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Investors boost FX market with $14.4bn in 3 months

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market (Forex) with total liquidity of $14.457billion, even as Nigeria’s external reserves during the same period gained $7.44billion, due to the steady increase in global oil prices and increased activity in the special Continued on page 6

Lagos

ÏÏÏ In the first three months of

2018, the Investors and Exporters (I&E) FX window boosted Nigeria’s Foreign exchange

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

dailytimesnigeria

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018 VOL. 3. NO. 617

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N150

GLOBAL FINANCIAL/COMMODITY MARKETS

CURRENCIES/CBN: CBN: MƢƠǀêǀǀ ^&` #RGG `è Parallel Market: USD MƢÕǀ POUND Mƿƣǀ EURO Mƿƾƿ NSE: d9 Ƣƣè ƿƾǀêơǀ MARKET CAP ơƾêÖƠ 0L#_ RƃM ƾƾêǀƠ R ƾƾêƠƠ COMMODITIES: Wheat nd ƿǀǀêƠƠƃLj Rice nd ơƾêƿƠƃLj Cocoa nd ƾèƠƠƿêƠƠƃ Coffee nd ơƢÖêÕƠƃdƅ ƍ Cotton nd ƣƠêÖǀƃn ƈƐ Sugar nd ơƿêơǀƃRƑ ƅƆ METALS: Gold nd ơƾÕƢêơƠƃRƑ ƅƆ Silver nd ơÕêƾơƃRƑ ƅƆ Copper nd ƾêƤƣƃRƑ ƅƆ ENERGY: Brent nd ǀƾêƾơƃ^ è N/Gas nd ƾêƣƤƃ

PDP presidential ticket widens as Sen Datti tussle with Atiku Tunde Opalana,

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Obasanjo attacks Buhari again, warns Nigerians against voting for him in 2019 7

Soldiers rescue Gombe senator from angry constituents 7

Okupe agrees with Mantu, says elections rigged from 1959 6

Abuja

ÏÏÏ Few months to primaries of political parties to Continued on page 5

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President mourns as Winnie Mandela passes on at 81 5

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

5 News

PDP presidential ticket widens as Sen Datti Ahmed joins race Continued from page 1 pick their standard bearers especially presidential candidates and other juicy posts, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has great task of picking its presidential flag bearer as the ranks of aspirants continue to swell by the day.

The Daily Times recalls that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, declared his intention to contest for the coveted seat

of presidency in 2019.

But the latest entrant into the race is Senator Datti Baba Ahmed, the ProChancellor of the Baze University, Abuja.

Datti Baba-Ahmed was a member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007 and senior PDP member in Kaduna State.

He was however elected as a Senator on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC) in 2011 when he defeated two-time former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Ma-

karfi.

Throwing his hat into the ring, Baba Ahmed’s entrance will definitely widen the race for favourite aspirants including Turaki Adamawa and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwabo, former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido and others.

Until his recent defection to the PDP, Datti was prominent and staunch mobiliser in Kaduna State and he was said to be commanding a sizeable number of follow-

ers.

Datti is also said to be getting set to reap from the fallout in the difficulty likely to be encountered by the PDP in picking between the bigwigs jostling for the prestigious presidential ticket.

He is said to be a technocrat, young and holds two masters degrees. He also established one of the popular private universities, Baze University in Abuja.

Aged 48, Datti is said to believe that the Presidency is a transformative engine to promote good and sup-

Cross section of Indigenes and non-indigenes of Osun Boarding the Free Train Ride provided by the State Government of Osun, back to Lagos State after the Easter celebration at Osogbo Terminus, the state capital ….. on Monday

Buhari mourns as Winnie Mandela passes on at 81 Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the death of South-African anti-apartheid icon, Mrs. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, as a huge loss to Africa.

The South African antiapartheid campaigner and former wife of the late President Nelson Mandela, died on Sunday at the age of 81.

Buhari said that with her death, the continent had lost a courageous woman.

The President stated this in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

He noted that the deceased “was a woman of uncommon determination, steadfastness and perseverance who held aloft the torch of the struggle against institutionalised discrimination even while

her ex-husband, the late Madiba, President Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.”

Buhari, on behalf of the government and people of Nigerians, commiserated with the family of the deceased as well as the government and people of South Africa.

He urged them to be consoled by the knowledge that the late Winnie Mandela’s contributions to ending apartheid will not be forgotten.

According to Buhari, the late Winnie Mandela remained “a pride not only to the African woman but indeed all Africans.”

The President prayed that God Almighty will comfort all those who mourn the departed and grant her soul eternal rest.

Meanwhile, the family said in a statement that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela passed away at the

Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa after a long illness, for which she had been in and out of hospital since the beginning of the year.

“Mrs. Madikizela-Mandela was one of the greatest icons of the struggle against apartheid,” the statement said. “She fought valiantly against the apartheid state and sacrificed her life for the freedom of the country.”

Her death came as a shock. “None of us had predicted this,” a family spokesman said.

Madikizela-Mandela was known as the “Mother of the Nation” because of her struggle against white-minority rule in South Africa.

She was married to Nelson Mandela for 38 years, including the 27 years he was imprisoned on an island near Cape Town.

“She kept the memory of her imprisoned husband

Nelson Mandela alive during his years on Robben Island and helped give the struggle for justice in South Africa one its most recognizable faces,” the statement added.

The couple were divorced in 1996, two years after Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black President. They had two daughters together. Nelson Mandela died in 2013.

A longtime stalwart of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) political party, Madikizela-Mandela was a member of South Africa’s Parliament at the time of her death.

One of the last official visits she received was from the current South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who went with her to Soweto township last month to encourage people to register to vote in next year’s presidential election.

press evil for the economic prosperity, social security, and political stability of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Reno Omokri, former aide of former President Goodluck Jonathan, has released a list of alleged All Progressives Congress (APC) looters he termed the “real looters”.

In a post on his Facebook, Reno Omokri claimed that the list, comprising top shots of the APC is one President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, do not want Nigerians to see.

Omokri, who wrote a book on Jonathan, said: “A few days ago, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, released a socalled ‘looters list’ with six names of alleged looters.

“After he was ridiculed by civil society, the opposition and the international community, Mr. Lai Mohammed hurriedly put out a statement tagging his list a ‘teaser’.

“When that lie refused to fly, Lai Mohammed, released yet another list yesterday, April 1, 2018.

“Coincidentally, April 1 is April Fools day and it was befitting that Lai released his list on that day because only a fool will believe the list he put together.

“His list did not contain even one member of the APC. If the list proves anything, it is that President Buhari, Lai Mohammed and their APC are not fighting corruption. Instead they are fighting opposition.

“I have taken the pains to produce a ‘teaser’ looters’ list of APC members who are collectively alleged to have looted over $2 billion (when you convert the dollar value of what they allegedly looted at the time they allegedly looted it).

“I challenge President Buhari and Lai Mohammed to explain why these men did not feature on their list and why they continue to remain in this APC government where they wield immense powers and influence, even over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that is meant to prosecute them.

“I further challenge President Buhari and Lai Mohammed to explain to Nigerians why they failed to reveal to Nigerians that

President Buhari himself is a major beneficiary of the funds that the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, received from the treasury for the security of Nigerians.

“I assure Nigerians that Sambo Dasuki is not in jail for a crime he committed in 2015. He is rather being persecuted for a ‘crime’ he committed in 1985.

“Please find below the teaser list of looters.

“Note that this is just a teaser. Depending on the reaction of the Buhari-led government, more names will be released.

“Rotimi Amaechi: Indicted by the Justice George Omeregi-led Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry of looting N97billion along with co- indictees including a former army general.

“Saminu Turaki: Alleged to have looted N36 billion.

First charged before Justice Sabi’u Yahuza of the Federal High Court in Dutse, Jigawa State. Currently facing trial before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

“Timipre Sylva: A wellknown financier and supporter of the APC administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Alleged to have looted N19.7 billion. Was facing trial before Justice A. Y. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja. However, two days after President Buhari was sworn-in, the new APC government withdrew the charges preferred against Sylva on June 1, 2015 and on October 3, 2015, the EFCC returned to Sylva, 48 houses seized from him during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013 to him.

“Murtala Nyako: Alleged to have looted N29 billion.

Currently facing trial before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja “Senator Danjuma Goje: Alleged to have looted N25 billion. Currently facing trial before the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State.

“Senator Abdullahi Adamu: Alleged to have looted N15 billion with the help of 18 co-accused. Charged on March 3, 2010. The case continues to linger in court.

“Orji Kalu: Alleged to have looted N3.2 billion.

Currently facing trial beContinued on page 7

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Investors boost FX market with $14.4bn in 3 months Continued from page 1 FX window, findings by The Daily Times revealed.

As at close of March trading activities, the I&E window declared transactions turnover of $4.357

billion, which was higher than $3.95 billion recorded in February but lower than $6.1 billion traded in January.

This implies that the I&E forex window had in the first two months in

2018, transacted a whopping $10.1 billion turnover, helping in stabilising the foreign exchange market.

However, at the close of last week trading on Friday, March 30, 2018, the autonomous forex win-

dow declared the highest transactions value during the month, with $1.58 billion, higher than $836.01 million sold in the third week, $1.4 billion recorded the preceding week and $540 million exchanged in

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (middle) and others, during inspection visit of the ongoing Work at the National Housing Programme in Gwagwalada, Abuja

the first week in March.

The Daily Times checks further showed that the first trading day of the just conclude week recorded the lowest figures of $259.27 million, which represented the weakest figure traded during the week but significantly stronger than $98 million exchanged on corresponding day in the previous week.

But the second trading day moved up to $277.01 million and further strengthened to $387.79 million, however, sustained the same traded value following day before closing the week with a depreciated figure $270.04 million.

Further breakdown, however, indicated that the I&E FX window, at the close of the third week in March, stood at $836 million, while the second week during the same month traded transactions’ value at $1.4 billion, which rode on the increased confidence over Nigeria’s resurging external reserves. This

showed that the activity level in I&E Window is an improvement of 162.3 per cent ($876.1 million) from $540 million recorded in the preceding week of the month.

The development has also seen the apex bank reduce its level of weekly interventions in the forex market without causing shortage of supply, as only one auction worth $210 million across all segments was recorded during that week.

Figure obtained showed that I&E FX window between April and December 2017, recorded total turnover of$25.65billion, with September and November declared the highest transactions turnover, while April, the month that the CBN created the special FX window, recorded the lowest turnover figure.

However, data from FMDQ OTC securities Exchange revealed that $0.61 billion or N1865.66 billion total turnover was traded in April and increased by 114 per cent to $1.32 billion or N403.92 billion in May.

Okupe agrees with Mantu, says elections rigged from 1959 Tunde Opalana, Abuja

ÏÏÏ Former

Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, has thrown his weight behind former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, over his confession on rigging of elections, saying that Mantu should be commended for his courage in saying the truth The former presidential aide further stirred the hornet’s nest when he disclosed that rigging of elections actually started from 1959 to 2015, saying that all political parties were involved in elections malpractices.

Okupe stated this through his official facebook handle @ Doyin Okupe, saying that anybody who tries to deny it will be called an enemy of progress in Nigeria.

The Daily Times recalls that Mantu , while playing host during a Channels Television programme last week, confessed how he contributed to rig elections for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But Mantu’s party, the PDP, has disowned him over his confession while the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) has lauded his courage and asked other members of the PDP to confess too.

Okupe , however, insisted that elections have always been rigged from 1959 till date, saying that there was the need for a change in the system.

He said,“Democracy is mocked if people have the right to vote but their votes do not count. it is a societal abomination, a desecration of our core values, and a shameful disgrace on us as a nation.

“True modernity and civilization will elude us if we cannot by adult suffrage elect credible candidates, stop or remove non performing elected officials simply because they already occupy elective posts or belong to an entrenched party”.

Okupe’s statement further reads in part, “It may be difficult for us to make serious progress as a nation. Most of us leaders and followers are Hypocrites,

and dishonest individuals.

Very few think about the interest of the country and we play politics with everything.

“Mantu spoke as a true patriot who desired true and genuine change. The media is suddenly awashed with a cacaphony of misrepresentations and distortions on what he said.

Suddenly the substance of his honest disposition is lost to partisan blame game that has not advanced our course of history in anyway.

“For the avoidance of doubt all elections were rigged in Nigeria from 1959 to date, without ANY exceptions.

“This rigging is all encompassing and involved all political parties from action group, NCNC NPC to NRC, SDP and PDP, AD, ACN, CPC, APC etc.

“If anyone says anything to the contrary such persons are wilfully perjured individuals and the true enemies of progress in Nigeria.

“People like Ibrahim Mantu and late President Yar’Adua who even openly

admitted that the election that brought him to power was faulty, are heroes of this country.

“Parties in Nigeria rig both intra and inter party elections from wards through local governments all the way to National elections from time immemorial.

“For a truth it is only in the South-West and a few other zones that a modicum resemblance to an election actually do take place.

In most other parts of the country, nothing like elections take place or better still the charade of people lining up and casting their votes is just a mere ritual that has nothing to do with the results announced.

“Perhaps the most crooked of all electoral umpires we have had so far is Attahiru Jega who cynically brought in Professors to glorify the electoral Fraud supretendted by him throughout his tenure.

Okupe also alleged that INEC, the Police, DSS and other agencies are involved in election rigging as accomplices, saying that the aforementioned agencies

all drives the rigging process from the ward to national levels.

He further asked that how could anybody claim that only PDP rig elections in Nigeria.

He said, “Are we not witnesses to the undeniable fact that in all state elections, no matter how civilized , innocuous or God fearing the state governors pretend to be, all state elections, irrespective of the political party involved, are won by the ruling party in the state 100%.

“It is in our overall interest that we take what Mantu said seriously and for posterity’s sake, let us sit down and plan how to conduct proper free and fair elections in our country.

“Democracy is mocked

Okupe

if people have the right to vote but their votes do not count. It is a societal abomination, a desecration of our core values, and a shameful disgrace on us as a nation.

True modernity and civilization will elude us if we cannot by adult suffrage elect credible candidates, stop or remove non performing elected officials simply because they already occupy elective posts or belong to an entrenched party.”.

The former presidential aide said the only recourse the citizens have is the power of the ballot and if it is rendered ineffective by gross electoral fraud and widespread malpractices, the development will not augur well for the country.

Daily Times Nigeria jƑƆ Ɨ ƕè ƍƏƈƋ Ƣè ƾƠơƤ

7 News

Obasanjo attacks Buhari again, warns Nigerians against re-electing incompetent govt in 2019, to come. You came in because you know there were challenges and then giving us excuse that you have many challenges, that is why you haven’t achieved results.

“And then you still want to go. The first lesson I learnt in my military training is to never reinforce failure. What we have now is failure.

“Never you reinforce failure. Let failure be fail-

ure. And if you do not see what you should see, you will then be a victim of what you don’t like because it’s only when you see what you should see and you do what you should do that you put away what you do not like.

“You see, I have publicly said and I mean it, that as a party, neither the PDP nor the APC can get us there as they have been. Never mind about reforms and apology

and all that.

According to Obasanjo, it is uncharitable for Buhari and his party to continue complaining about challenges after almost three years in office, saying that the federal government has failed to confront and solve those challenges.

He also tagged the APCled government “a failure” and warned Nigerians not to re-elect a “failed government that always gives one

excuse or another for its failure to meet up with Nigerians’ expectations.”

Obasanjo said it would be “foolhardy for Nigerians to reinforce failure by re-electing ineffective and incompetent government in 2019.”

He also lambasted the PDP, urging Nigerians not to be deceived by their reforms and apology, arguing that neither PDP nor APC could get Nigeria out of the economic mess.

RƄ Ɖ

ÏÏÏ

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari again, saying that it will be “foolhardy for Nigerians to reinforce failure by re-electing ineffective and incompetent government in 2019.”

Obasanjo also warned Nigerians never to be deceived by the reforms being claimed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He further called on President Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to stop giving Nigerians excuses, and get to work to resuscitate the nation’s wobbling economy.

Obasanjo said this on Monday at his Presidential Library, Abeokuta, while playing host to the New Nigeria 2019 Group led by the convener, Chima Anyaso;

in company of Moses Siasia.

As he did in the open letter he wrote to the President Buhari, Obasanjo pointedly accused the APC government of “bringing hardship on Nigerians” and “running ineffective economic policies” which he said had “crippled businesses.”

He said, “The truth is this: When you have an ineffective and incompetent government, we are all victims. And don’t let anybody deceive you. Those of you who are in business, your business could have been better today if we have a competent and effective and performing government.

“As I said, stop giving excuses; we met challenges. If there were no challenges, then we wouldn’t need you

Soldiers rescue Gombe senator from angry constituents ÏÏÏ A detachment of

soldiers on Monday freed Senator Joshua Lidani from angry youth from his constituents who held him hostage.

Lidani, representing Gombe South at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, was held hostage after he visited the headquarters of Balanga local government area of Gombe.

The youth reportedly accused Senator Lidani of abandoning them since he got elected in 2015 and demanded that he account for his stewardship. He was then forced to take refuge at the residence of the royal father of Talasse.

Soldiers were said to have been called to rescue Senator Lidani after the protesters allegedly forced

the police to retreat to a safe distance.

One of the protesters, simply known as John, said the soldiers shot into the air to disperse the protesters.

He said, “Even the soldiers were at first confronted by the protesters when they arrived and sought to free the senator.

“His car is still parked where he left it, and I don’t know how he intends to pick it later, unless if he has given it to the emir.”

Similar incident occurred on Saturday when a member of the House of Representatives, HonGarba Julde (representing Bali/ Gassol federal constituency of Taraba State in the House) was attacked by angry constituents for allegedly abandoning them

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PDP presidential ticket widens as Sen Datti Ahmed joins race

Continued from page 5

fore Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

“Kayode Fayemi: Indicted by the Ekiti Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by former Ekiti State Chief Judge and the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Ademola Ajakaiye, of sundry financial malfeasance totaling over N2 billion.

“Senator Joshua Dariye: Alleged to have looted N1.2 billion. Currently facing trial before Justice Adebukola Banjoko before an FCT High Court.

“Babachir Lawal: former Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Allegedly gave a N200 million

contract to his own company from monies meant to look after Internally Displaced Persons. Has been sacked after protest by the opposition and civil society.

Has still not been charged.

Was allowed to be replaced by his own cousin.

“By the omission of these names, the Buhari-led Federal Government has vindicated Transparency International.

“According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, Nigeria is more corrupt today under Buhari than at any other time since Transparency International started keeping records!

“We have moved 12 places backward from 136

to 148. Yet this administration has the guts to accuse a government under whom Nigeria made her best ever progress on the Corruption Perception Index of corrup-

dƆ # ƐƐƈ ƌƆƗ

tion? We moved from 144 to 136 in 2014 under President Jonathan because that government fought corruption in court and not through the media.”

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 4, 2018

Looters list: Name other suspected looters, Justice Akanbi tells FG 2019: Lamido lacks morality, discipline to contest against Buhari - Badaru ÏÏÏ

Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa state, has said that his predecessor and presidential aspirant under People Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Sule Lamido lacks morality and discipline to contest for the presidential position with President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. Badaru stated this at a grand rally for the distribution of vehicles, empowerment materials and cash to politicians by the senator representing Jigawa central Senator Sabo Nakudu at the Aminu Kano Triangle in Dutse. Governor Badaru declared: “That person was one who left us so much debt so that we would fail in our administration but today, with the support of Allah we were not only able to settle those debts, both honest and false ones but also were able to pay workers benefits that were never paid to them by the former administration.”

He said, “it is that same person that built a mansion worth over a billion Naira after his administration at his country home who is also shamelessly attempting to contest for the presidency of this country.”

He said: “ it is only in Nigeria that a glorified thief would amass so much wealth belonging to the people and turn around to insult them by declaring to want to work for them,” he stated.

The governor who was addressing a mammoth crowd of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters that thronged the arena said the presidency is for ‘decent’ and ‘upright’ people that Nigerians would no longer allow ‘riff-rafs’ to govern them again.

ÏÏÏPioneer

Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practice and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi, has called on Federal Government to, as a matter of priority, release the name of anybody that has looted the government treasury irrespective of party affiliation.

Justice Akanbi said that naming of corrupt Nigerians must cut across all political parties in order to give credibility to President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s efforts in fighting corruption.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Sunday, Justice Akanbi said that the an-

nouncement of those who looted government money should not be limited to members of the opposition party (PDP) alone but should cut across members of ruling party too if the government was sincere about the war against corruption. Justice Akanbi, who said the release of looters of Nigerian funds was long overdue stated that naming of corrupt Nigerians would give people confidence about present administration.

“If there are members of APC or any other political parties, they should mention them so that there will be credibility to what they are doing because fighting corruption should not be one-sided.

Akanbi

“I have always said that why do they have to hide the names of those who have looted the nation’s treasury.

“If you know they have looted nation’s fund, let the public know and then take them to court so that people will feel confident in what you are doing” he added.

L-R: Deputy Inspector General of Police, Operations, Mr. Habila Joshak; Inspector General of Police Idris Ibrahim and Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu during the visit of Inspector General of Police to the INEC Headquarters in Abuja

Allegations of bribery for MLK award to Buhari insulting - Family member

ÏÏÏ

As controversies rage over the award given to President Muhammadu Buhari by individuals claiming to be members of the Martin Luther King family rages, senior research fellow of the MLK centre, Isaac Farris-Newton has described as insulting and embarrassing those reports that the family bribed to the tune of $3million to give out the award.

Describing such reports as fake news, Farris-Newton said no member of the MLK family could be bought over at any rate.

He affirmed that the family gave out the award without any inducement or exchange for anything, maintaining that its endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term remained.

Farris-Newton added that such reports were shameful, slanderous on the Luther King’s family reputation and could taint the bond between Americans and Africa.

“I am here in Nigeria having enjoyed my stay. It’s my first time hopefully not the last, am a member of the MLK family here in Nigeria.

“Anyone who has said that anybody paid us to come here is insulting me and my family. I am a nephew of MLK and anyone else in my family. “it is a fake news, lies, slander is a lie on my good character, anything that I have done here in Nigeria or said about the President is coming from my head devoid of any compensation other inducement or exchange for anything and I stand by it. We don’t deal like that, “The MLK family includes three families. MLK junior who is the second son, my mother and my uncle.

None of us throughout the three branches are buyable, we don’t do things for money, we do things on principle, it is insulting, anyone in Nigeria should be ashamed, it’s embarrassing, it’s a slander on our good name. We are here in Nigeria to establish a new bond between Americans and Africa.

Chieftaincy honours: Obaseki celebrates with Kachikwu family ÏÏÏ Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has congratulated the Kachikwu family over the conferment of Ochiligwe of Onicha-Ugbo and Ezinne Oligbo on Barr.

Mrs. Josephine Ada Kachikwu, describing the honours as well deserved.

Speaking at the conferment ceremony of the chieftaincy titles, in Issele-Uku, Delta State, Obaseki said that Mrs. Ada Kachikwu, who is the stepmother of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, has over the years contributed to her immediate community and exhibited exemplary qualities that marked her out

for the titles.

According to him, “the double titles show that she has a unique personality. This is not forgetting that her husband, late Justice Francis Okafor Kachikwu was a prominent Jurist in the defunct Bendel State and Nigeria, and they both impacted and touched lives.”

Obaseki added that Mrs. Kachikwu provided support to her husband throughout his successful career and even when her husband died, she continued to champion the cause of her community. “This tells of her character and commendable personality. We are

happy to be here to celebrate her,” he said.

Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, eulogised Mrs Kachikwu’s outstanding life of service to humanity, noting that she was a mother to all. “We are happy with her, as her service to her community has earned her double chieftaincy titles by two communities here in Delta State. It is wonderful to have this kind of honour.”

Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu said Barr. Mrs. Ada Kachikwu is a wonderful, committed, dedicated woman, who though married his father at the age

of 18, was adept at managing home chores and many other maternal responsibilities of her step-children.

He said her determination saw her achieve her dreams of being a midwife, lawyer and later a politician, which she used to positively to touch lives.

He said the story of Nigeria will not be properly told until we are united, irrespective of our political affiliation, noting that it was important to tolerate one another as citizens of the country. “The earlier we rise against sentiment and live as one and united people, the better for us,” he added.

Obaseki

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday April 3, 2017

‘We’re all victims of your incompetence’ — Obasanjo blasts Buhari again

Fani-Kayode: Looters list incomplete without names of Buhari, Osinbajo

ÏÏÏFormer minister of Avi-

ation, Femi Fani – Kayode, has said that the list of looters is incomplete without the names of President Muhamadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Following the heated exchange of words between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the federal government released two lists containing the names of alleged looters.

In the second list released on Sunday, Fani-Kayode was alleged to have collected N866 million illegally.

Describing the list as “nonsensical and utterly shameful”, Fani-Kayode said the list cannot be complete without the names of Buhari and Osinbajo.

“The fact of the matter is that no looters list is complete without the names of Muhammadu Buhari, Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Ameachi, Tunde Fashola, Bola Tinubu, Lai Mohammed, Adamu Abdullahi, Dambazau, Kayode Fay-

emi, Babachir Lawal, Maina, Maikanti Baru, Burutai, all APC Governors and other key members of the Buhari administration and the APC,” he said.

“It is common knowledge that the Buhari campaign in 2015 was funded by moneys that can be traced directly to the state governments of Rivers state, Lagos state, Kano state, Ogun state and a number of other key APC states yet not one of those involved or that governed any of those states at the time have been questioned, arrested or prosecuted by the EFCC or the federal government.

“I blame Vice-President Osinbajo who, as a professor of Law and a learned SAN, should know better and who I am reliably informed is the co-ordinator of all these politically-motivated, baseless and malicious corruption cases which are being conducted against opposition members by the EFCC. “He is the one that has been saddled with the shameless responsibility of manipulating

9 News

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Fani Kayode

the prosecutors, emboldening false witnesses, attempting to pressure the judges and attempting to send innocent men and women who are members of the opposition to jail.

