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Badoo cult: A hydra-headed monster on the loose

Ï Operating in a world of its own Ï Uses outskirts of town as haven Ï Exposes failure of security as heart of strength Ï Local vigilance groups distort security measures

Azubuike Nnadozie with agency reports

ÏÏÏ Over

the last half decade, there has been a rise in gang violence in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and commercial capital. From the Somolu and Bariga districts

which have been the stronghold of the Eiye and Aiye confraternities, to the Mushin and Fadeyi axis, Ijora and Badia; and Festac and Amuwo areas, street gangs, generally known to Nigerians as cults, have constituted an increasingly dangerous but seemingly

ever present menace to 17 million people who, according to the Lagos State Government, call Lagos home.

In Amuwo Odofin, the gang known as ‘One Million’ boys beContinued on page 6

Suspected members of Badoo cult

My life as an actress –Jaiye Kuti

L1

64 days after: FG probes importation Magu gets global endorsement as Nigeria 6 Kidnapped of 140 snakes, 660 students makes progress in TI Lagos animals from Cameroon regain freedom 6 corruption index 22 7

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

We’re committed to the success of Private Sector –Osinbajo

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏActing President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the administration of President Buhari is “unequivocally committed” to the success of the private sector, adding “This is why a lot of our focus has been on significantly improving the business environment for businesses, small and large.”

Osinbajo stated this on Thursday in Porth Harcourt during the former release ceremony to discharge Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited (IEPL) from the monitoring of the Bureau of Public Enterpries, BPE. The Daily Times recalled that in 2006, 75per cent of Eleme Petrochemical Limited’s equity was sold to Indorama Consortium Ltd, the present Core Investor of the Company, for US$225million while 10per cent was sold to the NNPC Pension Fund for US$30million. Following this, the company was handed over to its new owners on October 26, 2006.

In 2009, the National Council on Privatization (NCP) graciously approved the sale of 7.5per cent and 2.5percent of the remaining government’s 15per cent reserved equity in the company to the community and staff of the company respectively, leaving a balance of 5% with the BPE on-behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN).

He noted that President Buhari established a Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), whose results were now starting to be felt across the country.

According to Osinbajo, “The kind of economic growth and prosperity that we’re aiming for cannot happen without private capital, and that private capital

cannot be unlocked without reforming the business environment by removing obstacles and roadblocks to investment and to business operations.”

The Acting President further noted that it was impossible for government to ever be able to provide all the capital needed to invest in infrastructure, or to catalyze economic activity.

He said “the best that we can do, and what we should be putting all our energy into, as government, is acting as a catalyst, an enabler, supporting private capital to achieve maximum impact in an economy that so desperately needs all the investment it can get.”

“What Indorama is accomplishing today is very much in line with President Buhari’s vision for a country that produces

what it consumes and grows what it eats.’’

Osinbajo described the event as “the entire point of the privatization programme” saying that it was about getting government out of the way so that businesses can do what they need to do to create jobs and prosperity.

“I’m glad that we’re here today to see one of the success stories of the Federal Government’s privatisation programme.

“What Indorama is accomplishing today is very much in line with President Buhari’s vision for a country that produces what it consumes and grows what it eats. If you had to sum up our vision for the Nigerian economy in a few words, these would suffice. Grow what we eat, produce what we consume.”

At the end of last year, the

President launched a Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, to ensure the availability of cheaper fertilizer to farmers to support what government’s effort in agriculture, in the production of rice and wheat and other staples.

That Fertilizer Initiative, Osinbajo said, has created significant economic opportunities for companies like the IEPL. Indorama would this year alone supply about 360,000 MT of Urea to Fertilizer blenders, which will in turn produce NPK fertilizer for the benefit of farmers across the country.

He said, “This is the kind of economic progress we’re after, in which every unlocked opportunity proceeds to unlock several others, across multiple sectors of the economy.”

ÏÏÏThe Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has secured a landmark judgement amounting to N556,493,034.16 million in favour of depositors of liquidated Lead Merchant Bank Limited.

The judgement was recently delivered by Honourable Justice Ibrahim N. Buba of Federal High Court, Lagos in a matter instituted by First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Plc. over a claim of indebtedness by Lead Merchant Bank to the FBN prior to the revocation of the closed bank’s licence in 2006 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Head, Communications and Pub-

Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

ÏÏÏA woman delivered of a set of triplets at the Pankshin General Hospital has been detained for not offsetting her bills.

The woman whose name was given as Mrs. Wakleng Gotus was said to have been delivered of a set of triplets via caesarean session four weeks ago.

She and her poor farmer husband are expected to pay the bill for the operation, N75,000 plus other charges, N90,000 totalling N165,000.

Their inability to meet these demands have kept them in the hospital’s detention since delivery with the charges increasing daily.

Authorities in Pankshin LGA appear to be unaware of the development.

A staff of the information unit of the council who broke the news on social media appeals for government intervention.

Tinubu: I had special relationship with Adebayo Faleti Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

L-R: Dr. Chima Igwe, Director, Chem, Fibre and Environmetal Technolory, Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO); Francis Omoniyi, Sales Director, West Africa, BOSCH; Prof. Gloria Elemo, Director General, FIIRO; Caroline Timbom, Advisor, GIZ and Hartwig Michaellsen, Project Manager, GIZ, displaying the working agreement signed at FIIRO in Lagos ...on Thursday.

NDIC secures N556mn landmark judgement against Lead Merchant Bank Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

Mother and Triplets detained in Plateau Hospital over bills

lic Affairs of NDI, Mr Hadi Birchi in a statement to the Daily Times, said that FBN had claimed in its suit before the court that the closed bank became indebted to it under a clearing and settlement banking transaction.

According to the claims, “As at 9th March, 2006 when the bank’s licence was withdrawn, the indebtedness stood at N556,493,034.16.”

The applicant further claimed that the transaction was secured by an unregistered legal mortgage over Lead Bank’s property at No.1, Oladele Olashore Street, Victoria Island, Lagos and that the property was covered by a registered Deed of Assignment the originals of which

the defunct Lead Bank deposited with the Applicant as security for the transaction.

Following the revocation of Lead Bank’s licence, the Applicant claimed that it approached/notified the Respondent (i.e. NDIC) of the aforesaid indebtedness of the closed bank but that the Respondent classified the Applicant’s claim (i.e. FBN) as creditor’s claim which would only be considered after the claims of depositors had been fully paid/settled. Not satisfied with the response, the Applicant approached the court, claiming amongst other reliefs, a declaration that FBN being an equitable mortgagee of the said property was entitled to an or-

der of court to sell same and liquidate the outstanding indebtedness of the defunct bank in the sum of N556,493,034.16 owed to the applicant.

However, the Respondent; NDIC contended that it indeed recognised the Applicant’s claim of N556,493,034.16 indebtedness by the defunct bank, but that such a claim constituted creditor’s claim which could only be settled in strict compliance with the priority ranking of applicable Laws; and having gone through its records, the NDIC confirmed that it was yet to meet its entire obligation as a deposit guarantor by fully paying the depositors of the defunct Lead Merchant Bank.

ÏÏÏAll Progressives Congress (APC) National Stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has spoken glowing of the late poet and actor, Chief Adebayo Faleti, whom he said he had a close relationship with till he breathed his last.

The late Faleti was a man of many parts, the former Lagos State governor said, describing him as a great poet, celebrated actor, cerebral author, vibrant broadcaster, prolific writer and translator. He said the country would miss dearly.

Chief Faleti passed on quietly in his house on Sunday, July 23, 2017 at the age of 95.

In a statement issued by his Media Office at the weekend, Tinubu said: “I learnt of the death of Chief Adebayo Faleti while I was out of the country. I was deeply saddened by his passing on, though at an advanced age.

“Baba Adebayo Faleti was a true Yoruba man and an illustrious son of Nigeria. He recorded many giant strides. He was an icon in the academic, literary and cultural worlds. He was a man of many parts- poet, actor, author, broadcaster, writer and translator- and in each of these areas he excelled.

“Chief Faleti was a pioneer of the first television station in Africa, the Western Nigeria Television (NWNTV). Many would also remember him as the one who translated the Nigerian National Anthem, as well as many other major speeches, from English to Yoruba.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Badoo: A hydra-headed monster on the loose Continued from page 1 came particularly notorious for robbing commuting workers at bus stops in the early mornings back in 2015. However, for a majority of these petty robbery incidents, most of the fatalities attributed to these gangs were from inter-gang wars or wars of supremacy within the gangs. Most of those killed were also gang members.

While many Lagosians have suffered loss of life, health or property, few were direct targets of the violence. With the rise of the Badoo gang in Ikorodu, this timehonoured pattern of criminality has been upended.

The Ikorodu local government area of Lagos has been the hotbed of violence in recent times. The unique geography of the area, with scattered communities, mangrove swamps, creeks, and relative distance from metropolitan Lagos, means that a lot can happen in the relative isolation of the district, from which most of Lagos is insulated. With the rise of oil bunkering as a cottage industry in the area, the accompanying violence that marks the increased competition for resources, supply routes and a foothold outside of the reach of law enforcement authorities has significantly escalated. According to local accounts, residents provided information to law enforcement in a bid to checkmate the illegal operations in the area but after a flurry of activities and arrests, the law enforcement agents left and many of the bunkering kingpins lived freely, unleashing a campaign of retribution on the residents.

Last year, SBM Intelligence published a report detailing such retribution in the area. Many communities in Ikorodu resorted to self-help due to this failure of law enforcement and the justice system. It was in this atmosphere of violence targeted at residents and where residents responded with their own variant of jungle justice that a new gang, Badoo, emerged.

The gang, known to be operating in Ikorodu at least since 2015, has been reported to have carried out its activities in Owode-Ajegunle, Olopomeji, Odogunyan, the Idioro area of Ogijo, Itamaga, Radio Area of Erunwen in Ikorodu, Lagos state and the Ogijo area of neighbouring Ogun State.

The group’s observed mode of operation includes attacking families in their homes, raping women, smashing the heads of men with clubs, and then leaving, without taking any valuables.

This has raised the possibility that they are not mere thieves, and in some cases may have been motivated by feelings of revenge. Some of their attacks have displayed classic marks of retribution, such as the murder of entire families.

Recent events Three fatalities occurred on the morning of 4 July, 2017, following attacks by men suspected to be members of the Badoo gang in Ikorodu Town. The gang members attacked the Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Aladura, at Victor An-

A suspected member of Badoo gang just before he was burnt to death by an angry mob in Magbo, Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State on July 5, 2017. ibaba Street, Owode Weighbridge, along Ikorodu Road. This attack prompted a violent backlash as residents protested on the streets, burning car tyres at major streets within the neighbourhood.

The fourth of July incident was the second major incident to shock Ikorodu in just over a month. On 30 May, 46-year old Israel Olusanya, his 37-year old wife Rukayat, and two of their children, 11-year old Wale and 6-year old Semilore, were found dead in their apartment. The only surviving member of the family, 15-year old Tolu, was hospitalised. The late Rukayat Olusanya was a teacher, and her absence from her place of employment on the day, had raised some concern, prompting a visit to her home from a colleague who found the family dead. Their assailants, believed to be members of the Badoo gang, had entered the house through one of the windows, and smashed the heads of their victims with a club.

On account of the costly toll the group’s activities was having on these communities, the relatively anaemic response of the security services and traditional rulers,

members of some of these communities decided to take laws into their hands by mobilising their youth to apprehend and lynch those suspected of being members of, or having any connection with the Badoo gang.

This action came with deadly and unintended consequences in a few memorable cases.

Community reaction leads to jungle justice In one such incident, a popular local comedian, Paul Chinedu, also known as MC Think Twice, a graduate of the Lagos State Polytechnic Ikorodu, was killed by a vigilante group in Ikorodu. The vigilantes had accused him of being a Badoo member. Chinedu was one of three men set ablaze on the morning of Sunday, 1st July, at Odogunyan, Ikorodu after they were apprehended by the vigilante group along OjuEmuren Street. Chinedu, who, according to the media, was returning from a show, had a flat tyre and sought help from the other two victims. According to residents, the suspects, who were caught around one in the morning, told the local vigilante that they were going to tow a broken down vehicle, an ar-

gument that did not convince their accusers. On their part, the vigilantes claimed to have found machetes, and a grinding stone in the car, enough to condemn the three men to death. The three men were lynched and burned alive, while Chinedu’s SUV was set ablaze.

In another incident, local vigilantes arrested a suspected member of the group at Ogijo area in Ogun State. The suspect was caught at Escobar Street, a boundary community with Lagos, while attempting to enter some houses in the neighbourhood. The vigilantes took the suspect to the local ruler, the Baale of the community. The timely intervention of police officers from Ogijo Division prevented angry residents from lynching the suspect, who was subsequently arrested by the authorities.

In a sign of the far reaching effect of the group’s activities and the residents’ distrust in the efforts of the authorities in addressing the worsening security situation, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi summoned native doctors and his subordinates in the area to the Ayangbure Palace on 28 June and declared war on the gang.

The police reaction On 4 July, the Lagos State Police announced that it would require residents of Ikorodu and its environs, to move around with a valid means of identification as a security counter-measure. Police spokesman, Olarinde FamousCole said the authorities were planning a series of security operations in the area.

According to the police, about 138 suspected members of the group had been arrested as at that point. The effect of the Badoo gang on life and business in Ikorodu has not been properly analysed.

Although Ikorodu is far from the commercial centre of Lagos State, it is still important to assess how life in the area is adjusting to the insecurity caused by the gang.

Fleshing out Ikorodu’s Badoo story In the week of 17 July, SBM Intelligence sent its field staff into Ikorodu and conducted a survey, randomly sampling 100 people

who work, live or run businesses in Ikorodu. It is important to note that we encountered the following challenges when administering the survey: There was a general paucity of knowledge about the group, to some residents in the area, the idea of Badoo is a fiction, a convenient media creation. Many respondents told SBM field staff that they were mostly unaware about Badoo until this year. What this suggests is that the group has, possibly intentionally, developed quietly, without any of its members attempting to throw their weight or presence around.

The implication of this is the possibility that the gang could grow even bigger, and still remain under the radar in relative terms.

We also observed that a significant portion of the respondents are unclear about where the gang originated from, why it was formed, when the formation happened, and what the inner workings of the gang are like.

What was clear however, was the sense of helplessness and fear that their activities, which appear to have surged in recent months, have resulted in.

This has important consequences for the security authorities charged with getting a grip on the situation before it spirals out of control. It is widely recognised that a detailed and proper understanding of your enemy from a security standpoint is vital to the success of any counter measures to be deployed in addressing them.

The depth of the knowledge bank of the police concerning the Badoo scourge is unclear. Media reports have also been mostly unhelpful in this regard, with rumours, hunches and uneducated guesses published almost unfiltered.

Conclusively, the many grey areas in what has been ascertained or is ascertainable about what is an elusive gang that clearly prides itself in being as mysterious as it is deadly, was a significant impediment to definitively making any

kept away from the ports.

“It is a threat and a danger because the other day, somebody attempted to smuggle kolanuts to Saudi Arabia.

“The Saudis have told us not to bring kolanuts into their country.

“The Quarantine Service had to go into the aircraft and stop the plane from leaving; it then brought the kolanuts down and now, it is snakes.

“Our ambition is to become a major agricultural nation, if the quality of what we take out and that of the materials coming in are not known to us, anything can happen.

“The dangers include biological warfare, which can be launched against our agriculture industry.

“These are reasons why the quarantine service must be allowed to play its roles without necessarily disrupting the ports’ routine functions,” Mr. Ogbeh said.

NAN reports the containers were brought in aboard a Cameroonian vessel, ‘MV Flesh’, through the Calabar waterway.

The containers reportedly contained snakes and other animals such as geckos, millipedes, hairy frogs and spiders.

Continued on page 7

FG begins probe over importation of 140 snakes, 660 other animals from Cameroon

ÏÏÏ

The Federal Government says it has commenced investigation to uncover the importers of three consignments containing 140 species of snakes and 660 other animals imported into Nigeria from Cameroon.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the Nigeria Customs Service on July 26 intercepted three consignments containing 140 species of snakes and 660 other animals in Calabar, Cross River State.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, told journalists in Abuja on Friday that the Nigerian Agricul-

tural Quarantine Service (NAQS) had been directed to commence the investigation immediately.

Mr. Ogbeh reiterated the need for officials of the NAQS to be stationed at the country’s ports to enable them to address such issues before they escalated.

The minister who expressed the fear that if the quality of agricultural produce imported into Nigeria was not checked, a sort of biological warfare could also be launched against the country’s agricultural sector.

“It is very important to know the tendencies of saying that the quarantine service should not be

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Continued from page 6 inferences about the Badoo gang.

Despite the near breathless news coverage that the gang has attracted in the last four months, the fact that many Ikorodu residents have not heard about them means that there needs to be a targeted media campaign, if for any reason, for the public safety education needs of the local population.

Key findings of the Ikorodu study When asked if the activities of the Badoo gang had affected their livelihood, we received the following responses: Only 18 percent of respondents reported not being affected negatively due to the activities of the group. 28 percent reported that their business had suffered lower patronage as people have opted to retire indoors much earlier than they would ordinarily do, and many of the artisans SBM spoke to constituted a majority of the 53 percent who stated that they now work less hours in order to close early enough to avoid being on the road late.

This also cascades into their non-business activities. The next chart shows the distribution of responses to how the respondents have changed their personal and family-related activities since the violent Badoo surge came to a head: 72 percent of respondents either no longer go out at night or restrict all movements since the Badoo surge began at the beginning of March. Only 10 percent have left their routine unchanged since the security situation worsened.

While the activities of the Badoo gang has undoubtedly had an effect on the lives of residents, we observed an almost equal negative important effect of the activities of vigilante groups which have cropped up in response to the insecurity.

7

News

Badoo: A hydra-headed monster on the loose This is in order to avoid harassment by the vigilante groups who have filled the void left by security operatives and mounted road blocks at which encounters can quickly devolve to jungle justice if a person is suspected to be a Badoo member.

Half of our respondents who manage or run businesses say they have had encounters, in which they were harassed by vigilante groups.

Badoo’s activities have also percolated into living costs in Ikorodu. While 7 percent believed it had cost their cost of living to decrease, 18 percent believed it had caused their cost of living to skyrocket above normal.

In all, more than 60 percent have seen a slight or above normal alteration to their living standards due to the increased insecurity, an unwelcome addition to the pains that the town and its surrounding areas are going through as part of the wider Nigerian economic slowdown.

What are the things that Ikorodu’s residents have increased their spending on?

28 percent say they have increased the spending on security measures in their homes, another 9 percent have done something similar for security measures where they work while 7 percent have already changed an apartment or residence due to the Badoo violence.

Finally, we asked what the respondents would do if the attacks continued along with the current vigilante approach of dealing with the matter, and the picture it paints of the overall perception of the security picture and its possible effects on the city – the second largest city in Lagos state

after Lagos Metro with a population of 535,619 according to the 2006 Census – is chilling.

57 percent of respondents indicated that they would relocate their businesses and homes from Ikorodu if the violence persisted. Of those whose business as well as homes are in Ikorodu, 30 percent indicated that they had nowhere else to go and would rather join one of the vigilante groups battling to curtail the Badoo scourge. If this goes unchecked, an epidemic of jungle justice will increase insecurity in the area, and affect economic activities even further. This, combined with the exit or diversion of the workforce to unproductive activities such as active membership of vigilante groups are bound to negatively impact on economic activities and productivity in the Ikorodu area.

Conclusion Broadly speaking, there is a need for more studies to be done on the effects of gangs (cults) on urban life in Nigeria. We believe that more studies will identify the root cause of our persistent urban security challenges, how they form and what effective preventive mechanisms can be designed and implemented to forestall their creation and development.

The Daily SBM Security Tracker reports have recorded elevated levels of violence in different parts of Nigeria, and this is in part driven by membership of these local, often cultist groups.

Many young Nigerians are disillusioned and cynical about politics, and are desperately searching for a better life today, not tomorrow. For such young people, the dividends of democracy have thus

far proven to be illusory. Cults, offering a warped sense of identity, purpose and mission are one price we pay for the failure, thus far, of our national experiment.

Cults are created, and grow, largely because of a combination of economic and socio-political factors, and the rising rate of unemployment. Nigeria has ignoredthe study of these groups for too long, and they now present a real danger tosociety. We ignore these groups at our peril.

As has been shown in the Niger Delta and in parts of Lagos, as gangs grow in stature, organisation and sophistication, they will often seek political influence.

Access to political interests will give them access to patronage networks and reservoirs of cash, with which they can buy even more influence, and recruit more members. If these cults become institutionalised, then

they will be unlikely to fade away and become harder to eradicate.

While it is not clear if Badoo will walk down that timehonoured path of evolutionary growth associated with such groups of its kind in Nigeria, the possibility of yet another welloiled group armed with money, arms and a political goal on the fringe of the country’s economic nerve centre should alarm observers, policy makers, investors and everyday citizens. At that point, it will be more pragmatic for them to become partners.

This is the future unfortunately, if the growing number of cult groups, and their root causes, are not studied, understood, and addressed. Badoo is presenting Nigeria with yet another opportunity to learn how to properly learn and manage a potential insecurity outbreak. It must not be squandered.

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola (left), presenting the state plaque to the Mayor of Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin, Mr. Raji Abdou Akeem, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Osogbo, Osun State… on Friday.

64 days after, 6 kidnapped Lagos College students regain freedom Tosin Ajuwon, Akure, and Joy Anyim, Lagos

ÏÏÏ Finally, six students of Igbonla Model College Epe, Lagos, abducted by gunmen suspected to be militants, on Friday, regained freedom after spending 64 days in captivity.

This is even as the Ondo State Government on Friday confirmed the negotiation that saw to the released of students.

Also, the Lagos State Government on Friday expressed excitement over the release of six students of Igbonla-Epe Model College who were abducted on May 25, 2017 in their school premises.

The Daily Times gathered that the secondary school students were released at about 3.30pm on Friday after a long negotiation between the parents of the abducted students and the government.

The abducted students were set free at a creek between the Ajakpa and Ugbonla communities in Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Top security sources, who con-

firmed the release of the students in telephone chat, said they were released due to pressure and intervention from the Ondo State Government.

One of the sources, who pleaded not to be named, explained that the rescue of the students was also a collaboration between the Nigeria Navy and the joint Military Task Force and the Nigerian Police.

The source specially explained that the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Agoola Ajayi, aided the smooth negotiation that saw to the release of the six students.

He said that the Ondo State government had been negotiating the release of the students for the past ten days.

“The release of the six students followed the great intervention of the government of the Ondo State after days of pressure and negotiations.

“Although, prominent people tried all they could to intervene and the kidnappers also vowed to release them (students) to the Lagos State Government.

“Even, the Delta State Govern-

ment also tried its best to secure the release of the students but they could not.

“All of a sudden, I think the kidnappers changed their minds to release the students to the Ondo State Government alone after some talks.

“I know the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, who is from the waterside area, met with some leaders in the area and a negotiation was made.

“Eventually, the students were released by their abductors and the Navy and the marine police were contacted to transport the students outside the creek.

“Some of the students told us that they had been living comfortable with their abductors in the last 64 days”.

“One of them said they were being fed with bread and sardines while they also slept comfortably,” the source explained.

Although, the source claimed no ransom was paid but The Daily Times could not get more details of how the deal was made.

The six students have been transported to Lagos state by the security agents in a white Toyota

bus.

The Daily Times learnt that the students are expected to join a flight to Abuja to meet with Acting Vice President Prof. Yemi Osibajo.

Osibanjo had earlier mandated the security agents to secure the release of the students within the shortest time.

The students were kidnapped on May 25, 2017 from their school hostel by gunmen who were clad in police uniform but later suspected to be militants who demanded ransom before their release.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Government on Friday confirmed the negotiation that saw to the released of six students of Igbonla Model College, Epe, Lagos State.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Segun Ajiboye, to the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, said the six students were freed from the creek through concerted efforts.

Ajiboye added that the students were rescued as a result of the effort of the Acting President, Prof.

Yemi Osibanjo, who showed inter-

est in the rescuing of the school children.

He also saluted the effort of the Lagos, Ogun, Delta states government and the security agencies for their role their great roles in ensuring the release of the students.

“We are happy to note the release of the six kidnapped students of Igbonla Model School, Epe, Lagos State.

“It is as a result of the determined and conscientious efforts of the Acting President, the governments of Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Delta states and the security agencies, including the Police, SSS and the Military.

“In the last few days, the deputy governors of Ondo and Delta states have worked tirelessly to ensure that the students are released,”Ajiboye said.

He disclosed that the six students would be handed over to the Deputy Governor of Lagos State for further actions.

“We thank Nigerians for their prayers, and charge security agencies to remain committed to their responsibility of ensuring the safety of the citizens”.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

US appoints a Nigerian, first black chairman of Cardiovascular disease board Ïd ƕ ƅƈƆƐƕ ƄƋƈ Ɛƈ Ɛ ƌ ƊƆ Ɔ ƋƐ ƅ ƏƆ ƇƇ ƏƗ ƄƋƆ ÏÏÏThe American Board of

Internal Medicine, ABIM, has announced the appointment of Olakunle Akinboboye, as chair of the ABIM Cardiovascular Board.

The appointment of Akinboboye by the 81 years old ABIM, is the first by the body to have a black Chair of the Cardiovascular Disease Board.

The Cardiovascular Board is charged with certifying all deserving cardiologists in the United States. The Board which comprises 12 members from all over the country is charged with the responsibility of conducting, certifying examination for all trainees in cardiology nationwide and also carrying out periodic knowledge assessments of all practicing cardiologists in the

United States. It is one of the specialty boards of the ABIM. ABIM’s specialty boards are where the frontline work, at the discipline-specific level is done with the roles to define, refine and set standards, perform oversight assessment, build partnerships and also responsible for the broad definition of their discipline across certification and maintenance of certification.

Dr. Akinboboye is certified in cardiovascular disease, hypertension and sleep medicine, an associate professor of clinical medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York. He is also the medical director of Queens Heart Institute/Laurelton Heart specialist in Rosedale, Queens, New York. A past-

president of the National Association of Black Cardiologists’ (ABC), Akinboboye also serves as Chair of the Clinical Trials Committee of the organization, He also serves on the International Board of Governors of the American College of Cardiology as the liaison for Africa.

Akinboboye comes to the Cardiovascular Board chair with a strong pedigree. He received his medical degree from the College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and later completed his internal medicine residency and part of his cardiology fellowship at the Nassau County Medical Center, State University of Stony Brook.

He subsequently moved to Columbia University, where he completed

his fellowship in cardiology with two years of dedicated training in nuclear cardiology and advanced echocardiography. He obtained a master’s degree in Public Health from Columbia University and also a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Columbia Business School.

Commenting on his appointment to the Cardiovascular board chair, Akinboboye said that he is “ proud to have the opportunity to chair this very important Board.”

According to him, “unfortunately I am taking over the mantle of leadership at a point in time in which many cardiologists are openly revolting because of what they perceive as high handedness of the board over the years.” With this in mind, Akin-

Arik crisis: It’s too early to evaluate the performance of AMCON

Comedians assure refreshing time at Glo Laftta Fest Sunday ÏÏÏ

Iconic comedians billed to perform at the Ikeja edition of the Glo Laffta Fest this Sunday have assured Nigerians who attend the show of a stress-terminating, refreshing time that they would not forget in a hurry.

Glo Laffta Fest parades the continent’s most talented comic stars, including Salvador from Uganda and Nigeria’s Basketmouth, Bovi Ugboma, I Go Dye, Acapella, De Don, Seyi Law, Bash, Senator, Dan D’Humorous, Kenny Blaq and Still Ringing.

Speaking on behalf of the highflying comedians billed to perform at the Ikeja edition of the show, Benneth Daniel, popularly called Acapella, said attendees would enjoy freshly minted jokes on contemporary and germane issues that would crack their ribs and offer them “a refreshing time”.

Another show headliner, Dan D Humorous said “Come Sunday, the people of Lagos especially the good people of Ikeja should expect nothing but the best from the ‘wolf ’ himself. It will be premium comedy in an unlimited fashion, Glo style.”

The Glo Laffta Fest nationwide show which enters its 16th week this weekend will also be graced by some of Nigeria’s best known Nollywood faces, such as the highly revered actress Patience Ozokwor, popularly called Mama G, prolific actress and film producer, Funke Akindele, one of Yoruba film’s most popular actors, Odunlade Adekola and Nollywood living legend, Richard Mofe-Damijo.

The Glo Laffta Fest in Ikeja will be anchored by the duo of Ebube Nwagbo and Uche Jombo, while dignitaries and very important personalities from all walks of life are expected to grace the event.

