Dtn 25 12 17

THE

DAILY

TIMES

To all our readers, advertising agencies, advertisers, distributors, agents and contractors –

NIGERIA INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER. EST. 1926 WWW.DAILYTIMES.NG https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

dailytimesnigeria

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2017 VOL. 3. NO. 535

N150

GLOBAL FINANCIAL/COMMODITY MARKETS

CURRENCIES/CBN: CBN: N305.90 PER DOLLAR, Parallel Market: USD N363 POUND N475 EURO N421 NSE: ASI 36, 930.83 MARKET CAP 12.78 FMDQ O/N 38.92 OBB 37.50 COMMODITIES: Wheat US $427.60/MT Rice US $11.22/MT Cocoa US $2,099.00/Bag Coffee US $125.90/Scoop Cotton US $68.61/Unit Sugar US $14.41/Ounce METALS: Gold US $1272.90/Ounce Silver US $16.79/Ounce Copper US $3.15/Ounce ENERGY: Brent US $63.10/PB, N/Gas US $3.09/CB

Nigerians to Buhari: It’s time to end fuel scarcity 5

Ă? President orders clampdown on hoarders nationwide Ă? Enough of hardships, Labour warns

WHAT NNPC UNDER BUHARI SAID 40 YEARS AGO!

How banks spend N23.8bn forex on travels, others in 9 months 5 Why we backed Secondus as National Chairman 6 - PDP Govs EFCC files fraud charge against Innoson Motors boss 7

Stranded commuters at Nyayan Motor Park in Abuja... on Sunday.

PHOTO: TEMITOPE BALOGUN.

Yuletide: Civil servants convert staff buses to commercial use 7

7 5 8F -FBE JO %JHJUBM #SPBEDBTU &OHJOFFSJOH 4FSWJDFT PUIFST GPMMPX

063 4&37*$&4

%JHJUBM 5FMFWJTJPO %JHJUBM 3BEJP #SPBEDBTUJOH &OHJOFFSJOH &RVJQNFOU 1SPEVDUT 4ZTUFN BOE 4FSWJDF 4PMVUJPOT -JDFOTFE #SPBEDBTU 4JHOBM %JTUSJCVUPS /*(&3*" %*(*5"- 48*5$) 07&3 108&3&% #: 1*//"$-& $0..6/*$"5*0/4 -5%

2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

3

4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

To our readers, advertising agencies, advertisers, distributors, agents and contractors from

Daily Times Nigeria L Ɨ ƕè #ƆƅƆƌƄƆƏ ƾǀè ƾƠơƣ

5

News

Nigerians to Buhari: It’s time to end fuel scarcity Ganiyu Obaaro, Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo, Joy Ekeke, Lagos

ÏÏÏ Like

a nagging sore on the finger, the ongoing scarcity of petroleum products has refused to go, but instead, it has continued to visit homes, offices, businesses with impactful pains and another round of bleak future.

Despite the assurance given by President Muham-

madu Buhari to end the scarcity soon, getting fuel at filling station has become a mirage.

Despite the assurances given by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and other relevant government agencies and individuals, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) that measures had been

enunciated and put on the ground to end the scarcity, days after, and like a raging wild fire, the scarcity has continued unabated.

Across the 36 states and particularly in Nigeria’s major cities and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, scenes of long queues of vehicles, pushing and hissing by desperate Nigerians, who now spend hours at the various filling stations, has continued to dot the landscapes.

Coming during the Yuletide period, many feared that the crisis, which had resurfaced again similar to what Nigerians had been facing over the past 40 years, starting from the Military era of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), late General Sani Abacha, to their current civilian inheritors, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Umaru Yar’Adua and former President Goodluck Jonathan, could crawl into

#Ɔƅ Ə Ɛƈ ƈ ƍƏƆƍ Ə Ɛƈ Ƈ Ə Əƈ Ɛƌ ƆƋƆƄƏ Ɛƈ Ɛ Ɖ Ɔ ƗƆ Ƒ ` Ɨè G Č d ƐƑƏƗ ƕ ƈ Ɛê

the New Year, 2018, thus further compounding Nigeria’s economic woes.

The Daily Times recalls that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently appraised Nigerian economy, warning that though we may have exited recession, there are clear signs of vulnerability to hiccups in the coming years, if not well managed.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest crude oil producer, which only recently edged its greatest competitor, Angola, to the second place, and member of the international oil cartel, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, is a paradox of sort.

With a projected daily production of 2.3 million per barrel, revenues from oil export had, over the years, become the mainstay of the economy.

In the 2018 Budget presented to the joint session of the National Assembly early in November, President Buhari has projected an oil benchmark of $ 45 b/d, and was later raised to $47 by the House of Representatives; yet Nigerians continue to suffer untold hardships as a result of the poor management of the sector.

Indeed, the crisis in the sector has been legion. Poor Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the refineries, corruption, outright theft,

pipeline vandalisation by Niger Delta agitators and general insecurity in the region have added to the crises affecting the sector.

Despite several increases in pump prices of petroleum products over the years, before the current official pump price of N145 per litre for Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), Nigerians continue to face challenges.

The rot in the sector has led Nigeria to its knees.

Years of corruption by successive regimes and their principal managers have made Nigeria worse. Also, the questionable role of Independent marketers, who, despite government support, have continued to sabotage the sector, causing artificial scarcity- hoarding and in fact, outright diversion of the products to neighbouring countries, like Niger, Benin Republic, among others, and left the country bleeding.

Just as it is happening now under the current regime, which came with its ‘Change Mantra’, Nigerians had gone through trauma. Accident cases, fire disasters, riots, etc had characterised Nigeria over the years. Thousands of people had been roasted alive, or become permanently disabled as a result of the rot in the system.

Now, Nigerians, who Continued on page 6

How banks spent N23.8bn forex on travels, others in 9 months – Investigation Motolani Oseni

ÏÏÏ Despite the high level

of foreign exchange scarcity in the country earlier this year, facts have emerged that not less than a whopping N26.75billion has being wasted on business travel and hotel accommodation in nine months as at September 30, 2017.

While comparing the Q3 latest figure from the corresponding period in 2016, it showed a significant increase of 31 per cent from N18.1bn during the period.

It is Instructive to note however that the largest economy in Africa in the outgoing year faced challenges of foreign exchange stability which had been linked to the high cost of doing business in the country.

In our fact findings, The Daily Times discovered that a total of 12 banks spent an

estimated N23.75bn on the aforementioned purposes.

Industry reports, however, showed that international airfares from Nigeria to all global destinations have gone up by another 10 per cent this year, due to volatility nature of the Nigerian forex market.

This, however, followed almost two years of selling tickets at the rate N305 against the Dollar, as IATA had reviewed the rate by eight per cent to N326 against the Dollar.

Earlier this year, the Nigeria’s local currency skyrocketed to as high as N520 against the Dollar, hovering around N360-N365 against since June, forcing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to introduce several windows during the period under review to stabilise it.

A source explained to The Daily Times that banks’ top

directors, within the period, were traveling locally and around the world seeking for high network customers and raising capital needed to expand their capital base.

“While some banks were prudentially managing their business travels, others were flying first class mostly private jets, which they own. Some leading commercial banks with top-heavy structure also spent heavily to cater for all their directors who typically incurred huge travel expenses.

“International airfares are quoted in dollars by foreign airlines. An increase in exchange rate means passengers buying flight tickets in the country will pay more in naira,” the source explained.

Findings further showed that some leading banks introduced cost effective mea-

sures on directors’ business travels this year.

The breakdown revealed that four tier-1 banks spent N19.6bn on traveling and accommodation in nine months of 2017, as against N14.3bn spent in prior nine months of 2016.

Specifically, Zenith Bank’s travel and hotel expenses rose by 177 per cent to N5.1bn in nine months of 2017 from N1.85bn in nine months of 2016, while Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) business travel also moved to N545m, an increase of 46.5 per cent from N372m in nine months of 2016.

FBN Holdings and United Bank for Africa Plc spent N3.4bn and N4.8bn on business travel in nine months of 2017, respectively.

From the Tier-two banks position, FCMB recorded a drop in business travel to

N674m from N867m in nine months of 2016.

Stanbic IBTC’s business travel gained 5.7 per cent from N1.02bn to N1.07bn, while Sterling Bank Plc spent N355m in nine months of 2017 from N294m in nine months of 2016.

Others are Fidelity Bank Plc - N467m; Wema Bank Plc - N190m; Diamond Bank Plc - N599m and Union Bank of Nigeria - N819m.

Commenting on this development, an International Travel Expert, Mr. Ikechi Uko, said flight schedule in Nigeria has improved, stressing that corporate entities are paying more for the available seats.

“The devaluation of Naira makes it more expensive for air travels in Nigeria.

If 12 banks spent N18.1bn in nine months of 2016 and this year, they spent N23.47bn in nine months

of 2017, it is because of increase in the value of ticket.

“Foreign Flight and accommodation between last year and this year might still be the same, but the value of Naira is not the same due to devaluation.

“With the new exchange rate, the prices are expected to rise further, but that may not reduce passenger traffic,” the travel expert told our correspondent.

The development, which brings the total increase in airfares within the space of one month to 18 per cent, followed the upward review of the naira-dollar exchange rate international airlines use for the conversion of their airfares.

IATA in circular to accredited travel agents in Nigeria had said the new exchange rate for the sale of tickets took effect on September 1, 2017.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

Nigerians to Buhari: It’s time to end fuel scarcity Continued from page 5 have been going through economic strangulation over the past two years of recession, thanks to our exiting the scourge according the report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), are asking President Buhari to put a stop to this quagmire called petrol scarcity and for once save them from avoidable hunger, poverty and death.

Indeed, it took the intervention of the Federal Government, through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Nigige, to bring the petrol union, PENGASSAN to suspend their threat to go on strike. If the strike had not been aborted, by now, the nation would have been completely paralysed.

But it is not Uhuru yet,

as reports across the country showed that the scarcity has assumed a more worsening dimension. Apart from the characteristically long queues that remained, black market operators now sell jerry cans of petrol at cut-throat rates. A 4-litre jerry can could go for prices ranging from N1, 500 –N2000, depending on the location across the country.

Again, due to this challenge, transport operators and other informal operators have hiked their prices by over 100 per cent. In most cities, long queues have caused not only traffic gridlock, but also accidents.

For example, an NNPC fuel marketing outlet at Adura Bust Stop on Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway, caught fire last Friday, and is currently under repair works. Other associated

vices take place across the country, leaving Nigerians asking what has suddenly gone wrong with the administration that continually assured the people of better days ahead.

And as government officials and members of the National Assembly regaled in splendor, spending billions of tax payers’ money on exotic lifestyle, the masses are wallowing in pains and poverty, now exacerbated by crippling fuel crisis.

This is because one of our correspondents who monitored the situation across Lagos State painted a very gloomy picture of the situation.

According to the report, Nigerians are finding it extremely difficult to move from one city to another.

Even the airlines are facing challenges as well, forcing

them to hike fares.

Selling of fuel at black market continued unabated as a litre now goes for between N250 and N350 at petrol stations while four litre Jerry can of fuel goes for between N3000 and N5000 at the black market depending on bargain and areas of availability.

On Sunday, most commuters were stranded at bus stops across Lagos, following the disappearance of commercial vehicles from the streets as a result of the shortage of fuel in the country.

Some trekked long distances to get to their destinations, while some private car owners converted their vehicles into commercial vehicles in order to make brisk business.

The fuel scarcity has equally jerked up trans-

Cross section of indigenes and non-indigenes from Lagos Train service terminus provided by the Osun State Government in commemoration of the Christmas Celebration…on Sunday.

port fares as commercial vehicles charged exorbitant fares. Journey from Lagos to Onitsha, which used to cost N4,000 now goes for N10,000.

At the Delta Line Station, Dopemu, Lagos, passengers were stranded as only one Toyota Hiace bus was on ground to contend with over 30 passengers.

The situation was not different in all other motor parks across Lagos State.

Transportat fare within the Lagos metropolis was also tripled, while people were also stranded.

Most Nigerians who spoke to The Daily Times expressed disappointment over the inability of the federal government to bring the ugly fuel situation to order.

The government had last week vowed to end the fuel scarcity by weekend, saying there was enough product to go round.

Meanwhile, domestic airlines in the country have systematically increased fares as a result of passenger upsurge.

Airline fares have risen from between N18,000 and N28,000 to N45,000 economy class. An airline official who pleaded anonymity told The Daily Times that it was adjusted due to high traffic.

Mr. Jack Tonye, who spoke at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, described the situation as sad, suffering and smiling in the midst of plenty, urging the government to come to the aid of Nigerians by making resources that will improve on their lots available.

He lamented that the Christmas was a bleak one for so many families as the government has induced

poverty on the citizens.

But President Buhari has ordered serious clampdown on marketers who are alleged to be hoarding the products with a view to making humongous profit.

The president gave the order on Sunday in Abuja.

Buhari, while sympathising with Nigerians over their suffering occasioned by the scarcity of petrol across the country, reassured that the NNPC is on top of the situation.

The president, who was reacting to the long queues of motorists at various filling stations across the country, in a statement personally signed by him and posted on his twitter handle, said the scarcity was regrettable.

He stated that he was being briefed regularly on the matter by the NNPC and assured that the situation would improve positively in the next few days.

Buhari disclosed that he had already directed the regulators to step up their surveillance and bring an end to hoarding of the products and price inflation by marketers.

His words: “The fuel scarcity being experienced nationwide is regrettable.

I sympathise with all Nigerians on having to endure needless fuel queues.

“I’m being regularly briefed, especially on the NNPC’s interventions to ensure that there is enough petrol available during this period and beyond.

“I have the NNPC’s assurance that the situation will improve significantly over the next few days, as new shipments and supplies are distributed across Continued on page 7

Why we supported Secondus as National Chairman - PDP Govs

Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏ Some state governors

elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have explained that the party’s governors supported the emergence of Prince Uche Secondus as it’s National Chairman because of his strength of character and honesty.

The governors, who took turns to speak at the Thanksgiving Service in honour of Secondus at the Rivers State Ecumenical Centre in Port Harcourt on Sunday included State Governors: Nyesom Wike (Rivers); Ben Ayade (Cross River); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

The governors stated that Secondus as National Deputy Chairman of the party stood for the truth

and ensured that rules were adhered to during party primaries.

In his speech at the event, Governor Wike said every governor gave testimony on how the National Chairman stood firm for the right thing to be done.

He said as Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Secondus relegated monetary considerations and always ensured the promotion of PDP interests.

Wike added that Secondus insisted on his emergence as PDP governorship candidate because he felt it was in the best interest of the party, even though other groups preferred an ethnic candidate.

The governor said: “This position is an opportunity to give Nigerians what they want. I can’t understand why people are suffering

Continued from page 1

untold hardship. Imagine the fuel scarcity with people buying a litre of fuel between N300 and N400.”

He said that Secondus emerged through a credible process where all candidates tested their popularity. He said the governors and other stakeholders preferred Secondus because of his experience and track record.

“For the first time in the history of our party, we had an election to elect a National Chairman. It was not like the case before where the President and Governors decided on a consensus candidate,” Governor Wike added. In his own comment, Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade said that he encountered Secondus when they had a major challenge in the delegates list of the party, say-

ing that Secondus insisted on correcting the illegality without inducement.

He said all the governors who worked for the emergence of Secondus as the National Chairman of the party did so because of the unflinching support Secondus gave them in the past.

Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi also said: “Secondus stood with me when the promise of man failed.”

According to Umahi, all the governors resolved to work with Wike in canvassing for Secondus because of his character and content.

He said that the governors turned their backs on those who took money in the past.

In his remarks, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu commended the presence of mind of Secondus, which he said would be beneficial to the party.

He said: “We are prepared to go the whole route with Secondus. He will be an exemplary party leader in Africa.”

Responding, Secondus said that the PDP is poised to take over the leadership of the country.

He said: “We are going according to the plans and purpose of God. This country will be returned to the PDP, whether you like it or not, it is approved in heaven.

You cannot do otherwise.”

Thanking God for his grace and blessing over his emergence as the National Chairman of the PDP, Secondus said God used Governor Wike and his colleagues to bring the post to fruition In another development, Governor Wike has urged Nigerians to use this year’s Christmas to promote love, friendship, peace and recon-

ciliation.

In a Christmas Message to the people of the state, Governor Wike said the season exemplified love, advising that Nigerians should always love one another.

He particularly urged Rivers people to use this year’s Christmas to erect platforms of love, peace and reconciliation for the greater development of the state.

The governor advised Rivers people to pray for the state to enjoy greater peace for the state government to consolidate on her developmental programmes that have made the state first amongst equals.

He assured the people of the state that he would remain focused in his delivery of pro-people projects and programmes to improve their standard of living.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

It’s time to end fuel scarcity Continued from page 6 the country.

“I have also directed the regulators to step up their surveillance and bring an end to hoarding and price inflation by marketers.

“Let me also assure that the relevant agencies will continue to provide updates on the situation. I thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Labour unions have spoken against the fuel crisis currently facing Nigerians.

In the midst of the unending debate, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have decried the current suffering and pains of Nigerians as a result of the persistent and unjustified fuel scarcity.

The National President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese, frowned at the incessant fuel scarcity which has resulted to long queues, loss of man-hours and endless search for products.

He said, “The scarcity has further worsened the sufferings of its citizens through increase in transport fares, rising pricing of goods and services as we approach the Christmas festivities.”

He called on the federal government to quickly address the situation instead of trading blames when the depots are dry.