“One day, whether he believes it or not, there will be a reckoning for his wickedness just as there will be one for Buhari and his entire government. God will see to that and He will judge and punish them.”

He rejected his inclusion in the controversial list, denying collecting “one kobo” from any government official during the period ex-President Goodluck Jonathan was in power.

“The federal government’s claim that I looted 800,000,000 naira from government coffers is false,” Fani-Kayode

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has fired yet another shot at President Muhammadu Buhari, saying Nigerians are victims of his incompetence.

He also warned people against “reinforcing failure” through re-electing “ineffective and incompetent government”.

The elder statesman accused Buhari of having a “poor understanding” of the dynamics of internal politics.

He spoke on Monday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun state, while hosting the New Nigeria Group.

“The first lesson I learnt in my military training is to never reinforce failure. What we have now is a failure,” he said.

“Never you reinforce failure. Let failure be failure. And if you do not see what you should see, you will then be a victim of what you don’t like because it’s only when you see what you should see and you do what you should do that you put away what you do not like.

“Those of you who are into business know that by now you could have been better if we have an effective government. The truth is this – when you have an ineffective and incompetent government, we are all victims and don’t let anybody deceive you.”

He warned Nigerians not to get carried away by the recent apology tendered by the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as well as the reforms of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He also asked the ruling party to stop giving excuses.

“Stop giving excuses; we met challenges. If there were no challenges, then we wouldn’t need you to come. You came in because you know there were challenges… stop giving us excuse that you have many challenges, that is why you haven’t achieved results,” he said.

“I have publicly said and I mean it, that as a party, neither PDP nor APC can get us there as they have been. Never mind about reforms and apology and all that.

He asked youth in the country to rise up to the challenge of providing the much needed new generation of leadership for the development of Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development.

In January, Obasanjo wrote a stronglyworded letter to Buhari, asking him to forget about the 2019 election.He accused the presi dent of clannishness and shielding the corrupt people around him from prosecution.

Obasanjo warned Buhari against overstretching the tolerance of Nigerians.

The former president was one of the main supporters of Buhari in the buildup to the 2015 election. Back then, he lashed at Goodluck Jonathan who was the incumbent president.

Enugu: Police begin probe on gang rape at Concert ÏÏÏPolice in Enugu have begun

a full-scale investigation into the alleged gang rape of female music fans during the Flavour musical concert organised by the Enugu State Government at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu at the weekend.

A statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amarizu, stated, “the state command of the Nigeria Police Force through its operatives of the Independence layout Division had commenced a fullscale investigation into the alleged conduct of some people ranging from an attempt to gang rape a victim as well as other offences.

Amarizu stated, “one person who is already helping the operatives in their investigations has been nabbed for his alleged role in the attempt to gang rape a victim at Michael Okpara Square axis yesterday during a musical concert by a Nigerian Popular musician”.

L-R: Very Rev Adebola Ojofeitimi, Provost Cathedral Church of Christ Marina, Lagos. Chief Olurotimi Williams, Registrar Of the Diocese of Lagos, His Grace, The Most Rev’d Dr E. “Also nabbed were three others Adebola Ademowo, OON Diocesan Bishop of Lagos and Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Hon. Justice Sybil Nwaka, Archbishop’s Nominee, Barrister Folasin relations to alleged offences of hade Adetiba, Legal Secretary after the 2018 Easter Service at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos. snatching and stealing of handsets during the said event. Those arrested will be made to face the music in line with various provisions and speciMajor General Felix made, raffle and amfications of the law after a full-scale He assured the people The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya BelAgugo who represented munition have been reinvestigation,” he said. in the state that with lo, has warned criminals to relocate from the Reports had it that many youths state or be ready to face the full wrath of the the operation, crime the Chief of Staff com- covered. While the opopenly smoke marijuana (hemp) dur- law. and criminality will be mended the troops in the eration cat race will last state for their achieve- for six weeks the governing the event notwithstanding the brought to zero level.

The governor stated this at Irepeni village ment has been advised presence of a large number of police- along Lokoja-Okene highway when he visitThe Operation Cat ment.

He noted that crimi- not to relent in its efforts men and other security operatives ed the “Operation Cat Race” troops deployed race in the state is aimed who were deployed in the Okpara to the state by the Chief of Army Staff, Genat flushing out criminal nals hideout has been to make the state safe for dismantled, arrest the citizens.

Square. elements in the state. eral Tukur Buratai.

Relocate from Kogi state, Bello warns criminals ÏÏÏ

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2017

Female doctor killed by Lassa fever in Abia ÏÏÏ

L-R: Head of Leaf, British American Tobacco (BAT), West Africa Area, Kayode Oshodi; Area Head, Corporate Affairs, West Africa, BAT, Abimbola Okoya; Chairman, Oyo State Steering Committee on Child Labour, Mr Biodun Ajibade; Director of Operations, BAT, West Africa, Charles Kyalo; and Chairman, Nigeria Independent Tobacco Association (NITA), Mr Rasheed Bakare, during the 2018 BAT Nigeria Farmers’ Awards Ceremony at the BATN factory recreation ground, Ibadan, Oyo State

Group decries activities of ‘godfathers’ in Abia ÏÏÏA

group known as the Concerned Citizens for a Better Abia has blamed the developmental setback in Abia State to alleged activities of ‘godfathers’ in the state.

The National Coordinator of the group, Dave Agwalla, made this known in Enugu on Monday while briefing newsmen at the end of a special prayer session for God’s intervention in the state.

Agwalla said: “We call on our honest, patriotic leaders and the people of Abia to rise and condemn these acts and prevail on the leadership of the state to serve the people instead of godfathers.

“Abia must cease to be haven for godfathers and their cohorts. “We encourage all Abians to be part of the solution by participating actively in the political process.

“We also request all Abians living outside the state to transfer their voter registration to the state within the time allowed to be able to vote for change in the state.

“We are determined to carry our good men and women along this time to achieve the desired and enduring change.

“Abia State must be given the right footing to take off.

Enough of the mess and suffering.’’ Earlier, an elder statesman from the state, Dr James Onyike, in a speech entitled; ‘My Message for a Better Abia’, said that the founding fathers of the state were not happy on the “very slow pace’’ of development in Abia.

Onyike said that all the state’s contemporary especially in the South East were clear ahead of it.

A female resident doctor of the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, the Abia state capital, has been confirmed dead as a result of Lassa fever at Irrua Specialist Hospital, after few days of admission.

Medical Director FMC, Dr. Abali Chuku, who confirmed this, also said that the hospital is collaborating with the centre for Disease Control and Ministry of Health, following the guideline and protocol that includes contact tracing, surveillance and prophylaxis for those she came in contact with while on admission at the hospital. He hinted that efforts are being made to understand how the doctor contacted the disease.

The FMC boss urged members of the public not to panic but to maintain the clean healthy environment.

Mantu is a hero … every election in this country was rigged - Okupe ÏÏÏA former aide to ex-pres-

ident Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has said that all elections in the history of Nigeria have been rigged, with all political parties allegedly involved in the act.

Okupe said this in reaction to the confession of Ibrahim Mantu, a former deputy senate president, that he helped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rig elections in the past.

His confession has sparked controversy. The PDP has since denied the allegation, while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) taunted the opposition party to confess its sins like Mantu.

But Okupe, via his Facebook page, said Mantu “spoke as a true compatriot” and should not be misrepresented.

According to him, Mantu’s open admittance to having

rigged elections, makes him a true hero.

“For the avoidance of doubt, ALL elections are RIGGED in Nigeria from 1959 to date, without ANY exceptions,” Okupe wrote.

“This rigging is all-encompassing and involves all political parties from action group, NCNC, NPC to NRC, SDP, PDP, AD, ACN, CPC AND APC. “If anyone says anything to the contrary, such persons are willfully perjured individuals and the true enemies of progress in Nigeria. Mantu spoke as a true patriot who desires true and genuine change. “Suddenly the substance of his honest disposition is lost to partisan blame game that has not advanced our course of history in any way.

“People like Ibrahim Mantu and late President Yaradua who even openly admitted that the election that brought him to power was faulty, are heroes of this country.”

Okupe asked how anyone could claim that only the PDP rigged elections in Nigeria, when according to him, only ruling parties emerge as winners in gubernatorial election.

He claimed that it is only in the south-west that a “resemblance” to elections are conducted.

He advised that Nigerians, in their interest, should take Mantu’s words seriously and plan on how to conduct free and fair elections.

“How can anybody claim that only PDP rigs elections in Nigeria?” he asked.

“Parties in Nigeria rig both intra and interparty elections from wards through local governments all the way to National elections from time immemorial.

“Are we not witnesses to the undeniable fact that in all state elections, no matter how civilized, innocuous or God-fearing the state governors pretend to be, all state elections, No matter the political party involved, are won by the ruling party in the

Doyin Okupe

state 100%.

“For a truth, it is only in the southwest and a few other zones that a modicum resemblance to an election actually do take place. in most other parts of the country. Nothing like elections take place or better still the charade of people lining up and casting their votes is just a mere ritual that has nothing to do with the results announced “It is in our overall interest that we take what Mantu said seriously and for posterity sake, let us sit down and plan how to conduct proper free and fair elections in our country. Democracy is mocked if people have the right to vote but their votes do not count.”

My name was smuggled into ‘looters’ list, says Godknows Igali ÏÏÏA

former permanent secretary in the ministry of power Godknows Igali, has said that his name was smuggled into the “looters” list recently released by the federal government.

In the 23-man list released

by Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, on Sunday, Igali, was said to have looted over N7 billion.

But the Igali said nothing of such ever happened.

“My attention has been drawn to a publication and electronic broadcasts attrib-

uted to Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, listing persons connected with PDP considered to have ‘looted’ various sums from government treasury, and that such sums have been recovered from them,” he wrote on Facebook.

“On account of my background, I am normally taciturn, but I cannot keep silent against such weighty unfounded allegation. Not surprisingly, my name was smuggled to the list, against a whopping ‘loot’ of N7Billion.

I understand Godknows Igali

was dragged in last minute to create the needed effect. After all, he’s one of Jonathan’s main men.

“For the avoidance of doubt, this is totally false, as no amount whatsoever has been recovered from me or traced to me. Indeed, N7billion recovered from which accounts, which banks and when?

“My life has been an open book of distinguished public service in diplomatic service, scholarship and administration. In all places where I had served, the records are there

for all to see. I continue to stand tall and remain undaunted. I am of modest background and very simple lifestyle. I am extremely contented and awesomely grateful to God.” The former permanent secretary lamented that it was the third time the present government has hit the headlines with such “negative news” about him since 2016.

“Coincidentally, all the three occasions were during festive periods. Most prominent is the tale of 45 SUVs

supposedly found in my compound, which everyone now knows was a fabrication and fake news,” he said.

“It is now common knowledge that the vehicles in question were leftovers from the erstwhile JonathanSambo campaign bought with a bank loan and confiscated from the premises of a known business concern that is not connected whatsoever with me. The loan is now being recovered forcefully and perhaps being termed a ‘loot’.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Politics

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11

Bode George to Tinubu: You are not God to say ‘PDP will never return to Power’

SERAP describes ‘looters list’ as selective, urges Buhari to withdraw it

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A group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has asked the Presidency to withdraw the ‘looters list’ which was released over the weekend Reacting to the released list on Sunday, SERAP, described the list as selective and that it should be immediately withdrawn.

It wants the Presidency to come up with a comprehensive list of looters which should include members of all political parties in Nigeria even those in the ruling party.

This is as the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has said the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is beginning to experience paranoid since the release of looters list by the Federal Government.

The Presidency had on Friday released the list claiming that they were members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but the opposition party had dismissed the selective list, and asked the Presidency to release list of convicted persons and not suspects.

It said some of the names in the list were not its members.

However, SERAP in a statement signed by its Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said the list was political and could diminish President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption.

The statement read: “The Federal Government should immediately withdraw the clumsy, arbitrary and selective looters’ list, released last week.

The list would seem to serve a political objective or carry out political agenda.

“This kind of action can only diminish the government’s ability to fight corruption, allow suspected perpetrators, whether from the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to escape justice, and ultimately, deny victims of corruption justice and effective remedies.

The authorities should

TINUBU

Stories by Patrick Okohue Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George has reacted to a recent comment by the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the PDP will never return to power.

Tinubu, made the statement while speaking at a colloquium to celebrate his 66th birthday in Lagos, a comment that did not go down well with Bode George.

This is coming even as the PDP has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari administration of plotting to intimidate, harass and arrest its members ahead of the 2019 elections, following the release of a list of alleged corrupt former political office holders in the PDP. Speaking to another newspaper, George said; “First of all, let me ask Tinubu, is he, God? Or has he gotten the powers of God that he can see the future? I think that is a rubbish statement to make from a leader.

BODE GEORGE

“If that is what he thinks, I think it is a wishful thinking. He will soon realise that everything that has a beginning has an end, and that is the power of the Almighty, the One who was, who is and will forever be.

“There is no human being that lives perpetually. There are three things in life you don’t control -the day you were born, the tribe in which you were born (whether you are Chinese, African or American) and the day you will exit. That shows you there is a Being and power more than us.

“So, when people get up and make such statements that Tinubu made, that PDP will never come back to power, that is arrogance being exhibited.

Let me advise him that we used to say that PDP will rule this country for 60 years. Then we sat back, put everything on autopilot and went to sleep. Alas, we found ourselves on the deck and that was why in humility, during the last conference held by the party in Abuja, the delivery, the content and performance was the zenith of humility.”

Meanwhile, while reacting to

the list of alleged looters released by the Federal Government over the weekend, PDP in a series of tweets said the APC government was plotting to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

It read: “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to clandestine plots by certain agents of the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to clamp down on key members of the opposition parties ahead of the 2019 general election.

“Part of this heinous plot is also to arrest members of the civil society, opinion leaders, the media and professional groups who refused to buy into the fabrications, lies, deceptions and propaganda of the @APCNigeria and Federal Government. @MBuhari “The first leg of this scheme is to commence a vicio intimidation and harassment of @OfficialPDPNig members, who have refused to succumb to pressure to join the @APCNigeria in their undemocratic quest to create for a one party state in Nigeria.”

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Why Dankwambo wants BBNaija 2018 ended immediately Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has said he wants the ongoing Brother Naija 2018 reality Television show to end immediately.

He said the show was constituting a lot of distraction to the youths.

According to him, the reality show had taken the focus of young Nigerians from important happenings in the polity, and made them complacent in their efforts to rescue the country.

The governor, who expressed his view via his Twitter handle over the weekend, wrote: “I am praying for Big Brother Nigeria to come to

an end so our young people begin to focus on important things like rescuing their country.

“I know some politicians will want Big Brother to be a daily thing all year round so our youths can remain distracted.

“Millions of our youth vote with their money in Big Brother Nigeria then invest so much passion, but show no interest in the electoral process then turn around to complain that the country is not working. Like I always say, I have nothing against the show.

“I just want our youths to show same kind of passion they use for Big Brother to effect the needed

change in our country. I want young people to run for office and also vote competent leaders. #NotTooYoungToRun. “Big Brother Nigeria is not the future. Nigeria needs your help, save her from going down. Don’t give up. Stop saying votes don’t count. They do count. If they don’t count, why do bad politicians buy votes on Election Day? “And even if you must show extreme passion in Big Brother Nigeria, please multi-task and also show same passion in rescuing Nigeria. Please don’t give up. Go and get your #PVC.”

DANKWAMBO

withdraw the looters’ list and come up with a comprehensive list.”

SERAP further claimed that allowing the published looters’ list to stand would signal to Nigerians that the administration of President Buhari was not serious to satisfactorily address the corruption allegations under the former President Goodluck Jonathan and involving those close to this government.

“This politicised list comes at a time when the government is promoting itself as a beacon of transparency and accountability, and a model for other African countries to follow.

“The authorities ought to have resisted the temptation to put out this shambolic list and instead obeyed the spirit and the letter of Justice Shagari;s judgment,” the statement added.

Recall that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had on Friday released a list of some of those who have allegedly looted the nation’s treasury. The names in the list revealed were mostly PDP chieftains who are being tried for corruption and financial crimes.

But, in its reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, alleged that the list is the beginning of clamp down on the opposition.

According to Ologbondiyan, the release of the list is the first leg of “this scheme is to commence vicious intimidation and harassment of the PDP members who have refused to succumb to pressure to join the APC in its undemocratic quest to create room for a one party state in Nigeria.”

Reacting to Ologbondiyan’s comment, APC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, said, “The PDP is getting paranoid. And this is quite understandable.

Behavioural psychologists will tell you that paranoia is a possible symptom of a guilty conscience.”

Politics 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3 , 2018

2019: It’s time my generation leaves stage for younger ones –Babangida Stories by Patrick Okohue

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda has declared that now is the time for the older generation of Nigerian politicians to leave the stage for the younger ones.

Babangida said his generation had overstayed in the corridors of power.

He said this when a new political movement, the New Nigeria, led by its leader, Moses Siloko Siasia visited him at his Hilltop Residence in Minna.

The former military leader said he and other like-minds proposed as far as back as 1989 the possibility of handing over the country’s leadership to younger people.

He added that “some of us assumed leadership at a very young age.”

BABANGIDA

BUHARI

“The older generation must give way for the new ones. We have become analogue but this is a digital age; so the young people

should be supported to use their digital knowledge to move the country forward,” he averred.

The former Head of State

Mantu’s confession, call for electoral offences commission – Adegboruwa, Ogunye Renowned lawyer, EbunOlu Adegboruwa has reacted to a confessional statement by former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu that he rigged elections in the past.

Mantu, had admitted that he helped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rig elections in the past.

Adegboruwa speaking to newsmen over the weekend said Mantu’s confession had justified the need for the establishment of an electoral offences commission.

This is even as the Executive Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, CACOL, Debo Adeniran, has called on Senator Mantu to list his accomplices in helping the PDP rig elections in the past.

According to Adegboruwa, “We have always agitated for an electoral offences commission, which will be different from the regular police, which will have the power to prosecute political thugs, riggers, bribe-givers and bribe-takers, and because most of our leaders are as guilty as Mantu is, that call has not been heeded.

“So, I think that Mantu’s confession is a wake-up call for us to enact that policy of having a separate electoral offences commission.

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MANTU “In respect of Mantu, there is little or nothing we can do, there’s no complainant, we don’t know the election he claimed to have rigged.”

Also speaking, Lagos-based lawyer, Jiti Ogunye said Mantu’s confession might not be useful as it was not particularised, adding that he has, however, set the stage to be questioned by law enforcement agency.

Ogunye said, “His confession is a confession at large, made to the general public; it is not a confession that is tied to a specific allegation. And very instructively, he did not volunteer that statement under caution.

“The confession is not tied to a specific crime that is being investigated by a law enforcement agency, which can result in possible criminal prosecution.

“At best, what he did can set the stage for him to be invited by a serious-minded and proactive law enforcement agency.”

In his reaction Adeniran advised that Mantu should not be allowed to go scot-free, but made to account for his deeds.

Adeniran said “It is like the God of the Nigerian people is actually at work and that means that those who have committed damaging crimes that have kept Nigeria perpetually low are being spiritually induced to start confessing and that is why Mantu and all his accomplices should be rounded up.

“He should name those who participated in the rigging machinery of the PDP when they imposed themselves on Nigerians against what the ballot said.

“This case should not be allowed to lie low; the man should be made to account for his deeds.

“The punishment may be discounted, a kind of amnesty, but he should not be allowed to go scot-free.”

said he was fascinated when the Not Too Young To Rule Bill was presented on the floor of the House of Representatives.

He said he had followed the ensuing debate since then, adding that “some of us believe in that aspiration and would support its realisation.”

We are not part of Grand National Coalition - NLC The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has dissociated itself from the Grand National Coalition in the political cycle.

The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, who report online alleged to be part of those who endorsed Grand National Coalition, said the report was untrue.

“I have found it necessary to issue an immediate and emphatic rebuttal to the story by the Sahara Reporters that I, Ayuba Wabba, mni, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress have endorsed or was part of a meeting that “endorsed the Grand National Coalition (GNC) of the National Intervention Movement.

“The communiqué said to be signed by ‘Mr. Naseer Kura, deputy directorgeneral of the new political movement,’ on which the Sahara Reporters relied, misrepresented the facts,” he said.

He stated further, “I would want to state clearly that neither Ayuba Wabba, nor the Nigeria Labour Congress nor the Labour Party is part of or affiliated to the NIM. “There is a clear procedure for affiliating, endorsing or

consorting with any social or political group outside the Nigeria Labour Congress.

“To the best of my knowledge, the issue of affiliating, endorsing or consorting with NIM was not debated in any of our organ meetings or the Labour Party.”

He, however, noted that this was without prejudice to the right of any individual or individuals in the labour movement to exercise in their favour the right of freedom of association as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The NLC president said, in spite of the respect he might have for the individuals who attended the said meeting, “I wish to state categorically that I have not been attending the meetings of NIM, neither was I at the said meeting from which the communique in question emanated. Thus, clearly, Sahara Reporters and other media houses were misled.”

“Nigerians will be told in no uncertain terms when, I, Ayuba Wabba, or the NLC or the Labour Party join NIM or endorse the Grand National Coalition,” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Page Thirteen

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PHOTO TIMES

Editorial Local manufacture of electric meters

R

ecent opening of a local electric meter manufacturing factory in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State is a welcome development as it marked the era of privately owned local manufacturing of electric meters in Nigeria. When in November 2013 the Federal Government privatised the Power Holding Company (PHCN), the buyers did not envisage problems.

Since then the 11 distribution companies (Discos) have been struggling to meet the metering deadline of five years contained in their Purchasing Agreements (PAs) with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). A modicum of progress was made in the metering of customers. But, the Discos have been citing weak capital as the major reason for their inability to meter all their customers. They blamed illiquidity for their inability to meter the customers and their banks’ failure to provide them credits to purchase meters.

Nigeria is a country with great potential for development. Almost all sectors of the country’s economy need electricity to stimulate development. Unfortunately, no appreciable economic development can be made in an economy with inadequate supply of electric power. Even with the erratic and unstable power supply in the country, electricity supply to homes and industries have over the years been bedevilled by insufficient supply of metering machines. As Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo rightly observed at the inauguration of the metering company, Nigeria’s economic development is hinged on effective power supply. Without doubt, availability of a good electric metering device is part of an effective power supply. Herein lies the importance of the new electric meter manufacturing company.

Since the privatisation of electric distribution companies a few years ago, the elec-

tric distribution companies (Discos) have been complaining of inadequate supply of meters. In the main, the Discos complained about their lack of funds to purchase meters for onward sale to their customers, thus limiting the quantity of orders they could purchase from local suppliers of the product who also had to import them from overseas.

The introduction of prepaid metering system made it easier for the Discos to collect their money upfront from electric power consumers while it has enabled electric power consumers too to pay in advance for whatever quantity of electric power they would want to enjoy.

In many parts of the country attempts by the Discos to make unmetered consumers of electric power to pay have been unsuccessful. Also, the Discos resort to the use of estimated bills has not helped matters as, in most cases, such consumers avoid payment for the electricity they used.

The new electric power metering factory which is a partnership between the Akwa Ibom government and some private investors is expected to put the state on the path of industrialisation. It will manufacture an average of one million meters per year but can be increased later to produce up to 2.7 million units of meters per year.

If anything, the Akwa Ibom example is an example of fruitful collaboration between the public and the private sectors in an uncharted area that used to be controlled by the Federal Government. The Akwa Ibom State example has shown that with approval from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) a state government, just like any private entrepreneur, can invest in any area of the power sector. It is expected that many local and foreign investors will follow the example of the investors in the metering company to set up factories in Akwa Ibom State and other parts of the country.

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki exchanging pleasantries with the Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Yunusa Muhammad Danyaya during the activities marking the latter’s 40 years on the throne in Bauchi State on Saturday

L-R: Kogi State Deputy Governor, Achuba Simon; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Lasun Yussuf ; Speaker, House of Representatves, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Chief Imam of Abdurahzak Kutepa Mosque, Alhaji Abu Billat at the burial of late. Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Umar Buba Jibril in Lokoja, Kogi State....on Friday

L-R: Legal Secretary, Anglican Church Diocese of Lagos, Mrs. Sade Adetiba; Registrar, Chief Olurotimi Williams, Justice of the High Court of Lagos, Justice Sybil Nwaka, Archbishop of Lagos Anglican Diocese, Most Rev Adebola Ademowo, Wife of the Archbishop, Mrs. Oluranti Ademowo, Deputy Registrar of the Church, Barr. Olusegun Ajayi and the Assistant Registrar, Lady Ebeledike Joy, after the Easter Church services of Anglican Diocese of Lagos...on Easter Sunday. Photo: Olatunji Wale

L-R: Chairman, Ovia North East Local Government Area, Hon. Scott Osazee Ogbemudia; Chairman, Esan South East LGA, Hon. Victor Emuakhagbon; Chairman, Owan West LGA, Hon. Frank Ilaboya; and Chairperson, Egor LGA, Hon. Eghe Ogbemudia, addressing journalists after the Edo State Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JACC) meeting, in Benin City, Edo State.

News 14

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

FG to revive 12 more fertiliser plants bags (1 million MT), douÏÏÏThe Federal ble the figure for 2017.”

Government is to revive 12 moribund fertiliser blending plants to bring to 23 the total number of plants that will partake in 2018 Presidential Fertilizer Initiative.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who disclosed this at a media briefing in Lagos said 11 moribund plants with a combined capacity of over two million metric tonnes had been revived.

He said fertiliser production in Nigeria has been a success story with the setting up of the PPI in Dec. 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the PFI was set up to deliver commercially significant quantities of affordable and high quality fertiliser at the right time to the Nigerian farmer.

Mohammed said: “The PFI has turned out to be a magic wand in fertilizer production.

“Recall that the agricultural sector and the country’s food production were negatively impacted in 2016, as farmers became exposed to high and rising prices for key agric inputs.

