Wednesday, june 3, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

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Vol. 2 No. 469

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

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Fifa President sepp Blatter to quit amidst corruption scandal }51 NEW TELEGR

Oil block allocation: Reps refuse to clear Diezani

APH WEDNES

The Mega DAY, JUNE 3,

2015

...EXCLU SIVE LAG OS MAG AZINE

Battling with the scourge of pollution

Abuja

he House of Representatives yesterday rejected a report of its ad hoc committee on the alleged shady

deals in the allocation of oil mining leases by former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke. The House had, last year, set up the interim committee to investigate the alleged shady deals involving the former minister,

the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Ltd; Septa Energy Ltd on the allocation of Oil

Mining Leases (OML) 4, 26, 30, 34, 38, 41 and 42. The committee, which was led by Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Hon. Ajibola Muraina (PDP, Oyo), had laid the report CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

MY CITY, MY WORLD

Philip Nyam

City

LIFE IN THE CITY I enjoy the hustle and bustle of Lagos – Tella 27

Pedestrian s’ of eight risky venpages tures mega city Disregarding

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ters at Cele

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Apapa, Express

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In an important busy state like commuting Lagos, where of socio-econ that is provid various kinds which comp One of the omic activi abandoned ed bridges on Macaulay Way, areas within to promote and make lements such activities ties are ever increasingly Herbert Yaba safe and free the state. ELIJA is enhanced upbeat, it is move in a equally instru H SAMUEL observes that ment of pedestrians safe manner. Pedestrian ctive that ife is precio possible. They us and must most of these bridge is one kept as such. be are relatively struc bridges are to protect It is ultimate the lives of now becom abound in majo tural device reason that for this Many the citizen ing useless of such sponsible r important governmentany reas a result of abound, whethprotective measu s. holds the res which lives of its a number of safer. Apart of laws, policie er in the enactm esteemed citizen facto ent from many s in importance s or the actual rs. bridges ical provis of those every will physbeing

Clampdown: Why Jonathan's ministers, others got reprieve resource within

deploy its dispos al

OLUWATOSI N OMONIYI CITY EDITOr

tosin.omoniyi@ne wtelegraphonline

.com © Daily Telegrap h Publishin g Company Limited

ion of infras Pedestrian Bridges are tructure. essential infrastructurone of such fords citizen e s to comm which afwithin develo ute ped areas safely vehicular traffic is usuall where and poses y heavy who may threat to pedestrians, need to comm highways. ute across The govern ready availab ment, with a few alwhich had le pedestrian bridge cades ago, been built many s dehad in the added new recent years ones and rebuild, renovate also tried to and upgra many of such de es which haveold pedestrian bridgbecome across the metropolis dilapidated can becom so that they e more comfor table and

security person provided with financial resour ces, provide a nel, lights equally made number of tried to were an available pedestribridges on ment and very busy encourage to comple- across usage night. Howev roads the er, that seemsin the places are state, yet, a numbe changing r of yearning to be now constant lightsas one hardly finds sion of this life-pre for the provibridges. This on most of those structure. But the serving infraones situation, to finding according already been provid that had s, ed are now to the reasonhas also contributed being turned into market centre s many pedest as traders take for grante s now take rians unlit bridge d the use of these playing their wares.over by diss. For instan also either They have Telegraph ce, New been aband observ underutilized oned or about 10 pedest ed that out by those for of the rian bridge whom bridge vided betwee s have s proaxis of Ikorodn Ketu and Jibowu in the first place. been provided Palmgroove u Road, only Ojota, ans now seem to Many pedestritake with the essenc are seldom and Fadeyi bridge levity e of life. s in the night.provided with lights to find residents, It is common irrespe Other sex, ctive age or class, bridges are dark and dreary. in the race of death, runnin Although g across danger of the state highways ment has, ous of Lagos metrop within its governolis. available

Many pedes trians now seem to take with levity the essence of life

CONTIN UED

ON PAGE 22

lBuhari's last-minute rethink saves ex-govt officials

Quick Read

Editorial

No to Northernisation of Buhari }19 President seeks Senate's nod to appoint 15 advisers }7 NDLEA serves Kashamu extradition notice }8

Sympathisers and rescue workers at the scene of a fire disaster caused by a fallen petrol tanker in Lagos…yesterday. Story and more picture on page 10

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Military chiefs set to move command centre to Maiduguri }5 lBoko Haram bombs 30 in fresh Borno attack lInsurgents, in new video, taunt four-nation coalition

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

Clampdown: Why Jonathan's ministers, others got reprieve Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

ut for the lastminute change of mind by President Muhammadu Buhari, many ministers and aides of his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, perceived to be corrupt, may have been in detention by now, New Telegraph has learnt. It was gathered yesterday that the president had decided to announce an immediate clampdown on top officials of the defunct Jonathan administration in his inaugural speech last Friday, but was persuaded by some associates to drop the idea. Buhari, who has made fighting corruption a cardinal policy of his administration, a source said, was urged to make haste slowly and avoid creating the wrong impression before the international community. It was based on his intention that security agents at the nation's borders were placed on the alert not to allow any of the former ministers or top aides of Jonathan to travel out of the country. The source said before he revised his speech, Buhari had wanted to announce an immediate clampdown on some officials of the Jonathan administration perceived to be corrupt with an immediate probe of their activities while in office. Buhari's inaugural speech, which he read on Friday, dwelt more on what should be done to revamp the economy and not on how to recover looted funds and punish corrupt persons. The cardinal focus of Buhari's electioneering campaign was how to fight corruption and make sure that looted funds are recovered. But the speech read at the inauguration was silent on what should happen to those believed to have looted the treasury. The source told New Telegraph that after Buhari agreed to drop the portions of his speech on the clampdown, the new decision was not immediately conveyed to security agents who had been stationed at the airports to maintain surveillance on past top government officials on their watch list. The source added that some security agents had begun to act on the initial directive before Buhari got wind of it and ordered the release of a statement dissociating him from the move to either delay or prevent some past government officials from travel-

ling outside the country. In the statement issued on Saturday night by Mallam Garba Shehu, the president ordered security operatives not to molest any former government officials or stop them from travelling abroad. "Officials of past administration, including ministers, are entitled to their full rights and privileges under the constitution and must not be subjected to any undue harassment and intimidation at the airports or at other points of entry and exit and we have not banned anyone from travelling.

"Unless otherwise directed by the courts, no law-abiding citizens should be barred from travelling abroad. We must treat fellow citizens with courtesy and respect. Officials at the borders and other points of entry and exit should conduct their affairs in strict compliance with due process. No one has my permission to bar anyone from travelling abroad". But the source stated that "these security agencies had started acting because no counter signal was sent to them and the report of their action

came to the president which necessitated the statement above." According to him, though Buhari heeded the advice not to order a clampdown on top officials of the last administration, he was not happy to drop his intention to fight corruption from day one as he had promised. The content of the speech, he said would have affected some neighbouring countries, whose economies depended largely on smuggling of goods into Nigeria. "People who were saying that the inaugu-

ral speech was not rich enough or did not give direction on how to fight corruption did not understand what went on behind the scene before the read speech was produced. He (Buhari) was told that there was no way he would be reading a speech that would have high consequences on those who have come to felicitate with him. "If Buhari had been allowed to read his original speech, by now, many would have been under house arrest or properly arrested by security agencies. Those who prevailed

upon him to change his speech believed that there would be a better time for the president to give such directives and fight corruption and that would be when he must have gone through the books. "Also, the party members were of the opinion that he should be very careful on how to address the issue of corruption so that some of its leaders would not be affected," the source stated. New Telegraph learnt that Buhari would soon address the nation and reveal his roadmap on how he intends to fight corruption.

L-R: Acting National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus; Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose and National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, during a visit to the governor in Ado-Ekitiâ&#x20AC;Śyesterday

Military chiefs set to move command centre to Maiduguri Anule Emmanuel and Ahmed Miringa

he military has stepped up preparations to move its command centre to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to fight Boko Haram. Military chiefs, after about four-hour meeting yesterday with President Muhammadu Buhari, attended by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, told reporters that they were set to comply with a presidential order, issued by the president in his inaugural address, to take the fight to the insurgents. The insurgents have intensified attacks on Borno and the neighbouring Yobe states since Buhari came to power last Friday. In the latest attack on Maiduguri yesterday, Boko Haram killed 30 people when it bombed a market in the town. Besides, the militia group has resumed its

propaganda through the video, as it taunted the military in a new one released yesterday. It rejected claims from the military that it has been routed by a four-nation offensive in a video released online, which does not show the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s selfacclaimed leader, Abubakar Shekau. The nation's security chiefs and the IG, at the meeting in Abuja, briefed Buhari on the security situation in the country, particularly the crisis in the North-East. Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, said they would proceed straight to Borno in line with the president's directive to set up the centre. "We are the ones to go back and work on it. Soon, it will be carried out; it is a presidential directive, it must be carried out and we must do that as quickly as possible," he stated.

While urging Nigerians to support the armed forces in fighting the war against Boko Haram, he said: "All Nigerians should continue to support the military and provide us with the needed intelligence. "As to the human beings, their movements and suspicious movement should be reported to the police; of course the police will make that available to us. "You know as we continue to put pressure on them, in the Sambisa area, they will try to run away from there and then create further problems, using improvised explosive devices. Remember that the terrorists are becoming more daring. "Like I told you, we are sustaining the tempo and the successes we have recorded so far, we want to continue to maintain that and if there are any suggested solutions that require amendment or alteration of what we're doing, why not? Most es-

pecially the more they (people) give us the intelligence, the better." Usman told reporters that they came to brief Buhari on the security situation in the country. "Since he was inaugurated as our commanderin-chief, this is the first time that we are formally meeting him to give general security briefing of the country, and we have been able to provide insights into the security situation of Nigeria," he added. The meeting was also attended by the National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd). However, as the president and his defence chiefs were meeting in Abuja, Maiduguri was thrown into another round of mourning as a suspected suicide bomber killed about 30 people, while 24 others were injured when he detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the Maiduguri

Central Abattoir. A meat seller at the abattoir, Mallam Shuab Mohammed, said the suicide bomber came to the abattoir, pretending to be a medicine vendor. The suspect was said to be playing music eulogising Buhari and had a poster of the president pasted on his medicine basket. He reportedly concealed the IED under the basket and detonated it when he reached a crowded area, killing about 30 persons. He said others injured had been rushed to hospitals for medical attention. A member of the local vigilante group, Civilian JTF, Ibrahim Tanko said rescue workers had evacuated 11 bodies while one of the injured died in the hospital. He said the suicide bomber concealed the bomb in a medicine vendor`s basket and detonated it when he got to a crowded area of the abattoir. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

News

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oyegun leads APC NWC members to Buhari Anule Emmanuel Abuja

ational Chairman of the All Pro g ressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun yesterday led members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Defence House in Abuja. Buhari has been operating from the Defence House since he was sworn in on May 29. His official residence at the Presidential Villa and that of his vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) are being renovated by construction giant, Julius Berger. The leadership of the party was expected to have engaged the president on array of issues including the pending appointments of ministers and the leadership of the National Assembly. Speaking to State House Correspondents after a closed-door meeting with the president, Oyegun said: "I led my colleagues in the NWC of the party to pay their respects to the president. "We have not done so before now because we

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

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wanted the event to move to the ultimate climax which is his installation as President and Commander in Chief and that has taken place. "So we just came here to facilitate with him, pledge our loyalty, determination to work with him through thick and thin. That he can always depend on the party that he used as a platform to become president of this great nation. "We noted the fact that expectations are extremely high and that the public expects a totally new dawn. On that score, we

told him we are with you; Mr. President you will succeed because the entire party will be galvanised as one man behind you. "All the problems cannot be solved in one day that you will flick to bring that kind of eventuality. But what Nigerians want is to be sure that we are getting it right and that we are on the proper path towards answering their long frustration towards ameliorating their condition and that is what they will get.” Asked on the concerns of Buhari in the short

term, the chairman said: "We did have frank discussions and I think all that happened is that he was quite appreciative of our declaration of support. He briefed us on one or two issues and we are quite pleased at the way things are going.” On the issue of ministerial appointments, he said: "All I can say is that Mr. President is committed to carrying the party along in everything that he does and we are very grateful for that. He has always been like that, he has put the party in the front

burner in all the things he does at all times and he has continued to do that.” Speaking on the recent declaration of assets by the president and his vice, Oyegun explained that the question could best be answered by Buhari himself. On selection of National Assembly leadership, Oyegun said: "There will be no crisis. I want to give you that assurance. We are very conscious of the fact that the National Assembly is the separate arm of government and the constitution provides

L-R: Sacked staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN): Yusuf Fatai, Afolabi Olufemi Johnson, Babalola Kolawole, Toogun Kayode, Olaniran Muniru Adeola, Patience O Eye and Ilori Adekunle Sunday facing trial at the Federal High Court, Ibadan over N8 billion fraud...yesterday.

Reps refuse to clear Diezani PDP accuses APC of threatening senators-elect over Senate presidency CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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that they are the ones responsible for electing their own officers. All we have to do is provide for them a conducive environment of doing just that." Reacting to the president's readiness to tackle insurgency in the NorthEast, Oyegun said: "Well, he has spoken on security all through the campaign; the insurgents are trying to test his resolve and I have a feeling they will be in for surprises. "He was elected to protect Nigerian lives and that is even his first priority."

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of threatening its senators-elect in a bid to force them to do its bidding in the ongoing politicking over who becomes the next Senate president. In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the party said it was privy to intelligence reports showing certain clandestine moves and nocturnal meetings holding in Lagos and Abuja on how to compromise the election to suit APC's purpose. According to the statement, there are subterranean moves by APC leaders to arm-twist the judiciary to use various election tribunals to subvert the will of the people and upturn democratically elected governments in some PDP states. "There are moves by

the APC to cause the doctoring of the membership of the gubernatorial elections tribunals in some PDP states, particularly Akwa Ibom, Abia, Rivers and Delta with the aim to bring in friendly officers, possibly to push through their agenda against the party," the statement added. The party also questioned the security reasons adduced for the decision to relocate the Akwa Ibom State Election Tribunal out of the state and wonder why Akwa-Ibom was singled out. “Nigerians and the international community would recall that we had earlier alerted of furtive moves by the APC to procure and compromise some stakeholders in the elections, including INEC and security personnel to bear false witness and doctor electoral materials against the PDP at the tribunals. "In the same vein, we had earlier alerted of a groundswell of plots by the APC to foist a one-par-

ty rule on our country by attempting to destabilise the PDP, take over some of our states and legislative seats, all to ensure that there is no strong opposition when they eventually assume power. “It is worrisome that this ‘jackboot mentality’ and rape of our democracy which is averse to the spirit of the healing process is happening with the knowledge of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is a direct beneficiary of the huge sacrifice the PDP made to ensure that the nation remains peaceful and stable. "It is apparently in line with this heinous agenda that the APC has started hounding our senatorselect with threats to use the tribunals against them if they fail to do their bidding in the parliament," PDP said. It urged Buhari to note that the plot by APC to allegedly take over states won by the PDP is an invitation to anarchy capable of truncating the democracy.

on the floor since February 13, 2014. But at yesterday's plenary presided over by Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, the House kicked against the report, which was presented by Chairman, Business and Rules Committee, Hon. Albert Sam-Tsokwa (PDP). The rejection of the report stemmed from recommendation three which said "that a clean bill of health be given to all the parties involved in the transaction as the entire transaction conformed to all the applicable laws." When the report was tabled for debate, majority of the lawmakers were displeased with the recommendations and kicked against its adoption. Initially, Ihedioha had put the question as to whether the House should consider the report, and there were resounding nay voice votes. But apparently surprised and trying to persuade his colleagues, he repeated the question once again and got the same response. The committee had rec-

ommended that: "(i) That operators in the industry should deliberately encourage openness/transparency in their operations. "(ii) That companies involved in the petroleum industry should be required to ensure timely dissemination of information regarding their transactions, especially those involving government agencies and corporations, as this would forestall suspicions and sentiments of having been cheated that are always bound to arise in circumstances where a section of the relevant stakeholders in the industry are left in doubt as to transactions in the industry." The lawmakers argued that the recommendations were at variance with the report itself, which, in a way, admitted that due process was not observed in the transactions under investigation. Also yesterday, the House again disagreed on some clauses in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), forcing the speaker to suspend debate on the bill till today.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

Buhari seeks Senate's approval to appoint 15 advisers Chukwu David Abuja

resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sought the approval of the Senate to appoint 15 Special Advisers (SAs). The request, through a letter, was the first communication between the president ant the Senate. In the letter dated June 2 and addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, Buhari explained that his request was in line with the provision of Section 151(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The president, however, did not include the names of the persons he intended to appoint as Special Advisers. The letter reads: "Pursuant to the provision of Section 151(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which confers on me to appoint Special Advisers to assist me in the performance of my functions, I write to request for your kind con-

sideration and approval of the distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic, to appoint 15 Special Advisers as prescribed in Section 151(2-3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). "While trusting that this exercise will receive the traditional prompt attention of the Senate, please accept, Mr. President, the assurance of my highest consideration." Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday berated its members who contested and won the April 11 governorship election, describing their action as a backward movement on the nation's political ladder. This was as the Upper Chamber unanimously congratulated President Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on their inauguration on May 29. The Senate also commended the former President Goodluck Jonathan for his role in the last general elections. The motion to congratulate the president, his vice and senators that got elected as governors was

co-sponsored by 102 Senators and moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, President of the Senate, Senator David Mark observed that the decision of the senators to move from the Senate to the State Government Houses as governors was retrogressive. He said: "For our colleagues who have gone to

become governors, my position is different. I think going from the Senate to becoming a governor is not a movement forward but a movement backward. "Well, if you decide to move backward to sacrifice to work for your people, then we should also congratulate them. But I think from the Senate we should look upwards. In

spite of that, some of our colleagues have gone to the states to assist in bringing development to their state, so I congratulate them also." Mark, however, condemned the activities of hoodlums during the inauguration that took place across the country on May 29. Also, Senator Ita Enang noted that in the United

Boko Haram bombs 30 in fresh Borno attack CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

A female suicide bomber also killed herself yesterday at Yamarkumi Military checkpoint in Biu, the headquarters of Biu Local Government Area of the state, as the IED detonated before he could get to her target. The insurgents in the early hours of yesterday also attempted to attack Maiduguri, but were successfully repelled by troops. Confirming the incident, the International Community of Red Cross communication, Mallam

Umar Sadiq, said 13 people were killed while 24 others injured had been rushed to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri for treatment. The insurgents, according to a report by AFP, arrived in the Moronti area of the city by river, but were unable to advance further because of wide ditches and embankments dug by soldiers around the city limits. They then began shelling Ajillari Cross, about three kilometres away at

about 12:45 am. “We were bombarded by RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) by Boko Haram from Moronti,” Isa Mala, who lives in Ajillari Cross, told newsmen. “We all left our homes for fear of being hit inside. Kyari Bulunkutu, who lives near Mala, gave the same account and added: “At about two in the morning, it was all over, but I haven’t been able to see whether there was any damage or casualties.” However, Boko Haram, in the new video, rejected claims from the military

L-R: Executive Director, Sterling Bank Plc., Mr. Abubakar Suleiman; Executive Director, LEAP Africa, Mrs. Iyabode Oladunni; Managing Director, JNC International, Mrs. Claire Omatseye and Head, Brand Management and Communications, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Chima Nwaokoma, at a press conference in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Fayose's travails, test case for Buhari – PDP Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that the political crisis in Ekiti State is a test case for the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on the rule of law. The PDP NWC also said efforts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Ayo Fayose is a litmus test on whether the APC would allow the will of the people to prevail. Speaking in Ado-Ekiti

yesterday during a solidarity visit to Fayose, the Acting PDP National Chairman, Chief Uche Secondus, said the party was not begging Buhari over the matter, but was appealing to Nigerians to prevail on the ruling party to allow due process. "The leadership of our party is here on solidarity visit to our dear governor. As you are aware, the leadership of the APC and lawmakers had ganged up and wanted to illegally remove our governor. “We are aware that a court order is in force concerning the matter. Adewale Omirin is not the Speaker of the House of Assembly. He has been

States of America, a former Senator could only take such appointments as the Secretary of State, Defence Secretary and Secretary of State Treasury. He said that any appointment less than these offices would not be acceptable to a Senator in the United States because that would be tantamount to moving backward politically.

removed and he went to court to challenge his removal. He later withdrew his suit and had cost awarded against him. That means he has accepted his removal from office and cannot therefore communicate to the Chief Judge of the state as the speaker. "We are calling on Nigerians and the Federal Government to obey the rule of law. It is a litmus test for the new government, it is a test case and they must ensure that the rule of law must be obeyed. We are not begging anybody on this matter, but our appeal is that the rule of law must be obeyed. "Our supporters nationwide are with you, Mr.

Governor. We want the APC and their lawmakers to obey the rule of law. Democracy must be allowed to prevail. We are not going to allow a return to dictatorship. Anything contrary would lead to anarchy and crisis. We are law-abiding as a party," he said. In his response, Fayose said the visit was apt and timely. He urged everybody to respect the rule of law. "It is because of our respect for the rule of law that we did not inaugurate the incoming House of Assembly yesterday (Monday). There is a court order of April 23 which ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante as on that

date. "Nigeria cannot become a one-party state. We will continue to appreciate that we now have an APCcontrolled Federal Government. We will be doing the right thing here. “Like the nation of Israel, we are defending our territory here," he said. He added that the PDP would give the APC-led government virile opposition that would give hope to Nigerians. Other members of the NWC that visited the governor were the National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo; National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Mustapha and National Auditor, Fatai Adeyanju.

that it has been routed by the international offensive. The unidentified speaker, his face obscured by a headscarf, instead called Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, which have been battling the insurgents, "the lying coalition partners". "Most of our territory is still under our control," said the speaker in the 10-minute message, which was posted on the videosharing site YouTube. The video bears the logo "Islamic State in West Africa" and follows the Nigerian militants' pledge of allegiance in an audio message in March to the IS group, that has overrun large parts of Syria and Iraq. The message is the first video released by Boko Haram since February, when Shekau was shown in high definition footage and vowed to disrupt Nigeria's elections. He has featured prominently in most of the group's videos over the last three years and his absence in the latest message will likely stir further debate on his whereabouts or possible death. Nigeria's military has previously claimed to have killed Shekau, only for him then to pop up on another video. The authorities have explained such appearances away by saying that the role of "Shekau" was filled by various lookalike insurgents. Meanwhile, Buhari is scheduled today to visit Niger and Chad in furtherance of his desire to subdue the sect. The Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Buhari would travel to Chad and Niger for talks on the Boko Haram menace. This will be the president’s first official visit outside the country since assuming office. According to Shehu, the two-day trip will focus on “matters of security,” because Nigeria needs the cooperation of its neighbours to succeed in its campaign against the terrorist sect whose activities have so far claimed about 15,000 lives since 2009.

News

APC to meet federal lawmakers he All Progressives T Congress (APC) will hold a crucial meeting

with all its Senatorselect and House of Representatives; memberselect on Thursday in Abuja. In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC explained that it will meet with its Senatorselect at 10 a.m. while the meeting with its elected members of the House of Representatives is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the same day at the same venue.

national

wednesday, june 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

N8bn scam: Court remands six CBN staff in prison custody Emmanuel Onani and Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

Federal High Court in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has remanded six top executives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in prison custody. The development followed the arraignment of the suspects yesterday, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). A statement signed by

the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the accused persons are being prosecuted on a five-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, fraud and stealing. The anti-graft agency said the suspects were implicated in an N8billion defaced and mutilated currency recycling scam. The statement added that the trial judge, Justice N. Ayo Emmanuel, fixed July 6 and 7 for commencement of trial. The suspects are listed as follows: Patience Okoro

Eye; Afolabi Olufemi Johnson; Ilori Adekunle Sunday; Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola and Fatai Adedokun Yusuf. At the trial before Justice Ayo Emmanuel, the accused persons with two others at large, were charged with conversion of N8b mutilated currency of N1,000 denomination meant to be destroyed by the directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and substituting it with newspapers cut to its size, thereby subverting the apex bank's effort at reducing dirty money in circulation.

Others charged with the CBN staff were Salami Ibrahim, Odiah Emmanuel, Toogun Kayode Phillips, as well as, Roy Akinsiku and Sobowale O. and John Paul (who were at large). They were faced with another 11-count charge. The third set also arraigned included Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Muniru Adeola, Kayode Philips, Tope Akintade, who are also facing 15-count charge. Despite spirited oral bail applications made by counsel to the accused persons, to which the EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi

L-R: Managing Director, Union Trustees Limited, Funke Aiyepola; Secretary General, Association of Corporate Trustees (ACT), Binta Max-Gbinije; President, Funmilayo Ekundayo; Deputy Director, Securities Offering, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria, Abdulkadir Abbas; Vice-President, ACT, Tokunbo Ajayi; Assistant Secretary General, Fatah Kadiri and Financial Secretary, Bolanle Oyelade, at the association’s first quarter training programme, in Lagos…recently

Oyegun leads APC NWC members to Buhari Anule Emmanuel

hairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Oyegun Tuesday led members of the National Working Committee NWC of the party to a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Defence house in Abuja. President Buhari has been operating from the defence house since he was sworn in on Friday. His official residence at the presidential villa and that of his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo are being renovated by Construc-

tion giant Julius Berger. The leadership of the party is expected to have engaged the President on array of issues, including the pending appointments of ministers and the leadership of the National Assembly which would take place on Friday. Speaking to State House Correspondents after a closed door meeting with the President, Chief Oyegun said, "I led my colleagues in the national working committee of the All Progressive Congress, APC, to pay their respects to the president."

Constitution amendment, died with Jonathan’s exit — Akume Chukwu David Abuja

he Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, yesterday, said that it would not be possible for the National Assembly to override former President Goodluck Jonathan’s veto on the 1999 Constitution

Amendment Bill, passed by the National Assembly. Akume said while speaking with journalists in Abuja, that the failure of Jonathan to assent to the bill before the end of his tenure had rendered the bill dead, saying there was nothing the apex parliament could do to get the amendment become law.

Juliana Francis

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), yesterday disclosed it has given embattled senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, who is wanted in the United States of America on charges bordering on drug trafficking, notice of extradition. The Agency further revealed that the House of Representatives has commended it for the bold step taken in the extradition case involving Kashamu. But Kashamu, yesterday said that the agency was just a busy-body, who has no role to play in the whole extradition process. According to the NDLEA spokesman, Mitchel Ofoyeju, a notice of application for extradition of Kashamu to the United States had also been served on the senator-elect. Ofoyeju said: “In an application made to the Chief Judge, Federal High Court, Abuja in suit number FHC/ABJ/ CS/479/2015, the office of the Attorney General of

NDLEA serves Kashamu extradition notice ● You’ve no role in it, Senator-elect the Federation is seeking the extradition of Buruji Kashamu to answer alleged drug trafficking charges. This is in line with the Extradition Act CAP, E25 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (as modified by Extradition Act Modification Order, 2014). The notice of the suit was officially served on Kashamu by the NDLEA on 1st of June 2015.” Ofoyeju noted that the letter of commendation, signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Honourable Jagaba Adams Jagaba stated that the Agency’s action would go a long way in building the confidence of the international community in Nigeria. But in a statement signed by his counsel, Ajibola Oluyede, Kashamu dismissed the NDLEA's claim. The statement said, “It is the court that will

decide whether a warrant of arrest is necessary. It is the court that will consider all the evidence provided by the United States to see whether it satisfies the onus of proof and that it establishes that the person sough is the person that actually participated in the offence alleged. In this case, the NDLEA is very jumpy, nervous and unsettled because it has exposed its unprofessionalism when before any extradition proceedings had been commenced at all, it invaded the home of Prince Kashamu, broke down his gates, doors and windows to gain access, harassed his infant children and pregnant wife and humiliated him in the presence of his family. Clearly, the plan was not extradition but abduction and that plan failed only because it quickly came to the attention of the public."

Jacobs (SAN) opposed, the Judge ordered them to be remanded in prison custody till June 9, when proper and formal bail applications would be argued. Jacobs led the following counsel for the prosecution: Adebayo Ojo (immediate past Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Oyo State), A. Adebisi, Sunday Aborisade, Rotimi Oye, O.M. Atoyebi, Sola Olanibiire, while K.A. Lawal, Bola Alabi, A.O. Ajayi, Otunba Olayinka Bolanle, and B.B.M. Ashie of Olalekan Ojo's Chambers represented the other accused persons respectively. The counts read that the accused persons "on or about 5th August, 2014 in Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this honourable court have by virtue of abuse of your office being employees of Central Bank of Nigeria contributed to the economic adversity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when you destroyed a box marked "Counted Audited Dirty" filled with newspapers in place of a box containing N10m of N1,000 denomination, and which activity led to the increase of money in circulation which the briquetting exercise of CBN was intended to control.

Alleged money laundering: EFCC to begin Nyako's prosecution soon Emmanuel Onani

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will soon drag a former Governor of Adamawa State, Vice Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd) to court, over allegations of money laundering and looting of public funds. New Telegraph gathered yesterday in Abuja, that the legal unit of the anti-graft agency, was tying the loose ends of charges to be preferred against the former governor, who was impeached in July last year. Nyako, who reported at the Headquarters of the EFCC on Monday, was released on administrative bail. He returned to the commission yesterday for further questioning by operatives of the Commission, "but was likely to be released on bail again", according to a highly-placed source, who craved anonymity.

NEW TELEGRAPH wednesday, june 3, 2015

Synagogue: Coroner delivers judgement July 8 Akeem Nafiu

he Coroner handling the inquest into the collapse of a six-story building on the premises of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Magistrate Oyetade Komolafe, will on July 8 give his verdict on the matter. No fewer than 116 worshippers lost their lives last year September 12. However, Magistrate Oyetade fixed the date yesterday after parties in the inquest made their final submissions. The inquest was set up by the Lagos State Government to ascertain the cause of the building collapse, identify the victims and how they died. While the inquest lasted, many witnesses adduced several reasons why the building which served as a guest house for foreign worshippers collapsed. The Founder of the Church, Prophet Temitope B. Joshua, shunned the inquest while it lasted, insisting that he was not under any obligation to testify before the coroner. This was even after

an appeal he filed before a Lagos High Court was dismissed for lacking in merit. In his final address, lawyer to SCOAN, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, maintained that external forces remained the remote cause of the collapsed building. Ojo, who predicated his argument on the testimony of a 37-year-old graduate of Chemistry from the University of Maiduguri, Mr. Biedomo Iguniewe, who had suggested that the building may have collapsed due to infrasonic radiation, concluded that the testimony remains unchallenged. Besides, Ojo argued that the non-existence of a building plan for the collapsed building as alluded to by the Lagos State Government had nothing to do with the structure of the building which he insisted was built according to standard. He added that the contract for the building was given to competent engineers and if anyone must be questioned for the building collapse, it should be the engineers and not the Synagogue church.

News

national

Buhari to hold oil minister’s portfolio in new cabinet Adeola Yusuf

resident Muhammadu Buhari is likely to keep the portfolio of Minister of Petroleum Resources for himself in the new cabinet, associates of the president said. Reuters quoted another associate to have said that it would be stupid to trust anyone else with the source of most of Nigeria›s revenue and traditional fount of corruption. New Telegraph had exclusively reported that President Buhari would personally oversee the

sector without appointing a minister. Nigeria’s oil sector is so dirty that nobody’s hands are clean enough to do the “surgical changes” needed, one long-standing associate told Reuters on condition of anonymity because the cabinet decision is still under wraps. The government relies on oil sales for the bulk of its revenues but there has been little oversight on how these are handled. Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was sacked under

President Goodluck Jonathan after he declared that some $20 billion in oil revenues were missing between 2012 and 2013. Another political associate said: “He (Buhari) will do it (preside over the Ministry of Petroleum Resources). It would be stupid to give that position to anyone else.” The first source, according to the news agency, said that Buhari has still not settled on his cabinet and has laughed off media speculation about figures he will appoint, joking with friends as he read out a newspaper ar-

ASUU, AU pressure Morocco for liberation of Saharawi Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

alls for the liberation of Western Saharawi from Morocco peaked in Nigeria yesterday as Academic Union of Universities (ASUU) and African Union leaders demanded for political sovereignty of the country. Saharawi, which has been occupied by Morocco since 1975, is the Africa's last colony. President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagee, said that pressure would be mounted on the government of Morocco to ensure that colonisation of Western Sahara does not extend beyond 2015. Speaking in Abuja at an international conference organized by ASUU with the theme, Towards the Liberation of Africa's Last Colony, Fagee stated

that inputs from the conference would be pushed to the African Union (AU) and United Nations Organisations (UNO) to demand for the liberation of the occupied country. "We will make sure that Western Sahara is liberated and independent in 2015. I'm confident that this approach that we have started today is an approach that will make inputs into deliberations on Western Sahara at the African Union and UNO. We will make sure that the colonisation of Western Sahara does not extend beyond 2015" he said That was as African Union Chairman and President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe said AU was disappointed at the absence of any new initiative on the part of United Nations to give fresh momentum and impetus to the demand for sovereignty of the country.

President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina (left), with former Vice-President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, shortly before Atiku’s departure to South Africa on an official visit in Abuja…yesterday

Abuja

etroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG has restated the call for ban on night travels and sanctions slammed for reckless driving.

The union also condemned in strong terms, recent accidents involving fuel tankers in Onitsha and Lagos which claimed over 70 lives and properties worth several millions of naira destroyed. National Chairman of

ticle that mentioned possible names: “They have picked my ministers for me! Have I even told you who I want?” Buhari has extensive knowledge of the oil sector, having been head of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) under military ruler Sani Abacha in the 1990s and oil minister in the 1970s under Olusegun Obasanjo. He was voted in by Nigerians on an anti-corruption platform after years in which graft appeared to worsen under the leadership of his predecessor, Jonathan. Buhari yesterday requested the Senate to grant him approval to appoint 15 special advisers. The Senate will convene only briefly on June 9 before its members are expected to go on recess for up to six weeks. “It’s going to be a lean government, I doubt he’ll have 42 ministries like Jonathan but he must have at least 36 (for the number of states) as prescribed by the constitution, though it does not specify whether they have to be senior or junior,” an advisor in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party told Reuters. The new administration had not yet gone through reports on Jonathan’s handover notes on policy, the advisor said. “There is a huge body of proposals being bandied around the place,” the advisor said, adding that nothing beyond broad strokes had been outlined.

Companies, banks yet to hang Buhari, Ambode pictures Temitope Ogunbanke

our days after the swearing-in ceremony of President Muhammadu Buhari, some organisations, especially banks are yet to hang the president’s picture in banking hall. New Telegraph, during a visit to some banks in Lagos yesterday, noticed that the pictures

Tanker drivers want night travel banned Abdulwahab Isa

PTD, Comrade Salimon Akanni Oladiti, canvassed these measures just as he expressed shock over the incidents and advised law enforcement agents to investigate the cause of the accidents and ascertain the products source.

of President Buhari and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode are yet to be displayed in some banking halls; while some still hang the pictures of former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola. The pictures of President Buhari and Governor Ambode were also missing in the reception

of some hotels and organisations four days after the duo were sworn into office. Speaking to New Telegraph on anonymity, a staff of one of the new generation banks disclosed that her bank issued a memo last Friday to all branches to display pictures of President Buhari and state governors in banking halls. “Last week Friday,

there was a memo from headquarters to all branches to get the picture of the president and governors in each state and display them in the banking halls. I believe by this week some of the banks we start replacing President Jonathan and Governor Fashola pictures with that of President Buhari and Governor Ambode,” she told New Telegraph.

Ahmed excited over Sun, New Telegraph appointments Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

wara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has described the elevation of Mr Eric Osagie to the position of Managing Director/Ed-

itor-in-Chief of the Sun Publishing Limited as a recognition and reward for excellence and hardwork. In a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahaab Oba, the governor said the elevation

of Mr Osagie, Mr Steve Nwosu and Mrs Funke Egbemode to various higher positions of responsibility in both The Sun and the New Telegraph Newspapers demonstrate the invaluable contributions they made to the steady rise of the company.

