Dtn 19 1 17 by Daily Times of Nigeria

NAF bombing: Ministers visit IDP camp

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Uneasy calm in The Gambia over change of govt 7

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017 VOL. 3. NO. 281

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GAINERS AS AT January 18, 2017

LOSERS AS AT January 18, 2017

MTEF: Senate reverses self GUARANTY

23.90

23.91 0.04%

ACCESS

7.01

7.02

N150

0.14%

OKOMUOIL 44.27

44.00

-0.61%

Ï Pegs oil price benchmark at $44.5 per barrel Ï Approves exchange rate at N305/$ Ï Retains other parameters submitted by the executive Ï Urges FG to implement measures to achieve self-sufficiency in, and become exporter of agric products

70.30

69.00

-1.85%

Olufemi Samuel and Chris Emetoh, Abuja

ÏÏÏ Senate on Wednesday,

approved the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Frameworks (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) containing parameters upon which the N7.289 trillion 2017 budget is based. Recall that the Senate had late last year, turned down the document, saying it was empty and returned it back to the Presidency. However, approval of the important national documents on Wednesday was coming three months after President Muhammadu Buhari forwarded it to the National Assembly for approval as templates upon Continued on page 6

Saraki: Fire destroyed documents on foreign funds’ 12 transfer –Witness

Court adjourns Patience Jonathan’s suit against EFCC to Feb. 13 6

Panic as Lassa fever resurfaces in Rivers 6

Herdsmen attacks: Men of the Nigerian Air Force on their way to Senegal as part of the Economic Community of West African States’ Military Intervention in Gambia (ECOMIG) to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate given to Adama Barrow, president-elect, in The Gambia … on Wednesday.

Ohaneze youths read riot act to S’East govs 12

Justice Ngwuta spent N313m on private house in 9 months, says witness

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Page Three

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Editorial Containing bird flu in Nigeria

ecently, the Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO),called for a $20 million intervention fund for prevention and response activities against the highly virulent avian flu H5N1. This call is in response to outbreaks of the virus in poultry farms, markets and family holdings in Nigeria and some West African countries. The outbreak comes as some countries across the sub region are still recovering from the dreaded Ebola scourge. Moreover, fears are being expressed that left unchecked, the avian flu could trigger mass die-off of chicken with detrimental impacts on diets and the region’s economy. Before now, previous strains of the virus capable of causing illness and fatalities in humans had been spreading in some Asian countries and Egypt for nearly 10 years. It will be recalled that, the H5NI strain is responsible for culling of millions of chickens, resulting in huge revenue losses to poultry farmers and governments worldwide. This is not the first time the virus will be occurring in Nigeria. An earlier incursion was in 2006 but was eliminated in 2008. In late 2014, it resurfaced in Kano, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Imo, Oyo and Jigawa states, killing hundreds of thousands of poultry birds. Due to its contagious nature, especially transmission to humans, the FAO, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and African Union (AU) have been putting plans in place, while offering technical assistance to those countries at risk with a view to containing the spread of the virus. It is therefore the responsibility of Nigeria’s authorities to avail themselves of such plans in order to safeguard public health. This is against the background that since 2000, the World Health Organisation has singled out Nigeria and Indonesia as a great threat because of the reckless poultry management that sub-

sists in the two countries, which could easily lay the world bare to the dreaded avian influenza pandemic that wreaked untold havoc to humanity in 1918. Bird flu is essentially a poultry disease, but when it leaves its natural host and infects humans, it could mutate into a form that could trigger the dreaded human-to-human infections with deleterious consequences. Therefore, urgent action is needed to strengthen veterinary investigation and reporting systems in the country before there is a spillover to humans. In doing this, efforts must be intensified to sensitise ordinary Nigerians, especially those in rural areas on the danger which avian flu poses to their health and communities. It is fact that the informal sectors of the economy far outnumber the formal thereby making them difficult to monitor. For instance, in the villages, most families share the same houses with their chickens. As these birds are let out each day to forage for food, they are able to return to their owners because of their successful domestication. There is also a possibility that in the course of wandering for food, they may come in contacts with wild birds which are known to be the most vulnerable hosts of the dreaded virus. More frightening is that sick or affected chickens are usually slaughtered for food, even when the owners are ignorant of cause(s) of illness. It is therefore advisable that veterinary officers employ the “trace-forward” and “trace backward’ techniques. The former looks for where infected animals have been sold or moved to, while the latter places emphasis on examining where infected animals were purchased or where they came from with the aim of halting continuous virus or further spread. Ultimately, the authorities should emphasise enhanced hygiene routines, good poultry production and transportation practices of healthy animals. This way, the spread of the H5NI would be contained.

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Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai (right) in a handshake with co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda Gates, during a courtesy visit on El-Rufai in his office in Kaduna … on Wednesday.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (2nd left), during an inspection tour of roads under construction in Aba… recently. With him are State Commissioner for Works, Dr. Eziuche Ubani (left) and other government functionaries.

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, Jaunuary 19, 2017

FROM THE AR CHIVES

Senate tags IDPs bombing ‘obvious mistake, urges military not to relent Chris Emetoh, Abuja The Senate has described as unfortunate the killing of about 52 persons including 3 aid workers on Tuesday during an air strike operation by the Nigeria Air force on an Internally Displaced Persons’ Camp in Rann, Borno state. Describing the incident as an ‘obvious mistake’, the senate which observed a minute silent in honor of those who lost their lives in the event expressed shock at the development which was brought to the attention of senators at Wednesday’s plenary session through a point of order (43) raised by the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, who urged the Senate on the need to send a condolence to the bereaved families and the Government of Borno state. In his remark, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, expressed deep grief and condolences over the erroneous bombing. Ekweremadu, who sympathised with the victims,

Reps mourn victims of accidental bombing in Borno, condemn UNIMAID blast Henry Omunu, Abuja The House of Representatives on Wednesday expressed regrets and sadness over the accidental bombing of the camp of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at Rann, Kalabalge Local Government Area of Borno state. This follows the adoption of a motion sponsored by Rep. Muhammad Sani Zorro in which he expressed regrets and sadness over the deaths and injury of Internally Displaced Persons as well as humanitarian workers during the air raid carried out by the air force against suspected Boko Haram terrorists. Therefore, the House resolved to constitute a 10-member committee to among other things, visit the scene of the disaster and commiserate with families of victims and the state government. Lawmakers observed a minute silence in memory of the dead and injured victims. Rep. Zorro, who acknowledged the preliminary explanation by the armed forces that the incident was not a deliberate act of targeting civilian targets and not a hostile attack on civilian population however, called for the need to ascertain whether the air strike was carried out in accordance with

strict observation of the rules of engagement. This according to him, will lay to rest the suspicion on whether the incident was deliberate or otherwise. “Although, the armed forces have given preliminary explanation that the incident was not a deliberate act of targeting the civilian population, it is also important to find out if the discharge was as a result of human error,” he stated. Contributing to debate on the motion, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas said that an investigation into the incident will help avert a repeat of such a disaster. Similarly, Rep. Mohammed Sani Abdu in his contribution said that the quality of intelligence within the armed forces needs to be looked into, adding that proper coordination between all security agencies is paramount in all operations. When constitued, the investigative committee will also ascertain the level of response to the emergency assistance needed by surviving victims and their families and also ascertain the extent to which emergency and adequate health service are being extended to victims of the mishap.

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their relatives and the government and people of Borno State, called for more help from other States of the federation, well-meaning Nigerians, and both local and international humanitarian organisations to mitigate human suffering and fatality occasioned by the sad incident. He said: “This is shocking and sad. I am pained by the gory pictures emanating from the scene, but I commend the efforts by the authorities and the armed forces to evacuate and treat the wounded. I also appreciate the support of the humanitarian organisations, notably, the Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) and the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) towards salvaging the lives of the evacuated despite suffering casualties as well.” While calling for a thorough investigation of the incident, Ekweremadu urged the men of Operation Dole Lafiya, and the Nigerian armed forces not to be demoralised, but to brace up for the challenge of ridding the nation of every trace of terrorists and insurgents.

“This is no doubt a highly demoralising incident, but I urge the men of Operation Lafiya Dole and the Nigerian military to, nevertheless, brace up for the challenge of flushing out the terrorists and insurgents”, Ekweremadu said. He called on Nigerians to pray for the peaceful repose of the souls of the dead, quick recovery of the wounded, solace for the bereaved, and more courage and divine guidance for the armed forces.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki

Defection: I am Going Nowhere, Says Ekweremadu Chris Emetoh, Abuja The deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has dismissed as false, insinuations and reports that he might dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to save his job. In a statement made available

Ekweremadu

to Senate Correspondents, the Special Assistant (Political Matters) to the Deputy President of the Senate on Political Affairs, Hon. Okey Ozoani, said the is unfounded and described it as “a fantasy of those peddling it.” He assured the PDP faithful and Nigerians that “Ekweremadu is going nowhere.” Said he: “Senator Ekwerema-

du is not contemplating leaving PDP. He is more concerned about fixing the country’s biting economic and security conditions and other challenges than saving his job as the Deputy President of the Senate. “It is his view that Nigeria has to first exist for us to have political parties to belong to or political offices to occupy. Studies have shown a direct relationship between economic conditions and survival of democracy. “The primary responsibility our Constitution places on our government is to cater to the wellbeing of the citizens as well as security of their lives and property. When such are threatened, everyone should necessarily get serious and preoccupied with contributing his or her quota to salvaging the country. “Besides, he is most grateful to his colleagues for the confidence they continue to repose in him and the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki. He is grateful for the solidarity that the Senators have continued to accord them.” Hon. Ozoani, while appreciating Ekweremadu’s supporters and well-meaning Nigerians who have continued to contact the Office over recent media reports, assured them that there was no cause for alarm.

News 6 Justice Ngwuta spent N313m on private house in 9 months, says witness Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÏÏÏ The Chief executive officer of Based 4 Service Limited, Linus Chukwuebuka, on Wednesday told the Federal High Court Abuja that Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who is facing money laundering charges, paid him N313m in nine months for construction of his private houses in Abakiliki, Ebonyi state. Chukwuebuka disclosed this while testifying on 16 count charges filed against Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court before justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja. Led in evidence-in-chief by prosecution counsel, Mr. Charles Adeogun Philip, the witness told the court how he helped the judge to move millions of naira and other properties from the residence of the judge in Abakaliki, following the arrest of Ngwuta last October by the Department of State Security Services (DSS). He said, “the total sum I received from the defendant is in the amount of N313m. I received the money between the 4th of January 2016 and September 2016.” The witness acknowledged that Ngwuta was his customer who retained his services to build houses for him in Ebonyi state. According to him, he first met the defendant on December 31, 2015 at Ngwuta’s private residence at Engineering close, off Onwe road, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state. He added that he was introduced by one Mr. Kenneth who told him the judge was in need of a reputable person or firm to handle some construction work for him. “He showed me an empty plot of land very close to his residence and told me what structure he would like there”, Chukwuebuka said. According to him, the defendant asked him to come up with designs for “A Library block, a 4 bedroom building with kitchen, all self-contained.” Others include two 4-bedroom duplexes detached and a huge fence that would contain all the structures and connect it to the existing one. Adding: He also asked me to construct a car park to house some vehicles. Speaking further, the witness said following the presentation of the designs and quotations for the job which he noted pleased the defendant, he was mobilized with the sum of N40m cash to commence work. He said he had presented a bill of N148m for the job but the defendant said he would only pay N130m. “On 4th January 2016 I was mobilized to commence work by my customer Hon. Justice Sylvester Ngwuta. I was paid the sum of N40m to commence work,” he said.

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MTEF: Senate reverses self Continued from page 1

which projections of the 2017 budget estimates are based. It would be recalled that the two-strategic document was transmitted to both chambers of the legislature on September 30, 2016. Senate in approving the document through consideration of reports of its joint Committees on Finance, Appropriation and National Planning, reviewed upward the $42.5 oil price benchmark proposed in the MTEF document for the 2017 budget projections to $44.5 from $42.5 proposed by the President. It nonetheless, retained all the other parameters and projections in it as recommended by the committee. Projections and parameters retained are the N305 to $1 US dollar

as exchange rate, the 2.2million barrel oil production per day, the projected N5.122 trillion for nonoil revenue in the 2017 fiscal year. Others are adoption of the projected N807.57 billion as federal government’s independent revenue for 2017, adoption of borrowing plan for the year as proposed in the MTEF document, etc. On the need for diversification of the nation’s economy, the Senate, as recommended by the committee, adopted the suggestion calling on federal government to implement drastic measures to achieve self-sufficiency and become an exporter of certain agricultural and mining products by increasing local production of maize, soya, poultry and livestock, among others. During general debate on the

report before its passage, heated argument had ensued among the senators over adoption of N305 to $1 as exchange rate. While those against the parameter like Senators Ben Bruce (PDP Bayelsa East) and Tayo Alasoadura (APC Ondo Central) among others, called for closing of the wide gap between the official rate (N305) and that of the parallel market, which is close to N500 to stop the round tripping going on, those who supported its retention argued that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should be allowed to initiate measures of closing the gap as recommended in the report. But the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, expressed worry over the gap in his

remarks after the passage of the document. “We are worried with the huge gap between the parallel market and the official market and as has been said by the chairman of appropriation, the Central Bank needs to do something about it because it is one thing that is breeding corruption. “We must find a way of bridging that gap and also stabilise the exchange rate so that investors can do their own forecast in terms of their investments. “We believe that something needs to be done in the area of the exchange rate,” he said. He added that with the approval of the MTEF and FSP paper, the stage was now set for debate on the general principles of the 2017 budget by the Senate next week.

Panic as Lassa fever resurfaces in Rivers

Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏ The people of

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Court adjourns Patience Jonathan’s suit against EFCC to Feb. 13 Peter Fowoyo

ÏÏÏ A Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on Wednesday adjourned further hearing in a suit instituted by former first lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and six others over the frozen of the sum of $15.5 million, she claimed belonged to her, to February 13. Joined as co-respondents are Skye bank Plc, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa and four other companies: Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, Transocean Property and Investment Company Ltd and Globus Integrated Service Ltd.

When the matter came up yesterday, Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer, Chief Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), sought for an adjournment to enable him serve her client’s amended claims on the companies. He added that other defendants have been served with copies of the processes while they have also served their counter-affidavits on the plaintiff. In the absence of any opposition to the silk’s request, the matter was eventually adjourned to February 13 for further hearing. It will be recalled that the four companies, which the EFCC claimed was used by Dudafa to launder the $15.591 million, had pleaded guilty to the offence of money laundering before Justice Babs Kuewumi of the same court.

The sum involved in the criminal case is the same money the former first lady claimed belongs to her as the sole signatory to the accounts of the companies. She, however, denied ownership of the companies.

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Rivers state were, on Wednesday, thrown into panic as rumours gave way to the confirmation of a case of the deadly lassa fever disease in the state by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Theophilus Odagme. In a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the commissioner disclosed that the state Ministry of Health has recorded a case of Lassa fever in an undisclosed private hospital in the state but has swung into action to halt the spread of the disease. The commissioner stated that due to the rapid response of the Ministry of Health, the affected patient was immediately isolated, treated, and discharged while the case was being professionally followed up. Dr. Odagme told journalists that the state Ministry of Health was collaborating with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the private hospital, and the family of the patient to ensure that the process of decontamination of contacts was effectively handled to ensure that the situation was arrested. He said: “Right now, we pray it does not pose further threat to the state. Indeed, we had a patient in a private hospital in the state. The patient was diagnosed and expertly managed and has been discharged. “The primary and secondary contacts are being followed and the other processes of decontamination are all on and we are following up with all the contacts. We are also ready if there are eventualities with the contacts, we will move them to the special centre in Emohua local government,” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

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Uneasy calm in The Gambia over change of govt

Ibe Uwaleke (With agency reports)

ÏÏÏApprehension, anxiety and un-

certainty prevail in The Gambia as the country prepares for a a change of government today. If the sitting President, Yahya Jammeh decides to step down before the inauguration of the President-elect, Adama Barrow today the military build-up led by ECOMOG will have no option than to strike the country to remove Jammeh Already “the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed to Senegal as part of Nigerian contingent of Economic Community of West African States Military Intervention in Gambia (ECOMIG), – a standby force tasked by ECOWAS Heads of State to enforce the December 1, 2016 election mandate in the The Gambia”, a spokesman said a statement on Wednesday. “The NAF today moved a contingent of 200 men and air assets comprising fighter jets, transport aircraft, Light Utility Helicopter as well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft to Dakar from where it is expected to operate into Gambia,” said group Captain Ayodele Famuyima, the Director of Public Relations and Information at the Nigerian Air Force. “The deployment is also to forestall hostilities or breakdown of law and order that may result from the current political impasse in The Gambia,” he added. Addressing the contingent before departure, the Chief of the Nigerian Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, urged the troops to maintain discipline and be professional in their conduct, the statement said. He reminded them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria, adding that no act of indiscipline by the contingent would be tolerated. The contingent, led by Air Cdre Tajudeen Yusuf, was airlifted this morning from 117 Air Combat Training Group Kainji. Other troop contributing countries include Senegal, Ghana and countries within the subregion. Meanwhile, the Government of Senegal has given Jammeh ultimatum saying its army will step into the country if he refuses to step down. The Senegalese army said on

Wednesday it was ready to intervene in neighbouring The Gambia if there was no solution to the crisis triggered by President Yahya Jammeh’s refusal to step down after his election defeat last month. “Our troops are on alert… The ultimatum takes effect at midnight,” when Jammeh’s mandate is due to expire, army spokesman Colonel Abdou Ndiaye told AFP. “If a political solution fails, we will engage” in operations in The Gambia, he said, confirming that troops were heading to the border. The country’s troops have been seen moving towards the Gambian border in an apparent show of force to pressure President Yahya Jammeh to stand down, the BBC reported on Wednesday. Mr. Jammeh who lost the December 1 presidential election to Adama Barrow first conceded defeat then changed his mind citing irregularities. He challenged the results in court but suffered setbacks. Finally, he declare a 90-day state of emergency on Tuesday and got the National Assembly to pass a last minute resolution to allow him to stay in power for another three months. Senegalese troops have been seen moving towards the Gambian border in an apparent show of force to pressure President Yahya Jammeh

to stand down, the BBC reported on Wednesday. Mr. Jammeh who lost the December 1 presidential election to Adama Barrow first conceded defeat then changed his mind citing irregularities. He challenged the results in court but suffered setbacks. Finally, he declare a 90-day state of emergency on Tuesday and got the National Assembly to pass a last minute resolution to allow him to stay in power for another three months. Pressure from Africa, the United States and elsewhere fell into death ears, prompting ECOWAS to threaten military intervention. The Nigerian military has deployed troops and a warship. Other ECOWAS members are ready to force Jammeh out of office. Wednesday was meant to be his last day in office after his defeat by Adama Barrow but parliament has granted him three more months in office.That move effectively may stop Mr Barrow from being sworn in today. West African countries are seeking UN backing to intervene militarily to eject Mr Jammeh, BBC said. Meanwhile the Gambia’s President-elect, Adama Barrow, has said his countrymen and women are at the brink of making another world

history on Thursday, after defeating Yahya Jammeh in the December 1 election, 2016. “We made history on the first day of December. Our future starts tomorrow”, he said in a tweet on Wednesday morning. “We made history on the first day of December. Our future starts tomorrow”, he said on his twitter handle. Although he is now sequestered in Dakar, Senegal, leaders of the regional bloc ECOWAS have said he should be sworn in tomorrow on Gambian soil, indicating they would use military might to drive away President Yahya Jammeh whose tenure expires midnight on Wednesday. The ECOWAS leaders, in a mediatory efforts led by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari failed to convince Jammeh to voluntarily leave office after losing the December 1 election to Mr. Barrow, a real estate businessman. Jammeh in a last minute effort to save his job embarked on a timewasting effort to get the court to order a new election and stop Mr. Barrow’s inauguration. He failed on the two efforts as the Supreme Court could not form a quorum to decide his cases. In a last gambit on Tuesday, after shutting down four private radio stations, he declared a three-month state

Pandemonium as transport union clashes with Karota, police in Kano

Yakubu Salisu, Kano

ÏÏÏThere

L-R: Deputy Director, Policy Advocacy, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Bello Bala; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Executive Secretary /CEO, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, Ms. Yewande Sadiku and Director, Strategic Planning, Renben Kifasi, during a courtesy visit on Fayemi in Abuja… on Wednesday. Photo: TEMITOPE BALOGUN.

Buhari to launch economic recovery growth plan soon –Osinbajo Tony Ailemen, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that President Muhammadu Bahari has concluded plans to launch his economic recovery growth plans aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s economy, next month. This is just as he stated that the current empowerment of Nigerians is at the heart of the Social Investment Programmes of the Buhari administration, even though it also has a social welfare component to help

of emergency, starting from Tuesday. In a televised address on state TV on Tuesday evening, Mr. Jammeh announced that the 90 days state of emergency started from Januar y 17 and will end April 17, 2017. “Under this state of public emergency, civil liberties are to be fully respected while all citizens and residents in The Gambia are banned from any acts of disobedience to the laws of The Gambia, incitement to violence and acts intended to disturb public order and peace,” he said. Mr. Jammeh gave reasons for the state of emergency including “the need to prevent a constitutional crisis and power vacuum pending the determination of the petitions at the Supreme Court and the application for an injunction against swearing in Mr. Adama Barrow, until the Supreme Court decides on the 1st December 2016 Presidential Election results”. He also ordered the security forces, who pledged allegiance to him, to maintain law and order in the country during the period. The resolution was passed by the country’s National Assembly after a motion was tabled by Majority Leader Fabakary Jatta on Tuesday morning as indicated by the order paper made available to the media.

the people survive as they are being empowered. Professor Osinbajo stated this yesterday, in Davos, Switzerland, where he is leading the Nigerian delegation to the yearly World Economic Forum. Speaking at the Buisness Interaction Group attended by several international and local investors and business interests, and hosted by the Nigerian delegation, the Vice President assured that the newly developed Economic Recovery Growth Plan of the Buhari administration has been specifically designed

to take the country out of recession and in the long term continue to grow the economy, adding that “ the planning of the 2017 was based on the ERGP, which he said would be formally launched next month.” The Vice President participated and spoke in several events today including a packed international Business Interaction Group of investors focused exclusively on Nigeria. He also spoke at a panel of Building Africa, joined by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and televised live by the CNBC Africa.

At the panel, asked to mention what kind of radical ideas can advance the African continent, Prof. Osinbajo gave the example of the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme where for the first time half a Trillion Naira is being budgeted by the Federal Government for Social Investment Programmes. “It is about investment in people, in their skills, in youths, that we have a N500B allocation in our budget last year and proposed for this year also,” the VP explained.

was pandemonium in Kano on Wednesday morning as a branch of Road Transport Union which operates at the Gyedigyedi Round About clashes with the Kano State Road Traffic Agency popularly known as Karota and the Nigeria police force attached to the agency. When contacted, the public relations officer Karota Faruk Gali disclosed that their officers were out on an operation to shut down illegal motor parks in the state when they came under attack by operators of such park wielding all kind of Dangerous weapons at Ado bayero Fly over bridge where 20 officers of the agency were critically injured and a vehicle belonging to the agency was also damaged. He further stated that a police officer was shot at by the hoodlums and is currently receiving treatment at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) from the wounds sustained from the gunshot alongside the 20 officers while those with minor injuries have been treated and discharged. He stated that the Agency remain committed to riding the state of illegal motor park which he said is prohibited in any developed society. Confirming the incidence via a phone call, the State Police Public Relations Officer ASP Majia denied speculations that an officer of the Command sustained gunshot wounds but rather that he was attacked and injured with machetes by the hoodlums and that no death was recorded except cases of injuries.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19 2017

Dariye’s Trial Stalls Again as he accuses Judge of ‘undisguised bias’ Tony Ailemen, Abuja

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The trial of former Governor of Plateau, Chief Joshua Dariye over an alleged N1.162bn was again adjourned to February 15th as he accused the trial Judge of what he described as “undisguised bias”. The action regarded as deliberate plan to frustrate his trial, as the former Plateau

State governor, who is facing a 23-count charge at a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu, accused Justice Adebukola Banjoko of ‘undisguised bias.’ The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Dariye for allegedly diverting about N1.162 billion from the state’s Ecological Fund, to private companies and individuals.

