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THE

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

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How economic challenges impact banks’ loan-to-deposit in H1

Ï As banks record N230.6 bn non-performing loans Motolani Oseni, Lagos

ÏÏÏ

Nigeria’s deposit money banks’ desire to remain competitive may have yielded some accrual positive results for them, going by the various products offerings such as electronic products they have been churning out

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to meet consumers’ demands.

However, all was not totally well for the sector going by the huge non- performing loans they currently face.

Indeed, not less than three out of the four largest commercial bank in the country have recordContinued on page 6

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 VOL. 3. NO. 446

N150

GLOBAL FINANCIAL/COMMODITY MARKETS

CURRENCIES/CBN: CBN: N305.95 PER DOLLAR, Parallel Market: USD N365 POUND N472 EURO N432 NSE: ASI 36, 116.19 MARKET CAP 12.45 FMDQ O/N 9.33 OBB 8.83 COMMODITIES: Wheat US $415.00/MT Rice US $12.46/MT Cocoa US $1,954.00/Bag Coffee US $128.40/Scoop Cotton US $74.82/Unit Sugar US $14.00/Ounce METALS: Gold US $1352.90/Ounce Silver US $18.06/Ounce Copper US $3.12/Ounce ENERGY: Brent US $54.01/PB, N/Gas US $2.98/CB

Implosion imminent in APC ahead of 2019 polls ÏAs Governors jostle to take over from Buhari if... Ï Atiku, Kwankwaso oil political structures

Olufemi Samuel, Abuja

ÏÏÏ The ruling All Progressives Congress

(APC) is now on the verge of serious implosion as different power blocs within the rainbow Continued on page 5

SERAP gives ultimatum to Obaseki over outstanding salaries of Edo 21 pensioners Country music legend, Don Williams, passes 7 on at 78 Dangote considers acquiring largest cement firm in South Africa 21

President, National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Iyalode Alaba Lawson (second left) and DirectorGeneral, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Osita Aboloma, during the decoration of Aboloma as honorary member of NACCIMA in Lagos... on Friday

Anambra is now investment hub- Gov AT 3 Obiano’s aide

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

5 News

Implosion imminent in APC ahead of 2019 polls Continued from page 1 coalition battle for control ahead 2019 as the party’s fate continues to hangs in the balance amid irreconcilable differences of the founding fathers, The Daily Times can now report.

But the puzzle over the fate of President Muhammadu Buhari on whether or not he will seek re-election come 2019 has been another major problem afflicting the ruling party which top members believe has been drifting.

Findings by our correspondents also revealed that for some time, state governors on the platform of APC have literally taken

Tambuwal

el-Rufai

Kwakwanso

over the control of the party, leaving the National officers to operate by the sides and with little initiative to pull the party back from imminent collapse.

Top party members in

separate chats with The Daily Times affirmed that the veiled interests of some of the governors on the presidential seat is the reason they have been keen on directing the affairs of

the party while positioning themselves to obtain the APC’s presidential ticket at the nick of time.

But the APC at the moment is said to be considering the necessity of holding

its National Convention before the end of this year to resolve its lingering internal crises and to determine the fate of Buhari on the 2019 Presidential race.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, according to report, will start series of meetings and consultations with top stakeholders beginning from this week on its next National Convention which party chieftains hinted may hold either in October or November.

APC has refrained from holding its National Convention since it formed the current government, although the convention is to hold every two years to re-

view situations, according to its constitution.

In the same vein, the ruling party has not been holding its National Executive Committee meeting as required by law, whereas the last time such a meeting held was in March 2015, a development said to have prompted the governors on the APC’s platform to take over the affairs.

The APC’s national Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, is said to have outlived his relevance among party’s stakeholders as he is often accused of presiding over a visibly polarised the NWC with failContinued on page 6

L-R: Prof. Siyan Oyeweso; key note speaker, Prof. Ebere Onwudiwe; father of the Day, Maj.-Gen Saidu Balogun (rtd); Author, Philip Ejiofor, his wife, Titilayo, representative of Oyo Governor, Mr. Gbade Ojo and Chief Launcher, Mr. Tafa Zibiri-Aliu, during the public presentation of a book titled Leading Right Nigeria, in Lagos… at the weekend.

AMCON boss makes case for journalists’ welfare ÏÏÏ

To equip financial journalists with the required knowledge to enlighten the public on the importance deepening financial inclusion in the country, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Ahmed Kuru has called on media owners in to ensure regular trainings and capacity building programmes for financial journalists that write for their stable.

Speaking at the second edition of Financial Journalists’ and Banks’ Communications Managers’ Parley, organized

by Centre for Financial

Journalism (CFJ) in Lagos at the weekend, the AMCON boss, who was represented by Prisca Ndu, a senior management staff at AMCON said financial journalists should be in the forefront of creating awareness for financial inclusion also said the typical financial journalist in the country has a lot of challenges, which makes it difficult for him to deliver as expected.

He said, “…financial inclusion has become a priority for policymakers, regulators and development agencies globally.

If we must align with the rest of the world, it must also be a priority for us

as Nigerians (and like I pointed earlier, we are already aware but we need to deepen it). That for me is where financial journalists and banks’ communications managers must lead the pack in creating the awareness for financial inclusion and sustaining same.

“In that sense, and going with the maxim that “… you cannot give what you do not have…” it means that the ideal financial journalist must have full grasp of financial inclusion in its entirety to be able to explain it to the public. Therefore media houses and media owners must as a matter of pri-

ority send their financial reporters on training and retraining programmes to equip them to do deliver on their jobs.”

Still making a strong case for the welfare of journalists in the country, Kuru again said, “For me, I think that journalists should be among some of the highest paid professionals because of the importance of the media in nation building. In developed countries, journalists are well paid and well respected but what do we have in Nigeria – we have a situation where media houses owe salaries, which jeopardizes the standards of media profession. So the

society expect a lot from the financial journalist that is grappling with all sorts of challenges including simple things like the basic inability to receive his salary at the end of the month. That is absurd to say the least.

“On the other hand, Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) or those who serve them as communications managers must see, appreciate and work with financial journalists as partners in progress, which is why I commend the CFJ for this initiative because it creates the environment for both parties to rub minds on the way forward not just as it concerns finan-

cial inclusion but other areas of mutual interest.”

In his final submission, the AMCON boss argued, “To deepen financial inclusion therefore, it is my submission that it is in the place of the communications managers and their creative agencies to continually come up with market penetration initiatives and programmes that would create the desired public awareness and interests regarding financial inclusion, while the financial journalist leverages the information emanating from the financial houses to engage the public on the benefits and why they need to key into the scheme.”

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

How economic challenges impact banks’ loan-to-deposit in H1

Continued from page 1

ed drop in their Loan-ToDeposit Ratio (LTD) half -year of 2017 (H1), due to macro- economy challenges in the country during period considered.

The loan-to-deposit ratio, as its name implies, represents the ratio of a bank’s total outstanding loans for a period to its total deposit balance over the same period.

LTD, therefore, can be described as a commonly used statistic for assessing a bank’s liquidity by dividing the bank’s total loans by

its total deposit.

But if the ratio is too high, it means that the bank may not have enough liquidity to cover any unforeseen fund requirements, and conversely, if the ratio is too low, the bank may not be earning as much as it could be.

However, as the Tier-1 banks, remained to be the driving force behind credit to real sector of the economy, the subsequent drop in Tier-1 banks include, Zenith Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank); while United

Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) loan-to-deposit increased marginally.

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) decision to hold its Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 14 per cent in 2017, has been an important factor behind the slow but steady recovery of the nation’s economy.

But, it has had a positive, as well as, a negative impact on the interest banks charge customers on loan granted.

Findings by our correspondent showed that, a combination of prudence shows that Tier-1 banks

loan-to-deposit ratio is average at 60 -70 per cent in the half year of 2017.

First Bank of Nigeria Holdings, thus recorded loan-to-deposit ratio of 74.50per cent in H1 2017 from 77.1 per cent recorded in 2016; while UBA’s loanto-deposit moved from 61 per cent to 64 per cent in H1 2016.

This means that First Bank of Nigeria has an extremely risk-averse business model that focuses almost entirely on traditional banking services, and its regional focus also supports its high loan-to-deposit ratio.

L-R: Convener of Excellent Summit, Mr. Abiodun Abiola; Speaker, Mr. Oladipupo Odukoya; representative of the Provost, Federal College of Animal and Health Production Technology, Ibadan, Dr. Funmilayo Ogunleke; Co-convener, Mr. Olawole Olagbaju and Area Sales Manager, OLAM Group, Mr. Olatunde Akanbi, at the 2017 Excellent Summit, in Ibadan, Oyo State… weekend.

Implosion imminent in APC ahead of 2019 polls Continued from page 5

ure to rally support from the founding fathers to stay afloat.

From findings, some state governors - Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) Kashim Shettima (Borno) and Umar Gandjue (Kano) are top on the list of APC members eying the Presidential seat, with each said to have set machineries in motion underground to actualise the dream of clinching the presidential ticket of the APC. But the interests of the governors in the presidential ticket of the APC, according to reports, are predicated on a possibility that President Buhari may not seek re-election on health grounds and in the face of incongruities trailing his government which many believe he has never been in full control of, all along.

From available reports, each of the APC governors with eyes on Buhari’s seat believe that they are sufficiently close to the President and hence may get his full endorsement to contest the party’s presidential ticket in the event of his resolve not to run by 2019.

It was learnt that el-Rufai had played a major role in convincing Buhari to contest the 2015 Presidential election after vowing earlier never to do so again with three failed attempts, whereas he subsequently became governor on Buhari’s prompting, a reason he feels confident that Buhari may endorse him as his successor in the event of his stepping aside from next presidential race.

The Daily Times further learnt that Kashim Shettima has been riding on the crest of President Buhari’s maternal affiliation to Borno State and his keen inter-

est in the state as bait for seeking his blessing to contest the APC’s ticket ahead 2019. President Buhari is believed to have left no one in doubt about his interest in Borno State, given the patronage he has accorded the state in the face of insurgency problems confronting it.

Reports from Sokoto are indicating that Tambuwal believes that since he bided to contest against Buhari in APC before 2015 and was persuaded to step down for him then, he stands a greater chance of clinching the APC’s ticket this time, a reason he is considering throwing his hat into the ring.

But the personal interest President Buhari is said to have in Ganduje and the manner he has helped to dislodge his predecessor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso in Kano for Buhari’s sake, is a reason some political pundits believe Ganduje

may be a dark horse to emerge from the APC with full endorsement from Buhari to that effect.

Although, none of the governors had openly signified interest to run in the next Presidential race, informed party members had alluded to messages emanating from their underground moves to that effect, most especially during the long period President Buhari was out of Nigeria on medical vacation.

Making the threat of implosion in APC more real is the factor of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as well as the strong support commanded within the party by the former governor of Kano State, Kwankwaso. The two politicians had challenged Buhari in 2015 and are set to make attempts again while not being unmindful of the plots to shove them aside in the ruling party.

First Bank of Nigeria Holdings has more outstanding deposit and loan to customers better than other Tier-1 banks, which is why it enjoys a loan-todeposit ratio of 77.1 per cent in 2016 financial year despite the difficult but improving market condition.

On the other hand, the two tier-1 banks– GTBank and Zenith Bank– have significant custody banking services, which require them to keep more of their deposits liquid.

For the half year of 2017, GTBank loan-to-deposit dropped from 75.30 per cent in 2016 to 73.70 per cent in H1 2017 while Zenith Bank loan-to-deposit closed H1 2017 at 66.2 per cent from 67.8 per cent recorded in 2016.

Zenith Bank has seen the lowest change in this figure recently, as its geographically diversified business model has allowed it to leverage its presence in key developing nations to grow both deposits as well as loans at roughly the same rate.

Meanwhile, virtually all the banks listed on The Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) recorded a whopping N230.6 billion NonPerforming Loans (NPLs) during the same period under review, which was also linked to the economic challenges, owing to the unpaid debt by bank customers.

However, latest Fitch ratings has affirms Nigeria’s sovereign ratings at B+; negative outlook, saying, Nigeria, the Africa’s largest economy ratings were supported by large, diversified economy, significant oil reserves, net external creditor position, among other factors.

But, looking at commercial banks’ N230.6bn bad loans in half -year (H1) 2017, it showed that the amount was higher than N76.5 or 3.4 per cent from N222.9bn

Emefiele

provided by these 13 banks for bad loans in H1 2016 confirms macro economy challenges; and banks’ prudential provision for 9mobile, the mobile operator, formerly known as Etisalat Nigeria.

According to information gathered by our correspondent, both lenders make huge provision for their 9mobile loans that went bad that reflected in their half year results.

Even though the latest National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Gross Domestic Product’s (GDP’s) growth rate after contracting for fifth consecutive period, showed that the Africa’s largest economy has exited its worst recession in 29 years, Managing Director, Highcap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri, said that the country’s economic downturn has impacted on loans provided by banks.

According to him, “As a result of recession this year, bad loans in the banking sector have increased because companies that borrowed those loans have failed to pay back. Banks are doing the right thing by making provision for these bad loans.”

He said,“Since those loans are nothing performing; and it is doubted if those loans can be recovered, banks are forced to charge the losses from their profit. If those loans are recovered in future, they will be written back as profit.

“The rate at which loans have become delinquent is much higher now because of the effect of recession on earnings of enterprises that have borrowed from banks.”

He noted that as economy moves out of recession, some of those delinquent loans would start performing; and it is expected that the affected banks would rewrite them into their profit margin.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Akeredolu urges FG to expand amnesty programme

ÏÏÏ Ondo State Governor,

Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Saturday, urged the Federal Government to expand the current amnesty programme to accommodate more youths in the Niger Delta region.

Akeredolu made the call when the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Maj.-Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd) visited him in Akure.

The governor said the Federal Government could

take a cue from Ondo State, which created a University of Science and Technology in Okitipupa, where people could learn how to build boats and take engineering courses.

“It is unnecessary to send them out of the country.

“A university can be set up here; the one that can teach them to build flying boats and other things that will make them to be useful to themselves and the area.

“So many things can be

learnt from the university. Let us integrate more of them into the amnesty programme; let us engage them to reduce youth restiveness in the region,” he said.

Earlier, Boroh said he was happy with the relative peace in the ijaw area of the state.

Boroh said he was in the state because of the summit of the National Council on Niger Delta and to assess other issues.

7

News

VSF commences reconstruction, rehabilitation of damaged public structures in Adamawa ÏÏÏ The Victims Support

Fund (VSF) on Saturday commenced the reconstruction and rehabilitation of public structures damaged by insurgents in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Speaking during a ceremony to mark the commencement of the exercise, Executive Director of the fund, Prof. Sunday Ochoche, said the sum of N390 million would be expended on 13 structures in the area.

Ochoche said that the fund would work closely with the state government technical team to ensure quality job.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa lauded the Federal Government for its intervention through VSF and other agencies in bringing succor to people of areas affected by the insurgency.

He tasked contractors handling the reconstruction and rehabilitation to adhere to standards.

Also speaking, member representing Michika/ Madagali Federal Constituency, Rep. Adamu Kamale, and the Chairman of Michika Local Government Council, Mr Vandi Favanza, also lauded the VSF. They pleaded with the Federal Government to extend the rehabilitation and reconstruction work, to private residents.

About seven local government areas were seriously affected by insurgency in Adamawa State.

Country music legend, Don Williams passes on at 78 ÏÏÏ

Clerk of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mustapha Akangbe Oluwuyi (middle) and others, being inducted as fellows Nigerian Institute of Management, during the luncheon and award ceremony in Abuja… recently.

The United States country music singer, Don Williams, who enjoyed great success with his easy-going singing style, has died.

Aged 78, the Texan native passed on after a short illness, his publicist said.

Williams began his solo career in 1971, amassing 17 number one country hits.

His songs, such as Gypsy Woman and Tulsa Time, were covered by many other singers – including Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend. Williams was known as the gentle giant of country music.

Other hits included You’re My Best Friend, I Believe in You and Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good.

In 2010, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Adeosun, Finance Minister

Resumption: Parents lament high cost of school items ÏÏÏ As schools prepare to

resume for the 2017/2018 academic session today, many parents have expressed concern at the high cost of school items.

Some parents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday, said that school items had become costlier than school fees.

Mr. Wale Olufela, a civil servant, told NAN that school fees remained the same from the previous session but prices of textbooks, writing materials, school bags and shoes had gone up.

“We learnt that Nigeria

is out of recession but it is yet to reflect on the cost of living because things are still expensive.

“I am tempted to believe that the traders are taking undue advantage of the economic situation to exploit consumers,’’ he said.

Another parent, Mr. Benedict Chukwuwinke, a businessman, said that the cost of textbooks and stationeries was quite high.

Traders in school items such as textbooks, school bags and stationeries, however, ruled out any form of profiteering, saying that the profit margin

on books was quite minimal.

Mrs Olabisi Aina of Favour Bookshop, Oshodi said: “We are into the business to keep body and soul together, not that there is much gain in the business.

“The publishers are complaining of the high cost of materials and papers, so they have reduced the quantity they usually publish.

“Some are not even publishing at all again, as such; some of the books requested for are not available.

“I have a list of books

that parents have been coming to ask for and I have called the publishers several times to find out if the books would be available but no response yet.’’

Mrs Mary Andrew, who

deals in lunch bag, said very few parents were buying as most were coming to repair old ones.

She said that the situation had left the traders at crossroads because a lot

of bags were made with hope that they will be sold.

“The few who bought the bags are even complaining that the quality is poor, which was not intentional,’’ she said.

8 News

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Principal tasks FG on provision of ICT facilities Esther Taiwo, Lagos

ÏÏÏMinister

of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and the Chairman, Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, have paid a high level management audit exercise visit to the Federal Government Girls’ College, Bwari, to ascertain availability and adequacy of facilities and resources particularly for the Junior Secondary School component of the College.

The visit afforded the Minister and the Senate Committee Chairman the opportunity to meet with the Director/Principal of the College, Mrs. Stellamaris Omu and other management staff to get acquainted with their needs. .

Mallam Adamu and Senator Wamakko were conducted round some of the facilities in the College including the Library, Information Communication and Technology Centre, Multipurpose Hall, Sports Field, Classrooms, Dining Hall, Vocational and Technical Workshops/ Laboratories and some uncompleted projects.

The principal of the college, Mrs Stellamaris Omu expressed appreciation of the college tom the esteemed guests for selecting FGGC Bwari in their maiden visit to any unity school.

“It is a great privilege and honour to receive your esteemed persons in the College , at this time , when the College is on vacation. We would have appreciated this visit when the College is in session , as it would

have afforded your distinguished persons an opportunity to interact with all groups of Learners”.

Mrs Omu listed some of the challenges of the school to include incomplete and broken perimeter fence, inadequate Dining Hall space (Girls eat in batches and this affects our daily routines) and inadequate Information Communication Technology facilities for the large number of learners as well as insufficient budgetary provision for overheads, amongst others.

“Sirs, we pray that your coming will bring the College the needed enhancement of our existing facilities in line with quality education delivery for the Girl-Child.

It is our desire that you will sometime, despite your tight schedules, visit us again and especially , during the academic session” .

The duo however stressed the need for the College to have a modern Assembly Hall as a matter of priority considering the population of the Learners.

The Hon. Minister commended the Management and Staff of the College for the enthusiasm in welcoming him on his maiden visit to any Unity College in the country.

The Senate Committee Chairman was equally impressed with what he saw during the visit and promised that issues relating to some of the challenges will be attended to in due course, while encouraging the staff to be diligent in their duties.

NANS appeals to ASUU to accept FG’s proposal ÏÏÏ The National Associ-

ation of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to consider the proposal made by the Federal Government and call off their ongoing strike.

The National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NANS, Bestman Okereafor, made the appeal in a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu on Saturday.

It would be recalled that the

Federal Government team had engaged in dialogue with ASUU and had agreed to set up a seven-man joint committee to look into all ASUU demands.

The Federal Government had also agreed to release billions of naira to meet universities infrastructural needs.

The current agreement was reached after about 12 hours and 30 minutes of a closed door meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

“NANS is passionately appealing to ASUU to con-

sider the offer made by the Federal Government in the interest of Nigerian students.

“Even as NANS delegation shall be meeting with Prof.

Biodun Ogunyemi, the National President of ASUU and his executives next week on the resumption of classes in the universities,’’ he said.

Okereafor noted that NANS conclusively wish to reassure our compatriots that NANS under the watch of Aruna Kadiri is poised and committed to giving a more

proactive and responsive representation to students.

“We are optimistic that the storm in the universities will be over soonest,’’ he said.

The national leadership of ASUU, however, said though it accepted the proposals presented by the government but would take the proposals to its members in various states and universities chapters.

The union would likely get back to the Federal Government within a week time.

Lagos State Emergency Management Agency’s response unit, removing a fallen tanker at Dopemu area of Lagos State… at the weekend. on Friday

Police nab man who hijacked car, 12-month-old baby in Ilorin Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin.

ÏÏÏ

A middle aged man has been caught by the police in Kwara state after he hijacked a car with a 16-month old baby in Ilorin, Kwara state.

The incident occurred on Thursday night after the baby’s mother, a serving official of the Kwara state judiciary, agreed to help the man from the church to Diviland area of Gaa-Akanbi, in the metropolis.

The man was said to have later hijacked the car with the baby inside and drove away. A manhunt was immediately launched by the police while family members and friends resorted to massive social media awareness on the incident. The man later abandoned the baby at Akerebiata area of the metropolis and

from there drove back to Asa Dam area where he parked to spend the night with his girlfriend.

Narrating her ordeal, the woman said: “We had just finished the communion service and my baby was already restless. I had actually wanted to leave much earlier but just decided to stay for the grace.

And then this man came up to me asking that I help him up to Diviland, which is just near my own house.

“I agreed to help him and just as I took the turn to our house immediately after Diviland, he brought out a knife and asked me to surrender the car. I struggled with him for sometime because I noticed that the knife he carried was not a very strong one but there was nobody to come to my aid. He later pushed me out and that

was when people around realised something was wrong so they came but he had already sped off.”

It was gathered that immediately the matter was reported at the ‘A’ Division police station, men of the state command went into action and traced the car, first to a point around Agric Area. The man was said to have driven to Akerebiata, on the way to Sobi Barracks where he abandoned the baby in a car seat and from there made a detour back to Asa Dam Road where he went to lodge with his girlfriend.

Friends and family members continued yesterday to praise the police and other security agencies for the speed and effectiveness of the work that led to the recovery of the baby and the car.

Police investigate alleged food poisoning in Enugu

ÏÏÏ

The Police Command in Enugu State says it has commenced investigation into the alleged poisoning of the food of a prominent man in a restaurant in Enugu, the state capital.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), for the command in the state, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed this in a statement he signed in Enugu on Sunday.

Amaraizu, who is a Superintendent of Police, said that the incident happened about 4:30 p.m. on September 8 at the highly populated Akwuke axis of Enugu metropolis.

“It was gathered that a man was allegedly served rice and stew at a popular restaurant in Akwuke, ‘’he said.

Amaraizu said that it took the timely intervention of police operatives to quell the activities of the mob that besieged the restaurant, immediately after the incident.

“This, however, would have resulted into loss of lives among others, if not for the timely intervention of police operatives.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

News 9

Youths want representation in MoU between Total, Ibaa community Alphonsus Nweze, Awka

ÏÏÏ

Some youths of Ibaa in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, have called for their inclusion in the ongoing discussion between the community and Total E & P Limited.

Mr. Ndidi OfuruOke, Coordinator, Ibaa Youth Alliance for Development (IYAD), made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Port Harcourt.

Ofuru-Eke accused the elders of the community of excluding them from the current discussion between the community and Total on the company’s social responsibilities to the people.

He said that it was improper for the elders to do so.

NAN gathered that the community and Total were about establishing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would spell out the company’s social responsibilities to the community.

According to the leader of the group, the youths will stop at nothing in challenging in the law court, their non-inclusion in the community’s team of negotiators.

