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Daily Times unveils 2017 Award winners -Part 2 5-13

Ï Times Heroes Award: Ï Segun Osoba ÏTony Momoh Ï Sam Amuka-Pemu Ï Henry Odukomaiya ÏUgochukwu Onyeama – Life Impact Award: ÏSultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar ÏOlu Jacobs – Life Achievement Award: ÏBola Tinubu ÏAliko Dangote ÏLeo Stan Ekeh – CEO of the Year: ÏNnamdi Okonkwo

Tinubu

Dangote

Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar

Ekeh

Okonkwo

Jacobs

2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Daily Times 2017 Award Winners

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

5

News

Life Achievement Award: Bola Tinubu Ï A colossus politician of repute ÏÏÏ Nigeria

is a country where heroes are scarce and visionary leadership is even more rare. However, Nigeria can still take pride in one leader who has demonstrated rare courage and commitment to justice.

One who has made personal sacrifices to advance the common good, and who remains unrelenting in the search for good and responsible governance.

That leader is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a two-term former Lagos State Governor and the national leader of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tinubu is that rare leader who combines practical political acumen, strategic vision and moral principles.

When the history of the first score years of the 21st century in Nigeria is written, it will state that Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s rare courage and foresight in guiding his party abolished the determined efforts of the then ruling party to turn Nigeria into a one party state. More than any person since the return of civilian rule in 1999, Tinubu’s actions in maintaining his political party and helped salvage multiparty electoral democracy in Nigeria. With this contribution alone, he has helped his nation keep to the path leading toward good governance, human rights and prosperity for all. While Nigeria still has far to go to reach these objectives, it would have turned toward a less just and democratic without Bola Tinubu.

In a political culture where most members of the political class gravitate towards the ruling party to ease the path towards fulfilment of personal ambition or for pecuniary reward, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resilience and steadfastness in giving inspirational leadership to the APC is remarkable. It is a testimony to the depth of the convictions that have motivated and sustained him in politics over the last two and a half decades.

One of Nigeria’s leading national newspapers in a published piece described him as Nigeria’s Political Samurai. “…By his focus and determination, Senator Bola Tinubu, has over the years carved out a distinctive personage for himself in politics. With a towering political stature, former Lagos State Governor and one of the national leaders of the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), now the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, isn’t just a household name; he is an authority in the artery of the nation’s

Wike body politics. He may have attained his enviable status through consistent ideological standing; it is certainly a journey of many years of struggle and the grit for change”.

As each day passes by, Tinubu thinks new strategy, options and style in both politics and governance. He envisions and muses with deep reflection, the Nigerian problems as well as the best approach possible. He knows politics much as he understands the game of power…” Indeed, Tinubu’s democratic footprints go beyond Nigeria; it spawns the continent, especially in the immediate West Africa Sub-Region where he has helped sustain democracy and popular participation.

The virtues of courage, determination, commitment, vision, focus and strong sense of purpose that have characterised Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s politics drove his emergence as one of the country’s most successful governors after Nigeria’s return to democratic governance 13 years ago. His stewardship of Lagos State for 8 years remains a reference for good governance in Nigeria and across the region.

A first class financial strategist, Bola Tinubu, overhauled and reformed government and revenue collection in the state, tak-

ing Lagos from a yearly Internally Generated Revenue of N14.64 billion in 1999 to N60.31 billion in 2006. By March 2007, the state had achieved monthly Internally Generated Revenue of N8.2 billion. His innovations laid the groundwork necessary for Lagos to have the revenue to improve the state and modernize living conditions of all of its inhabitants.

An irrepressible fighter for democracy and protection of civil liberties, Bola Tinubu endured political persecution, including numerous arrests and detentions, harassment, constant threats to his life and years in political exile. Despite the wrongs done to him he never has sought retribution. He has forgiven those who did injustice to him. Instead he has chosen to focus on the future by building a democratic and peaceful nation.

Leadership newspapers, one of Nigeria’s national dailies, said it best when it conferred on its “Person of the Year” on him in 2011: “Out of the socio-economic and political fog that 2010 represented, at least three great themes emerged: the struggle between the search for democratic legitimacy and subsisting electoral injustices; the tenacious resolve of courageous characters who dared hypocritical

authority to prove points of principle; and a pervasive sense of self-doubt as the nation marked its 50th anniversary of independence.”

“Within this context, the year spawned a welter of heroes and villains from various arenas of human endeavour. But while some forces remained apostles of socio-political stagnation and retrogression, others represented untiring catalysts for progressive change. It is from this puzzling canvass that we must make our choices as to which personality impacted Nigeria most, for good or bad, in recent times. As it were, justice still remains the country’s most powerful idea, but the struggle is far from over. After almost 12 years of unbroken democracy, impunity at various levels of governance remains a defining feature of our national life. The successful reversal of some of the subsisting injustices, within the period of this assessment, through the influence of some courageous individuals, in the face of dangers to life and limb, sets Bola Ahmed Tinubu apart as a leader of note. Through his tenacity and uncommon focus in guiding the reversal of electoral impunity across a wide swath of the nation’s political landscape, he reaffirmed the enduring fact

that, indeed, justice is the first condition of democracy.”

Tinubu remains Nigeria’s most relentless fighter for democracy, justice and the rule of law. No history of modern Nigeria can be complete without giving due regard to his contributions to safeguarding the democratic aspersions of an entire nation and its people, regardless of creed and ethnic background, at a time when those aspirations were deeply threatened.

Today, he remains the most vociferous voice in the call for Nigeria to return to the path of true federalism and for him, the star prize is the enthronement of fiscal federalism that will give governors and Chairmen fully funded mandates and accelerate grassroots development.

One of Nigeria’s leading daily newspapers, ThisDay, in 2013 selected Bola Tinubu as its “Man of The Year”. The paper described him as the man who rebuilt Nigerian Opposition. In the words of the Newspaper, Tinubu “from the scratch he built the Action Congress of Nigeria to a formidable political party that within a short time became the major opposition party in Nigeria. He deployed his resources, energy, and political acumen to give the ruling party a fight in the political space”. The altering of Nigeria’s political landscape and balance of power that occurred in November 2013 had Tinubu’s imprimatur all over it. The political merger that produced the All Progressives Congress is Nigeria’s first and Tinubu was its chief architect.

Thanks to Bola Tinubu’s untiring political maneuvers and nationalistic approach to politics, Nigeria is now a 2-party state presenting Nigerians with clear choices. This is in tandem with his tradition of selfless sacrifice, political foresight and unequalled commitment to progressive and people oriented politics. Bola Tinubu has served the cause of humanity and expanded the frontiers of freedom and democracy in Nigeria and the African Continent.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalists and champions of federalism. He is one of the few leaders and champions of democracy with the potential and experience to take Nigeria to the next level.

Tinubu was not in Lagos on March 29, 1952.

He is married to Senator Oluremi Tinubu while the couple are blessed with children.

Graduated 1979 Sumna cum laude (with First Class Honours) in Business Administration (Accounting and Management) with cumulative weighted average point of 3.54 out of a maximum 4 points) from Chicago State University, Illinois, USA. Chicago State University Dean’s List (throughout his stay at the university).

He received Outstanding Student’s Award and Certificate of Merit in Accounting and Finance He was the President, Chicago State University Accounting Society, in his final year in 1979.

He worked with Arthur Anderson, Delliotte, Haskins and Sells (now Delliotte and Touche).

He also worked at Mobil Producing Nigeria as Senior Auditor and Company Treasurer.

He joined politics in 1989 and elected as Senator on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1992.

He later joined the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) in opposition to the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which SDP candidate, the late Basorun Moshood Abiola won.

He was elected as Lagos State Governor in 1999, and served two terms till 2007.

As Lagos State governor, Tinubu carried out educational reforms, under which mission schools were returned to their original owners, after decades of government takeover.

The Christian mission schools handed back were CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos, St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka, Yaba, Igbobi College, Yaba, Aunty Ayo Girls High School, Keffi, Ikoyi, Lagos, Maryland Comprehensive High School, Ikeja, Lagos, Howells Memorial Grammar School, Lagos, Methodist Boys High School, Lagos, Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, Lagos, Our Lady of Apostles Girls School (Primary and Secondary), Yaba, Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls Secondary School, Yaba, Baptist Academy, Shepherd Hill, Obanikoro, Lagos, St. Gregory’s College, Obalende, Lagos, Holy Child College, Obalende, Lagos, Agbowa Ikosi Baptist Grammar School, Agbowa-Ikosi, African Church College, Ifako, Lagos, Aladura Comprehensive High School, Lagos, Apostolic Church Grammar School, Orisigun, Ketu, Lagos, African Church Grammar School, Lagos, Eva Adelaja School, Gbagada, Lagos.

News 6

Daily Times 2017 Award Winners

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Lifetime Achievement Award

Times Hereos Award

Aliko Dangote

Ï A business mogul with passion for jobs creation

ÏÏÏ Alhaji Aliko Dangote,

a northerner, precisely from Kano State, was born on April 10, 1957 into a wealthy Muslim family.

Aliko Dangote is the founder and president/ chief executive of the Dangote Group, the largest conglomerate in West Africa.

His eyes for business started right from when he was young as he recalled: “I can remember when I was in primary school, I would go and buy cartons of sweets (sugar boxes) and I would start selling them just to make money. I was so interested in business, even at that time.”

He studied business from the Al Azhar University, Cairo in Egypt and thereafter returned to Nigeria to work with his uncle, Sanusi Abdulkadir Dantata.

His uncle later provided him a loan of 500,000 when he was just 21 years old to start a business.

The Dangote Group, which started as a small trading firm, was established in 1977. Today, it is a multi-trillion naira conglomerate with many of its operations in Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo.

At present, Dangote has enlarged his line of businesses to also cover food processing, cement manufacturing and freight. The Dangote Group also dominates the sugar market in Nigeria and is a major sugar supplier to the country’s soft drink companies, breweries, and confectioners.

The Dangote Group has also moved from being a trading company to being the largest industrial group in Nigeria and these include: Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Cement, and Dangote Flour just to

mention but a few.

In July 2012, Dangote approached the Nigerian Ports Authority with the idea of leasing an abandoned piece of land at the Apapa Port, which was welcomed and approved.

He later went to build facilities for his flour company there. So also in the 90’s, he approached the Central Bank of Nigeria with the idea that it would be cheaper for the bank to allow his transport company to manage their fleet of staff buses which was also approved.

In Nigeria as of today, Dangote Group with its dominance in the sugar market and Sugar Refinery is the main supplier (70% of the market) to the country’s soft drinks companies,

ÏÏÏ The success of

Life Impact Award

Nollywood cannot be recorded without the mention of an icon, Oludotun Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs. His career includes works in radio, theatre and films. Born on July 11, 1942 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, Jacobs attended Holy Trinity School, Kano. He was a member of the debating and drama society.

Olu Jacobs developed the passion for acting after attending one of Hubert Ogunde’s annual concert party at Colonial Hotel in Kano. In order to achieve the feat, he traveled to England in 1964 to

Dangote breweries and confectioners. It is indeed, the largest refinery in Africa and the third largest in the world producing 800,000 tonnes of sugar annually.

Apart from these, Dangote Group owns salt factories and flour mills and also being a major importer of rice, fish, pasta, cement and fertilizer.

It is instructive to note that Dangote Group currently has presence in 17 African countries and is a market leader in cement on the continent. One of the Group’s subsidiaries, Dangote Cement Plc, is the largest listed company in West Africa and the first Nigerian company to join the Forbes Global 2000 Companies list.

The Group has diversi-

fied into other sectors of the Nigerian economy including agriculture and is currently constructing the largest petroleum refinery, petrochemical plant and fertiliser complex in Africa.

Internationally, Dangote sits on the board of the Corporate Council on Africa, and is a member of the Steering Committee of the United Nations SecretaryGeneral’s Global Education First Initiative, the Clinton Global Initiative, the McKinsey Advisory Council, and the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum.

He was named Co-chair of the US-Africa Business Centre in September 2016 by the US Chamber of Commerce. In April 2017, he joined the Board of Directors of the Clinton Health Access Initiative, which is helping countries build the systems necessary to provide health services to their people.

A dedicated philanthropist, Dangote made an initial endowment of $1.25billion to the Dangote Foundation in March 2014, enabling it to scale up its work in health, education and economic empowerment.

In addition, he is collaborating with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to fight polio. He is also on the Board of ONE, the antipoverty group, co-founded

by Bono.

In 2013, Forbes listed him as the ‘Most Powerful Man in Africa.’ In April 2014, TIME Magazine listed him among its 100 ‘Most Influential People in the World.’

He also made the list of CNBC’s ‘Top 25 Business men in the World’ that changed and shaped the century.

Chief Olu Jacobs pursue his acting career.

He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He then starred in various British television shows and series in the 1970s - The Goodies, Till Death Us Do Part, Barlow at Large, Angels, 1990, The Tomorrow People, The Professionals.

In 1978, he played the role of President Mageeba in Michael Codron’s presentation of Tom Stoppard’s play Night and Day. In the 1980s, Jacobs

starred in several international films some of which include John Irvin’s war film- The Dogs of War, Roman Polanski’s adventurecomedy Pirates (1986) and the family-adventure film - Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985). On television, he was a cast in TVS’s The Witches and the Grinnygog (1983 series).

Jacobs has starred in over 120 Nollywood films and is considered one of the top Nigerian Nollywood actors.

Jacobs

Onyema Ugochukwu ÏÏÏ

Chief Onyema Ugochukwu was born in November 9, 1944 in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria. He graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with a BSc in Economics.

He is married with four children.

A highly revered Nigerian economist, journalist, and politician, Ugochukwu served as the senior Special Adviser on Communication to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the first Executive Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

On February 25, 2008, an Abia State elections tribunal declared Ugochukwu the winner of the 2007 gubernatorial election and Governor-elect of Abia State. However, on February 11, 2009 an Appeal Court in Port Harcourt, the River State capital, overturned the ruling, declaring that Chief Theodore Orji of the PPA had in fact won the election.

Upon graduation from college, Ugochukwu was hired as an Economic Research Assistant by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He remained with CBN for two years before he abandoned a promising career in economics to pursue his true passion, journalism.

Ugochukwu joined the Business Times group as an Economic Analyst and a pioneer staff of what would later become the most influential financial newspaper in Nigeria. He rose in the ranks to become the Editor of the Business Times Newspaper (1977 to 1982).

In 1983, Ugochukwu became Editor-in-Chief of the London-based West Africa magazine, where he wrote extensively on development issues, to provide a better understanding of the African debt crisis.

He eventually returned to Nigeria to become the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Times of Nigeria and he was subsequently appointed to its board as the Executive Director of Manpower and Development.

He retired from newspaper journalism in 1994 as the Executive Director of Publications. Ugochukwu remained active as a media consultant for the Dow Jones Financial News Service.

Throughout his distinguished career as a journalist, Ugochukwu met and interviewed numerous Heads of States – including then Minister Margaret Thatcher, former South

Ugochukwu African President Nelson Mandela, Jamaican Prime Minister P. J. Patterson, French President Jacques Chirac, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Cuban President, Fidel Castro, Nigerian presidents Ibrahim Babangida, Muhammadu Buhari, Sani Abacha, and Abdusalami Abubakar – and presented papers on African economic and political development at various fora including Oxford University, England, and Uppsala University.

With Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1998, Ugochukwu became the Director of Publicity at the Obasanjo for President Campaign Organisation, and contributed immensely to the election of Olusegun Obasanjo as the President of Nigeria.

He was appointed as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Orientation and Public Affairs. He spearheaded a National Rebirth campaign aimed at instilling patriotic virtues into a national psyche ravaged by years of political instability and corruption. It was on this platform that Ugochukwu launched “The Nigerian Declaration of Human Responsibilities”, which declares in part: “This Character on Human Responsibilities…

Seeks to bring freedom and responsibility into a better balance, to highlight and increase awareness of the obligation which we owe each other and to our nation.”

To soothe the political unrest in the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria, President Obasanjo signed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act of 2000 into law. He was appointed as the pioneer chairman of the newly created commission, charged with developing the nine oil producing states of the country, with excess oil revenues.

Daily Times 2017 Award Winners

Daily Times Nigeria zƆƗ Ɔ Ɨ ƕè C Ƒ Əƕ Ƣè ƾƠơƤ

7

Daily Times unveils 2017 Award winners -Part II

Mathew Dadiya, Tunde

Opalana and Augustine Okezie, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

Though the excitement of participative deliberation was pervasive among the editors, having to take a hard decision on distinguished Nigerians who have excelled in their different walks of life, it

was a tough decision for the management and editors of The Daily Times.

The board of editors of The Daily Times including the Chairman/ Publisher, Mr. Fidelis Anosike and the Group Managing Director, Mr. Noel Anosike, had to contend with the realisation that the nominees for the 2017 Daily Times Award were quite astound-

ing in their achievements and contributions to the greatness of the country and uplift of the mankind.

It was a long night and memorable occasion. The event of Thursday, December 28, 2017, would continue to linger on among the participants of the decision to choose the award winners.

And when the issue of

who would emerge as the winners among the nominees commenced, it was an anti-climax as the deliberation was frank, engaging and down to earth.

In the end, the winners emerged through painstaking nomination and voting.

The Daily Times, Nigeria’s heritage newspaper, therefore announced the 2017 Winners of its Presti-

gious Award as follows: * Man of the Year Dr. Ibe Kachikwu * Woman of the Year Mrs. Aisha Buhari * Politician of the Year Governor Willie Obiano * Governor of the YearGovernor Nyesom Wike * Good Governance Award - Governors Ibikunle Amosun and Aminu Tambuwal

News

* Times Heroes AwardSegun Osoba, Tony Momoh, Sam Amuka-Pemu, Henry Odukomaiya and Ugochukwu Onyeama. * Life Impact AwardSultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar and Olu Jacobs. * Life Achievement Award- Bola Tinubu, Aliko Dangote and Leo Stan Ekeh * CEO of the Year- Nnmadi Okonkwo.

Life Impact Award

Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar

Ï j Ɔ Ɨƕ ƌƈƅ Ə ƕ Ƌ Ƈ Ɛ ƆƏ ƓƈƐ Ɨƈ Ɛƈ ƅƐƈ ÏÏÏ Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abuba-

kar III is the 20th Sultan of Sokoto, the titular ruler of Sokoto in northern Nigeria, head of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (Society for the Support of Islam - JNI), and president-general of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).As Sultan of Sokoto, he is considered the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s seventy-million Muslims, roughly 50 percent of the nation’s population. Sa’ad Abubakar succeeded his brother, Muhammadu Maccido, who died on ADC Airlines Flight 53, the flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and had been destined for Sokoto.

Sa’ad Abubakar is a younger son of the 17th Sultan, Siddiq Abu Bakar dan Usuman, who held the Sultanate for over 50 years. Abubakar is the fifth heir to the two century-old throne founded by his ancestor, Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio (1754-1817), leader of the Maliki school of Islam and the Qadiri branch of Sufism.

The royal father attended the prestigious Barewa College, Zaria and proceeded to the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1975 where he was a member of the 18th Regular Course. Abubakar was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1977 and served in the elite Armoured Corps.

Abubakar holds important administrative influence in Nigerian religious life. He is the titular ruler of Sokoto in northern Nigeria and is also the head of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. Leadership of this council means that the Sultan of Sokoto remains the only figure that can legitimately claim to speak on behalf of all Nigerian Muslims. This role has become increasingly influential over the years with a rise in interreligious tensions in the country.

Sultan Abubakar is one northern leader highly referred for patriotism and oneness of Nigeria devoid of ethnic, tribal or religious colouration. To him, religious tolerance among Nigerians remain

d ô Ɨ ƄƑƄ Ɗ Ə the key role of the sultanate because in doing so, other issues like ethnicity and politics will steadily addressed.

Former American Secretary of States, John Kerry, during a visit to the Caliphate on August 22, 2016 commended the Sultan for not only preaching religious tolerance but demonstrating it among his followers.

He said that the US Government would always be ready to give its support to the Sultan in his various moves to ensure religious tolerance in the country.

Kerry said that the Sultanate Council

was building a community of tolerance for peace progress and political stability in Nigeria. According to him, the United States would work with the sultanate to strengthen religious harmony and knowledge.

To him, the Nigerian military has done well in subduing terrorism, adding that , “US will continue to identify with the role played by the sultan.”

Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar promised that he would not relent in promoting religious tolerance to ensure that the county is politically and economically stable.

The Sultan totally condemned terrorism and insurgency as anathema to the teachings and practice of Islam. He said that those who shout, “Allah” while killing people will end up on hell.

The monarch said anybody who killed in the name of Islam was not a true Muslim because the religion frowns at such act.

He said: “We cannot restore the dignity of man by killing innocent people.

The herdsmen killing people are criminals and not Fulani herdsmen. Anybody who kills people while shouting Allah, is a terrorist and not a true Muslim and will go to hell. Allah hates people who kill and says they will go to hell.”He sees education as a veritable tool for human development as it promotes unity, peace and economy. He said: “A country that takes education serious tends to develop healthier and happier. Education is light and means to restore dignity of man while ignorance is darkness. Education will continue to be a veritable tool for human and societal development.”

The royal father headed a presidential security unit of the Armoured Corps that guarded the then military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, in the late 1980s.

Abubakar also commanded a battalion of African peacekeepers in Chad during the early 1980s as part of the Organisation of African Unity’s force and was military liaison officer for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the mid-1990s. He was appointed Commanding Officer 241 Recce Battalion, Kaduna in 1993.

From 1995 to 1999, he was ECOWAS military liaison officer and commanding officer, 231 Tank Battalion (ECOMOG Operations) in Sierra Leone from 1999 to 2000. From 2003 to 2006, he served as Defence Attaché to Pakistan (also accredited for Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Afghanistan). He later retired as a Brigadier General.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Daily Times 2017 Award Winners

Times Heroes Award

Prince Tony Momoh

ÏÏÏ

He was born 27th April, 1939 is a Nigerian journalist and politician who was Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture (1986–1990) during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida Momoh was born in Auchi, Edo State, of Edo origin. He was the 165th child of King Momoh I of Auchi.

He attended Government School, Auchi (1949–1954) and Anglican School Okpe, 1954. Momoh was Pupil Teacher at the Anglican School, Auchi (January– December 1955) and Headmaster at the Anglican School, Ubuneke, Ivbiaro, Owan Local Government (January 1958 – December 1959). He went to the Provincial Teachers Training College, Abudu, Edo State and Government Teachers College, Abraka in Western Region(1960–1961).

Later, while working at the Daily Times or on sabbatical, he attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (September 1964 – October 1966) where he earned a degree in Mass communication, and then the University of Lagos where he studied Law. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos (October 1974 – May

1975), and was called to the Bar in June 1975.

Momoh started his journalism career as a sub-editor at the Daily Times in October 1962, rising steadily through the ranks to become Editor and deputy general manager (June 1976 – May 1980). In June 1979, during the lead-up to the transition from military to civilian rule at the start of the Second Nigerian Republic, Momoh said of the five presidential candidates: “They are all the same ... It’s going to turn into a personality contest”.

In 1981 the Senate led by Joseph Wayas summoned Momoh for contempt. This caused a major legal battle in which Momoh successfully argued that as a journalist he was empowered by the Constitution to hold government accountable at all times. In Tony Momoh v. Speaker, House of Representatives (1982) it was held that a person had the right to refuse to disclose his source of information.

However, in Senate v. Tony Momoh (1983) the Court of Appeal held that the press is not a fourth arm of government. A newspaper publisher has no special immunity and the press can

be ordered to disclose its sources in some cases.

Momoh was general manager of the Times from June 1984 to Sept 1986.

Momoh was appointed Minister of Information and Culture by General Ibrahim Babangida, holding this position from September 1986 until 1990. He was Chairman of the African Conference of Information Ministers from 1988 to 1990. In 1983 the editor of Newswatch, Dele Giwa, was detained for a week by police for publishing what they called “classified material”. On 17 October 1986 Giwa was accused by Colonel A.K. Togun of the State Security Services (SSS) of anti-government activities including attempting to import arms to forment insurrection. On 19 October 1986 Giwa was killed by a parcel bomb. At first, Momoh pledged that there would be a government probe of the incident. He soon backed down, saying “a special probe would serve no useful purpose”.

Speaking at a seminar in Lagos in 1987, Momoh said that radio, television and newspapers should be seen as tools “for the promotion of national unity and integration”. In 1988 Momoh announced that the government was trying to find

radio sets that could only receive approved broadcasts from the federal and state radio stations. This was “as a means of ensuring that information about the country was adequately disseminated” In a February 1990 interview published in Ebony magazine Momoh talked about the rich and diverse Nigerian culture. He stated that British-style parliamentary democracy and the American-style presidential system had both failed in Nigeria because they were not compatible with these local cultures. He said that Nigeria was now establishing a system of grassroots democracy in a twoparty system. In May 1990 party elections were held for local ward positions using an “open ballot”, where voters showed their preference by standing in front of a photograph of the candidate. Party elections were then scheduled for the state and national elections. Momoh said the government would not interfere in the inner workings of parties.

Soon after, all the National Republican Convention candidates for national offices were disqualified on the grounds that there were irregularities in their application forms.

Babangida followed a

leading computer manufacturing company in Nigeria and is patronised heavily by the Nigerian government especially during elections.

Ekeh through his company, Zinox Technologies, has given back to the society in several ways. One of which is the Computerize Nigeria Project which was launched on August 5, 2000.

The goal of the project was to sensitise and encourage development in the use of computers by Nigerians.

Another such project is the CANi Scheme which was set up to provide quality desktop and laptop computers to the Nigerian populace at below normal market prices with the option of bank financing and a 24 month repayment period.

The testimonial of Ekeh’s business genius can be seen in the numerous awards won by both him and his company. They include but are not limited to: Zinox computers as ICT Company

of the Year at the Thisday Awards for Excellence in 2007, Computer Brand of the Year in 2006 at the Nigerian Information Technology and Telecom Awards, 4 doctorate degrees from reputable universities, etc.

Ekeh was conferred with the honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) of Nigeria by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2004 and is also a board member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.

Ekeh also serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Zinox Technologies Ltd and Buyright Africa Dotcom Limited. He founded TaskDirect Limited in 1987. Chief Leo Stan Ekeh as a first rate Indian trained economist and risk Manager, was honoured as an ICON of Hope by President Olusegun Obasanjo October 1, 2002 for his sustained pioneering effort in the area of information

Momoh policy of donating money, vehicles, offices and so on to local governments, political parties and others on the basis that this would keep them free of influence by the rich and powerful.

As Minister for Information Momoh justified the practice, saying of Democracy “is not as expensive as people are thinking in relation to the alternative. The alternative is allowing one man to dictate to the whole Nigeria because you don’t want it to be expensive. If money is not spent on democracy and a one-man dictatorship emerges ... it is

the same Nigerians who are talking of expensiveness now that will shout that one man is a dictator”.

Babangida was tough on the press at times, but tried to avoid open conflict. When the press began calling for Momoh’s dismissal he was slow to respond, since Momoh was intelligent and reflective, and had experience from his own days as a newspaper editor. However, he finally dismissed Momoh and replaced him with Alex Akinyele, who had previously been in the customs services and had been a director at Newswatch.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Leo Stan Ekeh

Ï Computer guru with a difference ÏÏÏ

Whenever anyone talks of technology in Nigeria, the name Chief Leo Stan Ekeh must be mentioned. Born on February 22, 1956 in Ubomiri, Mbaitoli in Imo State, Ekeh is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the wellknown indigenous firm, Zinox Technologies Limited, makers of personal computers.

The technology guru surprisingly does not have a technology background as he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Panjan University in India and a postgraduate degree in Risk Management from Nottingham University in England.

Ekeh began his journey in the technology business when he set up Task Systems Limited which was a pioneer in desktop publishing and computer graphics

in Nigeria. The company was so successful that it is to his credit the computerisation of a high percentage of print media in Nigeria.

The astute businessman also founded other companies including ITEC Solutions Limited and Technology Distribution Limited.

He then set up Zinox Technologies Limited in October 2001 to produce locally made computers.

Always pioneering, his computers were the first Nigerian made computers certified internationally.

Zinox was the first computer manufacturer in West Africa to attain the WHQL certification and the ISO 9001: 2000 certification. In October 2013, Zinox Technologies unveiled their first tablet computer called Zipad produced locally at a media conference at the company’s headquarters in Lagos. The company is the

Ekeh technology and also as a pride to modern Nigeria.

He attended Holy Ghost College, Owerri in Imo State for his secondary education. As a young man, he wanted to own the biggest transport company in Nigeria.

He later went to India for his university education, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Punjab

University.

Ekeh believes that studying in India was “a great turning point in my life because I found the economy of India a realistic economy”.

After his university education in India, Ekeh opted to study at the Cork City University, Ireland, and later transferred to Nottingham University, United Kingdom, earning a degree in Risk Management.

Daily Times 2017 Award Winners

Times Heroes Award

Chief Olusegun Osoba

ÏÏÏ Chief

Olusegun Osoba, the Akinrogun of Egbaland and Aremo Awujale of Ijebuland was born to Pa and Madam Jonathan Babatunde Osoba.

Chief Olusegun Osoba attended a series of professional courses after high school graduation from Methodist Boys High School Lagos. He obtained a diploma in journalism at the University of Lagos and went for one-year course in the United Kingdom on the scholarship of the Commonwealth Press Union in 1967.

In 1969, he was studying in Bloomington, USA at the Indiana University’s department of journal-

ism. In 1974 he won the Nieman Fellowship Award for journalism for year’s postgraduate study at Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. He is the first Nigerian to have won this prestigious Nieman Fellowship for Journalism.