Recall that the EFCC had resumed the trial of Dariye on January 25, 2016 after the Supreme Court on February 27, 2015, dismissed his appeal to quash the charges and ordered Dariye’s “expeditious” trial. The prosecution had on June 6, 2016 closed its case against him, after presenting 10 witnesses, including Peter Clark, a retired detective constable with the UK Metropoli-

tan Police, who investigated money laundering charges against him in the UK. Clark had on May 9, 2016 while being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that Dariye remained a fugitive having jumped bail in the UK, and that the fraud charges against him were still pending there. Several documents detailing the diversion of the

Niger Delta Crisis: Delta Lawmaker Applauds FG’s Peace Building Process.

Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

ÎÎÎ

The Chairman, Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Oil and Gas, Hon. Daniel Yingi, has commended the peace-building process of the Federal Government in the Niger Delta, saying that stability in the region is not negotiable. Hon. Yingi, who represents BUrutu 1 Constituency in the state legislature said the visit to the region by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was necessary in addressing the misgivings among critical stakeholders and praised the efforts so far made by the Minister of State, Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu in galvanizing useful discussions between the Federal Government and the people. The lawmaker noted that stability in the Niger Delta would guarantee speedy development of the region, stressing that every stakeholder should for the sake of moving forward keep its part of promise made and the agreement reached in the dialogue table. Yingi reminded the Federal Government that the only reason for the unending agitation by the people of Niger Delta was the criminal neglect in the development of the region, which environment has been mesmerized by oil exploration and exploitation activities. “Over the years, oil remains the main stay of the nation’s economy, but the geese that lays the golden eggs has nothing to show for it,” advising the Federal Government to act the talk by taking steps to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta region,” he said.

state’s funds to Barclays Bank in the UK were among exhibits presented in court. Dariye’s defence team, led by G.S. Pwul, SAN, opened its defence on June 17, 2016 with Adonye Roberts, a former staff of the defunct All States Trust Bank, admitting under crossexamination, that Dariye. illegally operated an account with the bank in the name of “Ebenezer Retnan Ventures” – a company to which part of the Ecological Funds were diverted to. The trial could not go on, on December 9, 2016 as a result of the absence of a defence witness, prompting the judge to adjourn to December 13, 2016. Pwul, though was not in court, was represented by Fidelis

Kaatpo. Kaatpo had told the court that: “The court bailiff was unable to serve our witnesses the summons, because they were not reachable.” At the sitting on December 13, 2016 Justice Banjoko also had to adjourn to January 18, 2017 at the request of Pwul, who told the court that he intended to present two more witnesses, which he was yet to get in touch with. He had also forwarded two motions to the court meant for hearing. Jacobs had visibly expressed his discontent at the decision to adjourn, accusing Pwul of deliberately acting to delay the trial. The trial judge, who had to step in to calm frayed nerves, however, cautioned the prosecution, noting that the defence deserves to be given ample time to make its case, and “a speedy trial is not having a speedy acquittal or conviction, but is based on the merit of what you put before the court.”

Nigerians in diaspora to be captured in pension scheme soon, PTAD boss Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe Presiding Pastor of Salvation Ministries, Pastor David Ibiyeomie (left); Rivers State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike (2nd right); his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette (right) and officials of the Rivers State government, during the Five Nights of Glory of Salvation Ministries in Port Harcourt… on Monday night.

UNILAG renames monuments after past VC, graduates 12,617 Esther Taiwo

ÎÎÎAs

the University of Lagos prepares for its 49th convocation, its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rahman Bello, has announced that the Senate of the University has decided to honour all past Vice Chancellors of the institution who are not serving and who have not been honoured so far for their contributions to the growth of the university. Two female students, Miss Bankole Taiwo, from the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science and Miss Omotuyi Oyindamola, from the Department of Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering graduated with the perfect score of 5.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). He said the university is naming some infrastructure in use in the university after the eminent academics such as: the Main Auditorium to be renamed J. F. Ade Ajayi Auditorium;

the Second Access Road to be renamed Akinpelu Adesola Road; the Radiography hostel renamed Kwaku Adadevoh Hostel; the DLI Auditorium renamed Nurudeen Aalo Auditorium and the Multipurpose Hall renamed Jelili Omotola Hall; while the Staff School Hall would be renamed Tolulope Odugbemi Hall. Prof. Rahman said the unveiling of the new names of these infrastructures will be the first activity of the ceremonies on Monday January 23, 2017, adding that the convocation lecture titled, ‘Building a Successor Generation: Reflections on Values and Knowledge in Nation Building,’ would be delivered by Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, an alumnus of the university. The VC also explained that three eminent Nigerians would be honoured at the event with Honorary Doctorate degrees who are Chancellor of the univer-

sity, His Royal Eminence, Dr. Abubakar Umar ElKanemi, Shehu of Borno, who will be honoured with D.Sc (Honoris Causa) Public Admin; Prof. John Pepper Clark, a poet with Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa); Prof. Ayodele Francis Ogunye with DSc (Honoris Causa) Engineering. On the breakdown of the graduating students, a total of 12,617 out of which 6,900 representing 54.7 percent will receive first degrees or diplomas while 5,717 representing 45.3 percent will receive post graduate degrees. “Out of the first degree graduating students, 231 passed in the first-class division with the Faculty of Engineering topping the list with 46 first class; 1,705 passed out with Second Class Upper division; 2,972 are in the SecondClass lower division; 1,372 in Third Class with 103 Pass degree while 517 have degrees of Diplomas that are not classified.

Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) yesterday hinted that it is proposing a programme that will capture Nigerian pensioners who had served their country diligently. This is even as the Directorate said that Nigerians in the Diaspora would have a course to smile as their verification is to start soon. The Executive Secretary of PTAD, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor stated these when she paid a courtesy call on Hon. Abike DabiriErewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora in Abuja. Ikeazor explained that she was in the SSA’s office to see how they could work together to flag off the pension scheme for the Nigerians in the Diaspora who had served the country before travelling abroad. According to her, “They (Nigerians in the Diaspora who had served the country before travelling abroad” are our heroes and heroines who had worked for this country since independence and there is need to capture them in our pension scheme through verification and updating our data base”. She explained that the Diaspora pensioners are Nigerians who had worked in the country and due for pension but did not collect their pension before going to abroad. Continuing, she said, “My coming is to see how we can partner with the office of SSA to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora to enable us capture pensioners in the Diaspora so that we can have their accurate data base.

“Verification of our pensioners is to ensure that every pensioner is captured. You know that we have a lot of pensioners in the Diaspora. “Am hoping that we can partner together to get all the information data on our Diaspora. “We want to set up a portal that will enable them to key in to the scheme and enhance their verification process without necessarily coming into the country’’, she said. The PTAD Executive Secretary boss explained that the agency would get the nominal roll of pensioners from the state government through which it can ascertain the state and the Federal share. She said the directorate had suspended 15, 600 pensioners from its payroll due to lack of Bank Verification Number (BVN). Ikeazor said the measure was part of the agency’s commitment to getting authentic database of pensioners and streamlining its payroll. Her words, “So far, we have dropped about 15,600 pensioners off our pay roll that have no BVN. So we just flag their account so that money does not go in there. “We have told the genuine ones to update their BVN so that we can put them back on our payroll. We have saved the government millions of naira through the exercise. “This action was in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and commercial banks to obtain current status of bank account being used by pensioners to receive their pension payment,’’ she said.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Politics

Ekiti 2018 and the agitation for power shift

Adebayo

Oni

Fayemi

Fayose

Femi Dejumo

districts. In retrospect, since the return of democracy in 1999, the state has had five elected governorship regimes. They have all come from Central and North senatorial districts of the state, leaving the people of the South feeling marginalized which makes the argument for power shift more apt than ever before. Admittedly, there is nowhere in the constitution of the progressives where zoning is enshrined, yet equity and fair play have always prevailed in the internal electoral process producing governorship candidates in Ekiti. The Ekiti Central Senatorial District gave the first shot at the governorship seat in 1999 with the election of Adeniyi Adebayo. When he sought re-election in 2003 there was no opposition to his candidacy at the time, although he went on to lose the general election to another party candidate from the same senatorial district as him. Following the conclusion of that regime in 2007, however, an all party’s leaders meeting was held at Ise-Ekiti in October 2004 which had in attendance representa-

tives of all registered political parties in the state at the time representing all three senatorial districts. Some far-reaching decisions were reached at the end of the stakeholders meeting after which a communiqué was issued. Topping the resolutions of these leaders as listed in the communiqué was that Ekiti people would not allow one senatorial district or one local government to utilise the state governorship slot for more than two terms of eight years, as the governorship position must go to another senatorial district either in the North or South senatorial districts by 2007. Another resolution at the meeting was that the governorship slot will not be zoned to individuals but to senatorial districts (or local governments) and it should not matter if the generally accepted maximum term of eight years for a zone were shared between one or two governors from one or two different political parties. This landmark agreement and principles guided the activities leading to 2007 elections in the state. Hence, the whole state cooperated with the Northern dis-

trict to produce Segun Oni and later followed by Kayode Fayemi as governors, both from the North senatorial district. Naturally, the South by that agreement should have immediately followed since the North had then completed two terms. Sadly, this never happened. When Fayemi decided to run for second term in 2014, again the progressives supported him to the effect that no aspirants from the South district ran against him. Fayemi lost his bid to another party candidate, who turned out to again come from the Central district. So, not only did the South miss that opportunity, it went back to the Central district for the 3rd time which is clearly not in line with the guiding principles laid out by the all party’s leaders in 2004. Now as political activities towards the successor to Fayose hots up, it is only fair and sensible that the South Senatorial District be supported to produce the next governor. Politically, picking a candidate (and a credible one for that matter) from the Southern Senatorial District of the state will be a wise decision considering it is the zone with the highest number of local councils and political wards in the state. Having complied with the ‘gentleman’ agreement of 2004 and cooperated with other zones to govern the state, it will only be fair, equitable and legitimate for the Southern Senatorial District to be allowed to have their turn at the Ekiti Government House, without compromising on credibility and electability of whoever emerges as candidate.

Ekiti State and her highly controversial governor have remained in the news mostly for wrong and unproductive reasons. This has greatly elicited interest from Nigerians; both at home and in the Diaspora, as to who will succeed Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose come 2018. The antics and political maneuvering have set the stage for a dramatic electioneering of epic proportions. Will Fayose self-destruct at his attempts to self-preserve? Will the APC’s division precipitate into an implosion? Will the party close its ranks, assuage aggrieved parties and wage a formidable assault to wrest powers back from the PDP? All burning questions that continue to arouse interest in developments in the state and how they all play out. Many prominent citizens of the state are already scheming for the coveted seat, but there are some contending issues in Ekiti politics that will play out in the coming governorship election. Perhaps, the most potent of the issues is from which part of the state should the next governor emanate from. This births “The Southern Agenda” and agitation which continues to brew and gather storm. Ordinarily, this should not have been an issue if some self-proclaimed godfathers of Ekiti politics had exhibited some level of decency and fairness. As with other states of Nigeria, Ekiti State is constitutionally sitting on a tripod of North, Central and South senatorial

In retrospect, since the return of democracy in 1999, the state has had five elected governorship regimes. They have all come from Central and North senatorial districts of the state, leaving the people of the South feeling marginalized which makes the argument for power shift more apt than ever before.

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Lagos State House of Assembly: So far, so…. Yemi Adeleye Apparently, deriving from Lagos State’s motto — “Centre of Excellence’’ — the Lagos State House of Assembly embraced a slogan, “A House of Assembly Above the Common Standard of Excellence’’. This watchword among the legislators is to make a point, that the Assembly is distinct and legislates for a distinct state, a mega city and centre of excellence. However, how distinct the Assembly is, depends on its efficiency in the discharging of its constitutional responsibilities in the populous state. Indeed, the 8th Assembly, inaugurated on June 8, 2015, under the leadership of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, has been full of activities. In the first six months of its inauguration, from June 2015 to December 2015, the House passed 45 resolutions. In 2016, the 40-member House, representing about 21 million Lagos residents across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), made 65 resolutions and passed eight bills into law. Some of the bills have been assented to by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode. It equally waded into some crises and attended to some petitions by various groups. The House, in the first quarter of 2016, passed 24 resolutions, prominent among them is the compulsory teaching and learning of Yoruba Language in both private and public primary and secondary schools. This resolution was passed on Feb. 4. It passed no fewer than 19 resolutions in the second quarter, including a decision on April 5 to call on the Federal Government to end crippling fuel scarcity. In the same quarter, the Assembly called on the Federal Government to dialogue with the Niger Delta Avengers to end restiveness in the region. It also passed a resolution for the dissolution of local government council caretaker committees in the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs. The lawmakers passed 11 resolutions in each of the third and fourth quarters, prominent among are to call on Ambode to beef up security in the state’s coastal areas and to investigate poorly executed road projects. Among the bills passed into law are a bill to establish a neighbourhood safety agency and a bill to prohibit forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed property in the state. Some other bills passed into law by the Assembly in 2016 are the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (Amendment) Law, 2016; Local Government Election Tribunal (Amendment) Law, 2016; and Local Government Administration (Amendment) Law, 2016. The others are the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund Law, 2015; Appropriation Law, 2016; Lagos State Properties Protection Law, 2016 and Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law, 2016. The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, says the neighborhood safety agency law is aimed at promoting community policing through vigilante corps. He says it is not to provoke rivalry with other security agencies, but to complement their efforts in strengthening security in La-

Obasa

Agunbiade

Braimoh

gos State. On the Properties Protection Law, Obasa says the enactment is a major step towards stemming the activities of land grabbers, popularly known as “Omo Oniles’’ or “Ajagungbales’’. The Speaker also believes that the Local Government Administration (Amendment) Law will deepen democracy at the grassroots by elongating the tenure of elected local council officers from three to four years. The House has continued to conduct Thursday plenary sessions in Yoruba Language. Notable among the achievements of the Assembly in 2016 in promoting speaking of Yoruba Language is its sponsorship of a summit in July to push it further. The summit attracted first class monarchs such as the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu. Scholars and artistes were also part of the meeting. The 8th Assembly also organised stakeholders’ meetings simultaneously in all the 40 state constituencies to feel the pulse of the people and bring governance closer to them. The Assembly, on Jan. 3, opened 2017 plenary with the passage of the state’s N813 billion Appropriation Bill for the year, earlier submitted by Gov. Ambode on Nov. 29, 2016. The governor has signed the bill into law.

On Jan. 5, it passed the Bill for a Law, the Prohibition of the Act of Kidnapping and for Other Connected Purposes, with stiff penalties, including death sentence for offenders. The bill, aimed at checking the spate of kidnapping in the state was sponsored by the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa. It prescribes death sentence for kidnappers whose victims die in their custody and life sentence for kidnappers whose victims do not die in their hands. The Assembly, on Jan. 9 passed into law, the Lagos State Sports Trust Fund Bill, 2016; and Lagos State Sports Commission Bill, 2016. Numerous bills, including The Lagos State Customary Court (Amendment) Bill, 2016; Lagos State Cancer Research Institute Bill, 2016; and Local Government Economic Planning and Development Board Bill, 2016 are at the committee stage. Others, including the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Bill, 2015; Lagos State Public Works Corporation Bill, 2015; and Seal of Lagos State Government (Amendment) Bill, 2015 are at the second reading stage. Tunde Braimoh, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy gives an assurance to the residents that the Assembly will continue to do its best through legislation.

He says this is imperative to give succour to the state residents, especially in a period of economic recession. “The House of Assembly promises to live up to its billings as a partner with the executive to the ultimate benefit of the citizenry,’’ Braimoh said. Alex Omotehinse, Chairman, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Lagos Branch, however, says the lawmakers fell short in some areas. Reviewing the activities of the House, Omotehinse scores the Assembly low in its response to petitions. The rights campaigner is of the opinion that the House should attend fast to petitions and make timely interventions. “CDHR, in 2016, submitted nothing less than six petitions to the House, but none of these petitions was attended to, except the last one we wrote about customs. “I advise that the Assembly members should be up and doing as representatives of the people. When something happens at the grassroots and people inform the House, it is its responsibility to take such as a matter of urgency.’’ He also has reservations on the Lagos State law against street trading, arguing that its disadvantages outweigh the advantages. According to him, CDHR has challenged the law because laws are made for man and not man for laws. The activist, however, describes Neighbourhood Safety Agency Law, 2016, and Property Protection Law, 2016, enacted by the Assembly as welcome developments, and calls for effective implementation. Tope Musowo, a journalist and postgraduate student of the Nigerian Institute of Jour-

I advise that the Assembly members should be up and doing as representatives of the people. When something happens at the grassroots and people inform the House, it is its responsibility to take such as a matter of urgency

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

11 Politics

APC holds national convention latest in April Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday disclosed that its National Convention will hold not later than April this year. This was one of the outcomes of the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the APC held this week at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

The meeting, according to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi was chaired by the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. The processes leading to the National Convention, according to Abdullahi, will commence with the Congress to fill vacancies in the State Party structures across the country. The vacancies to be filled, he ex-

plained, occurred principally from political appointments, deaths and resignations. According to the statement, “The Congress to fill the vacancies would be followed closely by another Congress to nominate delegates into the midterm non-elective Convention of the party. “The Congresses will be followed by the National Caucus meeting, and

Niger Gov. urges political office holders to patronise public schools Niger State Abubakar Bello has advised all political office holders to enroll their children in public schools to ensure the revival and sustenance of the sector. Bello gave the advise when he received the President of Children’s Government of Nigeria, Miss Hauwa Musa and other delegations on Wednesday in Minna. According to the governor, such step will enable public schools attain efficiency and relevance if they are patronised by politicians. He decried the neglect of public schools

and health centres by the elites in the society, as members of their family do not patronise such public facilities. “It is sad that we have reduced our public schools to the background because the children of governors, deputy governors or commissioners and those in position of authority are not in public schools. “In our public schools, we have instances where one teacher attends to more than one hundred pupils sitting on the floor or stones to receive lessons.

finalised with the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, which will consider and set the dates for the National Convention, which is expected to hold not later than April of 2017. “This is in accordance with our constitution which states that the party’s convention must be held once in two years,” the statement by Abdullahi stressed.

“The only way for our public schools to function is when children and family members of political office holders attend such schools. That will help to review our public schools policy. “Public schools and public health facilities where common man takes solace are in bad shape, government should make them functional and reduce the burden on the people,” he said. Earlier, Musa assured that her administration would give priority on the welfare of families of fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for the nation. She said that her government would also sponsor the education of orphans of fallen heroes to university level as well as empower their widows. (NAN)

Okowa felicitates with monarch of Olomu kingdom on centenary birthday Delta State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has congratulated HRM Ovie Richard Layeguen Ogbon Ogoni-Oghoro I, the Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, on his centenary birthday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the monarch, the oldest reigning king in Delta State, will turn 100 years on Friday, Jan. 20. He has celebrated 29th years on the throne. Okowa’s message was conveyed in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Charles Aniagwu, on Wednesday in Asaba. Okowa described the monarch as a man blessed by God to have attained 100 years on earth and still looking strong and healthy. He prayed for the sustenance of peace, har-

mony, prosperity and progress which the Olomu Kingdom had witnessed since. The governor also prayed to God to continue to bless the monarch with robust health and many more years of fulfillment. “On behalf of my family, government and people of Delta State, I felicitate with your Royal Majesty on the occasion of your glorious centenary birthday and 29th years anniversary on the throne of your forefathers. “In the last 29 years on the throne, HRM Olomu 1, has demonstrated exemplary leadership by living above board, while remaining the rallying point and inspiration for his subjects. “As a custodian of culture and tradition, the Ohworode has played significant roles in the promotion of harmony among the Olomu

kingdom, the Urhobo nation and Deltans in general,” the governor said. He said that the monarch had also helped to enhance socio-cultural cooperation, communal living and peaceful co-existence among the Urhobos and other ethnic groups in the state. “The ideals of uncommon patriotism, unparalleled humility and sterling leadership qualities which you epitomize are worthy traits that will continue to inspire us in our ‘S.M.A.R.T.’ Agenda”. Okowa wished the monarch well as he celebrates the birthday and congratulated the people of Olomu kingdom for giving the monarch the needed support and cooperation in last 29 years.

Lagos State House of Assembly: So far, so…. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Sanni

nalism, describes the enactment of Neighbourhood Safety Agency Law and Properties Protection Law as overdue. “Neighbourhood Safety Agency Law is a welcome development that is long overdue given the peculiarities of Lagos security challenges. So also is the Property Protection Law. “But as laudable as these are, much still has to be done in terms of enforcement. There are so many laws in the state which

are not enforced,’’ Musowo says. In the assessment of factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Chief Segun Adewale, the Assembly is a rubber stamp of the executive. He believes that there are no robust debates on issues in the House. Adewale is of the opinion that the Assembly gives much attention to urban areas of Lagos State in its legislation in 2016, to the detriment of rural areas. He urges the Assembly to shift attention from already developed

areas of the state to the rural places where, according to him, the residents are suffering. All eyes are on the Assembly to see how its operations in the next 12 months will impact on the wellbeing of Lagos residents. Analysts say they look forward to the passage of more populist bills and resolutions for rapid socio-economic advancement of the Centre of Excellence. Adeleye, is of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Odigie-Oyegun.

PDP to sanction members over unguided statements The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State has said that it will sanction any member who makes unguarded statement on the crisis in the party at the national level. The party in a statement on Wednesday by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdulsalam Gidado, warned members not to engage in utterances that would jeopardise efforts at resolving problems in the party. “The party is hereby cautioning all its members in the state against speaking unguardedly, especially at this time when all hands should be on deck to resolve the current impasse in our party. “Disciplinary measures will henceforth be applied on all defaulters,” the statement said. It disowned one Lawan Uba, who it said addressed the media in Yola, claiming to be a chieftain of the party. It said that Uba was not a party chieftain and was not competent to speak for the party “to the extent of condemning the party leadership at the national level and apportioning blame’’. (NAN)

Ex-Abia gov urges traditional rulers to promote peaceful co-existence A former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has called on traditional rulers in the country to promote peaceful co-existence in their domains to ensure the growth and development of the nation. Kalu made the call on Wednesday in Minna when he visited the state to condole with the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Faruk and former military President Ibrahim Babangida on the death of Abdulkadir Kure, the late governor of Niger State. He said that traditional institutions had a role to play in sensitising the people to live in peace, especially in troubled areas. “I condole with you and the people of the state on the death of my colleague and friend, Alhaji Abdulkadir Kure. “I thank you for the fatherly role you are playing in the state. In a time like this our traditional institution must play vital role to promote peaceful co-existence. “As Nigerians, we do not have any other country; this is our country, we must live in peace and enjoy the benefits of democracy,” he said. Kalu described the late governor as a `great leader,’ who served his people and the country diligently.

