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Henry Omunu, Abuja

ÏÏÏ Speaker

of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday, accused governors of the 36 states of abusing the joint account and using allocations to local government

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councils from the federation account as slush funds.

He therefore reiterated the resolve of the National Assembly to grant financial autonomy to the 774 councils in the country.

Dogara, in a statement by Continued on page 6

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 246

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GAINERS AS AT November 30, 2016 CADBURY

Govs using LG allocations as slush funds, Dogara laments

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LOSERS AS AT November 30, 2016

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DANGCEM

Data rate hike: Senate stops NCC Ï Says hike unholy, unfriendly Ï Invites Communications Minister, NCC, network providers for talks Ï Gives Auditor-General, AG 7 days to reconcile 2011 Federation Account Ï Queries non-rendition of mandatory annual reports by FAAC to NASS

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Olufemi Samuel and Chris Emetoh, Abuja

ÏÏÏ The Senate on Wednes-

day pandered to the outcry

by Nigerians against the plan by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to increase the tariff for data by the GSM providers, just as it ordered the Commission to put the plan on hold.

It also summoned the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and network providers to appear before its Committee Continued on page 6

PDP senators stage walk out over defection

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El-Rufai, a parasite to Buhari’s govt –Sani

Sokoto state Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (middle) and UNICEF, DFID officials after a meeting on promotion of girl-child education in the state… on Tuesday.

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A’Court orders 5 retrial of ex-Lagos Speaker, others

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

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Editorial Rise in mental disorder in Nigeria

R

ecently, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye disclosed that more than 60 million Nigerians are suffering from various degrees of mental disorder. In the same vein, he revealed that 80 per cent of people move about with one mental disorder without knowing or seeking for help, while 25 per cent has advanced cases of mental illness in the country. We are alarmed at this development and call for concerted efforts by the authorities to stem the increasing mental disorder among Nigerians. As an ailment and societal problem, mental illness affects the socio-economic and political growth of any society, Nigeria inclusive.

This fright probably derives from the reality that a society with large numbers of mentally ill persons is unproductive and backward. Experts define mental illness as a spectrum of behaviours characterised by certain abnormal mental or behavioural pattern. It may manifest as violations of societal norms, including the mentally ill becoming a danger to themselves or others. There is no denying that, the risk factors associated with more Nigerians becoming mentally ill is better imagined than experienced.

Commentators posit that the causes of mental disorder include biological, psychological, environmental and more profoundly economic factors.

Even at that, the manner in which the society treats those with mental disorder is uncivilised. For example, it is a fact that many of them are deprived of their dignity and basic human rights, including freedom from violence, abuse and discrimination.

Such discriminatory attitude can have a profound impact on the victims, even as it affects their ability to sustain relationships, work, or just get through the day. However, an ill-informed and damaging attitude among

some people exists around mental health that can make it difficult for some to seek help.

It is estimated that only about a quarter of Nigerians with a mental health problem receive ongoing treatment, leaving the majority of sufferers on their own, seeking help or information and dependent on the informal support of family, friends or colleagues.

This should not be so. We are sad and discomfited by the fact that the federal and state governments are not giving enough priority and resources to institutions and other volunteer groups catering for those with mental health problems in the country.

We are scandalised that the few institutions catering for the mentally ill are mostly privately owned, especially by religious bodies. More embarrassing is that majority of them are not only old and run down, they lack modern and sophisticated tools to cater for the increasing numbers of mentally ill patients. Definitely, the health authorities are to blame for the sorry state of Nigeria’s mental institutions.

This is because both federal and state governments are yet to enact far-reaching policies that recognise mental health as a national emergency with a view to addressing it. Due to stigma, most sufferers are usually locked up in institutions where they are isolated and potentially subjected to abuse.

There is no denying that stigma can have a knock-on effect on employment, which hinders someone socially and economically. Mental illness is not something to be ashamed of. We all have mental health that needs to be taken care of in the same way, we all have physical health. Therefore, the best way we can deal with this issue is to treat it like any other health concern, giving whatever support and understanding that there is nothing wrong, shameful or weird about suffering mental illness.

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L-R: Ondo state Governor-elect, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN); his wife, Betty and INEC Commissioner, Prince Adeji Soyebi, during the presentation of certificate of return to Akeredolu in Ondo … on Wednesday.

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Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (left), presents a souvenir to the National President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr. Honour Sirawoo, when Sirawoo led the leadership of the association on a courtesy visit to Saraki in Abuja… on Wednesday.

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L-R: Representative of Lagos State, Commissioner of Health, Dr. Eniola Erinosho; Managing Director, Huawei Nigeria, Mr. Frank Li; Managing Director, Access Bank Plc., Mr. Herbert Wigwe and Chief Executive officer, Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, during a press conference on Zero Initiative

by Access Bank Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria and Huawei Technology in Lagos… on Wednesday.

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Goodluck Jonathan

Matthew Ashimolowo

Julius Nyerere

“Nobody’s political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian”.

“If you must make a difference in life, then change your mind set”.

“Independence cannot be real if a nation depends upon gifts.”

4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Akeredolu presents INEC’s Certificate of Returns to APC Ï Ə ƆƗ Ɛ Ɛ ƊƆ Ɛ ƇƇ Ƌ ƏƈƆ ƍƏƈ ƏƈƐƕ Tom Okpe, Abuja Governor-elect of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and his deputy yesterday presented their certificate of returns from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun at the party Secretariat in Abuja.

Oyegun who used the occasion to reiterate on APC’s commitment to free, fair and credible primaries in future elections, added that it was the only way the ethics of democracy as the government of the people, by the people and for the people could be meaningful.

He told the governor-elect to immediately ensure the payment of worker’s salary as soon as he takes over, saying, “People who work must deserve their pay and I hope that would be your first priority”.

On the primaries that brought the Governor-elect, Oyegun said, “The entire process that led to him being our candidate happened before the camera. He was able to convince the APC that he was the rightful candidate for the people of Ondo State.

“Despite the controversy generated, the party stood firmly behind its decision not to change the candidate as demanded by some chieftains of the party insisting that the primaries were free, fair and done in the open for all to see.”

Akeredolu in his response assured the party that with the success attained in Ondo State, the next target is neighboring Ekiti State in 2018, maintaining that victory will be ensured for APC governorship election.

“I remember during my campaign, I promised that immediately we win Ondo, we will move to liberate Ekiti State. I want to assure you that the people are

already rooting for us in Ekiti and I want to assure you that we will win Ekiti,” he said.

He pointed out that the victory he achieved was not his victory alone, but for the larger APC family and to a greater extent to the doggedness, perseverance and his stickler for honesty and integrity.

Meanwhile, the APC Chairman, Oyegun also inaugurated the Campaign Council for the December 10 re-run of the River State National Assembly election and the State Assembly.

The Committee, which has Governor Umar Ganduje as Chairman, the Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, his Oyo, Ogun, Bauchi counterparts as well as the immediate past Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole with Timi Alaibe and Gen. Charles Ahiavhare (Rtd) as members was charged with the responsibility of ensuring that all the APC candidates in the election are successful.

FG sacks NTDC DG, Sally Mbanefo Director General (DG) of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs. Sally Mbanefo, has been removed from the office.

Mbanefo’s disengagement was contained in a letter dated Sunday, November 27, 2016; signed by the Secretary to Federal Government (SFG), Mr. Babachir David Lawal and titled “Notification of de-secondment from the Nigeria Tour-

ism Development Corporation NTDC.” “I refer to the attached letter, Ref. No. SGF.6/S.23/1/568 of 8th October 2013 in respect of your secondment from the Keystone Bank Limited to serve as Executive Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) for a period of two years with effect from 6th May 2013.

“You may note from the fore-

going that the period of your secondment at the corporation had since lapsed on 5th May 2016. ’Consequently, you are to handover the affairs of the corporation to the most senior officer on or before Wednesday, 30th November, 2016’’ read, the SGF’s letter read.

The sacked DG was appointed by the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan in May 2013.

Stowaway found dead in Arik plane Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The lifeless body of a stowaway was on Wednesday found in the main wheel well of Arik Air’s A330-200 aircraft at the Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.

According to the communication manager of Arik air Mr. Ola Banji, the aircraft operated the scheduled Lagos-Johannesburg flight that departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) at

3:55pm on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 and arrived Johannesburg shortly before 11pm.

Banji said engineers of South African Airways Technical facility at the Oliver Tambo International Airport where the aircraft was scheduled for a routine maintenance check discovered the body of the stowaway during inspection phase.

According to him, investigation has commenced to determine how the stowaway found his way into the aircraft’s main wheel well.

It will be recalled that on March 14, 2015, an unidentified suspected stowaway was found dead in undercarriage of an Arik Air aircraft at the MMIA in Lagos.

Three years ago, Daniel Ohikhena, a young Nigerian teenager, hid in the tyre compartment of Arik Air from Benin to Lagos.

Ohikhena was lucky to make it alive to the Lagos airport and was even handsomely rewarded by the then Edo state governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.

5 News

A’ court orders re-trial of ex- Lagos Speaker, others Peter Fowoyo Two years after a Federal High Court, Ikoyi Lagos cleared former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon, Adeyemi Ikuforiji and his Personal Assistant (PA), Oyebode Atoyebi of allegations of money laundering, a Lagos division of the Court of Appeal has set aside the ruling.

The appellate court set aside the verdict of Justice Ibrahim Buba, holding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had made out a prima facie case against the former Speaker to require him enter a defence to the charge brought against him.

Justice Biobela Georgewill also ordered that trial should start ‘de novo’ (afresh) before another judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos other than Justice Buba in the light of the far-reaching findings already made by him.

Other members of the threeman panel are: Justice Side Dauda Bage and Justice Ugochukwu Ogakwu.

It would be recalled that Jus-

tice Buba had on September 26, 2014, discharged Ikuforiji Atoyebi of a 56 count charge of conspiracy and laundering the sum of N500 million belonging to the Assembly, an offences which according to the EFCC contravened sections 15 (1d) and 16(1d) of Money Laundry Act, MLA, 2004 and 2011.

The Judge, who discharged the Speaker and Atoyebi, while ruling on a no case submission filed by the duo, held that the EFCC failed to establish a prima-facie case against the accused persons and also failed to proof any of the ingredients of the crime of money laundering.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, the EFCC through its counsel, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN) in the Notice of Appeal dated September 30, 2014 asked the Court of Appeal to hold that Justice Buba erred in law, when he held and concluded that counts 2-48 are incompetent, because they were filed pursuant to Section 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 which said law was repealed by the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

FROM THE AR CHIVES

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Data rate hike: Senate stops NCC Continued from page 1

on Communications to explain the rationale behind the decision to increase data tariffs.

In what seemed like a twist, the NCC shortly after the Senate ordered it to suspend its plan on tariff increase, announced through a press statement that it had resolved to put the plan on hold to enable it engage in further consultations on the issue.

In the same breath, the Senate mandated its Committee on Communications to commence a comprehensive investigation into the matter, which has generated a range of controversies across the country and report back to it within one week.

This is even as the Public Accounts Committee of the Senate on Wednesday mandated the offices of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Auditor General of the Federation to quickly reconcile, within one week, discrepancies on their reports on the accounts of the federation of Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The decision by the Senate against tariff increase was sequel to a motion moved by Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, during which he condemned the planned hike in data tariffs, saying it would further impoverish the people.

Also speaking on the matter, vice chairman of the Committee on Communications, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC Lagos West), described the policy as not only ‘unholy’ but also ‘unfriendly’.

He assured the Senate that the committee would act on the mandate and report back to it next Tuesday.

“We are up to the task. And I can assure the Senate that we will swing into action immediately. We will invite all the necessary agencies that are involved in this pol-

icy that is unholy and unfriendly and get back to the Senate unfailingly on Tuesday,” he said.

In his remark, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, accused the NCC of failing to carry out enough consultations before announcing the policy.

He also asked the committee to investigate allegations of noncompliance with laid down regulations by telecoms operators.

NCC had in a letter addressed to telecoms operators on November 1, 2016, put the interim floor price for data services at 0.90k/ MB for big operators, adding that “this rate will subsist pending the finalisation of the study on the determination of cost based pricing for retail broadband and data services in Nigeria.”

It added: “In order to provide a level playing field for all operators in the industry, small operators and new entrants to acquire market share and operate profitably, small operators and new entrants are hereby exempted for the price floor for data services.

“For the avoidance of doubt, a small operator is one that has less than 7.5 percent market share and a new entrant is an operator that has operated less than three years in the market. All operators are to ensure that subscribers are not automatically migrated to pay-asyou-go platform. Also, note that effective date for the interim price floor is December 1, 2016.”

The MTN had already began implementation of the tariff increase, sending text messages to its customers on Monday, announcing the hike in its data tariffs beginning today.

“Dear customer, please be informed that from December 1, some MTN data tariffs will be increased to reflect the new rates set by the NCC to operators,” the text read.

Also on Wednesday, the Public Accounts Committee of the

Senate mandated the offices of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Auditor General of the Federation to quickly reconcile, within one week, discrepancies in their reports on the accounts of the federation of Nigeria for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The directive followed the inability of both the Accountant General and the Auditor General to agree on figures as submitted to the Senate committee, respectively, by both offices.

The committee chairman, Senator Andy Uba, had expressed dissatisfaction with report of deductions from revenue generating agencies, the management of the federation account by the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation centering on revenues inflows into the federation account, concessional rentals in arrears and revenue budget performances of collecting agencies.

The Senate Public Accounts Committee also queried the nonrendition of mandatory annual report by the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) to National Assembly, the distribution of federation account revenues to federal, states and local governments, as well as the extra budgetary spending on petroleum support fund (subsidy) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), including the NNPC, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Customs Services, and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), among others.

The public hearing according to Senator Uba was equally necessitated by unauthorised deduction at source of joint cash calls of N1, 011, 205,752,063 and subsidy of N785, 908,667,932.18 respectively

by the NNPC in the report.

According to him, the Accountant-General had informed the committee that revenue collecting agencies of government deduct four per cent of collectible revenue as cost of collections before remittance to the federation account.

“He was unable to provide the legal basis for this practice, which is the subject of the query.

He also contended that due to his inability to have officers in most of the agencies, he cannot monitor daily transactions of those agencies.”

It would be recalled that the committee had last week, stood down consideration of the queries and directed the AccountantGeneral of the Federation to appear along with the revenue generating agencies to enable them provide a holistic response to the queries at the next adjourned date.

Rivers state Governor, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, during the flag-off of reconstruction of the Chokocho-Umuechem-Ozuzu road in Etche Local Government Area of the state… on Wednesday.

Govs using LG allocations as slush funds, Dogara laments Continued from page 1 his media adviser, Turaki Hassan, decried the lack of elections at the local government level, saying that the action of state governors in this regard is crippling democracy and denying the much-needed development at the third tier of government.

The speaker said that the House is also in the process of granting financial autonomy to the 36 state Houses of Assembly.

He decried a situation whereby governors have constituted themselves as middlemen that continuously

hijack funds meant for the councils in the name of joint account, which he described as “evil.”

The speaker further described as an aberration and illegality the continuous existence of caretaker committees manning affairs of local government councils, revealing that clauses may be introduced in the constitutional amendment bill that will not only outlaw caretaker committees, but would also stop allocation of funds from the federation account to local governments that do not have democratically elected councils.

As a step to end the illegality allegedly perpetrated by state governors, the speaker disclosed that the National Assembly would consider abolishing States Independent Electoral Commission (SIECs) thereby empowering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take over their functions.

“As a matter of fact, joint account is one of the biggest evils because it gives the authority to local government ministries in the state. In most states, especially in the north where we don’t have oil, the ministry of local government in the state is regarded

as the ministry of petroleum resources.

“We all know when funds are allocated to the councils.

Instead of getting to (them), the funds are hijacked at that level and appropriated according to the whims of the powers that be,” Dogara added.

He also called on the media, civil society organizations and well-meaning Nigerians, to be vigilant and ensure that the proposed amendments to the constitution are endorsed by at least 24 out of the 36 state assemblies by mounting pressure on them and the state governors.

Dagora

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

NAAPE shuts down Bristow Helicopters over sack of 13 pilots, 10 engineers Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏNational

Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) yesterday shut down Bristow Helicopters nationwide over plans to disengage its Nigerian pilots and engineers without any compliance to laws governing the Expatriate Quota and the Local Content Act. According to NAAPE, the shutdown on the helicopter company was as a result of the Bristow management declaring 13 Nigerian engineers and 10 Nigerian pilots redundant and further hinting that the company’s expatriate quota is grossly in contravention of the country’s laws.

The pilots and engineers

body has succeeded in shutting down Bristow’s operations nationwide with particular interest in the Port Harcourt, Lagos, PanAfrican, Bats operations as it stated that while negotiation were ongoing, the airline management was backdating the redundancy of affected staff.

According to the union, all this was happening because they were in the forefront of the battle to establish pay parity between Nigerian workers and their expatriate counterparts who hitherto were earning far more.

As at the time of filing this report, it was learnt that the Area commander of the Nigeria Police has called for a meeting between the airline

management and the union to see how the industrial unrest can be quelled.

It was learnt from a reliable source that,” The management of Bristow Group has concluded plans to disengage Nigerian pilots and engineers in its employ without complying with the expatriate quota law and the Nigerian oil and gas industry content development act.”

“Bristow’s declaration of 13 Nigerian engineers and 10 Nigerian pilots redundant is totally unjustifiable because the current Nigerian expatriate ratio is grossly in contravention of Nigerian laws governing expatriate quota and local content.”

“The redundancy exercise in contention is manage-

ment’s angry reaction to our union’s recent successful struggle to establish pay parity between expatriate quota and local content. Targeted at victimizing the branch officers for their roles in the union activities that brought about pay parity.”

‘All efforts by NAAPE to dissuade the management of Bristow group from carrying out the above stated unlawful act has not yielded the desired result. Instead, the management is bent on effecting the redundancy on 30th September, 2016, even when negotiation on redundancy benefits is yet to be concluded.”

Recall that NAAPE had directed all pilots and engineers in Bristow Group Nige-

ria to withdraw all services with effect from 2400hrs of Wednesday, March 30 to 2400hrs on Friday April 1, 2016 as a warning to Bristow Management over the pay parity issue.

Reacting to the development, the management of Bristow helicopters in a statement said it was unfortunate that the union took such action at a time the matter was before the ministry of Labour and productivity and NAAPE. It stated that airlines all over the world are scaling down operations in aviation logistics support as a result of the going down in the global oil price as a result of severe challenges and economic disruption.

Ondo election to boost Plateau LG polls-Lalong Chijioke Kingsley, Jos

ÏÏÏ

The Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong said that the victory gained in the just concluded Ondo State election is a sure sign that the All Progressive Congress (APC), in Plateau State will win the Local Government Election come 2017.

Lalong stated this during the swearing-in ceremony of the members of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC), at Government House.

He said: “I am not afraid to conduct the LG polls in my state contrary to the opinion making the rounds that the APC will loose the election if conducted”.

“Plateau is not afraid to conduct the LG polls, haven worn in Ondo, we are sure to replicate same in Plateau; the LG elections was delayed only because we are working to see that electoral due process is followed.

“APC is not dead in Plateau contrary to the opinion of some people, I have list of people in there numbers seeking to join the party, with this development, I have instructed the Management Committee Chairmen in the 17 Local Government to start receiving people into the party and I will invite the national chairman to come in two weeks time to receive all of them”, he said.

L-R: Representative of Oni of Ife, Prof. Adebambo Adewopo; Governor of Kano state, Alhaji Abdullahai Ganduje and Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd, Mr. Steve Elusope, during the Nigerian Entrepreneurs Award in Abuja, recently.

Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd received the Award for Excellence in Pension Asset Management.

How B’ Haram succeeded in penetrating North East region, by military Femi Ganiyu

ÏÏÏFresh

facts have emerged as to how the dreaded Islamic insurgents, Boko Haram, recorded their initial successes, before being over-powered and completely decimated by the Nigerian military.

It was learnt that, the leadership of the insurgents always went about with Mara bouts, who after recruiting innocent young Islamic militants,

administered some concoctions, (oath of allegiance) otherwise called Juju, in the local parlance, on the new recruits, after which they become wild, and could kill anybody, including their parents and relations as well.

Daily Times further gathered that, subsequently, the insurgents would “rob the juju on their bodies, making it difficult for their perceived enemies to notice them while on their

attack mission.”

It was further learnt that, worried by this strange strategy, the Nigerian military devised a sustainable strategy, involving the use of local hunters, whom they believed had some juju on them to counter them, and, combined with military intelligence, bombardments and other operational strategies, they were subdued.

It was gathered that, currently, Boko Hram as

a group, including their leaders, are in disarray, and were unable to muster sustainable and ferocious attacks that hallmarked their initial operations in 2009, when their late leader, Muhammed Yusuf, who was extra-judicially killed by the Police, led a band of youths to attack communities, churches and schools in Bauchi and other areas in the North East, before he was succeeded by Abubakar Shekau.

7 News NCPC boss charges pilgrims on good conduct Idu Jude, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Rev. Tor Uja has charged intending pilgrims to Israel to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and to defend the integrity of the Church while in the Holy Land.

He gave this charge recently during the FCT Pilgrims orientation at the FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board in Abuja. His words: “I am calling on Nigerian pilgrims to defend the integrity of the Church and the beauty and glory of Nigeria”. He further charged them to “go with excitement and expectation that God would do something great for the country”.

The NCPC boss stressed the need for the intending pilgrims to emphasize less on their church denominations and focus on Jesus Christ.

He also urged them to take responsibility over their lives and the country. His words: “we have to defend our calling as Christians, what God has given us and stand with it.”

Rev. Uja stated that the church must learn to defend the national flag which is the element that identifies us as a people. He further informed that the Commission has ensured that the Aircrafts to be used have been branded with Nigerian colours and the inscription “Christ Pilgrims Nigeria” to promote the image of the country.

He admonished the intending pilgrims on abscondment stating that Nigeria is blessed with numerous resources.

He stressed that Nigerians should see themselves as kings in their country and focus on ways to make the country greater rather than thinking of absconding to other countries and serving as slaves; stating that “it is a disgrace for any Nigerian to think of absconding”.

Rev Uja informed that the prayer on Mount Zion would be targeted at bringing about a breakthrough in Nigeria where prayers would be rendered for the deliverance of the country from the challenges it is facing. He called on the pilgrims to climb up to Mount Zion and be part of the investment, since Mount Zion is the place of God’s victory.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Delta communities raise fear over alleged fresh herdsmen’s attack Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

ÎÎÎ

Residents of six Delta communities yesterday raised fear over alleged fresh Fulani herdsmen attack and destruction of their farm crops after they reportedly attacked three farmers in their farmlands.

The residents, many of whom have reportedly abandoned their houses, farms for fear of the unknown, and attack by the ram-

paging Fulani herdsmen, are asking President Mohammadu Buhari and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to urgently intervene and save them from the continued attacks by the herdsmen.

Investigation revealed that the six communities; Ebu, Illah, Ugbolu, Okpanam, Kwale and Ossissa are currently under siege of fresh attack by Fulani herdsmen who last Monday allegedly attacked three farmers (names withheld) in Ugbolu community in their farm lands after a report-

edly verbal cross fire between them (the farmers) and the Fulani herdsmen who brought their cattle to their farms for grazing.

But the police officers in Illah community Police Division who did not want their names in print, confirmed that the victims reported the matter at the police station, adding that investigation was ongoing with a view to arresting the suspects.

It was gathered that the victims sustained minor injuries in the attack when the Fulani herdsmen

with their cattle grazing in their farm lands allegedly pounced on them when it was clear to them that they were building up anger to strike after a quarrel.

Two of the victims one of them Timothy Okafor said: “We shouted at the herdsmen in our farmlands and they rushed at us with bows and we took to our heels inside the bush in the process they hit us with the bows and we started running in the cause of running we fell down and sustained injuries. Herds-

men have refused to stop coming to our farmlands, we want them to stop destroying our crops”.

Narrating further their ordeals in the re-occurring humiliating and deadly experiences in the hands of the Fulani herdsmen, Ojora Okoro, spokesman for the residents and a farmer in Ebu community expressed sadness at the repeated destruction of their agricultural plants, adding “these Fulani herdsmen have resumed to destroy our farms again and they have destroyed our hard earned property to feed their cattle. We want President Buhari, Gov. Okowa to please come to our aid, we are tied of their activities”.

Court revokes bail granted woman for breaching terms Titilope Joseph

ÎÎÎ

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has ordered the re-arrest of one Mrs. Gift Nonye who was accused of abuse and other various offences bothering on inhuman treatment over failure to appear in court.

The order was made by the trial judge, Kudirat Jose, while responding to the plea of prosecuting counsel, Kehinde Falade who complained that the defendant has breached the terms of her bail conditions.

The Prosecutor accused Gift Nonye of deliberate failure to appear before the court in continuation of her trial.

The defendant has been standing trial since 2015 for allegedly abhorring under aged children for the purpose of forced labour, slavery and inhuman treatments of underage children, an offence contrary to Section 22(a), 23(i) and 25(a) of the trafficking in persons (prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015.

The court ordered that the defendant who was accused by two 13-year-olds who she claimed were her nieces, did not appear at the continuation of trial when her matter came up for hearing.

The prosecution counsel, Mrs. Kehinde Falade at the proceeding requested that the judge revoke the bail granted her and issue a bench warrant against the defendant expressing the fear that she has bolted after she has perfected her bail.

Before the proceeding, the defendant had been in NAPTIP’s custody throughout her previous appearances until when she perfected her bail. NAPTIP’s counsel also told the court that the defendant was no longer in their custody and was expected to appear in court for continuation of trial on Tuesday but she was nowhere to be found.

The defendant’s counsel appealed to the judge to discountenance her learned counsel on the premise that she was on her way. “I called her this morning. She said she was on her way but later her line was switched off.”

Regional Manager West Africa, Emirates Airline, Mr. Manoj Nair (Middle), presenting an Air ticket to the President, Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN), Mrs. Funmi Ladipo (left) and FADAN member, Mrs. Adaku Nwoko at the Emirates office.

Ugwuanyi inaugurates Health Advisory Committee

Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÎÎÎ

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has said that the provision of affordable healthcare for the people remains a cardinal objective of his administration.

Ugwanyi who was represented by his deputy, Mrs Cecelia Ezeilo, at the inauguration of the Enugu State Health Advisory Committee added that it was in furtherance of that goal the body was established.

“Enugu State has high premium for the provision of ade-

quate healthcare services to our people,” he said, expressing optimism that the members have the capacity to deliver creditably.

He charged them to let their diverse experiences gained over the years reflect in the outcome given the importance the government attaches to this assign-

ment.

Speaking on behalf of the committee’s members, the chairman, Professor Edwin Nwobodo, thanked Governor Ugwuanyi for finding them worthy to serve and pledged the members’ determination to accomplish the lofty objectives.

NACOMYO urges healthy living as way out of recession Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

ÎÎÎThe National Council of Mus-

lim Youth Organisations, (NACOMYO), Ogun State Chapter has urged Nigerians to imbibe the ideals of self reliance and healthy living in order to overcome the current economic recession facing the country.

The youth council also urged

government at all levels to put in motion programmes that will help in ameliorating the economic challenges.

NACOMYO which said these in a communique issued at the end of its 12th biennial conference held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital said the country need to refocus its attention to the development of small scale industries.

In a lecture delivered by the

guest lecturer at the conference, an Islamic Cleric, Dr Robiu Kusimo, who spoke on the theme of the conference tagged self reliance for healthy living and sustainable economic stability, stressed on the importance of good health and self reliance as a way out of the recession.

Dr Kusimo urged religious leaders and youths to rededicate their lives and shun corruption

as no nation can attain greatness under the influence of fraud and nepotism.

At the end of the two day conference, new executives were later sworn in to pilot the affairs of the Youth Council and eminent Nigerians including the national president of NACOMYO, Alh Kamaldeen Akintunde and the Chief Imam of Egbaland attended the programme.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Politics

Tinubu

9

s

Akeredolu

Oyegun

APC’s victory in Ondo and lessons for Tinubu Patrick Okohue The just concluded Ondo State governorship election has come and gone, but the lessons there from will linger over a long period of time, not only for the main losers at the polls, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but even to members of the victorious party.