Osoba started his career in journalism in 1964 working with the Daily Times as a trainee reporter covering crime stories and by 1966, he was the diplomatic correspondent of the Times. He became news editor in 1968, deputy editor of the Sunday Times in 1971 and deputy editor of the Times in 1972.

In August 1975, he became

the Editor of the Daily Times of Nigeria, then left the firm in November 1975 to take up the task of General Manager of the Ilorin based Nigerian Herald. He returned to the Times in 1984 as the managing director.

Internationally, he worked as stringer or local correspondent for the following organisations: The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC),The Times of London ,Newsweek Magazine, U.S.A, United Press International News Agency (UPI). He was the chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and Member of the Executive Board of the International Press Institute representing Black-Africa from 1984-1992. He was a

Daily Times Nigeria zƆƗ Ɔ Ɨ ƕè C Ƒ Əƕ Ƣè ƾƠơƤ

member of the Nigerian Constituent Assembly in 1988. He is also member of the Commonwealth Press Union, London and the Nigerian union of Journalist (NUJ).

Osoba was elected at two different occasions as Governor of Ogun State first from January 1992 until November 1993 with the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He was removed from office by Sani Abacha’s administration on 17 November 1993. In 1999, he was elected again as governor with the Alliance for Democracy Party (AD), holding office between May 1999 and May 2003.

He holds the National Honours of the Commander of the Order of the Niger CON. He is a member of the National Confer-

9

News

ence 2014.

boys and two girls: Kemi,

Osoba He got married to Beere Aderinsola and is the father of four children, two

Olumide, Oluyinka and Tobi.

Times Heroes Award

Sam Amuka-Pemu ÏÏÏ Prince Sam Amuka Pemu (born

13 June 1935) is a Nigerian journalist, columnist and founder of the Vanguard, Nigeria’s leading newspaper. He cofounded The Punch, the most widely read newspaper in Nigeria. Sam Amuka Pemu was born in Sapele, a city in Delta State, Southern Nigeria into the family of the late Pa Amuka-Pemu and Madam Teshoma Amuka-Pemu, who died in May 2014.

He was formerly a Daily Times of Nigeria editor and the first editor of the Sunday Punch before he established The Punch with his friend, the late Olu Aboderin, in 1971. He later established Vanguard Newspaper in 1983 with three other Nigerian columnists. Amuka was described as a “Gentleman of the Press”

by President Muhammadu Buhari on

Amuka-Pemu

Times Heroes Award

Prince Henry Odukomaiya ÏÏÏ While celebrating his 80th

birthday with a thanksgiving service at the Arch Bishop Vinning Memorial Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos recently, Prince Henry Odukomaiya is generally seen as one of the brains behind the birth of Concord Newspaper.

He was also the former Managing Director of Champion Newspapers and a former Deputy Chief Editor of the Daily Times.

Prominent Nigerians who attended the event included former Minister

of Information, Labaran Maku, Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce, Bimbo Ashiru, Chairman Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Sam Amuka-Pemu, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi.

The celebrant also launched a book: Henry Odukomaiya @ 80: In the Eyes Of Associates, which was reviewed by the former Managing Director of Daily Times, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi.

Odukomaiya

his 80th birthday.

He was described as an icon and a leading light in Nigerian journalism

by Nduka Obaigbena, President of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria. Amuka-Pemu is the oldest practising media professional in Nigeria today who had been cited by peers. A book entitled From 1939 to the Vanguard of Modern Journalism written by Kola Muslim Animasaun, who also trained under him, acknowledged his immense contributions to journalism in Nigeria.

Uncle Sam, as he is fondly called, as the publisher of Vanguard, is a great team player. Always leaves a lasting impression on his audience, as he llistens to everybody’s opinion and the justification for such opinion.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria zƆƗ Ɔ Ɨ ƕè C Ƒ Əƕ Ƣè ƾƠơƤ

Daily Times 2017 Award Winners

CEO of the Year - Nnamdi Okonkwo

Ï j Ɔ Ƅ Ɗƈ ƓƈƖ ƏƗ Ɛ 0ƈƗƆƋƈƐƕ Ɗ

Ganiyu Obaaro

ÏÏÏ When

the history of Nigeria’s highly competitive banking industry is written, one bank whose place in history cannot be glossed over is Fidelity Bank Plc. The entry of Fidelity as it is popularly called by its numerous customers both in Nigeria and elsewhere across the world, though gradual, has grown like the oak tree, stamping its unique authority and statement on the Nigerian, business (banking) terrain.

With a chain of branch networks spread across the country, Fidelity has today emerged as one of investors’ brides- emerging to its ecstatic stakeholders and an envy of its peers.

Indeed, the human factor played a key role in its recent growth. The emergence of the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, who, with a strong finance background combined this potential to effectively manage the bank’s human and material resources together, attest to this giant stride.

Okonkwo is being assisted by equally highly cerebral and professional top shot, like Muhammed Balarade, Deputy Managing Director, among others.

Today, the young man, in spite of the vicissitude of life he had faced in the course of this tasking job, is popularly described as a banking wizard.

Okonkwo is not one to be carried away by his long list of achievements. He remained committed to growing the bank, its customer base, bouquet of products offering and its customer base.

He knows he is in a race to win when he was appointed as the helmsman of the bank.

As an uncommon go-getter, today, observers can say confidently that he has redefined Nigerian banking industry. Yet, he remained undaunted.

A peep into Fidelity Bank’s inroad into the Nigerian banking sector will suffice here.

Fidelity Bank, also known as Fidelity Bank Plc., is a commercial bank in Nigeria. It is licensed as a commercial bank, by the Central Bank of Nigeria, and national banking regulator.

In 2011, the bank was ranked the 7th most capitalized bank in Nigeria, the 25th most capitalized bank on the African continent.

As of December 2013, Fidelity Bank Plc. was a large financial services provider in Nigeria with total assets estimated at over US$6.318billion (NGN:1+ trillion), and shareholders’ equity in excess of US$1 billion (NGN:158 billion). This has since increased.

At that time, the bank served 2.3 million customers at about 239 business offices nationally. The bank currently has over 400,000 diverse shareholders. It was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in May 2005 and has consistently paid dividends annually since its listing, as of June 2016, according to BGL Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc had a market capitalisation of NGN:37,072,109,685.76 Fidelity Bank of Nigeria was incorporated in the year 1987; and began its operations in 1988. It initially started with a Merchant Banking license, with the objective of positively impacting on the Nigerian economy through participation and contribution to the growth of the Nigerian Economy with the provision of quality and timely financial services.

The bank converted to a commercial bank in the year 1999 in an attempt to grow, as a private limited company and became a Public Limited Company also in August, 1999. It rebranded to Fidelity Bank Plc that year.

It secured its Universal Banking License in February 2001 and also obtained its International Banking License in the year 2011. Fidelity Bank of Nigeria has grown to a stable banking institution.

During the 2005 Nigeria Banking consolidation, Fidelity Bank acquired FSB International Bank Plc (“FSB”) and Manny Bank Plc to become one of the top financially stabled banks in Nigeria. Fidelity Bank currently has presence in all the states and major cities in Nigeria. Over the years, the bank has been reputed for its financial stability.

Fidelity continues to rank among Nigeria’s most capitalized banks, with tier-one capital of nearly USD1 billion (One Billion US Dollars).

The bank maintains a large network of interconnected branches in all Nigerian states and major cities in Nigeria. It has a wholly owned bank subsidiary in Ghana.

Fidelity Bank actively has imbibed its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a core function of its

Okonkwo banking services. It estabThe Management is lished the Fidelity Helping focused on building and Hands Programme, where maintaining a virile and its area of focus is educa- well-respected brand that tion, the environment and caters to the needs of its the health and social wel- growing corporate, comfare. It has over the years mercial and consumer actively engaged and sup- banking clientele. For this ported through its CSR, ac- purpose, the bank is levertivities aimed at improving aging its pedigree in inits area of focus through vestment banking (Fidelity the Fidelity Helping Hands was a merchant bank for Programme.

11years) and its structures The bank is today ranked and service offerings for a amongst the top 10 in the retail populace.

Nigerian banking industry, Fidelity Bank also enwith presence in the major joys the respect and partcities and commercial cen- nership of a network of tres of Nigeria. Over the off-shore institutions years, the bank has been with which it has correreputed for integrity and spondent banking, confirprofessionalism. It is also mation lines, credit and respected for the quality other relationships. These and stability of its manage- include, ANZ London, Afrment. Fidelity staff are also eximbank, Cairo, Egypt, respected in the Nigerian ABSA South Africa, Combanking industry for the merce Bank, Frankfurt, quality of training they re- Citibank, N.A. London and ceive on the job, as well as New York, FBN Bank, UK in good business schools Ltd, SCB, London, US Exboth in Nigeria and Over- im Bank, USAID, etc. seas. The Management is The bank’s core vision is, particular about the qual- “To be number one in every ity of people that join the market we serve and for system. every branded product we To qualify as a member offer.; while its core mission of Team Fidelity, a candi- is, “To make financial serdate is expected to possess vices easy and accessible to three vital statistics, with our customers”. the acronym TAC: Only recently, Okonkwo's Talent (an innate mental Midas touch in Fidel- ity saw aptitude), Ambition (a de- it being honoured at the sire to succeed); Character nation’s capital market Foe example, in Novem(a total quality of integrity which will guide the talent ber last year, Fidelity Bank and ambition to productive Plc emerged the best performing stock in percentends)

age terms on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

In fact data sourced from the NSE for the period under review showed that the stock increased by 35.53 per cent to close at N2.06 per share in contrast with the month’s opening price of N1.52.

As part of its robust strategy to remain competitive, the bank’s bouquet of promos came to its rescue.

For example, as part of deliberate efforts to change the face of service and create total customer experience in the financial services industry, Fidelity Bank has deployed a groundbreaking and innovative solution for the collection of internally generated revenue (IGR) in Lagos State.

Working in conjunction with the State Government, Fidelity Bank developed the tax collection/payment solution via its Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel (*770#). The solution, which is first of its kind in the industry, is in response to some of the challenges faced in making tax payments and remittances to Lagos State Government.

Fidelity Bank has, over the years, positioned itself as a key player in the Nigeria’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) across Federal and State mandates.

The Bank successfully deployed easy and conve-

nient payment solutions in Anambra, Abia, Imo, Kano and Sokoto sates through Point of Sale (PoS) Terminal Tax Collections, Automated Electronic Motor Vehicle Licence, Land Registry Automation Processes and web payment platforms.

Again , through its well known promo, Get Alert in Millions reloaded, the bank has continued to soar in operations and performance.

Fidelity Bank Plc splashed N19 million to 13 of its customers in the second monthly draw of “Get Alert in Million Reloaded” promo in various regions of the country.

Okonkwo, the bank’s managing director, speaking at the promo draw in Lagos, said the initiative was the seventh in the series of promos organised by the bank to reward customers for their unflinching loyalty and patronage.

Okonkwo said the promo tagged ‘Get Alert In Millions Promo Reloaded’ was in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) financial inclusion policy.

He said the promotion was introduced to raise requisite awareness on the need for Nigerians to imbibe savings culture.

The bank also has a collection of awards to its credit.

Fidelity is a full-fledged commercial bank operating in Nigeria with over 3.8 million customers who are serviced across its 240 offices and various digital banking channels. The bank is focused on select niche corporate banking sectors, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and is rapidly implementing a digital based retail banking strategy which has resulted in the following over the last three and half years; a 93 per cent growth in savings deposits, 50 percent customer enrollment on debit cards and 30 percent of its customers now using its flagship mobile/internet banking products.

Fidelity Bank recently released its Audited H1 2017 results, which showed a remarkable improvement on all indices with Gross Earnings increasing by 22 percent to N86 billion, Expenses declining by 2 per cent to N31 billion and Profit Before Tax (PBT) increasing by 67 percent to N10bn.

All these are the result of disciplined execution of the bank’s mid-term strategy.

No doubt, for Fidelity Bank, the sky is the beginning of its continuous record performance.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Police arrest Badoo Cult leader, chief herbalist Ï Demolish Shrine In Imosan Village ÏÏÏ The Lagos State Police

Command on Tuesday made a major breakthrough in the fight against the menace of Badoo cult with the arrest of the group’s herbalist, Fatai Adebayo alias Alese.

The notorious activities of the dreaded cult group prevalent in Ikorodu and Epe axis of the State had sent many of the victims to their early graves with cruel killings through the smashing of mortar and pestle on victims’ heads.

Adebayo, 34, who specializes in administering oath on members of the group before they launch any attack, was arrested at his shrine located in Imosan Village, a suburb of IjebuOde, Ogun State.

The arrest of the herbalist followed the arrest of some Badoo cult suspects at the weekend including the overall head of the group.

Speaking while parading Adebayo before newsmen at the shrine, the State’s Commissioner of Police,

Mr. Imohimi Edgal said the head of the group was arrested on water during an attempt to escape.

The CP, who led the operation involving the Commander of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), ACP Tunji Disu; Chairman of Lagos State Special Task Force, SP Yinka Egbeyemi, among others, said investigation was still ongoing but that the full details about the arrests made so far would be disclosed on Thursday at a press briefing.

He said: “Over the weekend, we had far reaching achievement in the fight against the killers popularly known as Badoo in Ikorodu.

“Their kingpin who is the head of the group has been arrested. He was arrested on water as he was making his escape.”

Revealing how the herbalist was arrested, Edgal said: “One of the suspects arrested confessed and he led us here that before they

go for any killing, the head of the group brings them to this gentleman (Adebayo) to come and carry out oath for both themselves and the piece of stone they used for their killings and that they don’t go for any killing without first of all coming for oath in this shrine and that is why we are here.

“This gentleman is an accomplice before the fact and so definitely we are placing him under arrest and as well as sealing off the shrine till after investigation.

“I will give further details on Thursday during my press briefing but I can assure the good people of Ikorodu, Lagosians and Nigerians that we will not rest until this evil is completely rooted out from Lagos State,” Edgal assured.

The CP also made a brief stop-over at the palace of the traditional ruler of Imosan Village, Chief Tajudeen Muili to intimate him of the criminal activities going on under his domain.

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Buhari’s New Year speech: Your criticism an exhibition of envy, VON DG tells PDP Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÏÏÏ The Director-General

of Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Osita Okechukwu has described the People’s Democratic Party’s criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari’s New Year speech as an action driven by greed.

Okechukwu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) told newsmen in Enugu Tuesday.

He said, “Believe me, I am alarmed that the regional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) can describe President Muhammadu Buhari’s hope renewal New Year Speech as diversionary.

“Mr. President for the second time raised hope realistically by laying bare his strategic critical infrastructural foundationRails, Roads, Power (RRP), in the speech. That is by no means diversionary.

“Recall that when Buhari first told the nation that he will halt food importation, PDP shouted impossible. Today, Buhari

has halted food importation and taken Nigerians back to land. Let’s kindly support him.

“One expected the PDP to analyze the details of what one can call Buhari’s RRP Projects, make amendments or point out missing gaps; rather our sister party went down its traditional propaganda route and grossly exhibited height of envy.

“Envy in the sense that they promised all those projects in their 16 years of squander mania. Otherwise, how can any rational political party call Mr. President bold step in laying solid foundation for Nigeria’s industrial take off with massive investment in RRP as diversionary? To me Mr. President is following the historical route of industrialization.

“Don’t forget how PDP awarded 3 Greenfield Refineries on 13 May, 2010 at $23 billion? Where is the money? Where are the Refineries in Lagos, Kogi and Bayelsa? Result fuel scarcity.

“The RRP Project to me is a landmark and the

greatest infrastructure milestone in the history of our dear country. Please take a careful analysis of the nationwide standard gauge network of the Rail lines – Easter Corridor Railway – Port Harcourt, Aba, Umuahia, Owerri, Enugu, Abakiliki, Maikurdi, Lafita, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Damaturu to Maiduguri, Coastal Rail- Lagos, Ore, Shagamu, Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Sapele, Ugheli, Warri, Yenagoa, Otuoke, Port Harcourt, Aba, Uyo, and Calabar and lastly the upgraded of Lagos – Kano to standard gauge.

“Have you forgotten that the old gauge Lagos-Kano railway was awarded by the PDP some years ago at $8.3 billion, about 1,400km, when the Chinese awarded the Golmud-Lhasa standard gauge at $4.2 billion, 1,142km?

“Today Buhari is borrowing $1.5 billion to standardize the railway - The greatest scam since our return to democracy. Let’s forget the PDP please, for Buhari is clearing their mess.”

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Opinion

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

The Nigerian Senate: All performance, zero propaganda

L Olu W. Onemola

ike an old car parked in the garage, nobody cares about propaganda politics anymore. It’s tires are now flat. It’s methods are now known and its inaccuracies are now easily decipherable with the quickest click of your smartphone. This is why throughout 2017, the Nigerian Senate, under the leadership of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, carefully worked to meet the demands of Nigeria’s ‘New Governance Order’ — an order that is defined by delivery and performance over orchestrated publicity, and effectiveness over obvious hype.

Despite the many attacks, and in spite of the countless distractions that were thrown at the 8th Senate from external forces, the focus of the Senators, their persistence on people-centered legislation, and their collective commitment to always put Nigeria and Nigerians first, allowed the Upper Chamber of Nigeria’s federal legislature to achieve various notable feats in 2017.

This is why, when people ask: “So, what should we expect from the 8th Senate in 2018?” you should tell them: “Look back at the Senate’s performance in the past, it will give you an idea of its future.”

Looking Back at 2017, we all remember that the year started off with the budget. Talks about #OpenNASS accompanied the conversation about the 2017 appropriations bill — and commentators across the social-media-sphere all had a thing or two to say about the alleged secrecy behind the National Assembly’s annual spending.

Some predicted that 2017 would be ‘no different’, while others laughed at the idea of the legislators agreeing to open up their books for the first time since 1999. This status quo narrative permeated through Facebook and Twitter, all the way to ‘those-annoying-broadcast- messages-that-yourparentssend-you-on-Whatsapp’

— and the consensus in the court of public opinion was clear: #OpenNASS would never happen!

While the naysayers preached ‘Never!’, and the self-proclaimed political pundits speculated and hypothesized, people on the inside knew that the Senate President was a man of his word. He had promised to release the budget — and he would deliver. Though it was difficult at first, however, through constant consultation with his colleagues in both the Senate and the House, and the political will of the entire National Assembly leadership, on Thursday, May 11th, 2017 — in a move that shocked observers — the National Assembly released the breakdown of its annual budget to the world.

This budget is now on the National Assembly website. You can check it out yourself.

Fast forward to two weeks later — if Drake was Nigerian, his ‘Back to Back’ chorus would have been the Senate’s soundtrack. Following the release of its budget details, in quick succession, the Senate passed the historic Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (#PIGB). This piece of legislation that had tripped up the 6th and 7th National Assemblies, scaled the 8th Senate within 24 months.

Right now, many people still do not know that the PIGB passed by the Senate in 2017 is aimed at unbundling the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for better performance, creating a sustainable framework for the effective governance of Nigeria’s petroleum industry, and putting an end to the issues that cause fuel scarcity across the country.

The Senate did not stop there. It went on an anti-corruption sprint. It passed the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Between Nigeria and Other Foreign Countries Bill. In July, it passed the Whistleblower Protection Bill to protect people that inform the authorities about corruption. And, it also passed the

Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Bill (NFIU) Bill at the end of July — in order to get Nigeria re-admitted back into the EGMONT Group after its suspension. This move was aimed at giving our nation the previous access that it once had to the network, resources and expertise of 154 other financial intelligence units around the world in our war against corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing.

Similarly, the Senate responded to Nigeria’s 2016 economic recession by fast-tracking the passage of the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Bill and the Credit Bureau Services Bill in 2017. Both bills, which were signed into law by the then-Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in May 2017, were aimed at providing Nigerians across the country with easier access to credit.

The impact of both ‘Access to Credit’ Bills passed by the Senate, and the National Assembly as a whole, were brought to the fore when in September 2017, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria announced that due to the access to credit legislation — which began in the Senate, 20,684 movable assets valued at N392 billion had already been registered on the National Collateral Register (NCR). Similarly, in October 2017, the World Bank rated Nigeria among the top 10 most improved economies in its 2016/2017 Doing Business Report.

All of this was due to the fact that the Senate had focused on creating more opportunities for MSMEs in Nigeria through well-crafted legislation.

Of course, we cannot forget the Senate’s 2017 comprehensive amendment to the electoral act of 2010, which ensures the full biometric accreditation of voters with Smart Card Readers; the instant transmission of accreditation data and results from polling units to the collation centers; and giving INEC unfettered powers to conduct elections by electronic voting.

We also cannot forget the Review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This exercise, brought about the approval of notable pieces of legislation like the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill, which reduces the qualifying age for election into the House of Representatives from 30 years to 25 years; the age qualification for contesting for a State House of Assembly office from 30 years to 25 years; and the age qualification for contesting the office of President from 40 years to 35 years.

The #NotTooYoungToRun Bill and the other constitutional amendments passed by both Houses of the National Assembly, are currently making their way through the State House of Assemblies, and are likely to become the focus of a lot of political discourse this year.

To close out 2017, the Senate received a few final and significant notches on its legislative belt, when President Muhammadu Buhari signed six Bills into law on December 30th, 2017. Notable amongst them were the amendments to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act, which now mandates the gas producing and processing companies to contribute to the development of the Niger Delta region. Additionally, with the signing into law of the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshots Act by President Buhari, all Nigerians with gunshot wound will now be able to receive immediate medical treatment — instead of having to file police reports. This Bill that started in the House of Representative, but was fast-tracked by the Senate through concurrence in the later half of 2017 will definitely save many lives.

“All performance. No propaganda.” Make this the motto.

I rest my case.

Olu W. Onemola is the Head of the New Media Department in the Office of the Senate President. He tweets at @OnemolaOlu

Nigeria is losing heavily to climate change and migration in Northeast

B

Edward Nnachi

orno State in NorthEast Nigeria has a high number of people who have never had any formal modern education at all. This large number of uneducated people was manageable many years ago when such people were still able to practise their traditional farming, fishing and animal husbandry. But as Lake Chad’s waters and the rivers that flowed into it dried up over the years, due to the harsh climatic conditions such as heat, this large population of people have little or nothing to fall back on. With lack of wetlands and water, farming became difficult.

Even those who had cattle were forced by changes in the climate to go elsewhere to find pasture for them. If anything, the resulting poverty among the people was a major reason why many educated and uneducated were easily attracted to radical new religious movements, particularly the Boko Haram which emerged in the North Eastern part of the country and acted as a new magnet both for uneducated youth displaced from their traditional livelihoods and for educated youth attracted to its egalitarian, anticorruption preaching. In addition, the region’s disillusioned youth were easily attracted to Boko Haram’s economic programmes which had been

shrewdly established to provide means of employment for their growing members.

The changes in frequency and intensity of rainfall over the years brought droughts, changes in soil moisture and nutrient, desertification and heat stress. These adverse weather events constitute important challenges to crop and livestock production and fish farming in North- East Nigeria.

Climate change in North East Nigeria has adversely affected crops from cultivation through growing period to harvest. When crops are adversely affected as they have been in North-East Nigeria, by insufficient rainfall, excessive high temperature and poor crop yield, there is increased risk of hunger and starvation among the people.

Thus, it becomes a major economic and political challenge to both Borno State and to the federal government.

Also, temperature increases and rainfall patterns become more unpredictable, crop yields drop significantly.

The decrease in rainfall over the years, especially in Borno State which is largely in the Sudan and Sahelian Savannah in Northern Nigeria led to a reduction in available pasture land, a decline in the available surface water and an increase in the salinity of water resources available to animals.

These adverse environmental conditions affect livestock production and availability of animal species as food.

It must be noted that long before Boko Haram’s terror reared its head the

impact of the vanishing Lake Chad and surrounding rivers and streams in the region was so severe that it created a string of untold calamities.

The unemployment that came with it was an easy fuel for the Boko Haram doctrinaires.

The story of Ali Jafar, his wife, Khadijat and their three children is just one of approximately 140,000 displaced people taking shelter in Monguno, a remote town of 60,000 people in North-East Nigeria, a region hit by a displacement crisis that dwarfs any migration flows seen in Europe in recent years. It is a story that aptly illustrates Nigeria’s economic and political loss to climate change and migration in North-East Nigeria.

Ali Jafar, a farmer who later became a handcart pusher is a case in point of the multiple traumatic experiences of poor farmers who have been displaced from traditional farming in Borno State. Ali Jafar, 30 years old, fled to Monguno after being attacked by Boko Haram terrorists.

He left with his wife, three children and kindling for fire, leaving behind six sacks of beans, 15 dead neighbours, killed by Boko Haram and 10 villagers who were not so lucky as him but were kidnapped by Boko Haram. Ali, his wife and three children trekked all through day and night before getting to Monguno, a town recaptured by Nigerian soldiers from Boko Haram last year. All through the journey, a palpable fear of another attack by another band of Boko Haram terror-

ists gripped them until they finally got respite in an Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) camp in Monguno. It was indeed a flight for their life.

One outcome of this displacement crisis is an acute food crisis. Already, the United Nations has warned that hundreds of thousands of people may die from famine from 2018 if urgent steps are not taken by all concerned, particularly Nigeria and the international community to safe the millions of people affected by the combination of climate change, migration and Boko Haram attacks in North East Nigeria and the neighbouring riparian countries around Lake Chad.

So far, about 40% more people have been displaced throughout Borno State (1.4 million) than reached Europe by boat in 2015 (1 million). Across North-East Nigeria, the war against Boko Haram has forced more than 2.6 million from their homes, a figure higher than the number of Syrians in Turkey, the country that hosts the largest number of refugees in Europe.

In North-East Nigeria alone, 1.8 million people are internally displaced, more than half of them are children.

Some 200,000 people have fled across borders to live as refugees in the neighbouring countries. While some security was restored in Adamawa, Yobe, and parts of Borno states in 2016, recent months have witnessed new upsurge in attacks by Boko Haram across the four riparian countries affected by climate change and Boko Haram terrorists attacks.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

15 Column

Liberia: The rise of George Weah

Times Columnist REUBEN ABATI

‘

The new Presidentelect represents a symbol of hope and triumph over adversity for not just young Liberians but other young persons across the continent, especially in Nigeria.

I have heard many young Nigerians profess in the last week, that “if George Weah can make it, they too can make it.”

Raised in a slum, from the poorest parts of Liberia, George Weah’s qualities were first strikingly revealed through his football career. He tried to give back to his country as an international football star, and once during the civil war, he single-handedly funded his country’s national soccer team. ...Weah was the people’s preferred choice (28.3 to 20%) but the Presidential election went on to a run-off. Weah lost the second round once the public was reminded that he was just a gifted footballer without even a Secondary School Certificate! Weah took this as a challenge and decided to seek formal education. He sat for the Secondary School Certificate Examination in 2006 at the age of 40. He proceeded to the United States and got a degree and a Masters’ degree. Then he returned to Liberia to pursue his dream afresh.

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G

eorge Weah’s emergence as Liberia’s President-elect after the December 26 run-off election generated considerable interest among Nigerians for a number of reasons. Number one is George Weah’s popularity. The first African footballer to win the Ballon D’or, FIFA Player of the Year, threetime African Footballer of the Year, ex-Monaco, ex-Paris Saint-Germain, ex-AC Milan, Chelsea, Manchester City, former protégé of Arsene Wenger, virtually every football fan in Nigeria had a feeling of connection with the Liberian football star turned politician and Presidentelect. In Nigeria, football is the most uniting element within the public space; thus, once it became apparent that George Weah was set to become the 25th President of Liberia, the social media in Nigeria went into an overdrive. The Liberian Presidentelect probably got more congratulatory messages from Nigerians on Facebook and Twitter.

Number two: Weah’s victory came at a time when there was scarcity of good news in Nigeria. As Christmas 2017 approached, Nigeria suddenly found itself in the throes of an embarrassing scarcity of fuel, which left many motorists stranded and Yuletide activities effectively crippled. An already frustrated citizenry seemed helpless as government officials and oil marketers traded blames. The former lied openly in the face of shocking revelations about the politics of fuel subsidy.

For the football community, George Weah’s victory brought some measure of good news. It was as if their favourite footballer had scored a special goal.

Number three reason is the relationship, which both George Weah and his Vice-President-elect Jewell Howard Taylor have established with Nigeria. Weah, in the company of Prince Yommie Johnson, who once lived in Ikoyi, Lagos had visited Pastor Temitope Joshua of The Synagogue Church in Nigeria before the election. Pastor Joshua seems to have a reputation across the African continent and beyond for being able to assist persons to become President. Weah’s victory was immediately linked to Pastor Joshua and the prayers he had offered to God on his behalf. Ms. Howard Taylor is the former wife of former Liberian President, Charles Taylor, now in prison for war crimes. Charles Taylor was in exile in Nigeria before his trial at The Hague. His wife, now Vice President-elect has maintained very strong relationships with Nigeria, indeed one of the first persons to take to the media to celebrate her was her Nigerian fashion designer and her husband.

Number four reason and perhaps the most telling is: the-grassto-grace-story, the-slum-to-palace, football-pitch-to-Presidential -Villa, inspirational trajectory of George Weah’s career. The new Presidentelect represents a symbol of hope and triumph over adversity for not just young Liberians but other young persons across the continent,

Weah especially in Nigeria. I have heard many young Nigerians profess in the last week, that “if George Weah can make it, they too can make it.” Raised in a slum, from the poorest parts of Liberia, George Weah’s qualities were first strikingly revealed through his football career. He tried to give back to his country as an international football star, and once during the civil war, he single-handedly funded his country’s national soccer team.