News 12

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Herdsmen attack: Ohaneze youths read riot Ï ƅƅƈƗƆ Ɛ Ƌ Ƅ ƌƄƈ Ɛ ƏƆƇƋƆƅƐƈ Ƈ M 0ô ^Ə ƇƆ ƈ Ƌƈ ƌ –Lai Mohammed act to S’East The government delegation Force (NAF) jet, as utterly tragic, the Air Component of the fight Tom Okpe, govs comprises the Chief of Staff, saying that it is not a true reflec- against Boko Haram is based,

NAF bombing: Ministers visit IDP camp

Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

ÏÏÏ The Ohanaeze youth wing

has warned South East governors to brace up to their responsibility and condemn to the continued menace of herdsmen in Igboland, particularly in Abia state, or face the wrath of Igbo youth. Speaking in Umuahia shortly after arrival from the Ohaneze Ndigbo National Congress in Enugu, the Abia state youth leader of the pan Igbo group, Comrade Okey Paul Nwankwo, decried the wanton destruction, harassment and raping of women and teenagers at Ndi-Abam, Ohafia, Arochukwu local government areas and other parts of the South East, warning that the youth will no longer continue to fold its arms watching the menace of herdsmen tormenting their lands. They called on the South-East governors to step in without further delay. According to him, “the youths have endured enough, our people are being attacked, the women and teenagers are being raped, crops are being destroyed, yet they are threatening our lives. Enough is enough.” They congratulated the new Ohaneze Ndigbo President-General, Chief John Nwodo, and his team for emerging victorious, while also lauding the Abia state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, for his immense support to Ohaneze Ndigbo both at the national and state level, just as he assured the National Youth Leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isigozoro, of total supports of the state youth wing and promised to work in consonance with his leadership to ensure the desired success across board. On his mission, the State Youth Leader and Special Assistant to the governor said under his watch, youths in the State will work in synergy with state government to address the problem of poverty, youth unemployment and restiveness, kidnapping and pipe line vandalization, while assuring his leadership transparency, accountability, peace and unity as well as to promote education among youths. In his words, “I will be a bridge between Government and Ohaneze Youth and ensure youths in the 17 Local Government Areas of Abia state remain proactive and achieve success.”

Abuja

ÏÏÏ A federal government dele-

gation led by the Chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, has arrived Maiduguri, Borno State, in respect of Tuesday’s bombing of a displaced persons’ camp in the state. At least 52 persons were killed and 120 others injured after an Air Force jet mistakenly targeted the IDP camp at Rann, near the border with Cameroon, where people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency, lived.

Abba Kyari, Ministers of Defence and Information; the Chief of Defense Staff, as well as the Chiefs of Army and Air Staffs. The team left for the Borno Government House, where it will meet Governor Kashim Shettima. Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who is also part of the ministerial delegation, described the accidental bombing of a civilian community in Rann, Borno state by a Nigerian Air

tion of the Nigeria Air force professionalism that they are known for. In a press statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday signed by the Senior Assistant to the Minister on media Segun Adeyemi, the Minister sends his condolences to the families of those who died in the unfortunate bombing and prays for quick recovery of the injured. Alhaji Mohammed, who recently led members of the BBOG and the media to Yola, where

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said he was particularly saddened because the accidental bombing is not a true reflection of the level of what he witnessed during the visit. “One of the things we went away with after spending some two days at the Tactical Air Command in Yola is the strict adherence to operational guidelines and the high level of professionalism of the officers and men, especially the young pilots who fly high-risk missions day and night. “Among others, we witnessed pre- and post-mission briefings for the pilots, the high attention paid to details, especially concerning emergencies and weather, and the evacuation plan in case of accidents. We heard that on several occasions during their sorties, fighter pilots have had to hold their fire after observing the movement of women and children in Sambisa. We also witnessed the same careful disposition when we flew to Sambisa with the pilots. “It therefore came to me as a rude shock to learn, a few hours after leaving Yola that one of the fighter jets has accidentally bombed civilians including aid workers”, he said. The Minister urged the Nigeria Air force (NAF) to continue to take the necessary measures to avoid civilian casualties, as it carries out its challenging task of keeping Nigerians safe.

Saraki: Fire destroyed documents on foreign funds transfer –Witness Andrew Orolua , Abuja

ÏÏÏ Amazu Nwachukwu,on Wednesday, told the tribunal that the 2011 fire incident at the foreign operations unit of the Ilorin branch of the Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Plc, destroyed the only copy of document relating to the foreign funds transfer by the Senate President, Dr. Olubukola Saraki. Nwachukwu, a senior staff of GTB Plc and a witness on the ongoing trial of the Senate President at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over alleged false declaration of assets, stated this during cross examination by defence counsel, Paul Usoro (SAN). He said that he did not have the opportunity of seeing the said document before it was destroyed by the fire. He said he also did not know whether Saraki operated an account with Fortis Bank in the United Kingdom (UK) as at 2010 when he was the executive governor of Kwara state.

When the witness was referred to exhibit 8 and 9, which has names and addresses of customers of Fortis Bank, he said he did not “know the account numbering of Fortis Bank.” The lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), while reexamining the witness, said he should clear the air in the contradiction in his testimony in his evidence in chief and his statement while under cross examination, to the effect that he gave names of some of the beneficiaries of the transfer of the funds to include the defendant in paragraph 59 of the document and in another breath, “you said you cannot confirm the account into which the fund was sent to.” Jacobs said there was the need for the witness to clear the ambiguity, adding that the witness had said in his evidence in chief that the defendant gave instructions for the transfer of the funds. But the defence counsel objected to that line of re-examination by the prosecution counsel, adding that there was nothing am-

biguous in the testimony of the witness as. “He had clearly told the tribunal that he is not in the position to say anything as regard the fund transfer because he was not in the department when those transfers were made and that the document generated was destroyed by fire in 2011. The chairman of the tribunal agreed with the defence counsel that there was nothing ambiguous in the testimony of the witness because he said he did not see the request form for the transfer of the fund. Recalled that the witness on Tuesday, told the tribunal that Saraki made foreign funds transfer of over $3 million while he was governor of Kwara State and added also that the Senate President made several transactions, including a transfer of over $73,000 from his dollar account maintained with the GTBank to his foreign account in the American Express Service Europe Ltd. He said the purpose of the transfer was to fund a foreign credit card, belonging to the American

Express Bank and owned by the defendant. “He has a domiciliary account with the GTB in US dollars and in pounds sterling. The domiciliary account is domiciled in Ilorin,” he told the tribunal in his evidence in chief on Tuesday and however, added that he did not know how foreign credit card operates. Amazu said Saraki made other transfers, including the transfer of £761, 904.76 in February 2010, and that another sum of £632, 411.7 was also transferred for the defendant to Fortis Bank in London. He made several other testimonies on funds transferred through the Senate President’s domiciliary accounts to foreign accounts belonging to him abroad. After the re-examination of the witness, Jacobs informed the tribunal that the third witness of the prosecution was not in court and it was at that point that the defence counsel urged the court for an adjournment, which the tribunal granted and fixed February 8, and 9, 2017 for continuation of trial.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

14 Opinion

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

As Obama readies to bow out...

Jideofor Adibe

arrack Obama, the 44th President of the United States and the first African American to hold the top American job, delivered his farewell address to Americans yesterday (January 10) from his adopted home state of Chicago. Speaking in front of a crowd of thousands in a speech he entitled: ‘It Has Been the Honour of My Life to Serve You’, many in the crowd were said to have got emotional, including Obama himself who reportedly had to reach for his handkerchief a number of times. Obama is expected to hand over to Donald Trump on Friday, January 20. Obama’s farewell speech appeared to have been treated as a non-event by the media in Africa, including the social media. This is in contrast to 2008 when his campaign for the US presidency and eventual triumph in the contest generated unbelievable sense of euphoria across the continent. So what really has happened? It was obvious that there was no way Obama could have met the sky-high expectations of people in the continent. In a continent where politics is largely patronage-driven, many who saw Obama as ‘American African’ because his father was Kenyan (rather than as an ‘African American’) often complain loudly that Obama’s presidency did not bring any tangible benefits to the continent compared to what the continent got from his predecessors. Some of his admirers however blame Obama’s relative ‘nonperformance’ to the constraints posed by the nature of American society: an American President is primarily elected to look after the interests of the country and foreign policies pursued by the President must feed into that primary objective. Obama’s admirers will also argue that he was equally encumbered by the ‘Birther conspiracy theory’, which continued to hold that he was born in Africa (and thus not even qualified to be American President). Obama’s supporters say that the ‘birther movement’ will use any tinge of favouritism to Africa to justify its theory. It is thought that suspicions about Obama’s ‘hidden agenda’ by the ‘Birther movement’ contributed to his delaying his visit to Kenya, his father’s country, until 2015 – some seven years after he became President of the United States. Apart from discussions on whether Africans specifically benefitted from Obama’s presidency or not, some Africans have other grounds for feeling alienated from his government – or at least feeling nonchalant about it: During his visit to Accra in 2009, some Africans felt slighted that while he appeared to be sucking up to the Arab World and others, he

appeared more interested in talking down or lecturing African leaders. For instance during the Accra visit he was quoted as saying: “Now, it’s easy to point fingers and to pin the blame of these problems on others. Yes, a colonial map that made little sense helped to breed conflict. The West has often approached Africa as a patron or a source of resources, rather than a partner. But the West is not responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants. “In my father’s life, it was partly tribalism and patronage and nepotism in an independent Kenya that for a long stretch derailed his career, and we know that this kind of corruption is still a daily fact of life for far too many.” While some claimed that such statements were ‘tough love’ from Obama, there is no doubt that this rubbed many Africans on the wrong side. Additionally some citizens of the countries that were skipped during Obama’s Africa visits, especially Nigerians, (we do not miss any opportunity to tell the world that we are the “giants of Africa”, and that one in every five Black people in the world is a Nigerian), did not feel amused and began to delink from him. This was not helped by the administration’s refusal to sell weapons to the country to fight Boko Haram. Additionally, Obama’s legalization of gay marriage in the USA and threats to cut off aids to African countries that did not follow suit was seen by many Africans as not only a disrespect of their religious sensibility but also a pursuit of aggressive cultural imperialism. Some Africans equally blame the

Obama administration’s decision to intervene in Libya in early 2011 for creating the vacuum which opened a space for the fundamentalist group, the so-called Islamic State. Despite the above, how did the Obama administration try to engage the continent? Does the Obama administration have any signature imitative on Africa comparable to the enactment of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) under President Bill Clinton, the creation of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) -the U.S. military headquarters for the continent - by President George W. Bush and also the latter’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)? PEPFAR is generally credited with saving millions of lives on the continent. Remarkably Obama actually cut funding for PEPFAR- which led to critics accusing him of undermining the progress made against HIV/ AIDS in the continent. Obama made four Africa visits spanning seven countries – probably the most by any sitting American President. Though he was accused of talking down or lecturing African leaders during his first Africa visit in 2009, subsequently he used every opportunity to indicate that he wanted to retool the relationship between Africa and America such that it would be based on mutual benefits. Africa, in popular Western imagination is often associated with a ‘begging bowl syndrome’ or seen as a “scar on the conscience of the world” - as Tony Blair put it when he was British Prime Minister. Obama actually have a few initiatives for Africa. These included the Power Africa initiative, which was meant to light up the continent with more than 30,000 megawatts of

power. It only managed to generate a little over 4,000 megawatts since it started in 2013. There was also YALIYoung African Leadership Initiative (YALI), a small and often overlooked programme that started in 2013 and which sought to engage with the continent’s youth. Perhaps Obama’s most ambitious Africa initiative was the US-Africa summit, which lasted from August 4 (Obama’s birthday) through August 6, 2014. The summit was promoted as the largest event any US President ever held with African heads of state and government. All African heads of state or government in good standing with the United States were invited. Prominent business people and the Chairperson of the African Union also received invitations. Leaders of five African countries – Central African Republic, Eritrea, Sudan and Zimbabwe were, however, not invited. The presidents of Liberia and Sierra Leone excused themselves to deal with the outbreak of Ebola virus epidemic in their countries. During the three-day Africa Summit US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker promised that about $900m (£535m) in business deals would be sealed during the event. The jury is still out on what the US-Africa summit actually delivered to the continent. Suffice it to add that critics believe that the summit was driven less by any altruism for Africa and more by ‘China envy’. For instance, China has emerged as Africa’s biggest trading partner, with a trading volume worth some $200bn compared to USA’s $85bn, according to United States Census Bureau figures. Despite being the world’s largest economy, the US is still only Africa’s third largest trade partner – behind the European Union. Critics also argue that Obama merely wanted to use the summit to embellish his standing with Africans aware that many Africans felt disappointed with his presidency. The argument is that by getting some 35 African heads of state and governments to come to Washington DC in 2014 with all the media hype and hoopla - Obama might be hoping to make up for whatever disappointment some Africans might have about his administration. An intangible, and perhaps most powerful benefit to Africans from the Obama presidency however is the idea of “Yes, we can”. Obama symbolizes the fact that we all can, in a free society, overcome the challenges imposed by the accidents of our birth, to reach our God-ordained heights. This simultaneously calls on individuals to, on the one hand dream big dreams and work hard and on the other hand fight for a just society. It could be argued that these two conditions, worked together with fate, to create Obama as a political expression.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

15 Opinion

Much Ado about BBOG’s invitation to Sambisa

L Zainab Okino

ast week, the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, sent a formal invitation to the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) to join in the search mission, to the former supposed enclave of Sambisa and a part of Adamawa State, for the rescue of the remaining Chibok girls. The minister said the invitation was in recognition of the ‘unwavering commitment’ of the civil society group to the freedom of Chibok girls and all those in captivity. The invitation must have taken the group aback, just as it took Nigerians by surprise. The BBOG campaign is not a combat organisation. It is a pressure and civil society group formed shortly after the abduction of the Chibok girls from their school in 2014 and has been unrelenting since then. The BBOG soon gained international recognition and in no time, celebrities and world leaders including David Cameron, Ban Ki Moon and Michelle Obama, joined to demand the release of the girls. It woke a slumbering world back to consciousness, as they began to pledge and commit to the group’s demands on government to rescue the girls. From the foregoing

it is obvious they were just a group of civil society activists genuinely concerned about the girls’ plight and have sustained the agitations. The government of Goodluck Jonathan (which even derided them) and least of all the current government of Muhammadu Buhari, had no hands in the group’s formation and so have not been able to halt their activities. The interest their initiative generated popularised the BBOG hashtag (#BBOG) and woke up a government in denial to begin to act to end the Boko Haram terrorist menace. Therefore, there is a marked difference in the mandates of the BBOG and that of government, whose main duties is the security of lives of its people, among others. BBOG is not about media practitioners who are sometimes embedded with troops to report exclusively for their media organisations and transmit the trajectory of war to the world. BBOG predates this government and may outlive it. Conspiracy theorists even alluded to BBOG activities partly facilitating the victory of the current government against an incumbent then. In recent times, there have been spats between the government and the BBOG, and the chief of army staff was reported to have referred to them as social advocacy terrorists. BBOG had severally

been denied entrance and interface with the presidency. It is, therefore, germane to deduce that the invitation was probably initiated to mend fences and reduce the constant friction between them. In any case, the BBOG was finally prevailed upon to be in the North-East, as it equally provided photo opportunity for the government. Except for the group to appreciate government’s efforts, what is the relevance of this visit? What was it meant to achieve? Was the BBOG such an irritant to government they had to be coerced to fall in line? Whatever may be the intention behind it, and despite conceding to government, I do not see the BBOG changing its unique form of engagement? This ‘guided tour’ cannot sway or stop them from their mandate; neither can it help the fighting force in the war front. This is one civil society group that cannot be cowed, shut down, intimidated, and disbanded by overt means or have their spirit broken by any covert strategy. Their resilience and commitment is unprecedented, and despite misgivings about their operational style by a cross section of the populace. Protests, agitations, calls to action are part of the BBOG, and they are not going to stop because they have seen the mystical Sambisa. If it is about a mind game, that too is

not necessary, because the intention of government to crush Boko Haram is not in doubt. The BBOG and others are only asking them to intensify their efforts to rid the country of terrorists. For such resilient, determined and dogged fighters for whatever they believe in, government can only take them into confidence by giving them information on their activities, and this should be discreet. Making a fuss of and public their invitation is itself invitation to trouble. It could be trouble for BBOG and trouble for field troops and government. What if there was an ambush waiting for them? What about landmines. If anything had happened, government would have been accused of sabotage or complicity. My perspective is that government is concentrating too much attention on inconsequential things rather than remaining focused in the onerous tasks ahead. While trying to make political capital out of their relative success in the fight, and whilst the chit-chat and back and forth was going on, the suicide bombers, including the latest on UNIMAID are still decimating the populace. The weekly media briefings, the confrontation with BBOG, their guided tour and such other inanities are distractions that are actually detracting from the relative victory achieved so far.

started weaning themselves from oil and it is expected to grow exponentially over the next decade. It is expected that the diversification of fuels and increased fuel efficiency will keep prices below the peaks we saw over the last decade. This includes everything from liquefied natural gas to diesel to electric vehicles. What is Nigeria with her ballooning population doing to face the end of oil? It is true that oil prices will recover, but it certainly won’t get to the triple-digit levels we saw before the 2015 crash. Prices will level off at $60 to $70 per barrel between now and 2020. What is to be done? Nigeria will need dedicated leadership, serious attitudinal change and extraordinary investment in education to face the gloom of the coming years because we certainly don’t have money. It’s all been looted! Even the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is priming itself to face the end of oil. Saudi Aramco, the kingdom’s prized oil asset and the world’s most valuable company will go public sometimes this year or in early 2018. Saudi Arabia plans to sell five percent of the company to build a $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund (SWF). This fund is intended to help transform its economy for a post-oil world.

To get out of the hole we are in, Nigeria must borrow to fund investments in infrastructure, power, education and environment. These investments are necessary to improve and add value to agriculture and mining without which the government focus on these two sectors will yield nothing. Change in attitudes must begin with mass sensitisation. It might be a hard sell in a country where the elite have pauperised the masses, it must be communicated that taxation is the foundation of an effective state. Taxation is a social contract and a bargain between the government and the people. For long, Nigeria’s tax base has been very poor, like in other resource-rich countries. The citizens must be educated that services like security, healthcare, education, roads will be given in exchange for the taxes they pay. When a people don’t pay taxes, services tend to be terrible and no one is held to account. In the long run, the trends in the auto industry will be devastating for the crude oil reliant economies and infrastructure deficient countries like Nigeria. The sooner our country begins to make serious efforts, the better the chances of finding new opportunities for growth.

Nigeria and the end of oil

C Adémólá Olátéjú

rude oil began its ascendancy with the development and adoption of the internal combustion engine (ICE). A few years later, the ICE helped Henry Ford’s automotive revolution; it boosted the demand for liquid fuels and created an upsurge in crude oil’s contribution to global energy supply. Crude oil consumption doubled every decade from the 1920’s until it attained the top position in the global energy mix in 1970. In the Spring of 2013, I was driving through the Canadian Tundra and saw vast wind farms and solar installations. Oil was trading at $115 per barrel at the time, but with what I saw in Canada, the increasing production of biofuels, electric cars and shale oil, I knew the end of oil was approaching. A week later in this column, I predicted the crash of crude oil prices. When technological shifts produce novelties, buying the old stuff no longer makes sense. Last week, I went to the ongoing North American Auto Show in Detroit. On dIsplay are hybrid cars, electric cars, fuel cell cars using hydrogen gas and autonomous cars also known as driverless cars. Hybrids are gaining ground.

Eighty percent of the Mercedes Benz line up at the auto show are hybrids. The German auto maker has developed its own charging station that is futuristic and touch enabled. Without doubt, I make bold to predict the 2020s as the decade of the electric car. Mass market takeoff hasn’t happened for electric cars for two reasons; one, the presently high prices of batteries and the lack of long range charging for the cars. These are on the way to change. By 2020, General Motors, Nissan and Tesla will start selling long-range electric cars in the $30,000 range. With billions of dollars in investments by auto manufacturers, electric cars will cost less and perform better than gasoline driven cars. How much oil demand will these cars depress? When will cars running on cleaner fuels, fuel cells and electric cars tip the scales and relegate oil for good? While OPEC maintains that electric vehicles (EVs) will make up just one percent of cars in 2040, industry projections suggest they will be thirty five percent by 2040. The evolving trend is a world in which people do not want oil anymore. Even though demand from China and India will continue to grow slightly, developed nations where a lot of demand is have

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Features

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Unsolicited texts: Banks, GSM firms unsettle customers

Femi Ganiyu For some time now, customers of banks and Global Satellite for Mobile Telecommunication, GSM, service providers, like, Globacom, MTN Communication Nigeria Limited, Etisalat, Airtel, have been inundating their numerous customers with various text messages. Over the years, these unsolicited text messages have pitched their customers against them, many of whom had wondered why, not only did they inundate them with these messages, which they did not solicit for in the first place, but which they described as nauseating. Consequently, subscribers of the GSM providers and banks, have wondered why, without their promptings, they are cajoled to key into some messages they never solicited for. They have, therefore, questioned the rationale behind these text messages, more so as, they never solicited for them. Besides, millions of customers are, indeed, worried about the many deductions the notice had on their phones, which they did not, on their own, request for. They sat they were worried because of the amount of money, ranging from N20.00 to N50.000, being deducted from their credit, putting them in quandary. Some of the customers, like, Augusta Nwane, who said whenever she got such messages, which she did not solicit for,” I delete them from my phone.” Some of the text messages by banks, such as, First Bank Nig Plc; GT bank Plc; GSM providers, like, MTN communication Nig. Ltd, Airtel and Etisalat Communication and other service providers, also include, First Bank, which reads:

Danbatta

Firstbank GMD, Adeduntan

But, these service providers have turned deaf ears to this warning, just as, customers of the banks and the GSM providers, said the deductions they made from their money were uncalled for, describing them as fraudulent “Good News! You can now buy credit for yourself, family and friends directly from your First Bank account for FREE! Dial* 894* Amount* Phone Number# to recharge.” Also, GTB sent such messages as, “Instantly recharge your phone with1-click top up from GTBank! Simply dial*737* Amount# now. For N1, 000, dial* 737* 1000#.” Others from MTN, go thus, “MTN

Emirates. For being an MTN loyal customer, MTN& Emirates Airlines are offering you up to 15%& 20% off your Economy and Business Class tickets to Dubai and select cities.” For Globacom, while sending its own text messages, in pidging English, perhaps to appeal to the grassroots people, reads, among others, thus; “Buy Quick 5 ticket for N100 today o. U fit hammer N1, 000,000.00 & other small, small money

wey day for winners. Text 5 nos from 1-3 to 31113. No be joke o. Play now.” Indeed, the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, has said that, the network providers should desist from sending unsolicited text messages to customers, arguing that the system was unprofessional and unhealthy. According to the Vice Chairman and Chief Executie Officer of the Nigerian Communication Commission, Professor Umaru Danbatta, the GSM service should adhere strictly to the warning. But, these service providers have turned deaf ears to this warning, just as, customers of the banks and the GSM providers, said the deductions they made from their money were uncalled for, describing them as fraudulent. “They just deduct my money from my credit without any notice,” Miss Charity Uwem, a GSM customer, said. Reports of such unsolicited text messages and deductions abound across the country, thereby pitching customers against the banks and GSM providers, in what can be described as unhealthy relationship. In fact, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communication Commission, Professor Umar Danbatta has warned against such unsolicited text messages, vowing to ensure that they do not unsettle customers, yet, these messages had yet to abate, as there had been unrestrained messages to customers by banks and GSM providers. In fact, subscriber, Adeniyi Sanusi, decried the unsolicited text messages, saying that, “They irritate me. At times, the text messages woke me up in the night, and once I opened my eyes, I wouldn’t be able to sleep till in the morning.”