“This does not happen anywhere; we are out to ensure that nothing happens until the youths of the community are recognised in the process.

“They have shrouded Yakubu Salisu, Kano

ÏÏÏAs

the Nigeria security agencies continue to battle the Boko Haram sect, Security information has revealed that an IS commander in charge

the entire process in secrecy, all in a bid to talk for themselves.

How can we grow when our leaders do not have our agenda in their minds?”

Ofuru-Eke called on the oil company to stop further discussion with the community until the youths were involved in the negotiation.

The IYAD coordinator also called on the members to remain peaceful, adding, “Every legal step will be taken to redress the imbalance.’’

“We must have people speaking for us; we should have our inputs in the decision sough to be taken and we cannot be schemed out.’’

Contacted, one of the elders, Chief Kingsley Nyenke, said that the protracted crisis in the community had polarised the people’s traditional leadership institutions, including that of the youths.

Nyenke, however, said that if the youths could peacefully organise themselves as one body, they would be allowed to join the negotiating team.

NAN reports that Ibaa community had been in a protracted traditional leadership tussle which polarised the people and hampered development in the area.

The community has yet to have a recognised traditional ruler since the demise of the last one, Chief James Ohaka, in 2007.

of the West African region affiliated group whom had planned to unleash coordinated attack on Muslims during the recent Sallah Celebration has been apprehended.

Nursing mothers waiting to immunize their babies at the Kubwa General Hospital, Abuja… at the weekend.

We foiled terrorists’ attacks on Abuja, Kano, others during Eid-el-Kabir- DSS ÏÏÏThe Department of

State Services (DSS) said it had foiled plans by the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWA) terrorists to attack Abuja and other cities during the recent Ed-el-Kabir festivities.

A statement issued by an operative of the service, Mr. Tony Opuiyo, on Saturday in Abuja, said the plans were to conduct gun attacks and suicide bombing on selected targets in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno States.

Opuiyo said the mastermind of the operation was Hussein MaiTangaran a well-known senior Commander who had been on the radar of the Service and the Nigerian Army since 2012.

Opuiyo said that MaiTangaran was also responsible for the deadly attacks against worshipers at the Kano

Central Mosque as well as an attack on a military formation in Yobe in 2015, which claimed hundreds of lives.

He said that Mai-Tangaran, an IED expert, had been prepping and priming others for the perpetration of suicide bombing attacks carried out by the group in the past within the North-East region.

He said the suspect was arrested in Kano on August 31 and further exploitation led to the arrest of one Abdulkadir Umar Mohammed on September 2 at Kantin Kwari market in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State.

Opuiyo said Mohammed was a fighter of the sect who left the the group in the Sambisa forest to team up with others toward carrying out the attacks being planned by the group.

He said that another accomplice in the plot, one Muhammad Ali, was arrested on Sep-

tember 3, at Sheka area in Kumbotso Local Governemnt Area of Kano State.

“Prior to his arrest, Ali was the financial courier of the group in Kano. He was one of the conduits through which funds and other material logistics were channeled to the group from foreign extremist elements/sponsors.

“Like Mohammed, Ali was involved in the plot to perpetrate the planned attacks in Kano and other States in the North during the just concluded Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

In a related development, the service said it had arrested the duo of Yahaya Abatcha and Yusuf Mohammed on September 3, in Kano.

“The duo are the leading elements of a cell of the extremist group and have been hibernating and furthering the doctrines of the group in the city.

“They were also to be responsible for opera-

tions in FCT Abuja, Kaduna and Niger States,” the operative said.

He said the service had also arrested Abdulkarim Mohammed following credible intelligence report on Aug. 29, in Ajilani Local Government Area of Borno State. ” The suspect has been spying on targets in Maiduguri, particularly troops’ deployments/ positioning and subsequently passing same to elements of the group in Sambisa forest, “he said.

“This Service wishes to thank the general public for its support and cooperation in providing useful information on criminal and terrorist elements in their domain.

“The Service also wishes to reiterate its stance that no matter how long, every perpetrator of violence and criminality against the Nigerian State and its law-abiding citizens, shall be made to face the full course of justice,”Opuiyo said.

Insurgency: IS Commander Arrested in Kano According to information made available to BBC by DSS Husseini-Mai Tangaran the commander has mapped out plans to attack Kano, Kaduna,

Yobe, Borno, Bauchi, Niger and FCT Abuja during the recent sallah festive period.

According to the DSS, Husseini master minded the attack on

Kano central mosque in 2012 during a Friday prayer session during which scores of lives were lost and many left injured.

Mai Tangaran whom

has been on the country’s most wanted list is said to be responsible for numerous deadly attacks on the North - Eastern States of Nigeria.

10 News

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, August 28, 2017

Infrastructures: Gov Bindow targets Jada for road project Tom Garba,Yola

ÏÏÏ

L-R: Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu; Executive Chairman, Osun Education Quality Assurance and Morality Enforcement, Dr. Isiaka Owoade and Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, at an award of recognition on both Okanlawon and Isamotu, during the Official Investiture Ceremony of Female President of GRA Osogbo Rotary Club, Osogbo, Osun State… at the weekend.

NACCIMA hails SON’s capacity for impprt, export ÏÏÏ

The National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has commended the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) capacity to support import and export in Nigeria.

President of the Association, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, gave the commendation in Lagos while welcoming the Director General of SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma to the Inauguration of special committees for the running of the Association’s affairs.

She acknowledged the added value that the SON internationally accredited laboratories would provide for import and export in Nigeria, particularly for agricultural products.

ÏÏÏ

The Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF), a medical humanitarian organisation on Saturday said it had scale up activities to control cholera outbreak in Borno.

The MSF said it was working in collaboration with the state Ministry of Health and other organisations to curtail the spread of the disease.

Anna Cilliers, MSF’s Medical Coordinator, told newsmen in Maiduguri

Iyalode Lawson also expressed the backing of NACCIMA for SON planned implementation of a products authentication scheme before the end of year. She asserted that such scheme was long overdue to tackle the challenge of products cloning and adulteration.

According to Iyalode Lawson, the long standing collaboration of SON with NACCIMA will be further enhanced during her tenure as President. She thanked the SON DG for his demonstrated commitment to standardization and quality assurance ideals since his assumption of office.

She then decorated the SON Director General as honorary member of NACCIMA.

Speaking earlier, Mr. Osita Aboloma sought the input of NACCIMA as a major stakeholder in the planned introduction of a product authentication scheme by SON before the end of the year.

He described NACCIMA members as critical Stakeholders in standardization, urging them to participate more in development and review of Nigerian Industrial Standards for products and services.

Mr. Aboloma also invited NACCIMA members to join SON and other stakeholders in actively participating in international standards development.

Presenting a paper on “Importance of Quality Adherence to Imports/

that the organization had set up two Cholera Treatment Units (CTU), and an Oral Dehydration Point (ODP) in Maiduguri and Monguno local government areas of the state.

Cilliers disclosed that a 100-bed capacity centre was set up at Dala area of Maiduguri and an ODP at Muna Garage Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

camp, while a 40-bed capacity treatment centre was also set up at Monguno.

“About 312 patients have so far admitted at the Dala centre and 194 persons discharged while 9 others died of the disease.

“About 135 health personnel were deployed for case management of the disease at the Dala centre.

Exports in Nigeria” at the occasion, SON Head of Product Certification, Mr. Tersoo Orngudwem urged NACCIMA members to take optimum advantage of the SON internationally accredited laboratories for import and export.

This according to him will substantially reduce the incidence of export rejection and dumping of substandard products on Nigeria.

According to him, SON has over the years developed requisite capabilities in testing for export through its robust relationships with other National Standards bodies across the globe as members of the International Organization for Standardization (ISON).

The ongoing physical infrastructures developments across Adamawa State ,aiming to open up the state to business and other development potentials, Governor Muhammed Umaru Jibrilla Bindow has promised Jada people they are next on the list to have their share of road construction.

Bindow made the promise at Ganye Local Government while on an unscheduled inspection of ongoing road constructions in the council headquarters.

The Governor who expressed satisfaction with the level of work and thank the contractor for keeping to standard and maintaining a steady

pace in the construction.

“I am very happy with the level of work, and commend the contractor for the quality also, am surprised at the large culverts and drainages constructed, but am reliably informed that the large drainages is to contain the large volume of water which will invariable protect the roads”.

He further expressed government’s commitment to promptly pay the contractor stating that no contractor in the state is been owed money.

Bindow also visited Ganye general hospital and inspect areas which needs Government’s attention, he promised that within weeksconstruction will commence in the maternity ward, theatre, andpharmacy department.

Adamawa APC calls for Alhassan’s immediate sack Tom Garbage, Yola

ÏÏÏ

Reactions have continued to trail Minister for Women Affairs Aisha Jummai Alhassan’s BBC Hausa interview declaring her support for Aminu Abubakar’s presidential campaign come 2019.

Adamawa State Working Committee of the ruling All progressives Congress (APC) call for the immediate sack the minister as she has clearly indicated where her loyality lies.

The party Vice Chairman Northern Zone Muhhamed Abdullahi and the organising Secretary Ahmed Lawal described the minister as a clog in the wheel of progress of the APC government.

Abdullahi said that its

unfortunate for a serving Minister under Buhari to heat up the polity when the APC led government is working hard to deliver on its campaign promises.

Similarly, the Director General Atiku Support Group, Hon. Mark Wosi argued that President Buhari knows where Alhassan’s loyalty lies before appointing her into his cabinet.

He urged Nigerians not to make an issue out of nothing Meanwhile the former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar has accused the APC leadership for sidelining him and not holding regular meetings as prescribed by the party constitution during a Hausa BBC program.

MSF scales up activities against cholera in NE “The organisation also set up an Oral Rehydration Point (ORP) at Muna camp. A team of Community Health Workers (CHW) are helping with disease monitoring and surveillance in the affected communities’’.

Cilliers explained that majority of the cholera patients come from Muna Garage IDP camp, where

some of the persons displaced by Boko Haram insurgency took refuge.

“I will say that MSF is planning to scale up not only in Maiduguri but also in Monguno because cholera is still present and I think we both have to scale up not only in case management but in activities.

“Continue to monitor-

ing households for early case detection and also to provide prevention basic care and health promotion in a coordinated response in collaboration with Government of Borno State, state ministry of health and other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other United Nations (UN) agencies.”

11

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Politics

s

FG should use dialogue rather than force in dealing with security challenges -Anike son being that more lasting peace is usually achieved through dialogue than military crushing. The example of what we mean is that by dialogue, the government through the Vice President who engaged the NigerDelta militants in dialogue, made us to enjoy relative peace in the region than the result we are getting in the North East where Military operations are in full force. The truth is that this government lacks the capacity to manage democratic environment.

Leadership and human management everywhere requires high level of diplomatic relations and flexibility than threatening and blackmailing.

The government has made injustice and abuse of court rulings a law and that is why Nigerians are now left with no other choice than to activate resistance as a duty.

The APC is a prisoner of their own actions against the previous regimes, quote me. So the things that are happening today in the polity is good and will serve as a lesson to people who will go to any length to capture power you can see lack of coordination because they are strange bird fellows. These days evil that men do lives with them and not after them.

There was this protest by a pressure group that asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resume or resign, which seemed to pay off as he resumed soon after; do you think that was a right step?

Sure, that protest was a right step in the right direction, because without such civil protest, this President would have still remained in London, after he had exceeded the 90 days allowed by the constitution.

It is really a shame in the 21st century, we are still in a country where highly placed individuals who should show leadership undermined the constitutional provisions and some sycophants still clap hands and they are paid to carryout counter protest.

I can tell you that the events of the recent past have shown that we don’t have genuine human rights activist in Nigeria, otherwise where is Pastor Tunde Bakare and his Save Nigeria Group and also the likes of Femi Falana when the President exceeded 90 days? We can see that they only show up on the stage when any issue affects their personal interests and ambitions. We give kudos to Charles Oputa popularly known as Charlie boy and his group. The Aso Rock cabals mobilised miscreants against them but couldn’t do same against the Nigerians that continued the protest in London; hence they hurriedly flew down our ailing President back home, so the protesters achieved the goal.

The United Nations had demanded that the leader of the Arewa Youths be arrested and tried, but up till now government has not shown any sign that they will do so, do you see this as a tacit support for the group?

That is one of the short comings of this government, which is pretext and hypocrisy. The Kaduna State governor was the first to start the hypocritical game, when he issued an empty threat by ordering for the arrest of the youths, while the declaration was made under his nose. Sometimes we wonder if they think that other Nigerians are daft, or if they think that their being in power makes them more intelligent than us, the so called Arewa Youths are merely acting on instruction of some Northern leaders who planned to use the quit notice to merely blackmail and force the Igbo to denounce their Biafra agitations. But it’s already a bad market for them.

So these are the reasons the leaders of the youth groups are moving freely and even enjoying government coverage and protection after committing such crime.

The withdrawal of the threat to Igbo to leave the North is seen by many as a withdrawal too late, do you support the Igbo to still stay in the North?

Well as we had noted earlier, the intention was just to blackmail the Igbo but it turned out a bad market to both youths and their mentors hence the belated withdrawal. However, it is a good omen and warning to Ndigbo in particular and all the Easterners in general, to begin the process of repatriating their hard earned wealth, that have been attracting hatred and envy from their hosts. For us the withdrawal is more or less like what our people will term ‘a medicine after death’, because consciously or unconsciously, they have out of confusion and

ANIKE

Charles Anike is the president Eastern Union, he has spoken severally on what the government needs to do to move the nation forward. In this interview Anike speaks on why the government should use more of dialogue rather than the military in dealing with some challenges across the country, he also speaks on the recent withdrawal of quit notice issued by the Arewa Youths to the Igbo in the North among other national issues. PATRICK OKOHUE reports frustration let the cat out of the bag. So our candid advice is that our people should gradually move down home until there are clear evidences of safety for them.

This government cannot be trusted at all, especially with human lives, otherwise what measures have they deployed to check the activities of the murderous Fulani herdsmen. Has it not been lips services all the while?

Do you consider the quit notice as a declaration of war?

Of course the quit notice is a breach of fundamental human rights of Ndigbo and the constitution, therefore it is q treasonable offence. And the inability of the government to arrest the leader of the youths, further exposes the weakness of the APC led Federal Government. Nigerians are watching and the world is watching and God also is watching them.

President Buhari in his last broadcast to the nation spoke mainly on security threat, do you see this as a failure on the part of government to provide the needed security in the country?

Most of the statements of the President

A leader is expected to think and talk more of dialogue and negotiations than military operations. Reason being that more lasting peace is usually achieved through dialogue than military crushing. The example of what we mean is that by dialogue, the government through the Vice President who engaged the Niger-Delta militants in dialogue, made us to enjoy relative peace in the region than the result we are getting in the North East where Military operations are in full force. in the last broadcast to the nation seem to portray him as someone that has yet imbibed the democratic culture, even after two years in office as a civilian President.

In an ideal democracy, a leader is expected to think and talk more of dialogue and negotiations than military operations. Rea-

The South West leaders have not only called for restructuring of the country but have also come out in strong terms to say that without it no election in 2019, what do you make out of this?

The only option left for Nigeria leaders is to harken to the voice of reason and then restructure the country. That was why we said last time that the only thing that can guarantee the unity of Nigeria even before and after 2019 is total and undiluted restructuring of the country. As for the South West leaders, we can’t really rely so much on them, because if the likes of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the vice President can turn and deny the very trade mark that brought them to limelight then who can be trusted in the South West?

We will only believe them when we see them put their words to action, if not then forget the noise because these days word is cheap. Otherwise, the Yoruba as a very sophisticated tribe, well educated and well exposed should champion total restructuring, but over the years they allowed and condoned too many sycophants in their midst and they act as their spokes persons.

Why is the North afraid of restructuring because many prominent Northern leaders said that the North is opposed to such moves?

Well, the North can be opposing restructuring as a result of ignorance and the fear of the unknown, just like some Ndigbo are opposed to having Biafra. Another reason is due to selfishness and greed on the part of the Northern leaders, who are used to free money. But in the face of all that, we can authoritatively tell you the truth that the North stands to benefit more if the country is restructured. The reason is that restructuring will help and enable the North to rediscover itself and then develop their potentials and enormous resources lining waste untapped. Restructuring will help them to look inwards and then encourage them to harness treasures in the Northern soil, which are wasting CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

12 Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Group commends FG on nation’s exit from recession Stories by Patrick Okohue, with Agency Report A social advocacy group, Citizens for Progress and National Development, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the turnaround of the country’s economy.

The convener of the group, Dr Chima Onyekwere, made the commendation at a news conference held by the group in Owerri on Friday.

Onyekwere also expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, in ensuring that the country exited from recession.

He said that although people were quick to point out that the feat was achieved with 0.55 per cent growth in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it was better than no growth at all.

Onyekwere said that it might take some time for things to get back to normalcy and appealed to Nigerians to be patient and continue to support the APC administration.

“Although people are quick to point out the negative, choosing to dwell on the fact that there has only been a 0.55 per cent growth in the country’s GDP. “Let me be quick to say that a little growth is better than no growth at all.

PRESIDENT BUHARI

“One day begins a story and since we have been able to overcome the recession, it is a step in the right direction; let us continue to be patient,” he said.

Onyekere called for peaceful coexistence in Nigeria and prayers for the leadership of the country for positive changes.

According to him, “the successes of the President can be doubled without undue pressure from opposition parties and naysayers.” (NAN)

Lawmaker appeals to Nigerians to patronise locally-made goods to grow economy A Lagos lawmaker Hon Setonji David has appealed to Nigerians to patronise locally-produced goods and services to propel the growth of the economy.

David, representing Badagry Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that patronage of local products remains the panacea to most of the economic challenges facing the country.

“That Nigeria is back to shape and credible is cheery news. That our external reserve is growing is a good development.

“The Federal Government should sustain this and ensure that the dependence on foreign goods is curtailed,” he said.

David, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development, hailed the boost in rice production, saying Nigeria must grow what its people eat, need and use.

“We need to desire freedom from foreign slavery; we should grow what we eat and use. We have to use things that are produced in this country, we must be proud of our things, irrespective of how they are packaged, we can’t continue with this economic slavery,” he said.

David said that government could achieve inclusive growth by providing enabling environment and markets for infant industries to grow.

The lawmaker said that the end of recession would have positive multiplier effects

SETONJI

on the economy and prices of goods and services and urged Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, destruction is one of the easiest things to do, building takes longer time and efforts.

NAN reports that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Sept. 5 reported that the country had officially exited recession.

The data showed that the country’s GDP grew by 0.55 per cent year-on-year in real terms in the second quarter of 2017.

The report said that the recovery was driven principally by the performance of oil, agriculture, manufacturing and trade sectors.

The bureau said that the figure indicated the economy was out of recession after five consecutive quarters of contraction since first quarter of 2016.

Akeredolu wants FG to expand amnesty programme to accommodate more Niger Delta The Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Saturday urged the Federal Government to expand the current amnesty programme to accommodate more youths in the Niger Delta region.

Akeredolu made the call when the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Maj.-Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd) visited him in Akure.

The governor said the Federal Government could take a cue from Ondo

State, which created a University of Science and Technology in Okitipupa, where people could learn how to build boats and take engineering courses.

“It is unnecessary to send them out of the country.

“A university can be set up here; the one that can teach them to build flying boats and other things that will make them to be useful to themselves and the area.

“So many things can be learnt from the university. Let us integrate more of them into the amnesty programme; let us engage them to reduce youth restiveness in the region,” he said.

Earlier, Boroh said he was happy with the relative peace in the ijaw area of the state.

Boroh said he was in the state because of the summit of the National Council on Niger Delta and to assess other issues.

(NAN)

‘FG should use more of dialogue rather than force’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

as a result of the present unitary system that have disadvantaged them a lot but unknown to them. A well restructured and true Federal System will surely remove the veil from the eyes of the Northern youths (Arewa Youth) that have been flaunting because that will remove the ignorance and will enable them to ask pertinent questions from their so called leaders who have over the period imprisoned their minds and intellect. Their leaders perpetrate themselves and family in power for their selfish interest. And merely use and maintain an army of hungry and ferocious youths, always available and ready to be used as tools for attacks. However, it’s not the entire North that is opposing restructuring, but only the North-West.

The IPOB said there will be no election in Anambra come November, do you see this as an empty threat or a sign post for anarchy?

That will be a grave injustice on the good people of Anambra State. There are different types of agitations across the country, but that should not warrant any lawlessness from any quarter. And we are optimistic that the elders of Anambra will not seat back and watch that happen. They cannot allow anybody or group to interfere or try

to truncate the democratic processes in the state. The elders must ensure that they dialogue and prevail on IPOB not to stir-up any form anarchy or lawlessness during and after the election and the security agencies must also be on a red alert to ensure that law and order are maintained.

There are plans to arrest Nnamdi Kanu again, what would you say will happen if he is arrested?

Such plan will be very disastrous and counterproductive because it will further heat up the polity. This time, if at all there will arrest, it should start with the leaders of Arewa Youths, if not some people will be seen as sacred cows and that will be resisted. Nnamdi Kanu ever since his agitations had maintained a non violence approach.

And that is what is obtainable everywhere in the world. So he has committed less crime when compared to the Kaduna declaration by the Arewa Youths.

How would you rate the performance of the Federal Government in the last two years?

The Buhari led Federal Government has performed very poorly and far below expectations in the last two years. This is because the APC government is surely reaping

what it sowed in the Nigerian polity. The renewed agitations and threats here and there across the country are in line with the natural law of sowing and reaping.

The hate speeches as they call it, that we are witnessing today is also a continuation of the series of hate speeches invoked by the leaders of the ruling party, during the days of their desperate moves to capture power at all cost and by all means. Recall that Chief Bisi Akande on many occasions referred to the former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as a “Kindergarten President”. Just imagine such a foul language from a supposed elder statesman. And so many of other such careless statements by the leaders of the APC. So what exactly are they talking about or referring to as hate speeches?

Therefore whatever that is happening today is the result of the uncontrolled quest for power. They must understand that the only thing you cannot cheat or maneuver is natural justice; the retributive law of sowing and reaping. The government rode on the wing of hate speeches propaganda to get to power, so people must understand that lies have a very short life sperm. Okay just look at the Aso Rock Rat theory.

The entire media team of the APC and especially the media handlers of the Presi-

AKEREDOLU

dent are main problem of this administration. These media team have so ran out of ideas and have exhausted their bags of lies that now the only option left for them is to silence reasonable voices of the ordinary citizens by labeling any legitimate criticism of their incompetence and weaknesses as hate speeches. The media team of APC deserves to be quarantined until an anointed man of God lays both hands and legs on them, as to deliver them from lying spirit. In the East, it is a heinous crime and a dreadful transgression for the elderly to lie, “But that is what we are seeing in APC government, that constitutes 90 percent of elderly men.

The Federal Government claimed that the economy has improved, do you agree?

Which economy has improved? They should tell that to the fools. In which area has it improved? Is it that the exchange rate has returned to what it was before APC came to power? Or has the prices of essential commodities fallen back to what it was?

A bag of rice is still about N20, 000 or less and so is every other thing. The standard of living is falling daily and hunger all over the land. If the economy improves we are to say so, and not the government that have continued to maintain luxury lifestyle.

Page Thirteen

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

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Editorial

13

PHOTO TIMES

Hate speech as beginning of the end

A

week before the arrival of President Muhammadu Buhari from his 103 days medical vacation, the then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo had sent a draft bill to National Assembly which, when passed into law, will criminalise or outlaw hate speeches in the media-print, broadcast or social media. This was in reaction to an alarming attack on people on the basis of their tribes, religion and gender. He had remembered that Rwanda’s genocide started from vulgar vituperation against one another on the basis of the aforementioned natural attributes. He even equated hate speech with terrorism. But how did we get here?