While the PDP may learn how not to allow too much infighting too close to the election, the APC members, especially the very senior members of the party would have learnt that even in war time, it is only strong determination that can see you through.

One person who may however have to take note of his roles in that election and perhaps check his style is the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Tinubu’s opposition to the way the candidate of the APC and eventual winner of the election emerged through the primary many believe led to the resurgence of the once moribund Alliance for Democracy (AD), whose candidate, Olusola Oke, eventually came third in the election, after the APC and the PDP candidate, Eyitayo Jegede.

At the APC primary which held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Tinubu stood stoutly behind Olusegun Abraham, but he lost to Akeredolu in the keenly contested election.

But, shortly after that hell was let loose, as Tinubu’s people accused Akeredolu and his people of rigging the election. Their opposition to the outcome of the primary was so loud that the National leadership of the party

had to intervene in the matter.

At the end a panel was set up to review the primary, but the outcome of the panel report has till date remain contentious, as one party claimed that the panel recommended another primary, while the other camp said that was not what happened.

At the end of the day, the national leadership of the party decided to send Akeredolu’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the candidate of the party.

This action obviously did not go down well with Tinubu and his team as they immediately called for the resignation of the National Chairman of the party, Chief John OdigieOyegun, accusing him of sidestepping the decision of the panel.

Since then things have fallen apart between the two leaders of the party. First to fire the salvo was Tinubu himself who in a press statement by his media office demanded the immediate resignation of Odigie-Oyegun.

Tinubu accused Oyegun of sabotaging the will of democracy in Ondo State by overriding the decision of the appeal panel which asked for a fresh governorship primary following investigations that showed that the delegates’ list used for the exercise was tampered with.

Tinubu said “The APC, a party born of the quest for democratic good governance is under critical threat by those who managed to be in the party but never of it. From the party’s inception, the principles of democratic fairness and justice were to guide APC internal deliberations. Party founders realised that only by intramural fair dealing could the party remain faithful to the progressive ideals that we presented to the Nigerian electorate as our governing creed. If the party could not justly govern itself, it would find it difficult to establish and maintain just government throughout the nation.

“In essence, the party was the embodiment of a democratic promise made between its members as well as a democratic vow made

At the Senate, Tinubu wanted the former governor of Benue State, George Akume elected as Senate President, but the President allegedly preferred Ahmed Lawan, and it was believed that after some horse trading, they settled for Lawan, but at the end of the day, Bukola Saraki outsmarted them and emerged Senate President.

to the public. Evidently, some errant members believe promises and vows are mere words to be easily spoken and more easily broken.

“Chairman John Oyegun has breached these good pledges in a most overt and brazen display. In doing so, Oyegun has dealt a heavy blow to the very party he professes to lead. It is an awful parent who suffocates his own child for the sake of a few naira. The party was supposed to buttress APC members elected to government at all levels. Because of Oyegun’s conduct of our affairs, the party is rapidly becoming an albatross to those it was meant to help.

“Oyegun’s comportment regarding the Ondo State primary will become the textbook definition of political treachery and malfeasance of the basest order,” Tinubu said.

However, the chairman would have none of that, Oyegun, in a rejoinder he personally signed described the content of the widely publicised statement by the media office of Tinubu as “reckless and baseless”.

Oyegun said he was angered by the false accusation of corruption, rigging the outcome of the primary and overruling the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) “vote” on the Election Appeal Committee Report.

He noted that: “This reckless and baseless corruption allegation leveled against me is unfortunate and an insult to my person and my hard-earned reputation which I have strongly maintained. Nobody has the kind of money that can buy my conscience or make me do injury to an innocent man.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

We’ll defeat our opponents in Saturday’s bye-election -Akinwunmi Mr Olaitan Akinwunmi is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the December 3, bye- election for Ifako Ijaiye Federal Constituency of Lagos State. He is confident that the election into the House of Representives will favour his party because of the performance of the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. In this interview with PATRICK OKOHUE, Akinwunmi speaks on how his loyalty to the party has helped his political career.

What are you into partisan politics?

I have been someone who likes defending the interest and projecting the welfare of my people and right from my secondary school days I’ve been a leader as a class captain for three good years from class three. I’ve always been defending the interest and protecting the welfare of my people. I am used to representing their interest. You call me if you like the defender of people’s welfare, I have passion for that and that has been with me even when I gained admission into the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University. I became union leader of note immediately, in fact the second year I became a unionist because that was not possible as a first year student and I was elected into the Student Representatives Council at the University of Ife and I was there for three good years defending the positions of the people and anybody who knows what unionism was back then at Ife will know what I am saying and I became the clerk of the same SRC the following year. So, I’ve always been a unionist and if you like a radical unionist, because when I was a banker in Afribank I was also a unionist of note and I represented desk, department and the rest, culminating in my eventual election as the vice president of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks Insurance and Financial Institution representing the whole Afribank then, we had more than 200 branches across the nation, the congress that we held was in the North and I became the second vice president, the President was an Hausa man, the first vice president was from the Delta region, while I represented the Yoruba race in the cabinet and I defended stoutly the position of my people. So it has always been in me. When Afenifere was formed I immediately became a member and participated actively in the activity of that period and so when AD was formed it was normal and logical that I will be a member, I was a foundation member of Alliance for Democracy and like that defending the interest of the people has been the motivating factor for me.

This is a major leap in your political career,what do you think qualifies you to aspire to this position and what are the things you will bring on the table for the people of Ifako Ijaiye?

Well, in the first place I don’t see it as a major leap, but rather I see it as a continuation of defending the interest of my people because I’m going to represent them there, what makes it a major leap? Is it because it is House of Representatives? Legislative arm of government is just the same thing as SRC in Ife as far as I’m concerned; there are three basic roles of a legislator.

Lawmaking, oversights function and representation, those are three major roles and basically what we are going there to do is to ensure that those three major roles are carried out. There are other adjunct roles to be carried out and bringing to the table the deliverables, of course it is gladdening to know that in Nigeria our party controls the federal government and so you can see there is a synergy than in the past, now there is relative stability. So, it will be very easy now to

Akinwunmi

bring development to our local government viza- viz liaising with the federal government, this local government has a lot of needs in terms of infrastructure and other things, education and even employment. There are lots of youths roaming around the streets in our local government, we can always reach out to the agencies in charge of employment at the federal level, because we control the federal government and it is better we get this people in there because employment is very key, very important and of course I want to ensure that the era of sitting down doing nothing is gone. Vibrant participation in legislative business that is what I am bringing to the table. I want to participate actively in bringing and supporting bills and motions that will enhance the lives of our people in this federal constituency. I want to also ensure that we get back to the people as much as possible in terms of probably organising regular town hall meetings where we will be able to tell them what and what the legislature have done and get their feedback so that their feedback will also be taken back to the house.

You have tried to be a state legislator thrice but failed, what kept you going all through the hurdles from then till now?

I am a professional, I have worked in a bank and I’ve also been a PR consultant, you know the problem is that some who are professional politicians when they contest and loose they move to another political party, they jump here and there,

but because I have something that is sustaining me and the issue of loyalty is very important, absolute loyalty to the party is key, I have never crossed since I joined AD. I moved from AD to AC

would rout them, we would demolish them, look, while going for the primaries, I said we will win, so this Dec. 3rd election people will come out to vote for us and our party APC, owing to the giant strides of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his achievement and activities to which even the oppositions attest to, has afforded us a very wide advantage, a raised pedestal for us to leverage on.

from there to ACN and APC and I have contested three times and I am still in the party. So, the sustaining factor is that it is good to have professionals in office, you are a journalist if you contest and fail you go back to your journalism and it keeps sustaining you till the next time and you keep in touch with your people, unlike the run of the mill politicians that immediately they fail they cross because that is what sustains them, so they jump ship from ACN to ANPP and more in search of positions. I spent 18years in the bank, got leave of absence for twice, three years and went back after the leave of absence and I still continued with politics, first ,second and third time and I did PR and Advertising, so I did some PR jobs, it is important for us to put professionals in positions.

You mentioned absolute loyalty as a core value?

Yes I don’t believe in 99.9 percent loyalty, but absolute, 100 percent loyalty That brings me to the question, some of your opponents within the party believe you were imposed on them what is your reaction?

Can you give me the definition of imposition?

Where you do primaries as a journalist that can’t be said to be imposition.

No, you are supposedly imposed at the primary as the party’s candidate,they actually alluded to the processes that led to the primaries bringing out direct intimidations even to their businesses, even private affairs, their jobs and contracts, the other candidate was hailed as people’s choice while you were perceived an imposed anointed choice with lots of booing My brother in politics people endorse people, United States of America the combatants would endorse for positions, if you have some leaders endorse you, then it means they consider you worthy of occupying the position that you are campaigning for, now there was nobody amongst the contestant who was not endorsed by one group of leaders or the other and for about four months I went through the length and breadth of Ifako Ijaiye Local Government and Ojokoro LCDA, I can give you the CD, I went to see all the groups, leaders and members, the CWC and the general members in Ojokoro same with Ifako Ijaiye. After that I went to meet all the delegates in Ifako Ijaiye and Ojokoro and it wasn’t a day, meeting various groups delegate, apart from that I gathered LG executive members and spoke with them here in Ifako Ijaiye and Ojokoro, I now gathered all ward exco, I have all the clips and talked with them. I moved around the people, campaigned vigorously and strenuously and prepared for the primary, thank God that the APC had initiated the free and transparent primary process and I knew that will come to play that day, you said when the opponent came in he was hailed, that did not translate into votes eventually, what is important is the votes because what they did hailing him assisted us to work again and so it was continuous work till the last minute CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

11 Politics

Akeredolu receives Certificate of Return from INEC The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday presented the Governor-elect of Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN his certificate of return.

Presenting the Certificate, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mr Olusegun Agbaje said the journey towards the accomplishment of success in the just concluded election was not completely smooth.

He said Mr. Akeredolu and his Deputy, Agboola Ajayi should be magnanimous in victory and make his administration an inclusive government that would harmonise developmental plan for the state.

He explained that this was mainly due to the attitude of some political party leaders and contestants which include negative utterances that instill fear on the minds of the citizenry.

He pointed out that it is most unlikely that the West African Examination Council, WAEC, would postpone any of its scheduled examinations simply because its candidate in a secondary school was sick or wounded.

Responding, Akeredolu said the victory is not for him or APC alone, but for the people of the state.

He said, “It is a victory for the people of Ondo State, irrespective of which side of the divide you stood during the election.

“For me it is a call to service and a challenge to perform. Although we all had different point of view before the election but today, as members of one strong, vibrant and indivisible Ondo State family, we are all united and resolute with one single objective to save our beloved state.

“I cannot thank enough, my fellow compatriots during this election, who had a separate conviction and voted

elsewhere.

“They took the guts to answer the call of democracy to make a choice. I believe it is these resounding voices that have created this worthy moment which is making this victory real and refreshing.

“With this new dawn, it is now time to rediscover and reinvent ourselves.

It is time to find what we lost, to rescue this land and its people from the myriad of poverty and pains which daily assail their lives.

“As patriots, it is now time to unit and revamp our fortunes. As governor, we will take deliberate and decisive steps to optically harness our overall potential for greatness, prosperity, peace and stability.”

The governor-elect however commended INEC and the security agencies for organising what he described as most credible, transparent, free and fair election.

Akeredolu

‘We’ll defeat our opponents on Saturday’ APC’s victory in Ondo and lessons for Tinubu CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

and we came out victorious. So that has gone, as far as I’m concerned I got the whole 385 votes cast that day, so if I were to be imposed I will not work now, I will not move round for campaign or talk to people, but I worked my dear brother, I worked and thank God we won the primary. We have a number of notable leaders of Ifako Ijaiye and Ojokoro who have endorsed me even before the primary. Would you say that is imposition? Because those I am referring to are stakeholders in Ifako Ijaiye Federal Constituency, they endorsed me because they know my antecedents and can vouch for me. There is nothing bad in that, but what gave us the victory was God and the fact that we worked, thank you.

You did mention the necessity of endorsement of any aspirant.... cuts No, I didn’t say the necessity of endorsement, I said you could be endorsed, now if you say necessity it means that it is compulsory for you to be endorsed. If you want to contest some people may feel you are not fit to represent them, so they won’t support you, endorsement is just support, so it is not compulsory. I just want to point out the importance of endorsement which remains a sine qua non in politics, where every candidate will want to be endorsed to get to where he is going.

Will that actually translate to loyalty to those who endorsed you when you get to office?

You are supposed to be loyal to the party. They did not make the party, they were not the ones that voted, I was endorsed by everybody that voted for me, I just told you that 385 delegates present there all voted for me.

Who are your financial backers and how much has gone into the contest thus far?

I don’t know how much, but what is important is that we won the primary. I can’t really say how much. My financial backers are my committee of friends set up to aid my course and my personal savings. So as we went on people who believes in us were coming in to assist in one way or the other, look, now you can see that the campaign have not really started because we held a meeting day before yesterday, where people said I’m donating 500 vest, exercise books and more, that is what we are still collating, that is how politics is done, we

all saw those that gave Mrs. Clinton money now, group of friends will come in and assist you and I have a number of them, whom I’ve also assisted in the past.

Other contenders at the Dec. 3rd bye-election would also want to pull some stunts, how prepared are you because many say you are not popular?

We would rout them, we would demolish them, look, while going for the primaries, I said we will win, so this Dec. 3rd election people will come out to vote for us and our party APC, owing to the giant strides of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his achievement and activities to which even the oppositions attest to, has afforded us a very wide advantage, a raised pedestal for us to leverage on.

We work as we used to we have not been doing show off , but taking the message to their doorsteps, a house to house strategy, we will continue with that and do our road show soon, but the real job is being done already. So come Dec. 3rd we are winners by God’s grace..

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

“In all the primaries conducted under my watch as National Chairman, I have strived to ensure a free, fair, transparent and credible process. The 2016 Ondo State APC Governorship Primary Election was not an exception.

There must be internal democracy in the party and our constitution must be respected by all.”

As the fight between the two frontline leaders of the party continue to brew, members of the party started taking positions behind their preferred leader.

Deputy national publicity secretary of the party, Timi Frank, advised Oyegun to heed the call of Tinubu, accusing him of failing to effectively manage party affairs.

Frank’s position has already earned him a suspension from the party, an action which he has vowed to resist and has already approached the court to stop.

One thing that further put a wedge in the relationship of Tinubu and the party hierarchy is the fact that throughout the electioneering campaign in Ondo State, Tinubu and his core supporters among whom is the governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola and the governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode did not appear at any of the outings.

Despite that however, the APC still went ahead to win the election, with Akeredolu allegedly saying during one of his campaign outing that they want to liberate the state from the stranglehold of Lagos.

Another sour spot in the whole process is that Aregbesola’s aide and former council chairman in Lagos under Tinubu, Bola Ilori was one of the campaign coordinators for the AD candidate in the election, which has made many believe that indeed, Tinubu was backing Oke in the election.

With the victory of APC in Ondo without the support of Tinubu, the question on the lips of many is how long will it take before hitherto loyal party members start questioning the authority of the former Lagos State governor?

It will be recalled that immediately after the victory of the APC at the centre and when it was time to elect the leadership of the National Assembly, intrigues and power play fol-

lowed.

At the Senate, Tinubu wanted the former governor of Benue State, George Akume elected as Senate President, but the President allegedly preferred Ahmed Lawan, and it was believed that after some horse trading, they settled for Lawan, but at the end of the day, Bukola Saraki outsmarted them and emerged Senate President.

Then to the House of Representatives, Tinubu obviously wanted Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker and did everything humanly possible to ensure that he emerge Speaker, but again at the end Yakubu Dogara outsmarted them and emerged Speaker.

Again the case of the Kogi State governorship where Tinubu’s anointed candidate for the deputy governorship position, Hon. James Faleke expected that he would be elevated to the position of the governor shortly after the death of the governorship candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Audu, but the party preferred to go for the man that contested the primary with Audu, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

Now, the question on the lips of many people is for how long will people continue to defy Tinubu, the brain behind the birth of the APC and emergence of the present administration at the centre headed by President Muhammadu Buhari and also the person who ensured that Oyegun emerged as Chairman of the party, an action which led the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and one of the engine rooms of the negation that led to the founding of APC, Chief Tom Ikimi to defect to the PDP, without sanctions.

However, many have argued that what Tinubu is currently facing in APC is one of the fallout of a national party, noting that while Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was in charge of the South West, his word was law, but that cannot happen in APC, a national party.

It is time some political watchers say for Tinubu to step back and rework his political strategy to fit into the new reality and then learn to chose his battles carefully, otherwise they say it will only be a matter of time, when the bubble will burst, and some persons even in Lagos State may start to question his authority.

News 12 Crisis brews in Osun over Dino Melaye’s comment on N84bn bail out

Sodiq Adekunle, Osogbo

ÏÏÏ

There are strong indications that some workers’ unions in Osun State would embark on industrial action if the comment made by Senator Dino Melaye that the state got N84bn for payment of outstanding salaries is confirmed.

Melaye, who is chairman, Senate Committee on the FCT, was alleged to have said that Osun State got the amount for the payment of outstanding salaries.

Though, the comment was immediately debunked by Osun State officials, the workers have said that they would investigate the matter themselves.

The controversial Senator representing Kogi West in the upper chambers of the National Assembly was quoted as saying, “The 36 states of the Federation collectively received over $4bn being the over-deductions on Paris and London Club Loans on the accounts of State and local governments from February 1990 to March 2002. The states of Osun and Edo got N84bn and N82bn respectively.

“The monies were credited into the respective accounts of all the 36 states of the Federation on Monday November 21, 2016. We hope with this money, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun will pay civil servants their salaries in full, both at the state and LGA levels to ameliorate the suffering of our people as directed by the federal government.”

Members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) reacted to the news during its general meeting in Ile-Ife, Osun State, when one of its members called on the executives to ensure proper monitoring of the alleged money.

When he raised the matter however, another member told them that government officials had denied the statement.

In a related development, Osun State House of Assembly said attempt by the Senate to probe the application of N28.1 billion bailout fund given to the state government was a usurpation of powers of the state parliament.

In a statement by the chairman, House Committee on Information, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, he said the Assembly made the declaration at the plenary on Wednesday following a matter of urgent public importance raised by chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Kamil Oyedele, on the propriety of the Senate to probe the bailout fund.

Recall that the Senate had written a letter to the state government on its decision to visit the state to probe the fund and its disbursement.

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El-Rufai, a parasite to Buhari’s govt –Sani

Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÏÏÏ The

Senator representing Kaduna Central in the National Assembly, Comrade Shehu Sani, on Wednesday, hit hard at his state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, describing him as a bug, some lice and a parasite to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Sani pointed out that Mallam el-Rufai’s loyalty to President Buhari is nothing but self-serving with the primary intention for self-preservation.

The Senator and former human rights activist stated this on Wednesday in reaction to his indefinite suspension by the Kaduna state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sani described the state branch of the ruling APC that suspended him as “Governor Nasiru el-Rufai controlled, Induced and misinformed self-acclaimed APC excos.”

The Senator declared that elRufai remains a typical establishment man, who was brought to limelight by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and nurtured by the party.

He dubbed him as a dubious progressive and a bogus representation of change.

According to the Senator, “my indefinite suspension by Governor Nasiru el-Rufai controlled induced and misinformed selfacclaimed APC excos and the paper it was written upon is as worthless and as useless as the used sanitary pads in the toilets

of his family official residence.

“It’s as valueless as the used tissue papers of his gluttonous and bulging poodles and lackeys.

“I wish to fully assure the bespectacled pygmy and his running dogs that the new suspension will not give them the public support they couldn’t gather with the first suspension.

“For a man who has been unable to address the pervasive insecurity and genocide in Southern Kaduna, for a man who has been unable to stem the tide of rampant kidnappings and abductions in Kaduna, suspending Shehu Sani cannot be counted as an achievement.”

He said his suspension will not increase the physical height nor give the governor the flesh or muscle of a macho.

Senator Sani said if el-rufai represents change, then Mabutu Seseseku of Zaire and Malawi’s Kamuzu Banda represent change.

“El-Rufai remains the excrement of the toilets of PDP Wadata House (PDP) headquarters in Abuja and no broom or deodorant of change can give him a new identity.

“We will continue to work for the masses and defend their interests,” he said.

Senator Sani is believed to be interested in the Kaduna state governorship of the state ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Governor El-Rufai, who is equally interested in re-contesting for the office in 2019, is said to be uncomfortable with the senator’s aspiration.

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PDP senators stage walk out over defection Olufemi Samuel, Abuja

ÏÏÏ The

resolve by a Senator, Yele Omogunwa (Ondo South), to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during Wednesday’s plenary, created confusion among senators on Wednesday as the caucus of the opposition party promptly staged a walk out in protest.

Omogunwa had in his letter of defection read by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, anchored his action on the need to support Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu as the APC gubernatorial candidate in the just concluded Ondo governorship election.

Akeredolu is now the governorelect in Ondo state, a point the defecting senator alluded to when announcing his defection from his old party to the APC. He said, “This declaration I

have made in my local government on Sunday, November 20, to enable me actively canvass for the success of Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in the gubernatorial election of November 26, 2016.”

However, the Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, faulted the reason adduced by the Senator for his decampment from the PDP, arguing that the seat of the decampee should be declared vacant.

Raising Order 43 to back up his argument, Senator Akpabio said the only ground upon which a serving lawmaker could defect from one party to the other as specified in Section 68(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, is through division in the leadership of his party, which he said no longer exist in the PDP based on the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judgments over the nomination of a PDP candidate for Ondo governorship election.

According to him, the appellate

courts had stated categorically in their judgments that the only known and recognized national leadership of the PDP was the caretaker committee under the chairmanship of Senator Ahmad Markafi.

He was however ruled out of order by Saraki, who said that the matter is controversial, which runs contrary to the spirit and letter of Order 43 on which Akpabio made his objection.

The conclusion by the Senate president had raised tension among senators as Senator Dino Melaye, (APC Kogi West), who also alluded to Order 43, said the division within the PDP national leadership between the Ahmed Markafi and Modu Sherrif factions still existed.

He described Omogunwa’s defection to APC as perfectly in order.

Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP Delta North), while kicking against the submission by Melaye,

accused the Senate President of running foul of the Senate standing rules by allowing Melaye to make remarks over an issue that had already been ruled upon.

“Mr. President, having ruled the Senate Minority Leader out of order over his objection and by extension, PDP senators’ objection to Omogunwa’s defection, it was wrong to have allowed another senator to remark on the same issue”, he said.

The PDP senators, who appeared frustrated by the turn of events decided to stage a walkout from the chamber and headed to the Senate hearing Room 2, where they addressed the media on why they took the action.

Akpabio, during the briefing, vowed that PDP, as a party, would ensure that it retrieved stolen senatorial seat from Omogunwa through the courts since according to him, there was no division within the party leadership now.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

13

14 Opinion

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Should killings of IPOB members be overlooked?

T

Emmanuel Onwubiko

he Nigeria Army is once more in the eye of the storm caused by some indiscretions and unprofessional conducts of some of her operatives and officers.

Under the current dispensation, the Nigerian Army has had several face offs with International humanitarian groups over alleged widespread killings of civilians.

The latest challenge to the public and corporate image of the Nigerian Army is the alleged mass killings of over 150 unarmed protesters thought to be members or sympathisers of the Europe registered group known as the INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA (IPOB).

IPOB has for two years now waged global wide peaceful advocacy campaigns for self-determination of the people of South-Eastern Nigeria.

Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra are unarmed and are some of the most peaceful and peaceable advocates of self-determination worldwide.

The British founded global human rights body known as AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL has recently issued damaging but extensively verifiable reports of the killing spree conducted by the Nigerian Army in the South East of Nigeria in the last one year leading to the slaughter through extra-legal means of unarmed civilians belonging or exercising their sympathy for the IPOB. This report has understandably generated considerable volumes of reactions with the Army hurriedly denying any involvement but in another breath said it was only defending her operatives from violence.

Which violence?

The killings of civilians by the Army go against everything that constitutional democracy stands for.

For the better part of the last two decades, Nigeria embraced civilian democracy and an essential ingredient of this system of government is the constitutionally guaranteed right to peaceful protests by the citizens.

Importantly, the attempt to sweep under the carpets these senseless killings captured in audiovisuals and watched globally, offends everything that makes us rational beings.

The killings if tolerated would amount to overturning all the efforts we have genuinely made to build a Nigerian nation whereby the Rule of Law would become our national ethos.

Professor Isawa J. Elaigwu who contributed a piece in the university of Jos Alumni association lecture series even alluded to the basic fact that impunity and cover up by government officials and all other relevant authorities would deny Nigeria the benefit of becoming a civilised polity.

His words: “While laws, structures and processes are useful in the operation of federalism as a mechanism of managing conflicts in the process of nation-building, the human dimension poses the greatest challenges to

the polity. It does not matter what laws and structures are in place, human beings must run the system. Human operators must imbibe the values of justice, equity and accommodation of opponents…”

I must say that attempts by the Army’s directorate of Public relations and the Nigerian political establishment in Abuja headed by President Muhammadu Buhari to sweep under the carpets these serious allegations of mass killings of members of IPOB can only succeed in graphically presenting our society as primitive, brutish, violent and bloodthirsty.

Even in a state of nature the crude and primitive resorts to self help and open use of lethal weapons by the Nigerian Army against IPOB members made up of unarmed men, boys, women, girls and their babies amounted to grave crime against humanity.

The only option open to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen Tukur Buratai and the President, Rtd. Major Gen Muhammadu Buhari is to dispassionately take legal notice of this large scale evidence of mass killings as presented

by Amnesty International, arrest and prosecute the offenders or else the INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT could be asked to step in.

It is a sacred fact that the Nigerian Army is not set up as a bunch of some armed brutes on specific assignment of occupation, domination and elimination of dissenting voices.

The constitution created the Nigerian Army to comply and to operate in line with the rules of engagement, which totally prohibits the deployment of maximum force to kill off political or ideological opponents of the government.

Not even under late, Colonel Saddam Husseini or the Ugandan warlord, Idi Amin Dada wills such malfeasance be expected to be swept under the carpets and the perpetrators celebrated as heroes rather than villains and war criminals.

Looking through the relevant sections of the Constitution particularly Section 217(1), the Nigerian Army just like the other segments of the Armed Forces is to protect the people and not

to kill them at the slightest provocation.

The Constitutional duty (217(2) (c)) of ‘suppressing insurrection’ as contained in the Constitution did not lift the ban on the abolition of extralegal killing which is the intendment of Section 33(1) thus: “Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which has been found guilty in Nigeria.”

Besides, Chapter 4 of the Constitution allows Nigerians to assemble freely and associate with other persons just as the fundamental freedom of expression is guaranteed to all citizens including supporters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The recorded evidence whereby armed Nigerian soldiers were seen running helter skelter, and opening fire on unarmed members of IPOB must be forensically investigated.

The Nigerian Army must not view these reports as direct indictment of Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai but the individuals responsible be identified, prosecuted and punished in accordance with the constitutional norms.

There is therefore a constitutional imperative on the Chief of Army Staff to ensure that those that violated the law are sanctioned.

In fact the statements credited to both the Army and the Presidency has made it necessary that only an Independent body as the International Criminal Court (ICC) or the United Nations Security Council can be trusted to deliver justice to all the parties involved.

In the report, Amnesty International Stated thus: “By far the largest number of pro-Biafra activists were killed on Biafra Remembrance Day on 30 May 2016 when an estimated 1,000 IPOB members and supporters gathered for a rally in Onitsha, Anambra State. The night before the rally, the security forces raided homes and a church where IPOB members were sleeping.”

“On Remembrance Day itself, the security forces shot people in sev-

eral locations. Amnesty International has not been able to verify the exact number of extrajudicial executions, but estimates that at least 60 people were killed and 70 injured in these two days. The real number is likely to be higher.”

