Police seal off PDP national secretariat Ï d ƆƏƈƇƇ ƏƆƌ ƒƆƗ ƄƆƅ Ƒ Ɔ ƈ ƋƆ ƗƆƏ ƈƍ Ɠ ƗƆ Ɛ ƄƈƋƈ ƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƍ ƏƐƕ – Wike ÎÎÎThe
National Secretariat of the crisis ridden Peoples Democratic Party
Lateef Ibrahim ƄƑƉ
(PDP) in Abuja was on Sunday practically taken over by the men of the Nigerian
police. This is even as Rivers State Governor, Chief Nye-
som Wike, in a statement on Sunday, explained that
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MONDAY, MAY 23, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 114
GAINERS
N150
LOSERS
NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 17th May, 2016.
CONOIL
23.00
1.99
9.47%
UNIONDICON
13.86
0.66
5.00%
VITAFOAM
4.43
-0.47
-9.59%
TRANSCORP
1.16
-0.12
-9.38%
NEIMETH
1.05
0.05
5.00%
CUTIX
1.65
0.07
4.43%
DIAMONDBNK
1.82
-0.19
-9.45%
FO
205.32
-19.68
-8.75%
NLC suspends strike, to resist ‘bad policies’ Ï j ƏƆ ƑƌƆ Ɔ Ɛƈ Ɛƈ ƓƈƐ 01 ƆƋƆƅƐƏƈƅƈƐƕ Ɛ ƏƈƇƇ ƈƊƆè ƍƆƐƏ Ƌ ƍƏƈƅƆ ƈ ƅƏƆ Ɔ Ï ójƈƌƆ ƓƈƋƋ ƍƏ ƒƆ ƑƏ ƍ ƈƐƈ Əƈ Ɛ ƏƆƋƕƈ ƈƌƍ ƏƐƆƗ ƍƆƐƏ Ƌô Ï ƌƌƆ Ɨ Ɛ ƐƆ ƅ Ƒ ƅƈƋ è ƇƇƈƋƈ ƐƆ è ƍ ƐƏƈ Ɛƈƅ Mƈ ƆƏƈ è M dd ƋƆ ƗƆƏ ƈƍ Ɨ jƈ ƑƄƑ
Joy Ekeke
ÎÎÎThe Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC)
has suspended the strike action it commenced Continued on page 6
nêdê ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛ Ə ƅƊ RƄ ƌ æƾ Ɨ Əƈ Ɛçè ƏƆƅƆƈƒƈ ƇƋ ƓƆƏ ƇƏ ƌ Gƈ jƏ æƾ Ɨ ƋƆƇƐçè Ɔ ƏƏƈƒƆ M ƈ ƈ 9 ƐƆƏ Ɛƈ Ƌ ƈƏƍ ƏƐ ƈ 6 ƈ Ƈ Ə ƢéƗ ƕ ƒƈ ƈƐ Ɛ yƈƆƐ ƌČ dƑ Ɨ ƕê
Unemployment, underemployment rates hit 31.2% in Q1 2016 B1
‘How Buhari can fight herdsmen attacks, move Nigeria forward’ 8
5 I can’t guarantee herdsmen’s safety in Ekiti, says Fayose
Ice Prince L1 Exits Chocolate city
Gunmen blow up Agip pipeline in Bayelsa
12
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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Page Three
s
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PHOTO TIMES
Editorial Time to revive agriculture
A
ny student of history would readily admit that time was before oil was discovered that agriculture was the mainstay of the Nigerian economy. In fact, before the discovery of oil in 1958 at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State, the country earned more than 70 percent of its revenue from agricultural produce. It was common knowledge that Nigeria produced vast quantities of groundnut, palm oil and cocoa to be able to undertake massive infrastructure development all over the country. Even among African nations, Nigeria was as an agricultural giant that produced enough food to feed its teeming population and for export. Sadly, all that is now distant memories, as oil has suddenly replaced agriculture as Nigeria’s foremost revenue earner and with it, the uncertainties that have continued to pervade the crude oil market. Before the present oil price fall, very many Nigerians have called on successive administrations to revive agriculture not only to earn revenue but also to feed its growing population. Unfortunately, these calls have gone unheeded. There is no denying the fact that Nigeria is currently undergoing hard times due to diminishing demand for oil, thereby making it difficult for the government to meet its financial obligations. It is worth restating that the discovery of crude oil, a commodity, which for the past 70 years has become the index of wealth and power, has brought more pains than gains to Nigerians. In fact, if anything, oil has become more of a curse than a cure. However, the present harsh times can be overcome if the authorities look inwards and restore agriculture to its lost glory. It is even sadder to
know that the country now imports some of those commodities that once made it famous. Only recently, the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele revealed that Nigeria loses at least N20 billion yearly to importation of palm oil. This also goes for rice, cocoa, rubber, cotton and other farm produce. It is shameful that Nigeria is importing palm oil, rice and many other agricultural produce, especially when it is on record that Malaysia, a country that imported its first palm seedlings from Nigeria, has grown to become the largest exporter of the product in the world. Aside palm oil, the country also imports cashew nuts, rice, kola nuts and maize all of which were previously exported by Nigeria. Indeed, there is every reason for Nigeria to revive agriculture as the mainstay of the economy. Firstly, the country boasts of vast arable land that can support every kind of agricultural produce. Moreover, mechanised agriculture has the capacity to employ thousands of Nigerians through the value chain in contrast to oil that places emphasis on advanced technologies to the detriment of human labour. We make bold to posit that agriculture would revive the country’s moribund manufacturing industries that employed millions of workers in such sub sectors as textiles, food processing, fish farming and wood lumbering. In addition, the revival of agriculture would help end ruralurban migration that is responsible for high levels of crimes and antisocial activities in our cities. Even though the Nigerian economy is a growing one, it can become better if the potentials in the agricultural sector are harnessed.
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L-R: Speaker, Excellence in Life (EIL) Series 2.0, Bukky George; EIL Series Convener, Dr. Femi Paul, his wife, Evelyn during the Excellence in Life (EIL) Series 2.0 themed ‘Breaking New Grounds’ held in Lagos… at the weekend.
Wife of Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (3rd right), Chief Executive Officer, Rose of Sharon Foundation, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija (3rd left) and other members of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, during a courtesy visit to Mrs.Ambode in Lagos… at the weekend.
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New Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Plateau Command, Mr. Samuel Olasupo (right) presenting a souvenir to Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba during a courtesy call on Buba, in Jos… on Sunday.
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STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER
Arthur Nwankwo
Obafemi Awolowo
David Oyedepo
“The meat of real and visionary leaders always is to steer the economy back on track. Such leaders are pathfinders not faultfinders.”
“Violence never settles anything right: apart from injuring your own soul, it injures the best cause.”
“Until you are willing to change your approach, you cannot improve on your results.”
4
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
I can’t guarantee herdsmen safety in Ekiti – Gov Fayose Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti
ÏÏÏ Ekiti State governor,
Mr. Ayodele Fayose has said that he could no longer guarantee the safety of Fulani herdsmen in the state following the attack on OkeAko community in IkoleEkiti Local Government Area last weekend. In effect, the governor warned that there could be reprisal attacks on herdsmen in the state if they do not desist from invading Ekiti communities and attacking the people. Governor Fayose, who commiserated with the people of Oke-Ako, especially the family of the deceased, vowed to do everything humanly possible to forestall the reoccurrence of such attack and safeguard the lives of Ekiti people. According to a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said the Fulani herdsmen were becoming major threat to the unity of Nigeria and its people,
saying; “I will not fold my hands while armed herdsmen invade communities in Ekiti, killing people and destroying farmlands at will as they have done in other states. “I have directed the police and other security agencies in the state to fish out the killer herdsmen. I am in constant touch with the security agencies and I hope that the killer herdsmen will be fished out wherever they are and made to face the full wrath of the law. “The people of Oke-Ako should therefore remain calm while the security agents do their job. However, the security agents must be mindful of the fact that the people’s patience has a limit and they must therefore act promptly and decisively.” The governor, who described activities of the Fulani herdsmen as inimical to the revival of agriculture in the country said; “Farmlands costing billions of naira have been destroyed in states in the South-West, South-East and North-Central zones of the country. One won-
ders how Nigerians can go back to farming when those already in the farms are losing billions of naira worth of crops to destruction of their farmlands by the Fulani herdsmen, and the Federal Government is not doing anything about it. “I am sounding a note of warning to the Fulani herdsmen and those who can talk to them should also do so now. If they continue with these wanton attacks, killing of the people and destruction of farmlands in Ekiti, I cannot guarantee that there won’t be reprisal attacks. “I can also not guarantee the level that the reprisal attacks can get to because as a governor, it is my responsibility to defend and protect my people.” He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop paying lips service to the Fulani herdsmen’s menace, saying “as patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), President Buhari has the capacity to call the herdsmen to order.
Buhari cancels visit to Lagos ÏÏÏ
President Muhammadu Buhari has called off his planned two-day state visit to Lagos. The visit, which would have seen President Buhari inaugurating a number of projects, would have started on Monday and ended on Tuesday. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, confirmed the development on Sunday. Adesina said President Buhari would be represented by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. He, however, did not give any reason for the last minute cancellation of Buhari’s trip. “The truth is that the Vice-President will now represent the President in Lagos. There is nothing wrong if the Vice-President represents the President at functions,” he said. Senior Special Assistant
to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who also confirmed the development to correspondents, said Osinbajo would only inaugurate a few of the projects earmarked for inauguration by the President. Shehu said Buhari would still embark on the visit after Ramadan. The Vice-President will only inaugurate some of the projects. The President will still embark on the trip after Ramadan to inaugurate the remaining projects,” he said. This year’s Ramadan is due to start in June 6 and would not end until July 5. It was gathered that members of the President’s advanced team consisting of protocol officials, security agents, medical officers and journalists among others were already in Lagos ahead of Buhari when his trip was cancelled.
5 News
CARTOON
News Analysis
Niger Delta: Before the attacks escalate Agozino Agozino
ÏÏÏ
After blowing up Chevron oil platform and other subsequent attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta recently, the militants are back again, rekindling the no-love-lost posture with the Nigerian authorities. Berated by some public policy analysts on their illegal activities in the region which have led to shutting down of oil facilities by the multi-nationals apparently, the country is heading for another year of merry go round even as economic policies of the Buhari administration bites harder on the masses. Going by the reports, the masterminds of the attack on the oil installations in the Niger Delta are remnants of the Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), the Egbesu, and other militant groups
in the region, who have formed the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), agitating against what they see as government’s injustice. Among other demands, they are asking the present administration to abide by the terms and conditions reached at the last National Political Conference. Another factor fingered is the persecution of the regional commander of the militant groups, Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, who has been declared wanted by the security agencies. Safeguarding the oil installation was one of their past work during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration but now times have changed for them. Late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua in 2009, granted amnesty to all the militants groups in the Niger Delta under the former ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which went a long way dousing the tension in the region and subsequent
reorientation of the militants. With President Buhariled All Progressives Congress (APC), the country seems to have been divided between ‘we and them’ and this may have led to the frustration of the militants who have threatened fire and brimstone to disrupt activities of oil facilities in the country, bringing untold hardship in oil and gas ministry. Both sides are now at daggers-drawn strategising on how to outwit each other in firearms. There is nothing wrong if this government can borrow a leaf from the Yar’Adua government as days are gone when naked force and brutality was the way. All over the world, leaders rule by negotiation and not by force of gun. So, it will not be out of place or a sense of weakness if the Buhari administration engages the militants in dialogue. This is because any attempt to use force to subdue them may produce counter effect.
Buhari
Some of them arrived Lagos on Thursday while some others joined on Saturday and Sunday. Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, had in a statement on Saturday said Buhari would inaugurate some landmark projects executed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode during his visit.
Retiree fights PHCN reps, two firms over alleged illegal possession Titilope Joseph
ÏÏÏ
A retired engineer, Idowu Ojomo, has asked a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, to exercise judicial power over representatives of Power Holding of Nigeria and two property management firms by compelling them to explain their role in how a possession of
six flats of two bed room property were taken with order of a Magistrate Court in Ikeja, Lagos, while case is pending at the high court. Other parties to appear before the court are Ashglow Properties & Investment Limited and Property Metos & Contractors Limited. Ojomo, though his coun-
sel, Steve Adaramoye also moved an interlocutory application before Justice Doris Okunobi, praying the court for parties to maintain status quo on the property situated at 21, Ladoke Akintola, Government Reservation Area, Ikeja, Lagos, pending the determination of the matter before the court.
News 6
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Police seal off PDP national secretariat Continued from page 1 the party removed Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as its national chairman because his leadership was destabilising the PDP. The Police personnel, who stormed the PDP national secretariat in Abuja in two lorry loads and about 10 patrol trucks, comprehensively blocked a section of Dalaba Street leading to the national secretariat, thus forcing motorists to use the remaining lane. Anti-riot policemen from
the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police command, also sealed off the secretariat. The mobile police men took over from regular policemen and officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who were initially deployed to man the security of the party office as well as prevent people, including media men who were earlier invited for a press briefing. It could however not be ascertained on whose order the policemen were de-
ployed in the area. However, a police source, who craved anonymity, told journalists that they were deployed on “order from above.” Unconfirmed reports said that the order to seal off the secretariat came from the Inspector General of Police. The policemen were drawn from Kubwa, one of the satellite towns of Abuja, to maintain law and order at the secretariat. The police source said added that the information
at their disposal indicated that the party officials were to hold a meeting at the secretariat. It would be recalled that the PDP National Convention had, on Saturday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, sacked the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Working Committee (NWC) and appointed a seven-man caretaker committee headed by former Kaduna State governor, Senator Mohammed Ahmed Makarfi. Sheriff and two other
L-R: Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige; Executive Secretary, National Lottery Trust Fund, Alhaji Habu Gumel and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal, at the official unveiling, commissioning and distribution of sports equipment to primary schools pupils nationwide in Abuja… at the weekend.
NLC suspends strike, vows to resist ‘bad policies’ Continued from page 1 on last week Wednesday to protest the sudden hike in pump price of petrol from N86.50 to N145. Rising from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting late Sunday evening, the NLC, it’s protest was informed by the twin issues of the unjustified hike in electricity tariff and illegal increase in pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), better known as petrol. A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and jointly signed by the NLC President and General Secretary, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson also stated that
the NLC “will continue to resist wrong legislations, policies, and programmes and will always act in the best interest of Nigerians as it remains the only panNigerian organisation not affected by religion, region, creed, partisanship or primordial sentiments.” Below is the full text of the communiqué. An emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held today, Sunday, May 22, 2016, at Bolton White Hotels, Abuja on the on-going protest action against the increase in pump price of petroleum products and hike in electricity tariff. NEC reviewed the protest
action and its impact across the nation, noting the sacrifices of its members, response of the generality of Nigerians, government’s attitude and the brutality of the police in some states. NEC took special notice of the Ebonyi State Police Command where our members were intimidated, harassed, arrested and detained unjustly. After an exhaustive deliberation, NEC noted its protest action was informed by the twin issues of the unjustified and illegal hike in electricity tariff and increase in the pump price of petroleum products. NEC adjudged the protest action to be a success in spite of both internal and external
challenges. NEC reiterated the correctness of its position on the twin issues of electricity tariff hike and the astronomical increase in the pump price of PMS and the hardship they portend for Nigerian masses. NEC also acknowledged that the temptation to compare the strike action with that of 2012 could be compelling but that the scenario had changed as both the actors and the terrain were different. NEC said before it had embarked on the action, it had anticipated a probable outcome and therefore was not surprised by governContinued on page 12
NWC members, the National Secretary, Professor Adewale Oladipo and National Auditor, Fatai Adenynju, had obtained restraining PDP from conducting elections into the three positions. Similarly, the Professor Jerry Gana-led Concerned PDP Stakeholders’ Forum has also set up a 57-member steering committee with former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ibrahim Mantu and former Minister of Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran, as co-chairmen. There was however no official of the PDP around to talk to the press as to what was actually happening. Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has explained that the party removed Senator Ali Modu Sheriff on Saturday as its national chairman because his leadership was destabilising the PDP. According to a statement released on Sunday by his media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, the Rivers State governor, who was the chairman of the 2016 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Convention Planning Committee, which
was held on Saturday, said: “All along, the crisis has been about the former acting chairman whose emergence was strongly opposed. “This is destabilising the party and so we had to let him go. What is important is the party and not the individual. No sacrifice is too much for anyone to make as far as PDP is concerned.” Wike said he had no personal interest in supporting Sheriff as he was the best option at the time he emerged. He said PDP would continue to grow “from strength to strength” as it remains the only hope for the country. “We will not allow the PDP to die or suffer divisions under our watch. History will never forgive us if we watch the party die,” Wike added. The governor said the party leaders would work towards maintaining unity amongst all members of the party. He said despite the challenges, the 2016 National Convention was successful as the party has been repositioned in the interest of the nation.
Clergyman advises Christian on faith in God to overcome challenges
ÎÎÎThe
Resident Pastor of Living Faith Church Bwari, Pastor Isaac Abioye, on Sunday admonished Christians to always have faith in God irrespective of their challenges, to reap divine blessings. Abioye gave the advice in Bwari in a sermon titled “unveiling the unlimited power of faith”, to mark the anointing impartation service organised by the Living Faith Church Worldwide. He said that faith had the capacity to keep people from challenges, therefore the need to believe in God to find divine help. According to him, what makes things happen anywhere is faith; it is key to everything; it helps to place you above all challenges. “The measure of faith you have in God determines the volume of di-
vine blessings you can receive from God. “Faith is partnering with God in line with the scriptures in order to reap divine blessings.” He quoted from the holy Bible to say that ``without faith it is impossible to please God’’. He said faith was an absolute obedience to God’s word, saying that “by faith you are looking for commandment to obey and not promises to claim”. He mentioned one’s believe in God and acts of scriptural word practice as some forms of expressions of faith that guaranteed people’s grace to live above challenges. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that high points of the service are choir ministration, impartation prayers and blessing of the anointing oil.
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
7 News
Subsidy: Why I support FG -Oshiomhole Titus Akhigbe Benin
ÎÎÎ
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has explained why he stood with the Federal Government on the new price of petrol, saying the fundamentals and economic indices are different from what they were a few years ago, and it is the difficult pain Nigerians must undergo
before reaping the gains. According to him, it doesn’t make economic sense for the government to spend more than half its earnings just on fuel subsidy to the detriment of other development programmes. Speaking at a special thanksgiving service organised by Apostle Charles Osazuwa, Senior Pastor and founder of Rock of Ages Christian Assembly
International (RACAI), Benin City, to round off a 7-day programme of the church on Sunday, Oshiomhole said the former government of President Goodluck Jonathan spent as much as N1.2 trillion on fuel subsidy. He said: “l have listened to our chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and he reminded us that the Hon. Minister of Petro-
leum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has been under fire. I believe the fire will continue for some time. In spite of all that he is going through, the Minister recognised that we can’t be too busy to come to the church to ask God to help us to do the job. After all, the Bible says that unless the Lord builds the house, the labourer labours in vain. “The fire that he is going
through, the end of it will translate to prosperity for our people. Leaders must see ahead of their followers, and when followers can’t see what leader is seeing, with time and consistency, the followers will see the benefits of the decisions the leader has taken. “As many of you might have known, this is not my first time in the struggle against pump price in-
Herdsmen: Ploy to Islamise Nigeria -COCIN President
Gov. Oshiomhole
Chijioke Kingsley Jos
Oba of Kabba, Olobayo dies at 71
ÎÎÎThe President of Church
of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Rev. Dachollom Datiri, has said that the frequent herdsmen attack is a ploy to pressurise the Federal Government-led by President Mohammadu Buhari, to create a Grazing Reserve in all states of the federation with the aim of Islamising the country. Rev. Datiri is quoted saying that “isn’t this Bill an attempt to Islamised the country, following the fact that most of the herdsmen are Fulani Moslems”. He said that allowing the Bill to scale through will further create an opening for other Fulani nationals to infiltrate into the country and cause more harm to Nigerians. His words: “We oppose the National Grazing Reserve Council Bill and call on the National Assembly members to uphold the trust and responsibility bestowed on them by their constituents by avoiding the colonisation this bill intends to give herdsmen over other citizens.” The clergyman, while addressing elders of the Church at the end of the 90th General Church Council (GCC), which last for five days, stated that the cattle do not belong to the federal government, considering the fact that the lands will be compulsorily acquired from citizens by the government, questioning if rearing of cattle is not a personal venture, why then should our collective funds be used to compensate land owners. He tasked herdsmen to use their funds to create and cultivate ranches, which is the internationally accepted form of rearing cattle.
crease. I have fought it over and over again, and at a point, God used us to shut down the country just to make a point to the then government in power, but the truth is that the fundamentals have changed.
ÎÎÎThe Obaro of
Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof. Hayward Mafuyia (left), with General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye during a courtesy visit to Mafuyia in Jos… on Saturday.
Group urges Buhari to ignore calls to sack Malami Andrew Orolua Abuja
ÎÎÎA civil society organisa-
tion, Stand Up Nigeria (SUN), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore calls to sack the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, saying the call is an attempt to derail the fight against corruption. Comrade Sunday Attah, National Secretary of SUN, made the call while speaking in Abuja at a media briefing. He said it is essential for President Buhari to disregard those calling for the sack of the AGF. According to SUN, the call for the sack of Malami is an indication that he is taking actions that are hitting the corruption prone sectors re-
Pita Chikwem Minna
ÎÎÎThe Governor of
Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, on Sunday said that governance is a collective responsibility which requires sacrifice, attitudinal change and commitment.
ally hard, hence the desperation to get him out of the way so that a pliable person that will not lift a finger against sleaze could be planted in his place. “In the short time Mr. Malami has been at the helms as AGF and Minister of Justice, we have seen enough proof that he embodies President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision of justice. “We have seen an anti-corruption crusade that is yielding results without resorting to jungle manoeuvres. The conviction and jailing of the ex-NIMASA Director General, Raymond Omatseye is enough testament that the AGF is up to speed with his job description. “Nigerians also did not lose sight of the pace at which tri-
als of persons arraigned for corruption are going as opposed to the past when suspects are charged and the trials get stuck for months. “We are also mindful of the several cases we once thought were lost but that have been revived today. “These, no doubt, are among the reason Mr. Malami has become the subject of petitions and letters demanding for his sack. It takes someone that has proven himself as the engine house of President Buhari’s anticorruption crusade to make such powerful enemies. “We urge the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Malami Abubakar (SAN) to increase the onslaught on persons indicted
for corruption and to the fight against graft to the next level. “The assets and funds to be recovered from this exercise is sorely needed at this point in time that the economy is struggling. “We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to disregard the calls for him to sack the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Malami Abubakar (SAN)” Comrade Attah posited. He said that contrary to the lies being told, falling for propaganda to fire Mr. Abubakar will signify a policy U-turn on the part of his government and it will lead to loss of international goodwill and local support for the anti-corruption drive.