WEDNESDAY,JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE Inset: Ambode flanked by Desalu (right) and Aderanti during the governor’s inspection of the accident

Some of the burnt vehicles.

DIVINE ESCAPE But for mother luck, scores of people would have lost their lives to inferno which gutted houses in about seven streets Muritala Ayinla, Camillus Nnaji and Taiwo Jimoh

ore than 200 people escaped death yesterday by a whisker when a fuel tanker skidded off the bridge and exploded at Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos. Although no one died in the accident, 14 people sustained injuries while property and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed. It was gathered that several lives would have been lost if the driver had not run into the houses around the scene to alert the residents of the impending explosion from the spilled content of the fallen tanker. The truck was conveying 33,000 litres of fuel from Agege

200 escape death in Lagos tanker explosion

l14 injured, vehicles, buildings razed in inferno area to Alimosho axis before the accident. At press time, over 21 vehicles, six tricycles, 44 shops and 30 were completely burnt while many residents, whose houses were badly affected, bemoaned their losses. The fire from the explosion spread to about seven streets. Some of the affected streets are Jafojo, Abule Oki, Oremeji and Adebayo. One of the residents, who identified himself simply as Lukman, said the accident occurred around 1am when most of the residents were asleep. He said: “Over 200 residents would have perished because people were sleeping when it happened. The disaster was too much, though no life was lost.

“The driver and some people were calling us to vacate our houses before the explosion. We rushed out but we could not pick anything from our houses. But we thank God that no life was lost in the inferno.” Another resident, Ibrahim Akinwande, said they gave ladder to some of the fleeing residents to enable them to cross to the other side of the street. He added that many residents were wounded while trying to escape from the fire. But Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who made an unscheduled visit to the scene of the incident, promised that his administration would ensure that the victims of the fire are well taken care of. Ambode, who defied downpour

to inspect the extent of the damage, also blamed frequent tanker explosions on carelessness and indiscipline of the truck drivers. The governor said it was time government at all levels addressed the problem associated with transporting fuel with tankers. He said: “At 1am, a tanker loaded with 33,000 litres of petrol fell from Ipaja Bridge and spilled its contents within the environs of Ipaja, covering almost five streets here. “In the last four hours, all our emergency agencies have been effectively on ground and we have been able to manage and control consequences of what 33,000 litres of petrol would have done to this neighbourhood.

Vigilantes nab suspected ritual killer BiodunOyeleye Ilorin

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

embers of a community vigilance team have arrested a 32-year-old suspected ritual killer in Ilorin, Kwara State. The suspect was apprehended on Sunday night around Mejindadi Street, Ilorin, while he was allegedly attempting to transfer his victim, an

old woman, to his herbalist. The man, simply identified as Kelechi, was said to have told the vigilantes that he was taking the woman to the hospital for medical attention until further probing in the presence of a police patrol team that came to the scene proved otherwise. The woman was suspected to have been kidnapped around Agbabiaka, Ago Market and kept some-

where around Unity Road before luck ran out on the kidnapper when membersof Ita-Amoducommunity surveillance team accosted him. The popular herbalist (name withheld), who resides around Agbo-Oba area, was said to have asked Kelechi to bring a lady to perfect his ritual plans. A member of the team, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, claimed Kelechi con-

“Thank God, there has not been any loss of lives, but again, there were victims whose shops were destroyed. “I would receive the report of the fire incident in the next 48 hours and we would ensure we do something positively to ensure that life can return to normal.” Expressing concern over the frequent cases of tanker explosion in Lagos State and other parts of the country, Ambode said the agencies had been able to report that everything had been put under control. Addressing journalists at the scene of the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, thanked God there was no fatality. He said: “The role of the police is to ensure that we investigate the remote and immediate cause of this accident and bring to book whoever is responsible for this dastardly act.” On his part, the Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe, said the fire service responded promptly, noting that agency recorded other two cases of tanker accident in other parts of the state, including Badagry. He said: “The advice I want to give is that tanker drivers that want to drive at night must rest during the day so that there would not be fatigue to handle the trucks at night. “The tanker that fell at Badagry, close to Toll Gate at Magbon bus stop, the driver was contesting road with a tipper. Imagine a driver conveying combustible product contesting road. We urge the drivers to be very careful, it is important they adhere.” The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Dr Aderemi Desalu, lauded Lagosians for alerting the government on time through the emergency numbers: 767 and 112. He said: “It is very critical that we need the partnership. The other thing is that I want to implore Lagosians is to keep back a bit whenever there is a disaster in order for those of us who are doing the work to be able to do it freely. I know you have good intentions, but if you obey the cordon, it would make our lives a lot easier.” fessed to them that he wanted to use the old woman for ritual to start his business. He said: “We saw the guy (Kelechi) backing an old woman around 11:30pm on Sunday. He was tired and we tried to assist him. Then we asked him what happened to the woman because she looked frail and emaciated. We thought he was taking her to a hospital around OjaIya.” “He started responding in Pidgin English while the woman was just saying Agbabiaka, somewhere around Ago Market.”

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY,JUNE 3, 2015

‘Why we inserted cocaine into our private parts’ Juliana Francis

wo women, who were arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for inserting suspected wraps of cocaine into their private parts, said they did to survive after their husbands abandoned them. One of them, Uzoma Alaka, 47, was

City Briefs

found with 1.180kg of cocaine. She allegedly stuffed 260 grams of cocaine in her private part and ingested 60 wraps weighing 920 grams. The second woman, Priscilla Chukwujekwu, 45, was caught with 1.455kg of cocaine. She packed 59 wraps on her body, inserted one parcel in her private part weighing 1.285kg and ingested 10 wraps weighing 170 grams.

Alaka said she started selling bags and shoes after her husband abandoned her with seven children. The suspect said that her husband left her 10 years ago, since then she had been fending for the kids and paying rent and utility bills. She said: “I took loan to travel to China and in the process I incurred huge debt which compounded my problems. At

Alaka

Chukwujekwu

Herdsmen, villagers clash in Kwara Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

olice in Kwara State have deployed a detergent of policemen to Motokun, a village in Patigi Local Government Area following a clash between Fulani herdsmen and inhabitants of the community. The incident, according to sources, occurred when suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked members of the community. The incident came less than two months after a similar clash at Oro-Ago in Ifleodun Local Government Area left at least three persons dead. The casualty figure from yesterday’s clash could not be ascertained at press time. There were concerned that the figure might be high given the fact that the affected villagers were said to have mobilised and launched a counter-attack on the herdsmen. Police sources said that a Deputy Commissioner of Police was mandated to move to the scene of the clash by the Police Commissioner, Mr Salihu Garuba.

Pray for Buhari, group urges Muslims

resident of the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA), Alhaji Akeeb Oladokun, has called on Muslims nationwide to pray for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. He said this in a statement ahead of the 21st Pre-Ramadan Lecture of the body holding at the University of Lagos Main Auditorium on June 7. Oladokun said the task before Buhari was daunting, adding that dogged determination, sincere efforts and unflinching support as well as prayers would be needed to surmount the task of rebuilding the nation. He also urged Muslims to prepare well enough for the Ramadan fast in order to maximise the benefits inherent in the Holy Month. The UMA president said the topic of the Lecture, “Public Trust: An Obligation for credible Leadership,” was carefully chosen to set the agenda for the country’s political class so as to lead with the fear of God. According to him, Prof Tabiu Mohammed of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University, Kano and Sheikh Adul Mojeed Eleha, Chief Imam, Daaru Nai’m Central Mosque, would address the topic while the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Rahaman Bello, would be the chief host. Muslims around the world observe 29 or 30 days fast in the month of Ramadan which is the fourth of the five pillars of Islam.

a point, I had no money for food, school fees and even house rent. This was what made me to smuggle drugs. “I swallowed 59 wraps of drugs all through the night because of $6,000. I also packed some in my underwear and one in my private part. It was a terrible experience. I feel so sad that I have to end up this way as a Christian.” On her part, Chukwujekwu explained that she embraced drug trafficking because she wanted to establish herself financially in order to take care of her children. According to her, she was married to a soldier, who abandoned her and their children 10 years ago. She said: “I got married early because there was no money for me to further my studies after my primary education. “My husband who is a retired soldier abandoned me 10 years ago. Since then my life has been sorrowful. I sell female clothes and shoes to take care of my children. “I met a man at the market who promised to assist me in my business

by making me an importer. This was how we began to talk on phone. He gives me recharge cards and money to sustain myself. “It was the day I was to travel that he told me that I will take drugs to China. He took me to a hotel where I was given the drugs and $6,000 to buy my goods in China. I could only swallow 10 wraps, so I forced others into my private part and packed others in my underwear.” The Head, Media and Publicity, NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said the two women were arrested for ingesting cocaine, hiding some in their underwear and inserting some in their private parts. He said: “The arrest has prevented the housewives from arrest and execution in China a few weeks after the Indonesian Government executed some Nigerians for drug trafficking.” The two women were found to possess 2.635kg of cocaine at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to China.

Robbers, kidnappers, others held in Rivers Taiwo Jimoh

olice in Rivers State have arrested some suspected armed robbers, cult members and kidnappers across the state. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmed Muhammad, said the suspects were arrested at different locations for various crimes committed. The PPRO said in a statement yesterday that on May, 17, on East-West Road, a team of Special Anti- Robbery Squad, acting on a distress call, arrested one David Nwoka with Toyota Camry car which was snatched at gunpoint. Muhammad said one AK47 rifle, ammunition, one pump

action gun and 11 cartridges were recovered from him. He also said on May 31, at Rumuekini in Port Harcourt, a team of policemen, acting on a tip-off, engaged the robbers in a gun duel. According to him, three pump action guns, 80 cartridges and charms were also recovered from them. The PPRO added that the anti-cult unit of the com- Some of the suspects mand also stormed the hideout of a cult group, arrested five suspects and recovered five locally-made guns. Muhammad, however, said the onslaught against the robbers and the cult group was made possible with the assistance from the public and the commitment from the officers of the command. Recovered ammunition

Benue gov stops police, motorcyclists’ confrontation Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

Ortom

here was tension in Makurdi, the Benue State capital yesterday following a sharp disagreement between some policemen attached to ‘E’ Division Police Station and commercial motorcyclists on Abu King Shuluwa Road. This led to wild protests along major streets in the town. The protesting motorcyclists popularly called Okada riders barricaded roads, made bonfires, carried green leafs and drove recklessly around major streets.

Governor Samuel Ortom had to go into the streets to address the protesters. It was learnt that trouble started when a motorcyclist drove pass a police checkpoint at ‘E’ Division and refused to stop for the policemen who flagged him down. A witness said one of the policemen at the checkpoint went after the motorcyclist and hit him on the head with a baton. He fell down from the motorcycle and became unconscious. The source added that colleagues of the victim immediately mobilised with an attempt to set ablaze the police station

located on Abu King Shuluwa Road over the rumour which filtered into the town that the rider had died. The protesters also marched to the Benue Peoples’ House where they were dispersed with teargas at the roundabout just as some of them claimed that the police killed their colleague over his refusal to part with N50. Commenting on the matter, Ortom said the victim did not die but was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital. He urged the protesters to sheathe their swords in the interest of peace.

News

WEDNESDAY,JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

Fayose writes Buhari over Ekiti minister’s slot G

Ambode assures workers on welfare

Muritala Ayinla

l It’s insulting –APC Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has officially written to President Muhammadu Buhari, to be given the privilege to nominate the candidate for the state’s slot in the Federal Executive Council. In a letter he personally signed and dated 31st May, 2015, Fayose, said that if the request was favourably granted by the President,

he would send a worthy and competent Ekiti professional for appointment. “Should the request be favourably disposed to, I shall be happy to nominate a worthy and competent professional who will serve diligently in your cabinet,” he said. He noted that he wrote the letter based on the declaration made by the President that he would put the overall interest of the country above others particularly, political partisanship and biases. The governor also

hinted that his letter was on the strength of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Section 147 sub-sections (2) and (3) which therefore state as follows: (2) Any appointment to the office of the Minister of the government of the Federation shall if the nomination of any such person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President. He explained that this was not new to the country’s democracy, saying that late Chief Bola Ige, who was the leader of the Alliance for Democracy and the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji

Ahmed Abdulkadri were made Minister and Special Adviser respectively by the PDP government of Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007. But in a swift reaction, the All Progressives Congress (APC), through the State Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, described the step by the governor as a big insult. “This is a gratuitous insult and madness at its worst fits. Even if he were to be APC governor, haven’t President Muhammadu Buhari made it plain that he won’t allow the governors to pick ministers for him?

overnor Akinwunmi of Lagos State yesterday reaffirmed his resolve to enhance welfare of the public servants in the state, saying he would lead by example throughout his tenure as the governor of the state. Ambode, who also urged workers to show commitment to duty by resuming to work as early as 8 am, said he decided to reside in his Alausa office instead of his official residence in Marina, to enable him resume duty earlier than resumption time for civil servants in the state, calling on public servants to emulate him to take the state to the next level. Speaking at a parley with the civil servants at the state Secretariat, Ambode, described the state public service as his constituent, saying that he was ready to give back to the institution that built him. He said:, “This is the unpleasant part of my story. I like to resume at 8am. So, if I decided to make my official residence the Lagos House, Ikeja, that means I can work

till 12 am. So, if I wake up at 7:15am and I ask for the Perm Sec, she will answer me. Assuring the workers of constant capacity building, Ambode, appealed for cooperation from the workers to enable him actualise all his dreams for greater Lagos. The governor added: “I just want to say that all these are not possible without 128,000 of us in the state civil service across the state. “So, what am I asking for? Am asking for your support, cooperation and I am ready to do everything possible to make life easier for everyone.” Ambode explained that civil servants would be accorded their entitlements under his administration, saying that he would reward professionalism, hardwork and committment. “But that’s part of the change that we have asked and it must reflect in all the things that I try to do. I just want to say this; my dream for the public service is to have an establishment that would prepare you for a worthwhile life after service.”

Oluwawole tipped as next Ekiti speaker Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

A L-R: Former Ekiti State governor, Dr. Segun Oni; APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Chief Bisi Akande and APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, during the party’s national leaders meeting in Abuja…yesterday

Muritala Ayinla

he wind of change is blowing profusely at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja following the resumption of the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode. Some heads of agencies may have been asked to step down. New Telegraph learnt there is anxiety at various Ministries, Departments and Agencies following serious underground moves to remove some head of agencies perceived to be

Anxiety as shake up looms in Alausa loyal to the immediate past governor of the state, Mr Babatunde Fashola, from office. The removal yesterday of the Chairman of the Lagos Taskforce on Special Offence Unit, Mr Bayo Sulaiman, a Chief Superintendent of Police, heightened the tension among the civil servants. Some of the agencies whose heads may be removed include the Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Of-

fence Unit, the Lagos State Electricity Board, the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, Lagos State Residents’ Registration Agency, LASRRA, among others. One of the first victims of the wind of change was, Sulaiman, who was directed by the State Police Command to vacate office for Mr Adedeji Akeem, the new chairman of the taskforce. Speaking with New Telegraph, the new taskforce helmsman, said he was out to maintain law and order

Osun inaugurates sixth Assembly Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

he sixth Osun State House of Assembly was yesterday inaugurated after the expiration of the 5th one, with Honourable Najeem Salaam, returning un-opposed as the Speaker and sworn in for his second term in office. While conducting the swearing in activities on the floor of the House,

the Clerk of the House, Mr. Mudashir Oyeniran, also sworn in the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Adegboye Akintunde and other officials members of the Assembly. Among the officials of the House were Hon. Timothy Owoeye, elected as Majority Leader, the member representing Ife Central Mr. Oladejo Makinde, emerged the Minority Leader, while Mr. Folo-

runso Bamisayemi from Ife South was elected the Chief Whip. The 5th assembly was however dissolved having completed the four years term of former legislative members as stipulated in the constitution. While inaugurating the assembly, the State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, remarked noted, “members of the Assembly were being inaugurated at a time

in line with the vision of the current administration of the state. “By the special grace of God, I’m the 11th chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offence Unit. My vision is to put Lagos in a better position to make the state the pride of everybody, whereby every law abiding citizen live freely. The government alone cannot provide security; it requires the cooperation of everyone.” the state is facing financial challenge and I hereby call for the lawmakers commitment to the state to overcome the challenge”. “The situation would soon be a thing of the past as the unpaid salaries was a painful situation for workers not to take there wages after hectic work done.” In his inaugural speech, the Speaker, Mr. Najeem Salaam, said” I pledge to continue to toe the part of peace without compromising the core value of the House”.

s the people of Ekiti State prepares for the inauguration of the 8th Assembly on Friday, Hon. Kola Oluwawole (Moba State Constituency 1) is being tipped to emerge as the new Speaker of the Assembly. Checks by our correspondent showed that Oluwawole, a cleric in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, was considered for the post by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside Hon. Tunji Akinyele of Oye State Constituency 1. Akinyele was the only member of the Assembly during the first term of Governor Ayo Fayose, that did not endorse the governor’s impeachment process and is being tipped for the post

of the Leader of the House. Oluwawole emerged due to a number of factors, as he served in various capacities during Fayose’s first term in office. He was Chief of Protocol and later Chief of Staff. He was also elected the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP during the party’s March 2012 state congress, a position he left to contest election into the Assembly. It was further gathered that the deputy speaker’s position has been zoned to Ado-Ekiti. A source, who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to talk on the matter, said a number of factors were considered. “People say once beaten twice shy. It is not that the leadership of the party doubts the integrity and loyalty of any of the incoming lawmakers.”

Oyo House passes N143bn 2015 budget Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

he Oyo State House of Assembly yesterday passed the N143 billion 2015 budget of the state into law. A breakdown of the budget showed that while the recurrent expenditure got N88,054,250,700, capital expenditure gulped N55,054,410,000. The approved budget has a shortfall of over N2 billion as against the N141 billion that was presented to the House by Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the previous year.

The House, presided over by the Speaker, Hon Monsurat Sunmonu (now Senator), passed the budget into law after the Hon. Olusegun Olaleyeled Committee on Public Account, Finance and Appropriation submitted its report on the bill. In his remark, Hon Olaleye said: “The budget has an estimate of N143,108 billion as the approved estimate budget, but when you look at the budget very well you will see that N88bn has to do with the recurrent expenditure and N55 million for capital expenditure.”

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

Interview

Agenda

Parliament

APC Dialogue

14, 15

What Northern elders told Buhari, by Abdullahi

Anti-corruption agencies must be overhauled – Ogah

Tambuwal’s farewell to Reps

From policy research to implementation

Politics Clark

Anenih

Ali

Iwuanyanwu

Retired by Jonathan’s loss Donald Ojogo Abuja

he outcome of the just-concluded presidential election which threw up General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as president has opened a rank of losers. Curiously, most of those in this category described as the biggest losers did not participate in the last presidential and National Assembly polls as candidates but were power brokers who wielded much political influence or were placed in positions of financial strength to dispense patronage at will. Mostly, the list includes close associates of defeated president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, whose continued relevance in power corridors was tied to the success of President Jonathan in the March 28 presidential election. Dame Patience Jonathan She is the first lady, wife of the outgone president. Her influence

over the life and position of her husband is inexplicably profound and potent. She was reported to have installed about 10 ministers and had already pencilled down a fresh crop of would be ministers in case her husband scaled through. Her influence within the affairs of the now defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was enormous before now to the extent that members of the party’s NWC never toyed with her preferences. Edwin Kiagbodo Clark He is the leader of the Ijaw ethnic nationality to which the outing president belongs. A former senator and onetime Information Minister, Clark often refers to President Jonathan as his son. He has spared no one any verbal attack especially when issues raised are antagonistic to Jonathan. Potential appointees often look forward to his endorsement just as his opposition of same was worthy of a second look. He has been on a low key since President Jonathan lost the election.

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Tony Anenih The Iyalese of Esanland, Edo State was the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) until his resignation on May 20. He also served as the national adviser to the presidential campaign council of the party. This is the first time Anenih, fondly called Mr. Fix It will be out of political power and influence. What next for him is the big question? But at 83, age is no longer on his side.

King A J Turner An Ogbia traditional ruler from

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS

If Bola Tinubu finds his way into national government, I will go on exile

Bayelsa State, Turner rose to the pinnacle of his civil service career as permanent secretary in Bayelsa State before retirement. President Jonathan, an Ogbia like Turner, relies so much on the traditional ruler who was the brain behind the defunct Green Movement that paved the way for the president when he ran as governor of Bayelsa State. Turner’s influence in the corridors of Aso Rock peaked in 2011 when he, alongside others, bankrolled the Neighbour to Neighbour campaign outfit to usher in Jonathan. Turner, onetime chairman of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and current chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), is the godfather of the Bayelsa State governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, and many other politicians in the state. Femi Fani-Kayode This lawyer turned politician is firebrand. Articulate and vibrant, he is a reporter’s delight. At the formative stage of the APC, Fani-Kayode was very active and noticeable. He however defected to the PDP, where to the chagrin of many became the PDP director of media for the presidential campaign organisation. To say that the move was in lieu of a political appointment is merely stating the obvious. Has he not lost all? He is still battling for relevance in the party. Ifeanyi Uba The oil mogul is the chairman of Capital Oil and national coordinator of President Jonathan’s most

potent campaign body, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN). He had traversed the six geo political zones as well as all states of the federation. No one sure of the compensation that awaited him but it was a done deal that Uba, who ran for governorship on the platform of Labour Party in the last Anambra governorship election, would have been heavily compensated. He is one of the major losers of Jonathan’s defeat. Diezani Alison-Madueke A close ally of the president, she wore the toga of the de facto president owing to her enormous influence and power. With much financial muscle and patronage to dish out, the petroleum minister, an indigene of Bayelsa like Jonathan, was sure of either returning as minister or being installed as the first female governor in 2016 as she has been oiling her political machinery before the big fall. Bamanga Tukur He is Adamu Muazu’s predecessor as chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He is a veteran, whose politics dates back to the Second Republic when he became the governor of the old Gongola State on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN). His forceful exit from the helm of affairs in the PDP last year has occasioned some revulsion from his political adversaries who have forcefully put in measures for his consignment to irrelevance, especially in the politics of Adamawa CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

Politics

Prof. Ango Abdullahi, former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, is the spokesman of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), a rabidly pronorthern group which did not only endorse President Muhammadu Buhari as its candidate during the March 28 election, but was also unsparing in its criticisms against former President Goodluck Jonathan. In this interview with IBRAHEEM MUSA, the elder statesman revealed what the forum told Buhari during its last visit. Excerpts: The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) visited President Muhammadu Buhari recently. Beyond the advice that your chairman, Alhaji Maitama Sule gave him as was reported, on the need to be fair to all sections of the country, what did you discuss behind closed doors? Well, actually this particular visit you are referring to, which Dan Masanin Kano (Alhaji Maitama Sule) led, was primarily to congratulate the President for his success in the last election and to also offer, as one would expect, prayers for successful tenure of office. And thirdly, to assure him that on assumption of office, the Northern Elders’ Forum is ready at any given time to offer advice, whether solicited or unsolicited; so long as it is considered to be in the best interest of Nigeria or good governance, which we expect the Buhari-led administration to provide. In the last six years, one of the issues that had bedevilled the North has been insecurity. Did you discuss that with the President? No, actually as I told you, it was not a visit where discussions were held. As you have recalled, Maitama Sule said a general prayer and gave advice and so on. And he reminded everyone of us Nigerians, that the challenges ahead are enormous and they are many, especially security, which is particularly problematic here in the north, and other parts of the country. So, we did not go into the nitty-gritty of details in terms of what the president needs to do. The only thing that we did was, a couple of days later, to send a short document in which we raised some fundamental issues concerning the challenges facing the country. And by implication, the challenges facing his young administration. Can you give an insight into the document? No I will not. Of course there is nothing secret about it. Buhari himself has talked about the serious areas that his administration will face; he was quick in mention-

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

What Northern elders

Abdullahi

ing security which you have talked about. He was emphatic about corruption. He was very clear that his administration will be slim and well populated with people of competence. And these are the areas that we also mentioned in the short document that we gave the President or rather that we gave some of his assistants, hoping that it will eventually get to him. So, I think the ‘insight’ is already outside more or less. There were reports that this country is in serious crisis as we headed towards this change of baton between Jonathan to Buhari’s administration. In fact, somebody called me from one of the media houses, asking for my reaction on the intensification of the crisis. Is it deliberately induced? He mentioned, for example, the fuel crisis and the power failure in many parts of Nigeria, especially where I’m here in Zaria. I have been out of the country but I understand that they have been without electricity continuously for five to six days. And this is what is happening in virtually every part of the country. What was your answer to the question on whether the crisis was

As long as the Buhari I know will plug the holes of stealing, the cost of governance will come down

contrived or not? People are raising the question of this apparent hostility that we read about in the newspapers; that Buhari is not cooperating, he complained that the government is not cooperating about handing over procedures and so on. There must be something acrimonious between the former and the new administration. But I think the fault largely lies at the door step of the former government. Simple procedure demands that if an officer is leaving his desk, he prepares a handing over note whether he knows the person who is taking over from him or not. That handing over note will be on the table when the man arrives. It is only when perhaps if he has questions to ask or raise, then he refers back to the person who prepared the handing over note. So, in this case, there was an initial intention that the two sides will work together so that the handing over will be smooth. But apparently, the former government doesn’t seem to give information because the new government requires nothing but information. It requires information more importantly than money because it

requires to be told what the money is for. Information is what the Buhari team requires and this is what is lacking as it is not forthcoming. The Jonathan administration said that they will hand over on May 28th, a day before swearing-in. Now, you don’t expect such notes to be ready, let alone make sense of them, a few hours before the next president will take over from you. I think there is something deliberate about the behaviour of the past government. What I told the journalist this morning (Monday, May 25), is that what we have and have been living with, is a failed government. I don’t believe that Nigeria is a failed state, but the Jonathan administration was a failed government. Thank God, it is gone and another government that will make sense out of governance has taken over. High cost of governance is being seen as one of the areas of waste that has been draining the nation’s resources. As a seasoned administrator, what do you advise the President to do in this regard? Do you subscribe to the suggestions that some ministries should be merged and that not every state must produce a minister?

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

told Buhari, by Abdullahi between them and their counterparts in the parliamentary system. You will not be a minister under the parliamentary system until you are elected to a parliament. So, you have to be accountable to your constituency as well as to the parliament collectively; the prime minister can only nominate you as minister but you can be rejected by the parliament and so on. So, you see, there is no accountability with the ministers that we have had under the presidential system of government. They have no responsibility to anyone except the person who appointed them. And that’s why we have this impunity that we have seen demonstrated in the last few years as exhibited by the ministers. There is stench of irresponsible corruption but the president did nothing because these are his boys and girls as the case may be. If a system does not lend itself to accountability as the presidential system that we operate in Nigeria, definitely it has basic problems. So, assuming that we are stuck with it, what else can we do?

Well, I have even more fundamental concerns than that, in terms of cost of governance. I have never subscribed to a presidential system of government and this is one of the greatest mistakes that this country had made. And it is paying dearly for it. The Murtala/ Obasanjo military regime foisted it on us; they insisted that the country should discuss nothing other than the presidential system of government. The presidential system, by its very nature, is a very expensive system of government. It is usually cut out for countries that are first and foremost rich, compliant to law and order and there are very little chance for corrupt practice. My belief is that over 50 per cent of our economic and political crises over the last 30 years are because of the introduction of the presidential system of government. The system, by its very nature, is corrupt and lacks accountability. Let me give you an example here of accountability. Who appoints our ministers? The president appoints them. On what basis does he appoint them? Who do they represent? They have no constituencies. And this is the difference

What steps can Buhari take to reduce the high cost of governance? Part of the cost of governance is of course corruption. A particular contract that should go for N100 million, the minister approves it for N500 million; obviously the country has been short-changed by N400 million. This is what has been happening to us. So, as long as the Buhari I know will plug the holes of stealing, the cost of governance will come down. Of course there are unnecessary structures in the system. You can take away a lot of fat and leave the meat there. And also, part of the cost of governance is unnecessary political patronage. For example, Buhari has just gone through an election. I feel sorry for such an honest man that he is being surrounded by those people who say that they are the ones behind his success. And by implication, they are expecting a reward to compensate them for the support that they gave towards his success. But that does not add to reduction in cost; it increases cost because where you intend to make four or five appointments at federal or state level, you end up with so many ministers or commissioners simply because you want to satisfy certain political constituencies. So, these are the things that Buhari has to really be firm on but it is not going to be easy for him. He is likely to face rebellion from some of his party men. Of course the cost of governance permeates all the three arms of government. I don’t worry so much with regards to the judiciary and the executive branch, obviously the president has spoken about that. But the National Assembly is another area of cost. But the president can do virtually nothing about that because it is another arm of government entirely. No, no, no! Why not!? Who decides the salaries and allowances of senators and members of the House of Representatives? Who decides the salaries of the president? The National Wages Commission.

I don’t believe that Nigeria is a failed state, but the Jonathan administration was a failed government. Thank God, it is gone...

Exactly! It’s a commission which was created to serve the interest of Nigerians. And if that interest is not being served, certainly this has to be challenged. You have a governor who has been living free on taxpayers’ money. And after his tenure, he wants to take N200 million as pension! For 25 years, I was a staff of Ahmadu Bello University and I became the Vice Chancellor but my pension is less that N1 million. And my gratuity was also less than N1 million but a governor whom you can pick from the market; with due respect, earns more than a vice chancellor. And you can’t find Vice Chancellors everywhere. The salaries of our senators are the highest in the world; higher than their counterparts in the United States. So, there must be something that we are doing wrong, in terms of the public service reward system. Take another example of inequity and injustice. A councillor who is a school dropout, earns 20 times more than a primary school teacher. Mark you, the teacher is grappling with pupils from morning till afternoon and at the end of the month, the local government pays him between N10,000 and N15,000 per month. When a councillor, who has nothing to do, who does not even have an office, at the end of the month takes the salary of 20 to 25 teachers. You see, there are so many things that are wrong that make governance in this country very costly and promote corruption. Can Buhari tackle some of the things that you raised because of the federal nature of our country? Can Buhari actually dabble into states and local government issues? I subscribe to a federal system of government. We should have a federation because of our diversity. Absolutely! But the fact that you are diverse and you operate a federal system doesn’t mean that the governors at these federal units should be irresponsibly wrong or avoidably expensive. It is the people who will insist that these changes must come. Buhari should just provide the leadership that will make sure that some of these false premises are removed. As long as they are not removed and as soon as possible, you don’t expect a stable federal system of government. Some people say that Nigeria is on the verge of an energy crisis because of the shortage of petroleum resources and non availability of electricity. How can Buhari solve these twin problems of lack of power and fuel shortages? We are not on a verge of an energy crisis; we are in an energy crisis. Fortunately, Buhari was there before. In fact, he was the architect of the good things that we have heard about the oil industry. He built most of the refineries. He constructed pipelines that will make the distribution of petroleum resources easily across the country, so that cost of transportation will be reduced and there will be uniform pricing which promotes even development across the country. So, he has been there

and he succeeded in what he did. Now that he is here again and he is jumping into a similar crisis, he should be able to deal with it without any one of us telling him how to do it. In an interview that he gave some days ago, he said that he gets confused when people talk about subsidy. What does it say? Subsidy for who and for what? The implication of the subsidy that government says it is paying for, is that we deserve to pay far more than what we are paying now. So, the government is being compassionate to say that it is paying for the difference between what we ought to pay and what we are paying. That’s why they are dipping their hands into the treasury in order to finance what we ought to pay. That is the simple meaning of subsidy. But there is no truth whatsoever in the claim because there are well researched documents about the relationship between a barrel of crude oil and the products that come out of it. The products that come out of that barrel of crude oil without being a chemist are petrol, gas and bitumen. All these are high value products. From the analysis that one economist who worked with me at ABU Zaria did, he said after a few years of the Obasanjo administration, the cost of producing one litre of petrol, cannot exceed N25. Let’s put in all the other variables, the margin of profit, transportation and so on, it was his view that no Nigerian should pay more than N40 to N45 for one litre of petroleum. And recently, Tam David-West also spoke in the same vein. Please, one doesn’t want to hear this nonsense called subsidy because they are channels of stealing money. And let me take one more area that has nothing to do with politics or governance. It has to do with our spiritual life, which is Hajj. In what way is the Hajj affected by subsidy? Nigerians pay the highest price to go and worship God in Saudi Arabia, when you compare with their counterparts in Ghana and next door Niger. Even for religious trips we are being overcharged; Nigerians are being cheated. We did our own research and we are ready to argue this in the public. Today, a pilgrim from Cameroon, flying from Douala to Jedda, his cost of Hajj, including about $1,000 BTA, is equivalent to N450,000. But our pilgrims are now being asked to pay between N700,000 and N800,000. The problem is corruption. Even on religious matters, people are being cheated. So, something is wrong. This is not only happening to Muslim pilgrims but Christian pilgrims are being short-changed as well. I wish Buhari will set up a Task Force to look into this problem because if he does it before the next Hajj, he will discover the enormous cheating that is going on there. And since the pilgrims have not yet left and once he can establish the true cost of Hajj to our pilgrims, whether Muslims or Christians, they should be paid the difference of the money that they have already paid.

16 Politics Mr. Chinedu Ogah is an industrialist, farmer, youth leader and politician. In this interview, he advises the Muhammadu Buhari administration to tackle corruption with holistic approach. He also wants the government to sanitise the electoral system. UCHENNA INYA reports

The electoral system is one of the critical areas the new government is expected to look into. What advice will you offer to the President in this regard? President Muhammadu Buhari should sanitise the electoral system; this is because there are rots in that area. He should make sure that soldiers are not used during elections. What happened in the just-concluded general elections where the military was used to assist some politicians to win should not be allowed to repeat itself. In many places, soldiers were seen carrying ballot boxes, thumb printing ballot papers. Also officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be checkmated because they are part of the problem we encountered during election in this country. They have bastardised the system. A situation where INEC officials will alter result sheets after voting or favour a political party by not doing the right thing is unfortunate and should be fought to standstill. Some INEC officials compromised during the justconcluded elections and it made the electorate to lose interest in the system. The Buhari government should also allow other political parties to survive. He should encourage other parties to grow because this is the beauty of democracy. So, people should be allowed to belong to any party of their choice and vote freely during elections. How will you want Buhari to tackle the issue of corruption? I suggest a total overhaul of the system. Those fighting corruption are corrupt and you cannot give what you don’t have. So, the anti-corruption agencies should be sanitised to achieve the desired result in the fight against corruption in Nigeria which you can agree with me is a cankerworm that has eaten the fabric of the nation. A situation where an anti-corruption agent will arrest a suspect and demand money to free the person is an encouragement to corruption. I know what the Buhari government can do in the area of corruption; he did it when he was a Head of State when he introduced War Against Indis-

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Anti-corruption agencies must be overhauled – Ogah should not waste time to implement them for the rapid growth of the country. But if it is for the benefit of the few, a region or certain cabals, he should jettison it. We have had many confabs in this country and none of them have been implemented even the one organised by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration which would have been much beneficial was not implemented. A lot of resources have been wasted on confabs and after nothing happens; no implementation. So, I advise the incoming government not to waste the nation’s resources by organising a fresh confab. Instead, it should implement the reports of the last ones if it sees them useful for the country. Buhari is a man of character who has the capacity to lead this country as a former Head of State. So, he has to ensure that the report of the last confab is critically analysed before the implementation if he is to apply the recommendations in his administration. In the area of security, how will you like the new administration to tackle the security challenges in the country, especially the issue of Boko Haram which has remained a threat to peace? Buhari should meet all the emirs in the North to brainstorm on the fight against insurgency because these emirs know all the people in their localities including the Boko Haram members. His government should ensure equitable distribution of the nation’s resources because inequality in distribution is one of the causes of insecurity in the country. He should not be sentimental in this regard.

