- Nigeria has largely been viewed ment to the implementation of from a social development perevery policy that impacts youth’s spective with the goal to reduce empowerment and employment poverty through job and wealth creation, is spurred by the consis- creation. This has put the develtent rise in number of the unem- opment of the sector squarely in ployed in the country. the hands of the government, with mixed results. Going forward, we High unemployment rate propose a business approach to A recent data by the National funding SMEs, which requires Bureau of Statistics (NBS) un- the strong involvement of the priderscored the worsening dimen- vate sector. The new framework sion Nigeria’s employment crisis proposed will combine the profit is headed. The bureau, in its lat- motives of the private sector and est unemployment watch report the development objectives of the released early in the year, noted government. It proposes a structhat, between December 2015 and ture that enables the government March 2016, the population of un- to leverage the project selection employed Nigerians increased by and credit analysis processes of 518,000 to over 1.45 million. The private sector investors who will NBS observed that economically place more of their resources at active or working age population risk in funding the SMEs.” increased from 105.02 million in Emefile, added, “At the mothe fourth quarter of 2015 to 106 ment, the CBN has a number of million by the end of March 2016. initiatives including the N220 bilThe actual population of people lion to finance Small- and Mediwilling, able and actively looking um-Scale Enterprises with speciffor work, NBS noted, increased by ic focus on women entrepreneurs 1.99 per cent, from 76.9 million in and to be administered through the fourth quarter of 2015 to 78.4 Microfinance banks owned eimillion in the first quarter of 2016. ther by state governments and/ The study warned that the fail- or private organisations. While ure of government to meet its tar- the private sector invests more of get of creating a minimum of 1.5 their risk capital in the selected million jobs required for the peri- companies, the CBN funds will food to keep the unemployment rate cus on resolving challenges such constant at 10.4 per cent before the as access to collateral, enterprise end of December 2015, worsened development support, developthe unemployment situation. ment of a nationwide credit scorIn carrying out the function of ing system, etc. Aside from this maintaining price stability and new collaboration with the private rolling out efficient monetary sector, the CBN will also design a policy, the apex bank adopts policy programme for our fellow citizens mix, using the NBS data as guide who need as low as N50,000 withto solve unemployment problem. out collaterals through registered One innovative channel the and accredited local cooperatives. management at the apex bank We shall encourage venture capifinds expedient in taming the un- tal companies and business angels employment monster, is funding to fund SMEs and invite the Bankthe Small and Medium Enterpris- ers’ Committee to play more active es, the SMEs. role in supporting.”

CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, at his maiden speech, CBN entrepreneurship initiative made solemn commitment to inWith job space constraining tervene in the worsening unem- both in public and private sectors,

A

27

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige

CBN tames joblessness with youth empowerment

The programme targets 1,500 youths for empowerment with a total of N2.5 billion loan

Emefiele’s ‘out of box’ thinking led to the creation of CBN/banks youths empowerment partnership, an innovative idea designed to empower the youths using entrepreneurship mentoring.

The launching of Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YEDP) in March, in partnership with Heritage Bank and National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), is CBN’s novel idea of empowering youths, not only to be self employed but to be employers of additional hands in their various businesses.

Speaking during YEDP flag off pilot scheme in Abuja, Emefiele said the inability of Nigerian youths to access funding and low knowledge capacity in businesses, are the bane of entrepreneurship. The absence of these basic capacity, the governor noted, continually made many youths to jettison their laudable ideas in pursuit of white collar jobs.

The CBN/Heritage Bank YEDP programme is aimed at harnessing the latent entrepreneurial spirit among the teeming youths by providing timely and affordable loans to implement their business ideas. The programme targets 1,500 youths for empowerment with a total of N2.5 billion loan. Specific categories of youths eligible for participation are serving youth corps members and non- NYSC of not more than five years post NYSC, within aged bracket of 18 and 35.

Qualified business sectors for CBN YEDP beneficiaries include agro–allied businesses, food processing/preservation, arts & crafts, manufacturing/cottage industry and Information & Communication Technology (ICT). Others areas are construction support, power & energy, education & financial Inclusion, film & photography and automobile.

To ensure the programme attains its lofty goal, the CBN said a single applicant can access up to a facility limit while group proj-

Historic of first batch For Emefiele, the historic flagoff, last week, of the training of the first batch of applicants under the Youth Entrepreneurship Development in Abuja was a pact fulfilled.

At the occasion, the governor announced to elated youths corps members that those with good entrepreneurial skills are eligible to access N2.5 billion out of N220 billion loan set aside by the apex bank for the SMEs. The bulk of N220 billion SMEs loan, Emefiele said, is lying fallow after its release in 2012.

“We are very optimistic, and that is why we are saying what is important, is that our youths display the highest level of probity.

Character must remain sound to the extent that they take the loan and they pay the loan. It is very important that this is emphasized and that is why I am saying that it is not a grant, it is a loan that must be paid. We are determined to give support to the youths and I thank the National Youth Service Corps, which has helped us to put together the first set of NYSC, both present and past ones, so that we can nurture them as young entrepreneurs; not as people who go into the world looking for jobs, but nurture them as people who are developing the entrepreneurial spirit, entrepreneurial skills, not only for their good but also for the good of the country.”

The NYSC management lauded CBN for introducing the innovation.

Director General, NYSC, Brigadier General Sule Zakari Kazaure, commended the bank for initiating such a training programme for corps members.

He said that 1,500 corps members are participating in the entrepreneurship training taking place simultaneously all over the country.

For instance, in Abuja, there are 180 participants; Plateau, 130; Katsina State, 208; Enugu State,160; Akwa Ibom State, 227; Osun State, 271; Lagos State, 179.

Conclusion The multiplier effects of the CBN new initiative - YEDP - can’t be overemphasized. Certainly, it will lead to a maximum reduction in the growing number of unemployed population. But more importantly, it will create more entrepreneurs that will also employ more hands. Indeed, Emefiele has achieved a key point of his promise.

28

BUSINESS |MONEY

Q2 2016

WEDNESDAY, july 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Tough first half ends with optimism

Clearly, the first six months of 2016 proved to be the toughest so far in the country’s prolonged economic downturn with the banking industry recording below par performances culminating in thousands of job cuts. But TONY CHUKWUNYEM reports that last minute forex reforms ensured that the first half ended on an optimistic note

W

ere an opinion poll to be conducted on the economy’s performance in the first half of the year, it is most likely to show widespread public gloom over issues such as rising inflation, the contracting economy and lingering concerns about the ideological direction of public policy. Apart from the continuing impact of the oil price slump and regulatory headwinds, the five-month delay in passing the 2016 budget helped push the economy into recession.

However, there is bound to be cheering news in the form of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) decision to reverse its long held naira stance and allow the local currency to float.

Analysts had long called for such a move, arguing that it was key to reviving the economy. According to them, if the naira was not allowed to float, the country’s economy could fare much worse in 2016 than it did in the previous year.

Stoppage of dollar sales to BDCs Initially it seemed the CBN was going to ignore these calls, as 2016 was barely 11 days old when CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, called a press conference to announce that the apex bank had decided to discontinue its sale of foreign exchange to Bureaux De Change (BDC).

According to him, the move became necessary because the BDCs had become, “a conduit for illicit trade and financial flows” and were contributing to the naira’s weakness on the parallel market.

The CBN had sold dollars to BDC operators for the better part of 2015, in its bid to keep the official and parallel market rates of the naira close to each other.

Thus the announcement that the sale had been stopped drew angry reactions from the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), which argued that the move would not only result in a further widening of the gap between the official and parallel market rates of the naira, but would also lead to most of its

revoke the licence of any bank that flouted this directive.

Abolition of COT Significantly, analysts believe that the harsh business environment for banks worsened in the first half of this year, as this was when the final stage of the CBN’s abolition of the Commission On Turnover (COT) charged current accounts commenced. Even though the CBN seemed to have replaced the COT with the account maintenance charge, analysts point out that the complete removal of the COT charge led to a drastic reduction in income for some banks.

Buhari

Emefiele

members closing shop.

At that press conference, Emefiele also announced that the CBN had lifted the restriction it placed on commercial banks a few months earlier preventing them from accepting cash deposits of foreign exchange from their customers.

But the CBN Governor maintained that the naira would not be devalued despite the local currency depreciating against the dollar on the parallel market.

President Buhari’s antipathy to devaluation Significantly, the CBN received crucial support on the issue from President Muhammadu Buhari, who, on several occasions in the last six months, had reiterated his opposition to the devaluation of the naira.

For instance, speaking at an interactive meeting with Nigerians living in Kenya during his visit to the East African country in late January, President Buhari maintained that while export-driven economies could benefit from devaluation of their currencies, devaluation will only result in further inflation and hardship for the poor and middle classes in Nigeria’s import-dependent economy.

Likening devaluing the naira to having it “killed”, President Buhari said that proponents of devaluation would have to work much harder to convince him that ordinary Nigerians will gain anything from it.

The President also took sides with the CBN over the regulator’s row with BDCs. He was reported as saying that the BDC business had become a scam and a drain on the economy. He alleged that some bank and government officials used surrogates to run the BDCs and prosper at public expense by obtaining foreign exchange from government at official rates and selling it at much higher rates.

Similarly, at another gathering in London, President Buhari attributed the stoppage of dollar sales by the CBN to BDC operators to fraudulent acts perpetrated by some CBN Directors.

The President disclosed that he

discovered that some CBN Directors used BDCs that they own to shortchange the government.

“We found out that some Directors of CBN owned BDCs and when foreign exchange comes, they take it to their bureau de change and give government the change,” he said.

I will say to Nigerians be calm, there is no need to worry, everything is well

Naira volatility According to forex dealers, the President’s remarks were in fact responsible for stemming the rapid slide of the naira against the dollar on the parallel market in a few weeks of extreme exchange rate volatility. During that period, the naira had fallen to an all time low of N405 to the dollar on the parallel market only to suddenly appreciate to about N330 to the greenback in less than 24 hours.

However, industry analysts said that apart from the President’s statement, a number of measures taken by the apex bank also led to the naira’s recovery.

They cited the CBN’s decision to publish all forex sales from the inter-bank market and its mopup operations, which reduced the excess liquidity that usually drives currency speculation.

Job cuts and Minister’s intervention In fact, analysts had predicted that CBN’s forex measures coupled with other regulatory headwinds would impact banks’ earnings so severely that many of them would be forced to sack employees. This prediction came to pass, as lenders such as First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Ecobank Nigeria, Diamond Bank and Skye Bank all announced job cuts totaling over 2,000 during the period under review.

Interestingly, the wave of retrenchment in the industry could have swept away even more staff but for the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige who called for a halt to the sackings until after a stakeholders’ meeting this month. He threatened that the Federal Government would

Inflation Another worrying economic indicator during the period under review was the sharp rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation in Nigeria. Rising to 11.4 per cent in February, compared to 9.6 per cent the previous month, inflation increased to 12.8 per cent in March and further went up to 13.7 per cent and 15.6 per cent in April and May respectively, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) .The last time inflation was in doubledigits in the country was in December 2012 at 12 per cent.

Monetary Policy Expectedly, in the first half of the year, the CBN’s rate setting body, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) took key decisions in response to developments in the economy. Thus at the end of its January meeting, the MPC had, in view of the slowing economy, maintained the benchmark Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR), and the liquidity ratio at 11 per cent, 20 per cent, and 30 per cent respectively. The MPC also maintained the asymmetric corridor at +200 basis points and -700basis points respectively.

However, at its March meeting, the MPC raised the MPR to 12 per cent from 11 per cent. It also increased banks’ CRR to 22.5 per cent from 20 per cent, in a move aimed at tightening liquidity, which the apex bank blamed for the pressure in the foreign exchange market and rising inflation. The MPC also kept liquidity ratio unchanged at 30 per cent, and further resolved to narrow the asymmetric corridor around the MPR from +200 and -700 basis points to +200 and -500 basis points respectively.

MPC May meeting But it was at its last meeting in May that the MPC really took the key decisions that made many analysts optimistic about the economy’s prospects. At that meeting, although it maintained the MPR at 12 per cent below the inflation rate of 13.7 per cent, the CBN also announced a plan to commence a flexible management of the foreign exchange regime in the country.

While it did not give details of the plan, the banking watchdog cited the economy’s descent into CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

BUSINESS |MONEY

WEDNESDAY, july 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

29

‘Why gap between interbank, parallel markets’ rates persists ‘ Panacea Retail forex transactions are BDCs’ exclusive preserve Tony Chukwunyem

B

ureaux De Change (BDC) operators, under the aegis of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON, have attributed the persisting wide gap between foreign exchange

rates at the interbank and parallel markets to their exclusion from the flexible forex policy recently introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Members of the association who spoke with New Telegraph, argued that unless the CBN finds a role for BDC operators in the new forex system, it will not be able to achieve one of the key objectives of the policy, which is to bridge the gap between foreign exchange rates at the interbank and parallel markets.

A Lagos-based member of the association, who pleaded anonymity, pointed out that

contrary to the opinion in some quarters, the gap between both markets’ rates had again started to widen after initially narrowing in the first few days following the commencement of trading under the new forex system.

He said, “We were told that one of the benefits of the new policy is that it will lead to the closing of the gap between the interbank and parallel markets’ rates. Today what do we have? The interbank rate is about N282 to the dollar while on the parallel market the rate is above N355/$. Last Monday, the parallel market rate was

about N347/$. So, you can see that the gap is widening again.”

According to him, research has shown that the country has one of the largest informal sectors on the continent and most of the importers who operate in that market prefer to source their forex from either BDCs or the parallel market and would rarely buy hard currency from banks.

He said, “Whether we like or not, most of these traders – and they are not smugglers - don’t just like the formality that buying forex from banks entails.

Of course, some of them are

Chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment, Fatimat Raji Rasaki, receiving a set of International Financial Reporting Standards from the FRC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jim Obazeeduring visit.

T

he Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) has announced the fourth publication of data on financial soundness and growth of the Islamic banking systems from 17 IFSB member jurisdictions, covering quarterly data from December 2013 to Q3 of 2015.

The report said that based on available data, “the total assets of the Islamic banking industry grew from $1,216 billion in 2014Q3 to $1,245 billion in 2015Q3 (calculated from country-wise aggregated data converted into USD terms using end-period exchange rates). Total funding/liabilities declined from $1,007 billion in 2014Q3 to $946 billion in 2015Q3.”

The IFSB further said that the publication of the report was part of its Prudential and Structural Islamic Financial Indicators (PSIFIs) project, which currently compiles data from 17 member countries including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brunei, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates.

According to the report, “Capital adequacy provides an important indication of the health and financial soundness of the banking industry in a jurisdiction. As

‘Islamic Banking assets hit $1.25trn in 2015’ of third quarter of 2015, the average capital adequacy ratio and average Tier one capital ratio from 16 jurisdictions were 18.9 per cent and 17.1 per cent respectively, significantly higher than the regulatory requirements, though lower than the same period of the previous year (2014:Q3) when these ratios were 21.5 per cent and 19.9 per cent respectively.

“On asset quality indica-

tors, gross non-performing financing ratio (gross nonperforming financing to total financing) showed a slight deterioration with an increase from 5.4 per cent in 2014:Q3 to 5.6 per cent in 2015:Q3 on an average. A stronger trend is apparent in the net non-performing financing to capital ratio, which increased from 10.0 per cent in 2014:Q3 to 13.6 per cent in 2015:Q3,” the report

added.

It further stated that Islamic banks and Islamic windows in the PSIFIs member countries maintained comparable rates of Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE) during the periods under report. Overall, the ROA and ROE were 1.3 per cent and 13.2 per cent in 2015:Q3 as compared to 1.2 per cent and 11.3 per cent in 2014:Q3 respectively.

Tough first half ends with optimism CO NT INU E D F RO M PAGE 2 8

recession as its main reason for reversing its earlier stance on the naira.

Floating naira Still, the CBN did not unveil details of the new policy until the middle of last month. However, the new system surpassed analysts’ expectations, as it saw the launch of a forex interbank single trading window that the regulator said will be purely market-driven.