To attend the Ikeja show, Glo subscribers are expected to use up to N2,000 credit within one month and text LOL with the location name to the short code 240; for example, “LOL Ikeja” to 240. Alternatively, they can go to the venue with N2000 to buy recharge card for their lines to be admitted into the hall.

boboye indicated, that his goal as the board chair is, “to work with other board members to come up with assessments for practicing cardiologists that are fair, and not unduly burdensome.”

According to a press release by Ricahrd J. Baron, MD President and CEO of ABIM, “we are honored to have Dr. Berns, Dr. Akinboboye and Dr. Udden—three highly regarded physicians with significant clinical experience to serve the community in their disciplines and across specialties to offer more choice, relevance and convenience as they help to set the standards for excellent patient care.”

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

L-R: Convener, Co-Working Conference and founder Venia Group, Kola Oyeneyin; CEO, Tink Africa, Franklin Ozhekome; CEO, Sahara Group, Tonye Cole and CEO, FAB Group, Familusi Babajide, at a conference in Lagos… on Friday.

PCN seals 397 pharmaceutical stores in Umuahia ÏÏÏThe Pharmaceutical Council

of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 397 pharmaceutical stores during its a week-long enforcement in Abia, an official of the council has said.

Mr Stephen Esumobi, the council Deputy Director in charge of Enforcement, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen at the end of the exercise on Friday in Umuahia.

Esumobi said that those stores sealed included 37 pharmaceutical shops and 360 patent medicine stores.

He said that some of the stores were operating without registering with the council, while others failed to renew the licence for their premises.

Esumobi said that during the enforcement, the council ob-

served that many premises in Abia “started operations without fulfilling the minimum requirements for registration’’.

According to him, many others failed to renew their licences to operate such premises or shops.

“Some of these premises stored pharmaceutical products in environments where their quality, safety and efficacy cannot be guaranteed.

“This exposes the public to serious danger.

“Some of the operators lacked the requisite knowledge to handle some highly ethical drugs in their facilities,’’ he said.

Esumobi said that the enforcement was part of the council’s initiatives to reverse this ugly trend and improve on the level

of pharmaceutical services to the people.

The director said that the team visited Umuahia, Aba, Ohafia, Abiriba, Uzuakoli, Mbawsi and Isuikwuato during the enforcement.

Esumobi also said that some of the sealed stores were dispensing ethical products under poor sanitary conditions and without the supervision of a pharmacist, among others.

He said that 27 premises were issued with compliance directives for offences ranging from poor documentation and failure to display their licences.

Esumobi said that the council could not guarantee the “integrity” of drugs sold in unregistered outlets.

ÏÏÏDespite the strong believe and insinuation in certain quarter that Arik Air is worse under the management team of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, an aviation consultant and Managing Director, Aerokeys Nigeria Limited, Hon. Kudla Milnda Satumari said that it was too early to begin to appraise the performance of AMCON. Satumari who stated this in an exclusive chat with our correspondent further explained that interaction with employee of the company reveals that salaries are now paid as at when due but added that managing a company goes beyond payment of salaries.

“In the long run we would be able to properly evaluate performance of AMCON because the aim of every business is to have return on investment. So, if I base my assessment on salary payment alone then I am not been fair to all the stakeholders in the issue.

Employees are important but they are just one segment of the stakeholders, the investors and former management team is there.”

He however, blamed the challenges in the aviation industry to policy inconsistency in foreign exchange, saying, “There is nowhere in the world where annual profit margin of airline operators is above 25 per cent. Therefore the policy inconsistency in forex forced many airline operators in Nigeria to close operation in certain local and international routes, as well as reduce their frequencies.”

The Daily Times recalled that AMCON had maintained that Arik Air owed it N263.7 billion, but the former management of the airline had argued that its total debt exposure, “including that of international creditors and local debts amounted to N160 billion, which represents a 16.4 percent of its value put at $3.2 billion by Deloitte UK in 2013.”

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Politics

s

Without referendum added to the constitution all ongoing agitations will fail –Adeyeye –P10&11

9

BEN TV boss commends Senate for endorsing independent candidacy–P12

Lagos LG poll: LASIEC and the battles ahead The much awaited, much talked about local government election in Lagos State, an election whose party primary by the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) brought forth so much crisis that people were afraid that the election itself will be bloody, has come and gone and contrary to the expectations of some people it went very peacefully in most parts of the state, The local government election held on 22nd of July, 2017 with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) as the umpire and it has churned out 57 local council executive chairmen, empowered to oversee the affairs of governance at the grassroots level in the State.

Though litigations are expected from a number of councils over alleged subversion of people’s will, if the tribunal could not eventually overturn the election of any of the council bosses then they are to hold forte for the next four years.

In Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye and Ajegunle for instance two influential individuals in the Lagos polity, who are currently members of the House of Representatives; Hon. Dauda Kako Are of the Accord Party representing Mushin 1 Federal constituency and Hon. Rita Orji of the Peoples Democratic Party representing Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency are already poised to set the record straight, claiming they have evidences that clearly indicts LASIEC, the electoral body which directed that results of elections be declared at the collation centres, but refused to certify eventual winners and Ikosi-Isheri LCDA also had a fair share of this ugly development.

Internally, the ruling party APC had created enmity and acrimony among members, who formerly wields influence but got rubbished by political permutations that clearly worked against their interest, Dr Muiz Banire (SAN), who before now was a close confidant of the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu got trounced in the just concluded poll.

Imagine a deciding factor in national polity being messed up at the council level, none of his loyalist could curry any favour or got elected into office at the tier of governance closest to the people and this may likely affect his weight in the envisaged convention of the party.

Many more characters are already strategising on how to demystify the Asiwaju dynasty so as to birth a new order. The likes of Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) the three pronged Minister of Power, Work and Housing sensed to be financially able to pull weight with the political titan is believed to be silently making moves, Fashola as the case may be will leave no stone unturned to right some perceived wrongs, but clearly the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is aware of this antics and that perhaps informs why most of Fashola loyalists are being weeded out of the scheme of things in the Lagos polity.

Instead of fielding popular candidates who might have emerged through indirect primaries (consensus), the party at different councils choose individuals who did not go the whole hug of screening either at the DSS stable or EFCC, nor got the support of stakeholders via consensus, in spite of all the shoddy process they held election and hurriedly swears in council heads, some of who are likely to have cases to answer at the tribunal. The Certificates of Return was hurriedly issued by LASIEC on Monday

LASIEC chairman, Justice Ayotunde Philips, handing over Certificate of Return to one of the newly elected council chairman 24th, July, the next day they were sworn in by the governor and many of the elected chairmen broke the order by swearing in councillors who originally as elected officials, ought to have a proclamation to inaugurate their legislative order aided by the clerk of the house.

Just recently the apex lawmaking body in the land approved via constitutional amendment that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will henceforth conduct local government elections and this automatically if ratified takes away the job from the SIECs. Barring any further twist to the scenario, the following are the already sworn-in elected council bosses in the 57 councils.

Ajeromi-Ifelodun Ayoola Fatai Adekunle Chairman, Igwe Apollonia Nkem Vice Chairman, Alimosho Sulaiman Jelili Adewale Chairman, Adebisi Francis Atoyebi Vice Chairman, Amuwo-Odofin, Buraimoh Valentine Oluwaseyi Chairman, Idris Olusegun Abubakar Vice Chairman, Apapa, Adele Elijah Owolabi Chairman, Gabriel Kevin Oluwaseun Vice Chairman, Agege, Egunjobi Ganiyu Kola, Chairman, Ogunji Abiodun Dare, Vice Chairman, Badagry, Onilude Olusegun Adeniran Chairman, Akotomeh Gbetogo Mawhenu Andrew, Vice Chairman, Epe, Adesanya Adenola Adedoyin, Chairman, Agbadanla Ibrahim Adebayo, Vice Chairman, Eti-Osa Bankole Kuye Adesegun Saheed, Chairman, Adetoro Alimot Adeola, Vice Chairman, Kosofe Sofola Afolabi Babatunde,

Chairman, Awosola Emmanuel Omotuyi, Vice Chairman, Mushin, Bamigboye Emmanuel Olanrewaju, Chairman, Aruwe Tunbosun Haruna, Vice Chairman, LGA Oshodi-Isolo, Muse Ariyoh Bolaji Idris, Chairman, Oso Oludaisi Timothy, Vice Chairman, Ojo Idowu Rasulu Olusola, Chairman, Uche-Ubobuchi Edna Obianuju Vice Chairman, Ikorodu, Adesina Ayodeji Wasiu, Chairman, Olabanji-Oba Folasade Florence Grace, Vice Chairman, Ikeja, Balogun Mojeed Alabi, Chairman, Mayungbe Yomi Musibau, Vice Chairman, Ifako-Ijaiye, Oke Oloruntoba, Chairman, Hamzat Usman Akanbi , Vice Chairman, Ibeju Lekki, Surakat Semiu Olorunkemi, Chairman, ,Odofin Jelili Adegboyega, Vice Chairman, Lagos Mainland, Essien Ajala Omolola Rasheedat, Chairman, Emilagba Jubril Kolawole, Vice Chairman, Lagos Island, Olusi Tijani Adetoyese, Chairman, Bashorun Babatunde Wadood, Vice Chairman, Surulere, Ajide Yomi Tajudeen Yusuf, Chairman, Yusuf Bamidele Sulaiman, Vice Chairman, Shomolu, Abdul Hammed Salawu, Chairman, Olubowale Sosinmi Vice Chairman.

LCDA Orile Agege, Sunday Babatunde, Chairman, Akanni Oluwatoyin Kafilat, Vice Chairman, Agbado Oke-Ode, Arogun Augustine Adeoye, Chairman, Famuyiwa David Oladapo Vice Chairman, Ayobo Ipaja Yusuf Sakiru Adisa, Chairman, Shobowale Bola Abiodun, Vice Chairman, Egbe Idimu

Internally, the ruling party APC had created enmity and acrimony among members, who formerly wields influence but got rubbished by political permutations that clearly worked against their interest, Dr Muiz Banire (SAN), who before now was a close confidant of the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu got trounced in the just concluded poll.

Sanyaolu Kunle Olowoopejo, Chairman, Adebiyi Mutiu Adeniyi, Vice Chairman, Ejigbo, Bello Monsuru Oloyede, Chairman, Olusunmade Olatunde Adekunle, Vice Chairman, Bello Monsuru Oloyede, Chairman, Olusunmade Olatunde Adekunle, Vice Chairman, Igando Ikotun, Adesina Williams Morenike Abosede, Chairman, Dada Adewunmi Ismaila, Vice Chairman, Mosan Okunola Adebajo Olabisi Doris, Chairman, Osinowo Adedayo Ayodeji, Vice Chairman, Oriade, Akinola Hassan Ramotalai Olanrewaju, Chairman, Badmus Olanrewaju Moshood, Vice Chairman, Apapa Iganmu, Muhammed Akande Funmilayo, Chairman, Balogun Akeem Akanbi, Vice Chairman.

Badagry, Gbenu Henugbe Joseph, Chairman, Ibraheem Rauf Kayode, Vice Chairman, Olorunda Olatunde Samson Folorunso, Chairman, Bamgbose Olufemi Saheed, Vice Chairman, Eredo, Saliu Adeniyi Rasaq, Chairman, Muritala Wasiu, Vice Chairman, Ikosi Ejirin, Onanuga Samson Adeniyi, Chairman, Odulami Dare David, Vice Chairman, Eti-Osa East, Olufunmi Rafiu Olatunji, Chairman, Biliaminu Samson Agunbiade, Vice Chairman, Ikoyi Obalende, Atanda-Lawal Fuad Abimbola, Chairman, Ogundimu Kabiru Akande, Vice Chairman, Iru-Victoria Island, Adu Rasheedat Abiodun, Chairman, Ogunbiyi Olusegun Olawale, Vice Chairman, Lekki, Ogidan Mukandasi Olaitan, Chairman, Saheed Bakre Taiwo, Vice Chairman, Ojokoro, Tijani Ahmed Idowu, Chairman, Sobande Sesan, Vice Chairman, Onigbongbo, Oke Francis Babatunde, Chairman, Olakanle Oladotun, Vice Chairman, Ojodu, Oloro Julius Olumuyiwa, Chairman, Oluyadi Olubunmi Kayode, Vice Chairman.

Igbogbo/Bayeku, Olusesan Mayokun Daini ,Chairman, Titilola Adegboyega Oladimeji, Vice Chairman, Ijede, Salisu Fatiu Jimoh, Chairman, Gbadebo Motunrayo Adijat, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu North, Banjo Adeola Adebisi, Chairman, Ameen Olawale Ibraheem, Vice Chairman, Ikorodu West, Ademehin Olajumoke Ganiat, Chairman, Dada Gabriel Olusesan, Vice Chairman, Imota, Agoro Wasiu Kunle, Chairman, Benson Sunday Ayodele, Vice Chairman, Agboyi-Ketu, Oladele Oshinowo, Chairman, Mufaliu Olatunji Okusi, Vice Chairman, Lagos Island East, Salau-Bashua Kamal Olawale, Chairman, Ogboye Monsuru Ajibola, Vice Chairman, Ikosi-Isheri, Oyesanya Abdulfatai Ayodele, Chairman, Onikosi Abolanle Sammy, Vice Chairman, Yaba, Omiyale Kayode Adejare, Chairman, Aileru Bolanle Nurudeen, Vice Chairman, Iba Oseni Adedayo Rahmat Rachael, Chairman, Yaya Adeshola Isiaka, Vice Chairman, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye, Ajala Rasaq Olusola, Chairman, Jakande Oluseyi Lawal, Vice Chairman, Oto-Awori, Ashafa Musibau Adekunle, Chairman, Kareem Azeez Abiodun, Vice Chairman, Isolo, Olaleye Shamsudeen Abiodun, Chairman, Olasoju Adebayo Babatunde, Vice Chairman.

Bariga, Alabi Kolade David, Chairman, Kuponiyi Adeola Zainot, Vice Chairman, Coker/Aguda, Akinyemi-Obe Medinat Omobolanle Adetutu, Chairman, Kalejaiye Kunle Muyiwa, Vice Chairman, Itire-Ikate, Apatira Ahammed Olanrewaju, Chairman, Olugbenga Aremu Oyebode, Vice Chairman, Ifelodun, Ajidagba Fatai Shuaib, Chairman, Koleosho Olatunbosun Nurudeen, Vice Chairman.

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Without referendum added to the constitution all ongoing agitations will fail –Adeyeye Ajibayo Adeyeye, a medical doctor is the immediate past Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

A blunt politician and social critic he speaks to issues as he sees them without the regular colouring of a politician. In this interview with PATRICK OKOHUE he speaks on the ongoing agitation for restructuring, the Biafra threat, local government elections in Lagos State among other issues.

There seem to be so much crisis in the system at present, calls for restructuring, secession and all sorts, now some are saying if the government refuses to embrace restructuring at this time it may be forced to embrace secession, what is your view of the present development?

First and foremost, I want to say, Nigerians asking for restructuring are asking for it for different reasons. What restructuring means to somebody like me from Ondo State and has practiced politics in Lagos is different from what it means to an Hausa man, it’s different from what it means to an Igbo man. We first must agree on the definition of restructuring.

We all must be on the same page on what we actually mean by restructuring, are we saying the same thing, when we agree that we are saying the same thing, then we can decide on whether we can restructure.

Now, to be specific, to a Lagosaian, restructuring will mean re-writing or amending the constitution to right what the average man on the street perceive as injustice.

For instance, Lagos and Kano was put on the same pedestal, had 20 local governments long ago, perhaps when Nigeria was still 19 states, and today Jigawa has been carved out of Kano and Jigawa has 27 local governments and Kano has 44, a total of 71 local governments from the old Kano State and all these local governments are listed among the 774 local governments in the constitution, whereas old Lagos State still has 20 of the local governments and resources are distributed based on the number of local governments.

How do you want the average Lagosian to believe that there is no injustice done to them in Lagos. So, if you say restructuring and a politician or a Lagosian is talking about it, that might be what he is talking about, because clearly there is injustice in that, Kano is collecting money now from the 774 in 71 places and Lagos is still collecting 20.

Again, restructuring to a Lagosian may mean that we are collecting VAT, because VAT is part of the Federal income that all of us go to FAAC to go and share, now you come to Lagos, you go to the seaport, all the trailers in Nigeria come there to pick containers, damage our roads and nothing in particular is allocated to Lagos from the entire VAT that is shared to remedy the situation and the people of the Niger Delta are shouting resource control, is there no need for the control of the resource coming out of the ports or can you carry the water from Apapa to somewhere else, so Lagos deserves to benefit from that. That to an average Lagosian may mean restructuring.

Restructuring to an average Lagosian may mean that

look, Lagos is a former federal capital and that is a lot of burden that the Lagos State government has to carry because of that, there is no family in Nigeria that does not have a representative in Lagos and Lagos has to cater for all these people, so restructuring to an average Lagosian maybe let Lagos have a special status order than the status of just a state.

Now, if you go to our Arewa brothers, restructuring might mean you can no longer look at security as a thing of per state, there is no war going on in Lagos, there is no war go-

ADEYEYE

must first of all sit down and discuss, what do we mean by restructuring. That is one, two when you now talk about restructuring, why do we want to restructure? The only reason that will be common to all of them is the situation we are right now is not paying us, we are not happy with it, irrespective of how or what definition you give to restructuring, the situation is that you are not happy with your present position and you want a new position.

Now, were we happy with the position before now? Only the various regions can also answer that, but if I look at it, I probably will say we probably were better off during the regional government, because a situation where you are repairing roads in Lagos and the person supervising that job resides in Abuja, it is not acceptable and it is affecting the quality of work and the way things are being done, it is affecting everything about it, because whoever is supposed to supervise it is not close by, but that was not the case in the time of the regional government, in the West for instance, everything was controlled from Ibadan and Ibadan is almost central to everywhere in the West of Nigeria. If you also look at it from the point of view of the cost of governance, the cost of governance has multiplied by 100 since the time of regional government. During the regional government, they probably had maybe 10 commissioners supervising the whole of the Western region, now maybe every state has 20 each at least, commissioners and Special Advisers,

ing on in Oyo, Ogun or other Southern states, so, if there are 10 Policemen in Nigeria, please bring seven to Maiduguri where there is war, if there are 10 Soldiers in Nigeria, bring eight to Maiduguri, close down the barracks in other places and let them come and resume in Maiduguri, that might be what they understand as restructuring, because that is where their problems lies.

Restructuring to them might mean any yam coming out of Benue and coming down South per yam you must pay certain amount, because this is where we grow the yam, so we must put specific tax on it before the yam crosses over to your side, that is some kind of restructuring.

To the Igbo man, he might say look since independence we have only had Nnamdi Azikiwe as figure head president, we have not really had a president and commander in chief that we will use the power of a president, restructuring is let us ensure that an Igbo man is president in 2019, we can go on and on as to what the meaning of restructuring is.

The man in Niger Delta will tell you restructuring to me means, this oil that is our God given right, let us be in charge of it, let the Federal Government say how much they want as royalty and we will send it to them, they want to use their money to help us develop the oil we agree, we will be paying you royalty for that, but we will control our oil, that might be restructuring to them and they look all these we have been doing together all these years it is not paying off. All the money is shared by all the states of the Federation and our environment continually degrades, our farms destroyed, our fishes are no longer surviving because of oil, this is what we understand as restructuring.

So, if you actually look at it, all over the nation, restructuring means different things to different ethnic groups, to different tribes, to different states of the Federation, so, we

now the work that was done by about 10 people is now being done by about 200 people and all these 200 people you have to service all their offices one after the other. Changing that structure also means some kind of restructuring.

At the Federal level we have 109 senators, 360 House of Representatives members, do we need a bi-cameral legislature? The drafters of our constitution thought it wise to just copy the American constitution and composition as it was without looking at our capability to fund that kind of system. Now, restructuring can mean saying, look gentlemen we can only afford one of this legislative houses. So, on restructuring we can go on and on, but the most important thing in these is that irrespective of how somebody decides to look at restructuring, you must look at it from the standpoint of ensuring that it does not affect the corporate existence of our country, because we have gone so deep into one another that severing the country now might mean a lot of crisis and we might never get out of it, but nothing absolutely will be wrong to discuss our corporate existence as Nigerians.

But some people are saying that the 2014 Confab addressed all these issues and maybe it should be given to the National Assembly to look at and maybe adjust where need be, but the government seem not ready to look at that report, do you think it is a wise thing?

Well, everybody talking about Confab, about report here and there and other things, they forget that we are not operating military system, we are operating a democracy and that means we must work with the structure of democracy that is in place, except we want a military government to erase the constitution or suspend the constitution, suspend all the structures of government and now handpick those

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

that will sit down and do this discussion. As it is now, the reality is that we have elected representatives and all of us took part in electing them and the 2014 conference you are refereeing to was supposed to be subjected to a scrutiny by the National Assembly who are the elected representatives and they were supposed to use that while amending the constitution, but that did not happen. What I think can happen now if we don’t want the autocratic way of getting to where we are going. The autocratic way is for a military man to take over, erase all the structures and now say all the Obas and chiefs nominate people from your tribes to come and discuss, because that will be possible if there was no constitution, if there were no elected representatives. Now, either those talking about it like it or not, the reality is that there is a National Assembly in place, there are states houses of Assembly in place and nobody can feel justified to represent the people order that these people, because they were elected. Either they bought their ways to National Assembly, either by crook or anyhow, they are the recognised representatives of the people and we must do all these things through them, that is the way I want to see it.

Now, if we want to do it through them, we can use the 2014 Confab report as a template for the National Assembly to discuss and come up with what seem to be workable material as a basis for our corporate existence as different tribes, different small nations, as different people that have come together to live as a country. But, doing this outside the National Assembly I believe will be very difficult and even, another trap is that if you do it through the representatives, I am yet to see any human being that will preside over a cut in his own allowance or a cut in his own salary, it is going to be extremely difficult for anybody to preside over his own wage cut or to say my office is no longer relevant we need to cancel it, that is going to be difficult, can you ask our House of Representatives to sit down and decide that we no longer need a federal House of Representatives. That is not going to happen, but you and I know that one of our problems is the outrageous cost of governance occasioned by the number of legislators we have and the number of the executives. During the days of the parliamentary system of government, the members of the cabinet were chosen from the legislature, so that there will be no need to have legislators separately and also have executive separately and the country is funding the two.

So, it is the grace of God that will allow the Rep or the Senate to outlaw themselves out of existence, I don’t know how that is going to happen.

From your point of view the country is in a serious dilemma?

We are, there is no doubt about it, because I do not see a situation where you are going to get our elected representatives to outlaw their own existence , I don’t see how that is going to happen, but that is part of the things that must be discussed. But, a way out of all these is to get the legislature, to persuade them, to insert the provision of referendum in our constitution, as it is today that provision is not there.

So, people talking about referendum are just wasting time, because there is no legal framework that will allow a referendum take place, it is not known to our constitution, but the moment we succeed in inputting referendum in our constitution then we can throw the question back to the people, Nigerians do you want uni-cameral or bi-cameral legislature? We vote on it is yes or no, it is counted, the result will decide whether we have a House of Reps or we have a Senate. How much do you want your legislators to earn, we vote, count the vote and we agree, except that is inputted in our

11 Politics

‘Without referendum added to the constitution all ongoing agitations will fail’ anything in Nigeria, the only thing we need to be worried about is to input a referendum in our constitution.

ADEYEYE

constitution, I am afraid we might be at a cross road.

Do you think it I will be easy to get the legislators to add that in the constitution?

That is not difficult Considering the fact that they know it will be a back door of dealing with them?

Well, except they are not sincere, there are several things for which we will need referendum, one of it is what we spoke about, then we are talking of state police, resource control, we are talking about so many things that we need referendum for, but unfortunately the drafters of our constitution omitted that as another level of engagement of the people, now let us put it there, we go back to the people and let the people decide what actually they want.

Then the leaders of every group in Nigeria can go and talk to their people and educate them, like look we want resource control, anytime they come with it in referendum vote yes for it and once they vote yes for it, resource control we have. But, until we have that I don’t see any of these things succeeding. If Buhari like let him sit in Aso Rock and appoint all the wise men in Nigeria, Professors, Imams and what have you, put them in a confab, whatever they say there must be subjected to scrutiny by the National Assembly and whatever the National Assembly decides for it to have any effect must be imputed in our constitution. For you to amend even a coma in our constitution there is a process to it, two third of all houses of Assembly in Nigeria must agree to it.

So, restructuring is not as simple as people are talking about it, you cannot do anything. Even when you sit down in a conference, let the President agree, let all the National Assembly members agree, they still cannot effect whatever they agree except they do it by constitutional amendment and one of the process is that two third of the houses of Assembly in Nigeria

must vote yes to it before it can pass, so you will agree with me that it is not an exercise as simple as a lot of people are talking about it.

So, the easiest way is to first inputs referendum in the constitution?

Yes, and then we now list all our sore points and start voting on them one by one.

So, there is even no way a referendum can be conducted for the people of the South East now to ask them if they want to go, without first inputting it in the constitution, is that what you are saying?

No, the constitution is the supreme law, any law, any act anywhere within the walls of Nigeria that is against the constitution is null and void to the extent of its inconsistency, we will be wasting our time, if you like put all the wise men in Nigeria and say they should go and discuss Nigeria, whatever they come up with must be inputted in the constitution, if it’s not inputted in the constitution you can’t effect it. These are problems I feel we really need to find a way out of and it is not difficult if the leadership of the National Assembly and the Leadership of the executive are sincere, it can be achieved within three months.

We don’t need to discuss anything, just inputs the processes of a referendum in the constitution and by next year the government will list all the issues and send it back to the people for vote, we vote on it and that is it, we will know how each region voted, because the result will be made public. You will even write it there, do you want leave or do you want to remain in Nigeria? It will be decided, if you don’t want to be part of Nigeria, the whole of Nigeria will know that Ondo State people said they don’t want to be part of Nigeria, you leave and then let them go their way, if they can survive alone so be it and if along the line they so wish again that we can no longer survive alone and come back again and discuss whether we want to accept you back or not, so, I don’t really think we need to worry ourselves about

Your party, the APC seem to be losing it, look at the way they lost a senatorial election to the PDP in Osun State because of lack of due process, when somebody that was not cleared by the screening committee and the appeal committee was cleared from above, in Lagos look at the crisis that the party primary for the local government election generated due to imposition and some people are saying this kind of impunity is what brought the PDP to where it is today, what is your take on all of these?

You see, when people talk about imposition I tend not to want to understand what they mean, because in my own judgement imposition has been, it is and might continue to be, this is because imposition is not just that you went to write down the names of a candidate, imposition can mean manipulating the process of selecting that candidate, imposition can also mean that you own the structure of the party so you determine who becomes the candidate, even though that candidate is not popular among the people, so I don’t want to discuss imposition because it depends on who is talking about it, that is when you can determine whether the particular situation is imposition or not.

Now, in the case of Osun, the reality is that I won’t say that I am very surprised that we lost election in Osun, my own reason is different. The same reason that gave APC victory in Ono probably gave APC the loss in Osun. What do I mean? The two states are similar in composition and structure, the structure in Ondo State is that it is a civil service state, Osun State is also largely a civil service state. At the time of election in Ondo State, the government of the day, the PDP government was owing the civil servants about seven months in areas of salary and I do know that that the government in Osun too is owing some areas of salary, not out of any fault of the government, because I have been part of the electoral process in the state, I was there to campaign for the second term election of the governor, I know how popular he was amongst the people, but not out of his own fault, all of a sudden the resources of the state started dwindling, but the people do not understand that it is not the fault of the APC or the fault of Gov Aregbesola that salaries are not being paid, but they will avenge their anger on the party that is in position, not because of the popularity of Adeleke, who knows Adeleke that is contesting election, what has he done before.

Are you saying if Adeleke had been on the ticket of the APC that he would not have won?

He won’t win, that is the reality, who knows him, what has he done to deserve popularity among his people.

Perhaps because of sentiment for his late brother Is he the same person as his brother? He is not, he has never been part of politics before, I don’t know what he has done, I cannot remember hi m being a commissioner or being a local government chairman or being a councilor or being anything, he just came and said he wants senate, he is only benefitting from the sentiments of the moment which is that the people are aggrieved, they have not been paid their salaries for some tome so, they are avenging their anger on the state governor and the party that is in control, so, even if he had contested on the platform of the APC I don’t see him winning.

12Politics Patrick Okohue One of the top Nigerians in Diaspora and Founder of the first ethnic satellite Media Company in Europe, Alistair Soyode has welcomed the Nigeria’s Senate’s constitutional amendment in support of independent candidates in coming elections, this he said is more important ahead of 2019 general elections.

In a press release, the entrepreneur, community advocate and mentoring commandant to youths stated that it was an amendment that is long overdue, while praising the Senators for taking a giant steps at this time.

