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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2017 VOL. 3. NO. 522

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Domestic violence: Aggressive wives on the prowl?

Ladesope Ladelokun, Lagos ÏÏÏNaturally, the first thing that comes to mind at the mention of “domestic violence” is the picture of a woman beaten to pulp by her husband, but not anymore. Available statistics show that a great number of men are also victims of domestic violence.

PDP Chairman: Secondus, P.6 others know fate today

Ï As Bode George withdraws

Data from Home Office Statistical bulletin and the British Crime Survey, for example, show that men made up to some 40% of domestic violence victims each year between 2004 -05 and 2008- 09.

In Nigeria, from North to South, East to West, there are many unreported cases of men who, on a daily basis, suffer domestic violence, but are ashamed to share their

I never instruct suspended SEC DG to discontinue Oando probe - Adeosun

experiences for fear of not being seen as weaklings, The Daily Times has gathered.

Domestic violence against men Athletic, fierce looking and tall, domestic violence victim, Mr. Rotimi Adesanya’s demeanour only betrays his looks, confirming the old idiom that looks, indeed, can be deContinued on page 6

Returnees vow to expose human traffickers to P.7 security agencies

Dayo Amusa: Rising to the top does not require a special price L2

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

5 News

2019: INEC releases timetable for Presidential, NASS, Governorship elections Tunde Opalana

ÏÏÏ The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has released possible timetable for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated that Presidential and National Assembly Elections is to hold on Feb-

ruary 16, 2019 while the Governorship, State Assembly and Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory will take place in March 2, 2019.

The INEC boss disclosed this at the ongoing induction retreat for Resident Electoral Commissioners in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Friday.

According to Yakubu, the date for the general

PDP Chairman: Secondus, others know their fate today

elections in 2019 has been fixed stating that, from today, 434 days is left for the Presidential Election and National Assembly Elections, saying that it is important to always remind the commission’s personnel of this date and to be appraising their preparations.

The INEC boss said, “All participants at this retreat should be aware that from today, the 2019 general elections to begin with the Presidential and National Assembly Elections on 16th February 2019 are exactly 434 days away.

“These will be followed

by the Governorship, State and Areas, State Assembly and Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory on 2nd March 2019”.

The INEC boss further disclosed that about 3,630,529 new voters had been registered, while the exercise will continue until 60 days to the general elections in 2019.

He however decried the management and the low rate of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collection.

The INEC boss also used the occasion to state that about 67 political parties are indicating interest to contest in the 2019 general

elections, saying that the commission had received more than 120 applications from political associations seeking registration as political parties.

The Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini, had earlier expressed the hope that decisions reach at the retreat would act as a road map to for free, fair and credible elections in 2019.

The Country Director of UNDP, Dr Samuel Bwalya, who was represented by the Team Leader, Governance and Peace Building, Mr. Kehinde Bolaji,

described INEC as a pacesetter in elections management in West African sub region.

He also urged the electoral body to address the issues of violence, internal democracy, accountability and transparency within the political institutions.

Bwala added that without addressing those challenges, the expectation of attaining long lasting democratic governance could be disrupted, saying that UNDP would always support the country’s quest in deepening democracy, peace and sustainable development.

As Bode George withdraws

87 aspirants tussle for 23 positions Myke Uzendu, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is now characterized with anxiety as aspirants make the last move to secure maximum votes from delegates.

The usual hustle has returned to Wadata Plaza while the Eagle Square, venue of the convention, is adorned with various sizes of banner of aspirants.

But the main attraction of the National Convention is the battle for the chairmanship position of the party.

Incidentally, eight aspirants were cleared for the prestigious post - Prince Uche Secondus, Prof Tunde Adeniran, Chief Bode George, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Prof Taoheed Adedoja, Chief Rashidi Ladoja and Mr Jimi Agbaje.

But one of the contenders for the post, Bode George, surprised some stakeholders when he suddenly withdrew from the race last night without stating any reason for his last minute decision.

With this development, the coast is now clear for the remaining seven aspirants to test their popularity today.

It was further gathered that 87 aspirants will tussle for 23 positions during today’s historic national convention.

Meanwhile, the build up to the convention has been characterized with

intense politicking. Candidates especially those vying for the office of the National chairman traversed the length and breath of the country, seeking endorsements from major stake holders and delegates.

Most of the hotels in Abuja are fully booked extending to the neighbouring states of Niger and Nassarawa while state governors are reportedly hiding the delegates from the reach of aspirants to prevent possible vote splitting.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye had earlier stated that about 2,800 delegates will vote during today’s national convention.

Secondus But some influential party chieftains have argued that Secondus is very close to the North and as the former Chairman of the party, has been able to build bridges across the North.

The South East options Until yesterday, the zone is not clear on the delegate to support for the convention hence all aspirants are hopeful to muscle some vote from the zone.

But the stakeholders from the party were said to have settled for Secondus as their preferred candidate and endorsed some candidates from the zone vying for other positions.

In a communique read

by Austin Umahi, National Vice Chairman South East, the zone stated that,

Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Magdalene Ohenhen (with the microphone) leading rights groups during an advocacy walk to mark the United Nations ‘16 Days of Activism’ against Gender-Based Violence in Benin City... on Friday

Victory over Boko Haram depend on officers sense of judgment –Buratai

Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt . Gen. Tukur Buratai, has said that victory in the on- going counter insurgency operations in the NorthEast is crucial and will dependent on officers sense of judgment.

The COAS also said that the situation will depend on the officers’ appreciation and ability to make accurate and timely decisions, saying that, “ If we have to win in these complex scenario, then the Nigerian Army

must become a learning organization”.

Buratai disclosed this on Friday during the graduation of 33 pioneer participants of the Army War College in Abuja.

He said that professionalism and responsiveness remain his key focus in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous joint operating environment that the officers face in the course of their assignment.

He said, “We must constantly remember that our adversaries have a vote and they are constantly adapting to our

actions, reactions and counteractions.”

Also addressing the graduating students, the Chief of Defence Staff, (CDS) Gen Abayomi Olonisakin said that the training has embedded on the graduants skills on operational art that will fill the gap between tactical and strategic levels.

He said the establishment of the Army War College underscores the importance the government placed on raising professional military education to international standard.

Olonisakin noted that training has played an important role in moulding, professionalising and having a disciplined Nigerian Army which has been able to maintain the country territorial integrity. “ This has also led to the significant degrading of the Boko Haram capabilities as well as ensuring security for our citizens against criminal elements.”

He assured that the government will continue to support the military with all the tools necessary to carry out its task.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

Domestic violence: Aggressive wives on the prowl?

Continued from page 1 ceptive.

Angered that her hubby had neglected his fatherly responsibilities for alcohol, his wife, Sade, had hit him with a rod on his head in the heat of a domestic scuffle, leaving him gasping

for breath on the floor. “You will come and meet me here…

Shameless man!”

Neighbours, onlookers gathered in front of their Ashimolowo residence, Ofada, Ogun State for the unexpected – and they got it as the woman, still livid with rage, continued: “I feed

you, feed your children, pay their school fees, yet, the little you get you spend on beer and women.’’

A neighbour of the couple who spoke to The Daily Times in confidence revealed that the couple had been given quit notice by their landlord because

L:R- Public Relations Consultant, Ada Onwuka; Director Monitoring, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, Oguntoye Akintunde; Beneficiary, Simiat Lawal and Nigerian Actress/Producer, Chioma Chukwuka at the Press Conference announcing the THISAbility campaign in Lagos.

Lagos to decentralise this year’s Christmas celebration Benjamin Omoike

ÏÏÏThe

Lagos State government has said that this year’s Christmas celebration will be decentralised and celebrated in all the 20 Local Government Councils and 37 Local Government Development Councils.

The state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdullateef Abdulhakeem, stated this on Friday while speaking to journalists shortly after receiving an award from the Christian Conscience Group of Nigeria on behalf of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, as the ‘Best Performing Governor on Christian Pilgrimage in 2017’.

The commissioner added that the move was targeted at boosting bonding among residents and enhancing community participation in governance in Lagos.

He said decentralisation of the Christmas celebration would be in keeping with the all-inclusive governance mantra of the Ambode administration, saying that the strategy is to ensure that the grassroots will be heavily involved in the Yuletide celebration this time around.

Abdulhakeem said, “The governor has decided to ensure that the Christmas celebration is fully decentralised to the grassroots. This year, we are going to have the celebration in all the local government councils to ensure that all residents and churches come out to celebrate.”

He, however, urged residents to troop out enmasse for the celebration, adding that it was a moment for all to give glory to God. The Commissioner also commended the group for the award, saying it was evidence that the religious sector was dear to the governor and that the government would continue to partner religious and faith-based organisations in matters pertaining to the development of the state.

“I believe this is to ensure that we continue to rise above the common standard of excellence. The governor believes that enhancing the welfare and safeguarding the security of Lagosians is a duty that must be discharged whether they are within or outside the state.

He said all these had ensured that the pilgrims concentrate

on their spiritual reasons for going to Jerusalem.”

The Daily Times recalls that the National Hajj Commission had earlier in the year presented an award to the Lagos State government as the best state in Hajj performance.

Earlier, Chairman of the group, Chief Enoch Ajiboso, said the government had provided enabling environment for the service delivery and organisation of pilgrimages.

According to him, the group deemed it fit to present the award to spur the governor to do more in terms of good governance.

He explained further that the award was bestowed on Ambode following ongoing transformation embarked upon by his administration.

He said, “This is visible in the infrastructural development, tourism, job creation and economic endowment.

Aside these, the peaceful coexistence witnessed among major religions in Lagos state.

“The administration has also provided enabling environment for service delivery and organisation of pilgrimages within the time spent.”

of constant fighting.

“The man does the house chores; even the children don’t bear his surname but the man doesn’t seem to care. Our landlord thinks the man is probably under her spell – especially because she sits on him while beating him and doesn’t care who is watching!”

The neighbour added that Sade had been seen flogging her husband and that their landlord fears she may kill the man one day.

While Rotimi is lucky to be alive, some men have not so been as they have been sent to early graves by husband beaters.

A case in point is Lowo Oyediran, a France-based business man who met his untimely death after he was stabbed by his Ibadan-based lawyer wife and a staff of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the Oyo State Ministry of Justice, Yewande Oyediran, at their 30, Adeniyi Layout, Abidi Odan, Akobo area of Ibadan on February 2, 2016.

Delivering judgment on the incident that happened over a year ago recently, Justice Mukhtar Abimbola of the Oyo State High Court said the evidence before the court showed that Yewande and her late husband had frequently engaged in domestic violence before Lowo was killed. Abimbola said the defendant (Yewande) had earlier confirmed that she had stabbed her husband a day before he was killed. Yewande was convicted recently for manslaughter and sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

Enter the son of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Bilyamin Bello, 35, who was alleged to have been killed by his wife, Maryam Sanda, after stabbing him several times.

According to reports, it was not the first time Maryam would attack her husband, Bilyamin, violently. Checks revealed that Bilyamin was lying in a pool of his blood when he was at the Maitama hospital Abuja, with deep cuts on his chest, shoulder and bite wounds on his stomach. Though his wife, Maryam, has denied ever stabbing him, claiming Bilyamin sustained injuries from a broken shisha pot, the only fruit of their marriage, eight-month old Sa’adatu, will remain fatherless. Like time, the life of baby Sa’adatu’s father cannot be recovered.

Postpartum mental ailment can make killer wives - Consultant Psychiatrist Commenting on the development, a Consultant Psychiatrist,

Dr Musa Umar, of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano in an interview with The Daily Times said reported and unreported cases of husbands that have been killed by their wives may not be unconnected with postpartum mental ailment.

While he concedes that some wives may be violent or aggressive without mental ailment, Umar says postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis have been associated in a number of cases with aggressive or violent behaviour towards other individuals.

He said these mental conditions could occur within the first one year after a woman gives birth.

“But the individual needs to be assessed by a psychiatrist to be sure that the individual truly has that mental condition,’’ he said.

On what could be the cause of postpartum depression, Umar said, “It could be genetic, it could also be psychological stress that the woman passed through, lack of social support, but it mainly has to do with some changes in the chemistry of the brain.’’

Why all hands must be on deck to check menace Psychologist and lecturer at Languages Department, School of Liberal Studies, Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, Aisha Umar, told our correspondent that parents, religious leaders, etc, have a role to play to check domestic violence.

She identifies movies, depression and drug addiction as some of the major causes of domestic violence.

Her words: “This time around, mostly in Northern part of Nigeria, there is so much drug addiction. You see a girl, you think she’s decent and clean but at the end of the day, you get to know she’s a drug addict. Even the one involving Maryam Sanda, a pot of shisha was found in the house, which signifies they were taking it.

“The other is depression. You see someone who is so depressed that he doesn’t care if they are killed or if they kill someone.“ Aisha Umar suggests teaching the young ones morals.

She said, “Most parents today don’t have time for the children.

We care more about money and fame and put the children in care of just anybody. From what I know, none of the two major religions permit killing another man. We need to educate our children religiously and put them on the right path so they don’t go astray when they grow up.’’

In the same vein, philosopher, Continued on page 7

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

News 7

Human trafficking: Returnees vow to expose traffickers to law enforcement agencies ÏÏÏSome

victims of human trafficking in Benin City, the Edo State capital, have vowed to take their pound of flesh from their traffickers who lured them from their parents, with the promise to give them decent jobs in Italy and other parts of Europe.

The victims, who sought anonymity for security reason, said they are ready to lead officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the houses of members of the human trafficking cartels in the state and in Europe.

Some of the victims said, “We know where the human traffickers live in the state.

Some of the madams are in

Italy and in other European countries, and have relatives in Benin who take the girls to native doctors and some pastors for oath taking.”

The victims also stated that they are ready to work with the Federal Government to unmask the faces behind the illicit business.

“We want to form a strong advocacy and support group that will assist the federal government to bring an end to illegal migration and human trafficking in Edo State.

“We had a terrible experience in Libya and would not wish same for anybody. We are ready to name and shame them and give names and addresses of these dealers in human flesh to the government,” they said.

The Daily Times recalls that the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, recently expressed the commission’s resolve to go after human traffickers.

Magu, who said this while receiving Director- General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Julie Okah-Donli, who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja, said the anti-graft agency has juris-

diction over human trafficking, which he said was an offshoot of corruption.

The spokesman to the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, also quoted Magu as saying that, “We are prepared to go after human traffickers, because we strongly believe that it is an aspect of corruption, and corruption is the greatest enemy of Nigeria. Corruption is the reason why young Nigerians are risking their lives walking through the Mediterranean up to Spain and other European

countries in search of greener pasture.

“It is a very sad situation and we must change the trend by ensuring that we join hands to fight corruption, as this is the only solution to the ills militating against our country’s development.”

Calling for NAPTIP’s partnership in the fight against corruption, Magu assured Okah-Donli of the EFCC’s support in combating the increasing cases of “organ harvesting” involving Nigerians.

Forex restriction on 41 items yields results Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Central Bank of

Nigeria (CBN) has said that restriction of access to Foreign Exchange (Forex) on the 41 items has had a positive impact on the economy.

The Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department of the Bank, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, stated this on Friday at the CBN Fair and a sensitization programme held at the Cultural Centre in Calabar, Cross River State.

Okorafor said the implementation of the policy has created employment and helped to conserve the hitherto depleting nation’s foreign reserve, therefore buoying up the economy.

Okorafor, who was represented by Chukwudum Nzelu, said the restriction of access to foreign exchange placed on the 41 items made Nigerians to start looking inward for the production of goods and products that the country has comparative advantage to be produced locally.

The CBN spokesman said that the successful implementation of the 41 items policy gave birth to the other initiatives such as the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) which has caused a revolution in the production of rice across the country.

Continuing, he said the production of rice under the ABP

was not only to ensure food security, but to create jobs along the value chain of rice production.

He added that with improved seedlings and farming techniques under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, rice production which stood at 3.5 tons per hectares has jumped to 7 tons per hectare.

Okorafor urged the participants to also key-in into the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS) which was targeted at youths between the ages of 18 to 35 years. The AADS when fully operational, is expected to employ at least 10 thousand jobs per state, across the 36 States of the Federation including the FCT. The essence of this initiative, according to him, was to reduce drastically youth unemployment.

Earlier in his remarks, the Branch Controller, CBN Calabar Branch, Dr. Graham Kalio, said that the CBN fair was an interactive forum aimed at bridging the information gap that might exist concerning the policies, programmes and activities of the apex Bank.

The fair was attended by Farmers, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), persons from Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and others who were genuinely interested in taking advantage of the CBN polices and programmes.

L-R Managing Director, GSK Pharmaceutical Nigeria Ltd, Bhushan Akshibar, Marketing Director, GSK Pharmaceutical Nigeria Ltd, Alexandra Spang; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu and Communication and Government Affairs Director, GSK Pharmaceutical Nigeria Ltd during the Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) Symposium commemorating the 2017 Antibiotic Awareness Week supported by GSK Pharmaceutical Nigeria Ltd in Abuja.

Domestic violence: Aggressive wives on the prowl?

Continued from page 6

Bukola Taiwo, says domestic violence can’t be divorced from upbringing. “If a lady was always beaten up as a child, and was told she was being corrected out of love, she is likely to get violent when she gets married.

The other day, a virtual friend said she grew up knowing that beating and slapping her was her parent’s way of correcting her in love. As a result, she said she used to slap her husband at the slightest provocation because she felt it was another way of showing love when one wants to correct a loved one - until she got the right education.

“Trait can be another cause of domestic violence; some people are naturally temperamental and they can cause unimaginable degree of havoc when they get angry. Therefore, it is important for people that have identified this trait to go for anger management classes because emotional intelligence is key,’’ she added.

We need to change societal expectations - Sola Salako Meanwhile, Public Affairs commentator and founder of Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria, Sola Salako, has called for more advocacy to stem the tide of domestic violence.

She told The Daily Times that: “One thing the society can do is to do a lot more advocacy, help people to know that there is stress in life and when you are stressed, there are alternative ways of resolving issues.

“You don’t need to resort to violence. It’s something that requires a whole lot of citizen education and then we can start having structures that help people go through stressful life. Counseling and all those things.’’

Salako, however, encouraged couples to seek counseling to cement relationships. She says the misconception that problems in marriage mean failure must be dispelled to save marriages from total collapse.

“We need to start seeing coun-

seling as part of what will help marriages and individuals. People don’t want other people to know what is going on in their lives and in the end, they become victims of mental health,“ she stated.

Salako implored the government to start paying more attention to domestic violence because it has assumed an alarming dimension.

“Nobody should be frustrated to the point where the only way out is to slaughter somebody else, that should not be acceptable in any society,’’ she said.

On why people stick to marriages that have gone bad, she had this to say: “There is always an option of leaving the place.

And the reason people don’t leave is because society considers that if you have a failed marriage that means you must be a failure, and that is why people stay within when they know that they need to get out of a bad marriage. So, we need to do a lot of counselling, we need to change societal expectations”.

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

Politics

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

My vision is to drive a new Bayelsa through information management –Iworiso-Markson–P10&11

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PDP yet to learn from past mistakes - Moro –P.12

2018 holds better deal for Lagos residents, investors –Ambode

Benjamin Omoike

The year 2018 promises to be a better year for residents and investors in Lagos State. So says the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday as he joined in the celebration of the grand finale of the 2017 Community Day, assuring that the year 2018 would be better for residents and investors in terms of implementation of projects and policies aimed at making life more comfortable and easier.

Speaking at the programme held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja, with the theme: “Community Affinity: Aligning Lagos Communities With Private Sector”, Governor Ambode said though a lot had been done through implementation of various projects and initiatives by his administration across the communities, but a lot more would be done to truly transform and secure the future of the state.

The governor, who at the event was endorsed for a second term, particularly urged the people to continue to support the state government and be faithful to their civic obligations, saying that government in turn would reciprocate by implementing various projects across the state.

He said: “Y2018 is going to be a better year for Lagos. It is a year we hope to achieve phenomenal increase in the state’s ability to sustain itself by persuading more people to share in the burden of the transformation going on across the state.

“You are all witnesses to the modest projects our administration has executed such as the reconstruction of Airport Road, Light Up Lagos, the Oshodi Transport Interchange, the Abule Egba and Ajah bridges, the ongoing Agege flyover, waterways channelisation and construction of jetties, the Ikeja Bus Terminal, the Badagry Marina and the

AMBODE

massive deployment of security personnel and equipment across the state.

“What you have not seen, but which is on the way is the implementation of the embedded power project which will bring electricity to every home in Lagos. You have also not seen the reforms which we are going to execute in the transport sector which will ease connectivity across the state.

“With your support through the performance of your obligations, we can safely commit ourselves in the conviction that by the end of Y2018, our communities will be better with more youths gainfully employed and small businesses growing. With a home to return to and a community to live in, our

dream of a more secure and prosperous state will be another Nigerian wonder.”

While emphasising the importance of the Community Day celebration, Governor Ambode said community development was at the heart of the policies of his administration and a key consideration in every government decision.

“It captures the vision and the mission of our administration to continually work for the general good of the people. At inception, we declared clearly our commitment to give governance to the citizens of this state, young and old, men and women, able and challenged.

“We said in our manifesto that from where ever you come from, as far as you labour and add value to the productiv-

ity of our dynamic and vibrant state, our government shall work with you to make Lagos State a better, livable and more prosperous home. Two and a half years after we signed that contract with you, we can confidently reflect on our policies, programmes and projects and assert that we have been true to our vision and we have been very honest in our mission,” the governor said.

He commended the Community Development Associations (CDAs) for their various self-help initiatives aimed at developing their neighborhood, and urged them to continue.

At the event, Governor Ambode presented three vehicles to the best CDAs which performed credibly-well in executing projects in their neighborhood to complement government, while he also increased the prize of the community development competition to six vehicles next year.

The governor also approved immediate support fund of N500, 000 each to all the 57 Community Development Committees (CDCs) in the state totaling N28.5million.

In his goodwill message, Chairman of Lagos State Community Development Advisory Committee, the umbrella body for all the 3,900 CDAs in the state, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri, said having reviewed the activities of Governor Ambode since assuming office, the body has decided to support him for a second term.

He said: “Having reviewed the activities and lofty accomplishments of our silent achiever in the area of equitable distribution of road infrastructure, health, education, security, emergency response, welfare especially with consideration for people living with disabilities, among others, we have unanimously resolved to support this administration for a second term to consolidate on the gains of the last 30 months in our match towards a megalopolis of our dream.”

Pre-election matter: Supreme Court sacks Edo APC lawmaker Andrew Orolua, Abuja.

The Supreme Court on Friday sacked Hon. Sunday Aghedo an All Progressive Congress (APC) member of the Edo State House of Assembly representing Ovia South West constituency.

The Apex Court declared Mr. Godwin Adenomo also of the APC the winner of the general election in Ovia SouthWest constituency of Edo State House of Assembly held on April 11, 2015.

In unanimous decision delivered yesterday, the Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal Benin Division and held that Mr. Godwin Adenomo won the APC primary election conducted by the APC on December 2, 2014 for nominating the party’ candidate for the general election held on April 11, 2015.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Dantijo Mohammed ordered the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly to swear in Mr. Godwin Adenomo in as member of the Assembly representing

Ovia South West constituency.

The apex court further ordered Hon. Aghedo to refund all salaries and allowances he collected from Edo State House of Assembly from May 2015 to date to the Edo State House of Assembly within 90 days.

The court awarded N300, 000 cost against APC and Aghedo, the appellants who had challenged the decision of the Court of Appeal Benin Division delivered by Justice Moore Asiemo Adumein.

The pre- election suit arose from primary election in which Mr Godwin Adenomo scored the highest votes cast at the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for Ovia South- West constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly scoring 152 votes against 140 scored

by Mr Sunday Aghedo.

But, instead of submitting Adenomo’s name, his opponent’s name was forwarded as the party’s candidate for the election and the three man appeal panel set up by the party to look into his com-

plaint upheld the decision of the party.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the party’s appeal panel, Adenomo dragged the APC and the primary election Committee to court over imposition of the sacked lawmaker as the winner of the party primaries to the State House of Assembly in 2014.

He said he won the primaries but was denied the party’s ticket which was given to Aghedo.

The Federal High Court sitting in Benin in its judgement ordered the APC to conduct a fresh primary for the position, but Adenomo rejected the ruling and headed for the appellate court.

Aghedo not satisfied with the lower court’s judgment which set aside the decision of the party’s appeal panel and also invalidated the primary election conducted on December 2, 2014 and his election held on April 11, 2015, also headed to the Appeal court for redress.

The Court of Appeal set aside the judgement of the Federal High court and declared Adenomo winner of the

AGHEDO

election and the APC lodged an appeal at the Supreme Court claiming it has the right to sponsor a candidate of its choice.

Politics 10 Your appointment as the new Information Commissioner attracted unusual solidarity from journalists across the state.

What do you think informed such development?

First and foremost, I feel very humbled. I am grateful to God; I am grateful to His Excellency for finding me worthy to be so elevated. The loud support my appointment received goes to show that I may have done something right in the cause of my work in government. And if that is the case, I have my colleagues in the media to thank for their support and collaboration, without which all my efforts would be a nullity. So my response would be - I am humbled, I am grateful to everyone who supported my growth and my work in Bayelsa State, and I remain eternally grateful.

Your appointment came at the last lap of the Restoration Government.

What should Bayelsans expect from the Commissioner who received the loudest ovation on appointment?