We arrived at this port because of politics of hatred, antagonism and bitterness that have become the stock– in–trade of Nigeria’s politics. These had reached a crescendo towards 2015 general elections. Issues and parties’ manifestoes were relegated to the background while tribal and religious matters were kicked to the front burner.

Certain sections of the country would not bear sight of power being retained in a certain part of the country, while certain parts of the country would not accept power being taken from where it then resided. And so the foot soldiers of both camps went into the trenches and there they have been, ever since.

There is a Yoruba adage that a King is not abused in his presence. But today, our Kings are being abused right in their presence, calling to question our age-long cultural values and orientation. I remember the then spokesman of APC who incidentally is the spokesman of this government, threatening to form a parallel government if APC failed to win 2015 election. There were threat and counter threats from both sides of the divides. But as the then President Goodluck Jonathan promptly conceded defeat even before the last count of the 2015 Presidential election results and congratulated General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) as he then was. It was like cold water had been poured on a raging fire or so we thought.

Shortly after President Buhari

Publisher/Editor in Chief

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike Publishing Executive Enyinne Onwunwanne Group General Manager Olisa Egbunike 08034004224 Head, Operations Isaiah Udo 08033230673

mounted the saddle, he embarked on foreign tours in his effort to market Nigeria of his dream. It was in one of such trips that he was quoted to have said that those who gave him 5% votes should not expect to be favoured in equal measure with those who gave him 97%, whatever that would sum up. That assertion must be admitted to have given rise to this round of tirade exchanges in conventional and social media.

To mark the beginning of the end of hate speeches, there is no need of law or enactment from the National Assembly. There is no need to unleash the police or military on the citizens. What is required and urgently too, is the soothing words of our President to the ‘5%’ voters who have felt alienated and ostracised by no less a person than the President.

No President / Prime Minister in this country or any other country for that matter, ever won election squarely and evenly, Balewa did not, ditto Shagari, Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Jonathan. But once an election is won, the winner becomes a President of all and the father of the whole country. He becomes the President of those who voted and those that did not vote for him. That is the way to unite Nigerians. The Acting President who has reverted to his post as Vice President must prevail on his boss to be more conciliatory and sensitive in his approach to issues of National importance. He must be manifestly seen to live to his inaugural statement of “I belong to everybody, I belong to nobody”. He must not take governmental criticisms to mean “hate speech”, for most of the positive adjustments this government has done so far could be attributed to those criticisms than praises. Nnamdi Kanu, militants in the Niger Delta, Arewa Youth etc could be reined in through kind words and egalitarian assurances by the President.

All policies in education and employments which seek to favour a particular section or sections of the country must be discontinued. If these are done, it will surely mark the beginnings of the end of “hate speech” in our country.

Welcome back once again Mr. President.

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L-R: Director at Vice-Minister Level of the Office, China, L.I. Xiaohong, presenting a souvenir to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ag Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, during a courtesy visit to Ibrahim Magu in Abuja… at the weekend.

L-R: Emir of Lafia, Dr. Isah Mustapha-Agwai and Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun-Idris, during a courtesy visit to the Emir in Lafia, Nasarawa State... at the weekend.

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STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Nelson Mandela

Obafemi Awolowo

Nnamdi Azikiwe

“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

“Behind the ugly terrible mask of misfortune lies the beautiful soothing countenance of prosperity. So, tear the mask!

“There is plenty of room at the top because very few people care to travel beyond the average route”.

14

Opinion

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

National Park Service and national security

T

Paddy Ezeala

here is no doubt that the issue of national security has been gaining increasing traction and attention in the past decade. Also, there is no gainsaying the fact that since the Nigerian Civil War, never has the integrity of our 923,768 square kilometres territory been this violated and still subjected to continued threat. Ensuring National security is like trying to hit a moving target – especially in this current world of mounting desperation and vaulting mischief. There is therefore urgent need to reorder priorities, re-evaluate strategies and reengineer approaches towards ensuring that we are a secure and prosperous nation.

The nexus between security and economic development needn’t be overemphasized.

I have consistently voiced my discomfiture at the poor state of the National Parks in Nigeria.

Our National Parks are severely degraded and the blame lies squarely at the feet of the Federal Government that has poorly funded and ill-equipped the National Park Service and also the coterie of successive park officials that have been wallowing in insincerity and deceit. Today, apart from the degradation and the concomitant loss of biodiversity, the National Parks are constituting by their porosity a serious threat to national security. Any security architecture in Nigeria that does not factor in an effective protection of the swathes of massively forested land areas designated as National Parks with their invaluable biodiversity is like castle

built in the air. Four out of the seven National Parks in the country are contiguous with equally massive and richly endowed forests in neighbouring countries.

Nigeria’s National Parks, namely: Chad Basin National Park located in Borno and Yobe States with headquarters in Maiduguri; Cross River National Park located in Cross River State with headquarters in Akamkpa; Okomu National Park in Edo State with headquarters in Arakhuan-Udo; Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State with headquarters in Oyo town; Kainji Lake National Park in Kwara and Niger States with headquarters in New Bussa; Kamuku National Park in Kaduna State with headquarters in Birnin Gwari and the GashakaGumti National Park in Adamawa and Taraba States with headquarters in Serti. Gashaka Gumti is actually the largest National Park in Nigeria covering an area of 6,731 square kilometres. As a matter of fact it is recorded that the estimated conservation area protected in the National Parks is 22,206.24 square kilometres. This is not including the former Yankari National Park which was wrongfully downgraded to a Game Reserve with its handover to the Bauchi State Government.

I have taken pains to list out the National Parks, the spread of their locations and the massive areas they cover. I have also not bothered to cinematize the unique array of ecosystems, biophysical structures and tremendous biodiversity that characterize them. This I have done in my previous articles. But it continues to beat everyone’s imagination why with all this vastness, richness in biodiversity and massive spread,

National Parks in Nigeria and the National Park Service continue to hide from public view. The truth is that Nigeria’s National Parks are degraded, deficient in infrastructure, undermanned and crimogenic.

It should be noted that the thousands of square kilometres bandied about as the actual sizes of our National Parks may not be real even when we agree that the sizes are huge. The recorded sizes actually represent the initial sizes captured in the laws establishing the National Park Service. Things have been changing since then. But has there been any professional survey of the Parks in recent times? How has the Green Tree Agreement - the formal treaty which resolved the Cameroon-Nigeria border dispute over Bakassi peninsula - affected our Parks that are contiguous with Cameroonian National Parks and/ or forest reserves? These are vital and fundamental questions.

It is no longer arguable that Park protection within the current Nigerian context should go beyond just warding off hunters and/or poachers. It now verges on National security and has gone beyond what ill-equipped, poorly trained and inadequately motivated park rangers can effectively handle. Park rangers have been helpless in the face of bandits that have been operating in and around the Parks for more than a decade. Not many know that Sambisa Forest is part of the Chad Basin National Park – located in the south western axis of the Park.

This part of the Park has been so degraded that even its rivers have dried up. This degradation had set in years before full-blown insurgency in the North East. Park rangers

in Chad Basin National Park would have been seeing bandits in the Park many years before now and had kept sealed lips. As far back as ten years ago, bandits have been operating from this Park to launch sporadic attacks on villages in Borno and Yobe States and at times even sacked Police Stations. The cost of the helplessness and inadequacy of the Park rangers is what the whole country is now bearing with the escalation of the insurgency. The big question is; with the current state of the Chad Basin National Park, does it still qualify as a National Park? This was a Park that for years was used for safaris; where tourists observed from cabins or safari lodges large population of leopards, lions, elephants and hyenas. Our degradation has indeed become comprehensive.

On January 26, 2008, a friend of mine, Ashimi Timisiriyu, who was a project manager with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) informed me that Salamu Waziri, popularly known as Jagu Jagu, the winner of the 2004 World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International Award for Outstanding Service had been shot dead in the Gashaka Gumti National Park. Jagu Jagu who was 72 at that time worked as a research assistant in the WWF Project in the Park before he was attacked by bandits along Bodel-Gashaka road near Serti.

Paddy Ezeala paddyezeala@yahoo.co.uk is a communication and development specialist based in Abuja. He was a press officer in the Nigeria National Park Service, Senior Manager, Media and Public Affairs of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Africa Communication Officer of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) among others.

late the business environment to attract or retain economic activities in their regions and these decisions will affect the kind of laws they will make both socially and economically. Some states might favour more Private property rights and lower taxes while others will prefer a fixed land tax, the competition will involve states trying to underbid the others in lowering taxes, spending and regulation. This will greatly influence the kind of social laws and regulations that these states will make.

Granted that most of our decisions are economic, the social reasons for foot voting or migration cannot be dismissed, this is why most of the migration from (Southern) Nigeria is to Western countries that we share the same social ideals while our Northern counterparts might prefer middle east countries as the case may be, but burden of having to leave the country entirely is vastly greater than the burden of leaving a state or a locality and this is why the focus is on inter-state or city migration.

Granting state autonomy in making laws subject to a Judicial review (The American standard) will enhance foot voting that is influenced by social reasons as well as economic reasons as different states will look to several social options that might bring in investment and help with unemployment, a state might decide to legalize Marijuana and then tax farmers and users while other states might look to issues like gambling and gaming licenses (Like Las Vegas and Macau),

homosexuality laws and even more conservative laws like Sharia and Tobacco control.

The difference that foot voting will in a truly federal context is that inter state or city migration will be done for reasons that are not only economic but social, for instance, one of the main reasons for the success of the movement for gay and lesbian rights over the last twenty to thirty years in America is that policy on most of the issues of concern to them was de-centralised. They could first make gains in those state and localities that were relatively more favourable to them, and then those gains spread elsewhere. If they had had a unitary national policy on same-sex marriage, they would not today have numerous states that have adopted it which eventually culminated in the Supreme court approval.

We can see how this might help with the tribal problem as more people move to a certain place and with more integration and contact with different people from different places, the area becomes less tribalized. A good example is the entertainment hub that is Hollywood. Hollywood could attract movie producers that were moving away from the Atlantic coast because of a new regulation that denied independent movie producers from using movie picture machines. These independent producers were granted licenses in California and today it is one of the most diverse states in America.

Restructuring the country might actually help in this case.

Restructuring and foot voting

R

Ayobami Adekojo

estructuring is the new buzzword in the Nigerian political arena, a lot have been written about it and we can also conclude that it means different things to different people.

For me, restructuring is all about decentralisation and the devolution of powers away from the unitary government we currently have. The advantage of this proposition is lost in between the age long battle for Nigeria’s resources, some people see it as a way for some regions of the country to claim the “national resources” I want to introduce a new angle into this debate, one that is hardly talked about when we discuss devolution, the relationship between (true) federalism and voting with your feet. This is something we don’t pay enough attention to. Paying proper attention to this connection strengthens the case for de-centralising political power to lower levels of government. It should also affect our attitude toward judicial enforcement of federalism-based limits on the power of the central government.

Foot voting is the ability to express political freedom by leaving situations that are not favourable for more beneficial situations. It denotes situations where we can choose what sort of government or policy we want to live under by deciding where we want to live, and, for example, we can do so by choosing among different states. We already do a lot of foot voting in Nigeria, mostly by migrating abroad

in search of greener pastures for reasons that are usually economic.

Even within Nigeria, some foot voting is happening with the increase in rural-urban migration.

Foot voting is different from ballot-box voting because it is an individual choice as opposed to a joint decision that you make with thousands or millions of other people where your vote is just one of a great many other.

In a Nigerian Presidential election, the chance that your vote will have a decisive effect is about one in 30 million. Voting with your feet greatly diminishes this problem.

When you decide whether you want to live in Lagos or some other state, or whether you want to live in this city or one of the other cities within the same state, that is a decisive individual choice.

Currently, the inter-state migration that we have going on are for economic reasons as I pointed out earlier, this makes the poorer states in all the regions tribal enclaves as people tend not to migrate to them.

One way that restructuring/true federalism can solve this problem is Judicial autonomy for states which will make states grow more organically with their own laws as it corresponds with local customs and their vision as a society or make new ones to attract investment and labour With greater devolution of powers to states or Federating units, there will be a “Race to the bottom” between states where they start competing for outside investment.

Different governments will deregu-

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

15 Column

Nigeria will not develop until we Fix this problem (1)

Guest Columnist Samuel Odunsi

‘

For a country like Nigeria, diversification means import substitution. That is, producing at home most or all of the products that are currently imported. A small but important part of diversification is refining locally all the raw materials that are extracted in Nigeria instead of overseas refinement.

The majority of diversification is building and maintaining the infrastructure, supply chains, and institutions that will support import substitution over the long term with Nigerian managerial leadership. In addition, the goal of diversification is to offer products and services at a standard that is good enough for overseas export.

’

D

evelopment means that Nigeria will rise to meet the West and other developed countries as an economic equal. Like China has recently done. This is also what development means for other former colonies of the West that are now politically independent.

Why has Nigeria not developed?

The single cause of underdevelopment in Nigeria is the failure of higher education (universities and technical institutions) to train graduates to operate their western economy as well as expatriates. Expatriates consist of people from the West and the developed countries of Asia who make things work in Nigeria. We know that the companies and organizations operated by expatriates perform the best in the country. E.g., oil and gas industry, construction industry, telecom, etc. If a large operation is running well in Nigeria, the chance is great that expatriates are the managers behind it, even if it’s owned by Nigerians. Without the managerial leadership of expatriates, the facility will deteriorate or collapse over time, as we have seen with the systems inherited from colonialism, such as utility services (e.g., electricity, water, mail) transportation system (railways), social services, agriculture industry and many others, not to mention the deterioration of the currency from 1 naira to 1 dollar in the early 1980s to hundreds of naira to 1 dollar today. The failure of higher education to equalize the managerial performance of Nigerian graduates with those of expatriates has been the unspoken cause of underdevelopment since independence.

Can’t Nigeria just hire the expatriates it needs to develop the country?

It’s possible in theory for Nigeria to hire enough expatriates to develop the country. But it’s not possible in reality because Nigeria can’t afford the financial cost. Hundreds of billions of dollars a year, if not trillions, will be required to pay the salaries of expatriates that can develop the country as defined.

What is the purpose of higher education for Nigeria?

When economic development is the goal, the practical purpose of higher education is to train people to perform as well as expatriates in the role of manager or entrepreneur in the public

and private sectors so that Nigerian graduates can lead and supervise the rapid and continuous development of their country. If higher education in Nigeria could supply a steady stream of graduates that are as effective as expatriates, the country will quickly develop for real. In numerical terms, Nigeria already has more than enough graduates to make development happen. But higher education has not been effective in that way. All that higher education has done is provide technical training, which benefits only the individual that might get a job in Nigeria or overseas. Technical training has proven useless for development when the managerial leadership of expatriates is not present. Higher education will not meet its purpose until every new graduate can reliably do what expatriates do. That will begin to happen only when the type of curriculum change we recommend is implemented.

What are the symptoms of the failure of higher education in Nigeria?

The symptoms of the failure of higher education include persistent poverty, persistent dependence, persistent corruption, persistent instability, persistently bad governance, the lawless violence of terrorism, and other problems exclusive to the former colonies of the West. We’ve been led to believe that these symptoms are the causes of underdevelopment. That is wrong. Expatriates are in Nigeria with Nigerians, yet they do what Nigerian graduates generally cannot do. The symptoms don’t affect the performance of expatriates. Thesymptoms are incurable until Nigerians begin to perform as well as expatriates in increasing numbers. The most ethical and corruption-free leadership from elections or revolution, or from so-called uprisings do not address the failure of higher education. Measures such as anticorruption laws, or protests, civil unrest, and finger pointing do not address the failure of higher educa-

tion. Revenues from the export of oil and gas and other raw materials, or from globalization and foreign aid do not address the failure of higher education. Such revenue may provide tenuous prosperity or modernization and give a false impression that development is taking place. However, the symptoms of the failure of higher education don’t go away.

Why can’t Nigeria diversify its economy?

For a country like Nigeria, diversification means import substitution. That is, producing at home most or all of the products that are currently imported. A small but important part of diversification is refining locally all the raw materials that are extracted in Nigeria instead of overseas refinement.

The majority of diversification is building and maintaining the infrastructure, supply chains, and institutions that will support import substitution over the long term with Nigerian managerial leadership. In addition, the goal of diversification is to offer products and services at a standard that is good enough for overseas export. Successful diversification is the only means for rising to meet the developed countries as an equal. A country that can supply much of the nation’s demand for food, electronics, machinery, automobiles and other items will be a prosperous country, a truly developing country. But efforts to diversify the economy have failed because of the shortage of effective managerial leadership.

The only system in place to systematically fill the shortage and which claims to already do so (according to speeches made at graduation ceremonies) is higher education. But higher education has never done that. Hence, without the leadership of expatriates in numbers that Nigeria can’t afford, five-year or ten-year development plans, Vision 2020, Vision 2030, knowledge economy, large scale agriculture projects, and other plans for industrialization or development, will not meet

their goals. Previous development and diversification plans have not worked because of ineffective higher education. For the same reason, future plans will not work either.

As a result,attempts at economic diversification in a persistently underdeveloped country like Nigeria is largely a futile exercise.

Why is higher education effective in the developed countries and not in Nigeria?

Higher education appears to work for the developed countries. So, if it doesn’t work for the underdeveloped, then it’s automatically assumed thatsomething is wrong with the people of these countries. We reject this notion. Nothing is wrong with people. Instead, something is wrong with the education. Our view is that culture, not education, is what is “working” for the developed countries. The curriculum of western education that is in effect everywhere in the world, including Nigeria, does not contain the elements that will equalize the performance of graduates with those of expatriates in the course of acquiring higher education. Western education does not contain the necessary elementsbecause recognizing and including these elements in the curriculum was never a requirement for education to be “effective” in the developed countries. The western economic model, which was imposed on Nigeria by colonialism, is an extension of Western culture.

The West never had to deliberately connect its culture with an economic model that was imposed by a different culture, and still doesn’t know how to do so. As a result, academia has never been able to explain how culture makes development happen in the developed country in a manner that is teachable to others.

The conceptual tools required for a teachable explanation, therefore, do not exist—until now. In addition to providing the missing tools, we have also devised the curriculum that will connect with the native culture of the individual student the western economic model that higher education represents.

Why are China, Japan, and South Korea developed, since their cultures are not Western?

The short answer is that these countries have cultural elements in common with the west. So, nothing extra is needed in the higher education curriculum to connect the western economic model to their culture. For the first time, we have identified these elements of culture that have been universally misunderstood and completely overlooked. We’ve also devised the means to systematically impart and nurture these elements to full strength in the educational setting within the 3-4 year duration of higher education.

Samuel Adedoyin Odunsi, Sr. is a business owner and also a Public Intellectual and Social Entrepreneur To be continued

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

17

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

TIMES AGAINST CORRUPTION

18

s

Examining issues surrounding Nigeria/UAE Treaties The broad agenda of fighting corruption in line with best practices is founded on certain fundamentals or key components. These include: prevention, criminalization and law enforcement, International cooperation, Asset recovery and technical assistance and information exchange. Our focus in this analysis is on asset recovery process defined mainly by features such as identification and investigation, tracking and freezing, confiscation or forfeiture and lastly, repatriation or return of stolen assets.

Against the background of the foregoing, we examine issues surrounding Nigeria/UAE treaties on Mutual Legal Assistance recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday 24th August, 2017, significantly after his return from the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

Significance of treaties or repatriation of stolen assets The process of repatriation of stolen assets anywhere is a challenging experience involving a mixture of complex investigations, tracing or tracking of stolen assets, seeking mutual legal assistance including freezing of assets outside the jurisdiction of the requesting state.

Undoubtedly, stolen assets within the jurisdiction of a sovereign state maybe recovered within the premise of existing legal and criminal justice framework available within the state, even if some of these procedures are also not without unexpected challenges including the elements of delay.

The narrative however changes when the assets sought to be recovered are outside the control of the requesting state and within the jurisdictional competence of another sovereign state guided by its own peculiar legal framework procedures and processes.

The foregoing is the major challenges faced by states whose resources are plundered by public officials who are charged with state responsibilities involving the element of trust and who sought to betray such trust by unprecedented corruption leading to movement

of resources outside the shores of the country.

This represents one of the major challenges being faced by Nigeria currently with significant public resources belonging to the state believed to have been moved illegally outside the country by public officials into such destinations including the United Arab Emirates.

Understanding nature of Nigeria/UAE treaties The Special Adviser to the President on Prosecutions, Okoi-Obono Obla may have explained the rationale behind the treaties as follows: “A very significant extradition treaty between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirate (UAE) was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja. Before this Extradition Treaty was signed between Nigeria and the UAE, Nigeria did not have any extradition treaty with any country in the Middle east or Asia which makes extremely impossible repatriate looted assets from Nigeria to these countries or the extradition of any fugitive from justice from Nigeria to these countries.

However, the Extradition, Act which was in force in Nigeria was not applicable to these Middle East or Asia countries but largely to countries in the Commonwealth of Nations. This treaty known as Judicial Agreements on Extradition, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters and Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal and Commercial Matters (the Recovery and Repatriation of Stolen Wealth) with UAE is therefore very significant. It has once again greatly demonstrated the will, commitment of the present administration to fight corruption and graft. You know a significant amount of assets have been siphoned by corrupt public officials in Nigeria to UAE in the past two decades amounting to more than $500 million. UAE became very attractive and a sort of haven to Nigeria looters to hide their assets. With the signing of the treaty yester, the coast has essentially been clear for the Federal Government to seize assets repatriated

Buhari from Nigeria to UAE by the political and business elite. It therefore means that any assets looted here and taken to UAE can be traced, seized and repatriated back to Nigeria and the culprit brought to justice! Before the treaty was signed UAE Law requires the owner of a property to consent before any investigating body can have access to it. The signing has removed this obstacle! In the UAE, any property acquired by anybody is digitalized so it is very easy to verify any asset acquired there by anybody. All we need do is show evidence to the UAE that the person whose assets or property is being verified was a politically exposed person in Nigeria and he had dipped his or her hands into the public till during the currency of his or her office. It is a great boost and fillip to the anti-corruption was declared by the present administration.”

The President while signing the instruments reportedly said: “With this sovereign act, which has been repli-

Magu

cated in the United Arab Emirates by their responsible authorities, we are now in a position to utilize these agreements fully to foster cooperation between our respective authorities particularly for the purpose of prosecuting the anti-corruption campaign of this government.” The president also added: it is my hope that these instruments which are signed today (Thursday) will reinvigorate the anti-corruption war and check the illicit flow of funds out of our country to other jurisdictions, improve national security, food security, boost our economy and tax regimes and improve the overall well-being of our creative community…“All agencies of government with roles to play under the respective treaties now ratified are hereby directed to ensure that they play their anticipated roles in an effective and responsible manner in order to ensure that we reap the full benefits of these agreements.”

Legal implications of treaties on Mutual Le-

gal Assistance Treaties of mutual legal assistance to repatriate stolen funds or seek international cooperation in fighting corruption across borders may assume four different ways. The first is through the vehicle of multi-lateral treaties or international convention/ agreement providing for mutual legal assistance, these usually involve several countries.

One clear example of multilateral treaties on mutual legal assistance is the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) providing a set of common principles on mutual legal assistance in corruption matters.

The UNCAC recognized elements of prevention, criminalization, international cooperation, asset recovery and technical assistance and information exchange as critical to the process.

Article 46 of UNCAC significantly provides: 1. States Parties shall afford one another the widest measure of mutual legal assistance in investigations, prosecutions and judicial proceedings in relation to the offences covered by this Convention.

2. Mutual legal assistance shall be afforded to the fullest extent possible under relevant laws, treaties, agreements and arrangements of the requested State Party with respect to investigations, prosecutions and judicial proceedings in relation to the offences for which a legal person may be held liable in accordance with article 26 of this Convention in the requesting State Party.

Other examples of multi-lateral treaties include: model treaty on mutual assistance in criminal matters developed under the auspices of the United Nations and adopted in 1991; the Europe Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters on Laundering, search seizure and confiscation of proceeds of crime, The ECOWAS Treaty on Exchange of Criminal Matters etc.