“Ngozi (not her real name), a 28-year-old mother of one, told Amnesty International that her husband left in the morning to go to work but called her shortly afterwards to say that the military had shot him in his abdomen. He said he was in a military vehicle with six others, four of whom were already dead.

She told Amnesty International: “he started whispering and said they just stopped [the vehicle]. He was scared they would kill the remaining three of them that were alive… He paused and told me they were coming closer.

I heard gunshots and I did not hear a word from him after that.”

“The next day Ngozi searched for her husband and finally found his body in a nearby mortuary. The mortuary attendants told her that the military had brought him and six others. She saw three gunshot wounds: one in his abdomen and two in his chest, which confirmed her fear that the military had executed him.”

“Amnesty International has also reviewed videos of a peaceful gathering of IPOB members and supporters at Aba National High School on 9 February 2016. The Nigerian military surrounded the group and then fired live ammunition at them without any prior warning.”

“According to eyewitnesses and local human rights activists, many of the protesters at Aba were rounded up and taken away by the military. On 13 February 13 corpses, including those of men known to have been taken by the military, were discovered in a pit near the Aba highway.”

How should a civilisation deliberately overlook this planned genocide as documented by this global organisation? Only in a Banana Republic will such large-scale mass killings be consigned to the dustbin of history.

Emmanuel Onwubiko, is head of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

15 Opinion

Atiku: The twinkle star in the sky

A Olusola Sanni

janaku koja mo ri nkan firi; ti a ba ri eerin, ki a’gba wipe a ri eerin - Yoruba proverb Trust the Africans. Their wealth of rich philosophical proverbs should easily pass for the eighth wonder of the world.

In that category, the Yorubas are simply exceptional. For indeed, the Yoruba believes that there are moments when words are lost; and at such moments, proverbs are the pathfinders for the missing words.

The former vice president of Nigeria and the Turakin Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar is 70 years old. And like the proverbial elephant, which has no hiding place, Atiku has lived the past seven decades of his lifetime to become a giant in politics, education, business and philanthropy.

His traditional title of Turakin Adamawa simply translates as the custodian of the tradition of Adamawa land. To know that Atiku bagged this title at 36 years, tells a story of someone formed for big responsibilities.

I was a visitor to the Northeast on a book project sometimes in 2015 and at the time, the humanitarian crisis result-

ing from the Boko Haram terror was at its crescendo. I was stunned to hear about the several interventions by Atiku to alleviate the problems of the people. I was told that he employed the services of local vigilantes to ensure that Boko Haram’s territorial expansion does not spill into the city of Yola.

No doubt, the name Atiku means different things to different people. For the hundreds of indigent students who receive scholarship to have excellent education at his private educational institutions, to the thousands of people he provides employments for in his businesses, Atiku is a mercy from God. In Adamawa State, Atiku has proven that charity indeed must begin at home. Against the lures of Lagos, Kano or Onitsha, Atiku has a bold signature on the business landscape of Yola, and his tentacles spread across all states in the Northeast.

For him, the simple explanation is that if the people of the zone are the most backward in terms of human capital development indices, then it is trite logic that investment in the region is also an investment in the minds and manpower development of the people.

The notable American University of Nigeria (AUN), Adamawa Beverage Limited, and Rico Gado Animal Nutrition are all blue chip

business ventures in Yola, providing employments and adding a major boost to the revenue of the state. The AUN, for example adds $100million to the GDP of Adamawa State! It will therefore not be an exaggeration to say that Atiku Abubakar is a model of how development can be home grown.

While Atiku has emerged from grass to grace to become a towering influencer in Nigeria, nay West Africa’s business landscape, he, in no mean measure is also a colossal figure in the politics of Nigeria.

In playing politics, Atiku often is criticised for his swinging allegiance to political parties. Without fear of contradiction, I say such criticism do not take full appreciation of the nature of politics in a third world country like Nigeria.

It is more politically convenient to remain in one party in a politically developed country than it is in a third world country.

For instance, the anti-democratic Third Term agenda for President Olusegun Obasanjo is a peculiarity to Third World politics.

Even beyond that, Atiku’s credential is the best in recent history as exemplary in Nigeria’s social engineering.

Right from day one of his foray into politics, Atiku did not confuse anyone about his stance as a pro-democracy advocate. Unlike

many of his traducers, Atiku did not wine and dine with the military dictatorship through the period that military rule lasted in the country.

His advocacy for two party systems is age-long and his advocacy for restructuring.

Today, our democracy is firmly rooted on judicial interpretations because Atiku chose the option of the judiciary when anti-democratic forces plotted to illegally remove him from office as vice president; and at another time plotted to disenfranchise him because of phantom corruption allegations.

The forth and back between Atiku and the forces against him during the Obasanjo presidency laid the foundation for the strength our democracy has today. If that dispensation was to be likened to a football match, Atiku will evidently emerge the star player.

Atiku might have changed membership of political parties at some points; nobody can accuse him of being irresolute to the principle of politics that he believes in.

As this shining star from the savannah enters the septuagenarian age, the story of his life refreshes the hope that with hard work and a good heart, it is possible to overcome every obstacle.

Olusola Sanni is Deputy Director at Atiku Media Office.

Niger Delta militants and drum beat of war

F

Idowu Samuel

For many years, resources from crude oil have muzzled the capacity of Nigeria to be creative on ways to manage funds, grow wealth and invent ideas for nation building. It has rather infused in successive leaders and the led, the spirit of stealing, profligacy and waste. Today, there is a flip to the adverse, which pre-conditions Nigeria to a sudden economic recession that comes as recompense and a torment for the country that failed to be frugal in times of plenty.

Although economic diversification is gearing up as a bailout from the recession bedeviling Nigeria, yet, oil still counts as an immediate avenue for succour to propel the economy for implementation of budgets.

The 2016 budget proposal of N6.07 trillion is anchored on a crude oil benchmark price of $38 per barrel and a production estimate of 2.2 million barrels per day. Regrettably, production capacity had dropped drastically to 1.679. The glut in the international crude oil supply has also continued to peg the price of crude oil at less than $40 per barrel, accounting for the gross shortfall in the revenue generated from oil.

The activities of the Niger Delta militants have worsened

the already bad scenario. It has limited the scope of government to generate sufficient funds. There is no luck in sight for Nigeria yet amid the sustained hostilities in the oil producing communities, where armed militants are holding sway.

The immediate alternative for Nigeria is to call the aggrieved militants to a round table for dialogue.

The government has not been sitting on its oars. Weeks ago, it convened a round table with elders from the Niger Delta who tabled a 16-point demand as way out.

President Buhari had promised to study the demands and get back to the elders. But the militants who continued to claim responsibilities for destruction of major oil facilities appear implacable. Hours after the elders and the government jawjawed; a group of militants blew up an oil facility in Delta State. They also destroyed repaired oil export facilities in different states. These have induced a heavy haemorrhaging of the nation’s economy.

If dialogues with the militants are considered germane and necessary, what may have eclipsed the plans by the government for that is the confusion and bedlam in the camps of the restive youths?

Militant groups are disproportionate in number, all operating independently. Not one would

imagine yielding the ground to the other. Efforts to make them bond as a major pressure group to engage the government in talks had consistently proved abortive. Elders from the zone who position themselves as mediators only command a modicum of respect from the war mongering militants. By this, the dilemma of the government could only widen by the day.

All along, Nigeria has seen the need to attend to the basic demands of the people of Niger Delta. In response, the government scrapped OMPADEC and replaced it with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). NDDC commissioned projects on Health, Education (offer of scholarship to students, etc), constructed roads, bridges and culverts. It also offered employment opportunities to some youths, provided potable water, transportation and others. Oil companies too had joined in building facilities.

Again, Amnesty programme also came along as a remedy for disengaging the youths of the Niger Delta from acts of brigandage and militancy. Many who embraced the tool had taken up paid jobs.

Constitutionally too, Nigeria conceded 13 percent of revenue from oil to states in the Niger Delta.

In addition,President Buhari had launched the Cleanup of Ogoni land

to address the problem of environmental degradation.

To cap it all, Nigeria, in 2011, supported the clamour by the south-south to produce the Nigerian President and hence ensured the ascension of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan into power.

What is most regrettable is that the militants are putting wedges before every effort by the rest of Nigeria to reach a truce with them. Of late, they are beating war drums, offering hints that their intransigencies are meant to preparing the south-south zone for secession!

Wisdom demands that timely advice and suggestions must be offered from time to time. The seemingly implacable militants should be mindful that in all situations, every hostility, no matter how deep and intense always end at a round table.

Militants should remember too that though the destruction of the Nigerian economy is their main target, truth is that their own zone will bear the consequences of their bombing of oil facilities.

Painful as it may sound, the world is frantically preparing to do away with fossil oil. Countries with eyes on the future have been investing heavily on solar energy. It is a matter of time before petroleum loses its relevance.

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Interview

17

s

NIMASA is pushing for dedicated anti-piracy law —Peterside The issue of pirates’ attack in the Gulf of Guinea has been a source of concern for stakeholders in the maritime industry. In this interview with select editors in Lagos, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, speaks on steps being taken to win the war, among other issues. Daily Times Editor, ROSE MOSES, was there and brings the excerpts.

You said that Nigeria has about five seafarers aboard international vessels. How do we improve on this unimpressive development?

We have created a programme called the Nigerian Seafarer’s Development Programme (NSDP), where we send students abroad for training. Till date, we have sent about 2, 900 students. The challenge we have on that is how to provide them sea time experience because it costs around $25, 000 to give a seafarer sea time aboard international going vessels. You will agree with me that it is almost impossible to send 2, 900 seafarers for training at that rate.

We are looking for an ingenious solution to that. Beginning from January next year, we will be using an intervention programme of the NSDP to train seafarers, who can go aboard ocean going vessels.

Is it not possible to reach an agreement with some international vessels that carry our export to give our seafarers sea time?

We are looking at two organizations for that - the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) because of the state interest. You can’t tell a private person that it is mandatory that he should take our seafarers on board, but NNPC and NLNG have government interest. We are engaging both organizations and I hope we can make progress.

Let me also place on record that there is an organization in Port-Harcourt - Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) headed by Engr. Greg Ogbeifun. They have a number of vessels and they have offered to take one hundred of Nigerian cadets onboard their vessels free of charge. You can imagine how much they will be saving Nigeria and NIMASA. The programme will be launched early December and I am using this medium to publicly appreciate them.

What is the state of things between NIMASA and NLNG? Are they paying as at when due?

What happened with NLNG is that in the law setting it up, NLNG made provision for what is known as pioneer status. What that means was that they were supposed to have some tax incentives for a period of 10 years. When the 10 years elapsed, there were a lot of contentions as to what are the true positions of that pioneer status.

NIMASA, under the previous administration, thought that NLNG was supposed to start paying after the end of the 10 years grace. At the end of the day, one way or the

Peterside

other, it was resolved and they started paying some money to NIMASA. However, the case is still in court. Unfortunately, the court has not been able to dispose of the case. We are in the process of engaging to see if the case can be resolved out of court or to accelerate the proceedings. The recent change in the leadership of NLNG has however slowed things down a little bit. But, we have a wonderful relationship with NLNG; they are paying some dues to NIMASA, not everything but they are paying something.

Speaking about the loss of category C status of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), what went wrong and how can Nigeria re-attain the status?

It was a combination of reasons. The IMO is governed by a council; the Board of Directors of the council is chosen based on

the level of your interest or stake holding.

There are countries that either by the level of cargoes they generate or vessels they own, are categorized A and so on. There are also members, who don’t have serious business in the industry. In Africa, Nigeria generates more cargoes than any other country, which should give us automatic place in Category C. However, there are other intervening variables that determine where you are placed. If you are not regulating your industry well, you won’t be allowed near council for you to regulate other countries. There were so many things that went wrong with Nigeria at some point and we lost it. We are however working on regaining our status by complying with all the requirements of the IMO. Piracy remains a huge cause of concern in the Gulf of Guinea, what is being

done by your agency to stem this tide?

The issue of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has been quite challenging; it has become embarrassing. Recently, Africa under the African Union, created the Africa Integrated Maritime Strategies with the aims of country working together collaboratively. In addition to that, we also have the ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy because most of the countries in the Gulf of Guinea are in ECOWAS. In Nigeria, we have done quite a lot of things. We need to put in place things that will deter these pirates from attacking vessels at sea and to do that we are investing heavily in technology. We have a satellite surveillance system that creates maritime domain awareness; it gives you a bird-eye view of the entire stretch of our coast-line.

The Nigeria Navy also has its Falcon Eye, which enables you through a screen to see the entire coast line. What we have done is to enhance surveillance so that whenever a vessel comes into our maritime domain, we can keep an eye on it.

In addition to surveillance, we also have vessels that patrol our coast line. So when these pirates notice the presence of armed security personnel, they are deterred from attacking.

The other thing we need to do is our response capabilities, if these pirates are noticed and detected, do we have the vessels and assets to go after them? If they know that we have the vessels to come after them and that they won’t go scot-free, they will not attack.

The Navy just recently acquired one of such vessels; The MT Unity from China.

NIMASA is also supporting the Navy and we are also beefing up our capacity. We will acquire patrol aircrafts that will be handled by the navy.

We are also pushing for a dedicated antipiracy law in this country. If a pirate is arrested today, he will be handed over to the police, who may do a shoddy job of prosecuting the pirate. We are pushing so that NIMASA and the Federal Ministry of Justice can prosecute anyone arrested for piracy.

We have made some progress. In 2014, we had over 20 cases of pirate attacks; last year we had 12, the whole of this year, we had below five, so far. It means we are making progress; it is not as bad as it used to be. Though we are not where we want to be, we are making progress.

We, however, acknowledge that if we don’t deal with the issues of piracy, two things will happen. One, vessels won’t call at our ports. Even the ones who call at our ports, insurance will continue to go up, which we will all pay for as importers will include the cost in prices of goods.

We are dedicated to fighting it (pirates)

Continued on page 18

Interview 18 Continued from page 17 as it is not even good for our national image. During a recent event, where we signed African Maritime Charter on security, at every session, I always had to defend Nigeria on issues of piracy.

Don’t you think we need international help to fight this?

Definitely. European Union is giving us support in terms of training. It recently approved about 20 Million Euros to help in the fight against piracy. The international community is showing concern about it.

You earlier mentioned that vessels coming from Nigerian ports are subjected to extra scrutiny, could you be more specific?

In the interest of national interest, I won’t be able to share that information with you. What happened is that due to the International Ship and Ports Safety (ISPS) code, it is an IMO instrument, which is being championed by the US coast guard, they were here two years ago and last year and it was discovered that there were some gaps in the security of some of our ports, which is why we still have stowaways and some other issues. That is why they subject vessels from our ports to such searches.

But we are addressing it. They are coming in February to look at our systems and processes again. The Minister of Transportation led a delegation comprising me, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and others to their high command and we briefed them on what we have done and the substantial improvements we have made and they said

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

‘NIMASA is pushing for dedicated anti-piracy law’ they are going to pay us a visit in February. I am sure that after their visit, they will lift the ban and vessels won’t be subjected to such examinations There seems to be an overlapping of functions between the Shippers’ Council and NIMASA, what is the situation now?

There are some few grey areas on our roles and that of Shippers’ Council. Shippers’ council’s major role is economic regulation but for us, if you are bringing in a vessel into Nigeria, we have to ascertain if the vessel is sea- worthy. Does it meet international standard? In addition to the vessel itself, we look at the assets manning it. Are they qualified to man the vessel?

Shippers’ council looks at the economic angle while we look at the safety and appropriateness of the vessel to carry what it is carrying.

How healthy is NIMASA and is the alleged culture of sharing money still in place at the agency?

When I came on board, NIMASA had about 200 different accounts in different commercial banks; it was a bit easy to navigate money into different coffers.

But today, NIMASA has only one account as stipulated by the Treasury Single Account (TSA). That is indicator number one. If there was malfeasance before, it cannot be the same again. I didn’t say

Peterside

there was because I wasn’t here Another indicator is that under the old arrangement, so many people can access NIMASA’s fund. Now, it is streamlined in such a way that if you take out a Kobo from NIMASA’s money, I will not be the only one who will know. So if people were careless in the past, it is no longer busi-

ness as usual.

On the part of the financial health of NIMASA, the recession that is affecting the country is also affecting NIMASA. Our growth has been stunted. NIMASA is not funded by the federal government.

The funding comes from revenue we collect from vessels. There are fewer vessels calling at our ports than what we had last year; so definitely, we will earn less.

Secondly, oil and gas activities have gone down; there is a dip due to some reasons, namely, pricing and volume, which is not in our favour. So, investment has gone down. Most cabotage vessels support the oil and gas industry and if there is a lull in the industry, which means there would be fewer vessels to collect revenue from, meaning there is a drop in the income of NIMASA and our obligations are not dropping. I think that gives you an idea into the financial health of NIMASA. The state of the roads leading to our ports are in a deplorable condition, are you putting pressure on the federal government to fix these roads so it doesn’t scare away investors?

Not only am I putting pressure, we are working together with the NPA and all other stakeholders in the industry to put pressure on the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to fix the roads and it is working.

Gunmen abduct farmers, eggs, chickens Joy Anyim Sunday the 27th November, 2016, is one day residents of Igbodu community in Epe area of Lagos will not forget in a hurry.

About 7:30am of that day, gun men numbering about 20, dressed in military camouflage stormed the community through the water ways, shooting sporadically into the air.

Eye witness account has it that the gunmen continued firing shots for some 15 minutes to scare people away before they descended on Kodjo farm where seven persons working on the farm were kidnapped. The hapless farmers were whisked into a waiting boat that sped off into the seas, it was reported. The whole confusion lasted till 8am.

It was also gathered that while the shooting was going on, the gunmen had time to gather and made away with about 50 live fowls and over 20 crates of eggs.

When the dust settled, it was found that the gunmen had kidnapped 65-years-old Kakaja Joseph, a security guard at the farm and four other poultry workers.

Information also has it that policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) had foiled an attempt by the kidnappers earlier in the day when they attempted to abduct students of Molajoye Community High School on the assembly ground.

One of the poultry workers who narrowly escaped abduction and requested anonymity, said: “After kidnapping my colleagues, the gunmen went to Molajoye Expressway where

Badmus

they attacked a bus and also kidnapped two travelers. Some of the occupants of the bus sustained injuries.”

Mr. Isaiah Joseph, son of the abducted guard, said: “Since our father was kidnapped, we’ve been running from pillar to post, to secure his release. When he left home on Saturday, we expected him back on Sunday for church service. We waited with our mother, but he didn’t show up. We decided to go to the farm to check on him. We were told by one of the engineers that he had been abducted, along with three other workers.”

Joseph said that the management of the

poultry had assured them that they would make efforts to secure his release soonest.

“We’re still waiting for him to return, but our major concern is his health. He’s old. We don’t know how they are treating him,” said Joseph.

Mr. Isaac John, in-law to Kakaja, said the farm management has promised to negotiate with the kidnappers as soon as they get in touch, but we are yet to hear from them.”

John further said: “We’re anxious! We don’t know his condition presently. If not because of the economic situation in the country, the old man wouldn’t be doing that sort of job.”

Meanwhile, the Baale of the community,

Chief Oguntayo Abiodun, said they were still discussing the kidnap of the guard and poultry workers, when news about the attempted abduction of Molajoye students reached them.

“On Saturday, there was serious commotion in the community when the gunmen confronted men of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in a gun battle. The sporadic shooting lasted for about 29 minutes.

“We’re appealing to the state government and the police to provide regular patrol in the community. Some of the local vigilante men cannot confront the gunmen because of the sophisticated weapons they carry. Some investors in the community have started relocating due to the incessant abductions of farmers and workers in the community. Farmers these days fear to go to work.”

In his reaction, Alashe of Igbodu, Chief Olaitan Oshodiro, “Those militants, who were dislodged from Arepo, Isawo and some parts of Ogun state, have relocated to our area. We cannot sleep anymore. We’re dying of hunger!

“Now we cannot go to farm for fear of being kidnapped. We go to bed by 6:30pm these days.

Even in our sleeps we fear for our lives,” he lamented.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos however denied any such occurrences in Epe. “The command wishes to state that this publication is not only false and misleading, but a figment of the imagination of the writer.

EPE axis and Lagos State, is totally safe. There is no invasion by militants or any other criminal elements on any part of Lagos.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

19

Crime

Police arrest two women over alleged child abuse Oguntade Ismaila Two women have been arrested in FESTAC Town area by men of the Lagos State Police Command for abusing a nine-year-old girl identified as, Joy Esemonu.

The suspects, Amadi and Mama Esther, allegedly poured substances suspected to be chemical on different parts of Joy’s body, which burnt out the surface of her skin on different parts of her body.

Thereafter, both women led took Joy out and made her beg for alms from passersby everyday on a pedestrian bridge in the FESTAC area of Lagos. It was gathered that the proceeds of the heinous act were shared between the two women daily.

Respite however came the way of Joy when an observant pedestrian took particular interest in her and subsequently reported the case to the FESTAC Police Station.

The matter was later referred to the Office of the Public Defender, which transferred the victim to the

Mrs Amadi and Mama Esther

National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) and other related matters for further investigation and probe.

Revealing more about the matter,

a social worker, who is in the know about the issue said the victim is a relation of Mama Esther who brought her from a village in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

Vigilante group seeks inclusion in neighborhood safety agency Joy Anyim and Oguntade Ismaila The Lagos State Commandant of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), Otunba James Udoma, has called on the Lagos State Government to include the organisation in the Neighborhood Safety Agency being created by the state government.

Commandant Udoma, who made this known during an interaction with newsmen at the VGN state headquarters in Lagos, maintained that since the concept of the formation of the NSA was to promote community based policing, Udoma said no other organisation is better experienced to be included in the board than VGN. In his words, “VGN Lagos State Command is out to assist the state government in overcoming the challenges of insecurity in the state and its environs. Men of the group are well on ground in all the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Area in the state.

The units are spread across various communities and wards in Lagos State. We are a public oriented

security outfit with a mission and vision to prevent crime as well as protect lives and properties in various communities. We have been assisting the police in combating crime.

While acknowledging that VGN was invited during the public hearing of the Neighborhood Safety Agency bill as initiated by the Honorable Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honorable Mudashiru Obasa, Udoma they made their im-

Udoma

pute and cautioned that security is never an issue government should toy with.

“We stressed at the forum that when a security outfit is to be set up, those who are to be recruited into the outfit must be those who want to do it willingly.”

The Commandant noted that officers of VGN are not just trained but are given Basic Intelligent Training (BTI) as directed by the former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase. Proper documentation was made by the police and our men are meant to render their services where they are domicile.

He said, “Unlike other security agencies whose officers are transferred from one geo-political zone to the other, VGN officers carry out their responsibilities voluntarily in their place of resident. They are part of the people and they speak the language of the people. We are experienced and qualified in all aspects for the job,” stressed.

Udoma also used the opportunity to appreciate the national leadership led by the Alhaji Ali Sokoto Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) for sponsoring the bill on VGN that had scaled through the second reading at the National Assembly.

“The girl lived in Port Harcourt with her parents. But last year, her mother handed her over to Mama Esther after the latter promised to support the family by taking the girl to Lagos. She said the girl

would continue her education when they get to Lagos.” The social worker said.

Furthermore, the social worker added that; “When she brought Joy to Lagos, she decided to hand her over to Amadi, whom she owed some money. The woman then decided to use her for begging.

“The girl said she noticed that Amadi would make her sleep before pouring a substance suspected to be chemical on her body. By the time she woke up and scratched the spots after feeling some pains, they would become sore. The woman would then bandaged the place and take her out for begging.

“She said whenever the injuries heal, she would make her sleep again and pour the chemical on her.

The woman started with her bottoms and then her laps. She said such had happened about four different times.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said investigation by the police has revealed that the evil act to be their stock in trade.”

Man docked for obtaining $8,000 under false pretence Oguntade Ismaila The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on Monday November 28, 2016, docked one Okwara Victory before Justice I.B Gafai of the Federal High Court, Awka, in Anambra State, for charges bothering on obtaining by false pretense to the tune of $8,674USD. When the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty on all three counts. In view of his plea, the Defense Counsel Barr. Emma Onyibor applied for bail for his client, arguing that that his client has been on administrative bail granted by the EFCC, and had not defaulted.

“He has always reported regularly to the EFCC whenever he was needed,” he submitted.

But prosecuting counsel, Barr Habila Jonathan, informed the court that he was served the motion for bail, shortly before court proceeding and needed time to study and respond.

The court upheld the argument of the EFCC counsel as the Judge was yet to study the bail application which the defense also served the court shortly before proceedings.

The court then ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody, while the case was adjourned to December 6, 2016, for hearing and consideration of bail.

One of the charges against the accused person reads: That you, Okwara Victory, sometime in the month of April 2016, at Onitsha, within Awka Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, did obtained the sum of N1,332,420 being the naira equivalent of $4,190 from one Ekweaba Oyemechi, when you falsely presented yourself to him that your girlfriend who lives in America will send you $4,190 meant for your return ticket to America, a pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section1(1)(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

20

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL CHARITABLE ORGANISATION

21 Public Notice

EJIGBO IDAGBASOKE PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION

APOSTOLIC TEACHING MINISTRY

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. HAJIYA IDAYATU BELLO ELU -REMOVED 2. ALHAJI MURANA ONDEKU BELLO -REMOVED 3. ABDULWASII AJAO ABDULMUMINI ELU -RETAINED

This is to inform the general public that the above Named has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission Under Part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ADETUNJI SHERIFF MAJARO - PRESIDENT 2. KOLAWOLE BALOGUN AZEEZ - SECRETARY 3. OKUNLONA MUSIBAU ISHOLA 4. OGURIOLA WAHEED OLAWALE 5. YUSUF AHMED ALANI

This is to inform the general public that the above Named has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission Under Part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990.

NEW TRUSTEES APPOINTED: 1. RAFATU ANKE ABDULAZEEZ 2. FATIMA OKE 3.

AIM & OBJECTIVE: 1. To win souls for our Lord Jesus.

AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION TO REFLECT THE CHANGES ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGE AND AMENDMENT SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. PROMOTING UNITY AMONG MEMBERS. 2. ASSISTING MEMBERS FINANCIALLY. 3. TO RAISE MONEY IN SUCH MANNER AS THE ASSOCIATION SHALL THINK FIT. 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: MOHAMMED SHEHU ESQ - 08060070147

SIGNED: TRUSTEES.

KASALI YUNUS

SHELTER OF GRACE INT’L CHRISTIAN CENTRE

LIGHT THE GLORY OF GOD CHERUBIM & SERAPHIM CHURCH

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. JINADU OLUSEGUN 2. VICTORIA ADENIKE JINADU 3. ADEBAYO ADESANYA MICHAEL

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

ADORATION HOUSE OF LOVE 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 Company and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990.

TRUSTEES 1. Prophet Dr. Kofow0rola David Babatunde. - Founder 2. Lady Evangelist Kofoworola Abigal Oluwa Sheyi. - Women Leader 3. Aladuro Oladejo Ebenezer Bukola. - Church Secretary

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for registration to corporate affairs commission under PART C of companies and allied matters ACT NO.1 of 1990

AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ

Aims and objectives 1. To preach the gospel of Christ to the people 2. To set the captives free through th word of God

Aims are: 1. To preach the gospel of God and to support the needy and less privilege educationally and medically.

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, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Pmb 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

Signed. Barr SEGUN ADE - Solicito OTI

This is to inform the general public that the above Named has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission Under Part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act No.1 of 1990.