The new policy effectively removed controls on the naira, and was expected to increase dollar supply and help the nation’s weak economy.

Speaking at the press conference where he gave a breakdown of the plan, CBN boss, Emefiele said it would enable businesses plan their portfolio effectively without fear of losses as a result fluctuation in exchange rates.

“We are optimistic that the steps we have taken today will further deepen the market and help get foreign exchange into the market. I will say to Nigerians be calm, there is no need to worry, everything is well,” Mr. Emefiele said.

EFCC’s probes of bank MDs Aside from the issues of naira volatility and the challenges that banks are contending

with, another issue that made headlines in the period under review was the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) interrogations of some bank MDs over what the anti graft agency alleged were suspicious transactions by the lenders.

Industry watchers said while they were in support of the EFCC’s war against corruption, it was critical for the Commission to review its modus operandi so as not to send the wrong signals to foreign investors regarding the reputation of bank CEOs in the country.

Significantly, the CBN had in March announced that some of its key officials were suspended

not very literate and can’t fill forms, but most of them just prefer the convenience of buying from BDCs or the parallel market. They don’t mind if they are getting the dollars at a much higher rate. ” Urging the CBN find a role for BDCs in the new system, he insisted that banks will never be able to compete with BDC operators in terms of servicing the retail segment of the forex market.

The President of ABCON, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, had at a press conference last week, called on the banking watchdog to make retail foreign exchange transactions the exclusive preserve of BDCs, urging the regulator to create a special intervention window for the BDCs in the interbank market.

He said the association would also want the CBN to allow ABCON participate in formulation of polices for the forex market - especially on matters relating to BDCs. He said, “We appeal to the CBN to restore and enforce the Self Regulatory status of ABCON, by making membership of the association criteria for licensing and renewal of licensing of BDCs. We urge the CBN to develop a framework for regular training of BDC Operators.”

The ABCON boss said the association was concerned that the objective of the new policy will be challenged by a number of factors including, inadequate liquidity; preference for open accounts by foreign suppliers over the newly introduced naira settled OTC futures; porous boarders; high level of illiteracy among Nigerian importers and antiquated infrastructure.

It will be recalled that in response to Gwadabe’s statement, the Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department at the apex bank, Mr. Anthony Ikem, said that the regulator was working on how the BDCs could be accommodated and carried along in the new forex regime. He added that BDCs’ operators’ proposal to participate at the interbank market was still under consideration.

by Governor Emefiele over the scamming of the apex financial institution by fraudsters.

There were unconfirmed reports that those suspended included the Deputy Governor, Financial System Surveillance, Joseph Nnanna and four deputy directors. They were reportedly suspended for failing to follow financial regulations and due process thereby making it possible for the fraudsters to strike.

Conclusion According to analysts, while the first half of 2016 was tough for the financial sector, the CBN’s decision to bite the bullet on the issue of floating the naira had made many of them to start thinking positively of the second half of the year.

30

BUSINESS | Investor

Q2 2016

WEDNESDAY, july 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Investors get respite in new economic policies As the nation’s capital market witnesses gradual return of investors’ confidence in the first six months of this year, CHRIS UGWU writes that the equity market got a reprieve from the bearish sentiment, leading to a gain of about N315 billion

N86.50 to N145 per liter and the adoption of a flexible exchange rate policy, a shift from a peg for the naira seen as overvalued, which had hampered growth and investment.

The action on deregulation had boosted share prices of some of the oil companies resulting in the growth of market indices by 4.64 per cent or N409 billion in three trading days. Also, following the adoption of a more flexible exchange rate policy, the share appreciation lifted the stock market to near a 5-month high since January 5th with banks leading the charge, driven by expectations that a more flexible foreign exchange policy will boost dollar supply and lure back foreign investors.

I

n spite of the strategies (tighter regulatory frameworks and reforms in the nation’s economy and the capital market) which saw deregulation of the downstream sector and flexible exchange policy, conclusion of the recapitalisation process for capital market operators, commencement of nationwide e-dividend awareness and enforcement of new rules on illegal sale of shares, among others, half year of 2016 witnessed a slight reprieve for investors in the equities market, as the stock market closed the second quarter in the green.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) rising from market downturn in first quarter of 2016 financial year closed the half year with a gain of N315 billion from a loss of N1.146 trillion recorded in first quarter.

Available data to New Telegraph showed that activities on the floor of the NSE during the half year of the year, which remained majorly on the downswing, got a leverage at tail end of the second quarter, as bargain hunters took positions on some stocks with good fundamentals.

Hence, the market capitalisation of the equities during the period increased by N315 billion, translating to 3. 33 per cent gain from N9.850 trillion it opened at the beginning of business transaction last January to close on June 30, 2016 at N10.165 trillion.

The market had defied militating factors such as drop in the crude oil price, depressed consumer purchasing power, expected weak corporate earnings, the flight to safety by foreign investors on account of the weak Naira and anticipated devaluation due to the expectations that the new government policy would ginger market confidence.

According to market analysts, trading on equities sustained a bullish rally recently, as traders and investors took advantage of the new policy measures by the Federal Government to take positions on stocks.

The market had reacted positively to the Federal Government’s removal of subsidy and increase in petroleum price from N86.50 to N145 per liter.

Also, the bullish activities were stimulated by Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) clarification on its flexible foreign exchange policy, which reduced uncertainty in the financial markets.

DG SEC, Mounir Gwarzo

Disqualification of 24 CMOs Following the recapitalisation of Capital Market Operators (CMOs) that was concluded on September 30, 2015, activities on stock market began the year on 4th January 2016 with regulatory hammer falling on some operators for non-compliance.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disqualified 24 CMOs for non-compliance or inability to substantiate claims of compliance by the audit firms.

The lists uploaded to the SEC website after capital verification had been conducted showed that 429 CMOs adhered to the minimum requirements while 24 others were disqualified.

SEC’s national e-Dividend awareness In a bid to further enlighten investors on the e-Dividend Platform launched last year and to address the issue of unclaimed dividend currently pegged at about N90 billion, the SEC in the first quarter began a nationwide enlightenment programme.

The Commission in collaboration with the CBN and Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) launched the e-dividend management system late last year to enable investors have direct access to their dividends.

The Commission embarked on a campaign to sensitize members of the investing public on the on-going e-dividend registration and other initiatives that have commenced as a result of implementation of the 10 year Capital Market Master Plan. The aim was to eradicate the difficulty encountered by retail investors in claiming their dividends.

The campaign train, which began in Abuja on January was taken to Lagos on February and moved to Kano on March.

Rules enforcement on shares As part of efforts by the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE to reinforce-protection mechanism and also to ensure that operating rules are effective to serve as deterrents to market abuse, it also in the first quarter started the

MD/CEO, NSE, Oscar Onyema

The coast was already clear for the investors to shore up their holdings, as market has begun to rebound

implementation of new rules to guard against unethical practices by stock brokers.

A notice at the NSE’s website explained that the new newly amended rules is aimed at tightening the noose on unauthorised sale and transfer of shares by unscrupulous stockbroking firms and traders.

It added that the NSE could withdraw the dealing licence of any erring stockbroking firm and trader as well as impose fines not less than N1 million on any offender.

Blacklisting of Okumagba, Edozien The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during the half year banned the Managing Director of BGL Plc, Mr. Albert Okumagba and his deputy, Chibundu Edozie, from carrying out capital market activities for 20 years. It also ordered his companies to restitute investors over N2 billion.

The ban followed complaints from investors against Okumagba and his company over failure, refusal and or/neglect to liquidate their investments in both the Guaranteed Consolidated dated Notes and Guaranteed Premium Notes, two investment products run by the company.

SEC had suspended Okumagba and BGL from operating in the market a year ago and has since been investigating the complaints.

He was also removed as the President of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS).

According to SEC, in a bid to obtain justice for the complainants and grant all parties fair hearing, the matter was presented before the Administrative Proceedings Committee (APC) of the commission, which sat on February 6, 2016. During the proceedings various parties tendered testimonies and documentary evidence.

Positive policy measures The stock market reacted positively following the Federal Government’s removal of subsidy and increase in petroleum price from

Operators’ assessment Analysts at the Cowry Asset Management Limited had while reacting to the development said that capital market activities is expected to witness gradual recovery, as foreign exchange risk diminishes with the adoption of a more flexible exchange rate regime.

Head of Research at Afrinvest, Ayodeji Ebo said: “The cheering news is that the central bank has come to realise that we need a flexible exchange rate regime rather than the fixed regime”.

Ebo noted that the introduction of a flexible interbank market from a de facto peg of around N197 would boost investors’ confidence and create more dollar liquidity.

The Chartered Institute of Stockbroker (CIS) gave assurance to investors that the Exchange has potential to generate strong Return on Investment (ROI) and the market is set for rebound very soon.

Based on the renewed confidence, the stockbrokers advised investors to take advantage of the current low prices of shares to increase their portfolios, as many of the stocks are trading below their intrinsic values.

The CIS’s President and Chairman of the Council, Mr Oluwaseyi Abe, explained that the coast was already clear for the investors to shore-up their holdings, as market has begun to rebound.

“The operating dynamics of the new framework as stipulated

by CBN is in accordance with the tenets of democratic capitalism of which the highlights are, marketdriven systems, free participation within individual limitations and the ’invisible hand’.

“The introduction of a forward market to hedge volatility in the foreign exchange market, and the licensing of Foreign Exchange Primary Dealers are well commended innovations, which we believe will deepen the market,” he said.

Conclusion Despite that the market is gradually responding to new economic policies, there is need for more awareness, as a lot of foreign investors appear to have taken to their heels leaving only the bandwagon local investors, who also have no clue of the impact of future monetary policy on their investment position in the scene.

WEDNESDAY, juLY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi

Q2 2016

31

maritime

Custom Comptroller-General, Hameed Ali

Executive Secretary, Shippers Council, Hassan Bello

Dwindling revenue persists The first half of the year in Nigeria’s maritime recorded low trade facilitation as reflected in the few number of containers and bulk cargoes delivered across the nation’s seaports and border posts. BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports

B

usiness activities in the nation’s maritime industry, especially the port sector, were tough in the first half of the year following a drop in global demand and shipping capacity.

The crash in freight rates has made it unprofitable for shipping lines to operate along the Asia-West Africa routes. The trend has already forced three major shipping lines (Nippon Yusen Kasha (NYK), Taiwan’s Evergreen Line and Messina Line) to withdraw their vessels to other routes in the last five months.

Between January and June 2016, activities at the nation’s seaports dropped significantly to about 50 per cent. The cost of power supply, low imports, low ship traffic, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) fees, illegal midstream discharge, smuggling and equipment maintenance are the major challenges at the ports.

Other factors contributing to the hard times in the industry

are the implementation of the national auto policy and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s policy on forex, which affected 41 items prohibited by government.

Within the last six months, the apex bank’s forex policy has forced some Nigerian importers out of shipping, as they found it difficult to source foreign exchange for their imports. This has led to cargo diversion to neighbouring ports.

NIMASA’s growth plan The drift in the industry made the apex maritime regulator, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), to roll out a medium term growth to move the maritime industry forward.

To this end, the agency partnered with Norway, United States, the United Kingdom and some maritime institution in the first half of the year to promote maritime business.

Director General of the agency, Dakuku Peterside, also said he would block all identifiable revenue loopholes through the full automation of systems and processes to eliminate human contact and increase efficiency.

The agency has already introduced the Medium Term Strategic Growth Plan (MTSG), covering three years to reform, restructure and reposition the agency for sustainable growth and development of the industry.

Also, since the beginning of the year, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) had collaborated with international organisations such as the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration to promote maritime.

It has also moved to harmonise the Standard Operating Pro-

Government should review some of its policies on terms of trade in the maritime industry in order to boost revenue

cedures (SOPs) for all government agencies operating at the ports to eliminate corruption and bottlenecks associated with Customs processes and clearance of goods at the nation’s seaports.

Besides, Nigeria Customs Service organised workshops on corruption to proffer a lasting solution to the problems facing port users.

The council also canvassed for a Single Window System (SWS) to enhance the development of the industry.

Last February, the Federal Ministry of Transportation set up a committee to work towards developing a blueprint for the establishment of a Nigerian national carrier as part of efforts to develop the shipping sector.

Also, it set up a committee to overhaul the NIMASA Customs In the last six months, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) complained that low container traffic had grossly affected its revenue generation, noting that the volume of import had fallen at the seaports and borders.

Its Comptroller-General, Col Hameed Ali (rtd), recently attributed the shortfall in Customs’ revenue to the foreign exchange policy of the CBN, which barred importers of 41 selected items from accessing the official foreign exchange window.

During the period, the comptroller general re-introduced the restriction order placed on rice importation through land borders with effect from March 17, 2016.

His major complaint was that some Customs officers had

abused the policy by colluding with criminals to smuggle rice into the country.

Also, the service took a decision this year to support excise companies and local manufacturers to improve their export volume through the Ikorodu Lighter Terminal (ILT), which was converted to export port.

Within the period under review, concessionaires at the ports said that importation of goods reduced by 50 per cent due to restriction on some cargoes to the country.

According to the Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Vicky Haastrup, inflation and depreciation of the naira eroded their earnings by more than 300 per cent.

NPA The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) also commenced full implementation of the minimum standards for trucks by certifying 9,258 trucks, which passed the minimum standard test to operate at the seaports in Lagos.

The authority also moved to key into Federal Government’s agenda to diversify the economy by encouraging export of agricultural products and solid minerals through a dedicated port.

Conclusion To say the least and considering the poor impact of the sector on the economy, industry watchers and stakeholders are of the opinion that government should review some of its policies on terms of trade in the maritime industry in order to boost revenue and also make the country the hub of shipping in the Gulf of Guinea.

32

business \ maritime

WEDNESDAY, juLY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Agency rolls out medium-term growth, partners US RECESSION

Dwindling global economy, decline in crude oil price, foreign exchange crisis and fiscal policies have affected agency’s revenue

Bayo Akomolafe

L-R The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside, presenting literature to Mr. John Bray, Consul General of the United States Embassy in Lagos when the envoy visited the agency in Lagos.

T

he apex maritime regulator, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has rolled out a mediumterm growth to move the maritime industry forward.

Also, its management has sought partnership with the United States Government on capacity building in order to reposition the agency.

The Director General of the agency, Dakuku Peterside, said in a statement in Lagos.

He said that he would block all identifiable revenue loopholes, while focusing on how to deliver the core mandate of the agency.

The DG said one of the ways to shore up the agency’s income is to block revenue leakages through the full automation of systems, elimination of human contact and efficiency.

The director general explained that the

agency’s Medium-Term Strategic Growth Plan (MTSG), built around NIMASA’s core mission to reform, restructure and reposition the agency for sustainable development of the industry, would cover a period of three years.

Peterside explained that the agency was facing the twin challenges of militancy in the Niger Delta and the dwindling global economic crisis occasioned by unstable crude prices.

He lamented that fewer number of ships were now calling at the country’s ports.

The director general

vowed to leverage on his background as a member of the National Assembly to ensure the enactment of a more effective law, capable of deterring piracy in the country.

Peterside said: “In the past when we handed over pirates to the police, they did not prosecute them very well. We need a stronger legal platform to deter the pirates; and we are already working on it.”

Also, in a statement by the agency’s Head of Corporate Communications, Hajia Lami Tumaka, the director general had appealed to the United States to assist

Customs generate N251.8bn, lose N138.9bn in 5 months

T

he Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) has generated N251.8 billion between January and May 2016.

Also, the service missed its revenue target by N138.9billion or 35.5 per cent during the period.

These were disclosed before members of the Senate Committee on Finance, who directed all the revenue generating agencies in the country to prepare and submit reports of their performances on quarterly basis to the committee for assessment.

Its Comptroller General, Hameed Ali (rtd), said that the amount generated was from import duty, Valued Added Tax (VAT),

rice levy, port development surcharge and other levies.