Features 18

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

I want to build cars for the world –Okpere Residents of Lagos Island and environs have now and again caught the sight of a cute, rugged red jeep cruising along the highways or parked by the beaches on weekends with the slogan: ‘A question of attitude’ scrawled on its side. it is built in Nigeria, by a Nigerian, who has the ‘can do’ spirit. Features editor, GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT, SNR cruised around the Island in the jeep and filed in this report. Sunday Abiodun Okpere, born on December 25, 1975 in Ebute-Metta, Lagos Mainland, to Victoria and Augustine Okpere, is a young and ambitious engineer. His father was a managing director with the old National Electric Power Authority before he died. Sunday was just two years old then. Hints of the genius in the little man began to manifest in his early life; and when children were playing with bicycle rims and vehicle tires, Sunday was gathering empty beverage tins, pieces of iron and was building toys and constructing miniature vehicles on wheels. “I was so creative to the extent that boys in the neighbourhood would gather around me when I’m working, and after they see what I’ve made, they’d beg me to build their own for them. It was like fun then, but that was how I started,” he said. No one in his family had been a mechanic or an engineer of any sort, so, Sunday’s obsession with engineering was not taken seriously. He said, “When the teacher asked us in the class what we would like to be in future, I said I wanted to be an engineer; and I saw myself manufacturing cars, creating moving objects and so on, when I was small. “After my father died, the family passed through hard times; I had to be joining my mother in the farm after school hours. By the time I was half way through secondary school, there was no way forward for me. My elder brothers put heads together and said I should go and learn some trade.” According to him, “Well, I said okay and I opted to learn something relevant to my first love which is engineering. This led me to Hope Motors in Oyadiran Estate, Yaba, Lagos. I was very small then; my bosses loved me, they used to call me ‘smallie.’” For seven years, Sunday grew under the tutelage of motor mechanics, panel beaters, automobile electricians, spray painters. He reminisced those years. “Although I was attached to the mechanical section which gave me a lot of insight into engines and the dynamics of their operations, I spent time with other departments anytime we are not busy where I learnt everything from wiring and rewiring, bodyworks to spray and finishing. I worked with them when accidented cars are brought in and it gave me a lot of knowledge into that area too.” At the completion of his apprenticeship, his boss was reluctant to let him go and made him a proposal which saw him working for the company that trained him. He said, “Although my boss is an Ijebu man, he loved me so much that he won’t let me go. Instead, he employed me to work for him. I built my own clientele which came in handy when Peugeot and some of the car brands my boss specialised in were no more in vogue. “The company eventually relocated to Abuja. My boss asked me to go along with them, but I declined and preferred to stay back and

Okpere with his car

build up my own business; but after a while, it didn’t quite flow, as I wanted, so, I took a job as technical assistant with an American armoured vehicle repair and maintenance company here in Victoria Island.” Over time, his restless hands went to work and four months later, his intellectual baby was born in the small apartment off Kingsway Road. He named his creation, Rock Auto, because, he says, ”It’s built on the Rock that never fails. He went into details on his four months labour. “It will cost me more than I can afford if I buy parts and components one by one, so I

bought a very reliable fully built engine and constructed a chassis for it, just like I was doing with empty cans, rods and wires when I was growing up. The difference is that this is real. Even at that, the body did not come cheap to construct because costs of some parts are high. I did over 90 per cent of the work myself. There were times I had to wait to draw my salary before I would buy more things and continue. “The components vary and because of the intensive welding and joining involved, I had to buy some light equipment and a standby generator so that I could work without disruption.”

“Everywhere I go, people look at the jeep, they gather and admire it. When they learn I built it, they hail me. One white man offered me N2 million for this car, but I refused. Because of my work, I don’t have time to build another one presently. What I want is assistance to travel out and get my dream actualised.”

The four-seater, four-gear drive has most of the features in a foreign equivalent except for some state-of–the-art finishing on the dashboard. Otherwise, it boasts of every feature, from soft and comfortable adjustable seats with accompanying seat belts for the front seats, functioning speedometer, trafficators, headlights, brake and parking lights, wipers, horn, and so on. The choice of red for the jeep with a black leather finish connotes a perception of a collapsible top, which stands the vehicle out anywhere it goes. The speedometer has a capacity speed of 160 and fuel efficient ideal for the Nigerian economy. “Though, it looks okay now, but the work is still in progress. I still have some finishing touches to do here and there.” In the pipeline are two models of different vehicles Sunday hopes to develop and built in the future, but for now, what is his plan? “I’m making a lot of preparations, but I need money. I want to go abroad and study more. I like my country, Nigeria. “Inside me, the vision to build cars is eating me up. Though I could build the cars I have designed if I have money, but my dire need now is to be able to travel to the United States of America (USA) and work with Ford Motors. I need the technical exposure. I like to be fully groomed in the art of building engines and I think Ford is the place to go. “I don’t want to build what is common but something special and different that will stand out anywhere in the world. “I need money. I don’t want to be celebrated locally as this one is giving me much attention wherever I go. I want to build engines and make vehicles that people all over the world would be eager to buy and be proud to own. But I can’t do everything on my own. Let someone or organisation, even government help me.” His neighbour and friend of four years, Athan Nwokorie, a computer engineer from Umuokpara, Ezinne-Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, said he was surprised at what his friend has done. “When I first knew him, I didn’t know he was into this kind of thing, but sometime last year, he started working at nights and making a lot of noise with machines.We didn’t know what it was all about until he built his vehicle and we are surprised.” So, how are people responding to his uncommon jeep? “Everywhere I go, people look at the jeep, they gather and admire it. When they learn I built it, they hail me. One white man offered me N2 million for this car, but I refused. Because of my work, I don’t have time to build another one presently. What I want is assistance to travel out and get my dream actualised. “I have something to offer my country. I have faith that I’m going to establish my own company and build cars from Nigeria to the world. I know what I passed through while building this jeep and I want to create the opportunity to train Nigerian youths in this vision. If I travel abroad, I will certainly return to my home country and establish my motor company so that my people will benefit.”

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Crime

Nigeria-Turkish College gripped by fear, anxiety after abduction

Oguntade Ismaila & Joy Anyim Five days after armed gunmen kidnapped five staff and three students of Nigerian Turkish International Colleges (NTIC) in Ogun State, there seem to be no sign of their whereabouts, contrary to Police’s assurances to that effect. It would be recalled that armed men, suspected to be some dreaded kidnappers, stormed the premises of the college, by burrowing through under the school’s wall, gained entry into the college and abducted some students and teaching staff and some other workers of the institution. Investigations by our correspondent, who visited the college on Tuesday, showed that, following the Saturday incident, the management appeared to have evacuated both staff and students from the premises to a safer place in the interim, as the usual hustle and bustle that usually characterised the school, were absent. The school, located in Isheri, Ogun State, indeed, wore a gloomy look with fewer staff unwilling to talk to the press, when The Daily times visited the school. However, security was tight there, as two police vehicles, one from Nigeria Police, Sagamu and the other from Long Bridge, Ibafo, were stationed in and outside the school premises respectively, with armed policemen keeping watch

Kidnapping cases, have been on the rise, not only in Lagos and Ogun States, but across the country, thereby overstretching the security forces. It would seem that students have become most vulnerable, as the kidnappers have found it more appealing and lucrative for them to target schoolchildren. beside the school’s gate. Following an enquiry by The Daily times, the security guard at the gate simply denied our reporter entry into the premises; requesting, instead, that a senior personnel should tell our reporter about any development about the incident. A few minutes afterwards, another man, decked in security uniform showed up and after listening to the reporter, he (security guard),

Gunmen like these abducted the students

advised our reporter to come back next week, when the school’s management had supposedly scheduled a press briefing to update the press on the development. He said further, “You can ask the police men (referring to the police men at the gate). Some of your colleagues had been here; and we told them the same thing. Management has decided to be silent for now. We are planning a meeting with journalist next week where

we shall update the press on what happened. That is all I can say for now.” According to him, “I will not also like you to loiter here looking for further information, otherwise you may be embarrassed.” While our reporter was trying to exchange banters with some of the police men on guard, a commercial motorcyclist, Okada rider, who discharged a passenger, retorted: “Mr. Journalist, I think you can

enter that Okada and leave now,” just as the security man further warned; “I cannot allow you to stay a second more. Don’t try to pretend you did not understand what I said earlier. I’m acting on instruction.” Meanwhile. It was gathered that the Police have assured members of the public, school management and parents of the abducted students, that they were on the trail of the kidnappers, who had demanded N100m ransom, even though the Police have, however warned that no ransom should be paid to them, vowing instead to apprehend them and bring them to justice as soon as possible. Kidnapping cases, have been on the rise, not only in Lagos and Ogun States, but across the country, thereby overstretching the security forces. It would seem that students have become most vulnerable, as the kidnappers have found it more appealing and lucrative for them to target schoolchildren. For example, some students were kidnapped in Lagos State Model College, Epe, a couple of months ago; and it took the combined forces of security men, including the Police, to rescue the students from the abductors. Observers have blamed the growing cases of crimes and criminalities on a number of factors, including, poverty, poor parental upbringing, joblessness and peer pressures.

Crime

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

EFCC seizes N948m aircraft linked with ex-governor

Police arrest 17 kid robbers, others in Lagos.

Oguntade Ismaila

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has impounded a N948million aircraft allegedly linked with a former governor of Borno State who is under investigation. The aircraft was seized on Monday at the Maiduguri International Airport. Anti-graft agencies have also placed two other private jets under surveillance at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The grounding of the three aircraft is part of the ongoing investigation which traced some looted funds by some former political office holders to the purchase of private jets. It was learnt that a Dornier aircraft 328 linked with the former governor had been earlier impounded, but it resumed operations without EFCC’s clearance. Upon sighting the aircraft in Maiduguri on Monday, after months of watch-listing, EFCC detectives swooped on the crew and seized it. The plane is marked N805PG and 5NBMH. It allegedly belongs to Skybird Air. Detectives have interrogated the suspected beneficial owner of the jet, Mr. Samuel Ayodele, the Managing Director of Skybird. A “beneficial owner” is a legal term where specific property rights (“use and title”) in equity belong to a person even though the legal title of the property belongs to another person. An EFCC source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “We impounded the Dornier 328 on Monday following suspicion

in the manner in which it was acquired “Our detectives are working on clues that the aircraft belongs to a former governor of Borno State but it is being used by a front. We are already looking into relevant records; we want to establish who actually owns it.” The source added that, “We are tracking how and when the aircraft was bought, where it was purchased, the mode of payment and the sources of funds. This is definitely an international transaction; it is easier to trace the inflows and outflows from any account.” He said, “There are also some petitions containing allegations against the former governor concerning the aircraft and some public funds. If the aircraft cannot be identified with the ex-governor, the EFCC will release it to the beneficial owner.” Ayodele was said to have told de-

tectives that the aircraft was originally with the defunct IRS Airlines, which bought it with a loan of about N948million from a bank. The source quoted Ayodele as saying: “I bought the liability from the bank and took over the aircraft because IRS was not able to pay back the loan. “It is a clean business. Since I graduated from school, I have been working in the aviation sector.” According to Wikipedia, “The Dornier 328 is a turboprop-powered commuter airliner, initially produced by Dornier Luftfahrt GmbH, which was acquired in 1996 by Fairchild Aircraft.” Two other jets, suspected to belong to some former political office holders, have been placed on surveillance at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. “The movement of the jets is presently restricted until the conclusion of our ongoing probe. All

Acting EFCC Chairman, Magu

Police operatives from the Festac Division, Lagos State Police Command, have rescued a kidnapped victim from suspected kidnappers. The Daily Times gathered that on the 16th January, 2017, at about 8:10 pm, the operatives had responded to a distress call from concerned residents along 181 Road by 67 Road, 6th Avenue, Festac Town, on the abduction of one Mr. Kenechukwu Monere, at his residence by suspected militants. It was gathered that the kidnappers, who were said to be eight in number, were said to have been armed with sophisticated weapons and assault rifles, had invaded the

house of the victim when he was about driving out of his compound. Eye witness account had it that his gate was forced open; bundled out of his car and was whisked away by the hoodlums. The operatives, who were on patrol, were immediately alerted and were promptly dispatched to the scene of crime, while tactical operatives and men of the Marine Police on the waterways, were also deployed to block all exits to prevent the hoodlums from escaping from the scene. The kidnappers were said to have engaged the police in a shoot out to around Alfa White and White Sand area, Isheri town, where fifteen live cartridges were recovered from the slum.

In an avowed determination to rid Ajeromi council area of Lagos and its environs of criminals and restore peace in the area, no fewer than 17 underage suspected robbers and 18 bandits have been apprehended in the area by Police operatives. The suspected criminals were said to have been arrested in different parts of Ajegunle by the detectives attached to the Ajeromi Division, through intelligence approach. According to police sources, the kid robbers, were nabbed during separate robbery operations, carried out during the wee hours of last week. The Daily Times gathered that the arrest of the suspects was as a result of series of reports lodged against them at the Ajeromi Police Station by their victims. The victims were said to have complained against the nefarious acts of the notorious kid gang, accusing them of using mechanical scissors to cut their windows’ barbwire at midnight, before gaining access into their apartments. It was learnt that the bandits, who were usually armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, in the course of their operations, had stolen household items and cash worth several millions of naira, before they were arrested. Following the series of complaints, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ajeromi Division, CSP. Robinson Eregare on assumption of office last month, was said to have summoned a meeting of the operatives and mandated the anti-robbery team of the division to ensure that the gang was cracked down.

Umar becomes Lagos police boss, as Owoseni heads to NIPPS.

Police foil kidnap attempt in Lagos, rescue victim

Joy Anyim

relevant agencies in the aviation industry are collaborating with us on these two jets. We are working on information made available to EFCC that they were bought with looted funds,” a source said. On the identities of the owners of the jets, the source said, they would not be disclosed until the EFCC has made substantial progress in their investigation. Sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13(1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004 empower the anti-graft agency to invoke Interim Assets Forfeiture Clause on any serving or former public officer or any Nigerian under probe. Quoting relevant section of the Act, the source said, Section 28 of the EFCC Act reads: ‘Where a person is arrested for an offence under this Act, the Commission shall immediately trace and attach all the assets and properties of the person acquired as a result of such economic or financial crime and shall thereafter cause to be obtained an interim attachment order from the Court.” Also he said that, Section 13 of the Federal High Court Act reads in part: “The Court may grant an injunction or appoint a receiver by an interlocutory order in all cases in which it appears to the Court to be just or convenient so to do; adding: (2) “Any such order may be made either unconditionally or on such terms and conditions as the Court thinks just.”

Eventually, the kidnapped victim, Mr. Kenechukwu Monere, was rescued by the quick response of the operatives. The victim was also rushed to the hospital at 7th Avenue, where he is still receiving and responding to treatment under police protection. Sources however, said that a search is still on in the slums to get the fleeing hoodlums arrested. The command’s Police Public Relation Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, advised members of the public to continue to be vigilant and to alert the authorities about unknown faces around their residences whenever they are going into or out of their place of residence to avoid being victims of such nefarious activities.

Joy Anyim A new Commissioner of police, CP Garuba Umar has been posted to the Lagos State Police Command to take over duty from CP Fatai Owoseni. The Daily Times gathered that the CP Garuba Umar was formerly the Officer-in-Charge of the InspectorGeneral of Police Monitoring Unit, but was promoted a few days ago to his new rank of a commissioner of police. He was subsequently transferred to succeed Mr. Owoseni, the erstwhile Commissioner of Police in the state, as the police boss. Interestingly, the new commissioner of police once served as the Divisional Police Officer, Ikoyi, Lagos, and as the Mobile Police Unit 19 Commander in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Sources said that Owoseni has been posted to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) , Kuru, in Jos, Plateau State, for a leadership training course. Indeed, Owoseni had recorded

some major breakthroughs in crime fighting and prevention, as, for example, major kidnap cases, such as, the Babington McCauley kidnap, as well as, the kidnap and rescue of the Oniba of Iba, Oba Goriola Oseni, were to the credit of the outgoing Police boss. Also, under his leadership, the notorious armed robbery kingpin, Tokiwe Joseph(A. K. A. TK), who commanded a 200-man gang that specialized in bank robberies, kidnapping and other criminal activities was cracked down.

Owoseni

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

THE DOMINIC ONEYA FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied for registration at the Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) BRIG. GENERAL DOMINIC ONEYA (RTD) (2) CHIEF DERECK ONEYA (3) HON. BARRISTER SAMUEL MARIERE (4) MR. GODWIN OGHENEDE (5)ALHAJI JIBRIN BAFFA (6) CHIEF ANTHONY ONEYA

BOARD CHAIRMAN BOARD SECRETARY TRUSTEE TRUSTEE TRUSTEE TRUSTEE

Objectives: 1. To work for the social development of under privileged children, young people and families in the society. 2. To promote the welfare of the children, young people and families in need due to poverty, diseases or social injuistice 3. To provide assitance for under privileged children and young people through advancement of education, employment skills development and vocational training. Any objections to the registration of this organization should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maintama, Abuja within 28 days. Signed: Abimbola Shaji. For: Cimhog Chambers --- (Solicitors and Legal Consultants) 11, Bashir Oweh Street, Ikeja, Lagos. 07035518309

ORASHI PEACE INITIATIVE .

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Degree No. 1 of 1990. THE TRUSTEES ARE; 1. EKWELA EKE - PRESIDENT. 2. NDEDE PRINCE UGOCHUKWU - SECRETARY. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO FOSTER PEACE AMONG ORASHI PEOPLE. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this Publication. SIGNED: PRESIDENT. GLOBAL LITERARY EDIFICE AND CREATIVE WRITING FOUNDATION THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

SELEMATI FOUNDATION

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation registered under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004, has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission to appoint additional trustees for the Foundation.

TEMPLE OF GOD’S GRACE FOR ALL NATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named Church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts, 1990.

The Trustees of the Foundation 1. Mrs. Judith Nwanodi 2. Mrs. Aleruchi Cookey-Gam 3. Ms. Frances Nyemachi Nwanodi

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ODOH CHINAGOROM JOSEPH 2. IKPEAMA ANULIKA .M. 3. CHINAGOROM NGOZI GRACE 4. IVONYE JOHN IBE 5. ODOH VITALIS IKECHUKWU

The additional Trustees to be appointed are: 1. Mrs. Inime Aguma 2. Mr. Gbolahan Olayomi

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus to all nation 2. To enhance the welfare of the less privileged.

Any objection to this appointment should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days from the date of this publication.

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

Signed: Secretary

CHANGE OF FAMILY SURNAME

THAT WE, MEMBERS OF AMAECHI FAMILY OF IHIE IN UGWUNAGBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ABIA STATE UNANIMOUSLY AGREED HENCEFORTH TO BEAR AMAECHI AS OUR SURNAME AND THAT WE SHALL NO LONGER BE ADDRESSED BY OUR FORMER SURNAME AS (AHARIWE). HENCE, AHARIWE NOBLE CHINURU (FATHER), AHARIWE MICHAEL UZOMA AND AHARIWE DOMINION EKENE NOW TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AMAECHI NOBLE CHINURU (FATHER), AMAECHI MICHAEL UZOMA AND AMAECHI DOMINION EKENE RESPECTIVELY. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC AND AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD TO TAKE NOTE. DE-SKYLIGHT CLUB 15 OF LAGOS. THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

(CHAIRMAN)

Signed: Chairman

CHRIST APOSTOLIC BLESSING EMBASSY. THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990. NAME OF TRUSTEES: 1. OKUNOLA OLA ARAOYINBIO 2. AINA GABRIEL OLAYIWOLA 3. OMOJOLA OMOYENI FLORENCE 4. OKUNOLA DAMILOLA ARAOYINBO AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

JANGO CHI FOUNDATION THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ADEWOLE OLUKOREDE OLUMAYOWA - PRESIDENT 2. ADEWOLE OLUDAMILOLA YOMI - SECRETARY 3. ADEWOLE ANUOLUWAPO OLUWASHEYI - MEMBER 4. ADEWOLE TOLULOPE OLAOLU - MEMBER

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) ALHAJI AKARAKIRI HASSAN KEHINDE 2) ADESANWO BASIL ADEWALE 3) ALHAJI DELEGUN ABIODUN GANIU 4) ADEKOYA BABATUNDE OLUWAROTIMI 5) BELLO MUKARAM OLAWALE.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. Creation of Knowledge, inventor research postering Creative writing etc. 2. Research building, creative enhancing literary power and writing. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1) TO RENDER HUMANITARIAN SERVICES TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY 2) TO MAKE USE OF THE CLUB RESOURCES FOR THE ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIETY 3) TO FOSTER UNITY AMONG MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide moral,financial and infrastructural support for young and aspiring talented footballers ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication

SIGNED: ADEWOLE OLUKOREDE OLUMAYOWA - PRESIDENT

SIGNED: M.O. ENIFENI ESQ

SIGNED: TRUSTEES.

ASSOCIATION OF RENTAL SERVICE PROVIDERS ENUGU The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

CHIEF JULIUS MOMOH UDOCHI FOUNDATION. THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990. TRUSTEES: 1. JOHN FRANKLIN IMOESI UDOCHI. 2. THEODORE UDUIMOI UDOCHI. 3. DANIEL ESIEMOKHAI UDOCHI. AIM AND OBJECTIVES. 1.TO PROMOTE AND PRESERVE THE WELFARE AND CULTURE OF AFEMAI PEOPLE. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED. BARR . PAUL ABHULIMEN . SOLICITOR.

TRUSTEES. 1. CHRISTIAN IREMEKA. 2. NWERRIH CHIKE JOSEPH. 3. OBIORA DANIEL NWUDE. 4. MONEKE PAMELA OGECHUKWU. 5. EJEAGWU PATRICK IKECHUKWU. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. 1. TO PROTECT THE MEMBERS RIGHT. 2.TO CREATE A PLATFORM FOR MEMBERS TO ASSOCIATE WITH EACH OTHER. SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Ifeanyi Nwachukwu 3. Mr. Akanbi Oluwa. 5. Chiarman Chigozie Ogbuehi

2. Chief Silas Ngozi Ogbuehi 4. Babatunde femi.

ASSOCIATION OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COLLEGE ENUGU ALUMNI

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. IKE AGBIM - CHAIRMAN 2. EKENE OFFODILE 3. UJU OBUEKWE - SECRETARY 4. PRIMA ELUMELU The aim and objective: 1. To promote alumni unity and give back to Federal government college (FGC) Enugu amongst other things Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: SECRETARY

OKWO NGBO MARKET LANDLORDS’ ASSOCIATION

MUSLIMS FORUM FOR ORPHANS EMPOWERMENT

WORLD IMPACT GRACE COVENANT INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ABUBAKAR SADEEQUE ABBA 2. KHALID BALA GANO 3. MUHAMMAD LAWAN MUHAMMAD 4. BASHIR NUHU 5. SULEIMAN MOHAMMED BASHEER 6. NUHU RABILU ISHAQ 7. MOHAMMED HARUNA ADAMU 8 . SALMANU MUSA 9. ALKASIM YARO USMAN 10. TANIMU RABIU HARUNA

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR ROB MANGUS - Chairman 2. PASTOR LORI MANGUS - Secretary 3. PASTOR MIKE OGBONNA ETTAH 4. PASTOR EBERE BROWN NWAMBUKO

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. UZOR SILAS UGBALA - Chairman 2. EGBA OGODO EMMANUEL - Secretary 3. CHIEF JAMES ONWE - Member 4. ONWE DANIEL EDE - Member 5. OGENE HARRISON - Member

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. HELPING ORPHANS, WIDOWS AND THE LESS PRIVILEGED PEOPLE IN THE SOCIETY

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

Signed: BARR. LUCY SUBERU (Solicitor)

Signed: ALEKE IFEKWABA L. ESQ. (Solicitor)

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To reach the least, last and the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 2. To equip, encourage and empower our pastors and churches to reach their fullness potential.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To protect the welfare of its members.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

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I, formerly known, called and addressed as BITRUS HEZEKIAH, now wish to be known, called and addressed as BITRUS REUBEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note ADESHINA IBIRONKE

RASAQ TOBI ORUKOTAN.