I am coming in at a time when, the state, especially His Excellency, leading this restoration team, has done so much to transform the state and impact on the lives of the people. And therefore my role, essentially, is to communicate effectively all of these good and wonderful policies and programmes of government that His Excellency has put out there to transform the state and impact the lives of the people.

Like I said in my interview shortly after I was sworn-in, I said that we will take the message to the grassroots, to the people in the hinterland, because sometimes we get carried away thinking that information dissemination should just be within Yenagoa or when we do it we assume that it will get to everyone.

But like I said some time ago, I got a call from a teacher in Southern Ijaw, precisely from Koloama, and he said to me that I should do everything within my powers to boost the capacity of our radio station so that he can receive the broadcast signals where they are because where they are they don’t get the broadcast signals of our local stations, Radio Bayelsa. So the only station they listen to is Radio Gabon. There and then I realised that, what that simply means is that all the wonderful things we are doing in Government, some of our people who live in far flung areas like Southern Ijaw, Agge, Brass, are sometimes cut off because information does not get to them.

So I made up my mind that that is what we are going to do as a government, as a ministry, to take information about the good things this government has done to them.

How do you intend to achieve this laudable objective? Would you consider reintroducing the posting of Information Officers to the local government areas?

Yes we will do that and much more.

One of the things we have already put forward as proposal before Exco and I’m glad to say that His Excellency has graciously approved that proposal. It’s the establishment of Community Radio that will broadcast in indigenous languages of our people. The Community radio will be established in each Senatorial zone. Each Senatorial zone will have a radio that will broadcast in indigenous languages of our people.

The other way to do it is to empower Information Officers in our ministry and have them stationed in each of our local governments, where they can have access to the communities and help in

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

My vision is to drive a new Bayelsa through information management –Iworiso-Markson

IWORISO-MARKSON

Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson is the immediate past Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State Governor Henry Seriake Dickson. In a recent minor cabinet reshuffle, the public relation expert was assigned to man the Ministry of Information and Orientation as the Commissioner. In this interview with selected journalists, the commissioner bared his mind on the changes he would bring to bear in managing information in the state. He also gave insight into the Public Sector Reforms going on in the state. CHRIS EZE was there for The Daily Times the dissemination of government information down the ladder. So we will do that, and that is why one of the things I quickly did was to organize a two day workshop for information managers in the ministry so we can have the capacity to deliver right to the grassroots.

It’s going to be a two way thing in information dissemination, but we also need a feedback from the people, and to ensure that our Information Officers that will be working in our local government areas and our communities will be able to take feedback from our communities to us, because we need the feedback more than anything else, because that is essentially what government is all about, to serve our people, and what better way to serve them than to get feedback from them regarding what we are doing. We will do a lot of reorientation as well.

This government, when it came into power in 2012, the governor was very specific as part of one of his major mandate, to change the paradigm shift of governance and a lot of that also requires some of the things we are doing now-public sector reforms. What we need to do as a ministry, we have

identified, is to carry out the message of this public reform to every nook and cranny of our state, and a lot of them would require orientation. This ministry is the Ministry of Information and Orientation; we will have the need to do a lot of orientation. Our people need to be reoriented, the need for them to go to work and earn their salaries. Not that they will go to work one day and go home and sleep and wait till when they want to pay salaries they will go and collect their salaries; the need for teachers to go to classroom every day to teach, the need for Nurses and Doctors who are posted to our communities to serve in our referral hospitals and even our Local Government Clinics to be there in their duty posts not for them to stay in Yenagoa and go to work once a week.

There is a whole lot of orientation that will be done. So we are strengthening the capacity of our Public Enlightenment Directorate.

We are going to equip them with vehicles, operational vehicles, and they will be touring our communities. There will be lots of town hall meetings across all our communities where we will also have that opportunity to disseminate

government information and government policies and programs. So these are some of the ways and means we are going to reach out to our people with the much needed information on what we are doing for them.

You were the Deputy Chairman of Government Media Team. Now that you are the Chairman what new innovations do you intend to bring to bear on the job?

I have already mentioned the new changes I hope to make in disseminating Government Information. However I want to add that this government has been very magnanimous in appointing very qualified people to man Government Information. I am lucky to have a team of experts, and together with my team we meet every week, every Tuesday. The information management team of the government meets and what we do is to review the strategies and look at what we need to do to respond to issues and developments happening in the state. That, we will continue to do because no one person knows it all. When we work as a team we are effective, even CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

11 Politics

‘My vision is to drive a new Bayelsa through information’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

the governor is a team player. He has set up several teams, the media team is one of them, we have the health team , the finance team, the tourism team, education team, and that is a model that we are also looking at, to work as a team.

We are also to work with the various media organisations in the state. They are also incorporated as part of our larger team. They are also part of the larger media team, and what we have done, I have received in audience the NUJ courtesy call, I have also received the BAFEMPA. We will be receiving very soon members of the Federated.

And we are hosting a two days workshop to train them as well. The truth is that a number of our journalists need to be trained. You cannot over emphasise the need for constant training and retraining. So for us in the Ministry we want to Champion that, because we need Journalists in the state to be on the same page with us regarding what we are doing in government.

Once you are on the same page with us, it makes things easy for us to work together. So these are some of the things we are doing to change the face of communication in the state.

Our whole efforts and drive is to change the narrative. We want Bayelsa to be perceived as a place where things work. We have a government in place that is ready to make things work. And we would like to say that six years into the life of this administration a lot has changed. Bayelsans appreciate the work this government has done to transform our lives and the state. Look around you, the developments that have taken place.

For the first time we have compulsory boarding schools that have admitted our young children. Over a thousand of them are in Ijaw National Academy being trained free. Free feeding, free cloths, free books. I don’t think there is any state in this country that is doing that.

And the whole idea is, look, we have to begin a new generation of new leaders that will take our state to a new level.

We are talking about knowledge driven economy, we want to be at the fore front, and our investment in education is paying off. And we are so happy; we used to be at rock bottom in the ranking, now we are at the top. Bayelsa is top in WAEC, we are the top three in NECO. Our students are winning laurels all over the country. Even just recently, one of our scholars, Preye, came out tops as the best graduating student in Lincoln University. We are doing a lot, we are achieving great things. That is the cause of commitment of this government to completely change and transform the state the way he is doing.

So, we are getting things right in all sectors. Look at the huge investment in infrastructure. For the first time, we are seeing roads and bridges and even some communities that were hitherto cut off from civilization, if you like, now for the first time you can see cars drive to their communities. The governor under took a historic drive to Alaibiri the other day. That itself is something we are all proud of.

So, our state is changing. All we ask from the people is support for this government. Now for the first time we are seeing roads and bridges. And so we will ensure that we spend the rest two years of our administration to complete ongoing projects.

with, because right in that panel are representatives of the Police, the State Security Service and they will prosecute you because we have to put a stop to what is going on in our state. We cannot continue to carry this baggage and hand it over to the next government. So it takes a determined Governor Dickson who is willing to sacrifice his Political Capital so that we can get it right because we have been playing politics with these issues for a long time, and it is the reason why we are where we are today. A lot of our youths are roaming the streets for employment when you have people who suppose to retire still in the system.

So, we have to clean the entire system, otherwise we will mortgage the future of our state, and in the future to come you may no longer see a state call Bayelsa. We need our people to understand that what we are doing is in their best interest and to save our state from imminent collapse; because we don’t have the resources we used to have five or Six years ago. Everywhere in the world there is scarce resources, and so if we don’t get it right then we will continue to deal with the issues that has continued to hold us back as a state and we don’t want that to happen.

IWORISO-MARKSON The alleged intended sacking of workers is generating tension in the state, and this seems to have affected the morale and out put of workers, what is your reaction sir?

That is a misconception. There is no sack anywhere. What we have simply done is to say that, we need to clean up the system and this has been our drive from the word go, when we came into government in 2012, we met a wage bill of N6.7billion for a small state like Baylsa. We thought that was a bit out of place, so we decided that, look, we must address the issue. So His Excellency set up various committees which have been working since 2012. It’s very comprehensive. So from N6.7 billion in 2012 brought it down to N3.7 billion. That is huge, but we felt that was not good enough and there is still a lot we need to do, and that is what we are doing.

The far reaching reforms we have introduced in the public sector is aimed at ensuring that we get it right with the public sector. And so, a lot of ghost names in our payroll have to go. There are so many inappropriate issues surrounding the Civil Service, and even the public service as a whole where in some cases we have more non academic staff in our schools than the real teachers themselves. That is not proper, and a lot of people who have no business being in our payroll are there. People, for instance who are supposed to retire, go and swear an affidavit and reduce their ages so that they can extend their retirement dates. That is not proper. People are using fake certificates and they give themselves arbitrary promotions.

For instance, we have situation where some one in 2011 was on grade four, only for him to have himself promoted to grade fourteen in 2012. You have several cases like that. This is as a result of the painstaking efforts to try to clean up the system. And when we do that, and because there is a syndicate group behind all of these, they are the ones fighting back and spreading all kinds

of information all aimed at discrediting the government and saying that we are sacking 6000. The governor has not said he would sack any one. We are only saying that once we discover that your name appears in several places and you are drawing salary from several’ places, we will stop your salary and put it in an unpaid salary account. We have already set up a judicial panel of enquiry that will be sitting soon at the multi-door Court House and will be headed by Justice Doris Adokeme.

Those of them affected, once your salary have been stopped you have to appear before the panel with all your document. Once you appear before the panel and your documents are genuine you will be cleared and pick up your salary. It is not a witch- hunt. The process is very transparent. But if you have issues, you have the law courts to deal

What should journalists expect from the brand new Information Commissioner?

Journalists should expect more collaboration, more partnership. This government is open to journalists in the state. This is a media friendly government. His Excellency has never forgotten the fact that he is been a friend of journalists in the state long before now and it’s that gesture that he is extending to journalists in the state. So I am carrying on with what he has already started, to strengthen the bond between journalists and the government, and that is why you see the ministry is involved in training and a lot of collaboration with journalists in the state because we are partners in progress.

We want to be accountable to the people and journalists have that role constitutionally provided to hold government accountable. So we are partners in progress for the overall development of our state. So expect more collaboration, expect more partnership, and going forward, my role is to strengthen that.

Lawmaker threatens to sue electricity distribution company over negligence

Patrick Okohue

The lawmaker representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Prince Mike Adeniyi Omogbehin, has threatened to take BEDEC electricity distribution company to court in January next year, if it fails to light up Ondo South Senatorial District before the end of this year.

Omogbehin said the only thing left for him to do after all entreaties to compel them to site have failed, is to sue them to court in January 2018 for negligence and abdication of responsibility.

He sounded the note of warning at Igbotako, Okitipupa Local Government, Ondo State, during an interactive session with journalists.

His words: “Ikale people have suffered so much from perpetual darkness due to the inability of BEDEC to provide light for the people of the area since 2009.

“What I will do by January if nothing is done by the electricity distribution company to connect the people of Ondo South to the national grid this December is to charge them to court.

I have already consulted my lawyers to take

charge of the case,” he stated.

According to him, “before now, I have met with the Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola together with prominent Obas from Ikale land on the issue. We have gone to the National Assembly and they have given BEDEC directives that my people should be reconnected to the national grid, yet nothing has been done by them.

I have also brought the distribution company before the electricity commission, and they have given them directives to restore light to Ikale areas and they have refused. What remains now is to charge them to court for negligence. So, by the end of this year if nothing is done I have no choice than to go to court,” he threatened.

“If you check my two-year-report, you will find photocopies of all the exchange and directives there,” he added.

While promising the people of his constituency more dividends of democracy, he added that two years on, he has been able to attract meaningful projects to the area in terms of educational, medical and support, among others, to better the lives of his people.

He abid Part the g

Politics 12

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

PDP yet to learn from past mistakes - Moro Patrick Okohue

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), gets set for its elective national convention, former Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, has observed that there were signs indicating that the party was still rolling in the same mistakes of the past that led to its downfall in 2015.

Moro, a top member of the PDP who made the observation in a statement he personally signed in Abuja, noted that the failure of the party to adjust itself and move away from impunity, indiscipline and the practice of imposition of candidates, was clearly responsible for its woeful outing in the recent Anambra State governorship election.

According to him, “One major factor in the resounding defeat of the PDP in Anambra gubernatorial election was the internal wrangling within the party following the disputed outcome of the party’s governorship primary. Those who felt that they lost the primary to intrigues and manipulations by powerful party members were not listened to.

Rather, they were characterized as sore losers.

“The PDP bigwigs and kingmakers boasted that they would route the governance of the APGA and Obiano in Anambra State. Aspirants of the party felt aggrieved. They complained but the party claimed they were irrelevant.

What followed was a gale of suspensions and threats of expulsions. They refused to work for the party’s candidate, Obaze.

They played the spoilers’ role during the election. PDP lost…

“From Anambra’s governorship failure and indications of the forthcoming national convention, have we learnt any lessons? I am afraid, the signs are not too good. Like a recurring decimal, party members are grumbling. They are

MORO

crying hidden agenda. They are crying manipulation. They are crying impunity.

Yet the leadership of the party is discountenancing them as rantings of ants.

“From all indications, we have not learnt any lessons from PDP’s inglorious past. The sad tones of the past ‘money bags are hijacking the party, he who pays the piper dictates the tune, self interests rather than party interests appear to command the mindsets of party members’. Sadly, unfortunately, this is catching traction with many party members.

Very, very sadly, the PDP is going to once more fail this litmus, final test to regenerate and survive. The Game Changer?

Money!”

The ex-minister said it would be disastrous if the PDP cannot use the December 9, 2017 convention to consolidate, rebuild and strengthen the party, after it was rescued by the Supreme Court from a protracted crisis that would have brought about its total collapse.

He expressed sadness that the zoning

principle inserted in the PDP Constitution to ensure fairness, equity and justice was fast becoming the albatross of the forthcoming convention, adding that “Narrow and private interests of party members appear to be guiding party actions. Those who are pushing for these narrow selfish interests to impose an unpopular, not generally accepted leadership are guilty of the inglorious impunity syndrome of the past.”

The PDP chieftain further stated: “The current leadership of the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) must rise up to this leadership challenge. Members must take all necessary measures to protect the interest of the PDP and resist the temptation of trying to foist on the party a leadership that is perceived to be procured to serve their narrow and selfish political ambitions.

“They would be failing in their sacred duty to the party if they fail to correct the errors of the past. The leadership of the NCC must not be seen to conspire or collude with any person(s) to short change the national convention process especially as it concerns the election of party officials. Today, from all indications, the narrow and selfish interests of the so-called godfathers and stakeholders, constitute grave dangers or threat to the survival of the PDP as a formidable political party in opposition…

“If this leadership of the party cannot get it right at the December 9-10 national convention but rather pander to the selfish interests of the so-called powerful stakeholders, then we must all forget about a brand new PDP capable to wrest power from the ruling APC. A failure to elect a credible party leadership through a transparent, just and fair convention will signpost the beginning of the end of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Nigeria is watching!”

Activist faults Atiku’s speech on inclusion of youths in governance Iniobong Iwok The recent claim by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in his resignation speech from the All progressives Congress (APC), that the APC led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has marginalised and excluded the youths in his administration, and if he is elected the President of the country he would make the youths the focal point of his administration has been described as a mere propaganda met to deceive Nigerians.

This was the view of human rights activist and Lagos lawyer Idowu Omolegan while reacting to the recent defection of Atiku from the APC in a chat with The Daily Times, stressing that if voted into power Atiku would rather appoint his cronies or people who can help him achieve whatever purpose he is seeking in the country, rather than give the youths a chance as claimed in his speech.

The legal practitioner added that such comments could be compared to the failed change mantra of the APC government which was purely to deceive the masses and get their votes, adding that if voted into power Atiku’s administration would not be different.

Speaking further, he criticised Atiku’s defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noting that it would have been better for him to remain in the APC and help rebuild the party rather than defect to the PDP. He said, “That comment is a political propaganda from Atiku, do you believe that, it’s just like the change mantra of the APC which have failed. If he is elected the president of the country nothing would be different, he would still appoint his people there or some youths that he can use.”

“I am not surprised by his defection to the PDP, Atiku is a political harlot. He moves all the time from one party to the other, why can’t he remain in the APC and help rebuild the party, he can actualise his dream of becoming President later,” Omolegan said.

Ijaw youths seek collaboration with Gani Adams on security Patrick Okohue Hope of a boost in security in Lagos and its environs rose during the week as members of the Ijaw Youth Council in their numbers stormed the Lagos home of the Aare Ona Kakanfo designate, Dr Gani Adams to seek collaboration on security.

Comrade Henry Oyobolo who spoke on behalf of the Ijaw youths while congratulating the Aare Ona Kakanfo designate over his recent proclamation said they were not surprised Gani Adams emerged the choice for the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo.

Thanking Adams for the role he played during the last security hitch in Arepo, Lagos, the Youths said “we want to collaborate with you in the area of security, be it on the water and on the land.”

Further pledging their support for the Aare Ona Kakanfo, the Ijaw youths who have among them the Assistant Secretary world wide for Ijaw Youth

Council, Ambassador Tony Oki and their Eastern, Western zones leaders said they want to be carried along in the scheme of things, especially in the area of Security of lives and properties.

They described Adams as a fighter and warrior, adding that they are not surprised he is made the Commander of the Yoruba nation security force.

“You are a leader of vision, we want to partner with you and also key into your restructuring agenda,” they said.

Thanking them for the visit, Gani Adams said the people of Ijaw had always been partners in progress.

He said the encouragement to form the Oodua People’s Congress in August 25, 1994 came from an Ijaw man, the late Tony Ngurube.

Thanking them for the desire to collaborate with him in the security of the land, Adams said their promise couldn’t have come at a better time even as he cautioned them not to encourage criminals in any way and flush such tendency out of their group.

“You should try as much as possible to discourage criminals to be part of struggles, so as to keep the integrity.

“The issue of restructuring you mentioned is very important and am happy you are talking along the same line because it is the only solution to keep our country united.

“We can’t afford to pursue any divisive agenda as it were, because no African country is big enough to accommodate refugees from Nigeria should we have reason to seek shelter outside of here. That is why we will continue to pursue the agenda to keep Nigeria united.

“We must restructure along regional line so that all regions can develop at their own pace. Must we all go to Abuja to work when the regions can make such provision?” he asked.

Aare Adams said if the last Confab report does not interest the power that be, “then the 1960, 1963 constitutions are there to adopt and make us live in

ADAMS

a country where everybody can live in unity.”

He told the Ijaws to maintain a clamour for regions over state, adding that the state will still be there, but the region will be the coordinating structure.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 9, 2017

News 13 Obaseki implements affirmative action for women, prioritises gender issues ÏÏÏThe

L-R: Managing Director, Launch Factory, Spero Patricios; Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Segun Ogunsanya; Director, Customer Care, Veronica Onoja and Director, Corporate Communications & CSR, Emeka Oparah, all of Airtel Nigeria, during a press conference on the forthcoming Season 4 Airtel Touching Lives in Lagos… on Friday. Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI.

Nigeria’s defense policy expires Since 2005, CSO Alleges Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin , Ilorin

ÏÏÏThe

conflict advisor of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CSLAC), Salahudeen Hashim, yesterday called for the review of Nigeria’s defense policy. Hashim alleged that the nation’ s defense policy had expired since 2005. He spoke during a North Central summit on ‘Strengthening accountability in the Nigeria’s defense sector, organised by his Centre in collaboration with Transparency International and Global Affairs Canada in Ilorin, Kwara state Hashim described the level of suffering of Nigerian soldiers as worrisome, adding that their welfare package is not encouraging He called for more transparency in procurement process in the nation’s defense sector, calling on the National Assembly to review the 2007 Procurement Act to cover the

defense sector.

Hashim said, “We have seen that the situation in the country is currently worrisome. We need to ask why the country is not committed to reviewing its defense policy. It is a strong document that should provide strategic direction. Yes, we have the National Security Strategy but we feel that it is not sufficient. We need a defense policy that should be able to chart a course for the entire defense system to ensure that the larger society is protected.

“The defense policy has a five year life span, after it expired in 2005, a committee to review it was put together, they worked but there was no political support to that particular review. That is where the concern lies. For a country that is currently going through a situation like this, we thought that one of the priorities of the political decision makers, particularly security decision makers should be the

review of that particular policy.

“But unfortunately, we are not seeing that happening. That also begins to question around the issue of conflict entrepreneurs.

Are there people who are benefiting from conflicts in Nigeria? Are there people who believe that the more conflict we have, the more available resources that is at their disposal. These are the critical questions that we need at ask.”

Also speaking, the Convener of Good Governance Team, Tunde Salman, raised the alarm that there were signals that the Boko Haram insurgents are regrouping.

He also stated that despite the huge allocation for defense and security there had not been commensurate result in terms of security of lives and property in the country.

While praising the efforts of security agencies at making Nigeria safe, he said there is the need to

pay more attention on how scare public resources are being spent in the sector. Salman said, “It is a great concern that in spite of the huge spending for security, there is still insecurity in Nigeria. That is why we ent to interrogate whether corruption is a by-product of insecurity. Despite the humongous amount of money that has gone into the security sector, we have seen that the more you pump money, the more we have insecurity. That means there may be something that is not clear to the public.

“Part of the challenge is the close system among security spending.

Because of concerns over national security issues, a lot of things that ordinarily should be in the purvey of public procurement Act are secluded. That is why it is important for the national assembly to fasttrack the amendment of the review of the amendment of Public Procurement Act.”

Rivers APC Lawmaker’s suspension against decent legislative practice - Senator Abe says Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏThe senator representing Riv-

ers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, has declared that the suspension of an All Progressives Congress (APC) Lawmaker in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Azubuike Chikere Wanjoku, went against the grain of decent legislative practice.

Senator Abe said the suspension of Wanjoku, representing Ikwerre

Constituency in the House, was calculated to stifle the voice of opposition and suppress divergent views necessary for good governance and the sustenance of democracy.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt by his Spokesperson, Parry Saroh Benson, Abe expressed worry that some actions of the present leadership of the House of Assembly could affect the reputation built for the house by the collective labour of Rivers Legislators over the years.

The Senator called on the House to rescind the suspension of the APC Lawmaker and restore his legitimate constitutional rights, and the right of the people of Ikwerre Constituency to be represented in the affairs of Rivers State.

He said, “I have been very concerned since I got the news of the suspension of Hon Chikere Azubike Wanjoku, member representing Ikwerre Constituency in Rivers State House of Assembly by a resolution of the House.

“My concern stems from what

that decision portends for the institution of the State House of Assembly as the suspension is calculated to stifle the voice of opposition and suppress divergent views necessary for good governance and the sustenance of democracy.

“The decision suspending Hon. Azubuike Wanjoku goes against the grain of decent legislative practice. He was not giving fair hearing neither were the issues against him canvassed to the knowledge of the public,” he said.

He said that as a former mem-

Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration prioritises gender issues, which affect a large spectrum of society, noting that he has mainstreamed affirmative action for women in his government.

Obaseki said this when he received the Task Leader of the World Bank, Samik Sundar Das, who led a team from the bank on a courtesy visit to the Government House, in Benin City, the Edo State capital. Obaseki said efforts are being made to reflect this gender bent in his administration, which informed the recent appointment of a Special Adviser and 18 Special Assistants on Gender in his government.

He added that the move was necessary to engage women in governance, noting that their input in governance ensures that policies are properly primed to address the needs and views of a wider spectrum of the society.

He said attaining the target on affirmative action was one of the promises made during his electioneering campaign, which he is committed to fulfilling.

According to him, the appointments will assist in meeting targets set in the affirmative action policy being spearheaded by the World Bank, adding that the state is willing to position itself to benefit from World Bank programmes aimed at add value to the lives of the people of the state. “We are ready to work with you as a state to organise ourselves to get the benefits of the programme,” he said.

Earlier, Mr. Sundar Das explained that the empowerment project on which the affirmative action policy is anchored, is being carried out in six–geopolitical zones in the country with Edo State being one of the beneficiaries. He said the programme is focused on under-privileged women in both urban and rural areas.

He said the World Bank Group is in the state to engage with various stakeholders on the design being formulated to drive the implementation of the programme.

“We are on ground to talk to women directly and understand how flexible the design should be. If a country wants to achieve growth and development it has to work with women. That is why we push for the inclusion of women in government,” he said.

ber of the Rivers State House of Assembly, he was concerned that some of those actions at the end of the day could affect the reputation built for the house by the collective labour of Rivers Legislators over the years.

“The house must understand that they are not just today’s members, but inheritors of the proud and lofty mandate that has attracted the confidence of Rivers people throughout its existence.

Suspension of an elected official is an abrogation of the constitutional right of his constituency to be adequately represented in the affairs of the state.

News 14

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

FG moves to review occupational safety, health policy Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏIn an effort to ensurin a

L-R: Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma ; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Senate President /Bride’s father, Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Kola Abiola and others, during the Fatiha’s Nikkah in Abuja… on Friday.

Plateau crisis -NGO vows to unite citizens through sports Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos

ÏÏÏTo

ensure lasting peace in Plateau State, a Non governmental organisation, Citadel Sports Advancement Foundation is organising a basket ball tournament with a view to uniting citizens of Plateau Northern senatorial zone through sports.

It would be recalled that Plateau North has been crisis ridden for over a decade.

Our Correspondent gathered that the basketball tournament, would kick-start at the weekend at the Dadi Kowa Youth center and comprised of several teams from the four local governments in the state in the Northern Senatorial zone .