Ali, who disclosed this before the committee led by Senator John Enoh, also explained that NSC lost a total of N138.9billion out of the N390.6billion it was expected to generate within the period.

According to him, Customs was able to gather the sum of N251.8billion out of which the sum of N211.12 billion was generated into the federation account, while N40.591 billion was generated into the non-federation account.

He said: “Compared to last year or what we are expected to generate, we are in deficit of N18.406 billion as

against the sum of N78.110 billion expected to be generated in the month of January.

“For the month of February, Customs lost N27.176 billion.”

He added that NCS lost the sum of N32.304 billion in April just as it lost N32.039 billion in the month of May 2016.

He said: “With this, it means we have 35 per cent less than what we are supposed to have generated.”

He attributed the loss to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s new forex policy and increase in volume of credit.

Ali said that the CBN forex policy had become a big problem to trade, as people were not importing.

the agency in the area of training and recruitment of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) cadets to the USA marine navy in order to enhance their competency and skills.

Peterside, who received the Consul General of the United States in Lagos, Mr. John Bray, in his office during a visit, said that the Nigerian government would need the assistance of the United States Government in the area of technology driven security surveillance as well as human capacity building.

S

eaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN) has backed the use of arbitration, mediation and other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in settling commercial disputes in the maritime industry.

Chairman of the association, Princess Vicky Haastrup, disclosed this when she received the executive council members of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN) in her office during a courtesy visit.

Haastrup expressed her belief that resolving maritime industry disputes through ADR would be much faster and less rancorous than litigation.

She said: “I am happy to note that we have competent persons who can handle arbitration in Nigeria. I will encourage the use of arbitration as much as possible because it has signifi-

The DG said that Nigeria could benefit from the experiences of the Americans in order to harness the potential in the nation’s maritime domain.

He said: “The need for sharing ideas cannot be overstated because shipping is a global business that links economies of the world together and Nigeria can learn from the experience of the United States.

“We are currently repositioning the maritime industry and our dream is to be the hub of maritime activities in Africa.”

The Consul General,

who was accompanied by the Political Adviser in the Consulate, Mr. Nicholas D. Austin, commended the director general for his efforts so far in the agency and promised to continue to engage the agency for a mutually beneficial relationship.

Bray noted that the United States would leverage on the already existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between both countries to collaborate with the agency and Nigeria at large towards achieving a vibrant and business friendly maritime environment.

Terminal operators support arbitration in maritime disputes cant advantages over litigation in court, such as party control of the process, typically lower cost and shorter time to resolution, flexibility and privacy.”

President of the association, Dr. Omogbai Omoeboh, who led the delegation, said that MAAN was motivated by the strong desire to provide effective and cost efficient alternatives resolution for maritime dispute in the country through arbitration proceedings and ADR methods.

He said that MAAN was organised to gather members willing to serve as arbitrators of business disputes in all aspects of maritime, energy and other related activities.

Omoeboh said: “MAAN was conceived

by practitioners that have attained distinction and expertise in arbitration and maritime law in Nigeria. Following its conception and incorporation in 2005, its executive council has acted as a steering body for the establishment of the associations’ ethos and structures.

“The council is committed to ensuring that MAAN maintains internationally accepted standards and best practices with local expertise.

MAAN is borne out of the essential need to offer Nigeria as an alternative resource and venue following recent developments in the industry and the growing cost of arbitration in foreign countries and the pressure on the litigation system to deliver timely solutions.”

business \ maritime

WEDNESDAY, juLY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

33

Fall in excise duties: Customs comb 13 factories

•Guinness pleads with Service GROWTH Taxes from factories producing alcoholic beverages boost government revenue

Bayo Akomolafe

T

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has visited 13 excisable factories at Ipaja, Alagbado , Ikorodu, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Iyana-Oworo, Ogba, Ikeja and Mushin in Lagos state, as part of efforts to recover revenue from defaulting companies.

The Comptroller General of the service, Col. Hammeed Ali (rtd), who was represented by the Zonal Coordinator of Zone A, Charles Edike, an assistant comptroller general, disclosed this in Lagos through a statement.

He said that the tour of the factories was necessary considering the low container traffic in the ports and sharp fall in import duty.

The zonal coordinator had addressed heads of Central Intelligence Unit (CIU), valuation, terminals in all the commands under Zone A to bock every avenue of revenue leakage at the seaports and borders.

He said that the service had to restrategise and innovate on ways of boosting the government revenues by focusing on other sources permissible by the law.

Ali added that the initiative to visit excise factories would shore up revenue from Customs service to the government, considering the lull at the seaports.

He noted: “With import volume down due to the general business outlook, we decided to intensify efforts in this regard to get the revenue from factories producing alcoholic beverages. The Customs has been collecting revenue from

Vessel discharging containers at the Lagos Port Complex in Apapa.

the identified excise factories, but doing this is to make them live up to date with paying their duty.”

At the premises of Guinness Nigeria Plc, the Corporate Relations Director, Mr Sesan Sobowale, who received the Customs team, according to the statement, pleaded for pace

in the approvals of applications sent to the service.

He said that a situations where organisations had to wait for as long as one year before receiving approvals was disadvantageous as often times their investments were premised on market indices.

Sobowale pleaded with the

try of Finance, the Accountant General of the Federation as well as the Auditor General of the Federation.

He, however, urged the company to make a fresh presentation to the comptroller general, promising that the current management of the service would do all in its power to assist.

Reps, board to support LADOL’s $600m free trade zone

T

he House of Representatives House Committee on Local Content and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCMB) have promised to support Ladol Oil and Gas Free Zone (LFZ)’s $600million greenfield development in Lagos.

A statement from LADOL said the Chairman of the house committee, Hon. Emmanuel Ekon, said that the House of Representatives were impressed with the investment at the free zone.

He added that the lawmak-

ers could not ignore the efforts of indigenous companies like LADOL. He said: “As a parliamentary committee, our job is to ensure that whatever ways we can support you to succeed more, we will not hesitate to do so. If it means putting in place some legislative framework or the need to amend some existing laws to make the industry fair better, we will not hesitate to do so.

“We have a lot of Nigerians out there who are much richer with billions of dollars and

Flexible forex to boost NPA’s revenue

T

management of the service to assist them in recovering funds, which they had overpaid as duty since 2014, saying that frantic attempts to recover the funds had remained futile.

Responding, the zonal coordinator explained that the service could not refund without approvals from the Federal Minis-

he Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said that its projected revenue generation for its 2016 budget would increase due to the flexible exchange rate policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The authority had projected $1.2 billion for 2016 compared to $1.8 billion realised in 2015.

Bloomberg quoted the Managing Director of the authority, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, as saying that floating the naira and appointing primary dealers would make dollars available.

He said that this was good for the ports, as people would be willing to do business and consequently shore up NPA’s 2016 earnings projections.

It would be recalled that cargo traffic at Nigerian ports declined by 9.6 per cent to 78.3 million metric tons in

2015, as importers struggled to obtain foreign exchange due to capital controls and oil prices slump.

Abdullahi said that the authority cut this year’s expected revenue to $1.2 billion compared to $1.8 billion realised in 2015, owing to challenges facing the ports.

The managing director said the new foreign-exchange policy might cause naira volatility, which will eventually stabilise.

He said that the government must find a solution to the restiveness in the key oil and gas-producing Niger Delta region, adding the ports had been positioned to support the nation’s export drive.

He said: “We want people to be able to export solid minerals easily, which will help to diversify the economy.”

would rather take such funds outside the country. You have chosen to use your wealth in impacting lives and we say this is worth emulating.”

Also, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engineer Obah Patrick, who expressed satisfaction on the development of the facility, said that the board had taken a decision to open an NCDMB evaluation office in LADOL to ensure that activities in the zone were well monitored.

Obah noted that the role of his organisation as a regulatory agency was not only to support company and other logistics service providers in the industry, but also to ensure that they operated within the ambit of the law, as enshrined in the Local Content law of 2010.

He stressed the need to encourage and support the company because of its huge investment in the industry.

The executive secretary added: “LADOL has invested so much in this industry and more so as an indigenous company, we must continue to support and encourage them because what we have seen is huge not only in investment but as a way of capacity development for the country.”

“Following the laudable speed of development at the base, it has become necessary for the board to similarly expand its scope of supervisory role in the industry

by setting up an observatory office within the yard.”

Also, Executive Chairman of the company, Mr. Ladi Jadesimi, pointed out the strategic importance of the House Committee on Local Content as a most important legislative arm of government that touches on the socio-economic well being of the people.

The chairman noted that building a free zone with robust and technologically advanced infrastructure that can operate safely and efficiently to support high value industrial projects in the country would reduce costs of operating in Nigeria by 50 per cent.

He explained that the initiative was taken to establish LADOL about a decade ago, considering that the industry was largely in the hands of foreign operators, despite its strategic economic importance.

Jadesimi recalled that as the only greenfield privately developed yard in the industry by wholly indigenous initiative, it was tough to carry on in the face of stringent opposition to the idea.

He added: “We, however, remained focused and carried on in the face of such stiff oppositions because we know that success is assured. We were, however, vindicated with the passing into law of the Local Content to be known as the local content law.”

34

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Literature

Arts

Stella Obasanjo: A life, legacy remembered

36

Reunion, one of the worksby Onobrakpeya

Revolution, one of the works by Ogakwu

Beyond Limitations

Onobrakpeya, Ogakwu advocate peaceful, harmonious existence Tony Okuyeme

N

igerian artists, John Urherigho Onobrakpeya (fsna) and Chinedu Ogakwu make “an urgent wakeup call for Africa, and to “restore meaning to our values which are fast becoming meaningless, and “put some charm back into our lives, not superficial attraction, but the charm that will touch our brain and psyche, in a group exhibition or contemporary art which opened last Saturday at Terra Kulture, Lagos.

The exhibition titled Beyond Limitations, features work, largely in mixed media, that explore broad range of themes on the title.

As Prof. Cliff Ezekwe Nwanna, an Art Historian, Fine Artist and

TONY OKUYEME ARTS EDITOR

tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Art Theorist, notes in the introduction, “Beyond Limitations”, rejects the position of Africa as a passive player persuaded and made to accept that he has no influence on the world nor has made any meaningful contribution to human development.

Africa, he says, has for long been under the spell of occidental utopia and endless Philosophies of Enlightenment. Some of these philosophies insist that one need no longer have recourse to magical means to master the Universe – Scientific calculation perform the service. While considering this, it will be apt to analyze the causes that have helped to mould the state of our world today – philosophers like Max Weber and many others have done so.

Africans, no doubt, have knowledge of these causes. “Even with the knowledge many are still bemoaning our fate while a few have decided to take the bull by the horns – as John Onobrakpeya and Chinedu Ogakwu invite us to do. It is a truism that our relationship to time cannot be inscribed only in the past, yet we need knowledge of the past to establish ourselves in the present and attempt envisaging a different future,” he stated.

According to him, man is beyond limitations because “every being is full of invention and amazement – which Merleau - Ponty called the ‘seeing power’. Merleau - Ponty used the theme of living body and

This exhibition plays a role in the reflection about identity and creativity in our country

Onobrakpeya

man’s relation to his life in the World as a means or regulating the sciences and vindicating the act of human visible reality.

“John Onobrakpeya and Chinedu Ogakwu are existentialists coloured in African philosophyreality as perceived by Africans not by Western mind. The works of the exhibiting artists oscillate around the ideas of communitarianism; advocacy for harmonious existence with God, the spirits and fellow humans. The idea of communitarianism underlies Chinedu Ogakwu’s ‘Regeneration’, ‘Women Forum’ and John Onobrakpeya’s ‘Maiden Dance’ and ‘Procession; while works such as ‘Enversion’ by Ogakwu, Onobrakpeya’s ‘Eye of the Gods’ and several other works invoke an advocacy for harmonious ex-

Ogakwu

istence with God, the spirits and fellow humans.

“This exhibition plays a role in the reflection about identity and creativity in our country, Nigeria and the rest of the African continent. It is an existential quest aimed at tackling the hydra headed problems inherent in our dysfunctional contemporary society.”

The paintings mostly in mixed media, he further notes, “are idioms aimed at waking up our consciousness and freeing spirit – where it is lacking, reconstructing the foundation laid by our ancestors and seeking beyond ourselves.”

The two artists are not new to the art scene; they have exhibited widely and carved a niche for themselves.

Ogakwu cultivated his innate gift of painting through using multiple mediums since childhood. His works are mostly historical and conveys strong messages as relate to the origin and primitive life of an African man.

His vision as an artist is to really remind Africans and the world at large of their roots/cultural heritage which should not be left to fade away. His most recent discovery in art is using dry tree bark to produce mixed media 3D paintings.

Ogakwu notes: “My intense passion and extreme love of nature is the foundation of my creativity. My work consists of using bark of wood to create the basis of the pieces. It’s like a trance thus allows me to bring diverse sources from my background, culture and life experiences. By transforming the bark of wood into my work, they are given new relevance. One can discover endless little details, and to me every little piece challenges me to use mixed materials such as net, wood bark, wood extracts, ropes, camouflaged canvas, more media and techniques. These compel me to create feelings that scratch the walls of my being in an attempt to escape into the natural world.

“The use of repetition not only adds a structural quality to the compositions, but also questions what time really means when one is lost in them. My interpretation of a subject matter is transformed into rich, vibrant bold colours, timeless, awakening the soul, uplifting and radiant.”

ART

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

35

NEWS Asidere’s solo exhibition Mental Space opens in Lagos

“M

ental Space”, exhibition of recent works by Duke Asidere opened last Friday at The Wheatbaker, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The exhibition, which has on display 38 paintings on paper and canvas, is Asidere’s “response to multilayered landscape of deep thought, questions, and critique…”

It will run till 15th September, 2016. Some of the works on display include “Victims of Information”; “The Commentary”; “Backseat Mentality”; “Newspaper Collage Series”; “One Man, One Generator”; and “The Power Series”.

Born in 1961, Asidere grew up in Apapa, the port district of Lagos. He is a graduate of Fine Arts (Painting) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Asidere taught painting, drawing and art history at the Federal Auchi Polytechnic for five years before starting full time studio work in Lagos in 1995.

A scene in Story Theatre with Grandma Wura

FESTAC anniversary: CBAAC to hold colloquium, roll out the drums Onyekachi Eze

S

Duke Asidere

The Governor premieres A

ll is set for the premiere of ‘The Governor’ a political drama produced by EbonyLife TV. Written by Yinka Ogun, Debo Oluwatuminu and Tunde Babalola and directed by Ema Edosio, “The Governor” is the riveting tale of Angela Ochello, the Deputy Governor of Savannah State who with no governorship ambitions finds herself suddenly entangled in a web of political intrigue after the untimely death of the incumbent Governor.

The lead character ‘Angela Ochello’ is played by British-Nigerian actress Caroline Chikezie (Aeon Flux, BBC’s Casualty, Channel 4’s As If).

Other cast members include Bimbo Manuel, Baaj Adebule, Kachi Nnochiri, and Simi Adejumo amongst others.

ome 39 years after the hosting of the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture, widely referred to as FESTAC ‘77, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) plans to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the festival next year with pomp and ceremony.

Already, the centre has started reaching out and making contacts with principal actors for their endorsement and participation in the historic event.

FESTAC ‘77 was hosted in Lagos, Nigeria between January 15 and February 12, 1977. It attracted 59 countries and six communities of African descent which came together to display rich African culture, music, fine arts, literature, religion, dance and drama.

A total of 16, 000 people participated in the one month event, including notable artists like Stevie Wonder, Gilberto Gil, two Brazilian nationals of African descent, Bembeya Jazz from Guinea, Mighty Sparrow, among others.

It was the largest pan-African gathering at that.

Director General of CBACC, Dr. Ferdinand Anikwe, who disclosed the planned anniversary commemoration of FESTAC, said Centre has met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo who superintended over the affairs of the country when the FESTAC was hosted in Nigeria.

Obasanjo, a retired general of the Nigerian Army, was Nigerian head of state between 1976 and 1979.