He retired in 2003. In 2005, he returned home to run for the Presidency of Liberia. His opponent was the Harvard-trained public administrator and ex-World Bank accountant, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Weah was the people’s preferred choice (28.3 to 20%) but the Presidential election went on to a run-off.

Weah lost the second round once the public was reminded that he was just a gifted footballer without even a Secondary School Certificate! Weah took this as a challenge and decided to seek formal education. He sat for the Secondary School Certificate Examination in 2006 at the age of 40. He proceeded to the United States and got a degree and a Masters’ degree. Then he returned to Liberia to pursue his dream afresh.

In 2014, he was elected to the Liberian Senate, beating Sirleaf’s son, Robert, to the Montserrado County seat. In 2017, he was elected President, twelve years after his initial attempt and as Johnson- Sirleaf’s successor.

Among young Nigerians, he is the very paragon of determination and ruthless single-minded volition. Young Nigerians are so unhappy; they are slaves of inspirational stories such as this. They troop to churches in large numbers because they are looking for hope and motivation. Above all, they like the fact that George Weah is just 51. It is the kind of age bracket many Nigerians want for their next President. Contemporary circumstances have made them wary of making the mistake of electing into office anyone who may be too old to govern.

To this situational and relational connection with the just concluded Liberian Presidential election should be added the fact that Nigeria played a major role through the ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) during the two Liberian civil wars (1989 – 1997; 1997 -2003). Many Nigerian families are forever linked to Liberia through ECOMOG. Many Liberians also came to live in camps in Nigeria and forged life-long relationships. This should further draw attention to one point: Elections or democratic processes in Africa are no longer isolated events. In many cases, there are cross-boundary factors and influences and the much sought-after African integration and cooperation is far more effective at the level of personto-person diplomacy. The failure of African governments to promote this by providing the infrastructure and the political will, beyond seasonal rhetori-

cal talk, is part of the bane of the integration process in Africa.

So much for why the election in Liberia has caused notable excitement in Nigeria; democracy is as much about imageries as it is about realities. When he takes the oath of office on January 22, 2018 to become Liberia’s 25th President, George Weah will have to deal with many realities. He came to power on the crest-wave of popularity. Liberia’s youthful population is on his side.

He is their hero. But he will need more than popularity to rule that country of 4.5 million people which has a history that is even far more complex than that of Nigeria. In an acceptance speech that came a bit late, George Weah spoke a lot about God, trip to Jerusalem, reconciliation, appeal to Liberians in Diaspora to come home and how his first task would be to deal with corruption. The details of what else he intends to do, he says, will be unveiled at a later date. The general tone of that acceptance speech shows President-elect George Weah may still have a lot to learn.

He campaigned on the platform of change. Popularity will not guarantee that change. In the past 12 years, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has managed to ensure post-conflict peace and stability in Liberia and has raised the profile of her country in the West African sub-region. Her autobiography – This Child Will Be Great (2009) may sound pompous but she is definitely ending her tour of duty as the first great President in Africa’s oldest democracy: Nobel Prize Laureate, first African woman President, under her watch, Liberia’s external debt was written off, some war-time infrastructure were repaired and she brought in investors, particularly the Chinese.

Liberia also regained her voice within the international community, even if Mama Ellen has been accused of being too pro-American. It is also under her watch that Liberia has recorded the first democratic transition since 1944, and despite the initial hiccup of a runoff (recent Presidential elections in Liberia have ended with a run-off – 2005, 2011 and 2017), the 2017 election still ended peacefully. George Weah should see the need to build on her legacy.

There are expectations, not just from the young Liberians who voted for him, but also across the continent.

The Liberian economy remains weak, and far removed from its potential, given the country’s rich resource base; unemployment is double-digit, infrastructure deficit is high. The process of reconstruction initiated under Sirleaf needs to be fast-tracked to provide jobs for the people and to reassure them that their country is truly on the path to restoration and progress. When the people hear the word “change” during political campaigns, they imagine that it is real and immediate. In recent elections in Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, and now Liberia, the people’s democratic

engagement has been anchored on this rhetoric of change. It is also what the protesters in Cameroon, Togo and DR Congo are currently demanding. To promise the people change and deny them that change is to betray their trust and goodwill.

The George Weah Presidency is the product of enormous goodwill. George Weah should therefore realize, early enough, that the coalition that has brought him to power is not a coalition merely in name; it is a coalition with implications that cannot be taken for granted. Senator Jewell Howard Taylor led her party to join the George Weah group to produce the now formidable Coalition for Democratic Change.

Prince Yommie Johnson who had been in another camp eventually joined the coalition to ensure victory. But perhaps Vice President Joseph Boakai also provided the needed oxygen of sportsmanship when in his concession speech, he decided to put Liberia first. He said: “I reject any temptation of imposing pain, hardship, agony and uncertainty upon our people. My name will not be used as an excuse for one drop of human blood to be spilled in this country.” This Goodluck Jonathan-inspired speech is most instructive. President Johnson-Sirleaf also deserves praise for allowing democracy to run its course. It is not always that African politicians agree to lose gallantly and choose to be magnanimous in either victory or defeat.

In The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh had a change of mind. In Cote d’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo forced the issue and ended up at The Hague. In Kenya, Raila Odinga, leader of the NASA opposition is about to start a shameless dance. He has again dismissed the outcome of the last Presidential elections in that country as unacceptable. In January 2018, he says we should expect “civil disobedience, peaceful protests, non-cooperation with and resistance to an illegitimate regime in addition to People’s Assemblies.” This kind of tendency to see politics as a zero-sum game is the biggest challenge to the democratisation process in Africa.

George Weah has promised to fight corruption. In 2010, Transparency International labeled Liberia the most corrupt country in the world. President Sirleaf sacked a few Ministers but seven years later, the subject remains an embarrassment. The crisis persists. Weah, however, must resist the temptation to turn his anti-corruption campaign into a McCarthy-style witchhunt/persecution of his predecessors in office.

Liberia is indeed a complex country.

It remains divided along ethnic and traditional lines. Samuel Doe triggered a crisis with his victimisation of traditional power centres and the ethnicisation of his government when he filled virtually every position with members of his Krahn group. President JohnsonSirleaf has been similarly accused of nepotism, filling positions with family members and friends and having the temerity to justify her decision. George Weah is expected to be a unifying figure.

The people are hoping that he would help transform Liberia into a “level playing field”: create open and equal access to opportunities, bridge the yawning gap between the rich and the poor, pave the country’s roads, make electricity accessible to the majority and create jobs for the unemployed.

Those who voted for him are used to his dexterity on the football pitch; although football and political leadership are not the same things, Weah as President will need the same passion and all the skills of a footballer. He must hit the pitch running, make use of every opportunity, work hard, keep his eyes on the ball, play as a team, display leadership, and score goals. The ball will be passed to him on January 22. He should not disappoint.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

17

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Education Times Augustine Okezie Abuja

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) at the weekend in Abuja said it has sensitised a total of about 187 Federal and State tertiary educational institutions in the six geo-political zones of the country from June 13 to October 27, 2017.

TETFund’s Director, Corporate Affairs and Public Relations, Mr. Ebikwo Benn, told newsmen that the exercise which was lauded by the beneficiary institutions, could not take place in 11 institutions due to the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) during the period, in addition to other circumstances.

He further added that the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa, has given assurance that the exercise will be conducted in the affected institutions.

s

TETFund sensitises 187 states, federal institutions Ïơơ Ɛ ƆƏ ƆƐ Ɛ ƄƆ ƆƇƈƐ He also recalled that the sensitisation exercise was carried out in line with the determination of Dr. Baffa to ensure that the processes for accessing the Fund’s interventions are made transparent to all stakeholders.

According to Ebikwo, the executive secretary of the fund, Dr. Baffa, personally led teams to three out of the six geo-political zones in order to reinforce his desire to get rid of all encumbrances encountered in accessing intervention allocations

from TETFund. He noted that some of the encumbrances are as a result of lack of adequate information and unnecessary ambiguities created by some Desk Officers and staff of beneficiary institutions.

The TETFund boss expressed his Management’s commitment to ensuring that beneficiary institutions adhere strictly to established guidelines and procedures for the smooth running of the Fund’s operations to achieve maximum impact. He further explained that the

seminar was not only to clear grey areas through detailed presentation of the requirements for each of the Fund’s Intervention Lines but also to ensure a more cordial and effective collaboration between the beneficiaries and Management of the Fund.

Recall that the sensitisation exercise was in furtherance of the various attempts made in the over 20 years of the Fund’s existence to ensure that beneficiary institutions access funds allocated to them for physical infrastructure.

During the sensitisation workshop, teams drawn from the relevant departments in the Fund

such as Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Academic Staff Training and Development (AST&D), Education Support Services and Internal Audit Unit made presentations showing the guidelines for the various interventions and the need for full compliance.

The institutions which are yet to benefit from the sensitisation exercise include Federal University of Technology, Akure, University of Lagos, University of Benin, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, University of Port Harcourt and Federal University, Lokoja.

Enang denies seeking relocation of Federal Poly, Ukana Augustine Okezie, Abuja

Pupils at the 2017 positive character development and mentorship summit, themed ‘’ Activating your potentials for excellence’’, organised by Young Explorer Network in Lagos… recently

Okebukola stresses importance of teachers to quality education

Esther Taiwo

Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and ProChancellor/Chairman of Council Crawford University, Professor Peter Okebukola, has said that over the last 800 years, studies have shown conclusively that the master key which opens the intricate door to quality education is the teacher.

He said the success stories of the educational systems of countries which Nigeria aspire to emulate is the story of the quality training and welfare of their teachers.

“Two years ago, we were asked to undertake a global study of highly successful educational systems. Our findings which have been widely

published showed that if you engage quality teachers and provide good welfare scheme for them, more than half of the problems facing the education sector would have been solved”, he said.

He lamented that a graduate teacher in private secondary schools in Nigeria earn between N20,000 and N15,000 and not less than 16 out of the 36 states of the federation are owing teachers at least four months’ salary.

“Let the truth be told today that the education system that we are all decrying will be sinking deep into quicksand of mediocrity if we continue along this trajectory.

We will continue to reap the whirlwind of a decayed education system with stunning intensity if we fail to reformat our teacher

education, recruitment and welfare programmes”, he said.

He stressed that the teacher is the salt or seasoning to the soup of the educational system adding that the system will be tasteless if quality and well-motivated teachers are sidelined.

He therefore suggested that the first thing to do is to completely revamp the curriculum of all teacher training institutions including NTI, all colleges of education and all faculties of education in universities.

The former NUC secretary said that the curriculum should have severe reduction in the number of education courses and huge increase in the courses for the teaching subjects as well as suspension of all sandwich and distance learning

teacher training programmes since it is hotbed for training mediocre teachers. He also suggested that in 2018 only properly trained and certified teachers holding the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) certificates should be recruited to interact with students and all roadside teachers should be shown the way out to avoid doing incalculable damage to the lives of children and ultimately to the life of the nation. “As a matter of priority, the federal government, states and all private providers of education should implement the Teachers Salary Scale from 2019 and the last thing is to penalize, name and shame all employers public and private who treat teachers in Nigeria like Libyan slaves”, he said.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, has told newsmen in Ibiono, Akwa Ibom State that he is no longer seeking the relocation of the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana which he helped bring to the state.

Enang, who made the disclosure during the 2017 Ididep Day Celebration held recently in Ibiono, also noted that as a Christian, he has long blessed the institution and its location, and has been working towards attracting and ensuring that Federal Government allocates monies due to the institution for its take-off and growth.

He said: “I have given my blessings to the Federal Polytechnic Ukana, its location, and God willing, I will bring what is more important and preferable to Ididep.”

He said he contributed greatly to the Bill for an Act establishing the Polytechnic.

The former House of Representatives member and Senator also debunked insinuations making the rounds that he has a frosty relationship with Senator Akpabio. He noted that he has a cordial relationship with the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, the state government, and all the Federal lawmakers from the state.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

19 Education Times

Face of dilapidated infrastructure in a primary school in the country

The face of Nigerian education in 2017

The year 2017 wore different faces for Nigerian education and as well did not hold any optimistic outlook for the country in the New Year except if drastic actions were taken by governments and stakeholders, AUGUSTINE OKEZIE writes: There were about 8 notable events that shaped Nigeria’s education sector and not only made it unpalatable but underscored its true state and went further to provide explanations on why the sector had remained unable to drive Nigeria’s growth and development in the years running.

LAUTEC crsis The lingering crisis rocking Ladoke Akintola University Ogbomosho reared its ugly head which could be said to have marked the beginning of the chequered fate of the education sector in 2017. The crisis which propelled the lecturers of the institution to embark on an indefinite strike action lasted for over a year while students were consigned into idleness just because of the disagreement between the government and the academic staff of the institution. The students realising what had befallen them took to the street to protest and implored Oyo state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi to address the issue. And after some dramatic moments between the students and the governor, the constituted authority assured the students that their school would be re-opened before the end of January.

They opened the school gate in February only for it to be locked again in April.

Queen’s College death Another ugly face of the education sector in 2017 was when the authorities of the Queen’s College in Lagos got enmeshed in another scandal when in March, two students of the unity school in Yaba, Lagos reportedly died as a result of contaminated water in the school while 16 other students were hospitalised due to the severity of their cases.

The SSS3 students who were not affected by the contamination suffered a terrible blow in another form as the Ministry of Health ordered the closure of the school indefinitely few days to the commencement of their final exams.

Igbonla Kidnap On May 25, 2017, two days before Children’s Day celebration, another version of the infamous Chibok girls’ tragedy played out in Lagos as kidnappers stormed igbonla Model College, Epe in Lagos and

abducted six boys from the school.

It was ostensibly a devastating experience for the six students as their captors imprisoned them for two months before releasing them on Friday, July 28, 2017 after demanding a ransom of N400m.

IRK vs CRK saga The controversies that usually comes with religion in Nigeria once again found its way into education-related issues in June, 2017 The Federal Ministry of Education in an attempt to rejig school curriculum grouped Christian Religion Knowledge and Islamic Religion Knowledge under National Values Curriculum.

The Christian Association of Nigeria found this move suspicious arguing that the Federal Government was planning to remove CRK from the syllabus and that the government is planning to islamise Nigerians.

These accusations refused to go away as Nigerians on social media were greatly divided by CAN’s unfounded narrative.

To clear the air on the issue, the Ministry of Education came out to explain their intention behind the curriculum re-arrangement to Nigerians, and at the end, it turned out to be one of those pre-existing tension fuelled by religious crisis.

JAMB Cut-off Mark The JAMB’s new cut-off mark announcement in August was another controversial face that sprang up in 2017 that got everybody talking. Even illiterates and artisans whose children were seeking admission into universities and polytechnics partook in the conversation.

In August, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) reduced Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination cut-off mark to 120 for university admission seekers and 100 for Polytechnics and Colleges of education across the

country.

Institutions like UNILAG, University of Ibadan and other first choice universities strongly resisted the move, saying they would not consider any candidate who scores less than 200 for admission.

However, the JAMB Registrar, Prof.

Ishaq Oloyede later explained that the cut-off point is not meant to qualify candidates for admission rather, it is meant to rate them so as to address admission quota system in Nigerian universities.

ASUU/ASUP strike On the academic calendar, the industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) were somber faces that also characterised 2017.

The 2017 ASUU strike did not come as surprise because it has become a ritual.

So in September, the union announced the commencement of an indefinite nationwide strike. Again, the strike threw Ni-

Teachers in Kaduna State protesting against the plan by the state governmeny to sack 25,000 unqualified teachers

gerian university students into idleness and were only at the mercy of the Federal Government and ASUU. Sadly, immediately ASUU called off its strike action, its Polytechnic counterpart, ASUP shut down all schools under its control for 15 days to protest Government’ failure to honour their agreement. The union was able to suspend their action after reaching agreement with government.

Kaduna Teachers’ Competency Test The most popular event that outshines and swallows all other stories in the education sector for this year sprouted from Kaduna State. It is a saga that exposed the depth of the rots in the education system in the state.

The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai in a bid to assess the competency of primary school teachers in the state conducted primary four tests for the teachers. It later turned out that 21,780 teachers would have to be relieved of their job because according to the government they failed the test and as such should not have any business with teaching.

The dramatic accusations and counteraccusations that followed the threat to sack the teachers and the recruitment of another 25,000 people to replace the incompetent teachers dragged on for a while as the issue is yet to be laid to rest.

First, the pupils were made to protest the sack of their teachers on the streets while teachers took demeaning steps further to the state assembly to protest and vandalising properties.

Second, the governor in a bid to justify his claims about the teachers’ incompetence, released their text script on twitter meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Nigeria Labour Congress in Kaduna disagreed with the government, saying the scripts with low scores belonged to carpenters and other artisans employed by the same government.

While not admitting that 2017 has been a good year for the education sector, we may have cause to smile in the New Year especially if the government at different levels and indeed stakeholders puts their acts together, and ensure the sector is taken to a world class height.

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Page Twenty

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Editorial

PHOTO TIMES

FIIRO’s readiness to create 5m jobs annually

A

gainst the backdrop of the high unemployment level in the country, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Oshodi, Lagos, stunned the nation recently when it claimed that it has developed a workable blueprint that could effectively curb the menace of unemployment by providing well over five million job opportunities annually in the country.

The Director General of FIIRO, Prof.

(Mrs.) Gloria Elemo told members of the House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology who were on an oversight visit to FIIRO that the package was designed to stimulate economic activities through processing and value addition to raw materials of relative advantage in each of the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country.

The institute said it has carried out a comprehensive survey on raw materials of relative abundance in all the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the country and has identified FIIRO technologies that are suitable for processing the raw materials in these LGAs for the establishment of micro, small, medium and large enterprises.

It also claimed that it has developed over 250 technologies in its many years of existence and these technologies could be deployed in the 774 LGAs in the country for massive job creation and economic stimulation through processing and value addition to raw materials of relative advantage in each local government area.

It is sad that FIIRO has developed such an avalanche of technologies over the years which it has not turned into massive use across the country.

However, thanks to the members of the House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology for embarking on an oversight visit to FIIRO and in the process, the country became aware of how the institute can positive-

Publisher/Editor in Chief

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

L-R: Ulamas, Dr. Ibrahim Jalo; Sheikh Bala Lau; President Muhammdu Buhari; Sheikh Yakubu Musa Hassan and Sheikh Muhammad Haruna Gombe, during their meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja…on Tuesday.

L-R: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; his wife, Eberechi; former Governor of the State, Dr. Peter Odili and his wife, Mary, during the New Year Celebration in Port Harcourt, Rivers State…on Monday night.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (left) on Tuesday consoling prophetess Comfort Ordu, who lost husband and three children during his fact finding visit to Omoku following a deadly attack on the community.

Words On Marble :

– Fidelis Anosike

Folio Group Group Managing Director Noel Anosike

ly contribute to creating five million jobs annually through its technologies.

Coming at a time when governments at both the federal and state levels are desperately looking at how to tackle the high unemployment problem in the country, particularly among the youth, it appears that FIIRO has got a major and somewhat right answer to the nation’s unemployment problem. It should therefore take the blueprint which it has developed on how the technologies can create about 5 million jobs annually through direct and multiplier effect to the federal government and the states for speedy study and implementation.

In convincing the government that it can perform the feat as claimed, on its part, FIIRO must be ready to provide evidence of enterprises that have used its acclaimed 250 technologies over the years and the successes recorded with the usage of the technologies.

Funding of the enterprises could be a problem. But, if governments at both the federal and state levels are convinced that the blueprint could indeed create five million jobs or so annually, both the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) would be brought in by the government to fund the projects. It is a good thing that FIIRO has over the years been collaborating with relevant stakeholders in the country such as the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Fabricators Association of Nigeria (AMEFAN), National Association of Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (NASME), National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), among others. With the extensive collaboration with these reputable bodies which FIIRO has had over the years, effective technology diffusion across the country should not be a problem if the government accepts its blueprint for implementation.

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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.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 3, 2018

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Now wish to be known and addressed as DURU SAMUEL CHINEMEREM. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

KELECHI OBETA I formerly known as Kelechi Akunna wish to be known and addressed as KELECHI OBETA. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

MRS. JULIANA JOHN UMOREN I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. JULIANA PATRICK UDO, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. JULIANA JOHN UMOREN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS. CHECHE PATIENCE ADAKU

MRS. DORATHY UNYIME AKPANNTONG

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

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. FRANCIS PATIENCE ADA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. CHECHE PATIENCE ADAKU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. DORATHY ELISHA EKERETTE, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. DORATHY UNYIME AKPANNTONG. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

JUDAH EDISANA NICHOLAS

xx NNAEMEZIE EBERE KATE MRS.

I, formerly known and addressed as, JUDAH HOLY NICHOLAS, now wish to be known and addressed as, JUDAH EDISANA NICHOLAS. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, NZIWU EBERE KATE, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. NNAEMEZIE EBERE KATE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

OLAREMU INNOCENT FRANCIES

ODUYEMI BASIRAT TITILAYO

I formerly known and addressed as Olaremu Innocent Fred, now wish to be known and addressed as Olaremu Innocent Francies. All foormer documennt remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AYINDE BASIRAT , now wish to be known and addressed as ODUYEMI BASIRAT TITILAYO. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

MRS OMOLADE ABOSEDE ABRAHAM-AJAYI

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OMOLADE ABOSEDE ADEDIRAN and MRS OMOLADE ABOSEDE ASILOKUN now I wish to be known and addressed as MRS OMOLADE ABOSEDE ABRAHAM-AJAYI .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

xx ISA MUSTAPHA

I formerly known and addressed as ISA CHRISTOPHER now I wish to be known and addressed as ISA MUSTAPHA .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

NSA MARGUERITE EMODI

I formerly known and addressed as NSA MARGUERITE NTUK now I wish to be known and addressed as NSA MARGUERITE EMODI . This is due to my marriage of 25/11/2017.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

OSA-ASEMOTA OSARETIN

I formerly known as Yusuf Olatunji Bashir wish to be known and addressed as Yusuf Olatunji Alani. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

MONDAY OWOIDIGHE JOSEPH

LOSS OF PREPAID METER CARD I, GBENGA SALAU the lawful owner of Prepaid Meter Card with No.106211171556 issued

by Ikeja Electric Distribution Limited got lost in transit and efforts made to trace it proved abortive. General public to please take note.

21 Change of Names

MRS. PEACE UZOCHINYERE GIDEON

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. PEACE UZOCHINYERE ABIANORO, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. PEACE UZOCHINYERE GIDEON. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADDITION OF NAME

DECLARATION OF AGE I, OKO JULIANA ONYEJOWO declared that i was born on the 25th of March 1993 in Cross River State of Nigeria.At the time of my birth it was duly registered and birth certificate obtained later got lost.

This age declaration is required for official and record purposes. General public should please take note.

AKANDE AFEEZ SHOTONWA

I formerly known and addressed as OLUYEMI JESUJOBA now wish to add IFEOLUWA to my name now I wish to be known and addressed as OLUYEMI JESUJOBA IFEOLUWA .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AKANDE AFEEZ now I wish to be known and addressed as AKANDE AFEEZ SHOTONWA .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

SAMUEL STANLEY IFEANYI

SUARA HAMED PAUL

I formerly known and addressed as DURU STANLEY SAMUEL now I wish to be known and addressed as SAMUEL STANLEY IFEANYI .All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as SUARA OLAYEMI PAUL now I wish to be known and addressed as SUARA HAMED PAUL .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

EMIOWELE SUCCESS ITOHAN

RICHES SUNDAY UDO

I formerly known and addressed as AGBONKHESE SUCCESS ITOHAN now I wish to be known and addressed as EMIOWELE SUCCESS ITOHAN .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as INYENE SUNDAY now I wish to be known and addressed as RICHES SUNDAY UDO .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

PAUL ROSELINE ENIMIEN

JOHNSON ESTHER KELECHI

OWOLABI-BADMUS OYINDAMOLA OPEYEMI

KELLIS TAMUNONIMIM ATTONI

Formerly OWOLABI OYINDAMOLA OPEYEMI KAFILAT NoW OWOLABIBADMUS OYINDAMOLA OPEYEMI KAFILAT. FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAINS VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

I formerly known and addressed as GEFFREY KELLIS ATTONI now wish to be known and addressed as KELLIS TAMUNONIMIM ATTONI,all documents remain valid, general public take note.

I formerly know and addressed as JATTO ROSELINE ENIMIEN now wish to be known and addressed as PAUL ROSELINE ENIMIEN.all documents remain valid, general public take note.

MRS AKINTOLA GRACE OLUTAYO

UKACHUKWU NONSO-OTIKPO CHRISTOPHER

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

EMMANUEL PAULINUS EBERECHUKWU

I formerly known as Edom Paulinus Eberechukwu wish to be known and addressed as Emmanuel Paulinus Eberechukwu. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note. xx

JOHNSON TAIWO I formerly known as Okiri Taiwo wish to be known and addressed as Johnson Taiwo. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

AKINSOLA IBRAHIM AKANJI I formerly known as AKINSOLA IBRAHIM OLAWALE wish to be known and addressed as AKINSOLA IBRAHIM AKANJI. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

MISS. OKONU JANE

MRS. ORI NNENNA ONYEDIKACHI

I, formerly known and addressed as, MRS. UMESIE JANE, now wish to be known and addressed as, MISS. OKONU JANE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. ONUOHA NNENNA ONYEDIKACHI, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. ORI NNENNA ONYEDIKACHI. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

SUSAN IME NTEKPERE

NKUMA LINDA CHIGOALUM I formerly known and addressed as Ogbechie Linda Chigoalum, now wish to be known and addressed as Nkuma Linda Chigoalum. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Susana Bassey. Ibanga, now wish to be known and addressed as Susan Ime Ntekpere. All forrmer document remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME In some my documents including my Bank my name was wrongly written as RAMON GANIU OLAYINKA instead of GANIYU RAMONI OLAYINKA. I was born on 10-07-1964 not 16-07-1977.

My correct name is GANIYU RAMONI OLAYINKA .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

ABASS ADEWALE LAWAL I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ABASS ADEBAYO LAWAL NOW I WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ABASS ADEWALE LAWAL . ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

OLUWATOYIN ADEGBITE-IWALOWO

ABDULLAHI ZAYYANU

I formerly known and addressed as OLUWATOYIN JULIANA FABELURIN now I wish to be known and addressed as OLUWATOYIN ADEGBITEIWALOWO .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MUHAMMAD ZAYYANU now I wish to be known and addressed as ABDULLAHI ZAYYANU . I was born on 23-08-1982.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

LAYODE MODUPE IYABO

I, formerly known and addressed as OGUNSANYA MARIAM IYABO, now wish to be known and addressed as LAYODE MODUPE IYABO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHIGBU PRISCILLA ODINAKACHI I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EMEREONYEKWE PRISCILLA ODINAKACHI NOW I WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS CHIGBU PRISCILLA ODINAKACHI .ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

OKEKE JOHN IZUCHUKWU

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Sunday Esther kelechi Olivia now wish to be known and addressed as Johnson Esther Kelechi,all documents remain valid, general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OKEKE FEDRICK IZUCHUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as OKEKE JOHN IZUCHUKWU.all documents remain valid, general public take note

I here by confirm that my names are edeh Joseph Jr and edeh Christopher Joseph,all document remain valid,general public take note

AILERU WAHEED OLAJUWON

MRS ADEKUNLE TOYOSI ATINUKE

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AILERU WAHEED AKANNI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AILERU WAHEED OLAJUWON,ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS AKINPELU TOYOSI ATINUKE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS ADEKUNLE TOYOSI ATINUKE,ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS ADEKOYA GRACE OLUTAYO, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN, AND ADDRESSED AS MRS AKINTOLA GRACE OLUTAYO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID ELIEZER WORK PLACE MGT AND PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

FORMERLY UKACHUKWU OTIKPO CHRISTOPHER NOW UKACHUKWU NONSO-OTIKPO CHRISTOPHER. FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAINS VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE .

That l am the same person bearing Ananga Sunday and Akpan EnetIe Sunday. General public should take note.

AKINOLA ADENIKE ENIOLA Formerly ONABANJO ADENIKE ENIOLA NOW AKINOLA ADENIKE ENIOLA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAINS VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

MRS FAGBEMI BOLATITO ABIDEMI

MR SAMUEL OLUSEGUN JOSEPH

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS OGUNREMI BOLATITO ABIDEMI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS FAGBEMI BOLATITO ABIDEMI,ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MR JOSEPH AJAYI ADEYANJU NOW NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MR SAMUEL OLUSEGUN JOSEPH. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC, FIRST BANK AND GTBANK NOTE

UGWU MAC-ROMANUS EBUKA

CALBE JOHN LOHSEL

I formerly known and addressed as UGWU NWODO ROMANUS OGECHUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as UGWU MAC-ROMANUS EBUKA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

ABDUL JOSHUA INIOLUWA I ABDUL ADEBIMPE ADEOLA is d biological mother of Abdul Joshua Inioluwa who formerly know as Odelami Oluwasegun Joshua Inioluwa wish to be known and addressed as Abdul Joshua Inioluwa. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as DENIS JOHN LOHSEL now wish to be known and addressed as CALBE JOHN LOHSEL. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

MRS CHIDIMMA MARY ADUBA

REV. DR. ONWUZU BETRAND CHUKWUMA

I formerly known and addressed as MISS CHIDIMMA MARY ORJI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIDIMMA MARY ADUBA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as REV. DR. ONWUZU BETRAND ABRAHAM NWANNE CHUKWUMA now wish to be known and addressed as REV. DR. ONWUZU BETRAND CHUKWUMA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

Change of Names 22 SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE AND INSPIRATIONAL CITIZENSHIP

This is to inform the general public that the above named organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for the registration under part C of the companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The trustees are: 1. Augustine Ikechukwu Amadi 2. Sandra Chimeremma Njoku 3. Uchenna Wisdom Durueke Esq. 4. Ngozika Chioma Onuegbu 5. Chikezie Kemdi Uba Esq. THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. Modeling 21st Century citizenship in our local communities 2. Teaching citizens to creatively offer innovative solutions to community based issues.