TRUSTEES 1. LAWAL JOSEPH ADENIYI 2. OHAJURU CHIKA 3. ABU AMICHI MERCY

ALL SIGNAGE ADVERTISING AND PRINTING PRACTITIONERS OF NIGERIA

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.DR OGHARAERUMI MARK ONESOSA - PRESIDENT 2.PASTOR EYEYON JOHN ADEYEMI- SECRETARY 3.TORITSEMOTSE FREDRICK JOLOMI - ELDER 4.PASTOR OGHARA ERUMI CHARELS UTIEYIN- FIN.SEC 5.PASTOR AKUIRENE PHILIP 6.AFEJUKU - DOMINO DAVID OFEORITSE 7.PASTOR OKOTIE EMMANUEL 8.EVANG.EWETAN ORITSEMINOMI COMFORT

AIM AND OBJECTIVE To bring the signage and print industry in nigeria to a high level of competitiveness comparative to global best practice Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar - General Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent Maiatama Abuja, within 28 days of this publication

AIM AND OBJECTIVE To encourage members to live victorious christian life Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 240 Tigris Crescent Maitama Abuja,within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: J.K NANA CROWN KINGS CONSULTANCY CO. 08037769526

FORGIVEN HEART FOUNDATION

THE ALMIGHTY ALPHA AND THE OMEGA MISSION INTERNATIONAL --RC CAC/IT/NO. 73892

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no 1990.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Change of Trustees and Amendment of Constitution under Part ‘C’ of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1990 THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OZOMAGBO FESTUS IFEANYI - REMOVED 2. PATRICK OGBU - RETAINED 3. CHISOM NWAMAKA ENEMUOR - RETAINED

TRUSTEES: I. Barr. Chekwube Ebubealor - chairman 2. Ekene Ebubealor.

3. Nkechi Ebubealor 4. Amuche Ebubealor 5. Nneka Ebubealor.

6. Barr. lkechukwu okonkwo - secretary.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to REGISTRAR – GENEral Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 240 Tigris Crescent Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

ITSEKIRI BELIEVERS NETWORK THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO.1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEE ARE: 1.OGBOGORO FESTUS EVAWERE - PRESIDENT 2.LOUIS TEMITOPE RAZAQ - V.P 3.NWUCHE FERDINAND O.SECRETARY 4. ADETUS ADEBOYE PRINCE 5.SHAMSUDDEEN SULEIMAN 6.ADERINTO BABAJIDE ADEDAYO 7. OGBECHE PHIL- ANTHONY

SIGNED J.K NANA

TRUSTEES: 1. Adetula Olamigoke Bright 2. Adetula Grace Tolulope 3. MANN GBEMINIYI OLAJIDE 4. Adetula Oluwasegun Peter

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004 COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES EXTRACT OF THE MEMBERS’ MEETING OF EASYTEC GLOBAL SERVICES INNOVATION LTD (CREDITOR’S VOLUNTARY WINDING UP) (RC: 860,941) At the general meeting of the Creditors of EASYTEC GLOBAL SERVICES INNOVATION LTD (the “Company”) duly convened and held on 21st November, 2016 at Plot 11, Olubunmi Owa Street, Off Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos pursuant to Sections 472 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act C20 LFN 2004, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED as follows: 1. That the Company be voluntarily wound up.

2. That Oladiran Falore, a Legal Practitioner of Suite 311, 2nd Floor, Oakland Centre, Maitama Abuja, FCT be appointed as the Liquidator for the Creditor’s Voluntary Winding Up of the Company.

DATED THIS 21st day of November, 2016 THE LIQUIDATOR OLADIRAN FALORE, Esq. LEGAL PRACTITIONER SUITE 311, 2ND FLOOR, OAKLAND CENTRE, MAITAMA ABUJA, FCT

RIDWANULLAH ISLAMIC FOUNDATION

RIDWANULLAH ISLAMIC FOUNDATION --Motto: UWAL- AKBAR Address: No 1, MARCAZ AVENUE, IFO, OGUN STATE.

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 1990.

APPOINTMENT OF NEW TRUSTEES: 1. CHINWE VICTORIA ENEMUOONYEKACHI OLIVE ENEMUO 2. MR. AZUBUIKE SAMUEL OBI

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1- Isaaq kamaldeen Algamawiy [Chairman] 2- Makinde Ayinla Sikirulah [Secretary] 3- Kayode Azeez Oke 4- Salami Soliu Oriyomi 5- Aina Akeem Ibraheem

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To do charity works.

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

AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION: To amend the following Articles; 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 of the constitution of the Association.

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

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:(1) Towards propagation of Islam (2) To provide sound intellectual, spiritual, moral and social training.

Any objection to the 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: SECRETARY.

SIGNED: CHIMA HENRY EBERE ESQ.

SIGNED BY : SECRETARY

TAKING ALL MEN BROTHER 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) IYABO DARA OGUNDIRAN - CHAIRMAN (2) SULAIMON ABDURRAHMON OWOLABI - MEMBER (3) OLUFUNSO AWE - MEMBER (4) OLUWATOSIN. .K. SHUDUNKE - MEMBER (5) OMOYEMI ONI - SECRETARY THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS:TO ENCOURAGE INTERFAITH HARMONY AMONGST MEMBERS. 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 SECRETARY

LOSS OF DEED OF ASSIGNMENT

This is to inform the general public of the loss of Deed of Assignment dated 17th April, 2003, registered as No. 45 on page 45 in Volume 2081 , Lagos belonging to Mr Oluwole Akinsola Vester for a piece or parcel of land situated at No. 3 Egbeyemi Close, off Folarin Road, Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos.

All efforts to recover the said document have been abortive.

If found, Please contact the Lagos State Land Registry Office, Alausa or call 08023265397.

NIGERIA IESU-NO-MITAMA KYOKAI

This is to inform the General Public that the above named CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, for CHANGE IN TRUSTEES under Part C of the Company and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The names of the trustees that are removed from the previously Existing Board are:(1) Pastor Minoru Meada, -Removed (2) Brother David Okojie, - Removed (3) Brother Ehi Ale - Removed (4) Brother Paul Ihensekhin, - Removed The Trustees that were retained in the previously existing Board are:(1) Rev. Yasuo Yoshioka -Retained (2) Rev. TETSUHIDE TOKUNAGA -Retained NEW APPOINTED TRUSTEES AS ADDITIONAL TO THE RETAINED TRUSTEES ARE:(1) Mr. Takemoto Masayoshi, (2) Mr. Ale Adeniran Olumide, (3) Mrs. Bibiana Nwagboluwo Nwadiei, (4) Mr. Eric Ayodele Ale. THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS : To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Nation.

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

SIGNED BY: SECRETARY

22

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

MUHAMMED JAMIU LUKUMON OPELOYERU

STEPHEN ANAYO IGWE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

SAMSON ANGELA UDO

TOLU ISRAEL FUNMILAYO

I formerly known and addressed as IBITOLU JACOB FUNMILAYO, now wish to be known and addressed as IBITOLU ISRAEL FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

AWESU AHMED ALIDU.

Formerly known and addressed as STEVEN ANAYO IGBE, now wish be known and addressed as STEPHEN ANAYO IGWE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OLADIPO AWUJOOLA ABIGAEL is one and same person known as AWUJOOLA ABIGAEL wish to confirm that my correct name is OLADIPO AWUJOOLA ABIGAEL. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as KOLADE AJOKE MARY , now wish to be known and addressed as IBITOLU AJOKE MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

AZEEZ IBRAHIM I formerly known and addressed as AZEEZ IBRAHIM OMOGOYE, now wish to be known and addressed as AZEEZ IBRAHIM. All former documents remain valid.

General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as SULEMAN OBILONO, now wish to be known and addressed as SULEMAN JOHN. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as LOVETH NKEIRUKA ONYEMAH, now wish to be known and addressed as ONYEMAH EMMANUEL JANE NKEIRUKA. That I was born on the 27th day of May, 1992. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AYOTUNDE MICHAEL A. now AYOTUNDE MICHEAL BUKOLA All documemts bearing these names remain valid. GTBank plc and genaral public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

AWOSANYA BEATRICE ENIOLA OLABISI.

CHANGE OF FAMILY NAME I, FIDELIS OBI FRANCIS, as the first son and on behalf of the entire family of ONUOHA of Ntu Village, AttaIkeduru, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria now wish to be known, called and addressed as the family of FRANCIS and not ONUOHA anymore. That all documents bearing former name remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned take note.

ODEBUDO AMUDAT OLUWASEUN.

EZE CHIDI NDUBUISI

BANJO FAITH OLUWATOYIN

Formerly known, Called and Address as CHIDI NDUBUEZE, wish to be know, called and Addressed as EZE CHIDI NDUBUISI. all former documents remain valid, general public take note.

That i was born on 18/6/1984, i am the same person bearing BANJO FAITH OLUWATOYIN and OGUNBANJO FAITH OLUWATOYIN. Henceforth,i wish to be known called and addressed as BANJO FAITH OLUWATOYIN . All document bearing any of the above mentioned names remains mine and valid,general public should take note.

THIS IS TO CONFIRM THAT I MUHAMMED JAMIU LUKUMON O. IS ONE AND SAME PERSON REFER TO AS MUHAMMED JAMIU LUKUMON OPELOYERU. I Now wish to be known, called and addressed as MUHAMMED JAMIU LUKUMON OPELOYERU. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. Banks, Relevant Authorities and General Public Please take note.

IBITOLU AJOKE MARY

That I opened my bank account in the past with BIOBAKU OKONO FOLASHADE and BIOBAKU FOLASHADE OLAWUNMI, and ODUSANYA FOLASHADE OLAWUNMI. That I now desire to change the name on my accounts from the names mentioned above including OKONO FOLASHADE andBIOBAKU FOLASHADE OLAWUNMI to BIOBAKU ODUSANYA FOLASHADE OLAWUNMI. General public and banks take note.

ADELAKUN RUKAYAT ADENIKE

Formerly known, called and addressed as ADEBIYI RUKAYAT ADENIKE, now wish to be known, called and Addressed as ADELAKUN RUKAYAT ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CAROLE ABOLADE WILSON I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS CAROLINE WILSON, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS CAROLE ABOLADE WILSON. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

Formerly known and addressed as Thomas beatrice Eniola, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Awosanya Beatrice Eniola Olabisi. All former documents remain valid.

General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

EKEZIE UDOCHI SHARON

Formerly known and addressed as Ekezie Anyanwu Josephine, now wish to be known and addressed as Ekezie Udochi Sharon. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

PATIENCE ATIM ARO-FADAKA

Formerly known and addressed as PATIENCE ATIM OKON OYOBIO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as PATIENCE ATIM ARO-FADAKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

SULEMAN JOHN

Formerly known, Called and Address as ONI AMUDAT OLUWASEUN, wish to be know, called and Addressed as MRS.ODEBUDO AMUDAT OLUWASEUN. all former documents remain valid, general public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

ODARI ANYENOSEN

HAMMED OMOLARA OMOWUMI

Formerly known and addressed as Hammed Omolara Ajoke, now wish to be known and addressed as Hammed Omolara Omowumi. All former documents remain valid.

General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as SHEDRACK SAMUEL ENIOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as NWOGU SAMUEL ENIOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

BLESSING NGOZI MAURICE. Formerly known and addressed as BLESSING NGOZI IWEBEMA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as BLESSING NGOZI MAURICE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that IKEJEMBA FRIDAY and IKEJEMBA FRIDAY PATRICK refers to one and the same person. That all former documents bearing both names are mine and remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

This is to confirm that MISS DANIELS TARI and MISS DANIEL HARMONY refers to one and the same person. As Tari and Harmony are both my names. That all former documents bearing both names are mine and remain valid. General public and Authorities.

ANIFOWOSHE OLUWAKEMI FOLASAYO

EBONG VICTORIA ENO. I, formerly known and addressed as MISS KEVIN VICTORIA ENO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. EBONG VICTORIA ENO. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

NJOKANMA MARGARET OLABISI

Formerly known and addressed as MISS AKANBI MARGARET OLABISI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. NJOKANMA MARGARET OLABISI due to change in marital status. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

That on my Bank documents, my name appears as GEOFFREY ESQ OGBUEFI, while on other documents, it appears as OGBUEHI GEOFFREY EZEKIEL. This is to confirm that I am the same person bearing both names mentioned above.

That all former documents bearing both names are mine and hence remain valid.

General public and Authorities.

Concerned should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AMUSHAN TEMITOPE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AMUSHAN TEMITOPE SAINABU. All former documents remain valid.

General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

That my name was wrongly written as OLONADE AGBAJELOLA instead of OLONADE MOJEED AGBAJELOLA on my bank documents. That my correct name is OLONADE MOJEED AGBAJELOLA. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

KUMALO LOUISA CASSIDY

OLANREWAJU HANNAH OLUWAKEMI

OGUAGHAMBA CHIBUZOR KINGSLEY

I, formerly known and addressed as BINITIE-CASSIDY LOUISA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as KUMALO LOUISA CASSIDY. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as CATHERINE FUNKE EGUNJOBI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLANREWAJU HANNAH OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

UKAEGBU: Formerly known and addressed as UKAEGBU CHIBUZOR KINGSLEY, now wish to be known and addressed as OGUAGHAMBA CHIBUZOR KINGSLEY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AJIMOKO OLUWABUKOLA FOLASHADE

Formerly known and addressed as AYENI BUKOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as AJIMOKO OLUWABUKOLA FOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SAMUEL CHIMZIE CHUKWUKERE

PROMISE OBASI

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SAMUEL JAMES PRECIOUS NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SAMUEL CHIMZIE CHUKWUKERE ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITY CONCERNED SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

OKAFOR DANIEL.

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS PROMISE CHIJIOKE OBASI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS PROMISE OBASI ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITY CONCERNED SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE

FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OKAFOR OBIAKOR HAPPINESS NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OKAFOR OBIAKOR HAPPINESS ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITY CONCERNED SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

OSENI TAIYELOLU OPEYEMI I formerly known and addressed as Oluwatope Taiyelolu Opeyemi. Now wish to be known and addressed as Oseni Taiyelolu Opeyemi.

All former documents remain the same. General public take note

OLANREWAJU OLANIKE

CORRECTION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ADEOLA OLANIKE YETUNDE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLANREWAJU OLANIKE All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note

I Soyinka Micheal Oluwagbenga my name was wrongly spell as Soyinka Micheal olugbenga wish to be known and addressed as Soyinka Micheal Oluwagbenga. All former documents remains valid. General public please take note.

ORJI ANGELA YAMESUE

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ODOKI ANGELA YAMESUE , now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. ORJI ANGELA YAMESUE. All former documents remain valid.

General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

NWOGU NGOZI PRECIOUS.

NGOZI: Formerly known and addressed as CHRISTIAN NWOGU NGOZI PRECIOUS, now wish to be known and addressed as NWOGU NGOZI PRECIOUS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note MICHAEL OJINEKA OSEYI JOY.

Formerly known and addressed as IBHAHEBHOMEN OSEYI JOY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. MICHAEL OJINEKA OSEYI JOY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OMOLOLA OPEYEMI ADEJOKE.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OJOKAN OPEYEMI ADEJOKE. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OMOLOLA OPEYEMI ADEJOKE. All former documents remain the same.

General public take note OKAFOR CYNTHIA ADA

I, formerly known as NWADIMMA CYNTHIA ADA wish to be known and addressed as OKAFOR CYNTHIA ADA. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

NWOGU SAMUEL ENIOMA.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that OLUWATOSIN OLASUNKANMI AFOLAYAN and OLUWATOSIN AFOLAYAN refers to one and the same person. That all former documents bearing both names are mine and remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note

JERRY SHINA BALA

AMUSHAN TEMITOPE SAINABU.

MBA CHIBUZO EMMANUEL Formerly known and addressed as EDEMBA CHIBUZOR EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as MBA CHIBUZO EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ONYEMAH EMMANUEL JANE NKEIRUKA

Formerly known and addressed as ABAS AHMED BUNMI, now wish be known and addressed as AWESU AHMED ALIDU. That my date of birth is 16/July/1983. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as JEREMIAH SAIDU, now wish to be known and addressed as JERRY SHINA BALA. That my date of birth is 9/March/ 1981. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

MURPHY GLORY OMOSE Formerly known and addressed as OHIOWERE GLORY OMOSE, now wish to be known and addressed as MURPHY GLORY OMOSE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known as SAVIOUR ANGELA SAMPSON, now wish to be known and addressed as SAMSON ANGELA UDO. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as AIYESA OLUWAKEMI FOLASAYO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ANIFOWOSHE OLUWAKEMI FOLASAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

OBIEKWE NDUDI LORRITTA

Formerly known and addressed as UZANA ANYENOSEN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. ODARI ANYENOSEN. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

AKOTOR STELLA ELAM.

Formerly known and addressed as LAZARUS NDUDI LORRITTA, now wish to be known and addressed as OBIEKWE NDUDI LORRITTA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AKOTOR STELLA EIS, now wish to be known and addressed as AKOTOR STELLA ELAM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEYERI OLUFUNKE RACHAEL

OMABO CHIBUZOR NGOZI. Formerly known and addressed as ORAEGBU NGOZI ASSUMPTA, now wish to be known and addressed as OMABO CHIBUZOR NGOZI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OGUNGBEMI OLUFUNKE RACHAEL, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADEYERI OLUFUNKE RACHAEL.All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ALAO JOSHUA OLUGBENGA

FATUNMBI ABIODUN EMMANUEL

I formerly known and addressed as MR ALAO SUNDAY OLUGBENGA . Now wish to be known and addressed as MR ALAO JOSHUA OLUGBENGA . All former documents remain the same.

General public take note

I formerly known and addressed as ISREAL ABIODUN EMMANUEL . Now wish to be known and addressed as FATUNMBI ABIODUN EMMANUEL . All former documents remain the same.

General public take note

ABDULHAKEEM ABDURRAHAMAN

ONIKOYI OSINNOWO OLUWATOYIN ARIKE

I, formerly known as HAKEEM OLASUNKANMI RAHAMAN wish to be known and addressed as ABDULHAKEEM ABDURRAHAMAN. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

I, formerly known as OSINNOWO OLUWATOYIN ARIKE wish to be known and addressed as ONIKOYI OSINNOWO OLUWATOYIN ARIKE. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

OKOBIA MAUREEN VIVIAN.

HEZEKIAH BOLATAN OGUNDE

UDEZE CHIKAMSO PROMISE

I, formerly known as DADA OGUNDE wish to be known and addressed as HEZEKIAH BOLATAN OGUNDE. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

ANIKWEH: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ANIKWEH CHIKAMSO PROMISE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UDEZE CHIKAMSO PROMISE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OCHUBA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHIOMA ANASTECIA OCHUBA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIOMA ANASTECIA EZEAKUJI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

NNAMANI IFUNANYA JOHNSON EWEZUGACHI: I, formerly known and addressed as, EWEZUGACHI ANIAGU now wish to be known and addressed as NNAMANI IFUNANYA JOHNSON. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

OZOEMENA: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CLARIS AMUCHE OZOEMENA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CLARIS AMUCHE NWAFOROKIYI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UKEJE CHIKODILI EUCHERIA

ORAEGBUNAM IFEANYI MARYANN

I, formerly known as Esenwa Maureen Vivian wish to be known and addressed as Okobia Maureen Vivian. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

CHIOMA ANASTECIA EZEAKUJI

CLARIS AMUCHE NWAFOROKIYI

IFUEKO OGIEMWANRE.

IYARE: I, formerly known and addressed as IFUEKO IYARE,now wish to be known and addressed as IFUEKO OGIEMWANRE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ANIOBI ANTHONY EMEKA

NWABUEZE: I, formerly known and addressed as ANIOBI ANTHONY NWABUEZE , now wish to be known and addressed as ANIOBI ANTHONY EMEKA . All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHUKWUMA VICTOR OBIAKALUSI

OBIOMA: I, formerly known and addressed as OBIOMA CHUKWUMA AGOZIE , now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUMA VICTOR OBIAKALUSI. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

CHUKWUAGBANARILAM GIFT. M ONYINYECHI: I, formerly known and addressed as ONYINYECHI CHUKWUAGBANARILAM. M. now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUAGBANARILAM GIFT. M. All former documents remain valid. General public should

EZE LILIAN CHINWEOKWU

IMACHUKWU EBERE UZOMA

OZOEMENAM JOY CHIEMEZIE.

BLESSING: I, formerly known and addressed as IMACHUKWU BLESSING EBERE, now wish to be known and addressed as IMACHUKWU EBERE UZOMA. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank and general public should please take note.

ONUOHA: I, formerly known and addressed as ONUOHA JOY CHIEMEZIE, now wish to be known and addressed as OZOEMENAM JOY CHIEMEZIE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

UMEJI: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS UMEJI CHIKODILI EUCHERIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UKEJE CHIKODILI EUCHERIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CHIME: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHIME IFEANYI MARYANN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ORAEGBUNAM IFEANYI MARYANN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

ONUGWU: I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONUGWU LILIAN CHINWEOKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EZE LILIAN CHINWEOKWU.. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

NNAMCHI AMAKA RITA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME.

LEKMAK HARUNA MARKUS

NWATU: I, formerly known and addressed as NWATU NDIDIAMAKA RITA, now wish to be known and addressed as NNAMCHI AMAKA RITA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

NSUDE KATE NJIDEKA ARUM: I, formerly known and addressed as ARUM KATE NJIDEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as NSUDE KATE NJIDEKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

This is to confirm and certify that, OKAFOR OBINNA CYRACUS AND OKAFOR OBINNA PRINCEWILL. refer to one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as OKAFOR PRINCEWILL OBINNA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as LEKMAK HARUNA MARKUS now wish to be known and addressed as DOKA GAIYA HARUNA All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ABDULRAMON ADEKUNLE now wish to be known and addressed as OWOLEGBON RILIWAN All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME. In some of my documents my name was written as NKEIRUKA GIFT UWADORO while in some other documents it was written as GIFT JOAN OKONKWO .I am the one bearing all the names. All documents bearing the names are valid. Banks and General public to take note.

NKACHUKWU NGOZI OBIORA

In some of my documents my name was written as NKEIRUKA GIFT UWADORO while in some other documents it was written as GIFT JOAN OKONKWO .I am the one bearing all the names. All documents bearing the names are valid. Banks and General public to take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME. In some of my documents my name was written as RASAK SEMIU while in some other documents it was written as RASAQ SEMIU .I am the one bearing all the names. All documents bearing the names are valid. General public to take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ZUBAIR GANIYAT BUKOLA now wish to be known and addressed as AMOO GANIYAT BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

PRINCE MICHAEL JOLAYEMI

JESSE ADEJARE DARIUS CASPER

MOHAMMED DANASABE I formerly known and addressed as DANSOKOTO MALACHI KWAIJIS now wish to be known and addressed as MOHAMMED DANASABE. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ALONGE TITILAYO OLAITAN now wish to be known and addressed as OLOGUN TITILAYO OLAITAN. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as PRINCE MICHAEL KAYODE JOLAYEMI now wish to be known and addressed as PRINCE MICHAEL JOLAYEMI All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME.

I formerly known and addressed as EFEOSA OMIJIE now wish to be known and addressed as JESSE ADEJARE DARIUS CASPER All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OBIORA NGOZI BLESSING now wish to be known and addressed as NKACHUKWU NGOZI OBIORA All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

INNOCENT FREDRICK CHUKWUESOGIKWU

I formerly known and addressed as OZOIGBO FREDRICK CHUKWUESOGIKWU now wish to be known and addressed as INNOCENT FREDRICK CHUKWUESOGIKWU All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

ADESINA OLUBUNMI BETTY.

BAMBO. FUNKE MONSURAT

BIOBAKU-ODUSANYA . FOLASHADE OLAWUNMI

I FORMERLY. KNOWN AS OSISANYA OLUBUNMI BETTY NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ADESINA OLUBUNMI BETTY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GEN. PUBLIC PLS TAKE NOTE.

Formely known and addressed as Olufunke. Monsurat Adesigi and Olufunke. Bambo.

Now wish to be known and addressed as. Bambo.

Funke Monsurat all Former documents remain valid general public should take note

I. Formely known and addressed as . Biobaku -Okono Folashade and Biobaku. Folashade Olawunmi , Now wish to be known and addressed as Biobaku-Odusanya . Folashade Olawunmi All Former documents remain valid general public should take note.

OYEYEMI TEMITOPE OLAWALE.

OLADIPO-MARY MOROMOKE

LAROGBO ADEPEJU JOSEPHINE

I. Formely known and addressed as. Oyeyemi.

Adepeju. Josephine. Now wish to be known and addressed as Larogbo. Adepeju Josephine. All Former documents remain valid general public should take note FALODUN TAIWO OMOWUNMI

I, formerly known and addressed as OYENIGA TAIWO OMOWUNMI, now wish to be known and addressed as FALODUN TAIWO OMOWUNMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

PROMISE OHUKA

I formerly known and addressed as. Promise Onuoha Ohuka Now wish to be known and addressed as. Mr. Promise Ohuka. All Former documents remain valid general public should take note.

DICK ELO JULIET

OWOLEGBON RILIWAN

AMOO GANIYAT BUKOLA

OLOGUN TITILAYO OLAITAN

FRIDAY ETIM UDOH

I formerly known and addressed as. Friday Jimmy.

Akpan. Now wish to be known and addressed as Friday. Etim. Udoh all Former documents remain valid general public should take note.

WAHAB AKANJI ADEDOKUN

23

AMU JOHN ONYEMA.

EYA: I, formerly known and addressed as EYA JOHN ONYEMA, now wish to be known and addressed as AMU JOHN ONYEMA. General public should please take note.

KOSI CYRIL

PEPERTUAL: I, formerly known and addressed as KOSI PEPERTUAL ANIH, now wish to be known and addressed as KOSI CYRIL. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

ANIKE PEACE UDODIRIM

PRECILIA: I, formerly known and addressed as ANIKE PRECILIA UDODIRIM, now wish to be known and addressed as ANIKE PEACE UDODIRIM. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

OGUNSEMOWO ORIYOMI BILIKISU

I formerly known and addressed as MISS SALAMI ORIYOMI BILIKISU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OGUNSEMOWO ORIYOMI BILIKISU All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

KAYODE TEMITAYO TAIYE

I formerly known and addressed as IGE TEMITAYO TAIYE now wish to be known and addressed as KAYODE TEMITAYO TAIYE All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

ADEYEMI ADEBOWALE OGUNNOWO

I formerly known and addressed as OGUNNOWO ADEBOWALE OLATUNBOSUN now wish to be known and addressed as ADEYEMI ADEBOWALE OGUNNOWO All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

PETERSEN ADEKUNLE EMMANUEL.

I. Formely known and addressed as. Petersen. Sammy. Emmanuel now wish to be known and addressed as. Petersen. Adekunle Emmanuel. All Former documents. Remain valid general public should take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAMES This is to certify/confirm that I, ADENIKE OLUWAYEMISI OLOWOLAGBA is one and the same person as ADENIKE OLUWAYEMISI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I Formerly known and addressed as Oyeyemi.

Temitope. Temitope. Now wish to be known and addressed as Oyeyemi. Temitope. Olawale.

All Former documents remain valid general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Oladipo-Fagbewesa Mary Moromoke Now wish to be known and addressed as. Oladipo-Mary Moromoke All Former documents remain valid general public should take note

MOGAJI ADESHOLA OLAYEMI

OKORIE LAWRENCE GOODLUCK

MORAKINYO OYINDAMOLA WURAOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as OKORIE LAWRENCE NJOKU, now wish to be known and addressed as OKORIE LAWRENCE GOODLUCK. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I formerly known as morakinyo oyinda elizabeth wrongly written date of birth (1998-16-08) now wish to be known and addressed as morakinyo oyindamola wuraola abeke and right date of birth (1999-10-16) all former document remain valid general public should take note

I, formerly known and addressed as, GIDEON EPHRAIM JACOB, now wish to be known and addressed as, OBINNA EPHRAIM JACOB. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, NGOZI CHRIS DOZIE, now wish to be known and addressed as, CHRISTOPHER SUNDAY OKOLIE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take.