Achese stated that it was a national shame and embarrassment for the citizens to celebrate the Christmas under this kind of atmosphere when Nigeria is the seventh largest producer of crude oil.

“NUPENG reiterated the need for the Federal Government, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources

and the NNPC to tell the nation what is actually happening, as the two labour unions in the sector are not on strike.

“It therefore called on the Federal Government to implore the appropriate bodies to flood the nation with petroleum products as we enter the year 2018 as stop gap measure.

“The nation’s four refineries must be revamped to reduce the pressure on foreign exchange for importation of petroleum products from abroad,” he added.

But Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, President, TUC, said: “Travelling is microcosmic component of the Christmas celebration.

Unfortunately, it has become almost impossible for people to visit their loved ones because of the yearly hike of price of fuel.

“Sometimes, one wonders why everything that tends to bring joy to the ordinary masses are always

denied them.

“Every Christmas season, the price of fuel must hit the roof and nobody will say anything let alone do something about it, irrespective of the ripple effect it will have on other commodities (especially food).

“The anniversary of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ should exude peace, joy, happiness, etc, and not the pains and agonies we have known over the years.

Rice, the common staple food for the celebration, has become unaffordable, worsening the misery of Nigerians. Millions of jobs have been lost and even those working are still earning what they used to earn when dollar was N150. Inflation rate is alarming. These are the causes of the gross insecurity in the land,” Kaigama added.

The National President, PENGASSAN, Francis Johnson, said that the main reason for the scarcity of

Long queue of motorists at Conoil petrol filing station in Abuja...at the weekend. PHOTO: TEMITOPE BALOGUN.

Yuletide: Civil servants convert staff buses to commercial use Myke Uzendu, Abuja.

ÏÏÏ

Following the long holidays that preceding the Christmas celebrations, some of the staff buses belonging to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been turned into inter state commercial buses.

When The Daily Times visited the Gombe, Katsina and Bauchi motor park along Nyanya Keffi Road on Sunday, several of such vehicles were seen being loaded with long distant travellers. The buses were loaded with passengers who were travelling with their families for the Yuletide holidays.

It was also learnt that since most of the drivers

travelled home with the vehicles, it was easy for them to take it to the park as civil servants are on holidays and most of the heads of the transport unit that might raise some eyebrows have also travelled for the festive season.

One of the drivers who spoke to The Daily Times on the grounds of anonymity, was seen with the staff bus of one of the MDAs at Nyanya Park, picking some passengers going to Jos. When confronted over the propriety of his action, he said, “My brother, you can see the condition of the country. Many people want to travel and there is no fuel. Even some of us cannot travel because we don’t have transport fare. So we have to help ourselves and the travellers too since there

is no work tomorrow”.

When asked how he gets the fuel he uses for the work, he replied that, “This is government vehicle. I don’t queue on the line. I just go to the exit gate and tell them that the Minister is travelling with the bus and they will open for me.

“Some of the filling stations also know me as we normally come there to buy fuel. So even if there is a long queue, they will always give us preferential treatment”.

When asked whether he would render account to the office when work resumes on Wednesday, he simply said, “Noooo, this is my private business. It is what I use to help myself”.

On what would happen if the vehicle is involved in an accident outside its

designated area of operation, he said, “I’m an experienced driver and God will help me not to be involved in an accident. It will not spoil. I serviced it before the journey. But if something happens, I will try to fix it but if it is more than my power, I will find a way of towing it back to Abuja and report that the vehicle is bad when work resumes.

Government will then know what to do.”

Our correspondent further gathered that the MDAs buses are not harassed by the transport unions in the states neither are they harassed by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) even with overloaded passengers, hence the drivers make brisk money and smile to their banks.

7

Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol is the hoarding and diversion by oil marketers who are pushing for an increase in the price of the commodity.

He specifically stated that dealers under the aegis of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, as well as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria were all involved in the hoarding and diversion of the product, a development that further worsened the scarcity of the product across the country.

On his part, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is not contemplating any form of hike in the pump price of petroleum products.

Mustapha disclosed this at the handing over ceremony of the mantle of leadership as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) at the authority’s headquarters in Lokoja.

News He said that the fuel scarcity being experienced in the country over the last two weeks was being addressed by relevant agencies of government, adding that the long queues would ease off soon.

The SGF attributed the scarcity to greed on the part of the marketers who created artificial shortfall to make profits.

Mustapha lamented the attitude of some Nigerians who derive pleasure from seeing others suffer by inflicting pains on the people, adding that it was unfair and ungodly for marketers to take advantage of the rush by the people to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

One of our correspondents observed the fuel scarcity situation at selected parts of Lagos State, the long queues at filling stations and also transport and fares at some motor parks.

However, in spite of the fuel shortage, some filling stations selling PMS were greeted with long queues, causing traffic congestions.

Also, the crowd at major bus stops explains the number of commercial vehicles in operation.

EFCC files fraud charge against Innoson Motors boss Doosuur Iwambe, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed an alleged fraud charge against Innoson Motors and its chairman, Mr Innocent Chukwuma before a Lagos High Court in Ikeja.

The anti-graft agency also named Chukwuma’s brother, Charles as co-defendants to the suit.

The EFCC had accused Chukwuma of attempt to obtain under false pretense, obtaining under false pretense, theft and forgery of shipping and financial documents.

According to the EFCC,

the offences are contrary to several extant criminal statutes in Lagos State and are punishable accordingly.

The EFCC also listed 10 witnesses to support its case before the court.

The four-count charge was dated November 30 while the case is yet to be assigned to any judge.

The Daily Times recalls that Chukwuma was arrested by the EFCC at his residence in Enugu on Tuesday morning. He was later transported to Lagos where he was granted bail on Wednesday night.

His arrest follows allegations that he forged some documents in a transaction involving GTBank.

News 8

Christmas Celebration

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

Extend love to all, Gov Ambode urges Nigerians Benjamin Omoike

ÏÏÏLagos state governor,

Akinwunmi Ambode, on Sunday urged Nigerians to see the period of Christmas as an opportunity to rekindle acts of love and kindness to one another and especially to the vulnerable in the society.

Governor Ambode, in his Christmas message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, said the season symbolizes love, care and compassion for persons, especially the weak, vulnerable and less-privileged, adding that his message to everyone at this period is to put a smile on the face of persons who may not necessarily be able to pay them back.

He said, “Christmas is a season that explains the depth of God’s love for mankind and exemplary sacrifice that we should emulate

in our relationship with our neighbours irrespective of status and creed. This season is another opportunity to increase our acts of kindness and touch the less-privileged in our society.

“Therefore, this Christmas means so much more than just mere merriment.

It is a veritable avenue to extend love to the less-privileged who are disadvantaged in several ways. In this special season therefore, I urge you all to spread love and be our brother’s keeper.

Let us reach out to those who struggle to provide for their families. Let us put smiles on the faces of the weak and vulnerable. This is the real essence of Christmas.”

Governor Ambode said the last 12 months brought about different challenging situations which combined to make both residents and the state stronger, just as he expressed optimism that La-

gos will get even better in the New Year.

“Our hope is based on our unshaken faith in the grace of God, the solid foundation which we have laid in terms of infrastructure development and renewal, as well as the policies and programmes which we have put in place to positively impact on the social and economic well-being of our people,” the governor said.

Speaking further, governor Ambode while commending residents for the peaceful atmosphere the state has enjoyed over the years, urged them to emulate Jesus Christ and embrace peace and continue to pray for continued peace in the state.

“We shall continue to pray for continued peace in Lagos; we shall continue to pray for increased prosperity of our people; we shall not relent in our prayers

Fayose to sell Govt House fuel at N145 per litre

for Lagos to continue in its path of accelerated and unprecedented growth, and we shall look forward to more of your prayers, now, in the New Year and beyond.

“Our government appreciates the spirit of tolerance and cooperation which has provided the enabling environment for growth and development in Lagos state.

We will continue to promote healthy community relations with economic opportunities and empowerment prospects for all,” he said.

Governor Ambode, while wishing Lagosians a merry Christmas and a prosperous 2018 in advance, urged them to continue to support his administration, assuring that the New Year will witness greater all round development across the state including completion of several landmark projects expected to change the face of Lagos forever.

ÏÏÏGovernor Ayodele

Fayose of Ekiti state has ordered the release of petrol in the government house fuel dump to two petrol stations in Ado Ekiti, to reduce the effect of fuel scarcity in the state.

The governor said the fuel will be sold at N145 per litre.

Fayose, who made this known through his verified Twitter Handle said, “The maximum a single individual can buy will be 25 litres.”

He said; “I cannot be keeping fuel in the govt house dump while our people keep suffering.

“I have asked them to pump out 80% of the petrol in the Govt House Fuel Dump to

be sold at the control price of N145.

“I am going to town to locate the two petrol stations where the petrol will be sold.”

The governor lamented the hardship being faced by Nigerians as a result of the petrol scarcity.

He said, “the APC-led federal government has turned the joy of Nigerians to groaning.

People cannot travel to meet their families because of the wickedness of this APC government.

“This hardship is too much for Nigerians to bear at this time and it is obvious that President Muhammadu Buhari does not have a solution to the fuel scarcity.”

FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER (FMC)

FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL ABAKALIKI (FETHA)

AIRPORT ROAD, JABI, ABUJA

P.M.B 102, ABAKALIKI, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/INVITATION TO TENDER INVITATION TO TENDER 1.0 The Federal Medical Center, Jabi, Abuja in furtherance of its statutory responsibility/mandate intends to undertake the execution of some of its capital projects through funding from the 2017 National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) intervention fund.

2.0 DESCRIPTION OF WORKS:In compliance with Public Procurement Act, 2007, Federal Medical Center, Jabi, Abuja invites interested, competent and reputable Consultants/Contractors with relevant experience and good track records to submit documents necessary for consideration for the execution of FMC, Jabi programmes/ projects:

LOT 1

Supply and Installation of Solar System at FETHA I

LOT 2

Supply and Installation of Solar System at FETHA II

3.0 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:Interested firms are required to submit the following documents: a) Evidence of incorporation/registration of company with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); including copies of memorandum and article of association, forms C02 and C07 b) Evidence of VAT Registration Certificate with TIN c) Evidence of current Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three years (2014,2015,2016) ending December 2017 corresponding with declared Annual turnovers d)CompaniesAudited account for the last three (3) years (2014,2015,2016) e) Evidence of current certificate of compliance by the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) in line with the Pension Reform Act, 2014 from the National Pension Commission (as amended). Receipt of payment will not be accepted. Expiring December 2017 f) Evidence of Relevant Professional Qualifications of company and key personnel for Installation of Solar System should be attached. g) Evidence of current certificate of compliance by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in line with the amended ITF Act, 2011. Receipt of payment will not be accepted. Expiring December 2017 h) Evidence of current Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, consultants and service Providers with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). Ending not earlier than January, 2018. i) Verifiable evidence of past/present job experience in similar projects of interest in the last three (3) years with attached copies of letters of award and certificate of completion and/or interim payment certificate. j) Bank reference(s) from reputable Bank(s) as verifiable evidence(s) of financial capability to undertake the contract if awarded. k) Compaines must have three (3) years cumulative turn-over of at least N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) only l) A current Sworn Affidavit that: i. The Company is not bankrupt, in receivership or under liquidation or involved in any litigation which can potentially affect the company’s ability to effectively discharge their responsibility if engaged; ii. The Claims made and information provided by the company in submission are true and correct in all ramifications; iii. No member of staff of Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State has pecuniary interest in the company; iv. No Director of the company (past or present) has ever been convicted of criminal offences relating to fraud or financial impropriety in any court of law.

4.0 COLLECTION OF STANDARD BIDDING DOCUMENT:a.Standard Bidding Document for works are to be collected from the Procurement Unit of Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State at the 2nd

1.0 The Federal Medical Center, Jabi, Abuja in furtherance of its statutory responsibility/mandate intends to undertake the execution of some of its capital projects through funding from the 2017 National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) intervention fund.

2.0 DESCRIPTION OF WORKS:In compliance with Public Procurement Act, 2007, Federal Medical Center, Jabi, Abuja invites interested, competent and reputable Consultants/Contractors with relevant experience and good track records to submit documents necessary for consideration for the execution of FMC, Jabi programmes/ projects:

WORK LOT 1

Extension and Equipping of the existing NHIS Complex

CONSULTANCY SERVICES LOT 2 Awareness Campaign in Health/social Consequence of breast, Cervical and Prostrate Cancer

floor, Admin Block, FETHA 1 upon presentation of an evidence of payment of non-refundable Tender fee of Ten Thousand Naira (N10,000.00) only issued in favor of FETHA for each lot. b. All bidders must fill the bid collection register after the collection of the bidding document.

5.0 SUBMISSION OF THE INVITATION TO TENDER DOCUMENTS:a) All respondent should submit a copy of the document in Hard and editable soft copy (Technical and financial) packaged in two sealed envelopes clearly labeled “TECHNICAL” and “FINANCIAL” marked with the Company Name, Address and Lot Numbers of projects bided for, b) All bidders must fill the bid submission register while submitting their Technical and Financial Tenders in the Tender’s box in the CMAC’s OFFICE at the 2ND Floor, Ward Complex FETHA 1. c) All documents should be addressed to: CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, ABAKALIKI, EBONYI STATE 6.0 SUBMISSION CLOSING/OPENING DATE AND TIME:i) The closing date for the submission of documents for Invitation to tender is Thursday, 8th of February, 2018 at 12 noon prompt. ii) Technical Bid received will be opened immediately at 12noon prompt at the Co-operative Hall, FETHA 1. iii) In line with Section 19(b) (i) & (ii) of the PPA 2007, all bidders or their representatives, relevant professional bodies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are invited to witness the opening exercise accordingly.

7.0 NOTATION:a) Only shortlisted technical responsive companies will be invited for the Financial Bid opening. b) All further enquiries should be directed to the Procurement Unit of FETHA at the 2nd Floor, Admin Block, FETHA 1. d) The Procurement Unit is open to prospective bidders from 10am to 4pm daily. e) This publication is for information only, and not to be construed as a commitment or obligation on the part of the management of FETHA. f) The Hospital will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by any interested party(ies) in connection with any response to this invitation and or the preparation or submission in response to an inquiry. g) Companies without detailed knowledge and evidence of solar system installation in big organizations need not apply.

SIGNED: CHIEF MEDICAL DIRECTOR

LOT 3

Free Medical Mission/HCT (2nd quarter) in selected FCT villages

LOT 4

Sensitization HIV and AIDS in selected FCT villages

3.0 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:Interested firms are required to submit the following documents: a) Evidence of incorporation/registration of company with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); including copies of memorandum and article of association, forms C02 and C07 b) Evidence of VAT Registration Certificate with TIN c) Evidence of current Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three years (2014,2015,2016) ending December 2017 corresponding with declared Annual turnovers d)Companies Audited account for the last three (3) years (2014,2015,2016) e)Evidence of current certificate of compliance by the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) in line with the Pension Reform Act, 2014 from the National Pension Commission (as amended). Receipt of payment will not be accepted. Expiring December 2017 f)Evidence of current certificate of compliance with the Employees Compensation Act which requires that all employers of Labour must remit 1% of the total annual emolument of their workers to Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). Receipt of payment will not be accepted. Expiring December 2017 g)Evidence of current certificate of compliance by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in line with the amended ITF Act, 2011. Receipt of payment will not be accepted.

Expiring December 2017 h)Evidence of current Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, consultants and service Providers with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

Ending not earlier than January, 2018. i)Comprehensive company Profile indicating the organizational structure, including resumes of key managerial and technical staff with addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses. j)Verifiable evidence of past/present job experience in similar projects/programmes of interest in the last three (3) years with attached copies of letters of award and certificate of completion and/or interim payment certificate and minimum of Five (5) years’ experience in similar advocacy and outreach Programmes for Lots 2-4 and should provide evidence of mastery of FCT area councils. k)Bank reference(s) from reputable Bank(s) as verifiable evidence(s) of financial capability to undertake the contract if awarded. l) A current Sworn Affidavit that: i.The Company is not bankrupt, in receivership or under liquidation or involved in any litigation which can potentially affect the company’s ability to effectively discharge their responsibility if engaged; ii. The Claims made and information provided by the company in submission are true and correct in all ramifications; iii. No member of staff of Federal Medical Center, Jabi, Abuja has pecuniary interest in the company; iv. No Director of the company (past or present) has ever been convicted of criminal offences relating to fraud or financial impropriety in any court of law.

4.0 COLLECTION OF STANDARD BIDDING DOCUMENT:a. Standard Bidding Document for works are to be collected from the Procurement Unit of Federal Medical Center, Airport Road, Jabi, Abuja upon presentation of evidence of payment non-refundable Tender fee of Ten Thousand Naira (N10,000.00) only issued in favor of FMC, Jabi for each lot. b. All bidders must fill the bid collection register after the collection of the bidding document.