The courtesy visit, which included a video clip of the FESTAC event shown to the former presi-

dent, saw an elated Obasanjo declaring: “I think it is very thoughtful and very kind of CBAAC to put this beautiful piece and I want to thank you for keeping the spirit if FESTAC alive.”

The former president said he looks forward to the 40th anniversary next year, which he said will coincide with his 80th birthday.

Obasanjo promised to assist CBAAC by drawing the attention of the former presidents of black and African countries and communities to mark the 40th anniversary of the FESTAC. Anikwe also promised that more contacts would be made to some persons who participated in the festival, including Professors Wole Soyinka and Sam Ukpabi. ”We intend to hold a colloquium and invite scholars from countries that participated; some of the scholars who are still alive will be invited.

“The colloquium is to assess the gains of the FESTAC. So far no African country has been able to host FESTAC since 1977, this is a big gap in cultural development,” he said.

The First World Festival of Black Arts and Culture was held in Dakar, Senegal between April 1 and 24, 1966. It was at the end of the event that Nigeria was invited to host the 1970 edition but the series of events in the country, including the civil war, which broke out a year after and the 1975 military coup, might have necessitated a shift to 1977.

Some of the programmes planned for the anniversary, according to the DG, include exhibition of artifacts, cultural parade, performances, dances, drama and folklore. According to him, it will

We intend to hold a colloquium and invite scholars countries

be a two or three-week event.

“Two or three days will be for the colloquium to enable proper assessment of the FESTAC. The event will hold at National Theatre and National Stadium, Surulere depending on turnout.

We are hoping that it will hold between January 15 and in February. But if it is not possible we will shift it to between November and December, but it must be during drying season,” he emphasised.

FESTAC ‘77 laid foundation for the cultural development of the country. It was aftermath of the festival that the Nigerian National Council of Arts and Culture was established.

Some of the gains include the building of the FESTAC village to accommodate the over 16, 000 participants at the event, as well as the National Theatre, Iganmu in Lagos. The FESTAC village assisted in the housing needs of Lagosians.

Dr. Anikwe believes that there are some other things Nigeria gained from the festival, which will be highlighted during the anniversary.

“We will be able the show the world the gains of FESTC. All over Africa, Nigerian attire is distinct.

Nigeria’s inability to study her culture is her greatest bane. Singapore, China and other Asian Tigers are reaping from their cultural development,” he stated.

Anikwe listed some of his achievement since he became CBAAC director general nearly two years ago, to include inculcating cultural orientation in children and seminars on the cultural programmes of their fathers.

36

LITERATURE

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Stella Obasanjo: A life, legacy remembered

A

ntoinette-Rita’s book STELLA: Her Journey & Her Legacy is an anthological biography (including poetry and photographs) of the life of Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo, the erstwhile First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Sixteen key personalities and other thirty-two individuals give anthological accounts and tributes about the life and legacy of Stella Obasanjo in the book. ​This contribution, STELLA: Her Journey & Her Legacy by Antoinette-Rita to biographical literature of First Ladies in the world is phenomenal. When she discovered, as a committed female writer, that no publication on Stella Obasanjo was in the public domain, she decided to blow the trumpet of Stella’s legacy.

The book is therefore not a commissioned biography or imprimatur of Stella Obasanjo’s biography. Her description of the book underscores the fact that the book is a legacy book; she writes in the book: “…legacy book about Mrs. Obasanjo…”(19).

This statement by the author could as well serve as the epigraph of the book. However, her commitment towards the proclamation of the legacy of a fellow woman is noble. ​In STELLA: Her Journey and Her Legacy, Antoinette-Rita organizes her materials well and also uses them effectively. With the two chapters; “Introduction by Antoinette-Rita” and “A Life Remembered”, she asserts that she is more than an interviewer and a compiler of the comments and the tributes of others on Stella Obasanjo. What others do not mention about Stella, Antoinette-Ritadiscovers with the keen eyes of a good biographer. For example, she includes in her own story that Stella Obasanjo received the 2000 African Civic Responsibility Award, based on her philanthropic works. ​With “A Life Remembered (A Poem)”, Antoinette-Rita exhibits her creativity by incorporating poetry into the anthological biography of Stella Obasanjo. The inclusion of the poem is appropriate because it is a poetic tribute – an ode. This ode to Stella Obasanjo is encomiastic in line with Pindaric odes; but it has irregular stanzanic structure like the odes of Abraham Cowley. With simple diction and the use of dramatic monologue, Antoinette-Rita addresses both Stella Obasanjo and her readers. She also effectively uses other various poetic devices in this poem which is also biographical for it conveys the life history of Stella Obasanjo.

T ​ he book bears one major “weakness” of anthological biography – lack of chronological narration of events. But in the book, AntoinetteRita masterfully takes care of this defect which are evident in two main chapters, by her inclusion of a chapter titled “Mrs. Stella Obasanjo; A Chronological Summary” be-

Book title: STELLA: Her Journey & Her Legacy by Author: Antoinette-Rita Publisher: Books With A Mission (Sophos Books is

an imprint of Books With A Mission),

London, England Year of publication: 2015 Pages: 176 Reviewer: Yinka S. Kareem

fore these two chapters. Her summary of the life of Stella Obasanjo from when she was born on 14 November 1945 to her demise on 23 October 2005 is indeed an antidote to the defect inherent in anthological biography. ​Two chapters titled “The Story of Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo” and “Tributes to the Life of Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo” embody the anthological biography of the former First Lady. At the beginning of each chapter, Antoinette-Rita gives introductory lists

of the sixteen commentators and the thirty two individuals who give tributes in honour of Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo. However, at the end of the list of names of the sixteen commentators, she writes the phrase, “Be inspired”. The addition of this phrase reveals the direct and conversational approach of the author to her reader in the middle of the book. ​ I​ n the first chapter, containing the anthological biography, the author presents the journey and legacy of Stella Obasanjo through an array of commentators from all walks of life and different backgrounds that are of diverse relationship with Stella Obasanjo while she was alive. The accounts from this group of 16, consisting mostly of individuals who were part of Stella’s journey from her early days, are perceptional. However, in a separate chapter, the author presents the life history of Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo through the perspectives of different people who give peripheral accounts of her life and legacy, based on the perceptible achievements of Stella Obasanjo in the public domain. ​Overall, the collage of accounts and tributes from 48 people unanimously presents Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo as a loving and willing “carer” who loved God; cared about Nigeria, Africa, her parents, siblings, husband (whom she stood by while he was imprisoned by Abacha), children, members of the extended family, workers, aides and friends. She also cared about the women-folk, the disabled and orphaned children; her Child Care Trust and her fight against genital mutilation are testimonies to this. ​Overall, STELLA – Her Journey & Her Legacy is an interesting and well written anthological biography in simple language about a “carer”; a unique “shero”, Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo. We cannot but agree with Antoinette- Rita that, “She came, she handled, she conquered!” (34).

T ​ his is a book recommended for everyone tomake the world a better place to live as we care for one another.

What we are reading

POETRIP

THE SAME The Split Image is a short novel written

by Olabode Lucas, a retired Professor of Crop Physiology and Nutrition at the university of Ibadan Nigeria.

The book is indeed an impressive outing for a first comer. Lucas has given us an exciting story, crafted in an easy, accessible language and style which make for a pleasurable reading experience.

Lucas shows us how learning is not necessarily confined to one discipline.

For me it is a discovery. Before now I was not familiar with Zik’s autobiography, My Odyssey, but this particular book contains his speeches from when he was in America to the last days of independence, covering his life and involvement in politics. The book is such a great meeting I had with the book.

For me reading is a culture; it is inevitable. Reading is critical to my writing; it deepens me, defines and elevates me.

TONY OKUYEME ARTS EDITOR

tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Book stand

Femi Osofisan

Chike Ofili

Oladipo Kehinde I taste the fountain of fresh hope I wear the colour of a hopeful day as the sunset hums to the ears of the Mountain The rainbow welcomes the rain and the cloud to its festival of colour In the season of song Who will loan chameleon The rainbow’s robe?

I pick ripe words in the basket of my heart From the garden of love We are in the same school of thought Learning the alphabet of the clouds

wedneSDAY, july 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS | Money Line

37

Skye Bank’s new GMD assures on safety of depositors’ funds OPTIMISTIC Skye Bank would harness the expertise and skill sets of the bank’s employees and the reconstituted board to take the bank to new and higher heights

T

he new Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Tokunbo Abiru, has affirmed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) statement

that lender remains healthy and strong.

Abiru, who spoke after taking over from his predecessor, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, in a statement, said that the bank’s fundamentals remain strong and virile.

He gave assurance to customers and other stakeholders of the safety of their funds and investments.

The new Skye Bank boss said his team would leverage on the lender’s reputable information technology platform to make the institution not just a frontline retail and commercial

bank, but an industry leader.

Abiru, who outlined his vision for the bank, said his team would harness the expertise and skill sets of the bank’s employees and the reconstituted board to take the bank to new and higher heights.

He noted that being a systematically Important Bank (SIB) Skye Bank occupies a sensitive role in the financial life of Nigerians and West Africa.

The CBN had last Monday approved the reconstitution of the Board of Skye Bank Plc., with the apex bank appointing Mr M.K. Ahmad and Mr. Tokun-

bo Abiru as the new Chairman and Managing Director of the bank respectively. Other members of the reconstituted Board are Bayo Sanni, Idris Yakubu, Markie Idowu and Abimbola Izu, all of whom were serving in the Executive Director capacity of the Bank prior to now.

The reconstitution of the Board followed the voluntary resignation of the former Chairman, Dr. Tunde Ayeni and other Non - Executive Directors of the Bank, namely,

platform will enable customers and non-customers alike gain easy and simple access to banking solutions from wherever they are.

“Everyone can access the simple banking solutions provided by *945#” Adeyinka stated. “*945# provides services like airtime top-up, account opening, money transfer, cash-on-the-go, payment of bills, and balance enquiry”. According to him, new and existing Wema Account Holders also stand a chance to win lots of prizes by using the code in the days following this launch.

While unveiling the USSD easy-banking code, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank Plc, disclosed that 945 was derived from 1945, the year the bank was established. “Conve-

nient banking has always been in our genes. We have strived in over 7 decades to ensure that our customers receive the best of banking solutions. *945# is our latest avenue to provide excellent service to Nigerians. It is safe and convenient. It also aims to promote financial inclusion in the economy as people in the grassroots can now gain access to banking services through the 945 platform”.

The bank, being one of the oldest commercial banks in Nigeria, recently won two (2) ISO awards and has experienced a flurry of innovative banking solutions. All this is coming on the heels of the unveiling of a new brand identity, the issuance of a National License to the Bank by the CBN, and the opening of new branches in various parts of Nigeria.

G

Mr. Victor Odozi, Mr. Babajide Agbabiaka, Dr. Jason Fadeyi, Mr. Kunle Aluko, Mr. Victor Adenigbagbe, Mr. Abdul Bello and Hajiya Amunna Lawan Ali. Similarly, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo resigned his position as Group Managing Director / CEO, alongside Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu, Mr. Dotun Adeniyi and Mrs. Ibiye Ekong who resigned their positions as DMD, and Executive Directors. All the resignations take immediate effect.

Fitch: Brexit may impact Africa, Wema Bank unveils new mobile banking platform others’ via markets

W

ema Bank Plc has announced the official launch of its special Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) banking platform *945#.

According to the bank, its former USSD code has been upgraded with more features to benefit both existing and potential Wema Bank customers.

The USSD is a GSM communication technology that sends text messages between mobile phones and network platforms.

Speaking at a briefing to introduce the latest addition to Wema Bank’s long list of value propositions to the general public, Mr. Dele Adeyinka, Head of e-Business at Wema Bank Plc, stated that the Wema Bank family is excited about this new development.

He added that the 945 USSD

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

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 15.6 11 10.77 US$48.04 US$26,363,435,289

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 May, 2016 24/01/2016 Mar 2015 5/7/2016 30/6/2016

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

TTM

Price 104.64 114.05 112.32 119.31 108.93 99.86 83.38 97.33

1.09 3.27 3.89 5.85 7.97 9.83 14.33 18.32

NIBOR

Rate (%) 7.4258 9.2145 10.4716 11.7736

Bid Yield 10.48 10.77 11.51 11.72 12.40 12.52 12.52 12.52

Change (%) 2.62 ▲ 1.78 ▲ 1.47 ▲ 1.27 ▲

Change (%) 0.95 ▲ 0.25 ▲ 0.33 ▲ 0.23 ▲ 0.43 ▲ 0.44 ▲ 0.35 ▲ 0.27 ▲

Price 104.79 114.35 112.62 119.61 109.23 100.16 83.68 97.63

Tenor (Months)

Change (%) 0.95 ▲ 0.25 ▲ 0.33 ▲ 0.23 ▲ 0.43 ▲ 0.44 ▲ 0.35 ▲ 0.27 ▲

NITTY

Rate (%) 6.1053 6.2267 6.5457 8.0756 8.1908 8.6748

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Offer Yield 10.34 10.67 11.42 11.66 12.35 12.46 12.47 12.48

Change (%) 0.96 ▲ 0.68 ▲ 0.44▲ 0.82 ▲ 0.00 ↔ -0.35 ▼

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 6.89 7.02 1.25 ▲ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 6.75 23-Jun-16 7.14 7.28 1.25 ▲ 22-Sep-16 8.59 8.34 8.70 1.00 ▲ Overnight (O/N) 7.33 8.97 1.00 ▲ 16-Mar-17 9.11 10.01 0.73 ▲ 8.86 9.71 0.72 ▲

Spot($/N)

Bid 198.45

FX

Offer 198.55

Change (%) -0.14 ▼

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 199.0000

CBN Clearing Rates of January 7, 2016 Spot($/N)

196.00

197.00

of easier monetary policies in major developed economies.”

In addition, Fitch noted that the Brexit vote had also triggered an appreciation of the dollar against most floating emerging market currencies, which will add to the debt and debt service burden of countries with significant dollar-denominated debt on their balance sheets.

“For countries with dollar pegs or linked/managed exchange rates (including Ethiopia, Egypt and Angola), it will mean some further appreciation of trade-weighted exchange rates and loss of competitiveness, potentially adding to macroeconomic imbalances,” the agency stated.

It predicted that in the medium term, an exit from the EU might require African and Middle East countries to negotiate trade agreements with the EU bilaterally to retain access to the UK market, adding this would likely be a lengthy process.

Heritage Bank records N24.2bn gross earnings in 2015

Source:CBN

FGN Bonds

lobal credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings has said that the short-term effects of the UK’s referendum vote to leave the European Union (EU) on Africa and the Middle East could come via market volatility.

In note, the ratings agency, said: “The most immediate channel of contagion from Brexit is via an increase in investor risk aversion, with the impact depending on the degree of integration into the global financial system.

South Africa, which tends to experience large investment outflows during periods of ‘risk-off ’ sentiment, saw its currency depreciate by eight per cent in the immediate aftermath of the Brexit vote, although the rand subsequently regained some ground. This followed hawkish comments from the South African Reserve Board and was generally in line with a recovery in global market sentiment, partly driven by the prospect

0.00 ↔

Offer 199.1000

Change (%) 2.42 ▲ 2.50 ▲

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

H

eritage Bank Plc has declared gross earnings of N24.2 billion for the operating year ended December 31, 2015.

A statement from the bank stated that Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N1.5 billion was made for the operating year ended 2015, which represents its first full operating year since its acquisition of former Enterprise Bank Plc in October 2014.

The financial statement further showed that the bank recorded net interest income of N12.2 billion and Profit after Tax of N1.1 billion.

The lender also stated that during the year, it attracted N312 billion as deposit from customers in 2015, while it supported businesses and individuals with N175 billion as Loans and Advances.

Consequently, the bank achieved a Total Asset of N483.4 billion for the 2015 operating year.

Commenting on the re-

sult, Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Heritage Bank, Mr. Ifie Sekibo said: “This result is a testimony to the increased acceptability of Heritage Bank’s innovative products and services by the banking public. It is also a reward for the diligent commitment of the staff and management of the bank to our mission to create, preserve and transfer wealth across generations.