Kabba in Kogi State, Oba Michael Olobayo has died. He was aged 71 years. Announcing the demise of the first class traditional ruler in Kabba on Sunday, the Obadofin of Oweland, Chief Mike Yusuff, said he died on May 21. News of his death had been making the rounds for sometime. Palace sources said that Olobayo died after about three months of illness. The late monarch, who ascended the throne on Oct. 17, 1985, hailed from the Ajibohokun clan of Ilajo ruling house and was the Chairman of the Kabba Traditional Council. In consonance with the tradition of the town, Yusuff announced three weeks of mourning in honour of the departed monarch. He said there would be meetings on daily basis with other chiefs on how to give Olobayo a befitting burial, urging residents to go about their normal activities without any fear. Obadofin also called for prayers for the late ruler, members of his immediate family and the town in general. He described Olabayo’s tenure as peaceful and a period of progress and development for Kabba and its indigenes.
Governance a collective responsibility –Niger Gov Bello stated this at the opening of a retreat organised by the state for top political and public office holders which was held in Kaduna. “From the beginning, we were very clear about our vi-
sion for the new Niger state. I was categorical when at the inaugural address on May 29, 2015, I stated that I am aware that governance is a collective responsibility which requires that we must be ready
to make sacrifices and have attitudinal change with zeal and determination to realise the dream of a new Niger state full of hope for all” the governor stated. He noted that the retreat
would afford the participants the opportunity to take stock of activities and decisions taken since the beginning of the administration in the state with a view to making necessary amendment.
8
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Politics
s
Implement National Conference report, cleric tells FG A Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Willy Ojukwu, has urged the Federal Government to implement the report of the 2014 National Conference, saying it was key to Nigeria’s unity and development. Ojukwu, the Parish Priest of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Gwarimpa, Abuja, made the call in his homily at the Mass on Sunday.
He said that the conference’s report contained ``valuable recommendations” that constituted the bedrock of the country. ``The Federal Government should implement the report of the National Conference. I urged the government to do so now because of the importance of its content. ``In that document I am sure, lies the solution to most of the
He urged those in power to have the fear of God, adding that leadership was about service and humility, ``which has continued to lack largely in the governance in the country”. Ojokwu prayed for peace in the country and urged Nigerians to continue to be prayerful and support the present administration’s effort to rid the country of corruption.
Ojukwu
How Buhari can fight herdsmen attacks, move Nigeria forward — Ofeimun, Bolanle Awe, others
Tukur
Lalong
Akinjide Akintola
I don’t interfere with LG funds – Gov. Lalong Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau State has decried the abuse of Local Government Joint Account by some governors, saying he does not interfere with funds meant for local governments in the state. Lalong stated this at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja. He said that even though he did not support the local government autonomy, he abhorred a situation where a state governor would exercise undue interference in the joint account. `` I heard stories that in some states what they do is that when the money comes, they collapse it into one account and decide what goes into each local government. ``I fought against it as a Speaker, I cannot be part of it; so when the money comes, it is meant for the local government.
problems and major issues in the country. ``Now is the time for the government to look at the report and implement its recommendations,” he said. The cleric decried the level of corruption in the country, saying that many Nigerians were deprived and in hardship amid affluence and wanton corruption among the elite.
``The joint account is supposed to be part of the revenue that is supposed to come and 10 per cent of it is added to it. ``So, strictly speaking, talking about joint account, it is greatly abused, it is not that the concept is not good but it is abused. ``If it is properly used, there is no need to scrap it, but it is abused; so, there is a need to reconsider that issue.’’ Lalong said that the constitution had subsumed the local government into the state government, adding that true federalism should be canvassed instead of local government autonomy. ``For me, as for joint account, even as care taker committee in my state, I do not interfere with the accounts of local governments. ``They have their separate meetings and whatever is due to them goes to them.’’
Worried by a string of crises that Nigeria faces, scholars and other eminent Nigerians gathered in Ibadan at the weekend agreed that the only way to get the country out of her economic, political and social problems was to get Nigerians to take the country seriously. They came to this conclusion at a book reading held at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan. The gathering was put together by the Readers’ Club of the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP) to brainstorm on Nigeria through the reading of one of the recent books of poet and gubernatorial aspirant in Edo State, Odia Ofeimun. In his opening speech, the Deputy Vice Chairman of the school and retired federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, said the Club was one of the school’s efforts at “contributing to the knowledge industry in Nigeria”, stating that authors whose books stimulate discourses on Nigeria would be a periodic affair of the Club.
Buhari
Ofeimun, who kicked off the debate by reading from the 9-chapter book entitled Taking Nigeria Seriously, said that the bulk of the nation’s woes could be linked to the fact that Nigerians and their leaders do not take
the country seriously in all their interaction with the nation. According to him, the book, which he said was a “concise image of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s views of Nigeria” was a composCONTINUED ON PAGE 11
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
9 Politics
Strike: Oyo invokes ‘no work, no pay’ rule, supports deregulation The Oyo State Government has urged its workers to back out of the strike called by the Ayuba Wabba-led NLC while expressing support for the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry. The plea was contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Ibadan by Alhaji Ishmail Alli, the Secretary to the State Government. The statement said that deregulation of the downstream sector was the best option open to the Federal Government in the prevailing circumstance. It urged workers in the state not to participate in the industrial action, saying it would invoke the ‘no work, no pay’ rule. “ Let us remind our workforce that the National Industrial Court had ruled against
Ajimobi
the strike before the Comrade Ayuba Wabba-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) ordered its affiliate unions to embark on strike last week,’’ it said. It cautioned `` dissenters and non-conformists’’ against testing the resolve of law enforcement agencies, which he said, had the constitutional mandate to stop any attempt to breach the peace. The government urged members of the public to go about their legitimate duties and obligations without fear of intimidation and harassment. “We are warning individuals or groups determined to hide under the guise of protest to foment trouble or engage in vandalism to have a rethink,” it said.
LG Election: Adamawa APC lauds members for peaceful primaries The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa has lauded party members for observing a hitch free party primaries to elect candidates who will represent the party in June 25 council poll. The state Acting Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Bilal, made the commendation after observing the primaries in Yola South and Yola North Local Governments in Yola on Saturday. Bilal said reports reaching him from other local government areas of the state showed that the primaries were peaceful and orderly. ``I want to commend members of our great party for their show
of maturity and to urge the aspirants to accept the outcome in good faith,’’ he said. The chairman said that this was necessary ``so that we can work together for the main election which I am sure our party will sweep the vote’’. Also, the winner of Yola South Local Government primaries, Alhaji Abubakar Dauda, hailed of the primaries. Dauda urged his opponents to join hands with him to ensure the party’s victory in the June 25 election. He described his victory as an act of God, and promised that he would render selfless service and carry everyone along if elected.
Dogara
Dogara, Ogbe, Bello, others at Rico Gado ground breaking in Abuja Tom Okpe Abuja
Bilal
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, The Minister of Agriculture and Natural resources, Chief Audu Ogbe, The FCT Minister, Mohammad Bello and a host of other dignitaries from within and outside the country including political stalwarts gathered at Idu Industrial area of Abuja on Saturday as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar performed a ground breaking
ceremony of his Rico Gado Nutrition Industry, just as he was assured that government is ready to bend rules to ensure smooth operations of the company. The Abuja factory which will be completed in 32 weeks has the capacity to produce 50tonnes of animal feed per hour as 100% raw materials will be sourced locally. Rico Gado Nutrition Nigeria, an affiliation of Rico Gado Portugal is a world class company which will produce healthy and quality livestock feeds for fast growth, has poultry super starter
The statement advocated the provision of palliatives by the Federal Government to cushion the adverse effects of the new fuel pump price regime on Nigerians. “Deregulation appears the most realistic approach to solving the unpalatable experiences of the public in getting fuel at affordable price. “This will be pending when the necessary infrastructure for local refining of crude oil will be upgraded and expanded. “We assert that it is the responsibility of those who are against this government policy thrust, such as the organised labour and civil society groups, to canvass public opinion against such policies without intimidating those with contrary opinion,” it said.
(102), starter (104) and finisher (115) programmers. It also has cattle calf grower (310), finisher (330), super finisher (350); dairy cattle cubes (331), dry cows (315), and milk cow (321), program as well as maintenance milk cow high yield 325. There is also small ruminant program for sheep and goat: lamb pellet (551), ewe & ram pellet (520) and goat pellet (615) as well as maintenance sheep and goat cubes (531). Rico Gado has programmers for horses: horses (401) and sport horses (403). Founded more than forty years ago as a leading livestock feed brand in Portugal, Rico Gado extended its tentacles to Nigeria with a factory in Yola Adamawa state in 2003 amidst heavy onslaught of Boko Haram which crippled business activities in the North East part of the country at that time, yet the occasion attracted dignitaries from 37 countries while full commercial activities commenced on the 31st of January, 2015. In his opening remarks, Alhaji Atiku said, “Our compound feed allows hundreds of producers to rear their livestock faster, to make them fatter, and to keep their animals in good health. “Our feed is reducing the expanse of land required to feed cattle, and we hope that in the future, it will help defuse the conflicts between herders and farmers that have plagued many agrarian societies before us, and that are currently costing us too many lives and livelihood, threatCONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Politics 10
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Dogara, Ogbe, Bello, others at Rico Gado ground breaking in Abuja
Ogbe CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
ening our nation’s future. “Let me be clear: A profitable feedstock mill is no magic fix that solves all our problems. It is a small piece in a big puzzle that
will make our agricultural sector more attractive and more productive. And it is a small piece in the even bigger puzzle that will get us over our addiction to fossil fuels, and over our reliance on rent-seeking enterprises, put
simply, will help get over our dangerous addiction to oil revenues” Atiku remarked. The minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbe congratulated Atiku and his foreign partners for investing in Nigeria now that the country is clamoring for economic diversification, while assuring Rico Gado that government will give them all needed support including adjusting relevant policies to their favor. Ogbe said, “let me assure you that if at any time you need certain adjustments in policy to make this enterprise work, all you have to do is to just send a word. “We will have to defend local industries and go against all the preaching of free trade and globalization. “As I said a long time ago, Nigerian economy got to where it is today because we have by and large been practicing indigested economic theories. Free trade yes, globalization yes, all of these means a capacity to compete and we have never had that capacity to compete because we have never taken the step which other countries took to be strong enough to compete. “They said free trade but nobody mentioned fair trade. We proclaimed growth in our economy, 7% all on the back of oil and gas and when the oil and gas has dried up, we now realized that we were actually growing
at 2% at a population growth of 3.5%, so we were really not growing because we did not invest in the strategic sectors which has made other economies stronger”, he added. On his part, The minister, Federal Capital Territory Mohammed Bello, enjoined Rico Gado not to neglect their corporate social responsibilities, assuring them that FCT is ready to work with them. “In this project, our partnership will be three fold: one we already have on ground massive land ear marked as grazing reserve, we are willing to partner with you to create a portion out of that grazing reserve where you will put cattle paddocks to encourage them to stay there and provide them with all the necessary support and facilities like the provision of extension farmers on a pilot bases so that we see if after a few years, they can make a difference. The success of that Endeavour will make it easier for us to replicate it in other parts of the country. Secondly we have a very important agricultural secretariat that provides a lot of extension services to the farmers of the six area councils. We will be willing to partner with you so as to target how to improve their live stock husbandry through the facilities available. Finally, we also have a Fadama program which I am sure can key into what you are doing” said Bello. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara showered encomiums on Atiku, and assured him that what he was doing will benefit a long generations of Nigerian across board. “For me, this actually speaks
to the future of this country, the issue of feeding our citizens. No Nation attains technological height without firstly devising ways of feeding its citizens. We are not even talking about the economics of agriculture but we must feed our own people. “I have said always that for me, corporation, big companies don’t generate wealth. Wealth is generated by small businesses. Any country where you find mammoth of small businesses is a prosperous country. “It is not just in the upstream of it that people will benefit but cattle bearers, marketers, it will generate employment both directly and indirectly and for us involved in farming, I am sure they will find good customers in NASS” Dogara maintains. The chairman Board of Directors, Rico Gado Nutrition Nigeria Limited, Song Abubakar Ahmed said that the event was a fulfillment of one of the wishes of Atiku Abubakar during the ground breaking ceremony of the Yola plant in 2013 where he said “I wish to state that after the successful take-off of this factory, we shall embark on similar projects in Abuja and subsequently in other regions of this country. “The plant in Abuja is not only similar to the Yola plant that has an installed capacity of 20 tonnes per hour but also much larger with an installed capacity of 50 tones animal feed per hour” Ahmed said. Good will messages were also presented by the Portuguese ambassador to Nigeria António Pedro Rodrigues da Silva, a representative of Rico Gado Portugal Joaquin Da Silva, and the Sarki of Jiwa, the host community among others.
Subsidy: Kogi APC urges NLC to return to negotiating table Ï Ƒƍƍ ƏƐ ƋƈƄƆƏ Ƌƈ Ɛƈ Ƈ Ɨ Ɠ ƐƏƆ ƌ ƈƋ ƆƅƐ Ə Henry Omunu, Abuja Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kogi State, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo on Sunday declared support for President Mohammadu Buhari’s liberalization of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry by appealing to the leadership of organized labour to return to the negotiating table to continue talks on how to end its on going nationwide strike. Alhaji Ametuo, who made this declaration in an interview with journalists after a meeting at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, said that the only way
out of the present economic crisis facing the country as a result of the mismanagement of the nation’s resources by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the past 16 years, is total deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector. The Kogi State APC chairman therefore, advised Nigerians especially members and supporters of the party in the state to be patient with the Federal Government, asserting that the removal of subsidy on petrol “is the temporary pain we have to endure now in order for the future to be better”. Also, he warned all elected
APC members from Kogi State to desist from making unguarded utterances that are capable of causing disaffection within the party and in the country in general, adding that any further unguarded statement or comment will be adequately sanctioned by the party’s heirachy. He appealed to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to show understanding with the Buhari administration for having the courage to remove subsidy on petrol by returning to the negotiation table for further talks on the contentious new minimum wage and other palliatives been offered by the Federal Government.
Bello
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Recently, British Prime Minister, David Cameron caused a stir when he described Nigeria as a ‘fantastically corrupt’ nation alongside Afghanistan. The remark, coming on the eve of a world summit on corruption in Britain ruffled not a few feathers in diplomatic circles. But President Muhammadu Buhari handled it maturely when he declined to ask Cameron for an apology, insisting instead that he returns lush loot stolen from Nigeria and kept in British vaults. OLUWAGBEMIRO JOEL went on the streets of Lagos and the comments are startling as respondents say Nigerians are truly corrupt. Excerpts: “We are corrupt but it is not something for a foreign leader to say. Yes, it is the reality, everybody in Nigeria is corrupt, agreed; we know the problems but David Cameron shouldn’t be saying that, Britain is our former Colonial Master, why should he be saying such things about us. Everybody in Nigeria knows that every Nigerian is corrupt; our money stolen by our politicians is taken abroad. Let’s not deceive ourselves, what he says is right. But he shouldn’t be the one to say it in this kind of situation when someone is trying to fix things up that such comments should come up. What he needs to do is to help Nigeria out of situation we are. They ruled us before, so they know our problems. Most of our money stolen were taken to their country, he should help us to recover them. United State Banks make profits from these stolen money, they should recover them back for us” - Tunde, Operating Manager in auditing. “Nigeria is corrupt, that is the truth; nobody can shy away from it but the only thing is that government needs to use discretion about it. They must try to recover the funds. Litigation, cannot help, once it is traced and people voluntarily return the money, collect
the money and forget about pursuing the case by hiring lawyers, at the end, nothing will happen. So, government is doing a very good job, no doubt about it”. - Lofobu Thomas, Management Consultant and Lecturer. “Yes, if you ask my opinion, nobody makes such statement without some evidence. If we really want to be sincere to ourselves, we do these things that bring statements like this to us. For example, all the exposures since this government came in, sorry to say, clearly justified what they say. I live in the West, so, I can easily identify with what the Prime Minister said. The only thing is that he may have been very undiplomatic; making such statements so openly like that can be embarrassing. The Prime Minister wasn’t diplomatic in saying it, but in all honesty, he is saying the truth”. Maizy Stanley Onokua, a Consultant. To me, it is rather unfortunate because the Prime Minister said what the situation is in Nigeria. Because not every Nigerian is corrupt but the way our leaders are treating us is embarrassing. To say the list, if the Prime Minister of United Kingdom could voice out and say to the Queen that Nigeria is fantastically corrupt, I
11 Politics
Nigerians truly corrupt - Lagosians
Cameron
don’t think it is wrong but in the face of anti corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari, this is not helping the matter in his fight against corruption. We expect him to assist the present administration in the fight against corruption but not to say that fantastically corrupt leaders are coming to United Kingdom; it is very embarrassing even to the President of Nigeria. But the reac-
tion of Mr. President is welcome to all Nigerians and I whole heartedly support Mr. President and want him to sit at the meeting and rebute that statement because it is unwarranted”. - Oluwasanmi Olamide, a Business man. “Actually, I disagree with them because Nigeria is a good place to live. My question to David Cameron is this, the money that he said they are stealing, where is it, is
not in their country? Is it not there that they are buying expensive mansions and houses? So, why do you sell the houses to them? We are not corrupt, they are the one that is corrupt. Because when our officials looted our money, it wasn’t brought to into our economy. When they are now done with us, they now label us as a corrupt nation, it wasn’t done that way. We are not, with new government in town, we believe it will reduce to a barest minimum. Even in Uk, they are corrupt, their politicians, judges are corrupt, they have people that are corrupt, corruption is everywhere, just that we have to try and let the world know we are trying. Our new government is fighting corruption with everything it has”. - Afolabi Jefutu, an Engineer. “Are they not corrupt? They are corrupt themselves, it is just that the extent of corruption in Nigeria is quite obvious than the other countries. It is not their fault; it is our leaders that take money from here to their country, so, what do you expect them to say”. - Mrs. Odelana Funke, a Caterer. “In actual fact, I must say that Nigerians are really corrupt, everybody is thinking about himself, everyone wants to get a quick hold on something and it has robbed us of the good of Nigeria”. - Olumide Oluwabiyi, Consultant.
How Buhari can fight herdsmen attacks, move Nigeria forward — Ofeimun, Bolanle Awe, others
Ofeimun CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
ite of all the articles he had ever written, his thoughts, beliefs and poetry, which he said seeks
to look at the thoughts of Awolowo after he (Ofeimun) stopped being his Private Secretary. He called for a holistic tack-
ling of the Fulani herdsmen attacks issue by President Muhammadu Buhari, stating that if not well tackled, it was capable of destroying the country. “If we don’t deal with the issue of herdsmen, there may be no Nigeria tomorrow. Almost all Nigerian groups are brought up not to take Nigeria seriously; they fight against themselves and the future of their children by feigning to be fighting for the interest of their people… The Fulani must be made to move to where they have cultural empathy – dairy industries, corn-beef industries. Government must build a global industry around their cattle-rearing,” he said. Ofeimun lamented that Nigerian leaders are what he called “hunter-gatherers” who move into a virgin environment which they graze to zero until it becomes a desert and then move
to the next land, failing to plan for tomorrow in the process. “In the Niger Delta for instance, an average of 260 makeshift refineries, built by those stealing crude oil, are destroyed every year and these people end up rebuilding the ‘refineries’ in three days. If an individual can build a ‘refinery’ in three days, why not a nation? This is prevented by corporations and individuals who determine that scarcity continues. If we were in a war situation and the enemies destroy our refineries, would we surrender or ensure that we move on? It should take not more than ten days to build a refinery. Even in Biafra, shortchanged by their leaders and Nigeria, they made makeshift refineries,” he said. Renowned educationist, Professor Bolanle Awe, lauded what
she called “extremely provocative” issues dealt with in the book, especially the issue of indigene/settlers, and education of children of tomorrow, concluding that the removal of history from the curriculum of schools was capable of making Nigerians not to take their country seriously. “We should learn about our culture, tradition and be proud of them… If we do not know history, how can you get far in life? America won’t give you a degree unless you learn American history,” she said. Others present at the occasion were former Dean of Postgraduate School, University of Ibadan, Professor Olabode Lucas, Professor Remi Raji, Professor Bimpe Aboyade, Professor Ayo Olaleye, Mr. Kolade Mosuro, Dr. Doyin Ajuwon, among others.
News 12
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Gunmen blow up Agip pipeline in Bayelsa ÎÎÎGunmen,
suspected to be militants, in the early hours of Sunday, around 12:30 a.m. (2330 GMT Saturday) blew up a section of the Tebidaba-Brass pipelines along the AzuzuamaIkienghenbiri creek in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State belonging to oil giant, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC). The pipeline vandalism was said to have been spearheaded by some armed youths within the community. However, community sources alleged that a su-
premacy war between rival pipeline contractors over surveillance contract led to the attack on the pipeline. It was learnt that operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps who stormed the community shortly after the incident arrested one of the suspects. The state Commandant, NSCDC, Mr. Desmond Agu, confirmed the attack on the Agip pipeline. He said one of the militants, identified simply as Peregbakumo, was arrested through the assistance of the community leaders. Agu said he summoned
an emergency meeting of senior officers of the command and gave them a marching order to secure all pipelines, oil installations and other critical national assets in the state. He identified the facility attacked by the militants as a pipeline along Azuzuama area of the Tebidaba-Brass trunkline. The NSCDC Commandant said the pipeline was attacked with dynamite at about 12.30am, adding that the community was cooperating with his operatives to apprehend the other fleeing suspects.
He said after the attack, the armed youths laid ambush in the community and shot a civilian member of the Oil and Gas Task Force in the leg. Agu, however, said the youth took off on sighting the gunboat of NSCDC, adding that his operatives later arrested Peregbakumo with the help of community people. Agu said: “At about 0300hrs, a gang of armed youths allegedly led by one Suoyou, Iyelawei and Fyneboy, all of Ikienghenbiri community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area,
vandalised pipeline along Azuzuama area of the Tebidaba-Brass pipeline with dynamites and ignited fire on the line. “Through community help, we were able to arrest one of the suspects and to identify some of the fleeing suspects. It would be recalled that suspected Niger Delta militants last Tuesday night also blew up the SagbamaTuomo gas line, belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC). at Egbembiri, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
A security source, who confirmed the blowing up of the Sagbama-Tuomo gas line, said: “Egbembiri is a border town between Bayelsa and Delta states. They destroyed the Ayama section of the Ogboinbiri-Tuomo gas pipeline with dynamites at about 9.00 pm on Tuesday. That line was earlier repaired, last week and again vandalised.” We, however, suspect that dispute over the surveillance contract led to the attack.” The Agip pipeline links major oil facilities in Delta and Bayelsa States,” he added.
Why TUC shunned strike – President ÎÎÎMr Bobboi Kaigama, the
L-R: Media Consultant, Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB), Fabunmi Akinola Riliwan; Nollywood Actress, Sola Sobowale; Chairman, FNSB, Asiwaju Fola Osibo; Vice Chairman, FNSB, Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo; Project Coordinator for the May Ball event FNSB; Adeola Obagun and ex-Student FNSB; Rasaq Adekoya during a media chat in Lagos to announce the forthcoming FNSB Masked May Ball at Muson Centre, Lagos… at the weekend.