Ogah

cipline and Corruption. At that time, there was no corruption of any sort. The new government should not look at faces to fight corruption; it should arrest and prosecute anyone found guilty of corrupt practice irrespective of the status of such person. The immediate past government was not sincere in the war against corruption. It shielded some persons and that was why it was as if there was much corruption in the government. So, nobody should be a sacred cow because if the country is good, it will be for the benefit of everybody. What do you want Buhari to do in the power sector? The new administration should invite nations like Germany and China to establish power plants in the country. There should be private participation in the power sector and there should be constant power supply in the country. Some people are paying for electricity they don’t consume and it is very bad. Here in Ebonyi State, it is the major problem the

The anticorruption agencies should be sanitised to achieve the desired result in the fight against corruption

people are facing; they are made to pay for what they did not consume as power distribution companies hardly give light but always bring exhobitant bill at the end of every month. So, this is very bad and part of the corruption we are talking about. In many areas, people have protested against epileptic power supply, many have been in darkness for months yet they pay for electricity every month. If a transformer is faulty, electricity consumers should not be made to replace or repair it as it is happening in many places including Ebonyi. So, the new government should tackle the numerous problems to restore public confidence in the power sector. Buhari should therefore declare state of emergency in the power sector. There were so many recommendations by the last confab and none of them has been implemented. Will you like the Buhari government to implement the confab report? If the report of the confab will benefit the masses, Buhari

What about the oil sector? The new administration should remove fuel subsidy. Nigeria cannot be producing oil and will be exporting it for refining while it will be brought back to the nation. We should have refineries to attract investors and every Nigerian that has a refinery outside the country should return home and invest. Unemployment has been one of the major problems facing the nation. How do you want the new administration to tackle the issue? The nation should go back to agriculture. Overdependent on oil should not be encouraged by the new government because it has disappointed the country. I am a farmer which you are aware of and I have excelled in agriculture, I have employed over 200 persons in my farms. I want to advise our youths to embrace farming because it will offer employment opportunities for them. The Buhari administration should build industries for the youth to reduce high level of unemployment in the country. People should stop overdependence on white collar jobs that are not available especially the youth who are mostly affected.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

The House of Representatives, last Wednesday, held a special valedictory session in honour of its outgoing Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal. PHILIP NYAM reviews Tambuwal’s last address to the lawmakers and his unique politicking

Tambuwal’s farewell to Reps pects that it is rubber stamp then frosty relation is bound to follow,” Tambuwal stated. The former speaker was not happy that in spite of the huge amount of money expended on the 7th alteration to the 1999 Constitution, the project was at the risk of being a waste as according to him, “we are faced with the potential of incalculable waste of public resources through the conspiracy of the Constitutional amendment impasse. This document is a product of the highest and most intimate consultations with Nigerians; indeed it is the Bill of the Nigerian people. All parties involved have a duty to allow or disallow this looming monumental waste of public funds and public opinion. For our part, we owe Nigerians a statement once again and I am confident that with the slimmest opportunity this House will make that statement.” The most worrisome to the speaker was the inability of the House of pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) under his leadership. He said: “We shed tears of sadness because we did not rise swiftly to defeat the forces that stood ever so strongly against the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). We lament that our Electronic Voting System project could not be brought to fruition. I am confident, however, that with the amendment of the relevant House Rules, the successor Assembly would move swiftly to conclude the half done issues.”

he new governor of Sokoto State, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who until last Thursday represented Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in the House since 2003, will go down in history as the first speaker to have presided over the lower chamber on the platform of two political parties. He bowed out gracefully on Wednesday, May 27 after receiving glowing tributes and encomiums from his colleagues. A shrewd and unassuming politician, Tambuwal’s brand of politicking and experience will be greatly missed in the House. Tambuwal’s exit also set a precedence in the House as power was officially transmitted to his deputy, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, to complete the term in acting capacity. While transferring the powers of the speaker to the deputy speaker, the House resolved to suspend Order II, Rule 9 of its standing orders to enable the deputy speaker perform the duties and functions of the Speaker for the remainder of the life of the 7th House, in accordance with Order VII, Rule 25 (1) of the standing orders of the House. Order 11, Rule 9 of the House standing order provides that: “Whenever a vacancy has occurred in the office of the speaker or deputy speaker during a session, the clerk shall report same to the House at its next sitting, and the House shall either forthwith, or at its next sitting, proceed to the election of a new Speaker in the manner herein before provided.” The House resolution was sequel to a motion moved by the chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Albert Sam-Tsokwa and 21 others entitled, “suspension of Order II, Rule 9 of the standing orders of the House of Representatives: Vacancy in the office of the Speaker.” In the motion, Sam-Tsokwa noted that the outgoing speaker, Tambuwal, would be sworn in as the governor of Sokoto on May 29, adding that such would make him to cease to be a member of the House and by extension Speaker of the House after taking his oath of office. Ideally, there would have been an election for a new speaker after Tambuwal’s resignation. But the House decided at an executive session not to conduct any election. It instead resolved to elevate the deputy speaker to the status of speaker. This has never happened in the House before. Achievements In a farewell speech to the House, Tambuwal expressed happiness at the unity that pervaded the chamber throughout the ses-

Tambuwal

sion. Tambuwal in the emotion laden address entitled “power of unity of purpose” extolled the courage exhibited by his colleagues by insisting on choosing leaders of their choice instead of adhering to the party’s directive. He cherished the independence of the legislature that ensued after his election as speaker and the tenacity of purpose displayed by the members. “Through the power of the unity of purpose you boldly made that statement by electing leaders of your choice and ensuring that their tenure would not be determined only by you to the exclusion of all external forces. By this, the power of unity of purpose had broken the walls of clannishness and retrogressive partisanship,” he said. According to Tambuwal, any legislature that seeks to fulfil its duty and obligation to the electorate whom they represent must exercise its independence and this comes at a price. “A legislature truly playing its checks and balances role would normally experience friction with the other arms of government and other interest groups who have broken the law or desire to break the law in the course of time. We had more than a fair share of this friction and torment but overcame because the naughty walls of partisanship and selfish pecuniary considerations could not withstand the power of unity of purpose.” Tambuwal was happy that his reign as speaker was ‘scandal free’ unlike the previous Houses that were characterised by crisis and allegations of corruption. According to him, “other than the allegations against three members, two of which have already been judicially resolved in favour of the members, the Seventh House of Representatives has successfully ran the full course scandal-free. Even in these two isolated cases, the House stood firmly on the path of public probity.” The former speaker noted that the 7th House can be generally assessed as substantially stable.

He observed that there were no cases of internally-generated crisis while all machinations of externally induced crises were stoutly resisted by members. “It is evidence of the power of unity of purpose that with the gale of defections and counter-defections and the multiplicity of litigations, the House still maintained its focus and came out stronger than ever,” he stated. He, however, advised that in spite of the achievements they recorded in avoiding corruption, the 8th House, still has the Herculean task of getting the general public to begin to appreciate the distinction between the legislature corporate and individual legislators. The Sokoto-born lawyer also acknowledged the excellent relationship that existed between the two chambers of the National Assembly, noting that “the Seventh House enjoyed a very robust relationship of mutual respect and sense of common purpose with the Senate throughout this four-year period. I take this opportunity to most highly commend the President of the Senate, Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark for this show of leadership. I equally commend all Distinguished Senators of the Seventh Senate for the spirit of common purpose exhibited all through the years.” Regrets These achievements notwithstanding, the former speaker rued the no love lost between the legislature (particularly the House) and the presidency most part of their four year tenure. He regretted that the disagreement between them was ‘unnecessary and a distraction’. “I must say that the frosty relationship between the Executive and Seventh House was an unnecessary distraction and a source of embarrassment to the nation. It is unwarranted that a ruling party with clear majority boxed itself into that situation. If the executive fails to recognise the independence of the legislature and ex-

We shed tears of sadness because we did not rise swiftly to defeat the forces that stood ever so strongly against the passage of the PIB

His sojourn Tambuwal began his active political career as Personal Assistant on Legislative Affairs to Senator Abdullahi Wali, the then Senate Leader. Incidentally, he defeated the same man in the April 11, 2015 gubernatorial election to become governor of Sokoto State. But being an enigmatic personality, he left the PDP, which his then boss (Wali) was a member and contested on the platform of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) to represent Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in the House. Few months to the 2007 general elections, he defected to the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), alongside the former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa. But when the DPP denied former ANPP legislators return tickets, he returned to the ANPP, and got a ticket for the election. Later in 2007 when the ANPP governorship candidate for Sokoto State in the 2007 election, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, dumped the party for the PDP, Tambuwal also joined him. In his 12 years in the House, the immediate past speaker held different principal positions both in the minority and majority party at different times. His emergence as Speaker in June 2011 was the turning point in his fast rising political career, which also rubbished the zoning arrangement in the election of the Speaker. Tambuwal is also the first speaker of the House since 1999 to have successfully transited directly from the seat to another elective position.

MORE STORIES ON pageS 40-43

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion That siege on Buruji Kashamu Adewale Kupoluyi

he recent siege laid to the residence of the South West leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Buruji Kashamu, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), is pre-emptive and a sad reminder that lawlessness can still rear its ugly head in a civil society where democracy and the rule of law should ordinarily prevail. The Senator-elect for the Ogun East Senatorial District in the just-concluded National Assembly elections, is facing the threat of extradition to the United States of America for an alleged drug-related offence. In a petition written to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), by his counsel, Ajibola Oluyede, he had complained that the US Government, in connivance with the Nigerian security agencies and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, were plotting to extradite him to America to answer criminal charges, the claims NDLEA had warned the Senator-elect to stop further pointing of accusing fingers at the former President, the former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, as being the brains behind his current travails, urging him to rather concentrate on the facts of his case. The NDLEA claimed that it had received a formal request for the extradition of Kashamu from the US Embassy for being on the wanted list of both the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Before now, the US government was said to have attempted twice to secure the extradition of Kashamu from the United Kingdom but failed. According to media reports, the accused was allegedly indicted in the Northern District of Illinois on charges brought against him by ICE. According to the United States court documents, Kashamu was described as the leader of a prolific heroin trafficking ring based in Chicago, Illinois and known as ‘God’, ‘Daddy’ and ‘Kasmal’.

He is allegedly wanted to stand trial on charges of conspiracy and importation of controlled substances, namely heroin, into the United States since 1994, an allegation that Kashamu had denied, saying his case was purely that of mistaken identity because of his semblance with the brother, Adewale, whom he said had already been reported to police authorities in Nigeria, Republic of Benin and Togo concerning his purported drug-dealing activities. The English High Court in December 1999 delivered its judgment and agreed that the order for his committal was null and void having been a product of unfair proceedings in which exculpatory evidence had been suppressed by the prosecutor. Even though, the failed attempt by the US Government to secure an extradition order in the UK failed, the US authorities did not appeal the decision but rather had him re-arrested and commenced another extradition process against him at the Bow Street Magistrate Court in England before District Judge Tim Workman. That effort still did not yield the desired outcome for the American authorities. In the political circles, his predicaments were said to have begun shortly after he fell apart with former President Obasanjo over the control of the leadership of the PDP in Ogun State. Buruji had been in Obasanjo’s faction of the PDP against the then Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel. After the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 elections, he was appointed as the Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee for Jonathan’s re-election in the South-West. He is said to command large supporters and wielded tremendous political power that translated into remarkable results for him even in seemingly difficult circumstances. In his famous resignation letter from the PDP, Obasanjo had said that as the Chairman of an anti-drug body in Africa, he could not continue to be in a party where a wanted drug baron was the leader in his home state. Late last year, the former president had launched a book titled, ‘My Watch’, in which he described Kashamu as a ‘fugitive’. The Senator-elect then went to court, obtaining an injunction restraining Obasanjo from selling the

book, although the order has since been vacated. From the available information, it is difficult to explain the true circumstances behind Kashamu’s ordeal. But what is certain is that the dictates and the demands of the law are not too onerous to be complied with by statutory agencies and persons charged with the responsibility of protecting the sanctity. Rather than the recourse to might, power and force, what Kashamu has experienced can be likened to the military era, where arbitrariness was the order of the day. Under Sections 34, 35, 37 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the accused, irrespective of whatever may be the substance of the criminal charge against him, either in the United States of America, is still a Nigerian citizen and his rights must, therefore, be defended against the domineering influence of the US or any other country, the same way America had consistently defended its citizens, no matter how poor or lowly placed in the society. It would be recalled that Dick Cheney, the 46th Vice-President of the US, who was fingered in the notorious Halliburton’s $180 million bribe scandal, was meant to be prosecuted by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), America still ensured that he was accorded fair hearing by ensuring that due process was followed by avoiding illegal persecution or jungle justice. One would have expected that if the NDLEA has the extradition request from the US Government, as it claimed, the proper thing to do would have been to secure a warrant of arrest against Kashamu and institute extradition proceedings before the High Court of Justice, especially when Kashamu had already raised an alarm of an alleged a plot to abduct and extradite him, citing information leaked to his lawyer by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was said to be very close to the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke. •Kupoluyi writes from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), adewalekupoluyi@yahoo.co.uk, @AdewaleKupoluyi, adewalekupoluyi.blogspot.com

Ortom’s China tour Alex Ohemu

hortly before his inauguration, the Benue State governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, led a high-powered delegation to the Peoples’ Republic of China. The visit was on the invitation of two global business players from that Asian country, Hongye International Limited and CGC. The governor-elect was accompanied on the visit by some All Progressives Congress, APC, members, including a member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Audu Ogbeh. Ortom, immediate past Minister superintending over trade and investment and Audu Ogbeh, a foremost expert on agro business, are a good pair to synergize on foreign investment imperatives for the state. The visit is in keeping with the governor’s promise to partner with the private sector for the rapid socio- economic development of the state. It is noteworthy that the delegation’s focus included agriculture, coal, water, road construction, airport, dredging and irrigation. The team embarked on the journey to determine if facilities of the two companies are suited for the development of these sub sectors of the state economy. The visit is a right step in the right direction. It is the right step for a government that is determined to rescue a state under the shackles of underdevelopment and transform it into a buoyant econo-

my. It is an agenda-setting outing for an administration that has shown clearly that it is conversant with the challenges, yearnings and aspirations of the people and is poised to address them. The Ortom China tour is significant in some vital respects. It sends a clear and positive signal to the electorate that the new administration is going to hit the ground running as far as governance in Benue State is concerned. The trip is a clear indication of the nature, trajectory and tempo of the new leadership and the likelihood that the government will be action-packed, eventful and resultoriented. The cumulative effect of this initiative, if sustained and expanded to other emerging economies like India, Singapore, Indonesia, Korea etc will, in no distant future, put Benue State on the map as Nigeria’s number one destination for foreign investment. This is one foreign investment trip that will no doubt add value to the state economy. This is so because we already have comparative advantage in some of the areas under focus. Take agriculture, coal and the dredging of River Benue for instance. Agriculture happens to be the mainstay of the state economy. About 80 per cent of the population is engaged in it. The land is available and fertile, the climate and weather are favourable while labour is cheap. This is by no means a favourable outlook to attract a prospective investor to develop the sector. Cas-

sava, rice, yam, assorted fruits are likely to come under serious consideration by the Chinese because of their industrial potentials. It would be recalled that one of the key policies of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, when Chief Ogbeh was the adviser to the president on agriculture, was the encouragement of massive cultivation of cassava across the country, particularly for export. As a matter of fact, that administration pioneered cassava bread in the country and it is our fervent hope that the Ortom-Ogbeh initiative will introduce other cassava food series like noodles, buns, pizza and cake while rice milling and yam flour production would be given added boost. Also, there is a sprawling deposit of coal lying fallow in Owukpa, Ogbadibo Local Government Area waiting to be exploited as source of energy. Statistics show that the quantum of coal underneath Owukpa has the capacity to produce several thousand kilowatts of electricity to swell the national grid. For a state that has been suffering from perennial epileptic supply of electricity in the past four decades or so, the current initiative for foreign direct investment in the sector should come as a welcome relief. One of the few positive legacies of the outgoing administration is the durable water infrastructure it has put in place. What is lacking is the supply of water to users where the facility is available. What is required is the reticulation of

the project, a process that requires huge financial outlay that government can ill afford. A probable area of intervention by foreign investors therefore should be the reticulation, perhaps, under a build, operate and transfer, BOT, status. The dredging of River Benue is long overdue. The economic advantage of dredging the river can hardly be over emphasized. It means that Makurdi would become a seaport. It will provide attractive, cheaper and safer means of haulage of goods within and outside the country. It will also promote trading activities among communities living along the banks of the river. Above all, Makurdi would become a hub of marine transport, a terminus for ships laden with goods to and from various countries of the world. Waiting indefinitely for the Federal Government to honour her obligation on the dredging of the river may soon prove counterproductive if care is not taken. The state government could invite foreign investment partners to fund the project and later get reimbursement from Abuja. Benue State has great potential for irrigation farming, otherwise called Fadama Farming. It is an alternative to rain fed farming. It is capable of producing most food crops but it is particularly suitable for the production of high value vegetables and cereals during the dry season. •Ohemu (alexohemu@yahoo.com), wrote in from Makurdi (0803325235).

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

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No to Northernisation of Buhari

resident Muhammadu Buhari gave a clear picture of what to expect from his administration when he declared, ‘I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody’. Nigerians and indeed the world believe he is a man of his words. For a man who did not come back to power on a platter of gold, there is every reason to take him by his words. Buhari has shown that he is not one to be forced unto a path he does not want to pursue. When the All Progressives Congress [APC] governor’s forum paid him a courtesy visit prior to inauguration, he flatly rejected their ministerial list. Reports had it that he told them to mind their states since he did not have a say in the appointment of their commissioners. Many Nigerians received that news with glee. The president has also become his own man in the appointment of his aides and we give him credit. His Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, many may not know , did not get the job because he is Yoruba or to appease the SouthWest big wigs of the APC. The relationship between the President and his new spokesman predates APC and the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan years. When Professor Tam David West, one of the closest persons to President Buhari, launched his book on the retired general in 2009, at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs[NIIA] , Adesina was the Master of Ceremo-

ny. Among dignitaries that graced the occasion were Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and Gen. Zamani Lekwot. Nigerians look forward to more such appointments based on personal recognition , merit and efficiency. It is also likely that the need to do a thorough screening has kept Aso Villa waiting for more appointments of personal aides and other top officers to run the new government. However, there is one disturbing appointment. Ordinarily, the president has all the freedom in the world to choose his Aide-deCamp. He could also decide to ask for advise from the military since the ADC must be an officer of the Armed Forces. Having left the army unceremoniously in 1985, Buhari does not know any officer below the rank of general in the military today. The President could have asked for input from a few close aides who have military background. It is important to point out that since the return of democracy in 1999, no President picked his ADC from his geo- political zone, in his first tenure. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian from the South-West, went for Lt. Col Solomon Giwa-Amu [now late], from Edo state, in the SouthSouth zone. Alhaji Umaru Musa Yaradua picked Lt.Col Mustapha Dennis Onoyiveta from Delta state. When Yar’adua died and Dr.

Jonathan became acting president, he retained his police ADC, Chief Superintendent of Police [CSP], Moses Jituboh, the same officer who stood behind him as Vice President. In the Second Republic, Vice President Alex Ekwueme, like President Shehu Shagari ,had a military ADC, the only difference was that the president’s was an army officer while the Vice President’s was a naval officer. That arrangement changed from 1999 when Vice President Abubakar Atiku got a police ADC. The moment Dr. Jonathan became substantive president in 2010, his police ADC had to step down for a military officer. That was how Lt. Col Ojogbane Adegbe stepped in. However, Jonathan decided to keep the giant police officer in his team as Special Assistant, Personal Security. Adegbe is Igala, from the North-Central Political zone. Buhari’s ADC, who emerged on May 29, is Lt. Col Mohammed Lawal Abubakar, from Kano state, same geo –political zone as Mr. President. There are reports that many Northerners, especially retired military generals, who believe in the President’s panNigerian outlook are not comfortable with the development. Their fears are hinged on the fact that a particular retired service chief from the region, who is also eyeing a key position in the new administration, recommended Lt.Col Abubakar. The same general, was accused of favouring

cadets from his state Kano while at the Nigeria Defence Academy [NDA], at the time Buhari’s ADC gained admission as member of the 44 Regular course. As Army chief, there were allegations that he also recruited more soldiers from a particular part of the country. This is not good for the new government especially for a President who does not have room for tribe or tongue. We believe that it is too early for such parochial tendencies to manifest in a government that promises change. President Buhari must not allow overzealous aides to scuttle his ambition of moving the country away from the problems of the past. The President is still taking his time in other appointments. We allow him the freedom to choose his team. This power belongs to him. And as a man who has friends all over Nigeria, it is expected that Nigeria remains his constituency. Tilting appointments towards the North or East or even the West, will send the wrong signal. While he respects the rights of trusted aides to offer ideas, the overall interest of the nation comes first. President Buhari has promised not to witchhunt anyone. He sees the road to victory as part of the march to greatness. Nigerians salute his statesmanship. Those who do not want to see the change in Mr. President could as well be blown off by the wind of change.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Arts

Book Review

Echoes of love... In Three Phases M idnight Angel, the second book by Jesse Unoh, a practising lawyer, is a potpourri of entertaining stories bemoaning the sad situation of things Nigerian youths are facing, from kindergarten to national youth service after university education. The central character of the 12 stories woven together in rosary form is Usonne. After his university education, he was posted to serve in Ibadan, Oyo State. Hence, the collection starts with the story titled Green is the Guilty Grass. In this story the author uses Usonne to x-ray robbers menace, poor conditions of both states and federal roads and death of youth corpers posted on yearly basis to serve their fatherland, nationwide. Other stories in the 214-page book include, Love: in Three Phases; John Thomas; Midnight Angel: Street Choice; The Corper Flame is Alive; Stampede; Lost Temptation; The Appointment; The Retentionist; Dirge are written at Road Blocks, and Burden of Gratitude. The stories contain a lot of humour, which underscores the author as a humourist. Humour, a commonplace in the story, is the snack, which he uses to whet the reader’s appetite with jokes delivered with both standard and pidgin English. Love: in Three Phases and John Thomas dwells on issues of love and begging as a tradition and business in human existence. The games ladies play in responding to males proposals and the issue of mistaken identity by a lady known as Joy, who accepted Emara, a character in the plot, as her lover, instead of Usonne who had earlier spoken to her to have a relationship with her, come to the fore. It shows why some ladies should not be taken too seriously because of their fickle minds and unretentive memories. Though Emara and Usonne

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Title: Midnight Angel Author: Jesse Unoh Publisher: Southern Productions Company Pages: 214 Year of publication: 2009 Reviewer: Adjekpagbon Blessed Mudiaga

are not twins, they look alike and Joy thought it was Emara that had wanted to have intimate interaction with her. This brings to the fore the tricks some twins play on their admirers who find it difficult to differentiate them. John Thomas on the other is an exposition about Usonne’s experiences on how beggars operate and live fine in the commotion-ridden city of Ibadan, where beggars employ all sorts of tricks to obtain money from gullible people along the road. The importance of education and what some people go through to get good education through long

suffering of their parents and relatives are the hallmarks of John Thomas’ plot. The lucrative nature of the business of begging has been making it pretty difficult for those involved in it to quit. Even some educated people who have been jobless for a very long time, are now taking to begging as a profession to make ends meet. Through this work, Usoh bemoans the futility of education when illiterate beggars are earning better money and living good life without any certificate. The only skill they use to curry money are their vocal and dramatic display along Nige-

rian roads, and naira rain continues to fall into their palms, purses and bags. Midnight Angel and Street Choice throw light on the risk involved in dating on phone and living beyond one’s means of livelihood. Usonne and Rita have been pals for 24 months. Unknown to him, Rita is a cripple though she is facially beautiful. She was based in Makurdi, Benue State but wanted to visit Ibadan where he has been serving as a youth corper. Usonne had professed love to Rita over the phone, without knowing her physical challenge. However, through the gift of clairvoyance, he discovered she is a beautiful lady but the aspect of her physical challenge was not revealed to him. It was the basis of how beautiful she looked in his clairvoyance that he professes love to her over the telephone and calls her a Midnight Angel, as she is always engaging him in midnight calls that help to wear off boredom of youth corp service from him. Upon her arrival in Ibadan, Usonne had a clairvoyance which reveals Rita’s true physical nature to him. Unoh the author explains thus: “He descended the stairs, a smile of incredulity on his face, and wonderment in his heart. And then the vision hit him again as he reached the second landing of the stairs. Rita was on a wheelchair! A cripple!” The author further offers that, “Usonne stopped in his tracks, stunned, confused, his heart beating a frightening ta-tum! Suddenly and incredibly, his legs began to wobble. They felt heavy for him to lift. He took deep breaths, a gallant attempt to compose himself… he was miles and miles away contemplating to turn back or walk to where his Midnight Angel was waiting, a mystery waiting to be revealed.” The story is a clear picture of the risks involved in blinddating on phone and Internet. Nonetheless, the author fails to enlighten the reader further about what transpired between Usonne and Rita after his discovery of her physiognomy. This robs the story a logical conclusion. Moreover, Street Choice,

however, dwells on the issue of ‘false lives’ being lived by some people in the world. Dele, who wanted to show off to people in Ibadan that he is a “big boy” ended up being a pauper after borrowing money from his employers for two years as a bank staff, to live like a wealthy person. But when the wind of ‘Sanusization’ came blowing, his rump was exposed. He sells all his properties while his wife leaves him. He goes to the extent of contacting John Thomas, a professor in the act of begging to teach him the rudiments of the trade in Ibadan. The story tends to serve as a lesson to ladies who are very greedy and desperate to marry only men who flaunt wealth up and down without their knowledge of their credibility and sources of money. A Corper Flame is Alive, Stampede, and Last Temptation, are woven around issues relating to moral decadence in our society. A teenager known as Bukola, makes every attempt to have sexual relationship with Usonne at the Corpers Lodge. This is the central theme of Corpers Flame is Alive. This particular section reminds the reader about Victor Anyaegbuna’s Unrequitted Love novel, where such incident also hold sway. The dangers inherent in abortion are well highlighted in Stampede, while examination malpractices and its consequences form the bedrock of Last Temptation. As a lawyer by profession, Unoh the author uses this literary piece to satirize immoral activities going on in the entire country. His diction is taut and well organised. There is no doubt that whoever reads it will enjoy it as the messages are well delivered with poetic energy all through the subplots and the entire book. In conclusion, it is imperative to point out that some typographical errors were noticed in the book. This requires correction before reprint of subsequent copies. The book is a good material for all graduates preparing to go for their national youth service, government officials in charge of posting youth corpers to various places nationwide, and the general public, as it could help to enlighten all and sundry about the various challenges and difficulties corpers are facing. Unoh began his literary career in 1994 as a poet. He twice made the shortlist of the International Library of Poetry. He has over thirty manuscripts made of up poems, novels, plays, essays, screen plays and short stories, as stated in his biography in the book.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

The Mega City ...EXCLUSIVE LAGOS MAGAZINE

LIFE IN THE CITY

MY CITY, MY WORLD

Battling with the scourge of pollution

I enjoy the hustle and bustle of Lagos – Tella 27

Disregarding the use of pedestrian bridge by commuters at Cele Bus stop, Oshodi-Apapa, Expressway

Pedestrians’ risky ventures

One of the abandoned bridges on Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba

In an important busy state like Lagos, where socio-economic activities are ever increasingly upbeat, it is equally instructive that commuting of various kinds which complements such activities is enhanced in a safe manner. Pedestrian bridge is one structural device that is provided to promote and make safe and free movement of pedestrians possible. They are relatively abound in major important areas within the state. ELIJAH SAMUEL observes that most of these bridges are now becoming useless as a result of a number of factors.

ife is precious and must be kept as such. It is for this ultimate reason that any responsible government which holds the lives of its citizens in esteemed importance will deploy every resource within its disposal

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI CITY Editor

tosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com

to protect the lives of the citizens. Many of such protective measures abound, whether in the enactment of laws, policies or the actual physical provision of infrastructure. Pedestrian Bridges are one of such essential infrastructure which affords citizens to commute safely within developed areas where vehicular traffic is usually heavy, and poses threat to pedestrians who may need to commute across highways. The government, with a few already available pedestrian bridges which had been built many decades ago, had in the recent years added new ones and also tried to rebuild, renovate and upgrade many of such old pedestrian bridges which have become dilapidated across the metropolis so that they can become more comfortable and

Many pedestrians now seem to take with levity the essence of life

safer. Apart from many of those bridges being provided with security personnel, lights were equally made available to complement and encourage usage in the night. However, that seems to be changing now as one hardly finds constant lights on most of those bridges. This situation, according to findings, has also contributed to the reasons many pedestrians take for granted the use of these unlit bridges. For instance, New Telegraph observed that out of about 10 pedestrian bridges provided between Ketu and Jibowu axis of Ikorodu Road, only Ojota, Palmgroove and Fadeyi bridges are seldom provided with lights in the night. Other bridges are dark and dreary. Although the state government has, within its available

financial resources, tried to provide a number of pedestrian bridges on very busy roads across the state, yet, a number of places are yearning for the provision of this life-preserving infrastructure. But the ones that had already been provided are now being turned into market centres as traders now take over by displaying their wares. They have also either been abandoned or underutilized by those for whom the bridges have been provided in the first place. Many pedestrians now seem to take with levity the essence of life. It is common to find residents, irrespective of sex, age or class, in the race of death, running across dangerous highways of Lagos metropolis. CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Life | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Pedestrian bridges: No longer a safe place CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

“It is not as if one takes pleasure in this dangerous crossing of the highway, but the unsafe condition of the bridge in the night discourages. For instance, some of the bridges don’t have light and even security men like in a few other ones. We have witnessed a robbery scene taking place on a particular night on Fadeyi bridge, a few years ago. This is why, like me, you find most people declining to use the bridges in the night,” said a lady who preferred to be identified as Janet when accosted by New Telegraph at Fadeyi Bus-Stop. Morufu Ayoola, a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Ikorodu Road, bemoaned residents’ abandonment of the pedestrian bridges in the state, and the decline in the supply of lights on the bridges. “When the government provided the lights a few years ago, these bridges were brightened and I think most pedestrians were happy for it. That also added value everywhere those bridges have been provided in the metropolis. Now, it is noticeable that those bridges are not always lit in the night; and there is also a decline in the usage of these bridges. Many people will give different reasons for not making use of the bridges, but I think it is not enough for anyone not to make use of the bridges,” Ayoola said. Also, a pedestrian, Sylvester Giwa, who was accosted at Ojota Bus-Stop after he had raced across the highway, told New Telegraph that “the urge to get to destinations pushes one to run through the express road.” He remorsefully added that “it is not a right thing to do especially when you consider the risk involved.” At other places, the bridges are desolate because they have become dilapidated. For instance, most of the pedestrian bridges on Herbert Macaulay Way, which run from Yaba through Ebute-Meta in the Mainland, are rarely patronized by pedestrians, perhaps because of fears instigated by the decrepit state of those bridges, all of which were built with steel. Because they had been built many decades ago, their stairs are now replete with holes which make them look unsafe. Pa Adeolu Adeyiga, a Septuagenarian who has been living in the vicinity for over three decades, lamented the disused state of the pedestrian bridges along Herbert Macaulay Way in a chat with New Telegraph. “The pedestrian bridges are still very relevant for public use because of the nature of the road, but they have been abandoned as you can see. The bad state of the bridges, coupled with the difficulty of crossing to either sides of the road at short intervals makes commuting around the area difficult: it is a dual carriageway which has a high median running through most of the length of the road up to Adekunle,” he said. “He, however, added that “the government must now make commuting a safe experience for the residents everywhere in the state by looking into the condition of the bridges and do the necessary things so that pedestrians can be encouraged to use them.”

Human traffic as a result of forced usage of pedestrian bridge by environmental officials at the Ikeja-Along Bus Stop

At different times, the state government had tried to curb the needless deaths of pedestrians who defy the use of the provided bridges and got killed by speeding drivers. But for the purpose of saving lives, Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), some appointed local government officials and a special task force on environmental offences were mandated to enforce compliance with the use of pedestrian bridges across the state. Although that arrangement worked for some time, it was soon to be bastardized by those mandated to see to its implementation as there were incidences of exploitation of offenders. However, in the period preceding the 2015 elections, pedestrians almost totally abandoned the use of pedestrian bridges everywhere in the state. While this lasted, all the relevant enforcement agencies displayed tacit ignorance of this impunity and looked the other way. But now that the elections have been concluded, it seems that the fangs of the government once again are ready to clamp on offenders. For instance, since the last week of April, there has been a dramatic pedestrians’ compliance with the use of the pedestrian bridge at Ikeja-Along Bus-Stop on Agege Motor Road. It is curious how they now imbibe this safety measure, but they are not wilfully complying: the fear of being arrested by the paramilitary officials of Ikeja Local Government, who are now strategically positioned around the bus-stop and the rail lines to arrest offenders, is apparently instilling compliance in them. “What the people need in this part of the world is application of force before we can obey rules and regulations. Just see the way people are using the pedestrian bridge which they have abandoned since long time ago. I’ve never seen this level of compliance and didn’t ever imagine the kind of human traffic on that bridge since a few days ago

Some of the bridges don’t have light and even security men

that compliance had been enforced,” Chidi Ambrose, a trader on Obafemi Awolowo Road disclosed. However, in view of apparent lacklustre attitude and consideration for political strategy to win votes in election, it is important for the government not to trivialize the safety of its citizenry. This is instructive even as the discretion to initiate policies and measures that will enhance safety of lives and properties within a state’s jurisdiction rest with it.

Trading going on at the Charity Bus Stop bridge, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway

Although most citizens, on their own, will not want to comply with some of the rules and policies, it is the responsibility of the state to enforce compliance without allowing any interests to derail the good intention of governance. By enacting and persistently enforcing compliance with safety laws and healthy policies, an enthronement of a stable atmosphere for lofty socio-cultural ideals will be guaranteed, and the government would have done itself and the citizenry tremendous good.