“In the 2016 operating year, our desire to reciprocate the patronage of our customers and goodwill from stakeholders has prompted us to introduce new and bespoke services driven by cutting edge technology designed to empower businesses and individuals with opportunities to achieve economic prosperity.

“The positive response to these efforts gives us assurance of improved financial performance in 2016 leading to enhanced returns to our investors.”

38

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

wedneSDAY, july 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

BUSINESS |Financial Market News

wedneSDAY, july 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

VOLATILITY The market was negatively affected by the unstable naira exchange rate, which discouraged foreign investors from the bourse

Stories by Chris Ugwu

T

he Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc has posted 12.91 per cent decline in profit before tax for the financial year ended 2015.

Checks by New Telegraph

CSCS reports 13% pre-tax profit drop showed that the company recorded a profit before tax of N5.015 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2015 as against N5.759 billion a year earlier, accounting for a drop of 12.91 per cent.

Profit after tax was also down to N4.460 during the period under review, in contrast to N4.622 billion in 2014, accounting for a drop of 3.50 per cent.

Total operating income declined by 7.76 per cent, from N8.241 billion in 2014 to N7.601 billion in 2015.

The Chairman, Board of Directors, CSCS Plc, Mr. Oscar

Global stocks slide on worries over fragile growth

S

tocks slid with the pound after comments from Bank of England Governor Mark Carney reawakened worries over fragile global growth, as bond yields tumbled to all-time lows and crude sank.

The S&P 500 Index pulled back after its best week since November, while insurers and financial shares led the Stoxx Europe 600 Index lower after Carney warned of the prospect of a material slowing of the economy.

According to Bloomberg News, the pound fell to its weakest level since 2013 against the euro, as 10- and 30year treasury yields dropped to unprecedented levels. Oil dropped below $47 a barrel after the world’s top oil trader said prices wouldn’t rise much further.

Global equities added almost $1.8 trillion in value last week, after Britain’s vote to exit the European Union on June 23 spurred assurances by central bankers that they are prepared to loosen monetary policy, while bets on the

39

odds of an interest-rate hike by the Federal Reserve this year evaporated. Risk assets faltered Tuesday after purchasing managers’ indexes on manufacturing and services signaled lackluster growth in the euro area in June.

“The market should not have rebounded, in our view, the way it did last week in the aftermath of Brexit,” said Phil Orlando, who helps oversee $360 billion as chief equity-market strategist at Federated Investors Inc. in New York. “What we saw in the last four days was a reversal of the normal knee-jerk reaction. The market is just saying, ‘June 23 didn’t exist, everything is back to normal and we’re just going to ignore all of the economic repercussions.’ I think that’s foolish.”

The MSCI All-Country World Index dropped 1.1 per cent in New York, its first slide in more than a week. The S&P 500 slid 0.8 per cent, as the U.S. market reopened after being closed for the Independence Day holiday.

Onyema, addressing shareholders at the firm’s 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos, said it came as no surprise that the nation’s revenues were challenged during the year given oil’s contribution to Nigeria’s foreign earnings.

“More so, the country’s external reserves continue to be under pressure in the face of huge currency demand without corresponding supply. As the depth of our situation and the need for urgency became ostensibly clear, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) took bold and commendable steps in the last quarter of 2015 to reduce the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 13 per cent to 11 per cent (which represents the lowest since 2009) as well as the Cash Reserve

Ratio (CRR) from 25 per cent to 20 per cent to stimulate the economy and strengthen risk framework around liquidity of our financial institutions respectively.

“These efforts unfortunately could not completely salvage the situation. To buttress this point, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), real GDP fell to 2.84 per cent in the year compared to 6.23 per cent in the same period in 2014.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company, Kyari Bukar, said during the year, the Nigerian bourse slumped below its three-year low due to dwindling crude oil price, foreign exchange problems and exodus of foreign portfolio investors.

He said the market was

also negatively affected by the unstable naira exchange rate, which discouraged foreign investors from the bourse.

“Thus, projected earnings from clearing and settlement services provided to capital market participants, which constitute a significant part of our income lines, was dashed and unmet,” he explained.

As regards the full dematerialisation of shares certificates, Bukar said, “I am pleased to report that we have made significant progress in regard to the objective of ensuring full dematerialisation of shares quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. As at year ending 2015, we had received and reconciled a total of 183 registrars out of 190 registrars.”

Honeywell posts N3bn FY PAT loss

H

oneywell Flour Mills Plc has posted N3.023 billion loss after tax for the full year ended March 31, 2016.

The company in a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), said it posted a loss after tax of N3.023 billion for the full year as against a profit after tax of N1.120 billion.

Loss before tax stood at N2.869 billion during the comparable period of 2016 from a profit before tax of N1.434 billion in 2015.

However, revenue added four per cent to N50.883 billion from N49.057 billion in 2015.

Honeywell posted 53 per cent increase in profit after tax for the third quarter ended December 31 2015.

The company recorded a profit after tax of N1.485 billion in the third quarter of the year as against N969 million, indicating a growth of 53 per cent.

Pre -tax profit firmed up by 57 per cent from N1.226 billion during the comparable period of 2014 to N1.929 billion in 2015, while revenue added six per cent to N39.775 billion from N37.636 billion in 2014.

Shareholders of Honeywell had at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) approved a dividend payment of N396.509 million, representing five kobo per share.

Addressing shareholders at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), Chairman of the company, Dr. Oba Otudeko, said that the firm’s board and management was able to manage the harsh operating environment in a manner that resulted in financial result that is better than the industry average.

Otudeko noted that the company continues to demonstrate strong fundamentals and the agility to withstand the increasing competitive operating conditions.

“The expected focus on

economic and infrastructural development by the new government would lead to moderation in inflation, improved domestic productive capacity, increase in autonomous income and improved demand.

This is expected to translate to improved performance for the company in 2016 and beyond,’’ he said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Mr. Olanrewaju Jaiyeola said, “We are optimistic of the prospect for growth and better performance in the new financial year. Our company is committed to the continuous achievement of business successes by maintaining its quality leadership in the flour milling industry’’.

He noted that the company is driven by quality management system designed to ensure that customers are always provided with quality products and services, which meet international standards and consumers’ expectations.

40

News|SOUTH-WEST

Lagos to produce ‘Lake Rice’ for residents T he Lagos State Government said yesterday that it was putting finishing touches to the production of ‘Lake Rice,’ which would be available in the market in the next six months.

The Special Adviser to Governor Akinwumi Ambode, on Food Security, Mr. Sanni Okanlawon, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the rice paddy would be milled at Imota, Lagos.

He said that the state government is collaborating with its Kebbi counterpart, to ensure that quality rice emanated from the 2.5 metric tonne-capacity mill to boost food production in Lagos State.

“To boost food production in the state, we collaborated with the Kebbi Government in commodity value chain production like rice, wheat, groundnut, sorghum and livestock.

“We have started with rice; Kebbi is the largest producer of rice paddy and we have the capacity to mill them at our 2.5 metric tonne-capacity milling plant in Imota.

“In the next six months,

we will have Lagos-Kebbi rice in the market, which we have branded ‘Lake Rice,’’ Okanlawon said.

The special adviser said that the rice would have been available in the market by now, but was delayed due to some technical problems the milling plant had.

According to him, the challenge is being attended to and the plant would be up and running soon.

He said the state government would soon add 20 metric tonnes per hour to the 2.5 metric tonnes Imota rice milling plant.

“We are scaling our 2.5 metric tonnes to 22.5 metric tonnes; an additional 20 metric tonnes per hour will be established very soon.

“The 2.5 metric tonnes mill had some technical challenges right now and it is being fixed; the same Mexican contracting firm (San Carlos Ltd.) is also building the 20 metric tonnes for a start.

“That is going to attract other investors to come on board, to make sure that we do not consume imported rice in Lagos anymore,’’ Okanlawon said.

Community involvement in governance speeds development – IPC Eleazar Nwanti

T

he Director of the International Press Center (IPC) Lagos, Mr. Lanre Arogundade has urged communities to participate actively in governance as a strategy to speed up development.

He made the call at a public presentation and launch of Community Development Charter (CDC) for Boshoa, Orile Shomolu and Araromi Odo communities of Shomolu Local Government Areas (LGA) in Lagos state.

CDC is sponsored by UKaid, Actionaid and SCEEP (Strengthening Citizen Engagement in Election Process), and is aimed at empowering the community to be able challenge the elected officers over service provision in the community.

Mr. Arogundede, in his speech, stated that CDC has taken place in some other states across the country and it enhances the involvement of the community with community governance.

He said: “CDC has been organised in some other LGAs in Lagos State and some other States in the country. It brings the members of the community closer to governance in the community.

“We have orgarnised

CDC in Ikorodu, Amuwo Odofin, Ifako-Ijayi and others. The criterion for choosing these communities are that we look at communities that are more backward in development and focus on them. Some of the communities identified security as their major problem and others poor drainage system,” he added.

Speaking on the theme, “Enhancing Grassroot Developement: Putting Girls and Women in the Equation,” the key note speaker, Mrs. Ada Agina-Ude, who is the Executive Director Gender and Development, outlined two important reasons why the community should watch over the activities of their elected leaders in the community.

She said: “Elected leaders at the community level are responsible for providing amenities that affect us directly on daily basis, such as maintenance of local roads and provision of health care in the community.”

Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

O

yo State Coordinator of the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), Mrs. Stella Akinso has advocated strict adherence to family planning policy as a potent means of reducing fertility rates and

WEDNESDAY, JUly 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ajimobi gets 15-day ultimatum to pay workers’ salaries Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

T

he Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUCN), Oyo State chapter, has given President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Abiola Ajimobi 15days ultimatum to pay the backlog of salaries of the Oyo State workers being owed by the government.

Led by Comrade Emelieze Andrew, the union at a press briefing held in Ibadan, also asked the President to urgently declare a state of emergency on the nation’s economy,

as state and federal workers, as well as residents of the state, were suffering beyond expectation.

According to Emelieze, “the labour centre has patiently watched the nonchalant attitude of the State government on the issue of salary payment in Oyo State which has made the salary piled up to six months due to government’s unrepentant disposition in this regard.

The labour centre is very sad with the financial embarrassment the situation has caused civil servants in the State, coupled with the harsh and unfriendly economic policies of the

national government in Nigeria, a situation that has turned high percentage of civil servant in the State to be financially impotent”.

He noted that the union had employed several diplomatic measures to make the State government responsive to its statutory task of paying salaries, “but that the government had employed deceitful measures of claiming before the general public that it has set up a committee with the labour centres in the State to look at its accounts and propose alternative way of solving the humiliating financial

state of toiling State workers.

“The trade union congress in the State has started to lobby philanthropists and religious bodies for support with food materials to cushion the effect of this nonpayment of salaries on the State workers. We therefore call on well-meaning Nigerians and international communities to come to the rescue of Oyo State civil servants for the government to pay their salaries as a high percentage of people in the State have been turned to beggars and food robbers, to say the least.”

L-R: Oyo State Deputy Governor, Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo; Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sadanobu Kusaoke; Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji; Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Japan-based Oyo indigene, Mr. Bobby Ologun; and a Director, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Opeyemi Ariba ,during the handing over of one of the school projects built by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency across the state, in Ibadan... on Monday

O

yo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has lauded the Japanese Government for committing about N2billion to the construction of classrooms, renovation and equipment of 30 public primary schools across the state, through its donor organisation, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The governor was effusive with his commendation for the gesture during the symbolic handing over of one of the completed schools, St. Luke’s Demonstration School, Molete, Ibadan, on Monday.

On hand to witness the colorful ceremony were the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sadanobu Kusaoke; Chief Representative of JICA, Nigeria Office, Mr. Hirotaka Nakamura; a Director in

Gov lauds Japan over N2bn classrooms projects for Oyo the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Opeyemi Ariba, who represented the Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu; Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; and top officials of the State government.

The governor used the opportunity to call on indigenes of the State living within and outside the country to emulate the patriotic conduct of an indigene of the state living in

133

The sex ratio of international migrants of women to 100 men of Cyprus in 2010.

Source: Un.org

Japan, Mr. Bobby Ologun, who facilitated the projects to his birthplace.

Ajimobi stressed that the present administration believes in public-private partnership in education management in its aspiration to raise the standard of education and secure the future of the young generation.

“Our administration has anchored the progress of education on joint

£1.07bn

The total value of Liverpool in 2016.

Source: Goal.com

efforts of the government and the general public in view of the prevailing financial challenges in the country. As we already know, education is a social service that cannot be ignored by all.

“We appreciate the government of Japan for helping us to develop our future leaders by this gesture and, by extension, in assisting us to realise part of our lofty goals of providing a conducive learning environments for our students.

“This gesture, no doubt, will improve the standard of education in our state and set a new target for the government and people of Nigeria.”

How family planning reduces population explosion, by NURHI removing poverty which has stunted the nation’s socio-economic growth.

Akinso made the recommendation in Ibadan yesterday during a roundtable meeting with media executives on family planning and the need to provide opportunity to support

advocacy towards enhancing increased coverage of family planning related issues. The programme organised in conjunction with DevComs, which its Consultant Bolaji Adepegba, spoke on the “Need for reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality

in Nigeria”, was themed: “Family Planning: Key to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDGS).

“Movements toward increased global access to family planning are essential to slowing the global population growth that makes development

goals difficult if not impossible to achieve.

Among the many positive steps that can be taken to slow population growth are preventing child marriage, enhancing women’s empower and encouraging smaller families,” Akinso said.

News|south-EAST

WEDNESDAY, JUly 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Son relieves how father, sister were roasted alive by Boko Haram Okegwo Kenechukwu, Onitsha

T

hree months after his father and pastor, Kenneth Mbah and younger sister, Adaugo, were roasted alive

by Boko Haram terrorists in Kano, John yesterday relieved the horror and concluded that his life never remained the same again.

John’s father and his sister were killed and

burnt alive in a church by the Boko Haram in Dadawa, an outskirt of Sabongari in Kano on April 30.

According to John, who escaped death by a whisker the deceased father and the sister were killed in the church, Discipleship Ministries owed by their family.

The incident, according to him, occurred at about 2:00am.

He said: “While we were in the church praying, they stormed the premises and

ordered us to renounce our Christian faith or be killed.

“As my father was about to beg them to allow him to be with his faith, they set him ablaze with fuel they were carrying and my sister, Adaugo Kenneth, rushed to him to stop the inferno, they poured fuel on her too and because their attention was on the fire, my elder brother, Nnamdi M. Kenneth and I, retreated to the inner apartment and as they were ordering us to come

out, we knew it was our turn to be killed and we escaped through the window.”

“As we were running in different directions, I heard my father and sister crying in pains but I have no choice than to save my life first and since that incident till date I have not set my eyes on my elder brother, Nnamdi M Kenneth, who I have gathered ran to Florida, U.S.A, for safety while I am here in Anambra State.”

Abia elders back Ikpeazu, fault court judgement

P

rominent political leaders, elder statesmen and traditional rulers from Abia State, yesterday rose from a meeting in Abuja and threw their weight behind Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, over what they described as an ‘unfortunate crisis surrounding his mandate.’

The meeting, which was hosted under the aegis of Concerned Abia Elders by former National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, had in attendance three senators representing Abia State in the National Assembly,

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left), with the General Superintendent, Deeper Life Bible Church, Rev. Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Enugu… yesterday.

Umahi’s wife seeks end to female genital mutilation Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

W

ife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs. Rachael Umahi, yesterday flagged off the campaign against female genital mutilation in the state.

Speaking on the occasion at the Women Development Centre (WDC), Abakaliki, Mrs Umahi described female genital mutilation as a harmful traditional practice against womanhood,which must be put to an end.

She said: “We can’t con-

tinue to live in the dark age at the detriment of our women in the name of female circumcision or genital mutilation.

“Our women have suffered in the traditional harmful practices against them and we must stop it, we must wage serious war against such practice.

“A situation where women reproductive organs are butchered in the name of cultural practices is no longer unacceptable.’’