“In 2017, PFI delivered 10 million 50kg bags (500,000MT) of NPK 20:10:10 fertilizer at a price of N5,500 in time for the wet season.

“That’s down from the price of N9,000 per 50kg bag in 2016 – a 40% reduction in price.

“In 2018, PFI targets the delivery of 20 million 50kg

The minister recalled that before PFI, each imported fertilizer bag was subsidised to the tune of N6,000 per bag.

He said in 2017, PFI saved the government N60 billion in would-be subsidies.

He said: “The FOREX savings in 2017 was 150 million dollars, thanks to the substitution of imported inputs of NPK with locally sourced inputs.”

The minister said that limestone and urea were sourced locally while phosphate was imported on from Morocco and potash from Europe.

He said President Buhari personally negotiated a long-term bulk purchase agreement of phosphate with the King of Morocco and his team.

Speaking on other benefits of the PFI, the minister said over six million bags of fertiliser had been sold to farmers at N5,500 per bag.

He said: “There is now a higher patronage for the country’s rail network due to movement of raw materials and finished goods.

“Also, the bag-making sector of the economy was boosted, with over 10 million packaging bags produced exclusively for PFI. “60,000 direct jobs and even higher number of indirect jobs have been created.”

The minister reiterated the commitment of the government to fertiliser and agricultural revolution.

15 killed, 55 injured, as Boko Haram attack in Maiduguri

ÏÏÏNo

fewer than 15 persons were feared dead and 55 others injured in a Sunday night attack by Boko Haram insurgents at Bale community in the outskirts of Maiduguri.

Competent security sources told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that a number of insurgents attacked Bale-Shuwa and Bale-Kura communities near Maiduguri in an

attempt to infiltrate the town at about 8: 00 p.m.

Echoes from sporadic gunshots and multiple explosions which lasted for hours on Sunday evening were heard from the outskirts of the city.

The source disclosed that the insurgents parked their vehicles few meters away from a security checkpoint and sneaked into the community.

The source added that the security operatives engaged in fierce gun battle with the insurgents who detonated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and shot sporadically.

“Dozens of people including women and children were wounded from the explosion and gunshots.

“Due to darkness, bodies were not evacuated immediately because there

were suicide bombers among the attackers,” the source added.

However, the Commander of the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj-Gen. Rogers Nicholas denied any death on the side of his soldiers or civilians in the attack.

Reacting to NAN inquiry in a text message he said, however, that some of the Boko Haram insurgents were killed.

A cross section of Indigenes and non-indigenes of Osun bidding farewell to their relatives as the Free Train Ride provided by the State Government of Osun leaves the Osogbo Terminus back to Lagos after the Easter celebration…. on Monday

Looters list: Lai Mohammed now notorious for making false statements – Stella Oduah ÏÏÏA former Minister of Avi-

ation during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Stella Adaeze Oduah, has described the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as someone who has now become notorious for making false and laughable statements.

Oduah said this in reaction to the list of alleged looters released by Mohammed, in which she was said to have looted N9.8 billion.

Oduah, now the representative of Anambra North Senatorial District and Vice-Chairman Senate Committee on Women Affairs and President of ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians, said in a statement on Monday that she distinguished

herself while in office and never engaged in any form of looting as alleged.

She said the records are there in the Ministry, as no one has surpassed her achievements till date.

Oduah said in the statement: “My attention has been drawn to the illusionary list of looters released by Lai Mohammed in which, by treachery or by happenstance, my name featured.

“It is worrisome how a serving Minister could condescend so low in what appeared like a childish altercation to start mentioning names of his alleged looters without verified or verifiable facts, in order to win what he considered a quarrel. In deliberately taking on those he considered prominent in the achievements of the past

administration, he mentioned my name against an allegation of a whooping sum of N9.8 billion. But for the records, I would have simply ignored him since his notoriety in making false and laughable statements has gained prominence in recent times.

“Record has it that my achievements as the Aviation Minister are unbeatable till date. I did not engage in any financial impropriety as the Minister and the allegation involving the said sum of N9.8 billion is not only untrue but laughable. The said contract awarded by the Ministry of Aviation under my watch was executed and based on the request of the contractors, they were paid their money which they utilized in the manner

they did. The records are still with the Ministry. I have no business with the companies that took part in executing that contract and till now, I do not understand how anything went wrong over that contract that was executed. I have never taken any illegal proceeds from the government purse. God had since blessed me tremendously before I joined politics in the quest to serve my country and I remain content and grateful to God. The trend of harassing past office holders with false and malicious allegations to score a political point destroys rather than helps the integrity of the anti-corruption stance of the government and indeed makes holding public office very discouraging.

“The machines seized/for-

feited by the Federal Government over the allegation on the said money are not mine.

I challenge Lai Mohammed to provide evidence linking me with his wild allegations. I have been waiting for that evidence and I am yet to see any.

“All allegations made against me remain mere media sensations orchestrated for mere political reasons. Oftentimes, I ignore them believing the orchestrators would repent after several failed outings. Mis-using the media and misleading the society through the media at the expense of innocent citizens in order to win a medal is unfortunate and most irresponsible. Governance is not warfare. Calumny is evil.

“May God help our country.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

15 Column

Between Buhari, Ayu, Tinubu and South-West

Times Columnist FEMI ODERE

‘

Ayu should have provided his southern progressive colleagues with the reason(s) why the political atmosphere in the core north have not been conducive enough to nurture a vibrant progressive class in view of the regions’ glaring developmental challenges that can only be obliterated by progressive policies and liberal politics when the Southwest has since produced another formidable generation of relatively young, brilliant, and upwardly mobile New Left as exemplified by the Osinbajos, Fasholas, Fayemis, Aregbesolas whose models of social reengineering can be replicated anywhere in the world, and their technocratic subalterns in the federal bureaucracy that are changing the country’s fortunes for the better.

’

“

I talked to my friend, Tinubu, we are very close. I told him that we need to develop the progressive party in Nigeria. He didn’t believe me, he preferred to go and link up with the most right wing group in the North. And that right wing group was headed by Buhari in the name of CPC… I have known Gen. Buhari when he was the military Head of State. I was a university lecturer then. I know the tyranny that was visited on this country. I warned Tinubu that he will regret bringing Buhari and imposing him on the party. I believe he is regretting silently without telling Nigerians. But more is to be expected.

I am sorry to say that if Buhari is reelected in 2019, it will not only consume Tinubu, it will consume so many other people. It may even lead to the disintegration of Nigeria.” ----- a statement made by Iyorchia Ayu, Third Republic Senate President, during an interview he granted The Sun newspaper.

Like Festus Adedayo, my good and very brainy aburo and an ace columnist with The Tribune newspaper had warned his readers in a piece entitled “Tinubu and Iyorchia Ayu’s Prophecy” which, I must say, inspired this write-up that he “ordinarily do not take Third World, especially Nigerian, politicians seriously,” I also do not put stock in Nigeria’s politicians (except for a very few) largely because they are nitwits who are not only bereft of what politics must produce for society, but are criminals in every sense of the word. As indicated, the epigraph above was a statement by Mr. Iyorchia Ayu, a seasoned politician that made its rounds on several social media platforms before Adedayo intervened.

I had ignored the statement because I thought it was one of those fake pronouncements concocted by someone with mischievous intent in stirring some needless controversy. My urge to ignore was even stronger when I realised that the statement had no source ascribed to it when I first ran into it.

More importantly, I get easily irritated when a politician whose chequered and unenviable past is so glaring even to the blind suddenly start to make pronouncements that look so appealing and innocent on the surface like, for instance, former President Jonathan on a lecture circuit on how to fight corruption. What I had dismissed as inconsequential suddenly became important that needed further interrogation not only because Adedayo had devoted a considerable segment of his weekly column to it, but his own interpretation of the statement as it relates to President Muhammadu Buhari visà-vis its implication for the Southwest through Asiwaju Tinubu’s political engagement with the so-called most “right wing” elements of the north allegedly spearheaded by the president.

This piece is not necessarily a rejoinder to the column under reference, but an attempt should be made here to bring into the fore what Adedayo may have missed or probably decided to ignore in his dissection of Ayu’s beatification while my own dissection will be restricted to the contents of the epigraph above. Where Adedayo did not see “raw chaffs of self as motive for the interview” after “weeks of dissection and pondering” I saw not only some underhand scare tactics being deployed

President Buhari (left) and Tinubu against the Southwest specifically targeted for 2019 should Buhari seek reelection, but an insidious setting up the stage----through Tinubu----on which the geo-political zone would be blamed for whatever shortcomings history may have in store for Buhari and his administration by the likes of Ayu. His vituperation against the president also falls on similar patterns of condemnations from those political gladiators who’re so accustomed to power that they never thought for a second that it could be lost in their lifetime, let alone to Buhari whom they’re morbidly afraid of because they never can predict to what extent he would go to expose the stench in their underbellies.

If Ayu’s statement above must be subjected to critical thinking and content analysis as Adedayo apparently did, one cannot help but conclude that it harbours nothing but half-truth, conjecture, falsehood, speculation and everything in-between as we shall see presently.

While Ayu’s expressed friendship with Tinubu and their closeness thereof was probably a carefully calibrated intro to authenticate and lend credence to his subsequent claims, the fact that he seemed to have been disappointed with Asiwaju because he did not believe him when he was told that they should “develop the progressive party in Nigeria” probably speaks to Ayu’s progressive credentials that may not be as genuine as he tried to make us believe. Asiwaju probably saw through him. Ayu may still not believe that actions, as they say, speaks louder than words as his records has shown that he could not be trusted not only because of his flippancy in the nation’s progressive fold, but also the ease with which he cavorted in the past with Nigeria’s reactionary elements that subsequently earned him such a rare privilege of possessing a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to Dasuki’s “ATM machine” from where he also ‘obtained’ substantially. It is therefore patently hypocritical of Ayu to have proclaimed his commitment and adherence to the progressive cause when he was (and probably is) an active participant in a political party that seeks to subvert, if not obliterate the very political tendency to which he claims commitment. If Ayu is a committed progressive, one wonders the ideological column that someone like Chief Wantaregh Paul Unongo, his fellow Tiv would fall under.

While there may be little to dispute in Ayu’s characterisation that the dominant political tendency in the Buhari administration is the “right wing” of the far north geo-political zones, what must also not be allowed to pass unsaid is that the president represents the progressive faction of this northern “right wing” as demonstrated by many of the progressive policies of his administration, some of which are quite novel, if even these policies must be measured by the time-tested yardstick left by the progenitor of the region’s progressive politics, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Ayu’s character-

ization of the north as being in the “right wing” of the political spectrum was nothing but a political statement meant to have some negative effects in the Southwest. The Southwest progressives were quite aware of the fact that the north has really not made any pretence about its conservative political path which Ayu himself has been a loyal accomplice, if not at least an honorary member before they engaged the regions in an historical alliance to rescue a nation on the verge of collapse.

Therefore, they do not need Ayu’s lecture about the political predilection of the north.

As a member of the northern political establishment and a progressive that he claims to be, perhaps Ayu should have provided his southern progressive colleagues with the reason(s) why the political atmosphere in the core north have not been conducive enough to nurture a vibrant progressive class in view of the regions’ glaring developmental challenges that can only be obliterated by progressive policies and liberal politics when the Southwest has since produced another formidable generation of relatively young, brilliant, and upwardly mobile New Left as exemplified by the Osinbajos, Fasholas, Fayemis, Aregbesolas whose models of social re-engineering can be replicated anywhere in the world, and their technocratic subalterns in the federal bureaucracy that are changing the country’s fortunes for the better.

That the “right wing” in the arid north even in Nigeria’s post-bellum, still commands a significant leverage in the nation’s political scheme of things may not be the overarching concern. What’s probably perplexing is the inability of the new left in this political partnership to find like minds from among their generation in the north with whom they have shared values and governance ethics---safe Buhari, paradoxically----so that a new, serious and sustainable political paradigm can be effected within a short spate of time. Those that the Southwest thought has progressive inclinations, if not the mindset from the core north----and, therefore, could do the governance business with have turned out to be very disappointing in view of their stance on federalism, state police and restructuring, among other things. Since the Third Republic Senate President seems to be far too enmeshed in partisan politics to make this observation, one would have thought that Adedayo should have come to his rescue in finding plausible answers to these posers rather than to have seized the opportunity to, once again, drive another put-down into the president’s persona that “Buhari is a cold-calculating power-seeker who equally possesses the ruthlessness of Hannibal, the Carthaginian General.”

With this unfortunate characterization Josef Stalin would be green with envy in Lenin’s Mausoleum.

It is also important that Ayu’s assertion that he “warned Tinubu that he will regret bringing Buhari and im-

posing him on the party” be corrected.

While a former university lecturer can hardly be accused of not having the presence of mind to know that words have meaning, why Ayu seems to believe that Buhari was imposed by Tinubu on the All Progressives Party (APC) is beyond comprehension. Buhari was not imposed by Tinubu or anyone for that matter. I submit. It would be recalled that Buhari contested with four other aspirants namely; Alhaji Atiku Abubakah, Rabi’u Musa Kwakwanso, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Sam Ndah- Isaiah in a presidential primary adjudged as the most transparent, free and fair in Nigeria’s democratic experience. Atiku Abubakah ordinarily could have won the presidential primary as he was credibly reported to have spent money as if it was going out of fashion. Yet, the former vice president finished a distant third. Where then was Tinubu’s “imposition” in that October 2014 presidential primary?

Since clairvoyance or clairaudience are not known to be part of Ayu’s credentials or his natural abilities, his position that Tinubu is “regretting silently without telling Nigerians” do not merit a response here. But there’s no need for Ayu to stretch his conjecture into the realm of the ridiculous.

His statement that “if Buhari is reelected in 2019, it will not only consume Tinubu” [but] “so many other people” [that] “it may even lead to the disintegration of Nigeria” was nothing short of a red herring to whip up the sentiments of Southwest public against the re-election of a president who has clearly outperformed all his colleagues since the advent of the Fourth Republic. Since Buhari has not expressed a desire for a second term, let alone his re-election, it remains to be seen if Tinubu will be consumed by Buhari. But Ayu can be rest assured that the Southwest will interrogate before crossing that ‘consuming’ bridge if it happens. His suggestion that Buhari’s re-election in 2019 by the votes of majority of the Nigerian electorates in a democratic system is capable of leading to the country’s disintegration is to stand logic on its head. What he did not say, however, is that President Buhari’s actions and policies has never been so devastating to the economic power base of the very few but extremely powerful criminal elites that has held the country in the jugular for so long and with reckless impunity that they’re ready to pull down the roof should the president secure a second term, up to and including a coup d’état. Ayu just happens to be the latest among the prominent criminal enterprise to have indirectly sounded a note of warning that Buhari must go home after his first term.

Ayu should be reminded that if the ultimate goal of his highly political, if not prejudicial statement was to send the Southwest geo-political zone on a guilt trip for daring to partner with Buhari to rescue a country that was apparently headed towards a bottomless perdition in the Jonathan presidency, he has missed his target.

The region’s dominant progressive tendency has never wanted anything more than a level playing ground in order to have a virile and sustainable polity, as opposed to the mercantilist predisposition to national politics of some of its counterparts. This has always been the region’s driving force.

The Southwest should not, and must not regret having galvanised its people to cast their ballot for Buhari in 2015.

It will not hesitate to support Buhari again for a second term should he seek re-election as there’s no alternative to a president who has demonstrated beyond a shadow of doubt his unflinching commitment to rescue the country from the vice grips of the few unconscionable looters for the betterment of the long-suffering Nigerian masses.

History will say the Southwest well because it came into the country’s rescue when it mattered most.

Femi Odere is a media practitioner. He can be reached at femiodere@gmail.com.

Photo News 16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

GOV AMBODE COMMISSIONING NEWLY BUILT LAGOS-OGUN BOUNDARY NETWORK OF 21 ROADS IN ALIMOSO LOCAL GOVERMENT

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right); his wife, Bolanle (right); Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (2nd left) and Senator Olamilekan Adeola (left) during the commissioning of the newly built Ikola Bridge (Old Odo Obasanjo Bridge) as part of the 21 Lagos-Ogun Boundary Network Roads in Alimosho Local Government, on Monday, April 2, 2018.

: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd right); his wife, Bolanle (2nd right); Senator Gbenga Ashafa (right); Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (4th right); Senator Olamilekan Adeola (3rd left); Executive Secretary/C.E.O, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun (2nd left) and others during the commissioning of the newly built Ikola Bridge (Old Odo Obasanjo Bridge) as part of the 21 Lagos-Ogun Boundary Network Roads in Alimosho Local Government, on Monday, April 2, 2018.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right); Senator Gbenga Ashafa (right); Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (3rd right); Senator Olamilekan Adeola (3rd left); Executive Secretary/C.E.O, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun (2nd left) and others during the commissioning of the newly built Ikola Bridge (Old Odo Obasanjo Bridge) as part of the 21 Lagos-Ogun Boundary Network Roads in Alimosho Local Government, on Monday, April 2, 2018.

: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd left); Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (2nd left); Senator Olamilekan Adeola (left); wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (3rd right); Senator Gbenga Ashafa (2nd right) and Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya (left) during the commissioning of the newly built Ikola Bridge (Old Odo Obasanjo Bridge) as part of the 21 Lagos-Ogun Boundary Network Roads in Alimosho Local Government, on Monday, April 2, 2018.

: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right); his wife, Bolanle (right); Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (middle); member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Bayo Osinowo (2nd left) and APC Party Chieftain, Alhaji Mutiu Aare (left) during the commissioning of the newly built Ikola Road as part of the 21 Lagos-Ogun Boundary Network Roads in Alimosho Local Government, on Monday, April 2, 2018.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

17 Photo News

GOV AMBODE COMMISSIONING NEWLY BUILT LAGOS-OGUN BOUNDARY NETWORK OF 21 ROADS IN ALIMOSO LOCAL GOVERMENT

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd left); Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (2nd left); Senator Gbenga Ashafa (left); wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (3rd right); Senator Olamilekan Adeola (2nd right); member, House of Representative, Hon. James Faleke (right) during the commissioning of the newly built AIT/Amikanle Road as part of the 21 Lagos-Ogun Boundary Network Roads in Alimosho Local Government, on Monday, April 2, 2018.

The newly commissioned Ikola Bridge (Old Odo Obasanjo Bridge) as part of the 21 Lagos-Ogun Boundary Network Roads in Alimosho Local Government by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday, April 2, 2018.

The newly commissioned Aiyetoro Road as part of the 21 Lagos-Ogun Boundary Network Roads in Alimosho Local Government by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday, April 2, 2018.

The newly commissioned Ikola Road Road as part of the 21 Lagos-Ogun Boundary Network Roads in Alimosho Local Government by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday, April 2, 2018.

Feature 18

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, March 22, 2018

19

Feature

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Buhari presiding over most corrupt government in Nigeria’s history - Fayose ÎÎÎ

Governor Ayodele Fayose, of Ekiti state on Monday said that President Muhammadu Buhari was presiding over the most corrupt government in the history of Nigeria and protecting looters of the country’s commonwealth.

Fayose said Nigerians have seen through the deceit of the government and “will no longer buy that fake image of integrity they are trying to sell”.

The governor said: “With the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, saying that corruption has become more endemic in Nigeria than it was in the last 16 years, with the country moving 12 places below its rating, a honourable government would have stopped using fight against corruption as its major achievement and releasing names of people that are still under trial as looters just to cover up its failure.”

Fayose said the first list of alleged looters released by the government was politically motivated and the second one was an afterthought that was done to cover the shame of the government because Nigerians questioned the first list.

In a release issued on Monday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose reiterated that Nigerians were more interested in their welfare, security of their lives and physical development of the country than tales of concocted lists of corrupt Nigerians, who are only corrupt in the estimation of the government because they do not belong to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He said: The People’s Democratic Party never pretended to Nigerians that it had corrupt people in its fold and the party never protected them. Today, the party has gone ahead to offload the corrupt elements into the APC and they were not only accepted gladly into the party, they were given prominent appointments by the President.”

Fayose The governor, who likened President Buhari to a father who is protecting his children that are armed robbers but calling on security agents to arrest children of his neighbour for stealing meats from their mother’s pot, said: “For any lists of alleged looters to be credible, the President, who is protecting looters should be number one while those looters in his government should follow.

“His nomination form was bought with proceeds of corruption and those who bought the form and financed his election were paid back with the return of all their seized properties, ministerial appointments and even disappearance of prosecution witnesses in EFCC cases.

“A government that reinstated and promoted Abdullahi Maina, who was declared wanted for corrupt practices by the International Police Organisation, and dismissed in 2013 for alleged N2.1 billion pension fraud and used APC broom to sweep the $25 billion contracts scam in the NNPC under the carpet is nothing but a government of

MRS OKEKE JANE KASIE I formerly known and addressed as MISS OKAFOR JANE KASIE ,now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKEKE JANE KASIE.All former document remains valid, NYSC, IMT and general public take note.

plunderers and that is the clear definition of Buhari’s government.

“It was in this same government that the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole suspended the National Health Insurance Scheme Executive Secretary, Professor Usman Yusuf for alleged corruption and the President recalled him even without the knowledge of the Minister.

“Up till today, nothing has happened to the probe panel on the alleged N500 million bribery said to have been paid to the President’s Chief of Staff (COS), Abba Kyari by officials of MTN to influence government to discontinue its heavy stance on the $5 billion fine imposed on the company.

“Therefore, no matter how hard they try now, they can no longer hoodwink Nigerians with their deceit of fight against corruption. Even APC Senator, Shehu Sani once said that the President uses insecticide to fight corruption involving his perceived political opponents, but use deodorant when it comes it affects his own men.”

MRS CHIAMAKA ROSELINE PETER-NWACHI

I formerly known and addressed as MISS NWIBE CHIAMAKA ROSELINE ,now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIAMAKA ROSELINE PETER-NWACHI .All former document remains valid, General public take note.

20 News

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

THE GLORY OF THE LATER HOUSE CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 Trustees 1.Rev Apostle Owadasa Olusola Otunba 2. Pastor Mrs Owadasa Tinuade Esther 3. Evangelist Abah Jonathan 4. Mr Peter Joseph Emimimo 5. Deaconess James Titilayo.

Aim And objectives 1. To preach Salvation to people that are yet to be saved 2. To reach out to all the world with the word of God. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed - Saysaf And Coy 08036009883

ALL NATIONS JOSHUA GENERATION MINISTRY Address : Edo delta hotel, Akpakpava road by 2nd East circular road junction, Benin City, Edo state The General public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Courage Igene - President 2. Oghenekaro Ichiefietano - Secretary 3. Goodluck Ajagbor - Treasurer THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. For the spiritual growth and welfare of the members 2. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ 3. To do evangelism and unite the believers in Christ Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC)Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, Abuja within 28days of this publication.

SIGNED BY: SECRETARY

EMERALD CHRISTIAN CENTRE

21 Public Notice

AMAZING LOVE INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN

This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 Trustees 1. Pastor Lawson Sunday Etiebet 2. Pastor Olasimbo Endurance Ojuri 3. Pastor Stephen Olumide Awoete.

Aim and objective To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed High Chief Oni Abel. R.Oni Abel and Co, 96b Hospital Road Akure. 08034594558

THE SWEN FOUNDATION THE General Public Is Hereby Notified That The Above Named Has Applied to Corporate Affairs Commission For Registration Under Part “C” Of The Companies And Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr Adebisi Adeola Sanda (chairman) 2. Dr Achese Nestor Inimgba 3. Mr David Akara 4. Mr Adeyemi Akiolu 5. Ms. Gagu Ojo 6. Mrs Amarachi Kelvon Yoro Aims And Objectives: 1) Eradicate poverty 2) Enable sustainable development 3) Promote cultural tolerance through intercultural dialogue 4) Advance gender equality Any Objection to the 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.

IN CHRIST COVENANT CHURCH ABA

This is to inform the general public that the aboved named has applied to the corporate affairs commission for registration under part C of the companies and allied matters act. 1990 TRUSTEES ARE: 1, Ahamioje O. Derek - chairman 2,Ahamioje I. Precious 3, Samson A. Olayinka - secretary 4, Mr. Ishaka Igho AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1,To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2, To contribute spiritually, morally and financially towards the development of the church.

3, To equip, ordain and licence candidates for the work of the gospel ministry to evangelise the world for Jesus christ.

Any objection to this publication should be forwarded to the registrar general, corporate affairs commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed by : secretary

This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied to the corporate affairs commission (CAC), Abuja for registration under part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ONUORAH UCHENNA JACOB - PRESIDENT 2. MRS ONUORAH BEATRICE - VICE PRESIDENT 3. JAMES NNENNA IHE - MEMBER 4. JOHN EJINDU AGWARA - SECRETARY 5. OKORO CHIBUZO INNOCENT - MEMBER 6. MRS RAPHEAL AMUCHE HELEN - MEMBER 7. GODSWILL CHUKWUMA ECHEMAZU MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the word of God Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar, plot 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi, Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication Signed: President

NAHIMUDEEN DHIKRULLAH

RAJI RACHAEL HAPPINESS

GANIAT OMOTOKE ADEGBITE.

Formerly known and addressed as OJELADE NAHEEM AKANMU Now wish to be known and addressed as NAHIMUDEEN DHIKRULLAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as GANIAT OMOTOKE OGUNDIPE, now wish to be known and addressed as GANIAT OMOTOKE ADEGBITE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

EBIAGAR OGEDE BENJAMIN

PATUNOLA TOLULOPE CHRISTOPHER

I formerly known and addressed as EBIGAR BENJAMIN now wish to be known and addressed as EBIAGAR OGEDE BENJAMIN. All former documents remain valid, General public to please take note.

OLUWASEGUN TAIWO MICHAEL

I formerly known and addressed as FALUJO TAIWO MICHAEL ,now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWASEGUN TAIWO MICHAEL. All former document remain valid.