Speaking to newsmen

in Jos, the founder and Chief Executive office of the NGO Dabis Sunday Christopher ,said that the tournament would help foster peace and unity in the society.

He lamented the crisis that has bedeviled the Plateau North Senatorial zone in the past and said the organisation would use sports to bring peace to the zone and Plateau as a whole “As an NGO in Plateau State, we would continue to promote peaceful coexistence among the youths.”

Dabis said “Citadel Sport is a nonprofit organization in Jos with the intent to use sports as a platform to impart life skills to the Nigerian youth and to provide them with talent-building opportunities while teach-

ing them the fundamentals of different sports. “ “Our activities are focused and formed to teach players accountability, respect, teamwork, and the benefit of hard work, this project is aimed at promoting peace, reconciliation and empowering Nigerian youths through active engagement in sporting activities. “ “As a group we are using sports to douse tension in restive areas and demilitarized the youths and help them engage in productive ventures and to disabuse their minds from social vices that hinder human resource development. “ “We also seek to promote social integration, Community capacity building, crime reduction, security consciousness, Health and lifestyles

amongst the youth population via a sensitization on issues such as drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, violence and gender inequality during the sport tournaments.”

He also said the mega basketball tournament which would hold in December, from 11-16 December will assemble a minimum of 7000 youths from various parts of Plateau State.

We shall also give leaders and other stakeholders from the state the opportunity to address the youths based on current realities and concerns.

“The competition is organised to bring youths from all backgrounds to tell the entire nation that we are peace ambassadors, that we put our differences aside and celebrate peace,”Dabis further added.

sy Church International, who was the second plaintiff in the suit.

Oyakhilome’s church had dragged CAC and its Register-General before the court and asked for a declaration that a name ‘Christ Embassy Friends and Partners, which CAC intend to register is part of its registered name, as such is capable of misleading and deceiving innocent Nigerians and general public.

The church also urged the court to declare that registration of the club

name ‘Christ Embassy Friends and Partners’, is unlawful, null and void and contravenes the provisions of sections 30 and 594 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

The plaintiffs asked the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining CAC and its Registrar General from registering the name Christ Embassy Friends and Partners with a N1.5 million, being the cost of instituting the suit.

The plaintiffs in their statement of claim stated

that they are well known to Nigerians and the world at large, in its alias as ‘Christ Embassy’, adding that the activities and programs of Christ Embassy are not hidden as they are widely publicized on media and internet.

They also stated that the persons who wish to register ‘Christ Embassy Friends and Partners’, have no relationship whatsoever with them, and do not have authority or consent of the church to register the name.

Christ Embassy’ loses N1.5m suit against CAC

Peter Fowoyo

ÏÏÏ

A Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on Friday dismissed a N1.5 million suit, filed by the church pastored by Chris Oyakhilome, Believers Loveworld otherwise known as Christ Embassy, against the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Justice Ayotunde Faji, who dismissed the suit yesterday for lacking in merit also awarded a cost of N100, 000, against Christ Embassy and Incorporated Trustees of Christ Embas-

global compliance to labour best practices in Nigeria, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, has constituted a tripartiteplus consultative meeting for the review of the National Policy on Occupational Safety and Health.

The Minister, who was represented by the Director, Skills Development and Certification Department in the Ministry, Mr. Ibrahim Lawal Jilbia, said that the review is coming after the development of the well-documented National Profile on Occupational Safety and Health System and their activities.

While appreciating the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for supporting the development of a framework that facilitates Nigeria’s flow with global trends and best practices in securing the safety and health of our working population.

Sen. Ngige, emphasized that policies drive sustainable development, as all member units of the system are made to work in synergy towards common goals and objectives. The International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention C.155 on Occupational Safety and Health serves as the entry point of a standard national effort with

regards to Occupational Safety Health.

Speaking further, Ngige assured that Labour administration under the current administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, remains proactive and will continue to embrace a strategic approach towards tackling various social and economic challenges.

“My candid advice to all our esteemed stakeholders involved in this project is that you work with an open mind, avoiding duplication of duties and unjustifiable conflicts of interest, in order to come out with a revised policy that is acceptable to all. The ministry shall in the course of delivering on its mandate on Labour Safety, Health and Welfare protection, continue to accommodate stakeholders’ interest in the spirit of an enlarged social dialogue,” he concluded.

In his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi, who was represented by Director, Occupational Safety and Health Department in the Ministry, Dr. Ifeoma Anyanwutaku, said that the policy review is expected to synchronize all efforts towards ensuring safe and healthy workplaces all over Nigeria, for the protection of our valuable workforce and promoting productivity for a more virile National economy.

FCTA partners NDLEA, security agencies on war against drug abuse Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Federal Capital Territory Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has lamented the growing incidence of drug abuse in the Territory. To this effect he has moved to rally FCT Security agencies to combat the scourge.

The FCT Minister gave this indication in a meeting with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (Rtd), when the latter paid him a working visit yesterday.

Malam Bello expressed alarm at the dimension to which the menace of drug has grown especially among women, while aligning himself with the declaration of the drug law enforcement boss who had associated the problems of insurgency, robbery, kidnapping and other crimes to drug abuse. He said, “We really intend to make Abuja drug free. That will take tremendous amount of hard work and tremendous amount of commitment and resources. But we have no option but to do it.”

The Minister acknowledged that it was bad enough

that Nigeria used be known only as a transit point and expressed dismay it was becoming a consuming nation. He charged the FCT Police, Department of State Security, Social Development Secretariat, and NDLEA, who were present at the occasion, to come together to chart a new plan of action towards fighting the scourge in FCT. The Minister assured the agencies that FCT was going to support measures designed to recover affected neighbourhoods and persons from drugs.

In addition, he announced measures to fast-track the allocation of land for the construction of a rehabilitation centre for drug victims in the FCT. He canvassed for the naming and shaming of traffickers and perpetrators, as one of the strategies for discouraging the resort to drugs, suggesting, “All arrested persons need to be publicized along with their pictures and businesses. If they are found to be part of the negative value chain of the drug thing, they have to be exposed very widely. It is absolutely important. This is something relevant agencies will work together at in order to recover this vulnerable segment of our population from this menace.”

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

15 For the Record

A superstitious link between dark riches and cerebral palsy is hurting Nigeria’s kids Mercy Abang

C

erebral Palsy, the medical condition that occurs in approximately 2-2.5 of 1000 live births globally according to a Paediatric cerebral palsy report in Africa – the condition is a neurological disorder caused by a non-progressive brain injury or malformation that occurs while the child’s brain is under development.

But in the south-eastern Nigeria state of Anambra, babies suffering from the condition are widely considered an outcome of money rituals” done to the kids by parents or relatives to get wealth”. As a result, these children are given zero medical care in some cases and in other instances sent to spiritual homes for prayers.

The myth suggests that the ailment is associated with families eager for wealth and it occurs when a member of such a family performs a religious act on the orders of a spiritualist to ward off spiritual attacks or be ‘blessed’ with blood money.

The people of Anambra state are business savvy and the state harbours some of Nigeria’s wealthiest men, dead and alive according to a recent piece by Forbes Magazine, as well as the Onitsha market, the biggest outdoor market in all of West Africa.

“The purveyors of the analogy are not so far from the truth, because if you find out the meaning of Cerebral Palsy, you’d see that it is actually caused by brain damage”.

Mr Okeke Obinna, a medical practitioner based in Awka, the Anambra state capital opines. “So when the people are informed that family members use the brain of children for wealth, it becomes believable even when it is actually false”.

The brain damages when a child suffers from Cerebral Palsy, that is caused by brain injury or abnormal development of the brain that occurs while a child’s brain is still developing — before birth, during birth, or immediately after birth according to the definition by MyChild, a US organisation providing information about the ailment.

The primary effect of Cerebral Palsy is impairment of muscle tone, gross and fine motor functions, balance, control, coordination, reflexes, and posture. Oral motor dysfunction, such as swallowing and feeding difficulties, speech impairment, and poor facial muscle tone can also indicate Cerebral Palsy.

Associative conditions, such as sensory impairment, seizures, and learning disabilities that are not a result of the same brain injury, occur frequently with Cerebral Palsy. When present, these associative conditions may contribute to a clinical diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy.

Many signs and symptoms are not readily visible at birth, except in some severe cases, and may appear within the first three to five years of life as the brain and child develop.

Denis Nduka, from Ekwulobia, Aguata, a Local Government Area in Anambra State, counters that medical argument, he argues that there’s hardly a child from a poor home in Anambra State that suffers from

either cerebral palsy or any attention deficiency syndrome, “why only children of the wealthy and the very rich”?

“If you’ve ever seen a child suffering from or has the traits of these kids we talk about, and that child’s parents are poor, go and find out, there’s a very wealthy uncle somewhere who has sacrificed the baby’s brain for wealth”. Nduka maintained.

“This is not a cultural argument”.

Udoka Okechukwu, 34, from Awba Ofemili, Awka North Local government of the state is a nanny at the local private school in Awka, the state capital (School Name withheld over privacy concerns) attended by most kids suffering from Cerebral Palsy said most parents actually believe the tales that says kids with the disease were used for Ritual Purposes.

“Some care for their babies with such a mindset that the babies actually did pay the price for the wealth of the family” She insisted.

Ms Nnamdi said there’s need for widespread education and information about the dangers of Cerebral Palsy that primarily affects body movement and muscle coordination.

According to Professor Afolabi Lesi, Dean of Clinical Sciences at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) no fewer than 700,000 children is living with cerebral palsy in Nigeria.

According to a study on Cerebral Palsy in Sagamu, Nigeria, it says the condition is mainly associated with perinatal events and low socio-economic status – continuing education of health workers and tra-

ditional birth attendants against the argument suggesting an ailment exclusively affected by the elites.

“I take my child to spiritual homes for prayers, believing God will heal him someday”, Amuche Obiora, a mother shares her disturbing story birthing her child with the condition.

Her son named Chinonso Means “God is nearby” in Igbo was first diagnosed of the condition she termed “abnormal” at 5 months.

He was unable to crawl, nor grow as other babies of his age, women will regularly not allow their kids around Chinonso, and at that early stage, he started facing discrimination. “Some said he is a child from the gods and should not be allowed around other kids – people come around to tell me to dump him in the evil forests”. Ms Obiora explains.

Like the meaning of his name, “God is nearby”, the mum hoped she would wake to a miracle until she was kicked out of her home and her husband was no longer comfortable dealing with the humiliation of being called the father of “Chinonso”.

Ms Obiora, a middle aged teacher in Achalla, Awka, was almost forced to abandon her child but she knew the child had no hand in what he suffered, she decided to leave her home, friends and family members discriminating against her baby to cater for him.

“I locked my baby and left him indoors all week, months, years – It was frustrating exposing him to people who only reminded me that he had no place in society because

of his condition” she said.

She believes only God can heal her child, as the ailment according to her, seems to have defied medical experts. She was also told that her ex-husband must have sacrificed her son’s brain for the wealth and riches he currently enjoys. She holds on to the believe that one day God will heal her now 7 year old Chinonso.

The widespread notion about children with Cerebral Palsy being used for “money rituals” by parents isn’t just in communities and towns of Anambra state, but across Nigeria, the perception is however, widely known in the South-eastern state of Anambra.

Children suffering from various forms of disabilities like down syndrome, autism, attention deficiency syndrome in most Nigerian societies also suffer the fate of cerebral palsy sufferers – the stigma of being used by parents or relatives to amass wealth leaves most of the babies without care and widespread stigma in societies.

Mercy Abang is a Freelance Journalist, focusing her work on development Journalism, under-reported or never reported stories mostly ignored by mainstream media organisations – She doubles as an International media fixer– She tweets at @abangmercy. Mercy is the 2017 United Nations Journalism Fellow and budgIT Media fellow for 2017. This article was written as part of the 2017 BudgIT Media Fellowship - BudgIT had no editorial influence or control over the story.

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 8, 2017

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

FEATURES

s

Nature enthusiasts rally to save 16 most endangered vulture species Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr Vultures have an undeserved bad reputation. They’re often seen as dirty, ugly scavengers, congregating around dead or dying animals. But the reality is that ecosystems rely on these birds which play many important roles.

While their choice of food may turn your stomach, they’re helping to reduce the spread of disease by cleaning up carrion!

Yet, vulture populations — particularly in Africa and Asia — have plummeted in the last few decades. For instance, the white-backed vulture of India was so abundant in 1980 that it was considered one of the most common large birds of prey in the entire world. Now, just a few decades later, it is critically endangered after a 99.9 percent decline.

Vultures need large ranges to scan for food and undisturbed areas in which to nest. They also need an abundance of prey species since they rely more on chance than their own hunting skills to eat. All of these things have been reduced by human activity. Meanwhile, there is a dramatic increase in secondary poisoning. Vultures feed on carcasses laced with poison, intended to kill jackals or other predatory carnivores. Or they are poisoned by the lead in animals left behind by hunters. Or they are poisoned by diclofenac, a veterinary drug given to livestock which is toxic to vultures who feed on animals that die naturally or are brought down by other animals.

A report by PhysOrg states, “Throughout Africa, vulture populations have suffered an alarming collapse in numbers in recent years. In rural parts of West Africa some species have declined by over 95%, while the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve has lost an average of 62% of its vultures over the past three decades. Aside from poisoning - both targeted and incidental - vultures are threatened by wind turbines, electricity pylons, habitat destruction, food loss and poaching.”

Of the 23 vulture species of the world, 16 are considered near threatened, vulnerable to extinction, endangered or critically endangered. Africa and India are experiencing a vulture crisis.

Plights of Vultures in Nigeria The plights of Vultures in Nigeria have been that of orphans

Vulture inset trophy

(L-R): Nkiruka Omeje (Team member), Stephen Aina (Team leader), HRH, Alhaji Zubairu H/Gabdo (Emir of Gashaka kingdom), Somochukwu Udo-Azugo (Team member) and Mr. George (GGNP)

who are often neglected by the society to fend for themselves in an environment that is becoming more hostile for their survival due to several factors among which is the commercial exploitation of the birds for fetish and trado-medicinal uses.

The mounting hostility has significantly accounted for the continued disappearance of these magnificent birds from our skies.

To encourage indigenous approach to biodiversity conservation and stall further threats to the already declining population of Vultures in Nigeria, the BirdLife and Birdfair International floated a flagship initiative and award to inspire the direct involvement of young and vibrant nature enthusiasts in biodiversity conservation.

Through the initiative, a

group of young conservation leaders from the Nigerian Conservation Foundation are engaging communities in the support zones (SZCs) of Gashaka Gumti National Park (GGNP) located in Taraba state, Nigeria in a conservation soccer tournament (CST). The CST was conceived with the aim of fostering mutual partnership and cooperation among the SZCs for the protection of Vultures.

The unprecedented turn-out, supports and commitment of all spheres of stakeholders across the participating communities allude to the feasibility and practicability of engaging sport as a tool for creating far-reaching awareness and building of formidable platform to enhance community governance for vulture conservation.

To further solicit extended

D-G. Nigerian Conservation Foundation Mr. Adeniyi Karunwi

engagement of the emirate and in recognition of the support shown by the emirate to the fledging concept of vulture conservation in Gashaka kingdom, the team presented an award to the Emir of Gashaka kingdom, HRH, Alhaji Zubairu H/Gabdo Mohammadu as the Royal Vulture Ambassador.

He was cheered by over 3500 villagers who converged to witness the final match between Serti A and Goje communities.

Serti A team finally emerged the winner on penalty shoot-out against Goje community with a margin of 5 – 3 goals. The award is the first of its kind in the history of Avifauna conservation in Nigeria.

With the results achieved so far, Vultures are beginning to have their fortune turned around through the efforts of the BirdLife/Birdfair Young Conservation Leaders in Nigeria.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

19

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Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

Liberia’s Supreme Court upholds October polls rerun, dismisses fraud allegations Bonny Amadi with agency reports

ÏÏÏThe

lingering suspense in Liberia’s election may be over as the country’s Supreme Court has endorsed the sanctity of the country’s election that so far produced legendry footballer, George Weah scoring highest votes, followed by vice president, Joseph Boakai.

According to local news reports, Liberia’s Supreme Court, Wednesday ruled that evidence of fraud in the country’s October election was insufficient for a re-run, paving the way for a second round run-off between

ex-soccer star George Weah and Vice-President Joseph Boakai.

“In the absence of sufficient evidence, the court cannot order a re-run of the election,” Justice Philip Banks said, reading out the court’s decision.

Weah topped the October poll with 38.4 percent of votes and Boakai had 28.8 percent in second place. The law requires that a presidents gets half of the votes cast to win In a 4 – 1 decision by the Supreme Court, dissenting judge, Justice Kabineh M. Ja’neh said it was deeply disconcerting that his colleagues had decided to ignore the glaring discrepancies and evi-

dence of gross irregularities in electoral process leading up to and during the October polls.

The date of the run – off will be determined and announced by the electoral commission which has been ordered by the Supreme Court to conduct critical reforms before the next election.

Some of the Supreme Court orders to the Electoral Commission include prohibition of the Chairman and NEC staff from speaking on any matter that may affect a party to the run- off and also fully comply with the electoral management laws of Liberia.

Jerusalem: Malaysians, Indonesians, Pakistanis, Egyptians, others protest ÏÏÏFollowing

the recent recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, by the United States President Donald Trump, tension has continued to rise in the Arab world even as world leaders have called for caution.

There have been reported protests in Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistani, Iran, Turkey, Egypt and other Arab cities, protesting recent stand of the US in Palestinian Israeli conflict over Jerusalem.

Agency report revealed that hundreds of protesters on Thursday gathered in downtown Cairo, Egypt to demonstrate against Donald Trump’s decision to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Protesters shouted slogans against the decision, which Trump announced last night, joining Arab and European leaders in their rejection of the move.

“We completely reject any interference with any inch of Palestine. Palestine is being occupied by Zionists, but we will not let the Palestinian cause go, we are with the Palestinian people and we will not recognize the Zionists,” said Activist, Ibrahim Fadoon.

We completely reject any interference with any inch of Palestine. Palestine is being occupied by Zionists, but we will not let the Palestinian cause go.

A makeshift Israeli flag was burned during the demonstration as well as a picture of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and protesters insisted on Jerusalem’s Arabian roots.

“I am here like every other Egyptian and Arab against Trump’s decision. I see it as insulting, aggressive, and arro-

ÏÏÏAs same sex marriage Australian parliament passes bill is gathering momentum glob- on same-sex marriage ally, the latest convert to same sex law, Australian parliament on Friday gave endorsement to legalize same sex marriage in the country, Malcolm Turnbull says that making same-sex marriage legal in Australia in today’s landslide vote is a “great moment in history” that will benefit generations to come.

The Australian prime Minister was reported to have told ABC 730 host Leigh Sales, the vote had “an enormous national effort” with every Australian having a say.

When asked by Sales about the “significant cost” to many LBTQI Australians of having to endure a public debate, Mr. Turnbull said the balance was “overwhelmingly positive”.

“I mean, if you are a young gay person and you are worried about your identity, you’re struggling with how to tell your parents or your friends — you know, you’re going through a tough time, and now you know 62 per cent of Australians have voted to say, ‘You are equal, we love

Australia same sex marriage supporters

you, we respect you.’

“That is a very big affirmation. That is a very big hug, Leigh — and that’s what Australians have done.”

Dean Smith, the Liberal senator who drafted the bill, said Australians won twice — when the nation voted ‘Yes’, and today. He dedicated the win today to young LGBTI Australians.

Liberal Member of parliament (MP) Tim Wilson, who proposed to his partner on the floor of parliament during the debate, said: “There is

no day I am prouder to be an Australian than today.”

“Every single Australian owns the vote ... It is a fantastic outcome for everyone in this nation,” he said.

The historic bill passed just before 6pm today after MPs voted to knock back a series of last-minute changes to the legislation.

MPs and members of the public began to spontaneously sing ‘I Am Australian’ after the vote. There were also tears and hugs on the floor of parliament.

Senegal opens new $600m airport built over 10 years ÏÏÏ Senegal has a new

Jerusalem Egyptians protest

Isreal President Reuven Rivlin

gance that we cannot accept, and we believe in our right of Jerusalem being Arab and Palestine as well,” said Former Egyptian Presidential Candidate, Hamdeen Sabahi.

Egypt, which forged the first Arab peace deal with Israel in 1979, brushed off Trump’s decision and said it did not change Jerusalem’s disputed legal status. ……Abbas vows Palestinian rage will continue: ‘We’ll never back down’ Meanwhile Palestinian President, chief’s spokesman has said US Jerusalem policy will not be allowed to go forward, affirms meeting with Pence unlikely to happen.

Palestinians will “never back down” and “will not allow implementation” of new

US policy in Jerusalem, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Friday, as thousands protested and clashed with Israeli security forces throughout the West Bank.

The spokesman vowed that Palestinian “rage” would continue. …As top Iranian cleric calls for Palestinian violence, vows to ‘level Tel Aviv’ Also, in a sermon at Tehran’s largest mosque, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami tells followers the ‘cure for the issue of Palestine is only, only an intifada’ The senior Iranian cleric called during Friday prayers for Palestinians to “rage” against Israel after US President Donald Trump declared Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state.

According to Times of Israel report, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, an ultra-conservative and a key leader of the main weekly Muslim prayers, said Trump had drawn a line on years of peace efforts by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. …. IDF general urges Palestinians not to take to violence

airport as the West African country seeks to underline its status as an airline hub in the subregion.

The commissioning was graced by some African presidents who joined the Senegalese people at the opening, they include Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon; The Gambia’s Adama Barrow, Jose Mario Vaz of Guinea Bissau among others.

According to agency report, the Blaise Diagne International Airport was officially opened on Thursday December 7 by President Macky Sall. He called it a “source of satisfaction and legitimate pride” for the country.

Whiles expected to increase air traffic to the country, the authorities are also hoping it will translate in increased tourism and by that an economic boost.

The airports construction

Senegal airport

started in 2007. Therefore it took a decade to complete the project.

The cost of the project is put at $600m. It was started by a Saudi firm but later completed by a Turkish firm after a dispute with the Saudis.

The financing is said to have come from the African Development Bank, the French Development Agency, the West African Development Bank, and

other banks from South Africa, Canada and Saudi Arabia.

It has a capacity for three million passengers per year as compared to the current travel traffic of 1.9 million passengers per annum. The Blaise Diagne International Airport is named after the first African to be elected a lawmaker in France, as far back as 1914.

Man faces five years jail for sexual offence South American Media personality Ian “Magic” Hughes was Thursday found guilty of the indecent assault of a young girl.

Indecent assault is a sexual offence which involves touching an individual with indecent intentions, without his/her permission.

Antiguan observer reports that in this case, the jury accepted the 13-year-old girl’s evidence that Hughes inappropriately touched her breasts and tried to force her to kiss him more than once while he was dropping her home.

The indecent assault occurred on the night of June 12, 2012 when the former sports reporter was taking the girl home from a football match.

S American Magic Hughes

Hughes was remanded to prison until January 16 next year, pending sentencing. Indecent assault carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

Crawford varsity churns out 230 graduates Esther Taiwo Crawford University owned by The Apostolic Faith in Igbesa Ogun State is set to graduate about 230 first degree students at its 9th convocation ceremony slated for December 13, 2017.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing to kick start activities marking the 9th convocation, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof MRS OMONIYI ADA PEAC

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS ONUMINYA ADA PEACE NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS OMONIYI ADA PEACE,ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE ISAAC BLESSING CHRISTIANA

I formerly known and addressed as OLUAOHA CHRISTIANA BLESSING now wish to be known, called and addressed as ISAAC BLESSING CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

NWOKWU SIMEON OKECHUKWU NWOKWU: I, formerly known and addressed as NWOKWU SIMEON, now wish to be known and addressed as NWOKWU SIMEON OKECHUKWU. My correct date of birth is 24th April 1967.

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

Isaac Ajayi said the convocation is another significant milestone in the journey of the University towards the fulfillment of its sacred mandate of producing balanced and well rounded graduates.

He added that such graduates must be imbued with academic and moral excellence, self-confidence, inventive dynamism and creativity, graduates who can generate for themselves and the society in general, meaningful solutions to the myriads of challenges confronting humanity especially in the 21st century.

“This University is remains irrevocably committed to the pursuit of the mandate as formulated by kits founding fathers.”, he said.

Giving the breakdown of the graduands, Prof Ajayi said 78 are coming from the College of Natural and Applied Sciences while 152 are from the College of Business and Social Sciences with 22 graduating with First Class, 88 with Second Class Upper division, 83 with Second Class Lower division and 37 with Third Class.

The convocation lecture will be delivered by the former Vice Chancellor of the Covenant University owned by the Living Faith church in Otta, Ogun State, Prof Charles Ayo titled “Restructuring the Higher Education Delivery for Human Capital Development and National transformation”.

CHIMAMAKA ANASTATIA EKE

ADENIYI GANIYU OLALEKAN

I formerly known and addressed as MISS CHIMAMAKA ANASTATIA MADU-ASEBO now wish to be known, called and addressed as CHIMAMAKA ANASTATIA EKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

On my WAEC Result, my name appears as ANIFOWOSHE GANIYU, while on other documents my name appears as ADENIYI GANIYU OLALEKAN. That I am the same person bearing ADENIYI GANIYU OLALEKAN and ANIFOWOSHE GANIYU, henceforth I wish to be known called and addressed as ADENIYI GANIYU OLALEKAN. All former documents bearing my former name remain valid. WAEC and General public should please take note.