Mutual Legal Assistance may also be facilitated by bi-lateral treaties involving two or more countries. Examples of such bi-lateral treaties include: Nigeria/Africa bilateral treaty on Criminal

Matters 2001.

Significance of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties One basic attraction of such legal mutual assistance treaties is the element of sanctity of enforcement once executed by parties. This is founded on the fundamental principle of treaty law expressed in the Latin maxim pacta sunt servanda, meaning all agreements must be implemented.

The implication of this, is that, obligation imposed by such treaties are binding on the parties who are signatories and failure to respect those obligations may lead to far-reaching consequences.

Notwithstanding such treaties as observed by eminent Professor Bolaji Owasanoye in his article titled “International Perspectives on the Repatriation of Recovered Assets” may be limited by substantive and geographical scope; cumbersome appeal procedures, considerable delays arising from compliance and procedural requirements including preconditions of reciprocity and the principle of specialty indicating that information obtained under the relevant treaties may only be applied for the requested purpose. There are also elements of consistency republic policy of the requested state including the political will to implement salient provisions of the treaties. The limitations of such treaties notwithstanding all are agreed that mutual legal assistance treaties represents very significant tool to achieving international cooperation and facilitating asset recovery process – indispensable tools for curbing corruption.

Scope of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties between Nigeria/UAE The agreements ratified included Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters; Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil and Commercial Matters; Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons; and Extradition Treaty.

To be continued Shittu is a lawyer and a lecturer at the University of Lagos.

19 Times Against Corruption

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Right Enforcement: Court Dismisses Kantigi’s Accomplice’s Suit Against EFCC An Abuja High Court in Maitama has dismissed a fundamental human rights enforcement procedure suit filed against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by a purported importer of cars, Olalekan Olakehinde, seeking N500million damages after the EFCC seized 17 vehicles believed to be proceeds of illicit activities.

The said vehicles had been traced to Liman Kan-

tigi, a former Commissioner for Local Government in Niger State, who is also a former governorship aspirant while the vehicles were suspected to be illegally acquired.

About N6billion was also traced to him, which he could not account for.

While Kantigi is yet to honour the invitation of the EFCC, the anti-graft agency has already secured an interim forfeiture order of the account where the money is domi-

ciled. The order remains valid as it has not been vacated.

Like Kantigi, Olakehinde has also wilfully refused to honour invitations by the EFCC, but instead filed the fundamental human rights enforcement procedure action against the EFCC. Investigations had also revealed that in spite of his claim to being the Chairman of AY Emirate Motors Limited, he was said to be a front for Kantigi.

Olakehinde had through his lawyer, Aliyu Umar, SAN, approached the court with a 23 paragraph affidavit, dated June 13, 2017 seeking for seven prayers. Specifically, he urged the court to award N500million damages against the EFCC and sought an order or perpetual injunction against the EFCC. But the lawyer to the EFCC, Mr Aliyu Bokani, has filed a 227 paragraph counter-affidavit in oppo-

sition to the applicant’s motion on notice, arguing that Olakehinde benefited from illegal activities and suspicious transactions, running into millions of naira, which prompted an investigation of his business dealings.

“The said AY Emirate Motors Limited was registered in 2015, while the illicit transfer of over N80 million from a company linked to Kantigi was carried out in 2014 into Olakehinde’s personal ac-

count and not that of AY Emirate Motors,” Bokani said.

He further explained that: “Investigations revealed that the said money were transferred before the incorporation of AY Emirate Motors Limited.”

In his judgement on the matter, Justice Halilu Yusuf held that “Olakehinde instituted the suit so that he will not honour the invitation. I therefore dismiss the suit in its entirety.”

Magu has made Nigeria proud –International Initiative

An international initiative, the Global Peace Movement Initiative International, has described the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu as a “man of valour”.

This was made known by the President of Global Peace Movement Initiative International, Dr. Mike Uyi, while presenting an award of excellence to Magu, at the Commission’s headquarters, Abuja.

Uyi, who said the purpose of the award was to honour the EFCC boss for successfully leading the anticorruption fight, explained that Magu has done excellently well so far. “He has changed the world’s perception about Nigeria as a very corrupt nation”, he said.

“With what we hear about Magu from outside the country, one will think that he a giant, a Goliath. But looking at him now, we can clearly see that the might is not in appearance and in shape or in size, but it is in act and actions. He has made Nigeria well respected in the world today.

“He has the heart to face all kinds of storm. Impunity has been stamped out with the name ‘Magu’. When you hear his name, you must look above your shoulder. He clearly stands outs and that is why we are here to honour him”, Uyi said.

He continued, “since he assumed this very office, he has removed Nigeria from a barrier state in the committee of Nations and Nigeria has become a nation that is well respected in the committee of Nations today. This is as a result of the cardinal print of this very administration that has to do with the fight against corruption which had to be tackled not with a coward but the man that has the heart to face all

kinds of odds and weather the storm, that is why we are here to honour him, in spite of all threats.Magu has defended the integrity of Nigeria. He has defended what he believes. Today, he is well respected.

“Recently, his name was sent to 25 countries of this world, starting with the United Kingdom, America, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, and all other countries that has to do with Nigeria in terms of relationship and financial situation, the result came up overwhelmingly-92% and 85%, all over the world. That was why the name of Nigeria was removed from the 10th most corrupt nation in the corruption index position that very week. Before then, the name of Nigeria was standing a very big figure of corruption in the index of ten most corrupt nations in the world. Magu came in and the honour was done to Nigerian, through his activities. We are here specifically for what Nigeria stands for today. Magu has made Nigeria proud”, he said.

Earlier, while presenting Uyi’s speech, Steve Hammond, Director of Investigations and Operations noted that the award being presented to Magu, was in a class of its own and is considered the zenith of all awards.

“This award is in a class of its own and is considered the zenith of any award and recognition for an individual or organization, it is one that recognizes leadership that has strengthened and aided development, good governance and commitment by any public servant in the face of many antagonism, attacks and hostility, and it is being today presented to Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, the Chairman of EFCC, following his nomination for the award in London earlier this year.

President, Global Peace Movement Initiative International, Dr. Mike Uyi and the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu during Uyi’s presentation of award to Magu at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Friday .

China Lauds EFCC on Corruption Fight, Seeks Collaboration The Director at ViceMinister Level of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Inspection Tours of the Communist Party of China, CPC, Mr L I Xiaohong, has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for its unrelenting effort to fight corruption to a standstill in Nigeria.

Xiaohong, who led a delegation to the EFCC Headquarters, September 8, 2017 said, “We have heard a lot about your efforts in the fight against corruption and commend you for your doggedness in ensuring that you kick corruption out of Nige-

ria.”

Expressing his delight to be involved with the anti-graft agency’s efforts, Xiaohong said, “We want to cooperate with the EFCC to explore and promote anticorruption agenda, as we are aware of your achievements”.

The Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, who received the delegation, expressed his readiness to partner with the China, in the fight against corruption, stressing that the anti-graft agency was opened to international collaborations.

He described the visit as “a gateway” for expanding the

operations of the EFCC. He said, “We are committed and willing to cooperate with you and we seek your assistance, particularly in the area of capacity building, training of personnel, and combating advance fee fraud, internet fraud, and theft of petroleum products.

Magu intimated the delegation that the partnership with the China in fighting corruption in Nigeria, will also extend to the oil and gas industry, as “we have noticed that Chinese citizens are getting involved in oil theft.”

He noted that “some of them have been caught in the act and are currently facing trial”, thus calling on the

delegation to “collaborate with us so we can check such vices, as this will help both countries”.

Magu also used the opportunity to seek for assistance in “identifying and recovering proceeds of corruption stashed away in China”, stressing that Nigeria and China, “need to have synergy so that even when China has any problem in their embassy here in Nigeria, the EFCC will swiftly tackle the issue without waiting for protocols, because ‘delay is dangerous’”.

Xiaohong was accompanied by ZHOU Pingjian, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria and other top officials of the CPC.

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

News 21

Dangote may acquire largest cement firm in S’ Africa

Myke Uzendu, Oluchi Okoroafor Abuja

ÏÏÏIn a bid to extend to consolidate on its

growing business empire across the African continent, Africa’s richest man and leader in cement manufacturing on the continent, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is considering bidding for PPC Group Ltd, South Africa, which is the largest cement maker in the country.

The move by Dangote, despite recent hostilities experienced by Nigerians resident in the country if it sails through, would further buoy up his businesses.

Dangote Cement Plc, according to a source close to the investor, is offering a counter offer for the Johannesburg-based company as a way to accelerate expansion outside its home mar-

ket of Nigeria.

According to a stakeholder, PPC will consider any rival offers to the joint approach by Canada’s Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. and domestic rival AfriSam Group Pty Ltd. and present them to shareholders in early October, Blomberg reports.

PPC shares jumped from 2.9 per cent to 6.38 rand as of 3:30 p.m. in Johannesburg, on track for the highest on a closing basis since April 25.

That values the company at 10.2 billion rand ($792 million).

Also, monitoring the acquisition move made on PPC Group by Dangote is Lafarge Holcim Ltd., the world’s biggest cement maker based in Jona, Switzerland, and Germany’s Heidelberg Cement AG, as well as Titan Cement Co. SA of Greece.

A source from PPC revealed that Dangote’s interest in PPC Group sparked off after a Toronto-based Fairfax offered to buy 2 billion rand of PPC’s shares; and supported a merger with AfriSam earlier this week. The proposal, according to PPC, “significantly undervalued” the transaction.

Meanwhile, the Spokespeople for Dangote, LafargeHolcim, HeidelbergCement, Titan, Fairfax and PPC, according to Blomberg, have declined to comment.

However, the future ownership of PPC is up for grabs after merger talks with AfriSam failed for a second time last month following two-and-a-half years of on-off negotiations.

Both companies have been struggling with high debt levels, which Fairfax offered to resolve with its unexpected entrance to the saga

this week. The Toronto-based company said it would recapitalize AfriSam, enabling it to settle outstanding loans, and buy 2 billion rand worth of PPC shares at 5.75 rand each.

PPC’s current share price of 6.38 rand suggests that investors expect a higher offer to emerge.

The Fairfax proposal would give the Canadian company a stake of more than 30 per cent stake in the combined entity. The value of the bid would rise when savings generated by sharing PPC and AfriSam infrastructure are taken into account, sources disclosed.

The Public Investment Corp., the biggest shareholder in both PPC and AfriSam, would prefer a higher cash component of more than 6 rand a share, the people said, adding that Fairfax hasn’t ruled out increasing its offer.

Auto crash claims 19 lives in Kano ÏÏÏThe

L-R:Rivers State Governor/ co-chairmam of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Reconciliation Committee, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike; former Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori and Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, after a meeting at the Iboris’s residence at Oghara Delta State... at the weekend.

Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says 19 persons have died in a ghastly motor accident along Kano – Katsina Road.

The Public Relations Officer of the FRSC Sector Command in the state, Mr. Kabir Ibrahim-Daura, disclosed this to newsmen in Kano on Saturday.

Kabir-Daura said that the incident occurred near Lambun Garban Bichi, on the outskirts of Bichi town, around 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

According to him, the incident happened when a Peugeot J5 bus and a Toyota C20 bus had a headon collision when one of the drivers of the vehicles wanted to overtake the other vehicle at a sharp bend

corner.

He said the two vehicles burst into flames as a result of which 18 out of the 34 passengers in the vehicles were burnt to ashes.

“There were 34 passengers on board the two vehicles, so 18 were burnt to ashes, while the other one died later in the hospital, “he said.

Kabir-Daura said the remaining 15 persons who sustained various injuries were taken to Bichi General Hospital by the Corps’ personnel for treatment.

He attributed the accident to wrong overtaking and speeding, and urged drivers to always obey traffic rules and regulations to avoid road accident on the Highways.

SERAP gives ultimatum to Obaseki over payment to Edo pensioners ÏÏÏSocio-Economic

Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, requesting him to use his good offices and leadership position to urgently pay Edo State pensioners over 42 months outstanding pension benefits and entitlements from the over N29 billion Paris Club refunds received by the government and meant for the payment of pension arrears and gratuities.

The organisation also asked Obaseki to spend the Paris Club refunds to pay all outstanding pension benefits within 14 days of the receipt and/ or publication of the letter, “failing which SERAP will institute appropriate international and regional legal proceedings to compel your state to discharge its constitutional and international human rights obligations to Edo pensioners.

In the letter dated September 8, 2017 and signed by SERAP deputy director, Timothy Adewale, the organisation expressed “concern about the treatment of the situation of Edo pensioners from a “humanitarian” and “charity” perspective. This approach

by your government to addressing the conditions of pensioners in your state ignores their human rights, and the fundamental equality of individuals, and deny Nigeria of the potential contribution of pensioners to reaching national developmental objectives and goals.”

The organisation also expressed “serious concern that the failure to pay Edo pensioners their outstanding benefits and entitlements has continued to leave them with chronic poverty, untreated illness, inadequate access to medical treatment, abuse, and ultimately, unnecessary and untimely deaths. Yet, pensioners are entitled to human rights, as an important part of their dignity, protection and financial security.”

The letter reads in part: “SERAP notes that pensioners need special protection especially given their economic, social and political vulnerability but the repeated failure by your government to spend the received Paris Club refunds to pay all outstanding pension benefits in your state has continued to prevent their access to equal treatment and enjoyment of their constitutionally and interna-

tionally recognized human rights.

Edo pensioners are now at heightened risk of long term discrimination, abuse, exclusion, isolation and marginalization.”

“SERAP has been fully briefed

by Edo pensioners both at local government and state levels about their plight and continuing denial of their human rights to dignity, equality and non-discrimination by your government.”

“According to our information, your government has so far received from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari three tranches of the Paris Club refunds totally over N29 billion, between November 2016 and July 2017. Yet your government has failed, refused and/or neglected to pay over 42 months pension benefits as well as agreed increase in benefits, despite repeated requests by the pensioners and their families.”

“SERAP is concerned about the persistence of considerable levels of poverty to which Edo pensioners have been subjected. We note that your government has a legal obligation to promote and protect the rights and dignity of all pensioners in Edo

State, consistent with your expressed commitment to social development, human rights, equality and non-discrimination.”

“SERAP notes that article 25 paragraph 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that, ‘Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.’”

“The Universal Declaration of Human Rights therefore shows that the rights to adequate standard of living and well-being are for every human being, including pensioners. Indeed, the principles of equality and nondiscrimination apply to those rights, and provide that individuals and families are entitled to their human rights, regardless of age.”

“SERAP also notes that your government has a legal obligation to protect vulnerable individuals including pensioners in Edo State by taking

measures to ensure that they are not denied their human rights, and deprived of their access to basic necessities of life.”

“SERAP believes that ignorance of the value of empowerment of pensioners jeopardises progress towards achieving Edo State developmental goals.”

SERAP therefore urged Governor Obaseki to urgently pay Edo State pensioners over 42 months outstanding pension benefits and entitlements from the over N29 billion Paris Club refunds received by your government and meant for the payment of pension arrears and gratuities; Adopt a human rights policy of guaranteeing regular payment of pension benefits and entitlements so that pensioners and their families can live decently; Recognise the human rights of Edo State pensioners and ensure their full and effective enjoyment of those rights, as well as provide them with information to enable them to claim their rights; Treat all pensioners in Edo State as individuals with humanity and dignity and respect and promote their higher standard of living and improve economic and social conditions for all pensioners.

22

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Tourism 23

Africa:

Golden Stardom boosts sports tourism South African Embassy with Golden Independence Cup celebrates women’s month in Nigeria

Stories by Ebere Chibuzor To drive the “Movement Of Hope For Nigeria”, such that synergy is built amongst various sectors in Nigeria, Nigeria’s Golden speaker for Fitness & Sports, Mr. Sam Sodje in collaboration with other professional football stars have finalized arrangements for the “Nigeria’s Golden Orator Project 2017”.

The programme which is currently at the second stage of the project is organised in form of a corporate football game targeted at serving as precursor of “Hope For Nigeria’ Already, eight brands have been selected based on merit, to represent their sectors.

According to the organisers, “this project is aimed at restoring “Hope For Nigeria”. Bridging the

gap between Start-up companies and Multinational Brands, hence business ideas are being polished and appropriately channeled through Nigeria’s Golden speakers of hope representing various sectors in Nigeria.

The sponsors further added that “this measure ensures that golden ideas are sustained towards boosting the economy of Nigeria. It is also a leverage for corporate brands to exhibit products and services, thereby increasing her business network and collaboration amongst corporate brands”.

This project, It was gathered is also staged to steer up hope for Nigeria, a platform for Nigerians to partake in the “Movement Of Hope”, by being optimistic about Nigeria in a 60 seconds video speech. It will also create a platform for the participants to pledge

supports for their choice of brand that has added value to the economy of Nigeria.

Other benefits are, that it is a Leverage for government to applaud corporate brands that are committed to nation building, and investing in human capital.

The Daily Times was reliably informed that there would be Nigeria’s Golden Speakers Lounge at the venue, a leverage for the general public to connect live with Nigeria’s Golden Speakers of “Hope For Nigeria”.

Such forum would equally create room for consultations in areas of mentorship, trainings, speaking engagements and execution of golden business ideas.

To celebrate the Golden Heritage of Nigeria, there would be a discovery of skillful players who get signed afterwards with top

Africa:

Recently, the South African Embassy in Nigeria celebrated Women’s month at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.

For South Africans, it’s the year of celebrating the life and legacy of O.R. Tambo and the Embassy invited media partners, and stakeholders to share in the celebrations.

The National Women’s Day is a South African public holiday celebrated annually on 9 August. However, the entire month of August is celebrated as women’s month. The month commemorates the 1956 march of 20 000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to petition against the country’s pass laws that required South Africans defined as “black” under The Population Registration Act to carry a pass, that served to maintain population segregation. The first National Women’s Day was celebrated on 9 August 1994.

The Federal palace doors opened to welcome guests and delegates led by Consulate General Darkey Africa, NANTA president Mr. Bankole Bernard, Mr. Zom Chizura, Ms. Arese Ugwu, Ms Ayanda Mzulwini, amongst others. Mr Oluwaseyi Adegoke Adeyemo of Inside Watch Africa compered the event, firstly paying homage to the women who have paved the way for parity and who continue to do so. Arese Ugwu, the author of Smart Money Africa, spoke at the event discussing the evolution of generational women over the years.

“Africa is the next frontier but in order for African women

to be a significant part of that growth story we need to learn how to collaborate to compete” – Arese Ugwu Mr Darkey Africa, South Africa’s Consul-General in Lagos participated actively in the struggle against Apartheid and is passionate about the struggle for equality at all levels.

Discussing the struggle for equality in the South African government, Consulate General, Darkey Africa explained that Women’s month had a deeper meaning for him. He mentioned that “the views of the generation of 1956 is about us being one society: a society constituted by both men and women and South Africa wants women to participate more in the government. At the moment, we are striving for 50/50 parity: women and men rights to be equal in terms of our policies, we already have women massed at the local and government level”.

Mr. Africa also stressed that Nigeria and South Africa must continue to unite and celebrate through, culture, traditions and the arts.

The event ended with a toast and cutting of the cake by South African Embassy Corporate Service Manager, Ms. Ayanda Mzulwini, entertainment and lots of refreshment. As a support of the female empowerment, solidarity and strength, South Africa came to Lagos, Nigeria to share Women’s day and it was a day of joy and celebration as the South African Embassy alongside partners to honor the role of women in our society.

Lagos State to participate at Akwaaba Travel Market 2017

The Lagos state government has announced her participation at the 13th Akwaaba African Travel Market.

The Permanent Secretary led the 3 man team of tourism officers expressed their delight in partnering with Akwaaba Travel Market.

He promised that Lagos will host international visitors to Akwaaba 2017 on a post event city tour of Lagos on Wednesday the 13th of September after the 3 day event.

He said that Lagos will utilize the ideas and goodwill offered by

organisers of this event and promote Lagos as a destination for tourism, they will be at stand 2-3 at the Akwaaba exhibitions from 10th to 12th September.

From the outcome of the meeting, going by the excitement and satisfaction that beamed on the faces of the parties, it was obvious that tourism efforts would begin to achieve needed dividends in the years to come in the state.

It will be recalled that Lagos has positioned itself as a leading tourism destination state in the country.

Group at the event.

24

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Cultural practices showcasing tourism –Udeagbala Chibuzor Ebere The traditional ruler of Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ide John Chinyere Udeagbala has noted that some stakeholders in the tradition, history and culture sector in Anambra State have plans to partner Anambra State Association South Africa(ASA-SA) to promote the nation’s culture.

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Times during a visit to his Palace in Ozubulu, the monarch also spoke extensively on ways to actively encourage best practice within tourism industry to the benefit of cultures, traditions, youths and travelers, thereby creating more jobs for for youths in the society, greater income for the citizens; whilst at same time minimizing negative impacts on tradition and culture.

The monarch, who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Judeagbala Holding Company, Chief John Chinyere Udeagbala has assured that Anambra traditional rulers as custodians of Anambra tradition, history and culture would play prominent role for the revival of Nigeria culture.

Ide Udeagbala said, “ASASA has a mandate to take our culture to South Africa. We are going to partner together.

IDE UDEAGBALA Already, they are having new yam festival in South Africa; and more other. It is promoting our culture . For me, I will like to key into that project and one of these days will participate

in the activities for them to know and understand that we are in support.”

According to him, “The identity of any country or nation is culture and tradition, and that

is happening here and ones you loose it you have no where in history.”

The Traditional ruler, noted, the people are fast allowing influences from the West to erode their cultures and traditions.

Speaking further therefore, Udeagbala who said that he would always asked God for wisdom and guidance to stay on the part of the truth, equally noted, the kind of life that was in existence 10 to 20 years ago conflicted the ideas of the youths.

“We are counseling youth, speaking to them, trying to get them to acquire skills. Because of the economic downturn in the country has resulted in a lot of hardship and so many young people that left school are looming about the streets without work.

According to him, “This has change the thinking of the people, the people now think that success is all about riches.

Again, he said that the society needed to be re-oriented by changing their perception.

He said,”So, we need to reorient the society per say to let them know that hard work has to come first by change this perception that riches come so easy.”

He also charged the Pastors to come to the point where they will really kind of shun the idea of prosperity by magic, which he said was a big prob-

lem. “Nobody talks about salvation, but it’s all about prosperity by magic,” he stressed.

On the contrary, chief Udeagbala urged that ASA-SA came to discuss a way forward to move Anambra State forward in the area of culture, education, youth empowerment and skills’ acquisitions.

He said, “I indeed overwhelm by their visit and to the programs they have and with the calibre of people that came.

Coincidentally, everyone exchanged ideas, but because of the connotation that followed the crime in South Africa that it’s crime- related, but by the time we discussed and exchanged ideas, we found out that that they are really trying and helping to make our society better.

On ways to assist them, “I am a custodian of our tradiCONTINUED ON PAGE 25

On ways to assist them, “I am a custodian of our tradition. So, by implications I am duty bound to ensure that laudable programmes like this needed to be encouraged. By this position,

As a tourist destination, Lagos ticks all boxes when it comes to a great travel experience: lots of entertainment and attractions, scenic landscapes, impressiveneighborhoods, and numerous transport options but one thing its is not known for is its vegan food culture. The concept of “vegetarianism” is not very popular in Lagos, in spite of how metropolitan the city is.

Be very clear about what you want Not everyone will understand what you mean by vegetarian, so rather than simply asking if a restaurant offers a vegetarian menu, be specific about what you want to eat and what ingredients you are looking for. That way they do not just say ‘No’ to your order, when in fact they may have those options you actually are looking for. If there is nothing on the menu, make a request. Simply ask for a meal to be prepared with your favorite vegetable(s) instead of chicken or fish. This usually works with a la carte meals.