General public should please

EMMANUEL DANIEL I, formerly known and addressed as DANIELS MINI, now wish to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL DANIEL. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

SANNI FATIMA ADEBAYO

I formerly known and addressed as NWANKWOR RACHAEL HAPPINESS now wish to be known and addressed as RAJI RACHAEL HAPPINESS. All former documents remain valid, General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ADEBAYO FATIMA BUKOLA now wish to be known and addressed as SANNI FATIMA ADEBAYO, Due to Marriage. All former documents remain valid, General public to please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

SALISU AMINAT ABIOLA.

I formerly known and addressed as PATUNOLA TOLUWANI OLUWASEGUN now wish to be known and addressed as PATUNOLA TOLULOPE CHRISTOPHER. All former documents remain valid, General public to please take note.

In some of my documents my name was written as Abiodun Oduntan Shittu while in some other documents it was written as Abiodun Olasunkanmi Oduntan Aina Lambo. I am the one bearing all the names. All documents bearing the names are valid, General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MUSTAPHA AMINAT ABIOLA now wish to be known and addressed as SALISU AMINAT ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid, General public to please take note.

OLAMIPOSI SILIFAT GBOLAHAN

MRS. IHEMEDU OLUCHI VALENTINO

MRS. OLADELE KEHINDE FIKAYO

I formerly known, and addressed as, MISS. NWOSU OLUCHI VALENTINO, now wish to be known, and addressed as, MRS. IHEMEDU OLUCHI VALENTINO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. OJEREMI KEHINDE FIKAYO, now wish to be known and addressed MRS. OLADELE KEHINDE FIKAYO. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS .OLAMIPOSI SILIFAT AKINRELE,now wish to be known and addressed OLAMIPOSI SILIFAT GBOLAHAN. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

MRS ADEDURO OLUWAKEMI

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Gbenoba Oluwakemi Grace now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Adeduro Oluwakemi Grace.all former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

GRACE ADETOMI AWOSIKA. I, formerly known and addressed as GRACE ADETOMI ADEWOLE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as GRACE ADETOMI AWOSIKA. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

MRS. RUTH NWADIUTO KALU I formerly known and addressed as RUTH NWADIUTO NWACHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. RUTH NWADIUTO KALU by virtue of marriage. All former document remains valid, General public take note.

FIRE REVIVAL CENTRE.

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 Acts of 1990.

Trustees are : 1. Adewoye Joseph Olawale-Taiwo.

2. Adewoye Folashade Mary.

Aims: 1.To establish Healing Messiah Crusade arena aim at reaching out to great multitude of nonchurchgoer salvation-healing hungry souls and to build Fire Revival Centre to follow-up and nurture the new believers to cutting edge disciples of Christ Acts 2:42; Acts 5:42.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: TRUSTEES

RIVERS LEAGUE OF IMAMS AND ISLAMIC SCHOLARS This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1.Proffessor Abdulrazak Kilani 2.Engineer Haruna Muazu 3.Alhaji Ibrahim Nweke 4.Shaikh Dauda Adebayo Adetunji 5.Alhaji Shittu Yekeen Kolawole AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:1.To foster Cooperation and Unity among Muslims in Rivers State 2.To promote harmonious relationship among the adherent of Islamic faith and other religion in Rivers State 3.To champion the promotion of pristine Islamic Doctrine Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from this publication.

Signed: OLUBISI MIKAIL AFOLABI, ESQ MRS. OKPOAGU CHARITY NKECHI. I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OGUNA CHARITY NKECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OKPOAGU CHARITY NKECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SHONOLA BOLA MODINAT FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OSENI BOLA MODINAT NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SHONOLA BOLA MODINAT. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

BROWNSAN MARY

MRS OLANREWAJU KEHINDE OLOLADE

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs Akinlabi Kehinde Ololade now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Olanrewaju Kehinde Ololade.

All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note MRS. OSAIGBOVO EUCHARIA IROAGANACHI

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS EUCHARIA IROAGANACHI ONYEWUEKE NOW WSH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. OSAIGBOVO EUCHARIA IROAGANACHI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. MRS AKINYEMI ESTHER FUNKE

I formerly known and addressed as UDOH MARY now wish to be known and addressed as BROWNSAN MARY. All former documents remain valid, General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ogundele Esther funke now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Akinyemi Esther Funke.

All former documents remain valid, General public to please take note.

ALEXANDER MARGARET CHINEYE.

AFOLARIN OLUWAFEMI ABIODUN I formerly known and addressed as Afolarin Oluwafemi , now wish to be known and addressed as Afolarin Oluwafemi Abiodun . My Date of Birth is , 8th January,1980 .

All former document remain valid. General public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as DIOKA MARGARET CHINEYE now wish to be known and addressed as ALEXANDER MARGARET CHINEYE. All former documents remain valid General public to please take note.

CHUKS PEACE EMEM : I formerly known and addressed as ANTHONY PEACE EMEM now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKS PEACE EMEM. all former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

TUNDE ORISABIYI I formerly known and addressed as OLUWASEUN OLUWABIYI, now wish to be known and addressed as TUNDE ORISABIYI. All former document remains valid, General public take note.

UKACHI ISAAC UCHE I formerly known and addressed as EDOMOBI ISAAC UCHE now wish to be known and addressed as UKACHI ISAAC UCHE.all former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

UMUNNA ANNE UZOAMAKA . I formerly known and addressed as EJIMOFOR ANNE UZOAMAKA, now wish to be known and addressed as UMUNNA ANNE UZOAMAKA. All former document remains valid, General public take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ELECHI IGWE AGUNDU W. 2. AKANI CHRISTIAN S. 3. CHIKERE COLLINS 4. WORDU ICHECHIME CECIL AIMS/OBJECTIVE: (I) TO FOSTER FRIENDSHIP AND CORDIALITY (II) TO INITIATE AND PROMOTE THE IDEALS OF EXCLUSIVITY ANY OBJECTION(S) TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR- GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. WORDU ICHECHIME CECIL.

22 Public Notice

ALPHA AND OMEGA DOMINION ASSEMBLY THIS IS TO NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER THE PART “C” OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. APOSTLE THEOPHILUS CLEMENT IFEANYI 2. ELDER OKORO OKECHUKWU 3. MRS IZU ELSIE 4. MRS THEOPHILUS GRACE 5. ELDER OBIANDU MGBECHI EMENIKE 6. MR OKEMIRI SHADRACK AIMS/OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO EVERY NATION, KINDRED, TONGUE AND PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD (REACHING THE UNREACHED THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST) 2. TO BUILD UP GODLY CHARACTER IN THE LIVES OF MEN THROUGH THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ANY OBJECTION(S) TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR- GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: APOSTLE THEOPHILUS CLEMENT IFEANYI

AYIN CHRIST HEALING POWER MINISTRY THIS IS TO NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER THE PART “C” OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE; 1. APOSTLE ALIGBO MMADUKAIBEYA ELIJAH - PRESIDENT. 2. PASTOR OKORIE NGOZICHUKWUKA LOVELYNE - SECRETARY. 3. BRO. ALIGBO EJIKE MICHEAL - MEMBER. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. SHALL BE FOR ADVANCEMENT AND TEACHING OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION AS CERTAIN IN THE HOLY BIBLE 2. TO CARRY OUT EVANGELISTIC MISSIONARY WORK IN ANY PART OF NIGERIA OR OVERSEAS, UNDER BRANCHES OF THE MINISTRY AND MAKE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE SMOOTH FUNCTION OF THE WORD OF GOD. ANY OBJECTION(S) TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR- GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGN: ALIGBO MMADUKAIBEYA ELIJAH PRESIDENT.

DISCLAIMER ISHIBA DEVELOPMENT & EMPOWERMENT CENTRE

COMEDIANS AND MC’S ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN

OLASENI-ASHIPA EMPOWERMENT ASSOCIATION

WITH ITS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AT PLOT 52 PASALI EXTENSION AND OFFICE AT FLAT 4 NISSI PLAZA BEHIND FCMB , KUJE FCT ABUJA HEREBY NOTIFY THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND ALL OUR ESTEEM MEMBERS THAT: 1. HON.TITILAYO FAGBENRO BRANCO( FORMER LAGOS STATE COORDINATOR) 2. MR WILLIAM FEMI DARE ( FORMER KWARA STATE COORDINATOR) ARE NO LONGER IN THE SERVICE OF ISHIBA DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT CENTRE. THUS THE DUO CANNOT REPRESENT THE ORGANIZATION IN ANY FORA OR TRANSACT ANY BUSINESS IN THE NAME OR UNBEHALF OF ISHIBA DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT CENTRE. ANYONE, GROUP OF PERSONS OR ORGANIZATION TRANSACTING BUSINESS WITH THEM, DO SO AT THEIR OWN RISK. SIGNED SECRETARY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1.

KRIMA PAUL OKOLOKO -CHAIRMAN 2.

IDHESE OGHENEKOME OWEN 3.

OHAJIALA BENSON 4.

GODFREY ESIEVOERIN 5.

OLOPE PAUL 6.

OJANOMA IGHO 7.

OBOGO ENDURANCE -SECRETARY AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE FRIENDSHIP AND UNITY AMONG MEMBERS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: CHINENYE ELENDU LEGAL PRACTITIONER 08051081650

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1.

MR. AKANDE OLUSOLA BABAJIDE -CHAIRMAN 2.

MR. AKANDE OLATUNBOSUN -SECRETARY 3.

MRS ADEBAMOWO OLAPEJU TEMITOPE -TREASURE 4.

MR. AKINPELU DANIEL OLASUNKANMI 5.

CHIEF OROTOYE SEMIU ALAO 6.

MR. ADEBISI SULAIMAN AKANFE 7.

MR. BOLORUNDURO GBADEGESIN OLATIDOYE 8.

MR. OMOTOSO SUNDAY BABATUNDE 9.

MR. BABARANTI JAMES ADEYEMI AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PROMOTE THE INTEREST OF MEMBERS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: CHINENYE ELENDU LEGAL PRACTITIONER (08051081650)

ADULLAN HOUSE OF RESTORATION CHURCH

HIS WORD LIFE CHURCH

UCHE ODIKA RESOURCE CENTER

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 1. UCHE ODIKA JUNIOR -CHAIRMAN 2. UMAR SAID AROME - MEMBER 3. KELLY BENEDICT - MEMBER 4. ORIFA CHARLES ITAFE - MEMBER. 5. AWAGU CHINENYE STELLA- MEMBER AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO CARE FOR THE WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

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 TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR ADAMS JOSHUA ALEYI 2. PASTOR (MRS) ADAMS MARTHA 3. PASTOR PAUL JAMES OCHEKWU 4. BROTHER AHMEDU GODWIN ALEKWU 5. DEACON THOMAS KADIRI 6. ELDER FRED KESIENA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO WIN SOULS TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD 2. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 3. TO PROVIDE THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THEIR MEMBERS 4. TO ENCOURAGE THEIR MEMBERS SPIRITUAL AND OTHERWISE 5. TO CONDUCT PRAYERS FOR THEIR MEMBERS.6. TO FOLLOW UP THEIR CONVERTS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

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 TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OLUWAFEMI MICHAEL ABRAHAM 2. ABIMBOLA IDOWU AJAYI 3. CAROLINE OLUBUNMI ODUJOKO AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

AL-WADUD ISLAMIC CENTRE KARU ABUJA

CILLAMORRIS ORPHANAGE AND CHARITY FOUNDATION

KING’S WORD POWER AND GLORIOUS TRANSFORMATION ASSEMBLY

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

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE: (1). GODSWILLISAAC PRISCILLA CHIGOZIE (2). JOHNSON MARVELLOUS CHIDUMEBI (3). GODSWILL VICTOR CHIEMERIA (4). JOHNSON DIVINEFAVOUR NZUBECHUKWU (5). OKWU IHEBINIKE VICTOR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROMOTE CHILD CARE RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY FOR WOMEN AND THE LESS PRIVILEGED MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. 2. TO PROVIDE CARE FOR THE WIDOWS, ORPHANAGE AND LESS- PRIVILEGED MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY 3. TO PROVIDE FOR THE ELDERLY AND NEEDY MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. 4. TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN SERVICES THROUGH THE PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTH CARE MISSIONS WITH SPECIAL INTEREST ON THE LESS - PRIVILEGED MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY. 5. TO PROVIDE HOME FOR THE ORPHANS, WIDOWS, ELDERLY AND HOMELESS MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA, WITHIN 28 WORKING DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: PASTOR GODSWILLISAAC PRISCILLA CHIGOZIE - PRESIDENT - 0816 583 1012, 08027181330.

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 TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR IBANGA ENOBONG - PRESIDENT 2. MRS. AKINMOLADUN IYABO OLUWATOYIN - SECRETARY 3. ELDER UDO JESSY ASUQWO AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO MAKE DISCIPLES WHO WILL BE WILLING TO DEVOTE THEIR LIVES TO FOLLOW JESUS THROUGH PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE THE LORD TO ALL. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

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 1. ADAMU ABUBAKAR BAPPAH 2. YUSUF WODI 3. ISA UMAR 4. ADEBOLA JIMO ADAMS 5 UMAR FAROUK IBRAHIM 6. MUHAMMAD BELLO IBRAHIM 7. ABDULLAHI HASSAN WAKILI AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO TRAIN THE PEOPLE IN ISLAMIC WAY 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: BARR BAYO

ASSOCIATION OF FEMALE PHOTOGRAPHERS 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 (1) CHAIRMAN:OKOLO OGHENETEGA THEOPHILUS (2) SECRETARY: DEBORAH WILLIAMS ISAWAGADA (3) OBAR MOJISOLA (4) TOBOME ORITSETIMEYIN-TSEBI AIM AND OBJECTIVES (1) TO ENCOURAGE THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN THE SOCIOECONOMIC ACTIVITIES (2) TO PROVIDE A FOUNDATION TO DEVELOP AND GROW FEMALE ENTERPRENEURSHIP THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY (3) TO CREATE AWARENESS FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT IN HITHERTO MALE DOMINATED FIELD OF PHOTOGRAPHY 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: MAITAMA FCT HIGH COURT MULTI-LEVEL CAR PARK, ABUJA.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

IBADAN SATELLITE CLUB ABUJA

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 1. ALH ISMAILA ADEREMI 2. SURV.OLAJIDE AKINTUNDE MUMEEN 3. ALH. ALIMI YISA 4. ALH. DAUDA GBADEBO ILORI 5. ALH. KAZEEM AKANGBE JINADU 6. ELDER JIDE ADEPEGBA AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PROVIDE UNITY AMONG MEMBERS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR BAYO

SOUTH EAST EMPOWERMENT UNITY INITIATIVE 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 1. MRS. GOLDA OBI 2. LADY AZUKA AZINGE 3. PROFESSOR UCHE NWOGWUGWU 4. MR. CHINENYE CHIJIOKE MBA- UZOUKWU 5. MR. FRANKLYN GINGER-EKE 6. MRS. HELEN ANATOGU 7. DR. RUTH OPARA 8. MR. CHIOMA VALENTINE ONUAGULUCHI AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PROMOTE CIVIC ENLIGHTENMENT, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZEN OF THE SOUTH EAST 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: BARR. NANCY OKADIGBO

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3 , 2018

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SHALLOM GLORY MINISTRY

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TRUSTEES ARE: 1. STEPHEN AMADI NANCY ...............PRESIDENT. 2. AMADI STEPHEN 2. MOSES SUSAN......,..................SECRETARY.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. SOLIU LUQMAN MORADEYO - CHAIRMAN 2. TOMORI MOSHOOD KOLAWOLE - PUBLIC RELATION OFFICER 3. ADENEKAN BASHIR AJASA - TREASURER 4. SHUAIB MUTIU - FINANCIAL SECRETARY 5. OYEBADE AHMED DIMEJI - SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES TO BRING TOGETHER ALL CITIZENS WHO ARE DESIROUS OF RESISTING OPPRESSION, INJUSTICE, EXPLOITATION, INTIMIDATION, UNJUST DETENTION AND OR DISTURBANCE OF OTHERS’ FREEDOM TO LIVE, ASSOCIATION, EDUCATION, FREE PRESS, INFORMATION, PEACE, RELIGION AND ARE EAGER TO PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF CITIZENS AS ONE UNITED BODY; ANY OBJECTION(S) TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR- GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

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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.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1GIVING HOPE TO THE HOPELESS THROUGH MOTIVATIONAL PROGRAMME’S

AMARACHI CHARLES

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

IDAPDOO WOMEN FOUNDATION

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. GRACE EWONUBARI DAMGBOR..CHAIR PERSON. 2. GLADYS NEEDUM. 3. NKANA DORIS. 4. WARIZERIBE HOPE DIAMI. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO FOSTER UNITY AMONG WOMEN. 2. TO PROMOTE LOVE AND PEACE TO FAMILIES.

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.

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: TRUSTEES.

OPERATION HELP THE NEEDY CHARITY ORGANIZATION

ELOHIM GLORIOUS LIGHTWAY CHURCH INTERNATIONAL

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies & Allied Matters Act, 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies & Allied Matters Act, 1990.

TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Animasaun Boluwaji Taiwo 2. Pastor Onyeme Roland Ikechukwu 3. Animasaun Sunday Olayinka

TRUSTEES ARE 1.NWOKOCHA HENRY EZE 2.NWOKOCHA QUEEN ADA 3.NGENE JOSEPH BONIFACE

President

Aims and Objectives 1. To render assistance to orphaned, indigent and other less privileged children for their substance shelter, education and medical care, to establish social welfare institutions engaged in promoting these specific objectives.

2. To render assistance both directly and through establish social welfare organization that will help rehabilitate women in distress, especially widows without any means of support and those neglected and ill-treated by their husbands or other members of their family and promote their vocational skills and self reliance.

Any Objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral,Corporate Affairs Commission,Plot 420,Tigris Crescent,Off Aguiyi Ironsi St reet,Maitama,PMB.198,Garki,Abuja within Twenty Eight (28) days from the date of this Publication.

SIGNED : PRESIDENT

CHAIRMAN SECRETARY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.TO PREACH JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED TO EVERY LIVING CREATURE IN THE WORLD .

2.TO NATURE AN INCORRUPTIBLE AND RAPTURABLE CHURCH UNTO OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. Any Objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General,Corporate Affairs Commission,Plot 420,Tigris Crescent,Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street,Maitama,PMB.198,Garki,Abuja within Twenty Eight (28) days from the date of this Publication.

SIGNED CHAIRMAN

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3 , 2018

I now deal directly with communities, no more middlemen – Hon. Orji Sunday Nwakanma – Umuahia

ÏÏÏ

As Amuzukwu community of Umuahia North rolls out the drums to adopt the member representing them in Abia House of Assembly, Chinedu Orji and Sen. T. A. Orji, Hon. Orji has vowed to eliminate go-betweens in his efforts to develop communities in his constituency.

Hon. Orji who represents Umuahia Central state Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, made this vow at the Umuwaya Mbara village square of Amuzukwu Autonomous Community, when the community adopted him, Sen. Orji and Governor Ikpeazu for a second term, disclosed that the use of middlemen in dealing with communities have failed him and the Senator representing Abia Central at the National Assembly, Sen. T. A. Orji, “hence the anger of some communities on me and on the senator”.

Towards curbing this shortchanging by the gobetweens he said, he is now using the money to work directly for the people, stating “What we now do is that we go directly to the communities and when we want to do anything for them, we will find their sons who will directly be given the work to do.

“We are no longer using contractors in what are doing”, he said and pledged “we will be dealing directly touch”, assuring also “we will do more for Amuzukwu with three more projects that will directly affect the people”.

While assuring Amuzukwu people that he will be known and remembered by what he has done for them, called for votes for all that vie for any political position under the People’s Democratic Party, PDP including himself, Sen. T. A. Orji, the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu and “whoever will be for the Federal House of Representatives”.

He urged the people to avoid the mistake they made before, stating “PDP does not collect any PVCs from anybody, but all we do is to sensitize you”.

According to him, in the Northern part of the country, people register in their millions and in the south west, “it is also PVC issue. But here in the south east, it is a different story. If you do not get your PVCs, I will not vie

again”.

“I have repented and will not shower money again but will do these projects that will make people happy”, he said stating that he wants to make public schools in his constituency to be better than private schools in the area.

He pledged to assist Amuzukwu women in their efforts to deck a community hall they are building.

In his speech, the royal father of Amuzukwu, Eze John Ibezim said Hon. Orji has tried and done much for his Amuzukwu people, urging him the young lawmaker to always let people know much of what he has done and pledged the support of his community, which he said is a peaceful one in Umuahia North.

Earlier in his address read by his daughter, Miss Marvelous, the organizer of the event, and a physically challenged person, Chief Enyinnaya Madumere described Hon Chinedu as “making waves and positive impact legislatively in the Abia State House of Assembly”.

“By this way, (Chinedu is) ensuring that our constituency is not left out in the scheme of things as far as Abia State is concerned”, Chief Madumere who is also the President/founder of a non-governmental organization, “Our mumu-don-do Organization” said.

“Amuzukwu people said they have adopted Hon. Chinedum Orji and we will not play with our son. We have discussed and stated that no other person will go for us except him”.

While listing out some of the achievements of Hon. Chinedu , he equated him with great sons of Ibeku in the like of late Major General JTU Aguiyi-Ironsi and the immediate past governor of the state and now Senator representing Abia Central at the National Assembly, Sen. T. A. Orji.

In their separate speeches, the Amuzukwu Youth President, Ifeanyi Isaac and the Amuzukwu President General, Chief Eme Nweke assured Hon Orji that the community will give him all the votes they have and pleaded with their kinsmen to obtain their PVCs to enable them give him the votes over what the lawmaker has doing for them.

L-R: National President, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International Nigeria, Arc. Ifeanyi Odedo; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Chief of Staff to Rivers Governor, Mr. Chukwuemeka Woke and Mr. Isaac Okpanachi, during the Odedo’s visit to Government House in Port Harcourt

Ambode charges Lagosians to get PVCs, commissions 21 roads, bridges Benjamin Omoike

ÏÏÏGovernor

Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos on Monday urged Lagosians of voting age who were yet to register, to go all out and register for their Permanent Voter’s Card, PVC, so as to perform their franchise come the 2019 general election. Also, he charged those who hadn’t collected their voter’s cards to go to the nearest INEC office to do so.

Ambode made these remarks during the commissioning of Lagos-Ogun state boundary network of 21 connecting roads in Alimosho Local Government Area of the state, expected to open up economic development and ease transportation in the axis.

The commissioned 21 network of roads and two bridges totalling 27.4 kilometres were delivered, with a pledge by the governor to further develop other communities within the axis.

The roads commissioned are Ikola Road with Bridge (7.2km), Aiyetoro Road with Bridge (1.280km), Dualization of Raypower Road (2.7km), Amikanle Road (3.340km), Oko Filling Road (1.660km), Ogunseye Road (1.870km), Osenatu Ilo Road (0.700km), Aina Aladi Road (1.109km), Oluwasanya Road (0.636km), Igbehinadun Road (0.360km) and Community Road (0.750km).

Others are Isoto Road (0.730km), Palace Road (0.660km), Timothy Afolabi (0.745km), Peak Thomas Bright Crescent (0.490km), Baale Street (0.710km), Joe Ikebudu (0.460km), Bishop Oderinde (0.270km), Alhaji Ganiyu Salami (0.520km),

Kadiri Adebambo Street (0.533km) and Church Street (0.710km).

The roads, which connect Lagos with Ogun state from Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, were fitted with walkways, drainage system, laybys, service ducts, lane marking and street lights, among others.

Governor Ambode, who commissioned the projects amidst celebration by elated residents in four different locations, said the delivery of the infrastructure was part of the continuous bid to transform the Alimosho federal constituency and build new economy around the axis.

“This is what is called dividend of democracy we are making this Alimosho axis economically viable and also liveable. We don’t need to travel anywhere to earn a living. By opening up the whole network stretching 27.4km, we have brought economy back to this place.

With the walkways, street lights, these communities are becoming safer and there is more to do. By expanding the axis here, you can travel without necessarily going to the main street and go to Ojo or Badagry, that’s what your vote was for and that’s why we are returning back here, all the promises that we made and we are keeping them,” he said.

While describing the commissioning as historic and momentous, governor Ambode particularly lauded the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for activating the transformation of Alimosho when he was governor of the state with the construc-

tion of LASU-Iba Road, and former governor Babatunde Fashola for taking the project up to Ipaja.

He said: “What we are doing today is so historic and of great importance that we must send the message rightly so that people can understand why we are celebrating on Easter Monday the change in the life of our people which the resurrection of Christ symbolizes.

“First, we salute all our political leaders starting with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for starting the vision of making Alimosho a place of pride with the construction of LASU-Iba Road such that when you move from Badagry and you enter into LASU-Iba Road up to Igando, Egbe and so on, you have easy transportation and easy life. My predecessor, Governor Raji Fashola took it up to Ipaja all in a bid to build a new economy in this particular axis.

“We have taken it from Ipaja to Ayobo, Command Secondary School, Gate, Abesan, Aboru Bridge and roads. What we are doing today is momentous as we are connecting over 60 communities together and we are happy to do this.”

Enumerating the significance of the projects, governor Ambode said the roads were a veritable alternative routes to decongest traffic from the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, and could be used to access Ipaja up to Badagry without using the expressway.

“It is an alternative route; we don’t need to congest ourselves on the LagosAbeokuta express when you drive from Gateway Hotel and start driving through Ojokoro, Ipaja and so on.

Now, you can take this alter-

native route and go all the way to Ipaja and Badagry without having anything to do with the expressway,” the governor said.

He said the government was able to complete the projects using the taxes paid by the people, saying that it was the taxpayers that made it possible for his administration to improve on the economy and solve traffic challenges in the axis.

“So, when you understand what this is all about; it was not done with Akin Ambode’s money; I did not put a kobo there apart from my own taxes; it is the taxes that you have contributed that we have used to improve on this particular economy and my message is that we should make every part of Lagos economically viable and also livable so that all the people in this area can have the same kind of life that others are enjoying in the other axis of Lagos.