He noted that the new constitutional provision if passed will provide an alternative for making Nigeria a greater nation through a new breed of leaders.

Alistair Soyode grew up in the Northern part of Nigeria and journeyed throughout the country spending more time in the Southern part of the country where as he said learnt the skills of business and politics.

He started his educational pursuits in Garama Primary School in Katsina, Government College Katsina, before diploma in Agriculture and Irrigation Engineering from Katsina Polytechnic and became a Certified Fellow of Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administra-

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29. 2017

BEN TV boss commends Senate for endorsing independent candidacy tion of Nigeria.

Alistair has served as chairman of leading Nigeria Diaspora Organisations such as NIDOE (Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe) amongst others. He currently chairs and leads a mentoring and coaching organisation which is committed to youth entrepreneurship and empowerment.

He is the founder of the First ethnic television in Europe. BEN Television based in the UK and broadcast across Europe, Africa and Nigeria.

Having followed through his passion to creating a positive image for Nigeria, Alistair in association with his brother set-up the first indigenous mechanised agricultural company which has worked with Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and private sector agro stakeholders.

The company was the first in Nigeria to design a Mechanisation leasing scheme and

Lalong has no hand in attempt to recall Plateau House member - Group Kingsley Chukwuka,Jos The Plateau Youths for Change has refuted some claims credited to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State that Governor Simon Lalong is making an attempt to recall the member representing Langtang North North Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon Godfrey Lamdit.

The PDP in Plateau had in a statement made available to newsmen in Jos and signed by the Publicity Secretary, John Akans, said that the Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is pained and disappointed with the news of another planned illegality by Governor Simon Lalong - his attempt to recall the member representing Langtang North North Constituency, in the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon Godfrey Lamdit; that the party is aware that the Chief of Staff Governor’s office, has been selected as the undertaker of this wicked plan to deny the good people of Langtang North North of quality representation in the state legislature.

However, in a swift reaction, the Plateau Youths for Change in a statement signed by Issac Kwalo, the Secretary of the group, described Gov Simon Lalong as a true democrat and bridge-builder.

“As a group we condemn in strong terms comments credited to the PDP that our governor is making an attempt to recall the member representing Langtang North North Constituency, in the Plateau State House of Assembly” “We say that our governor is a democrat and would not promote illegality, his major priority is to make Plateau

LALONG

great again and he is doing his best in restoring lasting peace to Plateau and also uniting all tribes in the state so he deserves to be commended not condemned.

“The Lalong-led administration is determined to better the lives of civil servants of the state: What matters most to Gov Lalong is to provide the dividends of democracy to the people of Plateau,” he stressed.

“Within two years in office, Lalong had proven himself to be an excellent administrator and in return, the people have come to build confidence in him as a leader with strong and reliable economic strategies that withstood the challenges posed by the economic downturn bedevilling the entire nation.

“His remarkable developmental projects have also strengthened the hope of the people in the rescue mission of his administration.

piloted its operations by giving out over 200 units of Tractors and other farm equipment with input equity from farmers.

The same model was later adopted by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and is today known as the Agricultural Equipment HiringEnterprises (AEHE) spread across the country. The company has designed and implemented other novel agricultural programmes including serving as a consultant under the IFAD, FAO etc Agricultural Development programme for some Eastern and Central African Countries.

Alistair Soyode has interest in several industries and sectors, including sports, technology, entertainment, consumer goods, industrial and property management.

Over the last years, Alistair has acted as an advisor to government institutions in Europe, Africa and Nigeria.

Patrick Okohue Leading politicians in Anambra State Thursday night lauded the leadership qualities of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, describing him as “a forthright, honest and consistent leader” The stance of the politicians was articulated by the chairman of Anambra State Political Forum (ASPF), Chief James Nnaemeka.

They accused some individuals in the state of plotting to damage the reputation of the national chairman.

“Chief John Odigie-Oyegun is a man of high integrity and principles” The politicians who met in Awka debunked the story that Senator Andy Uba bribed the national chairman with N500million to enable him becomes the flag-bearer of the party.

In a statement in Awka Thursday night, the leaders said those behind the story intended to use the strategy to whip up public sympathy.

“It is part of a desperate effort by some politicians to control the APC in the state.”

OYEGUN

He declared his interest and candidacy for political office following the constitutional amendments which amongst them included age for elective posts and independent candidacy with other positive outcomes.

He said, “In a season where Nigerians have lost faith in our democracy and political parties or on some candidates of existing political parties, it’s time for all of us to join forces to make Nigeria greater; it is time for a generation of electorates to go out there to vote and support new leadership that can make Nigeria greater than in her present position. It’s time for us all to be seen and heard doing the right thing, and Nigerians all-over the world deserve a much better Nigeria than it is at the moment.”

The BEN TV founder congratulated the National Assembly and the Executives for their determination to chart a path to greatness for Nigeria. He prayed that the amendments will pass all other required phases on time before the INEC blows the whistle for 2019. He wondered why diaspora voting rights was not added into the constitutional amendment despite INEC’s commitment to act if amended to allow diaspora voting.

Speaking further, Alistair stated “I am therefore joining the new breed as a leader in alliance with other good leaders who will give millions of Nigerians a better nation and a greater Nigeria.”

Oyegun has performed excellently – Anambra Leaders They attributed attack on Oyegun to the fact that he has refused to do some people’s bidding.

“Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, an excellent administrator and a dogged fighter for justice and fairness, has refused to run the party according to their dictates. These politicians are willing to do anything to control the party for their selfish ends.”

According to them, APC was ready to wrestle power from APGA. “APC remains committed to the welfare of the people. It is the party of the people, the hope of the people of this country. APC will win the November governorship election,” the leaders assure.

They challenged the growing number of aspirants for the position of governor to display before their supporters and others what they have to offer.

Page Thirteen

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

s

Editorial

13

PHOTO TIMES

Rush for paper qualification

N

ot a few persons had at various times bemoaned the rush by Nigerians to acquire paper qualifications. One of such persons, the immediate past Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund), Professor Suleiman Bagoro, not long ago decried a situation where Nigerians strive to acquire paper qualifications without necessarily passing through the academic rigours to attain them. Bogoro lamented that such qualifications has become a cog in the wheel of true educational growth in the country.

According to him, it is something of concern to see young Nigerians with higher academic qualifications who cannot defend their certificates in practical terms. The former TETfund boss noted that lack of research in most tertiary institutions is responsible for the country’s educational underdevelopment, even as he noted that it would be impossible for them to succeed without adequate funding for research. Harping on what he called “The Diploma Disease Syndrome,” Bogoro bemoaned the situation that has contributed considerably to the high level of unemployment among university graduates.

Certainly, no right thinking citizen with the country’s educational advancement at heart would dispute Bogoro’s forthright observations. Therefore, we are in harmony with all he said. This is because the arrested development in our tertiary institutions can only worsen, unless the authorities brace up to realities of the present, and place more emphasis on research.

Presently, graduates of our higher institutions are left in a state of limbo, their future hanging in the balance, because the majority of them lack the requisite skills to fit into the modern world of work. They are pitifully ill-equipped for the workplace of today. For long, our universities have appeared reluctant to develop an effective and mutually beneficial linkage with industry that would go a long way in ensuring both robust academic activities and innovative practices. Such detachment from

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their immediate environment makes it impossible to compete with products of other institutions across the world.

There is no denying the fact that higher investment in education, training, research and development would have spin-off benefits, especially with the convergence of innovation and creativity with requirements of the industry and economy.

It is a shame that many of our institutions of higher learning lack excellent laboratories and research centres like those in other developed and developing countries of the world. The consequence is the embarrassing learning by rope, especially among those studying Engineering and other technology related courses. On graduation, they are handicapped in relating in practical terms their learning in the classroom.

It bears repeating that in the modern age, products of tertiary institutions should be creators of employment rather than seekers of jobs.

We are saying it for the umpteenth time that universities must be able to conduct researches aimed at providing solutions to the problems in society. To achieve this, universities should be adequately funded for research and development in order to complement the theoretical aspects of learning. The world of today needs solutions providers, not solutions consumers and problem creators. Even at that, we expect universities and other higher institutions to seek funding from both local and international sources. In addition, universities should develop symbiotic relationship with industries and other relevant agencies, with the objective of getting funding for industry related and other specific projects.

In all, universities need to move beyond issuing paper qualifications alone, to the realm of practical implementation. A nation whose citizens are not individually developed and self-reliant is not reckoned with in today’s globalised world.

The university system and other higher institutions of learning must, therefore, become primary tools for Africa’s development in the 21 century.

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Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai (left), in a handshake with Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, during the second meeting of the Northern Governors Forum in Kaduna State… on Friday. With them is Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Muhammed (right), with women at the Mugunga Internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo… on Thursday.

Words On Marble :

– Fidelis Anosike Group Head Finance/ Administration Tobi Oyeniyi 07060528139

L-R: Widower/former National Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Adebisi Akande; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his Deputy, Comrade Philip Shaibu, during a condolence visit to Adebisi Akande in Osun State… on Thursday.

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STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Mathew Kukah

Ibrahim Babangida

Wole Soyinka

“The world can provide for the need of everybody but cannot provide for the greed of everybody.”

“The work of Nigeria is not complete for as long as there is any one Nigerian who goes to bed on empty stomach.”

“The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.”

14

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 279 2017

FEATURES

s

The limit of education Kelechi C. Ogbamgba The beauty of education cannot be easily encapsulated in just a small write-up as this. Education enlarges the scope of the mind and opens it to greater height and desire for knowledge and creativity.

Because it quickens and awakens the hunger to know, it is a ready antidote to the crass ignorance that debases the unlearned with all its baggage of limitation and inhibition. Any wonder then why the scholar and great missionary, Paul admonished his protégé in the Holy Writ: “Till I come, give attendance to reading.”

Knowledge is like a treasure deeply hidden in the rocks. Education is the tool with which the diligent seeker digs it out. Education nourishes the heart, broadens one’s world view, enlivens our sensibilities, and stirs up the mind, freeing it from the shackles of ignorance.

“The roots of education,” Aristotle says, “are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”

While justifying himself for spending a fortune in sending his children to the most expensive schools to obtain “the best of education,” a Christian brother of mine would always retort: “if education is expensive, try ignorance.”

Sure then, without doubt, education is profoundly beneficial to man as it lifts him from the bondage of darkness and shackles of ignorance; it also lifts him to profounder heights of freedom near sublimity.

But beyond all that we have said, does education really guarantee freedom - freedom of the soul? Can it or has it ever been able to free man from the fetters of mental depravity?

Can it or has it ever been able

to lift him from the nadir of societal ills and moral decadence that plague man? With all his refinement that education, enlightenment and exposure provides, man remains a prisoner of self and society, still subject to the whims and caprices of an unregenerate soul and an easy prey of the allurement and entrapment of everything vile and vicious.

Education has not been able to curb many a man of the pugnacious, petulant and per-

nicious mannerisms and idiosyncrasies that tend to drag him down the darkening alley of bestiality and self destruction. Indeed, “much learning doth make [the unregenerate] mad.” Having eaten “the fruit of knowledge,” he sees himself as either equal with or even greater than his Creator. This may have prompted the French philosopher, Voltaire, to sneer, in a most deprecatory manner, that if there was no God, man will create one!

The sheer virtuosity of much learning has not been pungent enough to purge man of his cesspool of vileness, viciousness and vituperation. Such reminds one of Thomas Paine, the English intellectual per excellence. But he was an atheist!

His life, according to a commentator of his time, “was a compound of ingratitude and perfidy of hypocrisy and avarice, of lewdness and adultery.”

Paine was an academic of matchless intellect and stupendous brilliance, producing such seminal works as The Rights of Man and Age of Reason. Yet, he lived and died a most miserable man.

Unfortunately, Thomas Paine wasn’t alone in this eerie route to the despicable land of endless doom. He had a “good company” in Voltaire, Francis Newport, Edward Gibbon, David Hume and their contemporary collaborators and co-travelers dabbed in the filthy garb of free thinkers and agnostics.

Although equally richly nourished from the flowing fountain of the ennobling riches of education, yet they were miserably poor and wretched and died in that lost state.

Yes, the ennobling balm of “much learning” is inestimable, but it cannot deliver a damned soul nor guarantee the ethereal beauty of an eternal bliss.

How man lost N11.3m worth of wares to terrorists in Borno

Chiugo

A father of two, Andrew Chiugo, along with his family, are alive today save for the special grace of God. Chiugo, his wife and two toddlers, narrowly escaped death recently when his stall was allegedly attacked by suspected thieving members of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists at a market in Magumeri, in Magumeri Local Government Area of Borno State.

Looking gaunt and poverty-stricken, the 36-years-old Chiugo, from Nenwe, Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, who deals in foodstuffs of various kinds at the market, was among the traders said to have been affected when suspected terrorists swooped on the market.

He also claimed to have identified four of the terrorists as his customers introduced to him by a resident of the community months before the incident.

In the attack, Chiugo lost virtually all his wares worth N11.3 million to the thieving terrorists. It was said that other traders in the market also lost their wares in the attack.

Narrating his ordeal to reporters recently, Chiugo, who used to work as a construction worker before he took to trading, said he was the breadwinner of his extended family.

His gory story: “I have been trading at Magumeri for the past three years without any problem. I used to go the Lagos and the East to buy foodstuffs and sell at the market. I live in Magumeri town with my family.

“Although calls from my people to leave the North on account of incessant attacks on people did not go down

…Survives with family by whiskers well with me because I was comfortable there.

“But sometime in late March 2017, around midday, some members of Boko Haram attacked our market where they looted traders’ shops. I was one of the worst hit in the attack.”

Chiugo claimed that the suspected terrorists stormed the market in trucks and carted away goods from stores including his where he claimed foodstuff items worth N11.3 million were carted away.

He continued: “On that day, my wife and little children were with me and helping me to sort the new consignment of goods that I just ordered for before the terrorists stormed the market, shooting sporadically and at anyone in sight.

“I managed to grab my two children and fled, while my wife also fled to another direction. I only saw her the following evening when she returned home.

“After the attack, I identified the man that used to come to buy things from me with some of the men that attacked the market and I went to his house to confront him.

“Since that time, my life had been under threat because I told the man called Siraju, that some of the men that he used to bring to my shop to buy market from me were among those that attacked the market.

Hence, I had to flee the community to come to Abuja.”

Since then, his life and family have been hanging in the balance, with no capital to start life all over again.

15 Features

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Nigerian Passport must be valued, respected – Spanish-Nigerian Franca Sulem-Yong Nigerians in the Diaspora have often raised concern about difficulties they face in obtaining a Nigerian International Passport in some countries abroad.

On August 1, 2016, for instance, Nigerians reportedly assembled around their consulate in New York to protest against the consulate for not issuing passports to travelers and requiring them to pay for visas. Even non-Nigerians like Franco-German coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Gernot Rohr has expressed worry about the complications of getting a Nigerian passport for players born abroad, who are eligible to play for Nigeria.

Contrasting the view that the Nigerian passport is the right of every citizen and they need not go through hardship to obtain it, Princess (Mrs.) Nwanne Campo, a SpanishNigerian by marriage, recently had good reason to declare in Spain that Nigerian passport should not be obtained just for the asking without thorough screening - and it should not be given to just anybody.

Mrs. Campo, The Daily Times has learnt, runs a Facebook page called “Nigerians

Princess (Mrs) Nwanne Campo at the Nigerian Embassy in Spain

living in Spain”. It is a platform for exchange through which many Nigerians, among other benefits, complain about the officials of Nigerian embassies in Madrid (Spain) and other European countries who refuse

to offer the Nigerian passport to citizens.

“The way some people will rant and insult our diplomats, comparing Nigeria to some developed countries, you will think that these developed

countries dish out residence permit or citizenship to every Tom, Dick and Harry.”

She recounts a recent encounter at the Nigerian embassy when she went to Madrid from Santander where she resides, to renew her ECOWAS passport at the Nigerian embassy.

“Just after I was attended to without any problem, it was the turn of a certain beautiful young lady and as she walked to the counter, the peace of the room was shattered as she screamed at the official attending to her.

“It turned out that the alert official simply asked the lady a simple question which every true Nigerian should know: What is the name of your Local Government Area?, and she could not say it, although it was written in the form she submitted.”

Mrs. Campo recalled that the Nigerian embassy has recorded numerous cases where applications for passports by supposed Nigerians are turned down because they (the applicants) could not pronounce the name of their Local Government Areas.

“This kind of scenario often causes a stir amongst Nigerians in the embassy, probably

because they think that being African and speaking English is enough reason to be given a Nigerian passport.

“Do they think that just anybody should be issued a Nigerian passport as if it has no value? Can they log into their social media account if they forget their passwords?

Can they walk into a bank and demand to withdraw money from an account they claim is theirs - without a valid identification?” she asked.

The unapologetic Nigerian explained that “Even the developed countries only give you the required documents to settle in their country when you can state your country of origin or Local Government Area.”

She then advised all Nigerians to learn to respect and appreciate their country and warned all those who insult the country at the slightest challenge to be careful for every utterance has a rebound effect.

Mrs. Campo hinted The Daily Times that when you become polite and law abiding in her married country, Europeans say “you are too polished to be a Nigerian.”

She further enjoined every Nigerian to uphold the good image of their great country

Quintessential Gentleman, Edmund Ikechukwu Okafor (1965 - 2017) Walter Okafor He was a man of many parts, whose several aliases captured the many parts of a personality whose activities touched and richly impacted many, positively.

He lived his short, but eventful, life with the cheer and ease of a hobby and so to many, Ikechukwu (Ike) Okafor was variously known as ‘Obili’, ‘Akunwata’ and ‘Nwokeoma’. He was a jolly good fellow, well loved and popular amongst his numerous friends, relatives, classmates and associates.

Known to his CIC Enugu Class of 1982 as ‘Abu One’, he was fondly called ‘Reverend’ by his beloved father. Such was the rich variety of the life of this man whose very existence was not just a blessing but sheer joy to countless numbers of people amongst whom he would be sorely missed.

Born Ikechuchukwu Edmund Okafor in Ibadan, on the 4th of November, 1965, Obili was the second son of Professor J. C. Okafor and late Mrs. P. E. Okafor of Nzagha-Ukpor, Nnewi-South Local Government Area, of Anambra State. He had two brothers and a sister, namely, Walter, Emeka and Ifeoma.

From his early childhood, Ike

demonstrated diligence in everything he did, particularly in his studies, a quality that helped see him quickly through primary school in Ekulu, as well as secondary school at the College of Immaculate Conception (CIC), both in Enugu. Thereafter, he proceeded for higher education at the Auchi Polytechnic, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Estate Management in 1989. He later went on to obtain his M.Sc. in Project Management from the University of Liverpool, England, in December, 2014.

With his chosen career, he was equally as successful as he was with his private life. Indeed, he was a well-established employer of labour, whose Property Consulting firm, Walter Edmunds & Associates, holds its own in the field of Real Estate Management, Urban and Regional Landscaping & Services Development Consultancy with head offices in Abuja, and branches in Victoria IslandLagos, Kaduna and Enugu. As the Principal Consultant of the firm, Mr. Ikechukwu Okafor was an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV). He was also Principal Consultant at Edmunds Consulting.

Perhaps, one of the most enduring testimonies to the abilities and capabilities of Ike and his charming personality was the fact that after his National Youth Service Corps in Kaduna, under the 1990/1991 service year, the firm of Chika Egwuatu & Partners, under which he served, refused to let go of him. It was whilst serving there as an Estate Officer that he cut his teeth and honed his professional skills within a very short period of time, till 1993, before moving on to found his own company.

Of course, Akunwata’s story cannot be complete without due mention of his selfless services to the household of God, his Creator, to whom he has now finally returned. Whether it was in Kaduna, where he began his career, or in Abuja where he later relocated to, or at the Christ Church, Amakom, in his hometown, Ukpor, Akunwata was well noted, both as an active member of his church communities and as a philanthropist.

No words bear more adequate testimony to this fact than those of Mr. Kola Adegoke, one of the ministering elders in one of the churches Ike attended in his lifetime: “He was very consistent in his walk with the Lord. The Lord gave him and his wife hearts of

Ike Okafor

compassion for the needy. So, so many lives have been touched by these two folks, both financially and through words and acts of compassion.”

On the home-front, Ike was

the archetypal husband, father, brother, son and cousin, loved and cherished and admired as much by his immediate and nuclear family members, as he was, by his extended family as well.

So close was he to his wife and their children that even at work, Ijeoma remained his partner – a rare occurrence among modern young couples these days. Mrs. Ijeoma Okafor is also a Director of Walter Edmunds & Associates.

The loss of Nwokeoma leaves a huge void in the lives of his family, his friends and relatives, the Ukpor community, and many more individuals around the state and indeed the entire country, Nigeria, people, whose lives he touched in very special ways.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

News 17

NUJ to partner DELSU on capacity building, reportage of breakthroughs

Medical students, Health workers chart course for repositioning Healthcare

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Mutiat Alli

ÏÏÏThe Nigerian Union

of Journalists, Delta State Council has expressed readiness to partner the Delta State University Abraka in capacity building of journalist to enhance their productivity.

Chairman of the Union, Comrade Mike Ikeogwu stated this when he led other executives and some members on a courtesy visit to the University Vice Chancellor, Professor Victor Peretomode.

He explained that such partnership would be in form of training members of NUJ, Delta Council, promoting achievements and breakthroughs recorded by the University through media reports.

He stated further, ‘’ as an academic institution where researches are carried out and new grounds broken, the benefits derivable from a genuine partnership between the NUJ Delta State

L-R: Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, Steve Ayorinde; Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Fatai Owoseni; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. idiat Oluranti Adebule; Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy, Agboola Ajayi, at the joint press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja on Friday on the release of the kidnapped Igbonla students.

We’ve exited recession in non-oil sector, says Udoma

Mathew Dadiya, Aisha Inuwa and Sandra Emenike,

I, formerly known and addressed as ONYEKWERE EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as MKPUME ONYEKWERE EMMANUEL. But my Voters card’s ID was wrongly written as “EMMANUE” All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

get and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma Thursday said that Nigeria has moved out of recession in the non oil sector adding that other sectors of the economy would record positive growth by the fourth quarter of 2017.

Udoma, stated this during the public consultation on the 2018-2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), media and the or-

ganized private sector in Abuja.

He said that the economy was recovering and by the end of the year there would be a positive growth across sectors.

The minister said that the public consultation on the MTEF and fiscal strategy paper was in line with the federal government and National Assembly’s resolution to return to the January-December budget cycle.

Udoma who also said the non-oil sector was growing, disclosed that recovery was being witnessed in some sectors of the economy including manufacturing, agriculture and ser-

vices, adding that efforts made to achieve peace in the Niger Delta were producing results.

He disclosed that the executive would present the 2018 budget to National Assembly in October, adding “we are committed to proper implementation of the budget.

According to Udoma, MTEF and FSP provide the medium-term framework for the federal government’s financial projections for the next three fiscal years.

The minister explained that Components of the document usually include the exchange rate, inflation rate, oil benchmark,

MRS UGWOKE CLEMENTINA CHINEDU

MRS NNAJIOFOR AGATHA EBELECHUKWU

MRS ILLO NNEKA LINDA

MRS OKOH PAULINE CHUKWUNENYE

OBIEZE TOCHUKWU NWABUEZE

I, formerly known and addressed as NWAWULU TOCHUKWU NWABUEZE and OKAFOR TOCHUKWU NWABUEZE, now wish to be known and addressed as OBIEZE TOCHUKWU NWABUEZE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MKPUME ONYEKWERE EMMANUEL

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANYAZUOKE CLEMENTINA CHINEDU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UGWOKE CLEMENTINA CHINEDU. All former documents remain valid. UNTH Ituku Ozalla Enugu and General public please take note.

Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Minister of Bud-

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EKEI AGATHA EBELECHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NNAJIOFOR AGATHA EBELECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public please take note.

EGBUABA PHILIP

MS ADAEZE NWAMAKA OBIANUJU ANUMBA

I, formerly known and addressed as EGBUABA EJIKE PHILIP, now wish to be known and addressed as EGBUABA PHILIP. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MRS ADAEZE NWAMAKA IBEKIE, now wish to be known and addressed as MS ADAEZE NWAMAKA OBIANUJU ANUMBA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

LOSS OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENT I, SAMUEL IBE of No. 1 Ogbaga Road Kpirikpiri Abakaliki, Ebonyi State declare the loss of Original customary Document of my late father, MAZI ELIJAH ONYEKWERE IBElocated at No. 1 Ogbaga Road and No. 2 Ogbaga Road, Kpirikpiri Opposite State Stadium Abakaliki.

All efforts to recover the said documents prove abortive; Ministry of lands Ebonyi and general public please take note.

The said properties are not for sale and anyone who sales or buy them is at his or her own risk.

Singed MR. SAMUEL IBE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ALIEDEMA NNEKA LINDA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ILLO NNEKA LINDA. All former documents remain valid. IBTC and General public please take note.

MRS HELEN ISU ATU-OBINABO I, formerly known and addressed as MISS HELEN ISU MICHAEL OKOI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS HELEN ISU ATU-OBINABO. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MRS NNAJI ONYINYE BENITA I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EBENEBE ONYINYE BENITA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NNAJI ONYINYE BENITA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHIBUTUTU PAULINE CHUKWUNENYE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKOH PAULINE CHUKWUNENYE. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

MRS OBINNA OGOCHUKWU JESSICA I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANI OGOCHUKWU JESSICA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OBINNA OGOCHUKWU JESSICA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public please take note.

MRS EZEANA GERALDINE OLUCHUKWU I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IFEACHO GERALDINE OLUCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZEANA GERALDINE OLUCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

revenue target, review of the previous year’s expenditure and revenue performance, as well as the global economic outlook.

He said “MTEF is the government’s macroeconomic projection for the next three years,” calling on CSOs, media and the organized private sector to submit their inputs early saying that in two weeks it will be submitted to the Federal Executive Council.

The minister further stated that the federal government targets to bring down inflation rate to 15.74per cent in 2017, 12.45per cent in 2018 and 9per cent by 2020. x MRS ANAEKWE JULIET IFEBUCHE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONUIGBO JULIET IFEBUCHE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANAEKWE JULIET IFEBUCHE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

MRS ENEH OLUCHI VIRGINIA I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UZUAGU OLUCHI VIRGINIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ENEH OLUCHI VIRGINIA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public please take note.

EVANGELIST EGO FAVOUR GLORIA

I formerly known and addressed as MRS EGO FAVOUR AZUBUIKE now wish to be known and addressed as EVANGELIST EGO FAVOUR GLORIA CHUKWUKA. All documents remain valid. The general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

ANIKWE CLARINE CHIZOBA

This is to certify and confirm that IKWUEZE NONYELUM SANDRA, EZE NONYELUM NDUBUISI, NONYELUM NDUBUISI EZE and EZE SANDRA NONYELUM refer as one and the same person now wish to be known and addressed as EZENDUBUISI NONYELUM. But my driver licences was wrongly as “EZE NONYELUM NDUBUISI”.All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as ANIKWE CLARICE CHINENYE, now wish to be known and addressed as ANIKWE CLARINE CHIZOBA. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

This is to inform the general public that my name NYEAMGOR RAYMOND MOSES was wrongly written during BVN registration but now wish to be corrected and addressed asNYEANIGOR RAYMOND MOSES. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

Students and healthcare practitioners have been charged to be more compassionate when attending to patients as this will lead to the transformation of the healthcare system in the world.

The advice was given by Dr. Robin Youngson, a New Zealand Anesthesiologist and founder of Hearts in Healthcare at the 2017 Healthcare Leadership Summer School that held in Kentucky, United States of America.

According to Robin, Doctors have become too busy with the workload thus neglecting compassion which is supposed to be the core of healthcare.

Robin said that in transforming Healthcare, Health workers should also take care of themselves as no meaningful change can be achieved if the health workers are not in good frame of mind.

Robin advocated the need for mentorship for Medical Students. Hear him “The need for mentorship for Healthcare students can’t be over emphasized. It is sad that in some Medical Schools, students are afraid of talking to their consultant which has led to their frustration and a rise in suicide rate in Medical Schools across the world.”

He added that physicians should have an inviting nurture as it helps patients to get well faster and compile with medication.

Also speaking, Dr. Amy Coleman a flight surgeon with the US Arm advised the participants to listen more to the patient and see them as real humans and not mere cases.

In her lecture titled ‘How to see a patient’ Dr. Amy Coleman advised the healthcare workers to see patients as real human being and not mere cases.

Earlier, Stephanie Barnett of Compassionate Louisville while welcoming participants said, the healthcare Leadership Summer School is the initiative of a global community that envisions a sustainable healthcare system worldwide which aims to give young professionals and students the tools needed to build the health care system of their dream.

She added that participants will also be exposed to the Mind – Body connection and its role in Medicine.