3. Encouraging girl child education in local communities.

4. Encouraging reconciliation and peace among communities.

5. Encouraging young people to be more actively involved in decision making at their local communities.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 3, 2018

THE RIGHT PLACE GOSPEL CHURCH

HE’S ON THE THRONE FRUITFUL AND HEALING MINISTRY

This is to inform the general public that the above named ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied matters Act 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) PST KINGSLEY OVUTOR EMMANUEL - PRESIDENT (2) PST NKECHI BLESSING EMMANUEL -SECRETARY

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) ONUOHA, KELECHI MAGDALEEN - PRESIDENT (2) ANYANWU, QUEENETH OGECHI -SECRETARY

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: (1) TO PREACH THE MESSAGE OF THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRIST TO ALL NATION (2) TO REDEEM LOST SOULS BACK TO GOD (3) TO HELP THE POOR PEOPLE IN THE SOCIETY

Any objection(s) to the registration should be forwarded to the Register – General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent Off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: (1) TO PREACH THE MESSAGE OF THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRIST TO ALL NATION (2) TO PREPARE BELIEVERS TOWARDS THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (3) TO REDEEM THE LOST SOULS BACK TO GOD Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed:Chinyere O. Iwunna Esq. No 12 Mbaise Road, Owerri.

SIGNED PST KINGSLEY OVUTOR EMMANUEL - PRESIDENT

Signed ONUOHA, KELECHI MAGDALEEN - PRESIDENT

LOSS OF TITLE DOCUMENTS

This is to inform the general public that the original DEED OF REVOCATION dated 25TH day of May, 2006 and registered as 33/33/1569, Lands Registry Enugu and the original DEED OF ASSIGNMENT dated 19TH day of February, 1991 and registered as 40/40/1264, Land Registry Enugu both covering a property situate at Plot 5, Block 11, New Haven East, Enugu (also known as No. 1, Abagana Street, New Haven, Enugu) and in the name of CHIEF GABRIEL MONEKE AKUDU are missing. All efforts to trace the said documents have proved abortive. If found, please contact Enugu State Ministry of Lands and/or CHIEF GABRIEL MONEKE AKUDU. SULE AJIBO MONICA OZOHU

HARUNA JUMMAI MBAYA

RAINBOW WATCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (RWDC)

The general public is here by notified that the above named has applied to corporate affairs commission Abuja for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters ACT,NO 1 OF 1990.

Trustees Are: 1, Nicholas Iloh kins -- Chairman 2, Menidin Egbo -- Secretary 3, Michael Lenee Gbarale 4, Inyingi Irimagha 5, Nnana Uterefon 6, Kingsley Ozegbe 7, Blessing Horsefal 8, Blessing Yobo 9, Stella Gbarale 10, Mercy Okuanyono Aims and Objectives 1, To empower critical actors in the society through capacity building as a way of giving impetus to promoting adoption of social. justice and human right principles .

2, To promote Environmental sustainability through appropriate programs that preserve, develop and manage our abundant human, natural and material resources creditably.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general, corporate affairs commission, Plot 420 Tigris Cresent, OFF Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, P.M.B 198, Garki Abuja. Within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

EZENEKWE ONYINYE JOY

Formerly known and addressed as SULE MONICA OZOHU, now wish to be known and addressed as SULE AJIBO MONICA OZOHU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as FRANCIS JUMMAI now wish to be known and addressed as HARUNA JUMMAI MBAYA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ONWUEKWE ONYINYE JOY now wish to be known and addressed as EZENEKWE ONYINYE JOY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEOBA OLUWASEUN SIMILOLUWA

xx OMOBOLANLE ADERONKE MARYAM AJIBOYE

Formerly known and addressed as ADEOBA OLUWASEUN DENNIS, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEOBA OLUWASEUN SIMILOLUWA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MARIAM ADERONKE IBILOLA AJIBOYE, now wish to be known and addressed as OMOBOLANLE ADERONKE MARYAM AJIBOYE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ABUTA SADIQ SALEH

ABUBAKAR SALIFU I, formerly known and addressed as ABUBAKAR SALIF KIMONO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ABUBAKAR SALIFU. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

JOY ENE ORINYA

I, formerly known and addressed as FAITH MARYBLE CHUKUWMA, now wish to be known and addressed as JOY ENE ORINYA. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

xx IBRAHIM MARK

This is to confirm that I MUHAMMED FAWAZ GBOLAHAN ASHOROBI, is also known as MUHAMMED FAWAZ ISHOLA ASHOROBI. ANY OF MY DOCUMENTS BEARING THESE NAMES REMAIN VALID. General public and Authorities concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as YESUFU BURAIMA AYINLA now wish to be known as IBRAHIM MARK. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ALI CHUKWUDI KELVIN

IBRAHIM INNOCENT DALI

I formerly known and addressed as ALI CHUKWUDI CALLISTUS now wish to be known and addressed as ALI CHUKWUDI KELVIN. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as DALI INNOCENT now wish to be known and addressed as IBRAHIM INNOCENT DALI. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public should please take note.

OGBODO ODINAKA MARTH

ANYANEBECHI PATIENCE CHINECHEREM

I formerly known and addressed as UGWU OBIAGELI MARTHA now wish to be known and addressed as OGBODO ODINAKA MARTH. Also my correct date of birth is 7th October, 1985. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as CHUKWU PATIENCE CHINECHEREM now wish to be known and addressed as ANYANEBECHI PATIENCE CHINECHEREM. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ABUBAKAR SADIQ SALEH, now wish to be known and addressed as ABUTA SADIQ SALEH. That my date of birth is 31 DECEMBER 1992.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MRS. JOY KANAYOCHUKWU THEOPHILUS-OBICHIE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that AKOREDE RILIWAN ARISHE and AKOREDE RIDWAN ARISHEKOLA is the same person as AKOREDE ARISHEKOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid and should be treated as one person. General public take note.

AKINROGBE BRIDGET MODULE

Formerly known and addressed as BABATUNDE LOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as AKINROGBE BRIDGET MODULE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLOYEDE ABEEB OLUSINA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS JOY KANAYOCHUKWU UKWAMEDUA, Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. JOY KANAYOCHUKWU THEOPHILUSOBICHIE. All former documents remain valid. General public/authorities concerned should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OLOYEDE ABEEB OLOYEDE, Now wish to be known and addressed as OLOYEDE ABEEB OLUSINA. All former documents remain valid. General public/ authorities concerned should take note.

MR. OWOFIO-DOUGLAS JOHN AKPOPHREN

OKUNOLA ADEYEMI AMOS

I, formerly known and addressed as MR. OWOFIO JOHN AKPOPHREN, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. OWOFIO-DOUGLAS JOHN AKPOPHREN. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OKUNOLA ADEYEMI TEMITOPE now wish to be known as OKUNOLA ADEYEMI AMOS. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note

MRS SUNDAY PRISCA NKECHINYERE

AKINKUNMI ABIODUN OJELADE

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OKAFOR PRISCA NKECHINYERE and MRS AKAEME-ONUOHA PRISCA NKECHINYEREnow wish to be known and addressed as MRS SUNDAY PRISCA NKECHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. UNTH Enugu and General public should please take note.

I formerly known called and addressed as AKIN ABIODUN,now wish to be known called and addressed as AKINKUNMI ABIODUN OJELADE. All former documents remain valid and general public should Please take note

CHIAWA TOCHUKWU JOY

MRS IGWE-AGBO CHINENYE JANECLARABELLE

I formerly known and addressed as EJIKE TOCHUKWU JOY now wish to be known and addressed as CHIAWA TOCHUKWU JOY. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, IMT Enugu, Banks and General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS IGWE CHINENYE JANECLARABELLE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IGWEAGBO CHINENYE JANECLARABELLE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OYEWUMI OBIANUJU NGOZI STEPHANIE

NWABUOKU GLORY LUCIOUS

I formerly known as ICHIEBUKA OBIANUJU NGOZI STEPHANIE wish to be known and addressed as OYEWUMI OBIANUJU NGOZI STEPHANIE .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I formerly known as BASSEY BASSEY EWA wish to be known and addressed as NWABUOKU GLORY LUCIOUS .All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

MRS. CHILAKA MARGARET IBIA

MRS IDOWU ABIMBOLA IMOLEAYO

I formerly known as MISS IBIA MARGARET CHAMBERLAIN wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHILAKA MARGARET IBIA. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OBARINDE ABIMBOLA IMOLEAYO now wish to be known called and addressed as MRS IDOWU ABIMBOLA IMOLEAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

xx

AKINTUNDE YETUNDE RUTH I formerly known and addressed as Odusami Yetunde Ruth now wish to be known called and addressed as Akintunde Yetunde Ruth. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLUKOYA GIFT TAIWO

I formerly known and addressed as EGBADON GIFT TAIWO now wish to be known called and addressed as OLUKOYA GIFT TAIWO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

GIWA ABIODUN RANSOME

Formerly known and addressed as GIWA OLUSHOLA OLUWASEUN and RANSOME GIWA ABIODUN, now wish to be known and addressed as GIWA ABIODUN RANSOME. all former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AJAYI VERONICA OLANIKE Formerly known and addressed as OSHUYINKA NIKE VERONICA, now wish to be known and addressed as AJAYI VERONICA OLANIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IKADE JULIUS IKONG

CORRECTION OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as IKADE JAMES OGANA, Now wish to be known and addressed as IKADE JULIUS IKONG and that my correct date of birth is 28-02-1984..

All former documents remain valid. General public/authorities concerned should take note.

MY NAME WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN IN MY BANK ACCOUNT AND BVN AS ALBERT MARK INSTEAD OF IME SUNDAY MARK. THAT MY CORRECT NAME IS IME SUNDAY MARK. ALL DOCUMENTS BEARING MY FORMER NAMES REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

MRS. OLUWADAMILOLA OLUTAYO OKEGBEMIRO

MRS OPARAOCHA NKEIRUKA LILIAN

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oluwadamilola Olutayo Adeyemi, henceforth wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Oluwadamilola Olutayo Okegbemiro.

All former documents remain valid.

The GIG Group Management and the general public to take note.

I, formerly known as MISS NWAIBE ADAUZOR LINDA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OPARAOCHA NKEIRUKA LILIAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MRS KUDEHINDU DOYINSOLA MOTUNRAYO

ONUOHA NWANYISUNDAY KALU

I Formerly known called and addressed as Miss Adedoyin Doyinsola Motunrayo,now wish to be known and called addressed as MRS KUDEHINDU DOYINSOLA MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid and general public should please take note

THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT THESE NAMES: KALU EZINNE NWANYISUNDAY AND ONUOHA EZINNE PEACE, REFERS TO ONE PERSON. NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ONUOHA NWANYISUNDAY KALU. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

BALOGUN JUMOKE ELIZABETH

OKONKWO NDIDI IFEOMA

I formerly known and addressed as OYENIYILADUN TADE now wish to be known and addressed as BALOGUN JUMOKE ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OKONKWO NDIDIAMAKA CATHERINE now wish to be known and addressed as OKONKWO NDIDI IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public should please take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 3, 2018

AFOGO EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1999.

TRUSTEES: 1. DAUDA MADAKI - CHAIRMAN 2. JACOB ATITEH GIGALA - MEMBER 3. YUSUF GWAMNA - MEMBER 4. SOLOMON AMBATU DANTAWAYE - MEMBER 5. JOSHUA KILISHI - MEMBER 6. UMAR ISHAKU - MEMBER 7. CALEB AMBATU DANTAWAYE - MEMBER 8. USMAN MAIDODO - MEMBER 9. RICHARD JAMES MAKAMA - SECRETARY AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO SUPPORT THE WEEKEND OF EDUCATION AMONG THE LESS-PRIVILEGED WITH HIGH POTENTIALS THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SCHOLARSHIP AND SUPPORT IN VARIOUS FORMS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

COLOR PURPLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

23 Companies Registration JOHN UDOH GLOBAL IMPACT MINISTRY

THE GATE OF HEAVEN APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF CHRIST

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1999.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1999

TRUSTEES: 1. PASTOR JOHN UDOH - CHAIRMAN. 2. JATAU ZIGWAI GRACE - SECRETARY. 3. IBITOYE OLUWASEYI JONATHAN. 4. PASTOR FUNSO-WISE PRECIOUS. 5. NNABUGWU CHIJIOKE MICHEAL. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

TRUSTEES: 1. PASTOR JOSEPH OLOYEDE ADEBAYO. 2. EVANGELIST FAMUAGUN OLARENWAJU. 3. SISTER HANNAH ADEBAYO. 4. DEACONESS GRACE KOREDE. 5. ELDER OGUNSINA FEMI. 6. ELDER EZEKIEL OLANIPEKUN. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST

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ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: JOHN SAMUEL OPEYEMI ESQ 07017040083

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR DIABETES IN AFRICA

SIGNED: JOHN SAMUEL OPEYEMI ESQ 07017040083.

VIRTUOUS WOMEN PILLARS CLUB

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

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

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1999

TRUSTEES ARE 1. PAYA ESTHER AHMED --- CHAIRMAN 2. SUBLIM EMMANUEL DANJUMA -- SECRETARY 3. GALADIMA MUSA GORA 4. AZEKIEL KADALA

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. FRANCIS KODJETSE VAN-LARE - CHAIRMAN 2. SUZZETTE CHIBUOGU VAN-LARE. 3. UCHECHI IFEOMA EZE - SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. 1. TO PROVIDE DATA ON DIABETES IN AFRICA. 2. TO CARRY OUT RESEARCH ON DIABETES MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA. 3. TO MOBILIZE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE FOR DIABETICS IN AFRICA.

TRUSTEES: 1. SHODIPE BUSAYO JOSEPHINE 2. OLABIYI KHADIJAT BOLANLE 3. SALAWU RASHEEDAT MOTOLANI 4. OMOJOLA. RACHAEL FOLASHADE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN THE FILED OF CAREER PART AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORSHIP COACHING FOR YOUNGER WOMEN TO BECOME FUTURE GOOD MEMBERS 2. TO RE-ORIENT YOUNGER WOMEN AND MEN ON THE PRINCIPLE OF VIRTUE FOR A MORE HEALTHY SOCIETY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO DEVELOP AND REBUILD FRIENDSHIP, HEAL BROKEN HEARTS AND PROMOTE RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY 2. TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR RECONCILIATION AND COEXISTENCE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

CITY OF MERCY GOSPEL MISSION INTERNATIONAL

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ENUGU STATE INDIGENES GENERAL ASSEMBLY FCT ABUJA

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LANDSCAPE HORTICULTURISTS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

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

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

TRUSTEES ARE: 1. IKECHUKWU AKATAOBI-CHAIRMAN 2. SAMUEL EMENIKE UKPAI -SECRETARY 3. RACHAEL UKPAI-TREASURER 4. MR. UNACHUKWU CLETUS 5. MRS. IHEANACHO ANYAMELE 6. MR. IKECHUKWU ONWUEGBUAKU 7. MRS PRECIOUS ONWUEGBUAKU AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

TRUSTEES ARE 1. CHIEF (ENGR ) CHRISTOPHER CHIGBO 2. CHIEF (ENGR) ALFRED OZOEMENAM 3. CHIEF REX ONYEABO 4. CHIEF MARCEL EZEAGU 5. ENGR. IKE OGBO 6. CHIEF MATTHEW EDOZIE NWIGWE 7. SIR GEOFFREY T N TABANSI 8. DR. JAMES ENENWANNAJI. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO CATER FOR THE INTEREST AND WELFARE OF MEMBERS

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NAMES OF TRUSTEES ARE: 1. FALEMU OLUSANYA EMMANUEL. 2.ADENEKAN OLUSEGUN OLADIMEJI, 3,PROF. OLUWALANA SAMUEL ADENIRAN. 4. OGUNDIMU IDOWU ZACCHAEUS. 5. OMONAYAJO BENJAMIN AKANJI. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PROMOTE NATURE FRIENLINES, PROTECTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL BEAUTIFICATION CONSCIOUSNESS AMONG THE POPULACE, 2.TO PROMOTE CORDIAL RELATIONSHHP, MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND UNITY AMONG MEMEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION IN SUCH A WAY THAT TRIBAL, ETHNICS, RELIGION OR SEX CONSIDERATION ARE DISREGARDED .

3. TO DESIGN AND INSTILL CODE OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS NATIONWIDE.

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

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

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: OGUNDIMU IDOWU ZACCHAEUS.

GLORY OF THE ANCIENT FIRE WORLDWIDE MINISTRY

NEW HEAVEN RAPTURE PREPARING MINISTRY

THE MESSIAH IS OUR REFUGE OUT REACH

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

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

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

TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR. BRIGGS BOMA. 2. MRS. ABIYE MARGRET KARIBO

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TRUSTEES ARE: 1. BENARD BARIDU TORBARI MOSES. 2. LETON BENARD-MOSES.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD.

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AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

7TH DAY RECOVERED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD

CHRIST FOR ALL RACES LIBERATION ASSEMBLY

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TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR. MONDAY JOSEPH.......... CHAIRMAN. 2. ORUKWO CLIFFORD USURPED .....SECRETARY. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1999.

TRUSTEES ARE: 1- UGOH GODWIN 2-OJILE GIFT ELEOJO 3.ENWELIKWU FRIDAY 4.JAMES PETER OMOH 5.FELIX AGBOFA 6.DANLADI TABITHA DUNG AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PREACH TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO ALL RACES AND NATIONS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

HELP FROM GOD MINISTRY

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TRUSTEES ARE: 1. APOSTLE CASMIR ONUOHA..............CHAIRMAN. 2. OLUCHI ONUOHA JANE ............SECRETARY. 3. FRANK MELODY AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 3, 2018

News 25 Amosun promises Ogun civil servants improved welfare ÏÏÏOgun

The affcted building ater the fire incident in Bariga, Lagos...on Tuesday. Right: The lucky woman, Jokotade Olaniyi

60-year-old woman escapes death as fire razes 2 buildings in Lagos Angela Onwuzoo

ÏÏÏA

60-year-old woman, identified as Jokotade Olaniyi, on New Year Day, narrowly escaped death when fire engulfed a one-storey building and a bungalow in Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State.

Our correspondent who visited the scene, gathered that the fire which razed the two buildings located at 43 Ifelodun Street, Bariga, started at about 7:30 pm, on Monday when many of the occupants had travelled for Christmas.

The two buildings were said to have over 23 apartments.

Narrating her experience, Olaniyi told Daily Times that the fire started when a gas cylinder exploded from one of the apartments of the storey building which quickly spread to the bungalow beside it.

She explained: “ I was woken up from sleep by the sound of the explosion. Before I could figure out what was going on, I started hearing fire, fire. By the time I ran out of my room, fire had consumed the whole of the storey building.

At this point, getting out of my apartment was a problem because the entrance was covered with thick smoke. But with the help of neighbours, I managed to escape as the fire shortly spreads to the bungalow and my apartment”.

The 60-year-old woman told our correspondent that she lost everything to the inferno while appealing to the Lagos State Government to assist her.

An occupant of the storey building who identified himself as Chike Osuagwu, whose wife and kids travelled to his village for Christmas also narrated his ordeal.

“I was set to travel this night by night bus to the village and celebrate the New Year with my family before this wahala (trouble) came.

It is really a painful way to start the year. I lost all my properties plus N260, 000 contributions for community project that I was to send home”, he said.

Osuagwu who sells secondhand clothes at Yaba Market, decried the late arrival of men of the Lagos State and Federal Fire Service, adding that they came two hours after the fire started.

His words: “We called firefighters on 112 but they did

not respond on time. If they had responded on time, we would not have lost everything”.

A community leader in the area known as Apostle Bolaji, told Daily Times that concerned neighbours, who came out to prevent the fire from spreading to adjoining buildings, were taken aback by an explosion from other gas cylinders in the buildings which had over 23 apartments.

It took the combined efforts of men of the Lagos State and Federal Fire Service who arrived at the scene two hours after the fire started to put out the fire.

We can no longer sell petrol at N145 –Marketers insist Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe oil marketers have

disclosed that it is no longer profitable for them to sell premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol at the rate of N145 per litre.

The marketers stated this on Tuesday during a meeting with top government officials at the presidential villa in Abuja.

The Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, presided over the meeting which held at the State House conference centre.

The Minister of State , Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura were in attendance.

Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Chairman of Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN), Dapo Abiodun, spoke on the cause of the petrol scarcity.

He said, “Today’s meeting was called at the instance of

the chief of staff to the president and it was to find out exactly what happened, where we had the problems we had in December with the supply of petrol and how Nigerians were made to go through the pains and suffering.

“He wanted to know the truth and to ensure that going forward this problem will be solved once and for all. And that is why you saw that we sat in here from 2pm and the meeting just finished after three and half hours.

“A lot of issues were raised and a committee was constituted that will meeting tomorrow under the chairmanship of the minister of petroleum to further go into the nittygritty and to ensure that these problems do not recur again.

“From our point of view as marketers, we made our submission known to federal government and we emphasised the fact that this was not a marketer-related problem.

There was no hoarding on the part of any marketer. Marketers are your brothers, they are Nigerian citizens, they are businessmen, no marketer makes money from hoarding petroleum products, our busi-

ness is to take petrol and sell.

“We explained that the problem that you saw is not willful on the part of anyone either NNPC or marketers.

“The situation, from our point of view, is that from January to December, the price of crude remained relatively stable. Following the Hurricane Katrina in the month of September, October, crude prices went up and marketers lost the ability to import any sell at N145 per liter.

“Since the price of crude is directly proportional to the refined product, we could not import petrol and sell at N145 anymore. And this business is a partnership between marketers and the NNPC. Marketers bring in a certain volume and NNPC also brings in a certain volume.”

Abiodun also spoke on the cause of fuel scarcity, advising federal government on the steps to take to avoid a repeat of the situation.

He said, “In the past marketers bring in about 60% while NNPC brings about 35 to 40 percent. But by the month of October, marketers completely stopped importing because there is no more sub-

sidy so we can’t sell for profit so we have to stop importing.

“So, the burden of importing 100% now fell on NNPC. So, you can imagine a situation where the NNPC was importing in part and marketers were importing in part and then suddenly NNPC begins to import 100%. Couple with the fact that in the months we called the ember months from October to December the consumption of petrol is highest in the country.

“So, you now have what we call a double warning. NNPC is suddenly finding its importing what they probably didn’t expect in terms of volume and the fact that Nigerians themselves are consuming more volume that they will normally consume in earlier months. Couple with the fact that the countries that are surrounding us as a nation are all selling fuel at more than $1 per liter. $1 today is about N360. If you go to Cotonou, Ghana, Niger so is is not unlikely that some of our petrol is finding itself across the body to these countries.

“All these are issues we believe amounted to what we saw in December but thank-

fully, the NNPC rose to the occasion, they stepped up import, stepped up supplies that situation has since normalized.

“Today’s meeting is to ensure that this does not happen again and this we are going to continue tomorrow in the committee that was set up under the chairmanship of the minister of state for petroleum to ensure that we find a long-lasting and enduring solutions to this problem so that Nigerians will not have to go through this borrowing situation again.”

MRS IDOWU ABIMBOLA IMOLEAYO

State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Tuesday, paid an unscheduled visit to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), within the state Secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, promising civil servants of improved welfare.

During the visit, on the first work day in the New Year, he commended the civil servants for their dedication to duty, urging them not to relent in the discharge of their duties.

The Governor, who acknowledged the significant contributions of the civil servants to the development of the state, assured them of improved welfare.

According to him, the civil servants, are ready to support any government that is ready to work”, adding that “if we want to get it right, the Civil Service must be well strengthened.”

Amosun added that very soon, the operations and filing system of the MDAs will be digitalised, to complement the hard copy filing system, promising to work on the regular release of bulk payment for the effective running of the offices.

Speaking with news men, the Head of Service, Mr. Abayomi Sobande assured the government of the support of the entire civil servants, towards the success of its “Mission to Rebuild” the state.

OKASIA BIBIAN BLESSING

I formerly known and addressed as Bibian Emmanuel now wish to be known called and addressed as OKASIA BIBIAN BLESSING. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to certify that KELECHI AMAKO M;AMAKO MICHAEL KELECHI; KELECHI AMAKO MICHAEL and AMAKO KELECHI MICHAEL ; refers to one and same person; Now wish to be known as AMAKO KELECHI MICHEAL. All former documents remain valid.

BANKS and General public take note.

ISEMEDE BOSE TEMIDAYO FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ISEMEDE BOSE BOLUWATIFE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ISEMEDE BOSE TEMIDAYO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE NOTE MRS. UKPAI CHINWENDU PRINCE-CHINEDU

I formerly known and addressed as OBARINDE ABIMBOLA IMOLEAYO now wish to be known called and addressed as MRS IDOWU ABIMBOLA IMOLEAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS.OLUGHU MGBO MBA; now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. UKPAI CHINWENDU PRINCE-CHINEDU. All Former documents remain valid.

BANKS and General public take note.

EPELLE SAMUEL UGOCHUKWU I, formerly known and addressed as SAMUEL UGOCHUKWU JOSIAH ; now wish to be known and addressed EPELLE SAMUEL UGOCHUKWU . All former documents remain valid. BANKS and General public take note.

EMEONYE UKAMAKA FAITH

I, formerly known and addressed as ONYEKACHI UKAMAKA FAITH ;now wish to be known and addressed as EMEONYE UKAMAKA FAITH. All former documents remain valid. BANKS and General public take note.

News 26

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 3, 2018

Abuja-Kaduna train passengers to pay more –Amaechi

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

ÏÏÏCommuters

on the Abuja-Kaduna train service are soon to pay more as government explores ways to provide more passenger comfort on the route.

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi made this known to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.

Currently, a one way VIP ticket costs N1, 500 while the regular ticket goes for N1, 000 on the route.

The minister who did not give insight into what the new costs may be said passengers had even observed that the current fares on the route

were too low.

He said the provision of additional two locomotives and 10 coaches would reduce the pressure on the route and eliminate the present ticket racketeering.

He said he met with the president to discuss the commissioning of the two locomotives and 10 coaches slated for Thursday in Kaduna.

He said: “We discussed the commissioning of 10 new coaches and 2 locomotives which will bring the total number of coaches to 14 on the Kaduna-Abuja route.

“The president is pleased with the arrangement because basically, we will then be able to discharge the passengers’ pressure that we have had.

“That is why you have ticket racketeering. When demand outstrips supply then you see all sorts of attempts to cheats the passengers.

“There are two things I know the president like I have mentioned one, the second one, is after commissioning even the passengers to agree that the cost of transportation to Kaduna via the railway is a bit too cheap.

“So, there will be a need to increase the price of the cost and then there will be more comfortable. More comfort in the sense that when you have excess seats multiply by the number of passengers that will come, then anybody that wants to racketeer will have to eat the tickets himself.”

The minister assured that

one coach would be dedicated to express service on the Abuja-Kaduna route which could do a one-way trip at 115 to 120 minutes.

He said this would enable people to reside in Kaduna and commute to work daily in Abuja without being late for work.

Amaechi stated: “One thing I know is that one of the locomotives will be dedicated to direct trip from Kaduna to Abuja non-stop. That should be doing 115 or 120 minutes non-stop.

“That will enable those living in Kaduna and working in Abuja to actually come to work on time. If you leave at 6:00 am by 7:15 am, 7:20 am you should be in Abuja.”

President Buhari commis-

sioned train services along the route in July 2016.

Its construction began under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan which had implemented it to an advanced stage before the end of the administration.

Amaechi seized the opportunity to react on the “Cross Over” killings in Rivers state; the former Rivers governor accused Governor Nyesom Wike of encouraging violence for the sake of the future election.

He said: “I think the Governor needs to get a bit more serious. He should stop encouraging the militant groups in the name of politics and election.

“You heard about 21 only in Omoku. What about in Akutoru where two people were killed? What about other LGAs? I think there should be much more than age to qualify to be a governor because it takes much more than age.

“I was governor of Rivers State. I did not play PDP/APC politics. Life is life, it has no symbol. Nobody has APC life or PDP life. The first responsibility of a governor which is what the oath of office requires is that you swear to protect lives and property.

“When you don’t protect life and property what do you do? (It)is impeachment. Unfortunately, there is no House of Assembly in Rivers State. “ (There) Too much noise coming from Rivers State.

The Governor just wakes up and starts shouting, abusing people. That’s all he does. Mr. Project painting roads, the first thing you do is human capacity development and keeping human beings and we are losing lives every day.

“Two important men were kidnapped before I left Port Harcourt. The first person is Chief Adoke till today, nearly one month after nobody can tell you where he is. The next person is Chief Omogu was kidnapped. Luckily the villagers ran after the people and rescued the old man from the bush.

“It never happened when I was governor. We (the security and myself) ensured that we will not sleep at night. We stayed awake for the citizens to sleep. I think the Governor needs to do much more than that or quit the office.”

He said unlike when he was governor of the state at which time he was stripped of security agents, Wike has every security outfit at his disposal to ensure security in Rivers state.

Asked what the Governor was lacking, Amaechi responded: “I just don’t know because the things are there for him to work with. He is not like me when during my second term, President Goodluck Jonathan took away Police, SSS. The Army Brigade Commander couldn’t visit me but in his case, everyone is disposed to him.

Justice Ajose-Adeogun begins final home journey Wednesday ÏÏÏFuneral Abandoned baby found on Apongbon, Bridge Lagos… on Monday.