She noted that the state which ranked second with 74 per cent after Osun State with

the prevalent ‘harmful practice’ of female genital mutilation propelled her campaign against such practice through her pet project, Family Succour and Upliftment Programme.

This, Umahi said she would take the battle to the state House of Assembly with a view to amending a pending law against mutilation of female genital.

Earlier, the state Chief Judge, Justice Alloy Nwankwo, who was represented on the occasion

by Justice Destina Oko of Onueke High Court, said no perpetrators would be

Army offers 2000 Enugu residents free medical service Kenneth Ofoma ENUGU

T

he Eighty-two Division of the nations’ army, in Enugu has offered free medical treatment to no fewer than 2000 residents of the state to commemorate this year’s Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2016.

Besides, the 82 division embarked on environmental sanitation exercise within the Enugu metropolis and environs with a view to making the celebration

a remarkable event.

In a release signed by Captain P. E. Okoye on behalf of the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, and made available to journalists yesterday in Enugu, all categories of people within the state immensely benefitted from the medical exercise.

It reads: “The exercise is in line with the Nigerian Army compassion for offering humanitarian ser-

vices in the health sector to communities around its barracks and environ. The main event which is scheduled to hold on 6th July 2016, motivated the sanitation exercise, free medical outreach among a series of other activities earmarked for the occasion.”

The army, in the release said the activities would provide the usual platform to further strengthen the long standing civil military relations between 82 Division of the Nigerian Army and its host communities.

spared as anyone caught will be sent to a prison term of five years imprisonment with option of N2, 000 fines.

This, according to her would be made a routine as the judiciary was ready to partner with the governor’s wife to curb female circumcision in the state.

815.16

The total number of NSE Pension Index of the Nigerian Stock Exchange as at Q4 2015.

Source: Nigerian Stock Exchange

-0.7%

The annual population growth rate of Republic of Moldova in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

Ugwuanyi, Kumuyi offer prayers for Nigeria’s economy G overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has sought special prayers for God’s intervention over the nation’s dwindling economic and social challenges, asking for divine wisdom, power and courage to continue to discharge his responsibilities effectively.

The governor spoke while receiving the Founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry Worldwide, Pastor William F. Kumuyi and his entourage, who were at the Government House, Enugu on a courtesy visit to inform him of the Ministry’s Leadership conference holding in the state.

According to the gover-

41

nor, the conference which was an opportunity to represent to God, the challenges facing the country under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Enugu State under his leadership, would serve as a platform to seek for God’s mercy.

While urging members of the church to continue to remember Enugu State and the nation in general in prayers, Ugwuanyi who reaffirmed his belief in the miracle of five loaves and two fish, expressed optimism that “miracles will begin to happen at the end of your stay here.”

He said: “God our Father, all authority comes from you and you give leaders wisdom with which to govern your people.”

members of the House of Representatives and other notable leaders from Abia State.

The state has been thrown into uncertainty and confusion, capable of snowballing into full scale unrest, anarchy and bloodshed in the aftermath of a controversial judgement delivered by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, last week, faulting Ikpeazu’s election on contentious grounds.

In a communique , Abia elders, a pioneer Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and former governorship candidate in Abia State, Chief Onyema Ugochuku, faulted the judgement, describing it as perverse and reckless.

Group warns IPOB over attempt to blackmail ex-gov Peter Obi Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

A

social-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, yesterday warned the leaders of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to halt further attempt to drag former Governor Peter Obi’s name to the mud.

Miffed by the allegation that the former governor had threatened to kill IPOB’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council’s Chairman in Ebonyi state, Mazi Alex Okemiri, said the allegation was the handiwork of detractors’ plan to cause disaffection among Ndigbo.

Addressing reporters in Abakaliki yesterday, Okemiri said “I was present at the occasion at Eke in Udi Local Government of Enugu State during the reception for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Ambassador Onyeama and Chief Osita Okechukwu, respectively.

“And at no point did the former governor of Anambra State in the person of Mr. Peter Obi threatened to kill Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who is now in prison custody nor did he (Peter Obi) speak at the occasion, so, I wonder where the group got the information.”

However, Okemiri described the allegation as the handiwork of mischief makers and enemies of the former governor, who were out to smear the image of the governor and tarnish his political profile.

42

NEWS | south-south

wednesday, july 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

ASUU threatens exams boycott over unpaid salaries in Delta Dominic Adewole Asaba

T

he Delta State chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday threatened to boycott the forthcoming universities’ general examinations billed to take place in two weeks’ time, if their backlog of salaries were not paid.

The union is also angry with the Delta State Government over the lack of conducive learning environment in the government-owned universities. The union said the state government has refused to pay the union members’ salaries for May and June 2016 and the staff promotional arrears for 2014 and 2015.

Addressing journalists in Abraka, ASUU Chairman in the state, Prof. Abel Diapkaromre, wondered why the state was sliding towards disharmony with the union.

While Diapkaromre said the non-payment would not disrupt the

forthcoming examination, he said members of staff, who has no place to borrow money to carry out their primary assignments, may not participate in the exercise.

He said: “Despite the refusal to pay salaries, members of staff of the university are still carrying out their responsibilities, but the zeal is gradually grinding to a halt.

Since job motivation is lacking, the staff may no longer able to effectively

attend to their duties.”

He lamented that staff travel long distances to work daily because of lack of accommodation within the campus.

“Being a multi-campus institution, DELSU lecturers shuttles between Abraka, Asaba and Oleh campuses and the University Teaching Hospital, Oghara without pay,” Diapkaromre said.

The ASUU boss, who said in other climes university workers were

treated with utmost care and tenderness, regret that staff of the Delta State University ‘wallow in an unfortunate trend.’

He said before the delay in payment of salaries leads to brain drain, many lecturers at the university have considered traveling abroad for greener pastures.

According to Diapkaromre, the participation of the members of staff in the general university examination

Wike: Voters must have their say in elections Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

R

ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that the will of the people must prevail in elections through their direct participation in voting for the candidates of their choice.

The governor, who spoke when the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Felix Obuah, its chairman, paid him a

solidarity visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt, also described Rivers as a PDP state, which militarisation cannot change.

He declared that the PDP will continue to win elections in the state, stressing his readiness to support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all security agencies to conduct peaceful elections.

He said: "Rivers State is a traditional PDP state. If they like, let

them bring the American marines or the American Navy Seals, PDP will win in Rivers State.

"I hear they are all in Abuja. All we want is free and fair elections.

We are ready for the elections. They should not do the elections to massage the ego of an individual.

"You don't dash mandate. You don't allocate mandate. The people must be allowed to choose who they will give their mandate to."

Calabar

A

Cross River High Court, sitting in Calabar, on Monday, granted an absolute order to an oil company, Sidpet Oil and Chemical Company Limited, to seize all monies in the three bank accounts operated

by Mirage Investment, a hotel owned and operated

by Chief Edem Duke, immediate past Minister of Culture and Tourism.

The court order was sequel to an application brought before it by Sidpet, which claimed that the hotel owed it N50 million, being money for the supply of diesel for one year.

According to Sidpet Oil, despite a court judgement in October, 2015, which or-

Gabriel Efeduku Ughelli

T

he Ijaw nation in Delta State yesterday kicked against the alleged plan by the Federal Government to convert the Navy College, Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area of the state to a Navy Maritime University, calling on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, to urgently wade into the matter.

Speaking through Sheriff Mulade, the Ijaw accused the federal and

F

dered the hotel to pay her for services rendered, no effort had been made towards defraying the debt.

Justice Emmanuel Ayade, who granted the order, said he was surprised that a hotel of Mirage status could owe for diesel for such a long period of time without payment, even after a court judgment had been obtained by its creditor.

“How can this court believe that a hotel of the magnitude of Mirage has no money to pay for diesel and it has not liquidated?

It is really unfortunate,” Justice Ayade said while granting the order.

Earlier, counsel to Sipet Oil, Eric Utang, had told the court that its order to garnishee accounts of the judgement creditor, was served on three banks where Mirage Investment

accounts are domiciled and appealed to the court to grant the absolute order to enable his client retrieve their money as it was clear the debtor company was not willing to pay or enter into negotiations with its creditor on how to settle the debt.

But after summing up the cumulative amounts in the three banks, GTB, UBA and First Bank Plc, which agreed that Mirage Investment has accounts with them, it was discovered that not up to N200, 000 accrue therein.

“First Bank Plc, which is the first garnishee respondent deposed to an affidavit on the 1st of July, 2016 and showed cause that it holds three corporate accounts of the debtor company and that there are outstanding sums in the three

accounts amounting to about N451, 000. But the bank has reserved its rights to withhold the sum in these three accounts because the judgment debtor is also indebted to it and to that extent, there is no fund to be paid out and we take that in good faith,” Utang told the court.

Also, the court discovered that in Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), where the company has two accounts, were found to be dormant and with less than N10, 000 in both accounts; while at the United Bank for Africa, the judgment debtor has just N150, 000.

10.37m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Australia in 2004.

Source: Itu.int

state governments of systematically and politically trying to block the commencement of academic activities at the Okerenkoko specialised varsity.

While accusing successive administrations of bias against the developmental needs of the Ijaw nation, he urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to toe a different line by ensuring that the area laying the proverbial golden eggs is developed to give a sense of belonging to the people.

Onaiwu picks APGA governorship ticket in Edo

BENIN

Court freezes ex-minister’s hotel accounts over debts

bilities, the unions will protect their members against any attempt by either the university administration or government to prefer charges against them for dereliction of duty because nobody can work on an empty stomach and the Bible enjoins the employer to pay the employees, because the labourer deserves his wages.”

Ijaw kick against relocation of Maritime Varsity

Cajetan Mmuta

L-R: Edo State gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, and the Akwa Ibom State, PDP Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo, at the flag-off of the governorship campaign of the party in Benin City … yesterday.

Clement James

slated for the next two weeks could no longer be guaranteed by the unions as well as members going to work from next week, if salaries are not paid within the stipulated period.

“We wish to categorically state that in the event of members inability to participate in the examination or discharge their responsi-

ormer Director General of the Peoples Democratic Party Governor’s Forum, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu, has been picked as the governorship candidate of the All Progress Grand Alliance (APGA) in Edo State.

He emerged the candidate of the party with 372 votes.

This was as the factional candidate of the PDP under the Ali Modu Sheriff leadership for the September 10 governorship election in the state, Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, has chosen the former National

Women leader of the PDP, Herbetta Okonofua, as his running mate for the governorship election.

Onaiwu was among the governorship aspirants of the PDP, but pulled out of the race few weeks to the party primaries, following alleged plans to rig the primaries in favour of one of the aspirants.

The APGA candidate told newsmen yesterday in Benin, the state capital, that he would soon embark on his campaigns next wek.

He said: “I am willing to serve my people and we have come up with our four pillars, which is security, trade and commerce, agriculture and industrialisation."

Akwa Ibom to give lifeline to council areas Tony Anichebe

Uyo

A

kwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, yesterday said plans are underway to give local government councils in the state a lifeline to enable the third tier of government break even in its programmes.

Governor Emmanuel spoke at the inauguration of Transition Committee Chairmen for local government councils at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Uyo. He said in view of

the prevalent economic situation in the country, the state would inject economic stimuli to reduce the hardship in the system and directed the Ministry of Finance to commence disbursement of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) loans to the people to boost their businesses.

He charged the newly inaugurated council chairmen to deliver quality services in their respective councils and proof their mettle by deploying a high level of probity in the administration of the councils.

News|NORTH

WEDNESDAY, JUly 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

43

Kebbi to compensate flood victims

Benue lawmakers desert Assembly over alleged N750m fraud

Abubakar Abdul

T

Birnin Kebbbi

F

ollowing yesterday’s early morning downpour that ravaged Birnin Kebbi and left in its trail flooding in most of residential and public places, the state governor, Senator Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, has pledged to assist and compensate the victims of the flood.

He stated this yesterday during the inspection of the scene of the flood at the Bayankara area, pledging that the government would assist the affected victims to regain whatever they had lost in terms of property.

“Those affected by the flood should write their names with the Commissioner of Lands and Housing in order to ensure that they are compensated by the state government,” he added.

But, an eye witness and one of the affected persons at the Bayankara area, who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, lamented the way and manner in which the contractor handling the road construction removed the drainage without linking or re-channelling them.

Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

hirty lawmakers in the Benue State House of Assembly, representing various constituencies in the three senatorial districts of the state, have deserted the Assembly following allegation of N750 million car scandals rocking the House.

When New Telegraph visited the Assembly on Monday, it was discovered that the “Honourable lawmakers’ were not on their seats, while some were said to have

been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the scam.

A member of staff of the Assembly, who pleaded anonymity, however, confided in New Telegraph that the legislators were on the run following the arrest of the Speaker, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, his Deputy, James Okefe and the Majority Leader by the EFCC. “Most of the lawmakers have not been coming to the House Assembly premises for about two weeks now. I am sure you

Jos

T

he member representing Jos South/ Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the National Assembly, Hon. Edward Pwajok, yesterday promised not to disappoint his constituency, vowing to be just and fair in dealing with the less privileged in the society.

Pwajok spoke while addressing his constituents in a mini-reception organised in his honour after his confirmation as Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

PHOTO: NAN

He appreciated Senator Jonah Jang and late former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Chief Michael Bot-Mang, for paving way for him to get to the exalted position in the law profession, adding that it was during their tenure that he applied for SAN. The lawmaker, who served as the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice I Plateau State during the administration of late Bot-Mang and Senator Jang, said he is the only SAN in the House of Representatives and pledged to use the position to serve Nigeria and Plateau State effectively.

According to him, “In

2011, I applied for SAN and was invited, but my name was not published, I was told that my name was omitted, but I remained patient, though I was qualified. I had all the requirements. The minimum requirement is six Supreme Court judgements, six Court of Appeal judgements and 10 High Court judgements before you can apply and I have more than that.

“I was the only person who applied from Plateau State; many did not apply because they do not have the minimum requirement. I got the requirements because of the confidence that people have on me.”

Lalong mourns, laments journalist’s death Musa Pam Jos

G

overnor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has mourned the untimely death of a Correspondent of the Verbatim Magazine in the state, Mr. Enenche Adikwu, describing it as painful and a great loss to the state and media industry.

The governor, who lamented that his death

thrown the entire House into deep seated crisis.

Already, principal officers of the House including the Speaker, Hon. Ikyange, his Deputy, Hon. Okefe; Majority Leader, Adanyi and the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Nick Eworo, among others have been arrested by the anti-graft agency for allegedly perpetrating high level corruption in the House.

It was gathered that another set of lawmakers, who were said to have been arrested over the weekend by the Commission, are currently being interrogated over the scam.

Some parts of Bayan Kara Village which was flooded after heavy rainfall, in Birnin Kebbi…yesterday.

I‘ll not disappoint Plateau people – Pwajok Musa Pam

are aware of the arrest of the Speaker and some principal officers of the House. The members are afraid of also being picked by the EFCC,” the staff who pleaded anonymity said.

Investigation by New Telegraph has revealed that the legislators had traded accusations among themselves over who is embroiled in the scam were members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, who were said to be increasingly unhappy with their counterparts in the ruling party over the sharing of the vehicle funds, a situation that had now

came at the time that the state needed him most, expressed the deep grief when he visited the state’s Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) yesterday to condole with the council over the demised of one of its member, who died on Sunday after a brief illness.

Lalong, who was represented by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Samuel Emmanuel Nanle, said the late Adik-

wu was a professional journalist, whose contribution to national development through the print media would be greatly missed by the government and the entire people of the state.

Nanle, who was accompanied on the condolence visit by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr. Mark Longyen described the late reporter “as a humble man.”

But a source close to the Speaker, however, hinted that a marathon meeting was held with the governor at the Government House on Monday, where arrangements to release the embattled lawmakers were perfected.

New Telegraph also gathered that as a result of the scandal, the House had been forced to proceed on compulsory recess, which the Chief Press to the Speaker, Mr. Bem Abunde claimed, was as a result of the ongoing renovation work at the House of Assembly complex.