NLC suspends strike, vows to resist ‘bad policies’ Continued from page 6 ment’s negative response. Nonetheless, it felt fulfilled by having the presence of mind and courage to identify its mission and fulfilling it, stressing that if a similar situation arises again, it will still rise and stand with the people. NEC, therefore, commended those who took part in the action in one way or the other and reaffirm its commitment to the struggle. The action, it reiterated was taken in the best interest of the poor and the weak and in drawing government’s attention to the dangers of relying on the importation of petroleum
products as a sustainable strategy for making available petroleum products. It expressed the belief that in the days ahead, time would prove its position right. Congress singled out for commendation, its state councils, affiliates and other patriotic Nigerians who at very short notice picked up the gauntlet for this struggle. Congress commends the leadership of the National Assembly and All Progressives Congress led by Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu. In consideration of the above, NEC after due consultation with its constituents resolved to suspend with immediate effect, the
action it commenced on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. The action is thus at this moment is suspended. Congress will resume negotiations with the government on the twin issues of the hike in electricity tariff and an increase in the pump price of petroleum products and any other issue that may arise thereof. It similarly remains committed to genuine dialogue within the framework of internationally established and recognized principles of representation. The Congress will continue to resist wrong legislations, policies, and programmes and will always
act in the best interest of Nigerians as it remains the only pan-Nigerian organisation not affected by religion, region, creed, partisanship or primordial sentiments. The Congress urges the government to play by the rules of its engagement with its constituent parts, stakeholders, and non-state actors as proof of its commitment to deepening our democracy and also in acknowledgment of the wellworn credo that what goes around, comes around. The Congress also urges the citizenry to be vigilant at all times as the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
President of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), on Sunday said the union shunned the ongoing strike by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the best interest of Nigerians. Kaigama said this in Jalingo in an interview with newsmen. He said that the country’s economy would have collapsed if the union had insisted on the old pump price regime of N86.50 or joined NLC to embark on the strike. According to him, the old price regime became practically unsustainable given the facts and figures presented to the union by the Federal Government`s team during negotiations. ``Our economy is heavily dependent on crude oil sales and in the figures presented to us NNPC made N550 billions on sales of crude and only N50 billions was remitted to the Federation Account. ``The chunk of N500 billions was used to import refined petroleum products. ``That was the reason why the three tiers of government in the last federation account meeting shared what was considered to be the least to be shared in the last 16 years. ``If we had insisted on the N86.50, our members would not receive salaries in the next two months. ``So, when we saw this position. Instead of remain-
ing dogmatic, we opted for negotiation on how to move forward to avoid the collapse of the economy, `` he said. Kaigama said that the union signed an agreement with the Federal Government to address the issues of minimum wage and palliatives for Nigerians to cushion the effects of the increase. ``We also signed an agreement for the reconstitution of the board of Petroleum Products, Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to include members of organised labour so that we can monitor the template for the distribution of petroleum products from depots to the retail outlet. ``Part of that agreement was that all refineries must be brought to life and enabling environment provided for modular refineries to operate around the existing refineries. ``These modular refineries, we belief would go a long way to help in the supply of our local consumption need, `` he said. He advised state governors to look inward on ways to grow their Internally Generated Revenue to enable them to meet the development needs of the people. Kaigama said that the union would monitor closely the disbursement of bailout funds and would report any state that diverted the bailout funds to the EFCC and ICPC for necessary action.
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
13
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News 14
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
We inherited backlog of debts, says DESOPADEC boss Gov. Ganduje
Police parade would-be suicide bomber in Kano Yakubu Salisu Kano
ÏÏÏKano
State Police Command has paraded one Khadija Ibrahim, a native of Maiduguri, who was brought into the state to carry out a suicide mission in one of the state’s major and busiest market, the Kantin Kwari Market. Parading the suspect before the governor of Kano State on Sunday evening, the State Police Commissioner, Abbati Maigari Dikko, stated that Khadija Ibrahim, a mother of three from Maiduguri was on her way to the hospital when some people stopped her claiming to lift her to the hospital, but that she immediately lost her consciousness until when she heard that the car had developed a problem, then suddenly she heard one of her kidnappers saying have you injected her? After careful observation she then realised that she was in Kano.
Nosa Ogiugo Asaba
ÏÏÏThe
Managing Director, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Olorogun Williams Makinde, has said that the commission inherited a huge debt backlog with some commitments on assumption of office. For this reason, he said, “during our first board meeting, we decided that we were not going to run a board that abandons projects; rather, we are going to restructure our priorities so that we can meet the expectations of the people.” Makinde, who in an exclusive interview with our
correspondent noted that the commission concluded that in order to meet the expectations of the people, 60 per cent of their financial resources would be committed to old projects, while 40 percent would account for new projects. He said, “again, we also set aside a portion of our resources for human capital development since we cannot build many bridges, we can, at least, build human bridges, which is why we had to re-arrange our priorities”. He added that, “to ensure that we don’t abandon the whole project, we are investing most of our resources into old projects. Since we came into office we have been servicing those old debts, and I think we are doing
well in that regard.” When asked how the commission was keying into the SMART agenda policy of the state government, Makinde said, “we have made substantial provisions for youth development in agriculture. We are doing this through our “Youth Back to Agriculture Programme” which is part of the SMART agenda programme.” The DESOPADEC boss enjoined all Deltans and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful to key into the SMART agenda programme of the Okowa ledadministration, stating that, “the SMART agenda no longer belong to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa alone, but all PDP faithful, as well as Deltans as a major campaign in the state.”
Senators’ Wives Forum mourns Mrs. Alasoadura
ÏÏÏWives
Police begin aerial surveillance of Enugu ÏÏÏTo boost security in Enugu
State, the police on Sunday, began aerial surveillance of the entire state. The spokesman of the police in the state, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that the helicopters were on an aerial monitoring exercise of the three senatorial zones. ``As part of measures to ensure that the entire state is safe and secure, the state command, through the Air-Wing of the Nigeria Police Force, has begun an aerial surveillance of the three senatorial zones. ``This exercise will offer the platform to fish out would-be mischief makers and for officers to have proper sight of all the nooks and crannies of the state for effective crime prevention and control,’’ he said. Amaraizu, a Superintendent of Police, noted that the Enugu Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, had earlier advised members of the public not to panic on sighting the helicopters. ``It is the gesture of the Inspector-General of Police and government to ensure that the entire area is made safe.”
Continuing, Makinde said, “we are also going to use our skill acquisition and empowerment programme to key into the SMART agenda. Curently, we have almost re-vitalized the skill acquisition centre in Afiesere which was abandoned. We are revitalizing the one in Ndokwa North, we are also reviving a lot of farm settlements that was abandoned. We have taken one in Isoko, Ijaw and Itsekiri. We are taking one each from the various ethnic nationalities.” He said the commission embarked on these projects with a view to contributing its own quota to the development of the state as well as use the opportunity to, “drive our own SMART agenda.”
L-R: Director, Arts and Culture, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism and Culture (TC), Mrs. Saida Otulana; Guest Lecturer, Prof. Tunde Babawale; Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Adewale Ashimi and Mrs. Jumoke Adeyemi at the World Culture Day in Lagos… at the weekend.
of Senators of the 8th Senate have expressed shock and deep sadness over the death of Mrs. Adetayo Alasoadura wife of the Senator representing Ondo Central, Senator Tayo Alasoadura. President of the Forum and Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, in a statement on behalf of the association, described the late Mrs. Alasoadura as a “devout prayer partner who enriched our Senators’ Wives Forum with constant positive contributions of friendship and sisterhood.” Mrs. Saraki prayed the Almighty to receive the soul of the deceased in heaven, and comfort her loved ones, her husband and children.
Nigeria’s 55 years independence a disappointment – Asiodu Nosa Ogiugo Asaba
ÏÏÏForemost
economist and one time Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Phillip Asiodu, last weekend, lamented the poor state of the economic in Nigeria, saying that Nigeria’s history of over 55 years of independence has been very disappointing. Chief Asiodu, who delivered a key note address at the 2nd Chief Dennis Osadebey Memorial lecture, held in Asaba last weekend, said that Nigeria may
not recover from its economic failed processes if the leaders are not willing to harness sincere purposes in the based economic processes. The lecture, organised by ASDEV ’81 Club Asaba, witnessed personalities from all walks of life including Professor Pat Utomi, who was also a guest speaker. Chief Asiodu said “Nigeria is passing through very challenging times as regard public welfare, security, political stability and the quality of governance”, adding that the general uneasi-
ness amongst all citizens have been far from happy as they are not sure what the immediate and the mid-team future will be for their children and grand-children as regards things which determined the standard of living. While lamenting the present poor quality of life of the citizen, Chief Asiodu decried scarcity of food commodity, insecurity, shortage of water, shelter, education, health, economic development that have been absent in the past 22 years of democracy. Said he: “People expect economic development, growth and
the availability of well remunerated employment and adequate infrastructure of power, transportation and communication from the government irrespective of the form of government or its ideological orientation”. Also speaking, Professor Pat Utomi in his lecture titled “Institution and Governance” blamed Nigerians for thinking of the present and forgetting the past, saying that what is presently responsible to the poor stage of economic of Nigeria is the absence of the role of institutions.
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
15 Opinion
Nigeria Fulani and herdsmen of mayhem
H Ifeanyi Izeze
ow can we live peaceably together as a people by continuously telling ourselves lies? It has now become our lifestyle toalways rationalise obvious aberrations and for how long can we afford as apeople to continue like that? It is mind-boggling and at worse embarrassing the increasing sophistication and clinical coordination of the group of mindless attackers we still call Fulani herdsmen that have meted chained terror to our people in different parts of the country. To think that what is happening in the north central and now virtually every other parts of the country as a mere conflict for grazing rights would only amount to naivety at best. It is without doubt an evil wind that is blowing no section of the country any good. The question is: why is it that these so called “Fulani herdsmen” always take our security operatives unawares? They always finish their dastardly acts before arrival of counter-terrorism security forces. Haba! And instead of sitting together to marshal out a coordinated approach to address this challenge, managers of our security apparatuses give us the impression that some of
them may be privy to these conspiracies. How do you explain the recent incident in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue state, where Fulani herdsmen, backed by mercenary fighters invaded several communities killing more than 500natives? Surprisingly, since the revelation that what we have been calling our cattle rearers was actually mercenaries well-trained in the act of causing mayhem, the government has not instituted any serious mechanism to unravel the identity of these contract fighters. Who are these mercenaries- are they Nigerians or foreigners? Where do they come from and who contracts them to go kill and destroy in different parts of the country? Who arms them and how come they freely move around with ease with their sophisticated machine guns without being intercepted? Where is our intelligence community- the SSS and NIA and even the Police CID unit? We may need to ask: Is there anything in this Fulani herdsmen misdemeanuor that other non-Fulani Nigerians do not know? Curiously, the federal government has been nonchalant towards devising appropriate and workable
strategies to end these incessant deadly clashes in various parts of the country. As canvassed by an analyst, “All in all, the murderous invasion of communities by herdsmen, like it happened in Agatu and parts of Enugu and Ebonyi states, is mainly a security issue. Those in charge of security in areas where these things happen should be held to account for the lapses. The Nigerian government must be alive to its primary responsibility of protecting the citizens”. Several suggestions have been made for the banning of the current conflict-prone system of moving animals from place to place in search of food and water, and its replacement with the establishment of ranches. It would be recalled that President Buhari told a delegation from theCentre for Humanitarian Dialogue in January that “a plan to map out grazing areas would soon be presented to the Nigerian Governors Forum as a temporary solution, until cattle owners are persuaded to adopt other means of rearing their cattle.” Senator Shehu Sani in his “Road map to putting an end to Fulani herdsmen violence in Nigeria,” had suggested the need to immediately set up seven grazing reserves in Niger,
Nasarawa, Kogi, Adamawa, Bauchi, Kaduna and Sokoto states . There is no doubt that the current pastoral system urgently needs changingif Nigeria is to overcome the frequent clashes between herdsmen and indigenous populations, which have laid waste to many communities. As suggested, the grazing reserves should be jointly managed by theFederal Ministry of Agriculture, National Livestock Association, universities of agriculture and the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association. Above all Senator Sani’s suggestions, my attention was attracted to what he described as the need to document, register and issue identification cards to herdsmen. He suggested the federal government, through federal and state ministries of agriculture and the Cattle Breeders Association, should embark on this on a national level as this will stem the activities of violent criminals who masquerade as herdsmen to unleash violence against innocent and vulnerable communities. This is what the government would not want to hear but it’s the absolutetruth: violent criminals and terrorists -on -the -run are masquerading as herdsmen to unleash mayhem on innocent and vulnerable communities.
Bringing back “Made in Nigeria”
T
Olu W. Onemola
here has been a lot of talk in recent times about promoting ‘Made in Nigeria.’ From the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki’s recent visit to the ‘Made in Aba’ trade fair, to the hashtag to #BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira, it is clear that Nigerians are beginning to understand that it is only our concerted and collective internal efforts as a nation that can solve our economic worries. In the early 2000s, walking around the street rocking ‘Made in Aba’ goods was synonymous with saying that you shopped at ‘bend-downselect’ markets and roadside stations. Wearing leather sandals produced from the eastern part of Nigeria in those early years of the new millennium, was seen as an unfavourable status symbol for many – despite the hard work and expertise that had been put in to produce those goods from our local manufacturers. Retrospectively, quality-wise, the shoes, clothing, bags and other ‘Made in Nigeria’ goods back then, were nearly on par with their imported counterparts. However, the marker of acceptability in social circles in those days came from the fact that your ‘Nike’ products were truly made by ‘Nike, Inc.’, and your ‘Adidas’ was not labelled ‘Adadis.’
Somewhere along the line, things changed, and Nigerians began to look inwards. We began to understand that our extreme foreign consumption capacity would not fuel the domestic growth of our economy. We began to realise that Timi, Deji and Haruna, could design and produce goods that were just as good as Thomas, Dickens, and Harrisons’. We began to see that indigenous goods and homegrown services could be on par, or even better than those from abroad. Consequently, new small and medium scale enterprises sprung up allover the country to cater for our increased demand. From fashion to finance, from entertainment to edibles, ‘Made in Nigeria’ experienced a positive boom somewhere in the mid to late 2000s. However, with this positive upsurge in our collective social mindsets towards our local products, halfway into the second decade of this millennium, effective policy thrusts to encourage the local manufacturing sector have not been formulated and/ or implemented. Even Nigeria’s Public Procurement Act of 2007, which is aimed at advising and assisting “procurement staff to help them carry out their procurement responsibilities,” fails in some critical aspects to address pushing ‘Made in Nigeria’ products. Queue in Dr. Bukola Saraki, and
the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Over the past few weeks, against the backdrop of the President Buhari-led administration’s efforts to boost internally generated revenue (IGR), Dr. Saraki, and his colleagues have embarked on a systematic social and legislative charge to encourage local producers and manufacturers. While speaking at the ‘Made in Aba’ Trade Fair, Saraki mentioned that the Senate would be working on the review and amendment of the procurement act that would ensure that Made in Nigeria goods are patronized by the government. Some parameters of this amendment, Saraki explained, would include provisions that would ensure that government agencies would only resort to imported goods when there are no domestic alternatives. Since the last quarter of 2015, the Nigerian Naira has fallen by nearly 20 per cent against the US Dollar. Additionally, global oil prices have fallen by over 70%. What this means is that Nigeria, an oil-rich nation that is “dependent on oil and gas for 95 per cent of its export earnings, 35 per cent of its GDP and three-quarters of government revenue,” must see this ‘Made in Nigeria’ drive being championed by Saraki and a few of his colleagues like senators Abaribe and MurrayBruce at the National Assembly as one of its options to wiggle out from
the impending economic downturn caused by the decline in oil prices. To make these policies sustainable, a combined effort of both legislative and executive policies must work to ensure that domestic goods should be promoted through a flexible system of discounts, sales and other government-backed incentives. Furthermore, the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) must push for quality control of Nigerianmade goods to increase customer satisfaction. As the economic history of developing nations has taught us that exports-driven economies are not fiscally sustainable, on the technical side, the federal government through collaborative efforts spearheaded by the Ministry of Transport must intensify its efforts to create transport networks that connect consumers all across the country to locally manufactured products. The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics also has a role a major role to play in this campaign. Development cannot be imported. Neither can financial stability for Nigeria’s economy. Accordingly, as we tighten our collective pursestrings to achieve fiscal responsibility in these times, we must also alter our social perspectives and implement the government policies that will not only protect, but also amplify the calls for bringing back ‘Made in Nigeria’ goods and services.
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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Believe in the Naira We dream of a Nigeria where the Naira will be a popular international currency of transaction, but it will continue to remain a dream when YOU choose to rely on foreign over Nigerian. Demand for foreign exchange weakens the Naira and weakens the economy. That is why when you fly Arik Air to London Heathrow, New York JFK or Johannesburg, you demonstrate your belief and confidence in the Naira and in Nigerian. You are contributing to stimulating domestic growth and building a country we can all be proud of. #ArikAdvantage
Fly Arik Air. Demonstrate your faith in the Naira.
a r i k a i r. c o m West and Central Africa’s Leading Airline
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Features
s
THE NEW PUMP PRICE REGIME:
Government, Nigerians optimistic of rewarding benefits
L-R Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbaj_ and Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development.
Petrol pump
Chijioke Okoronkwo (NAN) Last week’s increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has continued to generate reactions from Nigerians from all walks of life. The Federal Government on Monday, May 9, announced the increase of the pump price of PMS (petrol) from N86.50 to a maximum of N145 per litre. The government said that the new fuel price regime was designed to tackle the hardship facing many Nigerians in efforts to procure petrol, while creating additional 200,000 jobs in the country. It argued that contrary to insinuations that the new pump price of petrol was an imposition on Nigerians; relevant stakeholders were carried along in the deliberation prior to the price increase.
A document obtained from the Ministry of Petroleum indicates that the leadership of the Senate, House of Representatives, Governors Forum, NLC, TUC, NUPENG and PENGASSAN participated in the meeting. It said that the meeting noted that the main reason behind the inability of importers of petroleum products to obtain foreign exchange at the official rate was due to the massive decline in the foreign exchange earnings of the Federal Government. It said that against the foregoing, private marketers have been unable to meet their obligation of supplying 50 per cent of the total national PMS requirements. The document said that the stakeholders agreed that in order to increase and stabilise the supply of petrol, any Nigerian entity was free to import the fuel, subject to existing quality specifications
The new fuel price regime should not be misconstrued as the removal of subsidy since there was no provision for subsidy in the 2016 Budget in the first instance. A subsidy claim of N13.7 per one litre of petrol was often paid to marketers under the N86.50 per litre price regime, and this amounted to the payment of N16.4 billion as subsidy every month. However, there is neither funding nor appropriation to cover this in this year’s budget — Lai Muhammed and regulatory guidelines. Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum, has been highlighting the short and long term benefits of the new PMS pricing policy. He said that 200,000 jobs would be created via the envisaged new investments in refineries and retailing of petroleum products. Kachikwu said that the new pricing template would also prevent the potential loss of nearly 400,000 jobs in existing investments in the sector. “The new template will also
ensure the total elimination of hoarding, smuggling and diversion of the product, while also stabilising price at the actual product price. The new petrol price would enable marketers to source their foreign exchange outside the framework of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and ensure adequate product supply in all locations across the country. ``The new price regime will permanently eliminate subsidy payments and ensure the availability of funds for the full payment of allocations to the three tiers of gov-
ernment every month by Federal Accounts Allocation Committee. ``It will also provide additional funds for other palliatives and help in stabilising the economy by creating access to development loans,’’ Kachikwu said, assuring that the palliatives are also captured in the 2016 budget. Beyond that, the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, offered further explanations on the rationale behind the fuel price increase. He stressed that Nigeria’s local consumption of fuel was almost entirely imported. He said that the NNPC exchanged crude from its joint venture share to provide about 50 per cent of local fuel consumption, while the remaining 50 per cent was imported by major and independent oil marketers. ``These marketers, up until three months ago, sourced their foreign exchange from the CBN at the official rate. ``However, since late last year, independent marketers have brought in little or no fuel because they have been unable to get foreign exchange from the CBN. ``The CBN simply did not have enough foreign exchange in April, as oil earnings dipped to 550 million dollars and the amount reCONTINUED ON PAGE 20
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
19 Features
One dead, five trapped as six containers fall on homes in Lagos
Scene of the tragedy
Oguntade Ismaila Tragedy struck at Iganmu Railway Line in Badia East of Apapa, Iganmu Local Council Development Area of Lagos state on Monday as six containers fell on some residential structures about 6.30 in the morning, killing one person instantly with six others sustaining serious injuries. The Daily Times gathered that the early morning windy down pour blew the containers belonging to Sifax Container Terminal Limited on make-shift structures which serve as abode to hundreds of people, including evictees from Ajeromi village.
The containers which height rose up to 100 feet high, were reported to have fallen on top of the shanty structures erected behind the fence of Sifax Container Terminal Company, where the containers were arranged. About five persons were still trapped under the containers at of the time of filling this report. Following the incident, a manager of Sifax Container Terminal Limited, owner of the containers has been arrested by policemen from Apapa Division of Railway Police Command. One of the lucky victims, Babatunde Aiyetomowo whose escape was described as a miracle, told our correspondent that he was in the same building with the deceased persons, adding he
was saved by the grace of God. The 36-year-old who runs a chemist shop and hails from Ikale in Ondo state, with several deep cuts all over his body, said it was the alarm raised by neighbours that woke him from sleep and he subsequently escaped. “I didn’t know how I came out; it was only God that saved me,” he said. An eye witness, Samson Enigbokan recalled that some staff of the company were working with cranes and without light at the time the containers toppled over.” The company’s image maker, Mr. Muyiwa Akande disclosed that it is only empty containers that are stacked in the premises, just as he confirmed that the area had no light.
The company’s lawyer who declined to mention his name however said the containers must have fallen as a result of the early morning windy rain adding that the company would do all the needful and compensate the victims. “It is not true that the workers were working at the time, there was no light in the area and they cannot be working at that time. We only stack empty containers here and they might have toppled over as a result of the wind and rain. We do follow normal standard procedure being a responsible company. We are going to do the needful and settle their bills,” the lawyer said. Commenting on the incident, the Executive Secretary of Iganmu Local Council Development
Area, Hon. Funmilayo Mohammed who sympathised with the victims, however said the residents have to vacate the area for their safety. She also called on the company to reduce the height of the containers to avert future occurrence or face the wrath of government. The General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Hon. James Akindele who led operatives of the agency to the scene, were seen removing the corpse of the deceased at the time of the report. One of the cranes of the company was also used to remove the containers back to its premises, while policemen from both Badia Division and Railway Police were also at the scene of the tragedy.