NURUDEEN AKANNI.

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NURUDEEN OLADIPUPO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS NURUDEEN AKANNI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE

MRS MERCY ERIC EKOBIA

I, formerly known as Miss Mercy Etim Obot, now wish to be known and address as Mrs Mercy Eric Ekobia.

All documents remain valid.

General public please take note

EGBEDELE ROFIAT AANU

CHIME ROBINSON .C

AMUH CELESTINE CHIKEZIE

ANU: I, formerly known and addressed as EGBEDELE ROFIAY ANU, now wish to be known and addressed as EGBEDELE ROFIAT AANU. All former documents remain valid. First Banks and General public should please take note.

ENEH: I, formerly known and addressed as ENEH ROBINSON .C., now wish to be known and addressed as CHIME ROBINSON .C. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

AMU I, formerly known and addressed as AMU CELESTINE SUNDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as AMUH CELESTINE CHIKEZIE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note

ISANGDAIHI GIFT ENO

MRS ENEORE IFEOMA DEBORAH

NWOSU CHRISTIAN AKOREX.

I formerly known and addressed as WILLIAM ENO EDET now I wish to be known and addressed as ISANGDAIHI GIFT ENO .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME : This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly written as ALLIU WASIH, instead of ALIU WASIU.That my correct date of Birth year is 1986 and Not 1978.

All former document remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OKOLO: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKOLO IFEOMA DEBORAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ENEORE IFEOMA DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. NYSC, Banks and General public should please take note.

MRS ADEBIYI HADIZA DOYINSOLA

. I formerly known and addressed as MISS ABDULRAHMAN HADIZA DOYINSOLA now I wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEBIYI HADIZA DOYINSOLA .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

NWOSU: I, formerly known and addressed as NWOSU CHRISTIAN, now wish to be known and addressed as NWOSU CHRISTIAN AKOREX. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

RAUZILU BALA

. I formerly known and addressed as RABILU ALIYU BALA now I wish to be known and addressed as RAUZILU BALA . I was born on 01/01/1994.All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

21 News

Enugu APC to print Buhari’s campaign posters Moses Oyediran, Enugu The Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday said that it would take up the responsibility of printing the re-election poster of President Muhammadu Buhari for the 2019 election.

The party in a press statement by its publicity secretary, Mrs. Kate Ofor, commended the party in Kano for endorsing President Muhammadu Buhari for second term and said APC in Enugu will print the 2019 re-election poster of the President.

“We are in league with Kano APC and wish to compliment their efforts by electing to print posters for Mr President’s bid for the 2019 presidential election. For it is our conviction that by then the solid infrastructural projects Mr President is laying must be pronounced.

“Enugu APC is not in doubt that development projects going on in the land like Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Port Harcourt, 2nd Niger Bridge, Enugu and Water Scheme, Standard gauge railways of Western, Eastern and Coastal Corridors and those in the

pipeline like revamping Enugu Coal and ongoing projects across the country are tangibles which will dot our posters.”

“May, we once more state that our support for President Buhari is based on his uncommon integrity quotient, avowed commitment to our dear country and selfless service in all his years as Minister of Petroleum, GOC, Head of State etc.

“These qualities of his are internationally acclaimed, hence the seamless flow of foreign direct investment under his regime”, it added.

MRS AMAKA JERRY-DAVID

JAIYEOLA RAFIU OBAFEMI

MRS SODIMU OLUWAFUNKE ADEDAYO

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JAIYEOLA RAFIU OBAYEMI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS JAIYEOLA RAFIU OBAFEMI,ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS DAIRO OLUWAFUNKE ADEDAYO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS SODIMU OLUWAFUNKE ADEDAYO,ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE

UMEZINWA CHIZOBA JACINTA

ISA SYLVESTER ADAMO

I formerly known,called and addressed as Miss Amaka Egwuagu, now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs Amaka Jerry-David. All documents bearing my former name still remains valid. The general public and all relevant authorities should please take note of this change.

THOMAS SHEDRACK PAM FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SHEDRACK DACHUNG PAM and old date of birth... 25th February 1990 NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS THOMAS SHEDRACK PAM,and new date of birth 25th February 1994 ,ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID,GENERAL PUBLIC NOTE

I formerly known and addressed as OKAFOR CHIZOBA JACINTA now wish to be known and addressed as UMEZINWA CHIZOBA JACINTA all former documents remain valid. General public take note .

MRS ANIAKOR IFEOMA JOVITA

EGBUNA NWAMAKA ELIZABETH EGBUNA: I, formerly known and addressed as EGBUNA OBIAJULU EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as EGBUNA NWAMAKA ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

IGWEGBU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS IGWEGBU IFEOMA JOVITA , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ANIAKOR IFEOMA JOVITA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note

CHUKWU DAVID EKENE

UMEH OZIOMA RACHEAL

ODOEME: I, formerly known and addressed as ODOEME ERNEST, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWU DAVID EKENE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note

. I formerly known and addressed as OZIOMA RACHEAL AZORIBE now I wish to be known and addressed as UMEH OZIOMA RACHEAL.I was born on 26/11/1982. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

MS. ELIZABETH IKERE

ADEBAYO ADEMOLA ONIDUNDUN

. I formerly known and addressed as MRS ELIZABETH OGBE now I wish to be known and addressed as MS. ELIZABETH IKERE .All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

I formerly known as Bayo Ade Onidundun And Adebayo Osuolale Ademola wish to be known and addressed as Adebayo Ademola Onidundun. All former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as SYLVESTER ISAH. now wish to be known and addressed as ISA SYLVESTER ADAMO. all former documents remain valid, general public should please note.

OKECHUKWU SAMUEL UZODINMA NNENANYA: I, formerly known and addressed as NNENANYA SAMUEL UZODINMA, now wish to be known and addressed as OKECHUKWU SAMUEL UZODINMA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ABDULSALAM ABDULRASAQ IDOWU

I formerly known and addressed as IDOWU RASAKI now I wish to be known and addressed as ABDULSALAM ABDULRASAQ IDOWU .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

ONYEKWERE CHIKODI PRECIOUS

I, formerly known and addressed as ONYEKWERE CHIKODINAKA UCHECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYEKWERE CHIKODI PRECIOUS, All former documents remain valid. Banks and the general public should please take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

PDP chieftain berates Kaduna gov elRufa’i’s bad comment on Ahmadu Bello From Samuel Luka, Bauchi A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Stalwart and former state publicity secretary of the party in Bauchi, Alhaji Bashir Bukar Rimin Zayam on Thursday carpeted governor of Kaduna State Mallam Nasir el-Rufa’I over his recent negative statements on the leaders of first republic, and late Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna Sokoto Premier of Northern Nigeria, on the governor to apologize to Nigerians especially People from the northern part of the country The PDP Chieftain who stated this in Bauchi while addressing a press conference, said Late Sardauna was a man of honour and integrity who spent a fulfilled life as a leader, governed his subjects with the fear of God and was just and fair to all.

According to him, Late Sardauna left an exemplary life worthy of emulation to all leaders and Nigerians “It was shameful and unfortunate, negative comments were coming from a serving Governor, one of the present leaders in the North, he should apologize to Nigerians even the university the Governor graduated from was built by late Sardauna”, Ziyam who was visibly angry said.

He advised Elrufai to withdraw his statement and apologize to Nigerians and the North in order to protect his integrity.

On Atiku’s return to PDP, Rimin Zayam said his return is a blessing and plus to the party, because Atiku is a leader with large followers and he belongs to the PDP since and we thank almighty Allah that allowed him to come back his home.

Journey from conflict to communion is irreversible

By Tom Garba, Yola

ÏÏÏ

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) President Archbishop Dr Panti Filibus Musa yesterday met with Pope Francis at the Vatican. During the audience he expressed gratitude for the deepening ecumenical relationships between the two church traditions.

In his address, Musa thanked Francis for supporting an ecumenical approach to the 500th Reformation anniversary.

“Your presence and participation in the Joint Commemoration of the Reformation in Lund was a precious gift for us. It marked the significant turning point at which Catholics and Lutherans are today: the conflicts of the past no longer determine our relationship, but unity as a gift of the Holy Spirit,” Musa said.

Referring to the Joint Commemoration in Lund, Pope Francis said “It was important for us to meet first and foremost in prayer, for the gift of unity among believers takes root and blossoms not as a result of human projects but by the grace of God. Only by praying can we care for one another. [...] Prayer is like the fuel of our journey towards full unity.” After the greetings Pope Francis invited all those present to join in praying the Lord’s Prayer together.

Musa, Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) was accompanied by the Vice-Presidents of LWF’s seven regions, General Secretary Rev. Dr Martin Junge and other Commu-

nion Office staff.

The LWF president said it was encouraging to hear stories from around the world about joint prayer services and new ways of witnessing together, following the Joint Commemoration. “We praise God for all these gifts,” he added.

Referring to the commitment made in Malmö, Sweden, in October 2016 to serve those in need through closer collaboration, Musa cited Colombia where LWF World Service and Caritas “are serving those holding fast to an elusive peace,” and expressed confidence “that this joint service will continue to grow in the future.”

ÏÏÏ In pursuance of

professional excellence, proper documentation of acquired landed properties, the Delta State Branch of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors has unfold measures to flush out quacks among them, thus with new guidelines on cadastral survey practice which commences January 1, 2018.

The state chairman of the Professional body, Surveyor Umukoro Abraham at a media conference yesterday in Asaba, disclosed that the new guidelines which he added is in agreement with the state government, would checkmate the “evil activities” of Quacks, as well as bring sanity to the surveyor business in the state.

Saying that sixty-one suspected Quacks were currently being investigated in the state, stressing that the new guidelines, among

others, would protect the public from unwholesome practices by some self-acclaimed professionals.

He said: “The guidelines will deal with the Quacks, penalize, and sanction erring members involved in sharp practices, many people had lost their practices due to quackery, and loss of revenue by the state government”.

He explained that with the new guidelines there will be public awareness on the need to make use of registered surveyors to execute their survey jobs for proper documentation of their properties, and avoid loss will be unveiled, just as a new price regime would be introduced as cost of production.

The institution also decried the substantive loss of revenues to the state government through Quacks, due mostly fr om survey plans not lodge with the Ministry of Lands and Surveys.

Mr. Umukoro said that with

Unity of the Body of Christ, he noted, “reaches its deepest expressions when it transforms us to live out the double commandment of love.”

Pope Francis said that in order to come closer to Jesus there was a need “for concrete steps and outstreched hands. That means above all, spending ourselves in charity, looking to the poor and the least”.

Musa said the Lund event offered news signs of hope especially for many inter-confessional families “who share everything in their lives but cannot share the bread and wine” at the shared Eucharist

table and thus “remind us in particularly painful ways of this open wound.”

Further engagement in the Lutheran-Catholic dialogue, he noted, would be enriched by “pastoral ecumenism,” that is “informed by our shared vocation to walk with our people, listen to their life stories and prayerfully discern God’s call to the Church, sharing the gifts of God to nurture the people of God.” The Eucharist, he added “is not only a goal of our shared journey but the crux of our relationship, and a provision for the faith journey,” especially for such families.

L-R: Zonal Commanding Officer, RS9, Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), Mr. Samuel Obayemi and Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers in Imo, Eze Samuel Ohiri, during the RS9, FRSC retreat to seek inter-agency cooperation in Imo State… on Friday.

Surveyors tackle quacks in Delta, set guidelines for practice

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

22 News

these new cadastral guidelines, it is expected that there would be control on the proliferation of fake survey plans, especially with the introduction of the customized conqueror papers for survey plans which is designed for every surveyor with a unique identification, adding: “the system is designed in such a manner that every surveyor approved to practice in the state will have a unique identification, and other security information captured on the papers, allotted to him/her for the production of survey papers”.

The institution while thanking the state government for its efforts to enhance the process of land titles, particularly the issuance of Electricity Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), said that the government should take steps to establish a further collaboration with professional bodies to promise development.

Gunmen kill community secretary over alleged crude oil discovery in Delta Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

ÏÏÏ

Unidentified gunmen rampaging Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State yesterday in the early hours allegedly killed secretary of Ndemili community under the Local Government Council over the recent discovery of crude oil in the area.

It was reliably gathered that the victim identified as Sunday (surname withheld), was allegedly shot dead right inside his house by the hoodlums numbered over six persons. It was further learnt that the killers stormed his house in the early hours after knocking on his door, and upon his move to open, allegedly rained bullets on him after which they escaped to an unknown direction with their car.

Eye witness said the victim was killed in the presence of his family members who were help-

less while he shouted for help to no avail.

Expectedly, there has been tension in Ndemili community in the past few months following the discovery of crude oil in the area; a situation neighbouring communities allegedly claimed ownership and had been asking for compensation from the state government. But the Police Image Maker in the state, Mr. Andrew Aniamaka who confirmed the murder of the Secretary to Journalists in Asaba, said investigation was on going with a view to bringing the culprits to book.

He said: “the matter is at present under investigation, we want to assure the public that the culprits would be brought to book”.

Meanwhile, a businessman, Solomon Adah was on Thursday lost his Toyota Camry Car to armed robbers in Asaba during a traditional wedding ceremony reception.

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

News 23

CDHR demands prosecution of suspect over attempted murder

Edward Nnachi, Abakaliki

ÏÏÏHuman

rights group, Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), Ebonyi State Chapter yesterday called for the arrest and prosecution of a man, Mr. Bartholomew Okah of Ndioga Agbaja in Izzi Local Government Area of the state for attempting to kill Mrs. Regina Nwogbaga and her three months nursing child.

Okah and Regina were lovers and she got pregnant for him and gave birth to a baby girl.

And a source close to the CDHR said Regina (30), who is a trader allegedly, gave Okah the sum of N70, 000 to keep for her.

Okah, who works in the Department of works at Ebya Development Cen-

tre, Izzi Local Government Council of the state stopped taking care of Regina three months, after delivering the baby girl as he married another wife.

Regina’s ordeal started when she then resolved to collect her N70, 000 from Okah with the intention of using same to fend for herself and her child, since she was no longer being taken care of by the man.

“She had demanded for the money when Okah, a level 8 officer allegedly threatened to kill her”, the source said.

She insisted on getting her money back as according to her, she was finding it difficult to cope following her sudden abandonment by Okah and just yesterday, she was battered by Okah when she met him for the refund

of her N70, 000”.

“She nearly lost her eyes as she sustained serious injuries on them. Regina also sustained injuries on her body.

Narrating her ordeal to The Daily Times, Regina said Okah stopped giving her food after he married another wife.

“I and my new born baby were suffering of hunger and I decided to ask my husband to give me the N70, 000 I gave him to keep for me since he no longer take care of us. When I met him the first time for the money, he threatened to kill me and my baby.

“I then left and continued struggling for survival.

Things became tougher for me and I decided to meet him again for the money. When I met him and demanded for

the money, he descended on me, hitting me with all manner of objects including rod and sticks, he would have killed me if not for our neighbours that rushed and rescued me”, she said.

In an interview, father of the victim, Mr. Onyibe Nwogbaga lamented the attack on his daughter and equally called for arrest and prosecution of Okah.

Nwogbaga, who said Okah had not even paid Regina’s dowry, stated that men of the Civil Defense Corps arrested had already Okah over the attack on his daughter and ordered him to take Regina to the hospital for treatment but that the dehumaniser had refused.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Loveth Odah confirmed the incident, and described it as at-

L-R: Unit Commander, RS2.25 Sagamu, Assistant Corps Commander, Mohammed Abdullahi; Sector Commander, RS2.2 Ogun, Corps Commander Clement Oladele; Ewusi of Makun Sagamu, Oba Timothy Akinsanya and representative of the Zonal Commanding Officer, RS2 Lagos, Corps Commander, John Babalola, at the 2017 FRSC Ember Months Campaign in Sagamu, Ogun State… on Thursday.

2,000 youth corps members get vaccination against meningitis in Bauchi Samuel Luka, Bauchi

ÏÏÏExecutive

chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Adamu Ibrahim Gamawa has disclosed that over 2,000 National Youth Service Corp members, Batch B stream 1, deployed to Bauchi State have been vaccinated against meningitis.

Gamawa who made the disclosure yesterday while answering questions from

journalists at his office in Bauchi said that the exercise was conducted by the state government in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

He pointed out that the aim of the vaccination exercise was to protect the corp members against meningitis as many of them were coming from other parts of the country where the weather conditions was not as hot as Bauchi

state.

Gamawa stated that, “it is the tradition of the agency to administer the vaccines to corp members at the camp before deployment to their respective places of primary assignment.

“We try to make sure that corp members are vaccinated against communicable diseases such as meningitis because some persons may have low immunity that may not be able to withstand the

virus”. He explained.

He added that, “some of the corp members will be deployed to rural areas where they are not used to. We want to ensure that our corp members are hale and hearty throughout their one year stay in the state. Apart from ensuring their security, we also want them to be healthy in order to give a good testimony of the state after their one year compulsory service”.

tempted murder and domestic violence.

When contacted, Okah admitted the attack but said he directed a local patent medicine dealer to treat Regina and did not know whether the man treated her or not.

Meanwhile, Committee for Defence of Human Rights in the state has called on the state police command to investigate the matter and

bring the culprit to book.

In a petition addressed to the state Commissioner of Police and the state Family Law Centre, signed by Chairman of the group, Comrade Emeka Anosike and Comrade Jeremiah Onyibe and made available to our correspondent, CDHR described the attack as inhuman, barbaric and wicked.

Be good ambassadors, FCT minister tells Christian pilgrims Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏSequel to the measures

being put on ground to restore the integrity of the Nation at the international levels as well as cubing the menace of defection during pilgrimage, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has charged the 2017 FCT intending Christian pilgrims to shun any act that will draw negative attention to the country or make life more difficult for other Nigerians that might want to embark on pilgrimage in the future.

The Minister who gave this charge in Abuja, advised them to be good ambassadors of the country and to also abide by all the rules and regulations that have been put in place to ensure a successful exercise. He expressed his close connection with the pilgrims reflecting that nearly 10 years of his public service years were spent as a pilgrims’ officer.

Bello who lamented the absconding of 8 out of 300 members of the 2016 contingent said such acts have the potentials to worsen the experiences of the country’s pilgrims as stiffer procedures could be introduced to limit their freedom while in the Holy Land.

He appealed to this year’s intending pilgrims against detracting from the intended purpose, saying they are expected to go to the Holy Land to pray and come back as better citizens.

The Minister said, “Each time a pilgrim goes and refuses to come back either by deciding to abscond or to stay there, as long as it is done illegally, it robs on us as a nation and as a people because it makes the process difficult for those that are coming subsequently.”

Malam Bello however assured that necessary steps have been taken by the FCTA and the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims’ Commission to ensure the success of the exercise, saying it is now left for the pilgrims to abide by the teachings and trainings that they have received during their preparation.

The Minister equally harped

on the necessity for patience among the pilgrims, saying, “You have to be very patient with your room mates, very patient with the arrangements, very patient with the officials and also very patient with those that you meet. As a matter of fact, in many of the places, you must have to be very patient with the food you eat. It is not that the food is not good; but for some of us that are used to Nigerian dishes, it might become a huge challenge. But it is all a matter of a few days and you will be back home.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman, House Committee on FCT Area Councils and Member representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo, commended the FCT Minister for ensuring that the 2017 FCT intending Christian pilgrims were genuinely drawn from the FCT population, unlike in the past where residents of other states participated in the exercise as FCT Pilgrims.

He said, “I’m happy that I’m seeing faces that I know. What I am seeing here today, I have not seen it before and that is why I am happy. Irrespective of where you come from, these are persons that live here in Abuja and they are going to witness this pilgrimage, unlike before that we see people from other places.”

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Director, FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr. Dabara Dudu Zingo, disclosed that about 150 pilgrims were present for departure and represent the first of the three batches of FCT pilgrims bound for Israel this year, adding that the exercise will continue till the 25th of December this year.

He assured officials present that the contingents have been adequately prepared and thoroughly screened by the NCPC, CAN, the SSS, Civil Defence and the Police to make the exercise hitch free.Chairman, FCT CAN, Rev. Dr. Jonah Samson, urged the intending pilgrims to keep their focus on the purpose for pilgrimage and to pray for our country’s leaders as well as for the peace and development of Nigeria.

Saturday, December 9, 2017

EXTRATIME

24

Stories by Frank Jumbo with Agency Report

A

rsenal BSC arrived in Lagos yesterday full of confidence that it will win the Copa Lagos Beach Soccer Championship, which begins today at the Eko Atlantic City.

The club was received on arrival

Arsenal BSC vow to win COPA Lagos

by members of Naija Gunners, the umbrella body of supporters of the London-based club, at Eko Hotel and Towers, Victoria Island.

Speaking with The Guardian, Arsenal coach, Terry Bowes said it was exciting to participate in the 2017 Copa Lagos, adding that their intention was to win the tournament in their first attempt.

He said: “We have been hearing of Nigeria and it is a thing of joy to be in this competition. We have a successful team and we will do everything to come tops at the end of the tournament.”

Also speaking on the competition, one of the players, Aaron Clarke said the Arsenal beach soccer team has what it takes to win

the Copa Lagos. “We have won three tournaments in England and we have also taken part in a tournament in France. We have a very strong team,” he boasted.

Promising to drum support for Arsenal, president of Naija Gunners Club, Wole Olagundoye called on every true lover of the club to come and cheer the team to victory in the Copa Lagos.

Ambode

‘Super Eagles, 20th most expensive World Cup team’

T

he Super Eagles are the twentieth most expensive team that will participate in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, according to transfer market experts transfermarkt.co.uk.

Nigeria, who have a squad size of 23, are valued at 80.78 million pounds (approximately N38.45 billion in Nigerian currency).

Brazil currently have the most expensive squad (£606.15m), followed by Germany (£572.85m), France (£572.85m), Spain (£543.15m) and Argentina (£475.65m). Senegal, who have in their ranks Liverpool’s Sadio Mané and Monaco winger Keita Baldé lead the way in Africa with a market value of £195.89m, ahead of Morocco (£88.56m), Nigeria, Egypt (£76.05m) and Tunisia (£28.04m).

Our other rivals at the World Cup Croatia and Iceland occupy the eighth (£265.28m) and twenty-second (£56.12m) positions respectively.

It should be noted that the Super Eagles would have ranked higher than 20th but Nigeria’s most valuable player, Chelsea’s Victor Moses who is valued at £16.20m, was omitted from the players rated because he missed the games against Argentina and Algeria.

Tale, Danjuma, 8 others picked for Copa Lagos T en players have been selected at the Birnin-Kebbi camp of the Super Sand Eagles for the COPA Lagos Beach Soccer Tournament, opening in Lagos on Dec. 8.

The Head Coach of the team, Audu Adamu, said in an interview in Lagos yesterday that the new team would represent Nigeria at the CAF Beach Soccer tournament, billed for Egypt next year.

“These selected players will represent us at the World Cup qualifiers in Egypt. I have so much hope in them and I’m confident that they will deliver.

“Our performance in COPA Lagos will further reveal to us where we need to work on and improve on,” Adamu said.

The players selected are Paul Danjuma of Katsina United, Arome Isah of Sambrin FC Kogi, Victor Tale (Captain) of Kogi United FC, Emmanuel Oweferia and Taiwo Adams both of Owibeseb FC Ojo. Others are Ekujumi Eganosi and Emeka Ogbonna both are of Lead UTD FC in Ojo, Lagos, Abu Aziz of Rangers FC Enugu, Suleiman Muhammed of FC IfeanyiUbah and Bulangi Umar of Kebbi Beach Soccer.

The four new players, who made the team are Muhammed, Umar, Eganosi and Ogbonna.

The Managing Director of Kinetic Sports, Samson Adamu, the organizers of COPA Lagos, said that this year’s event would be huge because of the partnership with the Lagos State Government. (NAN)

Ivica

Nigeria a powerful team - Croatia legend

L

egendary Croatia Striker Ivica Olic : Nigeria Powerful Team, Far Better Than CameroonRetired Croatia international striker Ivica Olic, who will be in the dugout when Croatia faces Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup as assistant manager of the national team, has rated the Super Eagles highly.

Although Barcelona striker Lionel Messi was excused from the game in Krasnodar, Olic was shocked that the Super Eagles thrashed Argentina 4-2 despite trailing by two goals in the first half. ’I was immediately shocked that on November 14, they played in Russia a friendly match with Argentina where they won 4-2 in Krasnodar,’’ Olic told sportske.jutarnji.hr. ‘’True, Messi did not play. It was an encounter in which Agüero had problems when he fell into oblivion. At half-time Argentina were leading 2-0. I looked at those goals.

Quadri

Quadri climbs to 21st in latest ITTF ranking

A

runa Quadri set a new personal record for Nigeria and himself as the Nigerian is now ranked 21 in the end-of-the-year ITTF ranking released yesterday by the world table tennis ruling body.

Quadri now dwarfed his best of 25th in the ranking to displace Egypt’s Omar Assar as the continent’s best ranked player in the world.Despite not matching up the record set by Egypt’s Omar Assar as the first African ranked among top 20 in the world, Quadri ends the year as the highest ranked African in the latest rating.

Following her victories over top ranked players at the Swedish Open, Quadri amassed 50 points to improve from 2457 to 2507points to be rated 21 in the world ranking.

Prior to this latest ranking, the best achieved by Quadri in the world rating was 25 and with this, he has set a new record for Nigeria and himself.

