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Perm Sec admits responsibility for Maina’s reinstatement

Ï Maina stands dismissed -Oyo-Ita Ï Not on payroll -Adeosun Ï Magu: He never handed over recovered properties to EFCC Henry Omunu, Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏ The

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Interior, Magaji Aliyu, on Thursday, took full responsibility for the controver-

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sial reinstatement of the former Chairman of defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), AbdulRasheed Maina by admitting that the entire process of the reinstatement was administrativeContinued on page 6

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 VOL. 3. NO. 515

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PDP: Countdown begins as Makarfi promises credible convention Ï Says party’ll conduct direct primaries if aspirants fail to reach consensus Ï We’ve no anointed candidates among aspirants - BoT

Myke Uzendu, Abuja

ÏÏÏ The

National Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Continued on page 5

N13bn cash: Union Bank asks court to vacate forfeiture order on Ikoyi flat 8 Gov Ugwuanyi has made Enugu safe haven for investment 7 – Soludo Yuletide: NNPC assures of petroleum products supply nationwide 7

L-R: Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige; wife of the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, Beatrice and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during a condolence visit to Ekwueme’s residence at Gwarinpa in Abuja… on Thursday.

Sokoto guber primary: Appeal Court upholds Gov Tambuwal’s election 5

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

5 News

Perm Sec admits responsibility for Maina’s reinstatement Continued from page 1 (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has assured that the forthcoming convention of the party will be transparent and devoid of rancour. The convention is slated for Saturday, December 9, 2017 at the Eagles Square in Abuja. This is even as the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) also emphasised that no candidate has been anointed for any of the positions but said that aspirants on their own can reach for consensus. Also, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party at the end of its meeting on Thursday in Abuja cautioned aspirants to the office of the PDP national chairman from disparag-

ing each other, use of foul language or any other action that will bring the party to disrepute. Makarfi gave the assurance during the 77th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja. Makarfi, who passed through series of litigations from the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who was claiming same position and had his tenure elongated by a non-elective convention, said that the party will conduct direct primaries if aspirants fail to reach consensus. He ,however, reminded them that the issue of micro zoning is a creation of the zones and not of the party. He explained that some of the decisions the NCC

took was based on the information at their disposal, adding that the feedback from the campaigns of the aspirants showed that PDP is getting stronger. He said: “I will like to thank all of you for standing for the party and the NCC. Whether people like it or not, PDP is getting strong and we are getting all the publicity. We try to take every information into consideration and we try to explain ourselves for the action taken”. He advised those who were not victorious at the convention to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship. “There is a lot of goodness in unity. The PDP is like Nigeria, a diversified party but a united party. What you don’t get today, you will get it tomorrow.

Everyone cannot get all the things all the time. “We consulted with all relevant organs so that we can create a better understanding among ourselves,” Makarfi stated. The caretaker chairman informed state party chairmen to cross-check the list of delegates already transmitted to the national secretariat party to confirm that it is the authentic list. Also in his remarks, Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo, who spoke on behalf of other governors, urged the aspirants to learn from the lessons of the past, assuring them of the resolve of the NCC to conduct a transparent convention. Dankwabo said, “I want to congratulate the party for the rebirth that has

L-R: Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed; Author/National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Bolaji Abudullahi; Presenter, Chief Dele Momodu; National Chairman, APC, Chief, John Odigie-Oyegun; Borno State Governor / Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Kassim Shettima and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, during the public presentation of a book titled: On a Platter of Gold: How Jonathan Won and Lost Nigeria, in Abuja… on Thursday. PHOTO: TEMITOPE BALOGUN.

Sokoto guber primary: Appeal Court upholds Gov. Tambuwal’s election Andrew Orolua, Abuja.

ÏÏÏ The Court of

Appeal in Abuja Division has upheld the decision of Federal High Court that dismissed the appeal against the conduct of All Progressives Congress (APC) Sokoto State governorship primary election that produced Governor Aminu Tambuwal in December 2014. In a unanimous judgment on Thursday, the appellate court held that the appeal which emanated from the directive by the Supreme Court for a retri-

al of the pre-election suit of 2014, lacked merit. The appellate court subsequently dismissed the appeal with N100,000 costs in favour of the respondents. The appellants: Umaru Dahiru and Aliyu Sanyinna, who were governorship aspirants in the December 4, 2014 APC governorship primary election in Sokoto had filed the legal action before the Federal High Court Abuja after they lost the primary. They had alleged in the suit that the conduct of the party primary was not in accordance with the

party guidelines as they claimed that there was no accreditation of delegates. The lower court initially dismissed the suit as an academic exercise after Tambuwal was sworn in as the governor of Sokoto State. Not satisfied, the appellants approached the Supreme Court while the apex court ordered of a retrial on the grounds that there are life issues. But the plaintiffs lost again at the lower court and had appealed against the judgment. Delivering the lead unanimous judgment, Justice Emmanuel Agi stated

that the APC actually accredited 3,569 delegates for the governorship primary and all the contestants for governorship candidate, including the appellants did not dispute the figure . He also held that the appellants who had alleged that the primary did not comply with the APC guidelines should have prove their assertion before the trial court since according to him, “ section 131 of the evidence Act invested on the appellants to prove their assertion that there was no list of accredited delegates at Continued on page 6

taken place throughout the country following the activities of the contestants. As leaders of this party, we need to organise ourselves so as to earn the respect of our members. “The PDP governors are solidly working with the NCC and will do everything possible to ensure that the convention is very smooth.” The Board of Trustee (BoT) chairman, Senator Walid Jubrin, also used the occasion to deny the allegation in the social media that the BoT has disqualified three national chairmanship aspirants, saying that the BoT does not screen nor set the rules that will qualify aspirants. “This is completely untrue. It is not the BoT that set the rules and regulations for the candidates, it is not the BoT that screen candidates. “The BoT is the conscience of the party. We have never held any meeting to anoint any candidate for the chairmanship and we are not ready to do so. We are aware that there are some delegates who are following some aspirants. They are doing so on their own and the BoT is not supporting them,” Jubrin emphasised. He warned that new groups are emerging from the party, adding that if the party is not cautious, something grave may happen at the convention. “New groups are emerging, discussing about the convention. If care is not taken, we shall have a terrible outing during the convention. BoT is ready to work with the NCC. BoT is ready to work with the Governors’ Forum. “Aspirants are free to go for consensus but if consensus fail, let them go into election. In his goodwill message, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, stressed the importance of a credible convention to the party and reminded whoever emerges as the Chairman of the burden to carry all members along. He said: “The next 10 days is very important to us as a party. Our prayer is to get it right and meet the aspirations of the people that PDP should return in 2019. “I want to appeal to all those who have accepted our decision to know that the least we can do is to ensure that the convention is fair and transparent and

seen to be so. “If it is fair, then I am sure that everyone will accept the outcome of the convention. “Whoever is going to be the chairman should know that he has a lot of burden on his neck because the success of the party will depend on his action or inaction,” he said. On those who may not be successful and try to disrupt the convention, Ekweremadu advised that they learn through the convention. “Any person who thinks that he will disrupt PDP if he does not get it should learn from the past and know that power comes from God,” Ekweremadu stated. Meanwhile, at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party, the NEC cautioned aspirants from disparaging each other, use of foul language or any other action that will bring the party to disrepute. This was made known by the National Publicity of the party, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, while briefing the press at the party’s national headquarters on Thursday. He said that the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which held on Thursday, approved the report of the congresses organised in some states where state executives were dissolved in the accordance with the August 12th nonelective convention resolution. Adeyeye also said that NEC equally approved the list of committee and subcommittee members for the conduct of December 9 National Convention at the Eagle square Abuja. He said that some of the states where the executives were dissolved include Adamawa, Borno, Kebbi, Kwara and Oyo while Osun convention is yet to be conducted. According to the party’s spokesperson, NCC lauded the efforts of the aspirants who transversed the length and breadth of the country, engaging stakeholders and making the party more popular through their meetings. He said that even the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is afraid to organise a common NEC because they have nothing to show for their stewardship. Continued on page 7

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

Countdown begins as Makarfi promises credible convention Continued from page 1 ly flawed. Aliyu made the admission at the resumed hearing of the investigative hearing being conducted by the House of Representatives ad hoc committee probing the disappearance, reappearance, reinstatement and promotion of the former pension reform czar. In his testimony, the permanent secretary disclosed that the process to recall and reinstate Maina started before he assumed duties in the interior ministry, adding that he was sick when a reference letter from the Federal

Civil Service Commission (FCSC) reached the ministry, which the ministry’s bureaucracy interpreted to mean that Maina should be reinstated back to the civil service. According to him, because of his health condition, he didn’t go through the letter exhaustively, neither was he in the know of its contents. He said that, he however directed that action be taken on the subject matter. According to him, “I directed that action be taken, but I realized what we did; and I take responsibility for whatever we have done in respect of Maina.” He confessed that no-

body, not even the ministry has powers to reinstate anybody, except the FCSC, which is constitutionally empowered by law to do so. Aliyu further disclosed that whatever his ministry, which also did not assign any responsibly or duty to Maina did when he reported to the director of human resources in the ministry, was informed based on the letter it received from the FCSC. The permanent secretary said that Maina wasn’t placed on any salary or position at the ministry because they were yet to obtain clearance from the Office of the Head of the

Civil Service of the Federation. “Mistakes were made on the reference to the Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF). Maina was never documented,” he insisted. Similarly, the HOSF , Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, formally announced the dismissal of Maina from the employment of the Federal Government. She informed the panel that since Maina never received any official letter reinstating him from her office in line with civil service rules, he stands dismissed. “Maina’s reinstatement was never activated. The

L-R: Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Dr. Demola Sogunle; Chief Executive Officer, Novare Group, Mr. Derrick Roppe; Chairman, Novare Group, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu; Minister for State, Power, Works & Housing, Mr. Suleiman Hassan and Minister, Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Bello, during the opening ceremony of the Novare Gateway Mall in Abuja… on Thursday.

Sokoto guber primary: Appeal Court upholds Gov. Tambuwal’s election Continued from page 5

the primary.” Justice Agi said that the APC guidelines did not provide specific method of accreditation of delegates, so the delegates passing through security screening and issued with voting card, was suffice for accreditation. He further held that the appellants were inconsistent with their prayers and should not have contradicted themselves in sworn affidavits. The Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA) said, “The appellants were inconsistent in their case with contradictory evidence in the affidavits and docu-

ments placed before the court to challenge the validity of the December 4, 2014, Sokoto governorship primary election. The JCA further held that the appellants have claimed in the first affidavit that there was no primary election, that deligates were not accredited and that the 1999 Constitution and APC guidelines were violated in the conduct of the primary. In the second affidavit of the appellants, they claimed that some delegates were accredited and alloted with ballot papers for the same primary election, adding that it was completely wrong for the appellant to have made

such inconsistent deposition. The JCA also held that the claim of the appellant that he be declared winner of the said primary election was strange to law, having copiously claimed in his documentary evidence and affidavit placed before the court that there was no primary election. Justice Abubakar Yahaya who presided over the appeal had reserved the verdict of the court after lawyers in the suit made their final brief of arguments . Lawyer to the appellants, Roland Otaru, while making his final submissions had asked the appeal court to remove Tambu-

wal as governor on the grounds that he was not lawfully and validly elected as the APC gubernatorial candidate for the 2015 governorship election.

Gov. Tambuwal

letter on his reinstatement from the commission was never delivered. He stands dismissed; and the earlier letter is to be returned to the commission,” she added. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said that Maina was not on its payroll. This was the position of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, when she appeared before the committee. Adeosun also revealed that the Federal Government stopped the payment of salary to Maina in March 2013. Accompanied with the minister, the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, also disclosed that available records indicate that Maina last received his salary in February, 2013 and that from March the same year his name was removed from the payroll. Idris told the panel that concerted efforts were made to reconcile his name from various platforms, it was obvious his name did not appear. Idris said, “I don’t know from where Maina was receiving salary.” He added that payment of salaries were made through slips , bank statements and challenged Maina’s lawyer to tender such documents that Maina was still been paid. Specifically, Adeosun stated that Maina was never paid through either of the two government salary platforms, the IPPIS and GIFIS. She said his names were double checked; and it was found that he is not receiving government salary, neither is he a staff relating to any ministry. Similarly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that it was not in possession of alleged recovered pension assets as claimed by Maina through his lawyer. The Acting chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, said that Maina did not hand over any recovered assets to the commission as he is claiming, adding that assets recovered so far were as a result of independent investigations conducted by the agency . He added that the status of some of the assets were either as interim or permanent forfeitures. Magu also said that Mai-

na was part of the pension syndicate, saying that he too benefitted from it. According to him, Maina had several accounts and houses in Kaduna and Abuja. In one such accounts, he had N2.7billion while his son, Faysal also has account with a turnover of N1.7biilion. He also revealed that Maina purchased a property in Abuja for $200million. Meanwhile, the Ad hoc Committee has summoned Kehinde Ogini, a legal assistant to the minister of justice and Mrs. Nurutu Nagarawa to give more insights into what transpired in the office of the AGF concerning the disputed letters recalling Maina. This is coming against the backdrop of a directive that the AGF must make its last submissions in one week to enable the panel conclude its work in good time. In a related development, one of the frontline aspirants to the office of the National Chairman of the PDP and former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George, has disclosed that he remains an unrepentant member of the PDP irrespective of the outcome of the December 9 National convention. George, who was at the PDP National Secretariat to submit his chairmanship nomination form, said that he is not part of the team planning to hold a parallel convention even as he advised the National Caretaker Committee to ensure a free, transparent and credible convention. He said: “I want to appeal that we have to be extremely careful in managing the convention. We cannot afford any more crisis,” he warned. He stressed that he has made up his mind to remain in PDP as long as the party exists, describing himself as “an irredentist PDP man”. The Chairmanship hopeful promised to correct the ills in the party such as impunity and lack of respect for the party’s constitution, if he emerges victorious at the convention. Meanwhile, a Deputy National Chairmanship aspirant, Hajia Inna Ciroma, advised other aspiers to eschew discord and Continued on page 7

Continued from page 6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

News

begins as Perm Sec admits responsibility for Maina’s Countdown Makarfi promises credible

Continued from page 5

He said: “NCC submitted the congress reports to NEC which they approved. The composition of convention planning committee and subcommittee were also approved by NEC. “We admonished some of the candidates to tame their utterances, to be civil to each other, avoid foul languages and not to cast aspersions on the NCC.

We told them not to disparage each other and know that they are going to work together after the convention”. He assured that the party will create a level playing ground for all the aspirants. “We are going to organise the most credible convention in history. We have said that if they have any concern at all, they should say it and we shall address

it, Adeyeye added. On the threat that some groups were planning parallel convention, he said: “We are not under any threat that there will be a parallel convention or that our aspirants are going to do anything funny”. On the number of delegates, Adeyeye said about 2,800 elected delegates and statutory delegates are expected to attend the convention.

The NEC was attended by Senator David Mark, State Governors: Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta) and Emmanuel Udom of (Akwa Ibom) Others are the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi, Sir Okechukwu, Senators Godswill Akoabio and Abiodun Olujumi, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, and Prof. Jerry Gana among other stakeholders.

convention

Continued from page 6 rancour during the convention. Mrs. Ciroma called for greater unity among PDP members and aspirants to ensure a post-convention united PDP. Mrs. Ciroma, who spoke with journalists while submitting her nomination form, said, “Whether you are a Christian or Muslim, you must realise that power comes from God. In whatever we do, the party must come first,” she added. She described the party’s defeat in the 2015 presidential election as a blessing in disguise, insisting that the development has enabled Nigerians to experience

life under a different political party. “It was a good thing that PDP lost in that election because now, we are feeling the pinch; Nigerians are feeling the pinch. PDP is the party to beat because it is the party that is in every part of Nigeria. That was why we were in power for 16 years. “Nigerians have seen the difference and they are saying we have seen the difference. Nigerians are saying let’s go back to the PDP. Ordinary Nigerians are asking PDP to come back,” she stated. The aspirant further advised the party to come up with a dynamic and robust programmes that will appeal to all Nigerians.

Yuletide: NNPC assures of petroleum products supply nationwide Idu Jude

Abuja

ÏÏÏ The Nigerian NationL-R: Director, Special Duties, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Jimoh Abubakar; Director General, NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye; former Acting Director General, NAFDAC, Mr. Ademola Mogbojuri and Director, Drug Administration and Research, Mrs. Monica Hemben, during the handing over in Abuja... on Thursday. PHOTO: TEMITOPE BALOGUN.

Gov Ugwuanyi has made Enugu safe haven for investment – Soludo Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÏÏÏ The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has applauded Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s giant strides in the state, saying that his feats in securing the state from vices, such as kidnapping,armed robberies, have positioned it as a safe haven for investment. Soludo, spoke as the Chairman of the Occasion at the 47th Convocation Lecture of the University of Nigeria Nsukka. The former CBN boss, whose speech was delivered on his behalf by the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, expressed delight at the massive infrastructure development in the state, adding that he was impressed that Gov. Ugwuanyi has trans-

formed the university town of Nsukka with the reconstruction of the OpiNsukka dual carriageway and other projects befitting of a city like Enugu. He emphasized that the incidence of kidnap in Enugu is now a thing of the past, adding: “I know that with Gov. Ugwuanyi (Gburugburu), we have secured continuity of good governance in Enugu State,” following his remarkable achievements in spite of the nation’s economic challenges. He said,“I don’t know how many of you who came from outside to visit the sttae. But, as you passed through Opi Junction descending down here, you will think you are in some parts of Europe. And I know how that road used to be in the past. Some people who live in Enugu State told me that kidnapping is no more, it’s

gone. :Security is now there in Enugu State. They are the fundamentals the entrepreneurs require to even begin to set up shops. So, I thank Gov. Ugwuanyi for making Enugu State safe for investment. In his lecture, Mr. Emefiele challenged the students and youths to be more entrepreneurial in their thinking to be independent, stating that the Federal Government, including the CBN, are encouraging the Deposit Money Banks and other development finance institutions to create awareness through which innovative entrepreneurs can access credit with a view to creating opportunities for job creation. The CBN Governor added that the apex bank is currently reviewing the broad frameworks of its development financing

funds with a view to creating new channels through which entrepreneurs with great ideas can access credit with minimal effort. “I will like to remind the graduating students that the University of Nigeria Nsukka has equipped you to rule your world; go, therefore, and rule your world! In the spirit of one famous American President, I challenge you today to ask not what Nigeria can do for you. Rather, ask what you can do for Nigeria,” he added.

al Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has stated its commitment to ensuring copious supply of petroleum products across the country to aid hitch-free movement of motorists during and beyond the Festive Season. The Corporation noted this following reports of threats by the Lagos Chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to withdraw its services in Lagos and its environs sequel to alleged discrepancies in ex-depot prices, among others. In a statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, NNPC clarified that the Ejigbo Satellite Depot was fully stocked and carrying out regular loading services. The corporation fur-

ther explained that the depot had consistently dispensed premium motor spirit (petrol) at the approved price of N133.28 per litre contrary to allegations that it was sold at a higher price. It said there was enough petroleum products in the country to last till the end of the year and that 25 vessels laden with petroleum products were also being expected to berth between now and January 2018 to further boost supplies. NNPC, therefore, urged members of the public not to entertain any fear or engage in panic buying of petroleum products as there was enough to keep the country well supplied. It stated that the appropriate government agencies have been contacted to settle the rift between IPMAN and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA).

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 20171

N13bn cash: Union Bank asks court to vacate forfeiture order on Ikoyi flat Peter Fowoyo

ÎÎÎ Three weeks after a Federal

High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos granted an interim order of forfeiture on flat 7B Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos where about N13 billion were discovered, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc on Thursday asked Justice Saliu Saidu, to vacate the order. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on April 12, discovered the sums of$43, 449, 947, £27, 800 and N23, 218, 000 in iron cabinets and “Ghanamust-go” bags in the building.

The judge had on November 9, made the order while granting an ex-parte application filed by the anti-graft agency. Also joined as a respondent in the suit is a firm, Chobe Ventures Limited. Granting the ex-parte order, Justice Saidu directed the EFCC to notify the respondent in whose possession the property was found to appear before him in a fortnight to show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. The anti-graft agency was also di-

rected to publicize the interim order in a national daily for the respondent or anyone interested in the property to show cause within two weeks why a final forfeiture order should not be made on the property. But, when the matter came up yesterday, Union Bank through its lawyer, A. A. Aribisala (SAN) drew the court’s attention to an application seeking to vacate the interim order of forfeiture. In an affidavit in support of the application deposed to by one, Alfred Olukayode Edun, the bank argued that the forfeited flat was

part of the property situated at 16, Osborne Rd, Ikoyi, Lagos, belonging to one, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Muazu, by virtue of a certificate of occupancy dated 27th September, 2009 and registered as 97/97/2009 in the Lands Registry Office, Alausa, Lagos. The bank said Alhaji Muazu has already mortgaged the entire property to it by virtue of Tripartite Deed of Legal Mortgage dated November 1, 2011, in order to secure a loan granted to Tripple A Properties & Investment Ltd. The bank further claimed that

the original titled deeds of the property has been vested in it while the loan is yet to be liquidated till date despite the fact that its tenor has expired. The bank further claimed it sold the property to Chobe Ventures Ltd to liquidate the loan. However, in its counter affidavit to the application, the EFCC argued that the bank lacks the ‘locus standi’ to challenge the forfeiture of property ‘reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities of Ambassador Ayo Oke and Mrs. Folashade Oke.

N4.5bn fraud: EFCC re-arraigns Ex-Gov Nnamani Dec 4 Peter Fowoyo

ÎÎÎ A Federal High Court,

Ikoyi, Lagos on Thursday adjourned till December 4, 2017 for the re- arraignment of a former Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering of N4.5 billion during his tenure as the governor of the state When the matter came up yesterday, a lawyer, M. Bamidele from the law firm of Ricky Tarfa SAN who represented the defendant told the court that, his chamber was served with hearing notice six days ago, but the time was too short for Chimaroke Nnamani to be in court as the defendant was not in the country and they have not been able to get in touch with him. The prosecutor Kelvin Uzozie was also not in court,but wrote a letter to the court asking for adjournment. Consequently, the court adjourned till December 4, 2017 when the former governor would be arraigned. However, the defence counsel Bamidele, objected to the date, on the ground that it may be difficult to get in touch with the defendant before that day but Justice Chuka Obizor frowned at his objection, as he observed that this may be a ploy to delay the trial. The Judge claimed that the case has just been assigned to him, therefore the counsel should take steps to make sure that his client

come back to face trial. Thereafter Justice Obiozor adjourned till December 4, 2017 for arraignment and trial. This fresh arraignment is coming ten years after the ex-governor and others were first arraigned before the court in connection with the alleged offence. Nnamani was earlier arraigned before Justice Tijani Abubakar and rearraigned before Justice Charles Archibong when Tijani Abubakar was elevated to Court of Appeal and later re-arraigned before Mohammed Yinusa when Justice Archibong Coalition of Civil Society Organisations on a peaceful protest against slave trade activities in Libya at the Libyan Embassy, Asokoro, retired. Abuja… on Thursday. Photo: TEMITOPE BALOGUN. The former Governor was re -arraigned on a 105-count charge of money laundering and economic crime to the tune of N4.5 billion. The case has just been reassigned to Justice Chuka Obiozor to start de novo things in the country was hammed (PBUH). the light of the recent Following the unfor(afresh). not as bad as being painted In a statement on Thurs- spotlight on slave trade tunate death of many NiThe ex-governor was aroutside day, Senator Tinubu said: on the African continent, raigned before the court gerians in search of greenShe, therefore, urged “I celebrate with Muslim we must also pray for our alongside his ex-aide, Sun- er pastures abroad and such restive Nigerians faithful in the Lagos Cen- brothers and sisters who day Anyaogu and six firms inhuman treatment meted to be patient, saying the tral Senatorial District, are being held against out on others in Libya, linked to them. country would be great Lagos State and Nigeria as their will in these far-away They are: Rain- Senator Oluremi Tinubu again. a whole on the celebration lands. bownet Nig Ltd, Hillgate representing Lagos CenMany young Nigerians of the birth of Prophet Mo“I also want to use this Nig Ltd, Cosmos FM, Capi- tral Senatorial District has planning to transit to Eu- hammed (SAW). medium to encourage tal City Automobile Nig urged young Nigerians inrope through that North “The birth of the Holy those intending to leave Ltd, Renaissance Univer- tending to leave the counAfrican country are said Prophet marks the be- Nigeria illegally in search sity Teaching Hospital and try illegally in search of to have been turned into ginning of the great life of greener pastures – Be Mea Mater Elizabeth High greener pastures abroad to slaves and subjected to in- of service and teaching patient. Nigeria Will Be School. have a rethink. human treatment by Liby- which he led. It is a time Great Again. Mr Bamidele told the Apparently worried “Thus, I enjoin you all court that as of today only by the number of young an nationals who demand that calls for reflection on Chimaroke Nnamani is people that ply the North outrageous amount to al- the purpose of his birth, at this time and always, to life, teachings and laid embody Prophet Mohamthe only defendant in the African country enroute low them a passage. This is contained in a down tenets. med (PBUH)’s teachings charge as the companies Europe illegally on daily message to Nigerians on “We must at this time, on love, peace, tolerance, have been convicted. basis on the pretence of the occasion of the cele- continue to pray for the faithfulness and holy livThe alleged financial harsh economic condition bration of Maulid Nabiyy, peace and prosperity of ing”. impropriety was alleged in Nigeria, Senator Tithe birth of Prophet Mo- our country, Nigeria. In nubu said the situation of

Oluremi Tinubu warns against futile search for greener pasture ÎÎÎ

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

News 9

Abia Free Trade Zone to create 1m jobs –Ikpeazu Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia

ÏÏÏAbia

State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has said that the Abia Free Trade Zone would create about one million jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state. The Governor stated this at an interactive forum with stakeholders from Ukwa East and West and Ugwunagbo Lo-

cal Government Areas where the Trade Zone would be located. Governor Ikpeazu who explained that governance is about creating better life for the people, noted that land is supposed to be put into good use to impact positively generations to come, hence, the need to accept the project by the communities. He said the project which would be financed by local and

international investors is located 30 minutes away from two seaports at Onne and Abonima making it easy for the investors to access their goods. While urging the communities to as a matter of importance own the project by participating from start to finish, revealed that the Trade Zone when ready will have uninterrupted power supply. “I think we need to think strategically, we need to think

about tomorrow, on the need to plant a seed that will germinate tomorrow”, he said. Dr. Ikpeazu highlighted that the land owners as well as the communities would be adequately compensated, while their percentages would be managed by any bank of their choice. The Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning, Uche Ihediwa, in his speech said the importance of

a Free Trade Zone cannot be over emphasized as it has reversed the economic fortune of Dubai. Ihediwa revealed that sensitization exercise which had over 3000 persons in attendance from the three local governments spanned over four months. He explained that the project would introduce a paradigm shift from the old way of land acquisition, noting that the

land owners won’t be neglected. The lands Commissioner described electricity, and bad road network, as some of the challenges confronting the communities. The monarchs from the three communities, Eze Ibeabuchi Ekeke, Eze Godwin Ukanna and Eze Moses Ugochukwu Eze on behalf of their people appreciated the governor and the state.