Rent an apartment The best option for a vegetarian visiting Lagos is to rent an apartment rather than a hotel or inn. This affords you the flexibility to cook your own meals and takes away the worry of possibly consuming something that is not completely made from vegetables. It also takes away the stress of having to explain to the hotel kitchen staff the ingredients that should be included in your meal. There are a number of apartments within the city and you can find several on here.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

25

Cultural practices showcasing tourism –Udeagbala

Ide Agbara with ASA-SA group during a courtesy visit at his palace in Ozubulu, Ekwusiego LGA, Anambra State.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

tion. So, by implications I am duty bound to ensure that laudable programmes like this needed to be encouraged. By this position, I will assist them get in touch with the government and also various local authorities and town unions to assist them.

He said that ASA-SA has got a big responsibility before them. First of all, they have to work assiduously to ensure that the impression that South Africa is crime infested being

powered and fed by Nigerians or that is by Nigerians’ crimerelated life that is powering the zenophobic activities in South Africa. So, they have a whole lot of responsibility to clear that and to ensure that a more positive image is created for Nigerians in South Africa, particularly the Anambra people in South Africa.

He said, “In addition, with the calibre of people I don’t have any doubt that they will excel and carry on with these responsibilities and my mes-

sage to the Association is to carry on with these responsibilities, knowing that nothing good comes easy.”

Incidentally, the traditional ruler of Uzuakoli Ancient Kingdom in Bende local Government area of Abia State, Eze Kanu Onyedikachi Ikonti has noted that the culture of his people are gradually dying a natural death.

The king in a chat With our correspondent in his Palace in Uzuakoli also spoke extensively on the importance of Uzua-

koli New Yam Festival even as he described yam as the king of all crops in Igboland.

He said, “Some of our cultural practices are dying a natural death. I think we need to improve on them. For instance, during the New Yam Festival, everywhere was quiet. One scarcely knows there was something happening here except in Ngu whose is known with Ikolo. Well, next year with the help of other traditional rulers, it would be a different ball game all together. We

would make some noise. Next new yam festival, we would expect to see all the Uzuakoli people in Diaspora, we would set up a vibrant Vigilante Group.”

He charged all the other traditional leaders in the neighbouring communities to discharge their duty effectively by stating that they should be meeting, at least, once in a month to discuss vital issues facing the community. Eze Ikonti said.

Speaking on the significance of the new yam festival in the Ancient Kingdom of Uzuakoli, the traditional ruler, said that the natives would not eat yam until the festival day.

“We plant our yam between March and April every farming year and it matures around this time”, he said.

He disclosed that the throne is a life time something. “I was in my 60s when they elected me as the Eze in my community”, he recalled.

“We have been trying to fulfill government’s policy and good leadership on the people to ensure peace and stability in our community. Since 20 years ago, I have been on the throne; and there has never been any serious issue. I make sure there is peace in Uzoakoli”, he maintained.

According to the king, raising funds for rural development has remained his major challenge. “We don’t want to live it to the government all alone, he said.”

A majority of its people love meat and hardly acknowledge the existence of beets, radishes, lettuce and kale; except during special occassionswhen they include salad as a side dish. This however does not mean that all hope is lost for vegetarians who dare to visit the Lagos.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

Seek out restaurants with vegetarian options Vegetarian food is not hard to come by in Lagos; you just have to know where to look. Actually, from delis in large shopping malls like Park ‘n’ Shop and Shoprite, to proper restaurants, especially Indian and Chinese, there are plenty of places to get healthy vegetarian meals. There are also some cafés and bakeries that specialize in meatless dishes. You will find vegetarian sandwiches, quiches or other baked products that are way cheaper than whole-meat meals.

Stick to Local beverages

While visiting the city of Lagos, it would certainly be great to try local cuisines and delicacies; especially those available on the streets, however, aside from fruits and leafy vegetables, it will be safer to stick to beverages, as most times the local cuisines have meat and fish or the stock included as ingredients. With beverages however, you are safe as they are mostly made from roots and leafs.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

FEATURES

s

Suspected billionaire kidnapper Chukwudidumeme Onuamadike otherwise known as Evans (left) and other suspects during a police parade in Lagos

Kidnapping: State police is the answer - Adeoye Ladesope Ladelokun, Lagos For families across the country who are in constant search for their loved ones, it’s harvest of tears as they can neither bond with them nor see the bright smile that light up their visage, except in photographs, no thanks to reported or unreported incidents of cruel attacks by kidnappers.

While some Nigerians may not be lucky to have their loved ones back (as they could have been specimens for money ritual), or even killed; there are lucky Nigerians who are alive to tell their stories after parting with humongous amount of money to buy freedom from the firm grip of kidnappers.

For security expert and CEO of Apex Security, Mr Mike Ejiofor, his perception about payment of ransom to kidnappers changed after he was accosted by 12 gun-trotting men who ordered him to park on his way from Delta state. Until he was kidnapped, Ejiofor had vehemently opposed payment of ransom to kidnappers. But like they say, he who does not wear the shoe does not know where it pinches.

Ejiofor, who narrated his experience on a live radio programme in Lagos said, “Before I was kidnapped, I had always been of the opinion that victims should not pay ransom, but my perception has changed now.

These people (kidnappers) have no value for human life. When I was accosted, there was someone driving behind me that was also ordered to stop; he tried to escape, but was shot. He died instantly.’’ Recall the ordeal of elder statesman and former minister of finance, Chief Olu Falae?

Not even the grey hair of the septuagenarian could deter his abductors from dragging him barefooted into the bush, slashing him with their cutlasses.

His account: “After dragging me around for about 2 hours, they stopped somewhere for us to rest and they asked me to phone my wife and tell her I have been taken out of Ondo state which was a lie. I suspected I must have covered a minimum of 15km. ‘‘Finally, they dumped me somewhere. In

that place, we all slept on the floor, on leaves.

Unfortunately, the rain came in the night and I was thoroughly drenched where I was lying.’’

However, worthy of mention is the arrest of notorious kidnapper, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike , otherwise known as Evans.

News spread like wild fire in market places, churches, mosques and other public places about the wealth of the man described as Nigeria’s most “successful” kidnapper.

From North to South, West to East, highways to schools, churches to mosques, nowhere is insulated from the attacks of kidnappers, The Daily Times has learnt. In recent times, the discovery of ritualists’ dens in some parts of Lagos has heightened fears in some quarters about the scale of havoc kidnappers can cause following th reported discovery of human parts and other items many consider incriminating.

Speaking to our correspondent on the rising cases of kidnapping, senior advisor at African Union Commission Headquarters and former Sector Commander, Military Joint Task Force, Defence Headquarters, Maiduguri, Mr Remi Adeoye, says there can’t be a better time than now to have State Police. Adeoye said, “Even without kidnapping, State Police is desirable. The structure, size and population of Nigeria is not one that federal police alone can protect effectively. State Police naturally brings policing closer to the people and earn their trust.

That is important in crime fighting. So, yes, every crime that tends to get out of hand makes a compelling case for State Police. A federal state should actually have a state police. Ours is an aberration.”

On the alarming rate of kidnapping, Adeoye said, “Greed. Huge ransom to be made from relatively soft targets is responsible.

There is big risk in robbing a bank but with kidnapping, the victim is often without the means to offer a resistance and relations of the victim bring the money out of bank vaults to hand over to the kidnappers.”

Barrister Suleman Danlami, in his contribution, blamed the rising spate of kidnapping on economic hardship, failure of reli-

gious institutions, criminal justice system and the family. Suleman said, “ The rising spate of kidnapping in the country may not be unconnected partly with the economic situation in the country, the relative control of enforcement of punitive measures for the culprits that are arrested, our porous criminal justice system that allows for legal maneuvers,’’ etc.

He said further, ‘‘The moral fabric of the society has been battered, such that families, communities and indeed religious organisations have failed woefully in sustaining moral values. The society places high premium on material acquisition such that a good man is defined in terms of how much money he ostensibly has regardless of how he makes his money.

“At the end, the society becomes more bedeviled with all kinds of vices. I guess kidnapping appears most lucrative apart from drugs and the likes. After all, it has been localised such that an average Nigerian is now has a kidnap value, unlike previously when it was confined to foreign nationals.’’

Disagreeing with the call for state police, Danlami says Nigeria is not ripe for such.

According to Danlami, Nigeria has not risen above ethnic and religious considerations enough to trust one another in the hands of “Indigenous’’ police. Even as we are presently, some police officers either refuse transfers outside their states of origin or simply work their ways back when they are transferred simply because they enjoy the mischief and cover they get from their states.

The tendency to sporadically shoot at citizens of other states in the guise of quelling crises, the hostility shown to non indigenous persons at police station, the confrontation, the harassment and interrogation faced by motorists passing through or visiting other states are clear signs that the idea is not safe at the moment,’’ said Danlami.

In same vein, Deputy Head of Security and Safety Services, African Union and Counter terrorism expert, Mr Sadeeq Shehu, says Nigeria must look beyond state po-

lice to check the menace of kidnapping.

“The problem has more to do with lack of enough policemen as well as lack of necessary modern equipment and training. It has little to do with state policing.

If you have state police in same low numbers with no modern scientific equipment and training, the problem won’t go. To counter kidnapping for example, you need more police helicopters, each police with a radio set, more police vehicles fitted with communication gadgets, forensic training, sniffer dogs, etc.’’

Sadeeq added that “Until we have policemen in enough numbers and adequately equipped and trained , all we can do is to train people on anti-kidnap tactics for prevention and how to survive the ordeal if kidnapped.

If you have 100 policemen on foot with no patrol vehicle, no radios for communication, no helicopter to comb forests, such policemen will be less effective than even three policemen that are properly equipped.

Meanwhile, Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, assures Nigerians that the police are working hard to ensure Nigerians are safe. “We are doing a lot in terms of intelligence gathering. We gather information from people that foil a lot of robbery attacks and kidnappings, but we don’t come to public to disclose what we have done to secure them. We prevent a lot of crimes from happening but when people walk around, they don’t know what the Police have done,’’ Moshood said To avoid being a prime target of kidnappers, a Security Consultant, Mr Jude Okeke, calls on Nigerians to desist from unnecessarily display of their wealth on social media, parties and public places. “Kidnapping is still under reported. There are lots of cases that do not get reported. It’s a battle that can’t be left in the hands of security agents alone. Criminals do their research well. Don’t flaunt your wealth unnecessarily on social media, workplace or parties. There is a lot we can do by ourselves to keep kidnappers away,’’ he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Features 27

Postpartum Haemorrhage Body launches safe, sustainable reproductive health choices for women Wale Badmus, Ladesope Ladelokun, Lagos Determined to have a decent society where every woman’s dream can be given expression, Sybil Nmezi founded the Generation Initiative For Women and Youth Network, GIWYN. As a Non Governmental Organisation birthed to principally raise the standard of living of women and ensure they make safe reproductive health choices through sustainable reproductive strategies, GIWYN embarked on the empowerment of women by educating them on their rights, health and opportunities around them to enable them develop their potentials.

As part of measures to achieve its objectives, GIWYN organised a twoday workshop tagged “Using Advocacy Strategies to Improve National Guidelines/Policies that Support Healthy Markets Misoprostol use for Postpartum Hemorrhage”, which was funded

by PATH, Various NGOs and community health workers from Imo, Lagos and Edo states who were on hand to grace the event.

However, the workshop was facilitated by international consultants and reproductive health experts from Gynuity Health Projects and Women Help Wom Also, GIWYN in collaboration with Women-help-Women and Gynuity Health Projects, with fund from PATH, pronounced the pilot project – “Using advocacy to strengthen markets and improve access to essential health products” during the two-day workshop. The participants were trained on how to prevent and treat the PPH and how to advo strategies to improve availability of misoprostol in health care, clinics, communities and other maternity centers.

Experts say the types of postpartum hemorrhage, which is primary PPH, can occur within 24 hours after delivery, while secondary PPH occurs between 24 hours and six weeks after delivery. The workshop also enlightened participants on the causes of PPH and how to manage them.

Representatives of International facilitators Ayisha Diop, Dina Abba and Susan Davis at the workshop, expressed people present and showered plaudits on the organiser, the Generation Initiative for Women and Youth Network (GIWYN), for a job well done by leading members of the organisation of National Coalition for Reproductive Justice (NCRJ) to produce three case studies in some states.

The cases produced tools and evidence of need to improve market for expanding access to misoprostol for the community health services de-

livery channels and the low level of awareness about the drug.

The case study also showed how government policy is affecting the availability of the misoprostol and how to raise awareness about misoprostol in rural areas.

While facilitator, Susan from Women-help- Women was concerned about how accessible the drug could be for every pregnant women in Nigeria, participants agreed that the support from the government to subsidise the drug to enable it reach the needy and regulatory recommendation should also set out to help in safe guarding consumers and improve access to life-saving misoprostol for all pregnant women during child birth.

Government, according to participants, should ensure that the ministry of health provides timely, available, affordable and quality assured misoprostol, and steps should be taken to quantify the amounts of misoprostol and adequate budget needed to ensure supply.

In the workshop, the participants implored government and ministry of health to ensure adequate funding and monitoring of the distribution to reach community women and service delivery channels, community health workers, midwives and pharmacies.

Health Minister, Prof. Adewole

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Monday, September 11, 2017

EXTRATIME

29

All stories by Frank Jumbo with Agency reports broadcast production agreement was on Thursday in Abuja signed by the League Management Company (LMC) and the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) for production of matches of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The papers were signed by the LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko and Mallam Yakubu

A

NTA, LMC agree on match broadcasts Ibn Muhammed, the Director General of NTA. An official statement jointly signed by the heads of the two organizations indicate that the LMC and NTA would be setting up a private sector driven company to manage the business of the broadcast production.

According to the statement, “the com-

pany which shall be operated as a private, commercial venture will leverage its operations on the huge infrastructure, technical and human capacity and equipment of NTA spread across the country.

The equipment includes very high grade eight Outside Broadcast (OB) Vans specially designed for football and sports

I’m not scared of Zappacosta Signing - Moses

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helsea spent all summer looking to buy another right wing-back — Moses ‘s current position but only succeeded when they acquired Davide Zappacosta from Torino for £23million on deadline day.

Zappacosta is a player whom Chelsea coach Antonio Conte knows well. He picked the 25-year-old in Italy’s initial squad for Euro 2016, although the player did not make the final cut.

Conte has not brought his countryman to Stamford Bridge to simply make up the numbers.

Only Juventus star Alex Sandro, a player Conte also wanted for a similar role on the left flank, has made more accurate crosses as a defender from open play in Serie A than Zappacosta since the start of 2016.

But Moses is not fazed one bit and told Standard Sport: “I am ready for the competition. We needed more players, to be honest.

We have a lot of games to play this season. You can’t expect to play 60 games or so. I’m ready to take on anyone that is coming here. I just want to play my football.”

Zappacosta may have some kind of relationship with Conte already, but the strength of Moses’ bond with his manager will be hard to break.

The 26-year-old still feels a debt of gratitude to the man who made him a regular in the senior side.

Chelsea bought Moses from Wigan for £9m in 2012, but after a promising debut campaign as a squad player, he was loaned out to Liverpool, Stoke and West Ham in successive seasons.

Few thought Moses would be given an opportunity last term, either, but he ended up being one of the biggest surprises in Chelsea’s title-winning story.

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WCQ: No more new invitations – Rohr

uper Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr has foreclosed the invitation of new players to the team, ahead of Nigeria’s all important World Cup 2018 Qualifiers clash against Zambia in Uyo. The Super Eagles handler has suggested he will maintain the squad that prosecuted the back to back games against Cameroon.

Nigeria need a win against Zambia to seal their spot in the World Cup in Russia, thanks to the four points picked up from the double header clash against Cameroon in Uyo and Yaounde respectively.

Coach Rohr who says he need his ward to finish the job of qualifying for the World Cup when they meet Zambia on the 7th October in Uyo. He has also hinted he will stick with the squad he worked with in the last two games.

Rohr however left the door open for Arsenal ace Alex Iwobi who missed the game through injury to return back to the squad, if he returns to full match fitness before the game next

Contd. on Page 29 Rohr

month. ” We will work with the same set of players for the game against Zambia.

Maybe Iwobi will return to the squad if he is fully fit. But for now, the players called up for the Cameroon games are same players we plan to call for the game against Zambia

We want Abraham in Eagles – Pinnick

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Moses

Abraham

Wilmots

coverage, which had been acquired by the Federal Government at huge cost.”

However, in the new dispensation, the LMC treading the path of some European football leagues such as the English Premier League and Spanish LaLiga, is aiming to control the production and distribution of broadcast content across all media in-

cluding live streaming, terrestrial and cable platforms. This landmark venture has been facilitated and strongly supported by the Federal Government of Nigeria represented by the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

It is a culmination of strategic engagement initiated by LMC officials with the Minister of Information and Culture seeking to deploy the vast equipment procured by the Federal Government on behalf of NTA for past FIFA tournaments hosted by Nigeria.

Contd. on Page 30

ammy Abraham could yet trade England international duty for Nigeria if the Super Eagles federation president has his way. Amaju Pinnick, the president of Nigeria’s federation, believes Chelsea striker Abraham could choose the country of his father’s birth when he commits his future to a senior international team.

Abraham, 19, is spending the season on loan with Swansea and has played for England, where he was born, at the U18, U19 and U21 levels.

“We are working on getting Abraham,” Pinnick told reporters. “Tammy is like my son. His father and I grew up in the same neighbourhood.

“So when they talk about him, I just laugh because I know what to do.”

The Chelsea forward joined Swansea City on loan for the season and signed a five-year contract at the Premier League champions.

The Blues announced both the new deal and the loan agreement for the 19-year-old, where he will join Swans boss and former Chelsea assistant

Paul Clement.

Abraham spent last season on loan with Bristol City in the Championship and excelled, Contd. on Page 30

Pinnick

Monday, September 11, 2017

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Why I signed for Fulham – Sheyi Ojo

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espite offers from a host of Championship outfits, the Reds youngster opted for Slavisa Jokanovic’s side.

On-loan Liverpool winger Sheyi Ojo disclosed he chose Fulham ahead of other English Championship sides because of their ambition and style of play.

The 20-year-old who joined the Cottagers on a season-long loan this summer admitted that the team’s brand of football will aid his development having followed the team’s progress last campaign.

“I chose Fulham because of the way they’re going, obviously they missed out on promotion last year and I watched the game and they were unlucky,” Ojo told GetWestLondon. “This year, the way Fulham play football is the best in the Championship so I think that was the main reason and I feel that will hopefully develop my game even more.

“It’s a great bunch of lads, I knew Kevin McDonald from my time at Wolves so he helped me settle it but everyone is down to Earth and easy to get along with.”

Having made his debut appearance in Fulham’s 2-0 win over Ipswich Town, the Anglo-Nigerian is positive of helping the team to secure promotion to the Premier League with his goals and assists.

“I felt I did well against Ipswich but I feel there’s a lot more to come - physically I’m getting fitter and stronger but I didn’t really feel as strong as I would’ve liked,” he continued.

“Hopefully with games there will be more to come I’m positive on the ball and try to make things happen and get shots and crosses off.

“My ambition is to help get the team as much wins as possible with goals and assists so that’s my main aim this season as well as help get the team promoted.”

We want Abraham in Eagles – Pinnick

Seyi Ojo

Continued from Page 29 scoring 26 goals in 48 appearances for the club.

He became the highest-scoring teenager in Championship history in the process, while scooping up Bristol City’s Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.

Abraham has two Chelsea appearances to his name, both coming in the 2015-16 season.

The striker is Swansea’s second signing of the summer after goalkeeper Erwin Mulder during their tour of the United States.

NTA, LMC agree on match broadcasts Continued from Page 29

NTA also enjoys a robust network spread in the country with stations in every state capital and which the LMC hopes to leverage on to take the NPFL to the homes of millions of Nigerians in cities and rural communities.

Dikko, at the ceremony, explained that LMC will towards meeting modern broadcast standards, assist NTA to upgrade the OB Van equipment to ensure that contents produced will be globally competitive.

“The operation of the company, as envisaged will rely on the services of international technical partners and domestic expertise to provide the much needed vehicle for the production of high quality programmes and events for broadcast in the sports and entertainment industries’.

Also in attendance at the event which held inside the Conference Hall of NTA were the General Secretary of the NFF, Dr Sanusi Mohammed, Director-General of the NTA, Chief Operating Officer of the LMC, Mallam Salihu Abubakar, Samson Ebomhe, Legal Adviser to LMC and other top management staff of the NTA.

Flying Eagles skipper joins Lokomotiv Plodiv

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hrough a statement on their official website, Bulgarian First League club PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv have announced the signing of Nigeria nationalteamer Musa Mohammed. The right back will spend the first half of the season at PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv on loan from Turkish Super Lig club Istanbul Bashkekkir.

A product of FC Hearts Abuja, Musa Mohammed spent the second half of last season on loan at Bosnian team Željezničar, for whom he made nine appearances.

In 2103, the defender captained the Golden Eaglets squad at the 2013 Fifa U17 World Cup and also skippered the Nigeria U20s in the World Cup two years lat-

er. Mohammed has not been called up to the Nigeria squad in 2017, missing games against Senegal, Togo, South Africa and Cameroon.

Patrick Ogunsoto and ex-Olympic National Team invitee Oladele Oshobe have played for PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the past.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Monday, September 11 2017

EXTRATIME

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The late Yekini

The search for the next Super Eagles predator Ademetan Abayomi

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here was a time, from 1989 to 1994, when Nigeria’s national team had an abundance of good strikers, and ex-Super Eagles coach Clemens Westerhof had nothing but quality options to pick from when choosing the player to lead the line for his team.

There was hardly a national team in Africa that could boast striking options as good as Nigeria’s, striking options which included Rashidi Yekini painting the Portuguese Premier League with goals at Vitoria Setubal, and Samson Siasia, who was also at the peak of his powers, taking the French Ligue 1 by storm alongside Japhet Ngoram at Nantes.

Daniel Amokachi, too gave a fine demonstration of his capabilities, with his fearless and physical approach. Have your forgotten the aerial presence that Efan Ekoku brought to the attacking set up of the Super Eagles?

A certain Richard Owubokiri painted Europe with goals, yet he did not really get the chance to impress.

Upcoming lads Kanu Nwankwo and Victor Nosa Ikpeba were seen as the Next Generation stars, who didn’t disappoint during their time.

After the era of Westerhoef, Ben Akwuegwu, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Julius Aghahowa, Obafemi Martins, Kalu Uche, Peter Odemwingie and Emmanuel Emenike all came to show the quality they possess.

But unfortunately for current Super Eagles boss

Gernot Rohr, those days are far, far gone.

Each of the aforementioned strikers have either retired or declined significantly, to the point where none of them are worthy of making the Nigeria national team squad any longer, let alone starting for the team.

Now, Rohr has been forced to look at Nigeria’s other options up front, and thus far, his search has been very frustrating at some stage.

Many hoped the likes of Brown Ideye, Odion Jude Ighalo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa, Henry Onyekuru, Anthony Nwakaeme, Victor Osimhen or even Kayode Olarenwaju would prove good enough to succeed their predecessors.

Unfortunately, while some have proven themselves to be better international goal-getters than others, none have been able to really excel against the big teams of international football.

Ighalo has not really proved himself under Rohr, despite arguably possessing one of the most impressive resume among the group of strikers available to Rohr.

But he showed his qualities in the double header with Cameroun this month.

Again, success has varied. Some strikers like Stephen Odey and Anthony Okpotu, both prolific goalscorers in the Nigeria Professional Football League, have proven themselves to simply not be good enough on the international stage.

In the case of Iheanacho, his goals, with the excep-

tion of one scored recently in the World Cup Qualifiers against the Indomitable Lions, have been scored in extra-meaningless friendly against the weakest countries.

The case for Ideye is a little different. Though he’s never been quite as amazing as he was in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, where he introduced himself to the world.