OLOWOPOROKU AGBOOLA ADEBOLA

I, formerly known, called and addressed as OLOWOPOROKU AYOOLA ADEBOLA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLOWOPOROKU AGBOOLA ADEBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

SALAKO FUNMILAYO AMINAT. I, formerly known, called and addressed as SALAKO KUKOYI FUNMILAYO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as SALAKO FUNMILAYO AMINAT. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

On my document, my name was wrongly written as GABRIEL CHIGOZIE EZEJI on my BVN instead of EZEJI UGOCHUKWU CHIJUMAOGU. General public and Authority Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known, called and addressed as KIKELOMO SHERAH ESEMIKOSE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as KIKELOMO IBIRONKE FAVOUR OLUMORIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADAMS OCHE JUNIOR.

ADEOYE BUSOLA FATIMA.

ELEMORO-ONI, ADEAYO ADENIKE

Formerly known and addressed as ONI, Adeayo Adenike now wish to be known and addressed as ELEMOROONI, Adeayo Adenike. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

ABIKOYE OLUWATOSIN ADENIKE

OBEKA ECHE I, formerly known and addressed as ADAMS OBEKA, now wish to be known and addressed as OBEKA ECHE. Former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

Formerly known as Miss. Oluyemi Monilola Teru Now to be addressed as Mrs. Oluyemi Monilola TeruAdewumi. Former documents remains valid. General public please note.

OGWO ANTHONIA NCHEKWUBE I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS Miss Obiesie Anthonia Nchekwube, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS Mrs. Ogwo Anthonia Nchekwube. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. Notice to General Public and Abia State University, Uturu

I formerly known as IDRIS JAMILU ILUJEM wish to be known and addressed as IDRIS JAMILU MOHAMMED. All former documents remain valid, General public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as ADEFILA OLUWATOSIN ADENIKE now wish to be known and addressed as ABIKOYE OLUWATOSIN ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note. OKOYE OLUNWADIUTO OLACHUKWU.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS Miss Ezekigbo Olunwadiuto Olachukwu, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS Mrs. Okoye Olunwadiuto Olachukwu. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. Notice to General Public and Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. ROSE VERERE ADEPITAN.

EMMANUEL NOAH OLABISI

ISAAC CHIKA STELLA

SAMUEL GLORY ADA.

I SAMUEL GLORY ADA wish to correct my name which was wrongly written on my BVN as ADA SAMUEL instead of SAMUEL GLORY ADA. I now wish to be known and addressed as SAMUEL GLORY ADA. The general public please take note.

NWANPA CHINYERE This is to confirm that NWANPA CHINYERE and CHINYERE AUGUSTINE NWANPA refers to one and the same person but now wish to be known and addressed as NWANPA CHINYERE the general public please take note.

GRACE OGECHI BEN SAMUEL

MUHAMMAD ABUBAKAR

DANIEL STONE EKERE

I, formerly known and addressed as, ROMEO EKERE, now wish to be known and addressed as, DANIEL STONE EKERE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. GRACE OGECHI OGUZIE, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. GRACE OGECHI BEN SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

KIKELOMO IBIRONKE FAVOUR OLUMORIN

Formerly known and addressed as Miss. Odumeru Busola Fatima now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adeoye Busola Fatima. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note

I formerly known as MRS ROSE VERERE UNUKPO wish to be known and addressed as MRS ROSE VERERE ADEPITAN. All former documents remain valid, General public please take note.

EZE-EGO MAUREEN UJU.

CORRECTION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as OBIABO ADOKA GABRIEL now wish to be known and addressed as ADAMS OCHE JUNIOR. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

I formerly known as MISS OMONIGHO EDITH UNUKPO wish to be known and addressed as MRS ORIMAIYE OMONIGHO EDITH. All former documents remain valid, General public please take note.

I, EZE-EGO MAUREEN UJU, wish to correct my name which was wrongly written on my BVN as EZE-EGO MAUREEN OGECHUKWU instead of EZE-EGO MAUREEN OJU, I now wish to be known and addressed as EZE-EGO MAUREEN UJU. All former document remain valid. The general public please take note

ARIBIGBOLA DAMILOLA TEMITAYO

I, formerly known, called and addressed as AKOSILE-DAMILOLA TEMITAYO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ARIBIGBOLA DAMILOLA TEMITAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known, called and addressed as ABDULRASAQ TOBI HABEEB, now wish to be known, called and addressed as RASAQ TOBI ORUKOTAN. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note

I formerly known as Miss. SHOBOWALE RISI BIODUN wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OSHINTONA MOTUNRAYO BIOLA. All former documents remain valid, General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as IBISIKE CHIKA STELLA. now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ISAAC CHIKA STELLA All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note

HARUNA BITRUS AMUDA

I, formerly known, called and addressed as THOMAS YOHANNA, now wish to be known, called and Addressed as HARUNA BITRUS AMUDA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

DAIRO OLUWAKEMI TEMILOLA

I, formerly known, called and addressed as SALU OLUWAKEMI TEMILOLA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as DAIRO OLUWAKEMI TEMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

I, formerly known, called and addressed as MADAM IBIRONKE MARY AKINYODE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. ADESHINA IBIRONKE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I formerly known as MRS MUSTAPHA HAMUDAT OLAYINKA wish to be known and addressed as MISS ONAKOYA HAMUDAT OLAYINKA . All former documents remain valid, General public please take note.

Formerly known and address as Emmanuel Moses Olabisi now wish to be known and address as Emmanuel Noah Olabisi. All former document remain valid. General public should please take note

CORRECTION OF NAME

That my name was wrongly written on my BVN as KAMOLI SEMON instead of KAMORU SULE. That my correct name is KAMORU SULE. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, TAIRU LABRAN, now wish to be known and addressed as, MUHAMMAD ABUBAKAR. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note

REGINA OKWUCHUKWU IHEANACHO

I formerly known as Ralyena Okwuchukwu Iheanacho wish to be known and addressed as Regina okwuchukwu Iheanacho .All former documents remain valid, General public please take note ATTAH BRIDGET JAPHET.

I formerly known; called and addressed as MISS BRIDGET EDET now wish to be called and addressed as MRS. ATTAH BRIDGET JAPHET. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note. BIAMII TOMBARI GABRIEL.

I, formerly known and addressed as, BIAMII TOMBARI, now wish to be known and addressed as, BIAMII TOMBARI GABRIEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLUYEMI MONILOLA TERU-ADEWUMI.

IDRIS JAMILU MOHAMMED.

VICTORIA OLUWABUNMI SOLABI .

I Formerly known and addressed as Bilikisu Awele Solabi, Now wish to be known and addressed as , Victoria Oluwabunmi Solabi .All former documents remain valid, the general public should please take note.

SUNNY OBARIJIMA NGEI. I formerly known, called and addressed as SUNNY JOSEPH OLAINGEI now wish to be known called and addressed as SUNNY OBARIJIMA NGEI. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note ONAJI CHINENYE AGNES.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. UKONU CHINENYE AGNES, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. ONAJI CHINENYE AGNES. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

NWOKPORO CHKWUMA MARTIN.

ROBINSON JENNIFER GABRIEL.

NWEKE AMBROSE ONYEDIKACHI

I, formerly known and addressed as, MR. NWEKE BENJAMIN, now wish to be known and addressed as, MR. NWOKPORO CHKWUMA MARTIN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, ROBINSON JENNIFER ESU, now wish to be known and addressed as, ROBINSON JENNIFER GABRIEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, ALOYSIUS ONYEDIKACHI AMBROSE, now wish to be known and addressed as, NWEKE AMBROSE ONYEDIKACHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note

EMMANUEL INI ESANG.

RACHEAL MARCUS CHRISTIAN I, formerly known and addressed as, ORDU CHINANU, AND WAKAMMA RACHEAL, now wish to be known and addressed as, RACHEAL MARCUS CHRISTIAN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, AFONYA LOT FESTUS, now wish to be known and addressed as, ELI AFONYA LOT FESTUS. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADDITION OF NAME I, ONUOHA RUFINA IJEOMA, wish to add my middle name to my account details which was wrongly written as, ONUOHA IJEOMA, instead of, ONUOHA RUFINA IJEOMA. I now wish to be known and addressed as, ONUOHA RUFINA IJEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

EDE: I, formerly known as EDE JOEL ODE, now wish to be known and addressed as EDE JOLLY ODE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, ALAMINA OVIA, now wish to be known and addressed as, EMMANUEL INI ESANG. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. ONYEKACHI IKWUNZE.

I, formerly known and addressed as, ONYEKACHI IKWUNZE KINGSLEY, now wish to be known and addressed as, ONYEKACHI IKWUNZE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. IYANUOLUWA SURULERE AJAO.

ODUNLAMI OLUWASEGUN BABATUNDE

ELI AFONYA LOT FESTUS.

EDE JOLLY ODE.

PAUL ALI TAPCHI

I formerly known and addressed as MISS IYANUOLUWA SURULERE JOHNSON now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IYANUOLUWA SURULERE AJAO.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

. I formerly known and addressed as ODUNLAMI TUNDE ADELEKE now wish to be known and addressed as ODUNLAMI OLUWASEGUN BABATUNDE.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as PAUL ALI now wish to be known and addressed as PAUL ALI TAPCHI. My date of birth is 25/9/1990. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note

MERCY NWAEDOZIE

AKANDE OLUWAYEMISI ADUNNI

OLURIMISI OLUWASEUN ALICE.

I formerly known and addressed as MERCY OGAR now wish to be known and addressed as MERCY NWAEDOZIE.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note

I formerly known and addressed as AKANDE YEMISI now wish to be known and addressed as AKANDE OLUWAYEMISI ADUNNI.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS ADELEYE OLUWASEUN ALICE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLURIMISI OLUWASEUN ALICE. All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note. GLORIA LEBECHI UMEH

EKWU CHIMEZIE VALENTINA. I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ONWUEGBUNA CHIMEZIE VALENTINA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EKWU CHIMEZIE VALENTINA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as MARYGLORIA NEBECHUKWU UMEH, now wish to be known and addressed as GLORIA LEBECHI UMEH. All former documents remain valid. Banks and Generalpublic should please take note.

OCHIE-NWEZE MARY ADAEZE

CHIMA UKAMAKA CYNTHIA

OKONKWO ADAORA DORIS.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWEZE MARY ADAEZE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OCHIE-NWEZE MARY ADAEZE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as UDEZUE UKAMAKA CYNTHIA, now wish to be known and addressed as CHIMA UKAMAKA CYNTHIA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and Generalpublic should please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ENE ADAORA DORIS, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKONKWO ADAORA DORIS. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

UDEH CHIOMA JULIET.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EBONUGWU CHIOMA JULIET, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS UDEH CHIOMA JULIET. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note

IFEOMA ETIM AFAHAKAN.

EBUNOLUWA MOLADE ADEYEMI

NASIRU HASSAN.

I, formerly known and addressed as Ifeoma Afahakan now wish to be known and addressed as Ifeoma Etim Afahakan. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EBUNOLUWA MOLADE OGUNLUYI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EBUNOLUWA MOLADE ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as NASSIR HASSAN now wish to be known and addressed as NASIRU HASSAN. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note

LAWAL AMINAT TITILOPE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to certify that ALAMU AMINAT KIKELOMO and RAJI ALAMU AMINAT KIKELOMO are one and same person, and now wish to be known and addressed as RAJI ALAMU AMINAT KIKELOMO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank PlC, GTBank and the general public should please take note.

NYKSON ADLIN - CONFIDENCE OGECHI.

I, formerly known and addressed as OYEWUMI AMINAT TITILOPE, now wish to be known and addressed as LAWAL AMINAT TITILOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note ODEGBESAN ABIDEMI ABIBAT

I formerly known and addressed as ADELAMI ABIDEMI ABIBAT. Now wish to be known and addressed as ODEGBESAN ABIDEMI ABIBAT. All former documents remain valid general public should take note.

DURU CALLISTUS ADINAKA

I formerly known and addressed as DURU CALLISTUS BOBBY. Now wish to be known and addressed as DURU CALLISTUS ADINAKA. All former documents remain valid general public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ANNE CONFIDENCE, now wish to be known and addressed as NYKSON ADLIN - CONFIDENCE OGECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note. ELIZABETH NWANKWO

I formerly known and addressed as ELIZABETH. THONDE. Now wish to be known and addressed as ELIZABETH NWANKWO . All former documents remain valid general public should take note.

PEACE OLAILE JOSEPH ICHENWO

ETIBENSI GRACE ONWINENG

IFEOMA VICTORIA OHIA

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. UMOR GODPOWER PEACE, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. PEACE OLAILE JOSEPH ICHENWO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note

I, formerly known and addressed as, BLESSING THANKGOD ATIM, now wish to be known and addressed as, ETIBENSI GRACE ONWINENG. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. MBAFOTU IFEOMA VICTORIA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. IFEOMA VICTORIA OHIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

WILLIAMS NNODIM AMAKU. I, formerly known and addressed as, MR. WILLIAMS WINNER NLEMEDIM AMAKU, now wish to be known and addressed as, MR. WILLIAMS NNODIM AMAKU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

NWAEZE BLESSING BENA. I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. NWAEZE BLESSING ANITA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MISS. NWAEZE BLESSING BENA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, ABIDOYE ABDUL-JELEEL BANJI, now wish to be known and addressed as, ABIDOYE ABDUL-JELIL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ADENIRAN RILIWAN OPEYEMI

OLADETOHUN ADETOKUNBOH MARY

VICTOR JOSEPHINE NWAMAKA NWAKAEGO

ADENIRAN: I, formerly known as AHMED RILIWAN, now wish to be known and addressed as ADENIRAN RILIWAN OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

OLADETOHUN: I, formerly known as BADMUS ADETOKUNBOH MARIAM, now wish to be known and addressed as OLADETOHUN ADETOKUNBOH MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as NWANJI JOSEPHINE NWAMAKA now wish to be known and addressed as VICTOR JOSEPHINE NWAMAKA NWAKAEGO.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note

MARY ZAHU ISHAYA

OJO TEMITOPE ADEOLA

ABIDOYE ABDUL-JELIL.

BALOGUN OLUWADAMILOLA AJOKE

I formerly known and addressed as ESTHER JOHN now wish to be known and addressed as MARY ZAHU ISHAYA.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ADELOWO TEMITOPE ADEOLA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OJO TEMITOPE ADEOLA .All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

AUGUSTINE AMAECHI ONWUKA

LATEEF TEMITOPE MODUPE

ADDITION OF NAME.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS OYEYIGA TEMITOPE MODUPE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS LATEEF TEMITOPE MODUPE.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ADEWALE BIDEMI OKUNDAYE that I wish to add EFE BRIDGET to my name now I wish to be known and addressed as ADEWALE OKUNDAYE EFE BIDEMI BRIDGET.All former documents remain valid.General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MATENGAMBIRI GIFT AMAECHI now wish to be known and addressed as AUGUSTINE AMAECHI ONWUKA.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note. ORAKWULU UJUNWA JESSICA. I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKAFOR UJUNWA MARYANN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ORAKWULU UJUNWA JESSICA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note. EKETE NKEIRUKA. I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWAFOR NKEIRUKA CALISTER, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EKETE NKEIRUKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note AZIANKOU K. ABRAHAM.

I, formerly known and addressed as Ezienkou K. Abraham now wish to be known and addressed as Aziankou K. Abraham. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

GODWIN OGOCHUKWU

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NGENE OGOCHUKWU CYNTHIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS GODWIN OGOCHUKWU CYNTHIA. All former documents remain valid.General public should please take note. OKOYE EKENECHUKWU INNOCENT

I, formerly known and addressed as OKOYE EKENE INNOCENT, now wish to be known and addressed as OKOYE EKENECHUKWU INNOCENT. All former documents remain valid. Generalpublic should please take note OMOBORIOWO MODUPE HALIMA

I, formerly known and addressed as MRS LAJA MODUPE HALIMA now wish to be known and addressed as MISS OMOBORIOWO MODUPE HALIMA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note

I formerly known and addressed as MISS ADESANYA OLUWADAMILOLA AJOKE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS BALOGUN OLUWADAMILOLA AJOKE.All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

CHUKWU UCHENNA ANTHONY

I, formerly known and addressed as NWANGA UCHENNA ANTHONY, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWU UCHENNA ANTHONY. All former documents remain valid. Banks and Generalpublic should please take note. ONYIA EZINNE ANNASTESIA

I formally known and addressed as MISS OGBONNA EZINNE ANNASTESIA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONYIA EZINNE ANNASTESIA. All former documents remain valid. National Health Insurance Scheme and General Public should please take note. SHUKURAT AJOKE EMMANUEL.

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Shukurat Ajoke Busari now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Shukurat Ajoke Emmanuel. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME.

I, formerly known and addressed as Adunnl Olumuyiwa Badejo now wish to be known and addressed as Idowu Olumuyiwa Badejo. My correct date of birth is 8th of July 1958. All former documents remain valid. Ecobank, Access Bank and general public take note.

My name was wrongly written as EVELYN OYOM instead of the correct name as EVELYN OYOUM. All former documents remain valid, general public take note

This is to confirm that INEMESIT UDOUDO UMOREN and HAPPINESS UDOUDO UMOREN refer to one and same person,now wish to be known and addressed as HAPPINESS UDOUDO UMOREN. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public should please take note.

IDOWU CECILIA FUNKE

SALISU KABIRU MUHAMMAD. I formerly known and addressed as KABIRU UMAR SALISU. Now wish to be known and addressed as SALISU KABIRU MUHAMMAD. And my correct date birth is 12/02/1983. All former documents remain valid general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS ADIAMOH KAFAYAT OLADAYO. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ARIBIGBOLA KAFAYAT OLADAYO. All former documents remain valid general public should take note.

IDOWU OLUMUYIWA BADEJO.

I formerly known and addressed as BAMGBOSE FUNKE. Now wish to be known and addressed as IDOWU CECILIA FUNKE. All former documents remain valid general public should take note.

ARIBIGBOLA KAFAYAT OLADAYO.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Oguntade Ismaila ÏÏÏ The trial of a former Chairman, Presidential Implementation Committee on Marine Safety and Security (PICOMSS), Air Vice Marshal Saliu Atawodi (retd), Rabin Hassan and his company, Hypertech Nigeria Limited, continued on Wednesday before Justice U.P. Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, with the cross-examination AKANDE ADESEWA KAYODE.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS KAYODE ADESEWA. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AKANDE ADESEWA KAYODE. All former documents remain valid general public should take note. KOLAWOLE. ADEYINKA. SAIDAT.

N620m Fraud: Ex-PICOMSS Boss, Atawodi, Never Supplied Boats to Nigerian Army -Witness of the third prosecution witness, Usman Cholli. Atawodi and Hassan are accused of using the company to defraud the Federal Government of about N620 million through suspicious contracts to procure armoured patrol boats. ADEBAMIRO YETUNDE SUSANAH

I formerly known and addressed as BELLO YETUNDE. Now wish to be known and addressed as ADEBAMIRO YETUNDE SUSANAH. All former documents remain valid general public should take note.

AKINSOJU FUNMILAYO ELIZABETH

Cholli, an EFCC operative, told the court that investigations revealed that no boats were supplied to the military by the accused persons. Under cross-examination by Karina Tuniyan, SAN, Cholli said: “Our investigation showed that advance TAJUDEEN AFEEZ JIMOH

OLOYEDE TITILOPE CECILIA

I formerly known and addressed as YUSUF AFEEZ BAMIDELE and YUSUF AFEEZ JIMOH. Now wish to be known and addressed as TAJUDEEN AFEEZ JIMOH. All former documents remain valid general public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as DAGBEYON TITILOPE CECILIA. Now wish to be known and addressed as OLOYEDE TITILOPE CECILIA. All former documents remain valid general public should take note.

ADENIYI IGE OMOTUNDE.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS KUSIMO. ADEYINKA. SAIDAT. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS KOLAWOLE. ADEYINKA. SAIDAT. All former documents remain valid general public should take note.

Former.ly known and addressed as. Ishola Oluwafunmilayo. Elizabeth I married to Akinsoju philemon Olu on 7 ,Dec. 2013 Now wish to be known and call Mrs. Akinsoju Funmilayo Elizabeth All Former documents remain valid general public should take note.

I, ADENIYI IGE OMOTUNDE and ADENIYI TINUADE IGE, refer to one and same person but now wish to be known and addressed as ADENIYI IGE OMOTUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

IWUAGWU MIRIAM CHISOM

SUNDAY ABRAHAM AMAH

AGBOOLA REBECCA ABIKE.

Formerly known and addressed as NWOKAFOR MIRIAM CHISOM, now wish to be known and addressed as IWUAGWU MIRIAM CHISOM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

Formerly known and addressed as MR. EDET ABRAHAM AMAH, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. SUNDAY ABRAHAM AMAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ODESANYA IDOWU ASHABI MARY

YAQUB KHADYAT KUBURAT.

Formerly known and addressed as ALABI MARY IDOWU, now wish to be known and addressed as ODESANYA IDOWU ASHABI MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. IDOWU FUNMILAYO OBATUNMI

Formerly known and addressed as ADELEKE FELICIA FUNMILAYO now wish to be known and addressed as IDOWU FUNMILAYO OBATUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME/CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

Formerly known and addressed as RAIMI WASIU ROTIMI, now wish to be known and addressed as RAIMI WASIU FALANA. My correct date of birth is 20th December 1968. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OGUNDEKO KHADYAT KUBURAT, now wish to be known and addressed as YAQUB KHADYAT KUBURAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm and certify that OPARA MAXIMUS EBERE and OPARA MAXIMUS KELECHI is the same and one person. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as REBECCA ABIYE OLUWAFEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as AGBOOLA REBECCA ABIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. ADIEME JANE KAOSISOCHUKWU

Formerly known and addressed as ONWUEMELIE JANE KAOSISOCHUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as ADIEME JANE KAOSISOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. BUSARI WASIU ADE.