4 accountants docked over N52m theft Peter Fowoyo

ÏÏÏFor

allegedly defrauding a firm, Capricorn Digital Solutions and Distribution of a whooping sum of N52 million, four staff of the company were on Tuesday docked before an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos.

The four accused persons: Olalekan Badru, 34, Yewenu Samuel, 33, Adeyinka Adekoya, 30, and Ojo Ayoola Oluwakayode, 34, were arraigned by Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon, Lagos, before Magistrate O. O. Oshin (Mrs) on a three count-charge border-

ing on conspiracy, stealing and forgery.

The police in a charge marked A/01/2018, alleged that the four accused persons who worked in the account department of the firm, located 3, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road, Ajao Estate, Lagos, had sometimes in March, 2017, conspired among themselves and others now at large, committed the nefarious act.

To carry out the act, police stated that the four accused persons forged several deposit slips from Zenith Bank Plc. The offences according to the police prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, are contrary to and punishable

under sections 325, 287(8) and 365(3) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos state of Nigeria, 2015.

They however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Upon their pleas of not guilty to the charges, their lawyer, Mr. Austin Okey, pleaded with the court to admit his clients bail in the most liberal terms.

Consequently, the Magistrate, Mrs. Oshin, granted the four accused persons bail in the sum of N500, 000, with two sureties in the same sum.

The magistrate ordered that one of the sureties must be a Civil Servant in Grade Level 14 and above, while the second surety must be a

blood relation to the accused persons.

The Magistrate also ordered that the sureties who must be residents of the state, must also show to court evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos state government, with proof of means of livelihood.

Magistrate Oshin also ordered the prosecutor to verify the addresses of the sureties.

Meanwhile the matter has been adjourned till February 2, 2018, for mention.

The accused persons were however ordered to be remanded in prisons custody pending the fulfilment of the bail terms.

arrangements for late Justice of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, Justice Olatunji Ajose-Adeogun, begin Wednesday, January 3, in Lagos.

The legal icon died on December 13, 2017 at the age of 93 after an age-related illness. He was the Baba Oba Agba Ilu of Lagos State and Vice Chairman of Eminent Lagos Persons Group headed by Senator H.A.B. Fasinro. The group meets every Sunday to assess the state of affairs in Lagos and Nigeria.

Generally described as a man of high integrity and transparency, Justice Ajose-Adeogun, one of the distinguished legal luminaries from Lagos State, also served as Lagos Public Complaints Commissioner from 1990 to 1996.

The burial programmes begin with Service of

Songs, January 3, 2018, at 5pm at the deceased’s residence 27, Alake Onile-ere Crescent, Gbagada Phase 2, Lagos. It will be followed Thursday, January 4 with Christian Wake Keeping at 5:00 pm at Hoares Memorial Church Hall, Herbert Macaulay Road, Yaba, Lagos.

Funeral service holds on Friday at 10:00 in the morning at Cathedral of St. Jude, Freeman Street, EbuteMeta, Lagos. Interment follows after the service at Ikoyi Cemetary, Ikoyi while reception will be held immediately after at Harbour Point, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He is survived by his wives - Mrs. Omoyele AjoseAdeogun, Mrs. Omolara Ajose Adeogun and Mrs. Olabisi Ajose-Adeogun-, many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

27 News

2 feared killed as Bayelsa community boils again Chris Eze, Yenagoa

ÏÏÏA

violent clash between two rival groups in Ondewari, a coastal settlement in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa has left two persons dead.

It was learnt that the groups clashed over oil pipeline surveillance jobs at Agip’s oilfields.

The development is said to have forced the people to flee the area for safety.

According to an indigene of the community, Mr. Alagoa Morris, re-

nowned Environmentalist, and Rights Activist who spoke to our correspondent on Tuesday, he said that the crisis started on December 30, 2017 and left the community deserted.

He said that it was regrettable that the community lost two promising youths in the renewed clash which had earlier led to the death of two youths in July 2017, bringing the death toll to four.

He urged the relevant security agencies to urgently step into the community and restore hope

to the frightened residents.

“Our pain is that this crisis was avoidable, the community leadership had cried out to state government, drawing the attention of the security community to the raging issues bothering on pipeline surveillance jobs at oilfields within the area but nothing happened.

“The situation would have been nipped in the bud, but here we are, four youths have been lost to the oil industry induced conflict that has left the community in a mourn-

ing mood, it is unfortunate that the only interest is securing oil assets and human lives don’t count.

“I personally wrote a formal letter to the Department of State Services (DSS) in Yenagoa and sought their intervention to avert further degeneration of the crisis when it started in July 2017, if only they acted, this renewed bloodshed may have been prevented.

“Although I do not hold any leadership position, I participated in the process of seeking resolution to the crisis that engulfed

my community; we held meetings in my office in Yenagoa and engaged on media advocacy as well.

“So the security agencies cannot claim to be unaware of the situation at Ondewari” Morris said.

It was gathered that most of the residents who deserted their houses and fled the settlement are taking refuge in bushes and farms and have spent the New Year festivities without food in their hideouts.

Chief Peresho Erefawari, Acting Para-

mount Ruler of Ondewari Community, who decried frequent clashes by armed youth gangs, had urged the Bayelsa government to intervene to halt the bloodshed before the year end.

“The clash was caused by protest by some youths in the community who are aggrieved over their exclusion in the petroleum pipeline protection jobs in the area, we have tried in vain to broker truce so that peace will prevail to no avail,” he said on the latest development.

Community protest over kingship stool in Lagos Esther Taiwo

ÏÏÏThe people of

IsheriOke Church town in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, in the dying day of last year, stormed the Governor’s Office and State Assembly in Ikeja, to register their grievances over the controversy surrounding the kingship stool in the last 18 years.

Members of the community, in their hundreds, marched to the House of Assembly and converged in front of the complex chanting solidarity songs.

They said they needed to see Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to use his good office to ensure that justice prevails.

Lawyer to the Olofin family, who claims ownership of the throne, Lekan Odunsi, described the people’s struggle to have their king installed by the Lagos government as “long suffering and oppression”.

“Our clients’ long and endless wait, hoping against all hopes seem to have been stretched to its elastic limit,” he said.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards they displayed read: “Governor Ambode give us our right”, “we deserve our crown”, “please stop the injustice and give us our king”, “the kingship belongs to the Olofin family”, “we have waited for too long”, “we don’t need strangers as our oba”, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, stop embarrassing Ambode’s government”.

Lawyer to the Olofin family, who claims ownership of the throne, Lekan Odunsi, described the people’s struggle to have their king installed by the Lagos government as “long suffering and oppression”.

“Our clients’ long and

endless wait, hoping against all hopes seem to have been stretched to its elastic limit,” he said.

Odunsi said the state government, in the last 18 years, had consistently refused to consider the yearnings of Isheri-Oke Church notwithstanding intrinsic judicial and historical facts presented before the constituted authorities.

He alleged that a member of the state House of Assembly in connivance with the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Musiliu Folami, was working round the clock in a bid to install a non-indigene of the community to become a king over them.

He stated that the community was neither desperate nor begging to have their son installed as the Oba but demanding what rightly belong to them.

Addressing the protesters, Folami, after admitting that he was aware of the case, promised that justice would be done.

He said he was not in the office when they arrived, but Ambode directed him to rush down and attend to their grievances.

He denied taking side with any party, explaining that he had installed 14 kings since he assumed office. Folami said government would have installed a king at the community but was mindful of a pending legal action. But the lawyer quickly countered and reminded him that the case had been withdrawn on the advice of the immediate past administration.

The commissioner asked the lawyer to return to his office by first week of January 2018.

He assured the Awori people that they would get the kingship by the grace of God.

L-R: Bauchi State Governor, Muhammed Abubukar and State chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Mahmud Maidoki, during the presentation of a bus to the State chapter of the NBA by the Governor in Bauchi State.

New Year Day: 386,000 babies born worldwide as Nigeria records 20,210 births - Report

Myke Uzendu, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

United Nations Children’ Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that approximately 20,210 babies were born in Nigeria on New Year’s Day. According to the report, the births represented the third largest population of newborns in the world on January 1, 2018.

The internationa l body said that nearly 386,000 babies were born worldwide on New Year’s Day, 90 percent of which were recorded in less developed regions.

Globally, over half of these births are estimated to take place in nine countries, according to UNICEF. These are: India, 69,070; China, 44,760; Ni-

geria, 20,210; Pakistan, 14,910; Indonesia, 13,370; United States, 11,280; Democratic Republic of Congo, 9,400; Ethiopia, 9,020; and Bangladesh, 8,370.

UNICEF said while many babies would survive, some would not make it past their first day.

Speaking on the matter, Stefan Peterson, UNICEF’s chief of health, said the agency is challenging nations around the world to make sure more newborns survive their first days of life.

“This New Year, UNICEF’s resolution is to help give every child more than an hour, more than a day, more than a month – more than survival,” he said.

Also in 2016, an estimated 2,600 children

died within the first 24 hours every day of the year, according to the UN agency.

UNICEF reported that for almost two million newborns, their first week was also their last.

In all, 2.6 million children died before the end of their first month, the global children’s agency said.

Among those children, more than 80 percent died from preventable and treatable causes such as premature birth, complications during delivery, and infections like sepsis and pneumonia, UNICEF said.

“We call on governments and partners to join the fight to save millions of children’s lives by providing proven, low-cost solutions.”

According to UNIEF, the number of children who die before their fifth birthday has reduced by half but 46 percent of children die in their first month of life.

UNICEF said it will launch ‘Every Child Alive,’ a global campaign to demand and deliver affordable, quality health care solutions for every mother and newborn in February 2018.

These include a steady supply of clean water and electricity at health facilities, the presence of a skilled health attendant during birth, disinfecting the umbilical cord, breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, and skin-to-skin contact between the mother and child.

News 28

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Buhari condemns new year killings in Kaduna, Rivers Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

P r e s i d e n t Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and outrage at reports of killings of innocent persons in Omoku, Rivers State and the traditional ruler, the Etum Numana, Dr Gambo Makama, and his wife in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State in the New Year.

The President, who described the incidents as “reprehensible and unacceptable,” directed law enforcement agencies in both states to intensify their current efforts in order to speedily bring the perpetrators to face the wrath of the law.

In a statement on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari said: “I have always maintained that nothing justifies the taking of the life of an innocent person,” he said, adding that “people in our communities must learn to live peacefully.”

Buhari appealed to the communities affected not to embark on reprisal attacks, but allow the security agencies to carry out comprehensive investigations to properly punish the culprits.

He commiserated with

the families of the victims and wished the injured faster recovery.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi (left), briefing State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja…on Tuesday.

...Omoku killings: Wike places N200m bounty on perpetrators Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏThe Rivers State Gov-

ernor, Nyesom Wike, has placed a N200 million bounty for information that would lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the Omoku massacre in the early hours of Monday morning, New Year’s Day, in which 17 people were reportedly killed and many more seriously injured by unknown gunmen.

Unknown gunmen had on Monday morning killed more than 17 persons, mostly innocent women and children who were on their way back from New Year cross over church service at a time one thought killings in the area has been put to rest.

Governor Wike spoke on Tuesday after he led the Rivers State Security Council on a fact finding/sympathy visit to the families of the deceased. He also visited those injured during the attack.

The Governor also visited the sites of the crime where he received briefing from the Nigerian Police Area Commander, Mr Mike Nwafor and the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) Local Government Council Caretaker Chairman, Mr Olisa Osi. He said: “We have placed an N200million bounty for relevant information that will lead to the arrest of all those involved in this unfortunate act of violence. Anybody who is connected to this crime in any way will have his/her houses forfeited to the Government. This place has been peaceful before this unfortunate mayhem.

“We will not allow another case of this violence. We have mobilised the security agencies to take the battle to the perpetrators,” the governor said.

Governor Wike said all those linked to the Omoku violence would face the full weight of the law.

“You cannot shed innocent blood and go free. We are working with all the security agencies to do everything possible to arrest the perpetrators. They must pay for this,” he said.

The Governor commiserated with the families of the deceased, saying that the State Government would support them in burying their loved ones. He added that the state government would also settle the medical bills of those receiving treatment at different hospitals.

He said: “I am pained by this unfortunate mayhem.

Enough is enough. “The Governor and the service commanders also visited the residence of wanted cultist, Don Waney where the Rivers State Governor commended security agencies for working hard to improve the security of the state.

Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Mr Osi Olisa informed the Governor that 17 persons lost their lives as a result of the attack.

In an interview, Prophetess Comfort Ordu who lost her husband and three of her children said they were dragged out of their home and killed by the perpetrators.

Some of those murdered

in cold blood include: Favour Odili, Saviour Amirinze, Augustine Ordu, Precious Ordu, Wisdom Ordu, Jennifer Ohia and Innocent Ohia. Others are: Reuben Idogu, Baby Idogu, Ngozi Ogbuanukwu, Oyi Ogadinma, Nwagaego Ogadinma and Uche Onige.

Governor Wike was accompanied to Omoku by the Brigade Commander of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General A.A Bande, the Commander of Joint Task Force, Colonel M.N Madi, Rivers State Deputy Police Commissioner, Ahmed Magaji and Rivers State Director of the Department of State Services, Mr Tosin Ajayi.

The senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has condemned the massacre.

Abe, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt and signed by his spokesperson, Mr. Parry Saroh Benson, also condoled with the families of the victims, the Orashi region and the entire people of Rivers State.

He expressed worry over the resurfacing of violent crime in the area and called on the Rivers State Government to assist security agencies with the needed tools to tackle security challenges that has bedevilled it.

The Senator said, “The killings in Omoku is an indication that all is not well with the security network of the State. The state government should assist security agencies with the needed tools to

tackle these rising state of insecurity.

“The incident is condemnable and should be condemned by every right thinking Rivers man and woman.

Rivers communities should not be allowed to become haven for blood thirsty hoodlums,” he said.

He further stated that “Rivers State Government must drastically re-engineer the security architecture and funding to fight crime and stop this endless waste of human lives.”

Abe, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on FERMA, called on the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to join forces and ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime are brought to book.

He continued: “This incident is one too many and

we must come together to change the narrative and create an atmosphere of peace in our State, where progress and prosperity can be archived.”

The police in Rivers state said it has not established any clear motive for the killing of the people in Omoku.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said investigation is still ongoing into the matter.

He said that the police would soon come out with the details of the killing.

“Some persons are feared dead in the shooting but we cannot confirm the number now. Investigation is ongoing to unravel the motive and the perpetrators. For now the number of casualties cannot be ascertained. However we are still investigating. We have so many angles to the

incident but our investigation would show what really happened.

“They say they are unknown gunmen. They may be cult members but investigation will reveal better what really happened.”

Meanwhile the paramount ruler of the community of Egi land, Eze Amaziri, where the crime was committed, Eze Amaziri,

said one of his sons was among those killed. Eze Amaziri said that his son was returning from the church on the Eve of New Year, when the gunmen opened fire, killing him and his friends. The paramount ruler denied that his son was a member of any secret cult group.

...As Gov Umahi condemns attack Charles Onyekwere, Abakaliki

ÏÏÏ

The Chairman south-East governors’ forum and Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has condemned the New Year killings in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni local government area of Rivers State,describing it as height of insanity and babarism.

Governor Umahi in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor described the killing of innocent worshippers who went for Cross Over Night special prayer as national tragedy and con-

doled with the families of those who lost their loved ones.

The Governor further commiserated with the government and people of Rivers State over the calamity and described the act as height of insanity and degeneration of humanity to evil.

Governor Umahi in the statement said “we are here again faced with one of the greatest carnage and man’s inhumanity to man. To think that a man with blood running in his vein should open fire on innocent fellow citizens is so horrible and devastating. It is with great

shock that I received the news and on behalf of my family and the patriotic citizens of Ebonyi State, I commiserate with my brother and friend, Governor Nyesom Wike, the people of Rivers state and the families of the deceased. Such inhuman act further puts question to our existence as sane and salubrious conscious beings” He called on security agencies to intensify investigations into the massacre with a view to arresting the masterminds of the killing while praying God to grant the souls of the deceased eternal rest

Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

s

29

I remain the legitimate president of Ijaw Youths Council -Omare Eric Omare, a lawyer, is one of the two persons laying claim to the Presidency of the umbrella body of Ijaw Youths, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), has offered legal and moral reasons why he is the authentic President of the body, insisting that he was duly elected in accordance with the law guiding the body in the region. Omare and Mr. Peretubo Oweilami, another lawyer have locked horns and laid claims to the Presidency of the Ijaw Youths Council following their emergence at separate national conventions held in Burutu, Delta State and Okirika, Rivers State respectively. Attempts by various Ijaw leaders including the Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clarke and the Bayelsa State governor, Hon, Seriake Dickson failed over alleged bias and political consideration. Barr Omare, in a telephone interview with AKAM JAMES, in Yenagoa spoke on the issue, saying that despite the bias of some Ijaw leaders, the emergence of his national executive committee at the IYC convention in Burutu, Delta State conferred on him the authentic status of IYC President.

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), national body seems to be factionalised, what happened?

Those claiming to lead a faction of the IYC from Bayelsa are acting out of impunity; I am the legitimate President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide, elected in accordance with the Constitution of the IYC at Burutu, Delta State on the 1st day of March, 2017. Any other person that is parading himself is just acting out of impunity which must stop.

I emerged as President of IYC through an election conducted at Burutu in accordance with the IYC constitution and established electoral practice and procedure of the IYC. Under the IYC Constitution and the established practice, the three zones: Eastern, central and western zones and the two chapters; Lagos and Abuja are expected to hold congresses and nominate two persons each for the zones and one per chapter, three months before the expiration of the tenure of an outgoing national executive council of the IYC for the purpose of forming the IYC National Electoral Committee with the President of IYC having the power to appoint the Chairman of the Eleco.”

This has been put to practice severally, including Dr. Chris Ekiyor, who appointed Hon. Kingsley Kuku as Eleco Chairman during his term as IYC President and Miabiye Kuromiema who appointed Jerry Oba as Eleco Chairman while he was IYC President.

So, did this happen in this case?

At an executive council meeting held in Warri, Delta State sometime in November, 2016 and presided over by the then President, Udengs Eradiri, a decision was taken for the transition processes to start in line with the

OMARE IYC constitution. In furtherance, the then President, Mr. Eradiri gave three hundred thousand naira to each zone and two hundred thousand per chapter to hold congresses to nominate eleco members.

The eastern zone, Lagos and Abuja chapters promptly called and had their congresses wherein the nominees for the electoral committee were nominated. The western zone had their congresses at Bomadi on 30th November, 2016, but the nomination of members of eleco members from the western zone was frustrated by the then Chairman of western zone from Edo state.

The congress ended abruptly with a promise by the then western zone chairman to call for another congress to nominate eleco members within seven days which was never done. In the case of the central zone, the zonal chairman out rightly refused to call for congress to nominate eleco members from the central zone. All these antics happened in the central and western zone because these zonal chairmen were instructed by their leaders not to allow the then President, Udengs Eradiri transit successfully.

Why will they do that?

Some of these leaders behind the refusal to hold congress and nominate eleco members for central and western zones were the ones who later met at Patani and took a decision to conduct a parallel election. This was a very abnormal situation because in pressure groups such as the IYC, what I am used to is a situation whereby an outgoing President would want to sit tight and refuse to transit, but in the case of Mr. Eradiri, he was desperately wanting to transit, but some forces within the IYC were resolved to frustrate him from

transiting successfully. According to them, they want to disgrace him out of office.

In this state and the time allowed for the remaining two zones to call congresses to nominate eleco members having expired, the available option was to call for a national convention of the IYC which was also the demand of the western zonal congress and different stakeholders, including a stakeholders meeting at Chief Tom Ateke’s residence in January, 2017; a national convention was therefore called at Ibaka town hall, Okrika, Rivers State on the 16th day of February, 2017 and presided over by the then President, Mr. Eradiri wherein the convention as the highest decision making body of the IYC nominated the electoral committee members for central and western zone, cleared them and also inaugurated the electoral committee to conduct election within the tenure of the Udengs led national executive committee of the IYC. Consequently, the electoral committee inaugurated by the then President, Udengs Eradiri with Mr. Oscar Izu as Chairman conducted elections on the 1st day of March, 2017 at Burutu, headquarters of Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State at a gathering of more than five thousand Ijaw youths wherein I emerged and was immediately sworn-in as President of IYC, together with other ten national executive council members under the supervision of security agents and the outgoing President as is the tradition of the organisation.

Let me also make the point clearly that as at the 5th day of March, 2017, when some former leaders and stakeholders of IYC went to Okrika, Rivers State to purportedly hold a

convention and set up an electoral committee to conduct election on the 9th of April, 2017, the tenure of the Udengs led exco had long expired. The IYC has a constitution and by the IYC constitution, the tenure of the national executive council is for three years.

In the case of the Udengs led exco, the tenure was pronounced upon in two judgments; the Honourable Justice Ogola and the Honourable Justice Umukoro in suits Nos. YHC/79/2015: Udengs Eradiri & Ors v. Preye Agama & others and SHC/11/2016: Elvis Donkemezuo & others v. Udengs Eradiri to the effect that the tenure ends on the 2nd of March, 2017 and a new leadership was expected to take over mandatorily by that date. Therefore, at the time the Okrika parallel convention took place, the tenure of the Udengs led exco had expired; hence aggrieved members of the Udengs led exco had no power whatsoever to call for a parallel convention. Also, the only role of elders which comprises of former leaders under the IYC constitution is to advise and not to carry out any executive powers.

It is elementary knowledge that if you are holding a tenured office, the moment your tenure expires, you have no power whatsoever to act in that position or capacity, especially in this case when a new election had already taken place and new leadership has emerged.

If you are aggrieved by the outcome, the option available is to take steps to set it aside and not to conduct a parallel election as in this case.

This is where the report of the Chief Joshua Fumudoh led Reconciliation Committee becomes ridiculous. It was one of the nine wonders of the world for the Fumudoh committee to rule that an election conducted by former leaders was valid whereas the one conducted by the sitting leadership at the time in Burutu was not invalid.

I can only accept such a decision if Chief Fumudoh, a former President of INC can still carry out any valid action now as INC President or Amb. Igali who acted as Secretary to the Elders Committee carry out any valid action now in his former position as Federal Permanent Secretary. I have given these examples to demonstrate the ridiculous nature of the report of the Fumudoh led Elders Reconciliation Committee. These facts were never made available to people like Chief E. K. Clark, Prof. Dime and other leaders who were misled to endorse the Fumudoh committee’s report without having been properly briefed.

A lot of the leaders have since known the fact and have denounced that committee’s decision. And also from the information at my disposal, the Fumudoh committee’s initial report was for another election to be conducted in the interest of peace and unity of the IYC, though not fair enough to us having been validly elected, but this initial report was manipulated by some members of the committee on getting to Abuja.

Is there any court order restraining you?

At the time my election was done at Burutu on 1st March, 2017, there was no pending case against the conduct of the election. However, after my election and swearing-in, some persons led by Ebi Waribigha who purportedly emerged as Chairman of a factional eleco on 5th March, 2017 at Okrika went to the Yenagoa Division of the Bayelsa State High Court to restrain me from parading myself as President of the IYC.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

I

EXTRATIME

30

Dogara establishes football club to harness talent in Bauchi

n order to boost sports in Bauchi State and promote youths with football talents from the state, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has announced the formation of a football club to be sponsored by him. The Speaker disclosed this at the finals of the Dogara Unity Cup competition in Bogoro local government area.

Teams from 7 local government areas in his Senatorial Zone, participated in the competition, with Spiders, Dass team coming second place and 3sc of Bau-

chi team clinching the championship. The 4th to 1st place team got cash prizes ranging from N150,000 to N750,000. Speaking at the event, the Speaker said he was not happy that no Bauchi State indigene is currently in the lineup of the Nigerian national football team and announced that as from 2018, he will be sponsoring a football competition for teams from all the 20 local government areas in Bauchi to participate in order to brush up their talents.

He also added that he will invite officials from the

Nigerian Football Federation and local league to bring their scouts to the event from the quarter finals stage so that they can possibly pick from the best players for their teams. This way, he said, Bauchi State will be put in the National football scene and grow to showcase her indigenes on the world stage.

Hon Dogara also announced the formation of his personal club whose players will be drawn from players from the teams that participated in the just concluded Dogara Unity Cup.

Dogara

Buba dedicates Madahills Basketball Classics to late coach

S

tanleopards basketball club of Akwanga, Nasarawa State Monday defeated Lafia Warriors at the basketball court of the Central Primary School, Akwanga by 90-78 points as part of Nasarawa State New Year celebration.

The home waited until the start of the second quarter to the game beyond the reach of the state team – The Lafia Warriors basketball team.

The annual competition which was in its 15th edition saw the Stanleopards team winning the last three quarters after going down to the Lafia side in the first quarter (10-18, 17-13, 30-25, 30-22).

According to the initiator of the tournament, Hon. Stanley Buba, ‘we are happy with the turn-out here today and we hope to have a team from Nasarawa State compete in the national premier league very soon.

Buba who is the chairman of the state basketball association told the gathering that aside coming together to celebrate the New Year festivity the tournament is also keep the memory of late Coach Emmanuel Chagu alive.

More trouble for Iheanacho as Silva signs for Leicester

Nigeria CHAN list out

H

ead Coach Salisu Yusuf on Tuesday in Abuja released his final squad of the Super Eagles B for the 5th African Nations Championship (CHAN) beginning in Morocco on Jan. 13. Goalkeeper and skipper Ikechukwu Ezenwa, as well as midfielder Rabiu Ali and marksman Anthony Okpotu headline the 23-man list.

Ezenwa is joined for the goalkeeping duties by Oladele Ajiboye and Theophilus Afelokhai, while defensive stalwarts Osas Okoro, Stephen Eze and Kalu Okogbue also

Amaju

made the list. Midfielders Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Ekundayo Ojo and forwards Sunday Faleye and Emeka Atuloma were also listed. The team’s players and their officials are expected to fly out of the country in a few days time. They are to continue preparations in Morocco ahead of Nigeria’s first match of the campaign against Rwanda in Tangier on Jan. 15. The 2014 bronze medallists will also take on 2014 champions Libya at the same Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier on Jan. 19, before facing Equatorial Guinea in Agadir on Jan. 23.

FULL LIST Goalkeepers: Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Oladele Ajiboye (Plateau United); Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba FC) Defenders: Osas Okoro (Rangers International); Daniel James (Plateau United); Kalu Okogbue (Rangers International); Ikouwem Utin (Enyimba FC); Abdullahi Musa (Wikki Tourists); Timothy Danladi (Katsina United); Ifeanyi Nweke (Kano Pillars); Stephen Eze (Kano Pillars) Midfielders: Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (Akwa United); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Augustine Oladapo (Enyimba FC); Ekundayo Ojo (Sunshine Stars) Forwards: Emeka Atuloma (Rivers United); Anthony Okpotu (Lobi Stars); Eneji Moses (Plateau United); Ibrahim Mustapha (Enyimba FC); Emeka Ogbuh (Rivers United); Sunday Faleye (Akwa United); Nura Muhammed (El-Kanemi Warriors); Okechukwu Gabriel (Akwa United)(NAN)

N

Iheanacho

igerian international, Kelechi Iheanacho’s hope of playing regularly for Leicester City may not materialize as the club has opted to strengthen its midfield with the signing of Portuguese midfielder Adrien Silva.

Iheanacho who is on loan to Leicester from Man City has been warming the bench at Leicester. He was not used in yesterday’s 3-0 bashing of Huddersfield Town.

Meanwhile, Silva said yesterday that he tried to remain positive during a long saga which came to a happy end on Monday as he completed his move to Leicester City.

The 28-year-old – capped 20 times and a member of the Portugal side that won Euro 2016 – has had to wait four months to complete the £22 million transfer from Sporting Lisbon.

The France-born midfielder has been in a state of limbo since his original transfer was not accepted because the paperwork was 14 seconds past the deadline in August – an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) failed.

“When you have a period like this, it’s very up and down,” Silva told Leicester’s inhouse television station.

“You have to keep a positive mentality and that’s what I’ve tried to do. I’ve kept my mind focused on my job and what I love to do.”

Silva, was named on the bench in the victory over Huddersfield Town yesterday.

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

EXTRATIME

31

McGregor

Paul Scholes Mourinho

Mourinho blasts Paul Scholes for criticising Pogba J ose Mourinho has hit back at former Manchester United star Paul Scholes for his criticism of United’s France midfielder Paul Pogba.

Speaking after Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Southampton, Scholes said: “He doesn’t look like a player who will win you games – that’s what you pay £90m for.”

Following the 2-0 win over Everton on Monday, United boss Mourinho said: “The only thing Scholes does is criticise.

“Scholes will be in history as a phenomenal player.

Not as a pundit.”

Scholes’ comments at the weekend came after United had drawn for the third game in a row.

The 43-year-old former England international, working as a pundit for BT Sport, questioned Pogba’s fitness and attitude, as well as the position he was being played in.

“He is just strolling through games,” said Scholes who won 11 league titles at Old Trafford.

“Pogba doesn’t look fit, I wonder whether he is

training properly.

“No-one in England should be getting near him, but he is being asked to do a role he is not comfortable in.

“You have to say the manager has to take responsibility for that.”

Pogba, 24, played further forward against Everton than he did against Southampton, as the heatmap above shows.

He produced a man-of-the-match performance which included assists for the goals scored by Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard in the 2-0 win.

Mourinho said: “I don’t think he [Scholes] comments. He criticises – which is a different thing.

“Not everyone has to be phenomenal like he was.

As a player he was phenomenal, but it doesn’t mean we all have to be phenomenal.