There are clear indications that the embattled lawmakers including principal officers might be impeached as their colleagues were reportedly making discreet moves to that effect immediately the dust settled.

Piqued by the development, Ortom was said to have thrown his support behind the EFCC, because the governor had earlier warned his appointees to steer clear of all form of corrupt acts.

The governor, who had also declared zero tolerance for corruption, was said to have sacked one of his aides over his involvement in financial impropriety.

Kogi uncovers 9,000 ghost workers Muhammad Bashir Lokoja

K

ogi State Government has said it has discovered a staggering 9,000 ghost workers in the state’s civil service.

The Chairman, Screening Committee of the Kogi State civil service, Mr. Henry Agbaji, who disclosed this, said that the over 9,000 workers in the state failed to appear for the just concluded civil servants screening exercise.

Agbaji spoke during a stakeholders’ meeting in Government House, Lokoja yesterday, where he noted that apart from pensioners, a total of 9,720

expected workers across the state did not show up for the screening exercise, thus identifying them as ghost workers.

He argued that the figure had greatly reduced the workforce after the screening, even as he pointed out that during the discharge of its assignment, the committee screened over 81,000 members of staff and pensioners in the state and Local Government Councils in line with the government’s determination to clean up the system and avail itself the actual number of staff in its payroll.

Agbaji hinted that a total of 25,208 forms were issued across the 21 councils of the state, of which 22,272

presented for the screening exercise, while 2,936 presumed to be workers failed to appear before the committee for the exercise, saying that “they were considered as ghost workers in the state.

He, however, noted that of the 25,662 primary school teachers issued the screening forms, no fewer than 22,608 appeared for the exercise, even as he explained that the 3,054 teachers, who did not show up for the exercise are ghost workers.

According to the chairman of the committee, some of the workers had cases ranging from forged certificates, lack of Bank Verification Number (BVN) and issues with their statement of accounts.

177, 000 children die of pneumonia in yearly in Nigeria Nankpah Bwakan BAUCHI

T

he Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Agency (BSPHA), Mr. Adamu Ibrahim Gamawa, a Pharmacist, said yesterday that no fewer than 177,000 Nigerian children under five years old die annually from pneumococcal diseases.

He disclosed this dur-

ing a stakeholders’ meeting, held at the Emergency Response Centre (ERC) in Bauchi, the state capital, organised to kick-off the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PVC) across 16 states of the federation later this month.

According to Adamu, the vaccine was aimed at tackling the diseases caused by a bacterium called ‘Streptococcus Pneumonia’.

He listed some of the diseases caused by the organism to include Pneumonia, Meningitis, Bacteraemia, Middle Ear Infection (Otitis media), Sinusitis and Bronchitis in children.

Adamu, who hinted that reports indicated that Nigeria ranked among 10 countries in the world where children under five years were at a great risk of dying from Pneumococcal diseases.

44

WORLD \ NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

FBI won’t recommend charges against Hillary Clinton

F

BI Director James Comey said yesterday that he would not re c o m m e n d charges against Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server while she

was secretary of state but that Clinton and her aides were “extremely careless” handling classified information.

“Our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor

would bring such a case,” Comey said.

“Although we did not find clear evidence” of intentional misconduct, he added, “There is evidence that they were extremely

careless of very sensitive, highly classified infor mation.”

Comey said neither the Department of Justice nor the White House knew what he was going to announce

yesterday, and said the FBI investigation it was nearing its end.

Meanwhile, yesterday, Mrs Clinton and President Barack Obama will campaign together in North Carolina.

EgyptAir voice recorder indicates attempt to put out fire before crash

A Turkey’s President Erdogan in prayers with others for the victims at the airport.

11 Russians, 19 others charged over Istanbul airport attack

T

urkey has arrested and charged 17 more suspects - including 11 Russians - over the bombings which caused carnage at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport last month.

The arrests bring to 30 the total number held over the suicide assault, which killed 44 people and injured 240.

Turkey believes so-called Is-

lamic State (IS) was behind the attack. A Russian from the North Caucasus, an Uzbek and a Kyrgyz were identified as the bombers. The suspects are accused of involvement in terrorism, Dogan news agency says.

Thirteen, including three foreigners, were charged on Sunday.

The organiser of the at-

tack has been named by Turkish media as Akhmed Chatayev, a Chechen believed to have acted as an IS recruiter.

It is not clear where he is now. The Russian news website Kommersant says he has Austrian refugee status and that he lost an arm during fighting in Russia’s troubled North Caucasus.

Saudi clerics denounce attack on Prophet’s Mosque

S

audi Arabia’s highest religious body has denounced the three suicide attacks in the kingdom on Monday, including one near Islam’s second holiest site. The Senior Council of Ulema said the bombers had “violated everything that is sacred”.

Four guards were killed near the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, while only the bombers died in Jeddah and Qatif.

No group has yet said it was behind the attacks, but suspicion has fallen on so-called Islamic State (IS). The Sunni Muslim jihadist group has called for the overthrow of the Saudi monarchy and its supporters have previously carried out bombings in the Gulf state, targeting the Shia minority community and security forces. IS has also claimed, or been blamed for, a series of deadly attacks in the predominantly Muslim countries of Turkey, Bangladesh and Iraq during the holy month of Ramadan.

In Monday’s first bombing, two security officers were wounded when a man detonated an explosive vest he was wearing near the US consulate in the coastal city

of Jeddah shortly after midnight. An interior ministry spokesman identified the assailant as a 35-year-old Pakistani expatriate called Abdullah Qalzar Khan, who it said had worked as a private driver in Jeddah for 12 years.

The second attack took place near dusk outside a Shia mosque in the mainly Shia eastern city of Qatif.

A resident told the Reuters news agency that there were believed to be no casualties apart from the bomber, as worshippers had already left to break their daylight Ramadan fasts.

However, the interior ministry spokesman said the remains of three people had been found and were being identified, without providing any details. Not long afterwards, another bomber struck near the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina where thousands of worshippers had gathered for the Maghrib prayers.

“Security men suspected a person while he was heading to the mosque - where the Prophet Muhammad is buried - through a vacant lot of land used as a parking space for visitors’ cars,” the interior ministry spokesman

said. “When they intercepted him, he blew himself by an explosive belt, which resulted in his death, martyrdom of four security men, and injury of five other security men. Yesterday morning, the Senior Council of Ulema issued a statement saying those behind the three attacks, whom it described as “renegades”, “have no respect for any sanctity and they have no religion or conscience”.

The head of the Shura Council, the kingdom’s main advisory body, said the attack was “unprecedented”. “This crime, which causes goosebumps, could not have been perpetrated by someone who had an atom of belief in his heart,” Abdullah al-Sheikh said. The Grand Sheikh of Cairo’s al-Azhar University, the leading religious institute in the Sunni Muslim world, also stressed “the sanctity of the houses of God, especially the Prophet’s Mosque”.

The foreign minister of Shia power Iran, Saudi Arabia’s main regional rival, wrote on Twitter: “There are no more red lines left for terrorists to cross. Sunnis, Shiites will both remain victims unless we stand united as one. #Medina.”

udio from the flight deck voice recorder of EgyptAir MS804 indicates an attempt to put out a fire on board the jet before it crashed into the Mediterranean, sources on the investigation committee said yesterday.

The Airbus A320 plunged into the eastern Mediterranean en route from Paris to Cairo on May 19. All 66 people on board were killed. The cause of the crash remains unknown.

Earlier analysis of the plane’s flight data recorder showed there had been smoke in the lavatory and avionics bay while recovered wreckage from the jet’s front sec-

tion showed signs of high temperature damage and soot. The flight deck recorder, taken to Cairo this week after being repaired at laboratories belonging to France’s BEA aircraft accident agency, further indicate that a fire took hold of the plane in its final moments, the sources said.

The recordings usually capture pilot conversations and any cockpit alarms, as well as clues such as engine noise. Investigators are to conduct further analysis on the voices contained in the recordings and have not yet ruled out any possibilities as to what caused the crash, the sources said.

Conservative leadership race: First round of voting underway

C

onservative MPs have begun the process of choosing their next leader and UK prime minister, with the first round of voting in the contest taking place. Theresa May begins the contest with the most number of MPs declaring support.

But energy minister Andrea Leadsom, who won Boris Johnson’s backing on Monday, Michael Gove, Stephen Crabb and Liam Fox also hope to succeed David Cameron.

Party members will choose from the two backed by most Tory MPs, with the winner due to be named on 9 September.

The Conservative Party’s 330 MPs have until 18:00 BST to cast their votes, with the results expected at about 19:00 BST, when the poorest performing candidate will be

eliminated. The vote is taking place behind closed doors in Parliament’s Committee Corridor, with senior Conservative MP Charles Walker overseeing proceedings. Further rounds will take place on Thursday and the following Tuesday until two candidates remain.

Monday the candidates were given the chance to make their cases to be the next Conservative leader during a parliamentary hustings.

During the meeting, Mrs May is understood to have repeated her view that the status of EU nationals currently in Britain would form part of negotiations ahead of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU. Mr. Gove, Mr. Fox, Mrs Leadsom and Mr Crabb, have said EU citizens should have their right to stay in the UK protected.

Mandela’s family angered by South Africa’s election advert

T

he Mandela family has reacted angrily after the former South African leader’s voice was used in an election advert for the country’s main opposition. In the ad, posted on YouTube, a young woman is in a polling booth considering voting for the governing ANC. As Nelson Mandela’s voice is heard calling for justice, peace, work and bread, she then decides to vote for the Democratic Alliance (DA) instead. Chief Mandla Mandela accused the DA of abusing his grandfather’s name. “The DA is doing it to benefit a party which Mandela was not a member of,” he told the ANN7 news network.

In other comments, Mandla Mandela, who is himself a member of parliament for the African National Congress (ANC), said the DA was seeking to “preserve

white privilege” and demanded the ad be withdrawn.

The DA has defended using the voice of the former president, who was a long-standing ANC member, saying “this great man stood for a non-racial South Africa”. “The DA is the only party able to take South Africa to the non-racial future it needs.

To say that Mandela does not belong to all South Africans is atrocious,” said spokesperson Refiloe Nt’sekhe.

The DA has based its electoral campaign around promises to fight corruption and improve the country’s economic prospects.

But it has faced criticism in the South African media in recent weeks over racist remarks made by its members. South Africans will vote next month in what are expected to be closely contested municipal elections.

45

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sport News

Did you know?

46

Sport Politicians hijack NFF’s search for Eagles’ coach ITTF Rankings: Quadri remains Africa’s best

That Portugal was the only country in the last four of the EURO 2016 yet to win a match in regulation time of all their matches so far

International

Man United job now reality - Mourinho

47

Westerhof, Bonfrere, others lobby through influential Nigerians Technical committee insists on Wednesday’s deadline

Adekunle Salami

T

he search for a Super Eagles coach has taken a rather frightening twist in the

Westerhof

Bonfrere

past few days as influential Nigerians especially politicians are disrupting the process as they lobby on behalf of various applicants for the plum job.

New Telegraph can reveal authoritatively that some of the applicants are relying on ‘people in high places’ to become the next coach of the Super Eagles.

Initially, it was a case of influential people calling the PresPinnick ident of The Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, appealing to him to favour their candidates.

However, our correspondent can reveal that the situation has degenerated to a level that Pinnick and some other top members of the federation are currently being threatened by various interested people.

“The situation is so tense at the moment. The delay is

Green

due to many factors and one of them is the immense pressure from people who don’t know anything about football but they have candidates for the job. Only people close to the federation will know some of these undercurrents.

“For example, I can confirm to you that some of these people issue threats on this development even with death,” our source re-

vealed.

Our correspondent reliably learnt that two former Eagles handlers; Clemens Westerhof and Johannes Bonfrere are among those lobbying influential people to get the job.

Those campaigning for the two Dutchmen argued that Nigerians enjoyed the best of football results under them. Bofrere led Nigeria to clinch the

Olympic gold medal in Atlanta 1996 while Westerhof led the country to her first World Cup appearance in USA in 1994 after winning the Nations Cup same year in Tunisia.

“Those who were in charge of the team about 20 years ago are also struggling to return and so the pressure is just too much,”our source added.

Meanwhile the Chairman of the NFF’s Technical Committee, Chris Green, on Tuesday told our correspondent that the deadline for the submission of application will not be extended from today (Wednesday) despite the public holiday.

Green said the body was resolute in its quest to do the right things for the success of Nigerian football. The body is expected to reveal three names of shortlisted applicants on Friday.

“We have a pool of highly experienced people in our team and we are working hard to present the best applicants to the NFF,” Green noted.

Rio Olympics: U-23 Eagles in crisis 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

Funds, kits shortages cripple team in US Siasia blasts Iwobi’s father Ajibade Olusesan

N

ational U-23 team’s build-up to the Rio Olympics has continued to be dogged by crisis as activities of the side at their Unites States camp have been crippled by acute shortage of funds and kits.

New Telegraph learnt that the team travelled to the United States few days ago

without enough money as they operate on a lean purse with something as low as less than $1,000 on ground for the whole team.

Sources also confirmed that the team was without kits as the players were seen wearing different colours of jerseys including the one produced by former kits sponsors, Addidas, in flagrant disregard for the

terms of contract the Nigeria Football Federation entered into with current sponsors Nike.

Sources said Nike had supplied kits that the team would wear for the Olympics but the consignments were still lying at the ports as the federation was yet to come up with the sum of N6 milContinued on page 46

Siasia

Serena joins Venus in Wimbledon semis

Pg 47

46

SPORT NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

ITTF Rankings: Quadri remains Africa’s best Ajibade Olusesan

2

014 International Table Tennis Federation Star Player, Aruna Quadri, maintains his status as Africa’s best following the release of the July rankings by the world table tennis ruling body.

Despite dropping by a step to 38, Aruna Quadri who featured at the last Japan Open

garnered 2,337 points to beat Egypt’s Omar Assar to second place on the continent.

Quadri whose scintillating performance in his first season in the prestigious French Premier League is also rated 27 in the July men’s singles rankings for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Despite not been ac-

tive in June, Egypt’s Omar Assar dropped two steps to 41 in the world while veteran Segun Toriola also remained the third best player in Africa despite dropping to 122 from 110 in the latest rating.

For dropping from 91 to 98 in the world, Egypt’s Dina Meshref tops African ranking in the women category.

Quadri

U-23 Eagles in crisis

Nigerian league adopts FIFA transfer system Emmanuel Tobi

W

orld football governing body FIFA on Tuesday announced that the Nigeria Football Federation has become the first member association in Africa to implement the FIFA TMS Domestic Transfer Matching System.

The DTMS online platform, which includes league access, will allow the NFF and the Nigerian Professional Football League to manage their international and domestic transfers via one system. It is modelled on the International Transfer Matching System, which is provided to 211 FIFA member associations and 6,500 clubs around the world for the cross-border transfer of players.

The system will provide the NFF and its clubs throughout Nigeria the ability to manage national and international transfers on one platform, generate transfer activity reports and have greater monitoring levels to enhance transparency and governance. Additional FIFA member associations from the Confederation of African Football

are expected to implement the DTMS later this year.

The NFF’s adhesion to the system was facilitated by the custodians of the NPFL, the League Management Company. FIFA TMS developed the DTMS system in response to demand from FIFA member associations and clubs for a domestic transfer system based on ITMS.

Continued from page 45

lion import duty so that the goods will be cleared.

“They are yet to come up with the N6m and that is why the players wore different kind of attires when they were travelling. The Players are suffering, they have less than $1,000 with them in the US,” a source said.

However, coach Samson Siasia has blasted Arsenal star Alex Iwobi and his father for failing to keep the promises they made to him over the player’s participation at the Rio Olympics.

“Alex Iwobi is not coming. I tried to call his father, but he wasn’t picking my calls. He used to call me frequently when he wanted his son to play for the country, but now that we need him for the Olympics football tournament, he is not picking my calls,” lamented Siasia.