“The idea of the project is to open up all our sub-urban communities, reduce traffic congestion and then create better life for the people,” governor Ambode said.

Responding to request for more infrastructural projects in Alimosho, the governor said as part of the continuation of the development of the axis, the state government will Dredge Ilo River, rehabilitate Adekoya Road, Makinde Road, Subaru Oje Road, Old Ota Road and Ishefun-Ijan Road which will be connected to a Jetty through which people can take a boat ride to connect Lagos Marina in 20 minutes.

He also said that a modern Bus Terminal and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor would soon be constructed in the axis.

Life&

TIMES Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Saka: I’m still striving to become a superstar 26

P

Interview 26

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Death of cinema gradually becoming thing of the past –Saka After his fame went viral following his humorous advert campaigns with largest popularly called Saka, has become a household name in the country. From his distinct roles in movies, drama series and sitcoms, to his humorous advert campaigns for telecommunications companies, Saka is fast proving himself as

Can you introduce yourself?

Tell us about the production of the movie titled MAZE?

Talking about that stage name “Saka,” how did you come about it?

country?

How do you handle that situation when you are trying to make a point and people think you are joking?

As a popular actor in the Nollywood, how are you using the entertainment industry?

Did you ever believe you will be this famous in life?

Contrary to your perception of yourself, people see you as a super star?

How has Lagos State government been supporting the College in its thrive towards making its impact in the entertainment industry?

Life&

What should we be expecting from Saka in the nearest future?

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

27 News

Rivers APC supports Buhari’s stance over tenure elongation Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏThe

Rivers State branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday rose from an extra ordinary stakeholders meeting in Port Harcourt with a five-point communique in which the party commended President Muhammadu Buhari for what it described as his clear, bold and courageous stand on the constitutional issue of elected party officials.

The communique stated that the President’s position has not only shown that the

ÏdƆƐ Ƒƍ ǀéƌ ƅ ƌƌƈƐƐƆƆ Ɛ ƏƆƅ ƅƈƋƆ Ɛ Ɔ ƍ ƏƐƕ ƌƆƌƄƆƏ All Progressives Congress (APC) was a political party that respected the true tenets of internal democracy and the dictates of the law, it has also steered the party clear of prospective legal danger.

It read in part: “After a dispassionate and robust appraisal of current happenings in the All Progressives Congress both at the national and state levels of the party, an expanded stakeholders meeting of the APC in Rivers State met, deliberated and urged members of the National Execu-

tive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to place the interest of the party above every other consideration and respect the informed position of Mr. President to conduct congresses across all strata of the party to bring it in conformity with extant constitutional provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and its own constitution.”

The Rivers APC applauded the doggedness of its members who have remained committed to the ideals of the party in spite of internal bickering and

external pressure and who have continued to make sacrifices for the sustenance of the party in Rivers State.

“We enjoin members of the AAPC in Rivers State to return all party executives at all levels in the state during the congresses irrespective of their factional leanings as a reward for their sacrifice and commitment to the APC in the face of threats, intimidation and even physical danger.

“Finally, we call on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State to ignore those who

have been deceived into leaving the party as there will be no implosion in Rivers APC. All the leaders of the party are committed to ensuring the victory of the APC in Rivers State and in the whole country in the 2019 elections.

The communique was jointly signed by 13 stalwart of the party. They include Senator Wilson Ake, Rivers West (2007-2015) Rt. Hon. Prince Chibudom Nwuche (Former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives) Senator Magnus Abe (Senator representing Rivers South-East) Hon. Elder Chidi Wihioka (Member House of Representatives, Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency) Hon. Maurice Pronen (Member House of Representatives, Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency)

Hon Friday Nkee (Member House of Assembly, Khana Constituency 11) Others include: Hon Marcus Nle Eji (Former House of Assembly Member and Commissioner, Rivers State) Chief Hon. Allwell Onyesoh (Former Commissioner, Rivers State) Hon Austine Nwakoh (Former Special Adviser to the Governor of Rivers State) Hon. Ben Horsfall (Former House of Assembly Member, Rivers State) Hon. Dr. Ipalibo Harry (Former Commissioner, Rivers State) Hon. Barr. Worgu Boms ( former AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner of Justice, Rivers State) Chief Hon. Derek Mene (EDFA, NDDC).

The stakeholders also set a five-man committee to reconcile the party members where there are cracks or frictions.

Sokoto: Access to immunisation increase by 1000 percent centres offering RI in the ÏÏÏSokoto state govern- 205 state. Today, the number is

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Ejike Oji Community Development Foundation, Dr. Ejike Oji; National President, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Dr. Laraba Shoda and Chief Executive Officer of Peace Advocacy and Community Development Initiative, Mr. Mohammed Yusuf, during National Workshop on the Role of the NCWS in Economic Development in Abuja

Insurgency: Nollywood sets to change narrative in North-East Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

ÏÏÏThe

Nigeria movie industry is set to address the challenges of insurgency faced in the north eastern part of the country through epoch movies aimed at exposing the violent extremism that has bedevilled the region.

With an eight- week drama series titled: “In love and in Ashes,” the movie is packaged to rekindle hope in the face of the unfortunate disaster that has ravaged the troubled zones of the country.

Produced by Water Shade Entertainment, the movie will no doubt leverage on the largest television networks in the country as a medium to best pilot it’s message of uniting Nigerians as one indivisible nation that will rise up to the occasion of speaking against all forms of division and violent extremism.

However, in a statement signed by the Media and Publicity Officer of Water Shade Entertainment, Mr. Martins Ulonnam, and made available to our correspondent, Monday,

it says that the eight drama series will showcase a cast that accentuates love over hate and draws the moral conclusion that will overcome extremism.

Ulonnam said, “the movie is a story about loss, regret, forgiveness, and the incredible human spirit and it’s capacity for healing. It is a narrative of hope in the face of disaster, a bitter-sweet tale that highlights the social, humanitarian and moral challenges that bedevils communities and their inhabitants that have experienced violent extrem-

ism in the North East Nigeria.

“Set in Maiduguri, the movie hopes to rally all stakeholders to rise above ethnic and religious differences and jointly fight back the menace called insurgence”, he said.

However, the movie was on the 28th of March, premiered in Lagos at the Muson Centre.

Daily Times reports that star actress, Patience Ozokwor, top the lead role while the popular 2face Idibia, known as (2Baba), recorded the movie sound track.

ment said it has increased access to immunization by more a thousand fold, from a meager 2.5% in 2014 to 25% in 2018.

A statement issued by government’s spokesman, Malam Imam Imam in Sokoto Monday, said Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal disclosed this during a review meeting on the progress of routine immunization in Sokoto.

“The recent Lot Quality Assurance Survey (LQAS) by the National Bureau of Statistics and partners have clearly outlined the progress we have made in that direction. More still needs to be done and we will not relent on our efforts.

“Within this period under review, Sokoto has come tops on issues of vaccine security, vaccine availability, vaccine quality and vaccine accountability.

“Two years ago, we had

567. Our target is to have as many of these centres across the state as possible. We want to ensure that all communities in Sokoto, no matter how small or remote, have access to functional health facilities that will offer routine immunization to our children.

“We have also enhanced our advocacy by involving religious and traditional leaders and this has led to tremendous progress.

“We thank our partners, especially Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dangote Foundation, UNICEF, USAID and many others for their dedication and commitment to ensuring all our children are immunized against preventable diseases,” the Governor added.

Tambuwal further said the government will expand its social intervention programs with a view to empowering the people to fight poverty, illiteracy and diseases.

Town Union elects new executives in Ebonyi Charles Onyekwere, Abakaliki

ÏÏÏA

Town Union, Eziukwu-Ewa Welfare Association Amankwo in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has elected its new executives officers to run the affairs of the association for the next four years.

The keenly contested election which took place at Obu Eziukwu hall in Afikpo North LGA was necessary to ensure the continuous peace and development of the community in the area.

Swearing-in the newly

elected executives, the Presiding Chairman of the occasion, Surveyor Titus Obila urged the executives to do everything within their powers to attract government development projects to the community, adding that all hands must be on deck to move the Association forward.

In his acceptance speech, the newly elected National Chairman of the Association, Chief Nkama Obila thanked members for giving them the opportunity to serve the community and promised that they would do their best to discharge the mandate given to them.

News 28

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Leadership tussle: COSON threatens Omorogbe with expulsion over Okoroji Titus Akhigbe, Benin

ÏÏÏThe

leadership tussle rocking the Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON, on Monday took a different dimension as senior members of the association in Edo state threatened to drag its former board member, Mr. Efe Omorogbe before the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II if he continued to parade himself as chairman of COSON. Speaking for the group in Benin City, Prince Omo Osula, the Arala of Benin alleged that Mr. Omorogbe has been parading himself as the chairman of COSON which he is not adding that the only recognized chairman of the body is chief Tony Okoroji.

He alleged that the embattled chairman orchestrated a coup to remove the chairman of the governing board of COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji.

According to him “on December 7, 2017, you led a coup to remove the chairman of the governing board of COSON, Chief Tony Okoroji. Your being named by your cohorts to succeed chief Okoroji was to impose on you shoes larger than life for you to fit in.

“Your so-called appointment as chairman of COSON was mute and very unpopular with vexatious reactions across the creative industry at home and abroad.

“You will recall the disgraceful treatment you received on the 19th of December 2017, from the COSON members across the country who gathered at the COSON arena at COSON House in Lagos and strongly opposed and nullified your kangaroo appointment as COSON chairman.”

Osula said the impact of Omorogbe has never been felt by his own people since he has been parading himself as the chairman resulting to the disconnection between himself and the creative industry in the state.

“We are not surprised that such treatment of outright rejection was meted out to you by COSON members across Nigeria. Behind this is your checkered attitude of arrogance which has resulted in your total disconnect with the creative community even in Edo State, the state of your

birth.

“This is to the extent that the presence, support and contribution of the likes of chief Tony Okoroji, a detriabilized Nigerian is more felt by us in Edo State. Even though you are our son (Omorogbe), your contribution is nowhere to be seen”, he said.

He expressed disappointment that despite the unanimous decision reached at the enlarge general meeting where he (Omorogbe) was rejected as the chairman of COSON and chief Okoroji was chosen instead, he (Omorogbe) still goes about parading himself as the chairman of the association.

“We are shocked that despite our clear democratic choice of chief Tony Okoroji as COSON chairman at the EGM chaired by our very own internationally respected music icon, Prof (sir) Victor Uwaifo, you have mischievously and fraudulently continued to parade yourself as chairman of COSON. Your behaviour is contrary to the norms and culture of the great people of Edo State” He however said that if he still goes about parading himself as the chairman of COSON, they are left with no choice but to drag him before the Benin monarch to call him to order. “ We are embarrassed by your behaviour and hereby denounce your unwholesome activities targeted at destroying the unsurpassed respect associated with COSON. “We warn that if you continue to allow yourself to be used to destabilized COSON, an organization which we are very proud of and which is catering for our needs, we may have no choice but to drag you before the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II so that you can be called to order with appriopriate sanctions imposed on you for the show of Shame and the conduct that negates the value, norms and culture of our great people and the creative community in general, a word is enough for the wise” he said.

In reaction to the allegation of impersonation, the embattled chairman of COSON, Mr. Efe Omorogbe said the senior members of the association in Edo state are entitled to their own opinions.

Most Rev Ikechi Nwachukwu Nwosu, Bishop of Ecclesiastical Province of Aba, Diocese of Umuahia Anglican Communion (l) with Engr Nath Ndubuka exchanging pleasantries after church service to mark Easter Sunday in Umuahia yesterday.

Cleric calls for emulation of Leah Sharibu’s faith in God Kehinde Akinpelu, ilorin

ÏÏÏThe

Spiritual Father of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, Most Rev. Samuel Abidoye, has advised Nigerians to emulate the exceptional spiritual devotion to God exhibited by Leah Sharibu, one of the girls abducted by the Boko Haram in Dapchi, who is still in captivity.

Abidoye gave the advice during the installation of some leaders of the church in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara on Sunday.

Special Apostle Samuel

Oyedepo was installed the new leader of the OmuAran District Headquarters Church at the event while Special Apostle Michael Korode was made the new Chairman of the district.

Abidoye said the best solution to ward off challenges was to hold unto God in prayers as exhibited by the girl by not renouncing her faith in order to gain freedom.

He decried the situation where most Nigerians, especially religious leaders, do jettison God’s doctrine as a result of lives simple afflictions.

“That little girl called Leah has challenged ev-

ery one of us by refusing to denounce her faith while in the lion’s den.

“If that girl with the little faith in her can dare the consequences, then what about followers or leaders who are selling off their lives to the devil due to simple life difficulties that require us to only hold unto God. “Even those challenges confronting the country, no matter how big, is within God’s intervention through our prayers,” he said.

The clergy advised the newly installed leaders to be more devoted and dedicated to their spiritual responsibilities.

Abidoye also charged those at the Nation’s helm of affairs to be God fearing and imbibe transparency, equity, diligence and honesty in their dealings.

Oyedepo, the newly installed district headquarters leader, described his elevation as a call to serve God and humanity.

“This is a call to do more and not to be carried away by the euphoria of leadership,” he said.

Korode, on his part, thanked members and leaders of the church for the opportunity given to him to contribute his quota to the growth, progress and development of the church.

Don’t be part of problems, Archbishop tells Nigerians Alphonsus Nweze, Awka

ÏÏÏThe Archbishop of

Onitsha Archdiocese, Most Rev.(Dr.), Valerian Okeke, has called on Nigerians to be part of solution instead of being part of the problems of the country.

Speaking while delivering Easter message at the Basilica of Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, Anambra State, Archbishop Okeke said “ I urge you all to be part of solution.

The president, priests, small boys, old women, children and parents should be solution not problem of Nigeria”.

He said the president is the father of all in the

country and therefore everybody looks up to him for protection and to provide for them but if he fails in this responsibility, then he has failed in being part of the solution.

In the same vein, he said, law enforcement agents who are selective in the enforcement of the law, have become disorderly law enforcement agents.

The Archbishop said the same thing was applicable to Ministers of God, who carry false witnesses, “extorting, laying the load they cannot bear on the people. You are not part of solution”.

He said Easter is a solu-

tion, when Christ made sacrifice for the mankind. “We call for sacrifice from all for the good of all” he said.

Earlier in his homily when he visited Onitsha Prisons as part of his part of Easter celebration with the inmates said they should bear in mind that there was no hopeless situation with God. “You should have hope in God who knows you.

Be a new man. Everybody has given up until God raised Christ” the Archbishop told the inmates.

He said inspite of the hopeless situation when Christ was in the grave,

Mary Magdalene unlike some of us today went to see Christ in the grave before she was told that Christ has risen.

He stressed that God rewards goodness, saying “don’t expect the beneficiaries of your goodness to reward you. Continue doing good if you want God to reward you”.

The highlights of the mass, was the confirmation of 13 persons out whom 11 were inmates of the prisons.

The Archbishop as usual donated toiletries, biscuits, noodles, cheese bon, eight bags of rice (cooked), one live cow and one slaughtered and Easter cake.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

29 Photo News

PICKNICKERS DURING EASTER CELEBRATIONS ... IN LAGOS ON SUNDAY

Photo News 30

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

PICKNICKERS DURING EASTER CELEBRATIONS ... IN LAGOS ON SUNDAY

Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right), listening to a little girl during the Easter celebration at the JJT Park, Alausa, Ikeja, on Sunday, April 1, 2018. With him is member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Tunde Braimoh (right).

Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), with a baby and fun seekers who thronged the JJT Park, Alausa, Ikeja for the Easter celebration on Sunday, April 1, 2018.

GOV AMBODE AT 2018 LAGOS BOAT REGATTA AT THE LAGOON WATERFRONT, IKOYI

Representative of Lagos State Governor and Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Oluranti Adebule (2nd right); Head of Service, Mrs, Folasade Adesoye (right); Commissioner for Tourism Arts & Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde (left) and Chairman, Lagos State Sport Fund, Otunba Femi Pedro (2nd left) during the 2018 Lagos Boat Regatta at the Lagoon Waterfront, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Sunday, April 1, 2018.

31

Tuesday, April 3 2018

EXTRATIME

Anthony Joshua celebrates with his WBO, IBO, IBF and WBA heavyweight title belts in the ring after winning his 21st fight Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua at the weekend joined million of well meaning Nigeria by re-writting the battered image of this country. No wonder the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun led delegation of well-meaning Nigerians to Cardiff, Wales venue of a boxing match between Ijebu-Ode, Ogun state-born Heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua and American born Joseph Parker to watch and cheer him by defeating his opponent, Joseph Parker. Joshua won on points 118-110, 118-110, 119-109.

In this write up by Daily Times, Governor Ibikunle Amosun was said to have meet Anthony Joshua and took a snap photograph with Joshua’s won belt namely: WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO titles.

A

nthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, was born on 15 October 1989 in Watford to a Nigerian mother and a father of Nigerian and Irish descent but grew up for much of his early years in IjebuOde, Ogun state, Nigeria.

Joshua is currently a unified world heavyweight champion, having held the IBF title since 2016, the WBA (Super) and IBO titles since 2017, and the WBO title since March 2018. At regional level he held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles from 2014 to 2016.

Joshua is forced to backtrack to the ropes as Parker comes out swinging in the sixth round as he grows in confidence

How Anthony Joshua change Nigeria’s image abroad Joshua represented England at the 2011 World Championships as an amateur in the super-heavyweight division, winning a silver medal; he also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics, winning gold.

In 2014, a year after turning professional, he was named Prospect of the Year by The Ring magazine. In 2017, Joshua’s victorious fight against Wladimir Klitschko was named Fight of the Year by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Joshua is the second British boxer, after James DeGale, to win both a gold medal at the Olympics and a world title by a major professional sanctioning body, as well as being the first British heavyweight to do so.

As of February 2018, Joshua is ranked as the world’s best active heavyweight

by The Ring,[2] the Transnational Boxing

Rankings Board, known for having exceptional punching power, he has finished all but one of his fights to date by knockout.

Joshua grew up for some of his early years in Nigeria as a boarding school student. Following his parents’ divorce at age 12, he returned to the UK halfway through Year Seven to join Kings Langley Secondary School. Growing up on the Meriden Estate in Garston, Hertfordshire, Joshua was called “Femi” by his friends and former teachers, due to his middle name, Oluwafemi. He excelled at football and athletics and broke the Year Nine 100m record with a time of 11.6 seconds.

Amateur career A late starter in the sport, Joshua only began boxing in 2007, aged 18, when his

cousin suggested he take it up. His club, Finchley ABC in Barnet, North London, is also home to professional heavyweight Dereck Chisora. Joshua won the 2009 and 2010 Haringey Box Cup. Joshua won the senior ABA Championships in 2010, in only his 18th bout, and later turned down £50,000 to turn professional. “Turning down that £50,000 was easy. I didn’t take up the sport for money, I want to win medals.” He also went on to win the same tournament the following year.

In 2010 his domestic success earned him a place on the GB Boxing team and later the same year he became British amateur champion at the GB Amateur Boxing Championships after defeating Amin Isa. In June 2011 at the 2011 European Amateur Boxing Championships he beat Eric Berechlin and Cathal McMonagle but was stopped by aggressive Romanian southpaw Mihai Nistor after receiving several standing counts.[14] In October 2011 he was named Amateur Boxer of the Year by the Boxing Writers Club of Great Britain.

2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships During the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, Joshua marked his sudden arrival on the world scene when he beat Italian reigning World & Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle, and went on to stop Erik Pfeifer of Germany in the semis before losing by a single point to local boxer, Magomedrasul Majidov winning a silver medal. En route to the final, Joshua secured his place at the 2012 Olympic Games in the 91 kg+ division as a relative new-comer to the elite level of the sport.

Nigerian-born British boxer, Anthony Joshua, flanked by Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (right) and his father, Mr. Robert Joshua, after defeating Joseph Parker, to win the WBO title at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff...on Saturday

2012 Olympic Games Joshua went into the 2012 London Olympics as a novice on the international scene, despite being a world silver medalist. He received a tough draw in the last 16 of the super heavyweight event in Cuban Erislandy Savón, ranked No. 4 in the world by AIBA and nephew of the three time Olympic champion Félix Savón. The home boxer battled through three tough

rounds in his opening contest before being given the result 17:16. This decision caused some controversy with most observers believing Savon had clearly won the bout[16] whilst a few others taking the view that he had won on merit.[17] In his next bout he fought 2008 Beijing Olympics silver medalist Zhang Zhilei, dropping his taller opponent in the middle round; Joshua won by 15:11 guaranteeing at least a bronze medal. In the semi-final Joshua met Kazakh boxer Ivan Dychko, and despite Joshua’s height disadvantage he won by 13:11 victory gaining a place in the Olympic final.

Joshua met 32-year-old reigning Olympic Champion and former twice World Champion, Roberto Cammarelle of Italy in the closing bout. After conceding the first two rounds (6:5 and 13:10) to Cammarelle, an adversary he had already beaten the previous year, Joshua grew into the fight and fought back to level the scores after the third round (18:18). Joshua was announced winner via count-back and the new Olympic champion. The final decision was criticised by some boxing experts, being defined as a “home decision”.

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to boxing.

Professional career On 11 July 2013 it was confirmed that Joshua had turned professional under the Matchroom Sport promotional banner.

Joshua made his professional debut on 5 October 2013 at the O2 Arena in London in the Main-Event of a card featuring Scott Quigg’s successful WBA super-bantamweight title defence against Yoandris Salinas, beating Italian Emanuelue Leo by a TKO in the first round. Joshua’s second professional fight was against English heavyweight Paul Butlin at the Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield on 26 October 2013. The bout was stopped in the 2nd round when the referee decided Butlin was taking too much punishment and declared Joshua the winner by TKO. Joshua’s third professional fight was on the Prizefighter Series card against Croatian Hrvoje Kisciek on 14 November 2013.

Published by THE DAILY TIMES NIGERIA (A Folio Communications Limited Company) Operational Headquarters: Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos email: info@dailytimes.ng Editor: TONY AMOKEODO Tel: 08038099089 Managing Editor: BONAVENTURE MELAH

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The Anambra Times

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

How to tackle flooding in Onistsha, by Igwe Achebe

Obiano targets more interventions in state media establishments AT2

AT 3

UNICEF presents 3 utility vans, 2 motorbikes to Anambra govt ÏÏÏThe

Governor Willie Obiano and wife during a victory match at Eke Awka market, the Anambra State capital last Wednesday after he received the Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as winner of the November 18, 2017 governorship election in the state

ANSG to complete 40km of roads before rainy season Stories by John Ndu, Awka

ÏÏÏAnambra State government

has targeted the completion of 40 Kilometres roads across the state before the next rainy season.

The roads cutting across the 21 local government areas in the state are being constructed with high standard materials.

Governor Willie Obiano disclosed this while inspecting the ongoing construction of Atani-Ozubulu Road, Ogbaru and Ekwusigo Local overnment Area.

Speaking while inspecting

the roads, Governor Obiano said the 23Km had been asphalted while the remaining 17 would be completed before the end of April.

Obiano explained that the road when completed would bridge time of transport and decongest traffic in the major roads in the state.

“We are concerned about agrarian communities. If we complete asphalting all the roads in agrarian communities, it will boom the economy of the state and reduce pieces of commodities.

“My administration will accelerate construction of more roads when the state’s revenue increases. The roads will have every standard facilities to stand the test of time. “Obiano said.

The Commissioner for Road Construction, Road Furniture and Maintenance, Mr. Lawrence Chinwuba emphasised the importance of the road, saying it would link some communities in Anambra North and South.

Chinwuba noted that the 5.6 km road would be completed as scheduled, as the contractor

had commenced the final asphalting.

The contractor, Engr Tony Madi reassurred that the state government had fully mobilized them and they would deliver in line with global standard.

The Managing Director Anambra State Advertising and Signage Agency, Chief Jude Emecheta and the Special Adviser Agriculture, Tourism, Ven Amaechi Okwuosa expressed gratitude to the governor for his prompt intervention, saying no government had responded to their needs in the past.

UNIZIK inducts 40 medical professionals, urges them to uphold professional ethics ÏÏÏThe

2018 set of medical graduates of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, numbering 40, have been inducted into the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

The induction was the 43rd ceremony of the university, held at the Metu Uzodike Auditorium, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Joseph Ahaneku, in an address of welcome, congratulated the graduates for their hard work to have survived the rigorous pro-

fessional examinations.

The Vice Chancellor, who was represented by DVC Academic, Prof. Charles Esimone, urged the graduates to go into the medical profession in the spirit of the oath they had taken, strengthened by sound training they received in character and in learning from the university.

He added that with the 43rd induction ceremony, the university had so far produced a total of 2,104 medical doctors since 1995.

The Provost, Prof. A.M.E Nwafor, noted that since the graduates acquired good knowl-

edge through strict instructions in both learning and character, they should step into the profession, bearing in mind that their work require lots of sacrifices and love for humanity.

The Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Gerald Udigwe, extolled the efforts and sacrifices of the staff and management of the university toward training quality medical doctors.

Prof. Udigwe said that they had received the best possible training they would need to conquer the world, urging them to give all they learnt toward the health benefit of mankind.

Earlier in his opening remark, the Chief Medical Director of NAUTH, Prof. Anthony Igwuegbe, congratulated the graduating students, their parents and guardians for completing the journey which he noted, had not been easy.

He urged the fresh doctors to go out and be worthy representatives of their Alma-mater.

The ceremony, attracted friends, well-wishers, parents and relations of the graduates as well as many of other dignitaries from within and outside the university.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has presented three Toyota Hilux Vans and two motorbikes to Anambra State government.

The utility vans and bikes would be used by the UNICEF body in Anambra State for effective service delivery.

Presenting the keys to Governor Willie Obiano at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, the leader of the team and Chief of (WASH) section of UNICEF, Mr. Zaid Jurji, confirmed that UNICEF, especially the water section had been working in Anambra State since 2012.