PHOTOS: ELIJAH SAMUEL

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

Life as street sweepers Although the Lagos State government claimed that the provision of street sweeping employment to over 15,000 people in Lagos is to financially aid the old and the young; it’s also to reduce burden on those the aged depend on. It also compliments income of the younger people, as well as a hope from where they could raise some money and find a better life. Even as government was said to have promised them access to loans, it now seems elusive to many presently. EZURIKEUGOCHUKWU reports

hile some of them constitute nuisance and embarrassment to themselves and the society, some others smile home almost every day with joy and fulfilment, focusing on the dawn of a new day. This category of sweepers has created many other sources of income for themselves. They work tirelessly at their various given areas. Some get many forms of perk from the public for humanitarian services they rendered them in the course of their job. Some of the sweepers appear beggarly daily to meet people around their beat. They have made Lagosians believe their services are not paid for by the Lagos State Waste management Agency, LAWMA. Day-to-day, they resort to begging from traders and passers-by. They are often avoided by too many Lagosians for their knack for begging. Bayo is a trader around Iyana/Ipaja area of Lagos, approached New Telegraph to report the plight of one Baba that disposes off refuse for them. “My brother, you people can help us talk to the government. I know they read papers. There is a Baba here. He appears so ailing while doing this dirty work (refuse disposing). I have been seeing the Baba in this job for more than 10 years, and nobody pays him for the job. They gave him uniform to work with but they don’t pay him. How do they expect him to live? He depends on the traders around here for his up keep. He moves from shop to shop begging to be allowed to dispose dirt for traders whom he in turn, begs for money to eat for the day.” Another trader around him (a lady) by name Jane, corroborated the claims of Bayo. She said, “There is no way you will see Baba that you will not pity him. The people in government are rogues. How possible for Baba to be receiving money and still look haggard? He has a family. The only time Baba beams at us are only when

there is hope for money. He can do anything for anybody for the token he receives.” The common belief of most people at Iyana/Ipaja is that Baba is not being paid any allowance. Innocent Okaru doubts that Baba is being paid but he added thus, “I feel Baba is not on the LAWMA pay roll going by the way he regularly seeks for alms. But if at all he is being paid, it’s certain his take home is too meagre.” When Baba eventually showed up by 4.27pm, he indeed looked very haggard and unkempt. He found his way to a wooden bench, where he got himself reclined on his probable territory by the roadside. When asked whether he was coming from his LAWMA duty post, he agreeably nodded. ”I can’t feed myself and my children. We are very hungry. No money to feed my family.” Whether he is on LAWMA’s payroll, he reluctantly said, “The money they give me is too small. Out of the N10,000, N2,000 is usually withdrawn. Before my salary comes, I have become a heavy debtor. I leave my house by 5.00am every morning to do this job that does not feed my family.” He refuted claims that all the sweepers make extra income from sweeping. “Not everybody collect sand and gather plastic bottles as others do to make extra money for themselves. Some of us work on some narrow roads where you hardly can see space to preserve the sand. There are too many cart pushers (trucked refuse bin collectors) moving round the streets regularly; picking some of the valuable wastes that could have benefited us. What we get is not as people envision.” He emphasised. Many Lagosians feel that the street sweepers are paid but their take home is so meagre that their take home abuses the dignity of labour. A middle aged woman who is also one of the sweepers at Oshodi, who simply identified herself as Ishola, said the government has tried in establishing the scheme, but her employees cannot feed through

Sweepers at work

Many Lagosians feel sweepers are paid but their take home is so meagre

it. Most of them are beggers on the streets and at their various beats. “Some of the people here are students in various institutions; the money we are paid is too little. We are all family men and women with children, parents and relatives also to look after. It’s been a long time our salary was increased. The loan we were promised, we have not been given. We heard people at Shogunle railway side have started receiving N50, 000 loans. “We always hear of safety kits; you can see, we don’t have any. The risks on this job are too high. The odour and the rottenness of the refuse we carry are much when compared to what we are paid. This scheme has come of age and now we have continuity in government. We expect the new man to fulfil all we were promised by the outgoing governor during campaign.” she hurriedly said. Still in fear and looking back through her shoulder to assure no one was coming, Shola added, “I also suggest that if they

want to give us loan, they better ask us to produce our guarantors rather than giving us through any contractor. They have our data. If the money passes through any person, they will not give us or not give us complete. Imagine we heard government is paying us N18, 000 but what we get is only N12, 000; it’s not fair. “It’s true we scoop sand from the road as part of cleaning the streets. In the past, we usually pack the sand and were selling it N100 per cement bag while the other 100 killogremmes bag goes for N200. But today, our supervisors sale the sand. They bring tipper trucks and ask us to load it in. They don’t give us kobo.” From Victoria Island to Marina, down to Surulere and to Ikeja, the sweepers are unanimous in their appeal for the upward review of their welfare package just like many other worker groups. However, CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

One of the heaps of sand collected by sweepers in Lagos

Life | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Agonies, gains of Lagos street sweepers CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 23

while some people think the case of the street sweepers are demeaning and more serious compared to the nature of their job, the other group think also they should persevere as the intention of the job is not as a permanent job. That the younger and able bodied ones among them should learn other skills or improve their education to enable them earn better jobs that could take adequate care of their future; while the older ones keep their life busy as that offers them stipends and health exercise they require at this point in their life. At CMS Lagos Island, an aged man in his 70s, who is one of the sweepers, Lawal Adisa, said it’s only God they look up to, not man. He appealed for an increase in their salary. “I work at UBA side of the Island (Marina). We want them to increase our salary. What we are currently being paid cannot feed us and our families. They should increase our money no matter the amount. The loan they promised, they have not given us. I believe it’s only God that could touch the heart of the government to do something about our situation. The money we get from sale of sand here is very little to augment our salary.” At Barracks in Surulere, a woman sweeper pleaded for welfare packages to be given to them like other government workers are given rice and other items during festive periods. She also appealed that staff buses should be provided to them since most of them don’t have accommodation within their areas of work. “I have been attacked on many occasions by bad boys on the road in the morning hours on my way to work. I come from Ijesha daily. How much is my salary? Many of our colleagues have been killed by vehicles while in service though the government has been trying in caring for survivors of such accidents, but it’s not enough. It’s true we gather some sand and some other of our colleagues pick other valuable wastes, returns from them are insignificant.” Another Lady sweeper at Igando road said most people that buy sand from them make them understand that the sand they scoop from the road is of a low value. “They say the sand we sale is more of dust, it’s not good sand that they are only buying it as a last resort. When we heap sand up to 10 wheel-barrows, they could give us N2,000. The safety kits (personal protective equipment) like hand glove, nose covers, reflector jackets and etc., we don’t get them, and we buy. As governor Fashola once said to the sweepers at a workshop for them, “Today many of you can get up in the morning and tell members of your families those four important words ‘I am going to work.”

A sweeper taking a rest

But where lies the pride of saying those words when the work cannot give her employee the basic needs of life (food, clothing and shelter) Akinyumi Emmanuel wonders why such a hazardous job as street sweeping could not feed those that do it. “It’s a rape to mankind; an insult to the common man. No insurance cover, no safety care for the people that make our environment decent. If we investigate, we will find out that many of them are in their various families today, being sick from what they inhaled. Such are in the category of the common people that could be allowed to die like that poor gate man at a hospital in Ogun State who died because he could not pay deposit of N3,500. Many at times, we hear they are being knocked down by vehicles especially in the early hours of the morning. That is the end for a job of N10, 000.” Mr. Peter John, a bus driver at Oshodi believes drivers should be mindful of the street sweepers while driving on the roads. They should be respected and stayed far from because they are doing it for our lives. “They are human beings. There should be a proper sign for people to see them. Their job is very risky. As a driver, I feel there haven’t been proper reflectors provided to alert drivers about them. It’s only the LAWMA board I see around them. Is that the reflector? Like LATSMA and Road safety that use reflectors whenever it’s dark, I have not seen them use such. Those dispatch riders and some law enforcement agents may be culpable for the various knock down of the sweepers. I am not exempting commercial drivers, but most private drivers that drive ones in a while or those that haste to office in the morning hours and stag-

The sand dealers lobby them to supply them sand and they make money from it

ger out from office at the end of the day’s work into the steering are more culpable. Among the sweepers, there should be some of them, assigned to alert on–coming vehicles of the presence of the sweepers within an area, by using reflector flags to wave at vehicles like most people do when their vehicles break down on highways because putting reflectors may not be enough. Most people don’t see well in the early mornings especially at dewy mornings. On the other hand, they are shortchanged by their contractors (vendors) in the area of salary. They give them peanuts. If the government is paying them N30,000. Let it be given them.” Mr. James Kelechi, sees it from another point of view. To him and others in that school of thought, the government has saved a disastrous situation by creating an opportunity for people that ordinarily are downhearted. “Government has succeeded in giving them double employment. The sand dealers lobby them to supply them sand and they make money from it. I regularly see them from the balcony of my house at Egbeda; they happily count and share the proceeds from sand sales. I talk of what I know that happens in my area, though I see them in every part of Lagos gather sand, but what they do with it afterwards, I do not know. “On their salaries, clearly unemployment is high in our society. Most of them don’t even have certificates to contest for minimum wage earning. That gives credence to the reason you often times, see the wise younger ones, once the job eases off for the day, they will be voraciously reading their books under any shade or under a flyover. No doubt the job is hazardous; there

should be need for regular review of their salaries by the government to meet with the economic realities.” He said. Mrs. Edna Taiwo said the sweepers make money from sweeping private homes. “The diligent ones make extra money by sweeping our various compounds. Like the one that sweeps the compound where I live, she comes thrice a week and in the evening hours.” According to her, she does LAMATA work in the morning hours till 1p.m. We pay her N4, 000 monthly. That does not affect her work. Some of them also do double shift which translates to double salary. The work is a big relief to their families, to the state and to the many other sweepers schooling.” Mrs.Iyabo Anifolaso, sat with her colleague Mrs. Rachel Alabi. They are sweepers precisely under the bridge at Oshodi. She is popularly known for picking and preserving lost items. “ I am well known for bringing lost joy to people; I pick anything that got lost. When I pick them, I find a way to locate the owner. They range from cell phones, documents, sim cards, wallets, bags, ATM cards and etc. Once the item has phone number on it, I will call the owner. Some will even rain abuses on me because they will think I am among the gang that may have snatched it from them. “Some will be very joyous when I call them. When they come to collect their items, they will show monetary appreciation. Some will even pray for me. I thank God for that. I advise people to find a way of inscribing a phone number on every of their property. My supervisor is aware; all my colleagues are well aware, even where I reside, they are all aware including my family. I derive joy in this job only that government should increase our salary.” The scheme which started over nine years ago, has grown to employ over 15,000 unemployed aged and young persons. In his contribution, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ola Oresanya, said the agency does not owe its workers. That even when they have no money, they go out to borrow. “One of the main policy of LAWMA is that we don’t give our workers work without salary. If anyone says he is owed, maybe he or she may have been sacked by their vendor or there is something wrong somewhere.” On the issue of loan promised to the sweepers, Oresanya said they have commenced that long ago. He said the loans are a soft loan with soft interests. On salary increment as promised, “The new government will look into their salary increment issue objectively. They will have to weigh the options and take a decision.” He concluded.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

Emissions from vehicles

Heap of refuse causing pollution

Battling with the scourge of pollution Olusegun Giwa

etropolitan Lagos is unique for so many things. Its allures, beautiful landscape, water and the mixed citizenry are some of the features that make Lagos very attractive to live. It is thus why the state continues to attract ceaseless migration from not only within the parts of the country, but also from the outside world irrespective of distance. As the state grows in human population, the number of vehicles and motorcycles that will make commuting easy for the teeming population is uncontrollably growing. As a result of this, and the lack of effective control measures to streamline the quality of vehicles being brought into the state, or even lack of assessment of those that are already being used, many vehicles and motorcycles that are at different levels of disrepair are allowed to traverse the landscape. Part of the problems which are often associated with unchecked faulty vehicles and motorcycles is the air pollution caused by emissions from such. “Most of the vehicles are not in good shape: they are either left in utter deterioration without adequate attention given to their repairs and these things lead to the degeneration of engine which eventually leads to emission,” Rasaq Akeem, a mechanic told New Telegraph in a chat. Today, apart from emissions of poorly maintained vehicles posing great danger to the health of the residents, industrial furnaces, boilers and power generators also contribute to air pollution in Lagos State. Air pollution is a dangerous situation that is spreading across the length and breadth of the metropolis. Avoidable deaths of innocent citizens have become common occurrences in the state. Exposure to

poisonous emissions from wood burning, fumes from generating sets and vehicle emissions, have made many families including children and pregnant women, infant babies lose their lives. There seems to be no respite in view, as the situation which in the first instance made millions of residents to generate power for their needs, has compounded the situation all the more. So, the perpetual awful power output, accompanied by incessant fuel scarcity, which has defied all solutions, must be adequately provided for a lasting solution to be found. Apart from fumes from generators and vehicles, effluent from numerous industrial plants constitute environmental hazard. Emissions from dumpsites also contribute to air pollution and pose a great threat to the wellbeing of citizens living around the site and within the state as well.

Emissions from dumpsites also contribute to air pollution

A trader at Fadeyi, Mrs Salami Abeni, bemoaned indiscriminate dumpsites in unapproved areas within the neighbourhoods. “The odour is not something worth inhaling. Although the Lagos State Waste Management Agency, LAWMA, is trying its best to reduce it to the barest minimum,” she said, adding further that the refuse dump here is not ideal at all because the odour affects the whole area; “even my customers hesitate to buy my goods, and this affects my business.” However, Adebola Shabi, General Manager of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, while disclosing the likely causes of pollution, was also apt in on efforts being made by his agency to safeguard the safety of the citizens. Shabi said: “Pollution is alteration to the environment through anthropogenic or natu-

ral sources, or introducing to the environment biological, physical or chemical substances that will affect the natural resources or environment. But air pollution is the air pollutant that exceeds certain limit in the environment. We have five major air pollutants, which are carbon monoxide, sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide, articling matters and hydro carbon. When they go beyond the permissible standard in the atmosphere, they become pollution and sources of these are vehicular emissions, generator and industrial activities.” In order to correct incomplete combustion and reduce the emission into the environment, Shabi put forward that “vehicles are advised to use catalytic converter, The average number of vehicles on the road is 1.6 to 2 million; we advised industries to convert from diesel engine generators to gas; and we also introduce structured sanitary landfill instead of having just dumpsites. That will reduce the emission from the dumpsite. When you inhale more of carbon monoxide, it will form carbon oxyhemoglobin in the blood stream. And when you are exposed to that, it can lead to coma, and excessive exposure can lead to death and it also impairs on the central nervous system. He however stressed the need for government to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, encourage public transportation through the use of BRT scheme; encourage other public transportation which include the light rail, encourage and improve water transportation, encourage people to go on bicycles and also to encourage people to go on car pool. He also said that government should reduce toll to encourage car pooling and also discourage all the commercial buses. “The government and citizens should encourage the preservation of wet lands and plant trees to mitigate the effect of air pollution.”

Life | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

We’re neglected, suffering, says head of Idi-Araba community Idi-Araba is one of the important parts of the Centre of Excellence. Its unique importance is multifarious; partly because, it is the boundary town between Surulere and Mushin Local Governments. Lukmon Taiwo Odubiyi, the Baale(chief) of Idi-Araba, in an interview with ELIJAH SAMUEL, speaks on socio-developmental issues that affect not only his jurisdiction, but the perceived denial of some statutory rights to traditional rulers in the local government How will you assess development in Idi-Araba? Apart from Ishaga Road and Paul Oguntola Street that were redeveloped by the state government a few years ago, no concrete structural development is going on here. We need intervention in the redevelopment of our streets and provision of good drainages especially now that the rainy season is fast approaching. But don’t you think disregard for town planning guidelines is responsible for the chaotic landscape of Idi-Araba? It is true but if an individual property owner embarks on redevelopment and renovation of property, there will be remarkable improvement of the landscape. The government should also come in by supervising the needed renovation and redevelopment so that allowance will be accorded to the right-of-way of drainages and roads that traverse Idi-Araba landscape. Given the haphazard development of the area, do you support total redevelopment of the area to be undertaken by the state government? That’s a difficult thing to do but the government can do it in a way that individuals will carry out the development of their properties in a way that will conform to the set town planning guidelines in the state. With the presence of some notorious elements in your midst, what are you doing to make Idi-Araba attractive and safe for economic ventures? The police surveillance of the area should be increased. This is the reason we’ve been clamouring for a police station in Idi-Araba. I believe with this, they will have a change of heart or relocate. What’s your general assessment of governance in Mushin Local Government, under whose jurisdiction you belong? The last executive didn’t achieve much because most of the projects they embarked upon were abandoned. Let the parties allow credible candidates to emerge during the next local government elections. The local governments, Mushin Local Government and Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye that we are under, have abandoned us. They have not been forthcoming on their statutory responsibilities towards us. This has been happening for the past eight years. The last time we had attention was during the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. What steps have you taken so far

Odubiyi

since the denial of your statutory rights? We had written severally to the state but we were always told that it is the responsibility of the local government to attend to chieftaincy matters at the grassroots. We met Honourable Babatunde Adepitan and Yemi Alli who were the chairmen of Mushin and OdiOlowo/Ojuwoye respectively, to discuss our plight. They deftly evaded us throughout their tenures. What were the excuses given for not discharging their obligations to you during those times when you met them? They were always saying that their allocated statutory funds were not sufficient enough to allow them cater for our needs. Sometimes, they would tell us to be patient until they have another allocation; but by the time another allocation comes, they would be dodging us. What are these statutory rights that you are being denied? Funds to organize social events like anniversaries

Apart from the kings that benefited, we were left out

and other local festivals, sponsored trip to Mecca and Jerusalem among other things are denied us. The slots, benefits and funds that should come to us were always diverted to their cronies and other purposes. For instance, when some gas stoves were distributed about a month ago through the local government; apart from the kings that benefited, we (the Baales and chiefs) were left out of the distribution. There are three kings and eight recognized Baales and chiefs in Mushin Local Government.

doing anything.

Did you also benefit from the state government’s largesse of car distribution to recognized Obas and chiefs in the state? I am recognised as Baale of Idi-Araba but I have never benefitted, and I don’t think any other Baale in the state had. It is only the Obas in the state that are beneficiaries; the state had done this to them for the third time since the return of our democracy. When we met the state government to register our displeasure, we were told to meet the local governments. Some Are you saying going to Mecca local governments like Ojo, Koor Jerusalem is also part of your sofe, Oshodi-Isolo have actually statutory dues? given cars to their Baales and It is part of it. It is embedded recognised chiefs in their doin the chieftaincy responsibili- mains. Why will our own be an ties of the local government to exception? the traditional rulers. What impact are you making Are you making a case for the in your locality as a traditional traditional rulers in the state? leader? I am particular about Mushin With the collaboration of othand Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Lo- er chiefs, I settle disputes or take cal Governments. Other local necessary measures to forestall governments in the state take breakdown of the peace and harcare of the traditional rulers mony amongst the residents. It’s in their domain, but those of difficult to please the world but ours as I have identified are not I’m trying my best.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

Firm releases Lagos Real Estate report Oluwatosin Omoniyi

amudi Nigeria, a leading real estate marketplace has provided exclusive insight into the Lagos property market. The report includes supply and demand data gathered on almost every Lagos neighbourhood for the first quarter of 2015. The report is based on data from properties listed on the Lamudi platform by their network of real estate agents and property developers, as well as data on searches carried out by property seekers. According to the data, Lamudi found that the average selling price of available residential property across Lagos for the first quarter of 2015 was N13.4 million (per bedroom), while the average rental price per bedroom was N694,000. In terms of demand, more than 70 per cent of property searches were for rental properties, while only 30 per cent of properties made available were rentals, an indication of the contradictions between demand

and supply in the city. Lamudi’s report also highlights the wide disparities in property prices that exist across Lagos. The average sales price for available property in Lagos Island was N46m per bedroom, more than three times the Lagos median sales price. In comparison, the average sales prices in the southern Lagos outskirts of Badagry and Ojo were below N2.5m per bedroom, less than a fifth of the Lagos median price. According to Lamudi Nigeria’s Managing Director, Obi Ejimofo, the report is Lamudi’s contribution to bringing pragmatism to the Lagos real estate market. “We feel it is important for all stakeholders in this sector, whether buyers, sellers or investors, to understand the more granular dynamics of supply and demand in Lagos. This report is our contribution to greater transparency and will hopefully guide more data-driven investment decisions, which should ultimately result in a more efficient property market in Lagos.”

Group clamours for youth participation in governance

Executives of the National Youth Alliance Movement of Nigeria, South West zone

Ruth Okocha and Ifeoluwa Idowu

he Youth Alliance movement of Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation, NGO, has called for youths’ participation in governance. The group sought for recognition and relevance in the affairs of the nation stating that, they have been neglected for too long and relegated to the background. Akanni Micheal, president of the group at a press conference said that the government must heed to their request. He added that if given the opportunity to serve, it would be taken seriously by the Youths. He went on to say the union has come up with an agenda to salvage the country from the hardship which they have experienced in the previous years. He said many youths are used for political campaigns to wreck havoc and to manipulate elections, if the government can allocate 30 percent of its resources into creating employment, crime rate will reduce. This can be achieved, if the government invests more in the agricultural sector and give farmer’s price assurance. He also said the government can create employment by encouraging the use of modern and Indigenous Technologies by companies;

they should give Special Incentives for Private Sector Involvement, Construction of Feeder Roads and Development of Crop Sub-Sector for the youths. Also speaking at the conference was Dotun George, publicity secretary of the group emphasized on the need to educate youths properly starting from schools through the introduction of civil education into their curriculum as a foundation of introducing them into government, he said many of the youths are unemployed because the existing government has failed to recognise their abilities as such, many Nigerian youths study abroad and remain there instead of coming back to help in economic growth and development of the country. According to George, their agenda for the incoming government includes; the appointment of young persons below 40 years as the youth minister and state youth Commissioners, promoting civic education through establishment of civic Education and sensitization programmes, Re-introducing Civic Education to the school curriculum, strengthening all strata of government’s capacity to serve their constituencies through the capacity building and training of Counselors.

Our Expectations

I enjoy the hustle and bustle of Lagos – Tella Oluwatosin Omoniyi or Olujinmi Tella, the Head regional sales, Fthing Lagos/South West manager, Etisalat, everyabout Lagos State is good. “Lagos is okay. I

mean Lagos is about the best state in the country. It is well managed, developed, you know. Generally, if you look at the infrastructure in Lagos, you Tella can’t compare it with any other state in the country. Look at the roads. Look at the infrastructure. I wish Lagos had the power at the centre before now. They would have done a lot of things for the country. The power is very bad. Lagos has no control over it. They can only do the little they can do. For instance, Lagos has done their Independent power, IP, project. They could only do a little because they have limitations into what they can do. Now that the Lagos State party is at the Centre, I believe they would do a lot more. Though development, I know is a gradual thing. And if you look at what the state is doing now, for instance, I heard on the news about approval from Fashola deploying 400 buses, BRT, to Ikorodu and environs. That is development. People can now afford to build houses in Ikorodu.” There are buses, there is free access, and immediately they stop the Mile 12 market, a lot of people will go and develop houses in Magboro and all those remote areas. By so doing, civilization will be decentralized. It will not only be in the centre again. I pass through the area regularly, on my way home at night, and if you see the array of cars in kilometers, down going to Ikorodu. It’s madness. The only cause is that market. Let them move that market today, there will be sanity in that area. And whether you like it or not, the bubble will burst one day. That market has to leave that place. There are markets all over the world. It’s not in this kind of congestion. Move it, we’ll get used to the new location and life will be good for all of us. When they move the market, Lagosians would feel it, but it will only be for a short time. We’ll get used to it. It’s part of life. People naturally don’t want change. I give you two months, we will key into it and get used to the new place and it will eventually be better for all of us. Lagos is too big; Lagos is too congested for that kind of situation. Not only Mile 12 market, the spare part market, Ladipo, also has to go. The computer market, Otigba, in Ikeja has to go. We have to decongest these places and make life free and easier.” Tella who has lived all his life in Lagos State, said he can’t be comfortable outside Lagos, “I just can’t fit living outside Lagos State. I won’t even toy with the idea of resettling outside here,”he said. I am used to Lagos. It’s part of me. I enjoy the hustle and bustle of Lagos. As a sales man, I go to other states, and something is still missing. That Lagos, the congestion, it has become fun to me. Comparing Lagos of old to now, Tella believed that things are getting better by the day. Things are getting better. There is sophistication. Lagos of then, population was not as tough as this. Things are tougher because of the number of vehicles we have around, number of people coming in. Luckily, the government is trying to develop in consonance with the influx. I think with time, we’ll get things sorted out and Lagos will be better. The only area of concern that people talk about is the area of multiple taxation. That people are heavily taxed. LASTMA will catch you, for every bit you do, you’re taxed. It’s like that all over the world. It’s just that I think Lagos should narrow it down. For instance, I pay my tax regularly. In fact, my tax is knocked from my salary and they give me the balance. So, if everybody is able to pay their tax, things wouldn’t be that bad. What I’m saying is, for people that are paying their taxes regularly, they should have some respite when it comes to other little taxes here and there in Lagos. It’s getting a bit difficult for an ordinary man. That’s an area Lagos should look into. That was one major card that PDP had against them at the last election; multiple taxation. I think it’s a major area that the government should dilute and give people some joy so that an average man, a common man can live happily in Lagos without fear. One bitter truth, is that a lot of people in Lagos have no business in Lagos. That is the bitter truth, which people don’t want to hear. Monkeys live in sizes. People will have to go back to their domain. Truth is everybody cannot be here.” Tella added that the centre of Lagos is a reflection of the state. If the centre is good, if the Federal Government is able to provide for its people, if the economy is stable, there will be investors. Foreigners will come and build shanties and markets for people at various levels. It’s the centre. If the economy is good, people will come. All these shops you are talking about, for every category of people, people will build things that would tally with their status and everybody would fall into his own category.” However, Tella has his expectation of the new regime at the helms of affair of the state. “I can see a better Nigeria. I envisage a better Nigeria. I am optimistic that things will get better.” He believes Ambode will key into what Tinubu has done and continue. “Ambode should be a listener; he should listen to what people are saying. He should look at the foot print. He should go get a roadmap. Roadmap as in, what was the agenda of Fashola, where did he stop, can I continue? If yes, how? If no, what are the things to change? And he moves on. Government of continuity is what we need. He can’t afford to go back and start a new agenda. He’s going to truncate us, waste money and time. If you ask me, Fashola did better than Tinubu. So I expect Ambode to do better than Fashola.”

The Mega City

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

MEGA CITY EVENTS

Iyunadeoluwa Abayomi and her friends during her 5th year birthday celebration held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, His Glory Chapel, Obawole, Lagos

Mr. and Mrs. Biodun Durojaiye and Mr. Durojaiye’s mother, Ramat, during the naming ceremony of their baby... recently

Chemstar Paints Industry Nigeria Limited recently held GMD’s Annual Merit Award in Lagos

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, Chemstar Paints Industry Nigeria Limited, Mr. Adedayo Paseda; Assistant General Manager, Operations/ recipient of 15 years’ service award, Mr. Ukpai Cyprian; Group Managing Director, Mr. Emmanuel Aderemi Awode and General Manager, Sales & Marketing/ recipient of 10 years’ service award, Mr. Olufola Laguda, at the event

L-R: General Manager, Finance, Chemstar Paints Industry Limited, Mr. Tiwalade Adebiyi; Senior Manager, Operations, Mr. Lawal Ganiyu and Senior Technical Manager, Mrs. Remi Onipede, at the occasion

PHOTOs: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

UPCOMING EVENTS

LEAP AFRICA 10TH CEOS FORUM Organiser: LEAP Africa Date: June 9, 2015 From 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM Venue: Lagos Oriental Hotel 3 Lekki - Epe Express Way, Lagos, Nigeria

Youth Leadership Summit Organiser: THE TESS FOUNDATION AFRICA Date: June 6, 2015 From 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Venue: Lagos Country Club Abule Onigbagbo Bus-stop Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

The Investor

Money

Who succeeds Bisi Onasanya at First Bank?

32-33

Maritime

Stemming the surge in unclaimed dividends

Maritime academy needs training ship – Adiotomre

Business What's news

Banking gains N471bn in three months at Stock market The banking sub-sector of the financial services segment gained N471 billion in three months in spite of the volatile political and macroeconomic environment that had characterised the first and second quarters of 2015.

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Global media use hits eight hours daily –Report People around the world spend at least eight hours a day consuming different media, a new report has revealed.

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The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

L-R: Director, Global Government Relations, P&G, Sub-Sahara Africa, Temitope Iluyemi; National Coordinator, YouWin, Yemi Bello and National Coordinator, G-Win, Dr. Chii Akporji, at the P&G - G-Win/YouWin small and medium enterprises development training programme in Abuja

Nigeria loses N400bn to smuggled poultry products igeria is currently losing over N400 billion to smuggled poultry products every year, New Telegraph has learnt, Already, the spate of smuggling has posed a serious threat to the poultry industry in the country. This newspaper’s inves-

tigation revealed that in the last five years, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had made 1,839 seizures valued at N2.407.83 billion. In 2010, NCS seized smuggled turkey and chicken worth N94.65 million. In 2011, it also made confiscations worth N233.85million. The seizures in 2012 were N308.41million; in 2013 - N1.148.75billion, while that of 2014 was valued at N622.17million. In 2010, poultry accounted for one per cent of total seizures; four per cent in 2011, seven percent in 2012, eight percent in 2013 and seven per cent in 2014.

INFLATION RATE April 2015................................8.7% March 2015.............................8.5% February 2015.........................8.4%

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

GROWING Smuggled poultry products are increasing by the day

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

Bayo Akomolafe

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Speaking on the development, an Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Musa Binga, said that the NCS was conscious of its role in protecting poultry products and those of other local industries by curtailing smuggling. He said: “We are very conscious of the crucial role of the Customs in protecting the

N2.407billion Total value of seizures made by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in the last five years

poultry industry by curtailing the smuggling of poultry products into the country, especially through our border posts. “As an evidence of the service’s commitment to the protection of the local poultry industry, we have improved on the seizures of smuggled poultry products through various border posts. “There has been daily increase in the rate of seizures of poultry products, compared to seizures of other products. For instance, in 2009, the rate was one per cent per count of CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at May 29)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N221 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N340 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N245

l Foreign Reserves – $29.616bn as at 27/05/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at May 29)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N199 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N303 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N220

Business | News

CONFIDENCE

Good earnings drive investment value in lending sector Chris Ugwu

he banking subsector of the financial services segment gained N471 billion in three months in spite of the volatile political and macroeconomic environment that had characterised the first and second quarters of 2015. Checks by our correspondent last Monday showed that the sub-sector, which closed at N2.219 trillion in market capitalisation on February 27, 2015, had appreciated in growth value to N471 billion or 21.22 per cent to close at N2.690 trillion on May 28, 2015. The gain recorded by the sector was attributed by market watchers to good earnings posted by the financial institutions and promises of increase in shareholders’ return on their investments. Most Nigerian commercial banks had re-

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Banking sector gains N471bn in three months at stock market corded improvements in their unaudited 2015 first quarter (Q1) results. The results, which covered the period between January to March 2015, showed that the banks witnessed significant growth across all financial indices with total profit after tax of N115.9 billion. The banks that reported their results during this period, were Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, FBNH Plc, UBA

Plc, Access Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and Skye Bank Plc. Checks by New Telegraph showed that Zenith Bank led the top five banks with a 17 percent increase in profit after tax to N27.6 billion from the N23.6 billion recorded in the same period in 2014. Guaranty Trust Bank Plc followed with 15 per cent growth in net earnings. In a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange

(NSE), the group said its first-quarter profit after tax grew 15 per cent to N26.563 billion from N23.110 billion in the same period a year ago. FBNH Plc posted a 41 per cent increase in posttax profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 to N22.6 billion from N21.6 billion in the same period last year, while Access Bank Plc posted 18 per cent increase in net earnings to N13.688 bil-

lion during the period under review from N11.626 billion a year ago. UBA also grew its profit after tax by 35 per cent to N17 billion from N12.6 billion within the same period in 2014. Sterling Bank Plc’s profit after tax leapt from N3.1 billion to N3.9billion year-on-year, while Skye Bank Plc’s profit after tax grew to N5 billion during the review period compared to N2.7 billion

achieved during the corresponding period in 2013. This indicated a growth of 85 per cent. However, market analysts believe that the Nigerian macroeconomic environment will continue to be vulnerable to exogenous shocks in 2015. This is mainly because oil prices and international capital flows will continue to be dominant features in the Nigerian macroeconomic equation.

Nigeria loses N400bn CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

total seizures by the service.” But by 2013, the seizures rose to eight per cent per count of total confiscations made by the service. The National President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, said that over 1.2 million tons of smuggled poultry products, mainly frozen chicken and turkey, had wrecked poultry farmers in the country. Oduntan, while commenting on the 2015 edition of the annual national poultry summit, said that the country’s 300,000 tons of local production was a far cry from what was presently smuggled into the country. He warned that the industry was also threatened by the negative impact of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the introduction of the Common External Tariff (CET), which are discouraging local production. He, however, called for a policy advocacy and institutional linkages that would put poultry business on the path of excellence.

L-R: Managing Director, Unity Bank Plc., Henry Semenitari; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc. Nnamdi Okonkwo; and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Sovereign Wealth Fund, Uche Orji, at the 2015 African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meeting in Abidjian at the weekend.

INTERNET USAGE

Global Internet use is set to grow by almost 12 per cent this year Dele Alao

eople around the world spend at least eight hours a day consuming different media, a new report has revealed. The study by global media monitoring agency, ZenithOptimedia, also stated that global Internet use would grow by almost 12 per cent this year. The agency surveys the changing patterns of media consumption in 65 countries around the world from 2014 to 2017. Also, it said that people would spend an average of 492 minutes a day consuming media this year, up 1.4 per cent from 485 minutes a day in 2014. The head of forecasting at

Global media use hits eight hours daily –Report ZenithOptimedia, Jonathan Barnard, said: “The average person already spends half their waking life consuming media. But people around the world are clearly hungry for even more opportunities to discover information, enjoy information, enjoy entertainment and communicate with each other, and new technology is supplying these opportunities.” The report forecasts Internet consumption will grow by 9.8 per cent a year between 2014 and 2017 to reach 144.8 minutes a day. Internet use of a share of overall media consumption rose from 12.9 per cent in 2010 to 22.6 percent in 2014, the study noted, adding that it will grow to 28.6 per cent of

the total in 2017. Apart from outdoors, the growth in Internet use means traditional media i.e. newspapers, magazines, television, radio and cinema, fell between 2010 and 2014, with this decline expected to continue. The average time spent reading newspapers according to the study, fell by 25.6 per cent, with magazine reading time declining by 19 per cent between 2010 and 2014. Television consumption dropped by 6 per cent over the same period. But the report does not count reading newspapers on digital devices, or watching television via the Internet, which are instead listed as “Internet” consumption. Also, the chief executive

of Thinkbox, the marketing body for commercial TV, Lindsey Clay, said: “We welcome Zenith’s positivity about TV’s continued strength. However, it is frustrating when ‘the Internet’ is positioned as a medium having a detrimental effect on other media. There are many factors that affect media consumption – you can’t put every change down to the Internet. But more importantly the Internet is not a medium; it is a technology, which delivers loads of things – banking, shopping, (re) searching… and lots of different media. You can’t lump all this activity together. If you do, you lose sight of how things are changing as media are consumed across different platforms.”

Business | Money

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

TAX BOOST

African countries can mobilise over $500 million yearly

or African countries to make significant progress in their battle to over come financial challenges, they have to focus on mobilising their domestic resources instead of relying on external aid. This was the view of financial experts at the just concluded 50th Annual Meeting of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan. The experts whose session was titled, “The Future of Financing for Development in Africa”, reiterated the urgent need for African countries to develop the capacity to mobilise resources locally. Africa Capacity Development Foundation’s (ACDF) Emmanuel Nnadozie, said if African countries bolstered their tax collection capacities, as much as $500 million can be mobilised yearly. Apart from tax, other areas to explore would include the stock market and the sovereign bond market. He noted: “The continent has experienced illicit financial outflows of

How to solve Africa’s financial woes, by experts the order of $50 billion per year; way higher than it receives in aid every year. If these outflows were totally curbed, therefore, Africa can potentially eliminate its need for aid. Countries in the region

need to build up their capacity to fight corruption or face the real threat of institutional collapse.” Similarly, Co-Head, Financial Institutions, Africa, at Standard Chartered Bank, Olu-

korede Adenowo, noted that Africa is making progress in overcoming its prior reputation for poverty and instability but still had a lot to do in remedying its macroeconomic volatilities.

continent and other enablers would readily include import substitution and product diversification. However, he noted that implementing these recommendations will not prove easy, as the saying goes :“The devil is in the details.” From political will and sponsorship to the buy-in of the citizenry, a lot will be required to change the historic direction that Africa has followed for decades.”

L-R: Managing Director, Coscharis Technologies, Mr. Mukoro Emomine; Managing Director, Proxynet Communications, Mr. Ozo-Onyali Edward; Business Development Manager, Africa, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Marco De Vries and Director, Enterprise Business, Mr. Ojei Charles, at the Samsung Business Partner Day, in Lagos… yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

NIBSS pledges to develop more e-portals Tony Chukwunyem

he Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) has promised to design more Electronic Portals (e-portals) for the financial sector as part of efforts to reduce costs and enhance service delivery. The Executive Director, Technology & Operations, NIBSS, Mr. Niyi Ajao, stated this in a chat with the New Telegraph at the launch of the Electronic Pension Contribution Collection System (EPCCOS) in Lagos. He disclosed that apart from the EPCCOS, the NIBSS would soon launch another portal aimed at boosting the country’s payment system. Ajao dismissed concerns that NIBSS could be stretched for capacity because of the

Hence, greater transparency, more robust governance and stronger tax collection systems are key objectives to realize. He said intra-African trade is a key domestic financing lever for the

cobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Albert Essien, has been adjudged the African Banker of the Year at the 9th edition of the African Banker Awards in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. A statement issued by ETI’s Group Head, Corporate Communications, Richard Uku, said the award recognised the contribution of individuals in management positions, and best practices in African

demand for its services from various players in the financial sector. He said: “Don’t forget that NIBSS is owned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and all the licensed banks in the country, so, we have the necessary support to adequately perform our role in the financial sector.” Commenting on the EPCCOS, which NIBSS launched in partnership with the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PENOP), he pointed out that the EPCCOS is a contribution collection system, which tracks employees’ monthly pension remittance schedules produced by employers for Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and records matching payments to the custodian accounts of the employees’ PFAs.