Enugu: CP urges police officers to discharge duties with passion Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÏÏÏThe Commissioner of

L-R: Kaduna State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Dr. Muhammed Sani; Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Mr. Bala Bantex and Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Manzo Daniel, during a workshop on Ease of Doing Business Methodology in Kaduna State… on Thursday.

Cross River pays December salary Edem Bassey, Calabar

ÏÏÏCross River State Gov-

ernment has paid December 2017 salary. The Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Media, Mr. Christian Ita, disclosed this in a statement made available to our correspondent in Calabar on Thursday. He said that the early payment of December salaries was meant to enable workers in the state make their

Christmas purchases before the usual hike in prices of commodities that occasions Christian festival. The statement further stated that it was to forestall the strains occasioned by a hike in prices of commodities during Christmas. “Workers in Cross River State, have reasons to smile as the State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade-yesterday (November 30) commenced the payment of December salaries for the state’s workforce. “This is not the first time

the Professor Ben Ayade- led administration in the state is paying salaries ahead of time. His Excellency, Professor Ben Ayade believes tha`t paying December salaries early will help workers shop for Christmas before the usual hike in prices during Christmas.” “This is a strategy to ensure value for money. Although the last time the state got federal allocation was way back in October, the workers-friendly governor decided to pay December

salaries early as a show of his underlying love for the workers,” the statement concluded.

Gov Ayade

Instant Apartment berths in Nigeria Mutia Alli

ÏÏÏInstant

Apartment, a web-based platform that provides short stay, medium and long stay property rental has promised customers a wide range of outstanding luxury services to make accommodation memorable for them, following their official launch, in Nigeria on Tuesday, November 28, 2017. The platform allows users

to search for short let apartments and connect them with verified real estate hosts as well as property owners looking to monetize their selfowned apartments which can be booked anywhere around the world on www.instantapartment.com. Instant Apartment has revealed a couple of services, which will be rendered to ensure utmost convenience and comfort for customers – some

of the services include; free pickup from the airport, provision of a car and chauffeur for mobility, free Wi-Fi, 24 hours uninterrupted power supply, swimming pool, 24/7 security, cable TV and several more. Commenting on the company’s objectives and services, CEO Instant Apartment, Ubi Franklin said; “Our platform’s goal is to help customers gratify their various taste and needs with the wide range of luxury

apartments which have been made available. It’s also an avenue for property owners to advertise their properties to customers across the globe. “Apartments on our platforms are carefully selected and the hosts are thoroughly verified to provide the best accommodations and additional services like free meal on first day of arrival, restaurants, events, recreation centres, among others.”

Police in Enugu State, Mr Mohammed Danmallam, has urged police officers and men to always be committed and discharge duties with passion. Danmallam gave the advice during a launch of a book titled; “Policing with Passion’’, written by a serving police officer, SP Iwara Ibiang of the Police Intelligence Bureau in Enugu on Thursday. The commissioner noted that only committed and passionate officers and men always project the Police Force right in the eyes of the public, as their passion for the job always leaves a lasting impression. “I am pleased that this book is coming at a time when the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, is emphasising on the need to police with human face, respect for human rights and the rule of the law. “So, as a command, we want all personnel of the Nigeria Police Force to do their job with passion, dedication and commitment it deserves,’’ he said. The commissioner said that the command would continue to encourage officers and men to contribute to the development of the police and Nigeria at large. Earlier, the book reviewer, Dr Okechukwu Chikeleze, said that the 80-page and eight chapter’s book clearly x-rayed the role and mind-set of a positive-thinking and work-oriented police personnel. Chikeleze, with the Department of Public Administration in Enugu State University of Science and

Technology, noted that the author presented the facts in the book in a clear English; thus, making the book easy to read by all. “I will not only recommend this book for police officers and men; but every civil or public servant should have this, read it again and again; while internalising the message into how he or she carries out his public service to the people. “I believe that this book is a good guide to all, especially people that want to be good public administrators and public service providers tomorrow,’’ he said. The Chairman of the occasion, Comrade Chukwuma Igbokwe, said that there was need to encourage Nigerians to put legacies down in form of books for others to learn and enrich their knowledge. Igbokwe, also the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Enugu State, said; “this book is highly inspirational and practical to the core. You need to have a copy’’. The author of the book, SP Iwara Ibiang, said that he was inspired to write the book to lend his voice in the transformation of the Nigeria Police Force and government workers. Ibiang, who was officer-incharge of State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) in Cross River and Enugu States, said that there was a need for people to be committed to public duties to move the nation forward. On how to get the right people that would police with passion; the author noted that it must start from the recruit or the entry point into the Police Force; as once the recruit was gotten right, every other thing would fall in-line.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

Politics How do you assess the President Muhammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, do you think the Igbo’s are being marginalised? We can see for ourselves that he is working by what he said earlier; that those that gave him 97 percent votes would be taken care of; while those that gave him five percent votes would be given five percent appointment, I don’t want to say he is marginalising Igbos, but it is obvious that the Igbos have been marginalised in this country since after the civil war by all successive administrations. They are shortchanged in critical appointments; and even when they are appointed, they are teleguided. What is happening is a master servant relationship. The military thought they did the Igbos a disservice after the civil war; all of us in the South East and South-South, we were all one until Aguiyi Ironsi created twelve states, it was met to break the Igbos, it is widely known. And I have been to the South-South states of Akwa Ibom and Cross River and I saw a lot of the oil palms, if you look at the history of these palms; they were planted by the late Michael Opara and Akanu Ibiam. The North was only successful in breaking the South East and South South, but the truth is we cannot make progress until we agree that we are one, that is only when we can make significant progress; since they separated the South South from the South East what have their governments achieved? The way we are going, until we in the South agrees, we would never make progress. What is happening is that: they would say we give you Senate President and they would go at the back and spoil it; they say we the Igbo’s are smart; but I believe we are positively smart. The Nigerian system favours the elites, in every sector, even the electoral system, that is why it is difficult for the people to recall them What is happening now is that: they are busy enriching themselves, until the electoral system is credible and the people can vote for who they want; things would continue to be bad, because it is only the few that are positioning themselves into positions. What is going on now is a master servant relationship. But the Igbos have ruled and had their chance, Jonathan gave a lot of key appointments to Igbos? It is not what you think, if you look at the history of the country, out of 57 years, the Igbos have only ruled for two or three years, there is little that can be done with such little time, more so when you have been teleguaided. So I don’t believe that what you just said, gives us a chance to rule that is what we are demanding. But one of your leaders, Orji Uzor Kalu said Buhari would get second term and also he would rule after him? That is the view of Kalu, he is speaking for himself, he was once the governor of Abia State, let his conscience judge him, what did

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1 2017

‘Igbos have been shortchanged in Nigeria’ There is no confab that the government would not have delegation. They were all asked to send delegations; what happened was that people came from professional groups and ethnic nationalities, so I don’t know what they are saying. Our problem is that we put sentiment and tribe in everything we do. Do you believe in the anti graft war? Just forget, there is no anti graft war in the country; it is just propaganda; what is happening is just against certain people. Maina was returned, Dambazau who was accused by the previous administration, he was reappointed, so what are you saying? But Buhari just visited the South East? This government have no plan for the people, the visit was all political; he cancelled the railway project without any due course, even projects executed by Jonathan, there was no railway in the country until Jonathan came to try and execute some and this government came and cancelled them, why not look at the cost, if it is too much, you reduce it. In developed countries you travel by rail; everybody cannot be on the road. With what Buhari is doing now, the Igbo states are neglected, imagine that, that is Buhari for you we know his history. DIKE

Eze, sir Steve Dike (KSJI), is the Eze Udo 1 of Igando/Ikotun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Alimosho, Lagos State. In this interview with INIOBONG IWOK, Eze Dike says the Igbos have been marginalised by successive administrations in Nigeria, he also assesses the Buhari administration among other issues? he do for his people? Did he perform while in office? Igbos have a leader which is the head of Ohaneze and it is the group which can speak for the Igbos. Kalu is a politician and he is speaking the view of a politician. What we are saying is that Buhari is not performing, the APC government came to power with promise of change, they have failed us, they have failed to deliver. Nigerian’s are complaining, people are dying of hunger; let him go back and look at his house, a lot of his ministers are not even performing, let him do a thorough house cleaning and appoint the right people in the right places. Are you in support of the Biafra agitation by IPOB? When you beat a child and you say he should not cry; how is that possible; our youths are not happy with the state of affairs in the country. A lot of them are graduates without jobs. We are being marginalized,

If you look at the history of the country, out of 57 years, the Igbos have only ruled for two or three years, there is little that can be done with such little time, more so when you have been teleguaided. So I don’t believe that what you just said, gives us a chance to rule that is what we are demanding.

there is no fairness and justice in doing things in Nigeria. Look at what is happening in the federal schools entrance examination, either university or unity schools; you score certain mark and they say you cannot be admitted, while someone from a Northern state would score a low mark and be given admission. They call it Federal character, is that fair? That is why there would be agitation in the country, because there is no justice. Jonathan tried to establish Amajiri schools for them, yet he is not appreciated, that is the Nigeria that we are. Do you support the call for restructuring? It is either we restructure or we go our separate ways, is it not obvious that the present system is not working? There is too much concentration of resources at the centre; leaving the states empty. What we need to do is to allow the state control their resources and contribute to the centre. We know this, how long are we going to continue with like this? The Jonathan confab report offers solutions to our problems, they have to go back to it. APC said Jonathan handpicked the delegate?

What is the essence of your office? The essence of my office is to unite the lgbos here, we promote our culture, the way we dress, our language and even food. You know our children have traveled abroad, a lot of them are forgetting our tradition and culture; and we need to promote it. We also try and settle disputes and disagreements among our people with others and within their family. When they buy property, there could be problems, that is when we come in. What are the basic problems of Igbos here? Our people have unemployment problem, you know Lagos being the former capital territory, a lot of people from the East come here to look for work and do business. But naturally you know that we the Igbos are well traveled and there is no where you go in Nigeria that you would not find an Igbo man setting up business and they build houses were they reside, they even intermarry; my wife is a Yoruba woman. There are things other tribes would not do. But the Ebonyi State governor has endorsed Buhari for second term? Our leaders are not the problem; what is happening is that they are telling Buhari what he wants to hear. Our people are not happy with the state of affairs in the country. You finish school no job, with the resources God has blessed us with, we should not be in this position, and you are talking about second term for Buhari, let him go and contest if he would not lose.

Politics12

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1 2017

PDP will die if convention is not credible - Adedoja Myke Uzendu, Abuja. One of the aspirants to the office of the National chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prof. Taoheed Adedoja has said that the party will go into extinction if it fails to conduct a free, fair and credible convention, adding that if the South West does not produce the next chairman, then the party will have no stake in the zone. Prof. Adedoja stated this in Abuja at the National headquarters of the party when he submitted his nomination form. The aspirant who was not worried by the number of the aspirants from the South West and the inability of the candidates to go into consensus said that the beauty of democracy is for the people to elect their leaders in a healthy and transparent manner. He said that the fact that so many people are jostling for the same position shows that PDP is still a force to reckon with in the zone. He said, “If the South West produces only one national aspirant, Nigerians should be worried about it. If we produce only two aspirants people will still shout only two, PDP is finished. Other zones know that it is the turn of the South West. “If they do not produce the next chairman of the party, then South West will be porous, South West will be up for grabs. It has implications for the survival of the party.” He said that all the zones have endorsed his candidature, adding that he will be a uniting factor not only to the party but also to the entire country. He said, “What Nigeria needs at this time is somebody who will strengthen peace. My chairmanship will bring intellectualism to governance. It is about creativity. PDP cannot continue the way it

…Nenadi Usman expresses confidence of emerging party scribe

ADEDOJA has been going. “The foundation of PDP and the nation lies in a successful Convention. If the convention is not credible, then there will be no PDP in 2019. A PDP strategy for the 2017 elections lies in their strategies for the PDP convention. He sounded confident in the ability of Senator Ahmed Makarfi to conduct a credible election just as he denied knowledge of plans for a parallel convention. “I have hope in the National Caretaker Committee headed by Senator Makarfi and we must give them chance to conduct free, fair and credible convention. “I am not aware of any parallel convention. I am a party person and I am not in for any parallel convention.” He said that lack of consensus does

not imply splitting of votes or that candidates are in disarray. “It is not a matter of splitting, it is a matter of sharing and by the grace of God, I will have the highest vote.” Meanwhile, Senator Nenadi Esther Usman, an aspirant for office of the National Secretary said that she will reorganise the party’s Secretariat and use her experience to bring the PDP back to its winning ways. She said that her litigations with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will not affect her chances of being elected. She said, “Organising the secretariat will not be a problem having been in the executive and in the Parliament”. On her abilities, she said that she possess all the abilities for the job. “I don’t think people look at me as a woman. They look at my education, my character and my abilities. I see it as a family contest. After the contest, we shall all work together and put the party back to its winning ways. “The first thing to get right is to see the contest as a brotherly, family contest and not overstretch anything. “So long as there is a level playing ground, I believe people will work together,” Usman states. On her plans to change the battered image of the party, she said, “I think people vote according to the amount of information made available to them. We are going to bring out to the people the facts and people will vote on the grounds of knowledge,” she said. Also another aspirant for the office of Deputy National Woman Leader, Chief Mrs Oluremi Adiukwu said that the she is in the race so as to join hands with others to re-position the PDP.

HDP wants Buhari to dissolve FEC, reorganise EFCC Memoye Oghu, Port Harcourt

The founder and leader of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Chief Ambrose Owuru has said that his party wants the Federal Executive Council (FEC) dissolved and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reorganised. Chief Owuru, who spoke exclusively with The Daily Times in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State said that the Federal Executive Council as presently constituted was illegal because the 2015 presidential election was bought contrary to the electoral law. “In the last election, in our view is what I call a civilian coup. It was bought. They violated the electoral laws that stipulated a limit of one billion for every presidential candidate and what we got was trillions of naira looted and wasted for that election,” he said, adding that the case instituted by the party on the election was still pending in an Abuja Federal High Court. Chief Owuru, who has been the party’s presidential candidate in the last three presidential elec-

tions in the country added that his party’s efforts at checkmating the excesses of government were yielding positive results because, “recently you can hear INEC say they will strictly monitor campaign funds.” On EFCC, the chief said his party, the HDP wants the anti corruption agency reorganised because it is populated by Police officers. “EFCC was established by an act of Parliament, but it is wrongly constituted. Police is rated as the worst corrupt organisation in the country,” he told our correspondent, stressing that “my party recently went to court; we want that organisation reorganised or dissolved. The case is coming up on 19 December.” He further allege that his party was also presently in court to reprimand certain EFCC corrupt prosecutors who connived with fraudulent land speculators to sell off people’s property. “Right here in Port Harcourt, we’ve been able to identify some corrupt prosecutors who used land speculators to sell off people’s property.” We are in possession of a copy of

OWURU

an originating summons from an Abuja Federal High Court in suit No:FHC/ABJ/CS/1028/2017 dated 24 October, 2017 in a case between the HDP versus the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice as well as two others as defendants.

Aare Ona Kakanfo: Obaseki congratulates Gani Adams ...... As Atta of Ebira land, confirms coronation attendance

OBASEKI

Patrick Okohue

The Executive Governor Of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has joined the list of prominent Nigerians that have sent goodwill messages to the recently proclaimed 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Otunba Gani Adams. According to Governor Obaseki, Dr Adams deserves the appointment, noting that the sterling leadership qualities exhibited by Adams as the Cordinator of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), and antecedents as an advocate for the Yoruba people and commitment to the promotion of the Yoruba cultural heritage through greater cultural awareness among the people must have contributed immensely to his nomination to the most prestigious war title in Yorubaland. “As the new Generalissimo of Yorubaland, I urge you to see your elevation as a call to higher service to humanity and in defense of the fundamental rights and unity of the Yoruba nation.” In a related development, His Royal Highness, Dr. Ado Ibrahim, the Atta Ebira while congratulating the Aare designate confirmed his intention to attend the installation come January 13, 2018. HRM Ado Ibrahim in a letter he personally signed said, “I am highly delighted to know that by the will of Allah, the merciful and protector of all mankind, your dear people, the Yoruba people of grace and culture intend to install you on 13th January, 2018 as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, as instrumented by His Imperial Majesty Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111 (Iku Baba Yeye, Alase Ikeji Orisha).” He promised to reach out to the Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyemi 111 about his pleasure to attend the occasion.

Page Thirteen

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

Editorial

PHOTO TIMES

Survival of local airlines

ewspaper reports that the local airlines in Nigeria may collapse within the next five years if urgent steps are not taken to improve their performance has brought to the front burner the current poor performance of most domestic airlines in the country and the need for urgent steps by the government to safe the aviation industry from imminent collapse. Local airlines in the country currently operate domestic and regional routes, but they may find it difficult to operate further because of stiff competition arising from the open skies initiative now gaining ground across Africa. The open skies agreement which liberalises air services in Africa was signed in Yamoussoukro in 1988. The resultant deregulation of air services and the promotion of regional air markets brought in its wake transnational competition among airlines in Africa, thus creating a palpable fear that most airlines, especially the weak ones will eventually collapse. The Yamoussoukro declaration is expected to take effect within the next five to seven years. But before the agreement goes into effect, some local airlines in Nigeria started experiencing operational difficulties which almost grounded their operations. They were bailed out by the federal government a few years ago. Unfortunately, some of the airlines that took the bailout are yet to fully pay back, thus creating a bad image for the aviation industry and making it difficult for the government to extend lifeline to them again. Consequently, experts are warning that in the ensuing competition the weak airlines would collapse, thus giving way to the strong ones to survive. For Nigeria, many local airlines may not be able to compete favourably in the next few years and operate regular flights for a number of reasons. First, less than 20 of the 47 registered

Publisher/Editor in Chief

Publishing Executive Enyinne Onwunwanne Leke Adelere Acting General Manager 08037038663 Konie Agu Group Head, Business Development/Folio Foundation 08033150455

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Public Service Institute of Nigerian, Dr. Abdul-Ganiyu Obatoyinbo and Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Sharon Ikeazor, during a courtesy visit to PTAD headquarters in Abuja… on Thursday.

L-R: Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University, Prof. Blessing Didia, presenting a gift to the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), Mr. Nsima Ekere, during a courtesy visit to Didia in his office… on Thursday. With them is Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Nlerum Okogbule.

L-R: Mother of the author, Pastor Mrs. Elizabeth Togbubo and author, Favour Togbubo, during the public presentation of a book in Abuja.

Words On Marble :

– Fidelis Anosike

Folio Group Group Managing Director Noel Anosike

local airlines in the country have good insurance policy and without good insurance policy, they might not be able to effectively operate and compete both in the local and in the regional market. Also, most of the local airlines have poor business plans and bad aircraft holding structure. They also operate multiple aircraft types and have poor maintenance history, bad crew and aircraft management system. It is also instructive that for many of them, the bailouts they received from the federal government some years ago are yet to be fully repaid, for some others, their aircraft holding structure cannot sustain their flight schedules. In addition, most of them have poor corporate governance in running their airlines. Some have fat pay for foreign pilots and staff and meagre pay for local pilots and staff doing similar jobs. Added to this are rampant corruption, fraud and conversion of operations money to personal use by many owners of local airlines. Worse still is the nonchalant attitude of some of the aircraft owners to the state of affairs of their airlines. The way forward is for the strong airlines to streamline their aircraft holding structure for better performance and be ready for the stiff competition ahead. In addition, the airlines should adopt realistic business plans that can make their airlines survive the tough competition ahead. The option of mergers and acquisition should also be vigorously pursued by airline owners. In doing this, some of the big airlines should merge to form mega airlines, or acquire the weaker ones. Where the airlines are unwilling to merge, the government should come up with a survival plan that would make them merge just as it did some years ago the Central Bank allowed many banks in the country to merge to meet the N25 billion minimum capital base directives set for the banks.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Daily Times

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George Washington

Napoleon Hill

Odumegwu Ojukwu

It is far better to be alone, than to be in bad company.

If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.

Since oppression is maintained by force, it is only possible to remove that oppression by a counterforce.

Opinion

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

What Nigeria needs is world-class healthcare not enlarged federal cabinet

Gbemiga Olakunle, JP

n Saturday October 28, 2017, I lost two members of my extended family. They were my senior cousins who were in their mid 60’s and late 70’s respectively. They died of sickness in their respective locations and not through any form of accident. Losing the two of them same day was a shock to my extended family members and of course, painful. But the one that was more painful was that of the younger one – the Late Chief Bashiru Funsho Awodele who was a Clearing and Forwarding company Chief Executive and a Community leader in my hometown in Oyo state. Chief Awodele’s demise was more painful because of the circumstances that surrounded it. Here was a man who took ill briefly and as a result decided to go to a tertiary hospital in Lagos which has been declared as one of the Centres of Excellence in the country for a medical check – up. He was not carried there on a stretcher or in an ambulance. He walked into the healthcare facility himself. When the deceased noticed my call on the Thursday evening October 26 which he missed, he decided to return it early in the morning of Friday October 27. I spoke with him briefly and promised to call back later in the evening which I decided to defer to the following day so as to give him enough time to rest. Unknown to me, I thought he was having a bed rest in his house, not knowing that he was speaking from an hospital room. I could no longer make the intended phone call of the Saturday morning again. Rather it was

a call that I received from another caller that announced his obituary to me. I thought I was in a dream land, until one of my nephews called from my home town and confirmed the sad news to me. According to the logo of the hospital where this late senior cousin of mine passed on – “we care, God heals”. But when the facilities in our public health institutions are not up to standard for our Medical Doctors, Nurses and other Health workers to really care enough for their patients before the Great Physician comes to their rescue, they may be lost in the process. And it is this kind of facilities that is lacking in the country which made many Nigerians to embark on frequent Medical Tourism abroad. And the President of the country – His Excellency Muhammed Buhari is not left out. In fact he puts politics aside seems to be the champion of those seeking proper Medicare abroad. At the last count, the President reportedly spent about 103 days in London enjoying the best of health care services from his doctors who were using high – technology in the medical practice to care for the President before God had mercy on him and healed him, as a result of intercessory prayers which some cross – sections of the country offered to God on his behalf. And the healing /transformation was so dramatic to the extent that some doubting Thomases are still of the opinion that the President occupying the Presidential Villa now is a fake – one and not the one they used to know. The miracle was an outstanding one and the President himself acknowledged it. If he had listened to some of his handlers who were gambling

and trying to play politics with his health by urging him to stay back in the Villa for his treatment, he would have been a goner by now. As long as the President is healthy after his several medical sojourns abroad, no one bothers to know how much the nation has spent on the medical tours of its President. And that was why the Nigerian Medical Doctors urged the President to declare a state of emergency in the health care sector of the nation so as to checkmate the exodus of Nigerians travelling to Europe, America and India for their medical needs. Of recent, a former Chief of Army Staff – General – Victor Malu reportedly passed on in an hospital in Egypt. Ironically, there are statistics to show that most of the experts and consultants that are running these world – class hospitals especially in the United Kingdom and the United States of America are Nigerians. In fact, the immediate past President of America – President Barack Obama once testified to this fact. In a related development, a veteran Journalist and President of Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE)- Mrs. Funke Egbemode was obviously livid with anger when she learnt that a group of investors were about to establish a world – class standard hospital in Ghana. According to her, Ghanaian authorities must have noticed how much in terms of foreign exchange many Nigerians are spending to seek for treatment in the Europe, America and India. And they must thought it better to corner a sizable chunk of these millions of dollars just like they are doing in the Educational sector in spite of the fact that some Nigerian students are attending glorified secondary schools in Ghana

in the name of schooling abroad. Earlier in the week in one of the offices in Abuja, I overheard a passerby lamenting how some children are dying like fowls in an hospital. They were strangers and so I couldn’t poke – nose into their discussion and inquire of the identity of the hospital. But that enquiry did not matter because we are all living witnesses of the state of our public health institutions including the Aso Villa Clinic. And in this era of change mantra, the change we deservedly need in this nation is the total overhauling of our Healthcare Delivery System and not an expanded membership of the Federal Executive Council with the attendant humongous burden on the nation’s Treasury. In order to curb Medical Tourism, Funke Egbemode, among other things have recommended in one of her recent articles last month that the nation should designate some Teaching Hospitals in the country as Centers of Excellency for the treatment of Hearts, Kidney issues, Eyes, Orthopedic related treatments, among others. Nigeria is the only country that pays the least minimum wage to her workers while paying the highest package of salaries/allowances to her political office holders to the extent that a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria earns more than the President of the United States of America. Olakunle, JP is General Secretary, National Prayer Movementgbemigaolakunle@yahoo.co.uk, Abuja and Aande, Ph.D. is Professor of Agricultural Economics and Development Policy, former Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER),

Need to curb high level militarisation of FRSC personnel

I Shaibu Danjuma

n recent time, the untoward behavior among members of FRSC to motorists and members of the public using the highway calls for concern .It is glaring to state that the statutory functions of the FRSC in the management and safety of the highway is gradually taking the forms and coloration of a trained professional Military to carry out an assault on enemy targets. Ironically, the statutory responsibilities assigned to the Federal Road Safety Corps[ FRSC] from inception of its establishment made the corps more or less civil in nature and that has been the general expectations of the overall performance of the staff of the corps manning the highway. Sadly, the dramatical change of events from being civil to militarization in recent time calls for question . Constitutionally, the establishment of FRSC in February, 1988 through Decree NO. 45 as statute book as FRSC cap 141 laws of the Federation of Nigeria [LFN]passed by the National Assembly as FRSC as amended by Decree NO.35 of 1992 and named as by National Assembly as FRSC [est]ACT 2007 clearly spelt out the functions of FRSC as follows: -Make the highway safe for motorists and other road users -Recommend works and device designed to eliminate road accident -Educates motorists and members of the public on the impor-

tance of discipline on the highway - Preventing or minimizing accident on the highway -Determining from time to time the requirements to be satisfied by applicants for a driver’s license -The standardization of highway traffic code -Clearing obstructions on any parts of the highway -Designing and producing driver license to be used by various categories of vehicle operator -Conducting research into causes of motor accidents -Designing and producing vehicle plate number -Giving proper attention and care to victims of accidents -Determining and enforcing speed limit to all categories of vehicle. For obvious reasons, Nigerians need to know the actual functions of the FRSC in the Nation’s highway occasioned by the frequent conflict, harassment and delay of vehicular movement by staff of FRSC managing the highway. It is however pertinent to bring to the fore the role and responsibility of the staff of the FRSC so that road users and members of the public should actually know much about the functions of the operative on the highway and of course the limitations of this agency[FRSC] Furthermore, it might equally interest Nigerians particularly the road users to note that the aforementioned statutory functions of FRSC

serves as a guide for them to have clear understanding of what the agency stands for. From the foregoing, the functions of FRSC does not in anyway relates or recommend the men and Officers to bear arms in its operation or conducts to the citizens rather to make the highway safe for motorists and other road users that means the laws established it does not authorized FRSC to perform any other duty or functions that requires them bearing of arms as some individuals are clamoring for. It is easy to say than done, sometimes I felt disappointed the way FRSC staff conduct themselves toward motorists on the highway as if they’re soldiers. In some cases one would be surprised seeing FRSC personnel jumping into vehicles of the perceived offenders unsolicited in the name of carrying out their legitimate mandates. To be candid, going by the functions of FRSC from the statutory book, there is no section that mandated or authorized the corps to perform any act that relates to a professional combatant in the discharge of duty as is been advanced . This act of Militarization being exhibited by the personnel of FRSC often time exposed them and other road users to danger particularly to those who really understand the boundary and limitations of the corps, sometimes resist any violation on their right as road users consequently gave birth to disagreement or at-

tack on the FRSC staff on the highway. In some clime, the conducts of some FRSC staff on the highway out rightly negate its statutory functions in the discharge of duty to the members of the public and the road users.When the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC ‘’ we have lost 70 personnel in 2016 alone. The question is if 70 of its personnel were killed in just a period of a year how many of its staff were killed since establishment of the corps 1988? Agreed, 70 of its personnel lost their lives during attack and many others maimed by motorists, what step taken by the corps Marshal of FRSC Dr Boboye Oyeyemi to get to the root causes of such an attack and maiming of its personnel in the course of performing their legitimate mandates? Is the personnel fighting insurgency or Militant in the Niger Delta ? the centrality of the whole matter revolves around moral training re-orientation of the personnel to leave up to expectation while carrying out official engagement. Corruption has deepened and widely infiltrated the corps. Men and Officers of the corps collect bribe openly and that has reduced the respect the citizens hitherto has for them on the highway. It was clearly pointed out from the statutory book as parts of the functions of FRSC to clear any obstructions on the highway to avoid further road crash, sometimes broken

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

15 Column

Abdullahi’s Inside Story On Jonathan

Conversation with Azu 040817

O ‘

But there was more to Jonathan’s golden chance than the list of those who tried but failed to become president. The economy, for example, was on a better footing with the external reserve at $43 billion (oil price at $84 pbd); the amnesty programme started under Yar’Adua was bearing fruit and calm was returning to the Niger Delta; the country had substantially regained its goodwill and respect abroad.