Many have labelled him a “second-striker” a Del Piero might even be a bit generous, since he does enjoy dropping very far back. As such, while he’s an excellent option for the team, he’s not the answer they need up front.

Which brings us to the final group of players, the “unknowns” as I like to call them. These are players who are still early in their careers.

Players who fall into this group are Osihmen, Kayode, Stephen Odey, Junior Ajayi, Sadiq Umar and Onyekuru. Ideally, this group should be a bit bigger.

As for Osihmen, who emerged as the top scorer of the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup, he is just coming into his own as a striker. He looks a very promising prospect, possibly the most promising prospect among Nigeria’s current options up front, but it may prove better to wait for him to get into a rhythm with VFL Wolfsburg before giving him enormous responsibility in the senior national side.

Odey is a promising prospect who could well develop

if he eventually completes his move to FC Zurich. With his consistent show for MFM FC in the Nigerian top flight, he is destined for the top.

Why forget the physical trident that Kayode is ready to offer to the team? He did his reputation a whole lot of good with a big move to Manchester City and his subsequent loan switch to Girona. You can trust Larry to deliver if given the chance.

Some have been asking this innocent question, who is Junior Ajayi? Ajayi is a player who delivered for First Bank FC and Shooting Stars before his move to Sfaxien of Tunisia. His stellar display made him a hot property and he earned a switch to Al Ahly of Egypt.

Lanky striker Umar, was outstanding at the 2016 Olympic Games held in Brazil but he hasn’t really been stable at Roma with loan moves in the Serie A. Right now, Rohr is doing all he can to keep the search for Nigeria’s next great striker alive, he’ll be able to take a wider and better look at the most in-form front-men.

It’s not been easy having to constantly search and search for a reliable player to put up front for the national team, and there’s no denying that Rohr’s work in this department is far from done.

If the former Niger Republic tactician can make the right moves and narrow his pool down to the players with legitimate potential, there is great hope that the answer to Nigeria’s striker problem will be found sooner rather than later. Ï ƑƋƋƆƗ ƇƏ ƌ ƋƋMƈ ƆƏƈ ƅƆƏêƅ ƌ

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The Anambra Times

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Complete Nteje-Umunya bye-pass, Market leader begs Obiano AT 2

Anambra SPACS: Combating cultism with human face AT 4

There’s no APC in Anambra, says APGA BoT member ...Calls for working relationship between APGA, PDP

ÏÏÏA

member of Board of Trustees (BoT) of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, has dismissed the impression being created that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has a support base in Anambra State and therefore can win the forthcoming governorship

Governor Willie Obiano (4th right) with Anambra State Association South Africa (ASA-SA) delegates at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Awka, during their 10-day roadshow...recently.

Obiano inaugurates Governing Council of Anambra Health Insurance Agency Stories by Alphonsus Nweze Awka ÏÏÏAnambra

State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has inaugurated a 13-member Governing Council of Anambra State Health Insurance Agency to facilitate health delivery services in the state.

A statement made available to newsmen in Awka on Saturday noted that council was inaugurated at Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia,

by Governor Willie Obiano.

The council has Dr. Philip Umezoke as its Chairman, while Mr. Emmanuel Ezeoke would serve as the secretary.

Other members are Anambra

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Josephat Akabuike; the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Ifeatu Onejeme and Dr. Eric Anazodo of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

Others also include Mrs. Chisom Uche, representing Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria; Mr. Anselm Obi, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists; Mr. Benson Jibike, Organised Labour; Mike Opia, Civil Society Organisations; and Mrs. Chinasa Añunobi, National Health Insurance Scheme.

Three persons will represent the three Senatorial Districts of the state in the council that would steer the ship of the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme.

Obiano explained that the scheme would help people, who ordinarily could not afford quality health care because of lack of funds to access quality medical care at little cost.

The governor observed that the council would among other things assist in selecting health facilities to be accredited for use under the scheme.

He said after the selection, the state government would upgrade all the health facilities that would serve as centres for the Anambra State Insurance Scheme.

Obiano said that all the health institutions would have adequate manpower to meet the standard required for the scheme.

The governor urged the coun-

cil to immediately step up action to meet the kick-off time fixed for next year.

He said that government would release the initial N200 million set aside for the commencement of the scheme to the council.

Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, observed that the scheme was part of institutional reforms, which the present administration brought to the state’s health sector.

“The Anambra Health Insurance Scheme came about as a viable option to address the burden of health-financing militating against effective healthcare delivery in the state’’, he said.

Nov guber poll: Hausa community supports Obiano’s re-election bid ÏÏÏHausa

Anambra

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community in Nnewi has declared support for the re-election bid of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State.

Chief Imam of Nnewi Central Mosque, Alhaji Garba

Yusuf, made this known in an interaction with newsmen on Thursday in Nnewi.

He said that the governor had performed well and deserved a second term.

Special Project Editor Sam Nzeh

Correspondents: Alphonsus Nweze Philip Balepo John Chinenye

Yusuf described Obiano as a detribalized leader, saying “we, Hausa people, have enjoyed peace in the last four years of Obiano’s governance”.

He said that Hausas in the area had resolved to use the November 18 governorship election as “pay-back time for Governor Obiano’s goodness.

“We have enjoyed peaceful

co-existence with our host community; we are happy that we have never been harassed by anybody since Obiano took over.

“We have been doing our business under conducive atmosphere and we are very happy,’’ he said.

Yusuf commended the governor for his religious tolerance and support for Christians and Muslims in the state.

election in the state.

Chief Ezeonwuka, who stated this in an interview with newsmen, said APC has no root as far as Anambra State was concerned.

Ezeonwuka, who is also the Ogirisi Igbo, dismissed with a wave of hand the impression being created by APC supporters, who he said, are few that they would deploy the federal might to rig the November 18, 2017 governorship election.

He said: “I can’t understand where they got this impression about federal might. When they come, we will see them.

APC is an expired drug which should not be seen in any pharmaceutical counter”.

Ezeonwuka spoke glowingly about his political party, APGA, which he described as a “deity,” which was instrumental to all developments Anambra State has achieved in this dispensation.

“All transformation we have had in this state since this dispensation was from APGA. Obi was an apostle of transformation. Dame Virgy Etiaba within few days in the office worked for the people of the state.

Chief Willie Obiano worked and he is still working. When Okorocha was in APGA, he worked well but immediately he moved to APC, he stopped

working”.

Chief Ezeonwuka called for a working relationship between APGA and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in this election, stressing that in politics, there is no permanent enemy but interest.

The Anambra Times 2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Mojekwu lauds Obiano over projects in markets ÏÏÏFormer Chairman of

Bishop Okoye (extreme right); Prof. Chukwuma Soludo (third from right) and Commissioner for Chieftaincy Matters in Anambra State, Chief Greg Obi (4th right) at the peace summit recently to resolve the 20-year-old crisis that rocked Isuofia, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo’s community.

Complete Nteje-Umunya bye-pass, Market leader begs Obiano Stories by Alphonsus Nweze Awka

ÏÏÏ The President of

Iron Rod Dealers Union, Atani Road in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Nnaemeka Onwuzulike, has appealed to the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, to immediately complete Nteje-Umunya byepass along the Onitsha- Enugu Expressway.

He said that both ends of the road have been completed, remaining the bridge that will link the road for ease access for the users.

The market leader said he learnt that the contract for the bridge has been awarded but work has not commenced, asking that the Governor should direct the contractors to immediately mobilise to the site.

He lamented the deplorable condition of the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway, which has compelled road users to seek for alternative road, leading to over use of the bye-pass.

Unfortunately, he said, motor-

ists have equally been suffering at the bye-pass as the delicate makeshift bridge could not serve the high volume of traffic that ply the bridge on daily basis.

Onwuzulike said the immediate construction of the bridge, Bridg ehead-Ogbosisi-Nig er Street- Main market road and other vital roads will not only ease the plight of their users but help those of them who are campaigning for Obiano to convince people to vote for him.

He however commended Governor Obiano for his achievements, especially in the area of security of lives and property of the people of Anambra people, saying for them as traders, security is the most important thing.

“When there is security, it is for our interest. So Obiano has our support. He has been paying salaries as and when due.

For those of us whose spouses work with Government, every month they receive their pay which helps us. When workers are paid, they come to buy from us. So it is for benefit,” he said.

He also said that since all the candidates of major political parties are from the Northern part of the state, it is better for them to follow the person they know, so that he can serve out his four years before another person steps into Government House.

He attributed the frequent collapse of buildings to use of poorly qualified professionals and manpower by the builders.

He said some of the onwers economise by using sub-standard materials, while some contractors and workers engaged in shoddy practices such as using 12mm where they supposed to use 16mm.

The President said they checkmate the production and sale of fake and substandard rods by ensuring that every rod bears the name and initials of the company, so that they can locate fake ones easily through company’s name.

He also said that all the rods produced and sold in their market are of 40 feet in length not 36.

Anambra Police arrest Army deserter, 29 robbers, cultists ÏÏÏThe

Police in Anambra State have arrested eight armed robbers among them a 26-yearold, Ebeje Nnamdi, who was a deserter in Nigeria Army.

Nnamdi, who deserted the Army in 2014 from 20 mechanised Battalion in Taraba State, was said to be their trainer.

The State Police Commissioner, Umar Garba, said the Command also arrested 22 teenage cultists ranging between 17 and 30 years.

Garba said the Police on August of 31, 2017 arrested one Kenneth Chimezie, aged 42, who

allegedly led the robbers who operated in two motor-bikes. Other members of six-man gang said to be behind the killings of Policemen at nipping points in the state were Peter Onyebuchi Ali and Ugwuokpe Nnaemeka, both aged 26 years.

Another gang who operated at Ogidi in Idemili Local Government Area of the state were Sunday Chigbo and Onyebuchi Eweani.

The Police, said the Commissioner, arrested three kidnappers who invaded the house of one Peter Chikwuemeka of Isiokwe vil-

lage, Aguleri and abducted one John Ifediora of Umuganagu to Iyi Oji shrine, where he was subjected to degrees of torture.

According to Garba, the leader of the kidnap gang was one Chukwudi Nwabundo along with Obiora Madubueze and Chinaza Udezue.

Items recovered from the suspects were 338 rounds of 7.62 by 39m AK47 live ammunitions, three empty AK 47 riffle magazines, and four locally made double barrel pistols with two live ammunitions, one live cartridge among others.

Electrical Dealers Association, Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Mojekwu, has commended Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State for his wise decision to put up projects in various markets in the state.

Speaking recently while fielding questions from newsmen, Mojekwu said that it will be a laudable development for the State Government to help them construct secretariat as part of N10m development projects in all the markets in the state.

He also lauded the current chairman of the market, Evangelist Peter Obi, for his achievement so far in the market as well as commitment to take the traders to greater height.

Mojekwu said: “So far, so good.

His efforts are paying off. We have a good chairman who is attracting government’s presence to the market”.

Mojekwu said Obi has done well by striving to remember some of them who have in one way or the other contributed to the development of the market, saying that there were chairmen before him who did not recognise that some of them existed, hence there were crises here and

there.

The Vice-president of the market, Chief Chukwuma Agwasinwa, was grateful to God for what we has used the current executive to achieve, especially restoration of peace, saying “God has been our strength. Without him, we couldn’t have succeeded. We also thank the people who has given us their support so far”.

He said that one of their greatest achievements was the restoration of peace in the market, recalling that before now there were 27 cases in the court from the market but within less than one year of their assumption of office, the cases have been drastically reduced to three.

He said those cases have been resolved and that is why patrons and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the market now attend their programmes.

A patron of the market, Chief Dominic Obichukwu, said that the current chairman, Evangelist Peter Obi was very close to him said he was proud of executive.

“My advice is that they should continue to do the right thing.

He should always consult us for good works. He should not allow further crises in the market and that is why we have decided to reconcile, “he said.

Agulu to construct multi-million naira palace ÏÏÏThe

Agulu community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State determined to raise the status of their traditional institution has decided to construct a multi-million naira palace for its traditional ruler.

The President-General of Agu People’s Union (APU), Chief Andy Anene Oraekwelu, told The Anambra Times in an interview that the project called Agulu Central Palace when completed will have a podium, playground, the inner Palace or Obi, bush bar, VIP stand, conference hall, recreational centre, amusement section, and an apartment among others.

He said the first phase of the project which is podium will gulp about twenty million naira, stressing that the land has already been cleared with the freewill donation of N5 million from a public spirited individual.

The second phase, he said, will be the fencing of the 400 plots of land which they had already acquired and cleared.

He frowned at some President -Generals who fight their traditional ruler because it negates the development of such community, stressing that in their own case, they are loyal to their royal father.

“It is unfortunate to allow personality clash or unnecessary

squabble between the traditional ruler and the PG to affect the development of a community. In our case, we are loyal to our traditional ruler. He is our father. We are his sons,” he said.

Oraekwelu, who was elected on January this year, said he with his executives has been able to achieve a lot within so short a period.

He said the Governor Willie Obiano’s N20 million community project in Agulu, which is an abattoir, has since been completed, adding that they are in the second round of the project.

Stressing the importance of the abattoir in the community, he said that increasing number of people are killing cows at home in the community and it was not advisable to do that at home since it was not hygienic and posed a lot of health hazard to the people.

He lauded Governor Obiano for his interest in Agulu, saying that he has just reactivated a cottage industry for the processing of palm oil which is now waiting for the official commissioning.

He said that apart signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Agulu Lake Resort, the governor had to bend over backwards to give the community five percent of the profit after tax when completed and become operational.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

The Anambra Times 3

Nov. guber poll: Onitsha traders restate support for Obiano Stories by Alphonsus Nweze Awka

ÏÏÏOnitsha South Shop Owners

impressed by the performance of Governor Willie Obiano in providing infrastructure in the markets in the state have reiterated their commitment to back Obiano’s second term bid.

President of Onitsha South Shop Owners, Chief Eric Uwaoma,

speaking after the meeting of the stakeholders recently to assess the level of work in Governor Obiano’s N10 million project, said work is progressing steadily on the project, which he said, has reached an advanced stage.

Chief Uwaoma said their own project is a one storey hall with offices and borehole, saying that the hall has reached decking stage, while the borehole has

been sunk.

Uwaoma said the deadline for the completion of the project which is located at Akpo Street/ Port Harcourt Road, Urebo Housing Estate, Onitsha is the end of this month (August), assuring that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the work would be completed on schedule.

He this is the first time any Gov-

Cross section of APC, PDP, UPP members in Okpoko who decamped to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) during a stakeholders meeting recently

NYG: Be good ambassadors, Nwogu urges Anambra team

ÏÏÏThe

Commissioner for Sports and Youth Entrepreneurship in Anambra State, Uju Nwogu, has tasked the state contingent to the 2017 edition of the National Youth Games (NYG) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, to excel in the competition.

Nwogu gave the task in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Awka.

The commissioner expressed optimism that the 130-man contingent, comprising 80 athletes and 50 officials, would be worthy ambassadors of the state at the event.

NAN reports that the team

will feature in athletics, shot put, table tennis, scrabble, WushuKung fu, karate, boxing, volleyball and cricket.

Nwogu said the athletes passed through rigorous selection process, noting that she was sure that they would make the best use of the opportunity to win medals for the state at the games.

According to her, all that are necessary for the athletes to do well at the youth sports event have been provided.

“We are prepared for the games; the athletes were trained and selected as the best in their various areas.

“Our Governor, Chief Willie

Obiano, is determined to ensure that the youth and talented athletes maximise their potentialities.

“That is why he approved that we honour such competitions.

“The National Youth Games is essentially for discovery of budding talents; we expect that future national sports heroes will be discovered.

“We target that they come up tops by winning all available gold medals, at least not less than 25, as beautiful rewards await them,” she said.

The competition holds from September 7 to September 17, 2017.

Vote on Election Day, S’Africa-based group urges Anambra people

ÏÏÏ

Chief Ikechukwu Osakwe, President-elect, Ohaneze Ndigbo, a socio-cultural organisation, South Africa chapter, has urged the people of Anambra to vote for the governor of their choice on Election Day. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed November 18, 2017 for the governorship election in the state.

Osakwe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sunday

that the people should come out en-masse to elect a leader of their choice.

“My advice to Anambra people is to come out on Election Day and vote for the leader of their choice. It is their constitutional duty to do so.

“Ohaneze ndigbo South Africa chapter supports our national body in all decisions affecting Igbo people.

“We believe that it is very important for the people to elect their leaders and Anambra peo-

ple should do that on Election Day,” he said.

Osakwe said that the group wanted the governors of the South-East states to do more to meet the needs of the people.

“The governors are trying, but, we want them to do more for the people. We are aware of the situation of things in the country.

“We, however, urge the governors to continue trying their best and implement programmes and projects that will positively impact on the people.”

ernor in Anambra State, since the return of democracy in Nigeria, is investing so much on traders in the state and to that extent, they in Onitsha South Shop Owners, have decided to work assiduously to ensure that Obiano is returned with landslide victory.

“This type of thing has never happened before. My people are commending the Governor for this gesture. They are very happy. And they are all shouting during our meeting that he must go for a second tenure,” he said.

Chief Uwaoma, who was surrounded by other members of the market executives, including the Secretary, Chief Felix Ezeoke, said Obiano has demonstrated more than enough love for traders in the state, that they cannot but work for his success in the coming election.

He said apart from providing security in the state, which is the primary need of the traders, Obiano appointed three traders as Special Assistants and introduced the Traders’ football competition among the markets in

the state.

Uwaoma also commended the President-General of Amalgamated Markets Traders Association of Anambra State (AMATAS), Chief Okwudil Ezenwankwo, for his dogged fight to promote the welfare of traders in the state, saying that he has been instrumental to attracting Obiano to Anambra markets.

He particularly lauded Chief Ezenwankwo, popularly called Ewepudike, for his support and encouragement to Onitsha South Shop Owners, pledging their loyalty to his administration.

Chief Uwaoma however called on Governor Obiano to as matter of urgency direct the contracted handling Ochanja Roundabout to Ziks Avenue road, linking Fegge and other parts of the commercial city to mobilise to the site.

He said the road has become so bad that to move goods across it

by Keke operators, barrow and truck pushers, Okada riders and vehicle drivers has become difficult, stating that giving the road face-lift will help them market Obiano in Fegge.

Anambra is now an investment hub – Obiano’s aide ÏÏÏSenior Special Assistant to

Anambra State Governor on Investment Inflows, Amb. Uche Ajulu-Okeke, says Anambra State has become an investment hub through the efforts of Governor Willie Obiano.

She told newsmen that the governor had created an enabling environment that had made investments in the state to be thriving.

Ajulu-Okeke, a former Nigeria’s Consul- General in South Africa, said the economy of Anambra State was steadily improving due to the enabling environment created by the government, adding that all businesses in the area were now thriving. “ Anambra has three big markets – Onitsha, Nnewi and Awka where traders and investors from Senegal, Ghana, Congo, Mali, Cameroon, Cote d` Ivoire and other African countries come to do business in these markets.

“The markets have attracted several investors to the state because of their acceptability and reputation,” Ajulu-Okeke said.

She described Anambra as the best investment destination in Nigeria.

“The state boasts some of the best brains in the country. Gov-

ernor Obiano has put together an enabling climate that is attracting investors.

“The governor has built sustainable state institutions of in succession.

“He has established the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA),” she said.

Ajulu-Okeke, who is also the Head of Promotion and Marketing in ANSIPPA, said the state government had set up the Small Business Agency to take care of small businesses in the state.

“The aim of the agency is to take care of small businesses because the government realised that the people are mainly traders, farmers, and investors,” she said.

She commended Obiano for setting the stage for a conducive business climate in the state.

Amb. Uche Ajulu-Okeke

The Anambra Times 4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Features/News

APC, PDP, UPP members in Okpoko decamp to APGA

Anambra SPACS: Combating cultism with human face

Stories by Alphonsus Nweze

ÏÏÏIn an era when Police personnel

Awka

ÏÏÏMembers

of All Progressive Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and United Peoples Party (UPP) in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, have declared for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The decampees, at a stakeholders meeting held in the community recently, attributed the disagreements arising from the candidates their now estranged parties produced at their various party primaries as reason for their action.

The facilitator of the meeting, Hon. Dan Obi, in his address said the political forces that controlled Okpoko have decided to converge under the canopy of Governor Willie Obiano’s re-election bid.

Consequently, he said they have chosen to collapse all structures into APGA to ensure that Gov. Obiano wins in Okpoko which has over 93, 000 registered voters.

The decampees, who included women leaders, youth leaders and chairmen of opposition parties in Okpoko, he said, chose to join APGA because of the irregularities in their former parties and particularly because APGA under Gov. Obiano has liberated Okpoko and returned Okpoko to the people of Okpoko.

Welcoming the decampees, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Political Matters, Comrade Arinzechukwu Awogu, said that a well performed government should be encouraged to complete its programmes, noting that the government of Governor Obiano has done exceptionally well in the last three and half years.

He said Obiano needed to be supported to complete his developmental initiatives for the state, commending the decampees for the bold step they have taken in identifying with Governor Obiano’s re-election bid.

Awogu urged that the new political spirit pervading Okpoko Community should be sustained, assuring the people that Obiano is miles ahead of his challengers and will coast to victory on the November 18, 2017 election.

Speaking, President-General of Okpoko Development Union, Hon. Eddy Emesinwa, said that Okpoko was in crisis because the Obazes removed him as elected PG of Okpoko Community unconstitutionally in September 2014 and foisted an alleged “murderous Caretaker Committee that pillaged and plundered Okpoko Community for three and half years”.

He lamented that Okpoko Community turned its back on APGA as a result of the wickedness visited on the community by the Obaze brothers but assured that now justice has

and units in Nigeria have been accused of conniving with criminals to carry out their heinous crimes and even aid and abet criminals to escape from cells and sometimes torture criminals especially male ones as well as abuse the female ones sexually, it is heartening that there are officers and units who still carry out their jobs with human face and fear of God. The Anambra State Police Command’s Special Anti- Cultism Squad (SPACS) under the headship of Christopher Bassey, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), has shown that policing can be done with human face and fear of God. Before now, the Anambra State AntiCultism Squad Unit like many other Police formations has been accused of all sorts of abuses including extortion, torture, and abuse of female suspects, colluding with suspects among others.

CSP Bassey said when he came in what he did was to sanitise the unit and inspire confidence in the suspects and the public generally.

He said each time there was raid and arrest, he personally interviews the suspects to ensure that they are actually cultists and their level of involvement.

He said: “I personally screen them to know whether they actually are cultists or they were framed or wrongly arrested.

“We bring fear of God into our job.

If you do not have the fear of God and respect for humanity, you will do a lot of things wrongly. You can make all the money but lose your integrity and lack of peace with yourself,” said Bassey.

He categorised the cultists into three groups - the under aged from 13 to15, who were mostly lured into cultism because of pecuniary interest.

The next group is adult, from age 16 to 25, regarded as the most active and dangerous, while those above 25 years is the third group, who are the recruiters and direct beneficiary of cult activities.

He said: “We send them to court and prosecute them immediately. From age 18 and above, we call them soldiers. Some of them join cult groups

CSP Christopher Bassey, SPACS Commander by chance. Some join on their own.

There are those who get involved in serious crime. When we get them, we hand them over to SARS especially if they are found with guns or we directly prosecute them. These adult ones come for the defence of younger ones. They are everywhere and in every profession.”

“It is not all prosecution since they conduct counselling sessions for minors and female cultists, who they found were forced into it. Programmes aimed at debriefing them and where they are told about the dangers of cultism were arranged for them and our officers were involved to loosen them and in a relaxed atmosphere”.

“The programme is aimed to pull them out of cultism. We carry out the programme with devotion and preaching when we tell them the dire

consequences of cultism. After this, we conduct our investigation and if we see that their response is positive, we release them to their parents, who some of them sometimes come back to thank us”.

The Commander attributed the increasing involvement of teenagers in cultism to lack of parental care and control, challenging parents to direct their energies in good upbringing of their children.