Also speaking on the EPCCOS, NIBSS Managing Director, Ade Shonubi, said that the portal was developed to make it easier for people to get their contributory pension funds paid easily. He said: “What happens these days is that employers come up with a schedule and then pay whoever the PFA is. But sometimes the information does not get sent on time and your contributions are not recorded against you well. What we have done in collaboration with PENOP is to come up with a system, which automates the process so that both the schedules and the payments can be tied together so that it would not be that when payment has been made, questions will still be asked about who the payment was made for?

Buyout firm seeks further $750m for African deals

merging Capital Partners, the buyout firm that’s made more than 50 investments in Africa, is seeking as much as $750 million as it pursues further deals. The funds will be sought in the next 12-18 months from development agencies, sovereign wealth, pension funds and family wealth offices, joint Chief Executive Officer Vincent Le Guennou told Bloomberg in an interview. Acquisitions made with the additional funds would take ECP’s assets to $3.25 billion. The Washington-based firm holds stakes in 15 companies and has invested in 45 countries since it was set up in 2000, targeting chiefly financial services, power and water, telecommunications

ETI CEO wins award banking. The statement said Mr Essien was one of five contenders for the award including Segun Agbaje of Nigeria’s GT Bank, Paulo Alexandre Duarte de Sousa of Banco Comercial e de Investimentos of Mozambique, Charles Kimei of Tanzania’s Cooperative Rural Development Bank

Bank Plc and Tariq Sijilmassi of Morocco’s Groupe Credit Agricole. Mr Essien in his acceptance comment said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this award. It comes as a surprise to me because although I have worked for Ecobank for the last 25 years, I have only been Group CEO for just over

a year. On the May 22, Ecobank was named the African Retail Bank of the Year at the Global Retail Banking Awards ceremony in London. The bank according to the statement, also received a nomination in the African Banker Awards in the Best Retail Bank of the Year category.

and consumer goods. “We want to continue to do what we know to do, which is investing in companies and help them develop,” Le Guennou said. ECP’s investments include control of water and power producer Eranove SA, which operates in Ivory Coast, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a majority stake in bank holding company Oragroup SA and more than 17 percent of mobile phone tower provider IHS Holding Ltd. They are examples of companies Le Guennou said are the “regional champions” the firm prefers to own. West Africa is the most attractive region on the continent for buyout firms, according to a 2014 African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association report, as economic growth far outpaces South Africa, its mostdeveloped economy. Ivory Coast, the world’s biggest cocoa producer and the largest economy in Francophone West Africa, targets growth of 10 percent this year. Senegal expects expansion of 5.4 percent, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) sees Nigeria growing 4.8 percent. South Africa’s central bank predicts 2.1 percent growth.

Business |Money

Tony Chukwunyem

arely a few hours after First Bank of Nigeria’s announcement last Wednesday that its Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, would be retiring by the end of the current financial year, speculations are already rife in industry circles about his most likely successor.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Who succeeds Bisi

Oldest and largest lender by assets Clearly, as the country’s oldest and largest lender by assets, the issue of who becomes the CEO of FirstBank often attracts more than the usual industry attention. Always an influential figure, he or she will be heading a financial institution that as at the end of 2014, had total assets of N4,343 billion and deposit liabilities of N3,820billion. Some of FirstBank’s past Managing Directors such as its first indigenous CEO, the late Chief Samuel Asabia and the late Chief Oladele Olashore were legendary figures in the Nigerian banking industry. InOnasanya deed, it is also the only bank in the industry that has had two of its former CEOs appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The duo – Chief Joseph Sanusi and Emir Sanusi Lamidi Sanusi were at various times were the GMD’s of First Bank from where they were appointed Central Bank governors. There were also reports that the influential board members led by Oba Otudeko pushed for the appointment of Onasanya as the Central Bank governor – a position that was eventually ceded to the incumbent governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. First Bank was eventually compensated with the post of Deputy CBN governor, which was given to one of its Executive Director, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu. Thus, while Onasanya would still be in the saddle for the next Odubola five or six months, who will take over from him and how the lend- part from its tradition in recent er is going to go about choosing times of appointing a new GMD that person is currently a ma- from its Executive management jor subject of debate in financial team. circles. According to him, “ From Sanusi, Ajekigbe, Longe and Succession strategy even Adimorah, you can see Unlike some other first tier that the GMD has always been banks that have as part of their appointed from the executive succession plans, a single or management team and this has several Deputy Managing Direc- always worked well for the bank, tors being eligible to succeed the so, I don’t expect any change this Managing Director, First Bank time around.” usually appoints a new CEO He argued that the practice of from its executive management not having a clearly designated team and the new boss would be successor to the CEO had more announced in the last quarter advantages than having a Depuprior to the out-going MD’s exit. ty Managing Director, who will Onasanya, who picked from one see himself or herself as being the subsidiaries of FirstBank, the boss in waiting. Similarly, a financial consulwas the only person that broke this jinx. tant at Berthram Associates, As Onasanya told the New Mr Mike Halim, predicted that Telegraph in a chat while con- Onasanya’s successor would be firming his retirement, “It is picked from the ranks of the true that I am leaving. I won’t bank’s top management team. stay longer than my tenure. If He said, “Usually leading I overstay, it would be bad for banks like FirstBank will apgovernance. I would name a point somebody from within successor and hand over to the the organisation; someone fasuccessor before I leave.” miliar with its culture and the A source within the top tier aspirations of its shareholders. lender told the New Telegraph It is only when a bank is passing that it was “highly unlikely” through difficult times and the that the bank’s board will de- shareholders are complaining

Urum Kalu Eke, ED, South Urum Kalu Eke, popularly known as UK in the financial circles, was until his present appointment, Executive Director, Regional Businesses, Lagos & West, Diamond Bank Plc. His work experience spans over 26 years in banking, auditing, consulting, taxation, process engineering, investment banking, commercial financial advisory services, and capital market operations. He holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Lagos and an MBA (Project Management Technology) from Federal University of Technology, Owerri. He has attended various Executive Management Programmes in top rated business schools including Harvard, Stanford, Lagos Business School as well as IESE Spain and Oxford University.

Majekodunmi

Shobo

I would name a successor and hand over to the successor before I leave

of not getting adequate return on their investment that they will look to hire an outstanding CEO from outside the group.” However, an ex First Bank staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the New Telegraph that several factors usually determined who is appointed as GMD of the bank. According to him, “Apart from considering which among the Executive Directors is best qualified for the job in terms of performance, the board would also have to factor in the interest of shareholders who hold substantial stakes in the bank. Of course, these shareholders will have their own candidates. Then, don’t also forget that for a bank with the shareholding character and size of FirstBank, there will be the need once in a while, to create a geographic balance in appointments.” Those in the fray Consequently, if analysts’ predictions are anything to go by, Onasanya’s successor is likely to come from the bank’s current executive management team. The Executive Directors include the following:

Gbenga Francis Shobo, ED Lagos & West Region Mr. Gbenga Francis Shobo until his appointment as Executive Director (Retail South) was General Manager in charge of Products and Channel deployment in the bank. Prior to that, he was the Business Development Manager, Port Harcourt where his main charge was to superintend FirstBank’s business in Rivers and Bayelsa States. Gbenga holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University. A chartered accountant, Gbenga’s outstanding career in banking spans over 20 years and he was a recipient of the Bank’s Most Outstanding Business Development Manager Award at the 2007 CEO Annual Merit Award ceremony. Some of his other recent management positions include DGM/Business Development Manager, FirstBank Lagos Mainland; Group Head, National Corporates, FirstBank; General Manager, Corporate/ Commercial Banking, FBN (Merchant Bankers) Limited; and Divisional Head, Corporate Banking Division and Institutional Banking Group respectively, at MBC International Bank Limited. Gbenga has attended many professional development courses across the globe. He is an avid tennis and golf player. Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, ED/CFO Dr. Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan (FCA) was appointed to the Board in 2014 as Chief Financial Officer. Before this appointment, he was a Director and the pioneer Chief Financial Officer of Africa Finance Corporation. He has served as Senior Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer of Citibank Nigeria Limited and was previously a Senior Manager in the Financial Services Group of

Business | Money

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

Onasanya at First Bank? KPMG Professional Services where he managed high profile assurance, financial and risk advisory engagements. He has garnered diverse expertise in Treasury & Financial Management, Risk Management, Accounting (IFRS)/Auditing/Internal Controls, Corporate Governance and Corporate Strategy Development and Implementation. He is also vast in Corporate Finance, Business Performance Management, Business/Financial Advisory, Investors, Regulators and Rating Agencies Relationship Management, Deployment and Management of Information Technology, and Compliance. Dr. Adeduntan attended University of Ibadan, where he obtained a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Cranfield University Business School, United Kingdom and has attended executive programmes at Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford and INSEAD. Dauda Lawal, ED, North Dauda Lawal currently Executive Director, North was formerly Business Development Manager, Maitama Abuja, where his principal remit was growing the bank’s business in the Abuja metropolis. Prior to this, he had worked as Group Head Public Sector II with the responsibility for deposit mobilisation from government ministries and parastatals. Dauda holds both the Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Political Science from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. His banking career spans over seven years with a civil service career of over eight years. He joined First Bank in 2003 after having worked as Chief Protocol Officer with Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC. Some of his other recent management positions in FirstBank include Business Development Manager Abuja, Relationship Team Leader Abuja Area Office, and Relationship Manager Commercial Banking. Dauda has attended many professional development courses including Financial Services at the Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts. He is an avid reader and author of seminal papers on national and international issues. Adetokunbo Abiru, ED, Corporate Banking Adetokunbo M. Abiru joined the Board of the bank on August 1, 2013 as Executive Director, Corporate Banking. Prior to this, he was Group Head, Corporate Banking and also a pioneer Business Development Manager in 2006 at the inception of this business model by the bank. In the same year, he won the prestigious FirstBank MD/CEO Merit Award as the Best Branch Manager of the Year. He has over 22 years of banking experience, and served as the Commissioner

ber of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (HCIB) and a Director of CRC Credit Bureau Limited. He is married with children and loves reading.

Adeduntan

Odunewu

of Finance for Lagos State between 2011 and 2013. He brings his far-reaching experience to bear on the bank’s board. Adetokunbo is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (FCA) and Honorary Senior Member, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB). He is happily married with children and loves football, swimming and reading. Bashirat Odunewu, Head, Institutional Banking Bashirat Odunewu until her appointment as the Executive Vice President (Institutional Banking) was a Group Head in the Corporate Banking Directorate of the bank. With over 20 years experience across institutional banking, corporate banking, commercial banking, investment banking and treasury in various financial institutions, Bashirat brings her deep market facing experience to bear on the Institutional Banking Group. She was the recipient of the 2010 FirstBank CEO’s Annual Merit Award for “The Best BDM”. Bashirat holds a B.Sc degree in Chemistry from the

Abdullahi Ibrahim, GE, Technology & Services Abdullahi Ibrahim is currently the Group Executive, Technology & Services. He was formerly Group Head, Manufacturing in the Institutional Banking Group. Abdullahi had served as the Business Development Manager, Ikeja 3, with responsibilities across consumer, retail, commercial and wholesale banking segments and the Group Head, Multinationals under the defunct Corporate Banking Directorate. His banking experience cuts across investment, wholesale and commercial banking and his proven ingenuity in these areas are brought to bear on the bank’s retail business. He is married with children.

Abiru

Eke

The recommendation of the retiring GMD and the decision of the influential members of the board might also make all the difference

University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, England and M.sc in Advanced Technology & Development from the University of London Imperial College of Science and Technology. She has attended executive courses in various institutions including Harvard Business School, Boston and Columbia Business School, New York. Abiodun Odubola, Chief Risk Officer Abiodun Odubola was appointed Chief Risk Officer in 2013. Prior to his appointment, he had been Head, Credit Analysis and Processing Department in FirstBank and Chief Risk Officer at Ecobank Plc. Abiodun started his banking career with Citibank over 18 years ago and garnered diverse hands-on experience covering relationship management, credit underwriting, credit risk management, country risk management and credit audit within and outside of Nigeria. He brings these varied experiences to bear in performing his function in the bank. He is an Honorary Mem-

Cecilia Majekodunmi, Head, Commercial Banking Cecilia Majekodunmi was appointed Group Executive, Commercial Banking in 2013. She was the pioneer head of the bank’s Emerging Corporates Sub Business Unit, which she steered to remarkable growth within two years. Her sterling performance informed the upgrade of FirstBank’s Emerging Corporates business to a fullfledged Commercial Banking Business. She is a versatile professional with over 27 years of banking experience covering Relationship Management, Business Development, Institutional Banking and Corporate Banking. She is also an Honourary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Member of the Institute for Fraud Management Control (IFMC), an alumnus of London and Lagos Business Schools and has attended executive courses at the Harvard Business School. Cecilia is a recipient of the FirstBank CEO’s Annual Merit Awards as “The Best Business Development Manager of the Year” in 2009 and “The Best Market Facing Staff of the Year” in 2011. She is married with children and loves travelling, cooking and watching movies. Conclusion Obviously, in terms of professional and academic qualifications coupled with work experience, these “human engines” that run First Bank are eminently qualified to take over the reins from Onasanya and ensure that the lender maintains its leadership position in the industry. But according to some insiders, the recommendation of the retiring GMD and the decision of the influential members of the board might also make all the difference in deciding who eventually gets this plum job.

Business | The Investor

Chris Ugwu

inding lasting solution to the problem of unclaimed dividend in Nigeria has been of great concern to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and other stakeholders especially the investors whose returns on investment have continued to accumulate year on year without being claimed. This is why institutional and corporate agencies, shareholders, associations, individuals and other government agencies, have at one time or the other called for a research and study that would assess the problems and proffer solution to the unclaimed dividend saga. The e-dividend system of payment, which was the most recent introduced by the SEC in a bid to address the delay associated with the verification of proceeds of public offers as well as delay encountered by investors in getting returns on their investments, has not recorded appreciable impact in helping in war against this menace. According to experts, this ugly trend may persist unless all stakeholders urgently move to address the numerous challenges confronting the process of dividend payment and collection step up awareness campaign. Value of unclaimed dividend Contrary to expectations that efforts of regulators and other stakeholders will lead to a significant reduction in unclaimed dividends, the investors’ return on investment have continued to rise year on year without being claimed. Investigation by New Telegraph revealed the value of the unclaimed dividends has increased to about N90 billion as at the first quarter of 2015. A senior staff of the SEC had told our correspondent that various efforts and initiatives are being tinkered with by the Commission to reduce the value of unclaimed dividend, which according to him, had been of great concern to market regulators and investors. He expressed disappointment that the e-dividend system of payment, which was introduced by the SEC and adjudged to be more acceptable in the bid to address the delays associated with the verification of proceeds of public offers and delays encountered by investors in getting returns on their investments, have not fully curbed the trend. Reasons for huge unclaimed dividends The reasons for the growth of unclaimed dividend have to do with shareholders who have died without providing any information on their next of kin, multiple applications by applicants during the investment process and deliberate actions to deny investors their benefit through various schemes by some Registrars and companies, who lack liquidity to pay. Other factors are loss of dividend warrants due to the poor postal system, change of mailing addresses without notifying the Registrars and lack of awareness on the part of some investors.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Stemming the surge in unclaimed dividends

Trading floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)

In a chat with our correspondent, the Managing Director, Crane Securities Limited, Mr. Mike Okpara Eze, traced the genesis of this menace to the indigenisation era of the administration of Nigeria’s former president General Yakubu Gowon. The expert noted: During this exercise, those in position of authority who had the wherewithal, acquired shares in the privatised companies with fictitious names of their drivers, cooks, gardeners, dead brothers, dead fathers etc in such a way that when the dividends came, they were not able to claim them. This was because there were no such persons to claim their dividends”. Speaking in the same vein, the Managing Director Lambeth Trust & Investment Company Limited, Mr. David Adonri, explained that unclaimed dividends are increasing every year due to several factors. According to him, the problem started several years ago during the indigenisation exercises when several shareholders made multiple subscriptions in fictitious names whose signatures they cannot remember. He noted that the affected shareholders are also unable to open bank accounts in these fictitious names for the purpose of e-dividend collection. Andori added that most of the unclaimed dividends are statute barred and forfeited to the companies. This he explained, means that recovery by the affected shareholders may not be possible in the absence of means of identification. Regulators’ efforts Director General of SEC, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo, recently said that the Commission had directed Registrars to make e-dividend

The problem started several years ago during the indigenisation exercises when several shareholders made multiple subscriptions in fictitious names whose signatures they cannot remember

payment directly into the bank accounts of investors. Consequently, he encouraged shareholders to have their bank accounts ready and make them available to the Registrars to facilitate e-dividend payment to reduce the mounting unclaimed dividend. On the legacy issue, Gwarzo said a committee had already been set up between the SEC, the NSE and the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, to find solution to it. He said the Commission had finalised the Investor Protection Fund to boost investor confidence, adding that there was also collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for direct payment of dividends to bank accounts of shareholders. He said that the Commission would soon embark on massive public enlightenment programme to educate the public at the grass root level so as to help them get better returns on their investment in the capital market. The public enlightenment, according to him, would not be limited to dividend payment alone but also on other recent issues in the market such as dematerialisation, straight through processing and Complaints Management Framework. He therefore called for collaboration with the various associations of shareholders.

e-dividend and e-bonus attached to the annual report and accounts and deliver them to their Registrars either at the venue of the AGMs or to their offices. Shareholders are also required to open bank accounts, stockbroking accounts and the CSCS accounts for e-dividend and e-bonus. Chairman of Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mr. David Ifezulike, had at the company’s 46th AGM, advised that shareholders compliance with the request would reduce the magnitude of unclaimed dividends and share certificates as well as eliminate the delay or loss of dividend warrants. “We are giving shareholders who have indicated interest, the option of electronic delivery of our annual reports and accounts and other relevant documents. Consequently, instead of receiving the hard copies of these documents, interested shareholders will be able to receive a soft copy online via e-mail or a compact disk to be sent by post. “I am confident that if you subscribe to e-dividend, e-bonus and electronic delivery of our annual report and accounts as well as other corporate documents, the days of unclaimed dividend warrants, unclaimed share certificates and late receipt of annual report and accounts will be over,” Ifezulike said.

Quoted firms’ awareness campaign Listed companies have also stepped up efforts to educate investors at various Annual General Meetings (AGMs) on the need to key into the e-payment system to help drastically reduce the unclaimed dividend. At various fora, they always requested shareholders to complete the detachable application form for

Conclusion While considerable efforts have been made by NSE, SEC and other stakeholders to educate shareholders and address some of their complaints through e-dividend, the problem of unclaimed dividend in Nigeria can be drastically addressed with a better structured public awareness campaign to be jointly anchored by NSE, SEC and market operators.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

N319.9bn contraband: Customs seal 75 warehouses p.36 Chairman, Governing Council of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Chief Mike Adiotomre, in this interview with TONY ANICHEBE, stresses the need to upgrade the institution to a degreeawarding status for global competitiveness What specific vision do you have to meet the growing demands for competent skilled manpower in the maritime industry? When we came into the academy, we were given a specific mandate by the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, to prepare the academy for a degree awarding status. Our specific vision this year,is that we are working assiduously with the management to realise the dream. The governing council and management have engaged in fruitful collaborative discussions with renowned maritime institutions in Sweden, UK, South Africa and Turkey, to explore possible areas of interest in training of cadets for global competitiveness. What effort has the Governing Council made to cement the deal? The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is the highest policy making and supervisory organ when we talk of maritime institutions in the world. We also have Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). It is the expectation of these two bodies that the academy gives her cadets sea time experience so as to meet the growing demands for competent skilled manpower in the global maritime industry. You know we do not have a training ship to enable our cadets acquire sea time; that is why preparations are in top gear to send them to countries with training ships. Through this arrangement, our products will compete favourably with their counterparts in other countries in the maritime global market. Our ultimate goal is to acquire our training ship. What is your opinion on poor funding by the Federal Government? We still have problem of funding, but then, you cannot expect a government with so much pressure from other sectors of the economy to sufficiently fund the academy. The needs of the school are enormous, but the little fund we receive is being managed judiciously. I don’t know whether you are aware that our main source of income is the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). NIMASA gives the academy five per cent of its revenue. Whatever NIMASA

Maritime

CET: Nigeria cannot ignore other countries p.37

Maritime academy needs training ship – Adiotomre gets is what is remitted to us. The Director-General of the agency told us recently that the fall in the price of oil has affected the economy of NIMASA. You cannot expect NIMASA alone to fund the academy. If the revenue of NIMASA reduces, it means our statutory five per cent is affected. There are so many allied industries that rely on the products of the academy which NIMASA also draws its revenue from to fund it. Now, the second source of our funding comes through statutory budgetary allocation, and it is always very small. But in as much as it is inadequate, there is nothing we can do about it because government has so much financial demands from various agencies, departments, parastatal of government and other institutions.I am calling on Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and other oil companies to come to the aid of the academy. How do you think the academy can compete with other maritime academies in the world despite the poor funding? For us in the academy, we are training middle class workers, lower class workers and higher class workers. But let me quickly inform you that the most needed workers in the maritime industry now are the middle-level manpower. You don’t need to have a degree in the maritime industry before you can be useful. But the Federal Government is working relentlessly towards making the academy a degreeawarding institution, not what few mis-informed persons call university. Maritime academy is a specialised and regimented institution. Those who are not sufficiently exposed to the dynamics of the academy should refrain from making comments they cannot defend. The academy is a very technical institution that trains and nurtures seafarers in line with Standard of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW). The academy is not just like any other institution or Polytechnic. It is a specialised institution. The Certificate of Competence (COC) that is required makes the academy different from other institutions. If we, therefore, want to transform the academy to degree-awarding status, we would not only follow the NUC model, we will equally follow the accepted global model that combines certificate, national diploma and higher national diploma with degree. These segments produce low, middle and high level manpower, respectively for the maritime industry. The COC is renewed every six months. It will interest you to know that the degree a seafarer

and quality facilities to fast track effective teaching and learning. In the area of manpower development, we have trained both senior and junior staff, including cadets. Some lecturers were sent abroad to update their knowledge and skills for optimal performance. We have done so much to sustain the prevailing peace in the academy and the host communities. Prior to the appointment of the present rector and the governing council, there was serious communal crisis between Udung Okung in Eyoabasi community and Idua Ukpatta group of villages, all in Oron Local Government Area. Today, the ugly scenario has been consigned into dust bin of history as the two communities now co-exist and relate effectively with each other and their people, dine and wine together. We have also sustained corporate social responsibility to the host communities and ensured full implementation of the local content policy of the Federal Government. In fact, the school is at peace with all relevant stakeholders in the community. The Rector, Ambassador Joshua Okpo, has made us proud through his result-oriented administrative style.

Adiotomre

You cannot expect NIMASA alone to fund the academy. If the revenue of NIMASA reduces, it means our statutory five per cent is affected

holds may not be so valued, but that cannot happen without the Certificate of Competence. This is because the IMO’s convention makes it mandatory for the Certificate of Competence to be accepted beyond our shores whether it is Africa, Asia etc. as long as the holder of the Certificate of Competency is from a member state of the IMO. Also, what the degree will do for the holder on the other hand is to help the holder in other aspects of maritime education and training. For instance, at the World Maritime University, Malmo, Sweden, emphasis is placed on Standard of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW), maritime education and training. At World Maritime University, maritime education and training has its own language. What are the achievements of the academy’s governing council in the last two years? Since the inception of the council two years ago, we have recorded very significant progress through the quality development of the academy. If you visit the institution now, you will see the state-of-the-art infrastructure put in place. Some new roads have been constructed and old ones rehabilitated. Also, we provided hostels for male and female cadets; built modern and well furnished residential structures for staff, lecture theaters

How would you assess the management of the academy? The rector is a very hard working man, who believes in leaving the academy better than he met it. Management staff works as a team to achieve result. I see transparency, team spirit between the rector and the management staff. The academy is now a place where all staff work with smiles as a result of the leadership style of the rector. Therefore, those who passed a vote of confidence on his administration were not doing so in error. What the rector has achieved so far are testimonies and confirmation of an achiever, versed knowledge of the maritime industry. I talked about development. The rector has instituted a monthly solemn assembly to seek the face of God over the affairs of the institution and his staff. There is a weekly jogging exercise to ensure staff and cadets are physically and spiritually sound, while regular workshop and training to sharpen the mental alertness of the staff has been put in place. Throughout our stay in the academy this past two years, I have not experienced or witnessed any protest from management or staff of the academy, or from the community against the rector. It is an impression that the rector is doing well, and he is working harmoniously with the staff in the overall development of the academy.

Business | Maritime

SCANDALOUS Three out of five Chinese doing business in Nigeria lack valid travel documents Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has sealed 75 warehouses where contraband textile materials worth about N319.9 billion were stored. Also, the Chinese businessmen behind the

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

N319.9bn contraband: Customs seal 75 warehouses massive illegal importation of textiles to Kano are to be deported from Nigeria by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). After a joint inspection by the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi and the Comptroller - General, of Immigration, Mr. David Parradang, a team of

Customs Valuation Officers have started collating the textile seizures to determine the quantity and value. The huge seizure made through intelligence network cultivated over a period of three months, shows that some illegal foreigners were sabotaging the Nigerian economy through their illegal businesses.

The comptrollergeneral of Immigration pointed out that investigations by his service had revealed that three out of the five Chinese do not possess valid travel documents to reside and engage in any business in Nigeria beyond the scope of their admission. Parradang noted that immediate steps would be taken to effect their

deportation. He added that investigations were in progress to ascertain the immigration status of the other two Chinese nationals. The comptroller-general stressed that the service would intensify routine mop-up operations to ease out irregular immigrants. He said that those who were law-abiding

and contribute to the national economic development through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and technology transfer would be encouraged and given assistance.

Plastic particles endanger ocean, says report

icro-plastics pieces of fibres are increasingly being found in the oceans and are proving to be as harmful to marine life as plastic bags, a new report by the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) has said. The study notes that while the physical impacts of larger litter items, such as plastic bags and fishing nets, have been demonstrated, it is much more difficult to attribute physical impacts of microplastics. The GESAMP is an advisory body that advises the United Nations (UN) system on the scientific aspects of marine environmental protection. The report was titled: ‘Sources, fates and effects of microplastics in the marine environment’ a global assessment. The report was the first attempt at a global scale to identify the main sources, fate and effects of microplastics in the ocean and offers improved understanding of the scale of the problem. The Director, Marine Environment Division, at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Dr. Stefan Micallef, an administrative secretary of GESAMP, explained that tiny particles, such as those used in cosmetic products or abrasives, could potentially harm marine life if ingested. He said: “We need to work globally to ensure that plastics do not end up in the oceans.” The study added that plastics often contained chemicals added during manufacture and can absorb and concentrate contaminants such as pesticides from the surrounding seawater, and that there is emerging evidence of transfer of chemicals from ingested plastics into tissues.

Business | Maritime

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

CET: Nigeria cannot ignore other countries KEY FACTOR Trade is an important vehicle of development in Nigeria Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that the country cannot afford to ignore the West African countries over the implementation of the Common External Tariff (CET). The service explained that the take-off of CET in the country would require a paradigm shift, despite the benefits and challenges. The Public Relations Of-

ficer, NCS, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, a Deputy Comptroller, said emphasis may shift from using revenue collected in measuring performance from the Customs Service. Speaking at a training workshop organised by the service on CET for maritime journalists in Abuja, Adeniyi explained that the regional integration under which CET falls has a lot of benefits and challenges. He said: “ECOWAS is a very big market which Nigeria cannot afford to ignore and there is a wind of change as the trade is a very important vehicle of development. “For us to embrace trade, we cannot afford to trade without the mechanism for trade in West Africa; and that

is through the instrumentality of the Economic Community of West African States Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the Common External Tariff. “There are so many angles which we are going to be getting exposed to, as we enter into some of these agreements. These include the Economic Partnership for Africa

(EPA), which is already going on between the sub-region and also the European Union (EU). “By the time we enter into this, it is going to guarantee us access into the EU market. But then, nothing goes for nothing. So, for them to give us access to this market, they may also ask us to suspend some of the (Customs) duty that we charge on import that is coming from

these countries. That is the way multilateralism trade grows.” He sought the understanding of the media towards accurate presentation of information to the public. Adeniyi disclosed that all goods imported into the country would enjoy normal classification, but added that the rule of origin might receive more emphasis.

Customs to introduce forum for manufacturers T he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is to establish a Customs-Traders-Manufacturers Consultative Forum as part of efforts to ensure a good working relationship between the three parties. Comptroller-General of Customs, Dikko Abdullahi, disclosed this in Kano. He said the forum, when established, would serve as a platform where the customs could explain the Federal Government‘s policies to traders and manufacturers. Dikko noted: “This forum will also enable the customs and the other parties to understand one another with a view to fostering understanding and a harmonious working relationship. “Moreso, if traders or manufacturers have complaints, they can raise it so that the problem can be resolved once and for all.”On seized textile materials, Dikko said those that were allowed to come into

the country would be released to the owners to pay the customs duty, while those banned stand to be seized. “I will write and inform the Federal Government on the contraband so that if it decides to ban them, it can do so,”he said. He assured that the NCS would continue to do its best to ensure that smuggling of contraband into the country was checked. Dikko, however, called on Nigerians to assist the customs with useful information to enable it discharge its duties effectively. “We always work on information given to us because 98 per cent of crimes detected is based on information received,”he added. Dikko visited Adhama Textile industry at Bompai area of Kano where he addressed some traders on the effort being made by customs to address smuggling in the country.

Ship owners order 40 ultra vessels D espite positive growth, the container shipping industry continues to suffer new, big ship deliveries with no let-up to the ordering frenzy, according to a new report by Drewry Maritime Research. It was learnt that since January, 2015, the industry had ordered around 40 Ultra Large Carier Vessels (ULCVs), mainly for 2017 delivery, not including any provision for Maersk and Cosco orders yet to be finalised. The firm forecasts another year of excess growth in relation to demand in 2015, which would make it harder for carriers to repeat the estimated 92 per cent load factors across the main head haul East-West trade lanes achieved in 2014.

A Director of container research at Drewry, Mr. Neil Dekker, noted: “New orders for ultra large container of at least 18,000 TEU are pushing back the date when supply and demand can be expected to meet and at the individual trade route level, this is now seemingly unachievable.” The industry paid a heavy price for the huge ordering it undertook in 2006/07 and it seems that four years after Maersk spent $3.8 billion on its Triple Es, history is repeating and many lines are entering or are about to enter this now not so exclusive club. The one difference this time around is that the operational agreements should mean that not all top 20 lines will make this big step.

Ro on-Ro off vessel moored to discharge vehicles at port

FG stops CRFFN from collecting operating fees

he Federal Government has ordered the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to stop the collection of the practitioners operating fees introduced recently. The National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr. Kayode Farinto, dropped the hint in Lagos. He explained that the directive came through a letter from the office of the immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim. Farinto also noted that the letter was conveyed to the Deputy President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Mr. Uchu Block. A copy of the letter signed by Director, Economic Monitoring, Multilateral and Research, Elaigwu Ejembi, on behalf of the SGF was referenced: CD/P/251/V/892 dated 29th April, 2015. The letter read: “I am to re-emphasis the need for strict compliance with the provision of the Act on Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders in Nigeria, Act 16 of 2007.

“For the avoidance of doubt, in the absence of a statutorily constituted BOARD of Council, to which the power to exercise function under the act is conferred, no staff of the council has the power to exercise any function pending re-election of the governing board. “Any violation of the provision of the act will be treated with appropriate reprimand.” Farinto maintained that ANLCA remained opposed to the collection of the contentious professional operating fees, which was approved by the immediate past Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, vide a letter dated 26th February 2015. Umar had approved the collection of N1.20 per kilogram of air freight, N1,000 per 20-foot container, N2,000 per 40-foot container, N500 per car/jeep, N1,000 per 1×20’ truck, N2,000 per1×40’ truck, N3.50 per ton of general cargo, N1.00 per ton of dry bulk cargo while the rate on wet cargo was indicated as ‘negotiable.’ The collection was expected to net at least N2 billion per annum, which he directed should be shared between CRFFN and the associations in a ratio of 60 per cent and 35 per cent respectively, while

the remaining five per cent was to be shared to registered freight forwarders. According to the document, while CRFFN is to collect 60 per cent of the Practitioners’ Operating Feesas Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the associations will collect 35 per cent as provided by the CRFFN Act (Accreditation of Association of FreightForwarders) Regulations 2010. “Registered Freight Forwarders/Customs Licensed Agents (RFA/CLA) are entitled to five per cent of the Professional Operating Fees, which will be collected by the CRFFN and remitted to the concerned RFA/CLA,” the Minister’s approval signed on his behalf by the Director Legal Services of the Federal Ministry of Transport, MrsI. J. Uche-Okoro, stated. The five CRFFN-registered freight-forwarding associations are ANLCA, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA), Associationof Registered Freight Forwarders (AREFF) and the National Association of AirFreight Forwarders and Consolidators (NAFFAC).

WEDNESday, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Photo | News 39

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

Kaduna Central Senator-elect, Shehu Sani (sixth right), with the executive members of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), during their courtesy visit to Sani in Kaduna.

L-R: Chairperson, Association for Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria, Prof. Ifeoma Okoye; Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike; former Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu and Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhil, at the 3rd Nigerian annual Clinical Trial Summit in Lagos.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE.

L-R: Lay President, Diocese of Lagos Central, Methodist Church, Sir Timothy Aderemi Olukoga; Bishop, Diocese of Lagos Central, Rt. Rev. Jacob Kehinde Adeyemi; Bishop, Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Rt. Rev. Isaac Ayo Olawuyi and Chairman, 5th Anniversary Planning Committee, Sir Ayorinde Thomas, at the church’s 5th anniversary thanksgiving service in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Member, representing Egor/Ikpoba Okha Federal Constituency, Edo State, E. J. Agbnayinma; Member, House of Representatives, Pally Iriase and Minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, during a press briefing by Hon. Pallly’s withdrawal from the speakership race in Abuja. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

L-R: Director, Global Government Relations, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Sub-Sahara Africa, Temitope Iluyemi; National Coordinator, YouWin, Yemi Bello and National Coordinator, G-Win, Dr. Chii Akporji, at the P&G - G-Win/YouWin small and medium enterprises development training programme in Abuja.

L-R: Operations Director, Fortunate Impex Limited, Mr. Kayode Olufemi; Treasurer, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Alhaji Afolabi Abdulazeez; Secretary, Mr. Davies Ben Chukwuenye; Chairman, Nze Aloy Igwe and Public Relation Officer, Emanuel Njoku, at the presentation of ANLCA’s Biometric Identity Cards to the association in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Regional Trade Marketing Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Ayodeji Oke; second runner up of the ‘Goldberg Fuji T’o Bam 2015’, Opeyemi Akanbi and Director Melody Events, Adenekan Semiu, at the presentation of cheque at the ‘Goldberg Fuji T’o Bam’ winner in Ibadan.

L-R: Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni; Head of Investigative Unit, ICPC, Mr. Kayode Adebayo; Chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Comrade Debo Adeniran and representative of the British High Commission, Dr. Adesina Fagbenro, during the media roundtable held in Lagos.