’

f the three presidents who ruled Nigeria between 1999 and 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan appears, so far, to have been the subject of more controversial books than his two predecessors. Five notable books about or significantly touching on former President Obasanjo’s tenure are his memoir, My Watch; Olusegun Obasanjo: The Presidential Legacy (Vols. I & II) 1999-2007, by Ladipo Akinkugbe et al; Obasanjo, Nigeria And The World, by John Illiffe; and Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s Accidental Public Servant. Segun Adeniyi’s Power, Politics and Death, is perhaps the most definitive book yet on late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s tenure. Within two and a half years of Jonathan’s exit from power, however, five books on his tenure have, so far, been published, three of the most notable of which are – Against the Run of Play, by Segun Adeniyi; Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years, by Reno Omokri; and now, On a Platter of Gold, by Bolaji Abdullahi. Adeniyi was an insider in a different era, but even though the other two – Omokri and Abdullahi – served in the same government at different levels, their views are strikingly, but unsurprisingly, different. Abdullahi’s 397-page 12-chapter book is an X-ray of Jonathan’s five-year rule, the forces that made him a democratic president and how Jonathan’s apparent inability to manage some of those forces eventually brought down his government. When the author said from the title of the book that Jonathan was handed the Presidency on a platter of gold, I don’t think it was to suggest that Jonathan was unworthy of the bequest. The trope was in the context of other political heavyweights who had given everything for the office but still failed to get it. And Abdullahi named them in the introductory chapter of his book. But there was more to Jonathan’s golden chance than the list of those who tried but failed to become president. The economy, for example, was on a better footing with the external reserve at $43 billion (oil price at $84 pbd); the amnesty programme started under Yar’Adua was bearing

Jonathan fruit and calm was returning to the Niger Delta; the country had substantially regained its goodwill and respect abroad. And on top of all this, by 2011, the ruling PDP had swallowed its own vomit by setting aside zoning to back Jonathan. With party and country rooting for him and the tailwinds behind the economy, the President could not have wished for more auspicious circumstances. From Abdullahi’s account, three things defined Jonathan’s Presidency – discontent within the relatively weakened party he inherited; the handling of Boko Haram, which predated him; and the attitude of Jonathan’s government to corruption. President Jonathan has, of course, added two other reasons why he lost: he has blamed the Northern elite, especially the leadership of the party (which has in turn blamed Jonathan for recruiting outsiders who used vile language during the campaign); and he has also blamed foreign powers, specifically the US, France and the UK. Until he stops threatening to write and actually writes his own memoir, however, we’ll have to wait and see if the man in the mirror will ultimately take responsibility. Outsiders were probably familiar with the episodes summarised above, but perhaps not with the intricate, riveting details of who did what, when and how. The author takes the reader by hand through the corridors of power in Aso Rock into the Glass House, the chambers of council meetings, and other such sanctum sanctorum where decisions are taken in the name of the country but which often bear the disgusting imprint of narrow personal and group interests. Who could have known that two women in the presidential godhead – Diezani Allison-Madueke and

Stella Oduah – while presenting a façade of a public interest, still managed to corner the President behind each other’s backs, with long knives? And that if Diezani did not whisper into Jonathan’s ear, he might have spared Oduah even after a presidential panel had indicted her in the N250 million bulletproof car saga? In hindsight, though, it is quite interesting to see that Diezani, of all people, was Jonathan’s closet lecturer on how to tackle corruption! Who could have thought that Dame Patience Jonathan, apart from her famous gift for drama, could also summon the presence of mind in her post-election moment of distress to remind the Attorney General of the Federation of some fine points of history after accusing him of betrayal? Or that Minister Adewunmi Adesina, in spite of being President Jonathan’s poster boy, would be among the first to jump ship, openly courting the opposition, after Jonathan’s defeat? But it’s all there in the book, in details not previously known and in words that will make you cry and laugh. Or think. The author appears to suggest that on his own, Jonathan was a very nice man, a happy-go-lucky fellow who will not offend anyone. I think most people would agree. But that was, also, part of the problem. A leader who does not want to offend anyone, who does not want to break eggs, cannot expect to make omelet. A leader who will say one thing in the morning and another in the afternoon just to please the last listener, may not be motivated by vicious incompetence, but incompetence is incompetence. There’s no need for an adjective. Yet, we also see from the book that power can be a very, very lone-

ly place. When it came to the decisions that unmade Jonathan’s presidency – whether it was about what to do with the fuel subsidy scam or how to respond to Boko Haram, which covered one quarter of the book; how to handle the Chibok girls or how to respond to the rebellion in his party and the momentous exit of five governors; whether to accept defeat after the election or charge his party to appeal – the man was utterly alone. Would the trajectory have been different if Jonathan had a different temperament? Had he grown so used to being number two that he could not adjust to the nation’s top job? Or was Jonathan, well, just Jonathan? We now know a little more from an insider. Jonathan meant well. He promised a free and fair election and he delivered it. He said his election was not worth the blood of a single Nigerian and conceded defeat even before the final results were in. As to why he failed reelection, the single most telling revelation from the author is that all said and done, the job was beyond him, a point on which two of the three notable postJonathan era books agree. In the last chapter of his book, Abdullahi, who was Sports Minister, narrated how Jonathan executed nine ministers in one day of cabinet shuffle. He said he was penciled in but was later “saved for another day.” Well, that day came to pass but the story is missing in his book! That’s probably a story for his next book. Ishiekwene is the Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview and member of the board of the Global Editors Network

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

18 News

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

FG bemoans importation of GMO, urges firms to embrace organic foods Idu Jude, Abuja

ÏÏÏFederal Government on

Thursday tasked the newly opened to embrace the local content policy in order to promote made-in-Nigeria goods, stem capital flight and conserve the most needed foreign exchange. Buhari stated this at the opening ceremony of Novare Gateway mall (Shoprite), in Abuja, he said hope it would

boost tourism, create jobs and provide refreshing shopping space for residents and visitors alike. According to President Buhari who was represented by Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, “I hope it would boost tourism, create jobs and provide refreshing shopping space for residents and visitors alike. “The opening of this world class facility on the prime

location of the Abuja International Airport Expressway is, indeed, a showpiece of the role of the private sector in the development of all great cities. “The Novare Gateway Mall, beyond its commercial potentials, represents a practical expression of Abuja’s openness for business. It is also a reminder to investors, who are still waiting on the wings, that time is running out on them.

“Among the qualities that make a great city are its landscape, cultural life, tourism potentials and shopping precincts. The completion and opening of the Novare Gateway Mall is indeed a welcome addition into the Abuja landscape and an added beauty to its skyline. We hope it would boost tourism, create jobs and provide refreshing shopping space for residents and visitors alike. “Permit me to reiterate

my call on the management, last year, to embrace the local content policy of the present administration designed to promote made-in-Nigeria goods, stem capital flight and conserve the most needed foreign exchange. Nigeria cannot afford to continue as a dumping ground for foreign goods especially of such products where it has been abundantly blessed. Nigeria’s vegetables and fruits are rated among the best in the world. You would be dem-

onstrating a very great act of patriotism to promote the cultivation of such crops at home as you would wish to shelf on your shops”. He therefore commended the management of Novare Real Estate Africa for the timely completion of this magnificent edifice, barely 18 months after we laid the foundation stone. This is, indeed, very exemplary in the practice of construction engineering.

Imo Assembly suspends Clerk

Val Okara Owerri

ÏÏÏThe rift between the

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, inspecting a stand at the ongoing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Clinics for Viable Enterprises (MSME CLINICS) in Osogbo, Osun State… on Thursday.

Gov Ayade presents N1.3trn 2018 appropriation bill to C’River Assembly Edem Bassey, Calabar

ÏÏÏGovernor

Ben Ayade of Cross River has presented One trillion, three hundred and fifty billion, two hundred and twenty million, one hundred and fifty six thousand, two hundred and twenty five naira, thirty kobo (N1, 350, 220, 156, 225. 30) to the Cross River State House of Assembly as the state’s budget for 2018. Ayade, who tagged the budget `Budget of Kinetic Crystallisation’ said it was meant to crystallise what the state has achieved in the past two years of his administration. He said that the priority of the budget was to develop the state deep sea port and the super highway which are his two signature projects. The Governor said that 70 per cent of the budget is for capital expenditure, while

30 is for re-current expenditure. According to him, the size of the budget is expected to create room for expected investors, now that the annual construction of the state deep sea port and superhighway has commenced and added that the budget is for actualisation and implementation of the state deep sea port, super highway and other laudable projects earmarked for completion. “The 2018 budget is meant to drive the economy of the state to an enviable height. The sum of N126 billion has been budgeted for the ministry of infrastructure. This is to help us develop critical asset in the state. N7billion has been budgeted for the state job centre with a view to help us train our unemployed youths with marketable job skills.

“Also, we have budgeted the sum of N2billion for our school feeding programme. In addition to that, we also budgeted N52billion for Social Welfare in other to provide and care for the aged. My administration is human friendly and my desire is to ensure that every family have what to eat before going to bed’’, he said. The governor further said that the garment factory, which currently has 1,000 workers, would increase to 3,000 in 2018 as part of his drive to engage the unemployed in the state. The 2018 budget estimate is far higher than the 2017 budget of N301billion. “This is a budget for 2018 and tagged Budget of kinetic crystallization, the budget that converts our deep vision, our final transformation into actualization and reality. “The budget that prepare

Cross River State for the next ten years, the budget that seized to be analyzed, the budget that is driven by the philosophy of debt, the budget that is driven by the spirit of dream and not the spirit of talking, the budget that put an end to the conquest of task, the weakness of the pocket. “The budget that is driven in ambition that is stronger than the carrying capacity and fear of the whole nation that budget that is too ambitious to the realistic in the minds of the ordinary, except you are self realised and spirituality high, et you are God fearing and believing in God that there is ambition, God will give you provision. Responding, Speaker of the assembly, Mr John Gaul-Lebo, commended the governor for commencing work on the deep sea port and the super highway.

Imo State Executive and the legislative arms Thursday claimed one casualty as the lawmakers suspended the clerk of the House Mr. Chris Duru. The lawmakers also ordered for full investigation on the activities from 2011 till date. The motion for the suspension of the clerk was moved by the majority leader and the member representing Owerri Municipal, Mr. Luguard Osuji accused the clerk of grossly under performed his duties to the detriment of the House and collective efforts of Assembly members. The motion which was

supported by 20 other members said that it is responsibility of the clerk to collect, process and transmit bills and resolution of house to the executive for the assent of the governor and other legitimate official purpose but the clerk ignored his official duties. The Daily Times reports that the state lawmakers on Tuesday boycotted 2018 budget presentation by Governor Rochas Okorocha citing neglect and disrespect on the part of the executive. It was gathered that accused Governor Okorocha of not releasing their constituency allowance, embarking projects not captured in the 2017 budget and non-accountability of Paris funds.

‘We’ll support Gov Bindow to succeed’ Tom Garba, Yola

ÏÏÏLeadership

of the newly inaugurated Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Adamawa State chapter and the state government have reached an agreement to work together for peace and progress of the state. They arrived at this accord today when the state CAN leadership, led by their Chairman, Archbishop Dami Mamza, came to Government House Yola, on a courtesy visit. Governor of Adamawa State, Senator Mohammed Umar Jibrilla Bindow, reminded the CAN leadership of the need to work together with their Muslim counterpart to bring about lasting peace and progress in Adamawa State. He stressed that,

“religious bodies are not political parties but could collaborate with the present administration in terms of offering meaningful advice and prayers.” In a short remark, Deputy Governor, Martin Babale, said the unity among Christians is further strengthened by the manner the new executives have engaged not only the Christian communities, but Muslims as well. Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Stephen Dami Mamza, said the purpose of the visit was to introduce the new leadership and commiserate with the governor and people of Adamawa state over the recent bomb blast in Mubi and the killings in some communities of Numan local government area.

Mƅƒ 19

# ƇƊƔ jƇƋƅ MƇ ƅƎƇ Friday December 1, 2017

ICPC arrests 4 ex- commissioners in Kogi over N11.3bn fraud Andrew Orolua, Abuja.

ÎÎÎ The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has arrested four commissioners who served during the administration of former Governor of Kogi State , Captain Idris Wada (rtd) over alleged fraud totaling about N11.3Billion . ICPC Spokesperson, Mrs . Rasheedat Okoduwa , disclosed in a statement on Thursday that the four suspects are currently been detained by the commission

pending their administrative bail. Okoduwa identified the ex-commissioners as Kayode Olowomoran ( Culture and Tourism ) , Abdulrahman Wuya ( Transport ); Godwin Onama ( Works ) and Ali Ajuh ( Budget and Planning) . She said the suspects ’ arrest followed ICPC’s investigations into an alleged misapplication of a N 2 bn SME loan they secured from the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of the state . According to her , they acted in connivance with the

former governor Wada, his Accountant -General , Ibrahim Idakwo; and a former Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Commerce , Frank Onoja . The commission was silence over the fate of these persons accused of connivance. “Preliminary investigations by the Commission also revealed that the suspects allegedly took part in the mismanagement of another N8 bn bond that was raised to fund 57 projects across the state . “The large sums of monies released for the projects

were allegedly far beyond the levels of work done . “Furthermore, the suspects are alleged to have benefited from illegal deductions to the tune of N1 .3 bn made from the funds of 21 local government councils in the state by the same administration ,” Okoduwa said. The ICPC spokesperson said the suspects would remain in custody until they fulfill the administrative bail conditions granted them by the Commission , while investigations continue .

Togo impasse: Buhari, 5 other leaders demand roadmap on lasting solution Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÎÎÎ

President Muhammadu Buhari and five other concerned West African leaders have called for an immediate roadmap to pave the way for negotiations between the Togolese government led by President Faure Gnassingbe Eyadema and the opposition movement. The urgent demand by the leaders came at a meeting to discuss the situation in Togo, which ended early on Thursday in Abidjan, on the sidelines of the African Union-European Union Summit. The Presidents of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin Republic and Guinea Conakry, attended the meeting with Presi-

dent Eyadema. The West African leaders asked the parties in Togo to urgently negotiate, without ‘‘any preconditions’’, and resolve the impasse in the interest of the well-being of the country and the region at large. Recall that President Eyadema had given himself a deadline of Friday to provide the basis and framework for negotiations in response to the increasing list of demands put together by the opposition movement seeking to oust him from power after 12 years as President. His late predecessor and father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, was the President of Togo from 1967 until his death in 2005

Agency moves to curb emerging security threats in Plateau Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

ÎÎÎ The upcoming Local

Residents of Biseni clan in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa on a peaceful protest demands for power supply to the community, on Thursday.

zƅ Ƒƅ Ɩ ƇƅƎ Ə ƇƊ ^ Ƈ ƽƟƠÕ MƇ ƅƎ ^#^ Saka Bolaji, Minna

ÎÎÎThe Chairman of the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State, Barrister Tanko Beji, has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello to stop strapping the opposition, insisting that his party has dossiers on his maladministration enough to flush it out of power in 2019. Beji stated this yesterday when he received in audience the executive members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its

Chairman, Comrade Aideloje Ojo, at the PDP state secretariat in Minna. He said that the state government has been intolerant to constructive criticism and well-articulated observations by the PDP on the inefficiency and visible lapses in the administration of the state. He expressed disappointment over the failure of the APC administration to fulfill its campaign promises to the people after two years in office. The PDP boss regretted that the APC government has resulted to intimidation and harassment of PDP members using

available security apparatus instead of harkening to the plight of the people. He said, “The APC government has resorted to arbitrary arrest of PDP members in an apparent measure to cajole and silent the opposition in Niger state. At the time we started constructive criticism of the administration in terms of what the people desired, they cooked up lots of allegations in order to arrest and incarcerate our members including me. I am not disturbed by my arrest; it makes me to be more popular. However, I will like the government

to know that we have all the dossiers and we will use them as missiles in 2019”. He said that the APC administration has continued to fail the people since it took over power in 2015 adding that two years down the lane, the government has nothing to show that was commensurate with the huge finances accrued to the state within the period. Earlier in a remark, the Chairman of Correspondents Chapel, Comrade Aideloje Ojo said the media will not compromise accurate reporting of events in the state in the interest of the public.

Government Elections in Plateau State, with a special focus in Jos North LGA, is fingered as flash point that will ignite crisis that will plunge the State into another round of crisis if not nipped in the bud, says the Director General, Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), Mr Joseph Lengmang. Lengmang stated this Thursday in Jos, during the monthly Peace Architecture Dialogue (PAD), powered by the United States of America Embassy, Abuja. With the theme, “Emerging Security Threats in Plateau”, Mr. Lengmang said the Agency will be focusing on building sustainable structures of peace within the grassroot. He said “we are poised to develop a sustainable peace platforms in all the wards and LGA to further push the message of peace to the grassroots”. Recall that the 2008 crisis that engulfed Plateau was as a result of the LG polls in Jos North which was alleged to be rigged in favour of a candidate not favourable to Hausa

community residing in the area. Just recently, with the conclusion of the primaries of the forthcoming LG elections, tension is already mounting between the Christian and the Muslim community in Jos North owing to the obvious that a Christian emerged as a flag bearer for the People Democratic Party (PDP), while a Muslim candidate emerged as the flag bearer for the All Progressive Congress (APC). Worried by the emerging political security threat, the PPBA, digressed temporary from it earlier focus on this month’s PAD forum “Mechanism for Sustainable Cooperation and Transformation of Farmer/Herder Conflict”, to discuss the security threat associated with the fourth coming local government polls in February 2018. Our correspondent reports that the monthly PAD meeting which was put on hold for over three months as a result of paucity of funds will now run for nine months with the support of the United States of America Embassy in Abuja.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

x FLORAL INNOVATIVE & PRODUCTIVITY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

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JESUS CHRIST IS THE SOLUTION TABERNACLE

The General public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under “Part C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Dr. ADEBOWALE ABDUL-RASAQ ADEJOLA 2. Mr. ABIOYE ADEDIPE 3. Mrs. IKEOBI ELIZABETH OLUBAMKE 4. Professor LATEEF OLADIMEJI SANNI 5. Dr. FAFIOLU ADEBOYE OLUSESAN 6. Mrs FAFIOLU OLUFUNKE FLORENCE

THE TRUSTEES ARE :1. MBAKWE CHIMAOBI ONYEDIKA -Chairman 2. ORDOR KINGSLEY EJIKE -Secretary 3. ONUMADU VITALS JOSHUA 4. OKONKWO IFEANYI 5. MBAKWE OGEMDI JOSHUA 6. WILLIAMS MORRIS ANDY 7. UDEOZO IKECHUKWU CHRISTI 8. UDEKWE EMEKA ANTHONY THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. To preach the undiluted true word of God 2. To do charity works and empower the people of God in all positive areas of life 3. To collaborate with institutions with similar objectives in the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 days of publication.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE; 1. TONY ROGERS - PRESIDENT. 2. BARR. DUMO KELLY-WHYTE - SECRETARY. 3. JUNIOR DAYSPRING JOHNMILLER - TREASURER.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) SAMSON, THOMAS - CHAIRMAN (2) UKWU, ANN - SECRETARY (3) NDOO, LETON ALEX (4) EKPENYONG, EKPENYONG ASUQUO

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ; 1. Carry out community service once in a while as part of the club by way of giving back to the society. Eg: Environmental sanitation. 2. Promote educational awareness that will have direct bearing on the people of Abonnema and Rivers State in general. 3. Promote, encourage, organize and execute programmes that will bring social political awareness to its members. Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

ADDITION OF NAME

This is to inform the general public that my name ALEX ROSE was wrongly written during my BVN registration but now wish to be corrected and addressed as UMEH ROSE UKAMAKA. My correct date of birth 12th December 1947. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

That I was formerly known and addressed as EUNICE PETER, that I now wish to add KALU to my former name that I now wish to be known and addressed as EUNICE PETER KALU. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

MRS OYEWOLE OMOWUNMI ABIGAIL

I formerly known and addressed as ISHOLA OMOKUNMI ABIGAIL and ISHOLA OMOWUNMI STELLA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OYEWOLE OMOWUNMI ABIGAIL . All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

MRS CHUKWUZOROM CHINONSO LINDA I formerly known and addressed as MISS IGBONAEME CHINONSO LINDA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHUKWUZOROM CHINONSO LINDA . All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as RAJI MUSILIM ALABI now wish to be known and addressed as OLAYISOYE MUSILIM ALABI . All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

SHOBANO HAKEEM TAIWO I formerly known and addressed as SHOBANO HAKEEM now wish to be known and addressed as SHOBANO HAKEEM TAIWO . All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

MRS AKINFOLAYAN MOJISOLA AJIKE I formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEGUNLE AJIKE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AKINFOLAYAN MOJISOLA AJIKE . All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as CHUKWUNONSO CHIAMAKA HELEN now wish to be known and addressed as UKADIKE CHIAMAKA HELEN . All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

MR UDO ESSIEN DICK I, formerly known and addressed as, MR ESSIEN DICK, now wish to be known and addressed as, MR UDO ESSIEN DICK. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MAYOKUN TOBILOBA EMMANUEL I, formerly known and addressed as, MAYOKUN TOBILOBA FALASINU, now wish to be known and addressed as, MAYOKUN TOBILOBA EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

This is to inform the general public that my name NLE PRECIOUS was wrongly written during my BVN registration but now wish to be corrected and addressed as NLEMDIOGO PRECIOUS CHIOMA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. PA SANNI SALIU AKANNI 2. MR. THORPE RODRICKS OLARENWAJU 3. ALH. KAREEM GANIYU OLAWALE 4. ALH. POPOOLA TAOHEED ABDUL 5. ALH. WASIU BOLAJI

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Decree No. 1 of 1990.