“Sometimes Pogba plays very well, sometimes he plays well and sometimes he doesn’t play well. Pogba tries his best all the time.

“It’s not Paul’s fault that he made much more money than Paul Scholes. It’s not Paul Pogba’s fault, it’s

Kane can be Tottenham’s Totti, says Pochettino

just the way football is.”

And Mourinho added: “If Paul [Scholes] decides to be a manager one day, I wish that he can be 25% as successful as myself.

“Fifty per cent is 12-and-a-half silverware, 25% is around six [trophies]. If he is 25% he will be quite happy.”

Asked if he was frustrated by the number of high-profile ex-United players working in the media, Mourinho said: “I think they would love to be here, in the club. That’s a problem that I cannot resolve.”

Hughes hits hard on critics for his selection

A

H

arry Kane’s heroics have put him on the radar of Europe’s elite but Mauricio Pochettino feels the striker’s ties to Spurs are significant.

Mauricio Pochettino hopes Harry Kane’s ties to Tottenham will keep him at the club for a long time, comparing the England striker to Roma great Francesco Totti.

Kane is aiming to shake off a bout of illness and feature for Spurs at Swansea City on Tuesday following a stellar 2017, when he broke Alan Shearer’s record for the most Premier League goals in a calendar year and outscored Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi for club and country over the 12-month period.

A Champions League last-16 tie against Juventus is on the agenda next month, with the prospect of the 24-year-old’s stock rising even further in the eyes of Europe’s heavyweight clubs.

But, in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Pochettino cited one of Italy’s most famous one-club men and his commonalities with north Londoner Kane. “Harry’s most important gift is his desire to improve,” he said. “Even his ties with Tottenham are important. He reminds me of Totti with Roma.”

In terms of who are the best strikers in the world, Pochettino puts Kane alongside two of his Argentin-

Pogba

Hughes

Kane

defiant Mark Hughes insisted that he is still the right man to lead Stoke despite coming under fire after his selection gamble backfired.

Fans called for Hughes’s head following a home defeat by Newcastle on Monday 48 hours after the Welshman had rested players in a 5-0 battering at Chelsea.

Asked about his future, Hughes replied: ‘Who else is going to do it? In terms of the knowledge of the group and the progress in my time here, I’m the best person to do it.

‘It doesn’t bother me. What bothers me is that the team needs to be doing better.

‘It’s difficult times at the moment, so we’ve just got to stick our chests out and get on with it.

‘It’s not going to be easy from this point onwards but it’s about making sure you show character and take any criticism or flak that comes your way.

‘That’s my make-up as a person, a manager and a player. That doesn’t change.’

Hughes was frustrated by persistent questions about his team selection at Stamford Bridge and cut short his after-match press conference.

Flu struck Mc Gregor U

FC fighter Conor McGregor has been struck down by deadly Australian flu, which could be the worst bout Britain has seen in 50 years.

The millionaire sportsman, 29, shared a candid Instagram snap of him relaxing in bed with his baby boy Conor Jr, revealing he and ‘half his family’ had contracted the virus, which has resulted in fatalities both Down Under and in Ireland.

He wrote: ‘Well that was a wild New Year’s Eve. Half the family hit with the Australian flu virus and some even left in hospital with it. I’ve never even been to Australia wtf.’(sic) The MMA fighter and boxer said that he had been left shaken by the illness, which has affected people across Ireland over the festive period.

He said: ‘Big New Year’s Eve party cancelled at the last minute and I am left shaking in bed the past two days.

‘I’ll leave that with the rest of the bad behind me in 2017 and take with me the many great experiences I’ve had this year!

‘None greater than the birth of my son Conor Jr and the continued support of my family, my friends and my dedicated staff through thick and thin.’

Conor has been with partner Dee Devlin for over nine years and the couple welcomed their first child together, Conor Jack McGregor Jr., in May. The MMA fighter memorably took on boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr in a hotly-anticipated face off at Las Vegas’ T Mobile Arena on August 26 last year, which the Irishman lost.

The deadly ‘Aussie flu’ currently sweeping Britain has already claimed lives in Ireland.

Doctors in the UK have warned that it could be the worst outbreak of the bug in 50 years, as official figures revealed cases more than doubled in just one week.

Government statistics show 1,111 people were struck down with flu as temperatures dropped last week - a 156 per cent jump on the previous seven days.

Although the number of flu-related deaths recorded in Ireland so far is under 10, 73 people have been hospitalised and the Irish Health Service Executive is urging people to get vaccinated.

Meanwhile, figures released by Public Health England show a sharp rise in cases, triggered by a surge in two aggressive subtypes attacking the population simultaneously.

One includes the so-called ‘Aussie flu’, a strain of influenza A which wreaked havoc on hospitals in Australia during the country’s winter.

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Editor Daily: TONY AMOKEODO

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2018

VOL. 3. NO. 541

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The Abuja Times

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Anxiety in FCTA as Mandate secretaries hold fruitless meeting, abandon offices

AT 4

Environmental policing: Taskforce high-handedness to be addressed AT2 soon -FCT Minister FCTA commended for effective healthcare services

ÏÏÏThe

L-R: The Controller-General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed; FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Christian Chinyaka Ohaa; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the FCT Chief Judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, when the FCT Administration secured the release of 114 inmates at the Kuje Medium Security Prison in Abuja... recently

FCT minister pays over N1.3m court fines to free 14 inmates Stories by Idu Jude, Abuja

ÏÏÏAs the Presidential commit-

The Abuja

T E A M

tee on the decongestion of Nigerian prisons sweeps into action, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, last week, at Kuje prison, paid over N1.3 million court fines to free 114 inmates out of 126 that were granted pardon by the Chief Judge of FCT and Chairman of the committee, Justice Ishaq Bello.

This is also as the FCT Administration has expressed its willingness to help alleviate the suffering of prison inmates, by building children prisons for children of special social needs.

The offences committed by the inmates range from theft, smok-

ing of Indian hemp, fighting and armed robbery among others.

The 126 inmates that regained freedom were drawn from Suleja prison, Keffi old and new respectively. Bello, who was represented by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa, made the announcement as part of FCT’s effort to help reform the Nigerian prisons and to help those inmates who may have had no helper.

Bello said: ‘’We are paying this court fines for these inmates as part of the FCT contributions to prison decongestion in the territory. We are also using the gesture to assist the less privileged inmates to become free citizens as we know that they may be left in prison for longer times because they have no one to assist them’’.

Special Projects Editor Sam Nseh

Correspondents Lateef Ibrahim Idu Jude

The Minster said that the FCT Administration has concluded plans to build a world class children and Youth Prison that will take care of the youths any time they are convicted. ‘’We have concluded arrangements to build a world class Children and Youth Prison. We are also going to build a booster institute that would serve as counseling and rehabilitation centre that would reshape our youths and children’’.In his remarks, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on decongestion of Prison Reforms, Justice, Ishaq Bello, expressed gratitude for the FCT gestures in bailing out the young ones, the vulnerable from the hands of the law.

Justice Bello, who incidentally is also the FCT Chief Judge, said that if completed, the proposed children and young people’s prison will go a long way to change the perception of the youths from being wayward and irresponsible in the society to become better

citizens of the country.

“It is not that the minister paid for the people who could not pay for their release but he has also agreed to establish children and youth centre in the FCT. We are happy to announce that this is only happening in the FCT among other states and that should be a very big rehabilitation centre. It will certainly be an extension of the prison and what we intend to archive is to bring those who sleep under the bridges there instead of littering the streets. In the plan we should be having psychologists, councilors and other important child trainers and after they will be reintegrated with the family”. FCT Chief Judge and Chairman presidential committee on prison decongestion, Justice Ishaq, expressed gratitude while thanking the minister for the gesture for building the booster centre, which he said is going to be of world class centre and should be commissioned before the end of 2018.

Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has been commended for improving the quality of healthcare services rendered to residents of the city and those from neighbouring state who on daily basis troop into the Abuja for treatment.

The commendation was contained in a letter written to the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, by members of the FCT minister’s Press Corps.

According to the letter, the commendation became necessary due to the successful lower spine surgery carried on the corps’ chairman, Mr. Attah Ikharo. The surgery was done to address a bone disk prolapsed on his lumbar vertebra, precisely between Lumber 4 and 5.

The Press Corps added that a surgery many prefer to undergo in very standard private hospitals, both home and abroad, was carried out at a general or district hospital as it is called in Abuja.

The men of the pen profession added that their belief in government-owned health facilities and the services they rendered has been further strengthened.

Also commended in letter were the General Manager of the FCT Hospital Management Board, Dr. Aminu Mai and the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Uche Afiomah, who were very supportive and ensured that the surgery went well.

The press corps specially singled out the Doctor/ Neuro surgeon who led the medical team that carried out the over seven hour comprehensive surgery, Dr. Alvan Okachukwu, for commendation also.

They however charged the FCT Administration not to relent but work harder to build more health institutions due to the massive movement of people in the city on daily basis.

The Abuja Times 2

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Christmas Day fire: FCT residents count losses

ÏÏÏResidents of Bwari, the cap-

ital of Bwari Area Council in Abuja, have continued to count their losses following the violence that engulfed the area on Christmas Day. The Bwari market was burnt down as a result of the clash between Gbagiyi and Hausa youth which left at least three people dead, according to officials.

In an account of one of the traders who spoke to the media said his family has to start all afresh to survive.

Blessing Ezeh, a fashion designer in her late 30s, said she lost all her savings to the violence including all her customers’ clothes.

With tears in her eyes, Ms. Ezeh said: “All my life was in that shop. My money, my machines, my customers clothes, everything got burnt.

“The big laces my customers are supposed to collect before the New Year, children clothes, and children school uniforms for next term are all gone. My life is empty right now”, she said. Sunny, a sales boy, said he still thanks God for His mercy on his employer.

He said: “My oga (boss) has two shops, one big one and the other one is small but the fire only destroyed the small one completely. It did not affect the big one at all. Though we lost plenty things in the small shop.

We just finished stocking the big shop on December 23, so we thank God”.

Another trader, who identified himself as Danny, lamented in pidgin: “This Hausa people

don destroy my life finish. Dem don kill me”.

Explaining his plight to our reporter, Danny said: “I lost over N15 million to the fire disaster. I don’t know anything about the fight between the Hausa and Gbagi but I had to pay the price. What will I do now? I have a wife, children, parents and siblings, all depending on me. Now I have to start all over again. Mr. Journalist, please help me beg the government to help me before I die, please my son”, he said.

According to another resident of the area said the violence started on Christmas Eve after a Hausa man reportedly killed a Gbagi man. In a bid for revenge, the Gbagis residing in the area burnt down the Bwari market.

Another witness, who identified herself as Bimbo, said there had been tension between Hausas and Gbagis in the area for a while.

“But the cause of this fight is because a Gbagi man was killed last night. Right now, all the Hausas in this area are running towards Kaduna area because of the fear of getting killed,” she said.

On Tuesday, a day after the Christmas Day violence, soldiers, policemen and even naval officers were seen patrolling the community.

Members of the community were also reluctant to go out of their houses, some because of the fear of another attack while others said there were no vehicles to convey them.

Environmental policing: Taskforce high-handedness to be addressed soon -FCT minister

Stories by Idu Jude, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Musa Bello, has said that soon his office will put to an end the level of highhandedness being experienced in the hands of several environmental taskforce across the FCT. The minister said this while addressing the media to unveil his two years scorecard in office. He said that his office before now had received information on the misgivings of the taskforce put in place to restore law and order across the FCT. According to the minister, the committees have been alleged to always indulge in extorting monies from unsuspecting public to feather their nest as against the initial attempt of the charges serving as a deterrent to offenders.

“You see, my office is however, awash of the highhandedness of the taskforce put in place to restore law and order. The people are not put there just to make money but the money was to serve as a punishment,” he said.

The Abuja Times recalls that the taskforce on the arresting of several illegalities across the nooks and crannies, clashed with taxi drivers at Wuse market recently, which the residents received as militaristic approach to environmental policing.

The committee, led by Squadron Leader Abdulahi Munjel, has been accused of grave issues of extortion, inhuman and highhandedness to commercial motorists and indigent people of the FCT. Also speaking on the delayed commissioning of the Dei Dei international market, the minister said that the delay was borne out of the need

to ensure standard in the establishment of infrastructure in the capital city.

According to Bello, “there are some key infrastructure needed to be put on ground before commissioning the market. Key infrastructure is needed to be put in place before opening the market and there is no needed to be in hurry to present jobs without quality”.

The minister further stated that the delay on the project completion is due to so many projects being embarked by the administration with scarce resources to finance them.

Fielding questions on the delayed take off of the Abuja University of Technology, Bello said that most of the needed equipment were already on ground including number of class rooms to accommodate fresh students.

FIRS hands off tax collection in Abuja as FCT-IRS begins operations ÏÏÏThe

Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will henceforth cease to be the collecting agency for taxes and levies in the FCT, paving the way for the Federal Capital Territory Inland Revenue Service (FCTIRS) to assume these duties.

A joint statement on tax collection in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), signed by the Executive Chairmen, FIRS and the FCT-IRS, Tunde Fowler and Abdullahi O. Attah, respectively, in Abuja on December 21, 2017, said these changes are with immediate effect.

According to the statement, “the FCT-IRS shall henceforth administer the following taxes and levies in the Federal Capital Territory: Personal Income Tax (PIT); Pay As You Earn (PAYE) in respect of all individuals resident in the Federal Capital Territory under employment in both the public and private sectors; Direct Assessment in respect of all self-employed individuals and enterprises resident in the Federal Capital Territory.”

Other taxes to be collected also by the FCT-IRS are the Federal Capital Territory Property Tax; Stamp Du-

ties (SD), Withholding Taxes (WHT), and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in respect of all individuals and enterprises resident in the Federal Capital Territory. Others include all other taxes and levies the FCT-IRS is empowered to collect by law.

The statement said these taxes shall be collected through approved Collecting Banks and other electronic payment platforms and channels and paid into the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The statement however noted that all PAYE deductions of the Armed Forces, Police Personnel and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall continue to be collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service and subsequently remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government.

It added also that Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) for taxes hitherto paid to FIRS, shall henceforth be issued by FCT-IRS subject to confirmation of payment and enjoined all taxpayers to comply with these changes with immediate effect.

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (middle) cutting the tape to commission the recently rehabilitated and upgraded 160m3 Kwali Water-works. With him are the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Sir Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa (3rd left); the Etsu Kwali, Shaaban Nizazo III (3rd right); the Managing Director, CGC Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Tony Ye Shuijin (2nd left) and others in Abuja…recently.

FCT minister orders release of N2.8bn Educational counterpart funds ÏÏÏThe

FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, has authorised the release of the sum of N2, 829,104,289.77 as counterpart funds in order to access the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds.

This was made known by the Secretary, Education Secretariat in the FCT, Senator Isa Maina, during the 2017 end of the year press briefing.

According to him, the payment includes the unpaid arrears of 2014, which indicates that the FCT is up to date in its financial obligations to UBEC having paid till 2016.

Senator Maina said that with this, the FCT-UBEB was able to assess 100 percent of the pending 2014 Teachers Professional Development (TPD) fund amongst others.

Among other areas on the review process in the education sector, he said, include an upward review of

school feeding funding, which has been approved by the Minister from N200 to N300 per student per a day, a gesture which has improved the quality and quantity of food of students in the boarding school.

At other areas, grading of schools and progression of principals to grade level 17, according to the secretary, is targeted at boosting the moral and encouraging teachers.

Senator Maina noted that Education administration is one of the most dynamic and demanding jobs within the civil service. He said this is especially so at the school level where principals and other staff work round the clock especially in the boarding schools.

“For many years, the Education Secretariat had proposed that for effective management of some of its biggest schools, the school heads should have the opportunity of ris-

ing to the position of grade level 17 as is done in the Federal Ministry of Education and some states across the country,” he said.

The FCT minister, the Education secretary added, graciously acceded to these proposals and 20 schools have been designated as Grade A schools and their principals can rise to the position of grade level 17 officers.

Engaging in teachers training, remains a necessity over the year, he stated, adding that the administration announced using the assessed UBE Teacher Professional Development Training (TPDT) funds, and a total of 2,981 teachers, supervisors, Quality Assurance Officers were trained.

He said that there has been a gradual but steady rise in the cumulative performance of students in Mathematics, especially both in WAEC and NECO Exams from 2015 till date.

“This year’s performance in Mathematics is far more impressive than the previous years.

The Abuja Times 3 Bwari residents differ on cause of Christmas fire

ÏÏÏJust as the Minister of The Fed-

eral Capital Territory, Malam Mohammad Bello, has declared 6am-6m curfew at Bwari following group rivalry that allegedly left three person dead while the major market in the town was razed down, residents have differed on the official stands of the general public on the possible cause of the fire.

The inferno, which happened on the Christmas day, according to some residents, was a bye product of bottled anger over the struggle for the Bwari traditional stool between the Fulanis and the indigenous Bwari Chief, contrary to the official pronouncement from the FCT administration, which had it that the market was raised down due to cult rivalry.

According to Mr. Michael yokowhyi an indigene of Bwari area council the issue in Bwari area council, is as at the moment, is what the FCT Administration, has failed to address before now. He stated that there has been some level of animosity among the people since a Fulani man was made first class chief ahead of that of the Bwari indigene.

Mr. Michael said: “This is what plays out when the government is insensitive to certain things. And if nothing is quickly done, more trouble is likely to emerge. As you all know, the youths of Bwari before now, has protested the appointment of two paramount chiefs to Bwari area council.

And from what happened here, a little augment arose between the Fulanis and the Gbagiyis by which one of the Gbagiyi man died.

Another eye witness account, has it that the sleepy town of Bwari in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory was thrown into mourning, following a deadly clash between suspected rivalry cult groups, leaving three person dead while the major market in the town was burnt down.

The account also said that trouble started when some youths who were thought to be gathering for the Christmas fiesta, clashed at an area close to the markets.

This eye witness account was however, debunked by a resident of the town, a man who pleaded anonymity, he said the clash was as a result of the ongoing chieftaincy dispute that has engulfed the town since 5 months ago after Minister appointed a first class chief for the area.

Since the appointment of the Hausa/ Fulani Chief, the Gbagiyi youths who claimed the New Chief was a settler in the place has been at dagger drawn position with the government.

The Gbagiyi youths have also been alleged to have vowed that there will not be peace in the area until the New Chief is removed and an indigenous chief installed for them.

Meanwhile, the Minister of FCT, Mallam Mohammed Bello, has declared 6-6 curfew at the area to ensure adequate security and safeguard to lives. The minister who was at the scene of event, to see things for himself, condemned the activities of whose so ever was involved in igniting the fire that razed down a whole market, making the people losing millions of naira.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Bello committed to area council dev’t, says Bappah

Stories by Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Secretary to the Area Coun-

cil Service Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Bappah, has said that the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, is bent on shifting developmental programmes towards developing the area councils and satellite towns in the six area councils of the capital city.

This, he said, arose to ensure that infrastructure are made available at various residential points to curb huge migration to the urban centers of the FCT. Bappah let this out during his media brief to mark the year 2017 and secretariat scorecard. He said that the minister’s contribution towards the development of Area Councils cannot be over-emphasised, “He has worked round the clock to save FCT residents from flood disaster. The Minister has created avenue for people to know the danger of flood through vigorous Community sensitisation on flood disasters and Management strategies in all the six Area Councils in FCT,” Bappah said.

Alhaji Bappah stated that in the Minister’s quest, he ensured lasting peace and tranquility within FCT and environs and has gainfully engaged in settling Communal clashes between FCT famers and Fulani

herdsmen and also Chieftaincy tussles in some quarters.

“In furtherance to his efforts to peace project, the Minister has weigh-in to resolved dispute between the Nigerian Airforce Housing and Construction Co. Ltd and indigenes of Bwari Area Council. He also dialogued with Abuja Municipal Area Council and A-F shop owners Association Apo district.

“The newly Appointed Mandate Secretary of Area Councils Services Secretariat in an effort to establishing developmental initiative (ACSS) has embarked has embarked on familiarisation tour to Area Councils and traditional institution in FCT from October 26 to date”.

As Part of the developmental efforts, Bappah stated that the Area Council Services Secretariat is an active service delivery agent of the Area councils and communities in the FCT. “The Area council facilitates developmental efforts at the Area Councils level to conform to FCT standards of qualitative infrastructural development as well as empowering rural Communities towards eradicating poverty at the grassroots.

“The Area Council institutes and strengthens a robust and sustainable supervisory framework to effectively coordinate and reposition the Area Councils programmes and activities for effective service delivery while building partnership that will syn-

chronize FCTA developmental efforts with development at the grassroots level.

“The Secretariat is composed of the Secretary’s office and five main departments, each departments has defined mandates/functions that proceed from the overall mandate of the secretariat. The Secretariat was established mainly to play the role of oversight functions on the six area councils that make up the FCT. The Area Council Services Secretariat is equivalent to the ministry of local government and Chieftaincy matters at the state level,” he stated.

The secretariat, according to him, consists of four main departments including the department for inspectorate, planning and monitoring(IPM) which is one of the five departments that make up the Area Councils Services Secretariat (ACSS) charged with numerous responsibilities most especially the Monitoring and inspection of Area Councils Project, Programmes and activities.

This therefore places the department strategically in the realisation of the mandate vision and mission of the ACSS which keys into that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in general.

The Department is part of the ongoing Monitoring aimed at determining the status of PHCs in the Area Councils.

FCT Health secretariat decries lack of enabling laws to fight quackery ÏÏÏThe Secretary FCT Health and

Human Services Secretariat, Barrister Amanda Pam, has said that despite the degree of professionalism exhibited by the management and staff of the secretariat that certain enabling laws are required for the secretariat to operate in a full capacity.

Barrister Pam revealed this while briefing the media to mark the end of 2017 Fiscal year.According to Pam, the FCT has no enabling law as at the moment to help fight certain illegalities because of the delay of its passages at the National Assembly.

She said however that there are laws establishing the FCT, which the secretariat makes use of at the moment to guide its operation.

The Secretary stressed that the laws has become necessary, owing to the great importance to enshrining standards in health facilities establishment in the FCT, to curb sub standards and quackery Further commenting, she observed that the committee for the establishment of private hospitals registration and monitoring, headed by Dr. Ibrahim Tata in the year under review sealed about 70 illegally operated hospitals in the FCT, while over N60,644,250, has been injected into the coffers of the FCT thereby contributing to the IGR of the FCT. She said that the Health and Human Services Secretariat during the physical year expended the sum of N2, 595, 646.00 for HIV prevalent programmes for the residents of the FCT.

Also on the fight against TB, she disclosed that N15,350,842.80 was expended, adding that over N20,787,436,.80 was expended for family planning programmes while expenditure for Vaccine programmes (polio, missiles programmes stands at 3,793,645,800.00 respectively.

Enlisting few among the challenges of the secretariat, Pam said that overdependence on donor agencies in fighting the war on certain diseases such as HIV/AIDS response has become clog in the wheel of progress.

She decried the non-legislation of all facilities including FCT Primary Healthcare Board Establishment bill, the FCT School of Nursing and Midwifery ACT 2011.

Part of the challenges of the secretariat, she further stated, also include absence of the FCT Hospital Management Board Establishment bill as well as inadequate manpower due to lack of staff attrition. On the way forward in readiness for next year, she said that the secretariat will be carrying out possible rehabilitation and expansion work of Kuje District Hospital to a standard of secondary health care facility, just as general staff employment will be visited in line with the budgetary provision of 2017.

She added that the secretariat would source for equipment for the hospitals to replace the old and substandard ones as well as the rehabilitation and equipping of FCT secondary health facilities and inject additional funding to FACA.

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (right) in a handshake with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai, when the later paid him a courtesy call in his office in Abuja... recently.

Youth empowerment: FCTA to embark on agricultural programme ÏÏÏThe

Federal Capital Territory Administration says it is ready to battle youth unemployment through agricultural value chain.

This was disclosed by the Secretary, Agric Secretariat, Mr. Stanly Ifeanyichukwu Nzekwe, on the occasion of end of the year scorecard of the secretariat recently.

The programme initiative, according to the Secretary, was planned to ensure that a certain percentage of the youth unemployment is concurred.

According to him, the adminis-

tration, earlier in the effort to curbing youth unemployment, went into partnership with Leventis Foundation which has been at the centre of agriculture training, to ensure that youths from the FCT are engaged meaningfully.

His words: Our partnership with the leventis foundation at the centre for agricultural training, Yaba lagos established to build the capacities of youth in agriculture, the relationship has continued to grow from strength to strength. Just on December 16, a total of100 trainees graduated from the

centre. And we have on good record that some of the past trainees have set up their farms and have become employers of labour”.

Further speaking, Nzekwe said that within the period under review, that the Agric and rural development secretariat had tried to reposition the agriculture project ADP to enable it provide credible extension delivery to all the agricultural value chains in the FCT, the programme, he said, is in the effort to ensure agricultural development project and field extension programme.

The Abuja Times 4

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

FCTA partners NDLEA, Security agencies on war against drug abuse ÏÏÏThe

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has lamented the growing incidence of drug abuse in the territory.

To stem the upsurge, the minister has moved to rally FCT security agencies to combat the scourge.

The FCT Minister gave this indication during a meeting with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd), when the latter paid him a working visit recently.

Malam Bello expressed alarm at the dimension to which the menace of drug has grown especially among women, while aligning himself with the declaration of the drug law enforcement boss who had associated the problems of insurgency, robbery, kidnapping and other crimes to drug abuse.

He said: “We really intend to make Abuja drug free. That will take tremendous amount of hard work and tremendous amount of commitment and resources. But we have no option but to do it.”

The Minister acknowledged that it was bad enough that Nigeria used be known only as a transit point and expressed dismay it was becoming a consuming nation.

He charged the FCT Police, Department of State Security, Social Development Secretariat, and NDLEA,

who were present at the occasion, to come together to chart a new plan of action towards fighting the scourge in FCT. The Minister assured the agencies that FCT was going to support measures designed to recover affected neighbourhoods and persons from drugs. In addition, he announced measures to fast-track the allocation of land for the construction of a rehabilitation centre for drug victims in the FCT. He canvassed for the naming and shaming of traffickers and perpetrators, as one of the strategies for discouraging the resort to drugs, suggesting, “All arrested persons need to be publicised along with their pictures and businesses. If they are found to be part of the negative value chain of the drug thing, they have to be exposed very widely. It is absolutely important. This is something relevant agencies will work together at in order to recover this vulnerable segment of our population from this menace.”

Earlier in his briefing to the FCT minister, the NDLEA boss expressed concern that between 100 and 120 million of our population is composed of the youths.

His words: “They are the main ones that indulge in this consumption and any nation whose future is sentenced to the use of drugs by its young ones, that nation is trouble.”

Anxiety in FCTA as Mandate secretaries hold fruitless meeting, abandon offices Stories by Idu Jude, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe long awaited payment of

overheads and take-off grants of the appointed mandate secretaries of the Federal Capital Territory has taken a new twist as the meeting conveyed by the mandate secretaries yielded no result to ameliorate their suffering.

The mandate secretaries, in pursuant of their monthly overheads, conveyed an urgent meeting which was targeted at making the administration see reasons for the payment to enable them carry out oversight functions.

The meeting, according to our source, revealed that the embattled mandate secretaries were met with bleak yuletide with no money to run the office which they were appointed and inaugurated into, which had made the Secretaries desert office even when the Christmas holidays was over.

“The situation has become so critical that some the Senior Di-

rectors and the appointed mandate secretaries has deserted their offices. Take a look at the whole environment, Dec 31 was the last working day of 2017 and the budget has not been into implementation. Also, the last workers overhead was paid since last May, six months before now,” the source said. Our source disclosed that the zeal with which the secretaries began the job has been reduced as the meeting conveyed met stumbling block over the non-implementation of 2017 budget which their appointment and budgetary allocation is tied to.

“I think that what is going on is good for them. You see, sometimes they the politicians think civil servants enjoy but they have come to see what we see here.

They should as well be patient with government or they should be able to source for funds and wait for government release at the appropriate time,” he said.

Also commenting on the situation, Mike Oguru, a staff of the FCDA, said that the amorphous situation has increased perplex-

ity among the workers as well as the new appointees.

He said it would have been better the appointment was not made in the first place since there has been no money to run the secretariats.

He said: “Most of the secretaries have achieved significantly good oversight functions including the annual media briefing to mark the end of the year and in readiness for 2018, which we believe was financed by the secretaries themselves”.

Oguru, looking at other side of the coin, said that the whole thing boils down to the political motives by which the secretaries were appointed in readiness for 2019 generation.

“They were appointed for this purpose and for the sake of building a strong political structure for the ruling party. This, the appointees, should put at the back of their minds. They should get down to work and stop complaining; they can also resign if they can but not to hold secret meeting,” he added.

Fire incidents: FCTA promises to modernise rural markets ÏÏÏ

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and various disaster management agencies are looking for a lasting solution to curb yearly fire disaster that claim lives and material resources across the local markets of the six area councils of the FCT. The administration said that its leadership will muster resources to ensure that standard infrastructure are put on ground to bring a lasting solutions to the menace.

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammud Bello, made the suggestion as a solution to the yearly occurrence in Karimo a suburb of Abuja recently, where early morning fire destroyed goods and property worth millions of Naira.

The Minister said that part of the reasons for harmatan fire is the structural built of the market which does not have standard fire proof around it. He stated that both the FCT and other relevant emergency management agencies will collaborate to finding a lasting solution to the seemingly tradition in the FCT. “We have to sit down with the shop owners and agree on total structural building of the market and I also think that rural markets across the six area councils of the FCT will wear the same fire proof structures as a set standard,” he said.