18

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Crime

s

Youngster murdered over N2, 000 in Lagos Stories by Joy Anyim The Lagos State Police Command has arrested three persons - Matthew Gbenga , 23year old; Adekoya Ayobami, 24 year old and Sodiqe Green, 22 year old - for stabbing one Gabriel Boge to death over N2,000 in Itupete area of Ikorodu.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased and his three friends were gambling and had put down the sum of N500 each. Late Gabriel was said to have won the game which earned him the whole N2000.

The three suspects who were unhappy with his victory had picked a fight with him. Matthew alleged picked a scissors with which he stabbed the deceased on the neck. The trio had quickly rushed the deceased to

a nearby hospital where he gave up the ghost.

According to Matthew who is the prime suspect, late Gabriel was the cause of the whole trouble. He alleged that after the deceased had won the game, he started making jest of them for losing to him.

Narrating the incident that led to the death of the 24 year old, Matthew said: “ it was on Saturday, on the eve of Oro celebration. We were all gathered at the community square. As usual, we the youths were just gambling to kill time before the festival proper begins. Four of us were playing the card game and we had set N500 each. Luckily for Gabriel, he won the game.

“I didn’t have a problem with him winning the game until he started mocking us. He disrespected us in the presence

of other youths and that got us angry. I told him to stop the nonsense he was saying and just leave but he refused. He was even singing which made it more painful. I then stood up and pushed him. He also did same and he asked me if I wanted to fight with him. I told him I won’t fight with him but I will beat him up.

“Immediately he ran to a makeshift where empty bottles were parked, he picked one, broke it , ran towards me and stabbed me on the head. In self defence, I also picked a scissors close to me and stabbed him on the neck. People around intervened but it was too late. We were both bleeding but after some time he lost consciousness. We quickly rushed him to a private hospital but it was too late he was confirmed dead on arrival. I didn’t kill him inten-

tionally; I was only trying to defend myself too.” He stated.

Ayobami however denied being a part of those gambling. He claimed he had only gone out that evening to hang out with other youths, but was arrested by policemen from the Ijede police division and falsely accused of been a party to the murder of Gabriel.

He said, “Gabriel is my friend and I had absolutely no misunderstanding with him.

While they were gambling, I was just watching. I even tried to stop him from fighting with Matthew but he refused. We all are friends and it was on that ground I had to intervene when they were fighting.”

Eyewitness accounts have it that the suspects belong to a notorious gang that have been terrorizing the community. they are said to have being constitut-

ing nuisance in the community.

A man who gave his name as Mr. Yusuf said even the deceased had been alleged severally of defrauding innocent people.

He said, “ I really wish the police can even come do a thorough raid here, these boy are terrors. They have fought severally before now and have injured themselves. We often do not intervene because if you do, you automatically get a beating of your life. For me, they all got what they wanted.”

When contacted to confirm the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole denied any of such incident in the said area.

Our correspondent, however, gathered that the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations department for further investigations.

How 14 year old was raped, murdered in Lagos Family of Obiamaka Ngozichukwu Orakwue, the 14 Year-Old girl who was raped to death by hoodlums in the Abule-Ado area of Lagos are calling for swift investigations and prosecution of the masterminds of the dastardly act.

Information had it that the hoodlums who numbered about five had gained access into the family house of the Orakwues’ on July 10th, 2017.

Obiamaka was home alone as her both parent had gone to work and her other siblings had traveled to her uncle’s house for the holiday.

Our correspondent gathered that the suspects who were teenager boys had pounced on the Anambra born who had screamed for help that came too late.

A neighbour (name withheld), who saw the suspects scaling the fence out of the Orakwues’ compound had taken them for thieves not knowing they were on a dangerous mission.

The neighbour had called Mrs. Orakwue who had gone to work to quickly inform her of the suspicious movement. She was said to have rushed back home about 30 minutes later but it was too late as Obiamaka had been serially raped and left to die.

According to Mrs Orakwue who managed to tell the bitter story,

Late Obiamaka Ngozichukwu Orakwue

“I was at work when I got a call from our neighbour that they saw some boys jumping out from the fence of our compound and that my daughter was not responding to the knock on the gate since it was locked from inside.

“I was worried because my daughter was the only one at home and her other siblings

were on holidays at my elder brothers place in Lekki “On getting to the house, I opened the gate with my spare key and dashed into the room only to find my daughter gasping for breath in the pool of her blood. “so much blood was gushing out from her private part and I asked her what happened

and all she could mutter was, “Mummy...those boys I told you about”..., When asked about the (boys), Mrs Orakwue who burst into tears said that her daughter complained about some boys who had made advances towards her when she came back on holidays from school just recently but she rebuffed them and they swore to teach her a lesson of her life.

“It must have been the same boys that took advantage of the fact that I and my husband went to work and gained entry into the compound through the back fence of the house where they attacked my daughter,” she said.

The deceased who was rushed to a nearby private hospital by her mother and a few neighbours was confirmed dead almost immediately they got to the hospital.

The father of the deceased Mr Obinna Orakwue who could not hide his emotions lamented that enough was not being done to find out those behind the demise of his daughter.

“We have reported the incident to the police and they promised to apprehend the culprits but we still have not heard from them till date.”

He described his daughter as an intelligent student with a very bright future.

“She was meant to be in JSS

3 by the next academic session.

We told her to join her siblings in my in-law’s house but she insisted she wanted to stay at home to help with the house chores especially since I and my wife were away at work. Now see what has happened. I leave it in the hands of God to judge”, he said.

The alleged suspects it was gathered usually gather at a shop not too far from the family house of the deceased, where they smoke Indian hemp and harass young girls at will.

Obiamaka has however been laid to rest since July 21st 2017, while her killers are yet to be tracked by the Lagos State Police Command.

A family friend to the Orakwues’ also took to her Facebook page to lament the death of the deceased. According to Okonkwo Cynthia Algoma, “Today is first time of visiting a cemetery, those guys that raped you and killed you will not go like that, Obi mummy God of vengeance will fight for you,go well Obiamaka.”

The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole was also contacted via text message to know the state of Police investigation, but he was yet to respond to the message sent by our correspondent as at the time of filling this report.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Crime 19

Police foil robbery attempt on Zenith bank The Idimu Police Division recently foiled a robbery operation at Zenith bank Plc in the Egbeda area of Lagos.

The suspects who were said to have arrived the bank premises with a bike were however stopped by the Divisional Police Officer, SP Fayomi Solomon and his men.

During the operation, one of the robbers died as a result of injury he sustain in a gun battle with the Police while the second suspect was arrested alive.

The police also recovered short locally made gun and live ammunition including the motorcycle they used to operate in Lagos.

It was gathered that the suspects met their bitter end when they went to the bank targeted one woman identified as Mrs Joyce Bello and snatched N40,000 she withdrew from the Bank ATM. They reportedly pointed their

gun on her head and forced her to surrender the money.

While they were escaping, the mobile policeman attached to the bank noticed what they did and went after them.

Eye witness said the suspects were driving on a one way trying to escape after shooting sporadically to scare people away, Unfortunately that was the period the Idimu police patrol team were moving round the area on routine check.

The robbers were said to have fell down due to gunshot injury they sustained on sighting the Police led by the DPO, Solomon.

The corpse of the victim identified as Habib Bello who lived at Shasha area has been recovered and deposited at Igando General Hospital, while the second suspect who resides at Dopemu area was still detained at the Idimu Police Division.

When our reporter went to Idimu police division to speak with the DPO and the suspect,

Neighbours save woman from abductors

One of the robbers caught at the scene

state Command at Ikeja.

Meanwhile Police sources said that the suspect will be transferred to Anti-robbery Squad Ikeja command for further investigation.

the DPO was not around.

However, Police sources confirmed the incident and said signal has been sent to the Commissioner of Police,Lagos state

.The Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Augustines Akika could not be reached for comment as he was said to have gone to the

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Missing 40-year-old hunter found dead in a lake in Delta

A missing 40 year old man, Ausgustine Oyubu, has been found dead in a lake at Otumara Road Ogharefe in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

Augustine Oyubu who was until his death a hunter and lives with his wife, Mrs. Itite Oyubu, in Oghara the headquarters of Ethiope West Local Government.

Mrs. Itite Oyubu told journalist that her husband left for his normal hunting job by 6:30pm, and that she called him at about 8:00pm to know the state of the husband.

According to Mrs. Oyubu, her husband reported that he arrived his hunting destination but had been drenched by the rain. She said that was the last

conversation she had with her husband.

The news of a missing hunter rented the air prompting a search party into the said bush area where he normally went for hunting, but that the search was fruitless as the situation entered day four to no avail.

A team of traditionalists, sooth-sayers and native doctors stormed the area for a thorough search, but yielded no result.

However, the body of the hunter was found in a lake by one Dr. Israel Futighe, with no injury inflicted on him but the head, particularly the face, swollen.

Such death, according to the people, is a taboo that had des-

ecrated the land and would not be buried in Oghara land unless the Inotu and Chief Priest will liaise and perform all the necessary rituals and sacrifice.

The death of Augustine Oyubu was felt by all members of Oboromudu community and close associates in the kingdom, as the incident served as a lesson to all hunters in the area, that the bush is no longer safe for hunting.

At the time of filling this report, the family had liaised with Chief Priest and as Oghara tradition demands the remains of Augustine Oyubu would be buried at the place he was found since the cause of death was unknown.

A resident of Alagbado, a suburb of Lagos State, Mrs. Funmilayo Mayowa, narrowly escaped being abducted by unknown gunmen recently.

The unknown gunmen, four in number, were said to have hidden themselves around her residence located on AIT Road, Alagbado, and pounced on her as she was about to enter her house at about 8pm on the fateful day.

But as they were about whisking her away, her scream alerted neighbours and the local vigilance group, who rushed in and rescued her, while the gunmen escaped through the bush.

Speaking on her ordeal, Mrs. Mayowa, while expressing gratitude to God for the rescue, thanked her neighbours for their prompt intervention.

“I thank God for the quick in-

tervention of my neighbours.

But for them and of course God, I wonder what would have been my fate by now. I thank them for their courage. Their coming helped save my life. I thank God for moving them to come to help me in my hour of need,” she said.

She decried the spate of kidnapping in the country, lamenting that despite the recent arrest of billionaire kidnap kingpin, Evans, and others, the menace has not abated.

Mrs. Mayowa called on the government to adopt stringent security measures to curb kidnapping and other criminalities in order to allow law abiding citizens of the country to go about their normal duties and business without hindrance and molestation.

13 suspects nabbed over murder of policemen

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Suspected assassins kill Delta human right lawyer

Suspected assassins currently on rampage in Okpanam community, near Asaba, Delta State on Thursday night allegedly killed human right lawyer, Barr. Patrick Ashiedu.

It was reliably gathered that a six-man armed gang who disguised as armed robbers on Thursday night around “Mable Hill” in Okpanam community resorted to shootings sporadically; a situation passers-by including those reported to have assembled in a drink spot took to their heels.

Unfortunately for the victim who unsuspecting mistaken them for robbers, ran into his

parked car where the suspect allegedly shot him inside the car, and he died on the spot without removing anything from him.

Sources said the suspected assassins allegedly trailed him to the drinking spot in disguised as armed robbers after some inexplicable activities surrounding a woman.

But family members who did not want their names in the print described the killing of their son, Barr. Ashiedu as the handiwork of assassins, adding: “It is not a case of armed robbery because they did not take a pin from him, they arrived the drinking spot,

The Anambra State Police Command has announced the arrest of 13 suspects for the alleged murder of a policeman and burning of four police vehicles during Thursday’sattack on a checkpoint along Onitsha/ Owerri Road.

The announcement was made in a statement signed by Assistant Superintendent of Police Nkieruka Owude, Anambra State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO) on behalf the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Garba Baba Umar.

and pretended to be shooting and people ran for their dear lives, the same way Barr. Ashiedu ran into his car for safety only to have been shot right inside his car where he hid himself, we will get to root of the killing”.

Unconfirmed sources said Ashiedu before his untimely death, had had issues in his marriage including land issue where he allegedly represented a client, these among others were alleged to have been responsible for his killing.

Those in the know who did not also want their names in the print described the late Barr.

Ashiedu as amiable and easy going lawyer who stood against oppression, intimidation and lawlessness.

In a swift reaction, the Police in Okpanam Police Division who did not want their names in the print confirmed the lawyer was killed by rampaging armed robbers, adding that investigation was ongoing.

The Police Image Maker in the State, Mr. Andrew Aniamaka said investigation was ongoing into the killing of the lawyer.

20 Crime

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 28, 2017

2 Brazilians sentenced to 15 years Police arraign Fidson manager over alleged or N20 m fine each for importation of cocaine N16.7m fraud Joy Anyim Ndudi Justice C.M.A. Olatoregun of the Federal High Court Ikoyi has sentenced two Brazilians to fifteen years imprisonment or twenty million naira each for unlawful importation of 23.865kg of cocaine through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. The convicts who claimed to be tourists had earlier pleaded guilty to a one count charge of importation of cocaine without lawful authority. Officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended the Brazilians following the discovery of canned cocaine in their luggage during inward screening of passengers on an Emirates flight.

Dias Dos Santos Marcia Cristina, 36, was found with 9.400kg of cocaine in her bag while Lima Pereira Erick Diego, 20, was found with 14.465kg of cocaine in his bag. The canned cocaine was found inside their luggage containing personal effects. The total weight of the seized cocaine is 23.865kg with an estimated street value of three hundred and ten million naira (310,000,000).

In his plea, the defence counsel, barrister Onifade begged the court to tamper justice with mercy because they are young, ignorant of the fact that they were carrying cocaine and that they are first offenders. In response, the prosecuting counsel, barrister Ibrahim Abu argued that the drug trafficking is strict liability offence and prayed the court to apply the punishment as stipulated by the NDLEA Act. Justice Olatoregun after due consideration of both arguments said that there is need to punish drug traffickers severely thereby sending a serious warning to those who think they can import narcotic drugs into the country in a bid to enrich themselves. She therefore sentenced the Brazilians to 15 years imprisonment or a fine of twenty million naira each.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) also lent his weight behind any stringent punishment that will prevent people from engaging in drug trafficking.

Man allegedly strangles wife in Lagos.

Peter Fowoyo

For allegedly defrauding a pharmaceutical manufacturer firm, Fidson Health Care Plc,of the sum of N16. 7m, a regional sales manager of the firm, Taofik Ajisebutu, was on Friday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Ajisebutu, 43, was arraigned by the Ikoyi Police Division before Mr. B. A. Shonuga on a three-count charge marked D/44/2017 bordering on forgery and stealing.

Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences on June 5, 2017 during work hours at the firm’s office.

He said Ajisebutu forged a Local Purchase Order (LPO) bearing Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) to obtain drugs valued at N16.77m from his employers under false pretence.

Mameh said Ajisebutu was arrested

by the police following a complaint by Fidson.

The firm told the police that its regional manager presented an LPO for N16, 776, 620.00 claiming that it was from the management of LUTH for the supply of drugs, following which the drugs were released to him.

Ajisebutu allegedly sold and converted the proceeds to his personal use.

According to the police, when Fidson approached LUTH for payment, the hospital denied issuing any LPO to Ajisebutu.

Mammeh said the offences were contrary to sections 312(1), 361 and 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Ajisebutu pleaded not guilty.

Magistrate Shonuga granted him bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in the like sum.

Meanwhile the matter has been adjourned till August 29 for mention.

Brother kills brother over girlfriend quarrel in Asaba Nosa Akenzua, Asaba A 21-year old man (name withheld) and resident of Infant Jesus in Asaba Delta State has allegedly killed his younger brother, 19 years old (name withheld) over girlfriend disagreement.

It was reliably gathered that the incident which occurred in the early hours of yesterday attracted several persons to the scene where the victim was found in a pool of blood.

Eye witness said trouble started over a girlfriend (name withheld), and degenerated into serious verbal crossfire; a situation the suspect allegedly drew

The Convicts

out kitchen knife to take the life of the brother.

The eye witness further said that the suspect had been going out with the said girl until the bubble burst when he stumbled on the unsuspecting younger brother in a hotel room allegedly having fun with her. In attempt to query him, informed sources said, degenerated into verbal crossfire where the suspect in wild anger allegedly drew out kitchen knife to take the life of his brother. The suspect was said to have been arrested on the spot by the police from ‘A’ Division where he is being detained for further investigation.

Son claims father told him to tell people his mother drank snipper Joy Anyim Detectives attached to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Lagos State Police Command are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of one Thereasa Owobi, a pregnant mother of three who was allegedly strangled by her husband, John Owobi a commercial bank driver.

Our correspondent gathered that although the deceased and her husband who lived in a room apartment at No. 42 Musili Street, Agege were married for thirteen years, they had maintained a cat and mouse relationship as late Thereasa had often accused her husband of infidelity which had resulted in series of physical combat.

Although the family of the deceased are alleging that John had killed his wife with the intention of marrying his mistress who was also pregnant for him, Daniel Akor who is a brother to the suspect and an eye witness, however tells a different story.

Daniel who had lived with the couple for about three months told New Telegraph that on the day of the incident which

happened July 13th, 2017, at about 9pm, the couple were said to have engaged in a heated argument over a phone call received by the husband.

According to him, “that night, Thereasa had accused her husband of speaking to one of his numerous girl friends on phone. My brother just kept mute and told her he wasn’t in the mode to make trouble.

She started cursing him and left the house in anger, she came back with a bottle of snipper insecticide shock she immediately poured into her mouth before we could stop her, she had taken the whole content. “ We were confused and instantly gave her oil to drink but it was however too late as she gave up almost immediately. “ The 12 year old son of the deceased, Isreal Owobi who was also at the scene of the incident said he was asleep when the whole incident had transpired. He said he only woke up when he heard his mother screaming for help.

He said, “ I was sleeping and woke up when I heard my mother screaming help! help! help! she was shouting ‘he wants to remove a baby from my stomach’. My brother was under the bed and I saw my father and uncle Daniel trying to pull my mother from under the bed.

“I later went back to sleep and woke up

again to go and ease myself. I saw my father trying to pour oil into my mother’s mouth and uncle Daniel was holding a torchlight. My uncle asked me to go and sleep that by God’s grace my mother would be okay.

“I did go back to sleep and at about 5 am when I woke up, my uncle told me my mother was dead and that my father had gone to inform the police of the incident.

When my father got back, he told me my mother had taken snipper and he showed me the empty container. My daddy insisted that when people ask me what happened to my mother, I should tell them she drank snipper insecticide and nothing more. He told me if I did otherwise, the police would arrest me.”

Sister to the late Thereasa, Blessing insisted her sister had no reason to take her own life. According to her, her sister had confided in her and their mother that the husband had been giving her several drugs to abort the five months old pregnancy.

She said, “ I had seen my sister a day before her death. She was perfectly okay. I was however surprised when I was called the next day that my sister was dead and that he had taken her own life. “ I sincerely believe that her husband

IGP, Ibrahim

has a hand in her death because when we all travelled in April, she was telling us if how her husband had been flirting around and had refused to play his role as a father properly. She told us he hadn’t been giving her money for upkeep and that he had been buying her different herbal mixtures to flush out the pregnancy. She had concluded she was not going back to him because he was capable of killing her but upon the conviction by my grand mother, she had to return to him

News 21

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

PTAD Completes Payment of July 2017 Monthly Pension

Osinbajo, Gov Emmanuel meet behind closed doors

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

ÏÏÏIn less than 48 hours

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has said that it has concluded the payment of July 2017 monthly pensions of pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

In a statement made available to The Daily Times on Friday by its Deputy Director of Communication , Mr Emma Okondo, PTAD said that a total of 237,306 persons were paid.

According to the statement, 98,362 were paid under Parastatals Pension Department (PaPD) while 16,111 were paid under Police Pension Department (PPD).

The Directorate stated that 110,753 were paid under Civil Service Pension Department (CSPD) while 12,080 pensioners were paid under Customs Immigration Prisons Pensions Department (CIPPD).

PTAD said, “This development will sustain the momentum for preparation of the planned verification of Civil Service pensioners in the South West and North Central Zones.”

The Executive Secretary, Sharon Ikeazor, therefore, assured pensioners that the exercise was meant to upscale accurate, credible and digitized database of pensioners.

Ikeazor added that the Directorate is committed in keeping its promise of making prompt payment to pensioners as at when due.

FG warns against fraud on YouWinConnect registration Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

federal government said it has opened an online portal for the registration of prospective participants in its annual programme and warned applicants to disregard any website that offers alternative link for the YouWIN!Connect registration.

Federal Ministry of Finance in a statement on Friday by the Director of Information, Salisu Dambatta said under no circumstance should applicants pay money to anyone who demands money to facilitate the process or invites applicants to a meeting anywhere.

after joining six of his colleagues in the visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in London, Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has met behind closed doors with the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

At the end of his meeting with Osinbajo on Friday, Udom told State House correspondents that his interaction with Buhari in London showed that “God has answered Nigerians’ prayers over the President.”

But when asked if he has any idea of when Buhari is expected back to the country, the governor

Ï1 Ɨ Ɔ ƋƆƗ ƑƏ ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛ é1 ƒ nƗ ƌ

said he could not do so because he is not a doctor.

He also stated that there is no need to focus on the day the President will return, stressing that what should matter is the fact that God has healed Buhari.

Governor Emmanuel said, “I am not a medical doctor. Let me say something here, even when you have a biological father, you love your father, you take interest in his well being.

“I mean, as a father to the nation, in my personal opinion, I don’t think that it’s the issue now. The issue is that we should thank God that God has answered our prayers, that is where I am coming

from.

“Let me thank God for the life of the President and thank God for Nigerians too. I also appreciate Nigerians who have prayed sincerely and earnestly for Mr. President and I think God has actual answered the prayers of Nigerians.

“From what you could see from the photographs, you could see that God has actually answered our prayers, so some of us were quite excited to see Mr. President.

“He welcomed us, discussed with us and he was also happy to see us.

“So, what you are seeing both on television and newspapers are genuine and correct. God has actu-

ally healed our President and we thank God for that.

“Let me also say this, some of us believe as if the President and the governors are super humans.

“We are normal human beings, we also have challenges. So let us not think that because we are governors or President, we are superhuman.

“We are not God, we are mere mortals like any of us here. So that should also make us play down on the way we look at certain issues.”

Refusing to divulge the details of the discussion the governors had with Buhari, he assured Nigerians that the discussion was in the interest of the nation.

IMF appoints Mühleisen, Director of Fund’s Strategy and Policy Myke Uzendu, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The Mamaging Ditector of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde Thursday, appointed Martin Mühleisen as Director of the fund’s strategy, policy, and review department of IMF. In a statement signed by Alistar Thomas, a Media Officer at the IMF, Mühleisen a German national was appointed due to his vast experience in the funds policies and operations.

Announcing the appointment, Largarde said, “Martin brings an outstanding combination of skills and experience. He has a deep knowledge of Fund policies and operations gained over his 24-year career here; analytical rigor demonstrated time and again, particularly in his work on crisis programs and surveillance; and a stellar reputation—internally and externally—for his intellectual leadership and personal integrity.”

Eulogizing the virtues of Muhleisen, Largarde said, “The management team and I have had the opportunity to work closely with Martin and benefit from his wise counsel, sound judgment, and tireless efforts on behalf of the institution.

“He has a deep understanding of the Fund and the needs of the membership. At the same time, he is an innovator and a team player par excellence. I have been impressed, in particular, by his ability to remain clear-headed in difficult situations and to always seek creative solutions within the boundaries of our rules” Largarde stated.

Members of 2017 NYSC Batch ‘A’ Stream II, during their swearing-in at Wailo Camp, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State… on Friday.

CBN boosts Inter-Bank Forex Market with $462m Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday, intervened in the inter-bank Foreign Exchange Market with the total sum of $462,336,426.74 to boost the market.

This intervention was in line with its commitment to sustain and deepen flexibility in the foreign exchange market to further enhance forex flow in the economy.

A breakdown of the forex intervention fig-

ures obtained from the Bank indicates that the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) received the largest allocation of $267,336,426.74.

The CBN also offered $100,000,000 as wholesale interventions, while $50,000,000 was allocated to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) forex window.

Those requiring foreign exchange for Business/ Personal Travel Allowances, tuition and medical fees, among others, got a total allocation of

$45,000,000.

Confirming the figures, the Acting Director of the Corporate Communications Department, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, said that the leadership of the CBN was impressed by the positive impact its current foreign exchange management was having on the manufacturing sector, agriculture and economic activities in general across the country.

Okorafor reiterated that the CBN management was also encouraged by growth in the

non-oil sector, particularly agriculture.

He noted that the apex bank would not relent in its efforts at sustaining stability in the interbank Forex market as well as ensuring the convergence between the exchange rates at the Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange (NAFEX) and the Bureau de Change segments of the market.

According to him, “the CBN will continue to ensure proper surveillance of the forex market to guard against any sharp practices by participants and uphold trans-

parency of the process.”

He re-echoed the optimism of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, at the last Monetary Policy briefing on Tuesday and expressed hope that the Bank’s intervention, coupled with complementary fiscal efforts, would restore the economy to the path of growth.

Meanwhile, the naira maintained its steady rate against major currencies around the globe, appreciating to N360/$1 in the BDC segment of the market on Friday.

News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Magu gets global endorsement as Nigeria records progress in TI Corruption Index Tony Amokeodo, Lagos

ÏÏÏHe is vilified at home

by the elite while the Senate has refused to confirm his appointment on two occasions. But the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has received an endorsement from outside the country as 25 countries around the world have applauded his work in fighting corruption in Nigeria.

The endorsement is the outcome of an opinion poll conducted by United Kingdom -based Global Peace Movement International.

It is instructive to note that the outcome of the poll is coming a week after the Transparency International (TI) released its latest transparency index in which Nigeria, for the first time in over a decade, moved up in the global anti corruption and transparency ranking.

This development, analysts insist, is directly related to the efforts of the

EFCC to tackle corruption headlong and change the negative perception of the country.

According to the report

by TI, the corruption perception index ranked 176 countries on a scale of 0 (perceived to be corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be clean).

In the report released, Somalia was ranked the most corrupt country in the world for the 10th straight year.

Speaking on the poll, the President General of the UK- based Global Peace Movement International, Dr Mike Uyi, explained that the decision to conduct the poll was based on the need to conduct an international survey to ascertain global opinion on the work of the EFCC, pointing out that Magu secured more than 96 per cent endorsement by respondents, with the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, Canada, China and Belgium all commending the work of the EFCC in tackling graft.

According to the report

of the survey, the US leads the list of countries that endorsed Magu with 92 per cent responding in favour of the work Magu was doing, while 7 per cent responded in the negative.

The UK returned a 96 per cent affirmative and France 85.

Other results of the poll showed 90 per cent Germans voting in favour of the acting EFCC chairman, while 9 per cent disapproved. Russia had 62 per cent in favour of Magu, while 29 per cent disapproved. Greece was 73 per cent in favour, with 22 per cent going the other way.

Malta had 80 per cent in favour with 17 per cent disapproval; Sweden, 85 per cent approval, and 7 per cent disapproval; Belgium, 85 approvals and 8 disapproval; Switzerland had 76 approval, and 11 per cent disapproval; Norway, 85 approval and 8 per cent against; Austria, 81 per cent approval and 6 per cent disapproval, while India had 53 per cent approval and 26

per cent against.

Others are Brazil with 65 per cent approval and 27 per cent disapproval, same with China having 65 per cent approval rating for the acting EFCC chairman while 22 per cent disapproved, Denmark had 84 per cent approval and 4 per cent disapproval, while Canada had a 91 per cent approval and 3 per cent disapproval.

Japan was 92 per cent approval and 3 disapproval, Luxembourg, 83 per cent approval and 4 disapproval, Mexico, 83 per cent approval and 7 disapproval, Portugal, 68 per cent and 22 per cent , South Korea, 74 per cent and 16 per cent , Principality of Monaco had 80 per cent approval and 11 per cent disapproval, The Netherlands, 82 per cent approval and 5 per cent disapproval, while Lithuania had a 72 approval and 13 per cent rating for the acting EFCC chairman.

Uyi also stated that the results of the survey on other public elected or appointed officials in Nigeria will soon be released to the public.

NUJ president seeks passage of Media Enhancement Bill

ÏÏÏThe

National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Waheed Odusile, has called for the passage of the Media Enhancement Bill to regulate the profession and ensure regular payment of salaries of journalists.

Odusile made the call at the quarterly meeting of Zone B of the NUJ hosted by the Lagos State Council in Lagos on Friday.

He, however, solicited the support of the National Assembly in the initiative.

Odusile said that several journalists worked without being paid.

“In other climes, newspaper employers do not owe salaries but in Nigeria, they owe journalists.