SIGNED ; TONY ROGERS (PRESIDENT)

CORRECTION OF NAME

IJOKO AGBA FORUM OF DOLPHIN ESTATE RESIDENTS IKOYI LAGOS The General public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

OLAYISOYE MUSILIM ALABI

UKADIKE CHIAMAKA HELEN

MRS. LOVETH EFFIONG ASUQUO I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. IBANGA MAYEN EFFIONG, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. LOVETH EFFIONG ASUQUO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: (1)TO REDEEM LOST SOULS FROM THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS MARVELLOUS LIGHT (2) TO PREACH THE MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE TO THE WHOLE WORLD (3) TO HELP THE POOR IN THE SOCIETY Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: SAMSON, THOMAS – CHAIRMAN CONFIRMATION OF NAME

ADDITION OF NAME That I was formerly known and addressed as OZOR FELICIA, that I now wish to add AMAKA to my former name that I now wish to be known and addressed as OZOR FELICIA AMAKA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

This is to certify and confirm that IKE NKEMDIRIM LUCY and IKELU NKEMDILIM LUCY refers as one and the same person now wish to be known and addressed as IKELU NKEMDILIM LUCY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABDUL WAHAB ISMAEL AYOFE I formerly known and addressed as ABDUL WAHAB ISMAILA AYOFE now wish to be known and addressed as ABDUL WAHAB ISMAEL AYOFE . All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ADEREMI OLUWAGBEMIGA FEMI now wish to be known and addressed as KOLAWOLE AGBENGA OLAMIPOSI . All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME In some of my documents my name was wrongly written as DOUGLAS HARUNA instead of AALANKAH HENSLEY. I was born on 17/08/1993 not 14/01/1990. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, NWAFOR MARK CHIBUIKE, now wish to be known and addressed as, NWAFOR MARK CHIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS. ENAJEROH LUCKY I, formerly known and addressed as, ENAJEROH LUCKY OGHENEOVO, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. ENAJEROH LUCKY. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

KOLAWOLE AGBENGA OLAMIPOSI

NWAFOR MARK CHIKE

NOFIU OLABISI OLUWAMAYOKUN

I formerly known and addressed as ADERIBIGBE OLABISI MUINAT , now wish to be known and addressed as NOFIU OLABISI OLUWAMAYOKUN. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

FAMILY CHANGE OF NAME

We formerly known as ANEKWE KINGSLEY ONYEKWELU, ANEKWE JAMES, ANEKWE SUNDAY now wish to be known as OKAFOR KINGSLEY ONYEKWELU, OKAFOR JAMES, OKAFOR SUNDAY. Former documents remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

MEFOR JULIET CHINYEAKA

I formerly known and addressed as EGWUCHUKWU JULIET CHINYEAKA and OBIALOR JULIET now wish to be known and addressed as MEFOR JULIET CHINYEAKA . All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

MRS. EBUBECHI ANIEBO

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. EBUBECHI NWEKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. EBUBECHI ANIEBO. All former document(s) remain valid. All relevant authorities concerned and the public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME/ DECLARATION OF AGE I formerly known and addressed as OGHEGHE JOHN now wish to be known and addressed as OGHEGHE LUCKY EWOMA , My correct date of birth is 26th August 1970. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

22 Change of Names OHIOSIMUAN SUNDAY JESUIKHOBA OMORUAN

I formerly known and addressed as OHIOSIMUAN SUNNIE JESUIKHOBA OMORUAN , now wish to be known and addressed as OHIOSIMUAN SUNDAY JESUIKHOBA OMORUAN. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

THIS ADVERT SPACE IS FOR SALE

CORRECTION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH

That I IFEMADE MARIAM KUMBI my name was wrongly written as KUMBI MARIAM IFEMADE wish to be known and addressed as IFEMADE MARIAM KUMBI corrected DATE OF BIRTH 8th FEB 1981 WRONG date of birth is 8th FEB 1980. All documents /credential bearing these names remain valid, General public please take note

NITIOLA ALEXANDER ELIJAH

I, formerly known and addressed as OLUKOLU ELIJAH OLUWASEUN, now wish to be known and addressed as NITIOLA ALEXANDER ELIJAH. All former documents remain valid. General Public/Authorities concerned should take note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

EGBERONGBE OLANREWAJU OLAWALE

I formerly known as Egberongbe Olanrewaju Olaseni wish to be known and addressed as Egberongbe Olanrewaju Olawale . All former documents remain valid General public please take note. OLOHUNOYIN AMUDALAT TOYIN

ERINFOLAMI SARATU

ADEOSUN FATIMAH ADEOLA

I formerly known and addressed as ERINFOLAMI IYABO OLAIDE, now wish to be known and addressed as ERINFOLAMI SARATU Yetunde, all former document remain valid general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ADEDEJO FATIMAH ADEOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEOSUN FATIMAH ADEOLA, all former document remain valid general public take note

AKODU OLAMIJUWON DAVID GBOLAHAN

I formerly known and addressed as AKODU OLAMIJUWON SHAKIRU, now wish to be known and addressed as AKODU OLAMIJUWON DAVID GBOLAHAN. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

KEBIRU YUSUF

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1999 THE TRUSTEES ARE; 1, NWAOGBAGA UZOAMAKA MODESTA 2, NWAOGBAGA BLESSING 3, OTOKE SOLOMON IZUCHUKWU 4, IBENEME EMEKA VICTOR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO ELIMINATE POVERTY, ILLITERACY AND HUNGER. 2. TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF THE LESS PRIVILEGED AND SPECIAL PEOPLE ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

DIKE ANNA SHALOM

I formerly knownn and addressed as DIKE ANNA ULUNMA , now wish to be known and addressed as DIKE ANNA SHALOM. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

OTTOBONG IME

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS NSIDIBE EFFIONG AKPAN, NOW I WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS NSIDIBE OTTOBONG IME. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

SIRA DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANIZATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DAUSEIGHE MATTHEW BOWEI (CHAIRMAN) 2. TRUST PROPER GBORIENEMI (VICE CHAIRMAN) 3. ABULE TUAMO BETHEL (SECRETARY) 4. PREYE B. OKELE 5. SEIYEFA SIKPI AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1. TO ESTABLISH A DEMOCRATIC CITIZEN’S PLATFORM TO ARTICULATE AND PROFFER SOLUTION FOR SOUTHERN IJAW SOCIO-POLITICAL PROBLEMS. 2. TO FACILITATE PEACE AND RESOLVE DISPUTE AMONGST COMMUNITIES, POLITICIANS, ETC, FROM THE SOUTHERN IJAW REGION AND BEYOND. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED:- SECRETARY

SIGNED: CHAIRMAN

KURUDU COMMUNITY MUSLIM FORUM ABUJA

INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF KINGDOM COVENANT MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FORUM HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIR COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDERT PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990. TRUSTEES: 1. ALH. USMAN TANKO MOHAMMED (CHAIRMAN) 2. ALH. ADAMU MOHAMMED (VICE CHAIRMAN) 3. ALH AHMED LAMDO KATSINA (SECRETARY) 4. TANKO ISIYAKA MADAKI. (TREASURER). 5. MAL. SALE USMAN (PRO) 6. ENGR. ABDULRAZZAQ OLADAPO (FINANCIAL SECRETARY). 7. MAL. MUHAMMED MUSTAPHA (MEMBER). 8. MAL. AYUBA ABDULLAHI (MEMBER). 9. MAL. YUSUF MAKAMA (MEMBER). 10. MAL. YUSUF ABDULLAHI. (MEMBER). AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PROMOTE PEACE, UNITY AND HARMONY AMONG THE VARIOUS ISLAMIC GROUP IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT IDOGAMEH UMORU SARDUANA IS DEAD, DATE ON 30TH DECEMBER 2006, THERE IS ESTATE OF IDOGAMEH UMORU SARDUANA. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. SIGNED BY THE FAMILY

EMEZUIHE MARYANN CHINYERE I formerly known and addressed as EZEKWEM MARYANN CHINYERE now wish to be known and addressed as EMEZUIHE MARYANN CHINYERE, All former documents remain valid banks and general public take note.

I formerly know and addressed as Akinade Amudalat Toyin now wish to be known and addressed as OLOHUNOYIN AMUDALAT TOYIN, all former document remain valid general public take note

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS KABIRU YUSUF MUHAMMED NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS KEBIRU YUSUF. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

DIVINE HOPE SOLUTION AND RESTORATION FOUNDATION

ADEDIRAN GLORYPRAISE OLUWAKEMI

I formerly known, called and addressed as ARIYO Glorypraise Oluwakemi. Now wish to be known, called and addressed as ADEDIRAN Glorypraise Oluwakemi. All documents bearing my former name remain valid, general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF TRUSTEES THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE-NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR THE REGISTRATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ADDITIONAL TRUSTEES PURSUANT TO PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT (CAP C20, LFN 2004). THE ADDITIONAL TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ENGR. GESI ASAMAOWEI 2. MRS. CHRISTIE COOKEY ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION OF THEIR APPOINTMENTS SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: DENIS A. DEMA, ESQ. SECRETARY/TRUSTEE

CHRIST RESTORATION AND GRACE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY

SOLOMON ENOCH IGE

I, formerly known as solomon Enoch Arokoyo, now wish to be known and addressed as Solomon Enoch Ige. Former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH This is to certify that my name was wrongly written as IDRIS TAIWO HUSSEIN with the date of birth 25th February, 1968 during BVN registration. Instead of IDRIS TAIYE ISEZUO with the date of birth 10th February, 1972. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities concerned should please take note.

THIS ADVERT SPACE IS FOR SALE ADESOLA ADEYEMI OLABISI

Formerly ADESOLA ALOWONLE OLABISI NoW ADESOLA ADEYEMI OLABISI. MY CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH IS 26 DECEMBER, 1990. Former documents remains valid. General public should take note

ALIYU AHMED MOHAMMED

MRS IBITOYE IFEOLUWA

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ALI AHMED HIMMA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ALIYU AHMED MOHAMMED. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

I FORMERLY CALLED MISS OYEWOLE IFEOLUWA FUNMILAYO NOW WISH TO BE CALLED AND ADDRESSED AS MRS IBITOYE IFEOLUWA FUNMILAYO. GENERAL PUBLIC TO TAKE NOTE.

IMPARTFUL CHRISTIAN CHURCH THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANY AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PRINCE AMEH ADAKOLE - PRESIDENT 2.GLADYS EDISEMI AYAMA:VICE PRESIDENT 3. WILLIAMS UMOVUDU: GENERAL SECRETARY 4. FRANCIS BALOVA:- PRO 5. RHODA OBEGBA:- FINANCIAL SECRETARY 6. ZIBIMA EBIDENYE - TREASURER. 7. EBIERE RICHMAN - LEGAL ADVISER. 8. PETER LOVEDAY - MEMBER 9. EGEMZE OZEKIZIDE OBIEN - MEMBER. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: (1) RECONCILING MILLIONS TO GOD,THROUGH JESUS CHRIST (2) REDEEMING HUMANITY FROM SATANIC STRONGHOLD (3) RESTORING TO HUMANITY ITS LOST KINGDOM HERITAGE ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

DIVINE CITADEL OF GOD’S SOLUTION MINISTRY THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1999 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1, NWAOGBAGA UZOAMAKA MODESTA 2, NWAOGBAGA BLESSING 3, OTOKE SOLOMON IZUCHUKWU 4 IBENEME EMEKA VICTOR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROMOTE CHRISTIAN LIVING. 2.TO EVANGELIZE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST TO THE WHOLE WORLD ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED:- SECRETARY

REVIVAL HOUSE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) TEMIDARA OLUWAMISEGUN TREASURER - GENERAL OVERSEER. (2) BANKOLE OLUWASEYI SAMUEL - SECRETARY. (3) OJO DAMILOLA OMOTAYO. (4) ALEDARE NIYI EMMANUEL. (5) ADELANWA OLAYINKA OMOWUNMI

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. APOSTLE SAM OINEM. 2. PASTOR EMMANUEL OCHEFU. 3. EDO ADOLE. 4. PASTOR MRS FRANCA OINEM. 5. DEACONESS DORCAS ADANU. 6. VICTOR OINEM.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI LRONSI STREET, MAITAIMA ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARRISTER NOAH LMOM. 08037871275

Public Notice 23 GBADEBO OLUWASEUN GRACE

I, formerly known and addressed as KADIRI OLUWASEUN GRACE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as GBADEBO OLUWASEUN GRACE. All documents bearing my former names remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

ADDITION OF NAME

UDOFIA ENO JOHN . I, formerly known and addressed as JOHN GIFT ENO, Now wish to be known and addressed as UDOFIA ENO JOHN. All former documents remain valid. General public/ authorities concerned should take note.

MRS. ADICHE GOSI JULIET

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

OJO OLUWASOLA ESTHER . I, formerly known and addressed as ADEBISI ADESOLA ESTHER, Now wish to be known and addressed as OJO OLUWASOLA ESTHER and my date of birth was wrongly written on my bvn as 6th day of July, 1991 instead of 12th day of July, 1990 All former documents remain valid. General public/authorities concerned should take note. LOSS OF INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT

MRS. UZOMA OGHENENYOREME STELLA

MRS. ONAOPEPO DEJI-AJIJOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UTOBIVBI OGHENENYOREME, Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. UZOMA OGHENENYOREME STELLA. All former documents remain valid. General public/authorities concerned should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OLUWOLE ONAOPEPO MODUPEOLA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. ONAOPEPO DEJI-AJIJOLA due to change in marital status. All documents bearing my former names remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

AWODELE BOLANLE

FAKOYA KAFAYATU ARIKE

MRS. OFUANI PRECIOUS NNEBUOGOR I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NDUDI PRECIOUS NNEBUOGOR, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. OFUANI PRECIOUS NNEBUOGOR due to change in my marital status. All documents bearing my former names remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

CHIA FIDELIS TERHILE

That I was formerly known and addressed as SALAMI OLAJUMOKE ABOSEDE, that I wish to add ABUJADE in surname. That henceforth, I wish to be known, called and addressed as SALAMI-ABUJADE OLAJUMOKE ABOSEDE as my full name. All documents bearing my former names remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKONJI GOSI JULIET, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. ADICHE GOSI JULIET. All documents bearing my former names remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take

That I, LOUAI RAHMA is the lawful owner of the INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT issued to me at Passport Office Damascus, Syria. That the said INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT got lost about two weeks ago in transit and all efforts made to trace same proved abortive. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MALIQ BOLA MONSURAT, now wish to be known and addressed as AWODELE BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

REGINA ONUWA ORUMADE

OLUSHOLA OLUFUNMIKE TITILAYO

SULAIMON MAYOWA ZULAIKHA

MRS OKPUGO KEHINDE ABISOLA

MRS OLUFUNKE OLUTOSIN ABEGUNDE

Formerly known and addressed as REGINA ADA ORUMADE, now wish to be known and addressed as REGINA ONUWA ORUMADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ABDUL OLUFUNMIKE TITILAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUSHOLA OLUFUNMIKE TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as BELLO SULIAT, now wish to be known and addressed as SULAIMON MAYOWA ZULAIKHAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS AYENI KEHINDE ABISOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKPUGO KEHINDE ABISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

. Formerly known and addressed as MISS OLUFUNKE OLUTOSIN OLUSANYA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLUFUNKE OLUTOSIN ABEGUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADDITION OF NAME

ABAKPA JOSEPH ALI

OLISEUGBO JUDITH ONYEMAZUWA

MISS. OYEYEMI AYONI OYELEYE

Formerly known and addressed as ABAKPA ODEH JOSEPH EJE, now wish to be known and addressed as ABAKPA JOSEPH ALI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ODALONU JUDITH ONYEMAZUWA, now wish to be known and addressed as OLISEUGBO JUDITH ONYEMAZUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MRS. OYEYEMI AYONI OLADEJO, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS. OYEYEMI AYONI OYELEYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

UNAKANAMBA CALISTUS OKWUDIRI

MRS ADEBAYO OLUWASEYI ALICE

MRS EMEMOBONG PEACE BAKARE

IYANGBE CORDELIA

YANGBE ETINOSA GODSPOWER

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS WOJUADE OLUWASEYI ALICE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS ADEBAYO OLUWASEYI ALICE, ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE.

Formerly known and addressed as Miss Ememobong Peace Umoh now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Ememobong Peace Bakare. All former documents remain valid,general public note

I formerly known called and addressed as AITANUN CORDELIA. Now wish to be known called and addressed as IYANGBE CORDELIA. Former documents remain valid. General public and authority concern please take note.

I formerly known called and addressed as IYANGBE AIRIOMWANUHIMWEN ETINOSA. Now wish to be known called and addressed as IYANGBE ETINOSA GODSPOWER. All former documents remain valid General public and authority concern please take note.

ISMAIL MUSILIU ADEBARE

OBIDIGBO FIDELIS NWAFOR

CORRECTION/CONFIRMATION OF NAME

OBIDIGBO FIDELIS NWAFOR I, formerly known and addressed as, OKEKE FIDELIS NWAFOR now wish to be known and addressed as, OBIDIGBO FIDELIS NWAFOR. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

This is to certify that OKOYE ADAOBI MARYANN and CHUKWUDI NGOZI JOSEPHINE is one person now wish to be known and addressed as, CHUKWUDI NGOZI JOSEPHINE. Born on the 1st January 1991. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MR JOHN STEPHEN ONYEKACHI I, formerly known and addressed as OLIOHA STEPHEN ONYEKACHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MR JOHN STEPHEN ONYEKACHI, All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take

MRS GLORY ONYINYE OHA-NDUBUISI

AKPAGU ONYINYECHUKWU LILIAN

NWANKWO CHUKWUEBUKA SIMON

I, formerly known and addressed as AKPAGU ADAOBI GIFT, now wish to be known and addressed as AKPAGU ONYINYECHUKWU LILIAN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as NWANKWO CHUKWUEBUKA TONY, now wish to be known and addressed as NWANKWO CHUKWUEBUKA SIMON. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OBI DONATUS UZOR

AMUSI EDITH ONYINYE

I, formerly known and addressed as OBIEFUNA DONATUS UZOR, now wish to be known and addressed as OBI DONATUS UZOR. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as AGU ONYINYE, now wish to be known and addressed as AMUSI EDITH ONYINYE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note

MRS OFORKA ULOMA AUGUSTINA I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UGORJI ULOMA AUGUSTINA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OFORKA ULOMA AUGUSTINA. All former documents remain valid. UNTH Ituku Ozalla Enugu and General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as BENJAMIN MOSES, now wish to add SUNDAY to my name. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as BENJAMIN SUNDAY MOSES. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. JOHNSON UGOCHI MAUREEN

I formerly known as JOHNSON NGOZI MAUREEN , now wish to be known as JOHNSON UGOCHI MAUREEN. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as UNAKANAMBA OKWUDIRI, now wish to be known and addressed as UNAKANAMBA CALISTUS OKWUDIRI All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public please take note.

DOMINIC OKEY NKWONTA

MRS. OLUWATOBI RACHEL SAMI I formerly known called and addressed as OSHINLOYE OLUWATOBI RACHEL,now wish to be known called and addressed as MRS. OLUWATOBI RACHEL SAMI. All former documents remain valid general public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known as Peace Okey Nkwonta, now wish to be known and addressed as Dominic Okey Nkwonta. All former documents remains valid. General public take note.

I formerly known called and addressed as ISMAIL MUSILIU OLATUNJI,now wish to be known called and addressed as ISMAIL MUSILIU ADEBARE. All former documents remain valid general public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

IHEDIOHA KENNETH EGWUATU

OKORIE UZOAMAKA SARAH

I, formerly known and addressed as IHEDIOHANMA KENNETH EGWUATU, now wish to be known and addressed as IHEDIOHA KENNETH EGWUATU, All former documents remain valid. The Ministry of Health, Civil Service Commission and Head of Service Owerri and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as CHINELO SARAH UZOAMAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as OKORIE UZOAMAKA SARAH, All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ABRAHAM GOODLUCK CHINYERE and ABRAHAM GOOLUCK CHINYERE, now wish to be known and addressed ABRAHAM GOODLUCK. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

MRS CHIKELU CHIDIMMA EMILY

MRS NEBE CHISOM JENNIFER

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OFORDILE CHIDIMMA EMILY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIKELU CHIDIMMA EMILY. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWANDU CHISOM JENNIFER, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NEBE CHISOM JENNIFER. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MRS EJIKE EVAN NKECHINYERE I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKOGWU EVAN NKECHINYERE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EJIKE EVAN NKECHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AMAECHI NGOZI BLESSING

MRS CHIWETEOKE BLESING NGOZI

ABRAHAM GOODLUCK

OMABA-ABUCHI NNAJIOFOR COLLINS

I, formerly known and addressed as AMAECHI IBEZIAKOR NGOZI, now wish to be known and addressed as AMAECHI NGOZI BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OGBUAGU BLESSING KOSISOCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIWETEOKE BLESING NGOZI. All former documents remain valid. BANKS and General Public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OMABA-ABUCHI COLLINS NNAJI, now wish to be known and addressed as OMABA-ABUCHI NNAJIOFOR COLLINS. All former documents remain valid. General Public should please take note.

DAVID CHUKWUEBUKA CHRISTIAN

OKENWA JOSEPH CHUKWUEBUKA I, formerly known and addressed as MMADU JOHNSON OBINNA, now wish to be known and addressed as OKENWA JOSEPH CHUKWUEBUKA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General Public should please take note.

OFOHA EUCHARIA AMUCHE

I, formerly known and addressed as NWEKE CHUKWUEBUKA CHRISTIAN., now wish to be known and addressed as DAVID CHUKWUEBUKA CHRISTIAN. All former documents remain valid. General Public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ONUOHA EUCHARIA AMUCHE, now wish to be known and addressed as OFOHA EUCHARIA AMUCHE. All former documents remain valid. General Public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONYINYE GLORIA ORIENTA, now wish to be known and addressed MRS GLORY ONYINYE OHA-NDUBUISI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MISS OKONKWO COSTALIA OGECHUKWU

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKONKWO COSTALIA OGECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS OKONKWO COSTALIA OGECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General Public should please take note. OBINANI CHRISTIAN IGBANUGO

I, formerly known and addressed as CHUKWU CHRISTIAN, now wish to be known and addressed as OBINANI CHRISTIAN IGBANUGO. All former documents remain valid. General Public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as FAKOYA ADEBIMPE KAFAYATU, now wish to be known and addressed as FAKOYA KAFAYATU ARIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FIDELIS OFFOR OMINI

I, formerly known, called, and addressed as FIDELIS OMINI OFFOR, now wish to be known, called, and addressed as FIDELIS OFFOR OMINI. All documents bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note

Formerly known and addressed as ASENAKAHA FIDELIS TERHILE, now wish to be known and addressed as CHIA FIDELIS TERHILE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADDITION OF NAME I,formerly known and addressed as OKOYE PHILIPS now wish to be known,called and addressed as OKOYE PHILIPS CHIDOZIE;(Both names names;OKOYE PHILIPS AND OKOYE PHILIPS CHIDOZIE; refers to one and same person) ;Now wish to be known as OKOYE PHILIPS CHIDOZIE . All former documents remain valid. EMBASSIES, BANKS and General public take note

IROH PROSPER CHIJINWA I formerly known as IROH PROSPER CLINTON, now wish to be known as IROH PROSPER CHIJINWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHARIS GENERATION MINISTRY Notice is hereby given to the general public that the above-named ministry has applied to the corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part C of the Companies &Allied Matters Act 2004. Names of Trustees 1. Ologbonyo Richard Taiwo - Chairman 2. Ologbonyo Stella 3. Fasiku Adedotun Olatomiwa 4. Adeyemo Soladoye Moses 5. Olaobaju Oluwamayowa Ayobami - Secretary Aims and objectives The principal aim of the ministry shall be to 1. Provide a place of worship 2. Provide forum for interaction and fellowship for salvation of the spirit, soul and body of man 3. Evangelise the world at large and bring people into Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kingdom. Any objections to the registration should be forwarded within 28 days to :The Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja. Signed: Trustees

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

Niger Assembly rejects Gov Bello’s list of commissioner nominees

Saka Bolaji, Minna

ÏÏÏThe frosty relationship

between the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello and the state House of Assembly took a different dimension on Thursday as the House rejected the list of commissioner nominees sent to it by the Governor. The House, after it sitting on Thursday threw back the list of the nominees to the Governor, saying that the House is too occupied with other legislative activities and therefore the list should be resubmitted on a later date. It could be recalled that the Governor had sent the list of 18 commissioner nominees

to the House screening and confirmation after the resolution of the entire cabinet two months ago. The rejection of the list of the commissioner nominees is coming barely two weeks after the House gave the Governor up to December 22, within which to implement the new contributory pension law passed and assent to by the Governor but refused to implement it. Only last week too, the Governor was said to have sneaked into the assembly where he held a three hours closed door with the members, though the details of the meeting was not known, it was however gathered that

it is not unconnected with the stained relationship between the two.. However, rejecting the list of the commissioner nominees during its plenary, the House in a motion of urgent public importance moved by the member representing Bosso constituency, Hon. Malik Madaki Bosso argued that the schedule of the house is so tight that very important matters are numerous and have long being pending for legislative actions and refusal to attend to them will draw the state far backward. In addition, he stated that “it will be more suitable and convenient if the screening of the nominated commissioners is carried out at a period

the house will conduct such assignment or task within a continuous period of time”. The House therefore unanimously resolved that “the list of the nominated Commissioners submitted to this house for screening and confirmation is hereby returned to the Executive Governor of Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello to be resubmitted when we are done with our pending assignment”. The House noted that it action was in the interest of the state and in compliance with the provision of section 192, subsection 5 that the list be sent back to the Executive Governor.

Mrs. Akeredolu urges special budgetary allocation for cancer control ÏÏÏThe First Lady of Ondo

State, Arabirin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has again reiterated the need for a National Policy on Cancer Control in Nigeria. Speaking at the International CSOs Cancer Conference (ICCC) 2017, an event by Civil Society for Cancer Eradication in Nigeria, which took place at the National Centre For Women Development, Abuja, Mrs. Akeredolu stressed the need for medical practitioners to adopt global best practices when it comes to the management and control of cancer. According to her, many Nigerians are on their own when it comes to surviving cancer thus the need to push government to take the lead in cancer control through advocacy as obtainable in many other parts of the world where government through policy plays critical role in reducing cancer incidence and deaths. At the conference themed: Bridging the Gap between medical practitioner and CSOs in the global fight against cancer, Mrs. Akeredolu used the opportunity to call for budget appropriation for cancer control at the federal and state level and as well the establishment of state owned compre-

hensive cancer centers stressing that though the incidence of cancer appears low but many Nigerians are bound to die more than those in western countries where cancer incidence is higher. Her words: “Many of you must have had the opportunity to interact or network or even attend conferences of some of these international organization and you know we have a continuum on cancer control which starts with awareness, prevention, early detection, diagnosis, palliative care and so on. “According to WHO, every year there are about 100,000 new cases of cancer in Nigeria and it is estimated that by year 2020 the incidence rates will be 100.9/100,000 for women and 90.7/100.000 for men, If you look at the incidence rate and compare those figures with what obtains in western world, you may say well the incidence is quite low but we are more likely to die from cancer than those in the western country where the incidence is higher if you look at our death rate”, she lamented while questioning why the pattern has not changed over the years since her winning her own battle against cancer 20 years ago.

No fewer than 4079 people are HIV infected in Bauchi, says BACATMA Samuel Luka, Bauchi

ÏÏÏThe Bauchi State AgenL-R: Director of Legal Services, NEITI, Mr. Peter Ogbobine; a panelist, Oyinda Adedokun; and chairman of the panel, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, during a citizens’ roundtable on corruption allegations in the NNPC organised by BudgIT, in Abuja… on Thursday.