Formerly known and addressed as RAJI WASIU ADE now wish to be known and addressed as BUSARI WASIU ADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME/CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

CORRECTION OF NAME

Formerly known and addressed as ODO IFEOMA and MICHEAL IFEOMA DIVINE, now wish to be known and addressed as OMEH IFEOMA DIVINE. My date of birth is 22nd August 1989. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

My name was wrongly written as MALOMO OLORUNTOBA KUNMI instead of MALOMO OLORUNTOBA as written on my original drivers license. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm and certify that ENEMUO MADUABUCHI ENEMUO MADUABUCHI .S. ENEMUO MADUABUCHI ODINKO ENEMUO MADUABUCHI SERGIU ENEMUO SERGIU S ENEMOH MADUABUCHI SERGIUS ENEMUO SERGIUS MADUABUCHI ENEMOH SERGIUS ENEMAH SERGIUS ENEMA SERGIUS refer to one and the same person now ENEMUO MADUABUCHI SERGIUS. All former documents remain valid. Concerned Authorities and General public should please take note.

payment was made to the account of Hypertech Nigeria Limited, and not to the account of Atawodi, and we found that the sum of N620 million was in the company’s account.” He further explained that he did not see the contract

IBRAHIM MUSTAPHA OLUWANISOLA

I formerly known and addressed as MUSTAPHA IBRAHIM and IBRAHEEM MUSTAPHA now wish to be known and addressed as IBRAHIM MUSTAPHA OLUWANISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. OHIA ITUA KELVIN

documents, but “the description in the account from our investigation showed that the money was for PICOMMS, and even Hassan made reference to N620 million for PICOMMS in his statement.” Atawodi, who was arraigned along with his co-defendants, CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I Mr Paul Anyiam That iam the owner of landed property, The. Landed documents Below get mssing, (A) Conveyance of Provisional Approval (B) Bwari area. Council. Department. Receipt, Both issued by Bwari area council Abuja, Nigeria date 20/10/97 signd by Abubakar A. Sulaimon, for. Rural Land. Use Adjudication. Committee. All efforts made to trace them prove Abortive.

OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY

COMFORT AUGUSTINE MOMODU

This is to inform the general public that I, OLOJO ABIDEEN OLAMIDE of No. 49 Latus Street, off Governor Road, Ikotun, Lagos is the rightful and bonafide owner of a Two (2) storey building situated at No. 49 Latus Street, off Governor Road, Ikotun, Lagos. General public take note. Sign:-OLOJO ABIDEEN OLAMIDE CORRECTION OF NAME / DATE OF BIRTH

My name was wrongly written as GEORGEWILL VERA, instead of GEORGE VERA INYE. My correct date of birth is 10 August 1992. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SAMUEL ONU. Formerly known and addressed as SAMUEL NWANNEKA OKORO now wish to be known and addressed as SAMUEL ONU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as IGNATIUS MARYJANE CHIOMA now wish to be known and addressed as ABARAONYE ANGELA OBIANUJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ABARAONYE ANGELA OBIANUJU

UDDOH EUCHARIA EBELE.

BALOGUN TAWA ABIKE.

Formerly known and addressed as UDDOH EMMANUEL EBELE EUCHARIA and UDDOH E.E.E.now wish to be known and addressed as UDDOH EUCHARIA EBELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as BALOGUN ADETOUN TAWAKALITU, now wish to be known and addressed as now wish to be known and addressed as BALOGUN TAWA ABIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLUBUKOLA WURAOLA FASEKU OLUBUKOLA: Formerly known and addressed as MISS. OLUBUKOLA WURAOLA OLATUNJI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLUBUKOLA WURAOLA FASEKU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AROGUNDADE TAYO SHINA, now wish to be known and addressed as AROGUNDADE OMOTAYO OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

We formely known and addressed as NWOKOLO family , NWOKOLO STANLEY MGBECHUKWU, NWOKOLO PRISCILLA IRUOMA, NWOKOLO CHRISTOPHER CHUKWUDI, NWOKOLO MARTINS OBINNA, and NWOKOLO MARYANN CHINWENDU now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWU STANLEY MGBECHUKWU , CHUKWU PRISCILLA IRUOMA, CHUKWU CHRISTOPHER CHUKWUDI, CHUKWU MARTINS OBINNA and CHUKWU MARYANN CHINWENDU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS

This is to confirm that I, EKPO IMOH EDEM is also known as EKPO OKON EDEM. That I wish to be known and address as EKPO OKON EDEM. All documents bearing the above names remain valid. Guaranty Trust Bank and the general public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OHIA FRIDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as OHIA ITUA KELVIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

FAMILY CHANGE OF NAME.

on May 11, 2016 on a threecount charge bordering on conspiracy, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds is alleged to have abused his office to defraud the Nigerian Army, and by extension the Federal Government.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS COMFORT OKON BASSEY, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS COMFORT AUGUSTINE MOMODU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. ESTHER DANIEL MAKPOR. Formerly known and addressed as ESTHER DAVID, now wish to be known and addressed as ESTHER DANIEL MAKPOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEWALE OLUSEGUN JOHNSON

Formerly known and addressed as ADEWALE OLUSEGUN now wish to be known and addressed as ADEWALE OLUSEGUN JOHNSON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. ALUEDE BLESSING IHAYERE.

Formerly known and addressed as ALUEDE JAMES BLESSING, now wish to be known and addressed as ALUEDE BLESSING IHAYERE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AROGUNDADE OMOTAYO OLUWASEUN

DANOLA EDUCATION FOUNDATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named BODY has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under part “C” of the Companies Allied Matters Act 1990. Trustee A. NWACHUKWU UCHENNA TENNY - PRESIDENT B. NWACHUKWU IJEGO VIRGINIA - GENERAL SECRETARY C. EBONIRO EJIKE - MEMBER D. MBANASOR JUDE ANAYOCHUKWU - MEMBER E. NWANKWO NGOZI MONICA - MEMBER F. NWACHUKWU UCHENNA TENNY JNR. – MEMBER H. NWACHUKWU UGOCHUKWU - MEMBER Aim and objectives 1.PROMOTION, FORMULATION, ADOPTION, IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC POLICES THAT PROMOTES GIRL-CHILD EDUCATION. 2. PROVISION OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS FOR DISADVANTAGED/INDIGENT PERSON E.G GIRL-CHILD Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: PRESIDENT

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

EITI lauds Nigeria’s success in extractive industry Validation MykeUzendu, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

Global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (EITI) has applauded the successes and progress recorded by Nigerian Government to ensure that transactions in the oil and gas as well as the mining sector remain transparent. Ina congratulatory letter signed by the Chair of global EITI and former Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt, the EITI board having x-rayed the inroads made by the country through Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) took a decision and published an EITI Validation Report on Nigeria. Itis worth of mention that Validation is an independent evaluation mechanism used by the world body to assess the level of implementation of its principles of transparency, accountability and good governanceof the extractive industry using the 2016 EITI Standard and Nigeria was first adjudged a compliant country in 2011 in Paris - France. The letter which was addressed to the Chairman of NEITI National Stakeholder’s Working Group (NSWG) and Minister of Steel and Solid Development Dr. Kayode Fayemi and made available to the press by the NEITI Director of Communications, Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, acknowledged the efforts of Nigerian in the extractive industry sector. “After a careful review of Nigeria’s efforts and the NSWG’s comments throughout the validation process, the EITI Board has decided that Nigeria is making meaningful progress in implementing the EITI Standard.” The EITI boss also commended the corrective efforts of the present administration to ensure that activities in the mining sector comply with 2016 EITI standards. He said, “The Board also acknowledges that efforts have been made to comply with all of the requirements and includes a number of corrective actions that should help Nigeria make a full transition to the EITI Standard. Nigeria has repeatedly demonstrated how the EITI process can be used to achieve important, tangible results for its citizens.” According to the letter, part of the considerations that led to endorsement from EITI were - “Nigeria is the first country in Africa to implement the EITI, helped shape the EITI Standard, developed one of the most extensive EITI reporting processes globally. “Nigeria’s EITI (NEITI) has gone well beyond the initial requirements of the EITI by including assessments of physical and process flows alongside the reconciliation of financial payments.

CBN-licensed BDCs not parallel market operators, says ABCON Motolani Oseni

ÎÎÎ

Bureaux De Change (BDCs) licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are not part of parallel market operators, the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) declared on Thursday. ABCON President, Aminu Gwadabe, in a statement, distanced ABCON members from the activities of BDC parallel market operators, which have constituted major setback to naira’s stability. He insisted that CBN-licensed BDCs are not parallel market operators as misconstrued by a large section of the public and even top government officials. Gwadabe disclosed that CBN-licensed BDCs, which are 3,147 operators at present, are key partners of the CBN in ensuring the stability and competiveness of the naira against

world currencies, including the dollar. He said licensed operators have been given up to December 31 by the CBN to renew their annual licensing fee of N250,000, are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and with each operator meeting the mandatory N35 million capital base stipulated by the apex bank. Gwadabe disclosed that the Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun severally accused the BDC parallel market operators of contributing to the continuous depreciation of the naira, but insisted the CBN-lisensed BDCs do not fall within the category being described by the minister because they operate based on set guidelines. The ABCON chief said the CBNlicensed BDCs, not only have their operational offices, they file reports with the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and belong to ABCON, which

is recognised by the apex bank as the umbrella body for licensed BDCs. Gwadabe said the licensed BDCs are committed to naira’s stability at both official and parallel markets, and have consistently partnered with the CBN to achieve this objective. “The CBN-licensed BDCs have always played collaborative and positive roles for the regulator in achieving exchange rate stability. Besides, CBN’s admission of licensed BDCs into the International Money Transfer Operators- IMTOs-Window foiled analysts forecast for the naira to cross N500 to dollar rate by last December. Besides, the licensed BDCs have weekly rate quoted on the Uniform Weekly Exchange Rate for Licensed Bureaux De Change portal,” he stated. He said the rate for this week was N399 to dollar, adding that ABCON has continued to ensure that licensed op-

25 News erators abide by the rate while defaulting members will be sanctioned. Gwadabe however, described the BDC parallel market operators or unlicensed BDCs as underground operators, without offices, and which do not renter returns to the CBN. He said these operators, seen mostly in major streets because they do not have offices, remain the major problem facing the naira. According to him: “The transactions done by unofficial BDC operators are highly exploitative and lucrative given that they are not bound by any regulation. These set of operators are invisible, and are the ones causing the rising gap between official and parallel market rates”. According to Gwadabe, the transactions done by these underground operators are bigger in volume than those of the CBN-licensed operators, and therefore have constituted major roadblock to naira’s stability. He said unlicensed BDCs do not render returns to the CBN, are not registered with the CAC and do not file reports at the FIRS.

Customary court: Man remanded for defaulting to pay monthly feeding allowances Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

ÎÎÎA middle age man, Jimoh Ganiyu,

A cross section of participants at the National Christian Youth Summit in Abuja… recently.

Oil subsidy scam: Court set Jan. 26 to hear convicted companies’ applications Titilope Joseph

ÎÎÎ

Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Wednesday set aside January 26, 2017, as the day to entertain the applications filed by the convicted Chairman of Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, Walter Wagbatsoma, its convicted Managing Director, Adaoha Ugo-Ndagi, alongside the convicted oil company. The judge gave the order so as to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) some time to study and respond to the said applications. During the proceedings, yesterday, counsel to the convicts, A.D Onyeke, informed the trial judge that from the medical reports that emanated from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and Havana Specialist Hospital, Surulere, Lagos, and which are presently before the court, it is evident that the convicted

Ugo-Ndagi “is not fit at this time” to appear before the court to get her sentence. Onyeke then used the opportunity to inform Justice Okunnu of pending applications filed by the convict presently before her which required to be argued upon one way or the other. Responding, EFCC counsel, Oladipupo Yeye, who confirmed service of the said applications however prayed the court to give the commission some time to study and respond to the applications in question. At the last proceedings on the matter, which took place on Monday, January 16, 2017, Justice Okunnu ordered the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, to keep under security watch, the convicted Managing Director (MD) of Ontario Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, UgoNdagi, pending when she would be transferred to prison. The order came sequel to the absence in court of the convicted Ugo-

Ndagi, who is said to be under intensive medical care at LUTH. The judge had further directed the Medical Directors of Havana Hospital, Surulere, and LUTH, to swear to an affidavit of means, clearly stating the convict’s health status. Prior to the ruling of the judge, Ugo-Ndagi’s lawyer, Y.A Kadiri had tried vigorioisly to proffer explanations as why his convicted client was absent in court to be sentenced as earlier scheduled by the court. According to Kadiri, “when she collapsed on Friday she was rushed to Havana Hospital where she was placed on life support and oxygen. “The prison official were with her throughout Friday and on Saturday she was referred to LUTH where she is currently receiving treatment.” Kadiri then tendered a copy of the medical report from Havana Hospital, even as he informed the judge that attempts were being made to get the medical report from LUTH.

was on Wednesday remanded, in police custody by an Ado-Ekiti Customary Court for failing to pay the monthly feeding allowance of his children. The marriage between Olatunde Folasade and Jimoh Ganiyu was dissolved on Jan.10,2011 and court ordered the husband to be paying N3,000 on monthly basis. The petitioner, Olatunde Folasade, 35, told the court that the respondent failed to comply with the order of the court. She said that since 2011, the respondent, Jimoh, has declined to obey the court order which compelled him to be paying a sum of N3,000 monthly as feeding allowance for his children. The respondent, Jimoh, 40, told the court that he was unable to pay the money because he was able to resolve the issue with his estranged wife after the court judgement then. The father of two children, appealed to the court to allow him to start paying N3,000 beginning from January 31, 2017. The President of the Court, Mrs. Olayinka Akomolede, however reject the appeal of the respondent. She ordered that he should be remanded in the police custody or pay a sum of N10,000 to the petitioner. Akomolede further ruled that the respondent should be paying a sum of N10, 000 to the petitioner on monthly basis until he is able to clear the accumulated debt of N216, 000 owned since 2011. The President of the Court, Mrs. Olayinka Akomodele after the court order adjourned the case to March 8, 2017 for hearing.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Health

Why Nigerian women shy away from family planning Embroiled between misconception and information gap required to increase the number of women and girls using family planning methods in Nigeria, a section of women and ladies have revealed that the cost of consumables and distance to existing health facilities are some of the reasons majority of them are discouraged from embracing the family planning programme. It would be recalled that in July 2012, the Federal Government announced a total financial commitment of US$33.4 million (N5.2104 billion) towards ensuring availability of reproductive health services and family planning commodities over the next four years. The then Minister of State for Health, Dr Muhammad Ali Pate had made the announcement at the London Summit on Family Planning, cohosted by the UK Government’s Department for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr Pate said Nigeria was fully committed to meeting unmet needs for reproductive health services and commodities, including family planning while speaking at the global event on behalf of (then) President Goodluck Jonathan. His words: “In addition to our current annual commitment of US$3 million for the procurement of reproductive health commodities, we are now committing to provide an additional US$8,350,000 annually over the next four years, making a total of US$33,400,000 over the next four years. This is an increase of 300 percent.” However, findings show that there are still unmet needs for reproductive health services, including family planning as the country’s CPR is as low as 15.1 per cent and this means that less percentage of women use any contraceptive methods while the use of the modern method is 10 per cent, which is said to be low compared to Ethiopia, the second largest African country with 40 per cent. Innovations Investigation shows that clients and visitors to the newly renovated Family Planning Clinic by the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) at the Primary Healthcare Centre located at Sango-Agege one would feel at home, for good reasons: The health officials are friendly,

Despite the Federal Government of Nigeria’s commitment in 2012 to enhancing access to voluntary family planning services to over 120 million women and girls in Nigeria - four years down the line, achieving the goal of a contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) of 36 percent by 2018 looks bleak as low demand for family planning services and commodities remain significant barriers to increasing CPR. LARA ADEJORO reports.

Family planning helps to restore health back to women

almost everything looks new and the environment is welcoming. But, a client who struggles to make ends meet for the family would immediately frown when she hears the Counselling Nurse tell her that, the method of family planning one chooses will determine the amount one will spend. Narrating her experience to a counseling nurse at the family planning unit when The Daily Times correspondent visited, Mrs Blessing Uyobong, 34, said, she came for the implant method since the ingectible methods hadn’t been suitable for her body system. “I already have four children and I had done family planning before. I had used the ingectible ones at a private clinic before (the one for 2 and 3 months consecutively) but the last time I tried it, I bled throughout a whole month and when I told the nurse, she recommended that I go for the coil (Intrauterine device (IUD) but she said it would cost me N6000. “Apart from the cost, I’m scared of the method because I’ve heard some people say it could be ineffective.” Even though, the nurse tried to douse her fears, she confided in our correspondent that her neighbour said it’s not effective. “When my neighbor used the coil, she eventually became preg-

nant and during delivery, the baby came out with the coil; but my sister-in-law uses the implant and became fat. Though, she told me it depends on my body system, so I’m going for the implant and see how it works for me.” When The Daily Times made further enquiries, the Counselling Nurse said, when coming for any of the family planning method, one would come along with N200 for pregnancy test. “When coming, you’ll come along with N200 for pregnancy test, the test can be done here or in any other centre because we can’t place you on any method without being sure that you’re not pregnant at the moment. “For implant or IUD, you’ll also need at least N500 because you’ll need spirit, cotton wool, surgical gloves and you’ll have to go buy them because it’s not sold here; you will also pay N50 for registration card but the procedure is free.” Speaking with Daily Times during the NURHI training for the Ward Health Committee recently, the WHC Chairperson for SangoAgege ward, Mrs. Fausat King said, apart from ignorance, people believe in visiting herbalists for the safety of their children. On the issue of consumables, she said, “the money they collect from

them is reasonable and it’s just for the card; moreso, it depends on what they will use. If what they will use is not available here, they can write it for you to go and buy it, they are not selling it here. “Though people complain that when they come for family planning, they tell them to buy consumables and that is why some women don’t come for family planning, but we have to keep convincing them. “We can’t keep depending on government alone to provide everything, but once our people hear that anything is free, they assume everything from A to Z is free, but they must realize that everything cannot be free, so we have to keep convincing them about the essence of family planning.” This is however contrary to the statement of the Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris that said earlier in the year that there must not be any user fee for consumables. Other women also aired their minds on why most Nigerian women shy away from family planning. Mrs Blessing Ubah-Ekeghalu said, “Some say it’s against their belief and for some women, their husbands do not give them the consent to do family planning.” The Social Media Personnel at Ben Bruce Foundation, Ademidun Oladipo Abimbola said, “Most peo-

ple are afraid of the long term effect and some say it’s against their belief.” Mrs. Opeoluwani Akintayo Ogunjimi said, “Women shy away from family planning for fear of the process being irreversible, which may lead to barrenness or lateness in getting pregnant.” Toyin Olusa who lives in Akure, Ondo State, said, “Honestly, it’s not expensive, but the aftermath effects scare people, especially the increase in weight and prolonged menstruation.” A teacher at Dutse Model International School, Jigawa State, Mrs. Titilayo Adetunji, who spoke on her experience said, “The side effects are too many, including the constant headache.” A journalist, Mrs Desola Afolabi said, “No time to go for family planning. Besides, is the information/education really out there? Matrons and nurses take time to lecture expectant mothers before birth. But after birth, nobody wants to know anything again.” Loss of confidence “Some of the providers are not responsible enough because government is not paying salaries regularly, there are slack actions by healthcare providers and the people have lost confidence in healthcare service delivery in this country.” The Prof said further: “The FG made a commitment after the London summit to provide commodities, but even the system at the service delivery point is hindered significantly. The service providers are not committed to it the way it ought to be; there are lots of under-the-table charges, people are claiming that government provide commodities but do not provide consumables such as gloves and they have to charge the patient.” The Don suggests government must respond to the need of the people, especially by providing more money. “But as it is now that our economy is low, FG should redistribute the money set aside for commodities to buying the consumables required that will en-

Continued on page 27

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

27 Health

Why coffee drinkers may live longer — Study Numerous studies in recent years have concluded that coffee drinkers may live longer, it has been revealed. Researchers, in a new study, reveal the discovery of an inflammatory process that might drive the development of cardiovascular disease in later life. They also found that caffeine consumption could counter this inflammatory process. Lead author, David Furman, Ph.D., of the Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection at Stanford University in California, and colleagues recently reported their findings in the journal Nature Medicine. Coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, and chocolate are all commonly consumed foods and beverages that contain caffeine - a compound best known for its brain-stimulating abilities. However, there is much more to caffeine than simply providing a morning energy boost. A number of studies have suggested that regular coffee intake may increase longevity. One study published in 2015, for example, found that coffee drinkers who consumed one to five cups per day had a lower risk of all-cause mortality than people who do not. Now, Furman and colleagues say that they may have pinpointed one way by which caffeine consumption increases lifespan, and it may be down to its anti-inflammatory properties. For their study, the researchers first set out to identify the inflammatory processes that might contribute to poor heart health in older age. The team analyzed data from the Stanford-Ellison cohort, including one group of healthy

Lara Adejoro

Coffee

adults aged between 20 and 30, and one group of healthy adults aged 60 and older. Upon assessing the blood samples of each participant, the researchers identified two gene clusters that were more highly activated in the older group. They found that these gene clusters were linked to the production of IL-1-beta, a type of circulating inflammatory protein; high gene cluster activity linked to inflammation; Next, the team assessed 23 older subjects, dividing them into two groups based on whether they had high or low activity in one or both of the gene clusters. The researchers then analyzed the medical history of each older participant. Among the 12 subjects who had high gene cluster activity, nine had

high blood pressure, compared with only one of the 11 participants who had low gene cluster activity. Further investigation revealed that the older participants who had high gene cluster activity were also significantly more likely to have arterial stiffness - a risk factor for heart attack and stroke - compared with subjects who had low gene cluster activity. Additionally, the researchers found that participants in the low gene cluster who were aged 85 or older in 2008 were much more likely to have passed away by 2016. Adults in the high gene cluster activity group also had high concentrations of IL1-beta in their blood, as well as increased activity of free radicals - which are uncharged

molecules that can cause cell damage - and a number of nucleic acid metabolites that are produced by free radical activity. Confirming the role of the two gene clusters in inflammation and heart health, the researchers found that they were able to increase activity in one of the gene clusters by incubating an immune cell with two of the nucleic acid metabolites produced by free radical activity. This led to an increase in IL-1-beta production. When the team injected these metabolites into mice, the rodents experienced high blood pressure and systemic inflammation. Furthermore, the renal pressure of the mice increased as a result of infiltrated immune cells, which blocked their kidneys.

Why Nigerian women shy away from family planning Continued from page 26 able provision of free services to clients.” On the benefits of family planning, Ojendegbe said, “A woman who has delivered ought to space for at least two years to be able to recover from the stress; so her health comes back to normal before she gets pregnant again; this is one of the major benefits of family planning. “Family Planning is not just to prevent women from getting pregnant but it is also to restore health back to the women. “The household is healthier

How to end doctors’ impending strike, by CMD LASUTH

and the wealth is better managed and distributed when the couple space pregnancy. With fewer children, one is able to care for their children and reduce to number of school drop-outs. Family planning prevents under-five mortality, neonatal mortality and maternal mortality.” According to the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria loses about 2,300 under-five year olds every day and 145 women of childbearing age. This makes the country the second largest contributor to the under–five and maternal mortality rate in the world. Recent research shows that es-

sential interventions reaching women and babies on time would have averted most of these deaths. The deaths of newborn babies in Nigeria represent a quarter of the total number of deaths of children under-five. The majority of these occur within the first week of life, mainly due to complications during pregnancy and delivery reflecting the intimate link between newborn survival and the quality of maternal care. Similarly, a woman’s chance of dying from pregnancy and childbirth in Nigeria is 1 in 13. Although many of these deaths are preventable, the coverage and quality of health care services in Nigeria

continue to fail women and children. Presently, less than 20 per cent of health facilities offer emergency obstetric care and only 35 per cent of deliveries are attended by skilled birth attendants. This shows the close relationship between the well-being of the mother and the child, and justifies the need to integrate maternal, newborn and child health interventions. It is important to note that wide regional disparities exist in child health indicators with the North-East and North-West geopolitical zones of the country having the worst child survival figures, UNICEF says.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos, Professor Adewale Oke, on Tuesday said with dialogue between the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the planned strike by the doctors can be put to an end. Speaking in an interview with our correspondent recently, the CMD said the impending strike has to be worked out by the Federal Government and the doctors. “Part of the doctors’ demand is that government should look at a better way of managing the healthcare system in Nigeria. With dialogue between NARD and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), I’m certain that there will be a resolution.” Futhermore, the don said, “You are aware that Lagos State Government is the only state paying salaries regularly, so we do not want any strike to compound that.” The National Association of Residents Doctors (NARD) had issued an ultimatum which ended on the 2nd of January, 2016. The doctors’ agitation for the release of a uniform template for Residency training programme in Nigeria has been ongoing for years and has been largely responsible for industrial disharmony in the health sector.