“We want that law that will make workers’ salaries to be paid as and when due,’’ he said.

The NUJ President called for the freedom of the press, saying that “any attempt to cripple the press would affect the survival of democracy’’.

According to him, some amendments to the constitution are good but we want to demand that it must be expressly stated that the press should be free in Nigeria.

The NUJ President said that the issue of fake news was assuming an alarming proportion.

“When people talk about fake news, they remember journalists, whereas we are not the publishers of fake news.

“Members of the society have not been able to differentiate who the fake journalists are.

“The only way we can make ourselves distinct is to know what our ethics say,’’ he said.

Odusile said that the union had begun a biometric registration of journalists in order to rid the profession of quacks who have infiltrated journalism pratice.

He said that the state of the nation was of greater concern to the NUJ, especially the threat to the unity of the nation.

“We appeal to the proponents of division to take a back seat, talk about the unity of the nation and to promote things that unite us.

“Together Nigeria will be stronger, in spite of our teething problems.

“Hence the need for the restructuring of our country, both politically and economically,’’ he said.

In a message to the occasion, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr Steve Ayorinde, urged journalists to uphold high moral and ethical standards in the conduct of their duties.

No criticism will stop amendment of Broadcasting Code- Minister Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

Winner, Digestive 125th years anniversary promo, by Pladis Global Limited, Emmanuel Abiodun Akinyemi (middle); managing director/CEO, Mr. Kwame Winfe (right) and brand manager, Mr. Tunde Williams, during the presentation of cheque to Akinyemi in Lagos… on Friday.

Makarfi escapes death in multiple auto crash along Abuja-Kaduna Highway ÏÏÏSen.

Ahmed Makarfi, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National Caretaker Committee on Friday survived a multiple auto crash.

The PDP disclosed this in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dayo

Adeyeye on Friday in Abuja.

Adeyeye stated that the vehicle conveying Makarfi, was at the early hour of Friday involved in a multiple collision with other vehicles along Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

Adeyey, who did not disclosed the exact time of the ac-

cident and location, however, said that Makarfi and other people in his vehicle came out unhurt.

Adeyeye said: “We are happy to report that fortunately, the distinguished senator and all other passengers in his vehicle came out unhurt.

“This is to allay the fears of our party members, teeming supporters and well wishers who heard of the accident and have been making frantic calls; as well as those who may stumble on half-baked information.”

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that the Federal Government will not be stampeded into abandoning its ongoing efforts to amend the Nigeria Broadcasting Code to ensuring that Nigerian content or local content Programmes are produced in the country.

Mohammed stated this in Abuja on Friday when he received a delegation from the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOC), led by its Nigerian representative, Dr. Tunji Asaolu John.

He said those who deliberately twisted his comments to allege that the Federal Government will ban the shooting of films and music videos abroad are being mischievous, and reaffirmed government’s commitment to protecting local creative talents and generating employment.

The minister maintained that the government will not be intimidated or stampeded by anybody.

He said that the amendment of the Code would also encourage people to invest in the establishment of worldclass studios in Nigeria to guarantee that producers get the same quality of work as obtained abroad.

“We are not going to export jobs to other countries and say our economy will grow.

Most of the arguments which are being proffered, honestly, are unrealistic. One of them said where in Nigeria are we going to produce our music and our films when there are no studios.

“What they don’t understand is that nobody is going to invest in (building studios) in Nigeria if the law allows you to go and do the same thing outside Nigeria,” the Minister said,” Mohammed explained.

He said the Federal Government was consciously developing the Creative Industry in its renewed drive to diversify the economy away from oil.

The Minister pledged the ministry’s support for the African Festival of Arts and Culture, to be hosted in Nigeria in November.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Pakistani council head, 24 others arrested for ordering teen girl’s Rape Bonny Amadi with agency reports

Twenty four people and a council head in Pakistan has been picked by the police for ordering the rape of a teenage girl watched by many community dwellers.

The arrest of the 25 took place in a rural village on Thursday, after the village council ordered a man to rape a teenage girl publicly to avenge the sexual assault of his sister, an assault regarded as honour rape.

The council head told Mohammad Ashfaq, 20, to rape the 16-year-old girl after Mr. Ashfaq’s family accused her brother of raping Mr. Ashfaq’s 12-year-old sister, the police said.

According to reports, the case was brought to the attention of the police in Punjab Province after the 16-year-old’s mother reported that Mr. Ashfaq had carried out the rape on July 18 in Muzaffarabad, a village near the city of Multan.

Pakistani rape room

Some members of the council were present at the time of the rape, according to a complaint that the girl’s mother filed with the police.

The rape case has caused an uproar in Pakistan, where rights advocates denounced the state of women’s rights in the country.

“It seems that nothing has changed since 2002,” Ms. Mai said in a telephone interview, referring to the year when her own case made international

headlines.

Ms. Mai now runs a nongovernmental organization for women’s rights in her village in the Muzaffargarh District.

“Until poor people get justice, such incidents will keep happening,” she said. “When the perpetrators of such crimes do not fear the law or punishment, when they enjoy political patronage, such practices will not stop.”

The so-called honor rape, or vengeance rape,

occurred after the council ruled that the rape of a minor family member was a fair punishment for the suspected rape of the 12-year-old. alman Sufi, the director general of the Chief Minister’s Strategic Reforms Unit, who helped to open the women’s center, said both girls had been given medical examinations.

However, after the news of the arrests became public, Saqib Nisar, the chief justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, ordered an inquiry by Punjab’s chief of police.

Several junior officers and the Multan chief of police were suspended for negligence after Thursday’s arrests, said Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the province’s chief minister, adding that an investigation into the officers’ conduct would be carried out within 72 hours.

“I will not sit with ease until all accused are punished according to the law,” Mr. Sharif said at a news conference.

Rape victim suffers another rape while looking for help A young girl who was raped by unsuspecting rapist, while seeking for assistance was raped the second time in 24 hours, the Sun reports.

This has led to the launch of a major double manhunt, following a shocking back-toback assault in Birmingham, England.

Investigators said the young girl (teen) was first raped in a secluded part of Witton railway station, near the Aston Villa football ground, about 120 miles northwest of London, sometime between 7 p.m.

Tuesday and raped again 2 a.m. Wednesday.

According to the report, the victim had walked to the station with her friend but was led away by a man who approached her.

Shortly after that attack, the girl walked out of the station and flagged down a passing vehicle to ask for help. But after getting in the car, she was raped a second time by another man.

A major investigation, involving detectives from the British Transport Police and West Midlands Police, is under way to try to identify both attackers and appeal for witnesses.

The victim described the first attacker as Asian with light skin, brown eyes, a skinny build and about 6 feet tall.

He was wearing a tracksuit top and bottoms, black train-

ers and was in his early 20s.

The second attacker is also described as Asian, in his early 20s, 5 feet 6 or 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a large build and a close-cropped beard and was wearing a blue shirt and black jeans.

Detective Chief Inspector Tony Fitzpatrick, of British Transport Police, said: “This was a horrifying ordeal for this young girl and we have

specially trained officers supporting her.

“It is now vitally important we investigate exactly what happened on Tuesday morning as well as identifying offenders for both of these awful incidents.

“My detectives are currently examining all available CCTV in an effort to identify the offenders and whilst these enquiries are made, we are

keen to speak with any potential witnesses.

“Whilst this incident happened during the early morning and there may not have been many people around, I would be keen to speak with anyone who may have been in the area at the time.

Fitzpatrick added: “We are now doing all we can to trace the people responsible and bring them to justice.”

Ethiopia grants special status to Stateless resident Rastafarians The Rastafarian community in Ethiopia have been promised of special status, by offering them with official identity by the government after years of petition to be granted citizenship status.

Many of the Caribbean-born dread-locked community started immigrating to Ethiopia in the 1960s and settled on the 200 hectares of land at Shashamene offered by Emperor Haile Selassie in 1948 for those who supported him in the war against Italy.

Their numbers grew after Selassie’s visit to Jamaica. Emperor Haile Selassie is seen as a god by many Rastafarians.

Since his overthrow in 1974 and death a year later, Rastafarians still feel they are not recognised in the “promise land” and cannot integrate.

Many of the Rastafarians have given up their Caribbean identity and have been unable

Ethiopean Rastaferians

to get Ethiopian identity, thereby leaving them stateless The foreign ministry said Rastafarians in the country will be given identity cards to be able to reside and enjoy some benefits like citizens.

The government stated clearly that the identity cards will also be offered to foreigners who have contributed to the development of the country including Ethiopian Jews.

Meles Alem, foreign ministry spokesperson was reported to have told AFP recently that with the identity cards, the nearly one thousand Rastafarians in the country can live there without residence permits and can enter the country without visas.

However, the new status, requires that the Rastafarians cannot vote in elections and enlist in the security agencies, he added.

23 Foreign

Indonesia’s execution of Nigerian drug convict flawed by violations

Indonesia execution victims

The execution of Nigerian drug convict in July 2016 by Indonesia’s government has been exposed as an execution carried out in a hurry without following due processes of trial.

Humphrey Jefferson, two other Nigerians and an Indonesian were the only prisoners to face the firing squad on July 29 last year, from a group of 14 picked initially.

The office of Indonesia’s ombudsman has unearthed evidence of rights violations in the execution of a Nigerian drug convict last year, an official said on Friday.

Humphrey Jefferson was still seeking clemency from President Joko Widodo at the time of his execution, which meant he still had a chance of being pardoned, said Ninik Rahayu, an official of the ombudsman’s office who is overseeing the case.

Jefferson, sentenced to death in 2004, had also sought a second judicial review of his

case by the Supreme Court, but his request was denied by the Central Jakarta court without proper explanation, Rahayu said, in what she called maladministration.

If the court had taken on Jefferson’s case, his execution would have had to be delayed until its final verdict.

“When one is given the death penalty, all of the procedures must be done according to the laws,” Rahayu told reporters at her office.

“The rights of the person must be fully met before his sentence is carried out. You can’t bring back the dead to life.”

Rahayu also said the Attorney General’s office, responsible for conducting the execution, had not followed rules requiring it to give Jefferson and his family 72 hours’ notice of the event.

The execution was done according to law, said Muhammad Rum, a spokesman for the Attorney General’s office.

Ghana towns cut off as floods destroy bridges in North Two hours of rain in northern Ghana on Tuesday left towns inaccessible after floods destroyed bridges and roads linking to the rest of the country.

According to local media Citifmonline, the floods that claimed the lives of two people cut off major roads in the Nanumba North and South districts due to collapsed bridges and dams.

The local authorities appealed for help from the government as farmlands and crops have also been washed away leaving the predominantly farming communities with no source of livelihood.

“As we speak now there is nothing at the assembly’s accounts. We are looking up

Ghanaian North flood disaster

to the central government to immediately come to our aid,” said the Nanumba North Chief Executive, Abdulai Yaqoub Ghana’s vice president Mahamudu Bawumia visited the affected areas on Wednesday and said the government will demolish building and structures on waterway as part of the solutions.

He expressed condolences to the bereaved families including his classmate Hajia Fati Bapuni who drowned after the water whisked her away while driving.

Flooding is perennial in northern and southern Ghana where hundreds have died in the past years. It is often blamed on choked drainage due to improper disposal of waste.

a

Ehizogia promises to uplift gymnastics

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

P

resident of the newly inaugurated Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria (FGN), Prince Kelvin Ehizogia, has promised to carry the board members along and seek ways of

promoting the sport in the country.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the new board by the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, in Abuja on Thursday.

On the occasion which took place at the conference

room of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Dalung charged the board members to eschew violence and work together towards taking the sport to greater heights.

“The Harmonization Committee met today to resolve all grey areas surrounding the

election of the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria. Rowdiness and unruly behavior were pointed out as some of the challenges faced during the electoral process.

We have made it clear to the President that the leadership of the Gymnastics Federation

must do everything possible to ensure a violent -free administration. We have extracted a letter of commitment from the board.

“If there is violence of any form in the federation, we will move in and help you to stabilize. Nobody should

intimidate or harass any member of this federation or any other federation. You must use diplomacy, love and care to carry everyone along in this Federation. You must respect everyone’s contributions while decisions must be taken at board meetings or at

Page 31

24

the congress,” Dalung said.

The Minister charged the board to keep transparent records of funding from international bodies and all other records for accountability and urged them to avoid running a one-man administration.

Saturday, July 29, 2017

AWAZIEM clears air on ‘evil’ report BEN NWACHUKWU with Agency Report

N

igeria international Chidozie Awaziem has opened up about what really happened after his medical at French Ligue 1 side Nantes.

The 20-year-old defender, who is on loan from Portuguese giants FC Porto, dismissed the reports stating that they were wide off the mark.

Awaziem feels that the Nigerian media that ran the story apparently didn’t get a perfect translation of what was reported by the French media. ”I think there’s a confusing somewhere in the translation by the Nigerian media,” Awaziem said.

“I read the story and I don’t want to believe the writer deliberately wrote that, it’s wrong to assume such. I feel he got the wrong translation.

“That said at no point did I abscond from Nantes after medical, they were issues with my visa and the terms of my contract which took a while to clear with Porto,” he added.

“Since then I have been here. We just finished playing Hull City in a friendly game as I speak to you now.”

The highly-rated defender was part of the Super Eagles team that suffered a surprise 2-0 defeat to South Africa in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Uyo, Nigeria last month. ”My move to Nantes was on even before the game against Corsica, not even the South Africa game. Everybody know about the deal that took me to Nantes,” he added.

“As for the calamity tag labelled on me, what can I say?, you can’t be loved by all but I can promise Nigerians that I will be at my best anytime I’m called up to play for Nigeria.”

Awaziem

Flight tickets up for grabs, as Lagos Badminton Classic ends ANDREW EKEJIUBA

T

he Lagos Badminton Classics which ends today will see a lot of celebrities in attendance.

Apart from the esteemed presence of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who has always graced the previous finals, this year will see celebrities in the entertainment industry attending.

They include Funke Akindele, Desmond Elliot, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Kunle Bamtefa, Sound Sultan, Kunle Afolayan and Olarewaju Ogunmefun, a hip hop artist who is better known by

his stage name, Vector tha Viper.

According to the president of Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, who is also the chairman of Lagos State Badminton Association, the attendance of the celebrities is to open a new vista in the international classics by bringing a blend of sports and entertainment.

“Call it sportainment if you like,” remarked the Nigerian badminton boss.

“Also, a raffle draw will be made for all attendees. At stake are two return tickets to London and Accra,

Ghana.”

They are offered by Medview Airlines. According to the organizers, each person at the Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall venue of the event will be given a raffle ticket before the draw.

A draw will then be made to determine the two winners. This year’s edition has already seen an increase in the prize money which has risen from a package of $15,000 to $20,000. Orbih remarked that the tournament will keep increasing in significance and attendance and that the next edition will

witness new additions to make the classics bigger.

Ahead of the final day, the classics had witnessed upsets. In fact the Day Two had the highest amount of upsets in the four-day championship which commenced on Wednesday, at the Molade Okoya Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

Following Day One’s qualifiers, one of Lagos top seed Godwin Olofua was knocked out by Isaac Contd. on page 25

Saturday, July 29, 2017

EXTRATIME

25

Flight tickets up for grabs, as Lagos Badminton Classic ends Contd. from page 24 Minaphee of Taraba; Enejo Abah of Nigeria was put through his paces as he bowed out of the tournament in the Round of 32 to Ahmed Salah of Egypt, 21-11, 21-16—two straight sets.

Number one seed in the men’s category, Israeli’s Misha Zilberman, made a rather easy progress over Herbert Ebayo of Uganda in two straight sets and further, beat Ghanaian’s Michael Opoku Baah to progress to the quarter finals in the men’s singles.

While Femi Bioku of the Lagos contingent ended his campaign in the hands of second

seed, Maddaloni of Italy, current Ivory Coast champion, Anuoluwapo Opeyori looks to be the only light for hosts, Lagos State, after making his way to this year’s quarter final rounds following his triumphant displays over Olamide Adebayo and Habeeb Bello in the Round of 32s and 16s respectively.

Thursday’s highest number of upsets came from the women category as the championship’s number one seeded female player, Hadia Hosny of Egypt was dumped out by unseeded Vrushali Gummadi of India in a tight three set encounter—15-21, 219, and 21-13.

For total casualties in the female category, the Day Two set of matches saw four major upsets from top seeds in the category; the likes of second seeded Menna Eltanany of Egypt; Grace Gabriel of Nigeria who is fifth seed; third seeded Egyptian, Doha Hany and Hadia Hosny also of Egypt who is the highest ranked female player in the championship.

Emir of Minna tourney gets boost SAKA BOLAJI, MINNA

T

he chairman, Match Commissioners Appointment Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Comrade Ahmed Yusuf Fresh has donated a giant trophy to be competed for by youths in Minna Emirate.

Fresh presented the trophy Thursday to the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, at his palace saying the football competition which will be organised by the state football association is to honour the Emir for his contribution to wise counselling of the youths.

According to him, “The state FA is trying to resurrect the Emir of Minna Cup which has become moribund for a very long time and the football competition would be used to asses future stars in and around Minna.”

Fresh who is also the Niger State FA chairman pointed out that the game of soccer has assisted in no small measure to taking away the minds of the youth from negative tendencies and promised to sustain all football competitions in Niger State.

“There are a lot of football competitions going on in Niger State, and it is our duty as football administrators to encourage them especially now that we have seen the enthusiasm among the youth to play football,” he said.

The Emir of Minna, Dr. Umar Farouk Bahago thanked the visiting state football association members for their support to the growth and development of football in Niger State.

“I want to specifically thank you all for your love and concern for the growth of football in my domain, I am also extremely happy for the trophy donated in my honour; we will support you all in every way possible, “ the Emir said.

Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) boss, Francis Orbih.

BRIEFS Farah delays track retirement Four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah will further delay his track retirement to race in the Diamond League final in Zurich on August 24, organisers say. Farah, 34, says his last race on the track in Britain will be the 3,000m at the Birmingham Grand Prix on August 20. But having qualified for the 5,000m Diamond League final, he is now set to end his track career in Switzerland. He will focus on marathons after the World Championships in London, which run from August 4-13. Farah won European 5,000m and 10,000m gold at Zurich’s Letzigrund Stadium in 2014.

African football will grow,says Pinnick Nigerian Football Federation’s president Amaju Pinnick says changes in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations will improve the game on the continent. NFF boss reckons the game will not suffer because there are 24 teams set to participate at the tournament. The changes in the continental showpiece were introduced by CAF last week during a football symposium held in Morocco. Pinnick presides over CAF’s Nations Cup Organising Committee and believes African football will be ‘redefined’ as a result of the changes, citing benefits with regard to business, infrastructure and the sport itself.

Foskolo Media partners Rivers SWAN

HRH Emir of Minna, Alh. Dr. Umar Farouk Bahago

Foskolo Media Productions have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rivers State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) towards resuscitating the Rivers SWAN monthly parley. At a lavish event held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt on Friday, July 28, convener of the event and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Foskolo Media Productions, Ufuoma Egbamuno addressed the reporters on the rationale behind the gathering. The Chairman of the Rivers State chapel of the NUJ, Ayo Tamuno and Chairman of Rivers SWAN, Sopriala Bobmanuel also spoke on the importance of the project.

Okpala set for Rangers rescue mission ANDREW EKEJIUBA with Agency Report

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ormer Nigeria international midfielder, Sylvanus Okpala has been tipped as the man to revive the flagging hopes of Enugu Rangers this season.

The reigning Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions are in dire straits this term and currently sit in the relegation places with just seven games remaining for the ‘Flying Antelopes’ to preserve their top

flight status.

Okpala has now been saddled with the responsibility of keeping Rangers up and he has been backed to succeed by the club’s team manager, Amobi Ezeaku.

“Everyone knows Okpala; he comes in with a lot of experience and I wish him well,” Ezeaku said.

Okpala takes over from Chukwuma Agbo who replaced Imama Amapakabo, the coach who led Rangers to their first top flight title

in 32 years.

Okpala is a former Nigeria international who earned 45 caps at senior level.

He was also part of the coaching staff as Nigeria won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Okpala’s first task is to mastermind a victory for Rangers on Sunday against last season’s runners-up, Rivers United as the NPFL enters Matchday 32, a feat Ezeaku believes can be achieved.

Okpala

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INTERVIEW

WCQ: Defeating Cameroon will be tough for Eagles—Ka’Oje Former Minister of Sports and Chairman of National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bala Bawa Ka’Oje has left the sports ministry for over a decade, but his interest in sports has kept him within the circle. In this exclusive interview with Extra Time correspondent, BEN NWACHUKWU, in Abuja, he opens up on the forthcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles and Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, including problems bedevilling the sports industry in the country and proffered solutions. Excerpts:

Q

“I am not totally saying we cannot beat Cameroon, but what I am saying is that Nigeria defeating Cameroon could be tough like America killing Osama Bin Laden! You know the whole Presidents (past and present) of America had sleepless night when they were trying to kill Osama Bin Laden. Their citizens were not at rest too. That was because Osama Bin Laden proved very difficult to haunt down. America put in every resources, time and all funds to make sure he was killed. We need to put in all our resources in place to stop Cameroon from denying us a place in Russia 2018 World Cup.”

: It is true you left the sports ministry for more than a decade, what is the driving force that has kept you conversant with what is happening in the industry till date?

A: According to records, I was once the Minister of Sports and the first Chairman of National Sports Commission. I can tell you I am still very much in sports. Sports is my passion, it is in my blood. Even before I became Sports Minister and Chairman of NSC I was in the sports circle, so it is simply passion that connects me to the industry on daily basis.

Are you comfortable with the recent happenings in our sports industry?

I must tell you, I am keenly following the happenings in sports in our country and I can tell you that all is not well.

Sports is the major source of our joy in this country, but you can see that rather than giving us joy, we are always sad with the results we get from participating in sports, particularly football.

Nigerians love football so much that when any of our national teams like the Super Eagles, Flying Eagles or the Golden Eaglets are playing, we give them total support, but you can see that the results we are getting now are not encouraging You are talking about football; the Super Eagles missed out in two consecutive Africa Cup of Nations finals and just in June the team lost to South Africa in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. We are to play Cameroon in a two-legged qualifier for the world cup now. Are you worried?

To say I am worried is an understatement. I am afraid! Cameroon is the reigning African champions. You saw what they played. It was difficult for our team to stand out against South Africa; is it against African champions they can stand out?

I know anything is possible in football, but you know the game between Nigeria and Cameroon has never been a tea party. They have always been a very difficult opponent to Nigeria. I am really afraid.

Sir, are you saying Super Eagles cannot beat the Indomitable Lions?

“I am glad you covered me when I was Sports Minister.

I can confidently say that though it has been long I left sports, I took sports to an enviable height, but what we are seeing now in the sports sector is sad. It is like sports is on a speed lane to decay. Frankly, I am saying that sports has crashed from the height we took it. When our football was having problems, other sports came to the rescue, but today where are the other sports?

They are dead even more than football.”

they do to overcome their continuous lack of funds to drive their programmes?

They know what to do. They should stop hiding their income in order to have sympathy from government to attract more money from them.

They should make their various sources of income public as well as their expenditure. This will also endear government to them to help and even attract more sponsors to them.

Ka’Oje

No. I am not totally saying we cannot beat Cameroon, but what I am saying is that Nigeria defeating Cameroon could be tough like America killing Osama Bin Laden!

You know the whole Presidents (past and present) of America had sleepless night when they were trying to kill Osama Bin Laden. Their citizens were not at rest too. That was because Osama Bin Laden proved very difficult to haunt down.

America put in every resources, time and all funds to make sure he was killed. We need to put in all our resources in place to stop Cameroon from denying us a place in Russia 2018 World Cup. What can be done to actualize the dream of Nigeria hoisting her flag at Russia 2018?

The Super Eagles must be adequately prepared. The NFF, technical crew, players, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Sports Minister, federal government, corporate bodies and all Nigerians must contribute in whatever capacity if we can make our dream of beating Cameroon be a reality.

Those who know how to pray should embark on praying without ceasing; those in charge of providing the money should not give any excuses; the coaches and players should see the task ahead as herculean and not to toy with it.

We all must be concerned but it must go beyond mere concern, we must give it our all otherwise it will end up in a sad story.

You sound pessimistic; why do you have such fear for Cameroon?

You know I am a realist. I do not know how to pretend or deceive people. If we could not beat South Africa here on our soil, why should we be confidently talking about defeating current African champions, Cameroon? To beat Cameroon, we must act like the Americans when they wanted to kill Osama bin Laden and that is the way we can get the result that will take us to Russia in 2018.

Honourable, the NFF is complaining of paucity of funds to prosecute the matches; what is your take on that?

Can you tell me any sector of the economy that is not complaining? Is this the first time the NFF is complaining of no money. It is true every sector of the country are complaining of lack of funds, but apart from the subvention government is giving to the NFF, I am aware they have sponsors or have they lost all of them. The problem is that they shroud everything in secrecy. They should open up, run a transparent office so that individuals and corporate organisations would take up the sponsorship of their programmes. This continuous cry for money is because they are secretive. The public is accusing them of corruption and their secretive policy tends to confirm the claim of the public.

What is your advice to NFF and what must

Recently, elections were conducted onto the various boards of the sports federations. A lot of protests and petitions came up; what is your reaction to such development in our sports industry?

Elections to the boards of sports federations should not cause sleepless night. You know I conducted elections onto these boards without hassles. The way out is transparency!

Give every interested person who is qualified a level playing ground. No sentiments. If somebody is not qualified he should be disqualified and not allowed to run at all. Those who are coming on board thinking it is a place to make personal money should be told they are in a wrong place.

Aside the aforementioned, whoever is intending to be a board member should know that what qualifies him/her is the contribution such person is able to make or willing to make. These contributions could be both financially and otherwise.

You know where you left sports a decade ago in the country, would you say sports is doing well or undergoing a retrogression in Nigeria now?

I am glad you covered me when I was Sports Minister. I can confidently say that though it has been long I left sports, I took sports to an enviable height, but what we are seeing now in the sports sector is sad. It is like sports is on a speed lane to decay. Frankly, I am saying that sports has crashed from the height we took it.

When our football was having problems, other sports came to the rescue, but today where are the other sports? They are dead even more than football.

Saturday, July 29, 2017

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Liverpool’s Robertson targets firstteam shirt

Watford boss Silva eyes further signings

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Stories by ANDREW EKEJIUBA with Agency Reports

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ew signing Andrew Robertson has made clear his aim to lock down Liverpool’s starting left-back berth as the Scotland international prepares for his pre-season debut.

The 23-year-old established himself as a Premier League player in a three-season stint at relegated Hull City before making a reported £10million switch to Anfield last week.

Already capped 15 times at international level, Robertson bolsters Jurgen Klopp’s options ahead of the Reds’ return to the Champions League.

The former Queen’s Park and Dundee United man will get his chance to impress on a tour of Germany as last season’s regular leftback James Milner sits out with a thigh injury.

“I’ve come here wanting to be first choice,” Robertson told reporters.

“Obviously it’s up to the manager as the competition will be big for the position, but it’s one where I’m hoping to come out on top.

“I respect the other players and I know how good a job they can do but I’ve just got to bring my A-game and hopefully it’s enough for me to be first choice.”

Liverpool’s tour commences with a friendly against Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin today, before meeting Bayern Munich in the Audi Cup next week.

Robertson will need to make the most of his opportunity if he is to start away to Watford on the opening day of the season.

“I don’t like it if I’m not part of the starting team. I don’t like sitting on the bench even when it was very rare at Hull to rest during cup games,” he said.

“I’m not a good spectator, I’m a nightmare when I’m injured and I’m not playing.”

Robertson

Silva

Arsenal forward Perez ‘angry’ over squad number

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Perez

atford manager Marco Silva believes his new club still need four to six more signings as he aims to lead a charge back up the Premier League.

The Hornets finished one place above the relegation zone last season and responded by sacking Walter Mazzarri, marking their third managerial change in as many seasons.

Silva, a championship winner in Greece, took over in May after almost guiding Hull City to safety last term.

The Portuguese has already made five signings and is eager for more reinforcements ahead of their season opener at home to Liverpool.

“We need more players on our roster,” Silva said during his first press conference.

“We have some targets in our mind. We need to do four, five, six moves in the market.

“It’s better for everyone if we have 95 per cent of our roster complete, that’s better for the coach.”

Silva inherited a cosmopolitan squad at Vicarage Road and has already moved to inject more homegrown talent.

Young midfielders Will Hughes and Nathaniel Chalobah have been brought in after teaming up at the European U21 Championship while Tom Cleverley made his loan move permanent.

“It’s important to look for English players who know the competition but it’s not easy to find good solutions,” the Watford boss said.

ant-away Arsenal forward Lucas Perez is “angry” and “upset” at the Emirates Stadium, with Deportivo La Coruna having made an offer to re-sign him, says the player’s agent.