Group petitions Buhari on poor services, excesses of EEDC in S’East

Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÏÏÏA human rights organ-

isation, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network, CRRAN, has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari to save electricity consumers in the South-East geopolitical zone. According to the petition titled, ‘‘Recklessness and lawlessness of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company affecting development and imposing untold hardship on the citizens of South-East Nigeria’’ signed by CRRAN’s President, Olu Omotayo, the situation has become unbearable and the people are lamenting like orphans. “We write to you in respect of the above-mentioned matter which if not urgently ad-

dressed will put the entire South-East in a very backward position. ‘‘The way and manner that officials of this company carry out their activities without due regard to the rule of law is worrisome. Electricity supplies are disconnected at will to the homes of individuals and communities without any reasonable excuse and our investigations revealed that complaints of the affected communities and individuals are treated with disdain and are not responded to. The company’s sole aim is to milk citizens to make maximum profit without providing the required services. “Electricity is vital in a developing country like ours and it should not be entirely left in the hands of a private

company who misuse the privilege; use it as a tool of oppression against our people. We shall give few instances of the acts of oppression of the company which we submit should never be allowed in a decent, civilised and democratic society. “The disconnection of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State from the national grid on June 8, we spearheaded a campaign for the restoration of electricity supply to this local government and had to make complaints to the Minister of Power, Mines and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, vide a petition dated September 2 on the plight of residents of the local government. “Residents had complained to us that they were

deprived of access to electricity supply since June 8 by EEDC which alleged that some youths of Eha-Amufu community in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area came to its office in the local government, beat up its staff and damaged ladders when they protested the insensitivity of the company in issuing residents outrageous bills that do not match their power consumption; flagrant disconnection of electricity supply, among other excesses of the company. “We were further informed that after the protest, EEDC quickly went to the Nkalagu sub-station and disconnected the area,” the group said.

cy for the Control of HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA), has revealed that no fewer than 4079 persons in Bauchi State have been confirmed to be HIV positive from January to September 2017. This was made known Thursday in a press statement by the Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Mansur Mustapha Dada on the situation of HIV/ AIDS in Bauchi state as part of events to mark the 2017 World AIDS Day. The event with the theme “Right to Health: Make it happen”, indicated that out of the said number of HIV victims in the state, a total of 247,990 persons have been counselled, tested and received results this year. Dr Dada who added that out of 181 HIV pregnant women in the state , 107,771 have been counselled, tested and received results during the period under review, pointed out that from January to September 2017, a total of 382 HIV exposed babies have been delivered. “The state has a total of 196 HIV counselling and Testing sites, 23 Anti-Retroviral Treatment sites and 113 Prevention

of Mother to Children Transmission sites PMTCT in Tertiary, Secondary and Primary Health Facilities”. He said. Dr Mansur while elaborating on the achievements of the agency said that the agency from 2015- 2017, have expanded PMTCT/HCT sites to at least 1 per ward for the 323 wards, adding that the 113 sites have been expanded to 171, hoping to become fully operational by January next year. Other achievements he said include the enactment of law by Bauchi State House of Assembly against discrimination of HIV positive clients and premarital screening for HIV and HB Genotype, establishment of State of Arts Monitoring and Evaluation Unit at BACATMA and development of Bauchi State HIV/ AIDs Response Strategic plan 2017-2021, amongst others. “The agency plans to implement the Bauchi state HIV Response Sustainability Road Map which will guide the Bauchi state government in gradual takeover of external donor heavily dependent programme as well as sustain and expand awareness creation activities to the populace of adolescents and young adults”, he stated.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

25 News

NLC decries mass sacking of 5,000 workers in Kaduna Idu Jude, Abuja ÏÏÏThe Nigeria Labour Congress has condemned in a strong term mass sacking of about five thousand local government workers by the Kaduna State Government. The Nigeria Labour Congress in a press statement Thursday, said the purported sack violates provisions of all known labour laws and industrial relations practice as well as processes. The organized labour said also that reasons adduced by the government of Kaduna state, are flimsy, spurious and unfounded. Aside from this it stressed the process is patently faulty and unlawful. “For instance, redundancy cannot be carried out without following the provisions of the Labour Act. When the Government of Kaduna State announced to the whole world its plan to lay off about 25,000 teachers for failing a competency test for Primary Four Class, we not only expressed our misgivings, we said the so-called competency test

was a subterfuge and part of a premeditated plan to drastically cut down the workforce in furtherance of dangerous neoliberal policies. The latest illegal mass sack of workers lends credence to our assertions or fears”. Meanwhile, leadership of the NLC, says its body would want to warn of the consequences of the reckless actions of the government of Kaduna State and will call for caution and restraint on the part of the government. It states that the move is evident that the government has not given sufficient consideration to the social consequences of laying off en masse 5,000 workers. “The Governor boasts that no one, absolutely nothing could stop him from carrying out his agenda of mass retrenchment of workers. This is most unfortunate and a direct fulfillment of the exact opposite of his campaign promise and APC’s manifesto to create jobs. He often says as Governor, he has the right, power, means and will to do as he likes, but this is undemocratic and antiworkers. We are worried by these

L-R: Representative Of The Senior Special Assistant To The President On Industry, Trade And Investment, Dr Jude Oboh, Director Of Imformation, Federal Ministry Of Finance (FMF) Alhaji Salisu Dambatta, Representative Of The Minister Of Finance, Mrs Olubunmi Shiyanbola And Deputy Director, Trade And Export Department, Central Bank Of Nigeria, Dr Sanni Danjuma, At The Sensitization Workshop On The 2017 Revised Import And Export Guidelines With Theme:: Understanding The Nigerian Revised Import & Export Guidelines, Procedure And Documentation Requirements For Ease Of Doing Business, Organized By FMF, In Lagos, On Thursday.

emotional outbursts, and their infectious effects on his peers and the polity as a whole. We at the Nigeria Labour Congress expected more maturity and flexibility. We accordingly advise the government to rescind its decision on the mass sack. We call on the President and his party,

the APC to call him to order. We also find it necessary to remind the Governor here that Mr President’s support for a reform in the education sector is not synonymous with mindless and conscienceless retrenchment. Some states in the federation have carried out far-reaching

reforms in the education sector with impressive results without causing this level of social violence”. In its submission, NLC said that the event the government of Kaduna State is obdurate enough not to heed this wise counsel given in good faith, that it should also consider this statement

as a notice that the NLC will use all the lawful means available to them to contest this wave of mass sack including mobilizing to Kaduna, workers and pensioners from across the nation and civil society allies in solidarity with workers of Kaduna State,” it said.

Delta Assembly okays Gov Okowa’s N4.5bn bond request

Police arraign 4 suspected robbers in Anambra

Nosa Akenzua,

lice Command in their determination to sustain the zero crime rate in the State has arraigned four suspects for robbery at the Onitsha Magistrate Court. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Fegge Police Station, Onitsha, Rabiu Garba, who said this stated that the suspects were among the robbers who were terrorising the area and some of them were arrested before and after the November 18, 2017 governorship election in the state. He explained the upsurge of crime shortly after the election which came to a climax last Sunday, when hoodlums took over Upper Iweka and environs, where they robbed snatched cash, hand bags, handsets, valuables was due to an uprising by hoodlums hired by politicians during the election but were not paid. Rabiu said the Police responded immediately and ar-

.APC kicks, alleges fraud, maladministration Asaba

ÏÏÏThe Delta State House

of Assembly has Okayed a request from the State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for the issuance of N4.5 billion performance bond by Fidelity Bank for the Warri-Effurun Water Scheme concession on behalf of the state government. The Speaker, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori read the request from the governor contained in a letter to the House at yesterday’s plenary for the concession agreement. According to the letter, Governor Okowa said that the state government had secured the offer and approval of Fidelity Bank for the issuance of the required bank performance bond of the sum of N4.4 billion with

some terms and conditions. He said that the state government under the new funding arrangement, particularly in the face of paucity of funds was persuaded of the benefits commitment to compete the project. The governor noted that the letter was to seek the support and ratification of the issuance of the required performance guarantee bond by Fidelity Bank, in accordance with the Warri-Effurun Water Scheme concession agreement. In his debate, the Majority Leader, Hon. Tim Owhefere said that the request of the governor was just to complete the inherited project for a smooth concessioning of the Warri-Effurun water scheme. He said that the concessioning of the project

would take the risk off the shoulder of government as it would also make water available and running in houses in Warri, Effurun and its environs, adding that the project had reached the finishing line. Others who spoke in support of the governor’s request included Honourables Pat Ajudua, Samuel Mariere and Tonye Timi, said that water was very essential to human activities, stressing that Governor Okowa had shown commitment by partnering with Fidelity Bank in the consessioning of the water scheme. They said that the House had set up a committee to look into the viability of the project, stressing that the Warri-Effurun scheme was viable as its benefit was enormous.

Alphonsus Nweze, Awka

ÏÏÏThe Anambra State Po-

rested some of the criminals, some of whom have been charged to the court, stating that they have spread dragnet to arrest those who think can disrupt the peace and sanity of the area. He said to ensure affective policing of the states, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Garba has appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IG), to ALLOW some police Mobile Force, who came for the election to stay back, so that that there would be physical presence of the police in the state especially during the yuletide. The DPO asked organisations, communities and individuals who have engagements this season to apply for police for protection. He assured that the Police in the state as usual will effectively manage the traffic situation at the Onitsha Niger Bridge during this Christmas season, saying that they managed it last year and they got result. Rabiu said the failed portion at Asaba end of the

bridge has been part of the gridlock at the bridge but now that it is beings repaired, the traffic at that side would be improved this season. He noted that the presence of Police, the Army and the Road Safety officers at the Asaba end, which causes traffic grid lock but said he would talk to the State Commissioner of Police to liaise with his Delta state counterpart to tell other services on the need to free the road especially during this season. On the Onitsha end, said, the DPO, “ I talked to the soldier, CTU and Road Safety personnel on the danger of road block on the bridge. So, my end is free; our problem is Asaba end but we will solve it. We will put more traffic Police on the bridge to free the traffic. I will be there personally. I assure Anambraraian, especially those in my areas that this yuletide would be free of crime. The commissioner of police has designed the operational modalities, which we are following here.

Foreign News 26

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

Africa’s Botswana plays key role in latest UK royal love affair

U.K Royal love Affair

Bonny Amadi with agency reports

ÏÏÏAfrica’s position as

both tourist and interesting place to be in, was once again demonstrated as Botswana, played a key role in unfolding U.K’s

royal love affair. According to agency reports, it was in Botswana that Prince Harry proposed to his girlfriend Meghan Markle after he invited her to spend five days in the country. “I managed to persuade her to come and join me

in Botswana and we camped out with each other under the stars … we were really by ourselves which was crucial to get to know each other,” Harry told the BBC in an interview. I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana and we camped out with each other under the stars ... we were really by ourselves which was crucial to get to know each other. The U.K. Evening Standard in a report stated that the particular facility the two stayed at is a luxurious place known as the Meno A Kwena. One travel agency described Meno A Kwena as having “one of the world’s most extraordinary location with some of Botswana’s most colourful characters.” According to Luxury Safari Company, the style of the place was “Quirky unique homely camp, which welcomes you immediately and offers some of the most unique experiences in Botswana.”

Persons who patronize the place have a range of natural tourists sites to relate with, from the Boteti River with the elephants walking its shores. The camp also offers walking, game drives, “meerkats, scenic flights over the salt pans, star gazing with a portable telescope, mobile camping and conservation safaris Meanwhile, the Royal Family in a statement issued on November 27 announced Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s official engagement with a wedding scheduled for next year. The pair were also keen to spread the word – appearing together for the first time since announcing their engagement. Harry, who is fifth in line to the British throne, was introduced to the American actress and blogger through a mutual friend last year. They are expected to get married in the spring.

Tanzania in total darkness after nationwide blackout

ÏÏÏThe inability of

the Tanzanian government to concede to the demands of the country’s electricity board to raise tariff has led to further breakdown of power supply in the country. However, Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO), the supply company said on Thursday that it was working to normalize the situation which left households and businesses without power. Agency report said that, TANESCO confirming the incident on Thursday said in a Swahili tweet that: “there has been an error on the national grid and thus caused blackout to all the regions that were connected to its power supply. Efforts continue to re-establish the electricity (supply).” Tanzania’s power generation mix blends hydro, natural gas and heavy fuel oil to generate electricity. Like in most African nations, there are incidents of partial blackouts which occur due to minor faults. T will be recalled that in January 2017, President John Pombe Magufuli fired head of Tanesco after the outfit hiked tariffs by 8.53%. The president said the hikes would stunt his plans to industrialize the east African country. He went ahead to order a reversal of the move. The power firm had initially sought an 18.19 percent tariff increase to arrest a loss-making trend and clear debts to independent power producers and fuel suppliers.

The energy regulator however approved 8.53 percent which was less than half of what the utility said it needed to stem losses. About 40 percent of Tanzania’s population of around 50 million has access to electricity and the government is aiming to push that rate up to 75 percent by 2025. Since coming into office in 2015, Magufuli – referred to as the bulldozer – has sacked dozens of public officials as part of an anti-corruption campaign and a new drive to root out government inefficiency. TANESCO has been unsuccessfully seeking loans from the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and commercial lenders to turn the company round. Despite reserves of over 57 tril-

Tanzania president John Magafuli

lion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas, Tanzania has been facing chronic power shortages over the past decade due its reliance on drought-prone hydro-power dams.

Eyadema

Togo opposition parties vow to sustain pressure on President

ÏÏÏThe

tension in West Africa’s country may be far from over, as the mounting opposition to the government of President Faure Gnassingbe has expressed commitment to sustain pressure on government. This was coming as Togo’s opposition parties pledged to maintain the momentum of anti-government protests, as thousands took to the streets once more ahead of promised talks with the president. The leader of the National Alliance for Change (ANC), Jean-Pierre Fabre, led the crowds in the capital but similar protests were banned on security grounds in the north. “Mobilization will continue, even during talks. We are not going to give up the fight,” Fabre told AFP. Agency report quoted a source in Togo’s second-largest city of Sokode, the stronghold of Tikpi Atchadam, the Pan African National Party leader behind the demonstrations, to have said the streets were calm, as many young people who had fled into the countryside fearing

Anti-Duterte protests staged in Philippine capital

ÏÏÏLeader of one of

the main opposition to the United States, Duterte of Philippines is facing severe pressure as protest continue to mount against his government. According to agency report, a coalition of leftist groups gathered in Manila Thursday to protest President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent suggestions that he will assume sole power of the Pacific archipelago. About 1,000 protest-

ers will march from historic Bonifacio Square to the Mendiola Peace Arch to stage a rally against Duterte’s government. Duterte has threatened recently to declare a so-called revolutionary government, which allows the president to consolidate authority in his hands, essentially canceling the constitution and dissolving the government. The groups say Duterte’s comments

are nothing more than plans to establish a dictatorship. Supporters of the controversial president will hold a rally of their own at the Mendiola Peace Arch Thursday. The demonstrations are being held on the holiday that celebrates the birth of Andres Bonifacio, the man who led the Philippines independence movement against Spanish colonial rule in the late 1890s.

Phillipines anti Dutete protest

repercussions have not yet returned home, the source said, adding that sporadic arrests were still occurring. Wednesday’s march was the first of three planned for this week to put pressure on Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe to resign. Gnassingbe has been president of the West African nation since 2005, taking over after the death of his father, General Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled Togo for 38 years. Fourteen opposition parties want two-term limits for presidents which would be applied retroactively to prevent Gnassingbe from contesting the 2020 and 2025 elections. At least 16 people have been killed in three months of protests after opposition supporters clashed with police and security forces, especially in the north. Gnassingbe — who left for an Africa-Europe summit in Ivory Coast on Wednesday morning — said last week that preparations were being made for talks with the opposition in the coming weeks.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

FEATURES

Infrastructural and enrolment challenges of Early Child Education

Bakin Ado Model Primary School in Nassarawa.

Recently, a tour of Early Childhood Education Centers in Kano state was undertaken as part of a guided media tour sponsored by UNICEF. AUGUSTINE OKEZIE writes on the visit and the situation in some states. Several factors, including inadequate space and requisite facilities have effectively marred the sustainable development and growth of early primary education in Nigeria. There is no doubt that this state of affairs has constrained rapid child enrolment and the expansion of the country’s rebranded educational policy and programs, thus effectively preventing not a few number of Nigerian children from being enrolled into preprimary schools as well as retarding Early Child Development (ECD). E. D. Nakpodia, of the Department of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, Delta State University, Abraka, described ECD as a preparatory step for primary education, a starting point for the child’s general development and the foundation of Nigerian education system, using the mother tongue as a means of communication and medium of instruction. He also strongly believed that preprimary education can only serve its purposes as stated in the National Policy of Education in Nigeria, make children to have effective smooth transition from home to school and prepare the child for the primary level of education, if well supervised, staffed, equipped, financed and coordinated. Nigeria therefore requires strong leadership with the requisite political

will, determination, transparency, accountability and steadfastness as well as close interface with rebranded early primary education policy to strengthen the dynamics of the program. The Kano state Situation On a visit to Kofar Nassarawa Primary School, in Kano, the challenge posed by poor infrastructure and low enrolment figure remained glaring in their ECCE, located at Kadunu Islam house, reconstructed in 2012. A teacher in the class, Sadiya Mohammed Abdu, acknowledged the assistance of a caregiver who was not as trained as herself. Setback for ECD initiative The Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act (2004) at one time witnessed an expansion of scope to include programmes and initiatives for Early Childhood Care Development and Education (ECCDE). Following the development, the UBE programme has made provision for every public primary school to have a Pre-Primary centre to cater for children aged 3-5 years. Federal and State Inspectorate Services, in collaboration with UBEC and SUBEBS have statutory mandates for basic education, primary and pre-primary. Though appreciable progress has been made in the implementation of Early Childhood Care Development and Education (ECCDE) programme in Nigeria in the past four years due to government policy requiring every public school to have a pre-primary centre, the number of children enrolled in such centres still remains low, according to UNICEF Nigeria. The world body said the enrolment of children in Nigeria stood at approximately 2.3 million, representing

only 21 per cent of the population of children in the targeted age group. UNICEF also noted that caregivers at these centres are generally unqualified as about 85 per cent of them do not possess basic qualifications while more than half have no formal education. Another major issue in Nigeria’s early childhood care and development, it added, is the poor state of infrastructure, equipment, facilities and learning resources. It further explained that essential learning resources are also lacking in most facilities while the national curriculum is not yet widely operational. Also, two surveys carried out independently by Nigerian Educational Research & Development Council (NERDC) and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) between 2003 and 2004, revealed that the few children who have access to early child development programme learn in poor condition with the teachers factor being the most critical. The sub-sector, the surveys further revealed, is seriously plagued by inadequate supply of qualified teachers to provide care and support to the growing children. Our reporters in Nasarawa, Kano and Kebbi states have visited some of the ECCDE centres and report the level of development or otherwise the programme has achieved so far. Nasarawa state In Nasarawa State, ECCDE programme took off in 2008, but it was not until 2010 that the state UBE directed managements of primary schools to open centres for enrolment of children in their early or preprimary school age, Mrs. Christiana Shigudu, desk officer for the ECCDE

in the state told our correspondents. The programme took off with federal government funding which came as five percent of the allocation to the SUBEB at the initial period of implementation, but in subsequent years, the funding ceased and this greatly affected the programme. Our reporters visited two schools within Lafia, the state capital, and some of the leading public schools where the ECCDE is in operation, only to observe that the centres established there were non-functional. The managements of the two schools say ECCDE came with the challenge of specialised teachers, which they do not have. At one of the schools visited, the management said parents who are informed about the programme are disappointed because there are no specialised teachers to put their wards through. “Parents in our state are not informed about this programme. The few who showed interest are disappointed that there are no specialised teachers to help their young children. So you find them withdrawing their children to either leave them at home, or enroll them in day care centers operated by private schools,” a source in one of the schools said. The desk officer, Mrs. Shigudu confirmed that the programme is facing the challenges of specialised teachers because schools in the state have NCE and degree holders, who hardly have the specialisation to handle preprimary school ages. “We have no trained teachers to handle this programme, but we are trying our best to see that it is fully operational here,” she said, and added that the desk office was able to develop curriculum for ECCDE but which requires trained teachers to implement it.

News 28

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

PDP chairmanship election: Bode George has no rival –Senator Ningi Eniebong Iwok

ÏÏÏThe National Organis-

ing Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Senator Abdul Ningi poured unusual encomium upon Chief Bode George at the colorful ceremony at Wadata Plaza, the party’s headquarters, Abuja, yesterday when Chief Bode George went to submit his nomination form as a contestant for the position of the National

Chairman of the opposition party. Senator Ningi observed that Chief George had paid his dues as a founding father of the PDP, as a consistent party loyalist and as a moral and financial supporter of the party. He said: “If it is not for the necessary subjection to the dictates of democracy, who else could stand on equal footing with Chief George in terms of experience, knowledge and maturity”.

Ningi observed that at a time when the party was torn asunder and other leaders were sitting on the fence and watching who the Supreme Court judgment would favour, Chief George never wavered, but resolved boldly to stand on the path of honour. Senator Ningi however assured that the party national convention will be conducted without partiality or any tinge of favoritism. He said all aspirants will be given a free and

fair level playing field to ensure that justice prevails. Chief George responded that the party needs a stabilising and tested hand who does not need to be teleguided or dictated to. He said the party is now confronted with its greatest challenge of redeeming itself since it lost power two years ago. George however promised to serve just one term if elected.

Obaseki felicitates with Muslims on Eid-el-Maulud Titus Akhigbe, Benin

ÏÏÏAs Muslims mark the

Eid-El-Maulud celebration, the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has urged them to reflect on and emulate the good nature, show love, and imbibe teachings of tolerance of Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W). In the statement, Obaseki said the celebration of the birth of Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) is a time for Muslim faithful to rededicate themselves to the teachings of the prophet not just as a matter of religious obligation but also a recipe for peaceful coexistence in society. The governor urged Muslims to pray for the peace and progress of the state and the country, adding that the need for prayers is pertinent to set the country on the right course. According to Obaseki, “I celebrate with our Muslim brothers and sisters in Edo State, in Nigeria and across the globe on this day set aside to mark the celebration of the birthday of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W).”

He said “the occasion should remind us all of the virtues of the Prophet, which we should emulate in advancing love, peace and progress of the state and country. That Muslims constitute a major force for peace and progress wherever they may be, signifies the import of the Prophet’s message.” He encouraged Muslims to continue to eschew acts and behaviours that undermine the unity and progress in society, just as the Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) would, urging them to be good neighbours and enviable ambassadors of change. Obaseki reassured Muslims of his commitment to creating an environment where everyone would have a fair chance of contributing to his administration, promising them of a conducive atmosphere to mark the celebration in the state. He, however, appreciated Muslims for supporting his administration’s policies and programmes aimed at improving the state’s economy and assuring prosperity for all in the state.

Dearth of personnel in Kwara hospitals worries nurses Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

ÏÏÏ Residents of Biseni clan in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa on a peaceful protest demands for power supply to the community, on Thursday.

World AIDS Day: Stakeholders seek accessible healthcare services for HIV patients Angela Onwuzoo

ÏÏÏAs Nigeria joins the rest

of the world today December 1, 2017, to mark this year’s World Aids Day, stakeholders have enjoined government at all levels to expand access to treatment and other healthcare services to people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Titled “Right to Health – Making it Happen”, this year’s theme demands that Nigerians living with HIV/ AIDS should be made to enjoy their right to health without any form of discrimination or denial of access to treatment. Every Nigerian whether sick or healthy has right to health as a fundamental human right which should not

be toyed with. Hence, the theme is critically important and must be championed by relevant stakeholders towards realising the right to health for all Nigerians as a means to ending AIDS by 2030. Currently, data from the National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA), shows that 3.4 million Nigerians are living with the virus with less than 1 million undergoing treatment. Besides, Nigeria has the second largest HIV epidemic in the world and has one of the highest new infection rates in sub-Saharan Africa, even as an estimated 60% of new HIV infections in western and central Africa in 2015 occurred in Nigeria. World AIDS Day is com-

memorated on December 1 every year to unite people around the HIV/AIDS response, show support for people living with HIV, and remember people who have died of AIDS To make it happen, efforts must be directed at curbing the spread of the virus especially by preventing new infections which could only be achieved through complete access to healthcare services by those affected without barriers. Providing antiretroviral treatment for all people living with HIV doesn’t only benefit those already living with HIV, it also dramatically reduces the chance of onward HIV transmission to others. Despite government commitment to the HIV response,

a lot of gap still exist especially in the area of funding which experts say, is critical to expanding access to treatment and prevention of new infections. In early 2015, Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan signed a new antidiscrimination bill into law which secured the rights of people living with HIV, protecting HIV-positive employees from unfair dismissal and from mandatory HIV testing. However, in 2016 UNAIDS reported that 21% of people living with HIV had been denied access to health services due to their status. This is even as the funding of Nigeria’s HIV response remains challenging as the vast proportion of money comes from international donors.

THE members of National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Kwara State chapter yesterday deplored the imminent dearth of personnel in the state’s owned government hospitals, citing poor remunerations of their members in the employment of the state government. According to the NANNM members during the grand finale of the celebrations of this year’s International Nurses Week in Ilorin the state capital, over 80 per cent of their colleagues always seek for greener pastures in adjoining states which allegedly paid better salaries compared to their meagre salary scales in Kwara. The nurses through their Chairman, Mr Joseph Adekanye said, “I wish to attest to the fact that over the years the state government had invested Billions of Naira in the infrastructural development in the health sector but the overall welfare of our members is absolutely neglected in terms of their take home pays and overall welfare. “It is highly frustrating and depressive when compared with other sister state like Niger which falls within North Central geo political zone as Kwara. We believe our listening Governor (Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed) will in no dis-

tant time in this regard bring succor and hope to the hopeless and flesh up in skeleton of our members. “ For Adekanye, “it is no gain saying mentioning that as much as the Government is trying to cushion the effects of shortage of manpower in the Health sector with particular reference to Nurses and Midwives through strategic and continuous recruitment, the effect of such is not practically felt in our various health facilities. The reason being that most of them often use the recruitment as a stepping stone for greener pastures in neighbouring states.” But the state’s Commissioner for Health Alhaji Suleiman Atolagbe Alege described the statement as untrue noting that the state remained one of the very few ones in Nigeria “that is just not paying well its workers but effecting The payment as at when due. The NANNM celebrates its Week yearly in honour of Miss Florence Nightingale, popularly known as “The Lady with the Lamp” and the pioneer of the Nursing profession. Nightingale a Victorian Aristocrat was on May 13 1820 born to the family of Fanny and William Nightingale. She came into prominence during the Cimean War by leading a medical team to treat the injured soldiers and civilians with uncommon bravery, passion and dedication.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

29 For the Record

Nigeria’s DSO: A case for an effective delivery process through public service Speech Delivered by Tony Dara at the 2017 AGM of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) at Ibeto Hotel Abuja, 27 November, 2017.

t is indeed a privilege to stand before this talk about a process we all have now become very passionate about as broadcasters, media entrepreneurs and practitioners in this country. Let me start by thanking the Chairman, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, Mr John Momoh and his team for inviting me to make this presentation. The switching of broadcasting from analogue to digital is a challenge we as a nation must overcome and a feat we must achieve. It is an imperative project that aims to develop Nigeria. My aim with this address is not to deliver a lecture or instruction on what should or should not be done, but to provide a timely reminder of what is often forgotten; we as broadcasters and professionals in media are in the business and service to the people. Running a successful process or project should be synonymous with delivering excelling service. If not, then why consider running a project at in the first place? As Aristotle once said, and I quote, “Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives - choice, not chance, determines your destiny.” We must develop an excellent service culture, built on time-tested leadership principles, norms, work habits, vision and global best practices. To achieve this, we must employ effective strategies, processes and performance management systems. These are essential principles of public service; methods that produce the eternal good in public interest, this is why in processes like this government would take interest in serving the general good of its people. This in my estimation reflects the spirit and intentions of the authors of the Federal Government white paper on Nigeria’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. In this digital age the supply or distribution of digital broadcasting signals is a public service, just like the business of supplying other commodities like electricity or gas. It is akin to a service such as transportation to any or all members of our community, services associated with fundamental human rights of our people; rendered in the public interest. Uniquely, broadcasting or mass communication cannot be separated from the act of public service, whether you are in the public sector or private sector of the industry. It is service to the people. Public Service is Public Trust. In act-

ing on behalf of all, public trust in this process or business is the degree to which the public believes that as stakeholders we will act in a particular manner with diligence and honesty because the objectives are in the public interest. These are critical ingredients for social development and a cause for deep concern when they are absent or threatened. To be clear, anyone thrusted with responsibility in a public service role as we are, have and hold the sacred privilege of trusteeship of public trust on behalf of millions of Nigerians. Interestingly the business of public service is profitable and that is why media companies are able to make an income when they provide these services, so there is something for everyone. That is why government with a specified number of human resources can provide services to its people. This same principle applies of other sectors that combine to make a nation’s economy. As I earlier highlighted the DSO process in Nigeria is a process we have become very passionate about, it has really had its fair share of the ‘Nigerian Factor’, however we should learn from other examples of service delivery that abound. The mobile telephony in Nigeria is one great example. A service that has developed through public service. The economic impact cannot be overemphasised, it visible for all to see. Let’s put the DSO project in its right context. It is an infrastructural project. In most economic sectors, infrastructure accounts for just about 5% - 10% of the economy of that sector. In other words, the mobile phone in your hand has a finite cost, but its usefulness is far worthy in terms its business capacity and potential to you. Roads would have a finite cost, but their economic importance and Returns on Investment are far greater. The media economy of any nation is estimated at 10% of its GDP. Which means that in Nigeria, we are looking at the potential of $50 Billion plus, the DSO is a major component but does not represent the full media ecosystem. This economic estimation will remain on paper until we are diligent in developing this economy, it is time to be restraint on short term gains and think long term; legacy. After all many of you here as stakeholders have been in this business for decades, the size of the audience in this hall will account for centuries of business experience, practice, development and successes. And will continue to account for progress and growth in this sector. This path of progress and growth is honourable and must be guarded and

Dara held sacred as a creed for national development and excellence. The digital switchover process need not to be this chaotic or have a noisy public narrative, I hope the deliberation of the AGM of BON will provide outcomes that will return the process to a national project that will bring pride, joy and happiness to our people. In parting I would like to summarise in these three lines: 1. Knowledge: Powerful 2. Information: More Powerful 3. Communication Most Powerful Please let me conclude with a quote from a great public servant, who by the way is a very rich man, Micheal Bloomberg: “Media and technology are changing every industry and helping us find new ways to address major challenges. The media and technology sectors are engines of job creation, and attract new business and new investment to cities (economies). Growing tech sectors also help us harness data (market intelligence) that innovative governments and businesses can use to

make communities better places to live and work. Cities that support these industries will have a competitive edge in the 21st century. At the same time, we must find ways to connect more people to jobs in media and technology.” I have concluded this way because ultimately, as the most significant benefit of what we all do, and this process would do create jobs, make our people benefit and make our country great. Thank you for listening. Mr. Dara is broadcast engineer, a media entrepreneur, businessman and an internationally recognised broadcast professional. He founder and Chief Executive of Nigeria’s first 24 hours, 7 days a week television news channel, NN24 (Network News 24). Tony Dara also runs TDMedia Company, a consulting and technology advisory practice providing research, business development, corporate strategy and advocacy for media.