However, the inactiveness of Omar Assar may have affected his rating, as the Egyptian dropped from 20 to 26 in the latest ranking.

For the President of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Ishaku Tikon, the feat is commendable as Quadri continues to put Nigeria and Africa on the world map with his scintillating performance at global stage.

“We are excited about this latest ranking and this goes to show that our efforts are paying off and what we just need to do is to ensure we unearth and nurture more players like Quadri. Also the young players should take a cue from Quadri in terms of his diligent, professionalism and dedication to the trade. I hope and believe they can follow his footsteps in their career to make it to the top,” the NTTF boss said.

Saturday, December 9, 2017

EXTRATIME

Ogbeche is most prolific striker in Netherlands

N

igeria 2002 World Cup Star Ogbeche Is Most Prolific Striker In Netherlands This Season Nigeria 2002 World Cup star Bartholomew Ogbeche is the most prolific striker in the whole of the Dutch Eredivisie in the current season.

Voetbal International in partnership with sports data company OPTA has revealed that the out-of-favour Nigeria international boasts the most prolific minutes-per-goal ratio after fourteen rounds in the Dutch Eredivisie.

Ogbeche has scored on average once every 49 minutes and no player with at least two goals has performed better than the experienced Willem II striker.

Having fully recovered from a cruciate liga-

ment injury that had kept him on the sidelines for nine months, the 33-year-old has found the next six times in his last three matches in the Dutch top-flight.

The ex-PSG wonderkid netted his first goal of the season against Sparta Rotterdam, bagged

a hat-trick against VVV Venlo and notched a brace in last weekend’s tie vs Heracles Almelo.

He was named to the Team of the Week for fourteenth round of matches.

Ogbeche Moses

Moses named among top 100 players in the world

C

helsea Ace Victor Moses Named Among Top 100 Players In The World Super Eagles dazzler Victor Moses has been named among the top 100 footballers in the world by influential United States-based satellite sports television channel ESPN, and is the only Nigerian player that made the prestigious list.

2017 has been a banner year for Moses as he helped Chelsea win the Premier League title, qualify for the final of the Emirates FA Cup, the last sixteen of the Champions League and was one of the key players as Nigeria qualified for their sixth World Cup. On a personal level Moses, who was selected among the top ten right backs in the world, is in the running for both the CAF and BBC African Footballer of the Year. ‘’There were raised eyebrows aplenty when Victor Moses signed a new contract with Chelsea in 2015 shortly before setting off for a season loan with West Ham. After all, he’d spent the past two seasons on loan at Liverpool and Stoke,’’ ESPN wrote. ‘’It was like watching a nice saloon car sign away the best mileage of its life to an airport hire firm but when Antonio Conte arrived, he saw things he liked. Pace. Stamina. Courage. Versatility.

Agu resumes training after injury

B

ursaspor midfielder, Mikel Agu, could be back in first team action in a fortnight following his returned to light training with his club on Thursday, Completesportsnigeria.com, reports.

The 24 year old defensive midfielder underwent an arthroscopic menisectomy surgery on his right knee in November. He took part in some sprint exercises at the club’s training ground on Thursday which will continue on Friday, the player has revealed.

“I have started running and hopefully, in a couple of weeks, I will be back with my team again,” Agu told Completesportsnigeria.com.

“I have been working hard to get fit again, and hopefully, you will see me back in action soon, by Gods Grace.”

Prior to his injury the Nigeria international was in great form for Bursaspor, scoring twice in 11 appearances this season.

The former Club Brugge of Belgium and Vitória Setúbal of Portugal player missed Bursaspor’s last four games against Goztepe, Karabukspor, Adanaspor, Konyaspor, and he is expected to watch from the stands, their Friday’s clash with Fenerbahce.

M

FM FC have emerged the winners of the South West pre-season football competition following a 3-1 win against amateur side 36 Lion at the Agege Stadium, reports Completesportsnigeria.com.

36 Lion shocked the Olukoya Boys when they took the lead through Bakare Emmanuel five minutes before the break.

However, MFM rallied back with three secondhalf goals to win the highly entertaining encounter.

Rohr should forget about Enyeama - Lawal

F

Agu

MFM triumphs in South West Pre-season tourney

By Adeboye Amosu

Rohr

New boy Victor Mbaoma equalised for Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men on the hour mark after connecting a delicious pass from Chukwuma Onua.

Monsuru Bashiru put MFM ahead for the first time in the game three minutes later, while Oche Salefu added the third 15 minutes from time.

MFM will now proceed to Kano where they will participate in the Nigeria Professional Football League Super Six competition which starts on Monday.

They are drawn in Group B with Kano Pillars and Akwa United.

ormer Super Eagles’ midfielder, Garba Lawal says the team can make it out of Group D in the World Cup if it took its preparation serious. He also feels there is no need to try to lure Nigeria’s former number one goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, back to the team.

According to allnigeriasoccer.com, Lawal predicted that Nigeria’s performance will be largely determined by players’ mental capability.

“Football is all about playing as a team,” Lawal said. “When it comes to the World Cup, it depends on players’ mental attitude.

“All the top scouts in the world would be present, so if you are called upon by the coach, try to showcase your talent, because you never can say, you could get yourself a better deal.

I believe we are going to come out of the group, but it is not going to be an easy one anyway,” Lawal said.

The former Levski Sofia of Bulgaria midfielder also advised the Super Eagles’ coaches not to rush Vincent Enyeama back to the team.

“Has Enyeama said he wants to come back? He has not been in action for a long time, this is the World Cup, it’s been long we saw him in the net, it’s going to be difficult for him.

“I believe we should not rush the gentleman. We just have to let it go and work with what we have,” Lawal advised.

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PREMIER LEAGUE...................PREMIER LEAGUE....................PREMIER LEAGUE Stoke discipline Jese for leaving bench

Title race is far from over, Mata warns City J uan Mata has warned Manchester City that they are destined to suffer a blip in this season’s title race and he is hopeful Manchester United can land the first blow this weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s side head into the derby unbeaten in the Premier League having won 14 of their first 15 games, but Mata insists they will struggle to maintain that form over 38 games.

And he has told City that United are ready to take advantage of any slip-ups -- starting with Sunday’s clash at Old Trafford.

He said: “It’s very difficult to win every single game and we need to be ready if they drop points.

“Physically, December is a very tough month. We play at Christmastime every two or three days and we need to be ready for that.

“If we can get out of the Christmastime with all the points then we could be happy because it means we will be in a better position than we are now.

“We play against Manchester City at Old Trafford and it’s one of those games that everyone wants to play. One of those really special games that the Premier League has.

“Hopefully, first of all, it’s a great game of football and, secondly, we can win.”

If United are to become the first team to beat City this season, they will have to do it without Paul Pogba.

Jose Mourinho is confident Nemanja Matic will be able to return from a muscle injury while Marouane Fellaini has “a chance” of being fit, according to the United boss.

Fellaini or Ander Herrera are most likely to replace Pogba in the

team.

While Mata accepts the France international is a “big miss” for such a key game, he is convinced the squad is good enough to cope.

He added: “He’s a fantastic player. He’s a very complete midfielder, he can do all things.

“He will be a big miss but another player will play and try his best.

I think we have a good squad and have good players to replace any other player. Hopefully we can win for him.”

City’s impressive form this season has prompted former players Danny Mills and Shaun Goater suggest the title race may already be over. Mata, though, insists they are wrong.

“They know how football can change,” said the midfielder, who scored the winner when United beat City 1-0 in the League Cup at Old Trafford last season.

S

Mata

toke have disciplined striker Jese Rodriguez after he left the bench early during last weekend’s victory over Swansea.

Sources told Press Association the on-loan Paris Saint-Germain forward walked down the tunnel and left the stadium after Mark Hughes made his second and third substitutions in the 70th minute.

Jese lost his place in the side after the defeat against Bournemouth in October and has made just two short substitute appearances since.

Hughes said: “He made a mistake. He’s been disciplined for that. He understands it wasn’t the right decision at that time. It’s been addressed, we’ve obviously highlighted what he needs to do in the future. He’s a little bit frustrated, he wants to play, as all players do.’’

Asked if Jese had apologised, Hughes added: “Not in so many words because his English isn’t great but he understands that it was incorrect.’’

The Spaniard, who began his career with Real Madrid, will be unavailable for this weekend’s game against Tottenham because he has had to rush home to Gran Canaria to be with his baby son.

Jese has made frequent trips back to the Canary Islands with the blessing of the club following the premature birth of Nyan, who has been fighting for his life in hospital.

Hughes said: “Unfortunately he’s not available this weekend because he’s had to go back, which is a real worry for him and everybody concerned.

We send him and his family our best wishes.

“My intention with the games we have coming up was to involve him more along with other players to share the burden with the players who have been playing more regularly.

“Obviously at the moment we’re not quite sure when Jese will be back.

But he’s still very much in my thoughts, as are the likes of Saido [Berahino] and Charlie Adam.’’

There was bad news on the injury front for the Potters ahead of Saturday’s trip to Wembley to face Tottenham with Bruno Martins Indi ruled out for up to eight weeks.

The defender suffered a serious groin injury early in the second half of the 2-1 win over Swansea and was wheeled off on a stretcher.

Hazard targets Champions League, happy in Chelsea E

den Hazard says he would love to end his Chelsea career by winning the Champions League, adding he has no reason to leave the club.

The Belgium international has recovered from a broken ankle sustained late last season to return to form and has five goals and two assists in just eight topflight starts this season, and has also found the net three times and laid on two more in six Champions

League group stage appearances.

With Antonio Conte’s men safely through to the knockout stages, their ambitions of emulating their 2011-12 counterparts remain intact, and Hazard is enthused -- but

not obsessed -- by the idea of becoming European champion.

“It’s not easy to win the Champions League,” he told Onze Mondial. “Perhaps I’ll never win it. Of course I would like to do it like Didier Drogba, who

Klopp not concerned by Coutinho links to Barca

J

urgen Klopp says he has “no reasons” to think about Philippe Coutinho’s Liverpool future and that nobody informed him the playmaker will be leaving in the January transfer window.

Speculation continues to be rife about the possibility of Coutinho moving to the Camp Nou in the winter, with the player himself recently noncommittal about staying at Liverpool.

However, Klopp stressed on Friday that he has not been contemplating Coutinho’s future due to Liverpool’s packed schedule from now until the end of the January transfer window.

“I have no reasons to think about it,” Klopp told a news conference. “The only thing what you are doing is asking me. That doesn’t change my situation.

“I have said it a few times, we never spoke about transfers in this moment.

Whatever I could say would, obviously, not stop your questions, so I thought it’d make sense to not answer it. It feels a little bit like a waste of time.

Hazard Coutinho

Jese

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Silva to play in Manchester derby

Dele Alli admits Bayern admiration

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ottenham midfielder Dele Alli has admitted his admiration for Bayern Munich.

Bild says the England midfielder loves the German giants and always plays with them on FIFA. “You just have to look at the story,” says Alli.

“Bayern will always be

one of the strongest teams in the world. They bring so much quality to the field, have incredible players.

“It would not be my wish to play against them in the next round[of the Champions League].

“I talked a bit about the Bundesliga with Leroy Sane and Kevin Wimmer, and saw German clubs in the Champions League.

“At FIFA on the console, I also play with Bayern.

“The Bundesliga will always remain a competitor, even if it is currently not doing so well internationally.

“But for me, the Premier League is the best league in the world. I would like to prove myself further.”

D

avid Silva will feature for Manchester City in Sunday’s huge derby clash with Manchester United after recovering from an injury, Pep Guardiola has confirmed.

The Spain international sustained a knock while scoring the winner in City’s late 2-1 triumph over West Ham in their last Premier League outing, missing the Champions League defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk as a result.

Guardiola did not reveal any particular details relating to Silva’s injury, only that he felt discomfort straight after scoring.

United manager Jose Mourinho suggested Guardiola was lying about Silva’s condition and his declaration of fitness will give the Portuguese even more ammunition.

But the news provides City with a major boost given the playmaker’s immense start to the season, setting up 10 goals in all competitions already.

“He is going to play,” Guardiola told

Dele Alli

reporters at his pre-match news conference. “Today [Friday] he told me he feels really good.”

Guardiola was unable to provide much more of an update on City’s other injuries, however, informing that many players are off and will return to training on Saturday to be observed.

“Vincent Kompany before Shakhtar felt something,” Guardiola said. “He was not comfortable and that’s why he could not play.

“Fabian Delph was sick and had a fever. The only guys who didn’t play because I wanted them to rest were Kyle [Walker] and Nico [Nicolas Otamendi]. Today [Friday], they are off so I don’t know how the players are.”

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach also discussed Raheem Sterling, who has enjoyed a fine season so far, scoring nine times in the Premier League.

Guardiola is adamant that there is even more to come from the England winger, though.

“He’s 23,” he said. “You can always do better.

“There is a lot of distance to achieve your best level. He has a lot of things to improve and he will have a long career.”

Simeone

Mourinho

Simeone on Man U shortlist to replace Mourinho

A

tletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is being discussed inside the Manchester United boardroom.

With Jose Mourinho on the shortlist of PSG once coach Unai Emery is removed, it’s been suggested United have a contingency plan in the event they lose their manager.

Okdiario pundit Eduardo Inda says United have identified Simeone as the man to succeed Mourinho - and believe he would be open to the prospect with the feeling being he has taken Atletico as far as he can.

Inda said on El Chiringuito: “PSG will make Mourinho an offer which would put him on the same level as (Cristiano) Ronaldo (€21ma-year).”

Should Mourinho quit United, the English giants would offer Simeone a massive contract to quit Atletico and also full control of transfer policy.

However, despite speculation over Mourinho’s contract, there is confidence in England that he is happy at Old Trafford.

Man U ahead of Chelsea in Alex Sandro battle

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Alex

anchester United have jumped ahead of Chelsea in the race for Juventus fullback Alex Sandro.

Duncan Castles, of the Daily Record, has revealed United are leading the race for the Brazil international.

He told the Transfer Window Podcast: “He’s a guy who has been linked with Chelsea all through the summer, a player Manchester City looked to sign but eventually went for Benjamin Mendy instead.

“He’s unhappy at Juventus, he’s pushing to leave the club.

“He’s in the position of being regarded as the best left-back available in European football at present.

“For Manchester United, it has been an obvious weakness during Jose Mourinho’s time at the club, they haven’t been able to change left-back.

“They would have done in the summer but didn’t have funds available.

“United are now exploring if they can get Sandro out of Juventus. You don’t get players out of Juventus, particularly in mid-season, without a careful strategy and probably a large transfer fee.

“But they are, at present, leading the race for Alex Sandro.”

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I´m the best player in history – Ronaldo

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ristiano Ronaldo has labelled himself the “best player in history” after winning the Ballon d’Or for a record-equalling fifth time.

The Real Madrid superstar beat Lionel Messi and Neymar to the prestigious individual honour, which was presented at the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Thursday.

That win brings him level with Messi as the most successful player in the history of the award, but Ronaldo sees himself as being a cut above.

Not only does he consider himself to be better than all current professionals, the Portuguese also believes he is of a higher standard than every player to come before him as well.

“I am the best player in history, both in good moments and the bad moments,” the 32-year-old told France Football.

“I respect everyone’s opinions, but I haven’t ever seen anyone who is better than me. I’ve always thought this.

“No player can do the things that I can. There isn’t a player more complete than me. I play well with either foot, I’m quick, powerful, good with my head, I score goals, I assist goals.

“There are people who prefer Neymar or Messi.

But I’ll tell you; there is no player more complete than I am.

“No one’s won as many individual trophies as I have, and I’m not just speaking about the Ballon d’Or. That speaks, doesn’t it?

Another dream come true. Unbelievable feeling.

Thanks to my family, friends, teammates, coaches and everyone that stood by my side throughout the years.pic.twitter.com/A9jyYswePD “I won the Ballon d’Or before Messi. He then overtook me, winning four in a row.

“I won’t hide from you that I was sad and angry.

I attended the award ceremonies and never won. I was even demotivated at one point. I didn’t want to go [to the ceremonies]. Just being there for the photo did not interest me.

“But, little by little, thanks to those who are close to me, I told myself that in life there is a beginning and an end.

“And in football it’s the end that counts, not the start. I stayed patient and I won four more Ballons d’Or.”

Zidane

Zidane agrees with Ronaldo´s claim

Z

Ronaldo

inedine Zidane agrees with Cristiano Ronaldo’s bold claim that he is the “best player in history” following the Real Madrid star’s record-equalling fifth Ballon d’Or triumph on Thursday.

Ronaldo beat Lionel Messi and Neymar to the prestigious individual gong, moving level on five with his Argentinian rival.

And the Portugal international came out with the assertion that his victory makes him the best footballer in history, claiming that there is nobody who can do what he does. When asked if he agreed, Zidane said: “Yes. There are lots of players who have been very successful in this club, but no one has achieved what he has, and what he’s still going to achieve. “I think he’s the best player in the world. It’s easy to praise Ronaldo, though there’s little more that can be said.

“You can see what he contributes to game every time he pays – he’s phenomenal. “Just the other day I was chatting with a few people and said that a player who plays 15 years here will not achieve what Ronaldo has.

“He’s made history here and will hopefully stay until he decides to hang up his boots.” Ronaldo often finds himself the subject of speculation that he is not happy in Madrid and is angling for a move away, but Zidane insists such stories are pure fiction. “He will always be here,” Zidane said. “There’s always that same debate with Ronaldo, if he’s happy or not.

“People just want to ruffle his feathers, upset Real Madrid and those working here. He’s happy here, playing for the best club in the word.

“There’s no debate, he came out and said so himself. We shouldn’t read too much into anything else now.”

Is Cristiano Ronaldo the greatest Real Madrid player of all times?

Ben Hayward

T

Spanish Football correspondent he Goal 50 winner is the club’s top goalscorer and has lifted three Champions Leagues at the Santiago Bernabeu. But is he Madrid’s best ever?

Cristiano Ronaldo will go down in history as one of the game’s greats. The Portuguese is Real Madrid’s all-time top goalscorer, with more than 400 strikes for Los Blancos, while he has four Ballons d’Or and four Champions League crowns - three with the Spanish side.

But can he be considered the club’s best-ever player?

Ask around at Barcelona and everyone will tell you that Lionel Messi is the finest footballer to play for the Catalan club. In fact, many will go further and claim that the Argentine is the best player in the history of football.

That he is considered Barca’s best is understandable. Messi has been at the forefront of the club’s most successful era, leading the Blaugrana to two trebles (in 2008-09 and 2014-15), eight Liga titles and featuring in four out of their five Champions League crowns, scoring in excess of 500 goals along the way and setting up many, many more.

Down in Madrid, Ronaldo has been brilliant too in that time. The Portuguese surpassed Raul’s record of 323 goals for Madrid in 2015 and averages slightly over one per game for Real. It is an incredible return on the €94 million paid by Los Blancos to Manchester United in 2009.

Cristiano Ronaldo stats But while Barca’s best era has happened in recent years under Pep Guardiola and later with Luis Enrique as coach, this is not the standout moment in Real Madrid’s history - despite the team’s three Champions

League triumphs over the past four seasons.

When Goal spoke to fans outside the Santiago Bernabeu recently, not many picked Ronaldo as the finest footballer in the club’s history, even though all of them did admit that he is among the very best players to have pulled on the famous white shirt.

“In the history of Real Madrid, there have been great, great players,” the club’s former goalkeeper Paco Buyo told Goal. “It would be unfair of us if we forgot players like [Alfredo] Di Stefano, who is one of the greats not only at Real Madrid, but in football.

“I think Cristiano is a true Real Madrid legend for everything he has achieved, but I think it is difficult to say he is the best player to have passed through the club.

He is surely in the top three.”

Real Madrid 1960 Madrid have been blessed with an array of fantastic footballers over the years and perhaps it comes down to personal preference and age. Many younger fans will pick Cristiano as the best ever, while the older ones remember the club’s golden era in the 1950s and 1960s.

“There are many players,” said Buyo, a six-time Liga winner with Madrid in the 1980s and 1990s. “There’s [Ferenc] Puskas, [Paco] Gento. Gento won six European Cups! There’s so many. It would be unjust to forget them because football has no memory and we practically don’t remember what has gone before. We focus on the present.”

So in years to come, will this team be remembered as Cristiano’s Real Madrid like the side from the 1950s and 1960s is often recalled as the one led by Di Stefano?

“Cristiano is a star in every sense,” Buyo said. “He has won it all with Real Madrid, he even won the Euros with his national team and that shows his level. But it will depend on what happens in the coming years, if he wins more Champions Leagues for example. The Real Madrid of Di Stefano, Gento, [Raymond] Kopa, Pus-

kas... they won five European Cups in a row and that is an extraordinary legacy.”

Gento Real Madrid Former Boca Juniors, River Plate and Argentina goalkeeper Hugo Gatti gave some insight into just how special Di Stefano was as a player and also said that it is difficult to make a comparison between his compatriot and Ronaldo.

“I played against Alfredo in a tribute match for Gento (with River at the Bernabeu) in 1965 and in 1984 or 1985, he was my coach at Boca,” he told Goal. “Now and again, he would play around with the ball and join in, with those sprints he always did. And at the age of 70 he was faster than all of us!

“He was the best. For me, after Pele, who was the best in the world, the best in history, Alfredo comes next. So the comparison with Cristiano is difficult.”

Gatti, who spends half the year in Madrid where he works as a television pundit, is a regular at the Bernabeu these days and a fan of the Spanish side. He is also a staunch supporter of Ronaldo.

“I’m an admirer of Cristiano in every sense,” he said.

“On the pitch, he’s the number one. But you have to be great off the pitch as well. And for me, Cristiano, on and off the pitch, is the number one. He is special. I love Cristiano. He’s a leader.”

Alfredo Di Stefano Real Madrid 1962 While today’s players see their every move captured on camera, however, footage of Di Stefano is fairly rare and most of his career cannot be watched on video or on the Internet. So what was he like as player?

“When I played againast Di Stefano, he was 39 or 40,” Gatti said. “I think he was at Espanyol, but he had come back for the tribute to Gento, with Kopa, Amancio, Puskas, all of those. And he was a phenomenon. He still played the same way: he would ask the goalkeeper to give him the ball, then he would come out playing from the back, pum, pum - he attacked and he defended.

“Alfredo was a phenomenon. The most similar play-

er I saw to Alfredo later on was Cruyff. For me, Alfredo is the greatest [in Madrid’s history]. In Europe as well. For me, the player who revolutionised European football was Alfredo Di Stefano.

“After Alfredo, you have Cristiano. With different characteristics. Alfredo was a player who always wanted to progress and he was explosive. Cristiano, for me, is a guy who never stopped learning. He has a winning nature, he’s a great striker, he wants to win it all and to improve all the time. For me, Cristiano is like Rafa Nadal in tennis: more, more, more; better, better, better.”

Di Stefano stats Juande Ramos coached Real Madrid right before Ronaldo’s arrival in 2009 and the 63-year-old admits he would love to have had the Portuguese in his team.

“When you have those kind of players, Ronaldo or Messi, you know that they can score a goal or win a match at any moment. If the match is difficult, if it’s tight, those players can win the three points and resolve everything,” he told Goal.

Between 2004 and 2010, Madrid failed to make it beyond the last 16 of the Champions League (including in that season when Ramos was in charge), but Los Blancos have won the competition three times in the past four seasons and Ronaldo has scored more than 400 goals in that time.

“That’s the whole change right there,” Ramos said.

However, he too believes it is tough to compare Cristiano with other illustrious names from Madrid’s history.

Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid Champions League Alfredo Di Stefano - Galería “I would say that they are situations that are difficult to compare because football evolves and changes a lot.” he said. “I didn’t see Di Stefano for Real Madrid, but people talk about him a lot. People also talk about the five European Cups. I didn’t see them, so I don’t want to compare. There have been very important footballers.

“Raul was at Real Madrid for many years as well, he was very important for the club. So comparing if he is

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Bayern have a lot of work to do -Heynckes

Injured Griezmann doubtful for Betis game

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tletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann is set to miss Sunday’s La Liga trip to Real Betis after suffering a hamstring injury in Tuesday’s 1-1 Champions League draw at Chelsea.

Griezmann completed the 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge as the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finalists crashed out of the competition, finishing behind group winners Roma and second-placed Chelsea, and slipping down to the Europa League.

The France international underwent tests on returning to Madrid and his club confirmed the injury, which AS reported would keep him sidelined for about a week.

“Griezmann underwent some medical exams to

understand the severity of the injury,” a club statement read. “The reason for the exams were to understand what was causing the discomfort in Griezmann’s right hamstring. Our diagnosis is pending evolution.”

Atletico go into the weekend in third place in La Liga, six points behind current leaders Barcelona and just one off second-placed Valencia.

Betis sit 10th in the table have recently faded after a good start to the season under new coach Quique Setien, which included a 1-0 win at Real Madrid.

AS has reported that Setien is under pressure after five games without a win in La Liga as well as a Copa del Rey exit to Segunda side Cadiz.

B

ayern Munich have not yet peaked and have a lot of hard work ahead despite their 3-1 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain, coach Jupp Heynckes has said.

The result followed a 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in September, which led to the departure of former boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Bayern have since cruised into the knockout stages of the Champions League and opened up a six-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.

But Heynckes, whose side travel to Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend, told a news conference: “We have not yet peaked.

“I won’t be dazzled by past games. I am pleased how we acted tactics-wise, and we are certainly part of larger group of favourites.