Perez has struggled to make an impact after a €20million move from Depor a year ago and the signing of France international Alexandre Lacazette has pushed the 28-year-old further down the pecking order.

The attacker subsequently lost the number nine shirt to the new arrival and his agent Rodrigo Fernandez Lovelle suggested that snub was key to Perez’s desire to leave.

“We have talked to everyone. Arsenal know we want to go, that there are no opportunities here, and within a year there is a World Cup,” Lovelle said.

“Would you not be angry and sad and upset if you had your squad number taken without being asked?

“Deportivo made an offer a week ago. It is a permanent deal and worth more than Nolito’s move to Sevilla (from Manchester City for a reported €9m).

“Lucas signed for Arsenal and was the happiest person in the world and with all of his dreams to fulfil. We have seen that every time he played he did well, but after every time he got fewer and fewer opportunities.”

‘Conte enquires about Sanches’

A

ntonio Conte enquired about Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches after his Chelsea side lost to the Bundesliga champions in the International Cham-

Conte

pions Cup, says chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Sanches is expected to leave Bayern on loan, having started just six league games in his first season at the Allianz Are-

na after a €35million move from Benfica.

But Bayern are keen to hold on to the midfielder due to his potential after he impressed in Bayern 3-2 victory against Chelsea in Singapore on Tuesday.

AC Milan and Manchester United are among the clubs to have been linked with a move for the Portugal international, with Rummenigge claiming a long list of clubs have enquired about Sanches.

“There are at least 10 teams after Sanches,” Rummenigge said.

“Conte asked for some information about him after Tuesday’s match because he knows he can make the difference on the pitch.

“Bayern head coach Carlo Ancelotti was pleased with his performance against Chelsea so we can make a decision on him later.”

Sanches told reporters earlier in the week that Milan represented an “interesting option” as he would receive more playing time than at Bayern.

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De Bruyne backs Man City spending M

anchester City star Kevin De Bruyne believes the Premier League club’s spending spree is just what they needed.

Bernardo Silva, Ederson, Kyle Walker, Danilo and Benjamin Mendy have been added to Pep Guardiola’s squad, with City having spent more than a reported £200million.

City are desperate for improvement on last season after failing to win a trophy, finishing third in the Premier

League and making a last-16 Champions League exit.

De Bruyne feels City needed to strengthen in the closeseason, particularly after several departures – including the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Aleksandar Kolarov and Gael Clichy.

“It’s how the market goes.

There’s a lot of money going out, but there’s a lot of money going in,” the Belgian said.

“Who can say that spending £200m is normal? It isn’t. But how the league and football is

going at the moment, its normal prices. “Obviously it’s a lot of money, but it’s things that we needed to do. The revenue that the club gets in will be more than the £200m.”

After a 2-0 derby loss to Manchester United at the International Champions Cup, City crushed Real Madrid 4-1 on Wednesday.

De Bruyne, who starred by having a hand in three goals against Madrid, said it was a good sign for Guardiola’s men.

Merino

Newcastle sign Merino on season-long loan

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ewcastle United have signed Borussia Dortmund’s Mikel Merino on an initial season-long loan.

The Spain Under-21 international is Newcastle’s fifth acquisition of the transfer window following their immediate return to the Premier League from the Championship.

Merino, who made just nine appearances for Dortmund last season after joining from Osasuna, will move to St. James’ Park on a permanent basis once he makes an unspecified compulsory number of appearances, the Bundesliga club confirmed.

The midfielder is excited at the prospect of more regular football in 2017-18, telling

Bruyne

Newcastle’s official website: “It feels good and I’m very happy to be here, to be part of this club. “I’m looking forward to touching the ball, meeting my new team-mates and starting to play football.

“I know it’s a great club and a really nice city. I had different options but I think this is the right place for me to play.”

Merino was part of the Spain team that reached the final of this year’s European Under-21 Championship, where they lost 1-0 to Germany.

Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez has been impressed with the player’s desire to establish himself at the highest level.

Chelsea defender Miazga rejoins Vitesse

C Blues are title favourites, says Conte Stories by ANDREW EKEJIUBA with Agency Reports

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helsea boss Antonio Conte believes his side remain the team to beat ahead of the start of the 201718 Premier League season.

The Blues claimed a second title in three years in Conte’s first season in charge, finishing seven points clear of Tottenham after winning 30 of their 38 matches.

Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City in particular have invested heavily in their squads ahead of what promises to be a fiercely contested title race next term.

But although he has warned his players against becoming complacent, Conte feels they deserve to start the season as favourites.

“For sure; we won the Premier League title last season,” he told a news conference.

“This season will be tough. You

know what has been happening in England. Chelsea won in 2014-15 and then Leicester City won the league. So we must be careful and not take any team lightly.

“It is normal that every big team tries to reinforce their squad by bringing in quality players. That is what they have done. For sure, next season in Premier League will be a huge challenge for us.”

Chelsea have brought in Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Antonio Rudiger and Willy Caballero during the transfer window at a reported combined cost of close to £130million.

Despite the significant outlay, Conte has warned that his new signings will need time to adapt to his methods in England’s top flight.

Conte faced criticism this week for accusing young players of being “impatient” while allowing a number of Chelsea youngsters to leave Stamford Bridge.

helsea have sent Matt Miazga back out on loan to partner club Vitesse Arnhem, the defender becoming the latest player to depart the Premier League champions on a temporary basis.

Miazga spent last season with the Eredivisie club, making 23 league appearances and starting in his side’s 2-0 win against AZ to lift the KNVB Cup, the club’s first major trophy.

United States international Miazga, who joined Chelsea from New York Red Bulls in 2016, was an unused substitute as his country beat Jamaica 2-1 to claim the Gold Cup this week.

Chelsea have a raft of players out on loan, including Miazga’s fellow defenders Ola Aina and Michael Hector at Hull City, Kurt Zouma - who is with Stoke City - and Fulham’s Tomas Kalas.

“I have fond memories of my first year at Vitesse,” said the 22-year-old. “They made me feel very welcome and we achieved a historical success.

“I want to build on that next year and keep developing. That’s why I returned as soon as possible after the Gold Cup. We will now fight for the second trophy in the

club’s history together.”

Chelsea players Fankaty Dabo, Charlie Colkett and Mason Mount will also spend

the coming campaign at Vitesse.

Miazga, who has made only two Premier League

appearances, will come up against his fellow Chelsea loanee Todd Kane when Vitesse face Groningen in the Eredivisie this season.

Miazga

Miazga

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Fassone, Pallotta clash over Milan spending Stories by BEN NWACHUKWU with Agency Reports

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C Milan chief executive Marco Fassone has hit back at Roma president James Pallotta after he said the Rossoneri’s high level of spending “makes zero sense”.

Milan have been one of Europe’s busiest clubs in the transfer window, bringing in 10 new players including Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci and Portugal striker Andre Silva, while handing a bumper new contract to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The overhaul of Vincenzo Montella’s squad is intended to boost Milan’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League, but Pallotta questioned the club’s strategy following the takeover from Li Yonghong’s company Rossoneri Sport Investment Lux – though he later admitted some of his information may have been incorrect.

“UEFA, in terms of Financial Fair

Play, has been a complete ****show for us,” Pallotta told reporters.

“We should be the poster boy for turning things around from the previous ownership. When you relate it to AC Milan, I have no idea what is going on there. It makes zero sense.

“The amount of spending - they didn’t have the money in the first place to buy the club, as they borrowed almost €300million from some people that I know in London, at a pretty high interest rate.

“They are spending - or at least making some significant down-payments - for players and they’re going to have to pay the piper at some point down the road.

“They say it’s about qualifying for the Champions League, but that won’t be enough. When the salary seems about equal to the revenues, I don’t know what the heck is going on.”

But Milan CEO Fassone rejected Pallotta’s suggestion their spending is unsustainable, branding such com-

ments inaccurate.

“I was stunned when I read these words this morning,” Fassone said in a video posted on Milan’s Facebook page on Friday. “For one thing, because of the style. It’s unusual, at least in Italy, for a club to attack another one in such a direct way. Secondly for the inaccuracy of his words.

“We all know that in order to purchase a club you need a financial leverage. Moreover, he’s talking about figures that are inaccurate.”

“We have issued a bond which is entirely destined to finance our transfer campaign for this summer and we are currently well below using up this bond.

“The club’s €120million debt compared to the club’s revenues is in percentage way better than Roma’s.”

After Fassone’s response, Pallotta issued a statement to Milan via the Roma website.

“I apologise if I used some incorrect information,” Roma’s president said.

Silva hints end in sight over Neymar, PSG link

Pulisic backs Dortmund to dethrone Bayern in Bundesliga

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T

hiago Silva expects an imminent resolution to Paris SaintGermain’s ambitious pursuit of Barcelona star Neymar.

Speculation over the forward’s future continues to dominate headlines and that further intensified after the Brazilian clashed with Barca’s new signing Nelson Semedo in training on Friday.

PSG are reportedly willing to pay Neymar’s €222million release clause in what would be a world-record transfer fee and Silva hinted the saga may be close to ending.

“Neymar is my friend, we have been playing for seven years together for Brazil and we have a very open relationship,” PSG captain Silva told reporters ahead of today’s Trophee des Champions against Monaco in Morocco.

“But right now we cannot talk about Neymar before the game. Everyone will talk about it soon.”

On the Monaco clash, Thiago Silva said: “It’s a normal game, it’s going to be an important match, it’s 5050 for each team, it’s another year, we’re starting again.

“The coach has prepared us very well for the match, we will try to minimise the threat of Kylian Mbappe to bring the trophy home.”

Unai Emery avoided questions about Neymar, but PSG’s head coach acknowledged speculation about the future of midfielder Marco Verratti, who has been linked with Barcelona.

“He is a player who grew up with PSG and today he will have a lot of desire to have a good match,” Emery

Fassone

Silva

said.

“The players who are here are the most important, I have a lot of confidence in my players and the players who are here deserve to play this final.

“Our concentration is good at the

moment.

“I’m happy with the players and their work, I have a lot of motivation to start the competition and this season. What happened last season is an experience that will serve us to do better this season.”

orussia Dortmund winger Christian Pulisic has fired a warning to Bayern Munich ahead of the start of the Bundesliga campaign.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been crowned champions every year since Dortmund won back-to-back titles under Jurgen Klopp in 2011 and 2012.

BVB finished third last season, three points behind RB Leipzig in second and 18 adrift of Bayern at the top, having suffered six defeats in their 34 matches.

However, they secured two wins against Bayern over the course of the season, claiming a 1-0 league victory in November and a 3-2 triumph in the semi-final of the DFB-Pokal, which they went on to win.

And Pulisic, who has rubbished rumours of a move to the Allianz Arena in recent weeks, believes Dortmund are well placed to take back the Bundesliga title in 201718.

“We’ve got a big chance to win the league this coming season,” he said.

Pulisic hopes to enhance his own burgeoning reputation next term after a highly impressive first full season in the senior side.

Celtic fined €23,000 for illicit banner

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eltic have been fined €23,000 (£20,600) by UEFA after fans unfurled an “illicit banner” during their Champions League second qualifying round second-leg clash with Linfield.

A section of fans at Parkhead unfurled a banner featuring a person

in paramilitary uniform at the game, which Celtic won 4-0 to seal a 6-0 aggregate win.

In the wake of the incident, Celtic released a statement that read: “Any support for a paramilitary or proscribed terrorist organisation has no place at Celtic Park.”

The fine was also imposed for stairways being blocked, but the club were not punished over a charge relating to a kit infringement.

Celtic drew 0-0 with Rosenborg in their third qualifying round first-leg game on Wednesday.

Pulisic

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Neymar storms out of Barca training after Semedo bust-up Stories by BEN NWACHUKWU with Agency Reports

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arcelona star Neymar stormed out of training on Friday in an incident that is likely to cast further doubt on his future.

The Brazil international clashed with new signing Nelson Semedo before angrily walking away from the session in Miami, where Barca are preparing for today’s International Champions Cup clash with Real Madrid. Video footage taken at the camp shows Neymar squaring up to full-back Semedo before the pair are separated by teammates including Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets.

The 25-year-old then throws his bib to the ground before furiously kicking a ball against the crossbar of a training goal as he strides off the pitch.

The forward headed out to the car park before leaving the session entirely, according to reports.

Neymar has been in fine form during Barca’s pre-season tour of the United States but the latest incident is likely to increase speculation that he will move to Paris Saint-Germain.

The Ligue 1 club are reportedly ready to smash the world trans-

Neymar

fer record by activating the player’s €222million release clause.

A Chinese travel company confirmed on Friday that a planned fan event with Neymar in Shanghai had been cancelled due to the player and his entourage having to sort “transfer issues”.

Barton banned from Grenfell fundraising game

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oey Barton says he is disappointed at not being allowed to participate in this year’s fundraising fixture for victims of the Grenfell Fire.

Queens Park Rangers announced they will be staging a match at Loftus Road on September 2 to raise funds for those affected by the disaster.

The #Game4Grenfell will feature a host of current and ex-professionals such as David Seaman, Les Ferdinand, Alan Shearer and Ally McCoist, as well as many celebrities.

However, Barton, who played for QPR for four years, is not permitted to take part because of his FA ban from all football activity until June 1, 2018, after admitting a breach of betting rules.And Barton took to Twitter to announce his disappointment, expressing: “Would have loved to be supporting #Game4Grenfell.

“But FA have decided my ban extends to helping a great cause. So, unfortunately, unless someone engages their brain, I won’t make it.”

The Football Association announced last month that proceeds from next month’s Community Shield will be donated to support those affected by Grenfell Tower disaster.

The FA - alongside Arsenal, Chelsea and title sponsors hope to raise around £1.25m.

Neymar is said to be interested in the move to PSG, having grown unsettled in Catalonia and eager to escape the shadow of illustrious teammate Lionel Messi at Camp Nou. Messi and Luis Suarez are reported to have spoken directly to the player to persuade him to stay, while

Gerard Pique and Ivan Rakitic have publicly urged him to turn down any offer from the Ligue 1 giants.

However, Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu admitted this week that Neymar’s future would be out of the club’s hands if his buy-out clause were met.

Milan play down Costa links

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C Milan’s general manager Marco Fassone says Diego Costa is a “great player” but played down speculation that the Chelsea striker will be the marquee signing promised to the club’s fans this summer.

The Rossoneri have spent over €200 million on 10 new players so far this summer, but they are still in the market for another forward.

Fassone said earlier this month that Milan hoped to sign Andrea Belotti, Alvaro Morata or PierreEmerick Aubameyang, but Morata is now at Chelsea and Torino and Dortmund appear unwilling to sell.

“There are a lot of things you can talk about and I was pleased to catch up with Mendes in Sardinia,” Fassone told reporters. “Diego Costa is a Chelsea player and I don’t want to talk about players from other clubs.

“He’s a great player -- excellent -- but at the moment, he is at Chelsea. We need time to work out whether or not to invest further.

There could be opportunities which concern Mendes’ players.

“We hope and believe that we’ve done our bit in the transfer market.

We’ve brought 10 new players into the dressing room and that’s never easy. It’s now up to them and the coach.”

Milan have also expressed an interest Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches, another Mendes client, but the German club have now said he is only available on loan.

Bale’s Real exit reports is ridiculous—Barnett

G

Barton

areth Bale’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, has revealed that reports linking his player with a move away from Real Madrid are “ridiculous” and “stupid”.

Speculation linking the Welsh star with a move to Manchester United intensified this week after Zinedine Zidane refused to guarantee none of Bale, Karim Benzema or Cristiano Ronaldo would be sold this summer.

The Real Madrid manager told journalists on Thursday: “I want everyone who is here now to stay but anything can happen right up until August 31.”

Real have raised around £100m from players - including Alvaro Morata and Danilo - leaving the club during the current transfer window.

The 12-time European Cup winners have signed talented youngsters Theo Hernandez and Dani Ceballos this summer but they continue to be linked with a potential world-record move for Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe.

Jose Mourinho has been vocal in his desire to add two more players to his United squad this summer - a midfielder and a wide player.

Bale would certainly fit the bill as one of the best wide players in the world, but sources said he is not a player United are actively pursuing and they have not made an attempt to sign him since he left Tottenham.

United have instead been trying to sign Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic but have so far been unable to agree a fee, with the Serie A club holding out for £48m for the Croatian international.

30

Bale

Saturday, July 29, 2017

EXTRATIME

31

SPECIAL FEATURE Super Eagles players looking dejected after they were humbled 2-0 by Bafana Bafana of South Africa in an AFCON qualifier on June 12, 2017 in Uyo.

Eagles: Surmounting Indomitable Lions WCQ challenge

FRANK JUMBO

S

eptember 1, 2017, will see two of Africa’s best football playing nations clash in what many have referred to as a make or break tie. On that day, Nigeria’s Super Eagles will take on Cameroun in a crucial World Cup qualifying (WCQ) match in Uyo. From records, both teams are smarting from recent defeats with extremely low morale. Nigeria lost a vital AFCON qualifying match against South Africa in the same stadium on June 12, 2017, in a game many had predicted would be walk-over.

It was Coach Gernot Rohr’s first and bitter taste of defeat as Eagles coach.

Frankly, it was a defeat that rattled the confidence of the Eagles and angered the nation.

A peep into the game revealed all the Super Eagles weaknesses which were ruthlessly exposed by the agile and determined South Africans.

Rohr’s statement after the match underlined his shaken confidence: “We created many chances in the first half while some players became tired in the second half. We tried some wing football, but it did not work. I think the game against Cameroun will be interesting and much better.”

Cameroun on the other hand had a traumatizing outing at the recently concluded FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.

The Indomitable Lions drew 1-1 against lowly rated Australia and lost to Chile and Germany in a manner that stunned soccer analysts in the African continent.

The Germans crushed the spirit of the Indomitable Lions in a badtempered match which underscored

Cameroun’s physical style of play and individual indiscipline. At the end, Cameroon finished the match with ten men. This was a far cry from their 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup performance where they went all the way to the finals and lost 0-1 to France.

Needless to say, the present Cameroun team is not in the best of shape in confidence and morale.

Soccer observers, fans and analysts predict a hard, tough match for the Super Eagles which is lacking decisive firepower upfront and with serious goal keeping problems.

Ex-international, seasoned sport writer and analyst, Segun Odegbami (MON), put it succinctly and gloomily: “The situation we are in is very dicey.

“The situation we are in is very dicey. The match is too close for comfort and there’s nothing being done.

Players are not in camp and there’s no effort to correct the mistakes we made against South Africa. I am a professional, but I honestly don’t know what to say.

I don’t know what will happen. It is a very, very bad situation we have found ourselves. I don’t know what the Super Eagles can do to secure victory. It is up to the boys and the coaches.”

The match is too close for comfort and there’s nothing being done. Players are not in camp and there’s no effort to correct the mistakes we made against South Africa.

“I am a professional, but I honestly don’t know what to say. I don’t know what will happen. It is a very, very bad situation we have found ourselves.

“I don’t know what the Super Eagles can do to secure victory. It is up to the boys and the coaches.”

Nwankwo Kanu, ex- Super Eagles maestro, was a bit more optimistic.

“It was a bad result against South Africa,” he said. “If you were in my shoes, you will know it was very painful. All the same, it is a very big wake up call, not only for the players but for everybody.

“The match against Cameroun is a very crucial one and right now, I believe we have learnt from our mistakes and we need to work on them. Everybody must come and support them.

“The players have to do what they know best because we need a good result in this regard. We know that Cameroun are not push-overs knowing that they won the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

“So we need to work extra hard to make sure we get something from the two-legged ties,” Kanu stated.

Former Flying Eagles goalkeeper Andrew Aikhomogbe offers a goalkeeping perspective to the matter, with him urging Rohr to urgently recall frozen out Vincent Enyeama for the Cameroun cracker.

“As for me, I don’t think we have a better goalkeeper to replace sick Carl Ikeme than Vincent Enyeama in the Super Eagles.

“There is nothing wrong if we recall Enyeama considering the fact that he

is very experienced and he knows the terrain well. I believe he will be very important for us against Cameroun if Rohr invites him,” he opined.

Former Super Eagles dare devil striker, Henry Nwosu in his opinion advocates for total concentration.

“The coaches must not fail the country. They should go for the best local and foreign-based players. There should not be any automatic shirts for any player that does not merit to be in the squad.

“Every player must fight for a shirt in the starting line. There should not be blind selection. All the players must be physically fit and must give 100 per cent concentration.

“Aside what I earlier said, the reserve bench must be okay and also physically fit. Remember that Cameroun play physical football. So, all our boys have to be 100 per cent fit.

“The most dangerous thing is that Cameroun can finish Eagles if there is loss of concentration. It will be very bad if we lose concentration, thus, we must be very, very careful,” Nwosu cautioned.

Another ardent supporter for the recall of Vincent Enyeama is veteran sports analyst Colin Udoh who said: “Enyeama’s presence, organization and stability he brings to the backline of Eagles will seriously help the inexperienced defenders we have now.

His recall will not only bring boost to Eagles’ confidence but also stability.”

The Super Eagles are currently leading Group B with 6 points with Cameroun in second place with 4 points behind Nigeria. Zambia and Algeria are at the bottom in that order.

The return leg of the match will be played on September 4 in Yaoundé in order to accommodate the desires of

“The coaches must not fail the country.

They should go for the best local and foreignbased players. There should not be any automatic shirts for any player that does not merit to be in the squad. Every player must fight for a shirt in the starting line and there should not be blind selection. All the players must be physically fit and must give 100 per cent concentration.” the owners of the Television rights.

On paper, the statistics seem to favour Cameroun having recorded an average of 1.5 first half goals in 7 out of their last 10 games played.

On the other hand, Nigeria scored an average of 2.5 goals in 3 out of their last games played. During the FIFA Confederation Cup in Russia, Cameroun only managed to score 2 goals in 3 games. Their passes was adjudged by many experts to be largely inaccurate and like Nigeria, they were also exposed defensively.

In summary, both teams appear to have similar problems – poor morale, poor goalkeeping, bad sports administration, poor defence and low finishing power. It remains to be seen who will emerge victorious in this highpressure encounter.

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

Editor Daily: TONY AMOKEODO

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

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Business & Economy Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Economy on path to recovery – Emefiele Page B2

FG, Google, partner on ICT training for youths Tony Nwakaegho The Federal Government has said it will avail itself of the opportunity being provided by global organizations like Google to train the teeming technology savvy youths in various levels of ICT capacity development deployed by Google.

Minister of Communications , Alhaji Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu made this known in a goodwill message, he delivered at the closing of Google For Nigeria event, held at the Landmark Centre, EtiOsa, Lagos, adding that Nigeria as a nation has so much more to learn and gain from the digital revolution being championed by Google.

The minister , while commending the commitment of Google Nigeria to implement ambitious reforms and bring about macroeconomic stability in the context of the country’s ongoing Smart Digital Nigeria transition process, stressed that the efforts are bearing tangible results and have laid the foundation for a credible path to fiscal sustainability and collaboration.

He added that Google, being one of the tech giants in computing and the web, has been at the centre of this digital penetration, with the popularity of its open platforms, powering lots of Smartphones with android and other digital tools.

“A lot has changed in Nigeria since the huge wave of Internet and mobile adoption globally. Today, access to smart phones and the web is growing.

Indeed, there are about 149 million mobile subscribers and 97 million internet users, 76 per cent of them can access the internet on their phones.

BUSINESS TIMES Business Editor Ganiyu Obaaro

Deputy Business Editor Azubike Nnadozie Asst. Business Editor Simon Ugwu Capital Market Editor Bonny Amadi

‘Nigeria should invest more in tourism’ Page B3

How to save for future investments

Page B8

Fix business bottlenecks, MAN tells FG Sam Nzeh The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has called on the Federal Government to fix the major obstacles being faced by manufacturers in the country.

The Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ogun State branch, Mr. Wale Adegbite, made the call at the 32th Annual General Meeting on (AGM) of organisation on Thursday in Ota, Ogun State.

The AGM had as its theme: ‘’Developing a Workable Work plan For Environmental Sus-

tainability - Cost Implications, Benefits and Drawbacks’’.

Adegbite noted that there is the urgent need to strengthening the real sector by removing all bottlenecks restraining its growth and competitiveness.

He identified some of the impediments that marred economic activities in the sector to include multiple taxation, lack of dollars available for manufacturers, relatively high interest rate charged by Banks, epileptic power supply, nonavailability of local input and bad roads. ‘’The scarcity and high cost

of sourcing for forex as well as higher interest rate by nation’s financial institutions made it difficult for manufacturers to bring in their raw materials.

Thus, resulting in decline in production and profit margins, huge layoffs, salary reduction and factory closure, ‘’ he said.

He stressed that the harsh economic environment was characterised by all the factors that discouraged further investment and impediments to competitiveness of the sector. ‘’We urge the Federal Government to make dollars available for manufacturers, grant tax in-

centives and rebates to ease the economic burden and attract further investments,” he added.

The MAN chairman said that the ability of the Federal Government to tackle these challenges would enable the sector to be optimally productive and play its expected role of employment generation, capital mobilisation, wealth creation and technology acquisition.

In his address, Ogon State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said the present administration would continue to support MAN and new investors

L – R: Tunji Afonja, Business Development Executive, Eagle-i CCTV; Adenike Olugbaiye, Head of Operations, Abayomi Olagundoye, Managing Director, and Felix Amadi, Head Security Consultant, at the launch of Eagle-i CCTV new alternative HD CCTV cameras at Techplus 2017 in Lagos recently.

Union Bank announces 23% rise in H1 2017gross earnings Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) has announced 23 per cent increase in gross earnings in its unaudited results and accounts for half year ended June 30, 2017 (H1).

The lender, in its new financial report declared N73.7 billion gross profit as against N60.1billion reported in H1 2016.

Union Bank also reiterated its determination to remain on course, so as to meet its key 2017 business objectives, including plans to raise up to N50 billion in Tier1 capital, through a rights issue during the third quarter.

Also, the bank’s Profit Before Tax (PBT) jerked up by 6 per cent

to N9.5bn as against N8.9 billion in H1 corresponding year.

While considering its Interest income, the reported figure showed an increase of 31 per cent to N58.3billion, against N44.3 billion declared in H1 2016. This, the bank said, was driven largely by Naira devaluation-fuelled foreign currency loan book growth.

However, net interest revenue before impairment recorded a slight growth of 2 per cent to N31.7 billion N30.9billionn in H1 2016. Net interest margins tightened from 9.1 per cent to 7.9per cent.But its net interest income: up 19per cent to N26.3bn (N22.2bn in H1 2016); driven by a reduction

in impairment charges.

Commenting on Union Bank’s half year results, Mr. Emeka Emuwa, Chief Executive Officer said: “As our centenary celebrations continue and with the launch of our N50 billion rights issue in the second half of the year, 2017 will remain a very busy year for the Bank. With our clear focus on enhancing the operational efficiency of the franchise, Gross Earnings grew by 23% in the first from N60.1 billion in H1 2016.

In a challenged economy, the Group delivered Profit Before

growth over the corresponding period in 2016. Despite stiff competition, our sales strategy and competitive brand continue to provide positive momentum, with Customer Deposits growing by 15% from December 2016 period.

In the second half of the year, our focus will centre on our rights issue launch; we will remain nimble to take advantage of emerging opportunities and while improving on service delivery to our customers.”

Speaking on the first half numbers, Chief Financial Officer, Oyinkan Adewale, said:

Business Interview B2

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Economy on path to recovery – Emefiele Background The Monetary Policy Committee met on the 24th and 25th of July 2017, against the backdrop of a relatively improving global economy. However, protectionism in trade and immigration; fragilities in the financial markets, remain the key risks to global ec onomic stability.

On the domestic front, the economy is on a path to moderate recovery with a positive short- to medium-term outlook, premised largely on fiscal stimulus and a stable naira exchange rate. Inflation expectations also appear sufficiently anchored with the current stance of monetary policy.

In attendance were 8 out of 12 members of the Committee.

Domestic output development DomesticOutputDevelopments Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that the contraction in the economy moderated to 0.52 per cent in Q1 2017 from 1.30 per cent in Q4 2016. The data further revealed that fifteen economic activities recorded positive growth in Q1 2017, showing strong signs of recovery.

The Purchasing Managers Index The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for manufacturing and non-manufacturing activities stood at 52.9 and 54.2 index points in May and June 2017, respectively from 52.7 and 52.5 index points in May 2017, indicating an expansion for the third consecutive month. Similarly, the Composite Index of Economic Activities (CIEA) rose from 55.85 to 59.50 index points between April and June 2017.