ISRAEL UDOCHUKWU ENDURANCE

IGIEBOR FRANK ABIFADE I, formerly known and addressed as, IGIEBOR FRANK OSAKPOLOR, now wish to be known and addressed as, IGIEBOR FRANK ABIFADE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

SAMUEL CHICHI MPIA I, formerly known and addressed as, SAMUEL MPIA, now wish to be known and addressed as, SAMUEL CHICHI MPIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Adeyemi Adeshola OLAYEMI known and addressed as MOGAJI ADESHOLA OLAYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note

ANTHONIA CHIEBONAM OKONKWO

UNEGBU EMMANUEL

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. ANTHONIA CHIEBONAM ANI, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. ANTHONIA CHIEBONAM OKONKWO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, EMMA IHEOMA JILOUS, now wish to be known and addressed, UNEGBU EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MARTHA ANDERSON OGHWE

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. MARTHA JAMES AKPAKPAN, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. MARTHA ANDERSON OGHWE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, Formerly known and addressed as DICK ELO THERESA, now wish to be known and addressed as DICK ELO JULIET . My correct date of birth is 2OTH FEBRUARY I984 not 6th JUNE I987 as documented. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. EZE UDOCHUKWU ENDURANCE, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. ISRAEL UDOCHUKWU ENDURANCE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as KAREEM WAHAB AKOJI, now wish to be known and addressed as WAHAB AKANJI ADEDOKUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OBINNA EPHRAIM JACOB

CHRISTOPHER SUNDAY OKOLIE

24

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

FEC approves power projects Tony Ailemen Abuja

ÏÏÏ

Federal Executive Council, on Wednesday, approved the construction of various dams aimed at beefing up electricity supply in the country.

Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, stated this while briefing State House Correspondents after the weekly federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fashola said FEC approved the business case for concessioning and development of Ikere gorge dam in Oyo for 6 mega watts of electricity, Bakolori dam in Zamfara for 3.2 megawatts, Jibiya dam in Katsina for 4 megawatts, Zobe

TESLIM WALE JOHNSON

I formerly known and addressed as MOHAMMED TESLIM BOLAWALE SHITTU now wish to be known and addressed as TESLIM WALE JOHNSON. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

I, ISAIAH QUEEN ANI, wish to correct my date of birth which was wrongly written as, 5th July, 1982, instead of, 5th July, 1983, in my bank account details. My correct date of birth is, 5th July, 1983. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

dam for 0.29 megawatts (290 kilowatts) in Katsina, Kampe Omi in Kogi for 2 megawatts of electricity and Doma dam in Nasarawa for 1 megawatt of hydro electricity.

These projects according to him, was in furtherance of the administration’s incremental power and rural electrification initiative.

“Not only do this projects further our quest for incremental energy wherever there is legitimate opportunity, they further our quest for renewable energy as well because hydro electricity is also clean energy,” Fashola noted.

This is just as he announced that FEC also approved the commencement of the Federal Secretariat complex in Ekiti state and the furnishing of the one in Gombe

ADENIRAN BABAOYE CLARA OYINDAMOLA

I formerly known and addressed as BABAOYE CLARA OYINDAMOLA now wish to be known and addressed as ADENIRAN BABAOYE CLARA OYINDAMOLA. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ENE ROSELINE NKECHINYERE ONANTA: I formerly known and addressed as ONANTA ROSELINE NKECHINYERE now wish to be known and addressed as ENE ROSELINE NKECHINYERE. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. General public should please take note.

state.

The Ekiti project, he said was conceived in the year 2000, adding that funding was however not provided for it.

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, who also spoke on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) sent to the National Assembly debunked claims that the MTEF was empty.

It will be recalled that Senate had recently described the document as empty and not worth considering.

But Udoma Udo Udoma, speaking further on the outcome of the meeting said the MTEF was prepared by experienced experts after extensive consultations.

Udoma rejected the assertion but noted that the estimates contained in

the document at the time it was submitted were bound to change because of the changes in the exchange rate.

He said: “The MTEF was a very well prepared document after extensive consultations. We consulted the private sector, NGOs etc.

“But the assumptions of that MTEF were assumptions which were true and correct as of the time it was prepared August.

“Naturally, every time you improve on your estimate based on the latest the estimates. For instance one of the issues they raised was about the exchange rate, that we used 290 as the exchange rate, and that was the exchange rate of the time.

“So, you only use the exchange rate that is valid at that time. Naturally,

MICHAEL BOLAJI JOHNSON I formerly known and addressed as YEKIN MOBOLAJI SHITTU now wish to be known and addressed as MICHAEL BOLAJI JOHNSON. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME That I am the same person bearing ALHAJI ISMAIL DUROSIMI and ALHAJI ISMAIL DUROSIMI ALAMU. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as LEONARD BLESSING now wish to be known and addressed as EJIOFOR NGOZI PERPETUAL. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OLUSEGUN SEYI ONABANJO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ABIDEMI KAFAYAT ONABANJO. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

WALE-ATOLAGBE AJANI RUFUS. I formerly known and addressed as ATOLAGBE OLAWALE RUFUS now wish to be known and addressed as WALE-ATOLAGBE AJANI RUFUS. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

PROMISE IJEOMA CHUKWU I formerly known and addressed as MISS PROMISE IJEOMA EZEKWE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. PROMISE IJEOMA CHUKWU. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

EBILOMA MAJU NICODEMUS I formerly known and addressed as EBILOMA MUAZU NICODEMUS now wish to be known and addressed as EBILOMA MAJU NICODEMUS. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ADEYEMO ADERONKE ZAINAB

I formerly known and addressed as ADEYEMO ADERONKE OPEYEMI now wish to be known and addressed as ADEYEMO ADERONKE ZAINAB. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ODIGBO CHIGOZIE HYCENTH I formerly known and addressed as OHAJIMKPO CHIGOZIE HYCENTH now wish to be known and addressed as ODIGBO CHIGOZIE HYCENTH. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

RITA DUKE I, formerly known and addressed as, MRS. RITA GEORGE DUKE WATSON, now wish to be known and addressed as, MISS. RITA DUKE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, ANOKWURU GRACE EZIONU, now wish to be known and addressed as, LAWRENCE GRACE UDEME. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

EKOMOBONG IME ESSIEN.

I, formerly known and addressed as, EKOMOBONG KINGSLEY PROMISE, now wish to be known and addressed as, EKOMOBONG IME ESSIEN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CHRISTIANA NDARAKE SAMPSON

I, formerly known and addressed as, CHRISTIANA SAMPSON, now wish to be known and addressed as, CHRISTIANA NDARAKE SAMPSON. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

FOR SALE

I formerly known and addressed as ONUOHA UGOEZE CYNTHIA now wish to be known and addressed as IGWE CHINONYE. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ALUMONA UCHECHUKWU BRIDGET

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. AKINYELE OLUFOLAKEMI ELIZABETH, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. AKINDIPE OLUFOLAKEMI ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

FOR SALE

date, the president will be communicating to the National Assembly and of course, it will be at the National Assembly’s discretion ultimately.

The president will write to them and after they confirm, then the president can come to address them,” he said.

On the implementation of the 2016 budget, he said that even though it had been been affected by revenue constraint, government has been able to release N800 billion for capital projects and had also paid 100 percent on personnel.

“With respect to implementation of 2016, as you are aware that we’ve have revenue constraints.

Nevertheless, as we have been briefing regularly we are up to date. We have paid up to date,” Udoma stated.

NNAMONU MALACHY NNAMDI I formerly known and addressed as OKEKE MALACHY NNAMDI now wish to be known and addressed as NNAMONU MALACHY NNAMDI. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

UDEOZOR: I formerly known and addressed as MISS UDEOZOR UCHECHUKWU BRIDGET now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ALUMONA UCHECHUKWU BRIDGET. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. General AKINDIPE OLUFOLAKEMI ELIZABETH

by now, you will change that.

“So, the numbers whenever we appear before the National Assembly we’ll engage them and take them through one by one, and through each items.

“But that MTEF was extremely well prepared consistent with the best possible methods of preparation by people who are very experienced in preparing MTEFs.” The Minister also revealed that FEC had approved the 2017 budget preparatory to its transmission to the National Assembly for its consideration and approval.

He was however unable give detailed or say when the president would lay the document before the legislature.

“With regards to the

LAWRENCE GRACE UDEME.

EZE TOCHUKWU SAMUEL

I, formerly known and addressed as, EZE TOBECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as, EZE TOCHUKWU SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

IGWE CHINONYE

EZE BRIDGET ALLEN.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. AKUGBO BRIDGET, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. EZE BRIDGET ALLEN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADDITION OF NAME I, EZEBUIRO NGOZI ESTHER, wish to add, NGOZI, to my bank account name which was formerly, EZEBUIRO ESTHER. I now wish to be known and addressed as, EZEBUIRO NGOZI ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

EJIOFOR NGOZI PERPETUAL

ABIDEMI KAFAYAT ONABANJO

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

25 News

Minister seeks private sector’s role in boosting creative industry ÎÎÎThe Minister of Information

and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has enjoined the private sector to partner with the government in the current drive to turn the Creative Industry into a creative economy.

The Minister made the call in Abuja on Tuesday when the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) unveiled Abubakar Adam Ibrahim as the winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature 2016.

“I am proud to say that one of the highlights of the Economic Recovery Programme of this government is actually providing that enabling environment through which we can transit from a creative industry to a creative economy.

“I have always tried to encourage the private sector to take more interest in the creative

industry because the creative industry naturally anywhere in the world is on a tripod. There is the government, the private sector and there is the creative industry itself. Unfortunately, we have failed to transit from a creative industry to a creative economy precisely because there is no meeting of minds between the private sector and the creative industry and I think it is the government that can provide the bridge. For the private sector to invest in the creative industry, there must be adequate protection,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed emphasized that the nation’s greatest asset is not the natural resources but the creative ability and resourcefulness of its citizens, and commended the NLNG for appreciating this by instituting and sustaining the Nigeria Prize for

Literature.

He said literature is one area where Nigeria has made its mark on the global scene, but noted sadly that piracy has remained a huge challenge to intellectual property right in the country.

“The creative industry - of which literature is of course a part, the music, film and other arts - I think is one area where Nigeria a very long time ago stamped its authority and prominence. We have had world-class authors, like the Late Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Gabriel Okara, but unfortunately we failed to adequately protect the intellectual property of these very resourceful people.

“There is no reason why any author in Nigeria should die in penury or poverty. I think it’s the failure to adequately protect this intellectual property that has led

us to the sorry state that we have today,” the Minister said.

Mohammed said having shown keen interest in literature, the NLNG needs to move beyond awarding prize in literature to also join in the fight against piracy.

“I want to please also enjoin the NLNG to do more than this.

I think they should join hands with the government in fighting piracy. Piracy is not just about records or films, it’s also about books, fine art and culture. We can join hands together and ensure that the intellectual property of all artists are protected,” he said.

In his remarks the managing director of NLNG, Mr. Tony Attah, said the Nigeria Prize for Literature remains one of the main corporate social responsibility programmes of the company.

Prevention of HIV stagnated, treatment alone can’t stop spread -UNFPA Edem Edem, Calabar

ÎÎÎ

Progress on prevention of HIV/ AIDS has been stagnated.

Since 2010, the annual number of new infections among adults has remained unchanged. Anti-retroviral treatment has reached more than 18 million people in 2016 and has saved millions of lives and reduced the risk of new infections.

But treatment alone cannot stop the spread of HIV. The Executive Director of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin in a statement made available to our correspondent Wednesday to mark the World AIDS Day, December 1st 2016 said: “We know what to do, and we know how to do it better: Governments, communities and international partners must scale up investments in behavioural, medical and policy interventions, which together can dramatically bolster prevention.”

He further said: “Access to quality, rights-based sexual and reproductive health information and services, including condoms, is critical. But prevention goes beyond access to services.

It must include actions that reduce risk among vulnerable populations, such as adolescent girls. A girl who is protected from child marriage, has access to comprehensive sexuality education and is empowered to finish her education is at less risk of HIV infection”.

Deputy governor of Imo state, Prince Eze Madumere (left), at the official opening and swearing-in ceremony of the orientation course for 2016 Batch ‘B’ Corps members deployed to the state, at the NYSC camp in Eziama Obaire of Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state… on Wednesday.

I am not dead, says polytechnic rector Oguntade Ismaila

ÎÎÎThe

acting Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa, Mr. Seiyaboh Idah, has refuted reports making the rounds of his death.

Some online publications had Tuesday reported that Idah slumped and died at a hotel in Onoharigbo Street, Ughelli during alleged sex romp with an unidentified female teenager.

The report, which the Rector described as false, had it that after he slumped, he was rushed to a private clinic; few kilome-

ters from the hotel where he was confirmed dead.

The teenager was said to have raised the alarm when the man slumped but absconded following reports that the victim was confirmed dead.

Contrary to reports, Idah said he is strong and alive.He expressed serious concerns, insisting it was a false report and described it as embarrassing and an insult to his character.

He said the report is baseless, careless, irresponsible, unprofessional and contrary to a minimum standard of journalism

anywhere in the world.

Speaking with journalists, he said: “There is nothing true about the report. It is totally against my character, moral rectitude, ideals and qualities.

“I was highly embarrassed by the report.“The school, the students, my family including my parents, were all embarrassed and insulted by the falsehood.

“My friends all over the country and the world have been calling me over this incident to confirm whether l was still alive.

“You can see that am alive and kicking,” he added.

How Federal Character policy affects S’ East in police promotion -Okiro Alphonsus Nweze, Awka

ÎÎÎThe chairman of Police Service

Commission (PSC), Mr. Mike Okiro, has said the Federal Character principle has been behind the shortchanging of the South-East Police officers in their promotion to the top hierarchy of the Nigerian Police Force.

The former Inspector-General who spoke in Onitsha during the 15th year marriage anniversary of a human rights activist, Dede Uzor A. Uzor, said the strict application of federal character principle in the promotion of top police officers in the Police has reduced the chances of the officers from the zone from being promoted to the top echelon of Police.

The South East has constantly complained that the zone has been marginalized in the promotion of its top officers of Nigerian Police and that when they reluctantly promoted few of them, they were not given opportunity to man strategic command position.

For instance, out of 24 Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), none is from South East, while out of about 90 Commissioners of Police believed to be the nucleus of the force, only about six are of South East extraction.

A Police source who did not want to be quoted for fear of persecution, accused Okiro of being economical with the truth because if the federal character principle was adhered to strictly, the South East will get at least four AIGs and about 15 Commissioners of Police.

But Okiro whose PSC was charged with the recruitment, promotion and discipline of officers from Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to Deputy InspectorGeneral (DIG), insisted that in the promotion of officers the Commission strictly complies with the provision of federal character principle, denying that some ethnic nationalities were marked out for marginalization in such exercises.

He also gave reasons why his Commission was yet to release the list of 10,000 police officers recruited in compliance with President Buhari’s directive when he assumed office.

Okiro said the provision for the emolument of the 10,000 policemen to be recruited was not made in the 2015 budget, so there was no money to take care of the remuneration if they were engaged, saying that it would be included in the 2017 budget.

The chairman said the Commission has completed everything regarding their selection including aptitude test, screening and other relevant exercise.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Health

s

WORLD AIDS DAY:

Early detection, treatment will close HIV prevention gaps - Stakeholders Lara Adejoro Despite progress made against Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) for years and the availability of proven prevention and treatment method, new analysis from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/ AIDS (UNAIDS) shows that new HIV infections among youths have stalled, failing to decline for at least five years.

Meanwhile, some measures of success in Nigeria show that 600,000 men, women and children which are about 90 percent of the people living with HIV/ AIDS are currently on HIV treatment.

Also, 8.7 million people have received HIV counselling and testing; more than 55, 000 pregnant women have been provided anti-retroviral drugs for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Also, 750, 000 adults and children living with HIV/AIDS have received care to support quality of life and 700,000 children orphaned by AIDS have received care and support in Nigeria.

However, as Nigeria join the rest of the world to commemorate the World AIDS Day today, December 1, 2016 with the theme: ‘Hands Up for #HIV prevention’, experts have said that adequate funding and treatment are fundamental strategies for HIV prevention.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Times, Executive Director, PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation, Ibadan and National Coordinator, Treatment Access Mobilizers Initiative (TAM -Nigeria), Mr. Obatunde Oladapo, said there is need to emphasise on the importance of treatment as prevention of HIV prevention.

His words: “I’ve realised that the power towards treating AIDS lies in the community.

HIV is diagnosed in the laboratory but the result has monumental impact on the person that is affected and other people related to the person with HIV. “We need to look beyond the small sample of blood and the

Getting tested for HIV

result that comes out of it but how it affects people around and the environment that person is.

We need to look at the family as the microscopy of the community and the community as the microscopy of the world at large, if we really are serious about having an end to AIDS, we need to look at the community.

“And therefore, we need to be focused about empowering the community positively and effectively.”

Recall that in 2015, the target of reaching 15 million persons globally with access to HIV lifesaving treatment was achieved and even more.

“This means that it is possible to ensure that every person with HIV has access to treatment and given the opportunity of living healthy and successful and productive life. If you want to end AIDS, while taking care of people who are infected, you have to ensure that people who are not infected don’t get infected. So, treatment is prevention of HIV,” Oladapo said.

He said it has been documented that when you treat a

person with HIV, you are reducing the tendency of the person infecting other people.

“Studies have shown that in discordant couples, where the person with HIV is on treatment and the viral load is undetectable, the likelihood of infecting his or her partner is virtually zero, so treatment prevents HIV infection.

“These days, a mother who is HIV positive and on treatment can have her child and breastfeed her without infecting the baby. This is an indication of the importance of treatment “While we are focusing on HIV counseling and testing, and other preventive measures like condoms, and abstinence, we also encourage treatment as another strategy for prevention.”

Also speaking, the President, Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Dr Akinkunmi Afolabi, said there is need to tackle all forms of discrimination against HIV patients.

“The association advocates for the expansion of voluntary

counselling and testing programmes, diagnostic laboratory services and treatment centers to help us as a nation to consolidate on the strides made in combating HIV/AIDS.” As of 2014, the prevalence rate among adults ages 15-49 was 3.17%. Nigeria has the second largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS after South Africa in the Africa region. The HIV epidemic in Nigeria is complex and varies widely by region.

In some states, the epidemic is more concentrated and driven by high risk behaviours, while other states have more generalised epidemics that are sustained primary by multiple sexual partnerships in the general population. Youth and young adults are more vulnerable to HIV in Nigeria, with young women at higher risk than young men.

According UNAIDS, inadequate investments in prevention and unfocused investments that do not reach the most affects populations and locations are among the reasons for the prevention gap.

Meanwhile, the US government has disbursed over $3.4 billion to support the Nigerian HIV/AIDS response.

The US Consul-General in Nigeria, John Bray explained that the amount dates back to 2004 when it began its President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

PEPFAR is an initiative of the US government aimed at addressing the global HIV/AIDS burden and saving the lives of those affected by the disease, especially in Africa.

Director, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Oladipupo Fisher, said more work need to be done in order to eradicate the disease by 2030.

Also, Consultant Haematologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof.

Sulaimon Akanmu, urged Nigerians to go for HIV test.

“This will help bring the viral load to an undetectable load, where they will likely not infect other people, and is in tune with World Health Organisation’s new treatment guideline for HIV/AIDS.”

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

27 Health

Lagos to upgrade Epe PHCs for 24 hours services Lara Adejoro

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has announced that the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State will be specially upgraded to 24 hours service centres in addition to the ongoing construction of the State-of-the-Art Mother and Child Care Centre (MCC) at the General Hospital in Epe. Ambode made the announcement at the flag-off of a 5-day free medical mission organised by the Medical Guild, an association of Lagos State government employed medical/dental doctors.

The governor, who was represented by the Special Adviser on Primary Health Care, Dr. Femi Onanuga, said: “As your government, we are committed to our vision of providing quality Medicare to our people.

“The basis of our strong commitment to provision of adequate medical services to our people is the belief that only healthy population will be in the best position to drive the economy of a megacity state like ours.

“The commitment is being expressed in the strengthening of the health sector through capacity building, recruitment, upgrading of infrastructure as well as construction.”

Ambode said more qualified medical and para-medical personnel are being recruited to strengthen capacity for the provision of quality medical services.

Seeking cooperation and support,

Lara Adejoro With the critical global shortage of healthcare professionals, especially in Nigeria and as a consequence, qualified professionals may not be physically present particularly in under-resourced regions, and providing quality healthcare may be quite challenging.

However, this challenge can be tackled by providing specialist medical services using information and communication technologies to remotely located healthcare workers and patients where such expertise is not immediately available. Hence, the introduction of Hudbia.

Hudibia is an integrated healthcare solution that leverages emerging technologies to alleviate the challenges of delivering optimum health in a resource challenged environment.

Founder of Hudibia, Dr. Ahjoku Amadi-Obi, explained that Hudibia is a digital mobile health application to enable patients access medical experts of

Early intervention helps children with Down Syndrome become less dependent, says NGO Lara Adejoro

L-R: Head, Marketing and Activation, Rb West Africa, Mrs Omotola Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi; Managing Director, Rb West Africa, Mr Rahul Murgai; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Engr. Adeyemi Saliu Abidemi and Representative of Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Hunpe, Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment at the 2016 World Toilet Day Celebration Held in Lagos in Partnership with Harpic, recently .

Ambode however said the medical mission would give medical care to Lagosians and compliment efforts of the State administration in ensuring quality health services.

He appealed to the doctors to make it an annual programme and urged other professionals in the state civil service to emulate the gesture of the Medical Guild.

“Medical missions are the easiest way of rendering medical services to the communities as many people do not know their health status for hypertension and diabetes. Hypertension like we all know, is a silent killer, it can start very innocently but by the time you check the blood pressure, you will realise that it is very high.”

Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr. Saliu Oseni, said the free health gesture was part of appreciation of efforts of the Governor particularly his giant strides in the health sector vis-a-vis upgrading of health facilities, the helipad at LASUTH and sustenance of industrial harmony in the health sector.

Oseni said the Guild decided to further contribute to the wellbeing of the people of Lagos State by bringing medicare closer to the people of Epe and its environs.

“While we are aware of some pending issues, we sincerely want to appreciate the state government for those issues that have been resolved in the last one and

half years and sincerely appeal that you continue to apply your vast knowledge of the civil service and your sincerity to resolve issues especially with a listening ear.”

He said the free mission will screen people for illnesses (with treatment where necessary) especially non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes, obesity, screening and treatment of eye diseases with free reading glasses.

Other free care offered to the residents of Epe are HIV screening, medications, health education/ counselling.

Oseni also said, eye, dental and general surgeries will also be carried out.

Mobile app to tackle shortage of healthcare professionals in Nigeria debuts all specialties for quick access, quality healthcare and better monitoring of patients’ health all over the world.

“This app is available on Android, Google Play Store and IOS; and it uses emerging technologies like mHealth, Tele-medicine alongside wearable technology to deliver sustainable high qual-

Founder of Hudibia, Dr Amadi-Obi

ity and cost effective healthcare to people anywhere in the world.”

Amadi-Obi, who is also a Surgeon and Emergency Medicine Doctor and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, said the project which brought about the application has been on for two years but went live in 2015 and currently has over 1000 users with 250 doctors in different categories of medicine to attend to patients.

The platform allows interaction in various local languages like Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa, Swahili, French, Arabic, etc.

Amadi -Obi said the app makes it possible for doctors to interact face-to-face or arrange physical meetings with patients and people can monitor the health of their family and friends as well as settle their medical bills from anywhere.

“Patients can log on to the platform and register under non-doctors category for free.

They will choose any doctor of their choice, open the profile of him and read through. We evaluate these shrinks before we upload them on the platform.”

He said patients can chat and do live stream video chat with their chosen doctors.

His words: “You can book a doctor for a family member in a village, make the payment and leave the contact of the person.

The doctor will trace and patient and give him or her home service treatment. And drugs are prescribed for patients, too.”

Amadi-Obi added that a system is put in place to ensure that patients are satisfied with the services and experts registered on the platform are monitored.

Early intervention has been recommended for children with down syndrome to help them achieve basic physical, cognitive, language, social and self-help skills that lay the foundation for future progress as they face delays in certain areas of development.

Speaking during the awareness walkathon organised

by MoRainbow Foundation tagged #MovingBuddies4DownSyndrome held in Lagos recently, Founder of the Non-governmental organisation, Mrs. Tola Makinde said with early intervention, children living with down syndrome can live a normal life and live less dependent life.

“We want people to know that down syndrome is not a disease. Families who have them should not lock them up but support them from when they are being born.

When a child has been diagnosed of having down syndrome, parents are meant to do what is expected to make sure the child lives a fulfilled life.”

Mrs. Makinde, who is also a mother of a child with down syndrome, said: “Early intervention is a systematic programme of therapy, exercises and activities designed to address developmental delays that may be experienced by children with Down syndrome. Parents are the first advocates for these children and they are not meant to be locked up but they should seek for help.”

She added that early intervention should begin at birth “but it is never too late to start”.

In his remark, the administrator of Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria (DSFN), Mr. Muyiwa Majekodunmi, said: “Early intervention can ensure they have an earlier and easier starting platform, knowing what to do in terms of early medical intervention, early educational intervention, early social integration, no matter what these children are capable of doing from the early stage, they need to engage the children early to the basic language, communication skills and social skill.”

News 28 Man to die by hanging over murder of 8-year-old boy Titilope Joseph

ÎÎÎA

24-year-old aluminum fabricator, Onyeka Patrick, has been sentenced to death by hanging by a Lagos State High court, Ikeja for the tactful and gruesome killing of an 8-year old boy, Ayuba Erikitola.

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of an Ikeja High Court delivered the verdict on the grounds that the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt the death of a human being and the act of death being caused by the intention of the accused.

The convict, who had pleaded not guilty, was convicted on a one count charge of murder slammed against him by the Lagos State Government.

Patrick, a native of Achalla village in Anambra State, was said to have committed the offence on 12th January, 2013 at plot 14, 3rd Avenue Mulmaco Estate.

The charge read that Patrick did murder the deceased, Ayuba by strangling him to death; an offence contrary to Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State (2011).

In the evidence before the court, the prosecutor held that Patrick who was a neighbor of the deceased, had lured the little boy, on a Saturday morning, behind his backyard in a bid to kidnap him and request for ransom from his parents.

However, Patrick realized that the deceased may identify him and gave him up by probably telling his father who abducted him when finally released, he decided to strangle the boy to cover the secret and avoid any suspicion or aftermath information that would point towards him.

He further carried the deceased body in a sack and buried it in an empty septic tank- suck-away pit, inside an uncompleted building within the Estate and thereafter proceeded in demanding for a five million naira ransom from the deceased father.

The prosecution also affirmed that after strangling the boy, Patrick wrote a ransom note which he included his phone number and delivered it discreetly to the deceased father’s residence.

While restlessly waiting for the money, his spirit became troubled, he couldn’t bear the burdden anymore of killing the boy, and he decided to stop negotiations with his father.

The convict, thereafter, confessed his evil deeds to the parents of the deceased, including the police on how he committed the crime, while he also led them to where the deceased body was recovered in a suck-away pit in the neighborhood.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

LUTH doctors decry salary cut Lara Adejoro

ÎÎÎThe

Association of Resident Doctors in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (ARDLUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos on Wednesday decried non-payment of their full salaries.

Speaking at a press conference held in LUTH, president of the association in LUTH, Dr. Akinkunmi Afolabi said, doctors in LUTH work under the heavy strain of poor infrastructure, poorly defined specifications and irregular payment of salaries.

“The motivation of doctors also appears to be relegated

to the back burner, more so in LUTH where the management has continued to deny resident doctors their full salary in form of remuneration injustice.

“Doctors have only been receiving 60-70% of their salaries here in LUTH. This anomaly is more worrisome because out of 50 federal institutions, only 15 including LUTH are the only institutions that have continued with this unfortunate practice of part payment of salaries.

According to him, other federal institutions in Lagos like the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba; National Or-

thopaedic Hospital, Igbobi and Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta get their full salaries.

“While our colleagues in other centres have enjoyed 100% salaries for several months, the value of the other arrears continue to nosedive with the worsening economic situation.”

Explaining further, Akinkunmi said, the December 2014 salaries were only paid in March 2015.