Oke

Foreign 28 Central Italy hit by 3 large earthquakes in an hour

ÎÎÎCentral

Italy was on Wednesday stricken by series of three strong earthquakes in the space of an hour. The quake shook the same region that suffered strings of deadly quakes last year and has been reported to be buried under more than a meter (three feet) of snow in recent days. There were no immediate reports of casualties but tremors were felt as far away as Rome, where the subway was closed as a precaution and parents were asked to pick up their children from schools. The first tremor, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3, hit the region north of Amatrice at about 10:25 a.m. (0925 GMT), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A second quake with a magnitude of 5.7 hit the same area about 50 minutes later, and 10 minutes later a third was measured at magnitude 5.3. Aftershocks continued to rock the area. Heavy snowfall in the quakezone over the past week, which has dumped more than 1.5 meters in some places, was complicating transport and emergency response efforts. Mayor Maurizio Pelosi of Capitagno, near the epicenter, said even before the quakes many roads into and out of the town were blocked due to the snow.

Biden says Russia’s attempts to influence elections will reoccur ÎÎÎU.S.

Vice President Joe Biden warned European nations Wednesday to be ready for Russia to try to influence their elections in the same way that U.S. intelligence agencies say they are certain Russia did in the November vote that is bringing Donald Trump to office this week. “With many countries in Europe slated to hold elections this year, we should expect further attempts by Russia to meddle in the democratic process. It will occur again, I promise you,” Biden said in his final address in Davos, Switzerland. He further accused Russia of working to unravel what he called the “liberal international order” and return to a world in which super powers exerted control over nations in their sphere of influence. In addition to targeting democratic systems, Biden cited Russian “aggression against their neighbors,” including actions in Ukraine, and using control of energy supplies as a weapon against other countries.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

US former president George Bush hospitalized ÎÎÎFormer

U.S. President George H.W. Bush is being treated in a hospital in Houston, Texas, according to a family spokesman. Spokesman Jim McGrath said Bush, America’s 41st president, was admitted last weekend for shortness of breath. McGrath said Bush “has responded very well to treatment” and expressed hope he soon would be released. The 92-year-old former president has a form of Parkinson’s disease and uses a motorized scooter or wheelchair to move about. He was hospitalized twice in 2014, once for pneumonia and again for shortness of breath. Bush also was hospitalized in the northeastern state of Maine in 2015 after breaking a bone in his neck at his summer home. He served as vice president

ÎÎÎ

Former President George H. W. Bush. during Ronald Reagan’s two terms as president before serving as president from 1989 to 1993. The elder Bush is the father of former President George

W. Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who unsuccessfully sought the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. The office of the former

president announced earlier in January that he and his wife, Barbara, would not attend Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration Friday due to his age and health.

People flee Gambia as post-election crisis worsens

ÎÎÎIn

Gambia, the National Assembly has extended President Yahya Jammeh’s term by three months under a newly declared state of emergency. Senegalese and Nigerian forces are gathering on the border and vowing to take action if Jammeh does not heed a call from West African leaders to step aside for Adama Barrow, the declared winner of the December 1 election The central market in Banjul was deserted Wednesday amid a heavy police presence throughout the downtown area. The harbor where people board the ferry to take them out of the capital and on to Senegal was packed. Port authorities said thousands left yesterday, and a

Gambia deerted street in Banjul Jan. 18, 2017. steady stream of women and children were headed in that direction today with their luggage. The uncertainty centers around Thursday, January 19 the day that President-elect Adama Barrow is scheduled to be inaugurated.

In Banjul, people are growing impatient with Yahya Jammeh. “He’s wrong. He already sit for 22 years. You should give other people a chance,” says a carpenter named Tijan. But Jammeh is digging in. He has condemned what he has

called extraordinary foreign interference in the country’s affairs. He challenged the election results, but the Supreme Court says it is unable to meet until May because of a shortage of judges. ECOWAS says Jammeh must step down Thursday. The regional bloc is threatening a military intervention. Security concerns worsens in the country as international tour groups are scrambling to evacuate tourists. Tom Laker, a Dutch citizen, was preparing to head to the airport. “I don’t actually think that tourists here are in danger, but I do see that the situation is tense enough to maybe warrant bringing people back home,” he said.

Dozens killed in suicide car bombing in Mali ÎÎÎDozens of

people were killed in northern Mali Wednesday by a suicide vehicle bombing inside a camp housing hundreds of former rebels and pro-government fighters, officials said.

Obama holds final presidential news conference

Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said the “criminal, cowardly and barbaric” attack was “very clearly an attack on peace.” “This attack should not distract us from our will to

Malian Soldiers attend to wounded and casualties in the aftermath of a suicide bomb attack in troubled northern Mali Jan. 18, 2017 in Gao.

move forward to promote peace and to act against those who are trying to sabotage the peace process,” Diop said during a scheduled meeting on Mali at the U.N. Security Council in New York. He said those who orchestrated and carried out the attack would be found and prosecuted. The foreign minister added that Mali would observe three days of national mourning. Diop said the government is determined to honor and implement a 2015 peace agreement meant to stabilize volatile northern Mali. This agreement is the only framework making it pos-

sible to return to peace and stability in Mali,” he said. Witnesses said the blast happened inside the Joint Operational Mechanism base in the city of Gao around 9 a.m. local time, just as hundreds of soldiers began to gather for a meeting. The head of U.N. peacekeeping, Hervé Ladsous told the council as many as 60 people may have been killed. The base hosts elements of the Malian Armed Forces and members of the Platform and Coordination of Azawad Movements who are to take part in mixed patrols, as called for in the peace agreement.

U.S. President Barack Obama is holding his final news conference as the American leader on Wednesday, sure to face questions about incoming President-elect Donald Trump as well as his surprise commutation of the prison sentence for an Army intelligence analyst who leaked military documents. Obama leaves office Friday after eight years in the White House, with Trump taking over when he is sworn in as the country’s 45th president at noon on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Obama, a Democrat, adamantly fought against the Republican Trump in the presidential campaign, calling the billionaire real estate mogul turned politician temperamentally unfit to serve as the U.S. commander in chief. But since the election, Obama has met with Trump and talked to him on several occasions as they worked toward a peaceful transition in power. But even as the Trump presidency nears, tensions remain between the two leaders, especially since Trump has vowed to overturn many of Obama’s executive actions and win congressional approval to repeal his signature health care reforms. White House press secretary Josh Earnest says Obama plans in part to use his final news conference to voice his concerns about suggestions from Trump aides that they might move the White House press corps out of the West Wing, where they are close to the president’s Oval Office, to another location in the White House complex, which the Trump officials say would allow more reporters to attend daily news conferences. Trump has feuded with the news media throughout his presidential campaign and transition to power, claiming it produces “fake news” about him, and regularly disparages specific news outlets, including NBC News in a Twitter comment Wednesday, and occasionally individual reporters by name.

Indian derailed train

Gent H Coach thumbs up Rabiu Ibrahim

ead coach of Belgian side Gent Hein Vanhaezebrouck has praised the performances of Rabiu Ibrahim in his club winter camping exercise in Spain. 25 year old Ibrahim joined the Belgian side in the summer to fortify the midfield of the team but he made only three appearances in the first half of the season. Rabiu Ibrahim was booed off the pitch in his first start by fans of the team, but true to his promise during a

chat with Owngoalnigeria.com, it appears he is truly set to take the league by storm this year. ” He’s more suited to our style of play now, and he now understands the physical side of the game better. If he maintains this form when the league resumes, he will be like a new signing for us”, Vanhaezebrouck said on Rabiu Ibrahim. The Nigerian is one of four Nigerians at the club with Moses Simon, William Troost Ekong and Samuel Kalu completing the list.

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Rabiu

Thursday, JANUARY 19, 2017

Eagles

won’t take Seychelles, Libya Lightly — Yusuf Yusuf

uper Eagles Chief Coach Salisu Yusuf says the senior national team will accord 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifying opponents Libya and Seychelles the same respect it will give perennial rivals South Africa as far as the race for Cameroun is concerned.In

a chat with Daily Trust, the former Kano Pillars boss added that the team will do its utmost best to avoid past mistakes which led to the three-time AFCON winners missing out on the last two tournaments. “It will be a grave mistake to look down

on Seychelles or Libya because in football any team could shock you, we will treat all teams with respect and by the grace of God we’ll be in Cameroun for the next AFCON tournament,” Yusuf said. Nigeria will begin their qualifying campaign for the 2019 Africa Cup of

Koscielny: Wenger has built men at Arsenal

rsene Wenger has transformed players into men during his admirable 20 years at Arsenal, according to defender Laurent Koscielny. The 67-year-old is the longest-serving manager in England’s top flight by some distance but his future remains the subject of speculation, with his contract expiring at the end of the season. A number of Arsenal stars have urged him to stay, with Mesut Ozil claiming his own future will be tied to that of the Frenchman and Olivier Giroud having stated that “everyone” at Emirates

Stadium wants Wenger to continue. Koscielny is the latest to praise Wenger’s legacy at the Gunners and says he has “built men” during his two decades at the club. “You may say that we haven’t won the title for a long time, but he has not just built players, he’s built men too,” Koscielny told Arsenal Player. “Every player who has played for Arsenal has grown here and has become a man. It’s a big number [of players]. For me and the others, it’s a good opportunity to be with him and learn from him.

Nations with a Group E home fixture against 1996 winners Bafana Bafana in June 2017. According to the full fixtures released by the Confederation of African Football, the match against South Africa will come up between June 5-13, 2017.

Croatian Club Chelsea make send former shock move for Flying Eagles New“Victor Moses” ace packing In what could be one of the strangest links in a

Collins

ormer Nigeria U-20 left back Jamilu Collins has been released by Croatian top division side NK Istra, Owngoalnigeria.com understands. Collins joined the team on a full transfer from fellow Croatian side HNK Rijeka but despite making 11

appearances in the first stanza of the league, the 22 year old has been declared surplus to requirements at the club. He has been in Croatia since 2013 when he joined Rijeka from Football Academy Abuja, and so far aside game time while out on loan, he is yet to play for the main team of Rijeka in the Portuguese league. Istra signed him after a season on loan to second division side Sibenik but prior to that time he has also endured loan spells with Krka in Slovenia and Promorac in Croatia as well.

while, it seems that Chelsea are sniffing around the possibility of signing Middlesbrough flyer and general all round unpredictable footballer Adam Traore. The player was a star at youth level for Barcelona and was considered a major coup for Aston Villa when he signed for them at the start of last season. For obvious reasons, the then 19-year-old struggled to make an impact at Villa Park but his blistering pace has clearly caught the eye of the Chelsea boss. Traore would undoubtedly be nothing more than a squad player for the Blues but Conte is known for getting the best out of players others struggle to nurture and he may see the Boro winger a perfect fit for his current squad as a back up to Victor Moses.

Thursday, January 19, 2017

EXTRATIME

iverpool have turned down a request by Championship promotion hopefuls Newcastle United to sign England youth-teamer of Nigerian ancestry Sheyi Ojo. The Liverpool Echo has reported that the Magpies wanted to sign the winger on loan for the remainder of this season, but the Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has not sanctioned the deal. Having previously spent time on loan at Wigan Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers, it would have been Ojo’s third loan spell away from Anfield if the move was rubber stamped by Liverpool higher-ups. Because of an injury he picked up during pre-season, the former MK Dons starlet had to wait until January 8 before playing his first competitive match for the senior team this season. Sheyi Ojo is under contract with Liverpool until the end of the 2019-2020 season.

Liverpool reject Newcastle approach for Sheyi Ojo

Everton star Lookman not thinking about Nigeria

Lookman

verton rave of the moment Ademola Lookman says he is happy representing the English national team, in his first interview since his goal scoring debut in Everton’s 4-1 thrashing of Manchester City. According to online reports there has been interest from Nigeria on holding talks with the talented 19 year old, who has represented England at

various youth level to switch to Nigeria at senior level, but it appears those speculations are way off the mark. Lookman on his part, while speaking on what prepared him for the goal scoring debut he had, pointed out the experience he had with the English youth team as one which prepared him for life in the Premier League. ” I have progressed a lot the

last few years, I have a very sweet experience at Charlton, learning and working my way up, which I believe is why am at Everton”, Lookman said. ” Playing for England U19s has also helped my career a lot. It got me exposed and there’s a whole joy that comes from playing international football, something I experienced with England”.

Eagles midfielder

Raheem Lawal agrees deal with Kayserispor FC N igeria international Raheem Lawal has agreed a loan deal with Turkish Super Lig club Kayserispor. The Osmanlıspor midfielder has signed a fivemonth contract that will see him remain on loan at Kayserispor until the end of the 2016-2017 season. Lawal was on the radar of Kayserispor since the opening of the transfer window but the transfer was delayed because the president of Osmanlıspor failed to sanction the move until now. The 26-year-old numbers Atlético Baleares, Adana Demirspor, Mersin İdmanyurdu and Eskișehirspor among his former clubs. This season, he has recorded 14 appearances in all competitions for Osmanlıspor, including nine games in the Europa League and qualifiers.

Lawal

Ojo

OsayiSamuel fires

Blackpool Into FA Cup 4th Round Blackpool have made it to the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup following a hard fought 2-1 win over Barnsley at Oakwell on Tuesday night. The Seasiders young Nigerian winger Bright Osayi-Samuel was introduced in the 41st minute after one of his teammates suffered a knock. The visitors went ahead on the half-hour mark through Kelvin Mellor but their advantage was rubbed out by Angus MacDonald three minutes after the restart, ultimately taking the game into extra time. Osayi-Samuel netted in the very last minute of stoppage time, he curled the ball home from 12 yards after the opponents failed to clear. The 19-year-old’s strike against The Tykes was his second senior goal for Blackpool since his promotion to the first team.

NFF rejects CAF’s request to host U-17 Nations Cup THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may have turned down a request from the Confederation of African Football, CAF to bail it out and host the 2017 edition of the African U-17 Championship. CAF had last week stripped Madagascar of the right to host the championship even as it had not made any concrete arrangement for another host. A reliable source at the NFF revealed in Abuja that on Monday the federation received a letter from the continental body requesting it to bail it out by staging the competition scheduled to take place later in the year

Thursday, January 19, 2017

EXTRATIME

EURO…EURO… EURO…EURO… EURO…EURO… EURO…EURO…

Ranieri wants

Chelsea to win the Premier League Bonaventura signs new AC Milan contract AC Milan have announced that midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura has extended his contract at the club until 2020. The 27-year-old has signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal to commit his future to San Siro until the end of the 2019-2020 campaign. Bonaventura has played a key role in Milan’s progress under Vincenzo Montella this season, having only missed two games in all competitions, while he scored the equaliser before converting in the penalty shootout as they beat Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana in December. The Italy international, who signed from Atalanta for a reported fee of €7million in 2014, has scored four goals and registered six assists in 19 matches this season.

C Messi:Ronaldo

has achieved great things L

ionel Messi has hailed long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo as “a great player who has achieved great things” following a highly successful 2016. Ronaldo pipped the Barcelona forward to the Ballon d’Or and the inaugural The Best FIFA Men’s Player award after winning the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup with Real Madrid, as well as Euro 2016 with Portugal. The 31-year-old has stressed in the past that there is a healthy level of respect between football’s leading lights despite the intensity of the rivalry between LaLiga’s biggest two clubs. And Messi says Ronaldo deserves plenty

Cafu adamant Neymar will become world´s best

With continuity, Barcelona star Neymar will become the best player in the world, claims former Brazil international Cafu. Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo have set the standard in football, going headto-head for club and individual honours season after season. Ronaldo beat Messi to The Best FIFA Men’s Player, having regained the Ballon d’Or from his rival, but Cafu believes 24-yearold Neymar will surpass the star duo. “A little bit of continuity,” two-time World champion and Champions League winner Cafu told interviewers at the Florida Cup when asked what is missing from Neymar’s game. “If he is given this, he’ll be the best in the world in a few years. I have no doubt about that.” Neymar has made a slow start to the season for Barca, scoring seven goals in all competitions. The Brazil forward has four goals in 14 LaLiga matches this term but has not scored in the competition since October, although he did net a penalty in the Copa Del Rey win over Athletic Bilbao last week.

of praise for what he has achieved during his career, although he denies that trying to surpass the former Manchester United man’s achievements is one of his chief motivations. “There is a mutual respect,” he told reporters. “I view him as a great player who has achieved great things because that is exactly what he is.

Ronaldo Zaza

Ranieri

laudio Ranieri wants to see Chelsea manager Antonio Conte follow his lead and add his name to the list of Italian bosses to win the Premier League. Ranieri was inducted into the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) Hall of Fame on Tuesday following his remarkable masterminding of Leicester City’s title success last season. He followed compatriots Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Mancini in achieving the feat and, with the Foxes well off the pace this time around, the 65-year-old would gladly see his former club take the mantle in 2017. “As former Chelsea coach and as an Italian supporter, I hope that Conte can achieve the goal [of winning the Premier League],” he said. “He has shown that the Italian school of coaches is valid more than ever.”

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email: info@dailytimes.ng Tel: 08051000448. Editor Daily: ROSE MOSES

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017

VOL. 2. NO. 281

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Koscielny: Wenger has built men at Arsenal

P 29

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M Yusuf

Wenger

Iwobi

explains why Iwobi plays regularly ahead of some Stars

anager of Arsenal Arsene Wenger has expressed his satisfaction with the progress of 20 year old Nigerian forward Alex Iwobi. Iwobi was heavily involved in Arsenal’s three second-half goals at Swansea, seeing two efforts deflected in for own goals, then starting the move which led to the fourth for Alexis. Iwobi made his Premier League debut in the corresponding fixture last season, and the youngster has gone from strength to strength ever since. “He is more and more comfortable in the team,” the manager said. “But I think Alex Iwobi, above all his talent, is a guy who has a fantastic team attitude. “He is gaining in confidence as well. You could see overall that he develops very well. If he keeps that kind of spirit he has at the moment, he can go much higher up. That’s my wish.”

Eunisell raises bar in NPFL front-of-shirt sponsorship

leading global chemical and specialty fluid management company Eunisell Chemicals, has raised the bar in front-of-shirt sponsorship, in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) after extending its deal with Rivers United FC. Eunisell became the first brand in the history of the NPFL, to enter the third year of a front-ofshirt deal and also makes history as the first to splash a bonus of N10 million on a Nigerian football club. Group Managing Director of Eunisell, Mr. Chika Ikenga, said the company is extending its sponsorship to be part of the club’s history. “We are encouraged by the good performance of Rivers

United and in keeping with our promise to stay with the club whether they fall or rise. We have renewed our shirt sponsorship agreement with them irrespective of the economic situation in Nigeria,” he said. The front-of-shirt sponsorship by the chemical firm remains undisclosed, according to officials of Eunisell. However, Ikenga revealed that the N10 million bonus to Rivers United is in recognition of their impressive outing as NPFL runner-up last season and for emerging Super Four pre-season champions, in less than a year into their formation. Eunisell started their front-

of-shirt sponsorship contract with Sharks in 2015 and continued with Rivers United, in 2016, following the merger of Sharks and Dolphins by the Rivers State Government.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

CBN begins sale of $250m Fx to BDCs Page B3 today

Future oil demand: World needs $25trn investment OpeOluwani Akintayo Saudi Aramco’s chief executive, Amin Nasser, has said in order to meet up with future oil demands, the world needs to invest US$25 trillion in new oil-producing capacity over the next 25 years. Nasser said this at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday. The CEO of Saudi Arabia’s giant state-held oil company said global demand for oil and gas will grow bigger in years to come. This means that if capital investment drops, it could create “spikes” in prices and negatively affect the global economy. On fears that oil demand is depreciating, Nasser said demand is still healthy and oil “will be with us for decades”. According to him, the global oil and gas industry needs to expand and requires more investment. After two years of the drop in capital investment by the industry due to oil price crashes, a recent report by Wood Mackenzie suggests that “the global investment cycle will show the first signs of growth in 2017, bringing the crushing two-year investment slump to a close”.

No such thing as fake Amstel Malta, SON says

Page B6

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Osinbajo inaugurates BoA rejuvenation committee

Page B7

NCC now enforces N5m fine for DND breach Tony Nwakaegho Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced the enforcement of N5 million fine on the Do Not Disturb (DND) code which compels mobile network operators to stop sending unsolicited messages to their subscribers. Prof Umar Dambatta, executive vice chairman of NCC,

made this known at a meeting with the Academia on ITU Study Group Participation held at Digital Bridge Institute, Abuja, adding that the move became imperative because the NCC had given the operators sufficient time to comply with the regulatory directive and was now ready to enforce the N5 million fine stipulated for any breach of the directive by the regulator.

“We are at the stage of imposing the Do Not Disturb (DND), code direction, meaning that any breach of this direction will attract a fine of N5 million. “If a consumer lodges complaint to NCC that an MNO sends unsolicited text messages and the complaint from the consumer get to us, we will ensure that credit deducted from the consumers for this unsolicited text messages is returned to the

consumer and will also invoke the provision of the fine on the MNO which is N5 million. “This is to ensure total compliance and this is a measure of last resort. The NCC imposed the regulation as a measure of last resort after we have given the MNO time to ensure compliance and we have monitored them to ensure compliance to ensure that the compliance is not selective.”

L – R: Brigadier General (rtd) Bright Ateke Fibionumama, Anany Anabo 1 of Abuloma Kingdom; Dr .Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, GMD, Obijackson Group; Engr. Simbi Wabote, executive secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB); Guido D’Aloisio, MD, SAIPEM and Gabriel Oramasionwu, GCCO, Energy Works Technology (EWT) during load-out and sail-away ceremony of OLT Bouy Mooring Piles fabricated by Energy Works Technology for the Tupni-Egina Project, at the Nestoil Industrial Area, Abuloma, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

N660bn debt, forex scarcity hamper fuel importation Opeoluwani Akintayo

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) has blamed the inability of its members to import more petrol on the over N660billion debt owed marketers by the Federal Government for petrol imported in the past.

BUSINESS TIMES Editor Andrew Odioko Head Business Azubike Nnadozie Capital Market Editor Bonny Amadi

In a chat in Lagos on Wednesday, the group’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Adewole, opened up to Business Times when asked to know the reason for the ongoing long queue of trucks along IjoraApapa awaiting to load product at Dockyard and Apapa depot. Adewole said that most marketers had stopped importing product

Simon Ugwu The organizers of WAIPEC 2017 have unveiled an overview of its programme ahead of the three-day conference and exhibition, taking place next month (21-23rd February) at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, Nigeria.

due to inability to access foreign exchange and government refusal to pay the outstanding debt owed. He said that marketers currently owe some Nigerian banks over 1 billion dollars, which they took as loans to import fuel, and because the government could not pay them or pay the banks interest on the loans as agreed, the interest

accumulated over time. According to him, the main debt is over N500billion while interest on loans is over N160billion. ``The inability to pay or service the loans has not only stalled their further importation of fuel but is threatening the operation of the affected banks and the nation’s financial industry at large

``Foreign exchange remain another big challenge, we don’t have forex to import the product, except were able to get adequate forex. ``For now, landing cost on petrol stood over N145 due to high forex rate which posed a serious concern to marketers on the price to sell the product,’’ he said.