Friday, December 1, 2017

EXTRATIME

Stories by Frank Jumbo wenty Nigerian athletes and five coaches have resumed camping in Lagos for adequate preparations towards the Youth Olympic Games Qualifier and African Senior Championship holding from December 4-11, 2017 at the National Stadium and the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Olympic Qualifiers: Pentathlon athletes resume camping President of the Nigeria Modern Pentathlon Federation, Chief Jonathan Nnaji told Extra Time in Lagos that the athletes are made up of 12 senior (6 men and 6 women) and 8 junior (4 men and 4 women) athletes. Nnaji also hinted that the technical expect that would help in fine-tuning the Nigerian athletes, Mr. Hossan Roshdy from Egypt

Moses to experience 2 milestones in December

arrived the country on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 while the General Manager of the competition is expected to arrived the country on Monday Dec 4, 2017, being a day before the arrival of the African Pentathlon President, Mundkishor Fakun from Mauritius. Other officials for the event would

Super Eagles must show no fear against World Cup favourites - Rufai

Rohr plans to cap Germany-based teenage goalkeeper

Rohr

Ghana, others hail Lagos Taekwondo Classics

been put in place. He stated that his committee is fully set for the Championship as participating countries are expected to start arriving Nigeria this weekend ahead of the commencement date of the week-long competition.

Moses

it again Nigerian Player of the Year Victor Moses is in line to celebrate two milestones next month. The Blues number number fifteen needs seven more appearances for Chelsea to reach the milestone of 100 games for the Stamford Bridge outfit. Moses joined Chelsea from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2012 for a fee in the region of ten million pounds, and has racked up 93 appearances to date for the capital outfit, including Wednesday night’s 1-0 win against Swansea City. Chelsea have nine more matches before the end of the calendar year against Newcastle United, Atlético Madrid, West Ham United, Huddersfield Town, Southampton, AFC Bournemouth, Everton, Brighton & Hove and Stoke City.

he 4th Lagos International Taekwondo Classics has ended in Lagos with Shola Olowokere emerging as the best male player while Josephine Esuku won the best female player award. The 3 -day Championship that ran from Nov 23 – 25 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium Surulere, under the leadership of Jimmy Ogunowo’s Main Organizing Committee, also saw Alassane Moumouni from Niger Republic emerging as the best referee of the entire Championship. In one of the events decided on the final day, Shola Olowokere of Lagos State, defeated Agbozo Kwame Augustus from Ghana to emerge Champion in the - 74kg weight category while the bronze medal went to Ache Justice from Kebbi State. Meanwhile, the Ghanaian Tae-

storm Nigeria on Nov. 4, 2017, the President stated. Meanwhile chairman of the Main Organizing Committee, Francis Ogboro who is also the President of Nigeria Polo Federation, said all logistics that will lead to the successful hosting of the event have since

kwondo team to the championship has commended the event. The Ghanaian leader of delegation, Princeworth Anane Asare made the commendation in Lagos while speaking on the organization of the championship. He also gave kudos to the Lagos State Taekwondo Association for the perfect organization of the 3-day Championship that had a record entry of countries, states and clubs participating. “I want to commend Lagos State for putting up a good Championship that met international standard. The organization and entire officiating was good and this is what we want in West Africa. I wish others could emulate what Lagos has done here today by presenting a hitch free tournament,” he said. The Vice President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, Abudullahi

Seidu, who is also the chairman of the Kebbi State Taekwondo Association said Lagos State has not only maintained her consistency in hosting the event which is in its 4th edition, but has gone further in placing Nigeria in world Taekwondo Calendar once again. “And with this, every athlete will be looking forward to the Championship every year. We the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation are indeed grateful for this and are really proud of Lagos State,” Seidu concludes. Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, His Excellency, Akinwunmi Ambode on Sports, Deji Tinubu who declared the tournament closed, said Lagos State will continue to play her leading role in sports and in other human endeavour as Nigeria’s centre of excellence.

ohr confirms move to cap another teenage goalkeeper, Fortuna Dusseldorf’s Okoye Having handed a debut to 19-yearold Deportivo de La Coruña goalkeeper Francis Uzoho in an international friendly versus Argentina this month, Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr plans to cap another talented teenager in Fortuna Dusseldorf’s Maduka Okoye ahead of the 2018 World Cup. Born in Düsseldorf to a Nigerian father 18 years ago, Okoye can play for the Super Eagles if the grandfather rule is invoked by the Nigerian Federation since he is not cap-tied to his country of birth. ‘’We work very much on this position. We took a second goalkeeper coach to work with the local coach for the goalkeepers,’’ Rohr told KweseESPN’s Colin Udoh. “Now we have also have Francis who did well against Argentina, but still we have to work. We have still Alampasu, and I saw another one with Fortuna Dusseldorf, Okoye. “We will look at him also.’’ This season, Okoye has posted four shutouts in 13 appearances for Fortuna Dusseldorf’s youth and reserve teams, while conceding twenty goals. He joined Fortuna Dusseldorf in the summer of 2017 from Bayer Leverkusen.

Taekwando at the tournament

head of Friday’s 2018 World Cup draws in Russia, ex international, Peter Rufai says the Super Eagles must be ready for face the best teams in the world if they are to reach the knockout stages and the final. All the 32 teams that qualified for the World Cup will know their foes after Fridays draws ahead of the big showpiece in 2018. The three-time Africa Champions will be hoping to avoid some of the big names in world football but ‘Dodo mayana’ as he’s fondly called during his goalkeeping days in the Super Eagles, said that the team shouldn’t be scared of facing teams like Brazil, Germany, Spain, England and Argentina in any group. “Football is game of 11 players and doesn’t matter whether you are playing at the competition for the first time or not. The same way, the Super Eagles shouldn’t be afraid of facing the football powerhouse if they are to achieve their major objective at the World Cup,” Rufai told Kickintel. “Who says teams like Brazil, Germany, Spain, Argentina, England and a few to mention are impossible to beat. Atleast we defeated Argentina 4-2 in an international friendly match and that should give us an idea of how to prepare for other big teams at the competition.

Friday, December 1, 2017

EXTRATIME

Premier league………………………Premier league………………………Premier league

Allegri may risk Higuain against Napoli

uventus boss Massimiliano Allegri says Gonzalo Higuain could face Napoli on Friday, although he is eager not to risk a setback in his recovery. The striker had an operation on his left hand this week and it was initially feared he could be out of action for up to three weeks. Allegri says the 30-year-old has recovered well and, despite still being in pain, he could be ready to face his old club at the San Paolo. However, with key fixtures against Olympiacos, Inter, Roma and a Coppa Italia last-16 clash coming up before Christmas, Allegri is wary of rushing back Higuain too soon.“The hand is definitely painful but he could be available. We’ll see. Let’s say I’m confident,” he said. “We’ll see how he is, how much pain he’s in, because it’s pointless risking a player for one game when we have another 30 between now and the end of the season. “We have to judge things well, along with him.” He continued: “Stephan Lichtsteiner is out. [Juan] Cuadrado and [Federico] Bernardeschi have improved their conditions and should be available. “We’ll have to see who plays in attack: Douglas Costa, Mario

Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala are the only players who are fully fit at the moment. I will decide tomorrow [Friday].” The champions head into the match four points behind league leaders Napoli, who are unbeaten after 14 games. Allegri looks prepared to take a pragmatic approach against Maurizio Sarri’s attacking side, insisting the strength of Juve’s defence and the reduction of mistakes will be key both to the match and the title race as a whole. “The best defence wins the league title,” he said. “Maybe we won’t have the best defence this season but we want to win the Scudetto.

Higuain

FIFA to take over Australian football IFA appears set to take over Australian football

F el.

with national federation chairman Steven Lowy failing to force through his desired congress mod-

Lowy’s motion to reform the Football Federation Australia Congress fell short of the threshold to be passed at the governing body’s annual meeting on Thursday afternoon. As expected, the A-League clubs and the New South Wales and Victoria state federations voted against the motion for FFA’s preferred Congress model, one also bitterly opposed by the players’ union. Lowy needed a 75 percent majority to expand the membership that votes on the FFA board by the end of Thursday -- FIFA’s deadline. Seven of the nine state federations voted in favour but swing state Victoria stuck to its guns in opposition. The matter will now be referred to FIFA, which will decide whether to remove Lowy and his board and install a so-called normalisation committee to temporarily run the sport. Speaking on behalf of A-league clubs, Adelaide United chairman Greg Griffin said the vote made it obvious Lowy “has lost the locker room.” “The professional game voted against it, the two major states voted against it,” Griffin said. “Once you lose the locker room in sport, it’s very difficult to get it back. “I think it has to go to FIFA. It’s regrettable but that’s what it is.”

David Silva

Lacazette ruled Silva renews City contract outof Man U clash, Sanchez doubtful

anchester City midfielder David Silva has signed a oneyear contract extension to remain with the Premier League leaders until June 2020. Silva joined City under from Valencia in 2010 after being a part of Spain’s triumphant World Cup squad and has gone on to win two Premier League titles, two League Cups and this FA Cup during his time at the Etihad Stadium. The 31-year-old has played a typically influential role this season, with Pep Guardiola’s side sitting eight points clear at the top of the Premier League – winning 13 of 14 unbeaten games – and boasting a 100 per cent record in the Champions League. Silva has supplied eight assists in 14 top-flight appearances this term. No player has created more goals in the Premier League since his City debut in 2010. “I am so happy to have committed my future to City,” he told the club’s official website. “I am incredibly proud of what I have achieved at City in my seven-and-a-half seasons here and with Pep in charge, I feel we are in a great position to win trophies this season and beyond. “The style of football we are playing is a pleasure to be a part of and I look forward to winning more titles in the years to come.”

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed Alexandre Lacazette will miss Saturday’s Premier League clash against Manchester United with the groin injury he suffered during Wednesday’s 5-0 win over Huddersfield, while Alexis Sanchez is a doubt for the game. Lacazette struck the opening goal to spark Arsenal’s victory at the Emirates Stadium, only to trudge out of the clash at half-time. Wenger confirmed the striker’s injury after the win, where Oliver Giroud bagged a brace and Sanchez and Mesut Ozil also found the back of the net. “Lacazette has a groin problem and will be out certainly for Saturday’s game,’’ Wenger said. Sanchez was taken off with about 20 minutes left of the Huddersfield game after netting the Gunners’ third goal. Wenger said the forward had been struggling with a minor hamstring problem, but should be OK for the United clash. “Sanchez had a little hamstring problem. That’s why I took him off. But I think he will be alright [for Saturday],” Wenger said.

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Business Times Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

Commercial banks’ NPLs hit N2.42trn in Q3-NDIC

Page B5

Cutix Plc grows Q2 profit by 63.03 % to N242.85m Page B4

How Nigerian banks are turning loyal customers to millionaires Page B6

Capital market to deepen real estate in Nigeria Adesola Afolabi Players in Nigeria’s real estate industry, including Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC are pushing for a long-term strategy for the sector in order to attract domestic and foreign institutional investments; and establish a sustainable foundation for the commercial real estate sector to support Nigeria’s economic growth, development and diversification efforts. This was the submission of participants at a two-day West Africa Property Investment Summit in Lagos, which held November 28-29, 2017. The event attracted a wide spectrum of operators in the industry, including property developers, design professionals, investors, bankers, regulators, pension fund administrators, property surveyors and valuers as well as representatives of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), and the National Pension Commission (PENCOM). With the theme, “Changing the West African narrative,” the session examined the status of the Nigerian and West Africa real estate sector and reached the conclusion that though the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) market has existed for ten years in Nigeria, it remains underdeveloped and underperforming. For instance, there are just three REIT companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange with market capitalization of NGN46.4bn ($130m) as at 10 November 2017, just 0.36 percent of the Nigerian stock market. A major issue, according to the Head, Real Estate Finance (West Africa), Stanbic IBTC and Standard Bank, Adeniyi Adeleye, is that Nigeria is still highly undersupplied in investment grade real estate, which should be able to attract large institutional investors seeking sustainable and stabilized income, such as insurance companies and pension funds, asset managers and other private wealth management firms. BUSINESS TIMES Business Editor Ganiyu Obaro Deputy Business Editor Simon Ugwu Capital Market Editor Bonny Amadi Money Market Correspondent Omotolani Oseni

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Consumers’ Bill of Right, our next focus - DG CPC

Ganiyu Obaaro

The Director General. Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Mr. Babatunde Irukera has said that his Council, will, beginning from the first quarter of 2018, work assiduously towards ensuring that the rights of consumers across the country are protected. Specifically Irukera disclosed that he would enunciate an aggressive policy towards ensuring that Patients Bill of Rights is institutionalised in the country. The CPC is the apex consumer protection agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria established to promote and protect consumers’ interests in all areas to their complaints, inform, educate and empower them to act as discerning and discriminating consumers in the market place. The DG, made this disclose in an interactive session with select journalists at the Protea Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday.

He said that since taking over as the helmsman of the council a little over seven months ago, he has been initiating moves to ensure that it would no longer be business as usual in the way consumers are treated in Nigeria. He said company should always ensure that they maintain high reputation, pointing out that, “What companies do is to isolate problems; whereas, reputation management is critical to companies’ image.” The DG said in view if the challenges consumers face in getting electricity supply for their needs, his agency would now focus its attention on the sector, adding that the Generating Companies, (Gencos) seem not to be bothered again about consumers’ complaints about poor electricity supply. He said, “I don’t care about their (Gencos) reactions, all I want is the best for the consumers. Let people know their rights; therefore, we need to build consensus among stakeholders so that we could have attitudinal change in Nigeria.”

To achieve his aim, he said CPC was also collaborating with some strategic donor agencies including United Nations Development Organisation(UNIDO); as well government agencies like Standard Organisation of Nigeria(SON) and National Agency for Foods Administration and Control(NAFDAC), so as to enhance consumers’ rights and quality withn the overall aim of getting value for their money. Irukera said that as part of his vision to enhance sustainable standards for consumers, his agency, while seeking media cooperation in the ongoing efforts to enunciate international best practices for Nigerians, would soon “Deepen institutional frameworks like Apps and automation system; we will ask companies to plug into it; we will ask them to prepare their own technology.” He said once Consumers Bill of Rights is instituted, the economy would be its greatest beneficiary through it attendant value chain that would be created.

Heritage Bank extends agent banking services to Ogijo

Ganiyu Obaaro

Heritage Bank Plc has registered its presence in Ogijo in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State to further deepen its retail banking services across the country. The bank has therefore commissioned of Dunmop Ventures as agent banking partner under the financial inclusion policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which is designed to bring banking services to the under-banked in Nigeria. The bank recently inaugurated the corner shop as its agent banking partner to carry out agent banking transactions on beside the 74th Battalion of the Nigerian Army and PZ manufacturing outfit along the Shagamu Road in Ikorodu area of Lagos State to provide agency banking services for its customers that live in the area. The agent bank will handle account opening, cash deposit, funds transfer; cash withdrawal and bills payment among others. Mrs. Oluwakemi Adewunmi, who is in charge of agent banking in South West and South-South for the bank, at the opening ceremony, said the bank has signed on more than 500 agents since it commenced the programme about two years ago.

Business News B2 EFCC joins probe of suspended SEC DG, Gwarzo Ganiyu Obaaro, with Agency report Mounir Gwarzo, suspended director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission is facing at least two enquiries over his role as helmsman of the commission since 2015. Apart from the administrative enquiry ordered by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, Gwarzo is also being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. EFCC wants to unravel the owners of the nine companies that were awarded contracts by the SEC under Gwarzo. They include Outbound Investment Limited, Medusa Investments Limited, Northwind Environmental Services, Micro-Technologies Limited, Tida International Limited, Outlook Communications, Acromac Nigeria Limited, Balfort International Investment Limited and Interactiven Worldwide Nigeria Limited. According to the EFCC, Gwarzo, his wife and other cronies allegedly used these companies to carry out illegal transactions in SEC. Gwarzo, 30 months’ old as SEC DG, was suspended by the finance minister over allegations of financial misappropriation. He replaced Ms. Arunma Oteh, who resigned in January 2015. Gwarzo was then the Commissioner in charge of operations. Finance Ministry’s Deputy Director of Information, Mrs Patricia Deworitshe in a statement on Wednesday said that the suspension was to allow unhindered investigation into several allegations of financial impropriety leveled against Gwarzo. Deworitshes said that Mr. Abdulsalam Naif Habu, Head of Media Division, SEC and Mrs Anastasia Braimoh, Head of Legal Department of SEC had also been suspended. “The suspension is in line with the Public Service Rules (PSRs) 03405 and 03406. “The Minister has set up an Administrative Panel of Inquiry (API) to investigate and determine the culpability of the Director-General. “She has directed the suspended SEC Director-General to immediately handover to the most senior officer at the Commission, pending the conclusion of investigation by the API,” she said. Gwarzo allegedly paid himself N104 million severance package when he was appointed DG SEC from the position of a Director in the same commission. This is in total disregard to the standing rule in the civil service which states that severance benefit can only be paid to an employee who has concluded his or her service or has completely disengaged from service. Since Gwarzo was promoted within the commission to become a Director-general, the service rule says that he’s not yet entitled to a severance package.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

Adeosun urges importers, exporters to adhere to best practices

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The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun has urged importers and exporters in Nigeria to take advantage of the enabling business environment being created by the present government to engage in formal trade and expand the volume of export without flouting the best practices. Adeosun said that President Muhammadu Buhari administration has made commendable efforts to remove all identified physical and administrative bottlenecks based on the past experiences and lessons.

The minister stated this in a keynote address on Thursday at the Sensitization Workshop tagged: “Understanding the Nigerian Revised Import and Export Guidelines, Procedures and Documentation Requirements for ease of doing Business in Nigeria” The workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Technical Committees on Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) and Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS). She said that some of the measures introduced by the present administration to facilitate trading across Nigerian borders include: reduction of documentation requirements from

10 to seven for export and from 14 to eight for import. Adeosun added that additional responsibilities have been given to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Ports Authority and Shipping lines and other Carriers while sanctions have also been introduced to enforce compliance. Some of the additional responsibilities are: NCS shall coordinate the Mandatory Joint Examination and sign-off Form within the official working hours, including Saturdays; and shall make available the Shipping Manifests to other examination Agencies as soon as they are received to enable enough time for Risk Assessment.

Nigeria Integrated Customs Information System (NICIS) should be strengthened to accommodate more Agencies while the Shipping Lines shall transmit to the NCS and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) the cargo manifest before leaving the last Ports of call to Nigeria; and shall ensure that Nigeria bound containerized cargo are palletized. “The sanctions introduced with respect to export is to ensure timely payment of NESS levy and repatriation of export proceeds within the prescribed period, forestall sharp practices by Banks, as well as compelled the government-appointed Preshipment Inspection Agents to ensure timely scheduling of inspection and issuance of Clean Certificate of Inspection (CCI), regular monthly reporting, confirmation of proper documentation of export by the exporters and forestall export of substandard goods from Nigeria.

800 workers benefit from FMBN N7bn loan disbursement Simon Ugwu, with Agency report

L-R: Innovation Manager, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr. Lanre Da-Silva; Unit Commander, FRSC, Ojota, Assistant Corps Commandant Innocent Etuk; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Area H, Lagos, Mr. Mohammed Dankuwara; Sector Commander Representative, Mr. Tunji Oguntoye and Vice Chairman, Owena Motor Park Ojota, Alhaji Akinola Adisa, during the flag off of Honeywell/FRSC Ember Month Safety Awareness Campaign, at Ojota, Lagos…on Thursday

Honeywell, FRSC enlighten motorists on safety awareness

Ganiyu Obaaro

Honeywell Flour Mills Plc in conjunction with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has rolled out safety campaign aimed at ensuring accident-free Christmas and New Year celebrations. Officials of both organisations, on Thursday, flagged off road safety campaigns at Owena Motor Park, Ojota, Lagos, where drivers were enlightened on safe driving culture especially on the need to drive safely into the new year. Tagged: “Right to Life on the Highway: Not Negotiable”, the initiative, according to Managing Director, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr. Lanre Jaiyeola, is to create awareness among road users

especially in this festive season, to be very careful and mindful of other commuters on the road. Jaiyeola, represented by Marketing Director, Mr. Benson Evbuomwan said, “we always partner with FRSC to ensure that people are safe at all times especially during the Yuletide, to observe all the safety procedures required at this time. We don’t want to lose people so that we don’t lose market also”. Accidents, according to him, are often times caused by negligence on the part of motorists to observe simple safety rules, saying, adherence to such rules will go a long way to minimize loss of lives on our roads.

Addressing a large number of commercial transporters at Owena Motor Park, Ojota, Unit Commander, FRSC, Ojota, Assistant Corps Commandant, Innocent Etuk lamented that despite the Corps and stakeholders’ efforts to ensure safety on roads during this period, over speeding, overloading, driving under the influence of alcohol and dangerous driving are prevalent offences which rear its ugly head. He, however, assured that the FRSC, in anticipation of increased vehicular movements during this season, would engage in robust public education and enforcement activities to reduce the rate of crashes on the roads.

As part of effort to assist workers to build their own houses, the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) says it has disbursed more than N7 billion loan to 800 beneficiaries in 2017. Its Managing Director, Ahmed Dangiwa, disclosed this at the FMBN 2017 Management Retreat in Abuja, with the theme “Towards Improving FMBN Transaction Turnaround Time.” Dangiwa noted that the focus of the bank’s loan was to ensure completion of ongoing projects and recover FMBN financial outlay presently tied. He said that the bank recovered N2.4bn in 2017 against a cumulative figure of N8.3 billion as at 2016. According to him, the retreat will underscore the intention of the new management for a quick positive turn-around in all facets of the bank’s operations. Dangiwa said that the bank was micro-managing some of the housing estates to forestall diversion of funds and ensure recovery of loans. “The new management has also made a total refund payment of N6.6 billion to 44,370 beneficiaries in 2017 against a cumulative figure of N7.4bn as at 2016. “Our backlog of unaudited accounts is expected to be cleared before the end of the year,’’ he said. The FMBN boss said the bank’s effort to implementing risk management framework was ongoing, while it was being assisted by the Institute of Directors to make the bank an institute of sound cooperate governance culture. He said the mortgage market was subject to myriad of legislative requirements including the requirement for governor’s consent before a mortgage transaction could be legal. In order to address this, he said, the bank created the Internal Records Office as an interim measure to secure its loans and provide some form of equity to cover loan facilities.

Business News B3 NAHCO’s CEO, Yakubu, promises firm’s turnaround Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo pany which he described as The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance), Mr. Idris Yakubu, has promised to lead the attitudinal change and a fresh drive for excellence that the Company requires to move it to the next level. Speaking when he held his maiden meeting with workers at the Head Office of the Company, Yakubu said the company requires a new and stronger service culture, and he was prepared to lead that change. He said, “We are looking forward to a positive change. You need to improve the areas that you can improve, and we must work together to effect the change. Some of the things required are little but they are very important.” Yakubu told the workers, “It is important to understand that we have a lot of work to do to reposition the Company and I cannot do it alone. We have to win back our customers and reinforce the positive perception that our stakeholders have of NAHCO. The Management of the Company is focused on recovering lost grounds and would make a renewed drive for excellence in all its activities its watchword.” And in a manner suggesting that going forward, it would not be business as usual, the new Chief Executive Officer declared that the era of staff taking things for granted was over. Staff would be held accountable for their actions or inactions. “If you deliberately commit an error that the Company has to pay for; then maybe, you should pay. NAHCO’s business should be regarded as our business and we must all take ownership.” He applauded the recently concluded promotion exercise undertaken by the Com-

“unparalleled in the industry,” and said it was not in his character to lead a demotivated workforce. While pointing out that he made some input into the final promotion list, Yakubu said his desire is to do even more as staff become more productive and show greater diligence in their work resulting in greater and improved performance by the Company. He solicited for the support of staff in the effort to move nahco aviance forward, adding: “We must work together to increase revenues, reduce and optimise our costs and exceed our customers’ expectations. Let the world know that NAHCO is the best in its service and product offerings.” He concluded that the company will focus on aggressive debt recovery with a sizeable chunk of the recovered funds invested in acquiring new equipment. The Chairman of the Board of the Company, Arc Usman Arabi Bello, who made a brief stop-over at the Head Office while the meeting was in session, urged the staff to support the MD/CEO. He encouraged staff to support Yakubu and come up with new ideas to improve things in the Company. Bello pointed out nonetheless, that without any doubt, Yakubu is the new boss and that “The Boss is the boss.” Idris Yakubu was appointed Friday, 3rd November, 2017, but formally took over duties at the NAHCO House on Monday, 20th November, 2017. He had since taking over visited operational areas in the Lagos MMIA area and other units of the company to meet with staff. Prior to his appointment as MD/CEO of nahco aviance, Idris Yakubu served as Executive Director Skye Bank Plc, after many fulfilling years in Fidelity Bank Plc, FSB International Bank Plc, UBA Plc and Continental Merchant Bank Plc. He has extensive experience in delivering agreed Strategic Business imperatives.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

N175.3m Forex fraud: Court freezes firms’ account Peter Fowoyo

Justice Chuka Obiozor of a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, ordered that 23 banks’ accounts domiciled with eight banks, belonging to some companies and individuals be frozen pending the conclusion of investigation on the accounts. Some of these banks, which housed the 23 accounts including: Diamond Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB), and five others. The Judge made the order while granting an Ex-parte application filed and argued before the court, by Mr. Murtala Usman, lawyer to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/1686/17, between Federal Republic of Nigeria and four respondents. The respondents are: Wale Adekunle, Tosin Affinnih, Edward Williams and Olayinka

Loveth. The anti-graft agency had approached the court for an order empowering it’s Executive Chairman or any other officers of the commission to instruct the Managing Director of the banks contained in the schedule attached with the application to freeze the accounts belonging to the respondents pending the conclusion of investigation. The respondents’ accounts are: Atlantic Finaplux Limited, Manhattan Corporate Essential Limited, Jodaf Investment Limited, Frenolen International Limited, Medlams Global Services, Tankarawa Bureau De Change, Self Reliance Advancement Programs and Desmie Medical Services. Also among the respondents accounts are: Calculus and Company, Mass Investment Fund, Limited, Domareen Global Services Limited, Mayiwa Williams Samuel, Sodipo Oludare, Soyode Akin-

lanwon, and Buchi and Seyi Obiefuna. Others are: Olateru Moses Olujimi, Alhassan Shuaibu Ibrahim, Adesanya Adeniyi Peter, Igboegwu Emeka Dominic, Ado Shuaibu Dandasundu, Musbau Abidemi, and Ali Mohammed. The Judge,who granted the application after listening to the submission of the anti graft agency however, ordered the EFCC to publish the said order in two national newspaper for anyone who may have interest in the said accounts to show cause before the court why the order should not be made absolute. Meanwhile the matter has been adjourned till December 15. The EFCC in an affidavit of urgency deposed to by its investigator, asked the court to grant the application. In the affidavit, Boniface Uzoechi, stated that on July 6, 2017, his agency received a petition dated June 5, 2017, from

S. D. Ijie and Associates, on behalf of Equitorial Energy Limited, alleging therein a case of obtaining money under false pretence and stealing to the tune of N175.3 million. The deponent also stated that the complainant alleged in the petition that sometimes in January 2017, his account officer in Skye Bank, the first defendant (Wale Adekunle), approached him with the second defendant (Tosin Affinnih) that they have a customer who is also a relative known to the third defendant (Edward Williams). And that the third defendant has a forex to sell at a reasonable price, and it was agreed by both parties that the naira equivalent will be paid into an account nominated by the second defendant who can only release the sum to the third defendant, upon transfer of the US Dollar equivalent to their suppliers offset, Messrs. Endofa DMCC.