Features 20
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Nigeria’s local consumption of fuel was almost entirely imported — VP Osinbajo The government’s subsidy on fuel prices has since long lost its purpose as its effect on the public had virtually been nonexistent because most Nigerians were not getting the product at the subsidised rate. Here in Lokoja, for instance, we have been buying petrol at prices between N160 and N200 per litre in spite of the subsidy by government — Engr Peter Amao
Kachikwu CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
quired for fuel importation alone is about 225 million dollars. ``Meanwhile, NNPC tried to cover the 50 per cent shortfall by dedicating more export crude for domestic consumption. ``Besides the short-term depletion of the Federation Account, where the Federal Government and states receive funding, and further cash-call debts pilling up; NNPC also lacked the capacity to handle 100 per cent local fuel consumption around the country. ``The corporation is responsible for roughly 50 per cent of fuel sup-
ply; which partly explains the reason for the lingering scarcity,’’ he said. In a positive development, activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have recorded an appreciable growth, appreciating by 2.23 per cent, following the renewed confidence of investors in oil and gas stocks, occasioned by the fuel price increase. Statistics from NSE indicates that the Nigerian equity market rose to its highest level; a level that was last seen in January 2016. The market capitalisation rose by N198 billion or 2.23 per cent to
close at N9.098 trillion, compared with N8.900 trillion in the previous month. Malam Garba Kurfi, the Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Ltd., attributed the growth to the partial deregulation of the downstream sector, which informed the recent hike in the price of petrol by the government. Kurfi said that investors believed that with the upward review of the pump price of petrol, fuel retailers would be able to improve margins and boost profits. He added that the nation’s equity market received a significant boost with the news of the presidential assent to the 2016 budget. Citizens from all walks of life have been expressing similar viewpoints on the recent increase in the pump price of petrol. Alhaji Abdulsalam Abdullahi, the Imam of Lokogonma Juma’at Mosque in Lokoja, urged all Nigerians to support the Federal Government’s decision to review the price of PMS. He, however, solicited the total removal of the subsidy on petroleum products, saying that it would bring about the end of the incessant fuel scarcity which had been plaguing the nation for the past five months. ``This is the best time to make sacrifices in efforts to curb corruption in the nation’s oil and gas sector,’’ he said. The cleric, however, urged the government to make pragmatic efforts to promote the socio-economic wellbeing of the citizens. ``The government at the centre must place priority on the welfare and wellbeing of all its citizens. ``Things must be put in their rightful places, everyone must be given equal treatment without any room for undue sentiments,’’ he said.
Buhari
A chemical engineer, Mr Peter Amao, applauded the decision to review the price of petrol, insisting the government’s subsidy on fuel prices had since long lost its purpose as its effect on the public had virtually been non-existent become most Nigerians were not getting the product at the subsidised rate. ``Here in Lokoja, for instance, we had been buying petrol at prices between N160 and N200 per litre, in spite of the subsidy by government,’’ he said. Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Tony Obi, a policy analyst, argued that it was absurd for the government to continue to spend millions of naira on fuel subsidy while a lot of things were glaringly begging for attention in the country. He said that the current economic downturn, the incessant cases of oil pipeline vandalism and the appreciable decline in national revenues had somewhat made it expedient for the government to review the fuel price. He said that the government would now be able to channel the funds, hitherto used for the payment of fuel subsidy, into other productive sectors. Obi, however, underscored the need to introduce realistic measures that would cushion the impact of the fuel price increase on the citizens, particularly on civil servants. ``All those threatening protests
should sheath their swords and put reasoning first before sentiments. ``They should try to understand the short-term and long-term effects of the new fuel pricing mechanism before reacting,’’ he said. Supporting such calls, Stand Up Nigeria (SUN), a civil society organisation, said that the new fuel pricing policy was in order and advised anyone against engaging in protests that were based on selfish or parochial interests. The National Coordinator of SUN, Mr Philip Agbese, said that the government’s decision had demonstrated its zeal to alleviate the suffering of the citizens who often wasted several man-hours in queuing for fuel at filling stations Similarly, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have expressed their support for the Federal Government with regard to the new price of petrol. In a joint briefing in Calabar, NUPENG Chairman, Igwe Achese and PENGASSAN Chairman, Francis Johnson, applauded the Federal Government for the action. They said that the unions had long agitated for deregulation of the downstream sector, adding that recent measure would grow the nation’s economy and create a lot of job opportunities.
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
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THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF LOSS OF ALLOCATION PAPERS AND THE C OF O OF A LANDED PROPERTY IN RESPECT OF PLOT NO. 27032 LOCATED AT NIPDC ESTATE, OFF ABACHA ROAD MARARABA NASARAWA STATE Belonging To MA’ARUF I. BADAMASI . All Efforts Made To Trace The Said Documents Proved Abortive. If Found Please Contact 08036177561 Or Return ToThe Nearest Police Station. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND General Public Should Take Note.
VICTORY LAND POWER PRAYER ARMY OF GOD MINISTRY THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ORISUNMIBARE OLALEKAN DAVID 2. OLALEKAN OPEOLUWA RACHAEL 3. ADELEYE MOTUNRAYO JOY 4. AKINYEMI ESTHER F. 5. PETERS PAUL JOHN THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PROMOTE EVANGELISM IN ALL THE NATIONS AND PRODUCE GOSPEL MEDIA. 2. TO PROMOTE AND ORGANISE SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCE. 3. TO PROMOTE AND PROVIDE BIBLE COLLEGE FOR TRAINING OF MINISTERS AND PRODUCE CHRISTIAN JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE. 4. TO CATER FOR LESS- PRIVILEGE AND PROVIDE FOR SOCIAL WELFARE OF THE AND EMPOWER YOUTHS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: Quality Brain Management Consultancy Services 08099628652, 08023509489
GOD’S WORD SPIRITUAL REVIVAL INITIATIVE THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. LEO CHILAKA CHUKWUDI 2.CHUKWU ISAAC UMEBUCHE 3.CORDELIA AGOMUO THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.TO TRAIN CHILDREN AND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO LEARN TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE SPIRITUAL, ACADEMIC, INTELLECTUAL, TECHNOLOGICAL AND OTHER CHALLENGES OF MODERN SOCIETIES. 2.TO REACH OUT TO AND ASSIST THE POOR, NEEDY, ORPHANS, DESTITUTES, WIDOW , ABANDONED CHILDREN AND ALLIED PEOPLE IN ONE NEED OR THE OTHER. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : LEO CHILAKA CHUKWUDI
NAOMI AJAYI-ADENIRAN FOUNDATION.
ENDTIME FLAME REVIVAL GOSPEL CHURCH
THE CLUB OF GOD’S GENERALS
The general public is hereby notified that the above mention foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above mention Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
The general public is hereby notified that the above mention club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
TRUSTEES NAME 1. NAOMI AJAYI-ADENIRAN. 2. DANIEL AJAYI-ADENIRAN.
TRUSTEES. 1. Pastor. Ezra Gimba 2. Mr. Agu Daniel 3. Mrs. Salasi Emmanuel Ezra 4. Mrs. Christiana Kure
Trustees 1. Pastor Osaghae Johnson 2. Pastor Mrs Osaghae Osariebhen Elizabeth
AIMS and objectives 1. TO PROVIDE HELP FOR INDIGENT WOMEN AND CHILDREN. 2. TO FIGHT EVERY FORM OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
AIM AND OBJECTIVE (1) To propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people of all nations.
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to The Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.
Signed : Secretary
SIGNED ONUH DANIEL , ESQ
MIDNIGHT PRAYER CHRISTIAN NETWORK INT’L THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES 1. JOHNSON OSASENAGA OHENHEN 2. FORTUNE AIGBE 3. LUCY OSARUGUE ADU. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES - TO STRENGTHEN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHURCH THROUGH PRAYER. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY
CIVIL AWARENESS AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR CHANGE OF TRUSTEES AND AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 OLD TRUSTEES: 1. HON. (DR) GAMBO BALA IGGI -RETAINED 2. MR. CORNELIUS AGENYI ENEJO -RETAINED 3. BARR. FELIX NWOKOCHA -REMOVED 4. ALHAJI MUHAMMAD HABIB ALIYU -REMOVED NEW TRUSTEES ALL APPOINTED 1. ALHAJI GARBA IBRAHIM GUSAU, MNI, MFR -CHAIRMAN 2. JIBRIN BUKAR -SECRETARY 3. ENGR. BIODUN OKUNUGA 4. ALHAJI AMINU ISA 5. CHIEF/BARR. IGWE, ERNEST ALO 6. DR. YUSUF IBRAHIM 7. MR. INNOCENT LAHZ 8. COMRADE EL-NATAN BILA AUTA AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION TO REFLECT THE CHANGE IN TRUSTEES SIGNED: BARR. EJEATA ANNET IMENE O. 08053056007
TRANS-BORDER POVERTY ERADICATION INITIATIVE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1.HAJIYA HABIBA BAKARI - CHAIRMAN2.ENGR BAWURO YAHAYA 3.ALHAJI HASSIN JIKA ARD0 4. COMRADE M0HAMMED LABARAN – SECRETARY 5.H0N. ZAKARI ANULU D0BI 6. MRS AMINA AGALLAH ALIYU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To support youth advancement and empowerment for positive change in our society 2. To promote skill acquisition, education for socio-economic transformation in our society.
Aims: 1. GATHERING OF MINSTERS OF GOD 2.REMINDER OF THE MASTER DUTY 3.THINGS BOTHERING OUR CALLING AND LIVES AS A MINSTERS OF GOD ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Signed Emegha & Associates
THE GATE OF HEAVEN PLACE NETWORK The general public is hereby notified that the above mention foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. Trustees: 1. Pastor Osaghae Johnson 2. Pastor Mrs. Osaghae Osariebhen Elizabeth Aims: 1. Helping the less privilege in the society. 2. Building and establishing people in different areas of professions. 3. To help the needy and widows.
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.
SIGNED: SECRETARY
Signed Emegha & Associates
ISPEAK FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. BALOGU DANIEL IFEDAYO 2. HAKEEM ADEBOWALE OGUNLEYE 3. OLISAEBUKA ANENE MADUKA 4. OLOYEDE HUSSAIN TAYE 5. TEMILOLU FEMI ADAMOLEKUN AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PROMOTE ICT DRIVEN INITIATIVES AIMED AT EMPOWERING AND IMPROVING THE WELL BEING OF A VAST MAJORITY AT NIGERIAN CITIZENS. 2. TO ORGANISE TRAINING AND SEMINARS AIMED AT PROMOTING THE USE OF ICT TO DRIVE ECONOMIC POLICIES 3. TO OFFER ICT SUPPORT THAT PROMOTE SUCH INITIATIVES TO PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGE AND AMENDMENT SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: OLUMUYIWA TELUWO SOLICITOR
ROCK VIEW ESTATE LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES ARE: 1. KINGSLEY NNOROM - CHAIRMAN. 2. IFEANYI AJURU - VICE CHAIRMAN. 3. HENRY EZEKWUGO - SECRETARY. 4. OKECHUKWU ORUIGBO VICE SECRETARY. 5. RAYMOND NWANKWO - FIN SECRETARY. 6. ALOZIE ONYEKACHI BENJAMIN - TREASURER. 7. FESTUS OKEKE - PRO. AIM AND OBJECTIVES TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY
Public Notice 22
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
LABIMS TEENAGE PREGNANCY FOUNDATION.
ONDO BOYS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
LIVING TRANSFORMATION ASSEMBLY INT’L.
THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.
THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.
THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSEMBLY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.
TRUSTEES 1.MS. Adebimpe Olusola Omotola Adenowo. 2.MRS. Muibatu Wuraola Adenowo. Aims and objectives 1.To raise awareness on the issue of teenage pregnancy and prevention of same. 2.To educate the youth on the consequences of teenage pregnancy. 3.To assist less privileged teenagers with financial and other resources needed for educational pursuits. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYSOF THIS PUBLICATION. Signed:Kolapo Sogbetun Esq. Kolapo Sogbetun&Co.
ASHOKU COMMUNTIES YOUTH ORGANISATION FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT This is to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. THE TRUSTEE ARE: 1).Whesu Johnson Suuru-PRESIDENT. 2).Fadairo Oluwafemi Mehome-SECRETARY. 3).Hodonu Samson Oyedele-TREASURER. 4)Afolabi Semeton peter-Member. 5).Wusa Saturday Viwanu-member. 6).Ogunbiyi Mautin Abel-member. 7).Hunsu Joel Hontoyon-member. Aims And Objectives: 1. To Foster Peace and unity amoung Ashoku Youth. 2. To Encourage Youth To Embrace Their Cultural Values. 3. To Provide Welfare Services To Ashoku Communities Inhabitants..
TRUSTEES : 1. OLUYEMI OLAPADE LOFINMAKIN, UP 2. SIR STEPHER ADELAKUN AKINRULI 3. VERY REVD. DR. OKUNADE MODUPE 4. MR. OLUKAYODE AKINNAGBE 5. AMBASSADOR OMOTAYO OGUNSULIRE6. ENGR. BRYANT OLUFOLATIN OLUWOLE 7. JAMES ORIFE 8. OTUNBA SIR.OYIN ADEDEJI (MAJOR-RTD ) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To keep alive the interest of the old Boys of the school in the upliftment of the physical and academic rating of the ALMA MATER, ONDO BOYS HIGH SCHOOL. 2. To create a platform for harmonizing the efforts and activities of all the old Boys. 3. To facilitate the dissemination to Old Boys and other pertinent audiences of information on the general state of affairs at the School. 4. To support the school in every way possible. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYSOF THIS PUBLICATION. Signed : ESUME FELIX DUMEBI, ESQ (08033191667)
REASON FOR LIVING CHRISTIAN MINISTRY This is to inform the General Public that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) Pst. Olaniyan Olusesan Emmanuel (2) Ma Olaniyan Titilayo Deborah (3) Mr. Akinfenwa Kehinde (4) Mr. Gbadamosi Femi (5) Mr. Charles Eghosa THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS:TO PROMULGATE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed By Secretary,
SIGNED BY SECRETARY
ST PATRICK’S MISSIONARY SOCIETY
The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.
THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR CHANGE OF TRUSTEES UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTER ACT NO 1 OF 1990.
Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED BY MICHAEL OLUSEGUN SANNI
AL-USWAT WELFARE SOCIETY OF NIGERIA This is to inform the general public that the above named Society has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act. 1 of 1990 as amended in 2004. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. SHEIKH MUHAMMAD S. SIDDIQ - (CHIEF MISSIONER) 2. HADJ SYED OLAGOKE YUSSUF - (PRESIDENT) 3. NADHIR O. SIDDIQ - (SECRETARY) 4. USTADH NURUDEEN A. RASAQ - (TREASURER) 5. HADJ FATAI O. DUNMOYE - (PATRON) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : 1. To propagate the ideals of Islam. 2. To practice the doctrine of Holy Prophets of ALLAH and their (SUNA).
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYSOF THIS PUBLICATION.
ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL TRADITIONAL WEDDING ENGAGEMENT COORDINATORS OF NIGERIA. The General Public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. Mrs. Morenike Aduke Sewoniku 2. Chief Mrs. Olufunke Ogunsipe 3. Princess Comfort Oluyemisi Dina. 4. Mrs. Kemi Sarumi 5. Alhaja Nurat Atinuke Shittu 6. Mrs. Sabina Adunni Omisande 7. Mrs. Foluke Akinpelumi 8. Alhaja Awawu Ogundoyin THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS:1. To carry out the business of traditional wedding engagement ceremonies. 2. To provide counseling services for the bride and groom. 3. To create an avenue for cordial relationship Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED BY ; SECRETARY
DEYANJU CANCER CARE FOUNDATION
THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS:CREATION OF AWARENESS OF EARLY DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER AND SUPPORT FOR THE AFFECTED POOR PERSONS.
AIMS & OBJECTIVES. 1. To preach Christ for the Salvation of Mankind, Raise Effective Leaders with mind for Positive Church, teach and train disciple for the kingdom, and Promote peace, wellness and development among communities around the World
Signed :Secretary
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION. PLOT 420,TIGRIS CRESCENT,OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET,MAITAMA,ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.
THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) ADEYANJU DAMILOLA ADEFIMIHAN (2) ADEYANJU ADEDAYO ABOLAJI (3) MICHAEL OLUSEGUN SANNI
TRUSTEES: 1) Pst. Isaac Osaigbovo Omoregie, 2) Pst. Esther Eloghosa Omoregie, 3) Mr. Nelson Osayomore Ikuobase, 4) Mrs. Mary Uwuidia, 5) Mr. Ikponmwosa Michael Idahosa.
THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DERMOT CONNOLLY 2. THOMAS HAYDEN 3. JOHN BARRY 4. JOHN TROUT 5. PATRICK MOLONGHNEY
WAKATIIYANUMI CHARITY FOUNDATION. This is to inform the general public that the above named “FOUNDATION” has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1 of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. OLOBA ZACCHEAUS OLUYEMI. 2. OLOBA COMFORT ADENIKE. 3. APATA EMMANUEL AYOBAMIDELE. 4. EMMANUEL EJIOGU.
THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: 1. FR. KEVIN O’HARA 2. FR. EMMANUEL LIKOKO 3. FR. GABRIEL UKHUREBOR 4. FR. DAVID KIPRONO CHERUIYOT 5. FR. CLETUS UDOH
AIMS AND OBJECTIVE. 1.To develop and also empower the less privileged men, women, youths and children; together with the downtrodden in the society. 2. Promoting community development projects and encouraging volunteerism.
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGE SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.
Any Objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, PMB 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.
SIGNED FRANCIS ORBIH ESQ. FRANCIS ORBIH & ASSOCIATE 1, GBEMISOLA STREET, OFF ALLEN AVENUE, IKEJA, LAGOS.
Signed by; TRUSTEES.
PUBLIC NOTICE
PEOPLE IN NEED ORGANIZATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the corporate affairs commission, abuja for registration under part “c” of the companies and allied matters act no. 1 of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE. 1. BARR. EMMANUEL PHILIP ARCHIBONG - CHAIRMAN. 2. PROF. PETER ESSOH. 3. OTUEKONG SONNY JACKSON UDO. 4. MRS. GRACE USUYAK. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. 1. TO CARRY OUT CHARITY WORK IN NIGERIA AND BEYOND. 2. TO OFFER COUNSELLING AND TRAINING AIMED AT PEOPLE UPLIFTMENT. 3. TO GUIDE, ENCOURAGE AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO DEVELOP SMALL SCALE BUSINESS PROJECTS.
Any objection to the above registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.
ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.
SIGNED: SECRETARY
SIGNED: BARR. EMMANUEL PHILIP ARCHIBONG
ONYIKWERE
TOBECHUKWU
I formerly known and address ONYIKWERE IFUNANYA LOVE, now wish to be known and address as ADAWUOFOR IFUNANYA LUCY. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.
I formerly known and address TOBECHUKWU OKEKE CHUKWUEMEKA, now wish to be known and address as UCHEAGWU KENNETH CHUKWUEMEKA. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.
I formerly known and address OGBONNA CHINENYE CECILIA, now wish to be known and address as OGBONNA CHINENYE NNENNA. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.
I formerly known and address as ONYEABOR-ORJI CLETUS CHIDIEBERE, now wish to be known and address as ONYEABOR CLETUS CHIDIEBERE. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.
I formerly known and address as MISS. OKWOR ANGELA OBIANUJU now wish to be known and address as MRS. NNADI ANGELA OBIANUJU. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.
I formerly known and address OKIKE AZUBUIKE MAXWELL. now wish to be known and address as ORJI AZUBUIKE MAXWELL.All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.
EZEONUOHA
OGBONNA NWEKE
MRS UKENYE VIVIAN CHIDINMA
ORIYOMI SHERIFAT BOLATITO
OLAFUSI TOBI AYOMIDE
CORRECTION OF NAME
I, formerly known and addressed as, SAMPSON NWAMADI, now wish to be known as, OGBONNA NWEKE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.
I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS OKOCHA VIVIAN CHIBURUOMA CHIDINMA. NOW WISH TO KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS UKENYE VIVIAN CHIDINMA.All former documents remain valid.general public should take note
I formerly known and addressed as KOMOLAFE SHERIFAT BOLATITO now wish to be known and addressed as ORIYOMI SHERIFAT BOLATITO. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note
I, formerly known as Olafusi Tobi Temidayo. wish to be known and addressed as Olafusi Tobi Ayomide . that the corrected date of birth is 28/04/1987. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.
THAT MY NAME WASH WRONGLY WRITTEN AS OLUWASEGUN TOSIN OLUKOLA MY CORRECT NAME IS OLORUNTO OLUWATOSIN PAUL ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE
I formerly known and address EZEONUOHA CHIAMAKA FELICITAS, now wish to be known and address as OBIKA CHIAMAKA FELICITAS. All former documents remain valid. General Public to take note.
OGBONNA
ONYEABOR-ORJI
OKWOR
OKIKE
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
23 News
Two killed in Ebonyi, C’ River boundary dispute Jacob Ogodo, Abakaliki
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No fewer than two persons have been killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed in a boundary dispute between the people of Ochenyim village, Amagu community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and Adadama community, Abi Local Government Area in Cross River State.
Titus Akhigbe, Benin
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The victims, who were from Ochenyim village, are Okechukwu John Ogwa (28) and Mrs. Nweke Nwankwo. Policemen, who were on duty in the disputed land were reportedly attacked by armed men. The village head, Chief Peter Azuegu, said that Nwankwo had gone to harvest cassava in a farm near the disputed boundary when she was killed in an ambush. When contacted, the state
Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. George Okafor confirmed the incident. “The matter was reported to the police that one Nweke Nwankwo, who had left her house at about 9 a.m. to harvest cassava, did not come back and nobody could trace her whereabouts,” he said. He noted that immediately the matter was reported to the police, a team of policemen were mobilised to the disputed
2016 guber: Edo North PDP backs Ize-Iyamu bid
Ahead of the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State next month, more support have come the way of one of the aspirants, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, as a former member of the Senate, Mr. Yisa Braimoh, at the weekend, led some other PDP stalwarts in the Edo North senatorial district to endorse him. Braimoh, who is a foundation member of the PDP and a member of the Nigerian Senate between 2007
and 2011, said Ize-Iyamu towered above other PDP governorship aspirants in terms of energy, intelligence, integrity, achievements and godliness, adding that “in about a month’s time, we shall confirm our statement with the result of the primaries.” Speaking at his residence in Owan East Local Government Area when
Ize-Iyamu and his supporters visited him, the former deputy governorship aspirant of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), said Ize-Iyamu had been tried and tested, which explains the resolve by the entire leadership of Edo North PDP to endorse him. Braimoh said, “I know there are four aspirants in the race. The Bible says we
CONFIRMATION OF NAME.
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
This is to confirm that JOHN ANNABEL AND JOHNSON ANNABEL refer to one and same person but NOW wish to be known and Addressed as. JOHN ANNABEL. All former documents remain valid .General public should take note.
CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to Confirm that the names JOSEPH NWAEKE ENUKA and JOSEPH TOCHUKWU ENUKA, refer to one and same person. I now wish to be known, called and addressed as JOSEPH TOCHUKWU ENUKA All documents and Certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities please take note.
In some of my documents my names were used as JEREMIAH NNOKE ONWUBUKE or JEREMIAH NNOKE NNAJIDENMA. Henceforth to be addressed as JEREMIAH NNOKE ONWUBUKE NNAJIDENMA. All documents bearing all the above names are valid. General public to take note
OLUWASHOLA SOLOMON OLANIYI
KAZEEM TAOFEEK
I, formerly known as Ishola Solomon Olaniyi. wish to be known and addressed as Oluwashola Solomon Olaniyi. All former document remain valid, general public please take note. EZEOKAFOR NGOZI MARYANN
I formerly known as Egwu Ngozi maryann now wish to be known and addressed as Ezeokafor Ngozi Maryann. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.
I, formerly known as Taofik shakiru kazeem. wish to be known and addressed as kazeem Taofeek All former document remain valid, general public please take note. AYOMIDE EZEKIEL OLUGBENGA I Formerly known and addressed as FATANMI EZEKIEL OLUGBENGA Now wish to be known, called and addressed as AYOMIDE EZEKIEL OLUGBENGA All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and Relevant authorities take note.