“Ominuosly, the December 2015 salaries were similarly delayed and paid in June 2016. The untold and unprecedented hardship visited on our members are better imagined.”

The association also called for the implementation of the National Health Act by the federal government as it remains the panacea to many problems in the health sector.

In addition, Akinkunmi called for the implementation of the new residency training template and improved funding of the residency training programme.

“This remains the only solution to reducing medical tourism. If this option is properly harnessed, we will earn foreign exchange from outsiders seeking healthcare in our country.”

Benin Palace denies alleged demotion of prominent chief Titus Akhigbe, Benin

ÎÎÎThe

Ekiti state Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose (standing) during an Interactive session with civil servants as part of activities to mark the 2016 Civil Service Week, at the Government House Arcade, Ado-Ekiti… on Wednesday.

Tourism, untapped goldmine in Delta -Okowa Nosa Akenzuwa, Asaba

ÎÎÎDelta

State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has described the tourism industry as an untapped goldmine.

The governor who commissioned an ultra-modern hotel, Hotel De Copperfield in Asaba, yesterday observed that apart from being rich in mineral and material resources, the tourism industry in the state is a huge money spinner that needs to be tapped.

He commended the foresight of the managing director of Hotel De Copperfield, Chief Chukwuma Nwaobi for his interest in investing in the hospitality industry in the state, noting that

such edifice would encourage tourists and present the state as not only investors-friendly but a haven for tourists.

“We thank God that you have come to invest in the hospitality business, we are excited that you started by constructing a road to the hotel which has made it to be accessible,” the governor said, noting that it was a thing of joy that the private sector has seen reasons to invest in the state.

According to him, “the private sector is actively collaborate with us to develop our state and it is a thing of joy that all over the state our people have accepted that with private sector investment, there will be job opportunities and the socio-eco-

nomic life of the people will get a great boost.”

Chief Nwaobi in an address, said, “Your Excellency, we are happy that you have made Delta State investment friendly and the signs are all over the place.

We took time to choose Delta State as our investment spot above other states due to the monumental potentials we discovered in this state. Your ability in making Delta State one of the safest states in Nigeria is one of our topmost motivation.”

High point of the event was the commissioning of the 235 meters road constructed by the management of the hotel by Governor Okowa who was accompanied to the event by top government functionaries.

Benin Traditional Council (BTC) yesterday dismissed claims over the purported demotion of one of its prominent Chiefs , Osamedde Adun by His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewaure 11 The Benin Palace said Chief Adun, the Ayobahan of Benin Kingdom was not only found worthy by late Oba Erediauwa who initiated him into the Chieftaincy title rank but had equally demonstrated unalloyed loyalty to the present Oba. In a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Benin City by the secretary, Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Frank Irabor, the palace attributed the alleged demotion of Chief Adun from the 4th position of hierarchy to 14, as the hand-work of mischief makers who are out to misinform the public for personal interest “He has shown close loyalty to the present Oba of Benin, his Royal Majesty, Omoko N’ Oba Ewuare 11 right from the time the present Oba was still the Edeikan of Uselu. His Royal Majesty has had no reason to have contrary opinion of Chief Osemede Adun”.

On his part, Chief Adun described the claims over his demotion as unfounded, a calculated attempt to smear his hard earned name, adding that he had since written a petition to the State Police Commissioner against those responsible for the false alarm and criminal defamation of character.

Wheelchair Tennis ranking tourney serves off in Lagos ANDREW EKEJIUBA

T

he 2016 National Wheelchair Ranking Tournament will serve off today at the National Stadium, Lagos with no fewer than forty players participating.

Nigeria’s wheelchair tennis head coach, Frank Tarmena disclosed that the players that have already registered will represent about 20 states. He expressed optimism that more players will register for the tournament before it gets underway.

“Registration so far has been average because we are expecting a large number of participants due to the importance of the tournament. Some few more states have notified us that they are on their way to Lagos and because of this we have decided not to extend registration till this morning after which we will commence the draws,” he stated.

Tarmena, who is an ITF Instructor on wheelchair tennis, stated that the players are enthusiastic about the tournament as they hope to get

a better ranking which will automatically earn them places into the main draw of big tournaments like the Central Bank of Nigeria Open which guarantees them monetary prizes.

He revealed that the duo of Alex Adewale and Kafayat Omisore will be the top seeds for the men and women chart which will be competed for in round of 32. The quad division, he added, will feature about 10-12 players.

Adewale who represented Nigeria at the London 2012 Paralympics is the reigning CBN Open

Page 29

champion while Omisore, who was a finalist in the women’s singles, will head the women’s chart due to the absence of Foluke Shittu, who is currently abroad.

The likes of Wasiu Yusuf, who represented Nigeria at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, Jude Uwaize, Lateef Shodipo are also among the favourites to shoot into the top of the ranking for the men’s division, while Tosin Dawodu and Remi Basanya also look good to push their way to the top of the ladder board.

Thursday, DECEMBER 1, 2016

AWCON: Omagbemi commends‘terrific’ Falcons!

N

igeria women’s coach, Florence Omagbemi has commended her players following their 1-0 victory over South Africa in the ongoing African Women Championship in Cameroun.

Desire Oparanozie’s lone goal sent the defending champions to the final of the championship, and the Super Falcons boss, Florence Omagbemi admits her players were swallowed up by the occasion.

“First of all, I want to give credit to the players again. Our approach in the first half was different from the second,” said Omagbemi in a post-match conference.

“We had a game plan but some of the players were carried away by the emotions of the occasion.

“There was some nervousness noticed even among some of the key players of my team.

“In the second half, we asked them to try to relax. They all wanted to play in the final but to do that, they had to be relaxed.

“In such games, if you try to do too much, you will make mistakes. We are an attacking team and did not try to play defensively after we scored.

“The game against South Africa was not was one of our best games but I give credit to the players for winning despite not playing very well,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has again handed out big kudos to the Federal Government and its sponsors, this time for the progress of the Super Falcons to the final of the 10th Women Africa Cup of Nations ongoing in Cameroun.

On Wednesday, NFF President Amaju Pinnick put the progress of the girls towards their eighth continental title down to the support that the Federation continues to receive from the Federal Government and its sponsors, and particularly the visit of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to the team’s training session in Abuja earlier in the month.

Pinnick, who will attend Saturday’s potentially explosive final at the Ahmadu Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, also showered encomiums on Sports and Youth Development Minister, Barr. Solomon Dalung.

Pillars,Remo Stars qualify for Gold Cup semis

K

ano Pillars and Remo Stars have qualified for the semi-finals of the pre-season Gold Cup. Pillars, who are Gold Cup defending champions, defeated Niger Tornadoes 1-0 to secure a semi-final spot, while newly promoted NPFL side Remo Stars qualified for the semi-final after defeating nonleague FC Yobo 3-2 in the final round of Group B match.

A resilient team effort was required from Kano Pillars to overcome enterprising Tornadoes who gained better ball possession but were shy in front of goal.

Adamu Muhammed’s 31st minutes strike ensured ‘Sai Masu Gida’ advanced to the semi-final to cap a remarkable run.

Pillars recorded eight points from four games, while FC Ebedei garnered seven points from same number of games.

‘Sky Blue Stars’ Remo Stars started like couple of chances, before Bright Ogbonna a house on fire and it paid off in the second scored with a sublime freekick to end the minute after Ekene Awazie scored from a game on an interesting note. nice build up.

Remo Stars garnered eight points from Ekene doubled the lead with a beautiful four matches and will be up against an finish just after 15 minutes, before Chuku- unconfirmed opponent from Group A this ma Emmanuel pulled one back for FC Yobo evening. in the 37th minute.

Yobo FC started the second half brilliantly, but they couldn’t make all their efforts in front of goal count against the NPFL newcomers.

In the 52nd minute, Francis Nwako rounded FC Yobo goalkeeper to shoot into the net to make the scoreline 3-1.

Shagari Mohammed (right) in action for Pillars.

FC Yobo missed a

30

Thursday, December 1, 2016

EXTRATIME

The Oluyole Warriors have preferred Ilaro for their final camping ahead of the commencement of the Nigeria topflight.

The management of the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) has picked Ilaro, Ogun State as camping site for the team’s final pre season activities in preparations for the new Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

The contingent of 35 players and seven officials moved to Ilaro on Tuesday evening and resumed training on Wednesday morning after the Oluyole Warriors were forced to change their pre season campsite for the first time in six seasons to another venue after many premier league sides currently have Ijebu Ode as their venue for pre season chores.

Fatai Amoo expressed satisfaction with the first two phases of the screening done by the team and has assured the Ibadan side’s esteemed fans of improved outing when the league resumes on December 18.

Amoo told reporters: “It has been a tough but interesting exercise and we took the best decision in final selections of the players.

Soon, the world would see new

3SC hit Ilaro for pre-season camping

NFF commiserates with CBF over air mishap FRANK JUMBO

T Pinnick

T

he Nigeria Football Federation has sent a letter of condolence to the Confederacao Brasileira de Football (CBF), the Brazilian Football Federation, over Monday’s plane crash in Colombia that killed players, official and supporters of the country’s club, Chapecoense, as well as a number of journalists.

A total of 76 persons were said to have died in the air disaster in the mountains of Cerro Gordo in Colombia, as the Brazilian club headed for the first leg final of the

he Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Super 4 will kick off on December 7 with FC Ifeanyiubah (FCIU) battling Wikki Tourists billed as the opening match in Enugu.

According to the official website of the NPFL, Nigerian champions, Enugu Rangers will square up against Rivers United in the second game of the opening day which will hold from 7pm local time.

Matchday Two of the preseason tournament at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium will begin with Rangers facing Wikki before Rivers United go up against Cup holders, FC Ifeanyiubah in the second match on December 9.

Rivers United, Wikki will open the final matchday while league champions Rangers and Cup holders FC Ifeanyiubah round off the tournament in a

Copa Sudamericana against Atletico Nacional of Medellin.

In the letter, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi lamented the tragedy that has cut down the lives of dozens of young and vibrant sportsmen in their prime.

“Indeed, the NFF and the Nigerian Football family have been in deep grief since the incident, which reportedly led to the death of several players, technical officials and backroom staff of the Brazilian elite League club, as well as journalists and supporters of the club.

“In the annals of air accidents, Monday’s tragedy in the mountains of Colombia ranks as one of the most grave, and our hearts are with the families, relations and friends of the players and officials who lost their lives in the crash. The incident is even more heartbreaking as the players, officials and supporters of the Club as well as the journalists were on their way to the first leg, final of the Copa Sudamericana (South America’s second most prestigious Club competition) against Atletico Nacional of Colombia.

FCIU,Wikki to kick start NPFL Super 4 mouthwatering contest.

Chief Operating Officer of the League Management Company (LMC), Salihu Abubakar, explained why all six games during the NPFL Super 4 will be played under floodlight.

“We are continuing with the growing popularity of night games in Enugu and essentially, we are also considering a fan-friendly time when businesses would have closed to encourage huge turnout for the matches,” Abubakar said.

The Super 4 is NPFL’s preseason tournament organised by the LMC to help the four clubs that will take in CAF inter-club competitions.

Rangers and Rivers United are scheduled to participate in the 2017 CAF Champions

League while FC Ifeanyiubah and Wikki will play in the Confederation Cup.

FC Ifeanyiubah (FCIU) line up before a match.

3SC of Ibadan.

Ellis hails Oparanozie, galliant Banyana

H

ead coach of South Africa’s Women’s national team, Desiree Ellis has explained that her game plan was to stifle Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the second semi-final of the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Cameroun.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons were frustrated for most parts by a welldrilled Banyana Banyana side until En Avant Guingamp attacker, Desire Oparanozie popped up in the second half to plunder the winner.

Ellis saluted the quality of Oparanozie’s strike but hailed her charges for a ‘magnificent display’.

“Congratulations to Nigeria for a hard-earned victory.

“I think our plan worked for most of the time; we stifled Nigeria and it took a moment of madness to beat us.

“I am not sure whether it was a free kick or not, but what a fantastic strike

by Oparanozie.

“We had our chances but did not convert them.

“However, I think all of South Africa can be extremely proud of Banyana Banyana because we fought hard and the game could have gone either way,” Ellis submitted at the post-match press conference.

South Africa will now meet Ghana in the third place game on December 2 at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

EXTRATIME

31

EURO…EURO… EURO…EURO… EURO…EURO… EURO…EURO…

Inter dreaming

Messi

of signing ‘classy’Messi Leipzig

incomparable

to Leicester

- Poulsen

R

B Leipzig’s fairytale debut campaign in the Bundesliga should not be compared to Leicester City’s heroics in the Premier League last season, says Yussuf Poulsen. Leipzig, who were only formed in 2009, have enjoyed a meteoric rise in the Bundesliga. After 12 matches, Leipzig are three points clear of reigning champions and Bavarian powerhouse Bayern Munich, and their unbeaten start to the season is a record for a newly promoted side, but Denmark international Poulsen says it is premature to discuss such similarities.

Alonso open to new Bayern contract X

abi Alonso says he would be happy to extend his contract with Bayern Munich beyond the end of the season.

The former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder has enjoyed great success in Germany since leaving the Spanish capital in 2014, winning two Bundesliga titles, the DFB-Pokal and the German Supercup.

The 35-year-old has missed only one league game this season, but with his contract set to expire next June, his future remains uncertain.

Alonso, however, admits that he could prolong his stay at Bayern and that his family feel settled in the area.

Injured Mathieu out

of Clasico cracker!

J

eremy Mathieu will miss Saturday’s Clasico against Real Madrid as a result of a relapse in his recovery from a calf injury, Barcelona have confirmed.

The defender hoped to be available after sitting out the last five La Liga games - two of the latest being draws.

However, the club announced on Thursday that Mathieu is unlikely to be available again until the middle of December at the earliest.

“During the final stages of his recovery, Jeremy Mathieu

has suffered a recurrence of the injury to the soleus in his right leg,” the club said in a statement.

“According to the FC Barcelona Medical Services, this means he’ll be sidelined for a further 15 to 20 days.

“That means the French defender will be unavailable for the forthcoming games against Real Madrid, Borussia Monchengladbach and Osasuna.”

The news is a blow to Luis Enrique, who has a number of injury concerns ahead of the visit of the league leaders to Camp Nou.

“I would like to stay here,” he said. “I feel good, my family and I feel comfortable in Munich.

“The season is long and we will get together soon, for sure.”

Alonso had earlier stated that he is yet to make any decisive plans over his future.

“My contract ends in the summer and I still haven’t made a decision.

Alonso Zaza

T

he head of Inter’s chief sponsor says he is optimistic that he can realise a dream of bringing Lionel Messi to the club from Barcelona.

The Argentina star has again seen his future become the subject of speculation in recent weeks as rumours circulate of an impasse in contract negotiations at Camp Nou. Reports have claimed that Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Patrick Kluivert has spoken to Messi’s father to discuss the prospect of a move to the Ligue 1 champions, although the player has always maintained he will return to Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina when his time with Barca comes to an end.

But Marco Tronchetti Provera, the chairman of Pirelli, says his goal is to convince the 29-year-old to consider a spell at San Siro.

“There is one dream that is always the same: Messi,” he told reporters.

“He always has been.

“I’m always an optimist and I know that sometimes dreams do come true.”

Inter survived a second-half scare to beat Fiorentina 4-2 on Monday and move back into the top eight in Serie A, though they are eight points behind AC Milan, who occupy the final Champions League spot.

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Editor Daily: ROSE MOSES

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016

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Yusuf

Saraki charges Falcons to lift AWCON trophy

enate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday, congratulated the Super Falcons for qualifying for the finals of the ongoing 2016 African Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) and charged them to make the nation proud by lifting the trophy.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, lauded the team and the technical crew for their superlative performance so far, and urged them to do all it takes to bring the cup home.

“No doubt you have surmounted daunting challenges to advance to the finals in this highly competitive tournament. I must say above all, that your individual determination and zeal to excel have taken you thus far. I cannot but urge you to up your game in order to clinch the ultimate prize in this final clash,” Saraki said.

The Senate President called on all Nigerians to continue to support the team with prayers and encouragement as they prepare to face host, Cameroun, in the final which will be played on Saturday December 3, 2016.

He also called on the Falcons and their handlers to make all the necessary preparation in terms of fitness of players and tactical approach to the game to enable them soar above the Camerounian team during the upcoming encounter.

Moses bags Player of the Month award

V

ictor Moses has been voted the PFA Fans’ Premier League Player of the Month for November.

The Chelsea wing-back received 18,756 of 40,000 votes to scoop the prize ahead of Gylfi Sigurdsson (7,791), Nordin Amrabat (5,378), Sergio Aguero (3,457) and Matt Phillips (1,203).Moses has enjoyed an excellent month for the Blues, whose 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur last time out made it seven Premier League wins in a row.

The former Crystal Palace and Wigan Athletic man has adapted brilliantly to his new position, with Moses now an essential part of Antonio Conte’s side.

Neymar

O

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

More insurance companies fall below listing standard

FEC approves more projects to boost power Tony Ailemen Abuja.

Federal Executive Council yesterday approved the construction of various dams aimed at beefing up electricity supply in the country.

Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, stated this while briefing State House Correspondents after the weekly federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fashola said FEC approved the business case for concessioning and development of Ikere gorge dam in Oyo for 6 mega watts of electricity, Bakolori dam in Zamfara for 3.2 megawatts, Jibiya dam in Katsina for 4 megawatts, Zobe dam for 0.29 megawatts (290 kilowatts) in Katsina, Kampe Omi in Kogi for 2 megawatts of electricity and Doma dam in Nasarawa for 1 megawatt of hydro electricity.

These projects according to him, was in furtherance of the administration’s incremental power and rural electrification initiative.

“Not only do this projects further our quest for incremental energy wherever there is legitimate opportunity, they further our quest for renewable energy as well because hydro electricity is also clean energy,” Fashola noted.

This is just as he announced that FEC also approved the commencement of the Federal Secretariat complex in Ekiti state and the furnishingof the one in Gombe state.

The Ekiti project, he said was CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

BUSINESS TIMES Editor Andrew Odioko Head Business Azubike Nnadozie Capital Market Editor Bonny Amadi

Page B2

15 mortgage banks fail premium obligations - NDIC Page B3

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Africa to spend $110 billion on food imports by 2025 Page B8 – IITA DG

Hope rises for Nigeria as OPEC okays 1.2mb/d production cut Ï RƈƋ ƍƏƈƅƆ Ɛ Ƅ ƒƆ ǀƠƍƃƄ Opeoluwani Akintayo Nigeria’s economy might be on its way back to the top as the Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, has finally agreed to reduce output by 1.2 million barrels

NCC

a day.

Following on the heels of the announcement, benchmark Brent crude prices resumed climb to top $50 a barrel.

OPEC agreed to a deal on Wednesday- its first cuts in eight years.

A cut by 1.2 million barrels a day brings its production to 32.5 million a day.

Benchmark Brent crude rose 8 percent to $50.07 a barrel in London at 1:37 p.m. local time.

After weeks of often tense negotiations, the Organization of

Petroleum Exporting Countries’ three biggest producers -- Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran -- resolved differences over sharing the burden of cuts.

According to delegates who asked not to be named, it appears the Saudis accepted that Iran, as a special case, can raise production to about 3.9 million barrels a day.

CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

R-L: Engr. Ernest Ndukwe-Chairman, Open Media, Ms.Funlola Akiode,Director, Licensing & Authorization(NCC), Engr. Austin Nwaulunne-Director, Spectrum Administration(NCC), Mr. Fraser Graham, Senior Director-GSMA during the Commission’s Consultative Forum On Spectrum Trading held at the Sheraton Hotel Lagos, Tuesday.

Housing: Group urges members to exploit mortgage option Babajide Okeowo In order to make affordable housing available to all its members, the Zero Interest Multipurpose Co-operative Society Limited has urged its members to take advantage of the much awaited zero interest Ummah Estate provided by the society.

The president of the society, Mr. Baruwa Abdulwahahid made this announcement at the maiden Annual General Meeting (AGM) of

the society.

“We urge our teeming members of the society to take advantage of our much awaited mortgage package that would ensure that most of our members become home owners and paying in installments over a period of twenty years” he said.

The mortgage plan which will afford members of the society to own tastefully furnished 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartment while the payment is spread over twenty years after the initial down payment of

ten per cent of the actual worth of the apartments.

In his goodwill message, the Honorable Commissioner of Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul Lateef urged the society to continue to let integrity be their watchword “I urge you to let transparency, accountability, integrity and fairness to be your watchword in your dealings with members of the society at all times, as you celebrate the maiden AGM of the association,

I wish you all a very successful AGM” he said According to the president, the association was established to provide credit facilities to its members at zero rates of interest for provident and productive purposes and to encourage regular savings amongst members so that each member may cultivate the habit of making savings at least once monthly, with a view to building up funds for their individual future use.

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

FEC approves more projects to boost power CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

UBA

Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Guest Speaker, Mr. Tony Elumelu (l) delivering a speech at the International Investment Conference taggedTunisia 2020 organised by the Tunisian Government in Tunis, Tunisia on Tuesday. Watching on are President of Tunisian Parliament, Mr. Mohammed Nidaa Tounes; President of Tunisia, Mr. Beji Caid Essebsi.

MTN meets SEC over planned enlistment in capital market Tony Nwakaegho Mr Mounir Gwarzo, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) director general said that South Africa’s telecom group MTN, has met with SEC to discuss a possible initial public offering and how it wanted to structure the share sale.

He said MTN had discussed the possibility of issuing various classes of shares to targeted investor groups, adding that telecom firm was looking at three different classes, which would be new in Nigeria.

Gwarzo said the commission was willing to support the share sale as long as it was within local laws and advised the telecom firm to ensure retail investors were protected.

MTN is the largest mobile phone operator in Nigeria with 57 million subscribers, and the country accounts for about a third of its revenue.

MTN Group has said it aims to listing its Nigerian unit during 2017, subject to market conditions, part of an agreement with the Nigerian government.

In June the telecom firm said it would list its local unit on the Nigerian Stock Exchange after agreeing to pay a reduced fine of $1.7 billion in a settlement with the Nigerian government over unregistered SIM cards.

Gwarzo also said that the company was yet to submit a formal application for the share sale.

It will be recalled that MTN Nigeria has appointed Stanbic IBTC Capital, Standard Bank of South Africa and Standard Advisory London, and Citigroup Global Markets, as joint transaction advisors and global coordinators, with Stanbic acting as lead issuer.

conceived in the year 2000, adding that funding was however not provided for it.

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, who also spoke on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) sent to the National Assembly debunked claims that the MTEF was empty.

It will be recalled that Senate had recently described the document as empty and not worth considering.

More insurance companies fall below listing standard … African Alliance, Linkage, others keep investors guessing Bonny Amadi Greater number of insurance companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have continued to manifest the ripple effect of harsh operating environment through reduced earnings, none dividend payment and near erosion of their equity prices.

Out of the 14 insurance companies that appeared under the insurance sector and other financial institutions sector,60 per cent of them have maintained per value equity price over a long period, only four are priced above 50 kobo par value price while only three of the companies command equity prices above N1.00 per share.

Greater number of insurance companies according to compliance report of the NSE , have defaulted in filing their 2016

financial , thus breaching the post listing rule that requires timely information delivery to the market for investors to make informed and timely investment decisions.

Daily Times findings show that due to the challenges facing the sector, greater number of the companies have not been able to deliver their promises of profitability and dividend payment to their shareholders, this has been compounded by inability of more companies in the sector not delivering their end of 2015 results, few weeks to the end of the 2016 financial year.

The companies that have not delivered their 2015 audited financial statements as at the end of trading on the NSE on Wednesday November 30th, 2016, according to the NSE compliance report are, African Alliance Insurance, Great Nigeria

Insurance company (GNIC), Guinea Insurance, Linkage Assurance and Universal Insurance Company, For the audited report, quoted companies on NSE are required to file their quarterly accounts within 30 days after the end of the financial year. For the quarterly report, the NSE the post listing rule requires in accordance with Appendix iii of the Listing Rules, requires listed companies to deliver their report 30 days after the end of the quarter.

While many companies have delivered on the filling rules and even submitted their results before the expiration of the grace period allowed, others not just breached submission of audited financial results, but also quarterly report fillings.

Five states sign MoU with GE for solar power plants Five members of the Northern States Governors’ Forum have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with General Electric (GE) for the construction of five solar power plants.

The five states including Borno, Kebbi, Nassarawa, Niger and Taraba according to agency reports, will soon be benefiting from the implementation of solar power plants, each with a capacity to generate 100MW. To verify the deal, was Borno State governor and chairman of the Northern States Governors’

Forum, Kashim Shettima, who signed the agreement on behalf of the other governors while GE’s senior executive, Western Europe and Africa, Armand Pineda, and the President/CEO of GE, Nigeria, Dr Lazarus Angbazo signed on behalf of their company.

The signing ceremony was reported to have taken place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

Based on the MoU, the company is to build five solar power plants, of which the electricity generated will be aimed at stimulating economic activities and social services in the affected states

as well as boost agricultural food processing and small scale businesses.

The project, which is a pilot phase, is being coordinated by the Northern Nigeria Global Economic Re-integration Programme.

According to reports, the newly created scheme, has been established to serve as a vehicle for the economic recovery of Nigeria’s northern states through international relations on infrastructure, manufacturing, stimulate agricultural value chain and trade.

But Udoma Udo Udoma, speaking further on the outcome of the meeting said the MTEF was prepared by experienced experts after extensive consultations.

Hope rises for Nigeria as OPEC okays 1.2mb/d production cut CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

The agreement is also likely to include an additional reduction of about 600,000 barrels a day by nonOPEC countries.

“This should be a wake-up call for skeptics who have argued the death of OPEC,” said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at Energy Aspects Ltd. “The group wants to push inventories down.”

The deal promises to revive struggling economies of countries from Nigeria, Venezuela to Libya and restore flagging confidence in the producer bloc that controls 40 percent of the world’s oil.

However, according to Bloomberg, the consequences will reverberate far beyond OPEC, giving a boost to U.S. shale drillers crippled by a two-year price rout and oil giants such as Royal Dutch Shell Plc, which have cut spending to the bone to weather the prolonged downturn.

Morgan Stanley said Monday that an OPEC agreement could boost crude prices by $5 or more.

While the deal is unlikely to be enough to wipe out the crude glut entirely -- OPEC’s own estimates show it needs to pump just 31.9 million barrels a day from January to June to balance supply and demand -- it clears the way for participation by non-OPEC suppliers, chiefly Russia.

Russia, the biggest producer outside the bloc, has said if OPEC agrees on individual country quotas it is ready to participate, including possibly reducing its output, a person familiar with Russian thinking said earlier. That would mark a reversal of its previous position.

OPEC had failed to bridge divisions after 10-hour talks Monday, sending prices crashing below $47 per barrel.

As a result, Russia also said it will not attend crucial talks on Wednesday.

OPEC officials then agreed to refer the matter to ministers for further consideration Wednesday.

Money Market B3

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

15 mortgage banks fail premium obligations -NDIC Stories by Motolani Oseni The Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Umaru Ibrahim, has said that 15 out of 42 primary mortgage banks (PMBs) could not meet their premium obligation.

The corporation, however, did not mention the name of the affected PMBs but added that its planned Differential Premium Assessment System (DPAS) will further sustain growth and development for insured institutions.

Speaking at the NDIC 2016 Sensitization Workshop for operators of PMBs in Lagos, the NDIC boss said DPAS would promote better risk management in the

banks in line with international best practices, and enable appropriate assessment of the yearly premium payable by PMBs. He is, however, concerned that the inability of about 65 percent of Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) to pay premium may cripple the commission’s efforts.

The premium contribution is an amount paid periodically to the insurer (NDIC) by the insured (PMBs) for covering their risk.

DPAS, which allows lenders with higher risk to pay bigger premium to insure deposit of customers, would further ensure fair pricing of insurance premium and reduction in premium, he added.

Expectations are that the adoption of DPAS in assessing

the yearly premium payable by PMBs would promote better risk management in the banks in line with international best practises.