L-R: Chairman, Specialized Exhibition Committee, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ‘Tola Gbogboade; General Manager, Corporate and Institutional Banking, Sterling Bank, Mojisola Bakare; Group Head, Agroc and Export, Mrs. Bukola Awosanya and managing Director, T & R Energy, Engr. Prisca Kanebi, during the seminar on Women Empowerment and National Development, by the LCCI Women Group, in Lagos…yesterday

Rice: 41,000 youths and women farmers to benefit from WAY project From Samuel Luka, Bauchi

About 41,000 youths and women farmers in Bauchi state have been penciled down to benefit from a five- year project, women and youth project(WAY), which is being undertaken by Menonite Economic Development Association (MEDA); and supported by the Canadian government through Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The programme was launched in Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State according to the

launchers, was aimed at improving the beneficiaries business performance and agricultural business environment in the state as well as supporting small entrepreneurs and small businesses run by women and youths in Nigeria. “’The Youth Entreneurship and Women Empowerment Project also aims to increase the communities capacity to raise awareness of the consequences of early and forced child marriage. “16,000 entrepreneurs and small scale businesses will improve their business capacity and business en-

vironments. 25,000 families and community members will become better educated on the consequences surrounding early and forced child marriage.” Speaking, the Canadian ambassador to Nigeria, Christopher Thornley said that the project will help increase agricultural entrepreneurship in Bauchi State. He said that the project is also part of a long term international intervention project by the Canadian government in Nigeria. According to him, the Canadian government has

been involved in many developmental projects across Nigeria over many years. Mr Thronley informed that his country is also actively involved in various interventions in Bauchi State in the areas of health, agriculture and other areas. He further explained that Plan International, Global Affairs Canada is also working with Oxfam LINE project in Bauchi State, which is also targeted at 10,000 poor farming households in the area of agriculture and nutrition. In the area of health, the ambassador added that

Canada is working with the Bauchi State Government to improve the lives of 1.9 million pregnant women and 1.7 million children. In his remarks, MEDA project manager, Chom Bogu said that they are launching the project to facilitate a process, which will help farmers and youths to have easy access to farm inputs and other incentives. He said that they will also collaborate with private companies to help the farmers have access to modern farming techniques and access to processing technologies which will help reduce

wastages and improve their economic status. While speaking, Bauchi State governor’s wife, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed Abubakar called on the women farmers and the youths to embrace the opportunities provided by the project and improve their capacities. She said that due to the involvement of women in rice farming in the area, wife of the president, Hajiya Aisha Buhari has donated a rice mill, which will soon be installed to help the farmers in processing their rice produce.

Capital Market B4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

Lafarge Africa urges shareholders to key into ongoing offer Shareholders of Lafarge Africa Plc have been urged to demonstrate their commitment towards ensuring that the company is well positioned to achieve strategic growth objectives, by taking in full, their Rights, in the ongoing Rights Issue. Such would ensure Investors in Lafarge Africa will continue to benefiting from sordid growth in company’s profitability and returns on investments year on year, as it enhances earning opportunities and dividend payment. This was disclosed by GMD/CEO Lafarge Africa, Mr. Michel Puchercos, during the company’s presentation of ‘Facts Behind the Figures’ its ongoing rights offer, to dealing members of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, stockbrokers and other capital market stakeholders. Lafarge Africa Plc is currently offering 3,097,653,023 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N42, 50 per share on the basis of 5 new ordinary shares for every 9 ordinary shares held as at 1st November, 2017. The Rights acceptance list opened on November 24th 2017 and is billed to close on 15 December, 2017. Lead issuing house to the offer is Chapel Hill Denham while joint issuing house is Standard Chartered., while the rights are tradable on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange between November 24th and 15th December. Lafarge Africa’s CEO disclosed during the presentation that the net proceeds from the Rights offer would be applied to refinancing a portion of the company’s foreign currency denominated shareholder loans, by way of a debt to equity conversion, a portion will also be deployed to finance working capital requirement as well as used to expand operations. He said, “by accepting your Rights, you will be making a strong statement regarding your commitment at ensuring that the company is well positioned to achieve its strategic growth objectives.” The board of Directors, he said, “strongly recommends that shareholders take up their Rights in full” adding that the Rights circular contains an allotment let-

ter on page 53 detailing full instructions for acceptance, payment and renunciation of your Rights. Puchercos said that prospect of growth for the company in Nigeria remains very promising, as the company continue, to expand its operations across the country and work towards reducing its dollar denominated loans. The projected growth, the company’s CEO said is hinged on boosting its customers reach, expanding volume, boosting operations and ensuring its traditional quality products across board. “Power plant in Askaka, North East, which we have commenced building, will narrow cost of production significantly,” In his address at the presentation, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Chief of Staff Mr. Bola Adeko, who represented the NSE CEO commended the company for using the platform to further educate shareholders on its ongoing Rights issue. He also lauded the company for deploying the rights as a demonstrable effort to address foreign exchange denominated loan and clear focus at enhancing operational efficiency. Describing Lafarge Africa as a committed player in the Nigerian cement industry and commitment to rewarding investors through return on profitability in the first half 2017, from a loss position in 2016 financial year. Lafarge Africa, formerly Lafarge Cement Wapco Nigeria Plc primary business activity is the manufacturing and marketing of cement products and business solutions. Lafarge is one of market leaders in the Nigerian cement industry with core brand Elephant cement continuing to assert itself as superior product. The company’s 2016 result showed that revenue declined by 18 per cent compared to 2015, largely driven by an overall decline in cement demand, linked to the economic recession in Nigeria. The performance was consistent across the board with Atlas, ready Mix, South West and Mfamosing operations dropped by 28 per cent, 24 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively . Ashaka operations almost identical to the previous year, declined by 11 per cent.

L – R: Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, President, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Miss Gbenjo Olasubomi Victoria, Winner of the 2017 NSE Essay Competition from Good Shepherd Comprehensive High School, Lagos; Dr. Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, Former Minister for Education and Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON, Chief Executive Officer, NSE during the presentation of awards at the Award Ceremony of the 2017 NSE Essay Competition at Civic Center, Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island... Lagos.

Cutix Plc grows Q2 profit by 63.03 % to N242.85m Stories by Bonny Amadi Cutix Nigeria Plc continues to challenge the prevailing harsh operating environment, as it closed second quarter 2017 on profitable note, The company’s result for the Q2 2018 financial year period ended 31 October ,2017, showed improvement in earnings, just as the prospects remains brighter and good for the remaining quarters to record better earnings consecutively, coming from 18 kobo dividend payment t for the 2017 financial year. The 18 dividend paid

by the company in 2017, was however, higher than 16 kobo dividend paid to shareholders in 2016. Cutix Plc is a communication and energy wire and cable manufacturing firm, which specialises in the manufacture of a wide-range of electrical wires and cables with exclusive high qualitypatronised by the Power Holdings Company of Nigeria (PHCN). According to the result released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Thursday, Cutix in Q2 grew profit before tax by 66.03 per cent or N148, 584 to N373, 616 million from

N225, 032m recorded in Q2 2016. The result also showed that profit after tax (PAT) also grew by 66.03 per cent or N96,579 to close the period at N242,850m, against N146,271m PAT recorded in second quarter 2016. During the period under review, the company paid higher tax of N130, 766m, while in the corresponding period of 2016, N78, 761m was dispense at tax. The company’s total asset rose to N2,447,276 from N2,196,736 in 2016 Q2 , indicating growth by N250,540m or 11.41 per cent, furthermore, Total liabilities rose to

N1,063,798 from N1,090,736 , indicating N26,938 or 2.47 per cent increase. Capital expenditure ballooned to N108, 791 from N12, 466, reflecting N96, 325 or 772.70 per cent growth. The result showed that during the period, earning per share grew by 10.58 or 62.21 per cent in second quarter to 28 kobo from 17 kobo in the same period of 2016. Cutix Plc revenue for the period grew by 67.71 per cent or N1, 099,651 to N2, 723,740, which was however against N1, 624,089 posted in the same period of 2016.

Lasaco faults office closure by FIRS ...says ‘we doesn’t owe taxes’

Adesola Afolabi

Nigerian composite insurance and financial services company, LASACO Assurance Plc has faulted the closure of its Corporate head office by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Tuesday. The insurance firm in a statement made available to the DailyTimes on Wednesday said the government agency acted wrongly on a wrong claim that Lasaco owes tax. According to the state-

ment, the FIRS officials stormed Lasaco’s office yesterday morning and forcefully sealed the Corporate Head Office at 16, Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos on a wrong claim of tax liability owed from 2012 to 2016 to the tune of N278.5m. The said officials came without prior notice and sealed the office, all our attempts to make them reason that we were not owing proved abortive even as we showed them evidences of full payments for the reconciled 2012 -2015 Taxes and pay-

ments on self-assessment basis for 2016’ the statement read “We like to state for the understanding of the public that LASACO Assurance plc is not owing any tax liability. We have always been upright in discharging our tax responsibilities as can been seen from the evidences of payment. We are a very responsible and disciplined organisation that will not in any way default in its obligation to the Government or other regulatory bodies. We dispute openly, the claims by the Tax

Authority that we owe taxes from 2012 to 2016 and hereby present our evidences of payments till date. We, however, like to commend the Tax Authority for retracing its action by unsealing our premises immediately they reconciled their account and found out the true position that we are not owing and neither are we in the class of tax evaders. We assure all our customers and the general public of our commitment to running a responsible and credible organization positioned to meet your insurance needs at all times.’’

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

B5 Money Market

Commercial banks’ NPLs hit N2.42trn in Q3-NDIC Stories by Motolani Oseni The total figure of NonPerforming Loans (NPLs) in the Nigeria’s commercial banks, as at the end of third quarter (Q3) put at N2.42 trillion or 15.18 per cent as at September 30, 2017, the highest in over 10 months, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has revealed. According to NDIC, the banking industry in 2016 reported a Non-Performing Loan of about N1.6trn or 10.13 per cent to highlight impact of recession on banks’ lending to key sector of the nation’s economy. Finance analysts had also attributed the rise in Non-Performing Loans to the fall in global oil prices and production levels arising from the militancy in the Niger-Delta

region of the country. NDIC in a report obtained by Daily Times stated that banking industry Non-Performing Loan crossed the N2trn threshold in April this year to N2.09 trillion and moved to N2.1trn in May. The report by NDIC stated that Non-Performing Loans dropped to N1.88trn in June and increased significantly to N2.3trn and N2.4trn in July and August respectively. The report stated that total loans and advances continued to drop this year despite steady recovery in nation’s economy. According to NDIC, total loans & advances to customers as at December 2016 was at N16.18trn to dropped to N15.98trn as at September 30, 2017. The Director, Bank Examination Department at the NDIC, Mr. Adedapo Adeleke, explained that while the banking industry NPL ratios and the volume of non-performing

loans continued to grow up till Sept, 2017, the total loans advanced by the industry continued to decrease in volume as banks curtailed lending and concentrated on loans recovery drives. He said the Risk Assets examination of 20 Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) as at December 31, 2016, revealed that of the total industry loans portfolio of N15.6 trillion, the sum of N3.1trn (or 19.91 per cent) was non performing. “The 19.91per cent NPL ratio was a 79.04per cent increase over the average industry ratio of 11.12per cent recorded as at December 31, 2015.” Adeleke during a media workshop organised by NDIC for finance reporters in Kano, said the increased Non-performing Loans in the banking sector were worrisome for an industry that has battled head winds through the years and suffered colossal losses due to bad loans.

L-R: First Deputy President, KACCIMA Alh. Sani Umar presenting a gift to the NDIC, MD/CE Alh. Umaru Ibrahim at the NDIC Special Day during the ongoing 38th Kano International Trade Fair 2017 in Kano.

FG moves to consolidate gains of economic recovery efforts Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

The Federal Government has urged top planners, policy experts and managers in the country have been urgedto focus attention on the development of more measures capable of sustaining and accelerating the momentum of activities in the country’s economic recovery and growth efforts. Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, who made the call in Minna, Niger State, on Thursday, at the 16th Meeting of the National Council on Development Planning (NCDP) was hopeful that deliberations at the three-day conference will focus on strategies to drive further the successes achieved so far in the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). The major thrust of the meeting with the theme: “The Economic Recovery and Growth Plan: Roadmap to Inclusive Growth, Resilient and Competitive Economy,” was to work out effective ways of using the ERGP as a roadmap to achieve inclusive growth and build a resilient and competitive economy. The minister was optimistic that the result of such deliberations will lead to the achievement of the goal the Buhari administration set for itself of building a sustainable, inclusive and diversified economy. He urged participants at the conference to always remember that the administration’s goal is to be the economic powerhouse of Africa; a country where, as President Muhammadu Buhari said, must be able to “grow what we eat and consume what we make”; as well as produce enough for the African continent. Udoma stressed that economic transformation of Nigeria has always been an important element of President Buhari’s agenda for the country, a commitment which led to the packaging of the Strategic

Implementation Plan (SIP) and the ERGP to address the challenging economic situation he inherited. The measures introduced under the SIP and the ERGP have had an immediate impact. While acknowledging that achievements so far recorded is an indication that government is moving in the right direction, he however noted that there is still more work to be done and cautioned against complacency. “We have more work to do to sustain and accelerate the momentum. With an estimated population growth of almost 3%, a growth rate of a little over 1% can hardly be felt. We need to work hard to ensure that we achieve our ERGP growth target of 3.5% for 2018 and 7% by the year 2020,” he stressed. He was optimistic that “if we keep on working hard and sustaining the tempo there is no reason why we cannot achieve a growth rate of up to 10% in succeeding years. Nigeria has the people, we have the energy and we have the resources to achieve this. Let us not relent until we are growing at a rate that can turn us into the economic powerhouse of Africa, and even the World.” The minister explained the import of the Malaysian style lab that will soon kick- off in Nigeria. “We have set up a special implementation unit to ensure effective delivery of the ERGP. In the coming weeks, this special implementation unit will be running sector-focused style labs in Agriculture and Transportation, Power and Gas, and Manufacturing and Processing. “To help us in running these labs, we have retained PEMANDU, which was the Malaysian agency that spearheaded the transformation of the Malaysian economy using these labs. PEMANDU will act as consultants to support the members of our implementation unit.

Naira relapses at official FX market as NAFEX records $218.7m turnover

After gaining points for three consecutive trading days at the official foreign exchange market, the Nigeria local currency, relapsed on Thursday to close at a depreciated rate of N306 to the US Dollar against of 305.75 recorded on Wednesday, 305.80 sold on Tuesday, 305.85 recorded on Monday and 305.90 sold a week ago. Contrary to this, the Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange (NAFEX) window, at the end of yesterday trading activities declared an appreciable total transactions turnover of $218.66 million

compared to $198.71m exchanged on Wednesday but weaker than $227.73m sold on Tuesday and $179.78m exchanged on Monday. But the NAFEX, at the beginning of yesterday trading settled at a weaker rate of 359.75 per Dollar against 359.72 recorded the previous day before closing at 360.65 compared to 360.02 that was seen at the same period. Although, it was exchanged at 360.32 on Tuesday, the same figure it was sold on the first trading day in the week. However, the Naira was seen stable on the spot

market, due to the investor inflows and the continuous forex intervention by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). At the parallel segment of the forex market, the local currency for the third day running stood steadied at 364 to the US Dollar at the end of yesterday trading activities, the same rate it exchanged on Tuesday and Wednesday, and also, unchanged at 430 per Euro and 480 to the Pound Sterling. Forex dealers believed that trades have been consistent on the market for months, helping the currency hold up at around

360 naira per dollar. Nigeria has at least six exchange rates which it has used to mask pressure on the currency. Traders expect the naira to hold up across its other exchange rates next week hovering at around 305 naira on the interbank market supported by central bank. According to the latest data obtained from the apex bank official website, , the nation’s external reserves stood at $34.53 billion as of Nov. 24, up nearly 3 per cent from a month earlier, represented an increase of 40.5 per cent this year compared to 2016.

Meanwhile, Fitch rating agency, says Nigeria targets consolidation but revenues may fall short, but believed that the Africa’s largest economy

expect rising oil revenues to aid consolidation, but forecasted that its deficit to narrow less, to 2.4 per cent of Gross Domestic Products.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

B6 Features

How Nigerian banks are turning loyal customers to millionaires

Ganiyu Obaaro

Saving money doesn’t need to be so difficult. According to Havard Business School scholar, Professor Peter Tufano, “The most interesting ideas—indeed the oldest—try to make savings a fun or satisfying experience.” However, the problem is that people do not make a habit of doing it; and that is why it appears difficult to save. The importance of imbibing a savings’ culture cannot be overemphasized especially in a country that has undergone recession two years in a row. Due to the fact that Nigeria is a monolithic economy which depends essentially on proceeds from crude oil, the impact of global shakeups on oil prices has direct effect on the economy. The implication is that if people do not save or start to imbibe savings culture, there is little they could do to cushion the impact of financial crisis on their purchasing power, thus shrinking the opportunities available to them to have a good life. This is largely because our economy is not shielded from effect of global headwinds, especially as it relates to the volatile oil and gas sector and other macroeconomic issues. But as the need to save and grow funds becomes more apparent in the revived economy, particularly for low-income earners, attention should be focused on how to use the banks to achieve financial goals of the citizenry and demands against the rainy day. By default, banks are meant to help you save and grow your money by providing a variety of savings accounts that not only keep your money safe but help it grow and the banking industry has witnessed efforts by several players in the sector to encourage savings habits and mobilise cheap funds through various savings promotions that offer more than paltry interest rate. A very good example is what Skye Bank is doing with its highly subscribed Reach for the Skye Millionaire promo, the reward campaign which has seen several customers of the Bank winning N1million, and other consolation and monetary prizes. Giving insight into how the million naira windfall had impacted their lives three of the past winners of the promo; Ms. Imaobong Michael Etuk, a female customer of Okpara Avenue branch, Enugu state, spoke of how divine the money was to her family. She disclosed that it came in handy when all hope seemed lost on a family member who needed money to undergo surgery to correct a health challenge. “The one million naira from Skye Bank was a prayer answered as we had combed everywhere to raise money for a surgery for a relative without success. My family will never forget Skye Bank as we pray for the institution every time. Our relative is back on his feet and is bubbling again courtesy of the Reach for the Skye jackpot”, Imabong enthused. Mr. Olusola Olusegun Ezekiel, a civil servant with La-

Another promo organised by Access Bank in Lagos

Tokunbo Abiru - Skye Bank GMD-CEO - Photo

The promo which is additionally designed to encourage savings and to reward customers for their loyalty with the brand at this postrecession economy, has turned more than 45 customers into millionaires to their amazement; besides several other consolation cash and other prizes won by numerous other customers gos State Government said that the promo is real and I am a beneficiary of the reward. He had won One Million Naira which was invested on a capital project he had embarked upon. According to him, “The money was invested in building a residential house for my personal use in Ikorodu.” For Dr. Oloyede Abiodun, a lecturer with Osun State College of Education in Osun State he had nothing but appreciation for the promoters of the campaign. According to him, he used the money to complete what he referred to as his abandoned house project. “I used the money to complete my personal house project in Ibadan where I live with my family at present,” he said. “I can categorically confirm that this exercise is real, though I least expected it when the money came. It came as a pleasant surprise when I received a phone call informing me that I had won a million naira. I never believed until I got to the manager of the branch where my account is where I confirmed it was real”. Dr. Abiodun stated while urging the banking public to give it a trial as they may be

A bank promo organised by First Bank in Lagos

the next millionaire. Olusola Olusegun Ezekiel, Mrs. Ohaeme Elizabeth; Aminu Buhari and Tolani Ahmed/Omole Akanni, joint account owners, among a host of others have already emerged winners in the combined reloaded edition and the season I of the promo with various consolation prizes won by several customers and prospects of the bank. The promo which is additionally designed to encourage savings and to reward customers for their loyalty with the brand at this post-recession economy, has turned more than 45 customers into millionaires to their amazement; besides several other consolation cash and other prizes won by numerous other customers. Since it was introduced, the Skye Bank ‘Reach for the Skye Millionaire’ reward promo has been changing the lives of many for the better. The campaign, which is a feature for the bank’s flagship savings products, is meant to encourage savings culture amongst the mass market segment. According to a statement from the bank, “the promo provides a unique opportunity for the Bank to stay in touch and reward its savings customers, who have a unique role to play in the country’s economic expansion”. It further disclosed that, “part of activities lined up for the event is the instant reward for people who open any savings account during the draw, adding that “the instant reward items at the draw venue include; generator sets, refrigerators, blenders, phones, table gas cookers and even recharge cards. Skye Bank is Nigeria’s leading retail bank with wide-ranging electronic solutions promoting consumer lifestyle and e-commerce experience for its customers. Interestingly, a cross-section of banks in Nigeria in a bid to reward loyal customers and empower them, had equally in the course of the year instituted various programs. Notable amongst them are First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Heritage Bank Ltd, Fidelity Bank Plc. and Diamond Bank Plc., among others. FCMB unveiled a reward scheme tagged ‘FCMB Millionaire Promo’ designed to provide extra empowerment and create value for customers of the Bank. Also Heritage Bank Ltd’s promo tagged ‘Happy Days Promo’ has equally been designed to encourage savings at this period of tight economic situation. With additional report by Rasheeed Bolarinwa, Skye Bank Plc.

B7 Enterprenuership

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

Failure as most important skill for a successful entrepreneur One out of every 10 babies in the world is born premature. One million die each year, many due to lack of warmth. And someone wanted to change all that, saying “No baby should die from being cold”. This core value was the center of her team’s project and design for extreme affordability.This entrepreneur and her team designed an inexpensive incubator that offered a low-cost way to keep premature babies warm. Their inspiration came from the concept of a tiny sleeping bag that heats up to regulate a baby’s body temperature. This concept termed Embrace Innovations, born out of social innovation, has saved more than 200,000 premature babies and hopes to increase that number to 1 million. From the start, they faced challenges. First, the team’s truck got a flat tire on the way to a small Indian village where they planned to share their product. Next, Embrace Innovations nearly lost its funding. And working with foreign governments proved difficult. But they took a “never give up” attitude that has helped the company prosper. They talked about persistence, the power of serendipity, and why they choose to see the beauty in the world, at a discourse and the following are the key points. We are defined by values, not successes This entrepreneur believed in a cause greater than herself — that no baby should die from being cold. When challenges of design, distribution, and finances faced Embrace Innovations, she made it a point to continually return to this foundational value. “Being really rooted in your purpose will get you through your toughest moments,” she says. Connect to the why of what you are doing, she adds, and it will give you the tenacity to keep going. Step back and reevaluate When things get tough, change your perspective and realign with your goals, she advises. As Embrace Innovations grew, this entrepreneur

was spending much of her time writing government contracts. The long procedures often left her feeling mired in bureaucracy. But she noticed that by going into the retail market, Embrace Innovations could still support its primary humanitarian efforts. You will inevitably fail, and you need to have the courage and the persistence to get back out there, learn from your mistakes, and try again “We thought, ‘What if we could leverage our technology and create a product for the market?’” she says. The team drew inspiration from other one-to-one giving models, in which companies match each purchased item with a free or donated one for someone in need (e.g. think Tom’s shoes or Warby Parker glasses). Embrace Innovations used its design and thermal wax technology to create Little Lotus — temperature-adjusting blankets and swaddles to sell domestically. With each sale of Little Lotus in the U.S., the company was able to send an Embrace warmer to a premature baby in need abroad. It’s the courage to continue that counts Recently, this entrepreneur took up surfing, a sport where, she says, she spends more time falling off her board than staying

on. “It’s so humbling,” she adds. Having the courage to “get back out there,” whether it’s for the next ocean wave or the next wave of enterprise, is the sign of a strong entrepreneur. “You will inevitably fail,” she says, “and you need to have the courage and the persistence to get back out there, learn from your mistakes, and try again.”

Believe in something fully She takes this idea from her belief that when you follow your dreams, you are helped in unexpected ways. For example, just after learning Embrace Innovations had no more than one week of funding, she called on Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, someone she had coincidentally met at a meditation session nine months earlier.