5.0 SUBMISSION OF THE INVITATION TO TENDER DOCUMENTS:a) All respondent should submit a copy of the document in Hard and editable soft copy (Technical and financial) packaged in two sealed envelopes clearly labeled “TECHNICAL” and “FINANCIAL” marked with the Company Name, Address and Lot Numbers of projects bided for, b) All bidders must fill the bid submission register while submitting their Technical and Financial Tenders in the Tender’s box in the Procurement Unit of Federal Medical Center, Airport Road, Jabi, Abuja. c) All documents should be addressed to: MEDICAL DIRECTOR FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER, JABI, ABUJA. 6.0 SUBMISSION CLOSING/OPENING DATE AND TIME:i) The closing date for the submission of documents for Invitation to tender is Thursday, 8th of February, 2018 at 12 noon prompt and EOI is on the 11th January, 2018. ii) Technical Bid received will be opened immediately at 12noon prompt at the 1st Floor, Seminar Room, FMC,Jabi, Abuja respectively. iii) In line with Section 19(b) (i) & (ii) of the PPA 2007, all bidders or their representatives, relevant professional bodies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are invited to witness the opening exercise accordingly.

7.0 NOTATION:a) Only shortlisted technical responsive companies will be invited for the Financial Bid opening. b) All further enquiries should be directed to the Procurement Unit of Federal Medical Center, Airport Road, Jabi, Abuja. d) This publication is for information only, and not to be construed as a commitment or obligation on the part of the management of FMC,Jabi. e) The Hospital will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by any interested party(ies) in connection with any response to this invitation and or the preparation or submission in response to an inquiry. f) FMC, Jabi is not obliged to shortlist any bidder and reserves the right to annul the process at any time without incurring any liabilities on its part or proffering any reasons for the annulment. g) Companies without detailed knowledge and evidence of in this area’s need not apply.

SIGNED: MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

9

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25 , 2017

Aregbesola pacifies Osun workers

ÏÏÏ

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun, on Sunday said that the financial crisis that forced the state government to payment of modulated salary to its workers would be over by the end of March, 2018.

Aregbesola who addressed the workers at the Civil Service Week over the weekend in Osogbo, appealed to them to persevere for a little more time for the payment of full salary, just as he commended them for their perseverance, patience, sacrifice, dedication and labour of love.

He disclosed that only 28 per cent of the state’s total workforce received modulated salary, stating that the remaining 72 per cent of the

10

News

Aregbesola pacifies Osun workers Ïd ƕ ƑƏ Ɔ Ƈ Ƈ ƌƈ ƆóƋƋ ƄƆ ƒƆƏ Ƅƕ L Əƅ ƾƠơƤ workers have been earning their full salary and are not being owed any outstanding salaries.

In a statement issued by Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Adelani Baderinwa, Aregbesola said ,”there is no better time to acknowledge and tell you this than now. You have done well so far. What is left is just to thank you, particularly the 28 per cent of you who have endured modulated salaries.

These are the 20 per cent

who earn 75 per cent of their monthly pay and the eight per cent who collect 50 per cent of their salary.

“The remaining 72 per cent, as you all know, have been earning their full pay and are not being owed any outstanding salaries, irrespective of the spin being given to this by our traducers. Even at that, we must thank everyone for the sacrifice you have all made in other areas. This is because your relationship as workers is contractual and I want to

assure you that everyone will get his or her full pay when this is over.”

Explaining the financial situation of the state, Aregbesola said: “From July 2015 – when we started paying modulated salaries, our income from all sources, including gross allocation from the federation account, internally generated revenue and two tranches of Paris Club Refund – to November 2017, is N121.6 billion.

“Meanwhile, our total

personnel cost (excluding gratuities) within the same period would have been N104.4 billion if we had paid the full salaries of N3.6 billion every month. Our personnel cost therefore is 85.8 per cent of our total revenues from all sources.

“However, this is an academic exercise because before the allocations get to us, some deductions would have been made on commitments already made since as far back as the 1970s, up till now; and we are also paying modulated salaries.

PDP sweeps Ekiti LG poll as Fayose swears-in chairmen ÏÏÏ

#ƆƋƐ dƐ ƐƆ 1 ƒƆƏ Əè dƆ ê 9ƇƆ ƕƈ RƊ Ɠ æƏƈ Ɛç Ɨ Ɛ ƆƏ è ƗƑƏƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƈ ƍƆƅƐƈ Ɛ ƑƏ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ 1Ə ƅƆ ` Ɨ ƐƏƑƅƐƈ ƈ nƗƑ Gê1ê Ƈ #ƆƋƐ dƐ ƐƆê

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has inaugurated the 16 local government chairmen that were elected in Saturday’s council polls in the state.

Performing their inauguration on Sunday, Governor Fayose charged them not to distance themselves from their people.

At the event, Fayose also announced the appointment of 13 immediate past local government chairmen that were not returned for another term, as special advisers to the governor in their respective

local government areas.

Fayose said: “Remember that the way up is the way down. If you don’t have the money make yourself available to the people.

The people are not asking for much but a shoulder to lean on. We are a small state and if we stay together we will make a great difference. ” This is not a period to stay aloof from the people you are leading. The people are facing a lot of challenges and we must make every effort to ameliorate their suffering. I pray that we will move into a new year of abundance, victory and accomplishment.”

OIC meeting: Presidency tackles Shari’ah Council over Buhari’s absence ÏÏÏ THE Presidency has

taken to task the Supreme Council for Sharia, which had accused President Muhammadu Buhari of letting down Muslims by his alleged failure to attend the emergency summit of Organization of Islamic States (OIC) called by Turkey to discuss the US declaration of Jerusalem as the official Capital of Israel.

In a statement issued in Abuja over the weekend, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said the allegation was totally misleading and baseless.

While advising religious organisations to refrain from divisive utterances, the Presidency stressed that the responsibility of

maintaining peace and peaceful coexistence is not only the duty of the government, but also of religious organisations whose words carry weight.

Shehu’s response came while he was speaking on the BBC Hausa service on Friday.

According to a statement made available to the media, Shehu said that President Buhari had to go to France to attend the Climate Change Summit because he had earlier given a firm commitment to President Macron, adding that he sent the Minister of Education Adamu Adamu to represent him at the Turkey meeting of OIC. “The Paris summit on climate change wasn’t a

junket. It was also about the problems of the Lake Chad region which affects Nigeria as well as the neighboring countries. About 30 million lives are involved. Without the drying up of the lake, we would probably not have had the acute poverty that nurtured the environment for Boko Haram terrorism,” he said.

Shehu recalled that countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which sponsored the UN General Assembly Resolution to condemn Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the official Capital of Israel, didn’t also attend the Turkey meeting for various compelling reasons.

“As a respectable religious organisation, an

organisation that we hold in high esteem, the Supreme Council for Shari’ah could have helped themselves and the nation by checking the facts before the outburst, which sadly, was repeatedly aired by the international radio.

Shehu explained that by the time the Erdogan summit was called, the Presidential advance team was already in Paris, ready to receive him. At that point, the best President Buhari could do was to send a representation.

He called President Erdogan and explained the circumstances and the Turkish leader expressed his understanding and appreciation.

We are signatory to the

final resolutions,” the Presidential Spokesman stated.

He explained that at every available opportunity, including his addresses at the UN General Assembly sessions in the past, 2015, 2016 and 2017, President Buhari had always spoken passionately and forcefully about the Palestinian issue and the necessity and urgency of finding a just solution to their case.

Against this background, Shehu said it is very uncharitable for any religious organisation to accuse the President of abandoning Muslims as alleged.

The presidential spokesman added: “As can be seen from the UN vote

on Jerusalem, the issue of Palestine is for all men of conscience, Muslims, Christians, Jews and even unbelievers.

“Besides, the President has shown consistency in his support for the Palestinian cause.

“In his address at the General Assembly in 2015, President Buhari said ‘as we engage in these annual debates, we need remind ourselves of the principles that led to the founding of the United Nations.

Among those are peaceful coexistence and selfdetermination of peoples. In this context, Mr President, the unresolved question of self-determination for the Palestinian people and those of Western Sahara.

Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

s

11

Frustration in Nigeria gave rise to marginalisation, restructuring –Kaigama What is your take on the series of attacks by the suspected Fulani headsmen in Plateau State?

Plateau State has had a very unfortunate situation of crisis over the years and until recently; we thought all this is put behind us because there has been very commendable efforts by the Plateau State government to ensure the safety of lives and properties. So, it was very disappointing and surprising to hear recently that these killings have resumed and the most painful thing is that the killers are referred to as unknown gunmen. This is a very sad nomenclature, why should gunmen be unknown for years, they kill innocent people and destroy their means of livelihood and yet they are unknown. We have security agents mandated to ensure the safety of all citizens, and within all military and paramilitary agencies we have intelligence units and yet these killers remain unknown: I can only describe this as being pervasive and it demonstrates the absence of political will to identify who these unknown gunmen are. We should stop pretending, and stop being hypocritical, common sense tells us that these people are known, but I think what is lacking is the political will and the sense of character to call a spade a spade.

Government is hypocritical about this, from Mr. President to Governors to Local Government Chairmen, they know who these so called unknown gunmen are and it is not my duty as a priest to identify who they are, but the duty of those we elected to govern us. We need to know who are behind them and where they get the guns from and to also find out why all these network of security in the country have been unable to identify them. The gruesome murder perpetrated by these so called unknown gunmen portray a total failure of our security system and to think that these unknown gunmen are actually triumphing is quite sad and it portrays the country in a very bad light.

What is your take on allegations against Governor Simon Lalong for not visiting the scene of the incident that happened at Miango on time?

The governor is not God, he cannot be everywhere at the same time. Yes, I know sometimes tragic things happened, but the first thing is not to throw blames, rather we should look for the best solution in addressing the issue. When the incident happened, the governor sent people like the Commissioner of Police, The Special Task Force Commander and other security apparatus to visit the scene and arrest the situation. We should concentrate on finding solution to the crisis rather than raising issues that will annoy those in authority.

The governor is a great facilitator that

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama is the President of Catholic Bishops of Nigeria and the Archbishop of Jos.In this interview with KINGSLEY CHUKWUKA, he speaks on the state of the nation as it concerns the present administration and the circle of killings that has continued unabated

KAIGAMA mobilises all security agencies, so he can do a lot behind the scene. I know for sure that the governor also moves at night to contact people and appeal to some persons aimed at appealing to them to drop their sword. I know this because I am one of those he consulted to appeal to the warring factions. Please when tragedy like this befalls us, we should join hands and avoid trading blames.

elders and religious leaders and have held dialogue sessions with the Berom, Irigwe and the Fulani communities appealing to them to embrace peace. I can also tell you that people are tired of crisis, they have lost lives and properties and means of livelihood. Even the people that are used by politicians to cause trouble are getting fed up with the act. This is a sure fact that the era of crisis in the state has come to a halt.

With the recent happenings, would you say that peace has returned to Plateau?

I am optimistic and very certain that peace has returned to the state. I have met with stakeholders, community leaders,

So you are saying hoodlums are used by politicians to cause crisis in the state?

Yes, most of the crisis in the state is carried out by hoodlums and these groups of people take all sorts of hard stuffs in other to get high. But with our intervention they are also realising that they are only being used by politicians and afterwards their lives still remain in misery. We have done a lot of work on them and in the forthcoming local government election we hope to see a new attitude displayed by the Plateau Youths.

As I travel round the country I can tell you that people are hungry.

When I sit in my office, I see long queues of people coming in to see me with various issues, because they can’t access their local government chairman or their governor, neither could they access the presidency, so they come to us with the problem of employment, school fees, medical bills, rents and so on. Because of the many frustration people faced today people see me more like a social worker than a spiritual leader. These issues gave birth to the many agitations of marginalisation and the cry for restructuring

Because of the incessant killings carried out by Fulani herdsmen, the Benue State government has taken a step further to enact the anti-grazing

law. Would you also advocate such for Plateau State?

I have travelled around the world, be it America, Europe or Asia, I don’t see animals wondering around the streets, but in Nigeria, goats, sheep, cattle are all over the place, you go to the Airport you see cattle, you drive on the streets you see cattle and you have to even stop for them to pass before you can continue your journey, it is not a good sight to behold. I have not seen such happen abroad and if we claim we copy Europe by way of civilization, why don’t we also copy their ranching policy. By ranching animals are well kept and more productive, cattle produce more milk in large quantities. There is no doubt that if the ranching policy is adopted, it will put an end to the conflict between farmers and herders. Government should not forget that farming and cattle are two vital economic pillars the country has known as a traditional heritage. Oil may run out of fashion as scientists are thinking of producing machines that will run without the use of petrol. But cattle and farming will always stay with us, so government must find new ways of investing in the farming and cattle business.

During the 2015 election, President Muhammadu Buhari approached your office, seeking support from the Christian faith, would you say today that Christians are pacified in Buhari’s government after two and half years in office?

When the Catholic Archbishops met with the President upon his request, I didn’t see it as him coming to canvass for votes. We saw his visit as an opportunity for him to convince Nigerians about his person and his intention to govern the country, and I must say he was quite eloquent and logical in his presentation of facts and realities. His visit as at then buried all the rumors surrounding his perception about Christians. We asked him questions, I must say very difficult questions bordering on poverty alleviation, poverty, crime and how he intends to deal with them. The most difficult of the question bordered on the speculation that he was going to Islamise Nigeria and we asked him plainly, are you a Muslim that wants to Islamise Nigeria?

And he told us categorically that he was not that kind of Muslim and we believed him. It was also unfortunate that the public insinuated that the Catholic Bishops were bought over just because we granted audience to Buhari as a presidential candidate of the APC. This is a myopic thinking because we have the right to meet with everybody, we are not partisan and we do not tell the people who to vote for. We just wanted to interact with those who were aspiring to lead us and that is the practice world over.

What is your take on the outcry of marginalisation and agitation for restructuring?

The President told us in his inauguration speech that “he belong to everybody and belongs to nobody” and we believed him even as he was determined to fight corruption. However with the office I CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Politics 12

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

Opposition should start thinking of 2023 as Buhari has already won 2019 –Marwa

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

Stories by Patrick Okohue Former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa has said that nobody can defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.

Marwa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC),saidfrompoliticalcalculations, no formidable candidate can withstand Buhari during the upcoming election.

Speaking with another newspaper, the APC chieftain maintained that Buhari’s victory in 2019 will be a huge landslide.

According to him, “The President’s victory in 2019 will be a huge landslide. In 2015, he beat a sitting president. In 2019, tell me, who will he be facing? His victory is a foregone conclusion.

Other parties should be strategising towards 2023 because 2019 would be a no contest. That is the reality. We are praying for his good health.

“In the business of running for the presidency, you must do some calculations. It is not a theoretical thing that you just look at somebody’s face, you like the face and say that he is going to win.

“Look at the performance, look at the votes that came out of Kano and what is possible and compare Kano votes, for instance, to the South East votes. By the time you remove Imo State that is APC, total the votes for the rest of the states in the South East and Kano. That is one.

Then, look at the votes of the North West; the entire North West votes, actually, are more than South South and South East.

“Obviously, an unpopular candidate from the North can be beaten. But when you have

BUHARI

somebody like President Buhari taking full advantage of the North West, add that to the North East, it is almost double of the votes from the South South and the South East.

“In essence, the total registered voters of South South and South East combined is equivalent to North West alone – each with about 17.6m voters. Assuming those cancel out in 2019, compare to 2015 results, the South West, an APC zone, breaks the equilibrium with nearly 14 million voters. Then comes the North East zone, with 9 million voters and four APC governors out of six. And we still have North Central also with 9 million voters and all six APC governors.

MARWA– “And as a bonus, you look at the North Central and the South West, Lagos, for instance, which is an APC stronghold and not even to mention the other South West states. And even if you break in the North Central, again, it is won already.

“So, that is why I said that the opposition should begin to think of 2023 because 2019 is a foregone conclusion. And it was a sitting president that he defeated. So, they should tell me who else would come that would be stronger than a sitting president to face him. This is a strategic calculation. We are just praying for the Almighty God to grant him good health to face the challenges. The victory is certain.”

APC receives PDP defectors in Oshodi Some members of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 1 in Lagos State, have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defectors who were welcomed at the APC LGA meeting held at Methodist Pry School in Oshodi, by the Lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olusola Sokunle and the APC LGA Chairman, Alhaji Olamide Kasali, were led by a PDP Chieftain, Hon. Fola Mosaku and 4 PDP councillorship candidates in the last local government election.

In his speech, the legislator representing the constituency, Hon Sokunle, said that APC is a party to belong where their political aspirations can be achieved, advising them to frequently attend political meetings in their wards.

Hon. Sokunle stated that the party is open to other PDP members who are still willing to join the APC. He stated that the APC led government in Lagos State has performed beyond the expectations of Lagosians, saying that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has given Oshodi a facelift.

Frustration in Nigeria gave rise to marginalisation, restructuring

AMBODE

He eulogised Gov. Ambode and his team on the various developmental projects that have been executed in the state in the last two years.

“Let us thank Governor Ambode for giving Oshodi a facelift. More projects are still on the way,” said Hon. Sokunle “The door is still open for other interested PDP members to join us,” said Hon. Sokunle Also speaking, Alhaji Kasali, stated that APC would ensure all interests are protected, stressing

further that the party would soon commence its membership registration in each ward.

Kasali advised all new and old members to go to their various wards for registration immediately it commences.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Hon. Fola Mosaku, said that they dumped the PDP for APC because of the performance of the legislator representing the Constituency in the House of Assembly.

Mosaku explained that they were also motivated by the performance of APC government in Lagos, stressing further that they would not make u-turn back to the PDP. “I and four Councillorship Candidates in the last local government election are leading other members of PDP to APC today.

We are joining APC permanently,” said Mosaku.

Names of the defecting councillorship candidates include, Olalere Abiola (Afariogun Ward), Yusuf Akinbiyi (Ewu Ward), Ayodeji Ogungbayibi (Mafoluku Ward).