“But we have to be there in February, March, April. We still have a lot of work ahead of us.”

Injured Iniesta, Dembele, Rafinha and Mascherano return to training

A Buffon

Buffon to miss derby against Inter

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uventus expect to line up without Gianluigi Buffon when they face Inter in the Derby d’Italia on Saturday, Massimiliano Allegri has revealed.

Veteran goalkeeper Buffon - fourth in the Ballon d’Or vote on Thursday - missed the Champions League clash with Olympiacos on Tuesday due to a calf issue and is unlikely to be available when Juve take on the Serie A leaders.

Wojciech Szczesny filled in for the 39-year-old in Piraeus and looks set to retain his place for the clash at Allianz Stadium.

“I need to make a final decision on my team and formation for the match. Buffon is unlikely to feature.

We need to make a call on his availability later today,” said Allegri at a pre-match news conference.

While Giorgio Chiellini is expected to return, Allegri still has concerns for the fitness of key players, including Miralem Pjanic, Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala.

Bayern could have finished top of their group with a 5-1 win over PSG, and while defender Mats Hummels later said they should have played for a bigger win, Heynckes said: “I think it’s great some players wanted to go for a 4-1, a 5-1.

“But you can do that in the knockout stages, in the last 16. I’d like to think we’ll have the fitness that we could go full-risk.”

Bayern could all but seal the BundesligaHerbstmeisterschaft, the unofficial title for the best club at the end of the year, with three points at Frankfurt.

And Heynckes said: “The league’s our core business.”

The coach will have all players available for the trip, with Kingsley Coman set to resume full training after picking up a knock against PSG.

“A few of our players are not quite in peak condition – Pjanic and Dybala, for example,” he said. “Looking ahead, we’ll have more time to strengthen the players’ condition.

“Mandzukic has not been able to train for a few days, hence why he’s not been playing of late. He’s been working hard and getting back to full fitness again.”

Juve trail Inter by two points in Serie A, with Napoli between the two clubs in second and Roma and Lazio also in contention for a title challenge.

Consequently, Allegri knows the Bianconeri need to find another gear if they are to clinch a seventh successive Scudetto.

He said: “Winning against Napoli was a step in the right direction. This match is also of the utmost importance. We’re taking on the league leaders.

“This season the head-to-heads will make the difference.

ndres Iniesta, Ousmane Dembele, Rafinha and Javier Mascherano all trained on Friday as Barcelona’s injury problems began to ease.

The four were involved in the first part of the training session ahead of Sunday’s trip to Villarreal.

However, only Iniesta is likely to be passed fit for the game at the Estadio de la Ceramica.

He was taken off with a calf injury in last weekend’s draw with Celta Vigo and sat out the midweek win over Sporting Lisbon, but should be available this weekend.

Dembele was involved for the second time this week after rupturing a tendon in September.

The France international is eager to return as soon as possible and has targeted involvement in the Clasico against Real Madrid on Dec. 23.

However, coach Ernesto Valverde has urged caution and said several times that he will not take risks with the club’s record signing.

Meanwhile, Rafinha trained with his teammates for the first time since April following two operations on a torn meniscus and should be back in action in the New Year.

Mascherano has been sidelined for three weeks with a hamstring problem picked up while on duty with Argentina but could be back for next weekend’s trip to Deportivo La Coruna.

That would mean he is available for the Clasico -- a much-needed boost for Valverde, who currently has only Thomas Vermaelen and Gerard Pique available in the middle of defence after Samuel Umtiti was ruled out for two months.

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Boxing: Egyptian Rono, Masresha Champion vows to confirmed for beat Nigeria’s ‘Joe Access Bank Boy’Joseph marathon Joe Boy

Rono

E

gyptian and Mediterranean Lightweight Champion, Abdulrahim Ahmed, has vowed to defeat Nigeria’s Oto “Joe Boy” Joseph when they clash for the African Boxing Union (ABU) lightweight title fight at GOtv Boxing Night 13 on December 26.

The event, which holds at Landmark Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, will feature seven bouts.

Speaking from his base in Cairo, Ahmed said he is ready, willing and able to win the title.

“Joe Boy is a small boy. I hold the Egyptian and Mediterranean titles. I have fought better boxers and Joe Boy is in big trouble. It does not matter that the fight is in Lagos. I am going to win,” he said.

GOtv Boxing Night 13 will, in addition to the boxing bouts, feature live performances by Small Doctor, Falz, Reekado Banks and Simi.

Equally fighting for an international title is Nigeria’s Abolaji “Afonja Warrior” Rasheed, who will defend his West African Boxing Union (WABU) title against Arye Ayitteh of Ghana. Two national title bouts

K

are also scheduled. Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde will be taking on Chijioke “Painless” Ngige for the national light welterweight crown. The other pits Rilwan “Real One” Oladosu against Kehinde “Ijoba’ Badmus for the lightweight title.

A lightweight challenge bout will feature Rilwan “Scorpion” Oyekola and Jimoh “Hogan Jimoh Jr”, Lukman, while Matthew “Wizeman” Obinna and Cosmos “Awosika” will clash in the super middleweight category.

enya’s Georgina Rono and Ethiopia’s Azalech Masresha are the latest to join the list of world-class marathoners that will compete for medals and cash prizes at the February 10, 2018, Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

Rono, winner of the Eindhoven Marathon and other elite marathons has a personal best of 2:24:33 hours.

Third at the 2012 Boston Marathon, she also has a half marathon best of 1. 07:58.

Her husband, Daniel Koech, also a marathoner was one of the three pacers at the 2017 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

Masresha from Ethiopia has a personal best of 1:09:46 in the half marathon and 2:25:34 in the full marathon.

Masresha who has moved to a warmer weather to be able to compete for the top prize in Lagos said: “I am happy that the 2018 race will start by 6.30am this will give us the

opportunity to finish before the weather becomes too hot but irrespective of the organizers moving the race to 6.30am, I have moved my training to a city that has the same weather with Lagos. That way, the timing will be irrelevant since am already used to the Lagos weather.”

Russian lawmakers to shun Olympics if flag is not displayed

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ussian lawmakers should not attend the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics to support athletes unless they are competing under the Russian flag, the Interfax news agency quoted Russian parliament speaker Vyacheslav Volodin as saying on Friday.

“If we cannot ensure the possibility of our athletes competing under our flag, in the name of our country, we have nothing to do there,” Interfax quoted Volodin as telling lawmakers in parliament.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned Russia on Tuesday from next year’s Winter Games after evidence emerged of an “unprecedented systematic manipulation” of the anti-doping system.

The door was left open, however, for Russians to compete as neutrals as long as they satisfy conditions that show they have a doping-free background.

Alonso

Formula 1:Son of Honda founder sympathises with Alonso

H

irotoshi Honda says he can understand Fernando Alonso’s disappointment with the failed three-year works McLaren-Honda project.

It is believed Alonso pushed for McLaren to split with the Japanese brand and switch for 2018 to customer Renault power.

“Alonso is a young, intelligent and captivating man,” Honda, whose father was Honda founder Soichiro Honda, told France’s L’Equipe.

“I can easily understand the reason for his great disappointment,” added the Mugen founder.

“The professional life of an athlete is very short and it’s stressful to lose three years at such an important moment in his career. But it’s not my fault, please ask Honda!” Honda, 75, insisted.

Honda is moving to Toro Rosso for 2018, and this week announced that F1 boss Yusuke Hasegawa is being shuffled out of the top position.

“I’m sure of one thing,” Hirotoshi Honda continued. “The Japanese have a culture of fighting in formula one. We are probably very polite, but we can fight.

“My father was a real fighter who hated being second. Shortly before his death, when Senna could no longer win, my father complained from his hospital bed,” he added.

US has not ruled out Winter Olympics participation

W

hite House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters at Thursday’s briefing that “no official decision has been made” about whether the US will participate in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea’s Pyeongchang, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.

In an interview with Fox News Channel on Wednesday, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley had casted doubt on the country’s participation, given the tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

“There’s an open question,” said Haley. “I have not heard anything about that. But I do know that in the talks that we have...it’s always about, how do we do protect the US citizens in the area.”

The US Olympic Committee responded on Thursday, saying plans to compete in the Olympics hadn’t changed.

Shortly after that, White House spokeswoman Sanders said “no official decision has been made”, and later said on twitter that “The US looks forward to participating in the Winter Olympics in South Korea.”

“The protection of Americans is our top priority and we are engaged with the South Koreans and other partner nations to secure the venues,” read Sanders’ tweet.

US Department of State spokesperson Heather Nauert expressed “confidence” of secured Winter Games in a press briefing.....

Saturday, December 9, 2017

EXTRATIME

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OTHER SPORTS..................OTHER SPORTS...................................

Golf:Tiger Woods’staging comeback

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oods looked great during four apparently pain-free rounds at the Hero World Challenge but time isn’t on his side There had been an unfortunate element of boy who cries wolf about Tiger Woods’ various attempts at a comeback in recent years. Time and again he would yell out and the local townsfolk would come running only to find no wolf, just a man bent double clutching his back.

Not this time. This yell was louder, and the townsfolk came rushing to find a ravenous Tiger chomping on freshly maimed sheep.

For weeks we were teased by snippets of fast swings and reports of monstrous drives from Rickie Fowler and other practice partners, and clearly they were not just respectful compliments to a former champion. On the evidence of four apparently pain-free rounds at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, this comeback is – so far – the real deal.

It wasn’t only that Woods posted three sub-70 rounds and finished in the middle of a talented 18-man field. He did Woods-ish things, booming long drives and holing arcing putts from distance, a combination he demonstrated beautifully to claim an eagle at the parfour 7th on Sunday.

Even his anomalous third round of 75 on a windaffected Saturday went wrong for the right reasons. At the 3rd he hit his 278-yard approach so sweetly it flew over the green; in footballing parlance Andy Townsend surely would have assessed that he hit it a bit too well if anything, Clive. As Woods put it: “I ended up in some bad spots after good shots.”

Hysteria gripped. Pundits apologised for writing him off amid reports of his tumbling odds to win next year’s Masters. The fact Fowler had won the tournament with a sensational course-record 61 barely registered.

Woods was asked: what next? “We’re going to figure out what’s the best way for me to build my schedule for the major championships – where I’m going to start, how much I’m going to play, rest periods, training cycles, the whole nine yards.” Barely three months ago he had admitted he might never play golf again. Now he has Augusta National in his sights.

If it all sounds too good to be true, then maybe it is.

Firstly, the Albany Resort course is little reflection on someone’s ability to play Augusta or any other major championship venue, with friendly lunar landscape surroundings which don’t so much punish wayward drives as gently tut and send them on their way. And while Woods impressed, there were signs of the nagging issues which have hampered his game in recent years, particularly in his short game which produced several dud chips. Was it rustiness, or something more?

Woods has climbed from a lowly 1199 in the world rankings to 668. In some senses there is no rush, and after several bouts of back surgery it seems miraculous

Schumacher ‘still fighting’ after ski accident

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Tiger Woods

he can even compete. Yet golf is a sport where time does not run out on its players so much as ebb away; Woods’s free entry into the US Open expires in 2018, 10 years after his most recent major win. Each new comeback will get harder, and it is why this one needs to stick.

What the tournament illustrated as well as ever

US winter athletes speak out against Russian doping

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ow leading US skiers Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin have joined the chorus of those backing the International Olympic Committee’s decision to ban the country from next year’s Winter Olympics.

“Doping and what the Russians did is just not acceptable,” Vonn, the most decorated American skier in history, told CNN’s Alpine Edge. “We have to make that clear and make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”

“I don’t question the integrity of the Olympic Games as much as the specific nations that host the Games,” said Shiffrin, referring to Russia, which staged the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014. “If you’re working with a nation who’s willing to go to those ends to have a successful Olympics, that’s really sad for me,” added the 22-year-old Shiffrin, who is the Olympic slalom champion and winner of the last three slalom World Championships.

‘Right thing’ Having consistently denied the allegations of a state-backed doping campaign, Russia was banned from PyeongChang 2018 on Tuesday over the country’s “systemic manipulation” of the rules, following a 17-month investigation carried out by the former president of Switzerland, Samuel Schmid.

Russian athletes who can incontrovertibly prove that they are untainted by doping will be “invited” to compete at February’s Winter Games but won’t be allowed to display any national sym-

bols -- something President Vladimir Putin has previously said would be an humiliation.

They’ll instead compete under the name “Olympic Athlete from Russia” (OAR), and the Olympic anthem will be played at any medal ceremonies for Russian athletes.

“I mean, if even a small percentage of that is true, I would think the IOC did the right thing,” said Vonn, telling CNN she was “not surprised” to learn of the lengths Russia went to in pursuit of victory, “Obviously there are potential athletes that are clean but they have the option now to compete under a neutral flag, which I think is a good solution.”

As the scandal rumbles on, the Oswald Commission -- headed by another Swiss, the IOC member Denis Oswald -- is dealing with the specific cases and determining sanctions against individual athletes.

It has so far handed out lifetime bans to 25 Russian competitors since the start of November and stripped 11 medals, which means Russia has dropped from first in the Sochi medal table, to fourth behind Norway, Canada and the US. Richard McLaren, whose reports into Russian doping provided much of the basis for Tuesday’s decision, told CNN that the scandal was a “sad commentary on sport,” but added that he was pleased his work had been confirmed by the IOC. Putin spoke out against the ruling, telling reporters “it all looks like an absolutely staged and politically motivated decision.”

was how, even now, golf still revels in Woods and seems to shine brightest when he is smiling or clenching his fist or whipping his driver through a ball. He is still compelling to watch, and although it is only a first step there is now renewed hope of a truly great sporting comeback. The townsfolk came rushing, as they always do, but this time they found a Tiger.

even-time Formula One world champion continues to recover at his family home in Switzerland FIA president and former Ferrari team principle Jean Todt has said that seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher is “still fighting” after honouring the stricken German at a Hall of Fame ceremony in Paris.

The 48-year-old suffered serious head injuries in a skiing accident while on holiday at the exclusive Meribel resort on 29 December 2013, and had to be treated at both the Grenoble University Hospital and in Lausanne before being transferred back to his home near Geneva in September 2014, where he remains after having a state of the art clinic installed in the family home.

Medical updates on Schumacher’s condition have been few and far between, but friends of his have visited him during his recovery and Todt, who worked with Schumacher throughout his five world title victories with Ferrari, took the chance to speak about Schumacher at Monday’s FIA Hall of Fame awards ceremony.

“We miss Michael,” Todt said. “He’s there, still fighting. A fight is going on. Michael is someone very special, someone special for motorsport. He’s special to me, he’s a friend.”

Any changes in Schumacher’s condition have been kept confidential by his former manager, Sabine Kehm, who is now the spokeswoman for the family.

Kehm attended the Hall of Fame awards on behalf of Schumacher, who was one of the 33 world champions honoured at the ceremony.

“We all know that Michael should be here, and I’m sure he would have loved to,” she said.

“He always had the utmost respect for everyone in this round, he would be very honoured.

MMA:McGregor responds to alleged threats to his life

T

he Irishman was reportedly involved in a pub fight last weekend with a man said to be linked to a renowned Irish gang Conor McGregor has responded to alleged threats made against his life, saying “Come and get me” after the UFC champion was reportedly involved in a pub brawl last weekend.

The Irishman appeared in court on Thursday morn-

McGregor

ing to face a speeding charge, for which he was fined £350, and was subsequently asked by reporters to comment on claims he has received death threats from an Irish gang after allegedly assaulting a man linked to the organisation.

But speaking out of his car window outside Blanchardstown District Court in Dublin, the 29-yearold simply said: “Come and get me”.

McGregor ‘may never fight again’ to throw his UFC return into doubt Irish Police have confirmed they are aware of reports linking McGregor to a fight at an Irish pub on Sunday but have not received any complaints regarding the alleged altercation.

McGregor initially fuelled speculation that he had been involved in the reported fight by posting a video of himself online with his hood up covering his face and the caption “The celebrity”.

The fighter’s father, Tony McGregor, dismissed such rumours as “absolute nonsense” though.

Speaking to the Irish Mirror, he said: “That’s all nonsense, that is. Absolute nonsense. It’s an absolute nonsense story. “It’s grown legs and it’s getting that ridiculous – it’s become funny. We have nothing to fear here whatsoever. There’s no one after us for anything.

“We’re a law-abiding family and we’ve stayed a law-abiding family.” UFC chief Dana White has similarly downplayed the claims.

“I don’t think it’s true,” he said. “Because if it was true, it would be big. Conor can walk down the street and it’s big news now. If this were true, I just have to believe it would be off-the-charts crazy.

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Business & Economy Daily Times Nigeria

I never instruct suspended SEC DG to discontinue Oando probe - Adeosun Page B2

By Idu Jude Abuja In line with the order issued by the Federal Executive Council FEC to the NNPC Group managing Director Dr. Maikanti Baru and the Minister of State for Petroleum Dr. Ibe Emmanuel Kachikwu , to ensure availability of the petroleum product by this weekend, group of commercial drivers and indeed members of the public, has alleged diversion of the products to far northern part of the country.

Motorists interviewed by our correspondent in Abuja held opinion that in as much as the Federal executive Council has the knowledge of the amount of liters of petroleum products on the daily bases, that the tanker drivers, also should be hold

Lagos is home to all – Governor Ambode

Page B3

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Dangote’s gas project faces risks from unstable Power Sector, others Page B6

Fuel scarcity: drivers alleges diversion of products

Ï Ƌ ƌƆ ^^^` Ƈ Ə Ƈ ƈƋƑƏƆ ƄƑƉ ƄƆ Ə Ɛ Ɔ ƄƏƑ Ɛ responsible for the diversion of the products released on daily bases.

Haruna Mohammed Isa, a commercial driver, told Daily Times how he has to criss cross the whole of Abuja to ensure a purchase of at least four litres of fuel. “How possible is it that suddenly the product disappeared from the filling stations. How come there was fuel last Tuesday and a day later the whole thing dried up till today and do not

forget that the NNPC repeatedly had announced amounts of products stored against any eventuality during the yuletide or have they forgotten that we are aware of the facts published through the media?

The sudden huddling of the products is for a forced increment of the pump prize from 140 t0 145 per a litre. I also noted that some companies at Lagos as at Wednesday has sold at the rate of 150 while in Abu-

ja it was still survival of the fittest”.

Also contributing, Mr. Monday Ibekwu, directly accused the regulatory agencies like the petroleum products prize regulatory agency for not doing enough to stabilize the oil pump prize in Nigeria as such has left Nigerians to the mercy of independent marketers. He however, argued that setting up the agency, was targeted on prize stabilization and to avoid circumvent-

ing occasions and situations like the Christmas and new year festivities to the detriment of Nigerians.

He further stressed that management of such agencies should be put to question to make available for justice whom ever is involved in circumventing these formalities. “let me not sound as a bad man or treacherous but occasions call for it when people do not live up to expectations, then they should be made to leave the positions being occupied or meant to pay for the ineptitude. I just hope that we are not heading for doom as there are much aparthy on the performances of this present administration”.

Our trade, investment policies yielding results - Buhari Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

L-R: Dr Timi Austen Peters-Chairman Dormanlong,Daere Akobo-MD PE Energy, Wole Ogunsanya-MD,Geoplex,Stephen Aribeana-PETAN BOT Member and MD Ariboil,Emeka Okwuosa-MD Oilserv,Nicolas Terraz-MD Total E&P ,Bank Anthony Okoroafor-PETAN Chairman,DrMaikanti Baru-GMD NNPC,Bayo Ojulari-MD SNEPCO,IgoWeli-GM External Relations SPDC, Dr Diran Fawibe-MD IESL, Seyi Afolabi-Director Exxon Mobil, Austin Uzoka-Ag GM NCD SNEPCO, at a dinner party in Lagos.

Simon Ugwu As part of its community and philanthropic efforts, Nepal Oil & Gas Services Limited, a midstream and downstream oil and gas companies, embarked on a massive charity and medical assis-

BUSINESS TIMES Business Editor Ganiyu Obaaro Asst. Business Editor Simon Ugwu

Capital Market Editor Bonny Amadi Money Market Correspondent Motolani Oseni

Nepal Oil brings succour to communities in Abia tance drive in the towns of Umuahia and Aba in Abia State.

The purpose of the initiative, tagged ‘back-to-the-roots’, was to give back to communities in Abia state, where the Managing Director, Nepal Oil & Gas, Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoma was born and brought up, whilst putting smiles on the faces of people ahead of the Yuletide season.

The charity drive initiative kicked off with medical relief donations at the Federal Medical Center, Umuahia and Ensign Private Hospital, Aba. A total of 30 wheelchairs and 15 crutches were donated to

the hospitals and patients in the Accident Emergency Ward, Children Emergency Ward, Orthopedic Ward, Female and Male Wards.

Most of those who are recipients of the medical aids have been hospitalized beyond their discharged date, due to their inability to procure the necessary medical aids to continue their recovery at homes. The donations now put them in a position to properly heal both psychologically and emotionally.

The team thereafter, left the town in search of one Miss Happiness Nwachukwu, a young lady, the doctors said, is urgently in need

of a new wheelchair. They located Miss Nwachukwu at Ayaba Umueze community in Aba, where they replaced her dilapidated and outof-order wheelchair, she had used for years. An incredibly surprised Happiness was emotional as she received a gift that would change the way she celebrates this year’s yuletide holidays.

In addition to this, the Nepal Oil team also indicated interest to work out concessionary measures with the hospital management to defray the medical bills of up to 10 indigent patients, who for reason of their financial state, could

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday said that the current changes to trade and investment policies by the administration since it took office in May 2015 will help the nation to diversify the economy, attract more foreign investments and speed up the country’s industrialization.

Buhari stated this on Friday at the commissioning of two newlyestablished agro-based industries, shortly before he ended his twoday State Visit to Kano State.

The President noted that the overall effect of these achievements will lead to jobs creation and better living conditions for citizens as promised by the governing All Progressives Congress, APC. At the newly-built 1,200 tonnes capacity solvent extraction plant of Gerawa Oil Mills Limited, the biggest oil mill plant in West Africa, located at Tokarawa Industrial Estate, President Buhari commended the plant owner for taking full advantage of the prevailing investment climate in the country.

Buhari also commissioned and inspected the Fullmark Rice Mills, the biggest rice mill in West Africa, at Kwanar Gunduwawa, Hadejia road.

At both mills, the President while touring the facilities, expressed delight at the whollyowned indigenous companies and assured agro-investors of his

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria d ƐƑƏƗ ƕè #ƆƅƆƌƄƆƏ Ö è ƾƠơƣ

NIMASA: Four bag first class as Dakuku hails capacity growth Ganiyu Obaaro The capacity building initiative of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) through the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) has again received another boost, as 59 of the beneficiaries have graduated from the Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom.

According to a statement by the Head, Corporate Communication, NIMASA, Isichei Osamgbi, “This brings it to a total number of 1,343 graduates of the scheme since its inception from the various institutions in United Kingdom, Egypt, Romania and Philippines.”

At the graduation ceremony which held in the United Kingdom recently, 4 of the students graduated with a 1st Class, while 36 of them had 2nd Class (Division 1) degrees and others graduated with various grades.

Speaking on this development, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside expressed delight at the performance of the students and stated that the graduands are the future of the Nigerian maritime industry, and assured them that plans are on top

gear to ensure they do their mandatory sea time training so that they can be qualified seafarers.

The DG, who was represented by the Agency’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Ahmed Gambo enjoined the students to continue to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and told them that very soon they will be expected back home to take over the Nigerian maritime space.

“Let me congratulate you on this great feat of your graduation from this prestigious University. On our part as a government, we are committed to capacity building initiatives as it remains the only means the maritime industry can survive and compete favourably with its counterparts globally; we will ensure you all go through the mandatory sea time training, so that you can become better experts and professionals in the maritime sector both in Nigeria and internationally”, Peterside said.

Meanwhile, two outstanding NSDP Cadets who had earlier graduated from the same University and thereafter obtained scholarships based on their performance from the University to pursue their Doctorate programme were also presented to the Nigerian delegation.

M## Ɛ ƅƋƆ Ə ƋƋ Ƈ ƏƆƈ ƅ Ƌ Ə ƈƍ Ƅ ƅƊƋ MƗ ƌ é& Ƅ The Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has pledged to clear the backlog of fees and all issues surrounding its post graduate foreign scholarship programme.

The Chairman of the Board, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, gave the assurance while briefing the press after a meeting of the board in Abuja yesterday.

He stated that the Board reviewed the activities of the Commission in the year, took statutory reports on procurements, budget performance, revenue and expenditure.

Senator Ndoma-Egba said: “By Tuesday next week all outstanding issues regarding the foreign scholarship scheme would have been sorted out.”

He also stated that the Board ratified a decision to cancel 482 projects between 0-5 per cent startup, valued at

about N 90bn, which he said was in a bid to clean up the commission’s books and remove non-performing items.

The chairman gave an insight to what was expected in the year 2018, in his briefing.

He declared: “Our Signature project, the Ogbia-Nembe Road, which is our flagship for partnership with oil producing companies, will be ready this December and we are looking forward to commissioning it early next year.”

He also said that the Board took a decision on some MOU’s signed with state Governments on projects that would be jointly executed.

He further emphasized that 2018 will be dedicated largely to reforming NDDC systems, Audit of Personnel, restructuring the commission’s governance protocols and projects, with more focus on ongoing projects.