Jurji said “it is a uniform programme found by European Union geared towards ensuring safe water and sanitation for every individual”.

He assured the state government that they would increase the tempo of their projects to ensure provision of access safe water and sanitation for all citizens of the state.

Jurji commended Governor Obiano, for being responsive and faithful towards fulfilling all counterpart obligations, which includes funding and ensuring proper supervision and monitoring all on going projects being executed by UNICEF in the state, to ensure standard and quality assurance.

Receiving the keys, Governor Obiano said his government would not relent in supervising the various WASH initiative.

The Gov recalled that in 2016, his wife, Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano was decorated as the Ambassador of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), to become the first WASH Ambassador in South East, Nigeria.

He promised to sustain the partnership with UNICEF, vis-a-vis prompt payment of counterpart funds and other terms that would enhance quality service delivery.

Governor Obiano however, promised to make judicious use of the utilities vehicles to improve on human lives.

It would be recalled that Anambra is the first of the six states in the EU/UNICEF support Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme (WSSRP), to pay counterpart fund worth more than 700 million Naira.

Presently, UNICEF is executing projects in four local government in state, namely Aguata, Anambra East, Idemili South and Nnewi LGAs respectively.

The Anambra Times A2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Monarch urges Ndi Anambra to pray for Obiano’s administration

ÏÏÏ The traditional ruler of

Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor of Awka Diocese (6 left), during the blessing of 48 rooms edifice built by Catholic Diocese of Awka, Lagos Support Group.

The building will be used by the priests for their spiritual retreat

Obiano targets more interventions in state media establishments Stories by John Ndu,Awka

ÏÏÏThe

Anambra Newspapers, Printing and Publishing Corporation, publishers of National Light newspapers, owned by the state government is to be elevated as one of the best newspapers in the country.

Governor Willie Obiano made the pronouncement during the recently concluded executive council retreat held in Awka.

The Governor said having completed the ABS hundred percent, making it the best digital radio and television station in West Africa, he will now put money in the quality of the printing and publishing corporation.

Governor Obiano also said that an L shaped three story building complex that would house offices would be constructed in ABS. He urged the Commissioner designate for Information and Public Enlightenment,

Mr C-Don Adinuba to ensure that the ABS and the Anambra Newspapers, Printing and Publishing Corporation, publishers of National light newspapers are properly run in terms of aesthetic, attitude to work, dressing code among others.

Also speaking, the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Sir Willie Nwokoye, described the retreat as very rewarding, noting that the lectures delivered by resource persons whom he said are outstand-

ing, strengthened and exposed them on how to tune touches and direction for the next four days.

Sir Willie commended Governor Obiano for appointing a commissioner from Nzam, in Anambra West Council Area which is a forgotten place, adding that the move has lifted the people’s sense of belonging.

He observed that it shows that the Governor runs an inclusive government.

Umuoba Anam, in Anambra East Local Government Area, Igwe George Ekwealor, has appealed to Ndi Anambra to continue praying for the success of the Obiano administration.

Speaking to newsmen in his palace, Igwe Ekwealor, who said that the Obiano administration has transformed all critical sectors of the state economy in the last four years, urged Ndi Anambra to support the present administration with prayers to enable it surpass its previous achievements.

He commended Governor Obiano for his numerous developmental projects in his community which includes road construction, street lights, forty million naira Community Choose Your project Initiative among others.

For the State Chairman, Akpokuedike Action group, Mr. Michael Nwofia, Governor Obiano has conscientiously turned around the economic fortunes of the State, through the provision of adequate security of lives and property, mechanized agriculture, industrialization, trade and commerce, infrastructural development, among numerous other achievements and prayed God to give him the wisdom and grace to succeed in his second term.

ABS Film Academy students urged to take studies serious ÏÏÏThe

pioneer students of the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) Film Academy have been urged not to take the three months intensive training for granted but be committed and serious with their studies to enable them realise their innate potential in their chosen field of study.

The programme aimed at helping the students gain more practical experience and training in film making and visual art, script writing, cinematography, acting, make-up, animation, graphic design and broadcast journalism has 30 students registered as pi¬oneer students.

The Rector of the academy and Managing Director of

ABS, Nze Uche Nworah while declaring the academy open at ABS complex, Awka recenmtly, noted that the management of the state media started nurturing the dream of establishing the academy in the state since the past four years and thanked God that the longawaited dream has been realised.

He charged the students to prepare their minds for learning, disclosing that the best graduating student will be sponsored for fur¬ther studies at the New York Film Academy courtesy of an undisclosed American-based development partner and sponsor.

He noted that the academy is in line with the governor’s

interest in promoting creative economy which he recently added to his blueprint as part of his second term development agenda, adding that Governor Willie Obiano subsidised the entrance fee to make it affordable for interested individuals.

In his remarks, a Nollywood actor, Mr. Bob Manuel Udokwu, urged the students to be¬lieve in themselves, be creative in whatever they do and pursue their dreams and aspira¬tions diligently for excellent result.

He reminded them that the creative in¬dustry has made many in Nigeria and be¬yond, pointing out that many who are suc¬cessful

in the industry are not only those in front of the camera but people behind the camera too.

“In America and Europe for instance, women handle camera while men indulge in make-up, but the reverse is the case here because everybody wants to be seen in front of the camera,” he said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director Rockland Developers, Mr. Obi Eneh and Principal Partner, Winning Concepts/Brand Aristotle, Mr. Mike Meze, urged them not to take any profession for granted even if they get there by chance.

They called on the students to learn how to manage

success when they become suc¬cessful, adding that the idea that will shake the film industry in Nigeria has not been conceived by anybody so far.

Others who gave their goodwill message to the students included the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Willie Obiano, Mr. James Eze, Group MD of Olis Warren Group, Marcel Manafa, Nollywood actress, Oby Okafor, Media Aide to Governor Obiano, Mr. Emeka Ozumba, Anambra State Publicity Secretary of APGA, Chinedu Nkwonta and members of ABS Management Board including Mr. Gab Okpalaeze, Lady Tina Ekenta among others.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

How to tackle flooding in Onistsha, by Igwe Achebe ÏÏÏObi

of Onitsha, Igwe Nn’emeka Achebe, has observed that issue of flooding, silted drains, building on flood channels and waste management has been major bane to development of Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State.

According to him, ``a study on storm water management in the commercial city will help in developing clear master plan to tackle the perennial flooding in Onitsha’’.

Igwe Achebe said this during the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) one-day Stakeholders consultation held in Onitsha recently.

He commended efforts of the state government through NEWMAP in under taking to provide solutions.

Igwe Achebe was represented by President-General of the Onitsha Improvement Union, Chinyelugo Osita Anionwu.

The Project Coordinator for Anambra NEWMAP, Michael Ivenso, who was represented by the Natural Resources Management Officer, Mr. Emenike Ajulufo said the study would aim at mitigating perennial flooding in the metropolis and environs.

Ivenso explained that the project was based on effort of Governor Willie Obiano, who sourced for the funding from the Special climate Change Fund (SCCF). ``The fund was under NEWMAP’’.

The Coordinator said an International Consultant, Enviplan International Ltd., was selected to under-

take the study of flood and drainage discharge patterns. ``The study is intent on developing lasting solution to flooding and the menace of rain water in Onitsha and environs.”

The Transition Committee Chairman, Onitsha South Local Government Area, Mr. Emeka Asoanya noted that the project was timely and called for the redesigning of drains in the city.

One of the consultants, Mr. J.W.E Metibaiye explained that the consultancy would be achieved by identifying and assessing the storm water drainage needs of Onitsha City.

He said a Master plan was prepared to allow for detailed design and implementation of infrastructures and projects to reduce flooding, and manage the menace.

The Managing Director, Anambra State Waste Management Agency (ASWAMA), Mr. Phil Chinwuba explained that the issue of waste management required attitudinal change and the corporation of the public.

He called on the citizens to imbibe the right environmental practices. ``The situation where the citizens build on water ways and steal bins provided for refuse disposal is totally unacceptable,” Chinwuba said.

A retired Director with the National Geoharzard Monitoring Centre, Akunne Ernest Anyaegbunam, commended the efforts of Governor Obiano for addressing the issue of erosion.

The Anambra Times A3

Anambra has every facility for dry season farming - Obiano Stories by John Ndu,Awka

ÏÏÏAnambra

State government has commenced additional measures to boost food production and increase rice cultivation.

This was disclosed when Governor Willie Obiano visited Coscharis Farm at Anaku, Ayamelum local government Area, Anambra State recently.

At the visit, the Governor inspected the on going land preparation to beef up the nutrient values in the soil.

Among the land preparation include digging of deep canals round the farm to serve irrigation purposes and to keep the plants safe in the case of cow invasion.

Speaking after the inspection, Governor Willie Obiano expressed gratitude that the completion of the land preparation would witness a huge success in agriculture, which had been the dream of his administration.

The Governor observed that the Cosharis Farm had already exhausted the 2.8 hectares of land provided for agriculture, said the state government would support by

expanding the land.

The Governor noted that the irrigation initiative which the farm had introduced would complement his administration’s efforts at supporting dry season farming in the State and ultimately achieving 600 metric tons of rice annually.

The Investor, Chief Cosmos Maduka, commended the Governor for his initiative and heavy investment in agriculture to achieve maximum food sufficiency.

Maduka said the farm which is N 2.8 billion project would cultivate different plants season, geared towards achieving drastic reduction in food.

The General Manager of the farm, Mr. Bharat Dhir, said they are committed to producing the best quality rice for the state and setting a model for rice production for other states of the country.

On the same vein, Governor Obiano also visited the Federal Government National Grains Reserve at Igbariam.

It was gathered that the Reserve had been giving on lease to Coscharis Rice farm, Anaku for the next ten years.

The silos at the reserve have the capacity to store 25,000 metric tons of grains, which would be used to store paddy produced by the farm.

By so doing, it would be producing a capacity Mill of 150 metric tons daily.

In his observation after inspecting the facility, the Gov said that “with the arrangement, the farm now has a wholesome plan that will guarantee great improvement in the value chain, starting from planting up to processing and storage.

“With what my administration has done towards supporting other rice farmers, especially through the FADAMA initiative, the vision of the state to do 600 metric tons of rice annually, is now becoming more realistic,” Obiano said.

The Investor, Chief Cosmos Maduka, said the idea behind the lease agreement is to produce fresh grains, fit for human consumption and capable of competing favourably with those produced in developed countries.

He added that when the mill and silos fully come on stream, there will be prospects for electricity generation through the milling turbines as well as wealth creation.

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano (right); his wife, Ebelechukwu (centre) and the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Nkem Okeke during the Exco retreat in Awka...recently

Construct new roads in Ekwulimili, indigenes urge Obiano Ogboji: ANSG to complete has been constructed in office them, so as to end ``years ÏÏÏEkwulumili Community in road surface irrigation this month Ekwulumili by previous admin- of neglect and marginalisaNnewi South Local Government Area has appealed to Governor Willie Obiano to construct new roads in the community. ``I appeal to Anambra State Government to include Ekwulumili among communities to benefit from the next phase of road construction,’’ Ebenezer Okoli, a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

He made the call while appraising the performance of Governor Obiano over the last four years of his first term.

According to him, no single

istrations.

Okoli said the community deserved good roads because they massively voted for Gov. Obiano during the last Governorship Election in the state.

He lamented that the community had not benefited from successive governments, except the N20 million communities choose your project initiative, extended to every community in the state.

Okoli said the people of the community expected that Governor Obiano would remember them during his second term in

tion’’.

He, however, commended him for his prudent management of the state meagre resources., The chieftain praised his prompt payment of salaries and pensions, investments in agriculture, trade and commerce, and revamping of the health and education sectors.

Okoli, then, appealed to the governor to upgrade the Ekwulumili Community Hospital to a General Hospital in order to stem occurrence of preventable deaths of people and pregnant women.

ÏÏÏAnambra State government

has targeted to complete the surface irrigation project at Ogboji before the end of this month.

The project situated at Ogboji Orumba North Local Government Area is under FADAMA 3 and sponsored by the World Bank.

Governor Obiano, who disclosed this while inspecting the level of work, said the project would increase food production capacity in the effort of his administration to encourage all

year round farming.

He urged the people of the state to key into dry season farming as his administration would provide every necessary facilities.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing and Export, Mr. Afam Mbanefo said “the facility has the capacity to serve about 5000 farmers and is a major milestone towards achieving the state’s target of producing 600, 000 metric tons of rice annually”.

The Anambra Times A4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Anambra Assembly moves to stop killings at boundary area between Anambra, Kogi Stories by John Ndu, Awka

ÏÏÏThe

Anambra State House of Assembly has urged President Muhamadu Buhari, the Inspector- General of Police and all security agencies to provide security to the people of Eziagulu Otu, Aguleri and Enugwu Otu to end the senseless killing of the people by the people of Kogi State over boundary issues.

The House also urged Governors Willie Obiano and his Kogi State counterpart, Yahaya Bello,

to intervene in the issue with a view to ensuring lasting peace in the area.

The House passed the resolution following a matter of urgent public importance, sponsored by the member representing Anambra East constituency, Pharmacist Obinna Emenaka during plenary in Awka.

Moving the motion, Hon Emenaka observed that those unleashing this attacks were people sent from Kogi to study how security work in Anambra state.

The lawmaker noted that the state is witness-

ing repetition of attacks for five years even when all measures put in place to solve the boundary dispute proved abortive, such that it has gone beyond what Anambra Govt and Commissioner of Police could handle.

He, however, stressed the need for National Boundary Commission to come and identify the boundary between Kogi and Anambra State.

Supporting the motion, the Majority Leader, Mr. Victor Jideofor Okoye; Barrister Chugbo Enwezo, representing Onitsha North One con-

stituency and Dr. Pete Ibida of Njikoka Two constituency, called on President Buhari to rise up and protect the lives of citizens in the affected border communities between Anambra and Kogi states by giving necessary directives to security agencies to address this mayhem.

The Speaker, Barrister Rita Maduagwu, who read the resolution, described the issue as terrible and a sad one.

Also at plenary, members of the State Legislature took turn to congratulate Governor

Willie Obiano on his successful searing-in for a second term in office and urged him to sustain his remarkable achievements in his first tenure.

In a motion sponsored by the member representing Orumba South constituency Princess Nikki Ugochukwu and 28 others, Ndi Anambra through the House resolved to give the governor more support in his second term, praying God to give him wisdom to sustain and surpass his previous achievements.

Nteje community condemns destruction of Gov’t property ÏÏÏ.Nteje

community in Oyi Local government Area of Anambra State has expressed dismay over the level of destruction of government property by some hoodlums in the community.

Speaking for the community, the traditional ruler of Nteje, HRH Igwe Rowland Odegbo, regretted that some goons attacked the engineers and workers handling Nteje - Nando roads and inflicted various degrees of injuries on them.

Igwe Odegbo, who addressed some journalists at his palace in Nando, said the road had been neglected for the past 30 years by the previous government, but attracted government attention in Governor Obiano administration.

Hear him: “I got a call that some people from Achala Agu in Nteje invaded the workers at the site, destroying some of their equipment and injured some of them. It is an aberration. There are the people who do not want the progress of the community.

“When we heard the news, we contacted the vigilant groups and the boy who masterminded the attack was arrested and handed over to the police in Nteje.

“It was unfortunate that the DPO in Nteje released the boy within 30 minutes without interrogation. This has been his mode of operation. Once a criminal settles him, he (DPO) will release the person imme-

diately.

“We call on the Commissioner of police to quickly remove him from Nteje. He is so corrupt,” Igwe Odegbo exclaimed.

Commending Governor Obiano for his intervention on the road, Odegbo disclosed that the road had economic value to the state, being a major road, connecting various communities.

He said it would facilitate evacuation of goods by farmers to different communities and equally decongest traffic.

He, however, promised to further provide adequate security for the workers and charged the vigilante not to relent in supervising the project and ensure safety of the workers.

The President General of Nteje, Chief Ben Chinweze, assured maximum cooperation with the workers and promised serious monitoring to ensure effective delivery.

On his part, the Contractor handling the road, Sir Chuks Okolo (Pachuks Construction Company), expressed dissatisfaction with the level of attack on his workers.

Sir Okolo noted that the safety of his workers majored high in his life and would not commence construction unless there would be adequate security provided.

He promised to sustain the partnership with the State government and to deliver excellent jobs that would stand the test of time.

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano (6th right); Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev (Dr.) Paulinus Ezeokafor (5th right);Senator Victor Umeh (2nd right) and other Service Chiefs during the 2018 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration, at St Patricks Cathedral, Awka...revently

Obiano charges contractors to speed up construction ÏÏÏAnambra

State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has charged all contractors handling different road projects in the state to accelerate in order to meet up with the end of April target, to avoid next rainy season.

The Governor gave the charge while inspecting the on going construction of Ajali - Nawfija roads.

The 21.21 Km road network cut across Akpu, Nawfija, Ajali, Ufuma Ogbunka in Orumba North and South respectively.

Speaking during the inspection, Governor Obiano expressed satisfaction on the level of works, assuring that 3 km distance of the road would be asphalted before the next rains.

The Governor disclosed that the road was awarded last year

and his administration had mobilised every contractor handling road projects across the state.

“All our roads will be completed with the full compliments of a standard road. When completed, it will give a brighter prospects for agricultural revolution in the state. Our dream is to make Anambra the food basket of the nation.” the Governor said.

He commended people of the community for their cooperation with the contractor and urged them to sustain the support to enable the contractor deliver the Project on schedule.

The Commissioner for Road Infrastructure, Furniture and Maintenance, Chief Law Chinwuba noted that due to the nature of the road, the State gov-

ernment had hired a competent firm to execute it.

In his remarks, a former Chairman of Orumba South Council Area, Bar John Onyeakpa noted that the road creates a major by-pass to the very busy Umunze junction especially during festivities and said by constructing the road, Gov Obiano has done something that will remain indelible in the minds of Ndi Orumba.

For a stakeholder from Nawfija, Dr. Maduka Nwankwo, the construction of the road will make it easier for farmers in the Orumba North and South communities to evacuate their farm produce and there is no better way for the people to repay the governor than to continue to support him.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday April 3, 2018

Zenith Bank, Champion Breweries, Skye bank lift turnover Page B4

Heritage Bank, Seki partner to showcase Nigeria cultural heritage Page B5

Ekweremadu commends Senate on River Basins Bill Page B3 Ghana : Nigeria cuts gas supply by more than half

L- R: Executive Director, Institutional Banking, Sterling Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Emefienim; Executive Governor, Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sterling Bank, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman and Mr. Rasaq Aboyeji, Regional Business Executive, Sterling Bank Plc, during the Ogun State Investment Summit in Abeokuta recently.

FG set to explore alternative sources of energy – Minister The Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnya Onu has said the Federal government is vigorously exploring alternative sources of energy for the country. Dr. Onu said this when the executives of International Energy Charter Mission Team on Energy Investment Risk Assessment paid a courtesy call on him in his office last week. The Minister said that his Ministry is championing the study and research innovation in wind energy, biomass , solar and hydro that will “enable us utilize those resources we cannot exhaust over a time.”

Earlier, Investment Coordinator, of the International Energy Charter, Mr. Ishita Plant said that the aim of the Investment Risk Assessment is to help countries do what is right, create synergy and bring out those things that will benefit the people.

Ogbonnaya Onu

Reps begin probe of N2 bn, $3.8 mn unremitted proceeds from sale of Power Assets

Stories by Simon Ugwu

The House of Representatives has commenced investigate hearing into alleged unremitted N2 billion and $3.8 million proceeds from the sale of assets of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Dennis Amadi, chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee assured Nigerians of the Committee’s resolve to work assiduously in the bid to unravel any unremitted funds from sales of power holding assets.

He added that the Committee was also mandated to unravel the alleged suppression of interest element due to the Federal Government from proceeds of sale of those assets.

“This includes the generation companies, the distribution companies, the transmission companies as well as the banks involved.

“These funds are Federal Government funds and from the whistleblower which is the source of the motion, it is being alleged that the affected banks have some interest elements to remit to the federation account which has not been done.

“So it is an issue of investiga-

Dogara

tion, we have not proven them wrong yet until we get to the root of the matter.

“This investigation is in furtherance of the motion moved by the House of Representatives on March 6, 2018 and subsequently we will begin to engage stakeholders, the purported banks that are involved, owners of these banks as at today, Bureau of Public Procurement and stakeholders in the power sector.

“In the cause of this investigation, this committee should be able to draw a proper recommendation to ensure that interest ac-

cruing on those monies are being calculated and remitted to the federation account,’’ Amadi said.

According to him, some of the stakeholders expected to appear before the Committee are: management team of all deposit money banks, new investors of distribution companies (DISCOs), Generating Companies (GENCOS), officials of Federal Ministry of Power, Lands and Housing, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), National Council on Privatisation (NCP), among others.

Since the beginning of this year, Nigeria has just been sending about 60 million cubic foot of gas daily to Ghana via the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo). This is less than half of the contractual volume agreed upon during the commissioning of this infrastructure in 2011 in Nigeria. Indeed, the contractual volume was 123 million cubic foot daily and it should help generate electricity in Ghanian thermal power plants.

Even so, since the day the agreement was signed, Nigeria has never been able to send 100 million cubic foot a day.

This is revealed by the Board Chairman of the Volta River Authority (VRA), the leading electricity producer in Ghana, Kweku Andoh Awotwi, and the new managing director of Tullow Ghana who took office on March 1st.

According to the official who expressed his views in an interview with Ghana Web, this cut in the volume supplied is due to the Ghanaian party’s incapacity to pay its debts towards NGas, the Nigerian gas supplier. Apart from the debt estimated at $40.3 million, there is also the vandalism of its pipelines on the Niger and the continuous shortage of gas for Nigerian thermal centers.

“We are at about half of what we have been contractually promised, which is not good enough. There are many reasons for that; the vandalism of pipelines and the fact that we have not paid our bills”, Kweku Andoh Awotwi said. He also indicated that there were ongoing negotiations to increase the daily supply to 90 million cubic foot.

Meanwhile, the official revealed, the volume supplied are now prepaid by the Volta River Authority.

“We are putting in Letters of Credit (LCs) to get the gas,” he explained.

Let’s note that Ghana which receives about 25% of its thermal electricity needs from Nigeria, is multiplying the efforts to boost its electricity generating capacity due to the throes of power cuts.

The man also expressed his confidences in the future because his country’s gas fields could help reduce Ghana’s dependence on the gas from Nigeria. “I see that over the next 6-12 months things should improve; it ought to improve.

Sankofa is coming, TEN has started, and it balances out some of the shortfall from Jubilee”, he said.

Let’s remind that the Sankofa gas field, offshore Cape Three Points, should produce about 180 million cubic gas daily. That volume would be used for thermal electricity generation for local demands.

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

L-R: First female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Folake Solanke; CEO, BudgIT/Keynote Speaker, Mr. Seun Onigbinde; Special Adviser to Oyo State Governor on Ibadan Media City Project/Club Chief, Mr. Yomi Layinka; His wife, Damsel Bisi; and Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe, at the annual Black Tie Gala of the Silver Knights, held at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan... on Friday. Photo: Ibadan Media City

Dangote Sugar records 176.25% PAT growth Bonny Amadi Shareholders of Dangote Sugar Plc may have started boosting their holdings in the company to reap bountifully from the company’s 2018 dividend payment on the back of robust year on year performance.

The company’s 2017 audited financial statement recently released by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) revealed growth in all key performance indices year on year and quarter on quarter.

According to the result, the company’s revenue grew by 20.44 per cent to N204.42 billion in 2017 financial year from N169.73 billion posted in 2016.

Following the growth tra-

jectory, the company’s gross profit margin expanded in 2017 by 24.90 per cent, against 13.50 per cent, reflecting growth by 1140 bps.

Profit before Tax grew by 173.33 per cent to N53.60 billion year on year, from N19.61 billion posted in the 2016 financial year. Profit after Tax grew by 176.25 per cent to N39.78 billion from N14.40 billion posted in 2016 financial year.EPS (N/Per Share) also rose by 175.83 per cent to N3.31 from N1.20 recorded in 2016 Total Assets grew in 2017 financial year by 13.31 per cent year on year (y/y) to N195.08 billion from N172.17 posted in the preceding year, while total liabilities declined by 3.56 per cent to N102.34billion,

which in 2016 was N106.12 billion.

However, the result on sequential basis (Q/Q) showed

that revenue mellowed by -24.01 in the fourth quarter to N54.47 billion from N41.39 billion in Q3 2017.

Dangote Sugar refinery

Profit/ (Loss) Before Tax grew by 233.72% in Q4 to N14.35 billion million, against N4.30 billion recorded in Q3, following same trend Profit After Tax also grew remarkably in Q4 to N13.26billion from N4.28 billion in Q3.

Dangote sugar proposed a final dividend Corporate Action of N1.25 per share from N0.60 declared in 2016, reflecting dividend yield of 5.73 per cent from 9.20 per cent in the corresponding year.

The dividend is subject to shareholders approval and payable to shareholders whose names appear in the company’s register by the date of its closure on 13th April 2018 as dividend is scheduled to be payable on 22nd June 2018.

Edo secures 4 convictions on noise pollution, plans structures for sustainable recreational parks Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Hon. Reginald Okun, has said that the state government has secured the conviction of four persons for noise pollution. Okun, who disclosed this during an interview with journalists in Benin City, Edo State capital, said, “The state government is clamping down on persons who violate laws on noise pollution in the state. We have secured four convictions, with more persons to be charged to court soon.”

Okun said it is regrettable that people disregard laws on noise pollution, noting, “This government will not tolerate any behavior that disregards

law and order, or people being laws unto themselves.”

According to him, “There was a petition where someone alleged that his children find it difficult to sleep at night because of the noise in his neighborhood, only for the children to go to school to sleep during the day. It is sad how people set up external speakers and live bands outdoor, which disturb entire neighborhoods.”