Ayodeji Akinbiyi said that PDP is not functioning in Lagos anymore, saying that he was moved to join APC by the performance of Hon. Sokunle.

occupy, I have the privilege to be in touch with people in the grassroots, as I move from one village to another and from one town to another, I can tell you that people are suffering. I hear their comments and you can see it on their faces. I also travel abroad a lot and the perception of Nigerians in diaspora on the situation of the country is not a good one. As I travel round the country I can tell you that people are hungry. When I sit in my office, I see long queues of people coming in to see me with various issues, because they can’t access their local government chairman or their governor, neither could they access the presidency, so they come to us with the problem of employment, school fees, medical bills, rents and so on. Because of the many frustration people faced today people see me more like a social worker than a spiritual leader. These issues gave birth to the many agitations of marginalisation and the cry for restructuring. What I have just said is the reflection of people’s view and what the masses are suffering. In this country when you say things the way they are people will say you are working against the government or against the ruling party and that is where we got it wrong.

So do you support restructuring?

The move for restructuring is the consequence of the failure of government to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people. If government is responsible to the plight of its citizens, like providing good roads, schools, hospitals or health care, equity in the disbursement of political gains and appointment as well as providing other social services, people will be a bit relaxed and quit the agitation.

So government must improve the social and economic condition of the people especially the youths. Our leaders only want to invest in their political future. Just like now that election is coming close, even though we still have long months before the election, but politicians have stopped governance and are only concentrating on how to be re-elected into office. How then can we say things are fine when those we elected do not care about us? Look at the National Assembly; they only care about their entitlement and allowances and not to make laws that will better the lot of the people.

If the President comes to you again for his re-election, what would you say to him?

As a grassroots person and a priest, I will tell him what I have witnessed since he took over power. I will tell him that 29 people were killed in Miango in Plateau State under the watch of the Special Task Force, and so many other killings that have taken place in different locations. I will tell him that nobody have been reported to be arrested since the circle of killings began and that is why the act has continued unabated. I will tell him that if not for the intervention of people like us who were drafted into various peace committees, the situation would have been worst. I will tell him about the suffering of the people as a result of the hike in commodities, the President needs to know that the masses should be able to put food on their table. I will tell him the things I have experienced myself and things I have heard with my ears and I hope he will be patriotic enough to listen with an objective mind.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

Page Thirteen

s

Editorial

13

PHOTO TIMES

Concessioning Nigeria airports

T

he debate on the viability of concessioning the infrastructures of Nigeria airports to private investors seem to be gaining attraction especially when the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, brought it to the front burner.

The dissenting voices, who are mainly Unions and workers of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) though with strong arguments appear to be in the minority. But there are contending interests in and out of government circles.

Although the government initially appeared resolute to carry out the concessioning programme, current signals suggest that the exercise may have been abandoned because of stiff resistance by the staff of FAAN. Besides, Sirika is said to have been under pressure by some anti-due process top government officials who believe that if due process is followed as suggested by many stakeholders and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), he may not achieve this objective in the remaining tenure of this government. Reportedly, the minister had at the beginning envisioned that Tav of Turkey, a company that manages most airports in Turkey would benefit from the concessioning.

Mid last year, a group from the company visited Nigeria and toured the airport facility at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Sources at the BPE and Infrastructural Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) said if government wished to concession airport facilities, it must follow due process which allow for open bidding for the airports and the process obviously would last beyond this administration.

Already Senior official of the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association (ATSSSAN), FAAN branch has said that it would be impossible for government to concession the airports as it earlier planned because of the strategy the Minister adopted to carry out the concession programme.

Sirika, had insisted that the Murtala Mohammed International Airport,

Publisher/Editor in Chief

Leke Adelere Business Manager 08037038663 Konie Agu Group Head, Business Development/Folio Foundation 08033150455

L-R: Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, Apostle Alex Bamgbola; Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Opeyemi Oke; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and his wife, Bolanle, during the 2017 Christmas Carol Service, titled; The Chosen One, held in Lagos...at the weekend.

PHOTO: WALE AKINOLA.

L-R: Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran and Minister for Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, during the 2017 Iwude Ijesa festival, in Ilesa, Osun State… at the weekend.

L-R: Brazilian Minister of External Relations, AloysioNunes Ferreira; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, during a Bilateral meeting in Abuja.

Words On Marble :

– Fidelis Anosike

Folio Group Group Managing Director Noel Anosike

Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt, Rivers State have been listed for what he described as the pilot phase of the planned concession of all of Nigeria’s 22 airports.

The unions and the FAAN workers are kicking against the concession plan, on the premise that the first four airports are the most viable in the country, with Lagos contributing over 60 percent of the revenues that is used to service the other airports.

They also believe that if the government gives out these four viable airports in concession, there would be no more place for FAAN to get the money to maintain the remaining airports.

With the benefit of hindsight, it is obvious that the concessioning plan may have hit the rocks although aviation stakeholders are rooting for it.

While the debate has lasted, it has added political value situating the matter in proper context, and more like taking the government apparatchiks back to the class room. One of those who made strong points is Pat Utomi, political-economist and public commentator. He believes that beyond government intentions just to concession infrastructures, until Nigerians change their attitude towards private investors, both local and foreign, it may take a long time before the country gets out of its present economic doldrums.

Utomi expressed concerns that government officials hardly obey agreements they sign, saying this would certainly drive away any private investor with a good mind to invest in the economy. Senator Ben Murray Bruce angle as the chairman of the senate committee on privatization is also instructive.

Obviously in support of the concessioning he said his committee was prepared to facilitate laws to fast-track the success of the programme, as that countries with the best airports are those who had long privatised or concessioned their airport terminals, while those with the worst airports, like Nigeria, have refused to allow private investors manage their airports for them.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Daily Times

Group Head Finance/ Administration Tobi Oyeniyi 07060528139 Technical Adviser To Publisher Innocent Nwankwo 08033072614 General Counsel: ELIAS MORDI & CO 08068613825

Editor, Daily Tony Amokeodo 08038099089 Standard/Special Project Editor Sam Nzeh 08050220692 News Editor Johnson Ayantunji 08111811226 Production Editor Ibe Uwaleke 08033151041 Features Editor Gbubemi God’s Covenent Snr 09095489889

Special Project Mgr. Grace N. Okoye 08124662405 Business Advertising Manager Stella Emele 08037862794 Marketing/Circulation Mgr Babatunde Olufemi 08038504454 Ag. Head, Graphics/Design Sunday Gabriel Idagwu 07030881423

More info: www.dailytimes.ng https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

dailytimesnigeria www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

Monsignor Livinus Ukah Human beings are complex so we must learn to manage them.

We can use our uniqueness to confront a world that builds walls instead of bridges

Pastor Tunde Bakare

Pope John Paul II

The end result of godliness is glory (and greatness); and the end result of lawlessness is condemnation and destruction

Christianity is called to offer a genuine ‘DNA’ for a universal humanity; a Trinitarian vision and life that can animate a civilisation of love.

14

Opinion

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

Did the Nigerian Senate make us proud this year?

A

Carl Ndukwe

s the year, 2017 winds down, it is imperative to assess the contributions of the eighth Nigerian Senate against the backdrop of this aphorism by poet, Mary Oliver; “To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.” We have a very “good” habit in these parts by focusing on the negatives in a way that blinds us to some of the good work that may have been done.

To many times, we often remember the Senate for the frequent faceoffs that they have with members of the Executive arm, invitations to public office holders, motions of National importance and resolutions, however, there are also many times when they do make the people proud. This piece intends to interrogate some of those memorable bills through which our senators have demonstrated that their service and fealty do indeed rest on the interests and wishes of the people.

In the passage of the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill, the Senate demonstrated that not only does it listen but also has it fingers on the pulse of the people. The Senate has via this bill, which reduces the required ages for seeking political offices, ignited greater participation of the youth, not just in politics but also in political leadership.

For a country with over 70 percent of its population under 35, this is a wonderful development that holds a lot of promise especially for young people going into 2018 when political realignments will gain momentum ahead of the general elections.

The #OpenNASS was another pivotal movement that made the

transition from online advocacy to fruitful offline engagement just like the #theNotTooYoungToRun campaign. The decision to open the Budget of the National Assembly to the general public showcased an exemplary commitment to transparency and accountability which the institution hasn’t always been known for. For the first time, since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule 17 years ago, anyone could google up and see, in fine print every dime that the Senate did intend to spend and how it planned to spend it.

Such move has raised the level of confidence and trust that ordinary Nigerians have in the Nigerian Senate and the important work that they do there.

No single issue has, over the past decade, caused so much economic and social destruction to our country as the extremist insurgency in the North East of the country.

It has been a thing of great pride to see how citizens all over the country contributed their best to this painful road of recovery. Here again, the Senate chimed in with commitment and focus, passing the North East Development Commission Bill (signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari), which among other things establishes a commission tasked with the responsibility of rebuilding and rehabilitating the North East whilst ensuring the resettlement of the internally displaced persons into their homes. Surely rebuilding the North east is the most definitive way to defeat the insurgents, and it’s great to see the Senate playing its part in the fight.

In November, the World Bank released its Ease of Doing Business Report for 2018 with the joyful news that Nigeria had moved

up 24 places to be ranked in the 145th position out of 190 countries against the backdrop of a decade of decline in the global rankings.

While the Executive arm received tons of plaudits for this great feat, many commentators forget that the Senate had helped to lay the groundwork with the Ease of Doing Business Bills - the Credit Bureau Services Bill and the Secured Transactions in Moveable Assets.

The Credit Bureau Services Bill Passed in May 2017 helps reduce the risk of lending or engaging in business with individuals or companies with a financial history of not paying back while the Secured Transactions in Moveable Assets, enables ordinary Nigerians use invoices and receipts to access loans and working capital. Together, both laws smoothen the rough edges of doing business in Nigeria by securing lenders from working with people who have questionable financial history and also enabling more Nigerians to borrow towards growing their businesses. This, no doubt, would translate in unlocking more growth potential for our economy.

Lastly, as a nation we have always paid lip service when it comes to leveraging technology to make life easier for the people.

What better way to side with the people than to show understanding that the viability of our whole democracy lies in the integrity of our electoral system with the passage of the INEC Reform Bill which will shore up and safeguard our voting process.

Thanks to the bill, there shall now be full biometric accreditation of voters with Smart Card Readers, INEC Officers must now instantly transmit accreditation data and

results from Polling Units to various collation centers in a manner that determines final results on real time basis. INEC is also now mandated to keep a National Electronic Register of Election Results as a distinct database or repository of polling unit by polling unit results for all elections conducted by INEC. Collation of election result is also now mainly electronic, as transmitted unit results will help to determine final results on real time basis. But the best part of the bill is that it kick-starts, in earnest, the technological evolution of our voting system. Such adoption of technology to drive our political system as piloted by the Senate would make our elections more free, fair and transparent.

The Whistleblower Protection Bill, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Bill and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill all passed this year are aimed that giving fillip to the fight against corruption. This somewhat deals a lie to the notion that the Legislative arm of government is not interested in killing corruption before it kills the nation.

The 8th Senate seems not to be as tone-deaf as a lot of critics make them out. A wise man once said, looking back and looking forward is the only way to make progress.

In looking backward, we have seen the grounds covered by our legislators in the 8th Senate and that they can deliver progress. In looking forward, we can challenge our law makers to always place service before and above self whilst delivering a future that we all can be proud of.

Carl Ndukwe, is an Abuja based communications professional.

Injustice in high places

P

Sheik T. Oyebanji

ermit me to use your medium to ventilate my heartfelt concern on the state of injustice in high places in the Nigerian society, especially in an establishment where it is least expected, such as the Military.

Like corruption, injustice is a social malady that has inflicted serious injury on the psyche of the nation and damage Nigeria’s reputation among the comity of nations. It’s now manifesting in the Nigerian Armed Forces especially.

Irrespective of socio-economic status, people are unjustly denied their rights and privileges which include and not limited to; the right to employment, right to academic admission, right to healthcare services, right of access to benefits as well as the right to due promotion.

While injustice goes on unabated in every other sphere of

our national life, it is least expected that such could thrive in the Military which should be the hallmark of discipline, justice, and equity.

Recent happenings in the Military circle of men and officers that were unduly retired from service without reaching retirement age or service year, those that were dismissed on frivolous grounds and those that were denied their promotions.

A visit to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria will baffle one as the majority of litigations heard almost on daily basis has to do with allegations of injustice against Military authorities (Army, Navy and Air Force).

Of recent are insinuations in certain quarters by senior officers in the Military (Navy) over the last promotion exercise.

Some officers whose elevation to higher positions attached to their expected promotions could not attain top positions because they were denied promotion

There are some cases of senior Navy Captains in some depts. who were not promoted for 2 consecutive years now, despite attending National Defence College which was the last criteria of Military training before being promoted to commodore, yet others like some nurses were promoted. This being the first time it happened in the history of the Nigerian Navy and did not even merit it (Promotion).

In fact, it was authoritatively revealed and printed in the signal to this affected officers that their names were initially on the promotion list but at the eleventh hour, it was removed completely or replaced some since 2 years back.

To the amazement of some officers, their junior ones were promoted to commodores and were elevated to their detriment. All these injustices and unfair treatment would truncate those cheated to lose their seniorities and subsequently be retired after 3 years

without promotion.

This is gross injustice and denial of right and privilege I am using this medium, therefore, to call on President Muhammadu Buhari as Commanderin-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces and also a retired Army General who should be in a better position to value due and just promotion and the honour of wearing deserved military ranks by men and officers, to take a critical look at promotion exercise in the Military.

The President should as a matter of urgency, declare a ‘state of emergency’ in the Military promotion and wage serious war against injustice with equal might and state apparatus with which the administration is fighting corruption.

It is high time Nigerians live in a just society.

Sheihk T. Oyebanji sent this piece from Prince & Princess, Abuja.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

15 Column

Transforming Nigeria’s economy through agricultural research

Guest Columnist AUDU OGBEH

N ‘

We need research desperately.

We will support it. We will grow agriculture and the economy.

Our research system must work better to ensure this reality. We need every support, cooperation, funding and legal framework to make this happen

’

igeria’s path out of recession has been variously described as largely dependent on agriculture. I hereby reiterate this truism and, in doing so, narrow my argument in this piece to the centrality of research if agriculture is to meet the high expectations. To this end, I recall, with much credit to the national assembly for the mediatory role played recently in calming the frayed nerves in the ranks of labour unions within the agricultural research circles.

The call to the national assembly for a mediatory meeting of the striking labour leaders and the plea to let the research institutes and colleges of agriculture function without interruptions was a strategic move that can only be expected to free the research community from what constituted hindrances to their impact on the agricultural economy for a while.

Nigeria clearly cannot afford to have an agricultural research system that continues to be hampered from bringing its practical impact to bear, no matter what the cause might be.

We desperately need to get our country out of trouble. The quantum of revenue that Nigeria annually spends on food importation is huge and needs to be drastically cut down in some commodities or eliminated in some others, particularly where we have comparative and competitive edge and can even export to other countries. We need to save substantial foreign exchange and part of these savings need to be properly invested into research and development to properly position Nigeria in agriculture.

Our population is increasing fast and we need to ensure that all our grandchildren shouldn’t be worrying about how to feed, now or in the future. I have been around for a while. I have seen dangers. I warned about Boko Haram, at a lecture, fifteen years ago before it happened. Looking forward, still, if we don’t get the food situation correctly here and stabilise this country, what do we expect in thirty years’ time when the population will be about four hundred and fifty million people according to projection? How do we feed the population then? It’s a very dangerous and precarious situation except something drastic is done.

We should create conducive

Rice farmers

Emefiele inspecting a rice farm environments to make farming very attractive to the younger generation. We have to do it. Look at our children in Libya! If you see some of the videos of their ordeals, you can get really angry. Our own kids who should be doing work here are also leaving here to go and work on farms as slaves in farms in Libya, same farms which we are not having here.

We need to think quickly on how to provide same job opportunities for them back home in the agricultural sector to stem the tide of emigration that in many cases turn sour.

There is hope, however, if we act quickly, decisively and appropriately. We should find a way to do more research, fund the research efforts and make use of the research outputs. Because this is scientific research, we need it desperately. In Nigeria, we have agricultural scientists. We need to put them to use.

We need to use the outcomes of their

research works. But it needs to be emphasised that science and sentiment don’t mix. What is scientific is guided by the law of nature.

To make progress on the path of food security, agricultural development and improved economy, retrogressive sentiments that could stand in the way should be pushed aside and purposeful search for progress brought to the fore. I appeal to the industrial union leaders in the research community to eschew overly political, ethnic and clannish appeals that fan the embers of factions or alignments leading to splintering of groups supporting conflicting causes or working at cross purposes within the system. These activities deny the country the much needed benefits the agricultural research community could bring to bear under normal circumstances.

Nothing great is going to happen if we don’t get our acts together

as quickly as possible. Leadership within the unions in the national agricultural research institutes have a great part to play in making the right things happen. On the back of the recent engagement at the instance of the national assembly to calm the striking unions, I thank our labour leaders for their understanding and maturity. Working with the legislators, and through the support of Mr. President, we are optimistic about finding resources through the budget means to resolve the unions’ grievances.

We need research desperately. We will support it. We will grow agriculture and the economy. Our research system must work better to ensure this reality. We need every support, cooperation, funding and legal framework to make this happen.