He decried the penchant by parents to pursue money and power to the detriment of their children, thinking that spoiling children with money and gifts is all it takes to train them.

“Parents these days don’t have time for their children. They are busy chasing money, power, some their personal leisure. Every society is a reflection of the family. If the family unit is strong morally, it will reflect on

Cultism is borne out of fear and inferiority complex, desire for power, materialism and to dominate.

the entire society. All teenage cultists we arrest showed elements of lack parental care”.

In Anambra State, said Bassey, cultism especially among teenagers is on the increase everywhere, but they are mostly found in Inland town Onitsha in Onitsha North Local Government Area, Obosi, Nkpor, Ogjdi in Idemili Local Government Area of the state because of the high use of drug in these areas.

For girl cultists, the SPACS Commander said most of them were virtually forced into it by their male friends, who rape and put them under oath to become sex slaves.

There is actually nothing so special about cultism, said Bassey, only that the weak ones group themselves together to assume power and lord it over others.

“Cultism is borne out of fear and inferiority complex, desire for power, materialism and to dominate,” he sa id.

The SPACs boss expressed their determination to eradicate cultism in the state, but his unit expectedly is hampered by lack of enough personnel, operational vehicles for logistics, accommodation facilities to enable them categorise the suspects and accommodate them in that order.

They don’t just arrest, detain and prosecute but where necessary, they also counsel them. And they feel happy that some of their parents’ weeks and months after they have left the station return to thank them for the counselling sessions which helped to pull them out.

“The fact is that most of them need help to pull them out of their uncultured behaviour, incivility. Some of them are actually helpless. Some even plead to stay with me after we had counselled them. That shows you that they desperately need father or mother figure,” Bassey said.

He commended the State Commissioner of Police, Garba Baba Umar, for all logistics and moral support being given to the unit even as he assured that they will continue to combine the instrument of policing and the fear of God to eradicate cultism in the state.

Why traders are backing Obiano – Onitsha market leader

ÏÏÏThe

Special Assistant to the Anambra State Governor on Market Matters, Hon Ejike Ngonu, has said that traders in the state are backing Governor Willie Obiano because of his special interest and love he has for them.

Hon. Ngonu, who spoke to The Anambra Times in Onitsha said as part from his love for traders, Governor Obiano has done so well that he doubts if any of the flag-bearers in other political parties can match his performance.

Ngonu, who is a market leader in the premier market in the West Af-

rican sub-region, the Onitsha Main market, said he was a beneficiary of Governor Obiano’s magnanimity to the traders in the state.

“This is why we are happy at his emergence as the Governorship candidate of our great party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). It was a good one. We support him. Our support is based on his performance generally, since he came to power four years ago,” said Obiano’s aide on Market Matters.

Ngonu enumerated Governor Obiano’s performance to include provision of maximum security in every

part of the state, payment of workers’ and teachers’ salary as and when due, which has earned him the sobriquet “Alert Governor”.

He said in addition, the Governor still employs including the physically challenged, whom he has done enough to improve their status in the state by making one of them a Special Assistant.

For the first time, said Ngonu, in the history of Anambra State, Obiano has appointed traders, three of them into his cabinet, saying that no other Governor in the past had extended this gesture to the traders of the state.

“I think he loves traders more than any other group in the state. And that is why he is doing everything to improve our markets. And we have consequently decided to give him support to govern Anambra State for the next four years again,” Ngonu said.

The Special Assistant vowed that the traders in particular and the Anambra people in general will vote Obiano and defend their votes, saying “we will ensure that our votes are counted, we will defend it.

I hope INEC will not play pranks; the security people should be fair in dealing with all parties.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

Naira stabilises at official, unofficial forex markets Page B3

N160bn OMO maturity not to ease liquidity squeeze…

Expert Page B4

Insurance leads top 5 gainers by 40%

Monday, September 11, 2017

Page B7

FG urged to ban generators for MDAs Simon Ugwu

R-L: Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs; Mrs. Ozena Utulu, Team Member, Heritage Bank’s Brand Management & Compliance Unit; Habu Mamman, State Sole Administrator Yankari Games Reserve,, representative of Buachi State Governor, Barr. Mohammed Abubakar and Executive Director, PANAFEST and Member Diaspora Festival, Badagry, Mr. Rabbi Halevi; during the 2017 edition of Diaspora Festival Badagry, titled: “Door of Return Ceremony Badagry,” which was co-sponsored by Heritage Bank Plc...Thursday.

Why directors’ investments are low in banks Afolabi Adesola Investigations into how well some of Nigerian Bank directors believe in their organization has revealed that quite a number of them have surprisingly low stakes in the banks they head, leaving investors to wonder how ready, they truly are in improving the fortunes of these organizations.

In analyzing the financial po-

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The Federal Government has directed that all critical stakeholders in the implementation of the aviation development roadmap must

BUSINESS TIMES Business Editor Ganiyu Obaaro Deputy Business Editor Azubike Nnadozie Asst. Business Editor Simon Ugwu Capital Market Editor Bonny Amadi

sitions of five of Nigeria’s bank chairmen, namely, Access Bank, Fidelity Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Sterling Bank, United Bank for Africa and Zenith Bank, for the period ended 30th June 2017, DAILY TIMES gathered that none of the chairmen of each of the bank had more than 6 per cent stake in their respective companies except for two.

Guaranty Trust Bank’s Osaretin A Demuren had the lowest

stake of all the Chairmen of the Board of Directors with less than 0.001 per cent. Her direct and indirect shareholding as at 30th June ,2017, amounted to 356,581 units worth about N13.7million, given GTB’s 7th September’s share price of N38.54 per share.

Following her closely, was Access Bank’s Belo Olusoga with 0.013 per cent in the company.

Total holdings amounted to 3.6m units valued at N34.6m, with Ac-

cess’ share price of N9.6 as at 7th September, 2017.

Although, the choice of investment is altogether personal, the only regulatory inhibition for owning shares in listed companies dictated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is that one person (single individual) may not own more than 10 per cent stake in any given listed company.

Meanwhile, further, checks CONTINUES ON PAGE B2

FG assures transparency in road map implementation

be involved in all the processes leading to the actualisation and realization of its goals.

Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who gave the directive while presiding over the inaugural meeting of the Project Steering Committee of the Aviation Road Map in Abuja, said it is the only way to ensure the transparency and confidence in the process.

The minister said the Project Steering Committee and Project Delivery Team (PDT), made up of representatives of the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory commission, Federal Ministries of Transportation, Finance, Budget and National Planning, relevant Aviation Agencies, key Labour Unions in Aviation Sector, was constituted to fast track the implementation of the Aviation

Road Map, as approved by the Federal Executive Council.

The key projects to be executed through Public Private Partnership (PPP) include the concession of four International Airports, Establishment of a National Carrier, Establishment of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) centre, EstabCONTINUES ON PAGE B2

Environmental Rights Action and Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has called on the Federal Government to place a permanent ban on the importation of power generating sets for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the country.

The Executive Director, ERA/ FoEN, Dr. Godwin Uyi, at the closing of a 2-day workshop on National Renewable Energy Policy and Legal Framework, held in Abuja disclosed that such ban should extend to the three tiers of government in order to promote use of renewable energy to mitigate climate change impacts.

“We are using this opportunity to draw government attention in relation to the commitment it made to fulfill the Paris Accord in 2015, that it will reduce emission by 20 per cent unconditionally. Why will it commit over N17 billion to purchase of generators, fuels as well as diesel if a government has made that kind of commitment. It will end up defeating the aim it set to achieve,” Uyi said.

“So we are calling for a complete ban for purchasing of generator sets for the ministries, departments and agencies across the federal, states and local governments levels. This is crucial because it will help to direct attention on need for alternative sources that are less promoted,” he added.

He stated that it was inappropriate for the federal government to promote the use of fossil fuels which contributes more to carbon emission as against clean energy sources, widely encouraged to protect the environment and ensure healthy living.

Uyi explained that the gesture would further promote the use of renewable energy by the MDAs across the three tiers of governments and help achieve the nationally determined commitment of the Paris Accord aimed to addressing climate change and reducing carbon CONTINUES ON PAGE B2

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Why directors’ investments are low in banks

FG assures transparency in road map implementation

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

revealed that Fidelity Bank’s Chairman, Ernest Ebi has an investment in Fidelity worth about N10m. His stake in the company as at 30 June, 2017, stood at 0.03 per cent; and Sterling Bank’s Asue Ighodalo owned 0.2 per cent stake with his investment worth N56.8m.

Speaking with our capital market correspondent, a financial analyst and capital market expert wondered why the investments by directors in their respective firms were so low.

According to him, the level of investment a director has in a company shows you the level of interest he/she has in that organization.

“When you see a director buying a lot of shares about a company, it says a lot about the company. It shows that they are ready to work and give their best to the organization.”

“In this part, we don’t take this kind of things of seriously, but it will be advisable if the regulatory authorities can encourage the directors to invest more in their companies. It will send the right signals to especially local investors and further strengthen Nigeria’s capital market.” He said The DAILY TIMES findings, however, revealed that United Bank for Africa’s (UBA) Tony Elumelu is one of the top two directors who have a significant measure of investment in the bank at 5.7 per cent. Elumelu’s combined direct and indirect holdings as at 30th June 2017 stood at 2.1bn units valued at N18.3bn as at 7th September, 2017.

The top bank director with the highest stake in his business is Zenith Bank’s Jim Ovia with a whopping 9.4 per cent equity stake. Ovia’s total holdings stand at 2.95bn units valued at almost N70bn as at 7th September as well.

A more deep seated saying suggests that passion is easily identified in situations with high stakes involved and issues with high stakes are also more likely to involve powerful emotions and strong impulses to action.

Even though most stocks have been analysed by market experts as trading below their intrinsic values, a welcome step towards further boosting investor confidence could be at the fingertips of these companies, if actions by their directors point investors towards a brighter path for corporate, economic and national development.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart, with 838.247 million shares valued at N5.134bn traded in 7,884 deals; thus contributing 83.91 per cent and 44.82 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Consumer Goods Industry followed with 45.589 million shares worth N3.225bn in 2,759 deals.

The third place was occupied

by Conglomerates Industry with a turnover of 35.563 million shares worth N60.673m in 627 deals.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

FirstBank set to disburse N15bn to private schools First Bank of Nigeria Limited has developed an array of products and solutions targeted at enabling schools acquire attractive educational facilities to support their business whilst empowering parents and guardians to seamlessly send their wards back to school.

To this end, the bank has set aside N15 billion for private secondary and primary schools in Nigeria.

FirstBank’s educational products and solutions include the FirstEdu Loan, Operational Vehicle Loan, Term Loans for constructing new sites and extension of existing sites, Personal Loan against Salary (PLAS) and Salary Overdraft (SODA) which enhances Parents/Guardians’ capacity to pay their wards’ school fees.

The FirstEdu loan is targeted at private nursery, secondary and ALevels’ schools. The product offers opportunity for private schools to access flexible funding to meet urgent cash flow needs, replace old furniture and equipment, as well as refurbish dilapidated buildings and classroom blocks. With

this product, school owners/proprietors can stay ahead of competition in providing educational services and support to the target population by maintaining acceptable standard infrastructure at all times.

This product allows the customer access up to N10 million with no tangible collateral required apart from the domiciliation of school account with the Bank. This reduces the cost of borrowing to the customer and eliminates the challenges posed by the provision of additional demanding collateral.

The Operational Vehicle Loan is targeted at registered businesses.

It allows the entrepreneur to acquire brand new vehicles for the day to day operation of the business. Organisations can take advantage of this facility to purchase school buses in the case of school proprietors and even upscale their staff welfare schemes through provision of staff buses. Personal Loan against Salary (PLAS) offers customers in paid employment access to cash to meet immediate financial needs such as payment of school fees, medical treatment,

holiday expenses, etc. PLAS has a flexible repayment plan spread up to 48 months for customers’ convenience. There is no equity contribution or collateral requirement.

The Salary Overdraft Account (SODA) is also available to customers who want short tenured overdraft to meet immediate financial needs. SODA can be dispensed as a one-off overdraft for 30 days with up to 40% net salary and a revolving overdraft for 180 days with 25% of applicant’s average previous 3 months net salary.

Only a salary account will qualify you to access PLAS and SODA if you work with any of FirstBank’s approved list of employers.

FirstBank’s educational facilities are offered without collaterals. So as the new school term resumes, the bank has the right products just for you and is poised to constantly provide the platform to support the life styles of its teeming customers. Customers and stakeholders are enjoined to visit any FirstBank branch for further information about its school solutions.

FG urged to ban generators for MDAs CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

emissions by 20 per cent.

Statistics from the Budget Office of the Federation according to him showed that about N17, 397,470,115 was earmarked for the purchase of power generating sets, diesel among others in this year budget, adding that such development will discourage the use of clean energy.

The environmentalist stressed that a study conducted in partnership with the Development Association of Renewable Energy (DARE) revealed that such huge sum could generate 46 megawatts of solar power and create 650 new jobs.

He decried unrestricted access of the power generating companies (GENCOs) and distribution companies (DISCOS) which according to him is hindering individual and collective efforts to realizing the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy (NREEEP).

Reacting to the credit given to the oil sector as being responsible for the economic recovery, Uyi examined the impact of oil exploration in the Niger Delta and the country beyond with the profit made.

He said, “If we say oil brought out Nigeria from recession, what brought Nigeria into recession? We failed to diversify the

economy and we keep focusing on oil. Look at the monumental devastation and pollution that is ongoing in the Niger delta. Look at the conflicts and benchmark how much compensation, remediation and how much Nigeria has got in relation to what it’s getting from oil. It simply means other people have bared the cost.

“The advantage of solar over fossils include greater energy access for all including the poor, fuel efficiency, reduction in air pollution, health improvement, environmentally friendly and the avoidance of potential carbon emissions from plants and generators,” he added.

lishment of Aviation Leasing Company, Development of Cargo/Agro Allied Terminals, and Development of Aerotropolis (Airport City).

The Terms of Reference of the Steering Committee, according to the Honourable Minister include overall policy determination and decisions, approving of all programmes, projects and financial proposals relating to PPP/Concession on the recommendation of the Delivery Committee, hold periodic (Quarterly) meetings to review Policy direction and steering the course of the PPP Projects on Aviation matters nationwide.

The committee is also to provide Policy guidelines and general direction on all the affairs of PPP/Concession Projects and Programmes, Consider and facilitate acquisition of necessary Permits and clearances; and also, carry along all stakeholders in the process of PPP/Concession matters, approve action Plan, budget and financial request of the Delivery Committee and make final decisions on PPP/Concession matters generally.

In a statement signed by James Odaudu, Deputy Director, Press & Public Affairs, the minister further stated that the Transaction Advisers, whose appointments were earlier in the year confirmed by the government, have completed contract documentation and held kick-off meetings with the Project Delivery Team, and have also prepared their work programmes spanning the 9-month contract duration.

The deliverables of the Transaction Advisers according to the Honourable Minister are to provide the policy and business context for PPP and identify Financial and Economic basis to establish the business case for adopting PPP methodology in the procurement of the projects, Develop a structured PPP procurement process through a three-phased bidding process to select a PPP partner (Prequalification, Request for proposal and selection of preferred bidder/ partner and negotiation), and final negotiations with preferred bidder, preparing the Full Business Case (FBC) and supporting Federal Ministry of Transportation to obtain FBC Compliance Certificate from ICRC, FEC approval and progress transaction up to financial close.

Speaking at the event, the Director General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, Engr. Chidi Izuwah said the expected gains to be derived from the proposed concession of major aviation infrastructure in the country would be unprecedented.

According to him, Nigeria, though the biggest country in West Africa, was in competition with other nations within the sub-region and can therefore not afford to be left behind, given her desire to develop into a regional air transportation hub.

He said Concession and PPP were the ways to go, as even nations that were better economically endowed than Nigeria have continued to adopt the strategies in view of dwindling national resources.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

B3

Money Market

Naira stabilises at official, unofficial forex markets Ï M ƕ MơêƤÕ ƐƏ ƅƈƏƅƑƋ ƐƆƗ ƈ Ƒ Ƒ Ɛ ÏM 0& ƐƑƏ ƒƆƏ ƈƊƆ Ƅƕ ơƢƢƌè ƈ Ɔ Ɛ ƈ Ɔ ƓƆƆƊ

EMEFIELE Stories by Motolani Oseni The Nigerian currency, Naira, on Tuesday, opened the official foreign exchange trading week at 365 to the dollar in the parallel market, but rebounded slightly on Wednesday at 364 gaining a point; however, it relapsed to 365 the following day, just as it stabilised for the week at 365 to the Greenback over the weekend.

The naira, had traded for just four days during the week under

review at the official forex market at 305.90 per dollar, representing a drop of 0.05, while compared to the last trading day’s figure of 305.85 before going for the two days holiday in the previous week.

It was also seen sustaining gains recorded on Thursday against the pound sterling at 470 compared to 472 it stood within the week, as well as 432 exchanged per euro, even though it was weaker than Tuesday’s closing rates of N470 and N430 traded respectively at the unofficial market.

However, the local currency, on Wednesday, retained the previous day’s traded rate of 305.90 against

the dollar, despite the effort by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to boost liquidity in the system with the injection of fresh $250m.

But instead of appreciating, it surprisingly extended its losing streak on Thursday to close at 305.95, even though it eventually stabilsed at 305.95 on the last trading day of the week (Friday).

On the contrary, the naira, extended its gaining streak at the Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) window, with total gains of 0.33 per cent to close the week 358.50, against 359.70 sold on Thursday and Wednesday 360.39 per dollar.

Although, the autonomous FX window, began last trading day of the week àt a weaker rate of 359.66 per dollar, compared to 358.66 on Thursday and Wednesday 359.96 to the dollar.

But, while considering the Friday’s NAFEX window turnout, it showed a significant growth of $133 million to settled at $131m against $100.33m recorded the previous day and $195m stood on Wednesday.

The naira, at the bureau de change’s (BDC’s) window, saw the it closing at N362 to the dollar, while the pound sterling and the euro traded at N470 and N430.

On its part,, the apex bank in the country has continued to inject more foreign exchange into the forex market in order to ensuring availability of liquidity in the market. Meanwhile, the CBN has said the local currency in circulation in the month of August stood at N1.86 trillion, representing 5.6 per cent increase over N1.76trn in July, The currency in circulation is the third lowest, after N1.76trn in July and N1.87trn in June, as the apex bank continued to mop up excess liquidity in a bid to reduce money supply in the nation’s economy.

The currency in circulation, which is the physical money used for transactions between consumers and businesses, had opened 2017 at N1.99 trn; and closed in February at N1.97trn.

Inflation may slow to 15.99% in August -Analysts Financial analysts at the FSDH Research, which is the research arm of FSDH Merchant Bank, have projected a slower inflation rate of 15.99 per cent for the month of August.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), had reported 16.05 per cent inflation rate in July; and may soon release the figure for Consumer Price Index (CPI) in August, which is used in measuring the nation’s inflation rate.

According to the FSDH’s new report, “We expect the inflation rate (year-on-year) to drop marginally to 15.99 per cent in August 2017 from 16.05 per cent reported in the month of July 2017.”

The organisation stated that its model indicates that the general price movement in the consumer goods and services in August 2017 increased the Composite Consumer Price Index (CPI) to 239.27 points, representing a month-on-month increase of 0.95 per cent.

It said, “Our model indicates that the general price movement in the consumer goods and services in August 2017 increased the Composite Consumer Price Index (CCPI) to 239.27 points, representing a month-onmonth increase of 0.95 per cent.

“We estimate that the increase in the CCPI in August 2017 would produce an inflation rate of 15.99% marginally lower than the 16.05% recorded in July.

“The expected decrease in the inflation rate is largely attributed to the downward movement in some categories of nonfood items in the CPI basket, as well as decrease in some food prices. Based on the data released calendar on the website of the NBS, we expect the NBS to release the inflation rate for the month of August 2017 on September 15, 2017.

“The monthly Food Price Index (FPI) that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released today indicates that the Index averaged 176.6 points in August 2017, 1.30% lower than the July 2017 value.

“According to the FAO, the decline in the FPI for August 2017, reflected generally lower values for cereals, sugar and meat than prior month and more than compensated for the increase in the vegetable oil and dairy prices.

“The FAO Sugar Price Index decreased by 1.7 per cent in August, from July 2017 and has been on downward trend since the beginning of 2017.

CBN acknowledges fluctuation in exchange rate

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has acknowledged a marginal fluctuation in the exchange rate, but assured Nigerians of its continued intervention in the foreign exchange market in order to sustain liquidity and stability in the financial sector.

The apex bank’s regulator, explained that the Naira remained stable against other major currencies around the world; even as observed that activities in the foreign exchange market remained dynamic.

The Acting Director,

Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, gave the assurance in Abuja over the weekend, stressing that the measures being taken by the bank had yielded positive results as far as foreign exchange supply was concerned.

According to him, the interventions of the apex bank were in line with its commitment to sustain liquidity in the market to meet genuine requests as well as deepen flexibility in the foreign exchange market.

Okoroafor warned

speculators against nefarious activities, adding that the CBN had put necessary checks in place to guard against sharp practices in the foreign exchange market. While stressing that there was nothing to suggest that the CBN planned to discontinue its foreign exchange intervention, he noted there had been accretions in the country’s foreign reserves from $30 billion to about $32bn.

Okoroafor therefore urged those who genuinely require foreign exchange for their transactions to approach their

banks, noting that the banks had enough forex to meet the demands for foreign exchange.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has consistently injected funds into in the inter-bank foreign exchange market, which received a boost of $547 million in the last round of intervention.

Meanwhile, the Naira exchanged at the rate of N363 to the US dollar in the Bureau de Change segment of the market on Friday, September 8, 2017.

Capital Market B4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Afreximbank seeks $100m of $300m D.Receipt from Kenya In a bid to attract the Kenyan investors to its ongoing Depository Receipt targeting $300 million, the African Export-Import Bank recently treated leading Kenyan investors to a breakfast meeting to present its equity offering.

The offering is aimed at raising between $100m and $300m through the issuance of Depositary Receipts backed by its Class “D” shares.

The listing of the Depositary Receipts on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius was approved in August, this opened Afreximbank’s shareholding to the investing public through an African Stock Exchange, first of its kind for a supranational bank.

The issuance of the Depositary Receipts is being handled by an advisory syndicate made up of SBM Group of Mauritius as lead arranger and Kenyabased CBA Capital and Lions Head Capital as co-advisors.

The minimum investment amount is $30,000.

Afreximbank Executive VicePresident, Dr. George Elombi, in his address said that the Depositary Receipts were aimed at enhancing the bank’s capitalisation in order to support the growth of its trade finance interventions across Africa and were being issued in the context of the Bank’s five-year strategy, IMPACT 2021: Africa Transformed.

That strategy focused mainly on boosting intra-African trade, accelerating the industrialisation and export development capacities of the continent, and expanding the

N160bn OMO maturity not to ease liquidity squeeze…Expert

….As money market rates sustain increase Bonny Amadi The Nigerian fixed income market last week, sustained its vibrancy based on guaranteed returns on investments, as more investors take to the fixed income investing options.

However, cross section of experts say that irrespective of the high yields and periodic maturity of the OMO and T-Bills offerings , during which liquidity is pumped into the system, liquidity freeze would linger as the Central Bank of Nigeria sustains its moderation.

Investment One analysts, in its market review for week ended September 08, pointed that though N160 worth of OMO (Open market operations) is

billed to mature this week, such may not have e impact on liquidity level as more instruments would be issued to drain such freed funds, sustain high rates of money market instruments.

“Despite N160billion worth of OMO bills maturing in the coming week, we expect the CBN to maintain its efforts in keeping liquidity levels low. As such, we expect money market rates to remain high in the near term” The CBN uses the OMO as instrument to check monetary policy. The CBN buys or sells securities outright or temporarily in order to add or drain the reserves available to the country’s banking system.