The Committee noted the continuous positive effects of improved foreign exchange management on the performance of manufacturing and other economic activities. Non-oil real GDP grew by 0.72 per cent in Q1 2017, reflecting growth in the agricultural sector by 0.77 per cent in the same period. Provisional data also showed that the external sector remained resilient in Q2 2017, as the overall Balance of Payments (BOP) position recorded a surplus of US$0.65 billion, equivalent to 0.8 per cent of GDP. The Committee hopes that the implementation of the 2017 budget and the Economic Recovery & Growth Plan (ERGP) will further strengthen growth and stimulate employment.

The MPC noted the widening fiscal deficit of N2.51 trillion in the first half of 2017 and the growing level of government indebtedness and expressed concern about the likely crowding out effect on private sector investment. The constrained

The nation’s economy is on the part of recovery as various indicators are positive. The Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele took a holistic look at the economy in a communiqué issued at the end of monetary policy committee meeting. SIMON UGWU reports.

EMEFIELE growth in the monetary aggregates provides evidence of weak financial intermediation in the banking system arising from the constraints imposed by developments in the macroeconomy.

Decline of headline inflation (year-on-year) The Committee was particularly concerned about the unabating pressure from food inflation but hopeful that the situation will dampen in the third quarter as harvests begin to manifest.

The Committee also attributed the moderation in inflation to be partly due to the effects of the relative stability in the foreign exchange market, stemming from improved management, which promoted increased inflows.

Against this backdrop, the Committee reiterated its commitment to sustain and deepen flexibility in the foreign exchange market to further enhance foreign exchange flow in the economy.

The Committee, however, noted the protracted effects of high energy and transportation costs as well as other infrastructural constraints on consumer price developments and expressed hope that government will fasttrack its reform agenda to address these legacy issues. The Committee noted that while responding to the current tight

monetary policy stance, inflation still had a strong base effect which is expected to wane by August 2017.

Movement of money market interest rate Money market interest rates moved in tandem with the high level of liquidity in the banking system. The interbank call rate opened at 16.13 per cent on May 25, 2017 and closed at 4.43 per cent on June 29, 2017. However, the average inter-bank call rate during the period stood at 12.49 per cent. The movement in the net liquidity position reflected the effects of OMO, foreign exchange interventions, statutory allocation to state and local governments, and maturity of CBN Bills.

Improvements in the equities segment of the capital market The Committee noted the improvements in the equities segment of the capital market as the All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 33.33 per cent from 25,516.34 on March 31, 2017, to 34,020.37 on July 21, 2017. Similarly, Market Capitalization (MC) rose by 32.84 per cent from N8.83 trillion to N11.73 trillion during the same period. Relative to end December 2016, capital market indices

rose by 26.59 and 26.81 per cent, respectively, reflecting growing investor confidence due to improvements in foreign exchange management. Total foreign exchange inflows through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) increased by 35.41 per cent in June 2017 compared with the previous month. Total outflows, on the other hand, decreased by 12.73 per cent during the same period, as a result of reduced CBN intervention in the interbank foreign exchange market, which also reduced TSA (dollar) payments balances by 61.4 per cent in the 7 period under review. The positive net flows resulted in an improvement of gross external reserves to $30.30 billion at end-June 2017, compared with $29.81 billion at end-May 2017.

Emerging convergence between BDC, Autonomous Foreign Exchange The Committee noted the emerging convergence between the bureau-de-change (BDC) and Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange (NAFEX) segment rates and the stability of the average naira exchange rate at the interbank segment of the foreign exchange market during the review period. 2.0. Overall Outlook and Risks Available forecasts of key macroeconomic indicators point

to a fragile economic recovery in the second quarter of the year.

The Committee cautioned that this recovery could relapse in a more protracted recession if strong and bold monetary and fiscal policies are not activated immediately to sustain it. Thus, the expected fiscal stimulus and non-oil federal receipts, as well as improvements in economy-wide non-oil exports, especially agriculture, manufacturing, services and light industries, all expected to drive the growth impetus for the rest of the year must be pursued relentlessly.

Development in the macroeconomy MPC believes that at this point, developments in the macroeconomy suggest two policy options for the Committee: to hold or to ease the stance of monetary policy. The MPC expressed concern over the increasing fiscal deficit estimated at N2.51 trillion in the first half of 2017 and the crowding out effect of high government borrowing. While urging fiscal restraint to check the growing deficit, the Committee welcomed the proposal by government to issue sovereign-backed promissory notes of about N3.4 trillion for the settlement of accumulated local debt and contractors arrears. The Committee, however, advised the Management of the Bank to monitor the release process of the promissory notes to avoid an excessive injection of liquidity into the 12 system thereby offsetting the gains so far achieved in inflation and exchange rate stability.

Outlook for financial system stability On the outlook for financial system stability, the Committee noted that, in spite of the resilience of the banking sector, the prolonged weak macroeconomic environment has continued to impact negatively on the sector’s stability. The MPC reiterated its call on the Bank to sustain its intensive surveillance of deposit money banks’ activities for the purpose of promptly identifying and addressing vulnerabilities.

The Committee also called on the DMBs to support economic recovery and growth by extending reasonably priced credit to the private sector.

Conclusion In summary, the MPC decided to retain the MPR at 14 per cent; retain the CRR at 22.5 per cent; 13 , retain the Liquidity Ratio at 30.00 per cent; and retain the Asymmetric corridor at +200 and -500 basis points around the MPR.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

B3 Tourism

‘Nigeria should invest more in tourism’ Stories By Ebere Chibuzor To be able to make money from tourism, Nigerians should take a cue from Kenya and South Africa and invest more in tourism development across the country.

Mr. George Machgraegry, a foreign tourist gave the advice recently at Nike Lake Resort in the city of Abapka Nike in Enugu while speaking on Nigeria tourism.

Machgraegry said that tourism in Scotland was already a very big one, advising that he would like Nigerian to invest more on tourism. This he said would attract money for the country in many years to come and they would be able to make money out of it.

The tourists who applauded Kenya and South Africa, two countries which seems to have taken a lead in Africa said “well it depends on how often tourist do visit Nigeria unlike Scotland. Tourism in Scotland is a big one and I have been here for six weeks. I do not think there are many people come to the hotel.

It is a very big business for Scotland but here they lack the basic infrastructure for tourism as there is no beach here for tourist”.

The foreigner who has lodged in the hotel for more than six weeks described

Scotish Tourist Mr. Machgraegry, relaxing at Nike Lake’s pool side Nike Lake Resort and the workforce as very friendly, stresses that, he has been coming to the hotel.

Commenting on Nike Lake Resort, one of their guest Daniel Okonkwo who claimed he came from Port Harcourt with her sister said, the place was good and he would wants to visit again.

Another guest, Ruth Madukwe a graduate of Institute of Management and Technology told Business News she has been pa-

tronizing the resort right from her school days, adding that she likes visiting their bush bar. “ I think their unique selling point is the serenity of the environment”, she informed.

According to Chinyere Akpo, who described the Swimming Pool as cool and neat, whenever she comes to the resort. “Well, as a teenager I have been swimming but immediately I got married I stopped.

But I feel well. It reminds me of my teenager. I would

be coming so I could pick up again”, she noted Mr. Mike Onuoha, who stated that he was there for the first time also said he found it very comfortable with a uniquely environment.

“I am here to explore and I have gone round to see the Lake honestly I say to myself I have to becoming here”. Mike noted, adding that Security should be improved which for now is very ok.

“So I thank God I am here today, I have been able to see things and I can say the place is nice. I do not think they lack anything”, Onuoha said.

For Ifeyinwa Onwuhuoha, the place is not doing badly. She said the place was a commendable relaxation centre for all class of people.

“I do come here every

day to catch fun. Sometimes I come with friends too. I love their gym centre, swimming pool and tennis court. Though, Nike Lake is an old place, it still meets the taste of this time”, she said.

When Business News visited the resort, it was observed that the Nike Lake Resort is very attractive to its guest and a “home” for most of the visitors. A new visitor will quickly observe the incomparable warm greetings from the well dressed men at the security post and even up till the reception point.

The wide landscaping with natural inhabitation in the surrounding such as the lake and other attractions are some of their Unique Selling point.

The hotel caters to tourist comfort with decorated rooms and spacious liv-

ing areas equipped with all modern amenities necessary for relaxation.

The rooms are very comfortable and classic with wonderful services from the workforce, giving the clients memorable experiences.

There is also provision for a complimentary wireless internet facility which is accessible to the quests and a mini bar in their own comfort while in the room. The gym is equally accessible to all guests of the hotel.

The conference room which is their major focus, offers a suitable equipment for the conferencing which include whiteboard , Video Projector and Flip Charts and Pens The restaurants are clean and guests are treated with good African and continental dishes.

Facility in Nike Lake

NTDC, airlines partner on tourism development The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation has entered into a partnership deal with Airline Operators Nigeria (AON) so as to jump-start domestic tourism in the country.

The partnership is another way of encouraging more Nigerians to fly to various tourism destinations around the country rather than travel abroad for their holidays.

NTDC boss, Mr. Folorunsho Coker, made this known during a courtesy visit of Capt. Nogie Meggison, Chairman of AON to his office in Abuja.

Coker noted that Nigeria was blessed with so many tourist sites, festivals, events and places of interests which people would love to go.

He also said that this could be achieved if the tourism and hospitality sector in partnership with the entertainment sector

work in sync with the airlines.

“Families can take advantage of various festivals, carnivals and events around the country the year round to go on holiday and relax and have fun. For instance, hotels can partner with airlines and the tourism authority to arrange package tours for couples, family or groups to visit the NTDC DG, Coker Calabar Carnival or tesy visit, Capt. Nogie Meggison, Obudu Ranch Resort, or spend a Chairman of AON, said that aviaweekend for two in Abuja, or go tion and tourism are two sides of and enjoy the scenery at the Eyo the same coin, which go hand-inFestival in Lagos. Corporate Or- hand and can help to develop both ganisations can also hold their sectors in a mutually beneficial Retreats or annual Conventions manner. He, therefore, called for at many of these destinations,” synergy between the airlines and Coker noted. the various facets of the tourism Responding during the cour- industry in a bid to stimulate do-

mestic tourism.

He said, “It is a well known fact that airlines help to build tourism. For instance, a clear example was during the closure of Abuja airport; many of the leading hotels in Abuja lost patronages from about 80 per cent occupancy to well below 20 per cent. This also had a ripple effect on Car Hire and Taxi operators, restaurants, a drop in taxes and had an effect on the GDP and several other businesses in the service industry.

This underscores how important aviation is to tourism and hospitality,” Capt. Meggison stressed.

Meggison assured that such a partnership would be a win for Nigeria and a win-win situation for the airlines and the tourism and hospitality sector whereby the airlines will be able to attract more passengers. “We can start from Abuja, especially during weekends when the traffic out-

bound from Lagos into Abuja is usually low and hotel occupancy equally poor”, he said.

He said, “On our part as airlines, one major way that government can assist domestic operators is by removing all 37 multiple taxes that are heavy burdens on domestic operators thereby allowing airlines to offer just our cost air fares.”

Hotels should also drop their prices to the cost for a bed & breakfast, and we together can target to offer two nights with return flight ticket Lagos – Abuja for N50,000 all inclusive as our own contribution in getting the economy back on track. The package could be sold through the NTDC platform only.

Other tourist sites, locations, restaurants, eateries, bar, social clubs, night clubs should be encouraged to offer same at cost price as a contribution for now to jump start our economy,” Nogie said.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

4 Tourism Personality

Stakeholder tasks FG on Stories By Ebere Chibuzor A key player in the nation’s tourism sector, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Omoba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF), Prince Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon has advised the federal government to emphasise more on tourism growth so that it can add to the GDP. Shyllon also observed that government’s inability to promote tourism at the domestic level make is affecting the industry negatively.

According to OYASAF CEO, a lukewarm attitude to tourism development would not motivate stakeholders in their businesses, adding that in every 100 tourists, there are one potential investor and there are so many money in tourism.

Shyllon who spoke during an interactive session with Daily Times at his arts residence in Lagos recently pointed out that Nigerians do not travel far and wide apart from the Igbo people but added that, Ogun state In particular has a lot of heritage sites which tourists can be visited.

He stated that Nigeria has not been fully developed for tourism, despite Its natural inhabitants, identifying tribalism and ethnicity as vices for domestic tourism growth.

Speaking further, OYASAF CEO said that most of the international tourists face a lot of challenges right from the airport in the country. “The attitude of the immigration officers within the airport is bad, facilities are bad. Some most of them are not always happy with the situation.”

Shyllon advised government to stem the tide of kidnapping,

SHYLLON, OYASAF CEO violence, robbery, stressing that such social vices discourages international tourism.

According to him, “Transportation system is very bad and we do not develop tourist sites. We have Olumo rock in Abeokuta, yet not developed.

We don’t have monuments, no artistry and tourism parks.”

Describing Lagos, Cross River, Oyo, Kano and Ogun as states that have the facilities to encourage tourism, she added “In Lagos State there are freedom parks, museums , very

Destinations

good numbers of galleries, hotels, a situation she said would definitely promote tourism.

Applauding the efforts of the former governor of Cross River State Donald Duke, shyllon described Cross River State as best in terms of tourism in Nigeria. “Cross River State has many domestic tourism sites, which include, Tinapa, Obudu Cattle Ranch, Mary Slessor Slave yard and many others.

She said all these can be packaged for international tourism which in turn can earn foreign

exchange and huge revenue for the state.

He said, “There is the problem of power, banking system and transportation. All these do not help international tourism, as well as single visa entry and short term visitation.”

Advising, government to develop all the tourism potential, she urged them to try and protect the tourist destinations and historical sites by building facilities such as Judiciary and Police station around it” As far as l know, similarly, Shyllon donated a state-of the art museum to Pan African University (PAU), urging, he was motivated by certain factors to make the donation to the prestigious institution.

According to him, PAU has a very strong and dependable corporate governance principle in managing their affairs, which he said would ensure the museum legacy in perpetuity for the next generation to see and benefit.

According to Adedoyin, Nigeria does not have edifies where people can see all the various spectrum of art and creativity. He said, Nigeria has antiquities and traditional arts, but there are no contemporary and modern arts being displaced so that tourists and visitors to share in the creativity and culture of the people.

He further explained that, he has been collecting arts for 40years noting that what he was doing in art were properly positioned and proper furnished. “One of the ways which it can properly furnished if you are collector is to have your own museum or you contributing in an existing mu-

seum”.

“So in Nigeria I had to look around and study the environment and I found out that Pan Atlantic University was a very good place for me to site the museum containing my works of art, so we both entered in an agreement, we have started the production architectural brief and design and we are going to construct it”.

Describing PAU as having a corporate culture that supports art that he has been promoting tourism in Nigeria, Adedoyin said, “Pan Atlantic University has a corporate culture that supports art, on their own for some 15years they have been supporting arts exhibitions of Nigeria’s artists, not only that they have their own collections of art which they collected over the years since they were set up, thirdly and I found out in my interaction with them they have very strong and dependable corporate governance principle in managing their university and that is very important to make sure that my legacy in my museum continues in perpetuity Recounting how art passion grew in him, Shyllon said “To start with I can draw; I drew up to class three in the secondary school, even though I went for sciences I still had the latent ability but more importantly when I was in the university of Ibadan as an undergraduate I used to go Yaba college of technology and they have a very good library. “During my holidays days in university of Ibadan I used go there to read in their library and behind their library was the student demonstration exhibi-

“To ensure true and rapid development and promotion of tourism in Nigeria, with domestic tourism as a catalyst, we must consciously infuse tourism interest in the minds of the young ones, right from their primary school days.

Gidam Makama offers robust knowledge of Kano cultural heritage: The museum takes visitors through daily activities that go on in the Emir’s Palace. Once, you are able to tour this museum, it is assumed that such visitor has equally visited the Emir’s palace because management of the museum had already made provisions for a complete tour that would offer a robust knowledge of the rich Kano cultural heritage while in the museum.

The museum is located directly opposite the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, along the popular Palace Road in the city. It’s proximity to the seat of power in the Kano emirate makes it more appealing to both local and foreign visitors.

Unique nature of “Old Oyo National Park.” The park was named after the Old Oyo – the political capital of the Oyo Empire between the 16th and 18th centuries.

The park, which is made up of two previous native administrative forest reserves, are unique ecosystem and historical relics converted to game reserves in 1952 and finally upgraded to the present status of a National Park.

Situated just about 51 km north of Ibadan city, and it harbours Nile crocodile, rock python and land tortoise. The top attractions of the park which are of historical and archaeological value, are situated at the northern end of the park and these include the relics of the old city walls of Oyo Ile, the great Agbaku cave which has evidence of stone age.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

4 Tourism Personality

Stakeholder tasks FG on

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

B5 Tourism

tourism development

Stories By Ebere Chibuzor A key player in the nation’s tourism sector, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Omoba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF), Prince Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon has advised the federal government to emphasise more on tourism growth so that it can add to the GDP. Shyllon also observed that government’s inability to promote tourism at the domestic level make is affecting the industry negatively.

According to OYASAF CEO, a lukewarm attitude to tourism development would not motivate stakeholders in their businesses, adding that in every 100 tourists, there are one potential investor and there are so many money in tourism.

Shyllon who spoke during an interactive session with Daily Times at his arts residence in Lagos recently pointed out that Nigerians do not travel far and wide apart from the Igbo people but added that, Ogun state In particular has a lot of heritage sites which tourists can be visited.

He stated that Nigeria has not been fully developed for tourism, despite Its natural inhabitants, identifying tribalism and ethnicity as vices for domestic tourism growth.

Speaking further, OYASAF CEO said that most of the international tourists face a lot of challenges right from the airport in the country. “The attitude of the immigration officers within the airport is bad, facilities are bad. Some most of them are not always happy with the situation.”

Shyllon advised government to stem the tide of kidnapping,

SHYLLON, OYASAF CEO violence, robbery, stressing that such social vices discourages international tourism.

According to him, “Transportation system is very bad and we do not develop tourist sites. We have Olumo rock in Abeokuta, yet not developed.

We don’t have monuments, no artistry and tourism parks.”

Describing Lagos, Cross River, Oyo, Kano and Ogun as states that have the facilities to encourage tourism, she added “In Lagos State there are freedom parks, museums , very

Destinations

good numbers of galleries, hotels, a situation she said would definitely promote tourism.

Applauding the efforts of the former governor of Cross River State Donald Duke, shyllon described Cross River State as best in terms of tourism in Nigeria. “Cross River State has many domestic tourism sites, which include, Tinapa, Obudu Cattle Ranch, Mary Slessor Slave yard and many others.

She said all these can be packaged for international tourism which in turn can earn foreign

exchange and huge revenue for the state.

He said, “There is the problem of power, banking system and transportation. All these do not help international tourism, as well as single visa entry and short term visitation.”

Advising, government to develop all the tourism potential, she urged them to try and protect the tourist destinations and historical sites by building facilities such as Judiciary and Police station around it” As far as l know, similarly, Shyllon donated a state-of the art museum to Pan African University (PAU), urging, he was motivated by certain factors to make the donation to the prestigious institution.

According to him, PAU has a very strong and dependable corporate governance principle in managing their affairs, which he said would ensure the museum legacy in perpetuity for the next generation to see and benefit.

According to Adedoyin, Nigeria does not have edifies where people can see all the various spectrum of art and creativity. He said, Nigeria has antiquities and traditional arts, but there are no contemporary and modern arts being displaced so that tourists and visitors to share in the creativity and culture of the people.

He further explained that, he has been collecting arts for 40years noting that what he was doing in art were properly positioned and proper furnished. “One of the ways which it can properly furnished if you are collector is to have your own museum or you contributing in an existing mu-

seum”.

“So in Nigeria I had to look around and study the environment and I found out that Pan Atlantic University was a very good place for me to site the museum containing my works of art, so we both entered in an agreement, we have started the production architectural brief and design and we are going to construct it”.

Describing PAU as having a corporate culture that supports art that he has been promoting tourism in Nigeria, Adedoyin said, “Pan Atlantic University has a corporate culture that supports art, on their own for some 15years they have been supporting arts exhibitions of Nigeria’s artists, not only that they have their own collections of art which they collected over the years since they were set up, thirdly and I found out in my interaction with them they have very strong and dependable corporate governance principle in managing their university and that is very important to make sure that my legacy in my museum continues in perpetuity Recounting how art passion grew in him, Shyllon said “To start with I can draw; I drew up to class three in the secondary school, even though I went for sciences I still had the latent ability but more importantly when I was in the university of Ibadan as an undergraduate I used to go Yaba college of technology and they have a very good library. “During my holidays days in university of Ibadan I used go there to read in their library and behind their library was the student demonstration exhibi-

“To ensure true and rapid development and promotion of tourism in Nigeria, with domestic tourism as a catalyst, we must consciously infuse tourism interest in the minds of the young ones, right from their primary school days.

Gidam Makama offers robust knowledge of Kano cultural heritage: The museum takes visitors through daily activities that go on in the Emir’s Palace. Once, you are able to tour this museum, it is assumed that such visitor has equally visited the Emir’s palace because management of the museum had already made provisions for a complete tour that would offer a robust knowledge of the rich Kano cultural heritage while in the museum.

The museum is located directly opposite the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, along the popular Palace Road in the city. It’s proximity to the seat of power in the Kano emirate makes it more appealing to both local and foreign visitors.

Unique nature of “Old Oyo National Park.” The park was named after the Old Oyo – the political capital of the Oyo Empire between the 16th and 18th centuries.

The park, which is made up of two previous native administrative forest reserves, are unique ecosystem and historical relics converted to game reserves in 1952 and finally upgraded to the present status of a National Park.

Situated just about 51 km north of Ibadan city, and it harbours Nile crocodile, rock python and land tortoise. The top attractions of the park which are of historical and archaeological value, are situated at the northern end of the park and these include the relics of the old city walls of Oyo Ile, the great Agbaku cave which has evidence of stone age.

tion space and I used to leave my studies in the library to go enjoy their work and that was how it started.”

On Nigerian cultural heritage and artistic value, the art collector said, there is more than sculptors than painters.

He however, said that such drift is unfortunate because Nigeria’s history as a people was made from sculpting. He cited examples with the Igboukwu culture, the Benin works of art, Ife art, Terakulture, Iludun of Abeokotua, the Ibasingi amongst others.

Another reason, he went to the Pan Atlantic University is the robust maintenance culture which Pan African University is known for. “ I did not go for our normal public university because you need to go to their campus, and see the level of maintenance, they are very cautious of maintenance; they have long time view about management as against some of the universities you find around. That is one of the reasons I went to that place; so I have no fear or iota of doubt in my mind that I have gone to the right place where those works would be maintained and would be properly taken care of for the benefit of future generations of Nigerian and the non Nigerians that would visit this country”.

He said the investment runs up to N2.2billion which includes cash donations, the granted art works and the future art donations up to year 2031. “At present value in calculation, not future value in calculation, it is coming to about N2.2 billion”, he said.

The founder of OYASAF

OYASAF ‘African Lady’ Art Work who said he was not investing on the project for financial gains said “Legacy is more important.” That is important to me and it is more important than every other thing. I want to leave the world fulfilled, that I have left this world more than I met it and I have also made my own contributions to the society. That is my ultimate goal and I am fulfilled”.

The art collector who confirmed that putting works of art together is not easy told Our Correspondent that it takes passion, interest and ability to differ your needs for satisfying one’s interest in art.

“It takes somebody who is committed just like the economists said that “wants are unlimited

but means are very limited. So my wants in life are so extensive that I have to prioritize.

I rather spend my money on buying art than frivolities, so it is a question of deciding base on the different levels of scale of importance”.

Speaking further, Prince Shyllon said his works of art have been a source of tourism development in Nigeria. According to him, some of his art works at Freedom parks is a source of attraction to most tourists who visit the country. That place is very conducive and also an art environment just like my museum too. These places attract tourists into the country. It promotes tourism in the sense that it will attract those who love art; both domestic and international lovers of art. “I have been promoting tourism in Nigeria, not just today, Art Collector concluded.

OYASAF ‘L ove Is Blind’ Art Work

National Museum Lagos: Archaeology, Ethnography and Traditional Art Top Attraction. The galleries dedicated to brasses from Benin City, Nok Terracottas stands it out. It has great collections in archaeology, ethnography and traditional art.

Located in Onikan, Lagos, National Museum displays contemporary arts and historical monuments.

Another gallery dedicated to traditional symbols of power contains carved ivory and a royal host of crowns.

The museum houses the bullet-riddled car in which the country’s former Head of State – late General Murtala Mohammed – was assassinated in 1976 There’s a fine range of intricately decorated calabashes from across Nigeria.

Mary Slessor Tomb Unique Tourist Attraction: Mary Slessor was a Scottish missionary from Dundee, sent in 1876 to Calabar by the United Presbyterian Church. She is best remembered for putting an end to the abhorrent traditional practice of putting twins and their mothers to death. She studied and learned the Efik language of Cross River, so that she could speak it as fluently as the local people. She lived in Calabar for over forty year until she passed away in 1915. Her picture currently appears on a Clydesdale Bank Commemorative ten pound bank note.

Her tomb is located at the Eyamba Street Cemetery in Duke Town and is a major tourist attraction. When Queen Elizabeth ll visited Nigeria, she made a special visit to the tomb to lay a wreath on Mary Slessor’s grave.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

B5 Tourism

tourism development tion space and I used to leave my studies in the library to go enjoy their work and that was how it started.”

On Nigerian cultural heritage and artistic value, the art collector said, there is more than sculptors than painters.

He however, said that such drift is unfortunate because Nigeria’s history as a people was made from sculpting. He cited examples with the Igboukwu culture, the Benin works of art, Ife art, Terakulture, Iludun of Abeokotua, the Ibasingi amongst others.

Another reason, he went to the Pan Atlantic University is the robust maintenance culture which Pan African University is known for. “ I did not go for our normal public university because you need to go to their campus, and see the level of maintenance, they are very cautious of maintenance; they have long time view about management as against some of the universities you find around. That is one of the reasons I went to that place; so I have no fear or iota of doubt in my mind that I have gone to the right place where those works would be maintained and would be properly taken care of for the benefit of future generations of Nigerian and the non Nigerians that would visit this country”.

He said the investment runs up to N2.2billion which includes cash donations, the granted art works and the future art donations up to year 2031. “At present value in calculation, not future value in calculation, it is coming to about N2.2 billion”, he said.

The founder of OYASAF

OYASAF ‘African Lady’ Art Work who said he was not investing on the project for financial gains said “Legacy is more important.” That is important to me and it is more important than every other thing. I want to leave the world fulfilled, that I have left this world more than I met it and I have also made my own contributions to the society. That is my ultimate goal and I am fulfilled”.

The art collector who confirmed that putting works of art together is not easy told Our Correspondent that it takes passion, interest and ability to differ your needs for satisfying one’s interest in art.

“It takes somebody who is committed just like the economists said that “wants are unlimited

but means are very limited. So my wants in life are so extensive that I have to prioritize.

I rather spend my money on buying art than frivolities, so it is a question of deciding base on the different levels of scale of importance”.

Speaking further, Prince Shyllon said his works of art have been a source of tourism development in Nigeria. According to him, some of his art works at Freedom parks is a source of attraction to most tourists who visit the country. That place is very conducive and also an art environment just like my museum too. These places attract tourists into the country. It promotes tourism in the sense that it will attract those who love art; both domestic and international lovers of art. “I have been promoting tourism in Nigeria, not just today, Art Collector concluded.

OYASAF ‘L ove Is Blind’ Art Work

National Museum Lagos: Archaeology, Ethnography and Traditional Art Top Attraction. The galleries dedicated to brasses from Benin City, Nok Terracottas stands it out. It has great collections in archaeology, ethnography and traditional art.

Located in Onikan, Lagos, National Museum displays contemporary arts and historical monuments.

Another gallery dedicated to traditional symbols of power contains carved ivory and a royal host of crowns.

The museum houses the bullet-riddled car in which the country’s former Head of State – late General Murtala Mohammed – was assassinated in 1976 There’s a fine range of intricately decorated calabashes from across Nigeria.

Mary Slessor Tomb Unique Tourist Attraction: Mary Slessor was a Scottish missionary from Dundee, sent in 1876 to Calabar by the United Presbyterian Church. She is best remembered for putting an end to the abhorrent traditional practice of putting twins and their mothers to death. She studied and learned the Efik language of Cross River, so that she could speak it as fluently as the local people. She lived in Calabar for over forty year until she passed away in 1915. Her picture currently appears on a Clydesdale Bank Commemorative ten pound bank note.

Her tomb is located at the Eyamba Street Cemetery in Duke Town and is a major tourist attraction. When Queen Elizabeth ll visited Nigeria, she made a special visit to the tomb to lay a wreath on Mary Slessor’s grave.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Beauty queens confess love for tourism, culture The Most Beautiful Igbo girl in the Universe 2017, Amaka Sylvester has said that tourism remains the greatest weapon to salvage the Nigerian economy from its present economic challenges.