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I never instruct suspended SEC DG to discontinue Oando probe - Adeosun Mathew Dadiya, Abuja The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun has denied the allegation that she suspended the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir Gwarzo due to “his refusal to stop the forensic audit of Oando Plc; describing the allegation as a “misleading and mischievous media reports.”

Adeosun restates that “the insinuation of an instruction to discontinue with the Oando case is false and this can be corroborated by the other parties at that meeting and by subsequent events.”

The Minister refuted the allegation while addressing Finance Correspondents in her office on Friday in Abuja maintaining that she would

not have ordinarily responded in view of her responsibility for the approval of the Constitution and Terms of Reference for the Administrative Panel of Inquiry into the allegations against Mr. Gwarzo.

Adeosun however said, given the degree of speculations and the potential impact on the capital market, there was a need for her to set the record straight stating that the integrity of the capital market is vital to the growth of the Nigerian economy and must be managed in an orderly and transparent manner to ensure investors’ confidence.

She buttressed that the SEC leadership must maintain and be seen to maintain the highest standards of integrity.

The minister further stressed that the original decision taken by SEC on October 20, 2017 to suspend the shares of Oando Plc and conduct a forensic audit, was approved and endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

According to Adeosun, the SEC team led by Mounir presented adequate evidence to the Minister of Finance and her team, that Oando Plc had a clear case to answer with regard to infractions of the ISA. “No contrary evidence has been presented and thus, the investigative work on Oando and all other ongoing investigations being undertaken by SEC in the discharge of its statutory functions have continued. Indeed, our information is that the forensic auditors have resumed at Oando.

For the avoidance of doubt, there was no directive whatsoever to discontinue investigation into Oando and this was reiterated to the current SEC leadership at the formal handover meeting.

The fact that the investigation has continued further corroborates that this is the Minister’s position.

Adeosun

Edo, CBN set aside N500m credit facility to de-risk Agric investments

Ïdƅ ƆƌƆ Ɛ Ƒƍƍ ƏƐ Ƌ Ə Ɔè ƅ ƌƌƆƏƅƈ Ƌ Ƈ Əƌƈ

The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has inaugurated a nine-man committee to oversee the N500 million Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS) initiated in alliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to de-risk investments in agriculture in the state.

Obaseki inaugurated the committee headed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Prince Joe Okojie, at the Government House, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

He said the programme,

which was set up by the Federal Government through the CBN, is aimed at providing credit for agricultural transactions in the state, stressing that the scheme is critical to his administration’s agricultural initiatives.

He said members of the committee were selected based on their expertise and accomplishments, noting that it is not another avenue for political patronage.

He emphasised that the idea is to support large scale commercial agriculture so that their growth would stimulate and scale up activities

of small scale farmers.

“Time, experience and technology are very important in agriculture. We need to engage the services of consultants and experts to work with the committee and use the advantage of the dry season to our benefit,” he said.

Governor Obaseki said the committee members would serve as monitoring team and manage funds from the CBN to guarantee its judicious use by farmers across the three senatorial districts.

He stressed that government was not interested in agribusiness to start farms,

but only interested in de-risking the process and creating an environment for entrepreneurs to emerge and thrive.

He said that over N500 million is available from expected funds and the committee’s terms of reference include: to oversee and ensure equitable distribution of fund; promote an efficient and inclusive participation of key stakeholders; ensure proper monitoring and evaluation, guarantee integrity of each access to information; ensure fund usage by beneficiaries are in line with the terms of the scheme.

Tours&Travels

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B3

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

LASPOTECH Alumni to sponsor 2 lecturers on overseas studies Stories By Simon Ugwu

The Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) Alumni Association says it would sponsor two lecturers of the institution to study Hotel Management Software (HMS) in Morocco or Canada.

Dr Wasiu Babalola, Chief Executive, Africa Continent Hotel and Resort, Turkey and a LASPOTECH Alumni, announced the sponsorship at the institution’s 4th International Conference on Science and Technology in Lagos.

The conference, organised by the School of Technology, is tagged: “Innovation for Sustainable Development: The Technology Challenges’’.

Babalola said the sponsorship was a collaboration between the Alumni and the Turkey-based Africa Continent Hotel and Resort.

He said the beneficiary lecturers would come from the Hospitality Management and the Computer Science Departments of the institution.

According to him, the objective of the sponsorship is to empower the lecturers with the technical know-how and knowledge-based skill on HMS.

He said the sponsorship was also an initiative to help develop hospitality business in Nigeria.

Babalola remarked that there was a great expectation in the hospitality industry and that “the academics “is an avenue to raise the innovative advancement of the industry’’.

He said that through the foreign study, innovations in hotel management and hospitality would be domesticated in Nigeria.

The alumnus said polytechnic education provided the largest workforce of the industry and urged lecturers to keep abreast and teach innovations that would make their gradu-

ates become marketable in hospitality.

He called for an overhaul of the curriculum for tourism and hospitality courses to keep pace with trend in the industry.

“There is no need feeding the students, who will constitute the workforce in hospitality, with primitive knowledge,’’ he

said.

Also speaking, the Rector of the institution, Mr Samuel Sogunro, praised the Alumni for the gesture.

He said the polytechnic would continue to partner with the hospitality industry to develop the curriculum for the courses.

Lagos is home to all – Gov Ambode Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the weekend said his administration would not drive away non-natives coming into Lagos State almost on daily basis.

Instead, the governor said the state has the potential to accommodate their needs and integrate them into the system.

This, he said, could be achieved through tourism which he said will provide a good platform to engage people across the strata.

He said in the last 29 months, his administration had been able to fast-track tourism as well as attract foreign tourists.

Ambode spoke at the 2017 Press Week of the Lagos State Governor’s Office Correspondents, with the theme: “Harnessing the tourism and entertainment potential of Lagos in the next 50 years: The role of the media.”

Represented by his Special Adviser on Community and Communications, Kehinde Bamigbetan, the governor said his administration was in the process of developing a master plan to promote and drive tourism in Lagos. ‘’A lot of people are coming into the state on daily basis, but as a government, we would not ask them to go back because Lagos has the potential to take them. Tourism provides us a good platform to engage people across the strata,’’ he said.

According to him, the state plays host to lots of tourism sites that would excite tourists.

He expressed delight that the future of tourism in the state is bright.

“However, several steps, phased over the 50 years period of this presentation, must be considered. First, there must be a tourism master plan which defines the strategy and

execution over the period. The Lagos State government has taken the step in the right direction by advertising for bids for the development of a master plan. When that process is completed, a clearer way forward will be certain.

“Second, there must be database on both tourism as objects and activity. Third, the value chain around the activities must be put in place to determine areas where the government will be most effective and the private sector more efficient…,” he said.

“Fourth, there must be measurable indices to measure progress, how many hotel rooms were occupied in Lagos in 2017 and what can we do to increase in 2018? What is the grading system saying? Are we attracting global brands of five star hotels or making do with fake franchises,” he said.

On the role of the media,

Bamigbetan stressed the need for the media to be educated as there were indifference and ignorance in the reportage which must be corrected.

“Once educated, the media can shape the attitudes of Lagosians towards local tourism and demonstrate sensitivity to the issues that matter to tourists. Crime and security reporting are areas where the media need to be re-orientated to partner with the government and deliver better tourism.

“It must be noted that for purposes of encouraging inbound tourist traffic, the management of the foreign media is critical. Training of the foreign media to understand the local environment and reflect event positively is a key necessity in achieving the purpose,” he said.

Earlier, Chairman of LAGOCO, Joshua Bassey, said the

event was to reflect on the activities of State House Correspondents and also a platform to unwind and network.

Ambode

Tours & Travels

B4

Daily Times Nigeria Satrurday, December 9, 2017

Ex-Zimbabwean VP Joice Mujuru urges women to brace up for leadership challenges Simon Ugwu Former Zimbabwean Vice President, Dr. Joice Mujuru, and a former First Lady of Liberia, Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor, have urged women to brace themselves for top political and corporate leadership role instead of resigning to the fate of weaker sex tag.

The two were the special guests of honour at the 2017 National Women’s Summit, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The three-day annual summit, which was themed, “The resilient woman: making a difference,” was organised by the Officials’ Wives’ Association (OYSOWA), under the auspices of the wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi.

The event, which attracted more than 1,000 delegates across the country, was also graced by four Governors: Mr. Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos State), Mr. Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa State); Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Osun State) and their host, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

Mujuru, who delivered a

Joice

keynote address, urged women to stop placing themselves at the mercy of men, urging them to brace themselves for the challenges of leadership at the

top echelon of all spheres of human endeavours.

She said that her emergence as the first female vice president of Zimbabwe in 2004, a po-

sition she held for 10 years, did not come on a platter of gold, having been in the trenches with the Zimbabwean liberators since 1973.

According to her, women must be inspired to rise to the occasion even when the challenge appeared to be daunting and insurmountable.

She said, “We must have the desire to make a positive transformational difference and not be satisfied by being helpers of men. We must run business and be leaders of nation not rulers.”

In her address, Howard-Taylor, who is a ranking senator and running mate to the presidential candidate the Coalition for Democratic Change, Mr. George Weah, in the Liberian presidential election, also echoed similar sentiments.

She said, “Women are currently in difficult circumstances across our world and especially, in Africa; as we struggle to deal with issues of violence against women, unequal opportunity and lack of economic opportunities.

“Resilience is a life journey. I dare not say that it is something you wake up in the morning and you have. But you have to go through the fire and get better and become a more resilient person. There is something you can do now in your shape your life.

Ajagunmale Festival: Aare Gani Adams explains involvement Bonny Amadi The involvement of the Olokun Festival Foundation in the celebration of Ajagunmale Festival is part of the means to propagate the Yoruba culture as well as preserve our heritage and celebrate them. This was

Royal fathers at the festival

stated today at the annual AJAGUNMALE Festival held at Lekki Guest House, Lekki Lagos, by the Promoter of Olokun Festival Foundation and Aare Onakankafo designate, Otunba Gani Adams.

Aare Adams said According to him, before now, many may

have heard about Ajagunmale without knowing the great importance of the heritage. Ajagunmale he explained is the “ Oluwo Ode Orun “which literally means the head of the Ifa priests in heaven .Ajagunmale is the Godfather of Ifa in heaven. This role is very important

and its significance can be better understood during supplications.

“The challenge is before all of us present here, those at home and the diaspora, to ensure that we take our culture to the point where other clans would respect us for who we are not what’s we have been made to become. We need to purge ourselves of the belief that celebrating our heritage through various festivals is idolatary.

Nothing can be farther from the truth. Celebrating our heritage is the same way we celebrate the Christian and Islamic festivals.

There are enormous benefits in the celebration of these festivals and they can be felt in the development, enjoyed by host communities of the festival aside from the other benefits that are personal to individuals’ beneficiaries.”

The Festival which was graced by His Royal Majesty,

Olumuyiwa Ogunbekun,The Onileki Of Lekki, the royal host with a over 30 traditional rulers in his domain. Oba Ogunbekun expressed his joy that the festival has come to stay, confirming the fact that since the festival commenced in his domain, noticeable and landmark development have become common occurrence tracing it to the blessings of Ajagunmale.

Representatives of Dangote Refinery led by Yinka Akande enumerated the interest of the Dangote Group to contribute towards the development of Lekki.

Other important personalities are HRM Oba Buhari Olayinka, The Oniroko of Iroko Kingdom, representatives of HRM Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, The Oloja of Epe, Chief Femi Davies of Metronewsng, Chief Victor Mobolaji Adewale, Coordinator of Oodua Progressive Union in Europe among others.

Daily Times Nigeria Satrurday, December 9 , 2017

B5

Tours & Travels

Why global investors focus on Nigeria’s tourism industry Bonny Amadi Increasing reward and untapped opportunities in the tourism sector has attracted the interest of global investors including investors from the Arab world to Nigeria’s tourism sector.

This was reflected by the high number of investors across the globe that have indicated interest to invest in the Nigerian tourism sector.

At a recent meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) between the minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and prospective investors, it was disclosed that Nigeria had the full potential in the tourism sector which they were willing to explore.

Mr. Daniel Weihrouh, a German whose tourism business concern, Lions and Gazelles, is based in Abu Dhabi, said his company was ready “to ignite tourism in Nigeria’’.

“Our long time ambition is for the Europeans and Americans, rather than going to Kenya for Safari, they should go to Calabar for the Carnival and to Lagos for the nightlife.

Weihrouh said the company had planned to start with domestic tourism to attract the attention of the people to the potential in the sector.

“To get started with this, we have to start domestically to celebrate the tourism potential in the country.

“After we start domestically, we will go pan African and look at the neighbouring countries, Cameroon, Ghana and Benin Republic.

“Instead of them going to South Africa, they can come to Nigeria,’’ he said.

According to agency reports, the meeting was on the sideline of the “International Conference for the Safeguard of Cultural Heritage in Conflict Areas’’ attended by the minister in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking after the meeting, Mohammed Hamadi, a renowned sectorial investor and Consultant, who has business concern across the globe, said that Nigeria had a lot of investment opportunities, being the largest country in Africa in terms of population.

“When I traveled to Nigeria, I noticed that every half an hour we see people moving particularly to Lagos and

Abuja.

“All of these people need different places to stay and hotel and relaxation centers in different categories will also be our interest,’’ he said.

He added that Nigeria’s tourism is one of the industries that is “blinking in the light of Nigeria and we are ready to add a lot to the Nigerian tourism sector” According to him, “Nigeria and the Gulf countries are sharing the same similarity

with the dependency on oil resource and we need to diversify inevitably to other resources,’’ Hamadi said.

He said he would be leading a team of investors to Nigeria between April and May 2017 to explore areas of opportunities in the tourism sector.

Hamadi said the team would explore opportunities in the natural, cultural and business potentials in the tourism sector.

“Nigeria has a lot of natu-

ral and cultural endowments, therefore, natural and cultural tourism is one of the options we are considering.

“Cultural tourism is a viable area especially in some cities like Lagos, Kano and other cities where you have cultural touch base.

“Business tourism is another area we are interested in because Nigeria is a country where a lot of people move from North to South.

Petrolex mega oil city to ease Apapa gridlock Chucks Iwelumo Apapa is home to two of Nigeria’s busiest seaports, several tank farms and a number of big companies. Business activities in the area are a big component of Nigeria’s economy, however, despite its importance, the deplorable condition of Apapa—caused overtime by the failure of government to expand infrastructure development in line with growing population— has been a source of a nightmare to port operators, commuters, motorists and the public.

Petrolex Group, a leading energy conglomerate in Nigeria has begun a move to drastically reduce the traffic gridlock at Apapa, which has been a source of anxiety to various stakeholders.

On December 12, 2017, Petrolex Group will commission the first phase of its Mega Oil City at Ibefun, Ogun State. The project worth millions of dollars, will not only decongest Apapa

by as much as 60 percent but also break a record as the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa’s energy landscape.

Petrolex Mega Oil City is a legacy investment currently valued at over $330million dollars by PwC. The tank farm in the Oil City has the capacity to turnover 600,000million litres of petroleum products every month and will transform petroleum products storage and distribution in Nigeria, by catering for about 60 percent of the incountry need.

“As a solutions-driven company, we are positioned to drive increased efficiency and consistent value creation across the West African downstream oil and gas value chain through our strategic investments and the delivery of superior quality products and services. Working with our diverse stakeholders, the successful completion of the first phase of our mega oil city in Ibefun, Ogun State, Nigeria demonstrates our disciplined approach

to project management and signposts our ability to execute largescale energy development projects that will move the region forward,” said Segun Adebutu, Chairman/CEO of Petrolex Oil and Gas Limited, during a media tour to the site.

The Mega Oil City has 30 loading gantries, residential quarters, ultramodern health centre and a 4000-truck capacity trailer park with accommodation for drivers. Upon completion in the next couple of years, it will completely transform into the largest petrochemical industrial estate in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa, as home to a 250,000bpd capacity refinery, a gas processing plant, a lube plant and other feedstock industries such as fertiliser plants.

The Oil City will create over 10,000 new jobs, impact over 2 million lives, improve the distribution of petroleum products by over 500 percent, improve efficient delivery of products to retail markets and eliminate over

2000 tankers from Apapa road.

Petrolex Oil City’s impact on Apapa will be achieved because of its strategic location. The City is easily accessible by land and waterways. There is access to the Atlantic Ocean and products can be easily shipped in and out through fleets of specially designed barges sailing through the river on the site.

So far, Petrolex has procured 10 barges, 2 tugboats and a daughter vessel. The company is also expecting additional 6 barges and 6 tugboats to strengthen its diversified approach to product distribution.

Adebutu said, “I lived in Apapa, I had to pack out one day when there was a gas build-up in one of barges and it exploded and shattered glass in my house.

I grew up where there were palm trees and we could ride our bicycles about and within the space of a decade, we spend one and half hours to even get out of Apapa. The infrastructure in Apapa was for a residen-

tial and partly commercial area, not for the traffic, it is facing now”. Adebutu said the congestion and attendant distribution problems requires immediate solution.

According to reports, social and economic activities in the axis generate close to N140billion weekly for Nigeria and accounts for about 80 percent of imports and exports in the country.

The situation became worse in May this year when contractors from Flour Mills, Dangote Group and the Nigerian Ports Authority commenced a rehabilitation project that necessitated closing a part of the road.

Media investigations have shown that port users spend as much ass 10 days going in and out of the port to evacuate their cargoes, a process that should take 24 hours or less. Also, commuters who work around the axis have recounted the hellish time they spend on the road, at times, having to turn back without getting to work.

Busines Review

B6

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

Dangote’s gas project faces risks from unstable power sector, others

Fashola Simon Ugwu Dangote Industries’ proposed 1,100km deep sea pipeline from the Niger Delta to Lagos, Nigeria’s top commercial hub, is the most uncertain, from a business perspective, of the four projects under development at the company’s Lekki Port complex.

Whereas there’s clear demand for petroleum products and fertilizers from the refinery and fertilizer complexes under construction and the Petrochemical Plant will have customers, the domestic gas market, which the pipeline is expected to serve, is severely challenged.

The East-West Offshore Gas Gathering System (EWOGGS), as it is christened, consists of two 38 inch, 550km pipelines, each with a capacity of 1.5 Bcf/ day. The two pipelines will be running side by side.

“To talk about a three billion standard cubic feet of gas supply into Nigeria to-

Dangote day requires a lot more work than wishful thinking,” says Sam Ojehonmon, an African hydrocarbon market analyst based in Johannesburg.

To start with, some of the projects that are widely expected to be supplied by the EWOGGS are, in reality, going to be supplied by other parties.

Take the 560MW Qua Iboe Independent Power Plant for example. It is going to be built by Black Rhino, with which Dangote is a partner.

It is located in the vicinity of the EWOGGS’ take off platform and had been widely assumed to be the EWOGGS’ most likely first customer.

But that’s a wrong assumption. The gas for QIIPP will be supplied by ExxonMobil, whose Joint Venture with state company NNPC will build a 400MMscf/d processing plant for gas from OML 70, primarily for that project and ultimately for the Nigerian domestic gas market.This fact alone places a direct competition in

EWOGGS’ face.

Indeed, the Dangote Industries’ published list of acreages from which the EWOGGS is expected to extract natural gas, begins to look doubtful, with a little bit of scrutiny. The list includes ExxonMobil operated OMLs70 and 138, Amni operated OML 52, Shell operated OML 77, Sunlink held OML 144 and First E&P held OMLs 71 and 72, in which West African E&P, a Dangote subsidiary, has a significant stake.

Of this list, the gas fields that are ready to come on stream are those in ExxonMobil’s OMLs 70 and 138 and Shell’s OML 77. A Dangote document actually lists OML 138 as scheduled to provide 10% of the 3Bcf/d EWOGGS capacity, but ExxonMobil does not have any agreement yet with Dangote Industries Limited, nor does Shell.

Sunlink has been desperate to monetize its gas in OML 144, As such it is keen to get on board; First E&P will deliver on OMLs 71 and

72, but It’s not clear what arrangement Amni has with Dangote.

Dangote Industries’ expectation is that Africa’s most populous country should be able to utilize 10Billion cubic feet of gas per day, in its power plants and factories, by 2020.

In the last 12 years, the state has built over 10 thermal power plants with nameplate capacity in excess of 5,000MW, expected to be fueled by natural gas. But the volume available has been held down by “insufficient investment focus to grow the required supply capacity”, according to a concept note by the Dangote group, which it shared with Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osibajo, in 2016.

Current gas consumption by factories, power plants, and Gas based industries in Nigeria is slightly less than 2Billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). Growth in these sectors is reportedly constrained by the inadequacy of supply of natural gas.

But the big challenge is the absorptive capacity of the market itself.

The bulk of the gas produced for the Nigerian market is for electricity, an industry considered rather unstable at the moment. “The power sector is beset by “illiquidity, price and securitization challenges”, says Dada Thomas, President of the Nigerian Gas Association. “Lurking behind these monsters are the secondary diseases of inadequate and dilapidated power transmission and gas distribution infrastructure, low economic returns for gas projects”. Other Gas and power analysts have lamented the obstructions imposed by offtake assurances vis-àvis pipeline tariffs, funding mix and failure of payment guarantee structures.

And yet there are projects under construction and in feasibility studies. Shell and Seplat are collaborating on the Assa North Ohaji South (ANOH) project, which will deliver 600MMscf/d at peak, to the Nigerian market.

v

Business Features

B7

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

New power sector reform is a win-win Simon Ugwu A recent Ministry of Power, Works and Housing decision to allow companies that generate electricity to sell directly to consumers can be a win-winwin: for the fast emerging distributed renewables market, for state-owned distribution companies (DisCos) and for millions of unconnected and underserved consumers.

In May, Minister Babatunde Fashola invoked the Eligible Customer declaration under Section 27 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA) – which is the guiding legislation for the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). With the new policy, instead of having to sell power to the National Grid, generation companies (GenCos) can sell directly to certain classes of customers.

The four types of customers are heavy power users, including manufacturing, commercial and industrial and large residential. They must be metered, and grid-tied, according to the new policy: Eligible end-user customers whose consumption is no less than 2MWhr/h, and are connected to a metered 11kV or 33kV delivery point on the distribution network, subject to a distribution use of system agreement for the delivery of electrical energy; Eligible customers connected to a metered 132kV or 330kV delivery point on the transmission network under a transmission use of system agreement for connection and delivery of energy; Eligible customers with consumption in excess of 2MWhr/h on monthly basis and connected directly to a metered 33kV delivery point on the transmission network, under a transmission use of system agreement. Eligible customers in this category must have entered into a bilateral agreement with the distribution licensee licensed to operate in the location, for the construction, installation, and operation of a distribution system for connection to the 33kV delivery point; Eligible customers whose minimum consumption is more than 2MWhr/h over a period of one month and directly connected to the metering facility of a generation company.

Such eligible customers must have entered into a bilateral agreement for the construction and operation of a distribution line with the distribution

licensee licensed to operate in the location.

This decision provides a game-changing lifeline for generating companies that have complained severely of untimely payments from distribution companies, and which in turn has caused them to default on payments to suppliers of natural gas, the primary generation fuel. By selling directly to customers, the GenCos can generate cash flow that they can use to pay gas suppliers or use to obtain bank loans. It also allows them to directly sell to customers excess power generated that cannot be absorbed by the grid.

A major pre-requisite for GenCos to sell directly to consumers under this new policy is that they only selling added capacity (new generation) or stranded capacity (electric power that cannot be absorbed by the National Grid). This recent policy directive presents an opportunity for existing off-grid power plants to supply power to single eligible customers, particularly those that are regular heavy power consumers; (e.g. the manufacturing sector); and groups of such customers who may be within the commercial, residential, or industrial clusters. This will allow such customers to reduce their costs by directly getting power supply from the generating companies rather than through the distribution companies where it is rationed with thousands of other customers.

Due to the inadequacy of power generation and distribution, most Nigerians are off-grid most of the time and tend to use backup diesel generators as an alternative.

However, with this policy, there is the likelihood that eligible customers getting power directly from generating companies can do so at significantly less expense by switching to renewable energy generation, which can meet the demand that gas turbines cannot because of persistent structural, policy and political challenges.

This new policy bypasses these challenges and creates a new electricity architecture which allows eligible customers to sign up directly for new generation providers.

GenCos applaud the new policy, which also allows DisCos to get paid for the use of their infrastructure to serve eligible customers. That said, distribution companies remain worried about losing relevance in a changing electricity

By investing in embedded generation using decentralized renewable energy, DISCOs are able to sustain power supply to their consumers. They can also take advantage of the eligible customer policy to serve customers who qualify for it by dedicating embedded power stations to them using their distribution networks.

terrain in Nigeria, However, it is important to note that this policy also opens up new opportunities for them, along with other investors in the power sector to innovate and utilize Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) in a number of ways: It will incentivize DISCOs to invest in embedded power generation, i.e. power generation within their networks supplying them alone. This will help to offset a potential decrease in revenue from losing customers to the GENCOs. By investing in embedded generation using decentralized renewable energy, DISCOs are able to sustain power supply to their consumers. They can also take advantage of the eligible customer policy to serve customers who qualify for it by dedicating embedded power stations to them using their distribution networks.

Another opportunity is the investment in embedded independent electricity distribution networks (IEDN).