Chief Ogbeh is the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

16

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

17

News 18

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

Christmas Celebration

Be your brother’s keeper, Tambuwal enjoins Nigerians of our perceived difÏÏÏGovernor Aminu tive ferences,” the Governor Waziri Tambuwal has admonished all Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers and shun vices that could jeopardize efforts of government to provide conducive atmosphere for the citizens to realize their life objectives.

In a Christmas message issued Sunday by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal enjoined his countrymen and women to continue to reflect on positive tenets that unite the nation and strengthen the polity.

“This period calls for introspection and continued prayers for our dear nation.

“We must ponder on the teachings and lessons of Christmas by exhibiting good character at all times. We should extend hands of fellowship and build blocks of unity and understanding, irrespec-

said.

Tambuwal urged Nigerians to be prayerful and supportive as leaders find lasting solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting the nation.

“It is a fact that the last few days have been tough for our nation especially because of glitches in the supply of fuel, but we should trust those in charge to overcome the challenges in the shortest possible time.

“On our part, we are committed to doing everything possible that will lead to lasting peace, improvement in the welfare and security of Nigerians.

“On behalf of the people and government of Sokoto State, I wish all Nigerians, especially those of Christian faith, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ahead,” he added.

Nigerian are suffering - PDP Myke Uzendu, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Coalition of Civil

Society Organizations for Transparency in Governance has asked the United Kingdom and United States governments to keep their recommendations on the issues surrounding the clash between men of the Nigerian Army and members of the Shi’ite movement in December 2015, where some persons were reportedly killed as its coming after relevant authorities have done justice to it.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described this year’s yuletide celebrations as a disaster and called on Nigerians not to despair but to use the occasion to show love, care and encourage one another regardless of religious, ethnic and political inclinations.

The party said it is disheartening that Nigerians could not merrily celebrate the yuletide due to the current biting economic hardship worsened by acute fuel shortage, all due to the shambolic policies, sheer incompetence and gross insensitivity of the APC-led Federal Government.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement on Sunday, described the nation’s economic situation as a national embarrassment which cannot be glossed with deceit, lies and propaganda, urging Nigerians to overcome this very sordid situation by rallying around one another in

true love as epitomized in the birth and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Indeed, this is the worst Yuletide ever. There is no way one can sugarcoat the fact that the anguish Nigerians face today is because of the incompetence of the APC Government, which has also amply demonstrated that it does not care about the welfare and happiness of the citizens.

“Our country’s economic situation has astronomically gone from bad to worse in the last two years and painfully, there is no hope in sight under this APC regime.

“As we speak, many families are completely stranded; many more can no longer afford their basic needs.

“Nigerians have become ravaged by economic hardship because the APC-led Federal Government has abandoned them and refused to channel the abundant resources available in the nation for the good of the people. Instead, they are heartlessly diverting such resources for their selfish political purposes while the people suffer.

“These horrendous realities imposed on us by the APC notwithstanding, we must not become despondent.

“This Christmas season presents us very strong lessons in hope and our collective triumph over adverse situations as exemplified in the birth and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike (right), during the 107th quarterly meeting of the State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Tinubu wants Nigerians to support Buhari ÏÏÏAll

Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has called for support for President Muhammadu Buhari so that the country can overcome its current challenges.

He urged Nigerians to learn from the example of Jesus Christ “who faced and overcame the greatest evil” by uniting to overcome our challenges.

Asiwaju Tinubu’s message on the occasion of Christmas was released on Sunday by his Media Office in Lagos.

In the message, the APC leader said: “Today, Christmas Day, is one of the most precious days of the year for it celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

Be you Christian, Muslim or just a human being with a soul that yearns for peace, compassion and hope, Jesus Christ belongs to all of us. His teachings are universal in application and speak of truths eternal.

“This Christmas, let us acknowledge his birth but let us also give that acknowledgement its fullest meaning by recognizing how Jesus lived and what he lived for. He reached out to all. Jesus fed the poor and healed the sick. He spread compassion and charity and preached love and justice.

There are no finer aims

than these and we can do no better than to do all we can to follow his example.

“Let us all embrace and spread the gospel of love, tolerance and forgiveness this season and into the New Year. We must commit ourselves to peace and unity. Let us eschew all bitterness and bigotry.

The challenges that face the country are difficult ones. But we keep the hope. We must learn from the example of Jesus who faced and overcame the greatest evil. So let us unite to overcome our challenges.

“We must support President Buhari and complement his efforts in his resolve to stimulate the economy and reposition the country. The president needs our support, understanding and prayers. We must fully break the terrorism of Boko Haram and completely put down the last vestiges of the terrorists.

“We must continue to pray for the men in uniform who risk their lives to keep us safe and to end this scourge on the nation. I commend our troops battling the terrorists. I thank them again for their courage and bravery.

“Let us remember those who have been dispossessed of their homes and traumatised by the evil of these terrorists

and pray that they all will be able to return home soon and begin their lives anew and better.

“Yet, we must do more than pray. We all have something to give, something to contribute to the greater good. As Jesus gave of himself that we may live better, we must give of ourselves that others around us may have a better life.

“I wish you all a joyous Christmas”.

All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has called for support for President Muhammadu Buhari so that the country can overcome its current challenges.

He urged Nigerians to learn from the example of Jesus Christ “who faced and overcame the greatest evil” by uniting to overcome our challenges.

Asiwaju Tinubu’s message on the occasion of Christmas was released on Sunday by his Media Office in Lagos.

In the message, the APC leader said: “Today, Christmas Day, is one of the most precious days of the year for it celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

Be you Christian, Muslim or just a human being with a soul that yearns for peace, compassion and hope, Jesus Christ belongs to all of us. His teachings are universal in

application and speak of truths eternal.

“This Christmas, let us acknowledge his birth but let us also give that acknowledgement its fullest meaning by recognizing how Jesus lived and what he lived for. He reached out to all. Jesus fed the poor and healed the sick.

He spread compassion and charity and preached love and justice. There are no finer aims than these and we can do no better than to do all we can to follow his example.

“Let us all embrace and spread the gospel of love, tolerance and forgiveness this season and into the New Year. We must commit ourselves to peace and unity. Let us eschew all bitterness and bigotry.

The challenges that face the country are difficult ones. But we keep the hope. We must learn from the example of Jesus who faced and overcame the greatest evil. So let us unite to overcome our challenges.

“We must support President Buhari and complement his efforts in his resolve to stimulate the economy and reposition the country. The president needs our support, understanding and prayers. We must fully break the terrorism of Boko Haram and completely put down the last vestiges of the terrorists.

News 19

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 19, 2017

Christmas Celebration

Delayed salary, fuel scarcity mar Yuletide in Bayelsa Chris Eze, Yenagoa

ÏÏÏ

Bayelsa residents, particularly civil servants would not have fun celebrating this year’s Christmas as the twin evil of salary delay and strangulating fuel scarcity combine to take shine off the celebration.

Despite a directive by Gov. Seriake Dickson for December salary to be paid before Christmas thousands of civil servants in the state are yet to even draw their November salary.

Though the Governor gave the directive on Wednesday, compliance could not however be effected across board as workers in few mainstream ministries got their December salaries as at Friday the last working day before Christmas.

It would be recalled that November salaries of civil servants were delayed due to a stalemate at the October Federation Account Allocation Committee meeting and subsequently delayed November salary of Bayelsa civil servants to the second week of December.

Daily Times investigations showed that workers in most Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) were yet to be paid for November.

A secondary school teacher,

Henry James on Sunday said that he was yet to get November salary let alone December.

“It is unfortunate; I am yet to collect anything for November, in the case of teachers, when the salary gets to the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB) they will send the funds to the various school accounts from where the teachers’ accounts are credited.

“Although some of my colleagues have received theirs, a lot of us are still left out and we are already heavily indebted and cannot borrow from people who had given us loans that we have not paid.

“The directive that December salaries should be paid when some of us are yet to get November leaves more to be desired, we are certainly not on the same page at all. Often those of us who work in the MDAs have our salaries delayed for two weeks or even more.

“The Governor’s directive on Thursday was not feasible due to the bureaucratic bottlenecks that characterize government, the way it is people I borrowed from to survive till date are already on my neck and they do not believe me because they heard the news,” James said.

Imbibe virtues of peace, Bauchi Gov’s wife tells women Samuel Luka, Bauchi

ÏÏÏ

The wife of the Bauchi State governor, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed Abubakar, has called on Christian women to imbibe the values of peace, love, generosity, tolerance and humility in all spheres of life during this period of Christmas and beyond, as Jesus Christ did during his life time.

Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar stated this, weekend during the flag off of 2017 Christmas distribution of food items and materials to women held at COCIN LCC Lutheran Church of Christ, Rafin Zurfi, Yelwa area of Bauchi metropolis.

According to her, the items distributed were meant to mark this year’s Christmas celebration and to extend a hand of friendship to everyone.

“I am highly optimistic that this gesture would motivate you to support the government and gear up to be good ambassadors by being patriotic through the exhibition of support, loyalty and cooperation.” Hadiza said.

She urged the beneficiaries to demonstrate in character and kind the magnanimous char-

acteristics of the APC-led government in the state which is anchored on positive and transformative change.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, Alhaji Mukhtar Wadaji, Hajiya Abubakar stated that Governor Mohammed Abubakar administration in the state has done much for the people of Bauchi State by constructing good road networks in different locations to facilitate cheap and reliable transportation system and to ease conveying farm produce and for improved social contracts.

She added that the state government is also giving free medical health services to pregnant women and under-five children, providing drugs, refurbishing of hospital facilities, schools infrastructure and prompt payment of salaries.

The governor’s wife said that many other interventions programmes and policies are being implemented by Governor Abubakar administration to improve the lots of the citizenry, particularly women and children.

L-R: Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC), Rear Adm. Adeniyi Osinowo; Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and dƆƅƑƏƈƐƕè & Rz dè 6 Ɖƈƕ 6 Ƌƈƌ ƌƆƗ Ɨ ^Ə ƒ Ɛ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ Ɔ ƐƏƆ Ƈ Ə dƐƏ ƐƆ ƈƅ dƐƑƗƈƆ è M# è ƌƄê ƈƉƈ ƊƆ zƈ ƓƆè ƗƑƏƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƅƋ ƈ ƅƆƏƆƌ ƕ Ƈ & Rz d dƆ ƈ Ə Lƈ ƈ GƆ ƗƆƏ ƑƏ Ɔ ƈ ƄƑƉ Č Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ƓƆƆƊƆ Ɨê

Fuel scarcity cripples celebrations in Abuja Ï Ƌ ƅƊ ƌ ƏƊƆƐƆƏ Ɛ ƊƆ ƒƆƏ Ɛ Ɔ ƐƏƆƆƐ Myke Uzendu, Abuja

ÏÏÏ Chronic fuel scarcity has crippled economic activities and has become a source of frustration for travellers and holiday makers.

A tour around Abuja metropolis and adjoining States showed that most filling stations do not have the essential commodity while those who have, are infested with an uncontrollable crowd of buyers.

Recreation centres, amusement parks and tourist centres which usually bubble with activities during such periods are empty.

The streets are dry of vehicles and travellers as most vehicles and motorcycles are parked in an endless queue at the filling stations.

It was observed that some of the Major marketers in the city of Abuja have petroleum products but are selling with a few dispensing pumps to a crowd of motorists. It was also observed that most of the independent marketers do not have the product.

The National Secretary of Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) Zarma Mustapha in a telephone said that the present cost of the product at the depot is above the recommended price hence Independent marketers sell at a loss if they load the product

DUZOMA FRANCIS FOUNDATION

as they cannot sell above the official price of N145 per litre.

Mustapha said: “The depot price of the product is N145 to N147 and there is a bridging cost which Petroleum Equalization Fund pay after a while.

“We cannot buy at this price and be expected to sell at N145 per litre because we are also in the business to make profit.

“It is very obvious that the pricing template is no longer sustainable and need to be reviewed” Mustapha said.

According to him, NNPC is the sole importer of the product for now and sell majorly to the NNPC retail outlet and the major marketers. He added that IPMAN is in the majority when it comes to outlet and if products are not made available to their members at the depot price of N133 per litre, the fuel scarcity cannot come to an end.

One of the managers in IPMAN filling Station in Abuja said that the product is not available but government has shied away from accepting its failure but rather they claim that the scarcity is as a result of panic buying and refusal of the marketers to sell the product.

He said, “If they are claiming that Marketers are hoarding the products, then why don’t DPR which is an agency of government ensure com-

pliance and even seal off any station that is not confirming.

“The truth is that the product is unavailable. Marketers want to sell as many volumes as possible but government must be sincere with the people. Let them come out clean and tell the people the true position.

“A situation where government will pass the blame to the marketers and stir bad blood between the marketers and the public is unacceptable” he stated.

Following the scarcity of petrol which had been describes as the life wire of all activities, prizes of commercial transportation and cost of goods have tripled.

One of the illegal marketers of Petrol popularly known as black marketers has disclosed that they get the product from the filling stations in the night.

According to Kabiru Yusuf, the pump attendants sell to them in Jerry cans in the night but they pay a token. He said that the attendants and even their supervisors prefer to sell to them than to motorists since they make extra money selling to Jerry cans while motorists will not agree to pay anything above the pump price.

He equally disclosed that they also buy from motorcycle drivers including escort bike driven by security officers.

20

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

21 News

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

MAMAH VINCENT CRESCENT ONODU

AGBANYI NDUBUISI

I formerly known, called and addressed as VINCENT C. O. MAMAH now wish to be known, called and addressed as MAMAH VINCENT CRESCENT ONODU .All former documents remains valid general public please take note..

I formerly known, called and addressed as AGBAI NDUBUISI now wish to be known, called and addressed as AGBANYI NDUBUISI .All former documents remains valid general public please take note..

IHEKWOABA ERIC NDUBUBA

MRS BLESSING PAUL

I, formerly known and addressed as, ERIC IHEKWOABA, now wish to be known and addressed as, IHEKWOABA ERIC NDUBUBA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MRS BLESSING EZEOHA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS BLESSING PAUL. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

ODENIGBO CHUKWUEMEKA DONATUS I formerly known, called and addressed as ODENACHRIST CHUKWUEMEKA DONATUS now wish to be known, called and addressed as ODENIGBO CHUKWUEMEKA DONATUS .All former documents remains valid general public please take note..

MRS BEATRICE NYEKACHI AMADI. I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS BEATRICE CHINYERE NWINYE, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS BEATRICE NYEKACHI AMADI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

JOHN NWANYIEZE

AMAKOR, AUSTIN UDOKA

UROMMA GODWIN

I, formerly known and addressed as JOHN REJOICE now wish to be known and addressed as JOHN NWANYIEZE. All former document(s) remains valid. All relevant authorities and the general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, AMAKOR, AUSTIN UDOCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as, AMAKOR, AUSTIN UDOKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I formerly known, and addressed as: UROMMA GODWIN EMEORDI, now wish to be known, and addressed as, UROMMA GODWIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

JOSHUA CHINEDU HUMPHERY.

MRS .EMEDIONG INIOBONG AKPAN.

ISAAC OLUWAFEMI OPOH

I formerly known as SUNDAY CHINEDU OBETA wish to be known and addressed as JOSHUA CHINEDU HUMPHERY. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS. EME EDET INYANG,n now wish to be known and addressed as MRS .EMEDIONG INIOBONG AKPAN. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT THIS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT MS BERNADETTE ADENIKE OBEBE OF FEDERAL MINISTRY OF POWER, WORKS & HOUSING (POWER SECTOR) 14 ZAMBEZI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WHO LIVES IN NO 9 ETANG O OBULI CRESCENT, JABI, ABUJA. LOST ALL THE DOCUMENTS REGARDING FLAT, 6 BLOCK 237 , JAKANDE ESTATE, ILASAN, OFF LEKKI EXPRESS WAY, LAGOS INCLUDING DEATH CERTIFICATE. ALL BELONGING TO HER LATE FATHER, LATE PHILIP BAMIDELE OBEBE SOMETIME IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, 2017. ALL EFFORTS TO LOCATE THE WHERE ABOUT OF THE DOCUMENTS HAVE FAILED, HENCE THIS PUBLICATION.

I formerly known and adderssed as ISAAC AZUBUIKE JOSEPH, now wish to be known and addressed as ISAAC OLUWAFEMI OPOH. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

MRS ONIYA OLUWATOSIN TIOLUWA I formerly known and addressed as Akinyemi Oluwatosin Kudirat , now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oniya Oluwatosin Tioluwa . All former documents remains valid, the general public should please take note.

OBOH MERCY AIRERE I, formerly known and addressed as, OBEHI GABRIEL, and GABRIEL MARCY AIRERE, now wish to be known and addressed as, OBOH MERCY AIRERE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ENYINDAH JUSTINA CHISANYA I, formerly known and addressed as, ENYINDAH JUSTINA CHISANYA JOY, now wish to be known and addressed as, ENYINDAH JUSTINA CHISANYA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

PHILLIPS ABOSEDE OLAOLUWA.

OGUNBIYI GRACE OLUBUKONLA.