NJIKOKA/DUNUKOFIA ASSOCIATION LOKOJA THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Austin Nwoye 2. Barr. Chigbo Divine Anielozie 3. Mr. Benjamin Nwafor 4. Mr. Michael Nwoye 5. Chief Ozonkemdilim Dilibe. THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO UNITE PEOPLE FROM NJIKOKA/DUNUKOFIA LGAS WHO ARE RESIDENT IN LOKOJA AND IT’S ENVIRONS UNDER ONE UMBRELLA. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY
area but that immediately the policemen arrived, the hoodlums opened fire on them. “They were even using real bullet not even cartridges. They actually wanted to kill our men but God being on our side, no policeman was killed”, Okafor said. He warned the people of the area to avoid the disputed land, even as he pleaded with them not to take laws into their own hands.
should knock and the door shall be opened unto us. As a senator, none of the other aspirants has knocked at my door. ‘The only one, who has consistently knocked is Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. He is not an upstart politician. He is a successful lawyer, farmer and politician. Look at his track record. Beyond envy, it is intimidating.”
MRS. AKINU MAMUNETU I, formerly known as MISS. ZIBIRI MAMURETU. wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AKINU MAMUNETU All former document remain valid, general public please take note.
JOHN OBINNA CHUKWUMA FOUNDATION . The General Public is hereby notified that the above named organisation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Pastor John Omolayo Oluwatuyi Ojuola. 2.Dr lovelyn .A. Ikejiaku. 3.Mrs Ifeanyichukwu Anyalechi . 4.Mr kodichinma Nwachukwu ogbonna . 5.Mrs Ezihe Adanma Ikerionwu. 6.Mr kuye olugbenga Johnson . 7.Dr Chikwendu.E. Ogbonnaya. 8.Pastor TOCHI Prosper Egekwu. 9.Amechi Pius . 10.Obinna .J.C Ukoumuneh. Aims. 1. To cater for the less privileged . Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed : Secretary
FAITH TRUST INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR ORPHANS, RC NO. CAC/IT/NO.62759 THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR CHANGE OF NAME UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990. THE NEW NAME IS: ROYAL-CHILD HERITAGE FOUNDATION FOR ORPHANS. THE TRUSTEES REMAIN THE SAME THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAINS THE SAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY
Gov. Umahi
Gov. Ayade
Okowa to commission completed roads in Delta
ÎÎÎAs
part of activities marking his administration’s one year in office, Delta State governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa, is expected to inaugurate over 12 newly- constructed roads. Making this known during an inspection of road projects in the three senatorial districts of the state, the Commissioner for works, Mr. James Augoye, appealed to Deltans to support the developmental strides of the Okowa administration and maintain existing infrastructures. He said that Okowa needed DR ADEWALE AYOBAMI ELUSADE
I, formerly known as DR TOMAS TIMM CROSBY. wish to be known and addressed as DR ADEWALE AYOBAMI ELUSADE. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.
the cooperation of all Deltans to sustain the existing peace and security given the recent bombing of pipelines in the riverine areas of the state, adding that such activities have had adverse effects on the already lean economy of the state and the country at large. GABRIEL ETUK NTIAOBONG
I, formerly known as GABRIEL SILAS NTIAOBONG. wish to be known and addressed as GABRIEL ETUK NTIAOBONG All former document remain valid, general public please take note.
KAREEM GARBA I, formerly known as GARUBA ABDULKARIM. wish to be known and addressed as KAREEM GARBA All former document remain valid, general public please take note.
VICTORY LAND POWER PRAYER ARMY OF GOD MINISTRY THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ORISUNMIBARE OLALEKAN DAVID 2. OLALEKAN OPEOLUWA RACHAEL 3. ADELEYE MOTUNRAYO JOY 4. AKINYEMI ESTHER F. 5. PETERS PAUL JOHN THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PROMOTE EVANGELISM IN ALL THE NATIONS AND PRODUCE GOSPEL MEDIA. 2. TO PROMOTE AND ORGANISE SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCE. 3. TO PROMOTE AND PROVIDE BIBLE COLLEGE FOR TRAINING OF MINISTERS AND PRODUCE CHRISTIAN JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE. 4. TO CATER FOR LESS- PRIVILEGE AND PROVIDE FOR SOCIAL WELFARE OF THE AND EMPOWER YOUTHS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: Quality Brain Management Consultancy Services 08099628652, 08023509489
VICTORY LAND POWER PRAYER ARMY OF GOD MINISTRY THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ORISUNMIBARE OLALEKAN DAVID 2. OLALEKAN OPEOLUWA RACHAEL 3. ADELEYE MOTUNRAYO JOY 4. AKINYEMI ESTHER F. 5. PETERS PAUL JOHN THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PROMOTE EVANGELISM IN ALL THE NATIONS AND PRODUCE GOSPEL MEDIA. 2. TO PROMOTE AND ORGANISE SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCE. 3. TO PROMOTE AND PROVIDE BIBLE COLLEGE FOR TRAINING OF MINISTERS AND PRODUCE CHRISTIAN JOURNAL AND MAGAZINE. 4. TO CATER FOR LESS- PRIVILEGE AND PROVIDE FOR SOCIAL WELFARE OF THE AND EMPOWER YOUTHS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: Quality Brain Management Consultancy Services 08099628652, 08023509489
News 24
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Minister rules out bail out for FCT LGs Idu Jude Abuja
ÎÎÎMinister of
the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Mohammed Bello, has warned the newly inaugurated Chairmen of the six Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory that their tenure, may be the most challenging one, as government may no longer give bailout in the running of their affairs. He, therefore, advised that the new Chairmen should henceforth think out of the box by finding ways of improving the revenue for the running of the Councils’ activities. Bello made this known, at the inauguration ceremony of the newly-elected Area Councils Chairmen and ViceChairmen at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
He stressed that the challenge had become necessary because of the lean economy of the country, with the price of items on increase on the daily bases. His words: “The bitter truth is that all the six Area Councils cannot pay staff salaries and other obligations.” According to him, “even though the FCT Administration has gone extra mile to assist the Area Councils, you are better off taking proactive measure to your various councils”. Bello reminded the new chairmen that they made a lot of campaign promises and the people had a lot of expectation on them to deliver.
While admonishing the new Chairmen to be leader for all, irrespective of party affiliation, tribe or religious inclination, Bello enjoined them to lead with the utmost fear of God and the best interest of the people at all times. “You are now for all, irrespective of party, religion, tribe, age or gender. So be humble in your leadership and appreciate the role played by all stakeholders towards your victory,” he added. Bello urged the chairmen to ensure accountability and prudence in the management of their councils’ resources, adding “you must turn around the potentials of your Area Councils into wealth, by
boosting revenue and blocking leakages, so that your Councils can be financially independent and you will be able to deliver the expected dividends of democracy”. The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, commended the peaceful conduct of the elections in the FCT, pointing out that this attested to the fact that the people of the FCT were indeed peace-loving. He thanked the out-going chairmen and all others in the Area Councils for ensuring a peaceful election and smooth transition process. He urged the in-coming chairmen to be up and doing in keying into the Change
Agenda of the Federal Government, especially as it related to delivering the dividends of democracy at the grassroots. The chairman of Bwari Area Council, Mr. Musa Dikko, who responded on behalf of the new chairmen thanked the residents for giving them the mandate and promised to live up to their expectation. The new Chairmen are Abdul_Rahman Ajiya-Abaji; APC,Abdullahi Adamu Candido-AMAC; APC,Musa Dikko-Bwari;APC, Adamu Mustapha DenzeGwagwalada;APGA, Abdullahi Galadima- Kuje APC and Joseph Shazin-Kwali also of APC.
Strike: UNIABUJA threatens ASUU, SSANU, NASU with ‘no work no pay’ Augustine Okezie Abuja
ÎÎÎThe
management of the University of Abuja has threatened to enforce the “no work, no pay” directive by the Federal Government on members of the local branch of Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff association of Nigeria, (SSANU) and NonAcademic Staff of Nigerian Universities (NASU), who opted to join the Waba-led faction of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), in their nation-wide industrial action, designed to force the Federal Government to rescind the decision on the recent fuel price increase. A statement from the office of the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Michael Adikwu, which was made available to newsmen, at the weekend, called on the staff to resume go back to classes, immediately, in the interest of the growth and stability of the university. The statement further urged the striking workers to take into cognisance the wider support the Federal Government was presently enjoying on the deregulation policy and the fact that majority of Nigerians were not in support of their on-going strike action and return to work.
PDP now in extinction, says Adamawa APC stalwart Tom Garb Yola
ÎÎÎAn
All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart in Fofure Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Barr Aliyu Boya, has berated the People Democratic Party (PDP) to be a party that might ceased to exist any time hence. Boya said this to journalists, in Yola, during a courtesy visit, immediately he got the Chairmanship candidature ticket of the party with a very wide margin to beat other three aspirants in the just-concluded Local Government primaries election conducted, on Sunday, in Fofure. According to him, the PDP was factionalised and did not have the political muzzle to win in the forth-coming Local Government elections in the state. “PDP is no more; how can the party win elections in the kind of crisis and divisions they have here and there in the country”, Boya said
Physical exercise increases longevity – Expert L-R : Director General, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Dr. Danazumi Ibrahim; Board Member, Etisalat Nigeria, Alhaji Garba Bello and Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher during a courtesy visit to NOTAP in Abuja… at the weekend.
2019: APGA’ll sack APC from Aso Rock Idu Jude Abuja
ÎÎÎIn what seems like a lofty
dream, two chieftains of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), have said that the party would win the general election in 2019. The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Anambra State on Political Parties, Chief Obi Benjamin, said that his party had perfected ideas on how to take over governance come 2019 general election, stressing that the party, had remained a party with best structure across the African region. His words, “I must tell you here that what is being experienced in our party, is a byproduct of the good structure put on group that
has led to the party producing a chairman in one of the six area councils of the FCT. And the party would have grabbed more area councils if not for political manipulations by other parties.” On the possibility of the party winning presidential election come 2019, he stated that there was a political strategy which APGA had adopted and no party had its ideology. He said that that the first process was the relative peace which actually had returned to the party and made things easier. According to him, the peace and reconciliation process, was an initiative of the Chief Willy Obiano, the governor of Anambra State. He pointed out that this process would ensure the
return of all the South East Governors and those of them who had left the party due to internal political wrangling. “There are so many things the South East have been lacking in the hand of previous administrations; these include the inability to have the number six state for the South East. You will believe me that it is only the South East region that remains with only five and the reason is lack of togetherness and inability to speak with one voice. But, this time around, I think we will get it right. Chief Obi Benjamin gave an assurance that APGA was moving in all the states and that capturing Lagos and Kano states was a top priority. “And I would like a situation where a Hausa
man would come to my place and win and election, and I should also go up north and win and elective position and that is what APGA preaches.” The National Chairman of the party, Dr Victor Ike Oye, said that, “Our plan in 2019, is to ensure that APGA takes over all the South East States and after that our interest, is to move in to Aso Villa to teach Nigerians what it takes to lead the people.” He said that his leadership knew no bound as far as achieving genuine reconciliation was concerned, stating that those who had genuine issues that attracted attention, were brought close for reconciliation to ensure that the party achieved its aims and objectives.
ÎÎÎA physiologist, Mr Ade-
mola Ajayi, on Sunday, said regular physical exercise has been proven to increase longevity and improve overall quality of life. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that there was a need for increased awareness on the importance of physical activity. “Millions of people continue to practise a sedentary lifestyle, in spite of the wide array of physical activities that are of benefit to the human body and health. “The health benefits of physical activity are seen not only in adults but also in children and older people. “Adults of all sizes and shape gain health and fitness benefits through physical activity, so it’s independent of a person’s body weight,’’ he said. Ajayi said that some benefits of regular physical exercise included prevention of premature death, reduction in the risk of obesity, as well as improved cardio-respiratory health and functional ability.
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
25 Opinion
Fuel Palaver: We have not seen it!
Yinka Odumakin ÏÏÏ
There is fire on the Nigerian mountain beyond the current brouhaha over the recent increase in the price of petrol by the Federal Government. The attendant fall-out of the crises that would flow from the maturity of the complications would put the country on the tenterhooks that has never been witnessed before. Snippets of the impending fuel chaos emerged when fuel marketers under the umbrella of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DPPMAN) met with the Minister of Finance at the headquarters of the ministry. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had reported that the meeting, chaired by the minister, was attended by Chief Executive Officers of 46 major oil companies in the country and held to discuss salient issues affecting the downstream sector of the petroleum industry. The Chairman of DAPPMAN, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, told the minister that members of the
association were currently having a tough time converting some of the Naira payments made by the government to dollars. He said their inability to convert these payments from the Federal Government from Naira to dollar was making it difficult for them to meet their obligations to their foreign partners. He said while the oil marketers would continue to do their best in importing petroleum products into the country, the unavailability of foreign exchange might make it challenging to achieve such objective. “We look forward to dialoguing with you as to how you can help us expedite the sourcing of foreign exchange to liquidate our exposures to our foreign bankers that we have line of credit with. “We are very worried about going into a new dynamics in which marketers are now going to be sourcing forex at the rate that they can find, which we have approximated to around N285 to a dollar. “We believe that it is a quick fix solution to all the epileptic supply of petroleum products in the county. “However, we still have this Naira sitting in our account from previous transactions and we are worried that if anything happens to the rate of exchange officially, we are going to be caught in between. “We do not want to come back to you to ask for foreign exchange differentials which issue we still have pending from previous transactions,” he said.
Protesters against fuel price hike (inset: Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu)
The implications of these statements should be obvious to those who can see ahead that the simple minded who have hailed the recent price as deregulation are totally of what different officials of government have canvassed positions that would make you think they are representing many governments. While Ibe Kachikwu said he is “deregulating” the sector, Vice-President Yemi Osibajo says it is price increase with Alhaji Lai Mohammed telling us it is a fallout of the brokenness of our country. Unless government is able to address some of its other ill-thought out policies that have created a forex crisis, the fuel regime will soon grind to a complete halt in the next three months and that would create its dislocations. A staunch supporter of the administration, Prof. Tam David West, has lashed out at what it is doing and it is instructive. He wrote:
W E A T H E R ABUJA
ASABA
LAgOS
Low 25°C High 38°C
Low 25°C High 36°C
Low 26°C High 34°C
KADUNA
IBADAN
ILORIN
Low 24°C High 36°C
Low 24°C High 35°C
Low 24°C High 37°C
“When I heard the minister of state for petroleum (Ibe Kachikwu), saying they smuggled our petrol across borders and that was the reason for the increase, it is nonsense. I used the word nonsense because during my time, we closed the borders. “If I could do it, he could do it too; and it is the same head of state (Buhari). We ensured there was no petrol station several kilometres to the borders. Government would not approve fuel station that is close to the borders. “Another illogicality of that argument is if you sell petrol in Nigeria for N150 per litre, the people across the borders are ready to pay N160; if you sell for N200, they are ready to pay N210. So, there will still be smuggling. So, increasing petrol price in Nigeria does not stop smuggling.” He noted further that “the fuel price increase is confusing. “A government official said it is subsidy removal, which is not. Another one says smuggling, which
is untenable. Foreign exchange (Forex) was also mentioned, which is partially tenable because the country’s foreign exchange has gone down drastically. So, it is so difficult now to source forex to import fuel. If I am into managing of oil and foreign exchange goes down, why should a man on the street pay for it? “No matter the reason, N145 per litre is not justified. If they removed all the unnecessary additions on the price of petroleum such as bridging or Petroleum Equalisation Fund, dealer’s margin, transporter’s margin, retailer’s margin, storage, depot margin, and NPA charges, petrol price will come down to N40 per litre.” The more things change in Nigeria, they unfortunately remain the same. Otherwise we would not have been locked in this fuel importation regime in spite of the preelection promises to fix our refineries.
Why has refining petrol become a rocket science when countries like Ghana, Niger, etc, are not having such challenge ?How is it that a country whose soldiers destroyed 600 illegal refineries in the Niger Delta years back cannot have one functional refinery? A sensible country would have created an industrial cluster around those refineries instead of destroying them. It is common knowledge that it takes between 12-18 months to build modular refineries and yet we have spent a year out of four in rigmarole doing more of the same. The irresistible conclusion is clear and it is that Nigeria as it is has exhausted its potential. It is a dysfunctional country that is no longer useful in its present form. It has to embrace a new structure that would allow its constituent units to use their creative faculties to solve the problem or it dies off.
R E P O R T KANO Low 29 °C High 43°C
BENIN CITY Low 17°C High 26 °C
P/HARCOURT Low 23°C High 32 °C
CALABAR Low 25°C High 34°C
ENUgU Low 25°C High 36°C
WARRI Low 25°C High 34°C
26
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Our Heritage
s
In the Grail Movement, also known as Grail Message, members, to believe that whatever happens to one in this life is as a result of previous soul reincarnates from one in the course of its journey Abdu Ru Shin, there is an immutable law that every human being must reap what he sows in the previous life, (unlike The Grail Message uses a parallel book, In The Light of the Truth, where
going strong, AGOZINO AGOZINO
In the heart of Iju Ishaga area of Agege, Lagos, not very far from the popular Pen Cinema, sits a beautifully laid out facility of several well-built structures, flower gardens and serene woodland atop a hill, it is known as the Grail Land, Iju Hills, a property spread on several acres of land, dotted by many buildings that strike a chord of curiosity to a visitor. It is the unusual worship centre of the Grail Movement faithful, where silence reins. For many years, people remain confused whether the movement is a church, sect, fraternity or secret society. Your curiosity begins on a Sunday morning at the Pen Cinema roundabout in Agege, Lagos, where members file out early to attend a weekly worship at the Iju Grail Land. Like a Christian church, and as early as around 10 a.m. the uphill centre has started to receive scores of ‘adherents’ as the members call themselves. The atmosphere in the Grail Land, however, is always devoid of the usual noisy church setting or the flamboyant dressing and pastors that typify most modern-day churches on Sunday. Similarly, inside the sprawling compound, where the adherents worship, a visitor will not see loud sounding musical instruments, band, choir, no pastor, and
A peep into the Grail Movement neither statues of saints, but, there is an imposing temple in the heart of the compound. To effectively understand the enveloping flourish of the beautiful nature that is the Grail Land, this writer quietly sought the experience of one adherent called cross bearer, who knows the faith and the facility in and out. The cross bearer, whose ever smiling face beamed as the encounter lasted, told the story of the calm large compound. All the stress of the hustle and bustle of Lagos seems to disappear from his face, once inside the large compound. From him, it was learnt that as one passes through the big white gate manned by two security men, the peaceful aura calms the nerves of a visitor. For a new visitor also, walking on the
well-tarred roads, looking at the surrounding green pasture and ever freshly-painted homes, causes a visitor to have a reflection of wonder as he moves into the long stretch of nature into the facility where the temple mounts at the centre. Considering the imposing temple which is similar to that of biblical King Solomon, an attempt to capture what goes inside the worship is a guess work. Unfortunately, non-cross bearers are not allowed to be part of the worship. Silence reigns within and outside the Grail Land. It was learnt that even outside, the society members hardly engage in arguments about the faith with the faithful of other religions. According to the cross bearer, Grail Movement is not a cult or secret society but a message that leads mankind back to his creator. It is because of the deep spiritual message they have, that their
members often avoid being seen as competing with other faiths in the drive for new converts. Hence, for a non-adherent approaching a cross bearer to learn more about the Grail Movement is always not easy, except you attend the movement’s public lecture. Although, no cross bearer is allowed to be part of the main worship in Iju Temple, but from a distance, the worship appears to be a gathering of people from a big family that knows one another. The smiles on the faces and enthusiastic participation in the worship rites could easily explain how they enjoy and believe in what they are doing. The Grail Movement’s teaching and worship are majorly based on the book of its Austrian-born founder and philosopher, Abdu Ru Shin, pen name for Oskar Ernst CONTINUED ON PAGE 27
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
...A day in the Grail kingdom CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26
Bernhardt, who wrote a theological work, commonly known as In the Light of the Truth. Topics in the teaching of Grail Message, which adherents encourage visitors to read, include What seek ye?; The call for the Helper; The Antichrist; Morality, Awake, Silence, Ascent, Cult, Rigidity, Childlikeness, Chastity, The World, The Conflict, Modern Psychic Science, Wrong Courses, Human World, Errors, among others. The faith has other works such as the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments, Book of Javada, and Ephesus among other reading materials. Music from great classical composers such as Wolfgang, Amadeus, Mozart, Beethoven symphony, George Handel, forms part of the Grail worship as well as prayers and other rites. The mode of worship appears to be for spiritually-matured cross bearers. It was learnt that in the worship there is no room for offering and tithes, unlike in churches and mosques. The part of supporting the faith through donations, the Daily Times discovered, is left for adherents, who do such of their own volition. Some of the adherents are born members while others were converted to the faith through reading the books after attending public lectures. The process of converting nonmembers usually begins when the person attends any of the faith’s lectures which the Grail runs in public places. In the lecture, the participants are led to read volume one of In the Light of the Truth, which will be followed by volume two and volume three of the big green book. Then, the entrant is invited to face a panel of judges which will decide if the interested applicant is mature enough to be admitted or still has to go through more orientation. Questions are also posed to an interested applicant to answer. Apart from that, the Grail Movement also runs a programme on some radio stations to enlighten the public on the Message and its mission. Brought into Nigeria by the late international business mogul and estate developer, Mr. Adeyemi Lawson, the movement, which had developed formidably, is made up of mostly business tycoons, military men and women, members of the middle and elite class including captains of industry. Joseph Eze, a resident of nearby Ajuwon in Iju, said residents of the area are used to seeing all kinds of exotic cars and celebrities who come to worship in the centre every weekend. The membership which was said to have
started gradually is now all over the country. The Grail Movement adherents believe their message is the fulfillment of Jesus Christ’s prophecy about the Comforter, who will come before the end of the earth. The movement established this in its written anecdotes, especially, in one of the volumes of in The light of the Truth. Members use the Bible and, sometimes, other related teachings. They emphasise that the Grail Message is an extension of the fulfillment of many of Jesus Christ’s teachings, and they also hold that since Christ never wrote down anything, evidence abound of contradictions in the Bible, especially, because some of the synoptic gospel writers never met Christ. Part of the message, which looks like a blend of Eastern philosophy and Christian mysticism, can be summarised thus: “Humanity is moving from the age of Pisces to the age of Aquarius. The Grail Message is the message of end-time. So, it is not just another message, but, one that is given to mankind now as he stands at the threshold of eternity. Jesus Christ and Mohammed, founder of Islam are of the age of Pisces”. It was also gathered that the thrust of the Grail Movement’s interpretation is that when Christ was on earth, He spoke to people who were still simple-minded
Grail Movement also believes in the law of karma and that anyone who dies can reincarnate several times until he or she is able to free himself from the karmic burden before ascending to another plane
and very childlike, and because of this, He (Christ) spoke to them in a language they would understand the spiritual truth using parables to illustrate His points, and, this, was acceptable to the people at that time. However, they were not like the people of today with highly developed intellect, who can ask several questions before they accept anything. The message is also written in a way that it’s acceptable to the needs of the modern man, taking into consideration all his experiences. In addition to explaining those messages as Jesus Christ brought it, adherents believe Abdu Ru Shin also brought truth that had never been revealed to mankind before. Some of the truth, according to the adherents, include an emphasis on the immutable laws of God. Out of these laws, every cross bearer believes that he manifests the holy will of the Almighty Creator and the Holy Spirit, which is why Christ warned that ‘any sin can be forgiven but the sin against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven’. According to the Grail Message, what one sows he must reap. This is called the law of karma. The Grail Movement also teaches that creation is made up of several spiritual planes and different species, the beyond and the world of gross matter between which there is animistic kingdom. One controversial belief of the movement which, however, made it more that the Dan Brown controversy is its teaching that Christ was not born without physical procreation. Also stated in the Grail Message is that the biblical story of Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden of Eden was not about sexual relationship as people have, generally, been made to assume. Rather, it claims, that they sinned by subjecting themselves to the rules of the intellect and this is man’s real problem. It also maintains that since then, the over-cultivation of intellect in the wrong directions has been the bane of mankind.