IEDN are distribution networks that are not connected to the National Grid. They are standalone distribution networks and are either isolated off-grid networks serving rural or urban areas or are embedded into a DisCo’s network. IEDNs could include a generating company, but where they do not include a generating company, they are required by regulation to have a service agreement with a DisCo to supply it with power. They

are crucial to expanding energy access for rural that are not grid connected to the grid and urban areas that are not currently under-served by the grid.

Decentralized renewable energy sources such as mini-grids are excellent for generating power for use within IEDNs as they are less expensive than using fossil fuels such as gas or diesel which will either require a pipeline network or tankers along with other complex infrastructure to supply the fuel.

Also, as DisCos expand, IEDNs can be excellent candidates for mergers and acquisition, providing the DisCos and mini-grid companies with new customer bases without particularly overburdening their existing infrastructure.

It is clear that should this policy fully take-off, it would be a game changer for the electricity architecture as a whole in Nigeria. It would also directly increase investments in the decentralized renewable energy sector in Nigeria by introducing new business models and financing models and open up more access to markets across the rural-urban divide.

What is sure is that this policy would increase centralized and decentralized investments in the Nigerian electricity sector to innovate and accelerate to meet the country’s current energy demands by improving the existing supply infrastructure.

Personal Finance B8

Daily Times Nigeria Saturday, December 9, 2017

Treasury Bills: Making steady income via right investing

Bonny Amadi

While not foreclosing other forms of investment, Nigerian Treasury bill, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the federal government, offers a reliable form of investment for investors with urge to have guaranteed returns on their investment.

On the 30th November 2017, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) auctioned treasury bills otherwise known as Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTB). Through which the government raised, or borrowed funds to attend to governance needs.

The FGN through the CBN auction offered 81 day tenured NTB with auction number 29-11-2017-91 and a maturity date of 3/1/2018.

The offer recorded total subscription of 7891.564 with yield of 12.95 per cent and true yield of 13.3821.

On the same date, NTB of 182 day and 364 day tenured T-bills were also auctioned. The 182 day TB attracts a total yield of 16.2126 per cent with maturity date of 5/31/2018, while 364 day TB has the Maturity Date 11/29/2018 and true yield of True Yield 18.4741 per cent.

Traditionally, the federal government issues Treasury bill every month, the bills span across three tenors three months, six months and one year, with differing coupon rates depending on the tenor. The longer the tenor, the higher the coupon rate.

The Treasury bills, after issuance by the FG, are usually listed on the FMDQ, the over the counter securities Exchange (OTC), where it is also traded on the secondary debt instrument market.

Some of the Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTB) quoted on the OTC market are 27 T-Bills spanning from, NTB 30-Nov-17 117.18, to NTB 15-Nov-18 107.94.

Meanwhile, Treasury bills is one of the surest way of earning steady income from investment, money that could ordinarily be put aside into bank saving which gives lesser returns compared to T-bills. Before considering investment in treasury bills, one need to first understand what T-bill is and how to exploit it to grown funds.

It is worthy to note that T-bills are of low risk and also ideal and guaranteed returns on investment, when aligned with other forms of investments.

What T-Bill is Treasury Bills (T-Bills) are short-term debt instruments issued by the Federal Government of any country through its Central Bank to raise short-term funds from the general public (private individuals,

Institutional investors, nongovernmental organisations, religious bodies etc and even retail investors through collective investment, for the purpose of financing government budget deficit.

In Nigeria for instance, T-Bills are issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and it is guaranteed and backed with the full faith of the Federal Government of Nigeria. T-bills are issued at an interest rate often referred to as discount rate.

Treasury bills are by nature, the most liquid money market securities and are backed by the guarantee of the Federal Government.

They are usually issued for tenors of 91 days, 182 days and 364 days at the primary market auction held fortnightly by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The interest rate (stop rate) at the auction is not fixed but fluctuates based on demand and amount offered by the apex bank. However, there are other tenors available in the secondary market based on prevailing rates.

If you do not wish to invest for the full period, we can provide rediscounting facilities and can purchase your bills from you at any point.

Benefits of treasury bills Treasury Bills offer diverse benefits some of which include, risk free investment as it carries the guarantee of the Federal Government. T-bills are highly liquid instruments and can be used as collateral. It is highly liquid, as it offers opportunity for liquidityactive secondary market for ease of entry and exit which however

comes at a cost.

It is a discount instrument enabling the investor to earn interest upfront, thereby, increasing the effective yield on investment, on the assumption that the interest earned is re-invested, Also Interest earned from investment in T-bills is tax free.

How do Treasury Bills work?

T-Bills are discount instruments and they are so called because the investor gets its interest upfront. This means that the interest promised on a T-bill instrument is payable on the very day the investment commences.

For instance, if a T-bill promises a 10.0 per cent rate per annum and an investor wants to put in N100,000, the investor pays only N90,000 from the day of investment but gets back N100, 000 at maturity. The maturity value of N100,000 is referred to as face value while the initial investment of N90,000 is referred to as the discount value.

What is a True Yield?

True Yield is your effective Return on Investment (ROI). Using the illustration above, the initial yield for the N100,000 is 10.0%. However, because interest is paid upfront, your true yield is actually the N10, 000 interest received divided by the N90,000 actually paid. That is N10,000/N90, 000 translating to 11.11%. This is however higher than the 10.0% rate per annum. The True Yield is fully earned when you hold to maturity.

Primary and Secondary Market for Treasury Bills

A T-Bill can be purchased either in a primary or secondary market. The primary market is when the investor buys directly from the CBN through a public auction carried out every fortnight while in the secondary market, an investor buys from an existing holder of a T-Bill.

Hence, T-bills in the primary market can be bought only every two weeks while in the secondary market it can be bought every other day. The minimum amount that can be bought in the primary market is N50.0m while in the secondary market an investor can invest as low as N5,000.

How are Treasury Bills Sold?

Treasury Bills are sold through a bi-weekly auction conducted by the CBN. Buyers are requested to quote bids following which the average minimum bid is selected.

Where can I buy Treasury Bills?

Treasury Bills can be bought through any official dealer. The easiest will be through your bank Minimum amount for retail investor?

Before, you could buy for as low as N10, 000 and in multiples of N1, 000 thereafter. However, this was increased to N50, 000,001 in 2017.

However, through investment outfits, you can buy as low as N5, 000 which is usually invested in T-bills through a mutual fund or collective investment scheme and you are also positioned to benefits from the interests that accrued the investment.

To buy Treasury Bills To buy Treasury Bills you will have to approach your bank requesting for a form. You fill the

form with your personal information also indicating the amount you want to buy as well has your bid rate.

Bid rate?

The bid rate otherwise called your STOP RATE is the likely interest rate that you have indicated to receive for the principal that you investing in the TB’s. For example you can indicate an interest rate of 10% as your expected rate. Your bid rate will most likely be different from that of other intending buyers of TB’s.

Can I sell before Maturity?

Yes you can sell Treasury Bills before maturity. As mentioned above, this can be done through the OTC market. The price at which you sell depends on the forces of demand and supply. For example a N100,000 face value TB maybe selling for less or more depending on the yield expectation of the buyers. If your face value is trading at a higher price, it means you can sell your treasury bills at a profit as such your N100,000 can sell for N101,000 or more. If your face value is trading at a lower price, it means you can sell your treasury bills at a loss as such your N100,000 can sell for N99,000 or less.

Can I roll over my investment?

The CBN does not rollover your investment automatically. However, you can give your bank a mandate to rollover the principal on your treasury bill upon maturity. You can also get the benefit of compounding interest by asking your bank to reinvest the interest portion of your TB once it is paid.

Life&

TIMES Saturday, December 9, 2017

Dayo Amusa: Rising to the top does not require special price L2

P

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, December 9, 2017

I’ve never stopped producing Yoruba movies –Dayo Amusa Talented Nollywood screen diva, Adedayo Amusa is one of the actresses production, acting amongst others. Having grown in the industry with several works and laurels to show for it, Dayo is not resting on her oars in becoming a force to reckon with. Dayo who is rooted in the Yoruba movie industry has been able to penetrate into the English production section where she has movies. In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, she talks about her upcoming project, relationship, and music to mention but few. Enjoy…

You may have broken the hearts of some men with a every woman. What triggered such statement?

Coming from where you started and how things have turned out, would you say you have truly come of age in the game?

It is common now for some of your colleagues to get pregnant, put to bed and hide the identity of the father of their child, Will you be toeing that path too?

You have come a long way in the movie industry and you have shown that you mean business with some of your latest works. What special price have you paid to be at this level?

Starting as an actress and later gravitating towards movie production with a number blockbuster movies to your credit, you seem to have raised your game to enviable heights, how does it feel?

You have been able to register your name on the minds of the people as a movie producer and you have equally produced quite a number of English movies. Are you tired of producing Yoruba movies?

When you look at your life, especially those moments when you were still cutting your teeth, how did you manage to pull through despite the challenges you faced?

But you will agree with me that you have raised your game now and going back to shooting low budget

How did you manage to remain level-headed?

Pathetic is one movies that showed people you are

be?

How would you describe that moment that you had your major breakthrough?

You have been involved in music for some time now, what brought about music and Dayo Amusa?

Life&

Daily Times Nigeria

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Gist L3

Mutiat Alli

Wizkid condemns awards organisers who give African artistes awards backstage Popular Nigerian Musician, Wizkid just after clinching The Best International Act award at the 2017 edition of the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards, has voiced out his concern at how African Artistes are treated by international award show organisers.

The music crooner, who has had a fantastic year musicwise and has both local and foreigner awards to show for it, condemned the practice where some international awards show organizers give the plaque to African artistes backstage, instead of doing it live on stage.

Speaking during a live interview recently, Wizkid demanded for equal treatment for African artistes, requesting that either they are shown same level of Wizkid respect accorded their foreign counterparts or none at all. “If you are not going to show us the same love you show your international artistes on the main our own people”, Wizkid said.

Daddy Freeze, Shirley Igwe to host House of GYMT Frozen Ball tomorrow Fashion entrepreneur and CEO, House of GYMT, Princess Kelechi Romeo Oghene will be hosting an award night cum graduation ceremony for students of her GMYT Fashion Academy tomorrow, Sunday, December 10.

The glamorous frozenthemed ball holding at the Grand Ball Room of Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, will see the cel- Managing Director, Daddy Freeze & Princess MultiChoice, John UgbeKelechi ebration of 31 graduating empowering more women made while still at the acadstudents of the Academy through fashion which she emy to the entire world so described as her strength. that nobody will tomorrow their individual brands at This, according to her, in- question the originality of the event expected to atformed the setting up of their brands and designs. tract top notch guests inher fashion academy.

That is the essence of the cluding fashion industry She noted that hav- Frozen Ball holding on luminaries, corporate leading the students passing Sunday,” Princess Oghene ers, philanthropists and through the academy and said. learning the art of fashion “I want them to establish and members of the diplo- contacts, build network for matic corps who are paslieves there should be a people to patronise them sionate about the growth platform for them to show- so they can also be able of the Nigerian economy case to the whole world to impact on many others and the role women play their talents and crafts in the society while buildin the growth of the econthrough exhibitions of the ing a virile fashion industry omy. designs and collections. in Nigeria,” the delectable Speaking of the comHouse of GYMT lead creing event, Princess Oghpresent their collections ative designer added. ene said she is bent on

Adekunle Gold out with ‘Money’ visuals

Tiwa Savage & Timi

Future Awards: Tiwa Savage, Timi Dakolo, Seyi Shay, others performs today Tiwa Savage, Timi Dakolo and Seyi Shay are among the top artistes set to perform at the 12th edition of The Future Awards Africa scheduled to hold today at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Other music artistes to perform at the highly anticipated annual awards event are Mayorkun and a surprise

guest artiste. winners will be unveiled at the main event - all young and inspiring Nigerians aged 18-31 who have excelled in different categories including Advocacy, Business, New Media, Music, Fashion & Design, Professional Service, Sports, among others.

Adekunle Gold has released the

for money no matter how small the denomination.

video shows what he wants his life Money is an urban highlife song that speaks volumes about the realities of being without money; it ex-

trips to Dubai, the concept of the

ation.

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Saturday, December 9, 2017

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Saturday, December 9, 2017

Isaac Oguntoye

Asiwaju Bolarinwa Oluwole honoured again! ers, attested to his kind gestures on how he has been supporting them on all fronts to facilitate and youth empowerment schemes. Secondly, he was honoured tremendously for being a dis-

Asiwaju Bola

Just as he is still navigating the political terrain of his Remo Federal Constituency to make good his aspiration to clinch a coveted House of Representatives seat in the next dispensation, deeply grass-rooted politician and youthful Asiwaju Bolarinwa Oluwole is gradually inching up in other spheres that could further advance his ambition.

The Ogun State-born

new breed politician was recently conferred with a prestigious award of Distinguished Personality of the Year, 2017, by the leadership of National Association of Polytechnic Students, NAPS, on account of his ever steady and ready support and contributions to the course of students and youth development

young personality. Interestingly, this new cap for the Okanlomo, is coming at a very audacious time for the House of Reps hopeful, who has not reneged on his avowed plans and intentions to ple when the opportunity beckons.

Asiwaju Bolarinwa, the endowed formidable aspirant, without being immodest, may clinch the

is level, even as he is believed to be the mostfavoured among his coaspirants; and this is no Many of the students, exaggeration or patronespecially student lead- izing.

Oando boss, Wale Tinubu’s doggedness

Wale Tinubu

For the dogged souls to succeed in business, it has to involved critical thinking, focus and discipline, being human, getting things done and having a competitive spirit.

All these adjectives are what best describe the dark skinned philanthropist, Wale Jubril Tinubu who has remained focused throughout his travails as the prime mover of Oando boss.

Judging by the rag-

alleged negative media campaign in Oando Plc which was allegedly linked to two of its major shareholders; Mallam Dahiru Mangal and Italian born Gabriele Volpi of Ansbury Incorporated, over alleged mismanagement of funds by the board headed by Wale.

The petitions and alleged negative media campaign made the Security Exchange Com-

mission (SEC), issued an order to the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSA) to put every stock exchange activities of Oando on halt to enable them carry out forensic audit of the alleged mismanagement of funds levelled on the management by its major shareholders.

Immediately NSE placed an embargo on all stock activities while the sanction was also extended to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

And for the trained lawyer, Wale, who understood what makes major business thrive in Africa, he smouldered the tension by assuring the company high among its major contenders in Africa.

Under his watch, Oando broke impeccable records, declaring a long margin after their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Akwa Ibom.

Ooni to crown new Asiwaju Omo Oodua Arrangements are in top gear with his Imperial Majesty Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), the Ooni of Ife to formally unveil and install a foremost Yoruba Leader as the new “Asiwaju Omo Oodua”, a title hitherto held by the Late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo World Arts, Culture & Tourism (WACT) Congress.

The Nomination and Selection process for the emergence of the new Asiwaju Omo Oodua will be launched in due course.

Prominent amongst the eminent personalities for Nomination considerations are Senator Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos State and Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Foremost Leaders from the other Geo-Political zones will also be recommended for Chieftaincy honours.

The Chairman and Grand Patron of Art kingdom International Foundation, Sir Chief Alex

Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan-Babatunde-Adeyeye-Ogunwusi Akinyele (former Minister of Information) made this known.

Elaborating further on the Event, the President of the Foundation Prince Abayomi Otukoya disclosed that the event is the Initiative of Artkingdom International Foundation, MaakBeat Transnational Limited and The Communicator in collaboration with The National

Council of Arts and Culture, the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Information & Culture, and The Royal Court of Ife.

of his Imperial Majesty Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), the Ooni of Ife.

Ogun guber aspirant, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka’s courtesy visit

Otunba Gani Adams & Gboyega Nasir

Last Tuesday, December 6, 2017, the house of the newly installed Aare Ona Kankafo of Yoruba land, Aare Gani Adams received Ogun State Gubernatorial aspirant, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI), at his Omole Phase II residence. After the visit, rumours mongers started reading meanings to the visit.

Some said the courtesy visit was to identify with the new generalissimo of Yoruba land while others are of the opinion that, the top South

West politician who is eyeing Dr. was also there to seek his support to Meanwhile, one the Aare Ona out to deny GNI visit having any political undertone saying, “the visit was simply a courtesy visit, no political meaning should be attached to it.

A lot of people have visited him as well”.

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FADAYEAN empowers 100 farmers

FADAYEAN

In a bid to ensure massive production of food in the country, the Bank of Industry (BOI) has given loans worth N5 million to 100 farmers, who were given N50, 000 each.

The loan was given to members of the Farmers Advancement and Youth Empowerment Association of Nigeria (FADAYEAN) under a programme called; GEEP through Lagos State Council of Trades Men and Artisan Epe Co-operatives Multipurpose Society Limited (LASCOTAC).

According to the coordinator of the loan, Alhaja Aminat Shade Shabi, the loan is like a test-run, which attracts no interest.

She stated during the distribution premises of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Oko Oba, Agege, Lagos recently that the money was part of N20 Million fund meant to be given as soft loans to farmers in the state under her authority and that the ben-

to access the loan.

She informed the farmers that they would have to repay the loan within 24 weeks at the rate of N2, 200 weekly, adding that the period could only be reduced, but would never be extended.

“This is an opportunity for you to expand your agricultural business. You would have an opportunity to access up to N1 Million naira each if you are faithful with what you are getting today.

“You are lucky because we were given N20 Million by BOI and you are the money even before the people in Epe area of the state, where our organization is situated,” she said.

The woman, who revealed that the loan was worth it, advised the farmers to organize themselves into groups and do the weekly remittance through their group leaders with proper records before the money is given to the President of the association.

When Remi Awode celebrated Dad

plished so much.

It was a beautiful gathering put together to celebrate and honour Papa Dickson Adekunle Awode as he turned 80.

The celebrant, no doubt, was full of joy and in high spirit as family, friends and acquaintances all dropped one thing or the other to rejoice with him.

The classy, well-attended and star studded

Pa Dickson

It is the wish if every man to live to a ripe old age. For Special Apostle Engineer (Dr.) Dickson Awode, it was indeed a wish come through and a day to remember as he witnessed his children, grand-children and greatgrand-children celebrating a life of a patriarch who is blessed and favoured to have accom-

nothing was in short supply last Sunday 3rd of December, 2017 at the Grandeur Place, Billings-way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.

In appreciation of all the good work of Papa, Engineer Dickson Awode, his son, CEO of Chemstar Manufacturing Company, makers of Finecoat and Shield Paints, Apostle Emmanuel Aderemi Awode spared no cost to give his loving and devoted father a birthday to remember.

Excitement as Justice Oguntade, wife meet Queen Elizabeth II Retired Justice Olusola Oguntade met the Queen of England on December 7, 2017. Of course he was not alone, but with his pretty wife, Mrs. Modupe Oguntade.

Trust the ever-radiant couple that never settled for less when it comes to looking good never disappointed the country.

Interestingly for the socialite couple, the Queen accidentally coordinated perfectly with George Adesola Oguntade, the High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and his wife, Mrs. Oguntade when they visited the palace to present the Letter of Credence to the Queen.

The paparazzi lens did not only capture the exciting moment but also the spectacular traditional Abada wore by Justice Oguntade and his wife Buba

Justice Oguntade

and Gele, which depict our culture and tradition.

The attire was identical in shade with both her husband and the Queen, and featured a geometric pattern in the same cream co-

lour.

This we learnt surprised the 91-year-old royal as her Nigerian visitors had an almost identical colour combiwhich was never preplanned.

Where is Abu Ali Jibia?

What is happening to this one-time Oil and Gas big boy, Abu Ali? Is it that his lavish lifestyle before he was caught in the act by EFCC still haunts him? These are rhetorical questions begging for answers as the cool dude disappeared into the thin air.

He was once the toast of many social gathering as his name span across the nook and cranny of this country as a socialite and a philanthropist.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the dude met his waterloo when he and some 10 others were arrested by the EFCC and charged to the Federal High Court in Lagos, under Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, on charges like unlawful dealing in Automated Gas Oil (A.G.O) known as Diesel, conspiracy, unlawful distribution of adulterated petroleum products among other charges.

While he was struggling to exonerate himself from the misfortune, Abu worth Millions of dollars, was confiscated by the EFCC. According to sources closed to him, at first Ali was not under pressure when he was arrested, because, he had the backing of some strong

Abu

godfathers whom he thought would come to his aid until reality dawned on him when the case took a new twist and got more complicated.

During his trying times, it was said that his close friends deserted him, those he rendered assistance for never took out time to see him at the EFCC net. Abu has learnt his lesson the hard way and ever since opted for a low-key lifestyle.

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TBoy declares ‘Afrolife’ the future of urban African music

Sound identity has been an age long crisis in the entertainment industry and has accounted for the death of many potentially great music talents.

Owing to the ever shifting global soundscape, many musicians find themselves dabbling into genres that they believe will be profitable and keep them relevant. This has indeed worked for the likes of Wizkid, Davido, and P-Square amongst others who have consistently adjusted their style to fit every sound era but the same success rate cannot be said for a majority of other acts.

Nigerian singer and songwriter TBoy (Tochukwu Chukwudi Ezeji) has however done his homework by quickly identifying this problem, and has now created a lasting solution that will not only bring clarity to his music sojourn, but to other artistes like him who are tired of boxing their content into unfitting categories.

The household names in Urban African Music right now are Afropop, Afro beats and Afro fusion and just like the Lotto boys in the UK have defined their own genre as Afrobbean TBoy now refers to his own personal style as the Afro Life genre. 2017 has no doubt been an incredible one for TBoy. He surveyed the industry atmosphere with his first unofficial release Jeje, before getting signed to his current labelBillionaire Minds Enterprise. He promptly dropped 2 hot singles - Whine and Kilofe- both of which

were met with very high applause from his rapidly growing fans. He pressed even further with a massive nationwide tour that saw him network and perform at the biggest entertainment media hubs in the South-East, South West, North Central and the South-South regions of Nigeria .In February , Tboy teamed up with Rexpapi and Jesse beats to create an ultra-smooth and deeply sensual tune by the title Jeje.

To carefully test the waters, a viral video was shot for it but following the immense reception, and it can be easily said that this is where his Afrolife concept was birthed. Enlisting the magic strumming fingers of Fiokee, TBoy effortlessly fused Ibo highlife lyrics with contemporary elements to deliver the unquestionable banger Whine; which was followed up swiftly with a super crisp video, directed by the multiple award winning Clarence Peters Kilofe is the most recent single still making waves all over. He performed it to a stadium full of fans at the recently concluded Phynofest concert in Enugu and all indications show that TBoy has paid his industry dues through his hardwork, consistency, versatility and admirable tenacity towards his craft.

In a bid to end his amazing year in grand style, he has confirmed that he will be dropping his biggest

Celebrities storm Lafenwa for Biodun’s Dukdex Lounge 1st year anniversary

tune yet and this one is aptly titled Monica. Rumour has it that this new Afrolife tune features a soon-to-be-revealed internationally respected guest artiste and in deep appreciation to his fans for their rigid support, TBoy plans to activate this release with generous end-of-year giveaways that will be announced across his social media platforms listed below. @TboyBME

Top clothier, Beshy Kuti set for Christmas The last quarter of the year is usually a busy season for those in the fashion business.

Obviously, wardrobe consultant and the chief executive of BKK ultimo, Beshy Kuti, is not left out of the buzz.

Judging from the activities and schedules, the clothier is working the hours to meet the needs of the many clients and also roll out a new style calendar.

Beshy is known for his unique cut and rare patterns that makes him the darling of the most stylish and fashion-forward men in this part of the world.

Beshy Kuti

Needless to say he boasts of a large clientele that rely on him for their good looks.

The fashion conscious in the country depend cut and the signature

Agbada that draws the envy of others. The award-winning clothmaker is not resting on the oars, as he recently unveiled new designs in time for the New Year celebrations.

Bimbo Ashiru takes centre stage Dukdex The sleepy town of Lafenwa in Itele will be cynosure of all eyes from December 15 to 17th when celebrities in all forms of life will storm the Awori town in Ado Odo Ota Local government area of Ogun State for the 3 days celebration of Dukdex Lounge and bar, that is owned by sociality big boy, Abiodun Adejare who just returned to the country from UK. Speaking on about the event, Adejare said: “I believe this type of things will reduce crime in our society.

Many of my friends were telling me why do I come this far to erect such a thing but I always let them know that we cannot all be going to Island before we can do something good, and so far no regret. I give God the glory. Come that day, the whole Itele and Lafenwa will record its highest celebrities ever, as most of my friends in UK and US will storm the town to felicitate with us. We are also expecting royal fathers like, Baale of Lafenwa Chief Gafar Edun, bale of Aiyetoro Chief Abiodun Odutela,

Baale of Itele Chief Hazes Adeboye and Aremo of Itele Alhaji Saidi Arowolo and captains of industry. The journey has been smooth, champions never quits. I know we are going places, we have line up programme for the 1st year anniversary which is going to starts by December 15th.

We have popular stars to grace the occasion and apart from that on December 16th, we are having gala night which is going to be a day for football event, we have invited many teams outside our place.

From all indications, it seems Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, the Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, is well loved and adored by the Ijebu indigenes, following his emergence as their consensus candidate for 2019 governorship from Ogun east.

His victory, it would be recalled, generated a lot of uproar in the media.

While many were happy over the development in the life of the former banker, some people political, especially governorship ambitions, were threatened by his choice.

Ashiru, according to different version of those who know him, is a man with desire for developing people around him, and this translated into his appointment as the representative of

Bimbo Ashiru

the Awujale of Ijebuland on the Ogun state poverty Alleviation Task Force, where he distinguished himself.