Explaining how the practice is common with some religious centres, relaxation spots, night clubs and bars, he said, “They do all these without considering its adverse effect on the immediate environment. The standard practice for use of speakers in

such places, is that they set-up some form of soundproof system to restrict the sound.”

Okun said government has already set up a mechanism to warn people and sensitise them

Obaseki

on the existence of the rules and would not treat lightly those who break the law, “The state government will not relent in warning people to desist from such practice, as we will continue to serve notices to such persons. Aside prosecution, we are focusing more efforts on sensitisation as the government takes the issue of noise pollution very seriously. People with external speakers should remove such and endeavour to do the right thing.” On the use of siren, the commissioner said, “The state government is working with the Police Command in the state. We are making effort to get the Commissioner of Police to get people to understand

the proper use of siren, which is in emergency cases. We are also reaching out to the hospital management board to ensure ambulances when ambulances should use sirens.” Okun also disclosed plans by the state government to build sustainable structures for the development of recreation parks, noting, “The state government is planning to build structures that will make recreational parks self-sustaining. A monitoring mechanism to actualize this has been put in place.” He added that part of the plan is the development of new parks while the existing parks will get a facelift before the 2018 yuletide season.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

B3 Business News

Ekweremadu commends Senate on River Basins Bill Olufemi Samuel, Abuja

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has commended the Senate for passing the River Basins Development (Amendment) Bill to create an additional River Basin Authority in the South East as obtainable in other geopolitical zones.

His Special Adviser Media, Uche Anichukwu said Ekweremadu gave the commendation at the quarterly session of the Enugu West Peoples Assembly, which held at Oji River during the Easter holiday.

Ekweremadu said “Last Thursday, the Senate successfully passed a Bill to amend the River Basins Development Authority Act to give the South East an additional River Basin Development Authority. Whereas some geopolitical zones have three River Basin Development Authorities, and some others have two, the South East has only one, the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority.

“I sponsored this Bill earlier in 2011, but unfortunately, we could not get the President to sign it.

We resumed the journey in the 8th National Assembly and by the grace of God, it has been successfully passed again as part of our efforts to address this apparent injustice to our people and to boost overall national development”.

Ekweremadu and Members Representing the two federal constituencies in the District, Hon. Toby Okechukwu and Hon. Dennis Amadi, also used the opportunity to extract feedback from the people on the ongoing electricity, road, and water projects they attracted to the District.

The Senator explained that a borehole drilling machine, which was procured in 2017 for Enugu West would commence work in the first set of beneficiary communities in a fortnight. “The idea is that all communities with underground water in Enugu West will have boreholes drilled for them to have potable water for now”, he added.

Ekweremadu also used the opportunity to express gratitude to the Peoples Assembly and Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for their show of love and solidarity to the political representatives of the zone as well as for the peace in Enugu State.

“I have not seen such love from a people to their representatives as we have enjoyed from the people of Enugu West. So, I thank God that we have continued to enjoy peace in Enugu West and Enugu state as a whole. We are hoping that on April 14, 2018, we will be holding a peace rally at Udi to thank God for making Enugu State the most peaceful state in the country since the inception of the Ugwuanyi administration”, he concluded.

L-R: Mike Ogbalu, Divisional Chief Executive Officer, VERVE Intl, Tolu Agiri, Group Human Resources Officer, Interswitch Ltd, Agboola Sunday President China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) ALUMNI (Nigeria Chapter),Dr. Thelma Opara, Head, Business Development, Sales and Marketing, CEIB (Africa) and Mitchell Elegbe, Group Managing Director, Interswitch Ltd. , during the courtesy visit of the Nigeria Chapter of the CEIBS to Interswitch Ltd. In Lagos.

FirstBank’s ATMs account for 37% of bills payment services on ATMs in Nigeria

Adefolalu Afolabi

First Bank of Nigeria Limited has again validated its leadership position with the efficiency and creativity of the Bank’s Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), as it presently accounts for 37 percent of bills payment services on ATMs in Nigeria’s banking industry.

In 2017, about 402,102 bill payments were made through the Bank’s ATMs while the value of airtime purchase was about N1.7 billion.

To cater for the financial services needs of its customers and in line with its strategy to drive convenience and ease

in banking, FirstBank is presently leading in the industry as the Bank with the highest number of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), with 2,897 ATMs deployed across the Nigeria, making it the nation’s financial institution with the widest retail footprint.

A statement by the bank, said that “The Bank’s ATMs have unique functional features which include bills payment, cash transfer, air-time top-up, cash deposit among others. “The bills payment option is the non-cash transaction feature on the ATM that makes it easier for customers to pay for bills , such as Cable TV subscription, post-paid

phone bills, and pre- booked airline tickets.

“These transactions can be executed through the Quickteller option on any of the Bank’s ATMs. The Transfer feature enables customers to transfer money from their accounts to both intra (within FirstBank) and interbank (other banks) accounts, thereby reducing the queues in the banking hall, saving time as well as providing a more convenient option for customers’ money transfer needs.”

According to the statement.

“FirstBank is currently responsible for over 15 percent of interbank transactions and 21 percent of airtime

Consumer products: Google set to rival Samsung, Apple, others Ladesope Ladelokun with agency report Google has for the first time formalised a sharp India-focused strategy to roll out consumer products, which may include a mid-range smartphone, and market them aggressively to take on rivals such as Apple, Samsung and Amazon, four senior industry executives said.

California-based Alphabet, the parent company of Google, will launch its smart speakers, premium laptop Pixelbook, and intelligent home automation products, and is even planning a mid-range smartphone especially for markets such as India, the executives said. The

company will also expand distribution into general trade and spend big on marketing like Apple and Samsung have been doing in India, they said.

Google’s top brass shared details of its consumer products expansion plans in trade meets held in Malaysia, the UK and the US last month.

Select Indian retailers took part in some of the meets. “Google is excited about expansion of the consumer products business in India with the advent of cheap 4G internet led by Reliance Jio and other operators which it says will help to realise maximum potential of these products,” said a leading retailer who had participated in the meet.

An email sent to Google

remained unanswered as of press time Sunday. The company’s PR agency in India said it has nothing to share at the moment. According to the executives cited earlier, Google plans to roll out its smart speakers Google Home and Google Home Mini, which compete against Amazon’s Echo speakers, in India by the end of this month. It will undertake a big advertising campaign for this, they said.

Google plans to launch a mid-range Pixel smartphone focused on pricesensitive markets such as India around July-August, and its next flagship Pixel smartphone may hit the market around Diwali, they said. The $110-billion technology giant is also exploring launch of its pre-

mium laptop Google Pixelbook, intelligent home automation products such as doorbell, camera, alarm system, and smoke detector, sold under the Nest brand, and its Wi-fi system Google WiFi in the Indian market over the next one year, the executives said.

One of the retailers who attended Google trade meet said the internet giant does not plan to become over-aggressive to chase market share in the consumer products space; instead, it first wants to have a sizeable retail presence in the country and build the brand.

The company is expected to price Google Home and Google Home Mini smart speakers at `9,999 and `4,499, pitching them at par with Amazon’s Echo

range, the executives said.

However, the Google product will support Hindi and ten other regional languages in the country, they said. Currently, Google sells its Pixel 2 and Pixel smartphones, priced at around `40,000 to `70,999, streaming devices Chromecast and Chromecast Audio, and virtual reality device Google Daydream View in the country.

Industry executives said regular availability of these products in India has been a challenge, which the company has assured will be corrected.

“Their hardware distributor Redington will expand brick-and-mortar distribution reach,” one of the executives said.

“Google will also do instore branding and sig-

vending. As active mobile network users in Nigeria are over 142 million and the need to recharge is on the increase, the Bank’s ATMs also provide the platform for convenient and easy top-up.

“To further enhance convenience, FirstBank’s ATMs operate the Cash Deposit function which allows customers to deposit funds without customarily having to enter a banking hall for this transaction”. The Bank’s ATMs are also equipped with cardless functionality that makes it easier for non-bank customers to deposit or withdraw money from the ATMs without a Debit card.

nage in selected stores, and set up exclusive zones with speciallydesigned fixtures like Apple,” the person said. Google’s expansion into neighbourhood mobile phone stores was decided after it found that these stores account for 36% of Pixel sales in India, next only to ecommerce that accounts for 38% of sales. Large retail chains account for 26% of sales, the executives said.

However, company executives were largely mum when retailers had asked about plans to open either company-owned or franchised exclusive stores in the country. “They said no decision has been taken regarding this,” said a retailer who attended one of the trade meets. “But they certainly want to expand their offline presence since most of the upcoming products require consumer experience.”

Capital Market B4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Zenith Bank, Champion Breweries, Skye Bank lift turnover Bonny Amadi

The Nigerian equities market closed marginally up on Thursday 29th March 2018 after losing for two consecutive weeks.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)-ASI gained 0.08 per cent week-on-week (w/w) in the outgone week, despite closing down in three out of the four trading sessions of the week.

Analysts however expressed that the significant gain of 1.72 per cent recorded Friday drove the ASI up for the week. As a result, market capitalization advanced marginally to N14.99trillion, from N14.98trillion in the previous week.

The market opened for four trading sessions last week, as the Federal Government of Nigeria declared Friday 30th March 2018(Good Friday) and Monday 2nd April 2018(Easter Monday) as public holidays.

Meanwhile, a total turnover

Ï Md& d9 ƈ ƠêƠƤü ƓƆƆƊ ƓƆƆƊ of 1.541 billion shares worth N16.647 billion in 18,805 deals were traded during the week by investors on the floor of the Exchange in contrast to a total of 2.328 billion shares valued at N28.927 billion that exchanged hands in the preceding week in 25,530 deals.

The Financial Services Industry measured by volume led the activity chart for the week with 1.024 billion shares valued at N10.946 billion traded in 11,019 deals, thus contributing 66.44 per cent and 65.75 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Consumer Goods Industry followed with 213.704 million shares worth N3.053 billion in 2,693 deals. The third place was occupied by Oil and Gas Industry with a turnover of 158.643 million shares worth N908.260 million in 1,897deals.

Trading in the Top Three

Equities namely, Zenith International Bank, Champion Breweries and Skye Bank measured by volume accounted for 485.832 million shares worth N5.851 billion in 2,221 deals, contributing 31.53% and 35.15% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively Also traded during the week were a total of 15,293 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N254,840.00 executed in 16 deals, compared with a total of 4,165 units valued at N78,276.06 that was transacted last week in 15 deals.

A total of 21,583 units of Federal Government Bonds and 1 (one) State bond valued at N22.868 million were traded this week in 16 deals, compared with a total of 5,152 units valued at N4.562 million transacted last week in 24 deals.

The NSE All-Share Index

and Market Capitalization appreciated by 0.08% to close the week at 41,504.51 and N14.993 trillion respectively.

Similarly, all other indices finished lower during the week with the exception of the NSE Premium, NSE Consumer Goods, NSE Lotus II and NSE Pension Indices that appreciated by 1.15%, 1.73% 1.58% and 0.34% respectively Forty (40) equities appreciated in price during the week, higher than thirtythree (33) of the previous week. Forty (40) equities depreciated in price, lower than forty-nine (49) equities of the previous week, while ninety-one (91) equities remained unchanged higher than eighty-nine (89) equities recorded in the preceding week.

An additional volume of 836,983,125 ordinary shares of Morison Industries Plc were listed on The Daily Official List of The Exchange on Monday, 26 March 2018.

The additional shares listed arose from Morison Rights Issue of 836,983,125 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at

L-R: Babajide Soyode, Technical Consultant to the President/Chief Executive; Mansur Ahmed, GED, Stakeholder Management and Corporate Communications; Sunny Iyuke, Principal/Chief Executive, Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Warri and Abubakar

n ƈƐƕ Ɗ ƏƆƄƑƐ ÕƠü ƏƆ ƋƗƈ Ɛ LƈƋ Ɛ 1Ƌ Ƅ Ƌ Bonny Amadi

Unity Bank Nigeria Plc said that the bank has started discussion with Milost Global Incorporated and others, but yet to consummate any relationship as published in various Newspapers recently. The bank’s chief Executive officer Mrs Oluwatomi Somefun who led a team of the bank’s board to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) recently to explain the issue, said that the bank has not conceded 60 per cent of its shares to Milost Global or any other investor, and that with shareholders mandate, working towards boosting its capital base as prescribed by the regulatory authorities, and has entered into discussion with investors including Milost Global Incorporated.

The bank added that all through the engagements, it has been properly guided by the extant regulations concerning capital raising and equally made the process open to all prospective investors.

Unity Bank avowed that the financial institution did not lie on the facts presented to the regulators and stakeholders and consequently enjoin the general public especially “our esteemed shareholders and other stakeholders to be cautious of the news circulating in the local news media”.

It added “There was no agreement whatsoever with Milost Global alluding to 60 per cent Unity Bank Plc shareholding. Reassuring stakeholders of the bank, Unity bank explained that, Milost Global Inc. is one of the prospective investors introduced to the Bank by a local entity called Mayo BV, adding that it is not unusual that this introduction and expression of interests would involve some level of preliminary discussions and exchange of nonbinding documentary communications between the intending parties towards establishing mutual foundation on which the transaction con-

templated will be initiated.

Unity bank further elaborated that the “Term Sheet” dated September 4, 2017 said to have been executed was a “proposal” submitted by Milost Global Inc. “for discussion purposes only and not a commitment” by the parties. No definitive documentation governing the proposed financing was executed. According to the bank, It is in relation to the preliminary discussions that courtesy visits were exchanged between representatives of Milost and the Bank in 2017 and early 2018.

The Bank’s Managing Director/CEO Mrs Somefun was in New York in October 2017 for other engagements and decided to visit Milost and verify the firm’s address as well as put a face to the officers of Milost that have been engaging the Bank via telephone and emails. It added that during the visit, a brief meeting was held and discussions were around the dynamics of Milost proposal to Unity Bank Plc, and socialization of the policies and regulations around equity investment in Nigeria. The Bank did not at any time suggest or agree to move its listing from the NSE to the USA as falsely reported in the media.

As stated in our previous correspondence, the Bank through the mandate of its Board and shareholders has been involved in series of preliminary engagements with several prospective investors including Milost, but the Bank did not execute a binding definitive agreement with Milost GlobalInc. It is therefore a misnomer for anyone to claim that the Bank issued a false statement relative to the nature of the communication between Milost and the Bank. The nomenclature.

“Commitment Letter” was apparently adopted by Milost in its communication to buttress its seriousness to proceed with the transactions subject to relevant compliance requirements.

_ƾ ƍƆ ƓƈƐ MƤƢƢêǀǀƄ ƈ ƇƋ Ɠ Ɛ ƇƑƏƐ ƆƏ ƅ ƐƏ ƅƐ R è RƃM Ə ƐƆ Bonny Amadi Trading activities in the second quarter of the year in the money market commenced for the first week of April with expected inflows totalling N833.55 billion during the week, likely to beef up liquidity and further contract overnight lending rates.

Expected inflows this week totalling N833.55 billion, are tied to maturing OMO bills valued N338.50 billion, maturing treasury bills valued N190.40 billion as well as FAAC allocation

of N304.65 billion. The liquidity aggregation is expected to overweigh expected outflows thereby boosting liquidity in circulation and further compressing the overnight lending rate.

The N833.55 billion expected inflow will outweigh the total projected out flow during the week totalling N190.40 billion.

At the NTB auction scheduled this week, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN ) will offer NGN95.20 billion, N9.52billion of the 91-day, N47.60 billion of the 182-day, and NGN38.08 billion of the 364-day worth of bills to the

market.

Meanwhile in the weekly activities ended Thursday March 29, Friday March 30th was declared public holiday by the federal government to mark Good Friday celebration of the Christian faith, the overnight lending rate reduced to 8.08 per cent, representing a 484bps w/w contraction, against last week’s close of 12.9 per cent.

In the absence of any major outflows, N201.12 billion inflows from matured OMO bills supported system liquidity during the week Also during the week,

events in the Nigerian Treasury Bill (NTB) market were bullish, with sentiments driven by increased liquidity levels. Average yield fell by 14 bps to 14.74 per cent. High demand for the 21DTM which eased by 157 bps, 98DTM shedding 92 bps, and 189DTM’s 43 bps easing caused yield contraction by -7 bps at the short, -18 bps at the mid and -9 bps at the long ends of the curve, respectively.

Yields are expected to drop in the meantime, supported by expected buoyant system liquidity.

However, in the bond market, average yield rose by 16bps, to 13.69 per cent, on the back of quarter-end profittaking. Yields expanded at the short end by 18 bps, mid end by 13 bps and long end by 16 bps, following selloffs of the JUL-2021 which gained 26 bps, MAR-2027 bonds that added 14 bps, and MAR-2036 which appreciated by 25 bps.

The forex market remained stability, as the USD/NGN traded flat at N362 all week in the parallel market, while it strengthened by 0.14% to N360.20 in the I&E FX window.

The apex bank continued

to support the naira, injecting USD210 million into the FX market during the week, comprising USD100 million, USD55 million, and USD55 million disbursements to the wholesale, SMEs, and invisibles windows, respectively.

The foreign reserves continued to record steady deposit, as it increased by 1.21 per cent to cross the USD46 billion-mark at USD46.21 billion. Meanwhile, total turnover in the I&E FX window in the holiday-shortened week was 13.47 per cent lower than the previous week at USD950.62 million.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

B5 Money Market

Heritage Bank, Seki partner to showcase Nigeria cultural heritage

Heritage Bank Plc, has partnered with Yibo Koko in association with Bolanle Austen – Peters Productions to showcase some of Nigerian cultures to the world through presentation of a dance drama known as Seki in Lagos.

The event which held at the popular Terra Kulture Arena was graced by members of the diplomatic corps, bank officials and lovers of arts and it featured notable celebrities like Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda Coker, Ibinabo Fiberisima, Julius Agwu, Ovunda Ihunwo, Peace Christian, Deborah Job, Opereke Jamabo Foh and Mercy Albert among others as casts.

Speaking on Heritage Bank’s involvement in the project, the bank’s MD/CEO, Ifie Sekibo said, “Heritage Bank is doing this to preserve the culture of our people, the wealth of the people is in our culture. Heritage is what makes us who we are.

So it is that heritage we are preserving so that we can transfer it from generation to generation.

“We know this is entertainment industry and is a very big industry out there and there are so many ways we can capture the essence of who we are, our tradition, our values and this what they are conveying through this dance drama.”

Seki, which is created and directed by Yibo Koko, a notable film maker; is a pantomimic dance drama which traces the America tap dance to the indigenous people of the lower Niger Delta area of Nigeria and it is fused with cultural heritage.

On what inspired the dance drama, Koko who used to be the head of production of African Magic with Multichoice said the idea “is to start our own thing without necessarily relying on the white race for the interpretation of our culture.”

He said Seki, “is to show how rich we are as a people, how we can embrace our culture that it is not fetish but it is colourful, beautiful and wonderful and something we can sell to the world.”

On why it was performed in Lagos, the director said, “It is to showcase what we have at first to a large audience so that they will not always associate the Niger Delta region with militancy, adding that there are a lot of positive things for them to come and witness in the region.

Seki, the dance drama which was originally created in 1998 as, OwuAmaputi, was an official entry to the 10th anniversary of the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.

“It is a collaborative rhythmic agreement of dance patterns of different ceremonial dance groups predominantly from the Okrika, Kalabari, Bonny and Ikwerre ethnic groups in the lower Niger Delta Area of Rivers State, Nigeria,” Koko said.

The dance groups include Owembe Dancers, Pioru/Ogwein Dancers, Ojongowu Dancers and Ikule Pamba Owu Dancers.

According Koko, Seki is of mythical origins whose narrative stems from the vault of oral tradition and essentially from pantheons of the Ijaws.

Gé`ë 0 ƏƌƆƏ 1 ƒƆƏ Ə Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƗƆƇƑ ƅƐ zƆ ƐƆƏ dƐ ƐƆè 1Ɔ ê RƋƑƓ ƋƆ ` Ɛƈƌƈ æƏƆƐƗçì &ƌƆƏƈƐƑ ^Ə ƇƆ Ə RƋ Ɨƈƍ Ɗƈ ƊƑ ƄƆì Ɨ ƌƆƌƄƆƏ Ƈ dƈƋƒƆƏ E ƈ Ɛ ƃ &Rè 9Ƅ Ɨ Ƒ ƈ Ɔ dƅ Ƌè ƈƓ ƉƑ ƈ Ɗ 0 Ƒƕƈè ƗƑƏƈ Ɛ Ɔ Ƒ Ƌ Ƌ ƅƊ jƈƆ 1 Ƌ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƅƋƑƄè ƆƋƗ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ^ƏƆƌƈƆƏ 6 ƐƆƋè 9Ƅ Ɨ êêê 0ƏƈƗ ƕê ^ Ɛ ë 9Ƅ Ɨ LƆƗƈ ƈƐƕ

Forex, T-bills, others account for N24.27trn turnover in 2 months

Ï Ƣ #L ƏƆƅ ƏƗ Õơü ƐƏ ƅƐƈ ƒ ƋƑƆ 0L#_ Rj Stories by Motolani Oseni Foreign Exchange market, Treasury Bills (T-bills); FGN Bonds; Other Bonds; Eurobonds; Repurchase Agreements/ Buy-Backs and Unsecured Placements/Takings accounted for N24 .27 trillion total turnover trade on FMDQ over-the-counter (OTC) securities and Exchange between January and February 2018.

Also, three banks, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc recorded 61.01 per cent total transactions value declared on FMDQ OTC in the first two months this year.

The breakdown of the figure obtained from the FMDQ OTC, revealed that Foreign Exchange market value during the consid-

ered period stood at N5.7 trillion, while market turnover in Foreign Exchange Derivatives was N2.76 trillion between the same period.

A total of N10.2 trillion was traded on the Treasury Bills market; N1.4 trillion, FGN Bonds; N6.9 billion, Other Bonds; N7.2 billion, Eurobonds; N3.89 trillion, Repurchase Agreements/Buy-Backs and N214 billion, Unsecured Placements/ Takings.

“Trading activities in Treasury bills contributed the largest to overall turnover, accounting for 41.93per cent of the market. Foreign exchange market transactions (Spot FX and FX Derivatives) accounted for 35.24per cent whilst Repurchase Agreements (Repos)/ Buy-Backs product categories (Repos/Buy-backs) accounted for 16.02per cent, and Bonds and Un-

secured Placements & Takings representing 5.94per cent and 0.88per cent respectively, of overall market turnover,” the report by FMDQ OTC stated.

The report stated that, “With a total of $11.66 billion worth of the Naira-settled OTC FX Futures contracts traded on FMDQ, the 21st OTC FX Futures contract, NGUS MAR 28 2018, with notional amount of $437.52 million, matured and settled on Wednesday, March 28, 2018.

This maturity, however, brings the total value of matured OTC FX Futures contracts on FMDQ, since the inception of the market in June 2016 to date, to circa $8.46 billion.

“As with the other maturities, and in line with standards stipulated in the FMDQ OTC FX Futures Market Operational Standards, the contract stopped trading eight (8)

days before its maturity and was valued against the NAFEX – the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Fixing – the FMDQ reference Spot FX rate published on Wednesday, March 28, 2018. The associated clearing/settlement activities were effected accordingly.

Consistent with its treatment across the past twenty (20) maturities, the Central Bank of Nigeria introduced a new contract, NGUS MAR 27 2019 for $1.00 billion at $/ N361.96 to replace the matured contract and refreshed its quotes on the existing contracts.”

In March, the FMDQ admitted the FSDH Merchant Bank Limited N4.51 billion Series 5 & N14.05 Series 6 commercial paper (CP) notes under its N30.00 billion CP Debt Issuance Programme, for quotation on its platform.

According to FMDQ OTC monthly report, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Access Bank and UBA were the leaders in the value traded for the overall OTC market, ranking 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively.

CBN says Manufacturing Index closes at 56.7 Index point As level of business activities in the country continued to increase, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disclosed that its Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) closes March at 56.7 index points.

The 56.3 index points indicated expansion in the manufacturing sector for the 12th consecutive months, the report by CBN said.

The CBN had reported 56.3 index points in February from 57.3 index points in January in what analysts attributed to stability in the foreign exchange market, among other factors. The CBN uses nonmanufacturing and manufacturing that comprises of Production Level, New Orders, Supplier Delivery Time, Employment Level and Raw material Inventories to measure the index.

According to CBN’s PMI report,

“the Manufacturing PMI in the month of March stood at 56.7 index points, indicating expansion in the manufacturing sector for the twelfth consecutive month. “The index however grew at a faster rate, when compared to the index in the previous month. Of the 14subsectors surveyed, 11 reported growth in the review month in the following order: electrical equipment; cement; petroleum & coal products; food, beverage & tobacco products; chemical & pharmaceutical products; fabricated metal products; paper products; transportation equipment; plastics & rubber products; textile, apparel, leather and footwear and primary metal. The remaining 3 subsectors contracted in the following order: nonmetallic mineral products; furniture & related products and printing & related support activities.”

“At 59.1 points, the production level index for the manufacturing sector grew for the thirteenth consecutive month in March 2018. The index indicated a faster growth in the current month, when compared to its level in the preceding month.

Seven of the 14 manufacturing subsectors recorded increase in production level, three remained unchanged, while the remaining four recorded declines in production level during the review month.

“At 56.1 points, the new orders index grew for the twelfth consecutive month, indicating increase in new orders in March 2018. Six subsectors reported growth, 5 remained unchanged while 3 contracted in the review month.

“The manufacturing supplier delivery time index stood at 56.6 points in March 2018, indicating faster supplier delivery time for

the tenth consecutive month. 10 subsectors recorded improved suppliers’ delivery time, one remained unchanged while three subsectors recorded delayed delivery time.