Statistic shows that about 120 countries across the world have adopted DPAS as an objective method of insurance premium pricing.

“In his keynote address at the workshop, Ibrahim said: NDIC’s capacity to sustain its efforts in ensuring that insured institutions are put on the part of sustainable growth and development depends largely on the premium contribution.”

Stating that the agency would continue to review the NDIC Deposit Insurance Coverage (DIC) from time to time, Ibrahim noted that the workshop was organized to create awareness

on the deployment and implementation of DPAS, acquaint operators with modalities for its implementation, and enhance sound enterprise risk management practice in the operations of PMBs.

Ibrahim

L-R: Deputy Governor, Abia State, Mr. Ude Oko Chukwu; Governor, Abia State, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu; Former Governor, Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji; Managing Director, Abia Retail Mall, Mr. Chuka Okoye and Team Lead, Medium and Local Corporates, South East, Ecobank Nigeria, Chinedum Jovita Okeahialam, during the commissioning of Abia Retail Mall –Shoprite in Umuahia, Abia State..recently

Ecobank reiterates commitment to infrastructural project financing The Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Charles Kie, has restated the commitment of the Bank to continue to support projects that impact positively on the lives of the people and economic development of the country.

Speaking at the commissioning of Abia Retail Shopping Mall (Shoprite) in Umuahia, Abia State recently, Kie who was represented

by Team Lead (Medium and Local Corporates, Commercial Banking, South East), Jovita Okeahialam, affirmed that the bank has a deliberate policy to finance projects that stimulates development and has direct bearing on the people, stressing that it was the motive behind the decision to partake in financing the Abia Shoprite.

In his words: “We find it quite fulfilling to be part of this project. This shopping mall will no doubt promote commerce, enhance peoples’ lives and as a matter of fact bring development to the state in general.

We will continue to support such initiative in the continent.”

Earlier, the Managing Director, Abia Retail Mall, Mr. Chuka Okoye lauded Ecobank for being one of the key financiers of the project, and for supporting developmental projects in the country and the state in particular.

Speaking at the event, the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, said the mall will be a hub of opportunities for people all over the world to do business, noting that Abia now belongs to the comity of States that have Shoprite.

He made case for Made-inAbia products, such as shoes and bags to be displayed alongside foreign ones, assuring that, Made-in-Abia products would attract more customers because of the high qualities.

Naira drops against Euro, remains 480/$1 at parallel market The Nigerian currency, Naira, on Wednesday depreciated by seven points against the Euro to close at N505 compared to 498 it traded on Tuesday.

This is just as the local currency steadied at 480 where it closed in the unofficial market the previous day.

The naira on Wednesday maintained 480 per dollar rate at the parallel market, as fresh forex scarcity that recently hit the market remained unchanged.

The depreciating naira also

sustained trading at 585 to the British pound, the rate it closed on Tuesday.

At the official side of the forex market, the local currency also depreciated against a resurgent US dollar, trading at 315.125 per dollar, according to the FMDQ OTC trading quotes.

Bureau de change (BDC) operators who spoke on this development blamed the scarcity of forex on the inability of commercial banks to provide stipulated weekly allocations for BDCs.

Others blamed it on the Department of State Services (DSS) raid on forex dealers and increased demand, as the country inches towards the Christmas and new year festivities.

The DSS recently raided a number of forex dealers who sold above N400 to the dollar, in a bid to close the gap between parallel and official market rates, but with little success.

In a bid to discourage foreign currency hoarding and ease its flow to the market, the Nigerian

Law Reform Commission had recently proposed a law to jail dollar hoarders for up to two years, while they may also forfeit 20 percent of the confiscated forex.

This suggestion however was shot down by no less an authority than the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele. Speaking last week at monetary policy meeting, he said the CBN was not in support of a review of the Foreign Exchange Act to allow the jailing of Nigerians who keep their dollars.

“There is nothing in our current foreign exchange regulations that (says) people will be jailed or that their dollars will be confiscated,” Emefiele had said.

“I am saying here, and categorically, that if we are contacted or whenever it becomes an issue for discussion, we would advise against the clause that forbids people from keeping their dollars, if they choose to or a law that says that people should be jailed for keeping foreign currency.”

Capital Market B4 Total transactions on NSE dropped to 32.44 percent in Oct The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has revealed that domestic & foreign portfolio participation in the equities market dropped by 32.44 percent to N64.03 billion in October.

The NSE in its monthly domestic & foreign portfolio participation report noted that N94.77 billion was traded in the equities market in September.

The report explained that total transactions from January to October 2016 decreased significantly by 40.55 percent from N1,667 billion recorded within the same period in 2015 to N991.11 billion in 2016.

“Total transactions at the nation’s bourse decreased significantly by 32.44 percent from N94.77 billion recorded in September 2016 to N64.03 billion (about $0.21 billion) in October 2016,” the report stated.

“Also, total transactions from January to October 2016 decreased significantly by 40.55 per cent from N1,667.27 billion recorded within

the same period in 2015 to N991.11 billion in 2016.”

The NSE said, “We observed that both foreign and domestic activities are decreasing, however the domestic activity is decreasing faster.

In October 2016, domestic investors outperformed their foreign counterparts by about 2.42 percent.

“Domestic transactions decreased by 35.93per cent from N51.18 billion in September 2016 to N32.79 billion in October 2016.

“Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) transactions decreased by 28.33percent from N43.59 billion in September 2016 to N31.24 billion in October 2016.

“Monthly foreign inflows outpaced outflows as foreign inflows decreased by 23.51per cent from N24.41 billion in September to N18.67 billion in October 2016. Foreign outflows also decreased by 34.46percent from N19.18 billion to N12.57 billion within the same period.

Summary of activities on NSE ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Equities rebound on renewed bargain hunting Stories by Afolabi Adesola Equities trading on the Nigerian Stock exchange reversed a five day negative run with an appreciation of 0.03 percent on Wednesday as investors embarked on bargain hunting across all subsectors.

The All Share Index (ASI) added 0.03 percent to close at 25,241.63 points in contrast to 0.34 percent lost in previous session when the ASI closed at 25, 233.42 points.

Performance across all sectors similarly ended the day’s trading on a positive note, with the Banking Index recording the highest appreciation of 2.17 percent on the back drop of gains in Guaranty Trust Bank, Stanbic IBTC and Wema Bank.

The NSE Oil & Gas index also grew by 1.35 percent as a result of increases in Mobil and Oando while the consumer goods, industrial and NSE 30 indices recorded appreciation of varying degrees.

As a result, market capitalization appreciated to N8.689 trillion from N8.686 trillion and year to date losses dropped to -11.87 percent.

For the third consecutive session, Mobil led the day’s 18 appreciating stocks with a 10.24 percent appreciation to close at N266.67 per share. Cadbury followed with a 10.15 percent growth to close at N11.07 per share, while Portland Paints recorded a gain of 9.42 percent to close at N1.51 per share.

On the flip side, AxaMansard Insurance led the day’s 20 retreating

stocks, with a 5 percent decline to close at N1.71 per share. UAC Prop lost 4.88 percent to close at N2.34 per share, while NASCON Allied Industries dropped 4.86 percent to close at N6.66 per share.

Wema Bank emerged the most traded stock for the day with 199.3 million shares valued at N102.9 million, Access Bank followed with 59.1 million units of shares worth N324.7 million while Stanbic came third with the sale of 25.9 million shares worth N388 million.

Guaranty Trust Bank traded 23.3 million shares worth N526.7 million and Zenith Bank sold approximately 18.6 million shares at N254.4 million.

Overall, investors traded a total of 414.2 million shares worth N3.418 billion in 2,567 deals.

Investors in Access, GTB, UBA gain N155.4 billion in 11 months

25,241.63 2,567.00 414,155,591.00 3,418,249,772.53 8,689,207,212,836.40

NIPCO to acquire ExxonMobil’s 60 percent stake in Mobil for $301 million Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc (MON) has said it has received notice from ExxonMobil Oil Corporation (EMOC) on a formal application by NIPCO Investments limited, to purchase 216.4 million ordinary shares of Mobil Oil Nigeria for $301 million.

A regulatory filing obtained from the Nigerian Stock Exchange noted that this development was in furtherance of the divestment of ExxonMobil Oil Corporation (EMOC) from Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc (MON).

“Further to our communication of October 19, 2016, where we disclosed that ExxonMobil Oil Corporation (EMOC) our majority shareholder, had executed a sale and purchase agreement with Nipco investments limited for the acquisition of EMOC’s entire 60 percent equity ownership in Mobil Oil Nigeri Plc, we have received notice from EMOC that a formal application has been filed by Nipco Investments limited with the securities and Exchange Com-

mission for an “Authoruty to Proceed” with the Acquisition,” MON stated.

The statement however added that the acquisition of EMOC’s N216,357,157 ordinary shares in Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc for $301m is subject to price adjustments for dividends and other factors.

ExxonMobil Oil Corporation, United States’ oil and gas giant, had earlier executed a sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Nipco Plc to sell its majority equity stake of 60 per cent in Mobil Oil Nigeria (MON) Plc to Nipco Plc, an indigenous oil and gas company.

MON is one of the six major petroleum products marketers in the country. It currently has over 200 retail outlets located in all 36 states of Nigeria.

MON plc owns three plants located in Apapa, Lagos, that manufacture lubes, petroleum jelly, and insecticide. Its ultra-modern lube oil plant, with a capacity of 450,000 barrels per annum is regarded as one of the most sophisticated in Africa.

UBA Bank CEO, Kennedy Uzoka

Herbert Wigwe, CEO , ACCESS BANK

SEGUN AGBAJE, CEO, GTB

Amidst dwindling share prices in a falling equities market, shareholders of Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) and United Bank for Africa (UBA) can smile to the bank with a total gain of N155.4 billion in eleven months of trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Appreciation of investment in these financial institutions comes despite a tough operating environment plagued with foreign exchange supply shortages, rising inflation, negative economic growth and a general recessive environment.

Tracking the trend of share prices of these banks from 31st December 2015 to 25th November 2016, UBA shares recorded the highest percentage growth of 27 percent, having increased from N3.38 per share to N4.30 per share.

UBA’s investors thus gained a

combined N33.4 billion.

UBA reported an 8 percent yearon-year growth in profit before tax of N52.3 billion in the third quarter of 2016, and a significant growth in total assets, which rose 26.4 percent to N3.5 trillion, from N2.8 trillion recorded last year in sustenance of the three trillion mark crossed in the half year of 2016.

According to the Group CFO, Ugo Nwaghodoh, “the growth in deposits and total assets reflects the Bank’s increased share of customers’ wallet and deepening banking penetration across all its chosen markets in Nigeria and Africa which again accounted for a third of the Group’s earnings.”

He assured that UBA will continue to balance its appetite for growth and profitability with the strategy of sustaining strong liquidity and capital ratios. The

bank maintained 43 percent liquidity ratio and 17.6 percent BASEL II capital adequacy ratio, well ahead of regulatory requirement.

Meanwhile, investors in GTB gained N98 billion following a growth of 18 percent from N18 to N21.51 per share in the period under review, while investment in Access Bank Plc, returned a gain of 83 kobo to shareholders which represents a 17.1 percent growth from N4.85 per share to N5.68 per share.

According to GTB’s Managing Director, Segun Agbaje, “We knew it would be a challenging year and we prepared for it by focusing on effective management of the balance sheet and adapting our business model to changing market variables. The quality of our past decisions enabled us navigate the challenges that persisted in the business environment.”

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Stories by Godwin Anyebe Predicaments beclouding regulating the business of advertising in Nigeria will know no bound if things continue as they are now. This is as a result of the fact that the advertising practitioners’ council of Nigeria (APCON), got only 7.8 million naira out the eighteen million naira allocated to it in the 2016 budget.

This was made known recently by the registrar/chief executive officer of APCON, Alhaji Bello Garba Kankarofi while addressing members of house committee on information who paid APCON a courtesy visit in Lagos.

The registrar said among other things, that the council was underfunded and that was the main reason why it cannot carry out its duties efficiently. “If an employee is not properly motivated in the course of carrying out a hazardous job like that of vetting advertising, it’s obvious that he may not give his all,” he added.

He stated that APCON was planning to send a bill to the national assembly this week which will among other things contain their numerous challenges over

B6 Brands & Marketing

APCON gets 7.8M out of N18m 2016 allocation the years that they had not received the required attention by the government. “We will be much elated,” he continued, “if the national assembly will consider our proposal and make it a law because, advertising is critical to the growth of any economy that wants to be recognised globally.”

While responding, a member of the committee, Senator Dino Melaye urged APCON to articulate their ideas and send to the national assembly, reason being that most of government parastatals are suffering because they don’t know the right way to channel their challenges. Some of them because of the fiat given to the office of the secretary general of the federation during the military regime that every financial issue should go through the office of budget and planning are in trouble because that is the way they believe things will work for them

today. Unfortunately, that does not work in a democratic certain. He added.

According to him, the national assembly has the power to produce a proposal from any government pararastal into law. If the general house seems to be busy to handle the situation, it will then be forwarded to the committee that is related with the issues. For him, the statement from the office of the secretary of the federation is not a law, and for a staff to do well in a place like advertising practitioners council of Nigeria (APCON) the employee’s moral must be boosted.

While expressing optimism that the national assembly will do the needful on their proposal, APCON Rrgistrar Alhaji Bello Garba Kankorofi restated that; “the job of APCON is to regulate all forms of advertising communication that are exposed to the

public through the mass media.

The purpose of such regulation is to ensure that consumers and the larger public do not get negatively influenced or impacted by these advertisements. I am sure you know that advertising is meant to promote or to sell products or service or ideas, and especially for profit making businesses, advertising is meant to motivate and mobilise a large number of consumers which translate to profit for the person advertising the product and services. So, there is an underlying intention to use advertising to promote profit.

There is also a possibility that the drive for profit could make somebody use advertising sometimes in a way that does not protect the consumer who is the target of the advertising or the society at large who may not be the target of the advertising but are invariably exposed to the advertising com-

Kankarofi

munications. Now, the scope of these regulation responsibilities enlarges as the media landscape enlarges. Once upon a time there were just a couple of media that advertising can be exposed in, but today, you probably will not be able to properly delineate the scope or the range of platforms which advertisers may use.

FG, Unilever sign MoU, partner to promote oral hygiene in Nigeria In furtherance of its efforts to ensure good dental health for all Nigerians, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Health, and Unilever Nigeria Plc. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote oral hygiene and education in Nigeria.

Speaking recently on this development in Lagos, the Hon. Minister of Health Prof Isaac Adewole noted that oral health was an important tool for achieving good general health. He said, “fewer than 20% of Nigerians have access to oral care services and most of these services focus on curative rather than preventive care which might represent more effective tool for meeting the oral care needs of the population”. He further commended Unilever Nigeria plc for accepting to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health to promote the oral hygiene of 10 million Nigerian school children by providing educational materials and product facilities through the Pepsodent oral health schools’ programme.

Commenting on the ini-

tiative, The Brand Manager Pepsodent, Unilever Nigeria Plc. said Unilever is committed to doing business in a sustainable way and as part of its sustainability agenda “we have committed to improving the lives of 10 million Nigerian children by the year 2020. To this regard, we have signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian Dental Association and other stakeholders to promote oral hygiene and education and the habit of brushing twice daily (Morning and Night) a global best practice to prevent the prevalence of dental caries and other oral health diseases in Nigeria.

Furthermore, since the launch of the Pepsodent Oral Health Schools program in 2014, Unilever Nigeria has so far reached 2.5 million Nigerian children directly in over 3,500 public primary schools with products (toothpaste and toothbrushes) educational materials and a 21days oral hygiene program, teaching them to imbibe the culture of brushing twice-daily using a fluoride containing toothpaste.

L-R: Brand Manager Pepsodent, Unilever Nigeria Plc., George Umoh; The Hon. Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole; Director of Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Laurat Elayo; Regional Sales Manager, Middlebelt, Unilever Nigeria Plc, David Ebah at the official signing of an MoU between Federal Ministry of Health and Unilever Nigeria Plc. on oral hygiene in Nigeria in Abuja recently.

Lagos government applauds Harpic on hygiene Lagos State Governemnt through its Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Samuel Babatunde Adejare, has commended Harpic for their continued efforts and support in building a hygienic community and a healthy nation at large. Dr. Adejare who made this known at this year’s world toilet day celebration recently in Lagos, stated that public awareness and the recent renovation of public toilets with support from Harpic is another step taken in the

right direction. He encouraged greater partnership with the private and public sector to further accelerate their current efforts.

Also speaking on this development, Mr. Rahul Murgai, Managing Director, RB West Africa reinforced Harpic’s Vision and commitment in co-creating an eco-system to create scaled national awareness around the current national sanitation situation and core issues like open defecation that lead to diarrhoea and other potential health is-

sues. He further stated that individual and collective participation from likeminded players will strongly support the program and efforts of the Federal and State government in improving the general health, hygiene and sanitation conditions in Nigeria.

Speaking further at the event, Bamigbaiye-Elatuyi Omotola, Marketing Manager Harpic, stated that Harpic’s toilet hygiene program in Nigeria is a scaled initiative across 16 cities and reaches over 1 million

homes annually to educate consumers about the importance of good toilet hygiene, maintaining clean toilets in their homes to prevent illnesses and request for their larger societal support in bringing a behavioural change to tackle the menace of open defecation.

She urged the residents of the Apapa community to ensure the renovated and upgraded toilet facilities are well utilized and that proper sanitary practices will definitely improve public health.

Motoring B7

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Peugeot 301 is NAJA’s Car-of-the-Year Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Peugeot 301, assembled in Kaduna by PAN Nigeria Limited, has emerged Carof-the-Year in a keen contest with Toyota Corolla and Nissan Almera. The Peugeot 301 polled the majority in both the on-line contest and the voting by members of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) which gave out the award.

Lagos State acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, commended NAJA for the competition, even as he tasked auto industry players to invest in the local industry.

“As we celebrate and bestow honour, we will like to state that it is pertinent for us to begin to invest in the Nigerian ‘car’,” he stated. “We are long overdue for such.

There are a few of such in Nigeria. While we import most cars as CKDS (completely knocked down) or such other forms we bring them in, we must now commence a process of investing in building local content into it.

NAJA (members) are eminently placed to champion this cause.

“A second concern that we must also deal with is safety issues. I recall your positive contribution when Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) commenced the campaign to introduce speed limiting de-

LR: PAN Nigeria Limited Head of Corporate Communication, Haroun Malami; Director-Gêneral Peugeot Citroen West Africa, Eric Mideau; Managing Director, Ibrahim Boyi; GM Strategy & Marketing, Bawo Omagbitse; and the Zonal Sales Manager {Lagos/Southwest} , Suleiman Suleiman, after receiving the Car of the Year award for Peugeot 301, at the Nigerian Auto Journalists Awards in Lagos. vices in vehicles used for public transportation. I therefore salute your sagacity and candour.

“There are several other major issues wherein your voice must be heard and your insistence will provide that key insight into the direction that government’s policies will take. As you highlight them and put them in the public domain, utilizing the essential

ethics of journalism, it is sure that gradually a tradition of excellence will be created.”

In his remarks, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, who was represented by the Zonal Commanding Officer for Lagos/Ogun States, Assistant Corps Marshal Shehu Zaki, expressed the willingness of the Corps to continue to collaborate

Recession: Why Toyota Nigeria did not retrench workers – Ade-Ojo Contrary to popular developments in the economy, including the automobile industry, Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) has managed not to lay off any of employees. As revealed last week during the company’s quarterly press briefing, staff retrenchment is, at the moment, not in TNL’s recession management strategy.

TNL’s Managing Director, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, revealed that his company succeeded in keeping its work force intact by adopting professional management style. ”Here in TNL, we adopt proper risk management approach,” he explained, he explained.

“Rather than using fire brigade approach, we, in the last three, four years, far before the recession appeared, planned ahead.

So, when we came into this year, we did the same thing. Although, the risk factor has been more than we planned, we never thought it is going to be this way; but as soon as we realized how the effect would be on us,

we made certain changes.

“For example, we did a lot of cost reduction as far as our administrative cost is concerned.

We reduced cost to about 40%, because business is not the way it used to be. We are also more cost-effective in some of the marketing activities we get involved in. And we are thinking: how do we maximize profit without spending as much as we used to do in the past? ”In the past, whenever we had a product launch, it used to be done with fanfare, in which

Ade-Ojo

case, we spent a lot of money.

“But now there is no need to do that. We do it now in a smaller way and there are also internal things that we do to ensure that the product is well known without spending the kind of money we used to spend in the past. Even our benefits and some things we used to have in the past, we cut them down.”

Mr. Ade- Ojo, who incidentally was, last week, named Nigeria Auto Journalists’ (NAJA) Best Chief Executive Officer of-theYear 2016, pointed out: “For us, laying off staff is going to be the last resort. We look for where we can save little kobo and that has given us some flexibility so that we do not have to sack any of our staffs.

“Everybody understands the importance of this and this has made them to work together.

People come together to share ideas. All hands are on deck. We all work closely to the benefit of the company. Every staff knows that if the company succeeds, it will benefit every one of us.”

with the press in ensuring that road traffic crashes are reduced.

The chairman of NAJA, Mr. Frank Kintum, in his welcome address, stated: “Journalists, being watchdogs of the society, have a responsibility of reviewing activities as they unfold. In the automotive/automobile sector, it is the responsibility of Auto Journalists to watch closely what

is happening in terms of launch of new models, entry of new brands, government policies as they affect the industry, etc.

“In discharging one of its responsibilities as watchdog, we organize the annual NAJA Award which recognizes products and persons that have stood out during the year.”

In other categories, the Mercedes Benz S-class emerged Luxury- Car-of-the-Year, beating the BMW Seven Series and Jaguar XJ. Sports Utility Vehicle-of-theYear went to Toyota Prado, while the Pickup-of-the-Year was won

by Ford Ranger.

Toyota Hiace went home with the Mini Bus-of-the-Year award, while the Heavy Truck-of-theYear was won by Mercedes Actros. Globe Hyundai and Jet Van Mercedes were joint winners in the Outstanding-New Entrantof-the-Year category, just as God is Good Motors walked away with the Most Safety-Conscious Transport Company-of-the-Year.

Show Room-of-the-Year prize was won by Nissan Show Room, Victoria Island, Lagos, while Pirelli was crowned Tyre Brandof-the-Year. Chisco Transport was recognized as the West Africa Coast Transport Company-ofthe-Year, while Yamaha was voted Motorcycle Brand-of-the-Year.

‘Senate allegations against VON automobile unsubstantiated,’ says plant director Vehicle assembler, VON Automobile Nigeria, has refuted allegations of economic sabotage by the Senate, describing them as falsehood and premeditated blackmail to disparage the company’s accomplishment.

VON Automobile Managing Director, Adetokunbo Aromolaran, made this refutal in a session with the media at a guided tour of the company’s facility in Ojo, Lagos.

“Rather than investigate their story, some media houses make themselves easy tools in the hands of mischievous blackmailers,” Aromolaran regretted in reference to a recent press publication.

He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, we regard the whole exercise as one of blackmail, the objectives of which will not be realized because they are false.”

He therefore cautioned the media to always investigate their reports and ignore calculated blueprints for calumny and cheap blackmail.

Senator Hope Uzodinma-led Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff had on October 28 during one of its oversight assignments claimed it discovered 1,500 units of exotic vehicles concealed in the Volkswagen warehouse, wondering if the vehicles were assembled at a deserted facility with disused equipment, he was quoted.

The Senate Committee consequently labeled VON Automobile as economic saboteur, warning it would organize a public hearing to unravel allegations of sharp practices even when the Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Officer, Wale Adeniyi, was quoted as saying he couldn’t verify the development.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

FG supports ban on sale of foreign rice in Ebonyi State The federal government of Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the sale of foreign rice in Ebonyi State, in order to boost local production as the country strives towards self-sufficiency in cultivating the staple.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbe, who disclosed this over the weekend, assured farmers in the state that the government would deploy agricultural equipment, including rice harvesters, threshers, and parboiling drums, to the state to encourage rice farming.

He asked youths to key in to the initiative in order to diversify the economy, adding that since recession has hit Africa’s largest economy, there has been an upsurge in the cost of the staple food

from about 12,000 Naira per bag of rice to over double that amount.

He added that the government and several economic analysts have suggested a ban on the importation of products in order to encourage the nation’s farmers to produce more.

He said, the increase in prices has pushed many to resort to smuggling of rice to be able to sell cheaper to Nigerians, lamenting that a tanker conveying rice was intercepted by the Ogun State Area Command of the Customs.

He added that 25 other vehicles, loaded with smuggled bags of rice, were also intercepted along the land borders in some parts of Ogun State, saying that with the Federal Government’s intervention and full support in the area of local rice production.

B8 AgriBusiness

Africa to spend $110 billion on food imports by 2025 – IITA DG Stories by Charles Okonji The Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr Nteranya Sanginga, has warned that African countries could spend $110 billion to import food by 2025, from the current $35bn.

He disclosed this while addressing members of the Board of Trustees of IITA and researchers during the 2016 Partnership for Development Week (P4D Week) in Ibadan that ended on Friday, stressing that this would be the cost of neglecting agriculture.

Dr Sanginga warned of dire consequences if Africa continue to pay lip service to agriculture, and failed to invest in the sector, stressing that a failure to invest in agriculture would be depriving the continent of necessary jobs and further fuel the spiraling rate of unemployment among the youth on the continent.

The director general acknowledged that though some African governments have now realized that agriculture was one of the ways to save the continent from the mess, most countries were not investing enough in the sector.

“Take for instance, the commitment to invest at least 10 percent of national budgets to agriculture. Not many countries are meeting this goal,” Dr Sanginga said.

NTERANYA SANGINGA

He commended the African Development Bank (AfDB)for the new initiative, Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), to transform agriculture on the continent.

He explained that the TAAT program is a new initiative of the AfDB in collaboration with the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research under the Feed Africa Initiative to drive agriculture development on the continent.

Through the TAAT program, the Bank aims to invest more than $800 million in the agricultural sector, adding that the funds would be channeled into scaling up proven innovations that will improve the fortunes

Director General, IITA of farmers and address the twin problem of food insecurity and unemployment.

Dr Sanginga however reiterated IITA’s commitment to supporting African smallholder farmers in the context of agribusiness.

According to him, IITA will continue to respond to the needs of Africa by developing innovations that will provide answers to Africa’s food insecurity. To this end, IITA will be demonstrating its scientific leadership not only in terms of qualitative research in the lab, but also impact in farmers’ fields.

The DG who started his second tenure earlier this year said that IITA’s priority for the future

Nigeria to start rice exportation in 2017 The Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) on Tuesday stated that its Anchor Borrowers Programme for the promotion of Agriculture has repositioned the country to kick start the export of rice by 2017.

CBN’s acting Director of Corporate Communications of CBN, Mr Isaac Okorafor, stated this in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State during a sensitisation workshop for farmers with the theme, “Promoting Stability and Economic Development.’’

According to him, farmers in Kebbi, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Sokoto and Cross River states, among others, have already keyed in to the programme, resulting in massive rice cultivation.

He noted that the country would attain self-reliance in

rice production if the momentum was sustained, adding that Nigeria should commence exportation of locally produced rice by 2017.

Okorafor said Kebbi State had already harvested one million tons of rice, maintaining that Ebonyi state harvest had outstripped the earmarked production for the year.

“The development is encouraging and by the end of 2017, we will not only meet our national demand which is between six and seven million tons but have surplus to export. We must rid ourselves of eating foreign rice that has been stored for over nine years in Thailand, Vietnam and India. Nigerian rice is fresh and healthier. We should eat Nigerian rice pro-

vided for by the CBN Anchor Programme; 50 Kg of local rice is now N8, 000 in Ebonyi.

Already, the Abia Government has ordered rice from Ebonyi for Christmas,’’ he said.

“What we have done with this programme so far is to create jobs through farming, especially for the unemployed youths. Nigerian youths must wake up, dust themselves up and join this worthy campaign.