Meanwhile, the fixed income market during the week, wit-

nessed sustained effort by the CBN in keeping system liquidity low by selling N54bn worth of OMO bills at 16.00 per cent and 17.95 per cent stop rates last Friday. as a result, money market rates continued to expand, with the 1month, 3month and 6month NIBOR rates increasing by 82bps, 74bps and 60bps to 19.31 per cent, 21.18 per cent and 22.64 per cent respectively.

In the bond market, yield movement was largely muted as CBN’s OMO auctions constrained market activities.

Yields on the 5yr and 10yr benchmark bonds were unchanged at 16.47% respectively. However, investors were bullish on the 10yr benchmark as the yield declined by 3bps to 16.62%.

Nigeria Enamelware records subdued performance in Q1 Bonny Amadi Revenue for the period ended July 31, 2017, closed at N3419, 798 million from N443, 999m posted in the corresponding period of 2016. For the full year period ended 30th April, 2017, Revenue stood at N2, 528,319 billion.

Gross profit closed the first quarter lower at N125, 939 million, from N125, 2335m posted in the same period of 2016, while gross profit for the 2017 finical year ended 30th April, peaked at N570,976m.

Banks, consumer goods, conglomerates open week on bid

Increased investor interest in the equities market for the week ended Friday, 7th September ,2017, lifted the banking sector, consumer goods and the conglomerates to emerge as most traded sectors for the four days trading week.

This helped to boost the NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalization by 1.27 per cent to close the week at 35,957.24 and N12.393 trillion respectively.

Experts have made projections that the three sectors which are likely to open trading on the NSE today on bid, will sustain high activity level of the market to mod week, when a shift may likely occur.

According o the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) weekly summary, the Financial Services Industry

measured by volume led the activity chart by contributing 82.20 per cent and 50.52 per cent of the total equity turnover volume and value respectively, with 729.177 million shares valued at N8.816bn traded in 10,744 deals.

The Consumer Goods Industry followed with 68.153 million shares worth N6.692bn in 2,908 deals, while the third place was occupied by Conglomerates Industry with a turnover of 32.109 million shares worth N183.098 million in 687 deals.

As the Federal Government of Nigeria declared Friday, 1st and Monday 4th of September, 2017, as Public Holidays in commemoration of the Eid -el- Kabir Sallah Celebrations, for the four-day trading week, a to-

tal turnover of 887.024 million shares worth N17.450 bn in 16,955 deals were traded during the week by investors on the floor of the Exchange in contrast to a total of 998.973 million shares valued at N11.455 billion that exchanged hands in the preceding week in 13,626 deals.

Trading in the top three bank equities namely, Access Bank , Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith International Bank, measured by volume accounted for 320.549 million shares worth N6.909 billion in 2,643 deals, contributing 36.14 per cent and 39.59 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Also traded during the week were a total of 3,000 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at

Trading on the flor of Nigeria Stock Exchange

N31,590.00 executed in 1 deal compared with a total of 86,063 units valued at N838,754.79 transacted last week in 8 deals.

The NSE’s All-Share Index and Market Capitalization appreciated by 1.27 per cent to close the week at 35,957.24 and N12.393 tril-

lion respectively.

Similarly, all other Indices finished higher during the week with the exception of the NSE’s Main Board, NSE’s Banking, NSE’s Insurance, NSE’s Oil/Gas and NSE’s Industrial Goods Indices that depreciated by 0.24 per cent, 1.08 per cent,

0.10 per cent, 3.77% and 1.01% respectively while the NSE ASeM Index closed flat The price movement table for the week showed that 28 equities appreciated in price during the week, higher than 19 of the previous week.

B5

Daily Times Nigeria Monday September 11, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

‘Why CSR, social marketing differ’

By Godwin Anyebe The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Social Marketing has become a subject of debate among stakeholders.

While it is believed in some quarters that CSR is a corporation’s initiatives to assess and take responsibility for the company’s effects on environmental and social well-being, social marketing aimed mostly to transform habits and attitudes from a perceived negative one to a more positive one.

Meanwhile, analysts believe that it has become necessary to turn towards social issues in order to maintain competitive superiority in the market.

Nowadays, corporations carry out their public relations practices and present them to the public under the names of either corporate social responsibility or social marketing.

Daily Times checks show that, these two concepts hold different characteristics, even though corporations tend to ignore the differences. The most important reason for this is the fact that the population does not have preliminary information regarding social marketing and perceive the projects realized by corporations as “corporate social responsibility.”

On this issue, a brand management consultant, Adewale Okoya told The Daily Times that; “the business world has become increasingly competitive nowadays. CSR projects

have provided companies with esteem and brand recognition.

Other than production, profit, efficiency, and employment, the business world makes investments that benefit society; these are their corporate social responsibility projects which influences the company’s reputation in a positive manner.

According to him, “For a CSR project to be successful, several factors come into play: the project needs to be sustainable, its topic and practice abide by ethical standards, sensitive to society’s needs, embraced and supported by the company’s employees, create the aimed effect on the target audience, and every year, and the project needs to be evaluated to see how beneficial it is.”

Social media

While making his submissions on social marketing, Okoya disclosed that the topics emphasized are influencing social behavior in order to benefit society, persuading individuals so that the wanted sale can be made, and the willing change of behavior. It is a question of marketing a product or a service.

The goal is to sell something with a profit, while increasing brand recognition and transforming a negative attitude and behavior into a positive one.

“The aim of social marketing is to find an answer to a social problem and to enable positive change in the target audience.

Like service marketing, social marketing is to market “an abstract product”. For example, safe driving, eating healthy,

family planning, the reduction of tobacco use are certain topics. In social marketing concrete products are marketed as well. For example, safety belt and condoms are good concrete examples of social marketing.”

He said.

Further, he said that, “CSR is a concept that cannot be explained easily either theoretically or empirically. Theoretically, examined and discussed that there are more than 25 different ways to define CSR . Various scholars, practitioners of CSR, groups and organizations, such as the World Trade Council and United Nations have made their submissions on the issue.”

Also speaking, a public relations consultant, Fagbemi Oluwafemi stated that, of a truth, there is a difference between CSR and social marketing, but the reason most people find it difficult to understand the difference is the way and manner the concept is communicated to them. He expressed concern about the relevance of communication when a brand engaged in a CSR project or social marketing initiative, admonishing practitioners to take content communication into consideration when developing strategies.

Explaining the relationship between corporate social responsibility and social marketing, he disclosed that; “the relationship between the two is based on a sharing a common goal, which is gaining a compet-

B6 CSR

itive advantage: increasing the reputation of a brand, building the corporate culture or establishing long- term relationships with suppliers or consumers.”

According to him, “both are highly related because CSR’s innovative strategies involve the development of new products or processes that require social marketing initiative. For instance, the introduction of recycled packages or the reduction of natural resources, such as water or electricity, may be communicated as a CSR’s advancement that was made through social marketing division. Overall, a part of CSR and social marketing are associated with product development and innovation that may influence the market value of the.”

On his part, Pwano Maxwell, who once consulted for the defunct Savannah Sugah Company in Adamawa state, said that; “the intensity of social marketing and CSR differs depending on the life cycle of the industry, the product or the typology of business. For instance, car companies, that invest in environmental respectful proposes, also invest in social marketing.

According to him, regarding there is a difference between CSR and social marketing he pointed out that CSR tends to be more socially responsible than social marketing, due to stronger regulations and the need to communicate transparency.

Moreover, brand owners receive more pressure from their stakeholders and consumers who are getting higher demanding. It is significant to state that companies with an intense use of social marketing frequently introduce CSR initiatives to assure a high-skilled external labor.

Insurance B7

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

Insurance leads top 5 gainers by 40% Stories by Bonny Amadi The Nigerian insurance sector for the four days’ trading week ended Friday, 8th September, led top five gainers’ table with 40 per cent from the sector.

The significant performance of insurance sector reflected opportunities the sector provides for investors, as more investors turn to better rewarding, low- cost insurance stocks.

For example,African Prudential Insurance and AIICO Insurance, competed favourably on the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s (NSE’s) top five gainers’ table for the week, with Guinness Nigeria, in the beverages’ sector; brewers/ distillers sector and C&I Leasing of the Supports & Logistics sector sharing the 60 per cent of the top five gainers.

However, Guinness led the table with 27.59 per cent or N20.83 gained during the week to close at N96.33 per share, followed by Calverton with 6.25 per cent or N0.07 equity price growth, closing at N1.19 per share, while C&I Leasing appreciated by 6.00 per cent or N0.06 to close trade

at N0.06 per share.

Also, African prudential closing trade at N3.30 per share posted market capitalization of N6,600,000,000.00 billion, backed by 2,000,000,000 shares outstanding.

Africa Prudential Plc is a leading share registration and investor services’ firm with close to four decades of topclass experience in the Nigerian capital market.

The company is the first and only listed registrar and investor services’ firm on the NSE, and currently manages over 70 client registers.

Meanwhile, AIICO Insurance and African prudential collectively gained 11.13 per cent, as African Prudential’s equity price grew by 5.77 per cent or N0.18, closing trade for the week at N3.30 per share.

AIICO garnered 5.36 per cent or N0. 03 gain, to close the week’s trade at N0.59 per share.

As at the close of trade on Friday September 8th 2017, AIICO had shares outstanding of 6,930,204,480 and market capitalization of N4, 088,820,643.20bn.

AIICO, Continental-Re, N.EM, WAPIC delight investors Developments in the insurance sector in the past week showed that investors’ considerations for picking companies to invest in, to a large extent lies on the promises the companies holds for their shareholders.

AIICO Insurance, Continental Re, N.E.M Insurance and Wapic demonstrated good qualities before the investing public through their performances; and this helped to generate positive hearsay that attracted increased activities to the companies.

It also reassured investors of sound liquidity on their investments.

Irrespective of the opportunities in the four companies, other companies in the sector attracted activities, which demonstrate that investors have started exploring increasing earning opportunities in the lowly- priced sector stocks, which offers better returns on investments.

Combined turnover in the four insurance companies during the week amounted to M16,726.142 million shares, accounting for about 85

per cent of the total sector’s turnover for the week, which stood at 17,587,13 million shares.

For example, AIICO, which closed trade at N0.59 per share, pulled the highest turnover for the week with 6,142,449 million shares worth N3, 434,420.09bn and exchanged by investors in 162 deals.

Continental Reinsurance followed in the sector’s activity table for the week with 5,945,183 million shares , valued at N8,587,870.25bn as exchanged by investors in 71 deals, the company closed trade at N1.45 per share.

Wapic Insurance placed third on the sector’s activity table for the week with 2,787,707 million shares, worth N1, 406,481.67bn, which were exchanged by investors in fresh 106 deals, closing trade at N0.51 per share.

N.E.M Insurance closed the top four most active trades table with 1,850,803 million shares of the company worth N1, 925,341.15bn, transacted by investors in 40 deals. The company opens trade in the week at N1.00 per share.

Experts call for inclusive economy via innovative banking, insurance products Cross-section o experts have called for increased penetrartion of insurance products to hard-to- reach areas in order to effectively achieve the Federal Government’s target at achieving inclusive financial services’ delivery goal.

At the center for Financial Journalism (CFJ) parley at the weekend in Lagos, themed: “Deepening financial inclusion, role of financial journalists and bank’s corporate communication managers,’ stakeholders were of the consensus that increased financial offerings of banking, insurance and other financial services’ sector operators should focus more on remote areas so as to speed up financial inclusion of more excluded Nigerians..

Managing Director, Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON),Mr. Ahmed Kuru, while responding to questions from participants on the continued low penetration of banking and insurance services, said that financial institutions, in the bid to drive financial inclusion, have ventured into cost -sapping areas, which, ordinarily, could have been derived from existing infrastructure services’ providers.

Represented at the event by the Executive Director at Resolution and Restructuring Company Limited, a subsidiary of AMCON, Prisca Ndu, the AMCON boss said that lack of credit data base and credit insurance that would take the risk of expanded lending off the banks militated against extending financial services to more people. Managing Director, Proshare Nigeria, Mr. Femi Awoyemi, who moderated the discussions, pointed that though banks and other financial intuitions, including the insurance companies, have invested much on towards inclusive economy, via inclusive banking; adding that more efforts were required from stakeholders towards attaining inclusive banking objective.

He emphasized on insurance solutions as very critical to inclusive banking, hence, one cannot write down insurance policy without having operational bank account.

Business Interview B8

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, September 11, 2017

We ‘re committed to transforming capital market -Gwarzo The Nigerian capital market has sustained a progressive trend with innovative policies initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) Director General, Mournir Gwarzo, in this interview with market stakeholders in Lagos captured by Bonny Amadi, SEC DG said, among other things, that avenues that encourage market fraud are being blocked with e-dividend, BVN and Direct cash settlement among other measures .Excerpts You are emphasizing on market transformation and participation, but without education the people will not be carried along, will you take market education to universities?

We will certainly do that, but our main focus now is in primary and secondary schools, we think that is where the key areas is, to do it at the university level will not be much of a problem, because most of the universities run courses on finance and investments and of the capital market.

Capital market operators The market has 421 operators registered operators, the 421 operators I said earlier are those that have updated their information, but those that have not completed their information, we will give them more time because they have attained a level in updating their information.

And that is why this time around, we have spent four to five days in Lagos trying to update the market operators information so that we can clear all those backlog.

I can tell you that what they have not been able to provide to us are not that resinous issues, but those that have not been able to provide some of the vital information, we have already delisted them.

Over a period of one or two years, they have not be able to update their data, so for those ones, we have already de-listed them as capital market operators.

But for those that have provide us with information, but not as accurate as it should be, we have given them more time.

By the end of this year, all these house cleaning processes must have been completed.

Market operators sourcing funds from CBN Initially, the CBN did not understand the concept, but we are happy that CBN was able to have that conversation with us.

What we are saying is for the CBN to be able to allow the capital market operators to leverage the discount window to get

liquidity from CBN. All what we want from CBN is what kind of criteria do you want capital market operators to meet?

And also. What type of securities do you want capital market operators to place as collateral?

So that they should have the opportunity to do that.

In fact, the entire value chain of the capital market has access to liquidity for a long period of time, but it is the capital market operators that don’t have that liquidity.

What they can do is to go to a bank and borrow money at a very high rate; and we say that if we needed liquidity in the capital market, the capital market also need to have that opportunity.

At the last meeting we have with the CBN, they were very comfortable with the arrangement and have raised a few concern; and we are convinced that at the next stage, we will address those concerns.

Minimum operating standard?

Yes! The NSE has come up with minimum operating standard, but as the market grows, as the market evolve sand develops m, you have to review the operating standards.

Whatever we are going to come out with, if it in tandem with what the NSE has, that is fine, but if they are going to be different, then we are going to engage the NSE. There has been the provision for all capital market operators to meet the N30 million minimum standard, and as the committee on standard has submitted their report, we will look at some of the investments modules and the time line it’s going to take the operators. It will also involve other forms of investments including depository receipts.

Access declaration by market operators?

The deadline by Federal Government is March next year. It requires that public companies and operators, by the time they are sending their reports to us, they will be able to indicate their level of compliance before that deadline.

So, by the end of March next year, we start penalizing those operators and companies that have failed to indicate their compliance with the assets declaration requirement of the federal government. We have said that hence forth any report they are ending to SEC must include that aspect.

Multiple application by retail investors The whole essence is for us

Gwarzo to streamline the application model. From hence forth, when you are doing IPO now, the BVN will be a unique identifier and multiple application is going to be eliminated. Who is going to benefit it?

It is only the rich people that apply in different names, if you are not a rich man, why will you apply for IPO in three or four different names? A typical retail investor will only buy ones in his name and then concentrate on his investments.

The system of having the BVN will eliminate multiple applications and protect the retail investors, so at the end of the day, everybody is on the same page.

The introduction of the BVN will streaming the elimination of the multiple application for IPOs, Transaction circle of the market On the issue of transaction circle, it goes beyond T+3. For emphasis, T+ 3 transaction is sacrosanct in equity market in Nigeria that on the T, that is day of transaction, three working days, The three working days, is what we call delivery versus payment, and during this period, shares will leave the account of the seller to the account of the buyer, money will also leave from the account of the broker who bought to the account of the broker who sold for onward transmission to his client.

In the wisdom of SEC, we all

know that there may be one or two broker who may not want to transmit that money to his client, SEC now introduced, DCS, Direct cash settlement.

What the broker will do is that on T+3, when he receives the money, they will do some in-house transactions clearance and on T+4 they will now give the investor the money or by way of issuing out cheques.

SEC has now directed, go by direct cash settlement, which says that on T+3, instead of the broker getting the cash credit in his account, the investor get the money in his or her account directly.

That is why we want to encourage everyone to observe the trade alert, if the transaction is executed at about 2.30 pm in the afternoon, then you know that the processing will continue and it is on real time basis that clients are alerted.

But, if transaction occurred in the morning, within one hour, you will be alerted, if transaction occurs around the tail end of the day, within one hour, you will be alerted. The alert is to put you in the know that something has happened to your investment.

So, if you are not the person that mandated the transaction, then you will report to the exchange, and that means, we will ensure that that broker unwinds what he has done.

When you misdate transition, always monitor alerts on your phones to make sure you get the messages from CSCS.

There is no way transaction will occur today and you will not be alerted today, not the third day not even the second day.

This T+3, sometimes we don’t appreciate the good things we are doing, that the advanced markets have been operating since the 18th century, their settlement is T+3. As at today, the US market as developed as they are, it is just towards the end of the year that they are looking at T+2, which is settlement of transaction within two days of transaction.

If the DCS takes effect and it becomes fully operational, i don’t see why we can’t operate T+2.

Issues relating to share sales or identification challenge If you have any issue on share sales or accounts identification challenge, take your complaints to the Central Securities Clearing Systems (CSCS).

The CSCS, assured to key into SEC’s provisions that the primary aim of the regulator is to protect the investor. SEC also gave the CSCS the mandate to ensure that investors in the Nigerian capital market are protected.

At the CSCS, there is the customer service unit there that is dedicated to render uninterrupted services to the customers. And there are also documents to report at their office to report if one is not well treated. Reports for mistreatment can also be taken to the management of CSCS. Direct cash settlement and new minimum operating standard The market is built on the premise of the T+3, if there is no T+3, there will be no market.

There is no way the deal will be executed and you will not get paid. The broker can chose not to pay you, but it doesn’t mean that the broker has not received money.

If you have registered for DCS and your broker sells your shares, you will get your money directly. The three days settlement period is what qualifies the capital market.

The exchange came up with its minimum standard under the supervision of the SEC, The commission will use that as a base line to prepare minimum operating standard for other operators.

I don’t expect that there will be any additional cost on brokers who have met the NSE’s minimum operating standard.

Life&

TIMES Monday, September 11, 2017

Olamide, Niniola, Tiwa Savage, others make list of acts with popular songs in 2017 L P

2

L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, September 11, 2017

Top10 popular Nigerian Hit Songs

6

Wizkid-Drake

The Nigerian Music Industry is booming and gradually having a face presence in the global scene. Nigerian musicians are primarily the biggest export in the country right now with huge fanbase across the world. Afro-pop better known as the Neo-African sound has sold out to the world and these music ambassadors are getting the notes on it.

As the year is getting to an end the music industry is really making hit songs and they are doing great in the music industry. No doubt the year will surely end with bang hits from artistes.

Here are some hit songs that really killed the music industry in Nigeria. In no particular order, OGBONNA OLIVIA look into popular songs making waves this year.

5

Davido

10. Niniola – Maradona.

7

4

9. Tiwa Savage – All Over.

8. Tekno – Rara.

Olamide

Ycee

3

8

7. Olamide – Pepper dem gang Ft. Davolee.

6. Wizkid – Come closer Ft. Drake.

Davido

5. Davido – If.

Techno

2 2. Mayorkun – Mama.

4. Ycee – Juice ft. Maleek Berry.

1. Olamide – WO. 3. Davido – fall.

Mayorkun

10

1

9

Mariah Carey Niniola

Tiwa

T E A M

Life&

Olamide

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, September 11, 2017

Mutiat Alli

Nutrition L3

Amazing health benefits of cucumber that you may not know 6. Relieve pain

7. Reduce bad breath

1. Help you stay hydrated

8. Protect your bones 2. Support heart health

9. Prevent constipation

3. Protect diseases

your

brain

from

neurological

4. Protect your skin against the effects of aging

5. Fight inflammation in the body and reduce the risk of cancer

10. Maintain a healthy weight

Wellness L4

8

Mutiat Alli

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, September 11, 2017

reasons you need to take a vacation

A real vacation, where you completely unplug with work and focus on things you want and like to do,

do wonders, and reconnecting with yourself, your partner and family can positively impact other areas

1. Relieve Stress: Stress can have a negative effect on all aspects of your health physically, mentally and emotionally. Headaches, back pain, anxiety, irritability, lack of concentration and frustration are just a few of the harmful effects of stress. and often our crazy schedules and the pressure we put on ourselves eventually turns into stress. Taking a vacation helps relieve the built up anxiety, which can lower your blood pressure, help you sleep better and build up your immune system.

Stress can even cause you to gain weight, especially around the middle.

Holidays will not only help you relieve stress, but can help you manage it better when you get back to the real world?

2. Clear your Head: Life is hectic and your brain is often overworked. as that. Always being on the go and taking care of your many responsibilities in both your personal and professional life can cause you to feel frazzled, confused and overwhelmed. Vacations can alleviate these problems, giving you a fresh perspective and calming your nerves.

Taking a break from a jam-packed schedule will noticeably lower your anxiety. Even better, clearing your head and slowing things down often leads to great ideas and a fresh perspective when you head back to your job and normal routine 3. Build Your Immune System: A busy life wears you down. You can everything will get to be too much and

diseases.

4. Lower Risk of Heart Disease: vacation days, you could be doing serious damage to your heart health.

Unlike in foreign countries where several weeks of vacation are not only paid but regulated and mandatory by even take the standard two weeks.

But skipping out on vacation can raise your blood pressure and increase your risk of heart attacks. Several studies show that taking a yearly vacation can lower your risk of heart problems by a staggering amount– according to a Framingham Heart Study, men are around 30-percent less likely to die from a heart attack and women have a 50-percent lower risk of having a heart attack 5. Increased Happiness: While it would be nice if everyone found the job of their dreams and loved every minute of working, the fact is, many satisfaction. And even if you are loving what you do, foregoing happiness on a personal level will eventually catch up to you. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and being happy goes a long way to mental stability. Happiness and good mental health can help you cope Spending time with family or some well-earned time alone allows you to

everything that makes life worth 6. Better Quality of Sleep: The stresses from a busy life greatly impact your quality of sleep–restlessness, insomnia, and not enough sleep hurts

tired and stressed from work and your

class. With work and responsibilities comes stress and it can actually promote the risk of disease because reaction when it comes into contact with a virus. Vacations can help relieve stress, allowing your immune system to build back up. Without the

in more peaceful sleep, as well as sleeping for longer 7. Improved Family Health: Dayto-day routines and responsibilities get old fast. It can seem that days

plugged into work right up until bed time and many people sleep with their phone, answering emails late in the evening or during the night when you should be allowing your body the rest it needs. According to the Mayo Clinic, put yourself at risk of getting sick more easily, and the long-term effects can increase your risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Vacations allow you to break this routine, resulting

your household who may be feeling disconnected and on auto-pilot. A happy home life will positively impact other aspects of your life. In turn, problems at home can negatively affect work and other relationships, and increase stress. By taking a vacation and reconnecting with your family, friends and loved ones, requirement of good health 8. Rejuvenate Your Body: People who take regular vacations can likely relate to how the time off allows you to rejuvenate your body, increasing your energy levels and providing a more

positive outlook. With busy lives where can be seriously lacking. Because of this, exercising regularly becomes less and less frequent, putting your

health at risk and losing the happy endorphin from workouts. Going on vacation can snap you out of the less give you a fresh perspective.