40 Politics

Okonjo-Iweala

CHUKWU DAVID examines how the 7th Senate made last-minute intervention to end the lingering fuel scarcity in the country

igerians have been undergoing excruciating pains as a result of the lingering fuel scarcity, which hit the nation in the past four months. The scarcity was occasioned by the feud between the outgone Goodluck Jonathan administration and the independent oil marketers over fuel subsidy debt owed to the marketers by the Federal Government. Consequently, since February 2015, Nigerians have been witnessing acute shortages of petrol, otherwise known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). The independent oil marketers were claiming that the Federal Government was owing them hundreds of billions of naira in subsidy payment. The Federal Government actually paid the marketers some huge amount as part payment but they insisted that government must clear whatever was left before the new administration comes to power. Worried by the lingering fuel crisis, the Senate on Wednesday, May 21, mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream) to expeditiously investigate the remote and immediate causes of the current fuel crisis and report back to the Chamber on Tuesday, May 26 for necessary action. The directive was the outcome of a motion brought to the floor of the Chamber by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, who raised a point of order to make personal explanation on the deteriorating fuel scarcity in the country and the concomitant negative effects on the Nigerian people. Senator Ningi, who was given the opportunity to make his personal explanation, noted with dismay, the lingering fuel scarcity in the country and prayed the Red Chamber to pay serious attention to the ugly situation which was creating immense hardship for Nigerians, and mediate with a view

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Abe

Alison-Madueke

How Senate’s intervention resolved fuel scarcity to finding solution to the problem. He said: “We need to know whether fuel scarcity has come to stay. We need to know whether it has become part of our life. We need to plan. By planning and talking about it, we are now sensitising Nigerians to brace up for the impending issue of fuel scarcity whether it is going to be here permanently or temporary. “But we can’t know all these things until we hear from the experts. Therefore, my prayer is to ask the committees on downstream and upstream to come up with explanations next Tuesday through which Nigerians will know and plan their future. Otherwise, I think it’s legally and morally wrong to keep silent about it, sweep it under the carpet and to continue to believe these things are usual.” While ruling on Ningi’s motion, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, noted that since the mover raised the motion under personal explanation, the Senate would, in line with its standing rule, not debate it but would rather vote on Ningi’s prayers. Ekweremadu said: “Ningi’s prayers are simple and straightforward. He is asking us, as representatives of the people, to direct our Committees on Upstream and Downstream, to find out what is currently going on in the oil sector and possibly find a way of addressing it. “In that regard, we now ask our committees on Petroleum Resources ( Upstream and Downstream), to find out what is going on and what the government is doing about it and report back on Tuesday (last week). That is our wish.” When the motion was put to voice vote, it was unanimously supported by all the members present in the Chamber. Senate’s intervention Conscious of the urgency of the

We need to know whether fuel scarcity has come to stay. We need to know whether it has become part of our life

problem, and being cognisant of the short time left for the Seventh Senate to expire, the two Committees immediately went into action to see what could be done to tackle the matter. Accordingly, the Joint Committee on Thursday May 22, summoned the then Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and her counterpart in the Petroleum Resources Ministry, Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, to appear before it on Monday May 25, and give explanation on the reasons for the lingering fuel crisis in the country. Also invited along with the two ministers were, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Managing Director, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA); and the Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). Others who were also summoned to answer queries from the lawmakers included representatives of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria; Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and the National Association of Road Transport Owners. The invitation, which was issued in Abuja by the chairmen of the two committees, Senators Emmanuel Paulker (Upstream) and Magnus Abe (Downstream), explained that the summon of the public officers and groups, was a response to the mandate given to them by the Senate earlier. Resolution of the impasse The quick and unprecedented resolution of the crisis was a miracle. Even Nigerians and public affairs analysts did not expect such instantaneous settlement of the fuel subsidy controversy because of the claims and counter-claims by both government and relevant stakeholders in the oil industry. Therefore, hope glowed for Nigerians on Monday last week, as

all key stakeholders in the petroleum industry brokered a truce with the Federal Government, leading to the immediate end to the lingering crisis in the sector. The truce was achieved after a 25-minute closed-door session between the Senate Joint Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream), the Minister of Finance and stakeholders in the oil industry at the National Assembly complex. Sequel to the agreement they reached with the senators and the Minister of Finance, the various striking unions publicly mandated their members to call off the strike. They also assured Nigerians that the oil marketers had agreed to commence oil lifting within six hours from the time of resolving the impasse. Abe, who presided over the meeting, announced the resolutions reached at the indoor session, expressing appreciation to all the stakeholders for cooperating with the Senate. Announcing the resolutions, Abe said: “We have agreed that the Minister of Finance will give an undertaking to the major marketers and PPPRA that the work of the committee set up to verify outstanding claims being headed by the CBN would be concluded. If it is concluded before the end of the life of this administration, it will be reflected in the handover note. “If it is not concluded before the end of the life of this administration, then the fact that such a committee is set up and working will be reflected in the handover note and a copy of the letter conveying the existence of this committee will be sent to MOMAN and DAPPMA and also to this Committee. So, on the basis of that agreement, MOMAN will offer whatever cooperation that is needed to enable lifting of products nationwide to begin within the next six hours. CONTINUED ON PAGE 43

Politics 41

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, last week, gave a roadmap of policy implementation of the new government. JOHNCHUKS ONUANYIM writes on the Policy Dialogue

APC Dialogue: From policy research to implementation

ast week, the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APCPCC) held a two-day Policy Dialogue in Abuja, on the Implementation of the Agenda for Change. The dialogue with the theme, “Implementing Change: From Vision to Reality,” had experts on financial matters and technocrats as resources persons. Notable among topics considered at the event are: Improving the National Economy for shared prosperity, Repositioning agriculture for job creation and economic growth, Achieving qualitative and affordable healthcare, Achieving sustainable reforms in the Oil/ Gas sector and reducing inequality and achieving sustainable human development were treated. Also on the dialogue list were issues like: Achieving Holistic and Sustainable reforms in the education sector, Developing infrastructure for national development, Achieving diversity and inclusion in public life, Exploring sports, tourism and the creative industry for job creation, Governance and improving efficiency in public service, tackling corruption in Nigeria, Practical steps to reforms in administration of justice and strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights, foreign policy and the agenda for change, Achieving security sector governance in the agenda for change and ensuring the delivery of priorities. The dialogue, which was declared open by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had resource persons like: Mrs. Ifueko OmoiguOkauru, former chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service; Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, vice-chairman, Senate Committee on Internal Affairs; Dr. Muhammed Ali Pate, former Minister of State for Health; Dr. Tajudeen Umar, former Board Chairman, Nigeria Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Authority and Dr. Tunde Ahonsi, Resident Representative, UNFPA, Ghana. Also among the presenters were: Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, former Minister for Youths and Sports; Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa, Acting MD/CEO, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company PLC; Ms. Saudatu Mahdi, Executive Director, WRAPA; Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Governor, Kaduna State; Mr. Soji Apampa, Co-Founder, the Convention on Business Integrity; Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, Managing Partner, Legal Resources Consortium; Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, former Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), former Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

L-R: Fayemi, Mandelson and Osinbajo at the retreat.

For the Director, Policy, Research and Strategy of the APCPCC, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the essence of the dialogue was to change from policy planning to policy implementation. According to the former Ekiti State governor, the dialogue was a continuation of the research, strategy and policy of the Directorate to deliver the dividends of democracy as promised during the campaign Fayemi said: “In a sense, the phase of policy conception is over and we are entering the phase of execution, governance, of providing tangible developmental deliverables. The challenge of translating ideas into policy and praxis now looms large. Given the degree of work that has been put in by the directorate and our welldocumented national problems of policy implementation, the focus should now be on evolving an institutional framework to deliver the agenda for change.” Unfortunately, neither the national officials of the party nor the elected members of the party attended the dialogue. Most people who attended the discourse were members of the civil society, organised labour, technocrats and those lobbying for ministerial slots. The event which was declared open by the then President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, represented by Osinbajo had its keynote address delivered by the former Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. Tony Blair. In his remarks, Osinbajo lamented the crash of the economy. According to him, notwithstanding the campaign promises made by APC, the party would face serious challenges in addressing economic issues at a short period. He said: “In the course of the election campaign, we ran an issues-based campaign that identified certain areas of public policy as high priorities for propelling Nigeria forward. We addressed the

We are concerned that our economy is currently in perhaps its worst moment in history

challenges of the economy, insecurity, corruption and jobs creation. “We spoke to the challenge of providing opportunities for selfactualisation to millions of our young people who face an uncertain future with understandable anxiety. We also addressed the challenge of providing for the most vulnerable segments of our population by equipping them with the tools to emerge from the crippling limitations of poverty to achieve dignified and productive citizenship. “The figures of extreme poverty in our society – 110 million by current estimates – makes it clear that our biggest national problem is the extreme poverty of the majority. Thus, no analysis is required to conclude that dealing with poverty and its implications is a priority. “We are concerned that our economy is currently in perhaps its worst moment in history. Local and international debt stands at $60 billion. Our debt servicing bill for 2015 is N953.6 billion, 21 per cent of our budget. On account of severely dwindled resources, over two-thirds of the states in Nigeria owe salaries. Federal institutions are not in much better shape. Today, the nation borrows to fund recurrent expenditure.” Blair, in his address delivered by Mr. Lord Mandelson, emphasised the need for elected officers, especially President Buhari to be decisive in his decisions and to hit the ground running from the first day in office. He gave instances of governments that had made impact by taken decisions that are not too popular among the people but paid off at long run. One of such countries he cited is Indonesia, where a government removed oil subsidy the first day he entered into office. Blair said: “At the beginning for us, there was nothing easy at all. We discovered some important things pretty quickly. The first

thing is that the skills of leadership that take you to government is not the same skills you need to be successful in government. You have to switch from what you were campaigning for when you are in office. You have to switch from a persuader where the tools of your trade are your words to being a CEO where it is the deeds and how you extract the best results from those that matter. That is the difference between being a persuader and being a CEO. One is about words, the other is about deeds.” Blair added: “One other piece of advice drawn from our experience is that you will have more goodwill and more authority to do the difficult things at the beginning of your term than at the end. Let me give you an example of another emerging economy that I have spent time more recently to study. President of Indonesia was elected last year with huge public support. As a foremost businessman without link to the political elites, he was hailed as a leader who could transform Indonesia. One of the things he did after being inaugurated last October was to slash Indonesia’s hugely expensive and inefficient, but yet popular fuel subsidy, a policy decision which had toppled previous administrations and consistently brought people out into the streets. He decided to do it straight away. He had that goodwill and had that authority and that was the time to move. Some other discussants at the dialogue were: Dr. Ayo Teriba, chief Executive Officer, Economic Associates; Dr. Abba Kyari, Director, Mobil Oil Nigeria; Pa Lamin Beyai, Country Director, UNDP; Dr. Kayode Obembe, President, Nigeria Medical Association; Prof. Niyi Ayoola-Daniels, President, International Institute for Petroleum, Energy Law and Policy and Dr. Rilwanu Babalola, former Minister of Power.

42 Politics

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

ing the shots. But many stakeholders hold reservation for his style of leadership, linking the persistent failure of the party to make appreciable showing in the previous governorship elections to his organisational capacity. In the run-up to the last general election, he declared that he would go on self-exile, if the opposition APC won the presidential race. He said: “If Bola Tinubu finds his way into national government, I will go on exile. He doesn’t have the temerity and the calmness of mind. They don’t even know what to do in power. Because the vice-president is his boy, he will just order that Bode George should be picked up.” People are looking forward to seeing him make good his words. Already, he is out of the country. With Jonathan’s defeat and the declining fortune of the PDP at national and state level, George may soon fade into political oblivion. His relevance in the next political dispensation is very much in doubt, especially considering the age factor. A new crop of leaders is likely to emerge from the renewed effort of the National Working Committee (NWC), seeking to reposition the party as a formidable opposition.

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

State. As part of his preparations for retirement, the old war horses’ plans to draft his son into the centre stage of politics as Adamawa Governor met with stiff resistance. Now in the evening of his life, and with no subsisting strong political leadership strings, Jonathan’s defeat may have finally sealed his strides. In a terrain infested by sharks the long wait to rediscover his political path may not be easy. Unwittingly, Tukur may have bid the turf bye for now. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu Iconic business mogul and publisher of Champion Newspapers has since the Second Republic played an influential role in the politics of his home state of Imo. As a member of the BOT of the PDP, he has remained an issue in Imo politics in the last 16 years. In the last four years, his prominence in the political calculations of the state took a back seat, due to the slipping of the affairs of his state into the hands of the APC. His efforts to retrieve the baton has been futile. To add salt to the injury, Jonathan lost in the presidential election, and that may have dealt a crushing blow to his political movement. Now in his 70s, the revered chief may just decide to watch from the sidelines as he attends to his failing health. Ahmadu Ali Ali was the Director-General, PDP Presidential Campaign Council for the March 28 presidential election. He has been an active player in the Nigerian politics from pre-independence era. His involvement in politics dates back to the mid-50s when he was National Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Students (NUNS). He came into national limelight when he was appointed as the Federal Commissioner of Education. His tenure is still remembered in history for the infamous ‘Ali Must Go’ protests which led to the tragic death of many students. The protest was against the introduction of fees in the nation’s tertiary institutions, leading to the call for his removal as a minister. After his retirement as the Chief Consulting Officer at the Military Hospital, Kaduna in 1979, he contested and won a seat to the Nigerian Senate where he was chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum and Energy. Since 1999, he has been a member of the PDP. In 2002, he was a campaign coordinator, North Central for the Obasanjo/Atiku re-election campaign. In 2005, he emerged the National Chairman of the party as a replacement of Audu Ogbeh. While in office as Chairman, Ali earned himself an appellation of Garrison Commander because of his no-nonsense disposition. As Director-General of the Jonathan Campaign Organisation, he described Buhari, the Presidential candidate of the APC, as an old plane parked for too long. He predicted that Jonathan would stay in power till 2019. His words: “We will be here in 2019 to celebrate the successes of President Jonathan when he must have completed his work. With the course I did on Aviation, we were told that a 10-year plane which has been working is far better than a brand new one you buy today. Buhari is an old plane that has been

Babatope

Yakasai

George

Akinjide

Retired by Jonathan’s loss parked for long; we have a plane that has been flying. If you have a plane that has been flying for 10 years, it is better and trusted than a new one.” By the turn of the next general election, Ali will be 83. With the defeat of the PDP as well as the renewed attempt by the National Working Committee (NWC) to reposition the party, Ali may no longer be relevant in the scheme of things in the years ahead. Richard Akinjide Akinjide is one of the privileged few who have dominated the political space since independence and still remain relevant. He entered the parliament on December 12, 1959 at the age of 27. In the First Republic, he served as Education Minister in the government of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa. He was made the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice in the Second Republic by the administration of President Shehu Shagari. He is one of the ardent supporters of President Jonathan. Akinjide was at the 2005 National Political Reform Conference (NPRC) where he served in the Committee on Models and Structure of Government. He joined the National Party of Nigeria in 1978. Many Yoruba hold it against him that he worked against the presidential ambition of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo with his mathematical-cum-legal theory of 12 2/3 of 19 states in the Second Republic. Based on the theory, the Supreme Court dismissed Awolowo’s suit against the victory

We will be here in 2019 to celebrate the successes of President Jonathan when he must have completed his work

of President Shagari. In his recent interview in the run-up to the presidential election, Akinjide had dismissed the merger alliance that culminated in the formation of APC as a waste of time, describing the party as mere paper tiger. “If you know the history of this country, we used to have the NCNC, the NPC, the AG, which are very powerful political parties. None of the present political parties is as powerful as those political parties of those years which were in the opposition too. I can assure you that the coming election is going to be free and fair and PDP is going to win overwhelmingly. I have reason to believe that PDP will win not less than 24 or 25 states,” he said. With the crushing defeat of the PDP, it goes without saying that political relevance of the octogenarian politician has run its full circle. Bode George George emerged in the political space when he served as military governor of old Ondo State. At the inception of the present political dispensation, he became the first PDP National Vice-Chairman (South-West), and then Deputy National Chairman (South), and later Deputy National Chairman for the whole country. He was the Chairman, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). One of the low points of his political career was his 30-month jail sentence for contracts splitting and inflation. As a leader of the PDP in Lagos State, George remains a rallying point. And he alone has been call-

Tanko Yakasai Yakasai is a prominent leader of thought in the North. The Kanoborn politician was the National Publicity Secretary of the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) in the First Republic and later as a presidential assistant during the Second Republic. He deliberately formed Northern Elders Council (NEC) to support re-election of President Jonathan. The group broke away from the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) based on political differences. In an apparent effort to counter the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and NEF, Yakasai stated in a communiqué issued to defend his group’s position: “Northern Elders Council commends and fully supports the visionary and transformational policies of President Jonathan and acknowledges the socio-economic strides of the administration in all sectors. The Council pledges its full support and commitment to work for the success of President Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo.” Other than his activities as NEC leader, Yakasai has no political structure to sustain his relevance in the politics of Kano State. The rest is for the younger folks. Ebenezer Babatope Babatope came to national limelight as Director of Organisation of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the Second Republic. He remains an unrepentant Awoist till date. However, his role as Minister of Transport in the military administration of General Sani Abacha still remains an issue among some Yoruba. As a member of BOT of the PDP, Babatope stood as one of the foot soldiers of President Jonathan during his campaign for re-election. Uncomfortable with open criticism of the present administration, Babatope threatened to take on former President Obasanjo, saying “open your mouth again and I will take you on.” While Jonathan’s campaign lasted, Babatope demonstrated his disdain for Buhari, saying he would not live to see his victory. With the emerging scenario, he has no option than to leave the stage to be a sideline spectator.

Politics 43

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

How Senate’s intervention resolved fuel scarcity CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40

“MOMAN has also agreed to give a similar undertaking to NARTO to pay existing transport cost as have been determined by them. “DAPPMA is to instruct all their depots that have products to open those depots off lifting. Lifting must commence within the next six hours. We have also agreed with DPR that any depot that has product and failed to begin lifting within the next six hours should have their licence revoked immediately in the national interest. “NARTO has complained about two roads that are critical to their operations and that have made lifting of products nationwide difficult if not impossible. That is the Eleme Junction in Port Harcourt leading to the Port Harcourt Refinery - about 11 kilometers - and the Ilorin-Olorunjegba Road in Kwara State which is the only link between the North and the South West, particularly Lagos where these products are available at this time. We have agreed that MOMAN will discuss this with their members with a view to looking for a permanent solution to those places and if need be take up the matter with government. But a joint team of MOMAN and NARTO officials will go around the country to address the drivers and other stakeholders on this understanding. “We have also agreed that NNPC is to direct all relevant staff at all depots to work 24 hours including Saturdays and Sundays for the next two weeks until normalcy returns to the sector. “We have also agreed to reach out to the Lagos State Government to facilitate this agreement and reach some kind of arrangement with the tanker drivers that will allow access to the relevant depots to enable the lifting of products to commence.” Okonjo-Iweala fires back However, before the Senate and the stakeholders from the oil industry had the closed-door meeting, Okonjo-Iweala, who was embittered by the seeming sabotage by operators in the sector, painstakingly explained how the Federal Government had been committed to making sure that the crisis was averted. Her words: “The first thing I want to say is that this government has done quite a lot to demonstrate at a very challenging

time for the country that it prioritises payment to marketers. And this is because the economy needs fuel to run and Nigerian families need fuel for all kinds of activities which are important to them and their businesses. But I want to make one thing very clear: diesel has been deregulated. It is not subsidised since the era of President Obasanjo. “So, it is very puzzling to me when you say this is a commodity that is not subsidised. So, Nigerians will want to know why is

diesel affected? Why is everywhere shutting down. “The second fact that I’d like to put on the table is that we have made very good effort to keep up with payments for the marketers. And I have the numbers. Between 2014 and 2015 we have paid a total of N762 billion. Since December we have paid about N500 billion which is the number that have been quoting. “This year, 2015, we have paid N192 billion. If you look at the pattern of payments we have made

in previous years, this is no different. It’s not like this year we are doing anything different. In fact, this year has been the opposite. We have already paid N191 billion this year. There is also provision for foreign exchange and interest rate differentials and a profit margin even for the marketers. “The marketers insisted that this foreign exchange and interest rate differentials must be paid and we did pay them. Last year we paid N48 billion and this year

we have paid N93 billion in both forex and interest rate differentials. All I am doing in giving you this figure in various ways is to show that there has been a good faith effort and that the pattern of payment this year is even better than the one we had last year.” It was this revelation from the minister that put the marketers on the defensive end because she accused them of blackmailing the government and deliberately trying to frustrate and attract

negative public opinion against the immediate past government. With the temporary resolution of the problem, Nigerians are now hopeful that the unending queues would end in the near future. Although there is still aftermath scarcity, with corresponding queues, there are indications that a permanent end will soon be witnessed while the new administration fashions out short, medium and long terms solutions to the problem of the oil sector.

Business | Money Line

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Swiss Re eyes Nigerian acquisition Expansion

Country’s market tickles investors

wiss Re has announced that it’s in talks with Nigerian insurers to buy minority stakes and benefit from growth in the continent’s largest economy. Bloomberg quoted Swiss Re’s chief executive officer for the Middle East

and Africa, Frank O’Neill, as saying, “We’d like to have more investments in places like Nigeria. The challenge is that the valuations are rich. We’re looking for the right kind of partners at a price that makes sense. We’re at an early stage in talks, but we’re positive on the market opportunities.” Swiss Re, the world’s second-largest reinsurer, bought a minority stake in Kenya’s Apollo Investments Ltd. from buyout firm LeapFrog Investments in October. Kenya is

one of seven focus markets in Africa for Zurich-based Swiss Re, with the others including Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique and Angola. While Swiss Re already reinsures companies in all of its target markets, it wants direct stakes in insurers to benefit from African growth rates that are higher than developed nations. Sub-Saharan African economies are expected to grow by an average 4.5 per cent in 2015, rising to 5.1 per cent next year, according to the International Monetary

Fund (IMF). Nigeria’s growth rate is forecast to be 4.8 per cent this year. “The direct investments aren’t about having a footprint, it’s to benefit from the growth in primary insurance,” O’Neill said. “Africa is very attractive from a return perspective. The investments also give us a seat on the board and on-the groundexperience. We want more of them in the region.” The Kenyan investment was the first of its kind in Africa for Swiss Re. The company may target as

Expert backs Adesina on revival of AfDB

hief Executive Officer of leading consultancy firm, Africa At Work, Dianna Games, has backed former Agriculture Minister, Akinwumi Adesina, to reinvigorate the African Development Bank (AFDB). Commenting on Adeshina’s recent election as President of the AfDB, she argued that Adesina’s focus on agriculture puts him in good stead to perform well in his new role because the AfDB is currently

concentrating on how to transform economies through innovation, improved policies, better domestic mobilisation of resources and improving the attractiveness of African assets. She described Adesina as a, “A modern leader with strong views on issues affecting Africa and ideas about how to transform development outcomes through intelligent risk-taking and new approaches to old problems.”

According to her, as Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister Adesina tried to reduce the country’s $11billion-a-year import bill for basic foodstuffs by looking at innovative funding mechanisms, tackling corruption and improving efficiency. She noted that although the AfDB’s immediate past President, Donald Kaberuka, took the institution to a different level, making it a truly pan-African institution and changing the

perception of it being a bank more aligned with the needs of Francophone countries and West Africa than the whole continent, “the bank itself needs a makeover.” “Despite the positive changes he has introduced, Kaberuka admits the AfDB remains a construct of the past, an institution that needs to change its own mindset about development and re-engineer its operations for the needs of 2015 and beyond,” she stated.

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF MPR 91-day NTB Bonny Light Ext Res**

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 8.7 13 10.77 US$61.39 US$28,567,325,743

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 May, 2015 24/2/2015 Mar 2015 24/2/2015 1/6/2015

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

‘Corporations shortchange Africa of $11bn yearly in taxes’

ultinational companies deprive African governments of $11 billion in taxes each year, and G7 world leaders should set up a new global body to regulate corporate taxation, Oxfam International said yesterday. By shifting profits overseas to lower tax regimes, companies legally avoid paying taxes to the African countries where they generate revenues, depriving governments of money they desperately need for development, the anti-poverty group said in a report on Africa. When leaders of the G7 major industrialised countries meet in Germany on June 7-8 to discuss how to support economic growth in Africa, a vital component of their talks should be comprehensive reform of the global tax system, Oxfam said. Reuters quoted Oxfam International Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, as saying, “It’s absurd that there are in-

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

“Africa is very small in the Swiss Re context, but it punches above its weight in terms of how management see the future potential,” he said. “The chairman has told us to show our commitment to Africa.”

ternational organisations for trade, health and football but not for tax.” An international body similar to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) could represent all countries’ interests and mediate disputes among taxation regimes, Oxfam said. Oxfam based its calculation of the tax revenue Africa loses on a United Nations-backed study released in April that estimated $50 billion in illicit funds flow out of the continent each year, much of it through corporate trade mispricing to avoid taxes or in transfers of money obtained corruptly. This is almost double the official development aid Africa receives each year. G7 leaders already are discussing how to make the global taxation system fairer, but developing countries complain they have no seat at the table in those talks, even though they are the victims of the present system.

Standard Bank to assume chair of Equator Principles Association

Source:CBN

FGN Bonds

many as three minority investments in Kenya and Nigeria, according to O’Neill, and it will continue to work with LeapFrog to identify any opportunities that arise when the private equity firm exits investments in Africa.

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

tandard Bank Group has been appointed the new chair of the Equator Principles Association (EPA) for 2015/16, making it the first African Bank to be elected to this position. According to a statement by the lender, the appointment, which took effect on 1 June 2015, comes at a critical juncture in the integration of environmental and social considerations within business as a component of responsible investing. S t a n d a rd Bank Group’s Executive and Head of Environmental and Social Advisory within Investment Banking, Nigel Beck, will be the bank’s lead representative and chair. The Equator Principles (EPs) are a risk management framework adopted by EP Financial Institutions (EPFIs) for determining, assessing and managing environ-

mental and social risk in large-scale infrastructure or industrial projects when providing finance. These are a set of voluntary standards under, which EPFIs request certain actions from the borrower to ensure the project is executed in an environmentally and socially sound manner. First launched by US and European financial institutions in June 2003, the EPs are now a global standard for conducting large-scale development projects, adopted by 79 of the major banks around the world. Equator Principles (EP) III is already in force and became mandatory for all new transactions (where the mandate was signed after 31 December 2013) from 1 January 2014. Mr. Beck said Standard Bank Group would continue to focus on EP III implementation in conjunction with our clients across the continent.

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

2-Jun-15

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 13-Feb-15 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 193.73 600.00 573.14 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 299.50

16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

1.21 1.90 2.15 2.25 2.99 4.07 4.39 4.70 6.66 8.78 13.49 13.97 14.47 15.14 19.13

13.76 13.82 13.82 13.82 13.83 13.83 13.82 13.81 13.77 13.72 17.07 17.60 18.23 15.54 13.91

13.62 13.73 13.74 13.74 13.76 13.74 13.71 13.73 13.70 13.67 17.00 17.53 18.13 15.47 13.86

99.18 102.04 92.78 91.57 92.54 106.55 78.07 105.76 111.13 102.33 89.21 73.69 50.90 68.00 88.28

99.33 102.19 92.93 91.72 92.69 106.85 78.37 106.06 111.43 102.63 89.51 73.99 51.20 68.30 88.58

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,746.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,423.89

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.96 1.52 1.88 2.09

2.27 2.19 2.67 2.85

16.31 15.97 16.48 16.67

100.86 100.03 101.95 98.23

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

297.82

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

298.97

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.25

4.44

15.99

99.07

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.33

3.23

15.39

99.19

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.60

4.46

18.06

97.80

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.60

3.48

17.08

99.11

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.88

1.00

14.81

92.32

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.14

1.00

15.00

98.73

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.58

1.79

15.62

96.64

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.96

1.80

15.62

97.38

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.97

1.00

14.82

98.61

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

1.95

1.00

14.82

99.49

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

1.95

4.78

18.60

93.09

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.15

1.00

14.82

101.10

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 25.70

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.58 4.47 2.55

1.00 1.00 1.00

14.83 14.82 14.83

101.27 98.96 99.84

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.09

1.00

14.83

99.80

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.49

1.00

14.79

95.27

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.58

1.00

14.78

100.77

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.24

1.44

15.27

98.15

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.27

1.00

14.83

100.37

99.46

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

452.88 440.80

Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.21

1.00

12.52

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

18.75

09-Dec-15

0.27

1.00

12.70

99.82

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.35

2.63

14.96

99.71

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.33

1.00

14.89

97.75

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.40

1.34

15.18

98.82

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.33

1.00

14.82

96.46

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.56

30-Nov-17

1.56

1.88

15.66

103.84

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.60

1.00

14.79

101.59

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.77

1.00

14.80

104.58

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.77

1.00

14.80

101.68

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

30-Sep-18

3.33

3.00

16.83

92.94

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.88

2.29

16.10

99.39

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

1.96

6.11

19.93

97.11

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.58

2.16

15.99

99.96

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.45

2.76

16.55

95.43

BBB/GCR

FCMB

14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021

20-Nov-14

14.25

26.00

20-Nov-21

6.47

1.80

15.55

94.79

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.58

1.82

15.57

103.51

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.33

1.00

14.97

84.89

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.33

1.00

14.97

91.42

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

187.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

182.31

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.70

1.00

14.83

89.98

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

14.81

85.21

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.83

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.81

5.59

104.48

105.53

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.70

4.35

101.22

102.21

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.00

5.85

102.39

103.36

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,540.48

Corporate Eurobonds B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.32

4.16

101.07

103.09

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.99

100.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

10.70

9.35

90.59

93.78

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.38

6.92

95.87

97.24

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.22

96.75

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.15

9.74

95.53

96.79

B-/Fitch; B/S&P B-/Fitch; B/S&P B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

8.25 AUG 07, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

07-Aug-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

07-Aug-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

9.15 10.50 9.08

9.15 10.12 9.08

95.70 94.67 94.23

95.70 96.33 94.23

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.24

9.78

92.50

94.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,508.21

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 9 23 30 37 44 51 58 65

FIXINGS Maturity 11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15

Bid Discount (%) 8.98 11.12 11.08 12.00 11.73 11.98 11.94 11.41

Offer Discount (%) 8.73 10.87 10.83 11.75 11.48 11.73 11.69 11.16

Bid Yield (%) 8.99 11.19 11.18 12.15 11.89 12.18 12.17 11.65

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 11.7917 15.3868 16.4458 17.5532

Rate (%)

OBB

9.67

O/N

10.00

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25 10.50

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

196.97 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

197.07 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

10.00 12.1493

591.57 299.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,746.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,423.89

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

15.14 19.13

15.54 13.91

15.47 13.86

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.96 1.52 1.88 2.09

68.00 88.28

68.30 88.58

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

2.27

16.31

100.86

2.67 2.85

16.48 16.67

101.95 98.23

Agency Bonds FMBN

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

Business | Financial Market News

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

297.82

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

UNCLAIMED DIVIDEND Sub-National Bonds

Minimum capital: SEC insists on Sept deadline for operators 298.97

A/Agusto KADUNA Regulator orders *EBONYI A-/Agusto BBB+/Agusto *BENUE quoted firms to ‡ /Agusto *IMO A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS return all unclaimed ‡ /Agusto *BAYELSA ‡ /Agusto EDO dividends ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.25

4.44

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.33

3.23

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.60

4.46

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.60

3.48

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.88

1.00

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.14

1.00

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.58

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.96

1.80

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.97

1.00

09-Dec-11 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 “The attention of Cap- that failure to comply 12-Dec-13 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 ital Market Operators is with this directive shall 14-Feb-12 ‡ /Agusto;by A-/GCR *ONDO 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 Stories Chris Ugwu 02-Oct-12 BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE also drawn to 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 the guideattract appropriate sancAa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 22-Nov-12 rehe BBB+/GCR Securities and lines on the 14.75 new capital 12-Dec-12 BBB-/Agusto; *OSUN OSUN 12-DEC-2019 tions without further 10-Oct-13 BBB-/Agusto *OSUN 14.75currently OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 course,” SEC noted. requirements Exchange Com27-Nov-13 Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 mission (SEC) available on the CommisDirector General of 31-Dec-13 A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 all sion’s website,” theII 31-DEC-2020 apex SEC, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo 31-Dec-13 ‡ /Agustohas reminded *EKITI 14.50 EKITI A-/GCR *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 capital market operators regulator noted. had while receiving06-Jan-14 memTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE who are yet to comply SEC also directed all bers of the Council of the TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION with the new minimum registrars of public com- NSE in his office in Abuja Corporate Bonds capital requirement to do panies to return all un- early this year, said the 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 BBB+/Agusto *UPDC so BBB-/Agusto before the September claimed dividends, which commission would revisit 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS 30,BB/GCR 2015 deadline. have been in their custody06-JAN-2016 the issue of recapitalisa14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-Jan-11 *CHELLARAMS 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 tion of operators in A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO for 15 months A circular obtained and above, the 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH nation’s capital market from the regulator’s webto the paying companies. 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR 30-Sep-10 UBA site, said the commission are rein June 2015. 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 *C & I LEASING“Registrars MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 09-Apr-11 Nil committed to the *DANA was quired to file evidence of Expectations were that MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWER deadline and would not remittance with the Com- by June, the factors that MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR *TOWER grant anyA/GCR further extenmission not14.00 later than led to the current imUBA II 30-SEP-2018 A+/Agusto; 30-Sep-11 UBA LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR 18-Oct-13 *LA CASERA sion. June 30, 2015.15.75 Please note passe, such as the steady ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.50 13.73 decline in oil price and 14.00 10.20 uncertainty of general 15.50 27.00 15.50 in the country 15.09 elections 14.50 80.00 would14.75 have been over. 25.70 14.75 10.78 the Expectations that 13.50 87.50 deadline may be further 15.00 5.00 extended by the4.55new 14.50 15.00 4.56 leadership was dashed 452.88 as Gwarzo recently noted 440.80 that September 30 deadline for new minimum 10.00 2.50 capital requirement for 12.00 18.75 market would 14.00operators 0.42 not be13.00 extended. 15.00 14.25 5.53 Director-General who 13.00 20.00 said 18.00 the commission 0.56 16.00 plans to extend 5.40 had no 18.00 2.54 the deadline noted that 16.00 0.70 the deadline has come to 14.00 35.00 15.75said that the 2.10capistay. He

#{r}

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

BBB/GCR

FCMB

14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021

20-Nov-14

14.25

26.00

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

Stock market records marginal gain

2.19 JUNE 3, 2015 15.97 NEW TELEGRAPH 100.03 WEDNESDAY,

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE nvestors in the Nigerian

eq-

or 0.05 per cent to close at 34,061.89 index points as against terday, as the 34,044.65 recorded the previous Supranational Bondjinx of market depression that had persisted for day, while the market capitalisa10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P three days was broken AfDB following tion of11.25 equities appreciated by OUTSTANDING theTOTAL marginal gains VALUE recorded by N6 billion or 0.05 per cent. CAPITALISATION theTOTAL blueMARKET chip companies. Meanwhile, a turnover of Analysts said the resurgent 224.07 billion shares worth Description Rating/Agency Issuer of the bulls to sustain market N3.5 billion in 3,940 deals were FGNafter Eurobonds recorded in the day’s trading. rally a three-day streak of losses was an indication that Banking sub-sector of the 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P financial services sector was confidence is returning to marBB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 ketBB-/S&P following the smooth hand- the most active (measured by BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JULwith 12, 2023 127.1 over to the new government in turnover volume); BB-/S&P theTOTAL country . billion shares worth N1.7 bilOUTSTANDING VALUE The key market perfor- lion exchanged by investors in TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION mance measures, the NSE All 1,407 deals. Corporate Eurobonds Share Index and market capiVolume in the7.50 sub-sector was MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I talisation, rose by 0.05ACCESS per cent largely driven by activities in 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P BANK PLC as B/Fitch; market beamed Plc 6.88 MAY 09,and 2018 ETI B/S&P sentiments FIDELITY BANK PLC the shares of UBA 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P PLC Bank Plc. green light to trade upGTBANK in a posi6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC tive note. Also, other financial sub-sec8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC Consequently , the All-Share tor boosted by activities in the 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 Index gained 17.24 basis points FBNH Plc followed B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC IIshares of 9.25/6M TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION uity market got respite yes-