It was gathered that the fire which broke at a about 1am razed down a whole section of the informal market, wrecking shops and variety of goods stored therein.

Eyewitness accounts have it that it took the timely intervention of emergency response team from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Fire Service Commission, and other security agencies to stop the inferno from spreading to houses in the area.

On a visit to the scene, victims were seen discussing in clusters, as they lost everything to the fire.

Also, security and rescue officials cordoned the area, to enable them clear the place of any mortal danger.

According to the Director General of FCT Emergency Management Department, Idriss Abbass, after receiving a distress call around 1 am, informing him of the fire outbreak in the market, fire service operatives were alerted and immediately mobilised to quench the raging inferno.

Abbass added that the department called out law enforcement agencies to the scene to avoid looting at the scene.

He, however, failed to disclose the cause of the fire, saying the priority was to contain the fire from spreading further into other areas.

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello (2nd right); Acting Director Engineering Services, FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi (left); the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Umar Jibril (right) and others, during inspection of ongoing work at the Idu Industrial Estate, Abuja…recently.

FCT master plan for review in 2018, says Jibril

ÏÏÏ Review of the Abuja Master

Plan will commence this year, the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Umar Gambo Jibril disclosed recently.

Speaking on the progress of implementation of the Master Plan at an event organised by FCT Archives and History Bureau to commemorate the movement of FCT from Lagos to Abuja, 26 years ago, Engr. Jibril cited various reasons for the planned review.

He said: “Considering the explosion in population vis-à-vis the timeline of Abuja’s development, implementation of the Abuja Master Plan is on course, to a large extent, except a few challenges. Though there has been mismatch in the phased develop-

ment, we have done well.” The Executive Secretary explained that FCT Administration (FCTA) had cause ‘’to move away from certain aesthetics in the development of Abuja, in the spirit of Change Begins With Me, particularly by using concrete, instead of metal materials” in the design for some infrastructure.

Speaking on resettlement and compensation policy of the Administration, the FCDA boss revealed that government was considering integration of the original inhabitants, also known as urban renewal. The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, who was represented by FCT Permanent Secretary, Sir Christian Ohaa, said the Administration was poised to ensure feasible movement across the city,

improve its economic vibrancy and boost effective service delivery to FCT residents and visitors.

Malam Bello, who praised organisers of the event, noted that “it rekindles our memory on major developmental strides and key players in our nation-building”, urging all Nigerians “to support efforts of the present Administration to consolidate the Change Agenda which has brought corruption to an all-time low and is diversifying our economy and building local capacity.”

Bello added that the achievements of the Administration had seen Nigeria exit from recession just as the country has improved tremendously on the World Bank’s ranking on ease of doing business.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

Investors to pay for e-dividend registration as free deadline elapses Page B4

Nigerian workers are resilient, but face hardships - Wabba Page B6

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

FG moves to install infrastructure to reduce flight disruptions - NAMA boss Page B7

Niger moves to empower women, youths

Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode(R);Hon Segun Olulade(L);Honorable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Jide Idris(2nd L) ,Category Manager ,Skin Care Unilever Nigeria PLC, Adetoun Adegbite(3rd R); Assistant Category Manager, Skin Care;Enema George(3rdL) and Brand Specialist Skin Care, Feranmi Muraina; Consultant, Export Solution Unilever Nigeria PLC, Aderemi Adebanwo during the presentation of gifts to the first babies (twins) of the year, born 12:23am & 12:24am, 1st weighing 2.9kg & 3.25kg respectively, at the Ikorodu General Hospital in Lagos...on Monday. Photo: WALE AKINOLA

Oil records strongest year opening since 2014 amid Iran’s unrest Ganiyu Obaaro, with Agency report

Oil prices notched their strongest start to a calendar year since 2014 on Tuesday, amid antigovernment protests in Iran and ongoing OPEC-led production cuts.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures traded at $60.45 a barrel, up 0.05 per cent, at around 9.40 a.m.

London time. The benchmark peaked at $60.74 a bar-

BUSINESS TIMES Business Editor Ganiyu Obaaro Asst. Business Editor Simon Ugwu Capital Market Editor Bonny Amadi Money Market Correspondent Motolani Oseni

rel earlier in the trading day, recording its highest level since June 2015.

Brent crude futures traded at $66.81 a barrel on Tuesday morning, down 0.1 per cent, after hitting a May 2015 high of $67.29 a barrel earlier in the session.

It was the first time since January 2014 that both crude oil benchmarks had opened the year above $60 a barrel.

Iranian protesters attacked police stations late into the night Monday, news agency and social media reports reported, as security forces struggled to contain the boldest challenge to the clerical leadership since unrest in 2009. However, even without the ongoing unrest in Iran - which is a major oil exporter -market sentiment was already relatively upbeat.

William Dinning, head of investment strategy at Waverton Investment Management, told CNBC on Tuesday that the energy markets’ outlook was “broadly very supportive.”“There doesn’t seem to be any great political risk premium in the oil price at the moment and again we think that might be supportive,” he added.

Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley both raised their respective oil price forecasts in the latter months of 2017, citing a strongerthan-anticipated Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC)-led commitment to extend production cuts. The cuts, which started in January 2017, are poised to continue through all of 2018 as the allied oil producers seek to clear a global supply overhang.

Meanwhile, U.S. commercial crude inventories have slipped nearly 20 percent

from the highs recorded in March last year.

“Shale is not going to be such a bottomless production pit this year,” Giles Keating, managing director at the Werthstein Institute, told CNBC on Tuesday.

Keating said that if forecasters predicting further interest rate rises were found to be correct over the next 12 months then this would “really matter” for U.S. shale supply.

The price of oil collapsed from almost $120 a barrel in June 2014 due to weak demand, a strong dollar and booming U.S. shale production. OPEC’s reluctance to cut output was also seen as a key reason behind the fall. But, the oil cartel soon moved to curb production - along with other oil producing nations -in late 2016. – Bloomberg.

The Niger State Government has taken measures to make residents self sufficient and job creators by distributing empowerment items to women and youths in Tafa Local Government Area of the state.

The distributed items included sewing machines, grinding machines, deep freezers, motor cycles, film editing equipment as well cash assistance to disabled persons.

At the event, Gov. Sani Bello pointed out that the APC government would continue with its cardinal principle of youth empowerment.

He said his the party’s principle to mentor and develop the talents of the youths because of their vintage position in Nation building.

“The youths must feel the change, which the All Progressive Congress came with. The time for using the youths as thugs is over.

Bello, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, commended the Chairman of the council, Malam Ado Abubakar, for the laudable empowerment programmes in the council.

He also called on other council chairmen to emulate Abubakar’s transparency in financial issues, which gave rise to laudable people- oriented programmes.

Earlier, Abubakar said that his administration spent N1.36 billion in its various activities since inception two years ago.

He said the fund was used for salaries, maintenance of security, purchase of patrol vehicles and motorcycles for security personnel, training and retraining of staff as well as students scholarship.

“As part of our humanitarian services, the council provided medical assistance of N5.06 million to 177 individuals with special and complex medical cases.

“The sum of N8.43m was also released to 342 students as educational assistance to our teeming youths that are undergoing courses in various institutions of higher learning.

“The sum of N312.67m was spent on capital projects in the areas of education, health, roads, water supply, rural electrifications and office infrastructure,” he said.

Business News B2 Petrol Presidency summons queues stakeholders over fuel scarcity fading in Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Umuahia

Long petrol queues, which lingered for three weeks have started thinning out in Umuahia, capital of Abia state, bringing respite to residents. Reports also indicated similar experiences across the remaining 35 states and Abuja, Federal Capital, as in most filling stations, motorists now drive in and get attended to within minutes, unlike the past three weeks of ‘hell,’ which Nigerians went through in their desperate bids to buy fuel.

The queues started disappearing in the New Year, following the availability of petrol in filling stations.

A NAN correspondent, who monitored the situation on Tuesday, reports that a litre of fuel is now sold for between N160 and N180 as against the previous N230 and N250 in outlets belonging to independent marketers.

At the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mega Station situated at Nkwoegwu on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway as well as its affiliate stations and major marketers’ outlets, petrol is, however, sold for between N143 and N145 per litre respectively.

It was also observed that the pressure and vehicular congestion witnessed at the filling stations last week had eased substantially.

A senior manager at the mega station, who identified himself simply as Sam, said that that supply of the commodity had improved tremendously, resulting in the noticeable respite.

Although he declined comments on the daily quantity supplied to the station, he, however, said that the outlet has enough supply of the commodity.

“We have enough product and we start selling before 8 a.m. until we attend to the last person on the queue, sometimes beyond 6 p.m.,” Sam said.

Some motorists, who spoke on the development, expressed delight at the availability of the product and thanked the Federal Government for its intervention.

ÏE ƅ ƈƊƓƑè ƏƑè # ƑƏ ƈ ƐƐƆ Ɨ ƅƆ

Ganiyu Obaaro, with Agency reports

Presidency on Tuesday, in Abuja, summoned critical stakeholders in the nation’s oil sector and the leadership of security agencies in the country to end the scarcity of petrol in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, presided by the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari, is being held behind closed doors.

had on Jan. 1, during a nationwide broadcast, expressed sadness over the unnecessary hardships inflicted on Nigerians during the Christmas and New Year celebrations following acute petrol scarcity across the country.

He attributed the hardships to the activities of a few but heartless individuals working within the nation’s oil and gas sector.

Buhari, however, reiterated the determination of his administration to get to the root of the persistent petrol

Queues in a petrol station in Zamfara

Vitafoam Nigeria: Late filing of financial statements for FY announced Vitafoam Nigeria Plc has announced late filing of audited financial statements for financial year( FY) ended September 30, 2017.

The company, in a statement, said the delay was necessitated by the need to conclude resolution of audit-related issues It, however said that it expects issues to be fully resolved and accounts submitted on or before January 30, 2018.

Daily Times gathered that Vitafoam Nigeria Plc is Nigeria’s leading manufacturer of flexible, reconstituted and rigid foam products. It has the largest foam manufacturing and distribution network which facilitates just-intime delivery of its products throughout Nigeria.

The meeting is also being attended by the Minister of Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, Director-General of the Directorate of State Service (DSS), Lawal Daura, and the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Maikanti Baru.

Others attending the meeting are the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Alhaji Muhammed Babandede, some presidential aides and other stakeholders in the oil industry.

President Muhammadu Buhari

scarcity, and ensure that whichever groups were behind this manipulated blackmail would be prevented from doing so again. The scarcity is said to be caused by greedy marketers who tried to take undue advantage of the high inter-state movements during the season.

NAN, however, observed that the long queues in filling stations in Abuja and Lagos have disappeared in the last two days as promised by the GMD of NNPC, Maikanti Baru.

Baru also on Friday vowed that Nigerians would not go into 2018 with the scarcity of petroleum products. (NAN)

Incorporated on 4th August, 1962 and listed on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1978. Vitafoam’s successful brands remain household names in the country.

Also, the firm was the first foam manufacturing company in Nigeria to subject its quality system to the Quality Management System championed by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

The NIS 1SO 9002 Certificate was obtained in 2001 and upgraded to NIS ISO 9001:2000 in 2004.

Meanwhile, AXA Mansard Insurance Plc has announced the appointment of NgoziOla- Israel, as its Chief Financial Officer.

The company also elevated Rashidat Adebisi, erstwhile Chief Finance Officer to the position of Divisional Head, Retail Business

Tony Elumelu Foundation seeks application for $100m Entrepreneurship Development Programme The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has disclosed that it is now accepting applications for business ideas that can transform Africa through its entrepreneurship programme.

The foundation has therefore urge interested applicants to complete an online application, which has a deadline of March 1, 2018.

According to a statement, the programme provides critical tools for business success, which includes 12 weeks of intensive online training which guides creating and managing a business; a world-class mentor to guide during the early transformation stages of the business; $5,000 in seed capital to prove the concept, plus access to further funding; as well as access to the largest network of African start-ups and TEF’s own global contacts

The programme, in its fourth cycle, is TEF’s 10-year, $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor and fund 10,000 African entrepreneurs by 2024.

Commenting on the commencement of application for the 2018 session, TEF’s founder and philanthropist, Mr. Tony Elumelu said: “When we launched the TEF Programme and committed $100 million to empowering Africa’s entrepreneurs, I knew we would create impact, but I never imagined it would be impact of this magnitude.

“We have unleashed a movement of African entrepreneurs — a force so strong, so inspiring, that I am confident they will collectively transform Africa. We need Africa’s best and brightest entrepreneurs to come learn, grow their businesses and build

our continent.” 1,000 entrepreneurs would be selected based on the viability of their idea, including: market opportunity; financial understanding; scalability; and leadership and entrepreneurial skills demonstrated in the application.

For someone to be eligible, the business must be based in Africa, it must be for profit and must be zero to three years old, as well as applicants must be at least 18 and a legal resident or citizen of an African country The CEO of the Foundation, Parminder Vir said: “We encourage women, French and Portuguese speakers to apply.

Our 3,000 alumni are already growing their businesses and improving lives. If you have a transformational business or an idea, we have an opportunity for you.”

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

B3 Business News

NGO distributes relief items to 2,000 IDPs in Borno An NGO, Smile Mission Health Care (SMHC), on Tuesday, said it distributed blankets and other relief items to 2,000 persons displaced by Boko Haram insurgency in Borno.

The Coordinator of the NGO, Dr Abba Saleh, made the disclosure while distributing the items at the Madinatu Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri.

Saleh listed items distributed to include 350 blankets, 2,000 sets of dresses, antiseptic and soaps, as well as shoes, worth millions of naira.

He said the intervention was to protect the displaced persons against harmattan, cold and malaria, as well as promote hygiene and sanitation in the camp.

He added that the gesture was in collaboration with other organisations such as the Great Borno Renaissance Initiative (GBRI) and Gongoni Nigeria Limited.

He explained that the organisation targeted displaced persons who did not benefit from previous intervention programmes in host communities.

The coordinator called for expansion of Federal Government’s intervention programme to include displaced persons in host communities.

He added that “the humanitarian situation in the northeast is critical, comprehensive and inclusive measures are necessary to address the crisis.

“Thousands of displaced persons from Jere are taking refuge in host communities for over two years without food, education and health interventions.”

Saleh also urged wealthy individuals, corporate bodies and organisations to assist the displaced persons to assuage their sufferings.

Ms Halima Jiddah, one of the beneficiaries, commended the organisation for the gesture, saying, it would go a long way to alleviate their sufferings.

L-R: Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Lagos State Chapter, Olusegun McMedal; Chairman/Lead Strategist, TPT International Limited, Adetokunbo Modupe; President/Chairman of Council, NIPR, Rotimi Oladele; and Chief Operating Officer, TPT International, Muyiwa Akintunde, during the presentation of the 2017 Presidential Award in Corporate Practitioner of Excellence to TPT International at the 2017 Dinner &Awards held... in Lagos.

TPT International wins double honours Gsniyu Obaaro

TPT International Limited, one of Nigeria’s foremost PR consultancies, closed 2017 on a glorious note with two awards within a week by the governing bodies of the public relations industry in the country.

At the Presidential Dinner Award of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Lagos, TPT International was conferred with the “Corporate Practitioner of Excellence 2017” award. On its heel, NIPR Lagos chapter announced TPT International as the “Best Agency to Work” at a gala night in Lagos.

The result was the outcome of independent surveys conducted for the award organisers.

On the “Corporate Practitioner of Excellence 2017” award, NIPR President, Dr Rotimi Oladele said TPT International beat other competitors to win the highly-coveted honour because of its “innovative, excellent, professional and creative”

approach to campaigns and contribution to the growth of PR practice in the past two decades.

NIPR Lagos chapter Chairman, Mr. Olusegun McMedal, explained that TPT International was selected as the ‘Best Agency to Work’ through a survey of agency employees, which scored the organisation high on a range of parameters such as integrity of senior management team, quality of professional development, creativity, empowerment, risk-taking, staff welfare, mobility, retention and emolument.

Former NIPR President, Mazi Mike Okereke, who presented the ‘Best Place to Work’ award to TPT International, described the agency’s approach as innovative and pace-setting. The foremost PR practitioner said TPT International is renowned as a dream agency for practitioners, which is a proof of its leadership position.

Lead Strategist of TPT International, Adetokunbo Modupe, who dedicated the awards to his team, described the recognitions as a

validation of the company’s focus in managing clients’ perception in line with global standards and result delivery, as well as its determination to emerge as one of the most-sought reputation managing firms in Africa.

“In today’s PR world, story-telling driven by creative and persuasive content generation has become a major driver for perception management, which my team and I have used in firming our belief in innovation and professionalism in our practice.

Our edge in the industry is our creative solution to clients’ briefs,” he said.

Toks, as he is fondly called, said his firm would continue to innovate ideas to make PR practice more relevant to brands and the economy.

This, he said, “is confirmed by our philosophy in challenging the logic and subjecting existing principles and processes to intellectual and rigorous scrutiny with a view to delivering better results.” He added that the company was test-running new mechanisms that would revolutionalise the Nigerian PR practice.

Kogi Gov harps on agric as revenue earner in 2018 Governor of Kogi State Alhaji. Yahaya Bello, on Monday, said the state’s agricultural sector, through its Agricultural Revolution Programme (ARP), would generate about 15 per cent of the state’s internally generated revenue(IGR) in 2018.

Kogi’s three Senatorial Zones- West, East and Central have high agricultural potential including cocoa/ coffee, cassava, yam, palm oil, banana/ plantain, fruits, rice, animal husbandry, among several others.

According to Bello, “Kogi is working hard to upstage its internally generated revenue from its exploits in agriculture to generate at least 15% of its

income from the sector by the close of 2018,” Bello, who disclosed this in s state-wide broadcast to mark the New Year in Okene, said the state had made tremendous progress in agriculture as alternative income generation and employment for the teeming population.

He said the first harvest from the state experimental rice farm at Omi Dam was a huge success, against the backdrop that it was an initial effort.

“The first batch of Confluence Rice hit the market in December, 2017.

“This is a source of income we hope to nurture from domestic sales, and if there is a

surplus, distribution to other parts of the country and even overseas export will be donr,” he said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN),the governor said that the rice renaissance in the state was traceable to the Agricultural Revolution Programme (ARP) launched early in 2017; and on which the government had been working.

Bello said cashew, cassava, sugarcane and sesame seeds were other crops the government was planning big time production.

“We have made advanced progress with possible investors to cultivate these on an industrial scale in 2018.

“By the end of year, we should be able to attribute at least 15 per cent of our income to earnings from the agricultural sector”, he said.

He added that the New Direction Blueprint of the government was programmed to start earning income for the state from direct investments in solid minerals.

“We have not neglected the potentials of this rich source of Internally Generated Revenue.

“Our state-owned solid minerals production company has been undergoing revitalisation to give it a corporate structure which is more responsive to the current realities.”

The governor stated that

Other recipients of NIPR awards included the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr. Tunde Fowler; Director of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission, Tony Ojobo; and Chevron, while Okereke delivered the dinner lecture urging PR professionals to rise up to the challenge of rebranding the country.

TPT International and Modupe are serial award winners. Earlier in the year, Modupe, a former Secretary General of Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), won the Outstanding PR Personality of the Decade at an industry-based recognition event organised by Marketing Edge Awards.

Other awards in the last decade included the Most Friendly PR Agency of the Year, PR Agency of the Year, Outstanding PR Agency of the Decade, Most Outstanding PR Campaign of the Year and PR Company of the Year.

the company should be ready to handle transactions from early this year.

He noted that the government also created a programme for social welfare to touch many citizens at the grassroots level.

“While this may not have reached every person and every household, I am aware that it has reached every ward.

This direct distribution of foodstuff, particularly rice, has put food on tables which would have otherwise been empty, especially during festive seasons,” he said.

The stressed that efforts would be intensified to grow the Food Direct Programme in 2018 and expand the scope to include other essential commodities, like medicines.

Bello noted that the govern-

Bello

ment owed the citizens and residents a sacred duty to provide them good governance.

He said, “It is therefore our unfailing duty in 2018 to do so by keeping pace with your yearnings and aspirations for Kogi state.”

Capital Market B4 NSE opens 2018 with 0.06% gain as 27 gainers emerge Adesola Afolabi Equities trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange closed Tuesday, the first trading day in the year 2018 on a positive note, as NSEASI appreciated by 0.06 per cent to close at 38,264.79 basis points.

This was in comparison with a 0.66% appreciation recorded in the previous session when ASI closed at 38243.19 basis points. The Year-toDate (YTD) returns thus stands at 0.06 per cent.

The market capitalization similarly gained 1.10 per cent or N7.7 billion to close at N13.617 trillion, Investor sentiment closed positive as market breadth closed with 27 gainers and 13 losers.

FCMB led the gainers chart with an increase of 6.76 per cent to close at N1.58 per share. CAP followed with a growth of 5 per cent to closed at N35.70; and Africa Prudential Registrars gained 4.98 per cent to close atN4.43 On the other hand, the day’s top three losers were NEM, ETI and Omomorbank. They shed 4.82, 4.29 and 4 per cent to close at N1.58, N16.27 and 72 kobo, respectively.

Activity chart showed, 248.6 million units of shares were sold at a value of N1.784bn in 3,035 deals.

Top five stocks traded for the day were Transcorp, Zenith Bank, Skye Bank, FCMB and Access.

Transcorp sold 102.8 million shares for N150.7m, Zenith Bank exchanged 24.8 million shares for N643m, Skye Bank sold 15.6 million shares for N7.8m, FCMB traded 13.6 million units at N21.1m and Access

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Investors to pay for e-dividend registration as free deadline elapses Adesola Afolabi

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced that the e-dividend registration exercise would continue seamlessly in spite of the expiration of the December 31st 2017 Free Registration deadline.

It would be recalled that the e-dividend Free Registration expired on December 31, 2017.

Acting Director General of SEC, Dr. Abdul Zubair, who made the announcement at a press briefing Tuesday, said that all investors that are yet

to enroll, are enjoined to continue with the registration exercise, at a marginal cost of N150 (one hundred and fifty Naira) only.

He said, “Such investors should continue to approach their banks or Registrars, as usual, to seamlessly mandate their bank accounts for the collection of their Dividends electronically, including unclaimed dividends, not exceeding 12 years of issue; as the N150 would not be demanded from them at the point of registration.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the N150 fee would not be de-

manded from the investors at the point of registration and/or submission of completed e-Dividend Mandate Forms.

Zubair also announced an extension of the Forbearance window for Multiple Accounts Consolidation to March 31, 2018.

According to him, “With a view to encouraging many more investors to consolidate their multiple subscriptions into one account, the SEC wishes to announce an extension of the forbearance for Multiple Accounts till 31st March, 2018.

L-R : Acting Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission Dr. Abdul Zubair , Coordinating Director Corporate Services SEC Mr. Isiaku Tilde and Coordinating Director Legal and Enforcement SEC Reginald Karawusa during a Press Briefing on the ongoing Capital Market initiatives in Abuja...on Tuesday

“Accordingly, investors that bought shares of the same company during public offers, using different names, are allowed till 31st March, 2018 to continue to approach their Stockbrokers or Registrars, to regularize their shareholdings, in line with SEC Rules on customer identification.

Thereafter, all shares NOT regularized shall be transferred, on trust, to the Capital Market Development Fund”.

The Acting DG disclosed further that in line with approved rules of the commission; all Registrars have been directed to stop the issuance of dividend paper warrants with effect from January 1, 2018.

He noted that for the avoidance of doubt, all paper dividend warrants issued up till December 31, 2017 are valid and should be honoured. banks and Registrars are accordingly implored to please note and adhere.

In his comments, Director , External Relations of the SEC, Mr. Henry Rowlands disclosed that the SEC has consulted with other stakeholders to ensure that the process is seamless; adding that investors should entertain no fear of being charged until their registration is approved.

He however explained that, “Where the investor’s account is not funded, the parties have agreed that such an enrollment request will be disapproved because the account is not funded and the investor will be alerted accordingly.”

LSE: IPO market Financial stocks contribute 68% to NSE’s soars in 2017 turnover Ganiyu Obaaro, with Agency reports

The nation’s financial sector dominated transactions in volume terms at the end of last week’s trading on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) with 886.327 million shares valued at N4.829 billion, traded in 4,998 deals, thus contributing 67.68 per cent to the total equity turnover volume.

Following the financial sector was the conglomerates industry with 307.946 million shares worth N466.045m in 471 deals.

The consumer goods industry ranked third with a turnover of 61.258 million shares worth N1.507 bn in 2,001 deals.

Trading in the top

three equities- Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, AIICO Insurance Plc and Fidelity Bank Insurance Plc (measured by volume)accounted for 736.889 million shares worth N998.336m in 899 deals, contributing 56.27 per cent to total equity turnover volume.

Zubair

106 companies have floated on London Stock Exchange markets in 2017 - raising 15 billion GBP, up 63 per cent by number of IPOs and up 164 per cent by value of IPOs compared to 2016 London Stock Exchange (LSE) said it has surpassed all European exchanges this year by number of IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) and money raised, ranking second globally by money raised. London’s IPOs have become more international in 2017, with nine of the top ten IPOs by size coming came from outside of the UK. 20 North American companies chose London for their listing with the UK markets remaining attractive to US fund managers.

London has had a strong year for investment vehicle IPOs, with

35 IPOs on London Stock Exchange and 677 per cent more money raised compared to 2016.49 new companies floated on international growth market AIM and raised 2.1 billion GBP, a 97 per cent increase by money raised compared to 2016. In total, 7.3 billion GBP was raised on AIM in initial and follow-on fundraising this year, an increase of 45 per cent compared to 2016.

London Stock Exchange has also received confirmation from the Financial Conduct Authority of its intention to register AIM as an SME Growth Market, once the status becomes applicable on 3 January, 2018. This follows AIM and AIM Italia providing 69 per cent of all finance to growth companies across EU growth markets in 2017. This sup-

ports the Capital Markets Union project in its ambition to unlock EU growth and jobs.

CEO of London Stock Exchange, Nikhil Rathi, said: “Despite the debates about Brexit, London’s highly global, deep and liquid capital markets continue to be the ideal partner for funding the world’s growth.

It is particularly significant that the number of international listings in London is up; with North American listings up nearly seven-fold on last year.”

Oscars

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Stories by Motolani Oseni No fewer than six commercial banks operating in the country have recorded total sum of N992.4 billion in their Operating Expenses (Opex) in nine months of 2017, represented an increase of N143.5bn or 17per cent from N848.9bn reported in the corresponding period in 2016.

The Daily Times checks, however, showed that this was due to significant increase in cost of goods and services in the year under review, even though the nation’s recorded constant slow in it annual inflation rate.

According to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) inflation rate in September 2017 was at 15.98 per cent from 18.72 per cent in January vis-à-vis 17.9 per cent reported in September 2016.

For instance, Ecobank Transnational In-

B5 Money Market

How 6 commercial banks record N992.4bn operating expenses in 2017 corporated (Ecobank) reported the highest value of Opex, with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) reporting the lowest value of Opex in the period under review.

Mostly contributing to banks Opex are depreciation & amortisation expenses, staff salary and Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) expenses, among others.

Analysts have said increased Opex of recent is draining shareholders investment, stressing that few banks operating in the country are adopting cost effective management in reducing cost.

However, in foreign exchange (Dollar), Ecobank’s Opex dropped by 11 per cent while the Naira conversion, it gained 13.3 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y).

The lender’s Opex rose by 13.3 per cent to N255 billion ($833million) in nine months of 2017 from N225bn ($934.6m) in prior nine months of 2016.

Although, the PanAfrican bank explained that: “Expenses of $834million, down 11 per cent YoY, or three per cent, in constant currency, despite oneoff restructuring cost of $9.3million in Central, Eastern & Southern Africa (CESA).

“Expense improvements benefited from, ongoing group-wide cost reduction initiatives; right-sizing CESA to improve profitability – reducing headcount, closing branches, and other expense reduction exercises.”

Ecobank further said it expected annual savings of $17m from ongoing group-wide cost reduction initiatives.

GTBank’s reported N90.36 billion Opex in nine months, an increase of 9.2 per cent from N82.8 billion in nine months of 2016 while Zenith Bank’s Opex added 17.3 per cent to N171bn from N146.05bn in nine months of 2016.

GTBank in a presentation to investors & analysts explained “that Occupancy Cost and Repairs & Maintenance is the expense line that warehouses costs incurred on Fuel, Diesel, Electricity, Repairs and Maintenance.

“The reasons for the increase are: Fuel price hike from N86.5/l to N145/l, hike in diesel price from N120/l to N185/l, 45 per cent increase in electricity tariff. The impact of the increase was felt for only 2months in H1 2016 as opposed to 6monthsinH12017.

This expense line was also negatively impacted by aggressive drive for revenue by State and Local Governments on water rates, tenement rates, land use charge among others. Repairs and maintenance cost increase was a direct consequence of inflation.

“Depreciation expense increased as a result of impact of the exchange rate difference on depreciation and amortization expense at Subsidiary level and also additions to property and equipment and purchased software during the period in order to sustain and enhance the current level of productivity in2017 and beyond,” GTBank explained.

FBN Holdings stated that its Opex increased by 8.4 per cent y-o-y to N175.3bn as against N161.8bn reported in

nine months of 2016, but remain below the headline inflation rate of 15.9 per cent.

The Holding financial institution attributed to growth in Opex to general inflationary environment and impact of currency devaluation.

FBN Holdings in a statement said, “the increase is as a result of the general inflationary environment and the impact of currency devaluation which were partly offset by a decline in personnel expenses, as we continue our efforts to improve productivity, optimise cost and increase operational efficiency.”