The beauty queen from Anambra State declared also that tourism is the powerful tool that has helped her in discovering some ancient histories which she wouldn’t have known.

According to her, “Tourism has made me travel to so many places around the world. It is just so fun, funny enough I studied Hospitality and tourism management so we are all into this. I love Tourism, it will expose you. I travel a lot because I love to learn new things, new cultures of different people and of course meet new people.”

She added that being a beauty queen has not been an easy task for her, stating that it takes only the strong and wise woman to carry on with this task. “So far, I just want to thank God who has been my Director.”

Amaka stated her objective as a beauty queen is to promote Igbo language and culture in Nigeria, reach out to the less privileged and render help where necessary to the poor and the needy which she has done on five different occasions.

Meanwhile, Most Beautiful Girl in Anioma and the reigning Miss Umu Anioma 2017 Beauty Queen, Sandra Nkemakonam Obi has called for massive job creation for the teeming youths in Delta State, particularly in the Anioma region of the oil-rich State, recently.

Miss Obi said that with Adequate youth employment to the graduates who pass out every year, vices such as stealing, Kidnapping and prostitution will be reduced to the barest minimum.

Expressing disappointing on the attitude of the youths on Anioma culture and traditions, the beauty queen appealed to the youths to always promote Anioma cultural heritage by wearing her attires and use of their language, stressing that, that is the only way to keep our identity intact.

Miss Umu Anioma ad-

Miss Sylvester vised the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to do more to buildup and support Anioma Nation.

She said “The Umu Anioma Foundation is a non government organisation for the promotion of Anioma ideals. We are having an Anioma Governor

Miss Obi

and he doesn’t seem to recognize Anioma gatherings such as the pageant and Anioma Foundation World Convention, for that matter. This is not good at all. Apart from the government, we have well placed individuals that could help assist in the aspirations of our youths but they are not

doing so. I want to use this opportunity to appeal to them to rise up to the challenge of listening to the yearnings of the youths and to also identify with the Umu Anioma Foundation, particularly, the annual beauty pageant”.

Advising upcoming beauty queens, Miss Obi urged them to believe in themselves and avoid distractions that come in form of wrong perceptions and impressions on beauty queens in the country.

“There are always controversies surrounding beauty pageants but am getting used to it. This is my second shot at beauty contest, the first being Miss DSPG where I also won as second runner up. It is not about sleeping with people ; it is about what you have in yourself. We are born with our destinies and different attributes”.

The Mass Communication undergraduate narrated that she was initially discouraged to contest for the Miss Umu Anioma Beauty Pageant because of the fear of losing the crown but later summoned courage to venture into the competition

B6 Tourism

SA Tourism discusses the “We Do” tourism movement As part of it efforts to boost Tourism at Indaba, South African Tourism has embarked on a series of road shows throughout the country to engage with provincial tourism authorities and the trade.

This, as well as other developments relating to the We Do Tourism campaign, was under the spotlight in a webinar hosted by Tourism Update and SA Tourism on July 26.

SA Tourism CEO, Sisa Ntshona, explained that, so far, the road shows had travelled to seven of the nine provinces, with just the Northern Cape and Limpopo remaining. “We embarked on the roadshows to meet with the provincial tourism authorities to look for areas of alignment, consistency and continuity,” he said.

This forms part of SA Tourism’s 5-in-5 strategy, which aims to attract a further five million arrivals within the next five years. Ntshona said the engagement with the provinces focused on working out how the country was going to manage all the extra

tourists coming into the country in terms of bed and experiences, as well as devising strategies on how to get them to stay longer. “This interaction with the provincial tourism authorities culminated in the signing of performance agreements so that we can start to align our resources and activities,” he said.

The second part of the road show involves interacting with the industry so that SA Tourism can better understand the challenges and opportunities it will face in implementing its 5-in-5 strategy. “We Do Tourism is about saying to South Africa, ‘Let’s all get involved in this growing sector, which is good for GDP growth, labour creation and the economy in general’,” said Ntshona.

Chief Marketing Officer of SA Tourism,Margie Whitehouse, explained that We Do Tourism was not a campaign but a movement driven by SA Tourism but owned by South Africans who realised that “tourism is the shining beacon of hope in our economy”.

Sao Tome and Príncipe attracts tourists Africa is any traveller’s go-to destination, boasting warm tropical conditions, friendly people, and interesting places to visit.

Not all countries on the continent have a viable tourism industry mainly due to political unrest and economic difficulties.

Some African countries are relatively unknown to most as a viable tourism destination.

Below is a list of the continent’s least visited countries.

São Tomé and Príncipe The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe, located off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa, is the second smallest African country after the Seychelles, and the smallest Portuguesespeaking country with a population of just over 190,000 people.

In 2015, the nation welcomed 34,000 visitors, which is relatively low compared to the number

Sao Tome Island of visitors other island nation countries received, including Seychelles (277,000) and Mauritius (over 100,000), this according to the African Statistical Yearbook of 2016. Factors contributing to the low number of visitors include the country’s fragile and volatile economy, which is still heavily reliant on international financing, absence of roads and communication in good condition, and underdevelopment of many travel and tourism-related

infrastructures.

Many tourists that visit the island nation, mostly Portuguese tourists, enjoy unspoiled landscapes and a warm, tropical climate.

Interesting things to do include a visit to Obo National Park, which has over 700 species of flora and fauna, as well as white and black sandy beaches, a visit to various plantation houses that showcase the island’s colonial history, as well as various beaches that are far from being crowded and busy.

Business Review B7 Speaking during the visit in Awka, the State capital, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Africa Diasporal Forum (ADF) Mr. Jason Osuafor made it known that their visit was put together by the Anambra State Association South Africa (ASA-SA) to meet the government and a number of stakeholders in the state to inform them about their services and find out what role they can play to move the state forward.

Osuafor, a property developer who is also the Chief Executive Officer, Richland integrated Resources, pointed out that Anambra State alone as a state, has contributed tremendously to the growth of the South African economy, being that most of them have lived there for many decades doing meaningful jobs and trade.

Rating South Africa as an economic giant in Africa, Osuafor said the country has been the most developed economy in the continent and has sent high quality investments into Nigeria since 1999. He therefore, felt there was more to do so as to benefit Anambra state.

“According to Osuafor, investments first hit South Africa because they have established financial institutions and structures that receive such investment, a model that is desirable in the state”.

With over three decades in SA, we are beginning to see that that we are now like other nationalities such as Indians, Chinese, and Portuguese that have come to settle. We also felt we must create our own home organisations that recognize our origin that serve as a platform for us to engage ourselves and build a strong linkage with our home front”. .

Speaking during the summit in Anambra State organised by the Anambra State ASA-SA, Osuafor said “We are going to bring Anambra business and core South Africa businesses targeting sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, ICT to sit in one house and see what synergy they can build out of each other.

Looking at the situation of our future economy, especially now oil price is low; agriculture is the next target while we hope to utilize mechanised agriculture to enhance every aspect of the sector to bring in greater prosperity for our people in Anamnbra state.

Meanwhile, ADF was supported by Anambra State Association South Africa (ASA-SA) which also organized a comeback home forum to their state with a plan for a 10-day road

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Developing Anambra economy with SA model The recent visit by some group of Anambra State indigenes living in South Africa, has remained remarkable, judging from a myriad of plans by the Anambra people in the Diaspora. The Anambrarians had come home to see how they can bring investments back and to also replicate some of the economic breakthroughs which are noticeable in South Africa where they all reside. EBERE CHIBUZOR reports… show.

At the end of the show which held recently, the association was able to unveil the Anambra brand in South Africa, showcase the performance of Governor Willy Obiano and the need for Anambrarians to stop migrating overseas unequipped.

One thing the ASA-SA seem to have achieved in the recent road show organized in the state, has to do with enlightenment of the youths on the need to travel abroad reasonably.

Over the years, most youths from Anambra and even other parts of the country tend to travel abroad wrongly thinking that it is much easier to make it over there, but with the recent roadshow, many have been informed that it is not all that glitters are gold.

The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willy Obiano reechoed this in his speech during the 10 day roadshow in the state.

Obiano who met with a delegation from the ASA-SA at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, confirmed that he was going to partner with ASA-SA, adding the state will help discourage Anambra people from traveling abroad unequipped, believing that the pasture is greener there.

Governor Obiano said what is important for his administration is to make the state viable for its inhabitants to ensure that Ndi Anambra have less need to seek opportunities elsewhere, especially in view of the increasing hostilities meted out to Ndigbo everywhere.

Condemning the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, Governor Obiano urged the Anambra community in that country to think home, assuring them that with the Anambra Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) in place, their investments will be fully protected.

He further called on Anambra people living in South Africa to shun drug trafficking and cultism, saying his government will support the asso-

OSUAFOR ciation in its efforts to provide empowerment for Anambra Youths.

“We are to ensure that we create a conducive environment, job and security. We are concentrating these four major sectors including agriculture, trade and commerce, oil and gas and industrialization.

We welcome investment from South Africa people despite the fact that Nigeria helped South Africans during apartheid. Unfortunately, they are paying Nigeria with the opposite which comes from envy”, Obiano said.

He advised successful Anambrarians to better come home and invest in Anambra, advising them not to get involved in drug dealings as Nigeria has zero tolerance for drug.

“ANSIPPA is a one shop investment which one will like to do business with. We are interested in business such as

commerce and industries. We also have philanthropists who are ready to ready to invest in sporting activities. However, it is nice ASA-SA awards scholarship and promises to help them do it better. I will be looking forward to more businesses with the association.

In his response, PresidentGeneral of ASA-SA, Chief Onyekachukwu Onyeka who is lso Chief Executive Officer of Nkosiwe Travels and Tours said that due to the attacks on foreigners in South Africa, they want to partner the state government to enlighten Ndi Anambra travelling to the country on how to be able to integrate so as to minimize the population of people coming to South Africa for the wrong reasons.

Chief Onyeka applauded the efforts of the governor, saying that Anambra State indigenes

are excelling in South Africa despite xenophobic attacks which came as a result of illiteracy among the blacks.

According to Onyeka, Anambra State has recorded over 10 medical doctors in South Africa. He however appealed to the governor to give attention to security challenges, just as noted that God has used the governor as a blessing to Anambra State.

Rating Governor Obiano, Onyeka said “rating the governor is an easy one , he inherited a good administration from the previous administration and he has continued on that track and he has not done badly from our assessment and we urge Anambra people to support him on the 8-year quest in the office”.

The Anambra State Commissioner for Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Mrs Stella Onuorah noted that the State is in dire need of investments from its diaspora community, revealing that the meeting is in line with the efforts of the present administration through her Ministry, to mobilize Anambra people to support the ongoing transformation in their State.

“Anambra is need of diasporal investment and it is better they do it at home to avoid unnecessary threat”, Onuorah said.

Earlier, Mr. Jason Osuafor one of the Board of Trustees said the meeting was interesting but that funding has become a problem. “We are looking forward to partnering with whatever capacity you are ready. There is lots of capacity in Anambra. The relationship will yield success prosperity for all that are here”.

On the spot, Mr Jason Osuafor, who is also the inaugural president, Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA), applauded the efforts of the Governor on behalf of the Association for the way he has, so far, steered the affairs of the state, adding that the association wants to partner with his administration and other key stakeholders, to achieve a lot in the areas of human capital, business development, among others.

v

B8 Personal Bonny Amadi Money is difficult to come by, for greater number of citizens, and everyone has, aside from basic needs to meet, some outstanding personal projects to execute.

These projects could be future education, holidays, dream housing project, business, luxury car, social function amongst others.

However, hence the fund to execute such project is not readily available, one must save, if such projects must be actualized.

Some people have argued that their salaries could hardly sustain them for one or two weeks and therefore would make no room for savings of any kind.

Charles Dickens, English writer and social critic and author of tales of two cities, in what should be a lesson for people to save, contained in Forbes e-book of motivational Q, said “Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result misery.”

Meanwhile, personal finance is the financial management which an individual or a family unit performs to budget, save, and spend monetary resources over time, taking into account various financial risks and future life events.

Make a savings plan America saves pledge reveals that people with a savings plan are twice as likely to save successfully.

Therefore, set a goal and make a plan. And it doesn’t stop there. Make a personal pledge on your commitment to save.

Target short-term savings goals Make a goal such as setting aside $20 a week or month, rather than a longer term savings goal. People save more successfully when they keep short-term goals in sight.

Start saving for your retirement as early as possible Few people get rich through their wages alone.

It’s the miracle of compound interest, or earning interest on your interest over many years that builds wealth. Because time is on their side, the youngest workers are in the best position to save for retirement. Learn more about different options for saving for retirement in

Finance

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29 , 2017

How to save for future investments curities, including stocks and bonds, money market instruments or some combination of these, based upon the fund’s investment objectives. By investing in a mutual fund you can diversify, thereby, sharply reducing your risk. Most mutual funds charge fees.

You often pay income tax on your profits.

Generating the income to save

your workplace or on your own here.

How to save When the cash savings are secured, such funds could be placed in different types of savings which also gives different forms of returns. These savings formats including financial instruments which, aside from bank deposits or savings, are classified into two , fixed income and equity.

Annuities Annuities are contracts sold by an insurance company designed to provide payments to the holder at specified intervals, usually after retirement. Earnings cannot be withdrawn without penalty until a specified age and are taxed only at the time of withdrawal.

Annuities are relatively safe, low-yielding investments. An annuity has a death benefit equivalent to the higher of the current value of the annuity or the amount the buyer has paid into it.

Savings Accounts Savings accounts are a safe haven to store your emergency funds. They provide easy access to your money and are generally

insured. The funds here are insured by the NDIC

by N50,000 .00. The chief drawback of such accounts is that interest rates tend to be low since they offer a very high degree of safety.

CDs (Certificates of Deposit) A CD is a special type of deposit account that typically offers a higher rate of interest than a regular savings account. Just like savings accounts, CDs are also insured by the NDIC. When you purchase a CD, you invest a fixed sum of money for fixed period of time.

Usually, the longer the period, higher is the interest rate. There are penalties for early withdrawal.

Money Market Deposit Accounts These accounts generally earn higher interest than savings accounts. They are very safe and provide easy access to your money. They are also insured by the FDIC. They offer many of the services that checking accounts offer, however, a limit is normally placed on the number of withdrawals or transfers you can make during a given period of time.

Stocks When you buy stocks, you own a part of the company’s assets. If the company does well, you may receive periodic dividends and/or be able to sell your stock at a profit. If the company does poorly, the stock price may fall and you could lose some or all of the money you invested.

Bonds A bond is a certificate of debt issued by the government or a company with a promise to pay a specified sum of money at a future date and carries interest at a fixed rate. Bond terms can range from a few months to 30 years. Bonds are tradable instruments and are generally considered safer than stocks because bondholders are paid before stockholders if a company becomes bankrupt. Independent bond-rating agencies rate the likelihood that any given bond will default.

Mutual Funds A mutual fund is generally a professionally managed pool of money from a group of investors.

A mutual fund manager invests your funds in se-

Buy clothes on clearance sale Spending a minimal amount and then get more value in clothing and accessories remains one of the best satisfaction you can get in shopping for clothes.

This does not mean buying inferior, but you also get quality and 50 per cent or higher discount. If you know exactly when an item will be on sale, you can decide whether you want to wait to buy it on the cheap, or you think it’s worth the extra money to buy it beforehand. Having the option gives you the chance to be the savviest shopper possible.

According to money crashers clothes shopping tips, knowing when to buy and when not to buy gives the shopper added advantage on saving half or more of the budget for clothing for other uses.

Stores want to keep their shelves and racks filled with clothing and accessories, but they get new merchandise so frequently that eventually, items that aren’t selling must be put on clearance in order to move it out the door. This is when it’s your turn to score.

Collect your receipts A lot of people throw their grocery store receipts away, but what those people don’t realize is that these little pieces of paper can help you control your finances. You can store the receipts on a fridge, or in a table drawer.

It’s best to keep the receipts for a month – that way you will be able to calculate how much you’ve spent in a month, and next month you will get the opportunity to plan grocery shopping better – for example, by taking out the unnecessary items from your shopping list.

Cook your own food Cooking might not be everyone’s favorite hobby, but if you prepare your own

food, drinks and snacks, you will save so much money you would have spent on restaurants, coffee and junk food.

By buying fresh produce and learning some easy and delicious recipes you will not only provide high quality and nutritious food for your family and yourself, but you’ll also avoid the need to overpay for readymade food.

Save your loose change Putting aside just N50.00 over a year will get you N17, 250 emergency fund.

And some banks and credit unions or apps offer programs that round all your purchases to the nearest dollar and put that money into a separate savings account.

Use the 24 hour rule. This rules helps avoid purchasing expensive or unnecessary items on impulse.

Think over each nonessential purchase for at least 24 hours. This is particularly easy to do while shopping online, because you can add items to your cart or wish list and come back to them a day later.

Create a family spending limit on gifts Discuss placing spending limits on gifts within your family and/ or a system where you only purchase one gift for one person over the holidays. These limits tend to reduce expenditures and be greatly appreciated by family members with less financial flexibility.

Engage in free sports When you’re attempting to cut your expenses, but still have to keep your body size, consider choosing sports that you can do for free. Running is the most popular example of free sports, although cross fit, street workouts, and bicycle riding are all great alternatives to expensive gym memberships you can try today!

Gym and other kinds of sports that you need to pay for are great when you have no limitations on your budget.

Therefore, “Financial peace isn’t the acquisition of stuff. It’s learning to live on less than you make, so you can give money back and have money to invest.

You can’t win until you do this’ said Dave Ramsey, America’s trusted voice on money.

Life&

TIMES Saturday, July 29, 2017

My life as an actress -Jaiye Kuti L2 & 3

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Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

I have one of the sexiest African shape –Jaiye Kuti JaiyeOluwakemiKutiisasuccessfulactress,producerandabusinesswoman. industry, known as Nollywood. She is one woman who has paid her dues as

blockbuster. Born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Kuti in the South West of life despite the fact that she once worked as a personal assistant to managing director of a company. family life.

So much has been said and written about you and Pasuma of late anything that is between both of you apart from the business of entertainment Pasuma is not my lover we are both in entertainment world and that is it. Though he had featured in my movies once but that does not mean we are dating, or does that mean any male artistes that I feature in my movies I date them? That means I should have dated a lot of actors then. Even my upcoming movies he never featured there he will just play during the premier in London and that is it. When I heard people saying am dating Pasuma I just laughed it off. I can never date Pasuma (Cut in) why?

Because I am a married woman, Pasuma is just a colleague in entertainment business, moreover he has the same success story as mine, he was a kind of person who struggle to attained success and fame he is now enjoying. So for those saying Jaiye Kuti is now dating Pasuma is not true, the relationship between us is only on entertainment and pure business There was a time I was travelled abroad and I ran into one woman at the airport she was telling me sorry o, I said what

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happened, she now said she read and heard that Pasuma has divorced me and he was cursing him I have to take my time to explained to him that all those things she heard or read are mere rumor that there is not of such that I am a married woman with kids

asked God for wisdom, knowledge and understanding, with that you can stand with any other person, so I think God created in me that uniqueness, and I also try to be unique in my own little way, to try to create things better than what I see. So creating what is better than the best of course will stand you out.

How did you become a professional?

You know when I left my paid employment work, I started acting gradually, and even before I left the job I always go on part time stuff. I started with Laff patterns and everyday people. So when I left my paid job it was very easy for me because I started it as a career. Coming into industry is like coming to a familiar terrain, because I know I have the talent of acting in me. So that is how I started gradually and to God be the glory I started growing in the industry from soap opera now I have done home videos.

At a time I was the assistant coordinator for Actors Guilds of Nigeria (AGN) in Ogun State, and then later I joined Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP). I started with Oga Bello, and then to JideKosoko, you know I started studying under so many people.

After studying under these people I came

What can you say about Nigeria movie?

Nigeria movie now I can say is growing and is growing fast.

Apart from the piracy that we all face with, that is affecting us terribly I can say we are growing fast. You see that these days our people are producing good movies, because

ItanKokoroede� shortly then it was taken to Italy, it was a big one, I was happy for that. I have done other ones How has the journey been so far?

The journey has been up and down. Not quite rough, and I would not say it has been so smooth, but gradually if you are ready to grow in it, you have to trick it gradually which is what I did, and which am still doing, am still working it, am still working gradually taken it easy. But the journey so far has been wonderful great; at least I have the good story to tell about it and am enjoying it and I thank God. As an actress what makes you unique?

(A prolonged laughter) I think God make me special, everything about start from God. Because every day I

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Interview L3

Why I can never date Fuji Singer, Pasuma –Jaiye Kuti will not take it. So everybody is now sitting down now to think of a good story, and do what can be shown and sell it here in Nigeria and can be distributed anywhere in the of Nigeria, I want to be able to take it to anywhere in the

doing better than what it used to be.

In some quarters it is believed that a lady has to submit herself for sex before she can be famous or make it. How true is this allegation? experience in the industry, I have never been asked out by

though I know that once in a while is going on like that. you are focus and you know what you want to do in the

why you are there, nobody will say look if I don t sleep with you. Okay listen, if you are good they will beg to use you.

You really have to ask your self are you really an actress?

if you are not good at it and you want to be there by force, sleep because they know that at the end of the day you

they don t want to see it as been acting, and they see it as

I spent separately.

are nice. Because they believe that a nice person cannot be

the other.

will not let you go. So have to be focused, you have to face what you what to do, and you have to know why you are there. And it does not really have to be in a hurry. You

you grow along it people get to know you and like you, and

But what they failed to realized is the fact that you are playing today, today.

Have you ever regret been an actress?

asked a question and I was at fault and I knew, but the way is Jaiye Kuti

in US and UK Have you been embarrassed before by the role you play in a movie?

happened on set.

production is basically to expose people that are talented

What do you think gets you attracted to opposite sex?

having a pretty face, then you have got everything in place, in right places, the front, you have got the future , the back you owo landlord fun wa se bi landlord ti fun yin lowo now� ( think I have got all these. wife. A lot of people get carried away with what they see,

Why did you decide to shoot two movies back to back?

acting has always been in the blood, even when I was doing

L6

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Mutiat Alli

AMBO star, Azizat Sadiq makes return to Nollywood

AFRIMA appoints new Jurors ahead of 2017 adjudication

herself production which tells the Azizat The All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, has ap-

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OLX gets commendation over DIFM service

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Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Gist L7

Mutiat Alli

Ariya Repete 2017: Onimama Fausiya and Leye Williams emerge winner

Ariya Repete: L-R: Funso Ayeni, Senior Brand Manager, Regional Mainstream Brands,

Aramide drops visual for ‘Bose’ leased the much anticipated video, Bose, off her debut album, Suitcase. The singer who is gearing up for her tour of the United States took to her social media page to announce the release of the video.

Directed by Megaboi and shot in the U.S, the video tells the story of a young lady, Bose, whose enterprise is nosing for information about unsuspecting individuals and divulging them to other parties. Bose represents a typical -

implying that she also falls in that rank.

This latest project comes on the backdrop of naian artiste Adina, which marks another round of success for the Baseline Music singer.

The Oyo state born Guitarist and Saxophonist is living up to her words as she continues to give her fans another reason to trust her brand, even as she journeys to the peak of her musical career.

Aramide

hunt show in Ibadan.

Onimama Fausiya and Leye Williams have both emerged overall winners of the 2017 edition of Ariya Repete, the Yoruba cultural muheld at Trans Amusement Park, Ibadan on Friday, July 21, 2017.

Fausiya, a budding female Fuji musician from Ilorin, Kwara State clinched the overall prize of One Million Naira plus a recording deal in the Fuji category, while Leye Williams, a talented Juju artiste from Osun State clinched the same prize of One Million Naira with a recording deal in the Juju category. artiste to clinch the Aare 1 of Fuji music under Ariya Repete platform, could not hide her excitement when announced the winner as she responded to the hearty cheers of the crowd who was astonished by her breath-taking performance.

She revealed that her belief in herself due to the inspiration she got from her dad who is also a Fuji musician led her to choose music as both her passion and career. “I always watched my dad during rehearsals with his musical band while I was growing up, and it tion that has helped me in my own musical sojourn,” she said.

“Words cannot express my feelings at the moment but I know that Ariya Repete has changed my life for the better. I will never forget this day,” she further said.

Leye Williams, who was crowned the Aare 1 of Juju music that same night also made crowned under the cultural music talent hunt platform. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Goldberg and Nigerian Breweries for making the cultural contest an expanded music Juju artistes in Nigeria.

“I have not seen any other cultural music contest like Ariya Repete in the Southwest.

My story and victory is a testimony that Juju music is alive again and will be revived fully amongst the youths who aspire to promote our Juju musical heritage, courtesy of Gold-

berg,” he said.

Azeez Ajani and Wasiu Onilewura emerged egory and carted away Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira and Five Hundred Thousand Naira respectively, while Adeniyi second runners up in the Juju category and also went home with Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira and Five Hundred Thousand Naira each.

Other contestants in both Fuji and Juju received consolation prizes of One Hundred Thousand Naira each.

Franco Maria Maggi, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc congratulated the winners and implored them to be good ambassadors of the platform, Ariya Repete, which has brought them to the limelight. “Congratulating you will not be enough, but I must enjoin you to be good ambassadors of this platform that seeks to discover and promote indigenous Yoruba music genres that has made you the newest Fuji and Juju superstars in Nigeria,” he said.

He challenged the other contestants to keep alive their dreams saying that they are all winners and must remain good ambassadors that should represent their state musical passions in a positive light.

The Fuji legend, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM1) used the occasion to acknowledge the success of Ariya Repete in its maiden edition saying that Nigerian Breweries has proved her capability of growing an entire music industry in Nigeria.

“To those of you that bring Fuji and Juju music back to reckoning, the industry thanks you. I hereby use Ariya Repete platform to commend Nigerian Breweries for their immense support to boost the industry that will preserve the cultural heritage of our people,” cal excitement as the contestants and legendary artistes kept the audience excited by their magical performances.

Kenny Blaq Dazzles on Stage at his Debut Show ‘The Oxymoron of Kenny Blaq’ Nigerian comedian Otolorin Kehinde aka an ecstatic performance

which held on Sunday, July 23, 2017 at Eko Hotels Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The event, which began with a red carpet session, had in attendance over a thousand fans, friends and families of the comedian and top personalities in the country such as Former First lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, First lady of Rivers State, Her Excellency Eberechi Wike, King of Comedy Alibaba and his wife Mary Akpobome, Veteran actor Olu Jacobs, Businessman and Mediapreneur Guy Murray Bruce, and many others.

and several others. Kenny performed with a live band, enacting several dance moves with Imagneto dancers led by Kaffy.

During one of his perinvited top music comedians onstage including MC Miracle, Omobaba and Maleke. He appreciated -

took pictures with them. stage in a grand style, Other comedians and leaving the crowd roaring musicians who also perin joy. The young comedian who refers to his style Seyi Law, Korede Bello, Adekunle Gold, Chuddy K, jokes on some Nigerian Baba Fryo, Sound Sultan, songs comparing them to MC Miracle, Woli Arole, foreign songs. Some of 9ice, Junior Boy, Omobathe songs he made mockba, Maleke, MC Miracle, African China, Jaywon,

Ali Baba Koker, Sugarboy and many more.

At the end of the show, tain his excitement as he rendered a heart-warming speech before exiting the in the building for their support and spoke on his journey since his emergence in 2008.

L8

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, July 29, 2017

Mutiat Alli

Photos: 2face Idibia, Styl Plus, Waje Delight Guests at #Eargasm4Charity Concert Residents of the city of Abuja will not forget Saturday July 22, 2017 in a hurry as international singer 2face Idibia alongside other music stars dazzled on stage to blow their minds at the just concluded concert tagged #Eargasm4Charity, which held at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

The concert which was beyond the average Nigerian concert was dedicated to raising awareness on the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the negative impact of insurgency with the aim to support victims with the proceeds thereon.

Aside 2face, Eargasm witnessed epic performances from Waje, Kelly Hansome, Styl Plus and Pamela Braide

Nigerians to support one another and effect change. to IDPs camp in Borno State.

Other personalities present at the concert include musician Solo Dee, UNHCR representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS Mr Jose Antonio Canhandula, Deputy Representative (protection) UNHCR Miss Bridgette Eno, Senior Private Sector Partnership Associate UNHCR Mr Lanre Odulami, Senior executive at Partner Mobile Mr Simon Keppler, Consultant for The 2Face Foundation Ms Pamela Braide, Priscilla Chomba, UNHCR (Nairobi), among others.

More Photos from Banana Island Ghost Movie Premiere

beverly Naya

Chigurl and BBN, Kemen

Damilola Adegbite-Attoh

Lala Akindoju

B.I. G producer, Biola Alabi