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

12-Dec-19

2.55

1.00

14.83

99.84

10-Oct-20

3.09

1.00

14.83

99.80

27-Nov-20

5.49

1.00

14.79

95.27

31-Dec-20

5.58

1.00

14.78

100.77

31-Dec-20

3.24

1.44

15.27

98.15

06-Jan-21

3.27

1.00

14.83

100.37

Seplat shareholders get $0.15 dividend

hareholders of Se- ria is currently undergo0.21 1.00 12.52 99.46 plat Petroleum Deing significant changes in 0.27 1.00 12.70 99.82 velopment the domestic gas pricing 06-Jan-16 0.35 Compa2.63 14.96 99.71 29-Sep-16 1.33 at their 1.00 14.89 97.75 ny Plc yesterday environment, which has 25-Oct-16 1.40 1.34 15.18 98.82 Annual General Meeting resulted in increased gas 30-Sep-17 2.33 1.00 14.82 96.46 (AGM) a dividemand 30-Nov-17 approved 1.56 1.88 15.66 and improving 103.84 09-Apr-18 1.60share for 1.00 14.79 101.59 dend of $0.15 per pricing dynamics.” 09-Sep-18 1.77 1.00 14.80 104.58 He 14.80 noted that101.68 the comthe 2014 financial year, up 09-Sep-18 1.77 1.00 from $0.10 in 2013. pany 16.83 concluded92.94 a 10 day 30-Sep-18 3.33 3.00 18-Oct-18 1.88 is dual 2.29 99.39 Seplat, which tie-in 16.10 on its Oben plant to 17-Feb-19 1.96 6.11 19.93 97.11 enable the company have listed on the Nigeria and 01-Apr-19 2.58 2.16 15.99 99.96 London a single homogenous 14-Nov-20 Stock Exchanges, 5.45 2.76 16.55 95.43 20-Nov-21 6.47 revenue 1.80 94.79 plant15.55consisting two also said its gas 30-Dec-21 6.58 1.82 15.57 103.51 by 45 Million Standard grew by 51 per cent in the 30-Sep-24 9.33 1.00 14.97 84.89 Cubic14.97 Feet of 91.42 Gas Per financial year9.33 ended De30-Sep-24 1.00 Day (MMSCF/D) WAGP cember 31, 2014. This was indicated in specification gas postthe company’s annual re- commissioning, from the port and accounts for the Oben 14.83 node. 11-Feb-18 2.70 1.00 89.98 01-Feb-21 under review. 4.75 1.00 14.81 85.21 period Avuru disclosed that The Chief Executive Of- the facility expansion ficer (CEO) of the compa- and upgrade would bring ny , Austin Avuru, saidOffer thatYield (%) the Bid company’s overall Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) Price Offer Price gas commercialisation daily gas production ca& Yields strategy is a key revenuePrices pacity to slightly over 300 driver . 5.59 mmscf/d. 28-Jan-21for the company 5.81 104.48 105.53 He said: “We see the “We have materially 12-Jul-18 4.70 4.35 101.22 102.21 commercialisation and grown our reserves base, 12-Jul-23 6.00Nigeria’s 5.85 102.39 full year 103.36 avermonetisation of delivered natural gas resource as an age daily production in attractive long-term op- line with guidance and portunity as we seek to go exceeded peak rate objecbeyond our domestic suptives.101.07 Expansion103.09 plans for 19-May-16 6.32 4.16 ply obligations6.99 by selling our gas business100.50 gathered 25-Jul-17 6.99 100.50 to02-May-18 commercial ventures pace 90.59 and the new 10.70 9.35 93.78 Oben 7.38as power 6.92 95.87 97.24 in08-Nov-18 Nigeria, such gas processing plant will 22-Apr-19 7.22 7.22 96.75 generation plants. Pursuallow96.75 us to increase sup21-May-19 10.15 9.74 95.53 96.79 ant to the Nigerian Gas ply to95.70 the domestic mar07-Aug-20 9.15 9.15 95.70 Master Nige24-Jun-21 Plan 2008, 10.50 10.12 ket,” he 94.67added. 96.33 17-Aug-15 09-Dec-15

23-Jul-21

9.08

94.23

14-Aug-21

10.24

9.78

92.50

94.50

3,650.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

09-Dec-18 1.95 1.00 tal requirement would be 12-Dec-18 1.95 4.78 implemented vigorously . 14-Feb-19 2.15 1.00 02-Oct-19 2.58 1.00 “The deadline is still 22-Nov-19 4.47 1.00

with a turnover of 27.8 million 187.44 shares valued at N165.4 million 182.31 in 554 deals. The11-Feb-13 number of 10.20 gainers at 12.00 10-Jul-14 11.25 the close of trading session was 12.95 26 while, decliners closed at 19. 24.95 Vono Products Plc led the 21.83 gainers’ table with of 9.60 per Outstanding Value Issue Date Coupon (%) cent to close at N1.94 per share, ($mm) while Costain West Africa Plc followed with an appreciation 07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 of 9.18 per cent to close at N1.07. 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 Dangote Flour Plc trailed with 12-Jul-13of 5.00 per 6.38 cent to 500.00 a growth close at N4.20 per share. 1,500.00 On the other hand, Interna-1,540.48 tional Energy Insurance Plc led the losers with 5.66 7.50 per cent to 500.00 19-May-11 close 25-Jul-12 at 50 kobo per share. 350.00 7.25 Academy and NPF 300.00 09-May-13Press Plc 6.88 08-Nov-13 6.00 followed, 400.00 Microfinance Bank Plc 22-Apr-14 6.25 dropping five per cent each to 500.00 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 close 07-Aug-13 at 95 kobo and8.25N1.14 per 300.00 share 24-Jun-14 respectively. 9.25 400.00

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

1.79

September and progress is being made, the level of compliance has99.07 gone up 15.99 15.39 99.19 but we are determined to 18.06 97.80 keep 17.08 to that September 99.11 30, no14.81 shaking,92.32 no going 98.73 back.15.00 There is no going 15.62 96.64 back 15.62 and we are 97.38 happy 14.82 we are 98.61receivthe way 14.82 99.49 ing responses from all 18.60 93.09 the capital market 14.82 101.10operators,’’14.83 he said. 101.27 14.82 98.96

2-Jun-15

3,508.21

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills^ Money Market professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS FIXINGS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up Exchange to date. We do &not guarantee Foreign (Spot Forwards) Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount Bid Yield (%) Tenor (%)of the Information. the accuracy,DTM timeliness, completeness,Maturity performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of(%) the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on theRate basis NIBOR

9 23 30 FGN Bonds 37 44 51 Rating/Agency 58 65 72 86 93 100 114 121 135 149 NA 163 184 198 219 226 233 240 247 254 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 261 268 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 275 289 296

11-Jun-15 25-Jun-15 2-Jul-15 9-Jul-15 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 Issuer 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 27-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 10-Sep-15 24-Sep-15 1-Oct-15 15-Oct-15 29-Oct-15 NA 12-Nov-15 3-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 7-Jan-16 14-Jan-16 21-Jan-16 28-Jan-16 4-Feb-16 11-Feb-16 18-Feb-16 25-Feb-16 3-Mar-16 17-Mar-16

8.98 11.12 11.08 12.00 11.73 11.98 Description 11.94 11.41 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 11.72 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 10.80 9.85 27-JUL-2017 11.07 10.93 9.35 31-AUG-2017 12.30 10.70 30-MAY-2018 12.50 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 12.92 7.00 23-OCT-2019 13.18 15.54 13-FEB-2020 13.53 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 12.64 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.91 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.96 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.35 13.45 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.44 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.97 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034 13.48 13.10 13.34 13.11 12.96

24-Mar-16

Rating/Agency 310

13.14

Issuer 7-Apr-16

12.89

Description

8.73 10.87 10.83 11.75 11.48 11.73 Issue Date 11.69 11.16 16-Aug-13 11.47 27-Apr-12 10.55 27-Jul-07 10.82 10.68 31-Aug-07 12.05 30-May-08 12.25 29-Jun-12 12.67 23-Oct-09 12.93 13-Feb-15 13.28 27-Jan-12 12.39 14-Mar-14 12.66 28-Nov-08 12.71 22-May-09 13.10 13.20 20-Nov-09 13.19 23-Jul-10 12.72 18-Jul-14 13.23 12.85 13.09 12.86 12.71 12.89

21-Apr-16

13.00

12.75

338 Agency Bonds

5-May-16

12.90

12.65

Bonds

14.70

Issue 14.47Date

12.64

324

8.99 11.19 11.18 12.15 11.89 12.18 Coupon (%) 12.17 11.65 13.05 11.99 15.10 11.08 9.85 11.39 11.27 9.35 12.79 10.70 13.04 16.00 13.57 7.00 13.93 15.54 14.40 16.39 13.50 14.20 13.89 15.00 14.05 12.49 14.55 14.71 8.50 14.74 10.00 14.22 12.1493 14.88 14.45 14.78 14.55 14.44

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding 6M

(N'bn)

Value

4,746.32

03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS *BAYELSA

‡ /Agusto

EDO

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

92.78 92.93 91.57 91.72 92.54 92.69 NA :Not 106.55 Applicable 106.85 ^ : Market Prices 78.07 78.37 # : Floating Rate Bond 105.76 106.06 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 111.13 111.43 102.63 ‡ : Bond102.33 rating under review 89.21 expired 89.51 †: Bond rating 73.99 N/A :Not 73.69 Available {r} :Issuer in receivership 51.20 50.90 68.00 68.30 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 88.28 88.58 UBA: United Bank for Africa

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.96 1.52 1.88 2.09

2.27 2.19 2.67 2.85

16.31 15.97 16.48 16.67

100.86 100.03 101.95 98.23

15.99

99.07 YTD Return 99.19 (%)

298.97

Modified Duration Buckets

‡ /Agusto

2.15 13.82 13.74 2.25 13.82 13.74 2.99 13.83 13.76 :Benchmarks 4.07 13.83 13.74 * :Amortising 4.39Bond 13.82 13.71 µ :Convertible Bond 4.70 13.81 13.73 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 6.66 13.77 13.70 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 8.78 Mortgage Bank13.72 13.67 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 13.49 Finance Corporation 17.07 17.00 IFC: International 13.97 17.60 Management 17.53 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian 14.47 Aviation Handling 18.23 Company 18.13 O/N: Overnight 15.14 15.54 15.47 UPDC: UAC Property Development 19.13 13.91Company 13.86

NOTE:

Offer ($/N)

196.97 197.07 Price 201.93 201.81 202.13 202.28 202.87 203.37 Bid Price Offer Price 204.24 205.31 205.60 207.21 99.18 99.33 206.28 213.47 102.04 102.19 220.29 226.27

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Sub-National Bonds

BBB+/Agusto

Rate (%) 10.25 10.50 13.76 10.75 13.82 11.00

Bid Yield (%)

Bid ($/N)

297.82

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION KADUNA

TTM (Yrs)

Spot 7D 14D Offer 1M Yield 2M (%) 3M 13.62 6M 13.73 1Y

4,423.89

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

*EBONYI

Tenor Call 1M 1.21 3M 1.90 6M

10.00

REPO

Tenor

14.64

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 # Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk ***LCRM and liquidity risk premiums 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 FMBN

A/Agusto

9.67

O/N

Maturity Date

581.39 16-Aug-16 476.80 NITTY 27-Apr-17 20.00 27-Jul-17 Tenor Rate (%) 1M 11.4569 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 12.1382 300.00 30-May-18 3M 12.2512 351.30 29-Jun-19 6M 13.7776 233.90 23-Oct-19 9M 14.1905 193.73 13-Feb-20 12M 14.2840 600.00 27-Jan-22 573.14 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N) 200.00 20-Nov-29 BID($/N) 591.57 198.9625 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 199.0625 299.50 18-Jul-34

14.70

*for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

A-/Agusto

OBB

Rate (%) 11.7917 15.3868 16.4458 17.5532

<3 3<5 >5 Market

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 Total Outstanding 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 Volume(Bn)

Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 1,437.43 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

1,253.29 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 666.68 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 3,357.40 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

1,409.48 1,173.14

31-Aug-10 Weighting by 30-Sep-10 Outstanding Vol 30-Jun-11 40.58 30-Jun-09

891.07

33.77 19-Apr-10 25.65 30-Jun-10

3,473.69

12.50 Weighting by Mkt 13.00 Value 14.00

15.50 42.81 10.00 37.33

8.50

Bucket Weighting

2.16 4.86

5.73 0.41 57.00 0.34

31-Aug-15 % Exposure_ 30-Sep-15 Mod_Duration 30-Jun-16 18.36 30-Jun-16

0.25

Implied Yield

0.33

0.60 13.81 0.60

39.50 19-Apr-17 42.14 30-Jun-17

13.75 1.88 14.86 1.14

100.00 30-Dec-10

13.75 19.86 100.00 14.00

25.73 0.26 25.00 1.00

100.00 31-Dec-17

14.23 2.58

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.96

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.97

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

1.95

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

1.95

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.15

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 25.70

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.58 4.47 2.55

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.09

4.44 Implied 3.23 Portfolio Price 4.46 105.7589 3.48 111.4615 1.00 78.6800 1.00 100.7385 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00

INDEX

15.39

18.06 1,184.92 17.08 1,112.17 14.81 1,105.85 15.00 1,138.34 15.62 15.62 14.82 14.82 18.60 14.82 14.83 14.82 14.83 14.83

97.80 6.9566 99.11

9.8365 92.32 9.8149 98.73 7.8805 96.64 97.38 98.61 99.49 93.09 101.10 101.27 98.96 99.84 99.80

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY,JUNE 3, 2015

Onitsha tanker fire victims may get mass burial Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

athologists in the Anambra State Government hospital yesterday commenced forensic laboratory tests on all the burnt corpses of those who died in last Sunday’s petroleum tanker fire disaster ahead of burial arrangements for the victims. The forensic examination, which was being carried out at the General Hospital, Onitsha has been trailed by controversy as the management of the hospital frowned at what it termed as an inflated figures of casualties being dished out to the media, by members of

the Nigerian Red Cross Society, NRCS, since the incident occurred. The incident, which New Telegraph learnt claimed the lives of about five members of the Onitsha Newspaper Distributors Directors Association, (ONDDA) in the inferno, while another who sustained minor injury has been discharged from the hospital. When our correspondent visited the General Hospital, Onitsha yesterday, the pathologists who were carrying out the examination test were too busy to speak to newsmen, as they were seen at the morgue carrying out the forensic lab tests on the heap of burnt corpses. Speaking to newsmen in her office, the Chief

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Cnsultant-In-Charge of Onitsha General Hospital, Dr. Mercy Ebelechukwu, said she was surprised that members of the Red Cross, particularly the Anambra State chairman, gave out inflated figures of the casualty to the public. Dr. Ebelechukwu stated that contrary to the 69 and 70 casualty figures already published in the media, the correct figure of the dead stands at 43, while those injured were six.

According to her, 22 corpses were brought to the General Hospital morgue on the day of the incident, while 20 other corpses remained at the Toronto Hospital morgue, adding that out of the seven injured ones, one died later, on the way to Anambra State University Teaching Hospital, Awka and the corpse was brought back to General Hospital morgue, bringing the figure of corpses at the General Hospital Morgue to 23.

IBC staff protest non-payment of three months salaries Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

orkers of the Imo State owned media organization, Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), yesterday took to the streets of Owerri, the state capital to protest the state government’s refusal to pay their salaries in the last three months. The protesting workers lamented that with the non-payment of the three months salaries to them, they were being turned to beggars due to the untold hardships they

were made to go through in last three months that they have not been paid. They said the pathetic situation of the workers has worsened by the insensitivity of the management, which they alleged refused to give them any lifeline to enable them cope with the harsh realities of the present situation. Speaking with journalists, the Chairman of the IBC Joint Action Committee of the workers’ unions, Mr. Sam Eke, said the situation in the corporation right now was painful and frustrating.

Umahi: I inherited N10.5bn unpaid contract certificates Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

bonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi yesterday declared that he inherited a total of N10.5 billion unpaid contract certificates from the immediate past administration, which he described as very disturbing considering the allocations of the state from the Federal Government. He spoke while addressing Permanent Secretaries and Directors of Parastatals at the Akanu Ibiam International Centre, Abakaliki. He said ‘’I just got the total certificates of contracts that are ready for

payment to be N10.5bn and that is very disturbing and that excludes civil servants’ salary arrears in a state what comes from the Federal Government as allocation is N1.4bn. So, to move forward requires courage and prayers. He called on the Permanent Secretaries and Directors to make available details of all contracts for scrutiny, adding that some projects will be stopped after critical evaluation. He noted that he will not borrow money to settle the debts and nonpayment of salaries to civil servants he inherited from the past administration.

Ufomba seeks to upturn verdict against APGA, Otti at Appeal Court Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

ollowing the dismissal of his case by the High Court, over the claim that he was the elected candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the party’s primaries, the factional governorship candidate of APGA in the 2015 election in Abia State, Chief Reagan Ufomba, has proceeded to the Appeal Court to upturn the case against the party. In the suit number FHC/UM/CS/01/2015, Ufomba, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling of the Federal High Court, Umuahia Division, Abia State, contained in the judgement of Hon.

Justice F.A. Olubanjo, in May, 2015 and decided to seek redress at Court of Appeal . The High Court in Umuahia, had dismissed Ufomba’s suit, saying it had no jurisdiction to entertain the case, but the appellant held that “the learned trial Judge erred in law when she struck out the suit after holding that affidavit evidence in the case were conflicting and that the suit should have been commenced by Writ of Summons.”

change of name

OLADOKUN

I formerly known as MISS AKINDE ENIOLA JULIET now wish to be known as MRS OLADOKUN ENIOLA JULIET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

L-R: Abia State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr. Richard Nwala; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; his Deputy, Udeh Okochukwu and others, during the flag-off of roads construction in Aba…yesterday

Two UNN campuses shut over power outage Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

he authorities of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), yesterday shut the Nsukka and Enugu campuses of the institution for two weeks following students’ violent demonstration over poor electricity supply to the university. The students were ordered at Nsukka campus to vacate hostels not later than

6pm yesterday while those at the Enugu campus who embarked on their own similar protest earlier on Sunday night over rationing of power supply to hostels have also been forced to vacate the institution. Early in the morning yesterday, visitors to the Nsukka campus of the university were greeted with barricades said to have been planted by protesting students on Monday night during which period some of them had also invaded

PUBLIC NOTICE

GLOW EVA MINISTRY

The general public is hereby notified that the above mentioned MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration in accordance with Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act LFN (cap 20) MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1. Prophet Ezekiel Olalere Bamigboye – General Overseer 2. Mrs Esther Morenike Bamigboye 3. Mrs Elizabeth Olaitan Opoosun 4. Mr Odubitan Abayomi 5. Chief Lola Amoran 6. Pastor Peter Kola-Omiyale 7. Mr Ayo George - Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1 To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 To preach love, fellowship, respect and peaceful co-existence among members 3 To deliver the oppressed, heal the sick and set the captive free. . Any objection should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed : TRUSTEES

some official quarters of staff to force them to put off their private alternative power supplies, that is, their power generating sets. However, strangely, the acting public relations officer of the institution, Chief Okwuru Omeaku, told our reporter in a telephone chat yesterday that there was no problem in the institution and that students merely went on a mid-semester break for two weeks. “The students have gone on a mid-semester

break for two weeks, that’s all. And normally we don’t allow them to stay in the hostels during vacations”, he stated with a tone of finality. The order to vacate the hostels at UNN was announced from one hostel to another by personnel of the security department of the institution who issued stern warning against any violation of the order of management led by the vice chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE FLOODLIGHT MINISTRY The general public is hereby notified that the above mentioned MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration in accordance with Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act LFN (cap 20) MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1. Pastor Oghenejobo Vincent Ogaga-Oghene – General Overseer 2. Pastor (Mrs) Oghenejobo Toritseju Ani 3. Pastor Nwachukwu Edwin Ikechukwu AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1 To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 To preach love, fellowship, respect and peaceful co-existence among members 3 To deliver the oppressed, heal the sick and set the captive free. Any objection should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed : TRUSTEES

48 News Edo NIS victims cry out to Buhari Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

ictims of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment tragedy held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, yesterday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to beam his administration’s searchlight on the officials of the NIS. This followed the delay and alleged attempt by officials of the NIS to scheme the victims out of the ongoing issuance of letters of employment to deserving applicants, especially the victims of the 2014 tragedy, who have long been promised automatic jobs by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Coordinator of the NIS victims in Edo State, Comrade Edmund Osunde, in a letter to President Buhari, a copy of which was made available to newsmen yesterday, “urged the present administration to beam its zero-tolerancefor- corruption searchlight on the NIS and the entire Ministry of Internal Affairs. This, the coordinator said, is to bring about the needed restructuring that will result in the much expected efficient service delivery to Nigerians and rid the system of corrupt practices that is currently prevalent.”

south - south

wednesday, june 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Produce 18 months’ account details, Wike orders perm secs Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

ivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has directed permanent secretaries in the state to produce account details of their ministries’ expenditure over the last

18 months, alleging that some of them aided the corruption of the immediate past administration. He said some of them were busy signing cheques in the last days of the Amaechi administration, noting that he won’t accept any handover note from any of them without details of their accounts.

Wike, who gave the directive during a meeting with permanent secretaries at Government House, Port Harcourt, accused some of them of helping the Amaechi administration illegally withdraw funds from government's coffers even up to May 28, 2015. The governor also ac-

cused them of refusing to cooperate with the transition committee before his inauguration because they had been wrongly informed that he won’t be sworn-in as governor. Wike said: “I want full details and print out of every ministry's account in the last 18 months. I will not accept any handover

L-R: Rivers State Acting President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Christy Gabriel-Nwankwo; Acting Chief Judge, Justice Daisy Okocha and Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, after the swearing-in ceremony of Okocha and others in Port Harcourt…on Monday

note without an accompanying account details. “The administration was coming to a close and some of you were busy signing cheques on the 26th, 27th and 28th of May. On May 28, the transition committee called most of you and you refused to cooperate, because they told you I will not be swornin,” he concluded. Wike, however, urged the permanent secretaries to shun partisan politics as career civil servants, alleging that their roles in the last administration were politically motivated. He said he won’t witchhunt any civil servant irrespective of whatever role they played in the electioneering period, but pointed out that no civil servant would be allowed to sabotage the efforts of his administration. He urged the permanent secretaries to work with his administration to revive the state and put smile on the faces of the people.

Anti-sea pirates for Warri waterways

One dies in robbers', police shootout in Delta Court stops Akwa Ibom

Joe Obende

Dominic Adewole

ASABA

ne of the gunmen that attacked herdsmen in a bush at Okpara waterside in Isiokolo area of Delta State was yesterday killed in a shootout with the police. The four-man gang opened fire on the detectives that were mobilised to the scene after one Alhaji Ibrahim of Aziza Junction, Sapele Road, Warri, reported at

the police station in Isiokolo, Ethiope East Local Government area of the state. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Celestina Kalu, yesterday said based on the distress call received from the public spirited Nigerians, patrol men were quickly deployed to the troubled spot. “On sighting the policemen, the hoodlums alighted from their operational vehicle, a Honda Accord car with regis-

tration number SE 858 AAA, opened fire on the patrol team and escaped into the bush.” The policemen, Kalu continued, “courageously pursued them into the bush and during the ensuing gun duel, gunned down two of the hoodlums while the others escaped.” She said one of the injured suspects, however, gave up the ghost while they were being rushed to the hospital for treatment.

FG urged to transform Bayelsa reserve to national park Chris Ejim Yenagoa

orried by the absence of a major recreational centre in Bayelsa State, the Federal Government has been called upon to include Taylor Creek Forest Reserve in its proposed national park system in the Niger Delta Basin. Participants at a twoday round table on the establishment of national parks in Yenagoa, the Bay-

elsa State capital, made the call in an eight-point communique issued and signed by its Chairman and Secretary respectively, Prof. Godfrey Akani and Dr. Elijah Ohimain. According to them, “Taylor Creek Forest Reserve, located in Yenagoa Local Government area of the state, being another biodiversity hotspot, should be included in the proposed national park system in the Niger Delta Basin.” The participants also

advocated that other states in the region should be explored for inclusion in the Niger Delta park system. They also called for a comprehensive baseline study to be carried out on the biodiversity of the proposed national park system, following the recent tentative approval given for the establishment of two national parks in Edumanom and Apoi Creek forest reserves by the Federal Government.

from collecting levies

Tony Anichebe Uyo

state high court sitting in Uyo, has ordered the Akwa Ibom State government and the state Ministry of Transport to immediately cease the collection of park fees, regulate motor parks and other charges from commercial motor vehicles in the state. The court insisted that it is not in the place of the state government, the ministry or its agents, to collect such charges. Consequently, the court has granted Uyo Local Government the power to collect such charges with the council set to begin the collection of these charges today. Delivering judgement yesterday, which had one Mr. Michael Nnah, joined with others as claimants and Kingsley Akpan, the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Transport, Akwa Ibom State Government and Uyo Local Government as defendants, the presiding

judge, Justice Pius Idiong, ruled that by virtue of the powers granted Uyo Local Government and other local government councils in the country in the 1999 Constitution, the Akwa Ibom State Government, which was the third defendant in the suit, and by extension, her agents, including the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Ministry of Transport and one Kingsley Akpan, who was acting as Chairman, Ministry of Transport Monitoring Unit, do not have any lawful power or authority to regulate motor parks and collect parking permits, fees or other charges from commercial motor vehicles in the state. The judge maintained that it would amount to double taxation, which the law abhors, for the Akwa Ibom State Government or the Ministry of Transport or its agents to collect such taxes simultaneously from commercial motor vehicles operating in the state, when the authorised tier of government - the Uyo Local Government council in this case, was collecting.

Warri

he Delta State government yesterday said anti-sea pirate operatives are to be deployed in Warri waterways up to Burutu, Delta State, to check piracy that has shot up in recent times. This disclosure was made by a representative of the community, Jonathan Ari, while speaking with New Telegraph in Warri. The community said it is doing this to check the increasing menace of sea piracy, which had taken on a worrisome dimension of recent. Traders and other users of the waterways have come under incessant attacks by pirates in the state up to Bayelsa State. The sea farers, New Telegraph gathered, come under attack daily by dangerously armed pirates, who dispossess them of their valuables and cash. They are said to operate in fast speed boats, clutching dangerous weapons and chanting war songs. Lives are known to have been lost in such raids by the hoodlums.

NEW TELEGRAPH wednesday, june 3, 2015

Kaduna poly lecturers commence warning strike Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

he Kaduna Polytechnic chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) yesterday commenced a three-day warning strike to demand for their excess work load allowance. In a press conference addressed by the Chairman, ASUP Kaduna Polytechnic chapter yesterday, Musa Ibrahim, the lecturers said they will report to work as from today, but will not teach. Ibrahim threatened that the union will embark on an indefinite strike after the expiration of the warning strike. According to him, ASUP had contemplated going on strike two weeks ago, but stayed action “because of our commitment to ensuring the survival of the system in the interest of our students.” The chairman said the lecturers had to embark on a warning strike because “our magnanimity is already being taken for granted.” He added that “the issues in contention are very much within management’s control, if they genuinely want peace.

Ortom swears in SSG, CoS, others Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

enue State governor, Samuel Ortom, yesterday swore-in four top government functionaries with a charge to them to embrace the core values development to fasttrack the development of the state. Those sworn-in include Targema Takema, as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Iwanta Adaikwu, as the Head of Service, Mr. Terwase Orbunde as the Chief of Staff (CoS) as well as Mr. Tahav Agerzua, as Adviser on Media and Information Communication Technology (ICT). The core values according to the governor include transparency, accountability, selflessness, fairness, justice, equity, honesty, discipline, integration, reconciliation and peace, among others.

empty treasury

No kobo in Plateau's coffers, new gov claims Musa Pam Jos

lateau State governor, Simon Bako Lalong, yesterday said his adminis-

News 49

south NORTH - south

Lalong: I inherited N104bn debt from Jang tration is inheriting N104 billion debt from the immediate past administration of former Governor David Jang. He said the debt profile was documented in the hand over notes he

received from the former governor. Lalong made this known while addressing judiciary workers in the state led by the Chief Judge, Justice Pius Damulak, who had

visited the governor at the Presidential Lodge, Old Government House, Rayfield, Jos. According to Lalong, he found no kobo in the state’s treasury as Jang handed him a debt of N104

Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (right), welcoming Mr. Michael Galway of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, when he visited the governor in Sokoto...yesterday.

billion, including the nonpayment of seven months workers’ salaries as well as that of the pensioners. “I want the judiciary to know that the past administration left N104 billion documented in the handing over notes to me and there is also no kobo left in the treasury of the state and we will have to battle again with the seven months unpaid salaries of workers, including pensioners in the state.” On his part, the Plateau State Chief Judge, Justice Pius Damulak, also decries the underfunding of the state judiciary during the past administration and call on the governor to take the judicial system of government as a key sector, which should not be played with. Lalong yesterday also had meetings with critical stakeholders to include permanent secretaries, local government chairmen and heads of tertiary institutions on how to move the state forward. The governor also promised not to dissolved the local government chairmen and seek their cooperation and loyalty for the development of the state.

INEC accused of frustrating ASUU appeals to African leaders to case before tribunal decolonise Western Sahara Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

he candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue South senatorial district in the just concluded general elections, Daniel Onjeh, who is challenging Senate President, David Mark’s victory at the tribunal yesterday accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating his case before the tribunal. Counsel to Onjeh, Adetunji Oso, told the tribunal when the case came up that they had applied for inspection of materials used during the election since April 14, but regretted that INEC has continued to frustrate them from doing so, and sought the permission of the tribunal to compel the electoral body to allow his client access to the election materials. But counsel to INEC, G. S. Manswa, in a swift reaction, linked the de-

lay to the enormity of the election, which he said covered nine local government areas of the senatorial district. He said that made it difficult for them to make the materials available to the petitioner for inspection. Tribunal Chairman, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, then adjourned the case to June 12, 2015 for further hearing. Onjeh, who later spoke with journalists at the court six premises, averred that he is contesting the re-election of Mark on grounds of irregularities, alleged connivance by INEC to unnecessarily delay the case as well as subvert justice, arguing that INEC had even declared Mark winner of the election before voting was concluded. New Telegraph, who was at the tribunal, observed that the former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, has pulled out of the court with his case against Senator Barnabas Gemade.

Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

he Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has appealed to African leaders to make use of the African Liberation Day to coordinate and strategise for a successful decolonisation of the Western Sahara. The Sokoto Zonal Coordinator of the union, Dr. Lawali Argungu, made

the plea in Sokoto to mark the 2015 African Liberation Day. He said: The General Assembly coming up in 2015 is another golden opportunity for our African leaders and other wellmeaning stakeholders to ensure that a lasting peace is achieved in the Western Sahara.” According to him this is because the United Nations is expected to bring up the issue of the region

for discussion. He said that Western Sahara is a territory bordered by Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria and the Atlantic Ocean in the North West of Africa. Argungu said it is statutorily not recognised as a sovereign nation. As such, it has been battling for independence for over 50 years, adding that Western Sahara is currently listed as a non-decolonised territory by the United Nations.

KWASU VC asks Buhari to reposition public education Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

he Vice-Chancellor of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, yesterday called on the Muhammadu Buhari administration to revitalise public education in the country. Na’Allah, who made the call in Malete, Moro Local Government area of the state, ahead of this week-

end’s third convocation ceremony, was confident that if government should take such step, it will bolster the education sector and stem the tide of seeking only after private schools. He said: “Most of us here are products of public education. We were ready to defend our schools as the best. We had the best teachers; best equipment and we had the passion to make the difference in the world. Today unfortunately, most Ni-

gerians who have something good for their young people prefer the private schools. Today, sadly too, people have no more confidence in public schools. “I think this government must take the revitalisation of public education as one area of major change for Nigeria to move on. If public education is revitalised and parents begin to have confidence in public education, a lot of changes will come to this nation.

News

WORLD | News

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Abuja IDP camps are illegal –NEMA 400 still missing from Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said that it has not given any formal approval for the establishment of any internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Director General of the agency, Muhammadu Sani-Sidi, in an interactive session with journalists in Abuja yesterday, said NEMA established IDP camps only in states affected by insurgency.

“We have established camps in Gombe, Adamawa, Borno. These are states in the North East. You hear some people saying they come from Goza. I believe you know the distance from Goza to Abuja. They did not stop anywhere in any state in the North East, only to come to Abuja, the most expensive city to be IDPs,” Sani-Sidi noted. He disclosed that when the insurgency started, NEMA gave approval for the establishment of humanitarian cells within the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) locations to be able to respond to humanitarian crisis that might arise.

According to the DG, when they got information that there were people who were IDPs from Goza in Borno State living in Abuja as IDPs, NEMA zonal coordinator in Abuja was sent to find out where they were and where they came from. He said: “I must tell you that there is no formal camp of IDPs in Abuja. There is no formal settlement that the government has settled these people as IDPs. These people were staying in certain communities in certain uncompleted buildings, in remote areas and there is no formal camp established in Abuja.

S’West senators defy leaders, support Saraki   Wale Elegbede

s the race for the Senate President seat hots up, indications emerged yesterday that some Senators of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South West zone may defy the directive of some leaders within the party and support the aspiration of Senator Bukola Saraki from the North Central for the seat.  A source at a meeting of selected senators held in Abuja disclosed

that some senators who openly protested the directive that they should vote for a particular candidate would go against the decision of some party leaders.  The source said, “We were told at the meeting at the instance of an APC Leader. There was a shouting match between an APC Leader and a Senator-elect. In the course of the argument, the Leader told a Senator-elect to shut up and sit down, and this did not go down well with everyone present and they have vowed to

vote for a candidate of their choice. “The senator was protesting the fact that the candidate they have been instructed to back had not canvassed for their votes but has been boasting that he had their support.”  The talk in town, the source said: “is that the APC leaders in the South-west are lobbying for the candidature of Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan but these dissenting voices have decided to break ranks and back the ambition of Senator Bukola Saraki.”

… Why he is the best –Nwaoboshi

he ambition of Senator Bukola Saraki to become the next Senate President further received a boost as he has been described as the most detribalised legislator, with the most administrative experience over other contenders for the position. Senator Peter Nwaoboshi made this known while speaking with journalists on the sideline during a one-day retreat for lawmakers-

elect on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), held in Port Harcourt, on Monday. Nwaoboshi, who represents Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, also described Senator Saraki as a principled and firm lawmaker who cannot be dictated to anyhow. “We must quit playing with mundane things. At this point in our national history and in the bid to further entrench the ethos of democracy, as it

concerns the Principle of Separation of Power, we all agreed that competent and capable hands must be elected or put in position of authority. “In that respect Senator Saraki is the most qualified to occupy the seat of the Senate President. He is a detribalised Nigerian. He was once a chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and in that position, he was able to hold the various governors from different political parties together.

Speakership: Lasun drops ambition, declares support for Gbajabiamila Philip Nyam ABUJA

ntrigues in the run up to the election of speaker of the House of Representatives continue as one of the contestants, Hon. Yusuf Lasun has withdrawn his support for Hon. Yakubu Dogara and declared support for the minority leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. Just two days ago, Lasun entered into an understanding with Hon. Dogara to pair with him

as deputy. But in a sudden turn of events, the lawmaker yesterday announced his withdrawal from the Dogara camp. In a statement released yesterday in Abuja, Lasun said, “Consequent upon this, with or without zoning arrangement at the party level, I went ahead to declare my interest to contest the position of the Speaker. I have gone round to engage individual members and groups in order to realize this ambition.

“But recent events have shown that the party leaders, particularly from the Southwest have decided on the candidacy of Hon Femi Gbajabiamila to run for the position of Speaker,” The lawmaker further said: “As a loyal party man, I cannot do otherwise. I, Hon Yusuf Suleiman Lasun therefore support the candidacy of Hon Gbajabiamila. I also promise to work assiduously in the coming days for the realisation of this objective.

capsized cruise ship in China

s the Eastern Star cruise ship listed heavily amid pounding rain on the Yangtze River, tour guide Zhang Hui told a colleague, “Looks like we are in trouble.” The vessel capsized in the storm Monday night with 458 people aboard, touching off a frantic rescue effort. At least 15 people were brought to safety, including three pulled from the overturned hull yesterday, and five people were confirmed dead, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The vessel was carrying mostly elderly tourists from Nanjing to the south-

western city of Chongqing when it overturned in China’s Hubei Province. Divers rescued a 65 year old woman and, later, two men who had been trapped, state broadcaster CCTV reported. It said more people had been found and were being rescued, but did not say whether they were still inside the overturned hull. CCTV video showed rescuers in orange life vests climbing on the hull, with one of them lying down tapping a hammer and listening for a response, then gesturing downward. “We will do everything we can to rescue everyone trapped in there, no matter they’re

still alive or not, and we will treat them as our own families,” Hubei military region commander Chen Shoumin said at a news conference shown live on CCTV. The survivors included the ship’s captain and chief engineer, both of whom were taken into police custody, CCTV said. Relatives who gathered in Shanghai, where many of the tourists started their journey by bus, questioned whether the captain did enough to ensure the passengers’ safety and demanded answers from local officials in unruly scenes that drew a heavy police response.