Remember that the status of our farmers is now better due to the support they are receiving as a result of government’s policy. Our currency is weak because we engaged in needless importation of all kinds of food stuffs, including tooth picks; the government is determined to stop this.’’

AUDU OGBEH

Minister of Agriculture

The Edo Times

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Govt. vehicles maintenance: Obaseki engages female mechanics

ET 3

Benin Palace dismisses claims of alleged ET 4 demotion of prominent Chief Stop selling land, Oba of Benin warns CDAs

ÏÏÏ The Benin Monarch, Omo

Governor Godwin Obaseki, (left) with the Founder, the Lady Mechanic Initiative, Mrs. Sandra Aguebor, during the passing out ceremony of graduates of the initiative in Benin City...on Monday

Edo partners World Bank, FG on poverty reduction

Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏ The Edo state Government

The Edo

T E A M

has entered into partnership with the World Bank, the Federal Ministry of Finance as well as that of Budget and National Planning ministry to assist the state efficiently execute its poverty reduction schemes.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Mr. John Mayaki, in a statement, said the partnership is a fallout of the visit of the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, to the three organisations at the weekend in Abuja.

Mayaki in the statement said at the World Bank, the governor sought the input of the institution as the state prepares its 2017 budget, adding that the

bank would provide a lot of technical support to the state in sectors that could accelerate economic progress and job creation.

“I was at the World Bank, and you know they have been very active partners in the governance of the state and so as we prepare for 2017 budget, we need to have conversations with them on some areas of support and to also express our gratitude for their intervention since the last eight years.

“We believe that the World Bank would be of tremendous assistance from budget conception through technical support for some of our initiatives. We have for instance facilities for agro-processing zones which we intend to harness; we have facilities to support technical

Special Project Editor Sam Nzeh

Correspondent Titus Akhigbe

education which we have come to access and we have a whole lot of initiatives which we discussed and hope to also access.

“In fact, the recession itself provides opportunity and that means we now have to look inwards since we are not able to raise the amount of foreign exchange as we had in the past to import the goods and services we need. For instance, we used to spend about $15 billion importing food to the country and we want to make Edo state one of the centers for food production in Nigeria”, Gov. Obaseki pledged.

Lead Procurement Specialist of the Bank, who represented its Country Director, Chief Bayo Awosehunsi, lauded the governor’s credentials, saying Obaseki is not a rookie when it comes to administering a state.

He said the Bank would extend a facility to the state to enable her take care of development issues.

“The governor is not new to governance. He is also a techno-

crat and he understands what it means to govern a state. His programmes are very laudable in the area of education and job creation and the mission of the bank is to actually fight poverty and to expand prosperity. So, we believe we have a good partner to work with.

“Before his administration, we had engaged the government in the area of improved governance; education, project support for his economic policies. He has asked for the last phase of the Development Policy Operation, DPO. So, we are going to continue to work with him to release that fund so that he can use it to address any development issue in the state”, he said.

At the Ministry of Budget and National Planning in Abuja, Gov. Obaseki, who met with the ministers and other top-level administrators in the ministry, expressed his determination to work closely with them for the benefit of the state.

N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, has described as an aberration the selling of community land by the various Community Development Associations (CDAs), particularly those in the seven Benin speaking local government areas in Edo State.

Oba Ewuare II stated that CDAs made up of community youths have no business whatsoever to engage in the business of selling community land.

Speaking in his palace in Benin City during a courtesy visit by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, recently, the Benin monarch expressed serious concerns over the way and manner the CDAs have been carrying out their activities especially as regards to the selling of land belonging to their communities.

The Benin royal father stated that a situation whereby youths of communities in Benin land now usurp the powers and authorities of the Enigie, Odionweres, Ohens and Elders was unacceptable.

He urged the governor to join hands with the Oba palace to cut the rampaging and ubiquitous CDAs to appropriate size.

Oba Ewuare II observed with dissatisfaction the manner leaders of CDAs have taken over sales of lands with very unfriendly conditions which has in no small way contributed to the underdevelopment of most communities in Southern part of the state.

The Oba of Benin therefore used the occasion to solicit government’s support in eradicating the menace of CDAs across Edo State.

“May I use this opportunity to seek the state government’s support in eradicating the menace of Community Development Associations in Edo South in particularly and Edo State in general “Most of their actions have impeded the development of our communities. For the avoidance of doubt, CDAs are not supposed to be involved in land matters.

“Community lands and other matters of the community are under the Enigie, Ohens or Odionmweres as the case may be,” the Oba further clarified.

Also speaking, Governor Obaseki said his government was CONTINUED ON PAGE AT 2

The Edo Times 2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Stop selling land, Oba of Benin Edo to build pedestrian overhead warns CDAs bridge for UNIBEN students CONTINUED FROM PAGE ET 1

be able to attract the much needed private investments to the state.

According to him, “this (Benin) kingdom used to have the best land tenure system in Nigeria; unfortunately we have lost that pride today.

We want to deal with the issue of land properly so that we can attract private investment to the state”.

Obaseki was accompanied on the visit by the state deputy governor, Hon. Philip Shaibu; Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie; and other government top functionaries.

The Edo Times investigation

however revealed that the state government and the palace of the Oba of Benin may soon set up a joint committee to review the activities of the CDAs with a view of either streamlining their activities or deregistering them out rightly.

The activities of CDAs have become a major concern to many wellmeaning Nigerians in the recent years due to their excesses.

They sometimes sell one land to more than two buyers. They collect money from land developers several times with impunity without contributing anything to the development of their various communities.

Obaseki bans illegals entries to Govt House ÏÏÏ Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has told politicians including family members not to come to the Edo Government House, Benin City, without proper appointments.

Obaseki was said to have also told his aides to avoid having what he termed unnecessary visitors to avoid distractions.

The governor said he needed time to sit down to work.

Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Obaseki, Mr. John Mayaki, who stated this at a recent reception organised for him by journalists in

Edo State, said Obaseki has promised to run a government that is issue based.

Mayaki said Obaseki’s administration would not insult anybody but be professional in responding to critics.

He stated that the people expect a lot from Obaseki but that the administration needs to settle down to work.

He described the reception as a call for him to be responsible to his duties and promised to relate with all journalists in the state harmoniously.

ÏÏÏČ RƂ ƄƈƆ Əƍ Ƅ Ɔ Ɛ ƎƆ ƕ Ɔ ƃƉƏ ƆƐƄ ƍ ƑƎ

Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏ In the bid to provide safe passage

for the students, staff and members of the University of Benin community, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State says the State Government will construct a pedestrian overhead bridge at the main gate of the University of Benin.

This lofty step will stem the hazard hitherto faced by students and members of the university community when crossing the highway. It would be recalled that several students had lost their lives in the course of crossing the ever-busy Benin – Lagos express way.

Speaking at the 42nd Convocation ceremony of the University of Benin, Benin City, on Saturday, Governor Obaseki said: “We are very concerned about the spate of accident involving the students of this university as they cross from this campus, and the Edo State Government has decided to build a pedestrian overhead bridge to ensure the safety of the students who are crossing the road.”

Obaseki urged everyone to return to old values, in order to shape the future.

The Governor sued for peaceful relationship between the state government and the University of Benin community.

“I want to implore the staff and the authority of the University of Benin that we should forget the past.

I am asking you to seek a new series of cooperation with the government of Edo State. I assure you of access, and I am open to dialogue. I want to thank you for your time, and I wish you God’s blessings,” he said.

Also speaking at the 14th Convocation ceremony of the Igbinedion University Okada, Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki called on Nigerians to embrace change and innovation which he said will engender inclusive growth.

The Governor said: “We as a country cannot continue to think and work at a level that led us to the current economic challenges and expect a solution that can turn around our fortunes. We must embrace innovation and competition. Let me there-

fore call on every member of this community to come up with innovative ideas capable of revolutionising the way we think, work and live. I am pleased that that process has already started in this university. I believe one of the key strategies for returning Nigeria to the part of inclusive growth and sustainable development is to correctly reform our educational sector in such a manner as to unlock the creative and innovative potentials of our youths.”

Furthermore, Obaseki said: “The Government of Edo State is therefore committed to reforming the educational sector of our state so as to create knowledge driven economy where Edo people and residents in Edo State can better compete globally.”

The total number of graduates at the 42nd convocation of the University of Benin was 12,515 while that of the 14th convocation of the Igbinedion University Okada was 676. The ceremonies featured awards of doctorate degrees, master degrees, first degrees, diploma certificates and honorary doctorate degrees to deserving personalities.

Ogiemwonyi charges dons to proffer solution to recession ÏÏÏ

As the Federal Government and stakeholders seek possible solutions to the nation’s recession, university lecturers have been challenged to come up with concrete policies that would revive our comatose economy.

Former Group Executive Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and former Minister of State for Works, Dr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, who was a guest lecturer at the University of Benin gave the challenge at the 42nd Founders Day Lecture titled “ Hard Times For These Times: The Think Factory Guide To Action”.

He suggested that government must “start building bridges between academia and the relevant sectors of our economy. Building synergy among our high institutions and the government and nongovernment sectors is vital to our economic development”.

He opined that a holistic approach in tackling the fall in crude oil price require also to bring to bear the need for government to quickly summon

the courage to do the needful “by passing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

“Government over dependence on foreign consultants should be reduced. To begin with, we should encourage Nigerian consultants to have joint venture relationship with foreign consulting firms. The period for JV relationships should be defined. It should not exceed 3-5 years”.

He, however, expressed confidence that the country will eventually pull out of the current recession as long as the appropriate strategies are put in place to reposition the economy.

“Our nation like most nations in the world have experienced or are also experiencing recession. This is not the first time we are faced with this kind of monumental challenges.

“We need to apply wisdom and come together as a nation to focus and develop appropriate strategies to reposition the economy on sustainable path of economic recovery and growth,” Ogiemwonyi counseled.

L-R: Executive Chairman, Edo State Internal Service, Chief Oseni Elamah; AIG Zone 5, Abubakar A. Mohammed; Governor Godwin Obaseki; Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu; Commissioner of Police, Edo State, Halimi A. Gwandu and Edo State SSG, Osarodion Ogie Esq, when the Mohammed paid a courtesy visit to the Edo Governor in Benin...on Wednesday.

Deposition of monarch: Oshiomhole, ignorant of tradition - Group ÏÏÏ A socio-cultural organisation

in Edo State, Ikolo Esan, has berated the immediate past Governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for deposing the Onogie of Uromi, HRM Anslem Eidenojie 11.

This was contained in a press statement signed by the Chairman of the organisation, Prof. Ebosele Oteze. He said they were not surprised that Oshiomhole descended to a ridiculous level of power play to score political points, in complete disregard for the people of Uromi and Esanland in general, and the institution of the traditional rulers which he has trampled under his feet.

“To have asked the Onogie of Uromi to apologise to one of his subjects in a manner prescribed by

Oshiomhle was to display his complete ignorance of the custom of our people,” the group said.

According to the organisation, “for Oshiomhole to have said that traditional ruler has no subject is to belittle the high regard which our people have for their traditional rulers, as Oshiomhole never consulted with the State Council of Traditional Rulers, under the chairmanship of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin. He simply ignored the Traditional Council to employ his crude civil service rules to deal with a traditional matter”.

The group said it was more disturbed that Oshiomhole who is an Edo man should be involved in

such an abominable act of unprecedented traditional desecration, adding that the issue at hand was an altercation between the Onogie and his subject and had nothing to do with the government.

The group further said that the matter which ordinarily was a family affair had created an opportunity for Oshiomhole to further carry out his political vendetta on the Onogie of Uromi and the Esan people, a culmination of the blatant marginalisation to which he subjected Esanland throughout his tenure as governor of Edo State.

“In the process, Oshiomhole exposed his totalitarian style of leadership under which Edo State was grounded for eight years”.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Govt vehicles maintenance: Obaseki engages female mechanics

Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏ Edo State Governor, Mr. God-

win Obaseki, has offered to engage female mechanics for the maintenance of government vehicles.

Besides, Governor Obaseki said as part of his administration’s strategic plans for competitive advantage, female drivers and mechanics would be encouraged to study at the Benin Technical College after a complete retooling and rehabilitation.

The Governor, who made this disclosure during the graduation ceremony of twenty five female mechanics in Benin City, on Monday, said: “I want to throw an offer to you today - in Government House, we have a workshop. We would like you to come and take a look at it and also see if you can take over maintenance of the vehicles in Government House”.

The Governor said government will partner with the Lady Mechanic Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, to promote youth employment in line with his electioneering campaign promises. While lauding the initiative, Gov. Obaseki said, “It’s in line with my agenda for job creation and youth empowerment”.

His words: “The challenge we face today; the challenge of unemployment, the challenge of rebuilding our communities and society is not the challenge that rests on one arm of government or one set of institution alone. It is a challenge that all of us must combine together to deal with - whether you are government, whether you are civil society, whether you are private sector.

“That is the reason why as Governor of Edo State, once I realised that this initiative had taken root, I said the least that we could do is to come here and help to participate in the graduation ceremony of the last twenty five of the hundred students this programme started with. I hope that as sponsor, Coca Cola will not terminate this programme with this set. I am going to make a passionate appeal, and if you need me to come to your headquarters, I will come so that this programme can be extended.”

The Governor, who assured that government will rebuild and develop the Benin Technical College, said: “My first official assignment when I resumed on Monday, the 14th of November was to visit the Benin Technical College. First, to send certain signals that I campaigned on the fact that we will create a minimum of two hundred thousand jobs

- I meant it.

“So, my first assignment was to go to that institution that historically we had set up to develop manpower for industry and our economic life. I was really disappointed with what I saw, but from every disappointment comes challenges, and we are committed. And as I speak to you now, there is a team at the Benin Technical College doing survey, re-establishing the size of the land, with designs and working out plans so that within the next thirty days, we would have awarded the contract for the redevelopment of that school.

“We would like to have further discussions with you. I know you said you have a piece of land somewhere to develop as a one-stop mechanic village, but we would like to review and see if we can locate that workshop to the premises of the Benin Technical College, so that we can begin to relate to practical technical training with the training we receive in school.”

“Benin city is a transportation hub - that is why the automobile business in this state is quite large.

And as part of our strategic plan to make sure we have that competitive advantage, we would like to have institutions or initiatives like this that feed into our own plans.

3 The Edo Times

Security: Obaseki pledges to support Police

ÏÏÏ Edo

State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured of his readiness to do everything humanly possible to guarantee security in the state by supporting the Nigerian police, saying “it is the most important factor in attracting investment”.

Besides, Governor Obaseki said once investors feel that their property and lives will be safe and that they can attract and execute contracts without fear of insecurity, they will have no choice but do business with Edo State.

Obaseki made the pledge while playing host to the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone Five, Abubakar Muhammad, who was in Government House, Benin City on Wednesday on a courtesy visit.

He said: “We spent 8 years to build the foundation of this state and now, we are consolidating. We need external investors in the state and we need security for safety of lives and properties.

“For us, security is number one and we will do everything to support the police because our survival is on that. We will want to work with you very closely.

However, I want to commend the existing cooperation of the

police with government and I want to sue for its sustenance.

“I’m saying you couldn’t come at a more opportune time because as a government we are very clear on where we are going. We have spent the last eight years laying the foundations for economic and social take off. We have built infrastructure like roads and schools and now we need to consolidate on those development for the future and to do it we are also aware that we have to rely on our own internal resources and to leverage those internal resources, we need to attract investors and investments.

“My other life was about working on investment and attracting investors and I know that a single most important factor in attracting investment into any area is security. It is not the money. That is why we are very excited that we have you”.

While admitting that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vests the responsibility of internal security with the Nigeria Police, Governor Obaseki emphasised the imperative for concerted effort because the Nigeria Police cannot do it alone.

Edo Police Command detains man for murder, parades 87 suspects ÏÏÏThe

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (middle) with graduates of the Lady Mechanic Initiative, during their passing out ceremony in Benin City...on Monday

Edo gov assures on revival of Benin Technical College ÏÏÏ Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has emphasised the need for an action plan to guide the resuscitation of Benin Technical College in order to elevate it to international standard.

He made the disclosure when the Old Students Association of the school led by the President, Mrs. Debby Odejimi, paid a visit to Government House Benin City last Friday.

Governor Obaseki enumerated the priority to include bringing the college back in months’ time, rebuild infrastructure, and evaluation of the school curriculum and finally

how the college’s students can partner industries for practical experience.

He emphasised that these are some the issues that should be considered and which the Old Students Association could share with the state government, hence he urged the members to liaise with the Chief of Staff, Edo State Government, Mr. Taiwo Akerele.

Earlier, the National President of the Benin Technical College Old Students Association, Mrs. Debby Odejimi, commended Gov. Obaseki for his commitment towards their Alma-mata, pointing out that the

association carried out some projects including raising funds for the building of toilet facility and was already considering partnering with the state government to build blocks of classrooms.

The association revealed that the land belonging to the college had been encroached by land developers including cattle rearers.

Present during the visit were the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu; State Head of Service, Mrs. Gladys Idahor and the Chief of Staff, Edo State Government, Mr. Taiwo Akerele.

Edo State Police Command has arrested one Cephas Abas, aged 20, who hails from Benue State for allegedly killing a motorcyclist and absconding with the bike at Okomu in Ovia South West Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Commissioner in the state, Haliru Gwandu, disclosed this to newsmen in Benin City, the state capital, while parading over 87 suspects involved in various offences ranging from armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and illegal possession of arms and ammunition.

He said the 20-year-old Abas was reported to have ambushed a bike rider and beheaded him with a cutlass, killing him on the spot and made way with his motor bike, and was heading towards selling the bike to his cohorts when he was apprehended.

The suspect, who confessed to the crime, said the incident occurred on November 3, 2016 in the Okomu community in Ovia South West Council and gave the name of the victim as Aniete Okon, a neighbour of his.

Abas said he committed the crime due to poverty, adding that he only wanted to disposes the rider of the bike without any intention to kill him, stressing that he needed to sell the bike at N160,000 to raise some money for his livelihood.

The Edo State Police boss said all those paraded will be charged to court soon, adding that the police has beefed up security across the state ahead of the festive period.

He warned all criminal elements in the state to turn a new leaf as the police is battle ready to combat crime to the barest minimum in the state.

The Edo Times 4

Opinion

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 1, 2016

Note to my Governor, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki (II) CONTINUED FROM LAST EDITION

Ernest Omoarelojie

ÏÏÏ There are strategic interests the state must hold onto not necessarily because of any accruing pecuniary benefits but for their intrinsic relevance. One of them is the information sector which, here in my dear state, houses both the Edo Broadcast Station, EBS, and the Nigerian Observer newspapers. As far back as I can remember as a toddler growing up in my far away village, I recall my father, who was never literate, talk about two newspapers in the country.

Not in any particular order though but one of them is the Daily Times which he termed “Dayee Tine” or something similar and the other is the Observer newspaper simply called “Ozava”. Anything anyone told him back then must be the truth only if it came from both or either of them. If Daily Times still have any semblance of relevance, it is difficult to see the Observer on the same trajectory. Its case is so pathetic that it can only be found in government house and a few of government agencies and parastatals where they are served as complimentary copies.

Virtually the same situation applies in the state-owned television and radio broadcast outfit that seems to find infernal joy in disseminating information almost practically about whatever the governor does except his time in the bathroom. Apart from its regular Ultra Modulation Frequency, it is only visible to viewers on Star Times’ free-to air bouquet. But the situation can be salvaged if you can adopt, among others, the Lagos Television, LTV, treatment. I will explain it.

When Bola Ahmed Tinubu became governor of Lagos state, he decided to do a real turn around on the station. He gave the job to Jimi Odumosu or so. But before accepting the offer, Odumosu requested for, among others, that he must be allowed to run the out with mini-

News Benin Palace dismisses claims of alleged demotion of prominent Chief

mum control and be allowed to collect payment from particularly the state government, its agencies and parastatals for all jobs. Tinubu agreed and so began the outfit’s rebranding process anchored on “the power of television times 2”.

Today, LTV is not only on DSTV while our own EBS is practically ignored by serious information seekers, it has events and other facilities that clients must rush to book six months ahead even when its Alausa office space is less than EBS’s Aduwawa location.

Don’t get me wrong sir. There are a number of hard working professionals in EBS. Albeit, there are more idle hands, make-belief journalists, on its employ mainly so because the system that produced them is compounded by civil service operation module which guarantees salaries at the end of every month, work or no work and pension at the end of their productive lives, without visible productive inputs. No qualms. I need not repeat here that any and every newsman will be fired in any privately run media organization the moment his or her production relevance is under par in just a few weeks. I am of the belief that the time has come for both EBS and Observer to be run as real professional outfits and one of the immediate actions you must take sir, is to rejig the outfit such that everyone on its payroll must be accountably productive in terms of contribution to the outfits’ continuous relevance.

Among others, you must ensure that anyone that transacts business with it, particularly your administration, state parastatals and agencies, must pay before service.

And you must warn all of them, including your aides, to desist from treating both outfits as extensions of their briefs. I am suggesting this because I witnessed an incident where one of your campaign aides did the untoward shortly after you were sworn-in as governor. He sent a material to EBS and gave a marching order that it must

Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏThe

Benin Traditional Council (BTC), on Wednesday, dismissed claims of the purported demotion of one of its prominent Chiefs, Osamedde Adun, by His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewaure 11 The Benin palace said Chief Adun, the Ayobahan of Benin

What I am driving at, dear governor, is that the central hospital must be distanced from same civil service management that brought Stella Obasanjo hospital on its kneels. It can be a health facility for both the poor and rich only if access is based on an insurance scheme which ensures that everyone pays a premium equal according to his or her means

Obaseki be broadcast repeatedly without delay but without adding the cost of broadcast. When his order was not carried out immediately, he wondered aloud if those managing the outfit were unaware that they (your administration and everyone close to it) are now in charge. Of course, he did not forget to add that as soon as they assumed office, those who ignored his order will be dealt with. I was appalled. That is, putting it mildly.

My governor, sir, I am suggesting that the changes needed in EBS must be pursued with the same verve you promised to employ in bringing in investors to take advantage of the state’s innumerable natural resources potentials.

For its grandeur, esthetic splendor and imposing presence, the new Central Hospital complex is popularly referred to as 5 star

Kingdom, was not only found worthy by late Oba Erediauwa who initiated him into the Chieftaincy title rank but had equally demonstrated unalloyed loyalty to the present Oba. In a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Benin City by the Secretary, Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Frank Irabor, the palace attributed the alleged demotion of

medical facility. I am told that the equipment are state of the art and that the facility has the capacity to deal with high end clientele, including those involved in medical tourism abroad. My dear governor, Stella Obasanjo Hospital had similar features when it was commissioned way back. Today, it is not only a shadow of itself, it is practically a shame in terms of its ability to meet set standard. I do not want to dwell on why it turned out to be the shame it is even though it is not far from the same attitude that brought EBS on its kneels. I am a witness to some of the most unimaginable inappropriate professional conduct by some of the doctors managing the facility.

Certainly, the sad experience did not happen because the facility is inadequately staffed or funded even though both are issues to be dealt with. It happened as a result

Chief Adun from the 4th position of hierarchy to 14 as the handiwork of mischief makers who are out to misinform the public for personal interest “He has shown close loyalty to the present Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omoko N’ Oba Ewuare II right from the time the present Oba was still the Edeikan of Uselu. His Royal Majesty has had no reason to have con-

of pure management deficiency.

What I am driving at, dear governor, is that the central hospital must be distanced from same civil service management that brought Stella Obasanjo hospital on its kneels. It can be a health facility for both the poor and rich only if access is based on an insurance scheme which ensures that everyone pays a premium equal according to his or her means so that in the end, no one requires so much money for prompt medical attention, as long as there is no default in premium payment. If it is done in other climes, it can be done even in Edo state. That way, more of such facilities will surface for the medical needs of our starved populace.

I can go on and on but what you must take from my note sir, is that there is an urgent need for paradigm shift in the way we do things.

Even though there are bound to be resistance from those stuck to status quo, we will move forward in the end only if leaders like you persevere in policy formulation and implementation. This is my concern sir.

Ernest Omoarelojie wrote from Benin, Edo State

trary opinion of Chief Osemede Adun”.

On his part, Chief Adun described the claims over his demotion as unfounded, a calculated attempt to smear his hard earned name, adding that he had since written a petition to the State Police Commissioner against those responsible for the false alarm and criminal defamation of character.

Life&

TIMES Thursday, December 1, 2016

Iyanya

Life has taught me never to mix business with friendship

L2

P

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday, December 1, 2016

I am not afraid to make mistakes-Iyanya Mavin Records act, Iyanya Mbuk is one of the relevant musicians in the country presently who despite his few months’ break from the industry, is still very much accepted by his teaming fans and lovers of good music. Having won the MTN

Life&

T E A M

a force to reckon with. With his entry into Don Jazzy- led Mavin Records house to talented acts like Tiwa Savage, Dr. Sid, and Reakado Banks , Iyanya disclosed to MUTIAT ALLI, that he is in no competition with anybody, amongst others.

Entertainment Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Abimbola Obatayo

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday, December 1, 2016

L3 Gist

Mutiat Alli

Mr 2Kay seals deal with American brand liquor

Mr. 2Kay

Adesua Etomi, Emmanuel Ikubese return in 5th season of MTV Shuga

AMAA warns Imo State Government against impersonators

‌As MTV Base marks World Aids day with cast reveal

Olamide, Kaffy others for Lagos street party

Mr. Tony Anih

Adesua Etomi

Mike Ezeronye’s Brother Jekwu to hit cinema

Mike

Music Gist L4

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Mutiat Alli

Pysmaco to host 4th edition of beauty pageant/ awards By: Olamikan Isaac Pysmaco Production, a subsidiary of Pysmaco Limited, will on Sunday, December 11th, host the 2016 edition of its Night. The show, which comes up at the Prestige Hotel and Suites situated is expected to attract audience from across the country and the diaspora.

Winners would, among others, be entitled to a year modeling contract; a brand new laptops and IPads.

Edo State Deputy

Governor, Honorable Philip Shaibu, has been nominated as one of the recipients of the prestigious achievements award; while the show would be spiced with the best of music and comedy.

geared towards creating jobs for our teeming youths and also taking them off the street against social vices. We have been very successful in the past three years and still counting.”

Lil Kesh &Reakado Banks

Skyy vodka excites Lagos with ‘Life in the Skyy’ It was a night of music, fun and nonstop partying when Skyy Vodka hosted a party like no other at the Life in the Skyy gig last weekend.

The electrifying event was held at the all-glass panoramic view of Lagos from 85ft above the ground and was attended by some of the coolest partygoers in the city of Lagos.

winning DJ Obi. Between them, they kept the party rocking and there was hardly anybody sitting down on the luxurious white sofas provided all across the hall.

The combination of the three guest stars of the night, unforgettable with their respective performances. brand Skyy Vodka in Nigeria said the party is in line with

an unforgettable night of extreme fun.

Hosted by Hype man, Shoddy who directed the fans

nightlife landscape by creating fun experiences that stay in the minds of consumers long after the night is over.

Comedian Mr. O empowers students in Delta State Fast-

rising

Nigerian

taken the second edition of his biannual youth empowerment program to schools in Delta State. an info-edutainment show geared towards inspiring the younger generation

made for secondary school students.

Its second edition held at South Local Government Musa Yahaya

programmes

New Video Alert: Di’ja out with Sowemo visual returns to the music scene the visual of her love themed song titled has been missing out in

the industry since her marriage and maternity duties has given a clear cut indication that she is still very much relevant in the industry.

Di’ja

like

Mr. O flanked by other diginitaries

mentorship, career talk, music, comedy, capacity building and lots more.

young people spend most of their peak time relating

up

concept,

and as such get lured

Finance graduate from Niger Delta University, stated that schools play host to a large number of people in our society and are major custodians of young people drawn from different backgrounds.

anti-social and amorous activities that make them vulnerable to social vices.

Therefore, it was of great necessity to take the campaign to their primary domain in an unusual platform that would

with

such

naturally stimulate their participation and enlighten them all together on these issues.

Part of the activities for the day include Peer

and lots more.