Formerly known and addressed as PHILLIPS GRACE ABOSEDE OLAOLUWA, now wish to be known and addressed as PHILLIPS ABOSEDE OLAOLUWA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

. Formerly known and addressed as OGUNBIYI TEMIDAYO OLUBUKONLA, now wish to be known and addressed as OGUNBIYI GRACE OLUBUKONLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AYODEJI MODUPE FUNMILAYO Formerly known and addressed as OLANIYI MODUPE FUNMILAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as AYODEJI MODUPE FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AMOBI VIVIAN ONYEKACHUKWU

IKEH EBELE ELIZABETH

Formerly known and addressed as OFILI VIVIAN ONYEKACHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as AMOBI VIVIAN ONYEKACHUKWU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BLESSING ERITEL IHEAMS

IFEANYI KATE UZAZAMARO I formerly known and addressed as Iliaro Kate Uzazamaro ,now wish to be known and addressed as Ifeanyi Kate Uzazamaro. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

SAINT AUGUSTINE’S COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL OYE-EKITI OLD STUDENT’S ASSOCIATION 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.

TRUSTEES: 1. ENGR ISOLA ILELABOYE - CHAIRMAN 2. DR VINCENT IDOWU BAMIGBOYE 3. BARR STEPHEN IBITOLA OLADIPUPO 4. PST OGUNMOYIN JOSEPH OLUWATOLA 5. MR ATERE SYLVESTER TUNDE ( SECRETARY) 6. BARR ANTHONY KOLAWOLE ADEBAYO 7. MS OLUFEMI COMFORT AKINOLA 8. PST FRANCIS ROTIMI POPOOLA 9. MRS PATRICIAL OLUBUNMI OLUMOKO ( NEE JEGEDE) 10. PST ALONGE OLATUNJI MICHAEL AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE SCHOOL MEMBERS. 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

CORRECTION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly written as ISAAC TARZOHO ALPHONSUS instead of GENESIS TARZOHO ORDIDOO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as BLESSING ERITEL UDONWA , now wish to be known and addressed as BLESSING ERITEL IHEAMS. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as NWOKEDI EBELE ELIZABETH and IKEH EBELE EBELE now wish to be known called and addressed as IKEH EBELE ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME/ CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH I, EMMANUEL HARUNA and WALSHAK EMMANUEL HARUNA, refer to one and same person, but now wish to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL HARUNA. My correct date of birth is 12th day of August 1987. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

BRITYWHITY YOUTH FOUNDATION This is to notify 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. Benita Uririroghene Ovie 2. Akinwande Osuolale Praise 3. Emmanuel Chukwuebuke Obine 4. Juliet Ese Amahwe 5. Grace Popoola Momson The Aims and Objectives are: i. To help youths to make positive, well informed choices Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed: Trustees

DEWS OF MERCY INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY

ABUNDANCE LOVE ORPHANAGE HOME

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.

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.

THIS IS TO NOTIFY 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.

TRUSTEES: 1. PROPHETESS GRACE IGBOELI 2. IGBOELI ABRAHAM EMENIKE 3. OKOYE CHIOMA IGBOELI

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. NDOMA ESTHER ACHI 2. ATU MILDRED AWU 3. ALPOJOWHOVWO THERESA MOJISHOLA 4. OGAR EMMANUEL OKIMASI 5. DENIS ANTHONY OKIM ESQ

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR OMEDE JOSEPH APEH - CHAIRMAN 2. OMEDE OJOMA VIRTUOUS- SECRETARY 3 ATAGUBA MARY ACHARU - TREASURER

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. 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, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

KINGDOM BATTLE BIBLE CHURCH

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. ADDRESSING AND CARING PRIMARILY FOR ALL ABUSES/NEEDS ATTACHED TO ABANDONED, ORPHANED AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN (AOVC) 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: OKONKWO NICOLAS OKECHUKWU

YESHUA TANAHK MINISTRY

THIS IS TO NOTIFY 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.

THIS IS TO NOTIFY 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. REVD OKEOMA CHUKWUEMEKA - GENERAL OVERSEER 2. ELDER FESTUS ONUORAH -SECRETARY, 3. YUSUF DANJUMA 4. OKWUCHUKWU ODUGU

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) APOSTLE ALICE OGWUCHE (2) FELICIA SAMS.(SECRETARY) (3) PST SAMUEL USMAN (4) PST MONDAY ENEMONA OMALE (5) PST DIO OGWUCHE

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR -GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR -GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

MOORICE HILLEMAN SCIENCE INITIATIVE

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH ACCESSIBILITY AND PRESENCE AT ALL LEVELS OF HEALTH SYSTEM NATIONALLY AND WITHIN THE UNITED NATION. 2. TO ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVE ORGANISATIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH VARIOUS STATEHOLDERS THROUGH DIALOGUE, EDUCATION/CAPACITY AND RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT IN PARTNERSHIP AND JOINT IMPLEMENTATION ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR -GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

LIVING FREEDOM LIFE BIBLE CHURCH THIS IS TO NOTIFY 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. PASTOR NWANKWO STEPHEN OMENKA 2. PASTOR MRS. JOSEPHINE NWANKWO 3. PASTOR ODUMA EMMANUEL OZOEMELA 4. EVANG. CHINYERE LWARENCE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR -GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED: BROADVIEW SOLICITORS LOUIS UDO ITIBA ESQ.

News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Monday,December 25, 2017

Christmas Celebration PFN felicitates with Nigerians Titus Akhigbe, Benin

ÏÏÏThe

Long queue of motorists at a filling station on Queen Elizabeth Road in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Be instruments of peace, Catholic Bishop admonishes Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

ÏÏÏAs

Christians in Nigeria join their counterpart’s world over to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas, the Catholic Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Kayode Odetoyinbo has charged all Nigerians to recommit themselves to being an instrument of peace, sowing love in place of hatred, joy in place of sadness and hope in place of despair.

The Bishop, who made the call in his Christmas Message enjoined every Christian and Nigerian to join hands in purging our hearts of evil deeds, and in becoming doers of the word

of God that we listen to daily.

He said, “Our God is a God of peace and so, let every section of the country that is aggrieved tow the path of peace in their agitation. The greatest restructuring we can ever experience as a nation is that of the heart.

The frequent calls for cessation and youth restiveness in some parts of the country portray the country as treading on the edge of collapse”.

“It is possible in these trying and turbulent times in our country to begin to doubt the closeness of God to us. The realities that stare us in the face are

enormous and frustrating; increasing acrimony and hate speeches, exposition of corrupt public officials and subsequent escape of prosecution, bloodletting, insurgency, kidnapping and killings especially of Priests and Religious, agitations, armed & intellectual robberies, high unemployment rate, high cost of food products and other items, bad roads, hunger and poverty in the land, and epidemic of diseases among others”.

“I am convinced that God is with us in our daily struggles for survival. God is with us as a nation in this period of national rebirth and re-

discovery. While the call for restructuring from various sections of the country is a welcome development, the terms of such call are yet to be clearly defined”.

He added that “as people of faith, we must concentrate on the message that God passes to us at Christmas which is, He has remembered His people and has come to free them. The coming of Christ to take on our human flesh is strictly for the purpose of redemption. The creator of the world has come among His creatures in order to redeem them.

“If God is with us, if God is among us, who can be against

CAN donates relief materials to Dong Tom Garba, Yola

ÏÏÏIn the spirit of season, a

delegation of Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) Adamawa state chapter (YOWICAN) and women wing of the association donated relief materials to the people of Dong Community of Demsa LGA area of Adamawa State who some weeks ago were attacked by Fulani herdsmen.

While Distributing the items to Hama Dong in his palace, the state Chairman

CAN, Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza who is the leader of the delegation told them they were on a comfort visit and encouraged them never to lose hope but believe God all things are working for the good of God’s people.

He reminded them that forgiveness is never an option to any hurt Christians, that they must forgive whoever under whatever reason their attacks has happened for them to be able to live a normal life.

Also In his words of com-

fort he consoled them that Christianity means “cross” which entails Many things and urged them to continue to pray fervently for the peace and unity of all Adamawa State.

Dama called for the judicious sharing of the items to ensure it gets to intended people to ease and help them celebrate the Christmas without stress.

The head of the community, Hama Dong Mr Jared Hanya, appreciated CAN for

the gesture pray God to bless them, he called on Bishop

Mamza to ask Christians communities to pray for them as their still living under the fear of being attacked.

The items were: 17 bags of maize, 10 (no) of 50 kg bags of rice, cartons of vegetable oils, tablet soaps, Maggie cubes, clothing and shoes among many others.

Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has felicitated with Nigerians, particularly the Christians on the occasion of this year’s Christmas celebration.

National President of the Fellowship, Rev Dr. Felix Omobude in a press statement in Benin City, Edo state, congratulated all Nigerians for being alive and well to witness yet another Christmas.

Dr. Omobude who is also the General Superintendent of New Covenant Gospel Church, saluted the Christians and non Christians alike and urged them not to celebrate and forget the reason for the season.

“Jesus Christ, the saviour of the world is the reason for the season. Therefore, while we celebrate and not forget the reason for

the season”, he said.

The PFN leader however commended all Nigerians for their personal and collective sacrifices towards national peace, harmony, unity and prosperity of the country.

He called on Nigerians to continue to lookup to God with great hope and faith irrespective of their religious affiliations, noting that Nigerians have every reason to be thankful to God for keeping the nation together as one, despite the numerous challenges militating against the country.

“Our prayer is that Nigeria and indeed Nigerians will in this season enjoy peace free of wanton destruction of lives and property and that God will continue to intervene in the present challenges facing the country,” he stated.

Dickson urges political leaders to emulate Christ Chris Eze, Yenagoa

ÏÏÏBayelsa Governor,

Seriake Dickson in his message called on political leaders to emulate Jesus Christ who used His ministry for the good of all, by using their offices to advance the cause of the ordinary people.

The Governor who made the call while felicitating with Christians as they celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, urged Nigerians to live a Christlike life, which he noted was a life of sacrifice, selfless service, love and forgiveness.

A press statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Francis Agbo, further called on Nigerians and particularly, Bayelsans to use the Christmas celebration to intensify prayers for the peace and security of the state and the nation in general.

Gov. Dickson

He said “Service to man is service to God; he that serves man well, serves God well.

Jesus Christ used his earthly ministry for the common good of humanity and above all, died for our sins. Our faith would have been in vain if Jesus had not sacrificed himself for us all. I therefore call on political actors and privileged Nigerians to always work for the good of the people and do things that would foster unity in the country”

News 23

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

ÏÏÏTop a-list artistes, includ-

ing multi award winning artistes, Davido, Olamide, King Sunny Ade and other music stars are set to grace the stage across five different locations to thrill fun seekers as the flagship yuletide revue of the Lagos State Government, also known as One Lagos Fiesta (OLF) took off Sunday evening.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Aramide Giwanson in a statement also listed Adewale Ayuba, Salawa Abeni, Humble Smith, Small Doctor, Ras Kimono, Pasuma, Osupa, among the star studded artistes already lined up for this year’s Fiesta.

She said the eight days nonstop Fiesta will hold in five different designated centres simultaneously, including Ikeja (Agege Stadium), Badagry (Badagry Grammar School), Ikorodu (Ikorodu Town Hall), Lagos Island (Bar Beach) and Epe (Epe-Marina Beachfront), Long queue of motorists at a filling station on Obafemi Awolowo Road, Oke Ado, Oyo State. while the cross over night of December 31st into the New Year will hold at Eko Atlantic City. Tagged See, “Feel and Explore Lagos”, Giwanson said the One Lagos Fiesta will round off the year 2017 and usher Lagosians into a New Year with arguably the biggest and the largest celebration in local economy of these areas also been mobilised to ensure Management Agency (LASTNigeria with a record of 10mil- thereby making it self-sustain- free flow of traffic throughout MA), Rapid Response Squad lion people in attendance. ing during the festive period the course of the eight days (RRS) of the Lagos State PoAccording to her, the OLF and after. event. lice Command and other return the five divisions of LaGiwanson assured residents She explained that the Lagos lated agencies have been fully gos into a tourist destination that adequate preparations State Emergency Management briefed on preventing any for 8 days non-stop showcas- have been made to guarantee Agency (LASEMA), Lagos chaos or break down of law ing not less than 40 concerts safety and security of partici- State Ambulance Service (LA- and order. all together across the city of pants at the Fiesta, while traf- SAMBUS), Lagos State Fire The OLF, she said was speLagos while developing the fic management officials have Service, Lagos State Traffic cially designed to turn the

KSA, Ayuba, Davido, Olamide, others primed for One Lagos Fiesta

Why I left politics to be monarch – Shodeinde

ÏÏÏOlu

of Iju-Gbalefa land, Ogun state, Oba Olufemi Adisa Shodeinde has said that his desire to see peace, progress and development of his domain, made him to abandon politics to become the traditional ruler of the land.

Oba Shodeinde made this known recently during his coronation. He told journalists that his love for his people transcends the ordinary and the need for the common good of all is the driven force behind his philanthropic gestures.

The Oba who has just been installed received a lot of accolades from indigenes and non indigenes alike. They described him as a man with Midas touch that has always been using both his financial and human resources to touch lives and making life worth living for the people.

While speaking with journalists, HRM Oba Olufemi Shodeinde expressed gratitude to God for the journey so far and also appreciated the good people of Iju-Gbalefa for their love, prayers and sup-

port since he ascended the throne.

In many ways, Oba Shodeinde has also demonstrated that he is humane as well as urbane. His interest in Nigeria is not limited to the boundaries of class which he sees as only artificial. His scale of objectivity between his life and his social investments differs in giving back to the society.

Oba Shodeinde has spared no expense and has set no limit. For him, giving must be a matter of privilege, not a proof of ability. This must be why he has devoted his entire life to creating a society with the greatest good for the greatest number.

Also speaking, the Chairman of ACOMORAN in AdoOdo, Alhaji Shola Shotayo, described Oba Shodeinde as peaceful, describing him as a source of inspiration to all the people of Iju-Gbalefa and prayed that Almighty God should grant him long life and good health.

Among those who visited the king in his palace are

five divisions of Lagos into a tourist destination for 8 days non-stop showcasing not less than 40 concerts all together across the city of Lagos while developing the local economy of these areas thereby making it selfsustaining during the festive period and after.

Respect rights of Olejeme, CSOs tell EFCC ÏÏÏConsequent

Olu of Iju-Gbalefa, HRM, Oba Olufemi Sodeinde League of Imams in Ajibawo, Iju, APC leaders in Iju Ward, Baba-Oja of Iju Market, Alhaji Ikudaisi with market leaders and members of Iju Development Alliance Forum.

Kabiyesi assured the people that he would continue his selfless service and charged the good people of Iju to always promote peace, unity and peaceful co-existence of the community.

upon the detention of Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) a coalition of Civil Society Organizations led by Conscience Nigeria and 30 others have appealed to the Commission to respect her fundamental rights.

The group said she needed to be accorded her full rights because the former Chairman of the Board of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) turned herself in for the investigation of her tenure as leader of the agency.

The CSOs therefore urged EFCC not to resort to sensational media trial while it is yet to conclude investigations over charges levelled against her while it decried the current media trial against her.

The Civil Rights bodies advised the EFCC to be guided by what is right and not disparage anybody in the media when such persons have not been charged to court or convicted. The coalition called on “Mr President, National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation to caution the EFCC on how they go about investigating alleged corrupt cases against Nigerians”.

A statement signed by Bala Takaya President of the forum also warned traditional rulers in the north to restrain from making inciting statements.

The forum, which elected its new leadership last week, also regretted the inclusion of former Deputy

Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Obaddiah Mailafia, CBN, in the new Executive Committee members, saying he was wrongly included in the list of the new exco. The forum it has hindsight into the act of brigandage by the herdsmen. The forum said, “We therefore, demand that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria intervenes in this matter immediately by not only quelling the situation to avoid further escalation, but also to call the said instigators to question and account for the inflammatory statement which was made with such an air of impunity and utterance which led to the on-going mayhem.

“On our part we have with hindsight been painfully reviewing the prior act of brigandage engaged in by the Fulani killer- herdsmen.

“But we observe that they are the same night marauders that had since long specialised in raiding and burning down towns and villages at night during which they also kill residents in their sleep or mauled down when they escape the inferno in places like Babale, Riyom, Mangu and Barkin Ladi on the Jos Plateau. ”Amazingly, we are yet to hear of any of the culprit been arrested and brought to book, even, when identified. “Ironically, it now appears that any injury or casualty suffered by the invading Fulani herdsmen following an encounter and pursuit in self defence must not go unpunished.”

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

Niger PDP guber hopeful Hanafi flays APC , calls for prayers

Saka Bolajin-Minna

ÏÏÏA

chieftain of the People Democratic Party (PDP ) in Niger state and Governorship Aspirant, Hanafi Mua’zu Sudan has charged the residents and Christian religious leaders to use the two festivities to offer special prayers for the state and Nigeria.

Hanafi noted that it’s obvious that the APC led government is not living to the expectations of the citizens hence the state is in retrogression instead of moving forward.

This was contained in a statement he signed and made available to the media in Minna, urging Nigerlites not to be discouraged by the economic hardship, poverty, unemployment brought about by the APC led government just as relief will come their way as 2019 draws nearer.

He assured that “very soon the storm will be over as PDP has been repositioned and rebranded to regain power in 2019”.

The gubernatorial aspirant blamed the current state woes to lack of focus, commitment by the state government led by Abubakar Sani Bello who has dissolved his cabinet without adequate plan to put in place a formidable team that can take the state to greater heights.

He therefore charged the PDP members and loyalists to remained focused, steadfast devoid of intimidation so as to maintained united to take over what belongs to them come 2019 general elections.

He wished the people of the state and the country merciful Christmas and most prosperous New Year in advance.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger state Barr. Tanko Beji has said that the party has been “repositioned and rebranded to regain the position it mistakenly lost to the APC in 2015” insisting “we will do everything legally possible to assume the political leadership of the state and country again” Beji made the remarks in a Christmas and New

Year message to Christians which was also made available to newsmen in Minna yesterday.