The other two banks, Access Bank and UBA reported an increase of 31 per cent and 26.4 per cent in Opex to N154.5 billion and N145bn in nine months of 2017, respectively.

Naira strengthens at official forex market, flat at parallel segment

Following the appreciable closing rate of Naira at 306 per dollar on the last trading day in 2017, the Nigeria’s currency on Tuesday, first official foreign exchange trading activities in 2018, extended gaining streak to close at 305.50 per dollar, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data has revealed.As at close of yesterday trading activities, the Naira at the parallel market, remained flat over the dollar at N363 against the Dollar.

The 305.50 closing rate of the local currency to a dollar at the official forex market on Tuesday, represents the fourth consecutive gaining day, after appreciated to 306.10 last Wednesday December 27, 2017, which was stronger than N306.15 traded earlier.

The Naira, continued to appreciate over the dollar as it closed last Thursday in 2017 at a better rate of 306.05 before closing the year at 306 to the Greenberg.

The local currency has being on steady gain against the US dollar and with yesterday closing rate, there are indications that the Nigeria’s currency may continued in its gaining streak in 2018 agianst the US Dollar and the two other major foreign currencies.

The Naira at parallel market against Pound Sterling appreciated while against the Euro, it remained flat.

On the sell side, naira against the Pound Sterling closed at N482 on Tuesday from N484 traded on Friday, but closed trading to N426, the

same rate it closed last year.

The Investors and Exporters (I&E) foreign exchange window opened at N360.05, traded high at N362.00 and eventually closed at N361.00.

According to FMDQ OTC, a total turnover of $200.36million was transacted through the I&E foreign exchange window on Tuesday.

At the Investors and exporters (I&E) FX window, the Naira started trading low at 360.08 against N360.05, per Dollar on Thursday and N359.85 that stood on Wednesday, but closed at a better rate of 360.33 on Friday compared to 360.60 exchanged a day earlier and 360.70 recorded on Wednesday. The Investors FX window, however, recorded total transacted turnover of $200.36 million on the last trading day of 2017.

Foreign exchange traders, however, believed that the Nigeria’s local currency will be stable in the first trading week of 2018, in anticipation that the apex would continued support the Naira through its regular interventions of injection of dollars into the market. However, analysts at Investment one said, “Going into the New Year, we expect improving oil production and the on-going rebalancing of the global oil market to be supportive of CBN’s foreign exchange intervention sales and the Naira.”

Meanwhile, the Nation’s foreign exchange buffer added $12.9bn or nearly 50 per cent in 2017, amid weekly in-

Emefiele

tervention by the apex bank.

The foreign reserves monitored by CBN opened 2017 at $25.84 billion and grew to $38.73 billion as at December 28, 2017. The foreign exchange had reached its bottom at about $23.6bn in October 2016 from as high as $40bn in January 2014. In September 2008, Nigeria’s foreign exchange Reserves hit $62bn, with federal government spending $12bn to settle external debts.

The CBN governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele in November said, “It is my belief that if we remain resolute with our efforts, policies and actions we can attain an foreign exchange reserve position of about $40bn by end 2018.”

Emefiele in December disclosed that the nation’s foreign reserves had risen to $38.2bn, the highest in 39 months.

Finance analysts said Ni-

Kemi Adeosun

geria’s foreign reserve ought to have crossed the $40bn mark in 2017; but impinged by CBN’s creation of special windows to tackle instability in the foreign exchange market.

They believed that this development is renewing confidence that the 2018 foreign reserves target of the CBN put at $40bn is achievable, as the apex bank steps up its management of foreign exchange earnings.

They expressed that steady increase in the global oil prices, had contributed to the appreciation recorded in the nation’s foreign reserves, as international trade also impacted on the foreign exchange buffer of the apex bank.

In November, 2017, the Federal Government of Nigeria raised total sum of $3bn through Eurobonds, which was oversubscribed by about

$11bn and split across 10-year and 30-year tranches at issuance yield of 6.5 per cent and 7.625 per cent, respectively.

Also, increased inflow from Diaspora remittances has also being said to have contributed immensely to the Africa’s largest economy foreign reserves.

The breakdown of the latest figure showed that the reserves in just one month gained total sum of $3.8bn, between November 30, 2017 closing figure of $34.9bn and December 28, 2017 balance figure of $38.7bn.

The CBN latest statistic showed that a week earlier, as of December 22, the Nigeria’s foreign reserves stood at $37.92bn, represented 10.1 per cent from a month earlier.

But stood at $34.53bn as of November 24, up nearly 3 per cent from a month earlier, with a balance of $33.58bn at

the same date in October, represented 40.5 per cent while compared to the balance in the corresponding period in 2016.

Earlier this year, oil prices slumped on concerns that rising crude production from Nigeria, Libya and elsewhere would undermine output cuts led by the OPEC and Russia. But prices have rallied nearly 50 percent since the middle of the year on robust demand and strong compliance with the production limits. Foreign reserves at $33.83bn, it has reached a two-half year high this year amidst foreign exchange intervention put in place to the various exchange markets by the CBN. For the third quarter of 2017, the external reserves gained $7.53 billion or 29.2 per cent from $25.8bn it opened January to $33.33bn, the highest in almost three years. CBN spokesman, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, had noted the increase in foreign reserves can be attributable to peace in the oil-rich Niger-Delta region of the country, which resulted into increased oil output and earnings.

He had said with the sustained interventions, the apex bank has been able to push foreign exchange demand away from the parallel market into the formal regulated market.

In the second quarter, the oil sector grew significantly by 17.04 percentage points from -15.40 per cent recorded in Q1 2017 to 1.64 per cent, reflecting the relative peace in the Niger Delta, increased oil output from the region and increase in oil prices.

Labour B6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Osun to pay workers’ salary by Q2 2018 Osun State Government has agreed to pay the full salary and pensions of workers from second quarter of 2018. The disclosure was made by the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Jacob Adekomi, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, at the weekend, between the labour unions and the state government.

The MoU reached was as a result of the strike action embarked on by workers in Osun state, leading to the approval of payment of full salary for the month of December, 2017 to workers and pensions, all from the last N6.3bn Paris Club refund received by the state government According to Adekomi, payment of full salaries and pension will hopefully commence by the second quarter of 2018.

He noted that modalities for subsequent payment of

salaries and pensions between January 2018 and second quarter of the year would be addressed by the standing committee on apportionment, payment of salaries and critical expenses.

The government, according to Adekomi, has also approved the release of N1bn for bond certificate of public servants who retired on Contributory Pension Scheme.

Also, the government has lifted embargo placed on promotions based on nominal condition, confirmation of appointments, advancement, transfer, inter-cadre conversions and yearly increment.

Speaking on behalf of the government, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola said Aregbesola was unhappy with the payment of modulated salary to the workers, said the governor was very committed to the welfare of the worker

We will promote work ƇƆƐƕ é 01 Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has reiterated the Federal Governments’ stand on work place safety by revealing that plans are ongoing to step up the monitoring and enforcement of standard operating procedures in industries across the nation to promote the safety of workers and enhance decent work.

Ngige gave the indication in Abuja, Transcorp Hilton, during the flag-off of the 2017/2018 Integrated Labour Inspection and Enforcement Services, NILIES. According to him, “The essence of the Integrated Labour Inspection is to ensure that both employers and workers right as enshrined under the fundamental Principle and rights at work both in the International Labour Organization convention and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are protected.

“Through this, optimum productivity will be assured and both the workers and their employers will benefit. Without employers, there will be no

employee; hence the essence of this activity is to strike a balance between the rights of the workers and that of their employers. Where the right of one stops, that is where that of the others begin.”

The minister noted that the flag-off of the 2017/2018 NILIES was a step in the right direction, commending the management of Transcorp Hilton for tapping into the abundant benefits of the Employees Compensation Act under which the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, operates to safeguard workers in their workplaces and compensate injuries sustained in the course of work.

According to him, “the employer can also draw compensation for the times the worker is absent from work as result of disability. It benefits the worker just as it benefits the employer.”

He added that the visit to other factories would continue with the Minister of State, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and Directors leading the team to other parts of the federation.

Labour protest over planned removal of minimum wage from exclusive list

Nigerian workers are resilient, but face hardships - Wabba Stories by Joy Ekeke

President of The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has hailed Nigerian workers and pensioners for their resilience in 2017, pulling through, what he described as challenging year.

Wabba however, tasked the Federal Government to put words to action by addressing the numerous challenges that reared its head in the country in 2017, in other for 2018 to be a better year for Nigerian working people and pensioners.

According to Wabba the previous year saw the working people, pensioners and other Nigerians facing series of daunting socio-economic and security challenges, even though they had hoped that the year would offer succour for the masses.

He said despite the huge revenue that the states have received through the Federal Government intervention funds to clear arrears of unpaid salaries and pensions in many states of the federation, coupled with additional payment of three tranches

of windfall, (Paris Club debt refunds), states like Osun, Benue, Ekiti, Bayelsa and several others entered 2018 with huge arrears spanning up to ten or more months of wages and pensions.

“Despite the huge revenue that the states have received through the Federal Government intervention funds to clear arrears of unpaid salaries and pensions in many states of the federation, coupled with additional payment of three tranches of windfall, (Paris Club debt refunds), states such as Kogi, Osun, Benue, Ekiti, Bayelsa and several others entered 2018 with huge arrears spanning up to 10 or more months of wages and pensions.

“Under these conditions, Nigerian workers, pensioners and their families remained the most despondent group in an economy that even the wellto-do are groaning and struggling to survive. “No wonder, our country is one of the worst, known for having many hungry people in the world according to the World Hunger

Index report 2017.”

Wabba said as the country approaches the 2019 general elections, workers will certainly not forget governors that subjected them to untold hardship by refusing to pay their earned entitlements on the excuse of scarcity of resources while choosing to pay themselves, their political appointees and cronies’ huge packages.

He said, “We note the positive sides of 2017, which include the fact that we statistically moved out of recession in the course of the year; the continuing fight against corruption, improvement in the security situation a some progress in agricultural yields; in addition to efforts to implement the macro-economic recovery measures.”

On the implementation of a new national minimum wage, Wabba said it is the expectation of Nigerian workers that the committee under the chairmanship of Ms Ama Pepple, former Head of Service of the Federation, would expeditiously conclude its as-

Ï 01 ƕ ƾƠơƤ ƋƗ ƌ ƏƆ ƍƏ ƍƆƅƐ Ƈ Ə Ƒ ƆƌƍƋ ƕƆƗ The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has assured Nigerians that 2018 will not be as bleak as 2017 in terms of job losses, adding that the government is doing everything possible to stem job losses, while creating new ones in 2018. Ngige urged Nigerians to ignore the recent report released by the National Bureau of Statistics, which stated that about four million Nigerians lost their jobs in 2017, an information that has

led to wide criticism of the Buhari led APC government that promised to create three million jobs per annum.

In his New Year message, Ngige asked Nigerians not to worry over the recent statistics on job losses released by the National Bureau of Statistics(NBC), as the development is effectively modulated by a similar release by the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), which indicates over a seven million jobs growth in the agricultural sec-

tor during the year.

He said: “I wish to assure Nigerians that 2018 will not be as bleak as 2017 in terms of job losses, as the Federal Government has put enough checks to forestall a repeat of what was encountered in 2017.

“As a matter of fact, the figure released by the NBC must be placed alongside statistics by the Central Bank of Nigeria, which shows that over seven million jobs have been created in the agricultural sector. This is the only way to arrive at a balanced job situation in the country”. He said the FG will work harder in the new Year to create more jobs and sustain the current efforts at protecting the existing ones, saying, “We shall continue to maintain our principled stand against retrenchment and encourage the state governments to do same,” Ngige stated.

Comrade Waba

signment.

He said this is because a new national minimum wage has been due for over a year now. “It is also our expectation that upon completion of negotiations, the National Assembly will give the executive bill that will emerge, an accelerated passage for the new national minimum wage to become a reality before the end of the 3rd quarter of 2018,” he said.

On the fuel scarcity challenge, the NLC president said Nigeria is the only major producer of crude oil in the world, but still depends on importation of refined products from abroad. He said as long as this remains the case, Nigerians would continue to be subjected to this intermittent scarcity of fuel.

According to him, the Congress had explicitly stated this fact in their 188-page “Report of the NLC Committee on Deregulation,” submitted to the Yar’Adua government in 2010; and which they gave to top officials of this administration when they assumed office in 2015.

Əƈ M ƈ Ɔ

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018 Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Air Peace has revealed plans to expand strategically in Africa, as well as Europe and the Far East; and is deepening air connectivity on many routes in the North of Nigeria. The airline plans to expand to domestic routes like Kano and Yola; and assured that it would soon announce a new date for the launch of the three suspended Freetown, Banjul and Dakar in the West Coast.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema made this known at the airline’s end-of-year management session held in Lagos to review the airline’s

B7 Aviation

Air Peace unfolds plans for 2018 ÏdƆƐ Ɛ ƗƆƆƍƆ ƅ ƆƅƐƈƒƈƐƕ Ə ƑƐƆ

flight operations in 2017 where he added that the airline will soon start operations to Dubai, Guangzhou, London, Houston, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

Onyema, who commented on the carrier’s operations in 2017 insisted that the airline deserved commendations for rescuing the Nigerian aviation industry and giving air travellers’ hope in the period under review.

He said he was quite satisfied that Air Peace was able

to expand its fleet to 24 aircraft despite the economic downturn the country and the aviation sector experienced in 2017.

He attributed the airline’s success in the three years of its existence to the unflinching support of the flying public and the quality leadership of its management team.

The Air Peace boss said the airline would remain grateful to its customers for their patronage over the years, urging

the flying public to continue to trust the carrier’s services.

Air Peace, he assured, would continue to strive to sustain its uncompromising approach to safety, prioritization of the comfort of its customers and job creation.

The airline, Onyema however said, still had a lot of grounds to cover in its vision to transform air travel experience in Nigeria, the West Coast of Africa and the Dubai, Guangzhou-China, London,

Houston, Mumbai and Johannesburg routes.

He charged the carrier’s management to brace up for the challenge of implementing the airline’s plan to deepen air connectivity on many routes in the North of Nigeria, including Kano and Yola, and other domestic routes.

He regretted that industrial unrest by Air Traffic Control in Senegal compelled Air Peace to suspend the launch of its Freetown, Banjul and Dakar routes planned for December 15, 2017.

Onyema, however, assured

that the carrier would soon announce a new date for the launch of the three suspended West Coast routes.

He said the airline, which commenced flight operations to Accra-Ghana on February 16, 2017, was determined to expand to about nine destinations on the West Coast of Africa.

The airline, he added, was awaiting the delivery of the two Boeing 777 it recently acquired to start its flight operations to Dubai, Guangzhou, London, Houston, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

FG moves to install infrastructure to reduce flight disruptions- NAMA boss

The era of flight disruptions occasioned

by Harmattan or inclement weather could be a thing of the past as the Federal Government has concluded plans to install multi-million dollar Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) in at Lagos and Kano airports.

The tools are Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) and VHF omnidirectional range (VOR). The DME is a navigation beacon, usually coupled to enable aircraft to measure their position relative to that beacon. Aircraft send out signal which is sent back after a fixed delay by the DME. The Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Capt.

Fola Akinkuotu said that the agency recognises that apart from the adverse weather associated with this time of the year, there is also a huge demand for air traffic services and has taken steps to strengthen its technical and operational capacity.

Although, Akinkuotu was silent on the cost of the instrument, aggregating the numbers from several quarters, getting a Category II/III system up and running these days would cost at least $3 million per runway, plus at least $10, 000 or so per year just to keep it certified.

Earlier this year, the Federal Government, through NAMA, made order and contracts for 11 airfields ILS. He admitted that visibility at many of the aerodromes are bad, but assured that with operable ILS to go to the aerodromes, “Come December this year, there should be no

excuse of them not landing in Harmattan.” He disclosed that all the country’s navigational facilities are working at optimal levels, with precision approach landing aids at the five international airports where traffic is high also in top form.

There have been efforts made over the years to install airfield lighting at some airports in the country; but such efforts end woefully, as they were usually followed by scandals of huge sums of money diverted by government officials. Experts said items to be considered include the cost of installing power lines and control cables, where required; the cost of site grading or landfill; the cost of the antenna support (concrete slab versus elevated platform); and the cost of constructing site access roads. They stated that the exact location of the array should be the least costly site consistent with the required level of service.

The NAMA boss explained that there are two basic sets of costs associated with an ILS: installation costs, purchase of equipment, site surveying and preparation and upkeep costs.

He equally disclosed that air traffic controllers and other critical staff have been deployed to busy airports to ensure that there is no fatigue arising from pressure of work.

The NAMA boss also noted that airspace managers in all Nigerian airports have consequently been directed to embark on measures to strengthen air traffic management and surveillance systems in their respective domains to ensure maximum operational safety during the yuletide.

L-R: Mrs. Mary Silas, Representatives of MD NPA, Engr. Salisu Daura, Director of Engineering Services; Sadiku Rafindadi, Director, Commercial and Business Development at the launch of FAAN Servicom Charter in Lagos recently

Nigeria may record low traffic-Report There are indications that the country may record lower passenger traffic in 2017 compared to 2016.

This is reflected in a report presented by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) that a total of 9.2 million passengers passed through Nigerian airports in 140,552 aircraft movements between Jan. and Sept. 2017.

In 2015, a total of 15,232, 597milion passengers travelled through Nigeria’s airports in 2016. Although, last quarter statistics is not yet out, but there are indications that it may not match up to 15.2 million recorded last year.

A statistics obtained from FAAN in Abuja, revealed that 6.38 million domestic and 2.8 international passengers passed through the airports during the period.

The data also showed that 110,220 domestic and 30,332 international flights were operated across the nation’s 22 airports during the period under review.

It further revealed that 4.6

million passengers arrived in the country in 70,680 flights, while 4.5 million passengers departed in 69,872 flights.

The total cargo movement during the period according to FAAN stood at 128.37 million tons per kilogram.

The statistics indicated that 86.11 million tons per kilogram arrived in the country through the airports, while 42.26 million tons departed

Engr Saleh Dunoma, MD FAAN

during the period.

A look at the four major airports in the country shows that Murtala Muhammed Airports (Domestic and International Wing) recorded the highest passengers and aircraft movement during the period.

The data indicated that Lagos airport recorded 4.5 million passengers, with 2.4 million passengers on domestic routes and 2.03 million on the international routes.

The Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja recorded 2.4 million passengers even though the airport was shot for six weeks in March and April.

The airport also recorded 1.9 million passengers on domestic routes, while the international routes recorded 485,481 passengers during the nine months period.

FAAN also disclosed that Port Harcourt International Airport recorded 684,859 passengers comprising 622,780 domestic passengers and 62,079 international passengers.

Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, according to the report, recorded 312,792 passengers during the period under review comprising 167,391 domestic and 145,404 international passengers.

The monthly breakdown of the statistics shows that 987,844 passengers were transported through Nigerian airports in January comprising 494,716 arrivals and 493,128 departures with 16,141 aircraft movements.

It revealed that in February, a total of 843,343 passengers comprising 415,542 arrivals and 427,801 departures in 14,051 aircraft movements were recorded.

The statistics also showed that 738,314 passengers comprising 366,997 arrivals and 371,317 departures in 12,499 aircraft movements were recorded in March.

It further revealed that 974,081 passengers comprising 544,574 arrivals and 429,507 departures in 13,721 aircraft movements were recorded in April.

FeatureB8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Bonny Amadi As at the close of trade on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for the year ended December 31st, 2017, all but one performing indices of the exchange closed positive year to date (ytd), pointing to expectations of 2018 year.

Greater challenges however confront retail investors most of which hinge on long- term investment nature of indigenous investors who rarely take profit on price growth, yet the revival of the primary end of the market becomes their concern for 2018.

The concern of a cross- section of retail investors who spoke to Daily Times on the need to revive the primary end of the market could be hinged on the poor performance of the NSE ASeM market segment which prides itself as the only sector that recorded negative returns for the year ended 3 December , 2017.

The NSE ASeM index closed year at -8.60 per cent returns on investment, the only segment that closed negative, indicating that the market low hanging fruits, MSMEs and emerging companies may have been abandoned for the bigger kill in the fixed income space.

However, the growth posted by the NSE in 2017 showed that NSE’s ASI, which reflects the market strength or weakness for the year gained 42.30 per cent ytd. The NSE’s banking index gave the highest returns in the year with 73.32 per cent ytd, followed

by NSE Pension index with 70.33 per cent, while NSE premium index gained 51.23 per cent ytd.

The main board returned 42.36 per cent, NSE 30 Index 46.14 per cent, NSE Insurance Index 10.36 per cent, NSE Oil/Gas Index 5.76 per cent, NSE Consumer Goods Index 36.97 per cent, NSE Lotus II 2 recorded 39.03 per cent ytd, while NSE Industrial Goods Index rewarded investors with 23.84 per cent ytd.

The strength of the Nigerian market in positive returns on investment in 2017 was re-echoed recently by the CNN when it reported that Nigerian market emerged as one of the exchanges with the highest returns on investment. Although it also noted that the equities pricing ranked among the lowest in the world.

The report pointed that probability are that the country’s stocks would continue the growth trajectory as the stocks are rated as one of the world’s cheapest.

The report noted that the NSE’s ASI suffered mightily in 2015 and 2016 occasioned by low oil prices, militant attacks, currency troubles, elections and Ebola hit investor sentiment.

CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Oscar Onyema reiterated the commitment of the market to ensure transparency and ethical practices and sustain the tempo in returns on investments when he assured that Exchange would continue to enhance its investor education policies to further empower investors on their rights and how to invest wisely.

Speaking at the 2017 NSE Essay competition wards recently in Lagos, Onyema stressed that investor education remains the major driver of market growth and wealth creation for existing and new investors in the market.

Shehu Mikhail, Constance shareholders of Nigeria told Daily Times in an interview that revival of the primary market is largely hinged on government approach to policies that would restore investors’ According to him, retail investors’ confidence can only be restored if there are better policies by the government which will not be able to create a loophole for companies to constantly defraud investors Some companies he said had in the past defrauded shareholders by approaching a market with a phony business that likely to erode the money an interested investor could have, “more importantly our regulators need to initiate an approach to give confidence in IPO market.”

However, investment expert, Matthew Ogagavworia, told Daily Times Nigeria that growth in the primary segment of the market would be powered by growth in the economy and strengthened by fiscal policy.

According to him, “the operating environment continues to be affected by the oil price shock, slow Gross Domestic Product(GDP) growth, continuing pressure on the naira, scarcity of hard currency in the FX interbank market and policy uncertainty.

“It is a wrong signal for the Nigerian economy. It will hurt foreign direct investment and also foreign portfolio investments”.

He said that when investor are wary that the economy cannot support new businesses as credit worthi-

Onyema

Zubair

Why 2018 holds great expectations for investors ness of some of the otherwise big banks, investments will be constrained, new jobs will also slow down, incomes may also suffer and hence a slowdown in economic recovery with a delayed recovery cycles.

Meanwhile, as the Nigerian capital and money markets enter another phase in 2018, key issues are expected to shape economy via the market fronts.

While politics, crude oil price, volatility in Nigeria Delta, attacks by terrorist Boko Haram , Fulani Herdsmen attack and build up to 2019 presidential elections are key developments that would have developmental or destructive impacts on the market and the company at large, global issues would to a large extent impact the country.

On some of the new measures expected to lift investor confidence, he said that advocated easy and seamless processing of investment documents including the e-dividend, Direct Cash Settlement (DCS) among others, He also called for regular reviews of investment laws and compliance level as well as ensuring that stockbroking firm maintains separate account from client account to avid sweeping of sales proceed when they settle from stockbroker account. He further called for stricter enforcement and more regulatory inspection of stockbroking firms.

Findings shows that while Forex availability and pricing would impact market, exchange rate regime, Federal Government bonds and monetary policy rates expected to ease this year , according to SBM report, will enhance availability of funds, increase productivity, earnings by firms and economy.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oscar Onyema has scheduled to address the capital market community on January 15th 2018, it is expected that he would dwell more on the high rate of return on investment year to date recorded by the NSE in 2017, but more would be expected from him by the investing public.

Onyema and the out gone council president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Aigboje AigImoukhuede assured Nigerians, aT the last NSE AGM, that demutualization process has attained 80 per cent completion, and that the remaining 20 per cent would be actualized by in the outgone year.

The NSE CEO would have the opportunity to explain the delay in the process and possibly give a

fresh expected time for completion of the demutualization, otherwise, key stakeholders would assume that the process may not be actualized soon.

Unethical practice is also expected to be one of the major that may make or mar the Nigerian market in 2018, hence the NSE CEO would be expected to give insight into the reported cases of market infraction by key players and the level of prosecution.

Lowering the per value pricing of equities, which is being touted to be high at 50 kobo has further beEn challenged by recent ranking of the Nigerian stocks as one of the cheapest in the world, while the economic activity and increased level of production reflects positively on the value of the Naira, further reducing removing seal on 50 kobo per value price of equities, would further water down the value of the nation’s market.

IPO market revival has remained a challenge to both the NSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a focused way of reviving the primary market for companies to be able to raise funds from the market would be expected from the NSE CEO. Would the NSE in 2018 do the talk of introducing derivatives to the Nigerian market? This however depends on the availability infrastructures to drive derivatives introduction, if the infrastructures are not yet in place, it is expected that Onyema will once again make the promise to introduce derivatives to the Nigerian market. Conditions to support delisting may occur this year and understanding this, the NSE CEO would assuage that the market is not positioned to support lagers not committed to complying with post listing rules as they would be shown the way out of the market.

Local investors’ confidence has remained the scourge of the Nigerian market and would be one of the major driving forces to engender sustainable market growth this year. The NSE and the SEC therefore need to, in addition to the –e-dividend registration, Direct Cash Settlement (DCS) and other market measure, reveal a novel measure that would attract more indigenous investors to the Nigerian market.

In deed, Nigerians and the world look up to the NSE CEO, as he addresses the lingering issues in the already publicized world review of 2017 market operations and preview of 2018 scheduled for 15th January, 2018.

Life&

TIMES Tuesday, January 3, 2018

Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru’s passion for saving sexually-abused children L2

P

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday, January 3, 2018

Global stigmatisation of rape victims, a major challenge –DaSilva-Ibru, Founder WARIF Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru is a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist who tends towards Public Health from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She has been in private practice in Lagos for over 10 years and dedicated a lot of her time working with non-governmental organisations and related agencies focusing on gender-based violence, rape

In the past one year, what will you consider as one of the challenges you faced?

in Lagos communities by offering free medical support and counselling. Since the establishment of Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru has impacted lots of life through her initiatives. Cornered at the one year anniversary of her foundation recently, she spoke with MUTIAT ALLI, on the journey so far, project for 2018 and what WARIF is all about.

Can we have an overview of Women at Risk International Foundation?

The Women at Risk International Foundation,

What would you describe as one of the achievements one year down the line?

Do you want to share with us your lowest moment in the last one year?

What keeps you going?

What then is your projection for 2018?

So how does TWGP come into the picture?

Life&

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, January 3, 2018

L3

Folarin Leonard

Movie Review

Before I Fall (2017): An Adaptation of a novel based on teen life, depression and friendship

Ogbonna Olivia

Music Review

Adekunle Gold (Call on me): Adekunle goes in search of mysterious woman

Living & DĂŠcor L4

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday, January 3, 2018

5 Steps to keep your child in their room

Folarin Leonard

Children are heavenly gifts and the evident result of love. This love should naturally be extended to these children. Children live in their own world and have a completely different perception to life compared to adults. Therefore, it is important to make them feel comfortable in that world that produce outstanding children. Sleep is essential and for children who have less to worry about, their comfort zone should be considered.

Their bed! your approach should be much different from decorating an adult bedroom. For kids, their bedroom is where they play, rest, have personal time and maybe have friends over for games or sleep over, read, listen to music or just day-dream.

So apply these few steps of providing comfort.

Know your child This step is essential in every sense as a parent or guardian. Their hobbies, likes, dislikes even favorite movies should be part of your knowledge.

Talk to your child, Find out what activities and fantasies he or she enjoys, what their favorite that a theme could portray. This will determine their bed and room elements and properties.

Make it Functional You should make the room multi-functional.

Since children use their room for many activities besides sleeping, it should have several different zones, such as a play area, reading area, and entertainment area. Some beds are designed with book shelves and compartments.

Warming Comfort Soft and comfortable fabrics should be used and versatile. Patterns should be repeated in other items in the room, such as in pillows, bed sheet, both task lighting for homework and reading, and important.

Use wallpaper or paint to add color and texture You can apply borders along the top edges of the walls, and clouds or stars on the ceiling. Make sure walls are washable, so if you are using paint, bright colors.

Allow your child to select the design theme be it angels, rainbows, unicorns, baseball, a bedroom for a princess or kings, underwater scenery, outer space, race cars, airplanes, trains, jungle motifs, wizards and dragons, and dinosaurs.

Decorating with your child offers a great opportunity to display your playful side, while doing some memorable family bonding. While doing this and the choosing, make sure you consider the safety of the child as well, usually, it is advised to avoid iron and wood with sharp edges. If you are installing a bunk bed, attach a step to the bunk and discourage jumping.

Furthermore, if you have babies, ensure safety measures are taken every step of the way. Your stairs in the home is expected to be baby-friendly and without sharp edges. A Remember that babies aged eight months and

older like to copy what adults are doing. Your baby mostly wants to play with the items he sees you using.

So paper and scissors, Mp3 players, tablets, phones, cookware, and tools all have enormous appeal.

Also remember their convenience. You may need to urinate directly in the water closet. This will reduce the messiness of the toilet seat. This water closet however, should be locked and kids will need the presence of an adult so as not to fall in with his/her butt.