Rescuers trying to save a survivor centre, from the overturned passenger ship in the Jianli section of the Yangtze River in central China’s Hubei Province yesterday.

Burundi: Electoral body considering new election schedule

urundi’s electoral commission is considering alternative dates for national elections amid growing calls for the polls to be postponed because of political unrest, an official said yesterday as antigovernment protests returned to parts of the capital. A new electoral schedule is likely to be sent to President Pierre Nkurunziza before the end of the week, Prosper Ntahorwamiye, a spokesman for the electoral commission, told The Associated Press.

He gave no details. Parliamentary elections are currently scheduled for Friday, while the increasingly fraught presidential poll is set for June 26. Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, has been wracked by weeks of street protests after the ruling party nominated Nkurunziza for a third term, a decision seen by many as unconstitutional. An emergency meeting by regional leaders last weekend called on elections to be delayed by at least six weeks. But the government has rejected

any postponement, saying any political vacuum in the country could lead to even more political violence. Citing insecurity, Catholic Church leaders here announced last week they had withdrawn support for the elections as scheduled. The European Union also has also suspended its election observer mission in Burundi over concerns about restrictions on the independent media, excessive use of force against demonstrators and intimidation of opposition parties and civic groups.

Greek PM Tsipras has ‘realistic’ debt deal proposal

reek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says he has issued “a realistic proposal” to the country’s international creditors in an attempt to secure a deal over its debts. “We have submitted a realistic plan for Greece to exit the crisis,” he said. Mr Tsipras said the plan included “concessions that will be difficult”. His statement follows talks in Berlin attended by the heads of both the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank.

Inter national Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde and ECB president Mario Draghi’s presence at the meeting between Ger man Chancellor Angela Merkel and France’s Francois Hollande underlined the seriousness of the talks. Reports suggest the meeting was aimed at coming up with a “final proposal” to issue to Athens. But Mr Tsipras, who was not included in the meeting, said he had not yet been contacted by the IMF and Euro-

pean officials. “We are not waiting for them to submit a proposal, Greece is submitting a plan - it is now clear that the decision on whether they want to adjust to realism, the decision rests with the political leadership of Europe,” he added. A €300m (£216m) payment from Greece to the IMF is due Friday. There are fears Greece does not have the necessary funds to pay and could default on the debt, ultimately leading to its exit from the eurozone.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

News

International Sport

U-20 World Cup Flying Eagles vow to beat Korea

Looking back at sports under Jonathan

Keshi retains eight homebased for Chad

Juve thrive on good organisation – Busquets

Sport

Features

Did you know? That following Monday’s 4-2 loss to Brazil, the Flying Eagles remain in search of a first win over Brazil at the U-20 World Cup having failed to beat the South Americans in four previous encounters.

Blatter to quit amidst corruption scandal Profile My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody… I am very much linked to FIFA and its interests. Those interests are dear to me and this is why I am taking this decision

Name: Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter Date of Birth: March 10, 1936 Place of Birth: Wallis, Switzerland Height: 5’ 3½” (1.61 m) Marital status: Divorced • Blatter is the eighth and current President of FIFA, a position he ascended to on June 8, 1998 when he was elected to succeed Joao Havelange. • Before he became FIFA President, Blatter was a senior FIFA official for 23 years. • In the years 2002, 2007, 2011 and 2015, he was re-elected as President. • He is a 1959 graduate of the University of Lausanne with a degree in Business and Economics. • He was Head of Public Relations of the Valaisan Tourist Board in Switzerland and also General Secretary of the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation.

Blatter

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

epp Blatter says he will resign as president of football’s governing body FIFA amid a corruption scandal. In announcing his exit, the 79-year-old Swiss has called an extraordinary FIFA congress “as soon as possible” to elect a new president. Blatter was re-elected last week, despite seven top FIFA officials being arrested two days before the vote as part of a US prosecution. But he said: “My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody.” He added: “The next ordinary FIFA congress will take place on May 13, 2016 in Mexico City. “This would create unnec-

essary delay and I will urge the executive committee to organise an extraordinary congress for the election of my successor at the earliest opportunity. “This will need to be done in line with FIFA’s statutes and we must allow enough time for the best candidates to present themselves and to campaign.” The extraordinary congress is expected to take place between December 2015 and March 2016. FIFA was rocked last week by the arrests on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering as part of a US prosecution that also indicted 14 people. A separate criminal investigation by Swiss authorities into how the 2018 and 2022 World Cups

were allocated is also under way. “I am very much linked to FIFA and its interests. Those interests are dear to me and this is why I am taking this decision,” said Blatter. “What counts most to me is the institute of FIFA and football around the world. “I have thoroughly considered and thought about my presidency and the last 40 years in my life. “These years were closely related to FIFA and the wonderful sport of football. I appreciate and love FIFA more than anything else. “I only want to do the best for FIFA and my institution. I decided to stand again as the best option for football. The elections

are closed but the challenges we face haven’t come to an end.” The English Football Association has been vociferous in its criticism of Blatter. “This is great news for football. It should have happened years ago,” FA chairman Greg Dyke told the BBC. “The timetable doesn’t matter. There has to be a root and branch investigation of FIFA. It has all got to be transparent in the future.” The latest allegations of corruption against FIFA involved reports claiming general secretary Jerome Valcke was responsible for an alleged $10m (£6m) payment of bribes over South Africa’s bid to host the 2010 World Cup.

Wawrinka dumps Federer out of French Open

}53

Sport

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Keshi retains eight home-based for Chad • Releases Akpeyi, three others to Warri Wolves

Emmanuel Tobi

uper Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, on Tuesday retained eight home-based players for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad billed for June 13 in Kaduna. Keshi added that the retained players would be joined by the 15 invited foreign based professionals for the final phase of preparations which begins

on Wednesday, June 3. The players retained include goalkeepers Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Azubuike Egwuekwe, Solomon Kwambe and Chima Akas. Others are midfielder Bright Onyedikachi and strikers’ Gbolahan Salami and Okechukwu Gabriel. Meanwhile, Keshi has released the players of Warri Wolves for this weekend’s important CAF Confederation Cup play-

off second leg against AC Leopards of Congo. The game comes up on Saturday, June 6, at the Warri Township Stadium. The Nigerian representatives lost the first leg 3-0 but are confident they can turn things around in Saturday’s return leg. The players, Akpeyi, Egwuekwe, Kwambe and Salami are expected to report back in the Super Eagles camp immediately after the game.

Nkwocha tips Oshoala for global glory

Oshoala

igeria’s women football legend, Perpetua Nkwocha, has said that the new poster girl of Nigerian football, Asisat Oshoala, has what it takes to be the best woman footballer in the world if she remains focused and disciplined. Nkwocha, who is with the Super Falcons in Toronto in preparation for her fourth World Cup finals, said Asisat is a young talent with a great future, noting that she has the talent to achieve a lot more with a bit of hard work and composure. “Seeing Asisat play reminds me of my hey day. She has shown that she can do better than me by becoming Africa’s Best Woman Footballer at just

20 years of age and the world’s best young footballer. Now she has been named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year. She is heading in the right direction and I see her being among the best in the world in no distant time. “I believe she is an improved version of me and I see her getting better and picking up personal and club awards along the line, but she must work hard. I saw her play in Namibia at African Women Championship and I must confess that I marveled at her skills, pace and confidence with the ball . I will continue to pray for her so that she could last and do better in the game than I did,” said Nkwocha who has been on the scene for 15 years.

Amuneke takes Eaglets to Korea

igeria’s U-17 side, the Golden Eaglets, would feature an experimental team at the four-Nation Suwon Invitational Tournament in South Korea. Coach Emmanuel Amuneke said it was imperative that newly-recruited players be exposed to the demands of top level matches ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. In strong contention for the trip to the Far East are captain Kelechi Nwakali, goalkeeper Akpan Udoh, striker Victor Osimhen and defender Abass Usman from the squad that secured the ticket to Chile at

the CAN U-17 Championship in Niger in March. New players like defender Ejike Ikwu, midfielder Gavi Opeoluwa and striker Odufeso Babatunde may also be considered. “We have some exciting new players who have shown us some conviction in training but they need exposure and we are grateful for this tournament opportunity in Korea,” Amuneke told thenff.com The four-Nation tournament will be played on a round-robin basis amongst host Korea, Nigeria, Brazil and USA between June 10 and 14.

he 2015 edition of the Ikoyi Club 1938 (Golf Section) Ladies Club Championship will begin on Thursday, June 4, with over 200 golfers expected to take part in the two-day tournament. The tournament, which is the first under new Lady Captain, Edna Anukwuem, who took over from former Lady

Captain Ngozi Ngoka earlier in the year, serves as an opportunity for participating golfers to show their skills on the lush green course of the prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938. According to the programme of event, the Ikoyi Ladies playing handicap 0-36 will take their turn on the course on Thursday, while handicaps 0-28 ladies and guests will hit the fairway on Friday to wrap up the tourney.

Why NFF did not confirm Amodu’s appointment Adeolu Johnson Abuja

or mer Super Eagles coach, Shaibu Amodu, is not happy with the Nigeria Football Federation over the delay in formalising his appointment as the Technical Director of the football house. Amodu told newsmen in Abuja that the appointment, which was announced over a year ago, was merely on paper and not formalised. “It is unfortunate that the pronouncement was without any letter to effect,” he said. “As I speak, I have not officially taken over as the NFF’s Technical Director,” he added. The former Super Eagles handler also disclosed that he had been footing his bills since he moved to Abuja over a year

ago. But a competent source in the NFF informed New Telegraph that the deal was being delayed owing to the recent return of Stephen Keshi to the helm of affairs in the Super Eagles. This, according to the NFF source, is because Keshi does not want to be under Amodu’s supervision. Keshi and Amodu have hardly seen eye-to-eye after Amodu suggested that the NFF should look elsewhere for a new coach for the Super Eagles following the football body’s delay in handing Keshi a new deal long after the conclusion of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. It would be recalled that Keshi was Amodu’s assistant during the Nations Cup finals in Mali in 2002.

Siasia charges new invitees to justify invitation

H Amuneke

Ikoyi Club Ladies Golf tees off on Thursday Ifeanyi Ibeh

Gbolahan Salami (right) in action

According to Anukwuem, top golfers such as Evelyn Oyome, Taddy Dance, Ronke Iyiola, and Mercy Freely have already signified their intentions to vie for honours at the championship. The Lady Captain, however, called on all golfers expected at the championship to play according to the rules of the game, adding that golf is a game that brings out the true character of those engaged in it.

ead Coach of the U-23 National Team, Samson Siasia, has charged the newly invited players to brace up to the challenge of justifying their invitation to the national camp as they should not see their invitation as a tea party. Addressing the players during dinner at their Serob Hotel Camp, Siasia said the team did not have time on its hands before they take on Congo in the final qualifying fixture for the African U-23 Championship, and as such, any player who does not live up to the challenges ahead would be sent packing immediately. Disclosing that Congo will not be a walk in the pack, Coach Siasia said he would use one week to access the new players as he expected some overseas based professional players to join up with the team before the middle of the month. Meanwhile, aside the Warri

Wolves’ duo of Oghenekaro Etebo and Freedom Omofonma, and Ubong Ekpai of Kano Pillars who is presently with the Super Eagles preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad, the remaining 27 invited players have arrived camp beating the Monday deadline handed down by Coach Siasia.

Siasia

International Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

Juve thrive on good organisation – Busquets Wawrinka dumps Federer out of French Open

arcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets says that Juventus have reached the Champions League final through sound organisation rather than good football. The Bianconeri were unfancied in Europe at the start of the season and were struggling in the group stage before making it to the round of 16. They have since overcome Borussia Dortmund, Monaco and Real Madrid, but Busquets remains less than impressed with their game plan. “Juventus have not reached the final by play-

ing well or scoring a lot,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “But they deserve to be here, they’re a compact team and very difficult to beat. Until December, they were in trouble in the group. Then over time they showed they were prepared to go all the way. “It’s always like that with Italian teams, they’re competitive, they know what they want and they know how to get it. “In a final, it’s winning that counts, it’s not the style of play that people remember. We know how difficult it is and it would be nice to win, which is what counts.”

econd seed and 2009 champion Roger Federer is out of the French Open after a 6-4 6-3 7-6 (7-4) defeat to Stan Wawrinka in an all-Swiss quarter-final. Wawrinka, 30, had lost all four of their previous matches at Grand Slam tournaments. But the number eight seed overcame his 33-year-old Davis Cup team-mate to cause an upset at Roland Garros. “The wind was tough, and it’s even more impressive the way Stan was able to play,” said Federer. Wawrinka will face Japan’s Kei Nishikori or Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-final. World number two Federer was second best throughout against an inspired Wawrinka and failed to break serve in a Grand Slam match for the first time since the 2002 US Open. Meanwhile, Seventh-seed

Ancelotti turns down AC Milan job

arlo Ancelotti has turned down the chance to return to AC Milan as coach, reiterating that he needs to take a break from the game. The 55-year-old had revealed after being sacked by Real Madrid last week that he would be taking an 12-month sabbatical to recover from a back operation he will undergo in Canada this summer. However, Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi nonetheless sent club CEO Adriano Galliani to Madrid for a series of meetings with Ancelotti, who spent eight seasons at the Giuseppe Meazza between 2001 and 2009.

Ancelotti admitted after the talks that the chances of him rejoining the Rossoneri were “5050” but the former Italy international turned the job down on Tuesday. The Rossoneri also confirmed the news on their official website: “Carlo Ancelotti has informed Milan that he will not be able to become the coach of the first-team squad for next season.” Despite Ancelotti’s rejection, Milan are still expected to part company with current boss Filippo Inzaghi, who could only manage to lead the San Siro side to a 10th-placed finish in his first season in charge.

Busquets

Wawrinka

Ana Ivanovic reached the French Open semi-finals after brushing aside Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-3 6-2 at a blustery Roland Garros. Serbia’s Ivanovic, the 2008 champion, overcame difficult conditions to produce a polished performance. Ivanovic will face Lucie Safarova for a place in the final after the Czech beat Garbine Muguruza 7-6 (7-3) 6-3. Ivanovic, 27, last made the semi-finals of a major on her way to her only Grand Slam title in Paris seven years ago.

Djokovic is the favourite, says Nadal

ine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal has claimed that Novak Djokovic is the favourite to win their quarter-final clash on Wednesday. Nadal has beaten Djokovic in all six of their previous meetings at Roland Garros and he has only ever lost one match

at the tournament, which was to Robin Soderling six years ago. However, Djokovic has won his last 26 matches and in his most recent clash against Nadal at Monte Carlo in April he beat the Spaniard in straight sets. “The winner of the match will not be Roland

Garros champion,” he told reporters. “He will be a semi-finalist... that makes a big difference. “Novak is probably the favourite here but I am here to fight.” Nadal will become the first player in the Open era to claim 10 titles at the same Grand Slam if he wins another French Open.

Nadal

2015 FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP Falcons ‘ll surprise the world – Sanusi Adeolu Johnson Abuja

of America where they lost 4-3 to Brazil in a thrilling encounter at the Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover, Maryland. Since then, the Super Falcons have crashed out in the group stages at each of the last three World Cup finals. But Sanusi is optimistic about the chances of the reigning African champions in Canada even though the Nigerian ladies are in a tough group with 2003 runners-up Sweden, Australia and two-time former champions USA, who finished in second place at the last edition in Germany behind Japan.

“We on our part have provided all they need to succeed in the championship. And with the pledge from NFF President Amaju Pinnick, the sky will be the limit,” said Sanusi, who added that the Super Falcons will build on the success recorded by the Falconets at the 2014 Under-20 World Cup in Canada, where they came second. The Falcons will also take on Australia on June 12 at the same venue before confronting the Americans at the BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, on June 16.

Super Falcons in Canada

he General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation Dr. Mohammed Sanusi is confident that the Super Falcons, currently in Canada for the Women’s World Cup finals, will surpass their previous best performance this time around. Nigeria’s best World Cup outing was a quarterfinal appearance at the 1999 tournament held in the United States

Ivoirians ready for World Cup

Canada to turn home advantage into glory

vory Coast snatched a maiden Women’s World Cup berth just five minutes from the end of their qualifying campaign last year but by their own admission might find the standard in Canada some way above their ability. While their male counterparts are African champions, the Ivoirian women had little success until the qualifying tournament in Namibia where they defeated South Africa in an all-important

playoff for third place. “We are the team least expected to be there but we must believe and take our chance,” coach Clementine Toure said of the trip to Canada. Drawn in the same group with Germany and Norway leaves Ivory Coast with little chance of any impact, although a result against fellow World Cup debutant Thailand in their second game in Ottawa on June 11, will be seen as a target.

IFA Women’s World Cup host, Canada, will need to find a way to cope with sky-high expectations that come with staging the tournament. Having now qualified for six consecutive World Cups finals and taken bronze at the 2012 London Olympics there is plenty of optimism in Canada that the hosts have a legitimate shot at reaching the July 5 final in Vancouver.

But there is also caution in the air after the Canadians went into the 2011 World Cup in Germany as contenders but did not make it out of the group stage after failing to win a game. “We talked about how are we going to cope with the national anthem, how are we going to cope with the emotion of a packed house, how are we going to manage the first mistake that we make,” said

Canadian coach John Herdman. “Just continue with the plan, we are ticking boxes every single game. “The tournament is never being looked at as too big, it is just next task, next day, next box.” Canada, who open the tournament on Saturday against China in Edmonton, routinely play in front of large crowds at home and will be assured of a packed house in every game.

Sport

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

STANDINGS

FIFA U-20 World Cup

lying Eagles led by skipper Musa Mohammed have vowed to get their U-20 World Cup campaign back on track with a win in Thursday’s Group E clash against North Korea following Monday’s 4-2 loss to Brazil. “We wish to apologise to Nigerians that we lost to Brazil, but we will make

Flying Eagles vow to beat Korea it up against North Korea. We will win on Thursday,” said skipper Mohammed. “We have spoken to ourselves and you will see the result in our next game.” Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho said he expects a tougher resistance from the Koreans after they also lost their opening game 5-1 to Hungary.

“It won’t be easy against Korea especially after they lost so woefully to Hungary, but we also know we need to win, no matter the margin,” Iheanacho said. “Good enough the loss to Brazil does not mean the end of our campaign in New Zealand.” Goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo said he would

not dwell on his mistakes against Brazil as his focus is now on Thursday’s game against North Korea. “Yesterday (Monday) is in the past. We are now looking ahead to the next game on Thursday,” said the goalkeeper, who was voted the best goalkeeper at the African U-20 Championship in Senegal in March.

GROUP A

MP W

GA +/-

Pts

USA

Ukraine

New Zealand 2

-4

Myanmar

-7

Ghana

Austria

Argentina

-1

Panama

-1

Portugal

Colombia

Qatar

-1

Senegal

-3

Mali

Uruguay

Serbia

-1

Mexico

-2

Hungary

Brazil

Nigeria

-2

Korea DPR

-4

Germany

Honduras

Uzbekistan

-1

Fiji

-7

GROUP B

GROUP C

GROUP D

GROUP E

GROUP F

Manu’s boys visits kids at hospital

Tomas Martinez of Argentina is challenged by Emmanuel Ntim of Ghana

GROUP

DATES

MATCHES

RESULTS/TIME

Group A

Saturday 30 May New Zealand v Ukraine

0-0

Group A

Saturday 30 May USA v Myanmar

2-1

Group B

Saturday 30 May Argentina v Panama

2-2

Group B

Saturday 30 May Ghana v Austria

1-1

Group C

Sunday 31 May

Qatar v Colombia

0-1

Group D Sunday 31 May

Mexico v Mali

0-2

Group C

Portugal v Senegal

3-0

Group D Sunday 31 May

Sunday 31 May

Uruguay v Serbia

1-0

Group E

Monday 01 June

Nigeria v Brazil

2-4

Group F

Monday 01 June

Germany v Fiji

8-1

Group E

Monday 01 June

Korea DPR v Hungary

1-5

Group F

Monday 01 June

Uzbekistan v Honduras 3-4

Group A

Tuesday 02 June

Myanmar v Ukraine

0-6

Group B

Tuesday 02June

Austria v Panama

2-1

Group A

Tuesday 02 June

New Zealand v USA

0-4

Group B

Tuesday 02 June

Argentina v Ghana

2-3

Group C

Wed 03 June

Qatar v Portugal

Group D Wed 03 June

Mexico v Uruguay

Group C

Senegal v Colombia

Group D Wed 03 June

Serbia v Mali

Group E

Thurs 04 June

Nigeria v Korea DPR

5am

Group F

Thurs 04 June

Honduras v Fiji

5am

Group E

Thurs 04 June

Hungary v Brazil

8am

Group F

Thurs 04 June

Germany v Uzbekistan

8am

Group B

Friday 05 June

Austria v Argentina

5am

Group B

Friday 05 June

Panama v Ghana

5am

Group A

Friday 05 June

Myanmar v N’ Zealand

8am

Group A

Friday 05 June

Ukraine v USA

8am

Wed 03 June

Argentina face early exit after Ghana loss • 3-2 victory excites Satellites coach

hana stunned favourites Argentina 3-2 at the FIFA U-20 World Cup on Tuesday, with Ukraine demolishing Myanmar 6-0 and USA advancing to leave hosts New Zealand facing an early exit. Six-time champions Argentina, already reeling after a 2-2 draw with Panama, were 3-0 down and looked completely outclassed before a late fight back. They face a real chance of elimination in the group stages for the first time since 1991 if they cannot win their final Group B match against Austria, who defeated an ill-disciplined Panama 2-1. In Group A, the United States became the first team to reach the knockout stages with a 4-0 victory over New Zealand, while Ukraine unleashed a second-half blitz against Myanmar. Ghana coach Sellas Tetteh is delighted his charges punched above their weight to upstage

Argentina 3-2 in a Group B clash at the ongoing World Cup on Tuesday. “The first couple of matches at a tournament are always tough. We analysed the Austria game in detail and did a much better job today,” Tetteh said. “Our minimum target is still to reach the semifinals, and it won’t be difficult to achieve.” Ghana’s final Group match is against Panama on Friday at the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.

ive Flying Eagles players on Tuesday paid a visit to the children’s ward of the New Plymouth Hospital as part of their community service organised by the local organising committee for the U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. The players were Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Chidera Ezeh, Bernard Bulbwa and Izu Omego. They were led by Flying Eagles media officer Samm Audu and team liaison officer Chris McIvor. They spent about an hour at the hospital during which time they signed autographs, played indoor football, spent time with some of the young patients and posed for photos with them. A deeply touched Bulbwa gave a young

cancer patient identified Josephine $100, while Iheanacho also donated cash to some of them. “I like children and so I was happy to come and put a smile on the faces of some of them who are ill,” said Iheanacho. “I hope they all get well quickly and return to school.” The hospital workers praised how “engaging” the players were with the young patients.

Flying Eagles coach, Manu Garba

Austria fight back to beat Panama

Escobar

ustria became the first side in Group B to capture three points as they fought back from a goal down to beat Panama 2-1 in the Wellington rain. Fidel Escobar’s wonder-strike had put the Europeans on the back foot, but goals either side of half-time saw Andreas Heraf ’s side

turn the game around, with Panama ending with nine men. The match initially looked like a perfect reflection of the group standings, with little to separate the sides. Austria came close when Andreas Gruber picked out Bernd Gschweidl, but the onrushing Jaime De Gracia snuffed out the chance.

Sport 55

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

Looking back at sports under Jonathan Vincent Eboigbe

ports under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan can be said to have fared well, if not in terms of infrastructure and facilities, which ensure systematic and sustained development, but at least in competition-specific achievements. That seems to be the general consensus. For instance, the Super Eagles won the African Cup of Nations in 2013 after a 19-year wait. The Flying Eagles, in the junior category, are currently the kings on the continent while the Golden Eaglets rule the world after their triumph at the United Arab Emirates two years ago. The Super Falcons have also reclaimed their title in Africa after turning back all-comers earlier in the year in Namibia; the Falconets just last year picked up the silver medal at the World Cup in Canada. Nigerian teams to various meets around the world like the Commonwealth Games, Paralympic Games, African Junior and Youth Championships, have also brought honour to the country during the period under review. To say that the name of the president, Goodluck, resonated in the number and regularity of the laurels won by athletes from May 2010 to May 2015 is saying the obvious. It is also something of a general consensus that Jonathan loved sports and this found expression in his readiness to reward those who won medals for the country. Jonathan rewarded many current and retired athletes, doing this away from the glare of the klieg lights sometimes. During a dinner organised for athletes early in his reign, President Jonathan commended them for their indomitable spirit and commitment to excellence. He said that he had no doubt that given the right environment Nigerian youths can hold their own any day against the best in the world. He said his administration would always recognise and reward outstanding service to the fatherland in all spheres of national life. In 2012, the president also announced cash rewards for the country’s Paralympians and women Under-20 footballers for their performances. He also announced the conferment of the national honour of Member of the Order of The Niger on the six gold medalwinning Paralympians. Team Nigeria’s contingent to the London Paralympics was made up of 29 athletes who participated in just four sports. The Team won many medals in the powerlifting event with at least four athletes, Yakubu Adesokan, Esther Oyema, Joy Onaolapo and Folashade Oluwafemiayo not only winning gold medals but also setting new world records. The President announced what he called a token cash gift of N1 million for each member of the Under 20 women football team, the Falconets. He noted that although they did not win the championship they gave Nigeria good representation from the qualification stages and during the tournament. The coaches and other officials of the football team were awarded with N1.2m each by the president. For the Paralympians, Jonathan announced a cash gift of N500,000 each for non medalist in the team, while Bronze medal winners received N2 million each. Silver and Gold medal winners were given cash award of N3 million and N5 million respectively while the coaches and officials of the Paralympian team got N2.5 million each. In 2014 Jonathan also announced

cash donations running into millions for about 351 Nigerian athletes and officials who won medals for the country in various sports competitions. Nigerian boxing great, Obisia Nwankpa, who is a former Commonwealth lightweight champion and one-time challenger for World Boxing Council light welterweight title, captures ex-President Jonathan’s contributions to sports development in these word: “Jonathan encouraged us; for the first time in a very long time athletes’ allowances were paid in a timely manner and everybody was happy because they felt their efforts were appreciated. That aside, we saw a new thrust in athletes’ welfare and wish this would continue. We want continuity in policy implementation given that we are happy with what we saw of Jonathan.” Former Super Eagles skipper, Nwankwo Kanu, echoes the same sentiment. “Ultimately, I’m impressed by President Jonathan’s personal interest in Nigerian sports. He showed several times that he was a lover of the youth and a lover of sports,” noted the retired striker. Although it has to said that not all the athletes that won laurels for the country benefitted from the former president’s largesse. For instance, those who achieved praiseworthy feats in the latter part of Jonathan’s reign were not so lucky. With the president’s attention riveted on his re-election bid, expectations that he would host the victorious Flying Eagles side to Senegal earlier in the year did not materialise. Howbeit, the counterpoise to the strategy of rewarding deserving athletes with money is that the most tangible way to demonstrate an abiding love

Sprinter, Blessing Okagbare Ighoteguonor

Long Jumper, Ese Brume

Table Tennis player, Aruna Quadri

Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi and assistant, Daniel Amokachi, celebrating the team’s AFCON triumph in 2013

for sports is to invest in facilities and infrastructure. Athletics buff and Editor of Complete Sports, an all-sports publication in the country, Dare Esan, believes that the much talked about Jonathan’s achievements were not a result of planning but something of a fluke. “I would look at it from two perspec-

tives: in terms of results and in terms of development. In the former instance Jonathan did well, after all Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 19 years under his tenure, won the U-17 World Cup and did well in some track and field events,” Esan said. “But in terms of development I’d score the former president below 40

percent because he didn’t put structures in place to aid development of sports, so the results we got were through happenstance and not by any deliberate planning “Again, Jonathan gave monetary rewards to many athletes but I believe the money should have been better spent investing in facilities. All over the country now we don’t have solid facilities yet we were throwing money at athletes we didn’t contribute to their development. Rewarding U-20 and U-17 players also shows we still don’t know what development is all about.” Another area where Jonathan came in for knocks was in the appointment of sports ministers. By the time he left office on May 29, the former president had appointed four helmsmen for sports in his five-year reign. In keeping with his party, the People Democratic Party’s policy of zoning the sports ministry to the north central, Jonathan gave the impression that politics was the overriding consideration in making such appointments. The upshot of this strategy was that politicians with scant or no knowledge of sports were put in charge. Esan adds: “Jonathan gave us the worst sports minister in our history, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, and that is what happens when square pegs are put in round holes, when knowledgeable people are overlooked for people who know nothing about sports. Development can never happen in this kind of situation. The very high turnover rate in the headship of sports has not helpedin any way.”

On Marble It is the apathetic person that

sees the cause while the charitable person sees the need.

World Record

Sanctity of Truth

NIGERIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Shannon L. Alder

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

N150

The largest floating vessel in the world has taken to the water for the first time in South Korea. At a length of 1,601 feet, the Prelude, which is owned by Shell, is 150 feet longer than the Empire State Building is high.

Civil Society and National Assembly partnership

he National Assembly and Civil Society Groups and Organizations are both tribunes of the people. While the functions and powers of the National Assembly are clearly defined in the Constitution and the law, those of Civil Society Groups and Organizations are defined in their work, their practice and interaction with different sectors of the Nigerian society. Since the return to civil democratic rule in 1999, the National Assembly and Civil Society Groups have worked together on some issues and found some form of accommodation with each other. In concrete terms however, partnership between both parties has been episodic, ad-hoc and laced with a concrete wall of suspicion. A Partnership that works To serve the Nigerian people confidently and competently, the National Assembly and Civil Society Groups and Organizations ought to build a partnership that works. It should be a partnership based on mutual respect and understanding. It should be a partnership based on service to the Nigerian people, their issues and their challenges. Civil society groups and the National Assembly should therefore agree that the people are the epicenter of governance and that both are working to better the lot of the Nigerian people. Knowledge of Civil Society Groups and Organizations The National Assembly and its key drivers and champions must realize and bear in mind that civil society groups and organizations are not homogenous. They are as diverse as the Nigerian society and complex and complicated as our national difficulties and challenges. A substantial number of civil society groups and organizations in Nigeria are not registered. Some of them operate legally and constitutionally by virtue of the constitutional guarantee of freedom of association and assembly. Although they are not legal persons but their voice carries weight and their actions impact on the society. Understanding the complexity, context and complexion of civil society groups and organizations is central to a proper partnership. Employment of Knowledgeable Legislative Assistants Knowledge is central to legislative work and duties. Legislative assistants are supposed to be the brain box of members of the National Assembly. They are the ones that are supposed to analyze bills before the National Assembly, find information and or data to support or oppose the bills, tap from information outside the Legislature to enrich debates and generally make the member they work for very cerebral and solid on facts and analysis. Unfortunately, more often than not, the members of the National Assembly and some of their cronies and hangerson see the work of legislative assistants as an opportunity to reward and or keep political thugs or electoral facilitators happy. Sometimes people with little or no knowledge of the workings of the National Assembly or minimum qualifications to understand the rudiments of law making are employed and unleashed on

Hard Choices FESTUS OKOYE

festokoye2003@yahoo.com 08054480565 (sms only) the members and on the various Committees of the National Assembly. The new National Assembly and the members should in the national interest assemble knowledgeable assistants to assist them in their legislative work. If the elected member is the only star in the office and the only knowledgeable individual, certainly his or her contributions to debates will be minimal and at most general in nature. Database of Civil Society Groups and Organizations The National Assembly as well as its Statutory and Ad-Hoc Committees should possess and store the database of all registered and unregistered civil society groups and organizations that are available to it. It can source this from the internet, established civil society groups and organizations, the various embassies, international groups and governmental agencies. The various Committees of the National Assembly can segregate the groups in terms of relevance, spread, outreach and thematic areas. The Committee on Environment should have a database of all environmental rights groups and their leadership. It is also incumbent on registered and broad based groups working in diverse areas to make such information available to relevant Committees of the National Assembly. Formal and Robust Civil Society/National Assembly Liaison The National Assembly should have a formal and staffed civil Society/National Assembly Liaison Office. Civil society groups and organizations have a store of resource that the National Assembly can leverage on. Civil society groups and organizations also have nationwide outreach and may assist the National Assembly in the dissemination of critical information and the mobilization of the national interest and issues at critical moments. This formal liaison will enable and assist civil society groups and organizations assess information on pending bills, motions and other assignments being carried out by the National Assembly. The Civil Society Liaison will also assist in breaking down the challenge of booking appointments for civil society groups and interfacing with the various Committees of the National Assembly. Maintenance of an Active Website We are in the era of information and communications technology. The National Assembly can upload all pending bills on the net. It can upload all motions moved or about to be moved on the net. It can advertise the work of its various committees on the net. This it has done with some degree of success. However, there is a difference between building a website and having an active

David Mark

and robust engagement with the people. People will stop visiting a site if all they get are stale news and information. People will stop visiting if a website is dormant and not serviced. The website of the National Assembly should be a repository of information and should be handled by experienced professionals. The website must have a profile of all the members of the National Assembly, their Committees and every other information that ought to or should be in the public domain. Public Hearings and Expert Opinion Civil society groups and organizations are a store of information and knowledge. Civil society groups work in different areas, fields and states. Some of them gather primary information and data that may not ordinarily be available to other groups, organizations and agencies. The data from these groups can enrich the work of the National Assembly on various issues. Experts within civil society groups and organizations working in different sectors can be invited to give their opinions or supply information during public hearings, hearings on petitions or during oversight functions. Civil society groups and organizations will benefit from clear rules of engagement and well thought out legislative action. Interaction must be official and unofficial Civil society groups and members of the National Assembly should not limit engagement at an official level. Sometimes, walls of suspicion are broken when people understand each other at an informal level. Members of the National Assembly should honour invitations to attend ac-

tivities organized by credible civil society groups and organizations. The civil society groups and their leaders should also reciprocate same and in the spirit of cooperation, attend informal gatherings and functions by a member or members of the National Assembly. Information must be clear and concise Sometimes, civil society leaders dump information and documents on the members of the National Assembly. Few members of the National Assembly read tons of documents dumped on them. Clear and concise messaging is important in getting information across to members of the National Assembly. Information management and processing is central to influencing public policy. Civil society groups and organizations also have a responsibility to verify information coming out from the National Assembly before acting on same. Sometimes, rumours and unverified issues and information are magnified and this creates a gulf between both parties. Enlightening the Public on the Roles and Functions of the Legislature: A substantial percentage of our people do not understand the niceties of legislative work. To some, it is a meaningless sound bite to posit that the work of legislators is limited to making laws, carrying out oversight functions and moving motions. As far as some of our people are concerned, any legislator that has not constructed or facilitated the construction of boreholes, roads, culverts, schools, hospitals and bought motorbikes and cars for members of the constituency has failed and will not get the party nomination for election. Some members of the legislative house responded to this through what has been termed constituency projects. But it is a paradox and a misnomer. Civil society groups and organizations can assist in the enlightenment of the public about the real and proper functions and responsibilities of the Legislature and Legislators. This can be done through town hall meetings, constituency briefings, handbills and posters. A National Assembly Press The establishment of a National Assembly Press is a national imperative. As at today nobody knows the number and versions of the Electoral Act in circulation. Some of the ones in circulation are harmonized versions of the work of both Houses of the National Assembly. Some of them are pirated versions. Some are just photocopies of documents collated from different sources and areas during public hearings. The confusion that has arisen on account of this in various courts and tribunals is unimaginable. A National Assembly Press will domicile ownership of Bills, Petitions and other documents with the National Assembly. The Nigerian people must be confident to use and quote documents emanating from the National Assembly. A working relationship between the National Assembly and Civil Society Groups based on shared values and service to the Nigerian people will advance Nigerian democracy and improve the quality and quantity of legislation.

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