He noted that as “we enter the new year there will be heightening of political activities across the country as such people should play politics devoid of acrimony and character assassination “We should not be swayed by the lust for money as this would only ensure the retention of the status quo” adding that the PDP was prepared to put things in their right perspectives when it retakes power in the country.

The PDP also urged the people of the state not to be discouraged by the harsh economic situation in the country saying “very soon the storm will be over”.

Traders at Madalla weekly market near Suleja in Niger… at the weekend.

Another Gov Dickson’s ex- aide dies in Yenagoa Chris Eze, Yenagoa

ÏÏÏBarely

two weeks after a former Commissioner under Governor Dickson, Mr. Ayakeme Masa was shot dead by suspected gunmen, another former Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Mr. Nasko Egei was found dead in a hotel room in Yenagoa.

According to the police, the former SA to the Governor who is now a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was found dead at Aridolf Resort Wellness and Spa, a hotel owned by former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.

It was learnt that the deceased had checked into the hotel on Friday with a female companion believed to be his lover, who disappeared after his death.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa Police Command, Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident, said that investigation into the incident was underway.

Butswat, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, however, said it had not been established what led to the death of the married man.

He said that efforts were being made to trace the female friend who was with the deceased to help the police unravel the cause of death adding that it was too early to speculate.

“It has not been established whether he was poisoned or not. At this point, we won’t be able to establish whether he was poisoned and who poisoned him.

“But we will look at

the people he was with the previous night before the incident. By the time we carry out a post-mortem investigation that will determine what substance actually led to his death. The investigation is ongoing.”

Butswat said.

Egei was a former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Seriake Dickson on Youth Development before he defected to the APC. The victim, a father of two was in his late 30s before his untimely death.

Meanwhile, a kinsman of the deceased who

ASHIEGBU INNOCENT AHAM

ADEFEMI KIKELOMO CAROLINE

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS ASHIEGBU ISHMAEL AHANAOTU, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ASHIEGBU INNOCENT AHAM AND MY DATE OF BIRTH WRONGLY WRITTEN AS 11/7/1987 INSTEAD OF 11/7/1989. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

Formerly known and addressed as FASAN KIKELOMO CAROLINE, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEFEMI KIKELOMO CAROLINE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note .

HAMEED MUSIBAU LAMIDI.

MRS. VICTOR, CYNTHIA C. NGONABOTE

I Formerly known and addressed as HAMMED MUSIBAU FEMI,now wish to be known and addressed as HAMEED MUSIBAU LAMIDI. Document remain valid general public take note

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. NWAFOR, CYNTHIA CHINEMEREM, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. VICTOR, CYNTHIA C. NGONABOTE. All former documents remain valid.

The general public take note.

wished to remain anonymous said the death was very suspicious insisting that the hotel management had questions to answer.

He said that a three star hotel like Aridolf should have a Close Circuit Television (CCTV) to reveal identity of the lady that the deceased was with when he died.

“The hotel sure has questions to answer. A hotel as big as Aridolf, cannot claim not to have a CCTV. So, the hotel will do a whole lot of good to unravel what happened.

“Therefore, we implore the security agencies, SOYEMI OGECHI PEACE Formerly known and addressed as UGWEJE OGECHI PEACE, now wish to be known and addressed as SOYEMI OGECHI PEACE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MRS OLADIMEJI ROSEMARY OGECHI I, formerly known as MISS AKUWUDIKE ROSEMARY OGECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLADIMEJI ROSEMARY OGECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

particularly the police to swing into action to investigate this sad incident.

“The hotel should be made to provide the identity of the lady that went with him to the hotel. If the identity can’t be got, the hotel should be able to play its CCTV to know the female guest with Nasko.

“As kinsmen, we will not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet.

We are sad about this incident”, he maintained.

It was learnt the deceased was found naked in his hotel room by the hotel management and subsequently reported the

matter to the Police.

MRS EZO NNENNA AKAMA

I formerly known as MISS OTU NNENNA AKAMA wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZO NNENNA AKAMA . All former documents remain valid General public please take note.

MUDASHIRU RASHIDAT MOTUNRAYO

I formerly known as ISHOLA RASHIDAT wish to be known and addressed as MUDASHIRU RASHIDAT MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

Glo-sponsored TV drama, Professor Johnbull, flays prohibitive bride price Mutia Alli

ÏÏÏHigh

bride price is the focus of current episode of Glo-Sponsored TV drama series, Professor Johnbull, which comes on air on NTA Network, NTA International on DSTV Channel 251 and NTA on Startimes, at 8.30 pm on Tuesday.

Titled “Not for Sale”, the 5th episode in the fifth season of the social satire highlights the activities of those who profit from prohibitive bride prices.

The highly educative episode features Nol-

lywood veterans, Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya) and Amaechi Muonagor who play the role of Igbo elders who want to ensure that the tradition of their people are strictly complied with during their wards’ marriage.

In “Not for Sale” Okpala accompanies his nephew, Paul (Stanley Igboanugo) to Muonagor’s home to formally ask for the hand of his beautiful daughter in marriage but are shocked

by Muonagor’s decision to stop them at the doorstep to ask for different payments including ‘money to clear his throat’ and ‘money to close the door’ before they were eventually allowed to

enter the house.

Muonagor also proceeds to present a voluminous book containing the list of requirements the visitors must fulfil before the marriage rites can be formalized which infuriates them and they decide to leave immediately while the girl proceeds to Professor Johnbull’s house to report her father. According to her, Muonagor’s constant misconduct is about to rob her of her fourth prospective husband, threatening to escape with her heartthrob ‘’for free’’ if her father does not scale down his list.

Attention then shifts to Olaniyi (Yomi Fash-Lanso’s) Nkwobi restaurant

where a fight breaks out between Ufuoma (Bimbo Akintola) and Jumoke (Bidemi Kosoko) because Ufuoma intercepts a gift from a rude suitor who proposes to marry Jumoke’.

All the affected parties later converge in Professor Johnbull’s sitting room where the issues are resolved amicably, with the erudite Professor calling on those whose stock in trade is to profiteer from charging exorbitant bride prices to put an end to it.

Will Muonagor shift from his earlier decision? Find out on Tuesday with repeat broadcast of Not For Sale comes up on Friday on the same channels.

25 News

Youths leader secures release of 10 inmates in Adamawa Tom Garba, Yola

ÏÏÏThe

Adamawa State Chapter of Youth wing Christians Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) Chairman , Amb. Ajine Delo has facilitated and secured the release of prisons inmates.

The prisoners who were incarcerated on account of minor offences and were unable to pay the fines charged against them.

The Six and four inmates were from Jimeta and Yola prisons respectively who are all Youths within the age bracket of 2027.

Mr Ajine told our reporter that the gesture is in the spirit of Christmas celebration and to symbolise the love of God to mankind were He enjoins us to show love even for our enemies.

“By securing the release of this young

Nigerians whose great destinies the devil wants to trample on, I’m fulfilled and I did this to mark this year’s Christmas celebration by demonstrating the love of God to mankind as He enjoins us to do.”

Ajine advised the released inmates to see this as a move to help them go back to the society and live a meaningful and purposeful life that God wants them to live.

“I want you to know that God loves you and this period we call on you to celebrate Christmas with your families with a promise never to come back to prison again.”

The Chief Warder of Jimeta Benjamin Prison, ASP Reuben Dalti commended the Youth leader who helped in decongesting the prison and called on well meaning Nigerians to emulate Ajine.

Recession: Cleric urges Nigerians to invest in farming

Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (3rd right), presenting Bond Certificate to one of the retirees, during the 46th Retirement Benefit Bond Certificate Presentation ceremony in Lagos. With them are Commissioner for Establishment, Training & Pension, Dr. Akintola Benson Oke (2nd right); Director General, State Pension Commission, Mrs. Folashade Onanuga (right); Lagos State Head of Service, Mrs. Folashade Adesoye (left) and Chairman, House Committee on Establishment, Training & Pension, Hon. Adedayo Famakinwa (2nd left).

Niger LG boss decries ‘one chance’ killing Saka Bolaji, Minna The Chairman of Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, Alhaji Ado Abubakar has decried the recent killings carried out by persons operating with commercial vehicles, known as “one chance” drivers.

He disclosed this to newsmen in an interview after a meeting with no fewer than 360 political appointees from 10 wards in the council, said that the trend was alarming because it was difficult to track and prevent.

Reports revealed that a suspected one chance driver was set blaze by irate mob last Friday at the Madalla Market along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

“It is becoming an issue for us now because we called on whenever a corpse is discovered

ÏÏÏ

in the bush. Most of the victims are strangled to death and then thrown into the bush by the perpetrators.

“This is a challenge to the council because this incidence always begins from the Zuba Park where people board vehicles. So, it is difficult for us to monitor and curtail. But we are working with security agencies to come up with measures to tackle this,” he stated.

Abubakar further called on residents of the area to be vigilant about security during and after the Christmas and New Year festivities to avoid being infiltrated by undesirable element.

He charged residents to be their brothers’ keepers and report all suspicious persons and movements to the security agencies and traditional leaders close to

them.

“When you participate in ensuring the security of lives and property, the dividend is always positive. Through giving useful information to relevant authorities a lot is done security wise.

“The council is working with all security agencies to keep the relative peace enjoyed by residents of Tafa Local Government Area.

We give logistical support to them including the vigilante groups. Recently we donated some motorcycles to vigilante members to assist them in movement.”

Abubakar also said that his administration was curtailing the farmer and herdsmen clashes through community dialogue and sensitisation that has yielded the much needed positive results.

He said attention is

paid to any new herdsmen coming into communities, adding that this has led to proactive measures taken by the council and security agencies in preventing conflicts between the two groups.

At the stakeholders meeting, decision was also taken to endorse the candidature of Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger in 2019 election. The unanimous endorsement was taken after the Chairman moved the motion. The meeting also endorsed Abubakar for the 2019 election as chairman or any position he may contest for.

The chairman described the political endorsement as a vote on confidence on the development programmes and projects of the APCled state and local government in the last two years.

Bassey Willie, Uyo

ÏÏÏThe General Overseer,

Foundation of Living Word Church, Apostle Joshua Bassey has advised Christians and all Nigerians not to be deterred by recession and think that God has forgotten them, but they should rather invest their time and resources in farming, which will yield positively for them in 2018.

Preaching at the 2017 Convention and thanksgiving service held at the church’s headquarters along Nelson Mandela road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Sunday, Apostle Bassey reminded Christians that even in the Bible, the children of Israel faced difficulties in their journey to the promise land, but that did not mean that God had forgotten them.

The cleric who preached on the topic, “Created to serve God”, however prophesied that as the nation moves into 2018 and 2019, things will be normal and the issue of hardship and recession will vanish away.

He said, “The present government under President Buhari is actually trying in tackling the issue of recession and hardship, but as we move to 2018 and 2019, God will

surely take Nigeria out of the present situation, recession is not over, but by the grace of God, we will come out of it, that is why we ask the government to continue to tackle the issue of corruption head -on.”

He also advised the government to relax restriction on importation of certain things for now, until the country can produce enough products locally, in order not to allow citizens suffer unnecessarily.

He declared that 2018 will be a fruitful year for Nigeria and advised the church to always pray for the peace of the country.

The cleric reminded Christians that without serving God, their purpose of creation is defeated, adding that in every position God put man, he has already assigned duty to him, and that purpose must be fulfilled.

He commended the president and the federal government in the way he handled Biafra issue, saying it takes God’s wisdom to settle such issue without much casualty, praying that God should not allow the present generation of Nigerian youths to experience civil war again, because the experience is always very devastating for those who were born during the 1967 civil war.

News 26

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

Christmas Celebration

News 27

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

Anambra community murder: Family petitions IGP Alphonsus Nweze, Awka

ÏÏÏThe

Kemi Adeosun

Adeosun condoles with Leadership over photojournalist’s death

ÏÏÏThe Honourable Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has expressed sadness over the news of the death of a senior photographer with the Leadership Newspaper, Mr. Christopher Danladi.

Danladi was involved in a heartrending road accident on Monday, 18th December, while on an official engagement to Taraba State. Adeosun, in a condolence letter to the Managing Director of Leadership Group Limited, recalled that Danladi was an industrious photojournalist with a passion for his work while covering the Federal Ministry of Finance and its agencies.

The Minister said, “Danladi was a dedicated photojournalist with passion for his work during his stint with the Federal Ministry of Finance.

“Our prayers are with his family and his colleagues at Leadership Newspaper who have been affected by this great loss.”

Danladi was assigned by the Leadership Newspapers to provide photo coverage of the activities of the Office of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Federal Ministry of Finance and its agencies.

Prior to his death, Danladi attended the Federation Account Allocation Committee’s media briefing on Saturday, 16th December, 2017.

Inspector-General of Police (IG), has been urged to transfer the investigation of the brutal murder of Mr. Chukwudi Chinwuba, the President General of Oroma-Etiti in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra state back to Anambra State Police Command, Awka for proper investigation so as to ensure justice in the matter.

In a petition signed by lawyer to the family, Wilson Ogoke, said that the transfer back to the Anambra State Police Command has become imperative due to what they called “the manifest travesty of justice in respect of the investigation of the murder of Chukwudi Chinwuba.”

Tracing the genesis of the murder, the lawyer said the eventual murder of Chukwudi was as a result of his winning election into the office of the President General of Oroma-Etiti , Anam on April 17, 2017 against the wishes of

Raphael Okeke, a former member of House of Representatives and his group, who felt it must be their candidate that should have won.

The family said: “Raphael Okeke openly boasted that he will not be alive to see Chinwuba to become the President General of Oroma-Etiti Development Union and so he and his cohorts set machinery in motion which they eventually accomplished on November 15, 2017, when they murdered him in the most barbaric manner”.

Ogoke said Chukwudi’s petition to the police when he was alive encapsulated the whole thing, stressing that immediately after the election Okeke and his cohorts wrote a petition to the IG, which led to the arrest of Chukwudi on trump up charges with the active connivance of ACP Kabriu A. Shehu after which they were granted trail.

“Sir, it is important to state that Ralphael Okeke had been boasting that Nigeria Police is in

his pocket and he knows how to use the Police and to achieve his purpose and that this murder investigation will not see the light of the day”, he said. The lawyer said while the traditional ruler of Oroma-Etiti, Eze Nwaezekwe Okeke, reported the matter to the Police in his Kingdom, followed by a written statement by Chukwudi’s younger brother, Chinenye at the State Police Command in Awka, Okeke threw due process to the dog and ran to Abuja with a false petition, and brought police to come and carry the case file from Awka, to Abuja, where they killed the matter”.

It is almost succeeding because the Police are more interested in the petition on false information than investigating the murder case. In fact, the purported investigation team led by DCP Habu A. Sani, has threatened to arrest Igwe Okeke, who is 86 years old for giving false information. A copy of the invitation letter including Igwe’s response is, marked as Exhibit C and D re-

spectively” said Ogoke.

Urging IG to return the case file to the Anambra state Police Command for proper investigation and prosecution, the Lawyer said their understanding of the Police investigation process was that it should ordinarily be carried out by the Command” s jurisdiction of the crime and it was only when outcome was not satisfactory to any of the party that they can now appeal to IG to re-investigate the matter.

“In this case it is clear that the intention of bringing the matter to Abuja is simply to kill the case. Those who witnessed the brutal murder are farmers who they know will not have money to come to Abuja to give evidence”.

Chinwuba who was also the secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the community was allegedly assassinated on November 15, 2017, two days to the Anambra State Governorship election. Aged 39 years, late Chinwuba was married with four children.

Chairman, Early Rush Show, Star FM, Mazi Chinedum Obioha, (middle), with some widows / downtrodden, during the Star FM End of the Party in Lagos…at the weekend.

APC hails Ekiti voters for boycotting LG poll ÏÏÏThe All Progressives Congress (APC) has praised the people, including workers, pensioners, artisans, market women and the youth for refusing to participate in Saturday’s local government election organised by Governor Ayodele Fayose’s faction of PDP in cahoots with the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) composed of members of PDP faction loyal to the governor.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti by the Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party said that the refusal of Ekiti people to participate in the election was a pointer to a total rejection of Fayose and his party and a “confirmation of our assertion that Ekiti people are only waiting for 2018 governorship election to send Fayose and his PDP into the dustbin of Ekiti political history”. He added: “Ekiti people are seriously angry and can’t wait to vote Fayose out in

a free, fair and credible election organised by a credible independent umpire.

“What happened today is a reaction of Ekiti people to their sufferings over non-payment of pensioners, workers’ salaries, misappropriation and diversion of public funds into personal account, greed and executive rascality through which Fayose has impoverished Ekiti people.

“It is gratifying though that the Deputy Governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola, admitted while

talking to journalists that the polling booths were empty during the election, hinging their absence from polling booths on last Christmas shopping by voters. “This is just an untenable alibi. The fact is that people naturally reacted to the sufferings Fayose unleashed on them by his mindless cornering of the state’s resources for his personal enjoyment and that of members of his family while Ekiti people suffer.

“Ekiti people are angry for

spending tax payers money on a charade called an election at a time workers and pensioners could not even feed or provide for the needs of their immediate family at Christmas while many are on sick bed on account of the high level of Fayose’s wickedness and heartlessness.

“We appreciate Ekiti people for the total boycott of the purported local government election supervised by his “PDP card-carrying members in SIEC.”