27 Our Heritage
Nigerian-born Tomori De Gea Tomori
N
delighted with Chelsea debut
igerian-born Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori has said he has taken a big step after he finally made his first-team debut for ‘The Blues’. The 18-year-old came on
for Branislav Ivanovic in the final Premier League game against Leicester City last weekend and he said it has been an amazing time for him. “My debut capped it off
brilliantly. It is a step in the right direction,” Tomori enthused. “If at the start of the season someone had told me this would happen, I would have said, ‘Steady…! “But I am thankful to God
that it has happened and I have taken every game as it comes, making sure I am developing in training and doing what I need to do to improve, and it has kept on getting better for me.”
dedicates
FA Cup win to Man Utd fans
Page 28
De Gea
Monday, May 23, 2016
NPFL:
Wikki Amuneke
U-20 AFCON QUALIFIER:
Amuneke impressed by Burundi’s class F
lying Eagles coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has praised hosts Burundi for giving his team a good test in an U-20 AFCON qualifier in Bujumbura last Saturday. Nigeria won the game 1-0 and will host the reverse fixture in Calabar on June 11. Amuneke remarked after the game that he was impressed with the performance of his boys, but praised the host team for giving
Nigeria a good test. Kingsley Michael, Samuel Chukwueze and captain Kelechi Nwakali all came close to putting Nigeria in the lead in the first half, but failed. Defensive midfielder Chukwudi Agor scored the match’s only goal in the 68th minute as the Flying Eagles, made up largely of last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup champions, dominated in all aspects.
The second half belonged to the Flying Eagles. Nwakali and Chukwueze were impressive with some neat dribbles and runs and their efforts finally paid off as Chukwudi Agor capitalised on good work by the duo and sold a dummy before unleashing a grounder from the edge of the box that sailed into the opponents’ net for the only goal of the match.
Nigerian duo win Israeli title
T
he Nigeria duo of Anthony Nwakaeme and John Ogu have been crowned champions of the Israeli topflight side, Hapoel Beer Sheva on Saturday after defeating Bnei Sakhnin 3-1 in a nervy game. The win meant Beer Sheva have won their first Israeli Ligat title in 40 years and the Nigerian pair have been instrumental to the success of the team this season. Needing a win in their last game and closely tailed by Maccabi Tel Aviv, Beer Sheva were stunned in the sixth minute when Firas Mugrabi bundled home to give the visitors the lead. It did not last long as Beer Sheva
got into their stride and equalised 10 minutes later through Maor Bar Buzaglo. Two more goals from Maor Melikson and Ben Sahar ensured Hapoel Beer Sheva ran out 3-1 winners on the night while adding the league diadem to the trophy cabinet. Their closest rivals Maccabi Tel Aviv smashed Maccabi Haifa 6-0 but it was little too late as Beer Sheva got the points they needed to sew up the title. Ogu, who was recently named the best foreign import in the Israeli top flight has played 29 games for his team notching up three goals and providing four assists. Nwakaeme has also weighed
in with some eye-catching performances hitting home
eight goals this season with three assists.
John Ogu instrumental to Hapoel Beer Sheva’s successful outing
move to second place after home win
Wikki Tourists duo of Godwin Obaje (left) and Abubakar Lawal celebrate their win over Ikorodu United on Sunday.
W
ikki Tourists Sunday moved into second place on the Nigeria league table after a 3-0 spanking of bottom team Ikorodu United in Bauchi. Wikki now have 31 points, same as Rivers United, but enjoy a superior goals difference. They are just a point behind leaders Rangers, pending the final determination of the expulsion of Giwa FC from the league. The leading scorer in the league Godwin Obaje did not score for Wikki on Sunday, but Saidu Abdullahi got a brace with Hamza Tiya also on target for the home team. There were also home wins for Warri Wolves and Lobi Stars. Wolves beat El Kanemi 3-1, while 10-man Lobi pipped Rivers United 1-0. Lobi defender Solomon Kwambe was sent off after his second booking and Rivers United had the chance to draw level at the stroke of full time but Chinonso Okonkwo blasted wide his penalty.
Monday, May 23, 2016
EXTRATIME
Ubah returns,gives N100m to football club
T Ubah
he management of FC Ifeanyi Ubah of Nnewi on Sunday got N100 million donation from the President of the club, Ifeanyi Ubah as a boost to finish well in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) this season. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ubah made the donation just as he returned officially to NPFL match venues after serving out the ban slammed on him by the League Management Company (LMC) late
March. He said the money was to enable the club to get the best materials anywhere to enable them fulfill its promise to the fans for a pleasant season. The mid-season transfer window opens on May 23. He said his period of absence was not the best of time for him as he loved the game so much and promised to continue to support and do his best for the game.
“This N100 million donation to the management of the club is to be used by both the Coach and Chairman to get the best materials needed to execute this season. “You know I am just coming back from suspension, I promise to continue to be a worthy ambassador of football, so be assured of my continued support,” he said. Ubah also announced N150 million in support of the activities of Anambra State Football Association (ASFA).
Sanusi,others back from FIFA seminar in Ethiopia ANDREW EKEJIUBA
T
he General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohamed Sanusi, Chief Operating Officer of the League Management Company, Mallam Salihu Abubakar and NFF’s Club Licensing Manager Nasiru Jibril are back in the country after being part of a two –day FIFA Club Licensing seminar in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The seminar was attended by representatives of FIFA Member Associations and Clubs from East, West and North Africa, and held at the African Union headquarters in the Ethiopian capital. It was the latest in a series of such seminars as FIFA works to implement a global licensing system, in conjunction with the confederations, to professionalise clubs in all key areas, including technical, commercial and governance perspectives.
Sanusi Officials from Nigeria were joined by those from host Ethiopia, Egypt, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia,
Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Sudan at the seminar that was held in conjunction with
CAF. Representatives of CAF, members of African national leagues, clubs and club football experts from Asia, Europe and the Americas were also in attendance. “This is an important initiative that is providing all participating members associations, as well as the clubs, leagues and players in attendance, with the basic tools required to implement club licensing,” said Nigeria’s Salihu Abubakar. “The Nigeria Professional Football League has been fortunate by being one of the first countries in the CAF region to implement the system, and we are already witnessing the development of the clubs both on and off the field. We want our leagues and clubs in Africa to be more professional and the club licensing syetem is the key development tool we need.”
Bekele, DibabawinGreatManchesterRun
T
hree-time Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele won the men’s race at the Great Manchester Run, finishing the 10km course in a time of 28 minutes and eight seconds. Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang came second. The result was mirrored in the women’s race as Bekele’s fellow Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba beat Kenyan Edna Kiplagat, finishing in 31:16. Richard Goodman and Gemma Steel were the highest-placed Britons in sixth and eighth respectively. The men’s and women’s elite races developed in near-identical fashion, with a group of three athletes quickly establishing a lead over the field. And Bekele and Dibaba both displayed their superiority in the final kilometres, easing clear of their Kenyan rivals to finish
comfortably ahead. The wheelchair races were dominated by British athletes, with Simon Lawson finishing nearly three
minutes ahead of second-placed Brett Crossley, while Shelly Woods won a closer-fought women’s contest, 14 seconds in front of Jade Jones.
Bekele
29
Golf: McIlroy wins Irish Open
McIlroy
R
ory McIlroy secured his first win of the season by producing a dramatic finale in the Irish Open, his home tournament, at the K Club. McIlroy trailed Scotland’s Russell Knox by one shot with three holes to play but outstanding second shots at the 16th and 18th helped him to the birdie and eagle which saw him win by three. He shot a 69 to end on 12 under to clinch his first success in six months. Knox shared second place with Welshman Bradley Dredge who fired a 66. McIlroy had finished in the top 10 six times this season but had missed the cut at the last three Irish Opens, before landing the first prize of £515,000 at Kildare on Sunday. Following his first Irish Open triumph, the 27-year-old donated his prize money to his charity, the Rory Foundation, which hosted the event. His last victory came in the World Tour Championship in Dubai in November, which saw him clinch the Race to Dubai title.
30
Monday, May 23, 2016
EXTRATIME
BRIEFS
Zidane
expects tough Villas-Boas
VillasBoas bids Zenit farewell! H
ulk and Axel Witsel led the well wishes to Andre Villas-Boas as he bids farewell to Zenit. Head coach Villas-Boas announced in September that he would be departing the club at the end of the Russian Premier League season, which concluded on Saturday. Zenit overcame CSKA Moscow to win the Russian Cup this month but were unable to prevent Leonid Slutsky’s team deposing them as league champions.
Champions
League final Z
inedine Zidane believes Real Madrid face a tough task in the final of the Champions League against city rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday. The capital clubs meet in European club football’s showpiece occasion for the second time in three years, with Madrid winning 4-1 after extra-time in Lisbon in 2014. Zidane’s side come into the final on an incredible run of 12 league wins in a row, although that was not enough
to snatch the Liga title from Barcelona. The Frenchman insists the clash with Atletico is 50-50, although Madrid are “in good physical and mental shape”. “We know it will be a difficult game but we are in good physical and mental shape,” Zidane said. “When you’re at this club you always have to give the maximum to win. And now we face the biggest game of the season. “The end of league season has
been extraordinary. We know it will be difficult against Atletico. As I said, it is 50-50 and it will be from the first minute to the last.” Zidane
Guardiola’s tears agent hints at understandable says AlKhelaifi Juve stay – Muller E A
Cavani can replace
Morata’s
lvaro Morata may remain at Juventus next season despite speculation linking him with a closeseason exit, according to his agent. Media reports in Spain have suggested that Real Madrid will exercise their buy-back clause on the Spain international then sell him on for profit, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United among those linked with his services. But Morata, who scored an extra-time winner in Juve’s 1-0 Coppa Italia final victory over AC Milan on Saturday, is not necessarily heading for England.
Ibrahimovic,
B
ayern Munich attacker Thomas Muller fully understood why outgoing boss Pep Guardiola became so emotional in the aftermath of Saturday’s DFB Pokal Cup final victory over Borussia Dortmund. Muller scored one of the penalties as Bayern triumphed in the shoot-out after the sides had remained locked at 0-0 after 120 minutes. And Guardiola, who will join Manchester City next season, became tearful after Douglas Costa’s spot-kick secured a domestic double for the Bavarian club. “I am glad for Pep,” said Muller. “When the last game is over, you can sometimes be human because you’re not responsible for the team and the pressure is off. “He leaves the club after we achieved a major goal of the season. “His work here has been less valued by those outside the club and he knew it. “That’s why there was this emotional outburst and I can understand it.” Muller went on to insist that Bayern deserved their victory in Berlin, although he did pay tribute to the part Dortmund played in a gripping final. “Penalties are cruel,” he said, “but we were the worthy winners. “If we had not won, we would have been very upset because we did not capitalise upon the very many good scoring opportunities that we had.
Guardiola
dinson Cavani can step up and replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic as Paris Saint-Germain’s main striker next season, the club’s president Nasser AlKhelaifi insists. Ibrahimovic scored a brace in his last game for the club on Saturday, leaving on a high as PSG beat Marseille 4-2 in the Coupe de France final to secure back-to-back domestic trebles. Cavani was also on target on the night but Ibrahimovic stole the headlines by reaching 50 PSG goals for the season and departing in the dying minutes at the Stade de France to a standing ovation. But Al-Khelaifi insisted Cavani can shine in the spotlight next season, with 34-year-old Ibrahimovic moving on after four trophy-laden years at the club.
Klose refutes Lazio contract claims
M
Morata
iroslav Klose has denied claims he was offered a contract extension by Lazio. Klose joined the Serie A team from Bayern Munich in 2011 but his time in the Italian capital will end when his deal expires next month. This week, Lazio sporting director Igli Tare claimed the 37-year-old had turned down an offer of a two-
year extension in March, stating the striker “wasn’t interested” in remaining. Klose refuted those comments and said that neither he nor his agent were made aware of a proposal to remain at the Stadio Olimpico. “I do not understand this discussion,” the German told reporters.
“I will explain this clearly to close the debate: neither me nor my agent ever received any proposal, whether it be a written one or an oral one. “This is regardless of whether I had decided to leave Lazio or not.” Klose scored 54 goals in 139 Serie A appearances for Lazio and his next destination is yet to be confirmed.
Monday, May 23, 2016
EXTRATIME
Bellerin
going
nowhere!
De Gea
H
ector Bellerin insists he does not see himself playing anywhere else other than Arsenal. The rightback joined Arsenal from Barcelona in 2011 and, after a short loan spell at Watford, has established himself in the first team since a breakthrough 2014-15 campaign. Bellerin missed just two Premier League matches as Arsenal finished second this season, and rumours of a potential return to Barca have intensified as they step up their search for a long-term replacement for Dani Alves.
Rooney
not drawn to LVG’s
future
W
ayne Rooney refused to comment on rumours surrounding Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United future following their FA Cup final triumph, stating it would be “unfair”. Ahead of Saturday’s match at Wembley, a report in a Spanish newspaper suggested the Dutchman would be dismissed and replaced by Jose Mourinho in the aftermath of the match. United clinched the trophy by defeating Crystal Palace 2-1 after extra time and Van Gaal declined to discuss the
De Gea dedicates FA Cup win to fans D
avid De Gea dedicated Manchester United’s FA Cup triumph on Saturday to their supporters. United fell behind to Jason Puncheon’s strike in the 78th minute, but a speedy response from Juan Mata forced extra time at Wembley. Louis van Gaal’s team lost Chris Smalling to a second bookable offence before Jesse Lingard’s thunderous
strike secured the trophy 10 minutes from time. De Gea was proud to help United win the FA Cup for the first time since 2004, insisting the victory was for the fans. “It was tough with 10 players and with difficult moments, but we fought until the end and we never surrendered,” De Gea said. “We are Manchester United, we are
one of the best clubs in the world and we have won the FA Cup for all the fans. “Jesse scored a great goal and it was even more special with 10 men. We are really, really happy to win the FA Cup. “It’s a long time since the club has won this cup and it is a really good moment to enjoy. The FA Cup is back in Manchester.”
Ayew unsurprised
by external interest Rooney
Forgive
me for my
dance
— Pardew
C
rystal Palace manager Alan Pardew said he was just enjoying the moment after causing a stir with his dancing to celebrate Jason Puncheon’s opener in the FA Cup final against Manchester United. United emerged triumphant 2-1 after extra time on Saturday but Pardew provided a moment that will live long in the memory of fans far and wide. In a scene more suited to a nightclub, Pardew showed off his dance moves with a little jig on the sidelines as Puncheon gave Palace a 78th-minute lead in London.
A
ndre Ayew is unsurprised by rumours linking him with a transfer away from Swansea City after an impressive debut season in the Premier League. The Ghana international scored 12 goals in 34 top-flight appearances as Swansea moved away from the bottom half of the table to finish 12th. Ayew has been linked with a potential switch to Premier League rivals Sunderland and West Ham, while Chelsea have also been credited with interest.
The 26-year-old is aware of suitors courting him but is in no rush to secure a move away from the Liberty Stadium. “I like England. I feel good at Swansea. It was a good year for me. The season was good on a personal level,” he stated. “Of course, every player wants to play for the Champions League or the title. A time will come when I’ll aim for these. “I won’t talk a lot but with what I’ve accomplished this season, clubs are interested in me. Later, we will see what happens.”
Ayew
Hiddink to stay at Chelsea in advisory
role
Hiddink
G
uus Hiddink has confirmed he is to stay at Chelsea in an advisory role and will try to lure club legends such as Didier Drogba and Petr Cech back to Stamford Bridge once they hang up their boots. The Dutchman replaced Jose Mourinho as the man in charge at Chelsea following the latter’s departure in December 2015, but will make way for new manager Antonio Conte next season. But Hiddink revealed that he will not leave the Premier League club altogether and shed light on the position awaiting him behind the scenes. “Technical advisor is a big word, but I will indeed hold an advisory role,” he said. “I want to involve former Chelsea players. I spoke with Drogba last week, I have spoken with Cech. These guys are true Chelsea legends and have had such an impact at the club. “Chelsea are an old club, but they have only been there at the highest level for about 15 years or so. These older guys want the best for Chelsea and can do a lot for the club once they have ended their active careers. “One might go for a commercial career, another might pursue a job as assistant manager and another might be interested in a scouting position. You can make such good use of guys like them. I have the freedom to approach former players for things like that.” Trying to get former players involved will not be Hiddink’s only job, however, as he also aims to help more youngsters make the step up from the club’s youth academy into the first team.
Neville sees Mourinho as Red Devils’best choice
F
ormer Manchester United defender Phil Neville believes Jose Mourinho is the man to bring the Premier League title back to Old Trafford. The 53-year-old Portuguese is widely reported to have agreed terms
on a deal that will see him replace Louis van Gaal next week, despite the current manager leading United to victory in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Crystal Palace. And Neville is confident the former Chelsea boss can drive the club back to
the top of English football. “At the moment, Jose is the best man for the job,” he said. “For as long as I’ve known it, you’ve got to be the best at Manchester United. “Mourinho is a proven winner. United fans want a team challenging for the
31
league title, they don’t want a team finishing in seventh or fifth. “I can’t see him staying for too long at United - maybe two or three years seems to be his shelf life at a club - but as long as he brings success, United fans won’t be unhappy.”
Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.com.ng; email: info@dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. GROUP EDITOR: BIODUN DUROJAIYE News Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. Advert Hotlines: 08086296714
MONDAY, MAY 23, 2016
VOL. 2. NO.114
Price: N150
NPFL RESULTS Plateau United 0 - 0 Wikki Tourists 3 - 0 Akwa United 2 - 0 FC Ifeanyiubah 2 - 0 Warri Wolves 3 - 1 Abia Warriors 1 - 2 Lobi Stars 1-0
Kano Pillars Ikorodu United 3SC Niger Tornadoes El-Kanemi Warriors Sunshine Stars Rivers United
Yobo
Infantino congratulates Yobo ahead testimonial match
F
IFA president Gianni Infantino has congratulated former Nigeria skipper Joseph Yobo on his testimonial slated for Friday in Port Harcourt. FIFA, in a letter personally signed by Infantino and addressed to NFF president, wrote: “Many thanks for your letter dated May 17, 2016 and informing us of the testimonial match in honour of former international player and Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo. “On this occasion, allow me to congratulate and send my best wishes to Joseph Yobo for his future activities.” The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have released Super Eagles skipper John Mikel Obi and his assistant,
Ahmed Musa, to honour Yobo in Friday’s testimonial game, leaving them out of the international friendly with Mali in France on the same day. Joseph Yobo’s testimonial game, slated for the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium, will feature a Team Joseph Yobo (comprising of Super Eagles’ players of Yobo’s generation) and a Rest of The W o r l d squad.
Infantino
Infa
FIFA announce
W
Africa’s World Cup seeds
orld football governing body FIFA will next month announce the top five seeds for the African zone of the 2018 World Cup qualifying tournament with Nigeria most likely to miss out. FIFA will announce the top seeds between June 8 and 10 ahead of the
main draw on June 24 in Cairo, Egypt. The qualifiers to be played on a league basis of 20 teams divided into five groups will begin in October with the winners of the five groups qualifying for Russia 2018. Experts say the current FIFA rankings will be one of the yardsticks to be used and this will most certainly
work against Nigeria, who are now a disappointing 14th ranked team in Africa and are not likely to achieve any remarkable jump by the June rankings. Africa’s top five ranked teams by this month are Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal and Egypt in that order.
Business Times Daily Times Nigeria
FBNMB boss tasks banking sector on sound corporate Page B3 governance
Speculations trail critical expectations from MPC’s May meeting Page B3
NSE delists 8 companies over listing rules violation Page B6
IPMAN, Star Petroleum sign 5-year oil supply deal
Nigeria suspends talks to settle MTN fine
Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The recent deregulation of the oil sector of the economy by the Federal Government is beginning to take a positive effect as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria; IPMAN, has expanded its mode of service delivery of the black gold across the nation. The umbrella body of the Oil and Gas distribution chains in Nigeria recently signed a five-year Thruput and Trading CONTINUED ON PAGE B2
Ï LjM ƍ Ɔ Ƅ expenditure target in Nigeria to $1b Tony Nwakaegho,
ƑƆƎ Ƅ ƃƓ ƍƄƋ ƍƎ
Minister of State, Trade ands Investment, Hajia Aisha Abubakar(right) Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el –Rufai, Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Waheed Olagunju and a graduant, Sarah Gambo during thed Kaduna Start up Entrepreneurship graduation and inauguration ceremony in Kaduna... recently.
Pipeline vandals hit Festac Town, Lagos again
Ï ƍƊƓ ƅƅƆƃƄƍ ƄƉƉ ƅƅ ƄƆƔƄƕ ƋƄƎƍ Ɖ Ïy ƕ ƉƆ Ɗ Ɔ ƃƍƄ Ƅ ƋƍƆƃƄ ƅ Ǝ ƉƄ ƋƄƎƍ Ɖ
Opeoluwani Akintayo A fresh case of pipeline vandalism has been reported in Festac Town, in Amuwo Odofin Local Government of Lagos State. According to eye witness accounts, sporadic gunshots were heard early Sunday morning along 4th /7th Avenue of Festac. As usual, residents around the area knew what had happened, having sighted vandals in gun duel with army officers who were put on guard at the area since the last and well reported operation in the town. According to information gathered, worshippers whose churches
Monday, May 23, 2016
were around the area, were barred by the soldiers from entering into their churches as stench of petrol filled the area, with large amounts flowing on the canal. Daily Times gathered that even with army officers on guard in the area, vandalisation of oil pipelines did not at any time cease, as vandals now carry their “massive” exploits in kegs through 6th Avenue, and load them in waiting trucks without any confrontation. Our sources confirmed that the soldiers on guard around The Apostolic Church at 4th /7th Avenue could be in the know of the continuous activities of the vandals, as uncountable kegs of petrol were sighted in their company
being sold off to black-marketers and resident companies, thereby further increasing prices of petrol. Residents of the estate confirmed the non-stop vandalism in the area. “The government needs to keep an eye even on the soldiers on guard here. We found out that vandalisation of oil pipeline has not stopped in Festac Town even after the deadly operation they had last that made the soldiers to be deployed there,” one source said. “We heard gunshots midnight but of course, no one knew where they were coming from until we got here this morning to worship. But, the soldiers didn’t allow us pass so we had to rent canopies and chairs, mounted them outside
where we worshipped,” another sour said. “We are sure that these soldiers know about their activities if not, why didn’t they catch any of the vandals instead, what we saw were kegs of petrol being sold off to those black market guys and they will sell to residents at expensive prices. You see what we are going through here?,” Another said. When Daily Times approached the black-marketers, a litre of petrol which officially sells for N145, were being sold for N150, N160. Majority of the petrol stations were also not selling due to lack of the product, with the high price forcing many to park their cars at home for commercial vehicles.