“The employment level index in March 2018 stood at 53.3 points, indicating growth in employment level for the tenth consecutive month. Of the 14 subsectors, 7 subsectors increased their employment level, 2 remained unchanged while 5 reduced their employment level in the review month. “The Manufacturing sector inventories index grew for the twelfth consecutive month in March 2018. At 59.4 points, the index grew at a faster rate when compared to its level in the previous month. Nine of the 14 subsectors recorded growth, two remained unchanged while three recorded decline in raw material inventories.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

B6 CSR

How corporate governance affect corporate social responsibility

Stories by Godwin Anyebe

Corporate social responsibility which is critical to business owners and the communities at large has suffered lots of setback in Nigeria. This, many attribute to failure of corporate governance in a society which practices are essential to achieving and maintaining public trust and confidence.

Analysts believe that what is happening in Nigeria more often than not is nothing but corporate investment where brand handlers use subtle marketing skill to make the larger society believe that it is corporate social responsibility.

For these analysts, while a strong corporate governance culture in an organization encourages success and business sustainability, poor corporate governance may contribute to bank failures which could in turn lead to a run on the bank, unemployment and negative impact on the economy as well as corporate social responsibility.

Checks by Daily Times reveal that, effective governance requires a proactive culture of commitment and engagement that drives both the board and the organization it governs toward high performance. Engaged cultures are characterized by honesty and a willingness to challenge, and they reflect the social and work dynamics of a high-performance team.

Speaking on this issue, chief executive officer core experiential marketing limited, Solabomi Okonkwo said; “the failure of some companies in the area of corporate social responsibility in Nigeria is as a result of weak or complete absence of corporate governance structures.”

According to her,” in 2005, there were eighty nine deposit banks operating in a highly concentrated market with the top ten banks accounting for over eighty per cent of the total assets/liabilities. The statutory capitalization requirement was N2 billion and the small size of these banks had an adverse effect on their cost structure thus making the cost of intermediation high.”

Further, she pointed out that, “the total capitalization of all Nigerian banks then stood at N293 billion, which was just the size of the fourth largest bank in South Africa. As a result Nigerian banks were unable to finance major transactions in the growing oil and gas, and telecom sectors, which constitute the fastest growing sectors in the Nigerian economy.”

While commenting on the way out she stated that, “in my opinion for a code of ethics to be global, it must entail some generalist as well as generic attributes. For instance, an international code of business ethics must traverse

countries, cultures, race, and environment.

Also speaking on this issue, A management consultant, pemi Samuel disclosed that; “I have come to appreciate the fact that societies are complex and dynamic in nature. Necessitating the need to conduct proper stakeholder analysis achievable only through effective communication methods and managing expectations.”

While speaking on forward of how corporate governance affect corporate social responsility, he pointed out that, “exploring the various approaches to adopt in ensuring that Leaders within Nigerian organisations begin to drive the required change and implement standards that will forestall non-compliance to incountry business and regulatory policies.”

“Managers as well as lead-

ers can effectively improve their sense of right and wrong in themselves, in a work place and in the society by conducting what I reference to as a personal reflexive test. Helps in emphasizing eureka moments in a workplace, referred to as the three-defining moments.” He said He also disclosed that, in reviewing the similarities of the narrative above, all three models require reflexive unbiased thinking with an ability to accept critique, ability to collect and analyze gaps in morals and seek out solutions to fixing unethical gaps identified For him, “Ethical Room For Maneuvering is a time bound process that takes into consideration social-economic variables and interest such that it breaks into the fabric of society and all its inhibitions to ethics. It’s all encompassing as it considers the threats as

well as opportunities that can be derived by the citizen or customer within the society and off course with the probability to extendable such variables across other countries and regions, thereby providing the ground rules for establishing a truly international code of ethics. “ For instance, he continued, the needs of one society can be mapped onto the needs of others such that ethical codes can be replicated and re-usable across boundaries and bounders as emphasized by the “EU general Food Law, based on its ability to enable full compliance with strict rules”.

He also disclosed that “two major pros which are its ability to minimize threat of coercion and eliminating restrictions to general societal needs while communicating to stakeholders via a proper collaborative framework

that engenders ownership and acceptance. Nevertheless, “Ethical Room For Maneuver” (ERM) still possess cons such as its dependency on information stream and time-investment required in stakeholder validation and verification of data collection, input, analysis, processing, output and review.”

“The “Ethical Room For Maneuver” (ERM) concepts and its framework appeals greatly to work-base problem and begins to empower us with the required tools such as an ethical traceability scheme thereby ensuring leadership remains committed to building efficacy and efficiency in the organization’s code of conduct with prejudice for norms and also help to collaborate internally in ensuring absolute compliance to both local and international business codes of ethics. “ he added

L-R: Corporate Marketing Manager, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Hari Elluru; Managing Director, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Taeick Son; Managing Director Fouani Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mohammed Fouani; Executive Vice President, Business Support Officer LG Electronics, Mr. Choong Hak Lee; and Vice President, LG Electronics, Mr. Dae Sik Yoon, during the commissioning of LG Electronics free laundry service at LG showroom in Ogba Lagos... at the weekend. Photo: Olatunji Wale

Promasidor Nigeria celebrates 254 employees Promasidor Nigeria Limited, recently honoured 254 of its employees who have put in several years in its service. The award ceremony, which was held in Lagos, brought together the company’s employees, relatives and distributors from different parts of the country.

Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr. Anders Einarsson told the audience that the awardees were honoured for their commitment, hard work and loyalty to the organisation. He said the celebrated employees, who he urged others to emulate, had grown through the rank and become pillars of Promasidor’’s growth as a result of their exceptional work

ethics and positive attitude. He stated: “For us at Promasidor Nigeria, the Long Service Award is not just a tradition. It is an opportunity to celebrate and honour our employees for their dedication, hard work, commitment and loyalty to the company. Most of them joined the company at an entry level but grew to the positions of regional sales managers. Such promotions do not come without measurable performances and hard work.

“At Promasidor, it is about good attitude, hard work and commitment. The awardees have met these standards; hence they have not only remained with us but have also become part of the pillars. The 20-year service awardees joined

the company when it was just five -years old in Nigeria. What does that imply? They have witnessed the different stages of its growth and transformation.” The three categories of awards were 20, 15 and 10 years in service with the beneficiaries evenly distributed among key departments, including sales, marketing, administration, engineering, finance and procurement. Anih Chidubem, who rose from the position of Marketing Assistant to Regional Sales Manager in his 20-year career at the company, described Promasidor as “a merit-driven organisation.”

He further said: “Promasidor Nigeria is a fair organisation. If you are promoted, it means that you de-

serve it. For some of us who have been around for a while, it is not just a business organisation but a warm family. And I am very fortunate to have been part of it.”

Another awardee, Modupeoluwa Awonusi said the company was able to retain brilliant and hardworking staff because it rewards excellence and dedication.

“Organisations that reward productivity, creativity and commitment keep their best employees.

Certainly, Promasidor is one of the few organisations that know how to keep committed people. Twenty years after I joined the company, I am not still in a hurry to leave the great family, which Promasidor has become.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, April 3, 2018

B7Interview

We have improved on navigation aids - NAMA boss Gone are the days when pilots flew blindly to their destinations without functional navigational aids, poor communications between Pilots and control tower. The Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Capt Fola Akinkuotu, in a recent chat with aviation journalists in Lagos, believes it’s no rocket science but determination to serve just as he creates conducive working environment for workers. CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO, was there for The Daily Times

Q

: What’s your opinion of the Nigerian aviation industry in recent times vis-à-vis the fact that we had zero accident in 2017?

I started off as an engineer and as an engineer, I rose through the ranks and I was lucky at one point in my life to have taken care of the presidential fleet at the very beginning. The principal in NCAT Zaria in those days looked at me as well as late Vice-Principal Bamidele and said, ‘You should be a pilot’ but my mum would not hear of it. So I finished my engineering career and opportunity came up. I was privileged to have been given a scholarship, I became a pilot and at the same time I did my flight engineering course. So I rounded it all off as an Engineer and Pilot. I worked in Nigerian Airways. Again, opportunities came, I managed airlines, I was given the opportunity to help start, sometime helped develop and worked hard in the history wherever I had the opportunity.

So it is possible that I have an opinion about how the industry has progressed. A healthy man rarely realizes what good health means and what we have sometimes we don’t appreciate it.

There is no doubt in my mind that this industry has made tremendous progress. In the years back even up to the early 70s, to fly an ILS (Instrument Landing System), you had to go to Cotonou but now we have a proliferation, ILSs is all over the place. As a matter of fact we are not only clamouring for ILS, we are clamouring for ILS Category 3A and we want to land in zero-zero visibility. The structures in terms of infrastructure, I mentioned in the beginning that the first time I came to this airport in 1960 when my uncle was going to England, we departed from where MMA2 is today and it was just one little building. Now we have an edifice at the international airport which was declared open in 1979 and we are saying that, well this place is no longer big enough for us. So we’ve seen progress, we’ve seen more airports. Look at the airlines, in 1969, only Nigerian Airways was there and I think the first breakthrough into the industry by a private operator was by GAS by Engineer Olubadewo. And then came in Bani with Intercontinental Airlines and he was the first private person who flew people international on London particularly during summer. But look at us today, Arik at one point had more planes as a private operator than Nigeria Airways had. There is Aero Contractors being the oldest airline in this country. Look at Air Peace, they are buying airplanes and increasing their fleet as if it is going out of style. Med-View is there, they have broken the barriers, they are going to London, they’ve gone to Dubai.

Look at Air Peace once again, not only have they increased fleet, they want to go international, they have brought in the first truly wide-bodied airplane.

Arik had broken barriers. When they started, the slogan was tearrubber. They brought in brand new airplanes. They went to London, they even crossed to the West. Have our airlines progressed? Sure, we have.

We’ve seen progress in infrastructure,

AKINKUOTU we have seen progress in airlines even manpower. I heard I wasn’t there, that during the time of Capt. Hayes if you came back, you were given a house immediately.

I could go on and on about the progress we have made. We have seen progress even in the fractionalizing of government structure. We started out with the Ministry of Transport and then we had the Civil Aviation Unit somewhere off Marina. We have seen a situation where we have created different parastatals. At least now we have more. We have diversified our abilities to manage the requirements of the industry. In summary I think we have moved ahead but like everything in life, we always want more and therefore we should aspire for more. So in terms of progress I believe we have made good progress but there is always room to improve.

On the issue of zero accident in 2017.

It was majorly a global thing and it touched us here. So we should all be happy for it. There is no passenger that leaves his house that wants to travel by air, whose thought is, will this flight be safe? The assumption is that it would be a safe flight. Therefore, zero accident is a goal that we must always strive to achieve. Like any human endeavour, we know that there might be failure, there might be challenges along the way even the space programme. We all remember we have suffered a few setbacks.

Difficult times though not desirable but nonetheless there are lessons to be learnt. So the accidents we have had in the past have helped us to look at the issues, to meet the challenges and there-

fore we salute ourselves by saying, well, 2017 was an accident-free year and we should do everything to maintain that.

I do believe that we have done well in 2017 but that does not mean we should let down our guards because it is when we let down our guards that we become complacent, we get our heads swollen and then we forget ourselves. So let us not be carried away by the zero accident issue but to see that being first in any race is not quite as difficult as maintaining being first. So zero accident is a challenge for us that we have to continue to replicate.

My stay in the saddle of NAMA is one year old and if I think back about where I have been, I have learnt my lessons, I have had my fingers burnt, I have taken a few of those things to heart and God has been kind. I have been told.

You don’t see myself being able to see what I have done but I have been told that since I got to NAMA, we have made good effort to address welfare issues and therefore, one key thing, they had a situation where in 2003, a letter was written by government asking NAMA salaries to be harmonized with that of FAAN. But 15 years down the line, nothing has been done but we have harmonized salaries. My people are happy for it that the management has been able to do that. In the aviation industry, training is paramount and real training. As a pilot I know that every six months in those days, I needed to be checked.

So there is need to train, to continue training and to retrain. And therefore, for me, I maybe because I have always been a trainer. As a matter of fact, you won’t believe that at one point I

started as a teacher after my A-Levels.

So during the summer holidays before you go to university, you would teach and I taught mathematics. For me the idea of people being trained and being retrained is essential. Being exposed to new information on whatever is happening around us. So in NAMA I couldn’t help but focus on training. In one year, I have heard that my people are happy that they have got more training than they gotten in five years which I am truly happy about. It is not my money, it is the money that they have made. We should use it to educate them so that they can do their job better.

In the field of equipment, as a pilot I know that I had issues on the Southeast corridor in particular and sometimes I think even in the Northwest, we had challenges on radio. So it became a task for me that must be done. So we have put radios, new radios in several places but we are not there yet. I like to believe that by the end of April, we should see some significant improvement. We are going to sectorize Lagos for example so that the job of the air traffic controllers for example will become easier such that some people will talk to Lagos East, some people will talk to Lagos West with new equipment that will improve the clarity of communications.

So to that end we are making effort to improve on communications. I have heard that some people have said communication is better but I have also heard some people say there are still challenges. That is why I said we will continue to make efforts, we are buying new equipment. By the end of April, we expect some of the new equipment to have arrived and it will be one step not the totality of what is required but at least a step in the right direction to address the issue of communication.

Also if you recall that the business of NAMA is quite shortened as CNS - Communication, Navigation and Surveillance. In the issue of navigation, a pilot cannot get from point A to point B in today’s environment without ground based or cloud based equipment that he would get information from.

On navigation, let me start by the challenge we had last year. Just as I came, I think that was my baptism of fire. I was not consulted, I was not even there at that time when Abuja Airport runway was evaluated as failing and therefore it had to be closed. The alternate chosen was Kaduna which at that time did not have an Instrument Landing System. The big boys, the international carriers, would not want to come and some of our local carriers, wouldn’t even like to come. ILSs make life it easier for pilots, makes it safer for the industry. So we got a marching order to install a brand new ILS in Kaduna and have it calibrated. In three weeks the staff of NAMA did it and to this day I cannot help but salute the fact that these people actually have the stuff.

So we installed the ILS in Kaduna, we calibrated it and till today it is perfect.

In the one year also in the area of navigation, it is not only Kaduna that needed change. In Kano, Kano has another brand new ILS and a DVOR. They’ve been calibrated and they are

fine. Lagos is getting a new ILS. We have completed the civil works and installation has commenced. We’ve gone to Maiduguri, we’ve done the civil works, they will get a brand new ILS and a DVOR. In one year in terms of navigation also, installing equipment and not calibrating them to find out whether they are good or not is not enough. We have three sets of calibration in the last one year to measure the accuracy of navaids. In surveillance I give a lot of credit to the engineers in NAMA. We have engaged the manufacturers of our NAV-surveillance equipment in trying to renew the upgrade and maintenance agreement that has expired in 2014. So we are making effort, we are getting spares to maintain the system and government also approved the installation of the multilateration equipment in the Southeast corridor such that we will be able to capture low flying objects and provide them guidance. So overall I think we have hit the three key areas that were required. I don’t believe that any system can be perfect and so there is the need for us to continue to look at these things and improve on them.

Somebody asked me 2017 was accident-free what did we in NAMA contribute? In NAMA we hold our heads proud but usually, maybe we are the power behind the throne. How many passengers know anything about ILS? How many of them know about the guardian system? How many of them know about Performance Based Navigation (PBN)? They don’t know and therefore each time aviation is discussed in public, we all complain about, ‘oh, the air conditioning is not working’ at International. MM2 complains about the longevity of their contract. We talk about the runway in Enugu, in Abuja on and on. But I think each time we talk about NAMA which is not so often, it is in enlightened circles because the pilots complain to us but the public does not get to hear that as often. Sometimes you guys who are in the enlightened pole, you get to hear about it, you complain to me about it. NAMA has made great contributions before my time, during my time and even ahead of my time in the future, we will continue to make contributions.

Without NAMA, aviation will not be what it is today. Way back maybe 20, 30 years ago if you wanted to land at the domestic terminal maybe as pilots, not only as co-pilot must you know that as you come from Iju where the VOR is located, at seven nautical miles from the airport, close to the airport, you cross Agege Motor road, every pilot knows Agege motor road and as you cross it, there is a Catholic church on the right which has a green roof, once you saw those things, you knew you were in the neighbourhood.

But today we are not looking for structures, we are focused and who provides those guardian systems? It is NAMA. Without Air Traffic Control we will be running into each other. Who provides the control? Who is responsible? NAMA. So the contributions of NAMA towards an accident-free year Contd. on Page 8

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are enormous, not often seen, sometimes not even very much appreciated but we are doing that which is our role and I think we are doing well. We are doing well, we are making good effort to ensure that we improve on it.

Do we have adequate capacity within your agency to cover all airports in the country and How far have you gone in view of staff welfare in NAMA? On the issue of whether we have adequate capacity, it is like a loaded question. Do we have capacity to achieve what we need to achieve right now?

Yes. Is there need to meet optimum in capacity? No. And therefore, what are we doing? Since I got in the saddle, last year we engaged I think about 30 to 40 new air traffic control cadets and sent them to Zaria because that is the only school for training air traffic controllers in the country. We’ve done the same thing with engineers by the way so that we are increasing capacity in terms of engineers and air traffic controllers the technical arm of our agency. So we are coping but we need more and therefore we are doing something to address that situation.

On the welfare, how far? We’ve done pretty well, like I said we have addressed the harmonization issue that has been lingering since 2003. So the management has done pretty well.

In terms of training we’ve at least improved on training and we would continue to address it. Last year, we signed along with the union a new conditions of service (COS) and it has been sent to Abuja for ratification. The ministry has to rectify it, salaries and wages commission etc but government has to also append their signature on it. So, I would think that on staff welfare nobody can have all that he wants. The essential thing is to meet our needs. So as far as the management of NAMA and the staff are concerned we have an agreement of sorts and we have sent them to Abuja for ratification. By the way I have just been told that a set of air traffic controllers are graduating today. The issue of training of air traffic controllers is a continuous one as they are graduating we are training some more. And not only in air traffic control by the way, the guys in Aerocomms, AIS are equally getting training and some of them are in Zaria for various courses.

Now you asked I think I must have answered that question air traffic controllers’ manpower increase. We are addressing that and aggressively too.

We want to try and beef up to where we can get optimum in terms of number, bringing in younger people and also encouraging some of the older people who still have the ability that before they run, out they will impart knowledge to the young ones. So we are addressing it. At the rate at which we are going if we sustain it, we would not only hit optimum I hope that we would not have excess capacity and become like pilots that are looking for work. On the Dana incident, I’m not trying to beg the issue.

This is one of the things I said I will not comment on because it is under investigation. I like to believe that NAMA did everything that it was supposed to do even up to when it happened and disseminating information to all the right channels. If you don’t mind I would rather not make a comment on what is under review by AIB NAMA has procured some communication equipment recently but there are still some complaints by users that the agency should improve on the air to

B8Interview

We have improved on navigation aids - NAMA boss ground communication.

With regards to the first question on communication, yes we have procured new equipment, but one thing we must appreciate is that equipment need to be continuously renewed. The more and the older an equipment gets, the likelihood that it will not behave just as brand new. What we are trying to do is renewing particularly some of our older equipment and the architecture of the airspace is changing and therefore before I give you an example, in the past if you are travelling from Lagos to Abuja you’ll talk to Lagos up to a hundred miles and by hundred miles you will be able to speak to Kano. The architecture changed. Therefore now you leave Lagos, before you even get to Kano you can talk to Abuja. You try to talk to Kano which is the controlling centre but as you make every effort to talk to Abuja as soon as possible so that you tell them that you have contact with Abuja. What I’m saying here essentially is that the architecture has changed and therefore the equipment that we feel we need to change. We are doing exactly that. I am not going to try and sweep under the carpet that we don’t need improvement. We do need improvement but we are making every effort. In the last one year we’ve brought in over four sets of new radios. Our main suppliers and contractors are bringing in fresh installations. Recently I was in Norway with my team doing a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) of new radios that will tremendously improve our communication system. And we are not going to stop. Would. We are going to ensure that we continue to improve so that we have clarity of communication and why NAMA is particularly interested

AKINKUOTU

in this is that there are certain things that impact on safety that are not obvious. With clarity of communication the job load of the Air traffic controller is reduced. So also is the workload of the Pilot. If we can improve on their workload, if we can help in such a manner that we reduce their workload and the pressures on them, we’ll enhance safety. So to that extent we will continue to try to make our communications better by the day.

What happened between NAMA and ASECNA and why did decide to engage Omni-Blu this time in calibration? Is it that money charged

by Omni-Blu is cheaper than what ASECNA used to charge?

The issue of Omni-Blu, Omni-Blu is a Nigerian company working in partnership with a British company. Are they registered? They are registered and approved. Was finance an issue? Finance was not an issue. It was a matter of a decision we evaluated Omni-Blu as providing the right services. So they are not cheaper. At least they are not necessarily cheaper. Why did we migrate? At the time we needed and and there’s no bias here. Not that we abandoned ASECNA. At the time when we required to do calibration, ASECNA’s airplane was undergoing maintenance and was not available. So we had no option that to look for qualified other calibrators to come in. Fortunately Omni-Blu being a Nigerian company met the requirements and they were chosen. So it wasn’t a question of money or anything. It was a question of, you need to calibrate at certain times.

There are some of them that require to be calibrate every six months, some annually. The point is we cannot wait

for ASECNA to be ready. I give you an example, Kaduna airport, we had to install and calibrate (the ILS) and at that time ASECNA could not even provide us. I called them personally, I begged and they said look we do not have an aircraft. So you see what I mean. Of course you should always look for options and the option that was available, that met the standard was utilized.

Recently NAMA and NCAA carried out a review of weather minima. Some airlines though are complaining that they yet to see the impact. What’s your take on this?

I wish I can ask you how you found that out. I wish you could tell me for certain how they can say they didn’t feel the impact. If I sound too technical on this one please ask me and I will break it down on simpler terms. Minima are laid down for safety. So when we lay down landing minima for example, there are weather minimums that have been tested and proven and that with these minima, planes will be able to land safely. So landing minima are set.

And landing minima will change based on available of equipment. A lot of the airports in Nigeria today have ILSs and ILSs bring you down at least to 250ft field elevation for a category 1, category 2 it brings you a bit lower and for category 3 we are getting close to zero-zero visibility. So as we have improved on the equipment the minima have gotten lower or better if you like put it that way. Now the question is what is take off minimum? Why do we need take off minimums? Take off minimums were set in such a way in the past that the airplane has to be able to see continuously see a distance ahead of him within the parameters of the runway.

When it takes off, if that same airplane, for any reason, for example an engine failure, it’s required to come back and land. Will it be able to land at the airport? Let’s say hypothetical numbers here. Let’s say Lagos, say an ILS on our runway, the landing minimum is 800 meters visibility. So if you can see 800 meters ahead of you, it’s good enough.

You can land. So if you take off with 800 meters, if there is a failure on your engine you can come back and land because the minimums are met. What if on a particular day the minimum is 400 meters? The requirement would be such that if you take off with 400 meters, would you be legal to come and land with 400 meters? No, because the minimum is 800 meters to land. So really, how do we deal with this situation? We talk about takeoff alternates.

So if I take off from Lagos and Lagos weather is bad, and I have an engine failure what’s my takeoff alternate within the rules? And therefore usually you find somewhere within your neighbourhood in the 45 minutes range to be able to land. Ibadan is there, Ilorin is there. So way back it was easy for us but at one time because at one time in Lagos we had differentials between takeoff minimas and landing minimas. At one time they collapsed both of them and said whatever the landing minima is, is going to be the takeoff minima. Such that and it made sense at that time. Such that if you took off and you had an engine failure you can still come back and land without breaking any rule. Of course technology has im-

proved on things. The dynamic is completely different. So NAMA and NCAA reviewed it in such a way that we now lowered the takeoff minima. So the takeoff minima again just for numbers if landing is 800, we’ll have a takeoff of 600. Could you take off and come back without some specialized equipment on board? You may not. You may have to look for alternate airport. Some of the operators have these equipment, not all. I mean we put in place Performance Based Navigation and RNAV and quite honestly only Arik has the approval and capability of the domestic carriers. So in answer to your question, they may not have in totality felt it but they should have really. I find it amusing if they said they have not improved on it.

As a pilot I believe that the window of making it easier for them to take off in reduced conditions was expanded by the changes in the minima.

Before you assumed duty as the MD of NAMA staff disharmony was the order of the day. How did you address disharmony between Air traffic controllers and Engineers because there seems to be harmony since you came?

Air traffic controllers and engineers have commended you for removing blind spots in the airspace and now we know that pilots no longer fly blindly.

What plans do you have to sustain this?

If you say that the air traffic controllers have told you that we’ve done something, I want you to please help me thank them. Yes we did address those things and there is need for us to continue to sustain them. You don’t eliminate a problem by not dealing with it every day. NAMA would continue to strive to eliminate blind spots as much as possible and make communications crystal clear. So the way we are going to sustain it, we are going to continue to put in our budget retooling. Fresh equipment and move with the times.

Today it is digital communications, tomorrow it will be satellite communication, we actually have it as it is. But most likely, things will improve in such a manner that we would continue to address it to meet the challenges of tomorrow. So I don’t want to tell you that we are going to rest on our oars. If we do that we will fail. We have to continue to address it. Yes, we have improved on it today but we are not there yet. We will continue to strive to ensure that we will go from good to better. So the way to sustain it is continuous monitoring of the situation, putting new equipment to enhance it such that our customers are happy. We provide a service and we will only get complimented if you continue to sustain your service.

We are concerned about the debt portfolio by operators. Are you still sustaining pay-as-you-fly programme or how do you intend to reduce your debt?

On the debt portfolios, yes we are being owed. And sometimes our customers want ILS category 3, they want to speak as if they are talking to somebody next door, it cost money. NAMA is not a profit making organization, we are a cost recovery. So, really as much as we understand their financial situations but we have to continue to provide better service, they should please pay for services that we have rendered.

A workman deserves his wages. You talked about pay as you fly. We still have it in the system and we still apply it when necessary. But having seen both sides of the fence, I’ve been an operator, I’ve been a regulator and now I’m a service provider.

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