This chance connection lead to Benioff funding Embrace Innovations. Choose how you see the world Social entrepreneurs are often exposed to extreme poverty, violence, and disease. After living in India for a few years, this entrepreneur could see herself becoming really jaded and pessimistic. But choosing to see the

beautiful things — a doctor’s commitments to his patients, a parent’s love for a child — kept her going. “I encourage you to see the world through a lens of beauty, because that will give you the optimism to keep changing the world.” She adds. The journey to entrepreneurship is a roller-coaster ride, persistence and tenacity of purpose is what will see anyone through in it, no matter the nature and form of the venture and the location. Learning from the experience of the above entrepreneur in her concept development strategy and value application, process management method, operations, etcetera will result in the same experience of success no matter what kind of venture you are dealing with and the location. So my admonition is remain true to the original purpose and be guided by values not success, maintain consistency and persist no matter what the outcome and experience is, and the authenticity of your dreams will attract help and support to you, invariably ushering success to you. Principles accurately applied will produce the same result no matter the location and the people behind it, because of the universality of application as its strength and quality. The same is applicable in business management and entrepreneurship.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, December 1, 2017

B8 Tourism

3. From L-R: General Manager, Instant Apartment, Mr. Ferdinand Agwueye, Managing Director, ReHob Energy, Mr. Rere Obiasi, Managing Director/CEO, Instant Apartment, Mr. Ubi Franklin and Head, Legal/Quality Control, Instant Apartment, Mr Franklin Agbor during the launch of Instant Apartment www.instantapartment .com - a new web-based apartment rental platform on Tuesday, November 28, 2017... in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.

Data collection will crystalise Tourism in Nigeria - Coker

Ooni, Group plan to make Ife World Heritage City

Ganiyu Obaaro

Ile-Ife the ancestral home of over 100 million Yoruba descendants all over the world is set to be transformed into a global tourist hub. Under the initiative, IleIfe is expected to be transformed into a World Heritage City. The promoters of the project led by the Oni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II and an international business conglomerate, ALMAJDAL LIMITED said the project involves the transformation of Ile-Ife into the biggest tourist destination in Africa. ALMAJDAL is an international construction concern with branches in Africa, Europe and Asia. The group is working with Tropical Green City Foundatìon, an environmental friendly group. The project is to gulp billions of naira. The promoters say on completion, the project will stir immense wealth and job creation and an economic bang while millions of tourists are expected to look up to an amazing visit to the

ancient city. In a support statement, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi said the “project involves re-construction and beautification of ancient sites, city parks, new boulevards, greenery of the city centers, redesign of the city main boulevard, outskirts and other legacy projects in line with the idea to create the necessary impetus for Ile-Ife and Yoruba cultural renaissance.” The Ooni is currently in California where he has been meeting with potential investors including stakeholders in the famous Sicilcon Valley. The project will also enhance research-based and knowledge driven economy in Nigeria with the South West as the peg. Countries with people of huge population of Yoruba ancestry in West Africa and Latin America, will be enlisted in the project. “We are set for a legacy project that will uplift one of the oldest cities in the world and put it on the global tourist map. It involves rebuilding the over 200 historical and archeological sites dating back to

the 8th century, construction of the Yoruba Museum of Natural History, and the Yoruba Ancient War Museum, the rebuilding of the burial place of Oduduwa, the first Ooni of Ife who died around late 9thCentury, the Garden of Saints for late Oonis, the provision of gardens, botanical gardens and fountains across the city. No fewer than 1 million trees of different species will be planted at Ife alone.” The Executive Director of ALMAJDAL, an expatriate Mr. Wali Kutrub said. The group will collaborate with Tropical Green City Foundation based in Lagos. The project is expected to employ the services of thousands of artisans and create a job boom in the Ile-Ife axis and the entire South West region. Kutrub said “Ile-Ife is one of the oldest cities in the world. Tourism built around history and heritage is a major source of multi-billions naira revenue for nations all over the world. Nigeria is about to tap this immense resources beginning with the Ile-Ife

Oba Ogunwusi

project.” He said about 1 million tree species sourced from all over the world will be planted at Ile-Ife in a bid to create a green revolution while rare species of plants and animals will be conserved. He said that potentially, millions of tourists from Europe, America and Asia are anxious to visit Ile-Ife but are constrained by environmental factors. With the project, he said the tourist potentials of Nigeria will be enhanced leading to “a cultural renaissance and an economic boom.” The Ooni said the Yoruba people all over the world and Nigeria as a country will be grateful to see the success of the amazing project with the highest assurances that the promoters will have their names etched in gold.

Director general of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mr. Folorunsho Coker,has stressed the need for a working collaboration between data collection organisations, private and public, to crystallise Nigeria’s tourism data overview. Coker, who said this in a brief chat with journalists at the weekend, disclosed that,“There are other data banks from technologies used by banks, telecoms companies and airlines, among others, that could be used to crystallize our overview of tourism data. “It will be by alliance and in our common interest, rather than by enforcement. This will get us where we want to be. Big data is the new oracle. We need to speak to it to maximize benefits.” While describing statistics as the overview that allows correction of strategies and policies, the NTDC boss commended the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for its commitment to using the Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSA) framework to ensure a more robust and realistic aggregation of tourism statistics in Nigeria. He noted that the symbi-

otic relationship between government agencies is for the benefit of Nigeria, while opining that, “this is the first time statistic will capture Tourism and its relevance to GDP. He said,“The decision of NBS to use the TSA framework to ensure a more robust and realistic aggregation of tourism statistics in Nigeria is ground breaking. It is the beginning of what GSM did to analogue for tourism. “The DG at NBS is a timely judge of the National data requirements and is on the crest of pronouncements that reinforce our statements that the transportation, hospitality and entertainment in tourism has been big business and need to be identified and separated.” Recall that StatisticianGeneral of the Federation and CEO of NBS, Dr. Yemi Kale, at an interactive session with members of the Association of Travel & Tourism Writers of Nigeria (ATTWON), recently disclosed the commitment of the bureau to using the TSA’s framework to ensure a more robust and realistic aggregation of tourism statistics in Nigeria.

Life&

TIMES Friday, December 1, 2017

I love to untangle L problems â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Titilola Akibayo P

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, December 1, 2017

Accountants are not stingy but p rudent â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Titilola Akibayo, SWAN chairperson Mrs. Titilola Akibayo is the 7th National Chairperson of the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) which comprises of the female members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) inaugurated on 28th of April 1978 with the aim of encouraging female accountants, help the public at large and support ICAN in its social responsibilities. ESTHER TAIWO spoke with her. to your table to access them and know what is going on in all departments and we can see to OND and some universities accept tit, you can use it to Chairperson? of chartered accountants cannot be overemphasised in The pain is in managing people especially women managing the economy of any nation thus the demand for but thank God I have been able to overcome that and all that we set out to do even more under two years of my tenure; the corporate social responsibility one, fail all but that has changed now; what effect does this also took us to hospitals and orphanages, we also reviewed our constitution which we have not What led to the clampdown is because in those days things were easier then, the economy was not as harsh is discouraging, the clampdown is all the world, the international world has clamped down on it since, the issue We support ourselves, support ICAN and take care of its social responsibility, we help to set up women society for ICAN, we formed the because here in Nigeria we have to be careful so that International Federation of Women Accountant, which started with the African chapter, but now have over 40,000 chartered accountants that is why people

Tell us your background I was born into the family of Egberongbes, in Lagos Island, I went to Lagos Anglican primary school, because Monicas Ondo and then Yaba College of Technology , I travelled abroad to study Accountancy and came back in Why the choice of accountancy? Incidentally at the time I chose accountancy I never knew about the discipline, I wanted to study Medicine but I could not stand the sight of blood so my father suggested friends are accountants and during my OND at YABATECH my father sent me to Deloitte Atkins and Friends where his friend was the managing partner Alhaji Musiliu Anibaba so I went there for vacation and after my three months experience there I fell in love with accounting profession Prospects of accountancy For the fact that I love the profession, I love to untangle problems, anywhere you are as an accountant you are all comprising, every department must work with you, you must advise all the departments, everything must come

Life&

women society to set up and we mentor them, body has changed into this system so that students can be we also set up women society of accountants, Liberia has also asked us to come and set up their What is your take on early marriage for the girl-child? Any parent that wants to give out a child in marriage must have stipulated conditions that will favour the child whether or not to have it and she received overwhelming such the husband must not touch her until she gets to Yes and that was how it started, right now from just 10 maturity stage, he should send her to school and make of us we have 4,000 registered female accountants but sure she is comfortable and not denied what other children unregistered are over 8, 000 but all are our members are privileged to have, many children are being abused so even out of the registered we have the active and be stipulated that the husband must not touch her until she not many and to increase our number by encouraging gets to age 18 which is the mature age according to the As a female chartered accountant, how does it affect Despite your busy schedules, how then do you unwine? your home? I like reading, dancing and I socialize by going out, I am Quite a lot of us are able to manage their homes, a member of Ikoyi Club where I used to go every weekend though we come back late because we have to balance to socialise and mix with people, but now I am too busy, I company and this takes a lot from our children, a lot of us forget ourselves because the task is enormous and demanding, they leave their children to house helps but The general perspectives of people is that accountants our job with our marriage, during weekends we must

How did you become a Chartered Accountant? Professionally, to be a chartered accountant is in two

on this? I will not say accountants are stingy but they are trained to be prudent, not to be wasteful and to account for things as well as every kobo they spend that is why we want to know what each money is being spent on not that we are stingy nowadays accountants contribute a lot to

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, December 1, 2017

Gist L3

Mutiat Alli

Lagbaja, Ebenezer Obey, Femi Kuti, others for African International Music Festival

I’m not Adesua Etomi’s ex, says Actor Kunle Remi Following the recent backlash he got shortly after actress Adesua Etomi now Wellington got married in a jamboree celebration, fans have tongue-lashed actor Kunle Remi as being loser who could not keep his relationship with the Adesua. In his response, Kunle Remi refuted the claims and news around that

In a post shared on his IG page, Kunle wondered where he or Adesua ever Femi Kuti &

Organisers of the African International Music Festival (AIM Festival) have hinted that the environ of the La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Ikegun Village, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos will be set agog as over 54 musicians drawn from all African countries will be thrilling music lovers tomorrow Saturday, December 2, 2017. An initiative of Motherlands and Beckon creativity under the leadership of Amb. Wanle Akinboboye, the event is set to raise the bar with arrays of activities that awaits participants that includes unique and distinct songs , dance styles , stagecraft , chants , display and razzmatazz amongst others. Speaking on the essence of the coming event, Amb. Wanle disclosed that the event is put together to ensuring the domestication of the prodigious creative industry for the growth, unity and economic brotherhood of Africa for Africans for African.

In addition, AIM Festival is predicated upon the trajectory of the need to sow neatly and tightly the loose intra- culturaltourism relationship in Africa. It is a trite in the concept of nation building that the cultural ingredients of values, norms, mores and its strong pillars such as language and music are pivots of unity. The event will equally witness attendance of great music veterans that includes King Sunny Ade, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, Shina Peter, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Femi Kuti, Lagbaja, and Sunny Nneji amongst others. Billed to thrill the audience to undiluted and unlimited fun includes Anu the Lady Ekwe , Olo Omidan bata, Ara-Thunder, Wole Oni, Leslie Molds of Cameroon, Don Bra Don of Kenya, Joseph Chea of Liberia , Ammal of Uganda , Agossou Koffi Alphonse of Togo, Adigun Olohun Iyo, Choni the Cellist from USA, Kola

item. According to him, they only acted as a couple in a movie they starred in. He wrote: “My name is Kunle Remi and Not I have been silent, but some people have taken this as an invitation to take the piss!! I have chosen my words and thought this action through, so read carefully, yes, and pay attention I will only say this once. I am not a bitter person neither am I a sadist.

Mrs. Wellington and Kunle Remi on set of Falling

me from those that do) you would know I am a very positive and I radiate good vibes only, I am not here for any form of negativity whatsoever. “My name has been used inappropriately, and

it is time I set the record straight. “I intentionally waited till after the festive of the beautiful wedding ceremony had come to a natural halt out of respect for the couple.

Woli Arole to hit cinema in 2018 with THE CALL

Peterson, USA, Akeem Lasisi, Beriola to mention but few.

Rapper MI, Mr. P, others to battle Chef Fregz, Dumebi at #CoffeFoodMusic today

Asiri, Executive Producer, Woli Arole, Director, James Abinibi and producer, Felix Olojede at the announce-

Mr. P and Waje In what is tagged the unusual, Foodbay TV along with Nescafe have teamed up to bring a one-of-akind event tagged CoffeFoodMusic featuring an array of exciting activities today, Friday, December 1, 2017 at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event will feature a fascinating segment, which will have some of the most soughtafter artists and chefs in the country engage in a battle; assuming the roles of one another to see who is better at their craft – and that includes Waje, Fregz, Mr. P, Dumebi, MI, Alex, Bisola and

Benedict. The chefs will assume the roles of the artists whilst the artists will assume the roles of the chefs; putting one another to the test in a bid to not only entertain the audience but also versatility. on taking Lagosians on a journey to a new world that is void of the usual hustles and bustles, a place with refreshing Coffee mocktails & cocktails, amazing food, good music to soothe the soul and the opportunity for like-minded people to connect and network.

Having carved a niche for himself in the comedy zone with his distinctive style of comic delivery, Oluwatoyin Bayegun better known as Woli Arole is set to take a step

will be hitting the cinema in a date that will be made known to the public in 2018. The movie which will commence shoot from Sunday Dec 3, 2017 in Ibadan will be directed by award winning director, James Abinibi. Produced by Felix Olojegede, the movie will feature arrays

of stars that includes veteran actor Yinka Quadri, Hafeez Oyetoro

Asiri, Ebiye and comedienne, Etinosa Idemudia amongst others With the idea of the movie project conceived earlier in the to be one of the movie to watch out comic-drama element not leaving out the key message of the movie.

actor Yinka Quadri to the cinema The Call movie has equally been

able to gather few sponsors that includes leading betting company, Nairbet, Lagos state government, Berger Paint and Krystal digital Solution amongst others. The call tells the story of Arole and his merry band of never-dowell friends get into yet another problem after he loses an expensive antic clock belonging to a powerful retired general in the community. In his hustle to raise money to refund the angry impatient general, he discovers his new talent and soon realises that with great power comes great responsibility.

Society Gist L4

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, December 1, 2017

Ajibade Alabi

Lanre Teriba, Ifemide, Esther Igbekele, Iya Saudi, others set to ignite Ijebu The stage is set for the forth-coming Ijebu Praise Concert schedule for today, Friday, December 1, 2017 at Dipo Dina Memorial Stadium, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, as Teriba lead the likes of Esther Igbekele, Bola Obi, Iya Saudi, Ifemide, Funmi Sennaike among other pel singers to offer praises to God. The glamorous to be event which is ered by Hon Kehinde Odeneye, member House of Representatives, Ijebu –Ode/ Odogbolu/Ijebu North-East Federal Constituency Ogun State, is already the talk of town in Ijebu and its environs, with many important perclass monarchs and entertainment industry are set to storm the sleepy town of Ijebu Ode. Speaking on the forthcoming event, Lanre Teriba, aka Atorishe, stated that set of musicians that will herald this event, adding, “I am really happy to be part of this historical event, and I wish to be part of this for many years”. The convener of the event, Hon. Odeneye, who is also known as OK, told newsmen recently that the pur-

Lanre Teriba and Hon. Odeneye pose of the gathering is not for any political purpose but to unite all Nigerians through worship and praises. He said: “I have said this thing many times that the purpose of this is to make us believe we serve one God, and reduce religious crises and not a political gathering. That is why we have gospel musician from both Christian and Muslim religious, and will happen in this country. We are also given out souvenirs as in take home”.

When Engr. Tunji Alabi turned 60

WARIF trains additional 100 traditional birth attendants

Cross section of participants at the event In a continued fight to put an end to Gender Based Violence, the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) held a second training session for the traditional birth attendants in Lagos, Nigeria. The Gatekeepers Project was recently launched this October at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Ikeja with the aim of curbing and eventually eliminating this societal menace of Gender based violence. Amongst the materials given to the taining extensive information on how to manage incidents or the signs to look out for in a woman they suspect is being abused. Lastly and most importantly were the logbooks which aid in documenting incidents of GBV they come across, and on a weekly basis this information is collected by WARIF. Some of the Local Government Areas present in the train-

ing included Alimosho, Ikorodu, Mushin, etc. Through sensitization workshops, elearning forums and monthly meetings WARIF in collaboration with the ACT Foundation are working towards reducing gender based violence by a minimum of 30% and also increasing the reporting rate from an alarming 0% to 95%. These training sessions focus on recognizing, managing and collecting data on incidences of sexual assault, rape and other forms of GBV in perirural areas. The Gatekeepers Project, by WARIF and the ACT foundation, was launched with approval of the Lagos State Traditional Me necessary skill set required in providing basic first responder assistance and psycho-social counselling for the GBV survivors who they may come across.

AIT’s Kambili Osadolor-Ehima honoured

For Engr. Tunji Alabi, a well-known engineer who designs most of Nigeria popular celebrities like Sir, Shina Peters, Abidap Hotels and so many important socialites, there would not have been a better day to celebrate his 60th birthday in presence of his family and his younger ones. The celebration which was held in his palatial home in Agege Lagos was witnessed by his pals among whom were Sir. Shina Peters and Alhaji Tajudeen, who were present to add glamour glitz and colour to the 60thcelebration.

Engr. Alabi, who is the first born of the seven children of Late Elder Joseph Akande and Late Deaconess Mary Olayemi Alabi, is well known in social circle. He was one of the few socialites who Shina Peters cannot do without singing his praise in the late 80s through 90s. “What can I say to God than to thank him for adding another year to my years? It is not easy to clock the age of 60. I give God the glory, also my lovely wife and my 3 lovely children (Simisola, Olamide and Moyosola) not forgetting my 6 siblings“.

Quintessential broadcaster, Mrs. Kambili Osadolor-Ehima was recently bestowed with another award, the second in less than two months after winning at the recent edition of the prestigious “MyMicMySwag Awards 2017. This time around, the humane philanthropist and Ambassador for the less privileged, was recognised for her commitment and contributions to the global fight against crime through Youth Development and Empowerment which her NGO, The Kambili Osadolor-Ehima Foundation, champions in totality. The award, “Outstanding Media Personality

Kambili

Award On Drug And Substance Abuse Prevention, 2017 was given to the amiable Kambili by the African Youth Initiative On Crime

Prevention, AYICRIP, and signed by the Executive Director and Founder, Ibe Christogonus C.

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, December 1, 2017

Ajibade Alabi

Dove club set to celebrate new president

Chief Kabir

The elegant suite of Summit Hotel in the serene of Akowojo in Egbeda area in Lagos will come alive tomorrow, December 2, 2017 social club, Dove Club, that housed many important personalities like doctors, engineers, business tycoons, senior civil servants, and bank managers converge at the prestigious hotel to celebrate their day and also to unveil

their new president in the person of Chief Kabir, a business tycoon. “Our club is for elite, and socialites. We have respected people like bank manager, business tycoon we even have 2 Assistant Commissioner of Police, and we even have the proprietor of Summit Hotel as a member so we are a respected club not only in Lagos here but all over Nigeria. Dove Club is big club, that all you need to do to join us is for you to be of good character, not dubious, not into scandalous act,” the president told Life & Times in a chance meeting. Life & Times also scooped that Dove Club has done a lot for the society and they are willing to give more.

Otunba Oyewole Fasawe to dance to Saheed Osupa music

Saheed Osupa

Otunba Oyewole Fasawe will light up the scene at the 10th year anniversary of Executive Elite 007 Club of Nigeria that also has Olukayode Salako, the husband of Nollywood star actress, Foluke Daramola. The 10th year anniversary which Otunba Oyewole Fasawe is expected to be the chairman of the day will also have Hon. Ahmed Omisore as father of the day and also have Saidi Osupa on ground as the artiste of the day. Speaking on the

celebration, Kayode Salako said: “It is going to be fun come 17thof Dec 2017, at La Royale Events Centre, Lagos. Like the motto of our club stated” The Light, the House,” we are going to light up the whole place come that day. With Saidi Osupa band on stage you can best assured of getting your fun”. Kayoed Salako is well known socialite among the elite. He is also a political commentator and a well-respected personality.

Society Gist L5

When Ufuoma McDermott elegant wears turned heads on It took the most disciplined men on earth not to stare at Ufuoma McDermott sexy wears and not imagine things or without their minds reading riot last weekend during a movie premiere. The movie star donned a red off-shoulder gown by Vfl_official featuring feathers on the sleeves and the bottom half of the dress. Ufuoma McDermott stepped out in a glittering gown for her directorial debut movie, “Christmas is Coming,” premiered at the IMAX Cinemas in Lekki, Lagos. The movie star donned a red off-shoulder gown by Vfl official featuring feathers on the sleeves and the bottom half of the dress. Of course this is a free world and everybody is entitled to dress the way he/she pleases but Ufuoma seemed less concerned and was not ready to compromise anything for her comfort. Or is anybody there complaining about the way she dressed? Let the person know that “Christmas is coming” and she is dressing in preparation for yuletide. Chikena!

Ufuoma McDermott

Unveiling Ayoade Adewopo For many socialites and big guns in society, the name, Ayoade Adewopo, a legal practitioner who holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the Indiana University, Indiana, a postgraduate diploma in international tax law from Robert Kennedy College (University of Wales), Zurich-Switzerland and a Higher National Diploma in Business Administration and Management from The Polytechnic Ibadan, Nigeria is not new to them but in political terrain, he may be termed “New Breed”. But to many people especially people of Osun State, he is a man that will change the current situation of the state and the right man to replace “Ogbeni”. Life & Times can exclusively reveal that Ayoade, who was born to Prince Johnson Adedoja Adewopo, a reputable lawyer during his lifetime and a scion of the popular Ogboru Royal Family of

Ile-Ife and to Princess Dorcas Adewopo (Nee Laoye), a retired teacher the Late Timi of Ede, HRH Oba John Adetoyese Laoye, is said to be highly loved by the people of Osun State. He is said to have already put his machinery in motion in other to Aregbesola come 2018. “When you appreciate the fact that you are enjoying some level of grace and certain have in a society like ours, I believe naturally, one should develop a heart of giving back to that society. My belief is that it to lack basic necessities of life. So, those who have should be able to share with others to make the heart behind my aspiration.” He also speaks about his love for politics. “If politics is an avenue

Ayoade

to create a better atmosphere and an enabling environment for people to thrive, if politics is all about the people, I mean, if politics is the call to service of in venturing into it. Unfortunately, due to situations in our polity over time, the word politics have been reduced to a sort of evil, many people tend to have lost faith in politics and politicians. However, in my opinion, we cannot continue to leave things in the hands of those that have turned politics to evil in our society”.

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, December 1, 2017

Check out celebritiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; marriage of 2017 BY ESIRI EDIRI We are gathered together to celebrate the very special love between BRIDE and GROOM, by joining them in marriage. All of us need and desire to love and to be loved. And the highest form of love between two people is within a monogamous, committed relationship. BRIDES and GROOMS, your marriage today is the public and legal joining of your souls that have already been united as one in your hearts. Marriage will allow you a new environment to share your lives together, standing together to face life and the world, hand-in-hand. Marriage is

in an Island in Greece. Wish you guys a fruitful Ifunaya Igwe and Mike Ukpabia A breath-taking Nollywood actress by name Ifunaya Igwe curved by love with Mike Ukpabia, popularly known as Arab money, the owner of KMJ Ventures Entertainment & Farms Nig Ltd. The lovebirds took their vows at golden Royale Hotel, on January 4, 2017 in Enugu. Congratulations to the latest celebrity couple in town. God bless your new home. Omoniyi Makun and Grace Onuoha

a couple, and deepen your love for one another. To be successful, you will need strength, courage, patience and a really good sense of humour. So, let your marriage be a time of waking each morning and falling in love with each other all over again. Here are Nigeria celebrities who are fully ready for this session of life (marriage) by tiring the knots with their beloved.

popularly

Banky W and, Adesua Etomi Oluwabankole Wellington a Nigerian singer, rapper and actor. Popularly known as Banky W,

tired the knots January 19, 2017. The couple got married traditionally in Benin State. Buchi is very funny and we are sure Ruqiyyah will always have reason to laughs and be happy in their marriage.

Adesua Etomi, a breath taken and outstanding Nigeria actress. However, Banky W and his day they broke the news of their union. Who would have thought that the handsome R&B singer could really be hooked up with the beautiful Adesua. After the epic announcement, the lovebirds had their introduction ceremony, and traditional wedding November 18th, 2017 and thereafter they will be tripping to South Africa for their white wedding. Congratulations to the latest celebrity couple in town, God bless your new home. Agbani Darego and Ishaya Danjuma who was crowned Miss World in 2001, as she tied the knots with her long-time lover, Ishaya Danjuma, who is the son of General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, on Saturday, April 8, 2017 in Marrakesh, model and ex-beauty queen shared the news on her Instagram page. Congrats to the lovely couple in town. Oritsefemi Majemite Ekele and Nabila Nigerian singer, Oritsefemi Majemite Ekele, tied the knots of love. The lovebirds held their traditional and white wedding at The Ark, Okunde Blue Water Drive, Lekki, Lagos. However, this got us wondering because the couple had a private civil wedding in April this year. All the same they are happy, and they both look lovely together. God bless your new home.

known

as Yomi

Casual

and

his

day started with a romantic outdoor ceremony and tired the knots on October 14, 2017. Onyebuchi Ojieh and Ruqiyyah Onyebuchi Ojieh, aka Buchi, is a top Nigerian comedian who proposed to his girlfriend, Ruqiyyah, Adesua and Banky

Legacy Peculiar and Peace Victoria Akpan Congrats to a Nigeria local rapper and songwriter, Peculiar Rhema, popularly known as Legacy. Peculiar tied the knot in style with his heartthrob by name Peace Victoria Akpan. The couple wedded hometown in Akwa Ibom State. Congrats once again to the youngest couple in town, more love. Elderson Echiejile and Oghenevwemo Ziregbe Nigerian professional footballer, Elderson Echiejile, who plays for Spanish club, Sporting de GijĂłn AS Monaco FC, a left back, got married to 27, 2017 in France. Congrats to the lovely couple in town. God bless your union. Ahmed Musa and Juliet Ejue The Super Eagles striker, Ahmed Musa has his State. Just after Musa was invited for questioning by police in England following a warmed argument he had with Jamila, his former wife. However, Musa is set to start a new life with Juliet. Keep the love rolling, God bless your union.

Elderson Echiejile and Oghenevwemo Ziregbe

Daniel k Daniel and Teena Daniel one of cutest Nollywood actors also tied the knot with his beautiful blogger, Teena, on the 22nd of May 2017. The lovebirds did their traditional marriage in Nnewi in the eastern part of the country. The lovely couple had been dating for a while till the cute actor popped the question and here they are looking incredibly good together. Happy married life. Stephanie Coker and Olumide Aderinokun Love is in the Barcelona air for Stephanie Coker, a television presenter for MTV Base Africa and Olumide Aderinokun, a property developer, and also, the lucky groom, is a nephew of Tayo Aderinokun, the late managing director and co-founder of GTBank Plc. The couple got engaged in August 2016

Onyebuchi Ojieh and Ruqiyyah

Stephaine cover and Olumide Aderinokun

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, December 1, 2017

Mutiat Alli

Ways to avoid eating junk food

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, December 1, 2017

Folarin Leonard

Where is Durella?

You may remember his notable hit singles

is a love song that sees Durella longing after