“But there is no problem, Alex remains my boy, I love him like my

Lead City Varsity partners Onigbinde on football

I

LMC chairman Shehu Dikko

Okocha unveils foundation in Lagos Dapo Sotuminu

T

he Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha Foundation was unveiled in Lagos on Tuesday in an elaborate ceremony attended by former teammates of the erstwhile Super Eagles captain supported by the former Delta State Commissioner for Sports, Chief Austin Izagbo.

In attendance were Peter Rufai, Augustine Eguavoen and Mutiu Adepoju.

The former Bolton Wanderers of England captain stated that, the Foundation was a dream come true as he knew that he had not done enough to give back to the country that made him the international figure he is today.

He noted that, the ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha Foundation that would be handled by his elder brother, Emmanuel, was aimed to give hope to the less privileged and ex-internationals that today have become

destitutes. “History will not forgive me if I don’t give back to the people as I believe I have not done enough for them.

“To get the project going smoothly, we have partnered with I-Naira. com which is the official auctioneer for the ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha Foun-

dation. This is important in the aspect of raising funds for the Foundation.

I will be selling my collections of football kits and memorabilia used during my career in all the clubs I played and those of the national teams from my Flying Eagles era to the Super Eagles.”

n a bid to address the apparent dwindling fortunes of of football in Nigeria, the Ibadan- based institution of higher lear ning, Lead City University, has concluded plans to establish an Institute for the development of football within its department of Physical and Health Education.

The Director of the proposed Institute and FIFA/CAF Advisor, Adeboye Onigbinde, explained that the project which was designed to create a new decent football culture for the nation would commence in two phases with establishment of the soccer academy

LaLiga Tour: Akas, Obaje, lead NPFL All Stars Charles Ogundiya

C

own son, but I am just disappointed that he and his father couldn’t keep the promises they made to me.”

Meanwhile, the coach has confirmed that Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi will feature at the games.

Siasia himself had raised fears over the availability of the Super Eagles captain as one of the overaged players for the Olympics in August but he has now confirmed Mikel will feature in Rio in August.

“Mikel has confirmed his availability,” Siasia stated.“We have some other players who have promised to join us and they have shown commitment like Wilfred Ndidi, who has assured us that he will join us in America.”

Watford striker Odion Ighalo, Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City and Alex Iwobi from Arsenal have opted out of the tournament after their clubs blocked them as the tournament is not on the FIFA calendar.

HAN Eagles captain, Chima Akas, and current leading scorer, Godwin Obaje, top the list of 32 players shortlisted by the League Management Company for the LaLiga Tour billed for August.

The NPFL All Stars are expected to play a pre-season friendly against Valencia CF and also participate in the annual Carranza LaLiga World Club Tournament in which they will play

against Malaga CF on August 12 and 13.

Other players are Emeka Nwabulu of El-Kanemi Warriors, Enyimba’s Theophilus Afelokhai, Ikechukwu Ezenwa who recently joined FC IfeanyIubah from Sunshine Stars and Okiemute Odah of Lobi Stars.

Rangers’ Matthew Etim, Ifeanyi Nweke of MFM, Gabriel Wassa of Niger Tornadoes and Enyimba’s captain, Chinedu Udoji are some of the defenders. The others

are Austin Obaroakpo of Abia Warriors, Kano Pillars’ Jamiu Alimi and Emmanuel Ariwa of Akwa United, Obinna Nwobodo of Rangers International, Otun Fawaz of Shooting Stars, Kano Pillars’ Rabiu Ali, among others.

All invited players are to report for the first phase of camping from July 11 to 18 while the second and final phase of the camping will open on August 1 leading to the team’s departure on August 8.

Akas

with special focus on football development as a basis for eventual career in football professionalism taking off first.

The second phase, according to Chief Onigbinde, comprises short-term and long-term football development certificate and diploma courses in various aspects of football management/ professionalism.

“This is the first of its kind in the academic environment, and we are not only going to prepare the youngsters for a football teams but taking care of their future through academic and vocational experiences,” he said.

INTERNATIONAL

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 NEW TELEGRAPH

Man United job now reality - Mourinho J “I

47

TOP MOURINHO QUOTES

ose Mourinho has claimed that becoming Manchester United manager is ‘not a dream job, it is reality’.

The 53-year-old, who was sacked as Chelsea boss in December, was appointed as Louis van Gaal’s successor in May on a three-year contract.

It was widely reported that Mourinho was keen to replace Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, but David Moyes was selected by the United

Mourinho

hierarchy and the Portuguese coach returned to Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho eventually landed the job at Old Trafford after Van Gaal was dismissed with one year remaining on his contract.

In his first press conference as United boss, Mourinho told reporters: “This is not a dream job, this is reality. I think it is a job that everyone wants and not many have a chance to have and

Serena joins Venus in Wimbledon semis

I have it and I know obviously the responsibility, the expectations.

“At the same time I know the legacy. I know what is behind me and the history of this club. I know what the fans expect from me and I think this challenge obviously doesn’t make me nervous because my history in the last 10 years or more was always to meet the expectations of big clubs.

S

D

iego Costa is preparing to stay put at Chelsea and fight for his place in a front two under Antonio Conte next season.

The new Chelsea manager’s first signing was Michy Batshuayi, whose £33million move from Marseille was confirmed on Sunday.

Chelsea are also looking to sign Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid but the Spanish club will want to double their money after activating the £23m buy-out in his contract at Juventus.

Graziano Pelle is another option at a cheaper price, though any offer from Chelsea could be blown out of the water with the Southampton striker attracting interest from the Chinese

Conte

Super League.

Conte used 3-5-2 at Juventus and Italy to great success and the Italian is expected to introduce it at Chelsea.

The 46-year-old is on holiday following the European Championship in France but will arrive at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground next week, with the players returning on Monday.

W

vs vs

Venus

are two of the best players on the planet who know each other very well. There won’t be any love lost on the evening for both teams, not just Gareth and Cristiano.

“I don’t think Balo will look at this and think he has to impress anyone just because of who the opposition is. We have to remember where Gareth has been, the games he has played, the stages he has performed on. He will see this as another big test.

Wales 8pm France 8pm

PEP GUARDIOLA

V

THURSDAY JULY 7 Germany

“M

anchester United for many years success was just routine and in this moment the last three years are to forget. I want the players to forget.

I don’t want the players to think we have to do better and finish fourth.

Finishing fourth is not the aim.”

Valencia sign Nani on three-year deal

EURO SEMIFINAL FIXTURES Portugal

MANCHESTER UNITED

Transfer

Euro 2016: No love lost between Bale, Ronaldo – Coleman ales manager Chris Coleman says there will be ‘no love lost’ between Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo when they face off for a place in the Euro 2016 final.

Bale and Portugal’s Ronaldo, the world’s most expensive players costing a combined £166million, have won two Champions League titles in three years together at Real Madrid and much is expected of them in Wednesday’s semi-final in Lyon.

Coleman said: “They

“T

ARSEN WENGER

here are some managers that the last time they won a title was 10 years ago. Some of them the last time they won a title was never. The last time I won a title was one year ago, not 10 years ago or 15 years ago so if I have a lot to prove, imagine the others.”

“T

Wimbledon after recording a 7-5 7-6 win over Simona Halep on Tuesday afternoon.

The world number four, who won the Au s t r a l i a n Open earlier this year, Serena came through a first set which incredibly saw nine breaks of serve. The vital break came at 5-6, however, as Kerber moved into a 7-5 lead in the match.

Halep managed to survive in the second set to force a tie-break, but it was Kerber that came through 7-2 to advance to the semi-finals of the Grand Slam in the English capital.

Costa to fight for place under Conte

was in trouble for the last five months: the first month (at Chelsea) was fine, the second month was not so good and after the second month it was a disaster.”

o speak about one manager (Pep Guardiola), one club, one enemy I don’t think it is right. In the Premier League it doesn’t make sense at all. If you focus on one opponent, the others will be laughing so I am not going to be part of it.”

Vesnina, Kerber also through to semifinal

ix-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams is back in the semifinals at the All England Club.

The top-seeded American beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court to reach the semifinals for the 10th time.

Williams will next face Elena Vesnina who defeated Dominika Cibulkova in straight sets.

Vesnina , the world number 50 needed less than 80 minutes to overcome her opponent 6-2 6-2 and reach the first Grand Slam semi-final of her career.

Earlier on Tuesday, Venus Williams beat Yarsoslava Shvedova 7-6 (5), 6-2, advancing to the final four at the All England Club for the first time since 2009 and first time at any major since the 2010 U.S. Open.

The two sisters could meet in the finals.

Meanwhile, Angelique Kerber has made the semi-finals of

CHELSEA

Coleman

alencia have signed former Manchester United winger Nani from Fenerbahce for an undisclosed fee.

On Monday, Stoke assistant Nani manager Paul Bowen said the Pot- three-year deal. ters were “interestNani joined Fened” in the 29-year- erbahce in 2015 on a old, who began his three-year contract. career at Sporting A Champions Lisbon.

League winner in But Valencia 2008, he made 46 aphave signed the Por- pearances for Fentugal international, erbahce last season, who is preparing scoring 12 goals as for Wednesday’s the club finished Euro 2016 semi-final second in the Turkagainst Wales, on a ish Super Lig.

Man City close on £40m Sane deal

M

anchester City are reportedly closing on a £40m deal for Schalke 04 attacker Leroy Sane.

The 20-year-old, who is currently on international duty with Germany at Euro 2016, is believed to be a leading transfer target for new Man City boss Pep Guardiola this summer.

It is understood that Schalke are keen to keep the youngster in their

ranks, but according to Manchester Evening News, a deal could soon be announced after the two clubs agreed on a price of £40m.

Sane

NEWS 48On Marble

When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.

– Edmund Burke

O

nly the uninitiated, uninformed and disinterested onlookers and bystanders are unaware that members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) will go to the polls on the 30th and 31st July 2016 to elect a new President and other Executive members to pilot its affairs for the next two years.

The Presidential candidates are on the campaign stump to different branches of the Association across all the States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The candidates for the various offices are on the social media canvassing for votes and selling their programmes to the electorate. The voters on their own part are exuding a new sense of fulfillment on account of the power of their votes.

The choices before the members of the Nigerian Bar Association are clear and unambiguous and admit to no complications. The times are unique and the challenges facing the profession are gargantuan. The Bar must elect a leader that has the capacity, the courage, the comportment, the temperament, the intellectual staying power, the honesty and integrity to respond to existing and emerging challenges.

The Nigerian Bar needs a leader that can usher in a Brave New Bar that will confront the challenges facing the Nigerian Bar Association and the Legal Profession as a whole. The Nigerian Bar Association needs a leader that is committed to the independence of the Bench and will lead the struggle for the enthronement of an independent bench that serves the interests of the Nigerian people and the rule of law.

The Bar has a responsibility to give to the Nigerian people a Bar leadership that will command the respect of the Nigerian people. That leader is AB Mahmoud, SAN. The July 30th and 31st 2016 elections of the Nigerian Bar Association are unique in several respects. The Bar Association will be conducting its elections through a process of universal suffrage. This means that Legal Practitioners who paid the Bar Practicing Fees and Branch Dues as at and when due and who are registered and committed members of the Association in any of its branches are eligible to vote. The Electoral Committee of the Association has in fulfillment of its mandate rolled out timelines for its activities and published the final list of voters eligible to vote in the election.

Prior to the amendment of the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association, only statutory and nominated/elected delegates qualified to vote in NBA elections. In other words, the Nigerian Bar Association operated a regime of indirect elections that somehow alienated a substantial number of members and exposed some of the delegates to the manipulative machinations of well resourced candidates. This time, the destiny of the profession is in the hands of all those that are genuinely committed to the profession as sovereignty and the power of the vote have been restored to all members.

The second unique innovation is that members of the Nigerian Bar Association will no longer gather in a particular ven-

Sanctity of Truth

Bola Bolawole Season of the jackals

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016

}16

N150

A brave New Bar Hard Choices FESTUS OKOYE festokoye2003@yahoo.com 0805-448-0565 (sms only)

Abubakar Malami, Attorney -General of the Federation

NBA president, Augustine Alegeh

ue to cast their votes. The Association has introduced an electronic voting platform that enables each member of the Association to vote in the comfort of the home, office or even while on the road. This means that members who are outside the country but met the eligibility requirements can cast their votes with their mobile phones.

Those that own laptop and desktop computers can vote; those that own mobile phones can vote and those that are technologically challenged can vote in any internet café and voting will span over a two day period and nobody who genuinely wants to vote will be disenfranchised.

The uniqueness of the electronic platform for voting is that no candidate can quarantine voters and coerce them to vote one way or the other. Conversely, it means that members of the Association must live and embrace the choices they make through universal suffrage as the destiny of the profession, the survival of the profession, the continued relevance of the profession and the public perception of the profession lies in the hands of all members of the profession.

The Presidency is aware of the coming NBA elections. The members of the National and State Assemblies are aware of the NBA elections. A substantial number of the Nigerian people and the Law Societies across the African continent are aware of the Nigerian Bar Association elections. It is an election that will define a lot of things and the choice before the members of the Bar is akin to the choices that confronted the Nigerian people before the 2015 general elections. The Bar Association election is therefore a fight for the soul of the Association. It is a fight for the

Independence of the judiciary. It is a fight to reclaim the legal profession from forces that have held it hostage. It is a fight to redeem the image of members of the Legal Profession. It is a fight to rid the profession of those lacking in character and not really fit to be in the profession. It is a fight to show the Nigerian people that only a tiny fraction of Nigerian lawyers are in league with the forces that looted the resources of the country. It is a fight between those that are in league with big businesses, political jobbers and opportunists and those that believe that the legal profession can serve the interest of the generality of the Nigerian people. And the issues and personalities are clearly defined and the members of the profession who have been cleared to vote in the election understand this dynamics.

By a stroke of historical coincidence, the Nigerian Bar Association appears to be in the same situation with the Nigerian people just before the 2015 elections. The Nigerian people saw the Nigerian territorial space shrinking on account of the activities of insurgents and with a sitting President with all the apparatus and appurtenances of office. Nigerians did not know that a tiny group of people harvested and stole the monies meant for the purchase of arms and ammunitions and sent Nigerian soldiers to the North East to commit suicide and Court Marshaled those that refused.

The Nigerian people saw the economy nose dive while a few people in government lived big and continued to lie with figures. The Nigerian people lived in fear and trepidation about their future and that of their children. The people felt and genuinely too that the President did not have the

courage, the comportment, the composure and the competence to run the country and steady the ship of state. Frustrated and afraid of the future, they decided to make a clean break from the past hoping to enthrone a new order based on transparency, integrity and courage.

We cannot, therefore as Nigerians pretend that we are not aware that the Nigerian people hold some of our members personally and vicariously liable for the economic and political predicament the country is facing. We cannot claim that we are not aware that the public perception of the profession is that we assisted in corrupting the Bar and sections of the Bench for and on behalf of sections of the political elite. We cannot pretend not to know that as at today the rule of law and due process and the Independence of the Judiciary are under serious threat.

We cannot pretend that we are not aware that court orders are being disobeyed and some Judges are reluctant to make orders for the release of accused persons on bail.

We cannot pretend that all is well with the Bar and the Bench.

This precarious situation of the Bar demands that the Bar Association must elect a leader with no political baggage in terms of deep association with any of the existing political parties and political forces. This demands that the Bar must distance itself from candidates that are deeply involved in the existing political parties at the National Executive Level and as decision makers. Such candidates will come to power with political and economic baggage and will be susceptible to blackmail and intimidation.

Such candidates may even engage in self censorship knowing that they are vulnerable. The Bar therefore does not need a leader that will be afraid to take a position for and on behalf of the Nigerian people for fear of blackmail on account of previous political and business affiliations and associations. The Bar, the Bench and the Nigerian people demand and desire a courageous and honest leader with a clear voice and mandate and that leader is AB Mahmoud, SAN.

HIGH CHIEF

MARIJUANA MAY CURE ALZHEIMER –Study

- Doctors, police take note!

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotlines: (Lagos 0902 928 1425), (Abuja 0805 5118488) Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: AYODELE OJO.