Nigeria has suspended talks with the MTN Group over the record $3.9 billion (R60 billion) fine, according to Bloomberg. On Sunday, Bloomberg reported talks have been suspended indefinitely while the country’s House of Representatives completes an investigation into the size of the penalty and how it was delivered. Spokesperson of Nigeria’s ministry of communications, Victor Oluwadamilare, told Bloomberg the lawmakers “have set up a committee to investigate the MTN saga and they are still on it”. “Until they are through with it, nothing can be done,” he said. “The federal government, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the ministry of communications can do nothing about the MTN case until the committee concludes its thorough investigation,” Oluwadamilare told Bloomberg. “There’s no point dealing with a particular organisation from different fronts. It would be counter-productive.” Africa’s largest mobile operator was slapped with a $5.2 billion (R80 billion) penalty by the NCC last October for failing to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered SIM cards on its Nigerian network. In early December, the fine was reCONTINUED ON PAGE B2
Unemployment, underemployment rates hit 31.2% in Q1 2016 The National Bureau of Statistics have released its 2016 first quarter jobs report indicating that Nigeria’s unemployment rate for the first quarter of 2016 has hit 12.1% from 10.4% in Q4 2015, 9.9% in Q3 2015 and 8.2% in Q2 2015. The Bureau also revealed that underemployment rate was 19.1% for the first quarter of 2016.
Using NBS previous methodology, unemployment rate would have been 31.2% in Q1 2016, from 29.2% in Q4 2015, 27.3% in Q3 2015, 26.5% in Q2 2015, 24.2% Q1 2015, 23.9% in 2011 and 21,4% in 2010.) By NBS previous methodology, unemployment rate would have been 31.2% in Q1 2016, from 29.2% in Q4 2015, 27.3% in Q3 2015,
26.5% in Q2 2015, 24.2% Q1 2015, 23.9% in 2011 and 21,4% in 2010.) Its key high lightts show that unemployment rate within the review period was typically highest for those within the ages of 15-24 at 21.5% in Q1 2016 (56.1% using old methodology), up from 19.0% in Q4 2015 and 17.8% in Q3 2015, while the underemployment rate for those within the
ages 15-24 increased slightly to 34.6% in Q1 2016 from 34.5% in Q4 2015. For those in the labour force within the ages of 25-34 however, unemployment rose to 12.9% in Q1 2016 (32.8% using old methodology), from 11.4% in Q4 2015, while underemployment remained at 19.9% in Q1 2016 similar to Q4 2015.
Unemployment and underemployment continued to be higher for women than men in Q1 2016. While 14% (36.2% using old methodology) of women in the labour force (those between 15-65 willing, able and actively working or searching for work) were unemployed in Q1 2016, another 22.2% of women in the labour force were underemployed in Q1 2016.
Business News B2
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
IPMAN, Star Petroleum sign 5-year oil supply deal
Dangote revamps Kano flour mills with N10b, sustains 3,000 jobs
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1
Petroleum Services Limited. The agreement includes storage and supply of PMS, AGO, DPK and Aviation fuel across Nigeria.
Charles Okonji The President, Dangote stated that his conglomerate has
verge of losing their jobs before ed Consumer Goods by Dangote group. the re-opening ceremony of the mill in Kano on Friday, noted that portunities for the youths in the State, stressing that the company has re-engineered the mill to meet the emerging challenges in the ever changing needs of its esteemed and loyal consumers.
sire to increase our investment -
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Secretary Alh. Hassan Kirmi (left) with IPMAN President, Obasi Lawson during the signing of contract between IPMAN and Star Synergy Petroleum Services in Abuja …at the weekend.
ECOWAS parliament urges member states to scale up economic development
FBNMB boss tasks banking sector on sound corporate governance
Joy Ekeke Members of the ECOWAS parliament have called on member states to enhance efforts in addressing recurring issues that have stalled economic development in the sub-region.
Azubike Nnadozie “Sound corporate governance goes beyond compli-
duty to ensure that it permeates the length and breadth of our
aging
Director/CEO
of
FBN
Holdings Company, Mr Kayode
Akinkugbe
Kano is very strategic because our products receive tremendous patronage in the State and the company’s return to Kano is an
speech at the recently held monthly meeting of the Committee of Chief Compliance Officers of
in recent years, corporate governance has attracted considerable
-
In an address titled, ‘The Place for Sound Corporate Governance
Tiger Branded Consumer Goods decided to leave the country and
ciples of corporate governance
be lost. You can imagine these sure that these jobs are secured by injecting fresh cash of about -
a lot easier and more profitable. sure the company surpasses its targets of 900,000 metric tonnes -
able to enjoy long term benefits
deliberating on issues focused on in the country reports presented by member states at the parlianary session in Abuja on Friday. ber states had in the course of three days presented their counjor achievements and challenges.
lenges to economic development that needed to be addressed. “There are so many issues that have recurred in the country reports presented; economic development is the major issue. “For a country to develop, it must have proper education; it is
“We are appreciative of the education and our people must have a means of expressing themselves. “And in the process they ac-
global financial crisis and other
ECOWAS Parliament, Mr Sulaimon Lasun, said that member states experienced common chal-
led to the promulgation of rules and directives aimed at creating strong internal systems and controls that are comparable for financial institutions across the globe. “We are proud to be part of a larger Group, FBN Holdings Plc,
Nigeria suspends talks to settle MTN fine
they also serve as strong pillars dence in institutions. According to him, the institution of corporate governance,
promoting corporate governance practices that has resulted in over
and financial reforms intended to promote transparency, account-
maintaining a strong posture on sound practices. be charged all Chief Compliance
economic life of the country, are
IPMAN’s over 2,500 gas stations in the length and breadth of Nigeria and is seen as a direct move to play a major role in the deregulation of the sector by the Federal Government of Nigeria, so said Managing Director of Star Synergy Petroleum Services, Engineer Babatunde Babalola.
as he restated the commitment
public retains trust and confidence in such essential of bodies.
update policies and procedures to meet our evolving business needs, and ensure familiarisation
legal and ethical standards, but helps in building the strength of
critical to ensuring that our goal ated.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1
duced by 25% to $3.9 billion. The MTN group has 232.5 million subscribers across 22 countries in Africa and the Middle in Nigeria. In another development, MTN Group has raised its Nigeria capital expenditure (Capex) target for million, despite the outstanding $3.4 billion fine issued on the company by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Krishna Chetty, acting MTN South Africa chief technology officer disclosed recently this in Johannesburg, adding that the increased capex spending by MTN may be used to improve its -
the economy cannot develop.
ing out a 4G offering. MTN is Nigeria’s largest tele-
the NCC’s authority to issue such a huge amount of fine and made a N50 billion payment in February condition for out of court settlement. Currently negotiations beeral Government are ongoing and some industry analysts said this move by MTN to increase its capital expenditure in the country despite the outstanding amount to be paid as fine, suggests that the ongoing negotiations may yield positive fruit.
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
B3 Money Market
Speculations trail critical expectations from MPC’s May meeting
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Stories by Motolani Oseni As the most anticipated Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) begins its May meeting, scheduled to hold between today and tomorrow 24th of May, 2016, speculations have continued to be expressed over the likely critical decisions to be taken at the end of the meeting, and this has attracted divergent views from industry analysts, economists and financial experts, among many others. However, there have been speculations amongst investors and industry stakeholders that the
federal government and the CBN may soon devalue the naira, owing to Nigeria’s current slowing growth rate; higher inflation rate; dwindling oil prices; incessant depletion of the external reserves; significant drop in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and worsening exchange rate pressures. Although, both the fiscal and the monetary authorities have maintained a stance against likely further devaluation of the Nigerian currency, which according to President Muhammadu Buhari does not have any positive impact on the citizenry, most importantly, the ordinary man on
the street. Speaking exclusively with Daily Times Nigeria (DTN) through a telephone chat at the weekend, the Managing Director/CEO, Maxifund Investment and Security Plc, Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu, warned that Nigeria should not devalue its currency, adding that for a country to devalue its currency, it must have a good export strength. He noted that if the MPC eventually devalues the naira, it will be unfortunate and suggested that the federal government and the CBN should rather look inwards, where the country can firm up its domestic economy.
According to him, “Right now the naira is almost selling at N400 to a US dollar at the parallel market, and I understand that some people are calling for the devaluation of the naira, but for me, I think they should rather thinker with the interest rate, because interest rate determines what happens in the economy”, he explained. He further explained that if the MPC can thinker with the interest rate, it will enable people to raise fund. Because there is no production going on now but I’m happy that Bank of Industry (BoI) is currently doing so much, which is encouraging people to
Sterling Bank upgrades IT infrastructure for quality service delivery In a move towards improved service delivery for its numerous customers, Sterling Bank Plc, has announced the conclusion of the upgrade of its Information Technology (IT) infrastructure. In the last 24 months, the lender commenced upgrade of its core and subsidiary systems, transiting to more robust, agile and flexible platforms that are more adaptable to the dynamic banking needs of customers and position the Bank for long term sustainable growth. The Bank in a statement at the weekend, said that the decision to upgrade the Bank’s IT infrastructure was informed by the need to improve the service delivery of the one-customer bank, which is part o its effort to improve customer experience. According to the lender, the upgrade was in line with the Bank’s mission to enhance stakeholders’ value as a financial institution of choice, stated that the upgrade, which gained traction two weeks ago, had become necessary in view of the need to meet customers’ expectations. “Sterling Bank would continue to demonstrate its commitment to enhancing customer experience in the provision of quality banking services as evidenced by its adoption of one of the best core banking software in the world.
look inwards. His words: “The MPC increased virtually all the indices in its last meeting, which is still a very short time within which you allow it to work. I don’t see them increasing the interest rate they may probably leave it the way it is or probably thinker it down a little bit. In a contrary view, the Chief Executive Officer, Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri, said that one critical decision that MPC has shied away from in their past two or three meetings has posted a critical challenge that will confront them during the meeting on Monday and Tuesday.
L-R: Executive Director, Corporate & Investment Banking, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Kayode Lawal; President & Chairman, Board of Directors, African Export-Import Bank, Dr. Benedict Okey Oramah; Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Yemi Adeola and Executive Vice President- Corporate Governance, Legal Services & Executive Secretary, African Export-Import Bank , Dr. George Elombi after a meeting with the Board of African Export-Import Bank by the Executive Management of Sterling Bank Plc in Cairo last weekend.
GDP growth may stabilise at 3.5% in 2016 – Analysts Amidst continued pressures across all segments of the economy in the first month of 2016, more economists’ projections have pointed to a challenging policy environment in the year. Giving a glimpse of hope and positive sentiments, economists at Afrinvest Group, a Lagos based investment house, said the growth rate of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, would be moderately up to 3.5 percent in 2016, from the average 3.05 achieved in the first nine months of 2015 and forecast 3.0 percent for the full year. Both the 2015 and 2016 estimates are far lower than the 6.3 percent recorded actual in 2014 and also significantly lower than the fouryear average historical growth rate of 5.31 percent recorded be-
tween 2011 and 2014. The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, actual recorded pace of GDP growth had shown a slowdown in 2015 decelerating to 3.96, 2.35, and 2.84 percent in first, second and third quarters respectively. NBS is yet to come out with full year, 2015 actual. But the International Monetary Fund, IMF, estimates that the Nigerian economy, measured by real GDP grew by 3.0 per cent in 2015 while projecting it to grow by 4.1 per cent in 2016. In its Economic and Financial Markets Outlook 2016, released last week, Afrinvest Group stated “taking a cue from the projected impact of slower oil prices together with an expectation for depressed consumer spending and inflow from net exports, we project the pace of output growth to remain subdued
in 2016. “We do not expect significant improvement in investment spending though we anticipate that increased government expenditure will cushion the effect of the overall drag in the system. “As a result we estimate GDP to grow by 3.5 per cent in 2016, slightly higher than 3.0 per cent in 2015”.Most performance indicators of Nigerian economy have been on decline since 2015 following, principally, the declining oil price which is Nigeria’s predominant source of government revenue. Reflecting this scenario in its analysis, Afrinvest said “as experienced in 2015, we believe that adjustment to lower crude oil prices, which is expected to be sustained, will remain a crucial theme for the domestic economy in 2016”.
As policy response, the the federal government, in its 2016 budget, is planning a fiscal spending that is expected to be driven by non-oil revenue, with emphasis on efficiency among strategic ministerial agencies and parastatals such as the Nigerian Customs Service, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation among others. In estimating the impact of lower commodities prices on performance of commodity export dependent economies, IMF in October 2015 projected that weak commodity prices could subtract almost one per cent on annual basis from the growth rate of commodity exporting countries between 2016 and 2017. The impact on energy exporters is projected to be more severe at about 2.5 per cent on the average over the same period.
Business Interview B4
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
Non-budget tracking responsible for decline in education standards
– NAPPS president Past President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management, (NIM) and Chairman, University of Port Harcourt Business School, Dr Sally Nkem Bolujoku has decried the deplorable conditions of public schools in Nigeria, arguing that the standard of education in the country is on a continual decline due to the inability of government and other concerned bodies to track budget implementation, hence the urgent need to overhaul the entire system. Dr Bolujoku who doubles as National President of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) and Managing Director, Titsall Nigeria Ltd, in this exclusive interview with MATHEW DADIYA, advocates for the establishment of a special bank that will cater for the funding gap in the education sector. Bolujoku called on the government to initiate a policy that will ban public office holders and civil servants from sending their kids to private schools as part of measures to improve the fortunes of public school system in Nigeria. The accomplished amazon disclosed that the Association has concluded plans to introduce a unified examination system for all private schools across the nation as a strategy for quality assurance, among other diverse issues. Excerpts: There have been this argument that the standard of education in Nigeria is falling, while few others disagree with such notion, to which of the divides do you belong? This question is a household question; personally, I don’t think that there is any divide on the issue of standard of education in the country. The issue has not divided us, it has rather united us, and the situation in Nigerian edu-
cation sector is the one that elicit one common view, which is that the standard is poor. So there is no divide in this matter, the result of WAEC shows that only 40 percent score five credits and above in the exams, while many graduates that roam our streets hardly can defend their certificates. These days we also hear of certificate being bought and you hear of people sitting on exams for other people. How then, do you think there is a divide when you see all
Dr. Sally
public schools in shambles, (unless of course in your own home towns they are good) but where I am coming from and places I had visited, public schools are nothing to write home about, only the private sector schools strive to keep good standard of education. Private school proprietors are the only people who obtain loans from the banks on very high interest rates and invest in Nigeria education system; they do not launder money nor engage in fraudulent practices. You can’t find their names in the Panama list. So, if you ask me I will say yes, the standard is generally poor. However, the private school system in Nigeria seems to be doing well. What is your assessment of government policies as it relates to education in Nigeria? What is the policy of government regarding education? Education is being funded by government in the public sector but I am not sure they track the budgets because if they do track the budgets, it will be delivering good education; isn’t it? But this particular APC government seems to be interested in education, by giving the sector second largest allocation in the budget. Nevertheless I would want them to monitor its implementation if effectiveness will be achieved. Anything short will leave us with same old-shabby-schools where students learn under the trees, where students
come to school with their own desks, where there are no libraries and teachers poorly remunerated. As you may be aware, in many rural areas poor nutrition is also a big challenge to learning and that is why we are advocating that government should introduce at least a meal a day for school pupils in the rural areas to address the shortfall in nutrition amongst the pupils. This is in addition to paying salaries of teachers regularly so as to motivate them to concentrate and teach and not abandon their duties for trading. So this is the way I look at it. In Nigeria, policy has never been the problem; we have wonderful policies on paper that if we export them to other nations, they would attain excellence in that sector using our policy framework. It will be noted that American, British, Canadian or Turkey curriculum used at early years of school will not produce a truly balanced Nigerian personality in our children. I doubt if any school in America or Britain will be allowed to use Nigerian curriculum in their countries. In the 60s and 70s Nigerian graduates were highly sought for across the globe but over time it deteriorated to the scenario you painted earlier where graduates cannot defend their certificates, at what point did we get it wrong? Where the government got it
wrong was in the area of integrity and in the area of political will to initiate and execute policies. These are the areas government is always getting it wrong in very sectors, no political will to implement policies. For instance; what prevents government from knowing that there are no desks in certain schools, or that the schools are dilapidated or that the hostels are dilapidating in the universities or that 50 students are packed in one room in the hostels? It is a question of supervision, and why would no body supervise these anomalies? If you go to the female hostels in the universities, it does not look like where decent people should live and we are training our leaders in those kinds of environments. So it is the political will to follow through the system, follow through the policies, follow through the processes, track the money, and if the money did not get to the project, whoever took it should be punished. This will deter others from taking money that is meant for education for their private purposes. I think the problem is the political will, who would be the leader that will lead by example, that will tell others to do the right thing and failure to do that attracts immediate sanction and removal from office. The attitude of the citizens is poor; we need attitudinal change in order CONTINUED ON PAGE B8
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
B5 Insurance
Access Bank, WAPIC, Ghana Life, partner for Bancassurance
Chief Lebi Omoboyowa, immediate past president of the Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria (ILAN) (2nd left); Mr. Ralph Opara, the newly invested president of the institute (2nd Right) flanked by members of the institute during the investiture of the 10th President in Lagos, recently.
Access Bank Ghana has partnered Wapic Insurance and Ghana Life Insurance companies to launch innovative insurance products for consumers in Ghana, in line with its strategy to build capacity in retail banking. The launch, which follows the signing of a strategic partnership agreement between Access Bank and the two insurance companies last year, will see Access Bank promote the sale of both general and life insurance products and services in all its 45 locations across the country. The insurance products unveiled to the public are the Shop owners Policy, Child Welfare Plan, Child Starter Plan, Asset All Risks Policy, Motor Insurance, Home and Personal Assets protection, Personal Accident Policy,
PenCom hunts unfaithful employers with EFCC, sets penalties Indications have emerged that the authorities of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) has approached the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute employers that victimised employees for blowing whistle on non-remittances of their pension contributions. PenCom in a submission made to the National Assembly, said it has been informed about a worrisome development where companies deducting pension contributions from the emoluments of their employees and not remitting same. “The employees often initiate investigations into the pension li-
abilities of companies by way of complaints. However, instances abound where complaints of this nature gravely expose the employee to loss of job and an ultimate price for whistle blowing on ground of the perpetuated illegalities of their employers. “The Commission views this as a financial crime and has accordingly approached the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to collaborate with it to address this situation,” PenCom said. The Commission noted that employers that fail to remit outstanding pension contributions and established penalties are further approached for civil com-
pliance through administrative mechanisms as set out in the Regime of Sanctions of the Commission, adding that the sanction regime include and are not limited to the issuance of demand letters, letters of warnings, letters of caution and outright sanctions. “Resort to litigation is the last option exercised by the Commission.” “As at 2014, two hundred and forty three (243) employers failed to remit outstanding pension contributions and that established penalties have been subjected to legal action and are at different stages of prosecution at the National Industrial Court,” it added. PenCom posited that its efforts at recovery are not without
unpleasant experiences, stressing that there abound situations where officers of the Commission and the Recovery Agents are accosted with hostility in the conduct of their assignments. It noted that oftentimes, its officers are not assisted with relevant information and that attempts to directly intervene often elicit no responses until litigation is commenced. “Some organizations often insinuate grand collusion to defraud them of the determined sums meant for their employees. Some of the organizations lay claim to alleged witch-hunt when prosecuted for non-compliance,” it added.
Transitional Plan and Retirement Assurance Plan. Speaking during a brief interaction at the newly refurbished Access Bank Head Office in Accra, the Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Dolapo Ogundimu noted that a buoyant insurance industry is critical to the growth of the Ghanaian economy and Access Bank is demonstrating its readiness to partner with insurers to espouse its relevance for national development. He added, “We are optimistic that with the introduction of our Bancassurance bouquet of products, our customers will find it easier and more convenient to own insurance policies, and help improve the current low rate of insurance owners in the country.” Unveiling the Bancassurance products, the Group Head for Personal Banking, Mr. Stephen Abban added that the introduction of Bancassurance was in fulfilment of the Bank’s strategy to introduce non-generic banking products as part of its total product bouquet that addresses the banking needs of customers. He cited the Shop owners’ policy for SME’s as a renewable policy that protects the shop and its content of the insurer in the event of fire, floods, theft and allied perils. It also covers third parties for damage to their properties, injury or death sustained at the shop. The Managing Director of Wapic Insurance, Mr. Adedayo Arowojolu stressed that “with the transformative leadership positioning that Wapic is bringing to the industry, the Bancassurance is a value adding partnership for the Bank’s customers that will provide affordable insurance products through exceptional quality service to protect customers against insurable risks.”
New ILAN boss seeks robust relationship with insurance operators Stories By Kayode Adelowokan The newly invested President of the Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria (ILAN), Ralph Opara, has assured the insurance industry that his reign would oil the relationship between the institute and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the entire industry players. Opera, who was speaking during his investiture as the 10th President of the Institute in Lagos, acknowledged that the institute cannot make enough progress without the support of the
industry’s regulator. He noted that 90 per cent of the businesses undertaken by loss adjusters come from the underwriters, hence, assured that the relationship would be enhanced. He also said that the same hands of fellowship would be extended to the brokers; agents and leadership of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN). While unveiling his agenda, the new ILAN President said that he has identified training of loss adjusters; establishment of the institute by an Act of the National Assembly; improving on
the relationship with other arms of the insurance industry and establishing a reference library in loss adjusting and related disciplines as his administration’s main priorities. He stressed that he hopes to build on the strides made by his predecessors. “I have had cause to visit the library of a few educational institutions that offer insurance and related courses and it is lamentable that there are virtually no books on insurance on their library shelves. If that is so for insurance, what then for loss adjusting that is relatively
unknown. “During my tenure, I intend to improve on the quantity and quality of books in ILAN library on various disciplines that are of relevance to insurance,” said he. He noted that ILAN is already discussing with the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusting (CILA) of the United Kingdom on the library project, adding that he hopes that by the end of his tenure in 2017, there would have been sufficient reference books to attract the interest of academic researchers and journalists. The Chairman of the event,
Chief P. C. Akujobi, lauded members of the institute for conducting themselves well in executing their businesses. He however urged the President to continue on the foundation put in place by his predecessors. Executive Director, Leadway Assurance Limited, Adetola Adegbayi, who delivered the investiture paper, entitled: The Role of Loss Adjusters within a Challenging Economy and Insurance Environment, urged loss adjusters to go beyond their duties to educate the public on the need for insurance.
Capital Market B6
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
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L-R: Medical Detailing Manager-Nigeria, Kraft Heinz, Mr. Victor Rowland; Consultant Cardiologist and Lecturer, LUTH/Guest Speaker, Dr. Casmir Amadi; Country Manager, Kraft Heinz West and Central Africa, Mr. Vincent Egbe and National Treasurer, Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), Alhaja Fatima Amodu at a Scientific Symposium organised by Kraft Heinz Company in Lagos... on Wednesday.