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

News 28 Police beef up security in Plateau

By Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

L-R: Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land Designate, Aare Gani Adams and Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd), during a courtesy visit to Danjuma in Lagos…on Sunday.

NEMA deploys 24-hour patrol on major South- East roads

By Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÏÏÏThe

South-East Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Brandon Walson at the weekend said the agency has deployed a 24-hour patrol on major roads within the zone to attend to all types of emergencies and rescue operations.

Walson while flagging-off the agency’s “2017 Operation EagleEye’’ in Enugu said NEMA has deployed four teams with four rescue vehicles to critical road

corridors in the South-East.

“Two ambulances, an emergency response Hilux and a Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) vehicle have been provided for this year’s Operation Eagle-Eye”, he said.

He said that the roads, where NEMA personnel would patrol 24-hour included: Enugu-Onitsha Road; Enugu-Port Harcourt Road; Enugu-Abakaliki Road and Enugu-Nsukka-Obollo Afor Road. ``We are working closely with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in this operation. Op-

eration Eagle-Eye is meant and designed to assist the FRSC. ``Through the operation, we share and collate data about movement and development on the roads together with FRSC personnel,’’ he said.

The NEMA boss noted that the agency also use the period to sensitize members of the public on campaign against disasters whether natural or man-made. ``We educate members of the public as well as share to them our information leaflets on disaster reduction and how best to be pro-active to reduce losses

during disasters,’’ he said.

Walson revealed that the operation would last for about two weeks; adding: ``It will be starting today (Dec. 23) and will end on Jan. 4, 2018’’.

Earlier in a remark, FRSC Sector Commander in Enugu State, Mr Edward Zamber, lauded the co-operation and synergy between NEMA and FRSC all these years.

Zamber noted that with NEMA joining with its Operation Eagle-Eye the major roads within the state and by extension the zone would be more secured.

APC chieftain, Araoye distributes 500 bags of rice, N5m ÏÏÏA

chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Mr. Makinde Araoye over the weekend at Ikere Ekiti empowered 500 indigent senior citizens and physically challenged persons drawn across the 6 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ekiti South Senatorial District of the state with N5million cash.

The beneficiaries who hail from Ekiti East, Gbonyin, Emure, Ise/ Orun, Ekiti South/West and Ikere LGAs got N10, 000 each.

Araoye who was presented an award at the event as the “Oluomo of Ekiti south” by the executives of APC youths of Ekiti South Senatorial District also distributed 500 bags of rice to augment the cash given to the beneficiaries.

The Makinde Araoye Social Security Scheme (MASSS), powered by the Makinde Araoye Foundation (MAF) is done in continuation of the foundation’s rescue mission and love for the poorest of the poor targeted at reducing poverty in the south senatorial district.

The last edition of the scheme which holds quarterly, took place at Emure-Ekiti in September 2017.

Speaking at the event, Araoye said he started the programme about 8 years ago as he felt the need to giving back to the society by ameliorating hunger and sufferings of the less-privileged and the aged, especially the widows and widowers who do not have employed children to cater for

their needs.

“I started by giving out scholarship to students across Ekiti South Senatorial District. When the government of Governor Kayode Fayemi came, he started paying stipends to the elderly people, I had a meeting with him that I would like to support the programme and I started mine from my ward before it was finally extended to the entire south senatorial districts that cover 6 local government areas.

“The motive of the programme is to assist and empower the less privileged focusing majorly on the widows and widowers who are aged and do not have husbands or wives or children that are gainfully employed. The programme like I said cut across the entire 6 lo-

cal government in Ekiti south and we are rotating it. We have done in Emure, Ekiti South West, and today is the turn of Ikere while we proceed to Ise/Orun after this.

“I believe it’s not until when you want to contest for electoral positions that you can do something like this, I have never sat with anyone to discuss any political ambition, the programme is purely humanitarian, I don’t have big money but the little God has given me, I chose to give back to the society by extending to the less privilege.” he said.

Decorating Araoye with the title of “Oluomo of Ekiti South”, the Youth Leader of the party in Ekiti South Senatorial District, Mr. Sikiru Daramola said MKD, as Araoye

ÏÏÏSecurity agencies in Plateau State have put measures in place to ensure a hitch-free Christmas celebration, which includes deployment of policemen and anti-bomb units to places of worship and strategic locations.

Security operatives in the state under the auspices of Operation Safe Haven, aside from a show of force to scare off any intending criminals has announced a ban on tricycle (Keke NAPEP) operations on December 25, 26 and January 1st.

Major Adam Umar, spokesman for the taskforce warned that as part of its security measures, it will arrest any person using fire crackers and warned that worshippers will be screened and searched in churches by security operatives.

Our correspondent reports that the taskforce’s patrol vehicles have been stationed in major areas around Jos and Bukuru metropolis.

However, the Plateau State police command also said it was working with other security agents in the state to ensure a hitch-free celebration throughout the Yuletide.

The Police spokesman, ASP Tyopev Terna, stated that watertight security measures have been put in place and police patrol vehicles have equally been positioned at strategic areas with a view to responding promptly to distress calls round the clock.

However, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Plateau have assured travellers of adequate patrol and surveillance of highways within around Plateau to also ensure a hitch-free celebration.

The Sector Commanders, of both FRSC and NSCDC in Plateau stated this in separate interviews with Daily Times in Jos Saturday.

However, the Special task-force has further warned that miscreants who will want to use the yuletide to cause trouble will be dealt with emphasising that officers and men of the force are on standby to ensure a trouble free Christmas and new year celebration, Major Umar, spokesperson for the taskforce said.

is fondly called by his admirers, was bestowed with the award in recognition of his contribution to humanity and amelioration of poverty among the youths of the senatorial district.

“I am happy for the life of Mr. Makinde Araoye for this programme which he has been doing for years. When he started this programme, he invited the youths and sincerely the entire youths were impressed and that was what triggered the award we presented him today as the “Oluomo of Ekiti”.

“It’s not as if he gave us money, we were just impressed with what he has been doing and still doing, if we have two or three people like him in the south, honestly thousands of people from other parties will be dumping their parties for ours on a monthly basis.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 25, 2017

29

Monday, December 25, 2017

EXTRATIME

30

Stories by Frank Jumbo community in Owan Local Government Area of Edo, SabongidaOra, is set to debut a seven-kilometre marathon race on Jan. 2, 2018.

The marathon, which is meant to groom talents from the council area and the state in general, have seen no fewer than 500 athletes registered for the race.

A

Edo Community debuts 500 athletes The organiser and sponsor of the race, Christopher Ojo, on Sunday, said besides using the race to get the youths off the street, it will also afford the opportunity of opening up the local economy.

Ojo specifically stressed that the Owan marathon was meant to carry out local scouting of talents.

According to him, “Our people are sports

inclined but never supported to bring the talents to a global level.

In essence, after this marathon, we should identify those to promote to the global stage.

“Our plan is to sponsor the talents to be discovered to participate in global marathon events. This is basically a novelty competition that will scout for

Tornadoes unveils new players for NPFL

N

iger Tornadoes head coach, Abubakar Bala has said his side recruited the best quality players for the 2017/18 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season due to kick-off on Sunday, January 14.

The Ikon Allah Boys are currently on Christmas and New Year holidays to resume on Wednesday, January 03.

Bala said the essence of the quality recruitment and flawless preseason build-up is to ensure the side perform far better than it did in the outgone football season.

“We recruited 18 players, dropped 21 and retained 19 for the upcoming football season.

“We recruited quality players and inarguably the very best in the land to add value especially in our attack which was our lowest point in the outgone season.

“Already the new recruits have shown class and stuff they are made of in the preseason tournaments – Gold Cup and Ahlan Cup 2017.

“The team is stronger right now compared with what we had in the immediate past football season.

“We attracted quality players from the best club sides in the land – Enyimba, Akwa United, Plateau United, Lobi Stars, Rivers United, among others.

“I think the attraction for the new players is the unusual and uncommon set up in Niger Tornadoes that puts premium on player’s welfare.

“Unlike what obtains in other clubs none of our players is owed any of his entitlements and that’s huge to entice and lure quality players to our camp.

“The target for us in the coming

football season is to cement a continental ticket as well as win laurels.

“Of course, we must fight hard to better our performance in the immediate past football season.

“This state of affair is somehow being shaken by the cloudiness surrounding the new management shakeup.

“Mentally and psychologically the entire team is worried whether the new management will be able to better their lots as the past management did within their tenure.

“However, we remain positive that the end result will be productive and the players will return from their break stronger to confront the task ahead,” said the Golden Eaglets assistant coach to frontpixs. com.

The Minna landlords will kickstart the league campaign at newly promoted side, Kwara United in llorin on Sunday, January 14.

Niger Tornadoes new players: Mohammed Sani (Gombe United), Uche Onwuasonaya (Gombe United), Mubarak Umar (Wikki Feeders), Mohammed Mohammed (Yobe Desert Stars), Mohammed Z Mohammed, John Kim (Plateau United), Daddy Morris (Plateau United), Hafeez Nasiru (Kaduna United), Hashim Shamsudeen (Kaduna United), Amar Abdulrashid (Mighty Jets), Abdulrashied Nasidi Frimpong (Academy), Japhet Daniel (El Kanemi Warriors), Olufemi Oladapo (Enyimba), Segun Alebiosu (Kwara United), Eric Frimpong (Enyimba), Solomon Owello (Kwara United), Chinedu Uwanze (Lobi Stars), Ifeanyi Okoye (Rivers United)

raw talents.”

Speaking further, Ojo who is a United States of America based software engineer, said sports and technology were the easiest way to empower the youth.

“It is for this reason that we want the competitors not to take the prize money as the driving force behind

Akpoguma

Divorce: Eboue loses life savings, properties to wife

T With right tatics, Eagles can defeat Argentina - Bonfrere

F

ormer Super Eagles coach, Johannes Bonfrere said Nigerian players and coaches can avoid a defeat against Argentina at the 2018 FIFA World Cup if they prepare hard and come up with the right tactics.

Bonfrere, led Nigeria’s Under-23 team to a famous gold medal win at the Atlanta ’96 Olympics beating South American giants Brazil in the semi-final and Argentina in the final. However, Argentina have beaten Nigeria in all their World Cup encounters, but Bonfrere believes that may not happen the fourth time in Russia 2018.

“Nigeria have amazing talents, but lack tactics and good prepara-

their participation, but see the ultimate goal of promoting people that will be successful in marathon races time to come.

He said to ensure the success of the race, relevant bodies, including the State athletes federation, have been contacted.

He also said that subsequent editions would have corporate organisations within and outside the state as active participants.

tion in big games like the World Cup”, Bonfrere said. “Yes, in Atlanta 1996 Olympics, we prepared well and we won, especially that final against Argentina,” said Bonfrere. He submitted that in Russia 2018 the Eagles can progress from the group D pairings regarded as a difficult group with the likes of Argentina, Croatia and Iceland. “If they prepared well, if they get their tactics well, they can come first (in their group),” he predicted. “But for qualification, yes, they will, at least (come) second from the group. “Good players, good coach and if they got good tactics, then the Super Eagles can beat Argentina”.

he name Emmanuel Eboue will not be quickly forgotten especially with Arsenal faithful as he was in the team that represented the club at the biggest stage of club football.

However, the sophisticated, flashy lifestyle usually associated with football players seem to have eluded him after he lost a divorce battle to his wife, Aurelie and got stripped of all his assets.

The Ivorian earned millions during his seven years in England’s top-flight and then more than £1.5million a year at Turkish side Galatasaray but now runs around hiding from cops and bailiffs after being ordered by a judge to transfer his remaining Enfield home to his wife. “I can’t afford the money to continue to have any lawyer or barrister, Eboue told Mirror “I am in the house but I am scared. Because I don’t know what time the police will come. “Sometimes I shut off the lights because I don’t want people to know that I am inside.

I put everything behind the door.

“My own house. I suffered to buy my house but I am now scared. “I am not going to sell my clothes or sell what I have.

I will fight until the end because it is not fair.” Of the things bothering Eboue, his inability to see his three kids hurts him most “I can’t see them and it is hurting me a lot,” he

said. “I was close to my children and ready to do everything for them. “My two girls have a phone and used to call me. But now it has been two months with no contact. “I miss my children a lot and I want to see them because it is not fair. It pains me a lot.”

Eboue was supposed to return to the Premier League with Sunderland but the deal fell through and his woes were compounded when he was banned for twelve months by FIFA. He blamed his misfortune on his wife and those who helped manage his finances saying they gave him bad advises. “I look back and say ‘Emmanuel, you have been naive… why didn’t you think about that before?’ It is hard.

“Very, very hard.

The money I earned, I sent it to my wife for our children. “In Turkey I earned eight million euros.

I sent seven million back home.

Whatever she tells me to sign, I sign. “She is my wife. The problems with FIFA were because of people advising me. People who are supposed to care. But it was because of them FIFA banned me.” he said. Eboue now sleeps on a mattress in the living room floor of a confidante he calls his “sister” while hoping get a chance of working with former club Arsenal or players’ union the PFA.

Monday, December 25, 2017

EURO......................EURO..........................EURO.......................EURO........

EXTRATIME

31

Radja Nainggolan

Nainggolan warns against Roma talking about Scudetto

Barca Mascherano , Suarez and Messi

s t n gra

D

espite downplaying their loss to Juventus, Radja Nainggolan does not want Roma to talk about the title.

Radja Nainggolan does not believe Roma’s loss to Juventus was “a tragedy” but has warned his team-mates against talking about the Scudetto. Roma’s hopes were dealt a blow as they suffered a 1-0 defeat in Turin on Saturday, Medhi Benatia’s 18th-minute goal deciding the contest.

Juve are a point behind Serie A leaders Napoli with Roma

six points further back in fourth, though they do have a game in hand.

Nainggolan played down the impact of the loss, but is keen to avoid repeating the mistake of talking about the title again.

“This is Juventus, they are a strong side. We wanted to press them high, but we should’ve been more focused,” the midfielder told Mediaset Premium.

“Coming here and not taking the chances we create, it becomes difficult to get a point then.

Messi, Suarez and Mascherano England pick additional Christmas leave Tom Curran F resh from defeating Real Madrid 3-0, Barcelona have announced that three star players will be afforded a longer Christmas break.

Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Javier Mascherano have been granted an extended rest over Christmas after helping Barcelona to open up a commanding lead at the top of LaLiga.

Barca signed off on 2017 with an emphatic 3-0 Clasico win over fierce rivals Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

That result, together with defeats for Atletico Madrid and Valencia, means the Blaugrana are nine points clear of Diego Simeone’s men going into the mid-season break.

Title holders Madrid,

meanwhile, are a distant fourth, 14 points behind Barca, albeit with one game in hand.

“The FC Barcelona squad are now on their Christmas holidays,” read a club statement. “The final whistle at the Bernabeu and the 3-0 victory over Real Madrid marked the beginning of the festive break for the players until their return to training

Henderson to miss Swansea clash

A

Henderson

on 30 December at 6.00pm CET. “Luis Surez, Leo Messi and Javier Mascherano all have the club’s permission to rejoin the rest of their team-mates on in the New Year on 2 January.”

Barca’s next match is against Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey on January 4, followed by a LaLiga clash at home to Levante three days later.

suspected hamstring injury will keep Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson out of their Boxing Day game with Swansea

City.

Jordan Henderson will miss Liverpool’s game with Swansea City on Tuesday because of a suspected hamstring injury.

The Liverpool captain was forced off after 10 minutes of their 3-3 draw with Arsenal on Friday.

And the midfielder will be unavailable for the Boxing Day visit of managerless Swansea, who are bottom of the table and four points adrift of safety.

“The problem is that Hendo will not feature for sure, he is out,” manager Jurgen Klopp told Liverpool’s official website “That makes it even worse, the feeling of [the result at Arsenal], because so far we were really okay with this kind of injury and now it happened in the middle of the [busy] period, or whatever. “[It’s] not too cool but I heard nobody else [is injured], a few knocks as it always is, but they should be okay again. That’s the situation.”

Tom

E

ngland will stick with their beaten pack to try to get something out of another lost Ashes here on Boxing Day rather than twist and try something different against Australia.

It seems certain England will make just one change for the fourth Test at the iconic MCG in front of 90,000 spectators and that is only because Craig Overton’s cracked rib keeps him out of this match and probably the last Test in Sydney.

That change is likely to be the conservative one of bringing in another medium-pacer in Tom Curran for his Test debut rather than trying something different and imaginative by throwing in 20-year-old leg-spinner Mason Crane.

On Saturday night that final place looked to be between Curran and Mark Wood, who is not even officially in the England squad but who has stuck around after the Lions tour and could at least bring extra pace to a onedimensional attack.

Otherwise England will show faith in those players beaten in all three Tests so far and tell them to display their character to ensure they do not suffer their third whitewash in four Ashes tours.

That will include Stuart Broad, who showed his fitness after a knee problem in the Melbourne nets on Saturday and is clearly bristling to prove those such as his old captain Michael Vaughan wrong in saying he should be dropped.

Broad endured a nightmare third Test in Perth and has gone wicketless in three innings now while taking only five at 61.80 so far but England believe they should not consider his decline terminal.

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. email: info@dailytimes.ng Tel: 08038099089.

Editor Daily: TONY AMOKEODO

MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2017

VOL. 3. NO. 535

Price: N150

Flashback in Times: December 25, 1973

News Hotline: 08050220692 Advert Hotlines: 08037862794, 08057041525