ETI, Old Mutual publicise fresh strategic agreement Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), parent company of the Ecobank Group, and Old Mutual Emerging Markets (OMEM), a part of the Old Mutual Group, have announced a new strategic agreement that will strengthen existing ties between the leading pan-African bank and the insurance and asset management giant. Old Mutual Emerging Markets currently has a bancassurance partnership with the Ecobank Group, but this latest agreement will grow the existing strategic alliance by offering seamless insurance
services to Ecobank clients across selected countries where the two groups have operations. Clients will benefit mutually though access to a range of financial services that include life insurance, savings and short-term insurance solutions across a greater network on the African continent. Ecobank Group CEO Ade Ayeyemi said plans for the integrated model include providing access to Old Mutual solutions for Ecobank’s banking operations across selected countries. “This is a productive and valued partnership between two pan-African
institutions to provide complete financial services solutions to our customers,” he said. Ralph Mupita, CEO of Old Mutual Emerging Markets, said: “It is in our mutual interest to ensure that this alliance grows from strength to strength, as we now look to complement Ecobank’s range of banking services to its customers with Old Mutual’s trusted financial products across the Ecobank network on the continent.” Signed by both company chief executives at the Ecobank Group’s Lome head office on Friday, the new agreement goes into immediate effect.
The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 2.55 percent and 2.36 percent to close last week at 27,116.45 and N9.313 trillion respectively. Similarly, all other Indices finished higher during the week under review, with the exception of the NSE ASeM Index, NSE Insurance Index and the NSE Oil/Gas Index that declined by 0.03 percent, 1.73 percent and 0.76 percent. In the course of the week, a total of 2.446 billion shares worth N13.145 billion in 23,680 deals were traded by investors on the floor of The Exchange in contrast to a total of 1.826 billion shares valued at N14.468 billion that exchanged hands previously in 20,058 deals. Last week, thirty-five (35) equities appreciated in price, lower than Fifty-four (54) equities of the previous week. Thirty-seven (37) equities depreciated in price, higher than Seventeen (17) equities of the previous week, while one hundred and nine (109) equities remained unchanged lower than one hundred and eighteen (118) equities of the previous week. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 2.012 billion shares valued at N9.493 billion
traded in 14,200 deals; thus contributing 82.26 percent and 72.22 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with 208.483 million shares worth N268.053 million in 1,134 deals. The third place was occupied by the Oil And Gas Industry with a turnover of 80.269 million shares worth N692.612 million in 2,826 deals. Trading in the Top Three Equities namely – Wema Bank Plc, Zenith International Bank Plc and Access Bank Plc.(measured by volume) accounted for 871.331 million shares worth N5.297 billion in 3,956 deals, contributing 35.63 percent and 40.30 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. Also traded last week were a total of 307,411 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N21.406 million executed in 38 deals, compared with a total of 382,448 units valued at N10.288 million transacted last week in 43 deals. A total of 4,143 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N4.248 million were traded in 8 deals compared to a total of 8,033 units of Federal Government valued at N8.923 million transacted last week in 6 deals.
Summary of activities on NSE ASI
27,116.45
DEALS
4,902.00
VOLUME
559,079,724.00
VALUE
3,592,482,660.90
CAP
9,313,358,078,659.37
NSE delists 8 companies over listing rules violation ÏƟƠ Ǝ Ƅƍ Ǝ ƅ ƉƉ Ƒ Stories by Afolabi Adesola The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has notified the investing public that for violating listing rules, IPWA Plc, G. Cappa Plc, West African Glass Industries Plc (WAGI) and Investment & Allied Insurance Plc. have been delisted from the Exchange’s daily official list, following approval by the Quotations Committee of the National Council (QCN) of The NSE. The information obtained from the NSE’s weekly report made available to Daily Times noted that the delisting of the companies which also include
Aluminium Manufacturing Company (ALUMACO) Plc, Jos International Breweries Plc, Adswitch Plc and Rokanna Plc. takes effect from 18th May 2016. According to the latest compliance report of the NSE, the QCN has also approved the delisting process of Costain (W.A.) Plc, Deap Capital Management Plc, Evans Medical Plc, International Energy Insurance Plc, Lennards (Nigeria) Plc and P.S. Mandrides & Company Plc from its daily official list. Others to be delisted include Premier Breweries Plc, Navitus Energy Plc, Nigerian Ropes Plc, MTI Plc and Mtech Plc.
Vono Products Plc will undergo voluntary delisting due to merger with Vitafoam, while Tourist Company of Nigeria Plc. will be also be voluntarily delisted due to free float deficiency. Meanwhile, shareholders of the delisted companies have frowned at the act, stating that non-submission of quarterly or yearly financial accounts by quoted companies could be a ploy by those that want to exit the market to force the NSE to delist them on its own, thereby escaping the rigours of delisting process, which they claim is cumbersome.
While some of the companies are being delisted for failure to file their quarterly and annual financial reports and accounts with the NSE, some others will face the same fate for failing to regularise their listing status with the Exchange after being given time to do so. IPWA Plc listed on industrial goods-Building Materials subsector contributes N257 million to the NSE’s market capitalisation while delisting of G Cappa, a construction/real estate company listed under building structure/completion sub-sector, will also wipe N1.8 billion from investors’ investment. Delisting of another industrial goods- Packaging/Containers sub-sector company, West
African Glass Industries Plc (WAGI) – will wipe N131 million from the market capitalisation; Investment & Allied Insurance Plc, listed in insurance sector will cost investors N14 billion, while Jos international Breweries, another consumer goods listed company’s delisting will deplete investors’ wealth by N809.28 million. The delisting of ALUMACO Plc will cost investors N557 million. Delisting of Rokanna Plc and Adswitch Plc will cost investors N30 million and N203.8 million respectively. Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema, recently expressed that, “We do have continuing listing standard and we will continue to enforce it.
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
B7 Capital Market
NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) 20-05-2016
Business Interview B8
Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 23, 2016
‘Non-budget tracking responsible for decline in education standards’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE B4
to get things right in Nigeria, including education. For instance, if you pack all of us to Britain today, and bring all the Britons to Nigeria, in two years, we would not have light and water in Britain but in those two years, the Britons will take the challenge and build a new nation in Nigeria, and we will start to come back here to buy houses and live, it is all about attitude. Where is the political leader who will stand and tell us the need to re-orientate our mindset and behavior, insist that we must go back to the values of our fathers and the core values in the constitution of Nigeria? Chapter 2 sub section 23 of Nigerian constitution prescribed seven core values for the nation. Who will then rise and say that this country must live in accordance with these core values. That everybody will go to work promptly, and everybody will be on their desk every day and do their schedules. Who will initiate and implement that? Who will now make sure that students are in school, and that teachers are there to teach them? Who will monitor the teachers to ensure that they close at agreed time, as well as ensure that the bad desks are fixed for the pupils to sit on and take their lessons? Considering the fact that some private schools also have poor facilities, what is your association doing to enhance quality of education in private schools in Nigerian? We are currently undertaking a census of all our schools, we want to know how many private schools we have in Nigeria and we are advocating that all private schools in Nigeria should register with NAPPS. We have asked the National Assembly to give us an establishment Act, because if we have it, we can enforce compliance and all our criterion must be met by school owners. If any school owner fails to meet our criteria, we apply appropriate sanction including a recommendation for closure. Education is life. It is too important in the life of a person and of a nation that we cannot afford to toy with it. We have asked for the Act, we will also be having a unified examinations, our committee is working out the modalities for it to go nationwide. Some states like Lagos, Ogun and Anambra have since started the unified examination. So what that entail, is that at the end of every term, each school can just go to our national data bank to
collect prepared question papers for their classes, from the Basic school to the secondary grades. So each proprietor would just teach with the approved curriculum and collect questions from the bank and administer at the end of each term. If students are failing our tests, the proprietor will know that it is time to retrain or recruit better teachers. Apart from unified examination as a sure quality assurance mechanism, we are also planning to develop a robust consultancy outfit that will serve as a training center for our employees. What can be done to ensure that private school is affordable to less privileged children bearing in mind the exorbitant prices charged by private school owners? I do not even agree with you that private schools are expensive. Some anonymous person said that ‘if you think education is expensive, try ignorance’ I do not think education is expensive, you know why, because nobody can really pay a teacher. Let me give you an analogy, I asked parents to come and help us in the nursery class, and the first parent that came to help us, the husband said she could not wake up the next morning. When she came to see me she said, “Mummy, is that what the teachers in the Nursery classes face every day? If I am a nursery teacher I will take triple the salary paid to tutors in the secondary school. You see, nobody can really pay teachers; it is like you saying that you want to pay your mother. Can you pay your mother for all she has done for you? Salary bills are heave on private schools. Things are expensive, and teachers are living in similar houses their colleagues in other industries are living in. They go through the same transportation system; their own children go to schools also isn’t it? And so teachers are demanding good and huge salary, if you don’t pay good salary they keep moving from school to school. So we are paying good salary and even, that good salary seems not to be good enough. It’s just because we are in Nigeria. I would want the government to develop the public schools so that every child would have access to quality education. I have never seen where governments don’t train their children in public schools. In America and the United Kingdom public schools are at the top. In 2006 I was in UK when, the minister of education in UK called Secretary of Educa-
Dr. Sally
“I have called for that in every of my speeches. We used to have education trust fund and then we use to have education bank but it was not giving any loans to help private schools owners” tion was summoned by the House of Commons summoned her because she took one of her daughters to a private school. They queried her for doing that and she explained that her daughter had a special need. All the members of the House of Common jumped to their and shouted her down saying, if an average British home had a child with a special need where would the parent take him to? Could they afford private schooling? Why had she not fixed their public own schools to the point of meeting special needs? Why have you not taken care of our schools to be able to carter for the average children with special needs? So they asked her to resign and the following morn-
ing she tendered her resignation letter. So my answer here is that government should take care of the public schools, let it be like the standards of the 70s and 80s. I am a product of the public school; most of us who are in our 50s and 60s are products of the public schools. Our public schools were very good; missions’ schools were basically public schools because they were running like public schools and charging little or no fees. There is no time private education would be cheap, because of what they invested into it? We buy the land, pay land premium every year; I pay five hundred thousand naira for this land as premium every year and I pay tenement rate, contributory pension, social
security, I pay for my signboard, and recently PTF is after schools for some kind of levy. This multiple taxation unleashed on private schools are burdensome. So it will not be cheaper, it is going to be more expensive going forward unless the government aids us in the area of soft loans. Many of your members complained that it is very cumbersome to acquire land for school in FCT, what is your association doing to address that? We have time without number met every minister of FCT to request for land to be allocated to our members who want to expand their schools or those who want to venture into school business but without success. I have applied for land for secondary school for more than 15 years now and I have not gotten, so we buy land at a very exorbitant price, so how is private schooling going to be cheap? Every time government is taxing us, they don’t even realize that these taxes would be put back to them in terms of high school fees. And all government officials have their children and wards in Private schools. How I wish that there will be a law that will ban politicians and civil servants from sending their children to private schools. Only then would they begin to track the budget for education. They would have a stake to building and renovating public schools. In Britain, no civil servant or politician is allowed to take their children to private schools. Some of your members are also advocating for the creation of Bank of Education, do you share same sentiment? I have called for that in every of my speeches. We used to have education trust fund and then we use to have education bank but it was not giving any loans to help private schools owners. As you may know, bank of industry and bank of agriculture was established to assist agro-allied businesses and SMEs. Many of our schools qualified as SMEs. It would be in our interest to have an education bank where soft loans would be given to private schools owners so that we can access money and find it easy to run schools and to pay the teachers. We would definitely not charge high school fees. In the time past, private schools were given grantsin-aid by the government because public schools were the best at the time and they decided to be giving grants-in-aid to private schools owners and to mission schools.
Life&
Times Monday, May 23, 2016
Ice
Prince Exits Chocolate city
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P
Buzz Byte
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Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 23, 2016
Mutiat Alli
Ice Prince exits Choc city label With the growing record label ownership by musicians since the
Mike Dada
AFRIMA: Union announces 2016 calendar in Gambia …Holds AUC-AFRIMA Conference
programmes and calendar of the annual continental awards, All Africa Music Awards, tagged “AFRIMA 3.0,” at an AUC-AFRIMA music/ cultural and media conference scheduled to hold between May 21-25 during the commemoration of the 10th African Union Youth Charter in Banjul, Gambia. At the event, the AUC and the international Committee will reveal the dates and timelines for submission of entry and Guidelines, AFRIMA Award ceremonies. In a letter of invitation addressed to AFRIMA delegates from the African Union Commission (AUC) signed by Dr. Marie-Goretii Harakeye, the Acting Director of Social Affairs, it states that the conference will bring together award winning music stars, creative/ entertainment industry stakeholders, cultural enthusiasts government
Chocolate city record and rapper, Panshak Zamani, popularly known as Ice Prince, may be toeing that line too as he recently revealed via radio chat that he is no longer a signed act on the imprint of Chocolate city records. Ice Prince few days ago released another single with Mavin act, Korede
conspicuously missing. Ice prince to stretch the company that far, but the last three years has been very cordial”. He continued: “We chose to stay with the label even without signing papers because we understood the essence of loyalty, we are matured and we are one big family”. Concluding, he said: “So let me clarify once again that no one walked out of a contract, Audu will always remain his godfather and MI Abaga will always remain his mentor”.
‘Baby mama’: Nollywood actress Toyin Aimakhu urges young women to be careful Nollywood actress, Toyin Aimakhu has advised women to think carefully before taking any decision that will change their lives irrevocably. The actress, who posted this on her Instagram page recently was reacting to the trend where young ladies preferred to have a child or
There will also be a robust and intellectual session on the theme: “Using Music, Culture and Entertainment as Tools for a New Africa”. It will be a forum for discussion on how to engage the values and spirit of Pan-Africanism for greater collaborations in culture and music for sustainable development, in line with the African Union cultural agenda for peace, integration, democracy, economic advancement and social development. The 10th African Union Youth Charter Conference featuring a high level roundtable and intergenerational dialogue and cultural presentations will witness a convergence of participants including President, Islamic Republic of Gambia, His Excellency, Sheikh (Dr.) Yahya Jammeh Babili Mansa; Vice President, Dr. Isatou NjieSaidy; Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Alieu K. Jammeh; Commissioner for Social Affairs, Africa Union Commission, Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko; and President, Pan African Youth Union, Ms. Francine Muyumba.
Tekno, Falz, others are MTN Pulse ambassadors
Life&
T E A M
Talented musicians that includes Made Men Music act, Tekno, Comic musician, Falz and Skales have been announced as ambassadors for the newly re-launched product, MTN Pulse, a youth oriented data and lifestyle plan. The trio will be joining the likes of Tiwa Savage, Sound Sultan, Kcee, Don Jazzy, Banky W and others who are also ambassadors of the telecommunication brand. However, the trio in no short moment since its unveiling have featured in few ad commercials that will be begin airing anytime soon. Fans are already full of
expectation on what the Falz character will look like in the commercials as he has gained more popularity since his debut into music scene with his Falz accent.
children for celebrities out of wedlock. mother until love turns you into a wife. With the current baby mama trend in our society today, it is advisable we think carefully before taking any step that will irrevocably change Similarly, Dancehall singer, Patoranking said he was not interested in going along with the trend. Patoranking, born Patrick Okorie, who took to social media to disclose his relationship status, revealed that he was still single and more concerned about his career. ``If I tell you that I want to marry right now, would you not lie me down and beat me? I am single. `Right now, I am just concerned about my career and family. Marriage is
Toyin
Patoranking
he wrote.
Wizkid to perform with American star, Chris Brown perform alongside American star, Chris Brown at the one hell of a nite concert billed to hold at the Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam on June 11, 2016. Wizkid has made laudable achievement this year with Drake and Kyla, which is currently the number 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other acts scheduled to perform on the night includes R&B singer, August Alsina, rappers French Montana and Cassey Veggies, singer Hoody Baby. It would be recalled that Wizkid and Chris Brown
Tekno
Entertainment Correspondent Mutiat Alli
Chris Brown and Wizkid
May 2015, in South Africa.
Society Correspondent Abimbola Obatayo
Photography Quadri Olowolagba
Graphics Daniel Ekiye
Daily Times Nigeria
Monday May 23, 2016
L3 Mixed Grill
Mutiat Alli
Food art exhibition and online contest reward participants ..As Samsung collaborates with Rele Gallery Samsung Electronics West Africa and contemporary art space, Rele Gallery have collaborated to present an unprecedented culinary art and photography exhibition as well as online competition, with the theme
prominent photographers, Kelechi Amadi-
by three leading chefs, Tiyan Alile, Ozoz
The Food Art competition engaged talented Nigerians from all over the country trying their hands at culinary artistry by creating an
edge Smartphone was used to capture the photographs showcased at the exhibition. The exhibition was preceded by an online culinary art contest which attracted over 300 entries from across the country and produced three winners who were announced at a private
the exhibition theme. Entries were uploaded by participants on www.techmeetsart.ng, who also stated what inspired their food art. All entries were judged by a reputable panel of chefs and photographers based on published guidelines.
West Africa, expressed satisfaction with the quality of entries received, while reiterating more exciting. imperative in life, and two of them include food and technology. The collaboration between Samsung and Rele Gallery has produced the
inspiration from Nigerian cuisine created
technology helps to enhance art on different
L-R: Ms. Olajumoke Okikiolu, Head, Product Marketing, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa; Chef Ozoz Sokoh; Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa; Chefs Tiyan Alile and Dunni Obata at a Private Viewing to start off the Samsung and Rele Gallery’s #TechMeetsArtNG initiative “What’s Cooking”, a Culinary Art and Photography Exhibition, at the Rele Gallery, Onikan
is all about fusing technology and art as well as food. The special culinary delights were brought into focus with the use of Samsung
an unfamiliar relationship over the years with many people wondering what the nature of this relationship is. Art and technology derive strength and inspiration from one another. Hosting a competition among chefs With this novelty, Samsung is rebooting the relationship between art and technology by being a part of exhibitions and initiatives that will foster new collaborations across both
photographers such as Kelechi Amadi-Obi art food created by all three distinguished “Rele Gallery is committed to changing the way we consume; navigate the world around food is much more than something we eat, through this project we highlight that there is
Femi Adebayo heralds Asa wa stage play
Wakaa! ‘The Musical’ to show at London’s west end show produced and directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters is due to transfer to the
capital. It is a stage play about the trials, successes and experiences of young
social commentary, part satire, but all singing and dancing. “This is coming in response to growing interests in productions of African origin across
is also to commemorate the 5th year anniversary of the Kwara State Governor, Femi Adebayo and others Talented actor cum special adviser to the Kwara
Bolanle Austen-Peters at a press conference to announce the stage play. “The show is a contemporary socio-cultural and contemporary production celebrating the diverse, yet homogeneous, people and culture of Nigeria. There is a large Nigerian and Afrointerested, and yearning to see world class
talented and creative youths involved in the production with opportunities to experience the UK creative space and technology driving the UK creative industry. It has attracted the endorsement and support of
Industry.
New single Alert Versatile rapper cum lyricist on the roll, Vector Tha Viper is sure one the leading rappers in Nigeria with several hits to his credit. The Emi crooner vibes on a new beat
Adebayo has disclosed that all is now set towards
Kwara State Government House, Ilorin. According to Adebayo, the motive behind the
event will equal unify beautiful cultures of the different ethnic groups of Kwara State which includes Nupe, Yoruba, Fulani, Baruwa and others. Expected to grace the event includes
Ademola, Fathia Williams, Lateef Adedimeji, Lasun Ray, Olaniyi Afonja
domestic and foreign investors, thereby becoming a viable source of revenue for the state. He said the
MultiChoice bags Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Award Leading
video
entertainment
company,
Excellence in Pay TV Services at the Lagos
celebrate private and public institutions operating in Nigeria for best business practices, growth through innovation, business sustainability as well as positive impact on people and the society. Receiving the award, Hasiya Abdu, representative of the managing director,
John Ugbe
chamber for the recognition. and institutions that have contributed to providing excellent services to its subscribers. “We remain committed in providing quality paytv service to our subscribers and will continue to bring innovative technology to the business of pay-
Vector goes witty and lyrical on a lady who has plans to reject his sexual advances. He also goes further and sarcastically goes in on a guy without set priorities. said the awards recognise corporate organisations
economy. She noted that the chamber promotes healthy competition as competition promotes value creation. Launched in 1888, the Lagos
commerce in Nigeria with membership strength of over 1, 500 institutions spread across all sectors and subsectors of the economy.
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Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 23, 2016
Daily Times Nigeria
Monday May 23, 2016
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Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 23, 2016
Daily Times Nigeria
Monday May 23, 2016
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Nutrition L6
Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 23, 2016
Emmanuel Blessing
Want to
?
lose weight
Eat Pawpaws
Papaya fruit is another gift of Mexicans to things world. This exotic fruit, popularly known as pawpaw, is packed with numerous health
industry. Botanically, the plant belongs to
calories/100 g) and contains no cholesterol;
papayas (Pawpaw) Papaya tree bears many spherical or pearshaped fruits clumped near its top end of the
originated in the Central Americas. Papaya plant
latex, papain, and an enzyme that found wide applications in the food
for 6-20 inches in length and 4-12 inches in
Christopher
an
thereby reducing constipation problems.
papayas as the fruit of the angels. The fruit which is extremely rich in Vitamin C has a wide range of
of in oranges, or lemons). Research studies
fruit option to include in your diet. Here are some of the top health
about a pound. The fruit is said to ripen when it yields to gentle thumb pressure, and its skin features numerous back peppercorn like seeds, encased in a mucin coat, at its hollow central color with either yellow or pink hues, soft in consistency and has deliciously sweet,
cholesterol build up in your arteries. Too much cholesterol
fruit is closely related to papaya, and papaya.
Columbus,
and cryptoxanthin. Vitamin A is required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and
diseases including heart attack and hypertension. Those looking to lose weight must include papaya in their diet
low in calories (just 39
processes. Consumption of natural fruits rich in carotenes has known to protect the body for lung and oral
you feeling full and also clears
rich in many essential B-
that can make you really sick. A single papaya contains more than 200% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C, making it great for your immunity.
are essential in the see that body requires them from external sources to replenish and
your weight loss regime easier. Your immunity system acts as
Papaya is an excellent food option for diabetics as it has a it is sweet to taste. Also, people
a good amount of potassium (257 mg per 100 g) and calcium. Potassium is an important component of cell and rate and blood pressure countering effects of sodium. natural really for many ailments in the traditional medicines. The seeds can be found application analgesic, and used to treat stomachache, and ringworm infections
happening. Papaya is rich in Vitamin A from degenerating. Nobody wants to lose their ability to see due to diseases like age-33 related macular degeneration, and eating papayas will ensure that you do not see a day where you cannot see.
Daily Times Nigeria
Monday May 23, 2016
Ayomide Omoniyi
L7 Wellness
Lose that weight without starving
not built in a day so one has to be patient when trying to lose weight. Weight is not all about food, so while trying to lose weight, do not starve yourself because starving yourself will only lead to some other sickness in the body. You could try healthy diet and lots of exercise instead. Here are some tips to burn stored fats in the body 1. Stop emotional eating:
2. Cut back on carbohydrate:
5. Take a lot of vegetables:
6. Exercise: I
3. Avoid sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages: 7. Self-discipline:
4. Eat more protein:
Daily Times Nigeria
Monday May 23, 2016
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