The international exhibition is integrated with a first-class conference programme which has been specifically developed to provide real value and insight for all delegates. Through a series of plenary and industry panel sessions and topical presentations, delegates

will discuss, debate and explore innovative best practices, technological developments and alternative business and financing models relevant to Nigeria and West Africa’s upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas sectors. Specifically, discussions will fo-

cus on how West Africa’s oil and gas sector can remain competitive in a tough global market, the role of technology as a transformer in the sector and setting out a realistic roadmap for value-added local content and financing models in the region’s energy industry.

Industry experts endorse WAIPEC 2017

Capital Market B2 Access Bank appoints new Executive Director Bonny Amadi, Afolabi Adesola Access Bank has announced Dr. Gregory Ovie Jobome as new Executive Director, Risk Management Division. The Bank in a statement filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Wednesday, noted that his new appointment is succeeding his position as a General Manager and Chief Risk Officer of the Bank, and that his appointment has been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Bank’s statement signed by its secretary Sunday Ekwochi, described Dr. Jobome as a thorough bred banking profession with excellent academic pedigree, who obtained a First Class Degree in Economics from the University of Maiduguri in 1986 and a Distinction in Master of Business Administration from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1990. “Dr. Jobome also obtained a Master of Science Degree (1994) and a Doctorate Degree (2002) both in Economics and a Finance from Loughborough University, UK. “He has over 25 years of work experience obtained from Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, University of Liverpool Management School, Manchester Business School and Access Bank Plc.” Commenting on the appointment, Chairman of Access Bank, Mrs. Mosun Belo-Olusoga said: “We are very delighted to welcome Dr. Jobome on the Board pf Access Bank. He brings on board a very rich banking industry, academic cum board room experience relevant to our bank. These Skills will no doubt support our Bank’s quest to become the World’s Most Respected African Bank” The statement further noted that Dr. Jobome has been instrumental to the many giant strides attained by the Bank in the risk management space. “Dr, Jobome is a highly sought after resource person and has held several key industry leadership position including: Director, CRC Credit Bureau Ltd, President Risk Management Association of Nigeria between 2012 and 2015, Member, Working Group on Regulatory Reforms of the Institute of International Finance.

Market sink further with N11.3bn loss By Afolabi Adesola Equities trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) yesterday continued the downward trend from previous trading session. The All-Share Index (ASI) and the market capitalization both fell 0.13 percent to close at 26,245.34 points and N9.030 trillion, respectively. The decline compares with the previous session’s depreciation of 0.36 percent, when the ASI and Market Capitalsiation closed at 26,278.20 points, and N9.041 trillion, respectively. Investors thus parted with N11.3 billion, as the Oil and Gas

index posted the highest loss for the day at -0.44 percent, following share price decline recorded in Forte Oil, Mobil and Oando. The consumer goods index was next with a depreciation of 0.19 percent while the NSE 30 fell 0.16 percent. The decline recorded so far in the day’s performance remained unabated as 3,522 deals which was recorded during the previous trading session was lessened by 14.4 percent to amount to 3,015 deals traded Wednesday. Investors also exchanged a total of 394.8 million units of equities, representing a 6.2 percent increase from 371.9 million units recorded in previous session, but

value of equities traded for the day dropped 19.6 percent to N1.378 billion from N1.714 billion recorded for Tuesday. Investors’ appetite diminished further, as market breadth remained negative with 12 gainers to 20 losers. The price movement chart indicated that A.G. Leventis led on the gainers table by 4.76 percent to close at 88 kobo, Cutix followed with an increase of 2.11 percent to close at N1.45, Air Service added 1.92 percent to close at N2.65, Wema Bank grew 1.89 percent to close at 54 kobo, and Continental Reinsurance appreciated 1.82 percent to close at N1.12. On the other hand, Guinness

and Portland Paints led the day’s declining stocks, with 5 percent each to close at N63.65 and N1.71 respectively, Diamond Bank dropped 4.80 percent to close at N1.19, Unilever depreciated 4.29 percent each to close at N33.50 and Transcorp dropped 3.33 percent to close at 87 kobo. Continental Reinsurance topped the activity chart for the day, with the sale of 149.6 million units of shares worth N164.5 billion. Fidelity Bank followed with 51.6 million shares worth N48.0 million, while UCAP emerged the third most traded stock for the day with 30.2 million shares amounting to N105.5 million.

R – L shows Oscar N. Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Karim Hajji, Chief Executive Officer of Casablanca Stock Exchange signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate with each other for the growth and development of the two exchanges, in the presence of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari and the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI in Abuja.

Onyema means well for stockbrokers on demutualization … Ezeagu Bonny Amadi

The Chief Executive, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, has been commended for his sustained effort at demutualizing the Exchange, the process described as tasking, lengthy and requires tact to accomplish. The Chief Executive Officer, Solid Rock Securities Mr. Onyen-

Summary of activities on NSE ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

26,245.34 3,015.00 394,820,090.00 1,378,664,546.20 9,030,401,936,033.58

wechukwu Ezeagu, in an interview with Daily Times said that the NSE under the leadership of Oscar Onyema has sustained effort at ensuring that all the barriers to turning the exchange into a public profit making company , are addressed to pave way for a rancor free demutualized exchange. Ezeagu, also the chairman of the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), told Daily Times that NSE is addressing the challenges one after the other, of which the January 26th scheduled verification of members remains an integral part of the process which must be addressed before forging ahead. According to him, there is process which has been set for the

demoralization process to take and the NSE is keyed towards meeting the standards set and directing all energy towards the process that demutualization has to take. “You have to remember that the CEO just said that the NSE is embarking on verification exercise and they have to know who and who are members of the Exchange before demutualization” Ezeagu said. The Solid Rock CEO said that the verification exercise and other issues in the demutualization process made the NSE not to have summoned the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) which the CEO had earlier assured of during the 2016 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Exchange.

Ezeagu said “This issue of demutualization is not an easy task as the people think. There are lots of issues that need to be addressed and there are also cross section of stakeholders that need to buy into it, so the process is long and demanding” He said that the NSE cannot address all the issues arising from demutualization in one clean, hence some segments could feel otherwise and thwart the process through litigation, “because once there is a litigation, it would take the process backwards”. Speaking on the expected post demutualization status of stockbrokers who failed to qualify for the new capital base as well as the minimum operating standard.

Money Market B3

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Naira strengthens to 495/$1 at parallel market Stories by Motolani Oseni

The local currency, the Naira at the close of trading activities on Wednesday appreciated by N2 to close at N495 per US dollar, against N497 to a dollar it has been trading since the foreign exchange markets opened on Monday for this week’s operations. The Naira remained unchanged at the interbank market against the dollar, as it maintained the N305.25 rate it was traded on Monday and Tuesday. At the Bureau De Change (BDC) window, the Naira traded at N399 to a dollar, a rate it would maintain for the rest of the week, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro traded at N604 and N522 respectively. The local currency, which had maintained rate at N490 against the Greenberg for about two weeks fell last Friday to 497

... Remains unchanged on other segments

at the parallel market as dollar scarcity persist. But this changed slightly yesterday when the Nigerian currency exchanged at N495 to a dollar, from N497 it had maintained for close to a week, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N597 and 521 respectively, which was a better rate compare to 605 and N510 it was traded towards ending of last year. Although, forex traders are optimistic that in spite of the current scarcity of the forex, there are strong indications that the Naira will bounce back, due to efforts from both the Central Bank of Nigeria, the federal government and the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) last week pushed for the adoption of a sin-

gle rate at the market. But Nigerian lawmakers have adopted an official exchange rate of 305 naira per dollar for the 2017 budget but have asked the central bank to initiate measures to close the 40 percent spread with the black market, the deputy senate president said on Wednesday. Members of the upper house of parliament, the Senate said during a review of the budget on Wednesday that they were worried about the exchange rate differential, which they described as damaging to the economy and said had led to a loss of investor confidence. “We are worried by the huge gap. The central bank needs to do something about it and stabilize the currency. We must find a way of bridging the gap and restore

investor confidence,” deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu read out in the house. Meanwhile, experts have said that the demand for dollars was putting pressure on the Naira, but believe that the Naira-settled Over The Counter (OTC) foreign exchange (FX) Futures product, whilst of tremendous benefit to Nigerian corporates, as well as immense importance and advantage to the CBN, the Nigerian FX market, and the nation’s economy as a whole. The OTC FX Futures market serves to minimise the imbalance in the Spot FX market and cause the rate to moderate; attract significant capital flows to the Nigerian fixed income and equity markets; and achieve exchange rate stability.

CBN begins sale of $250m Fx to BDCs today The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) started auctioning $250 million to 3,147 registered Bureaux De Change (BDCs) nationwide today Thursday 19 January, 2017. Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, the President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), disclosed this Wednesday in Lagos. He said the sale of the foreign currency to BDCs would impact positively on the naira exchange rate as the exercise would boost liquidity in the market.

“Sale and distribution is ongoing to all the CBN licensed BDCs today,’’ Gwadabe said. He argued that multiple rates were frustrating efforts at stabilising the Naira and fast tracking its recovery trajectory. Gwadabe, however, expressed optimism that the resumption in the sale of about N250 million dollars to members of the association this week would help in addressing liquidity challenges in the market. Therefore, appealed to Nigerians with legitimate needs for foreign exchange to visit any CBN

registered BDC to purchase dollars with relevant documents at N399 to the dollar. Gwadabe said that addresses of all the BDCs were available at the official CBN Website, adding that members of the public should report any member selling above the regulated price to the appropriate authorities. The naira has depreciated significantly since the CBN closed its doors to sale of the foreign currency in December. With the resumption of sale to BDCs, traders and stakeholders

are optimistic that naira may as well be on the recovery path. Just recently, BDC operators launched a Uniform Weekly Exchange Rate for Licensed Bureaux De Change portal to enforce samerate for operators. Stakeholders have applauded ABCON’s consistent support for the apex bank policies and ongoing plans to boost public confidence in registered BDCs. ABCON, which is the umbrella body for all central bank licensed BDCs, believed that its newly introduced portal would enable BDCs to

External reserves appreciate by $1.04bn in 2 weeks Nigeria’s external reserves gained $1.04 billion in 2 weeks to $26.88 billion from $25.8 billion it opened this year. The latest update from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is coming against the backdrop of steady increase in price of global crude oil, a factor that had stoked the upswing in reserves in the past one month. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reference basket price moderated lower by 1.23 per cent to $52.64 per barrel as at January 13, 2017 from $53.20 it opened this year. Analysts at Investment One Securities said, “Despite Travelex resuming Dollar sales to BDCs this week, we expect the downward pressure on the local currency to persist as supply remains insufficient.” CBN conducted an OMO auction today selling N209billion worth of 143-day bills and 297day bills at 18 per cent and 18.60 per cent stop rates respectively. At the time of writing, NIBOR rates were not available. In the bond market, investments were largely bullish as yields contracted on average. With the exception of the Yields on the June 2019 and the 10year benchmark bond which inched up one basis point and two basis points to 16.42 per cent and 16.62per cent respectively, all other yields declined. The downward movement in yields was more prominent on the 7year benchmark bond, down nine basis points to 16 per cent while the yield on the 5year benchmark bond shed three basis points to 16.13per cent. Going forward, we expect market activity to be influenced by liquidity levels and the N130billion 5year, 10year and 20year Federal government.

achieve same exchange rate for the naira against the dollar across all licensed operators.

Gwadabe

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

D aily M ark e t Ro u n d U p Th e e q uities m ark e t p ost e d a n e g a tive p erf orm a nce yest erd ay as t h e m ark e t co n tin u e d t o exp erie nce selling pressure esp ecially t o w ards Co nsu m er G o o ds a n d O il & G as co u n t ers. A t t h e close o f tra d e, t h e A ll Sh are In d ex (ASI) sh e d 13b ps t o close a t 26,245.34 p oin ts w hilst invest ors lost N11.3b n in valu e as m ark e t ca pit aliz atio n se t tle d a t N9.0t n. M ark e t p erf orm a nce w as as a result o f sust ain e d losses in Co nsu m er G o o ds co u n t ers - G UIN N ESS (-5.0 %), U NILE V ER (-4.3 %) a n d N ESTLE (-0.8 %), A lso, m ark e t activity w as mixe d as volu m e tra d e d rose 6.2 % t o se t tle a t 394.8m u nits w hile valu e tra d e d f ell 19.6 % t o se t tle a t N1.4b n. Sect o r In d ica t o rs Cl ose W e a k Perf orm a nce across sect ors w as larg ely b e arish. Th e O il & G as in d ex le d sect or e t o p ersist e n t sell-o f fs in F O RTE (-1.9 %) a n d O A N D O (-0.6 %). Th e Co nsu m er G o o ds in d ex (-0.2 %) co n tin u e d t h e b e arish stre a k w hich h as p ersist e d since t he st art o f t h e ye ar as losses in N ESTLE (-0.8 %), G UIN N ESS (-5.0 %) a n d U NILE VER (-4.3 %) dra g g e d t h e in d ex lo w er. Similarly, t h e Ba n kin g in d ex sh e d 10b ps d u e t o pro fit t a kin g in ETI (-0.3 %), a n d ZE NIT H (-0.2 %)

To p 10 G ain ers Tick er A GLEVEN T CUTIX AIRSERVICE WEM ABA NK C O NTINSURE FC M B NB VIT A F O A M UB A D A N GSU G A R To p 10 Losers

Price (N) 0.88 1.45 2.65 0.54 1.12 1.34 142.60 2.38 5.10 6.08

Price Ch g % 4.8 % 2.1 % 1.9 % 1.9 % 1.8 % 1.5 % 1.0 % 0.8 % 0.2 % 0.2 %

To p 10 Tr a d es b y V olu m e Tick er V olu m e (m) C O NTINSURE 149.6 FIDELITYBK 51.6 UC AP 30.2 DIA M O N D BN K 26.1 UB A 21.6 TRA NSC ORP 19.7 ZENITHB A N K 17.3 FC M B 15.5 FBN H 12.8 A CCESS 12.4 To p 10 Tr a d es b y V alu e

Price Ch g % 1.8 % -1.1 % -3.1 % -4.8 % 0.2 % -3.3 % -0.2 % 1.5 % -0.5 % 0.1 %

Tick er PORTPA INT G UIN NESS DIA M O N D BN K U NILEVER TRA NSC ORP UC AP NEIM ETH W APIC FO C A D BURY

Price (N) 1.71 63.65 1.19 33.50 0.87 3.39 0.70 0.52 69.00 9.00

Price Ch g % -5.0 % -5.0 % -4.8 % -4.3 % -3.3 % -3.1 % -2.8 % -1.9 % -1.8 % -1.4 %

Tick er ZENITHB A N K C O NTINSURE G U ARA N TY UB A UC AP A CCESS D A N GCE M NESTLE FIDELITYBK FBN H

Price Ch g % -0.2 % 1.8 % 0.0 % 0.2 % -3.1 % 0.1 % 0.0 % -0.8 % -1.1 % -0.5 %

V alu e (m) 273.9 164.5 113.5 109.8 105.5 86.4 84.8 67.7 48.0 46.9

NSE A ll Sh ar e In d e x NSE All Share Index

29,000

Naira Value (m)

w hile t h e In d ustrial G o o ds a n d Insura nce in dices close d t h e d ay fla t.

12,000

28,000

10,000

W e a k In v est o r Se n t i m e n t Invest or se n tim e n t re m ain e d so f t as m ark e t bre a d t h (a dva ncers/d eclin ers ra tio)

27,000 8,000

re tre a t e d t o 0.6x (fro m 0.8x record e d yest erd ay) co nse q u e n t o n 12 a dva ncin g st ocks a g ainst 20 d eclin ers. Th e b est p erf ormin g st ocks w ere A GLE V E N T (+4.8 %),

26,000 6,000

C U TIX (+2.1 %) a n d A IRSERVICE (+1.9 %) w hile P O RTP A IN T (-5.0 %), G UIN N ESS (5.0 %) a n d DI A M O N D (-4.8 %) d eclin e d t h e m ost. Give n t h e curre n t w e a k m acro-

25,000

eco n o mic f u n d a m e n t als, m ark e t p erf orm a nce re m ains su b d u e d in o p e nin g tra d es

2,000

23,000

18-Jan

15-Jan

12-Jan

09-Jan

06-Jan

03-Jan

31-Dec

28-Dec

25-Dec

22-Dec

13-Dec

10-Dec

07-Dec

04-Dec

01-Dec

28-Nov

25-Nov

22-Nov

19-Nov

22,000

19-Dec

t h e rest of t h e w e e k.

16-Dec

t his ye ar save f or t h e rally in b a n kin g st ocks. H e nce, b arring a ny n e ws t o st o k e

4,000 24,000

M acro eco n o mic Gist

Term of t h e d a y D e m u t u aliz a tio n is w he n a m u t u al com p a ny o w n e d by its users/m e m b ers co nverts in t o a com p a ny o w n e d by o ht old M ark shSp are ers.e tIn ef f ect, t h e users/m e m b ers exch a n g e t h eir rig h ts o f use f or sh ares in t h e d e m u t u aliz e d com p a ny A sp o t m ark e t is a m ark e t w h ere fin a ncial instru m e n ts such as co m m o dities a n d securities are tra d e d im m e dia t ely or on t h e sp o t.

Th e N a tio n al Bure a u o f St a tistics (NBS) rele ase d d a ta f or In t ern ally G e n era t e d Reve n u e (IGR) a t t h e st a t e level f or t h e p erio d H1:2016. A t o t al o f N317.8b n w as g e n era t e d across 29 sta t es. 7 st a t es are ye t t o sub mit re p orts f or IGR g e n era t e d w it hin t he p eriod. Th ese inclu d e A bia, A na m bra, Ba uchi, Eb o nyi, O yo, Rivers a n d So k o t o. A ccordin g t o t h e re p ort, La g os st a t e w as ra n k e d first w it h a t o t al IGR o f N150.6b n w hile N assara w a st a t e record e d t h e lo w est IGR w it h a t o t al o f N1.1b n.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

No such thing as fake Amstel Malta, SON says The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the statutory body that is vested with the responsibility of standardising and regulating the quality of all products in Nigeria, has debunked the claims of a fake Amstel Malta in circulation. Mr. Fred Akingbesote, Deputy Director, who represented the Director General of the organisation explained to Journalists recently in Lagos that Nigerian Breweries have met all SON safety and quality requirements and have complied with all requirements of the new National Industrial Standard (NIS) logo. In August 2016, Amstel Malta, the premium, low sugar formulated malt drink from the stable of Nigerian Breweries, launched a new credential campaign Why Add More. Shortly after the campaign, a picture went viral that a fake version of the Amstel Malta is in circulation. This was because the new packaging wore the new NIS logo while the old packaging had the old NIS logo of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria. Akingbesote confirmed that the NIS logo on Amstel Malta is the highest mark of quality from SON and commended the management of Nigerian Breweries for its commitment to the highest quality standard. He stated that Nigerian Breweries is one of the first companies to adopt the new NIS logo which was launched in September 2015. He maintained that the people behind the defamation are just playing on the intelligence of Nigerians. “We have a web site which contains all information on our standards and quality regulations. Every Nigerian who has doubts about any product certified by SON should crosscheck the facts”, he said. Also speaking on the issue, Nigerian Breweries Plc Corporate Affairs Adviser, Kufre Ekanem explained that the Amstel Malta was one of the first brands to comply with SON directives.

SON Acting DG, Paul Angya

B6 Brands & Marketing

Brand experience to drive marketing in 2017 – Expert Stories by Godwin Anyebe While brand owners continued to ponder on how to navigate through the storm of business in 2017, a marketing expert, Michael Nicholas, who leads the Global Connected Solutions team at Kantar TNS North America, where he advises clients on digital and integrated marketing activities recently said that brand experience will take the center stage in 2017. According to him, “today’s connected world makes it too easy for brands to annoy customers with an inconsistent experience. In 2017, successful brand stories will be built on delivering a consistent experience across touchpoints, and less on the num-

ber of touchpoints used. Michael who also leads Connected Life, the world’s largest annual study about how connectivity is shaping customer behaviour in 57 countries, disclosed that, “connectivity has a fundamental influence on how people consume media and make brand choices. It gives brands the opportunity to increase reach exponentially. But nearly a third of consumers globally report that brands don’t deliver the same level of service online as they do offline, according to the latest Connected Life study from Kantar TNS. Marketers need to better meet the personal expectations of their consumers across different touchpoints.” For him, “the consumer jour-

ney has changed dramatically in recent years. Different types of consumers take different paths to purchase, and each use the internet in their own way. Diversity of purpose creates multimodal brand touchpoints, so one shopper’s point of purchase may simply be a source of product information for someone else, or another person’s go-to place for cool content. Trends in Europe, example shows that consumers pass from social, to brand-owned, to offline touchpoints throughout the consumer journey. But in emerging markets there is a far greater preference to interact with brands on social at all stages. These differences create big challenges for channel owners, forced to play multiple roles and

juggle numerous requests.” “In the year ahead, we’ll see the number of touchpoints available to consumers to continue to grow. And when comparing traditional digital touchpoints with mobile touchpoints marketers are faced with a greater risk of delivering an inconsistent brand experience. Nearly 90% of internet users own a smartphone, and the more connected a consumer is, the greater the challenge becomes for brands. Marketers should also be aware of younger consumers who have grown up in a connected world. They are impatient with disjointed online/ offline models that are older than they are, and will move away from brands that don’t adapt,” he added.

Ayorinde

L – R: Mr. Olivier Thiry, Managing Director, Promasidor Nigeria Limited; Master Ayooluwa Oguntade, winner, senior category, 2016 Cowbellpedia Mathematics TV Quiz Show; Miss Juliet Ekoko, winner, junior category, 2016 Cowbellpedia Mathematics TV Quiz Show and Dr. Ikechukwu Anyanwu, Director, Quality Assurance, National Examination Council, NECO at the 2017 Cowbellpedia Mathematics TV Quiz Show press briefing in Lagos recently.

Search for best brains begin as Cowbellpedia kick-starts Mathematics TV Quiz The search for the best students in Mathematics amongst Secondary Schools in Nigeria has kicked off as the 2017 edition of Cowbellpedia Secondary School Mathematics TV Quiz show opened with excitement. Speaking at a recent press briefing in Lagos, Mr. Olivier Thiry, Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, sponsors of the initiative, explained that though Cowbell has been involved in the improvement of standard of education in Nigeria especially Mathematics in the last two decades, the company however brought all its intervention under one umbrella; Cowbellpedia last year.

He added that for this year, the thrust is to provide a credible platform that will identify and reward excellence in the subject area of Mathematics among Junior and Senior Secondary School students in Nigeria. According to him, “across the globe, investment in education has assumed an entirely new frontier that Governments and corporate organizations have come to realize that building capacity in STEM courses which Mathematics is a key component, represents the driving force for development in the 21st century.” Like in the previous editions, the Cowbellpedia Secondary

School Mathematics TV Quiz Show is open to students in JSS 3 and SSS2 from 10 - 18 years of age attending full time Secondary Education in both Public and Private Schools in Nigeria. While entry into this competition is free, contestants are required to register online or pick up a registration form at the State Ministry of Education offices nationwide. “For the Stage 1, we are continuing with the initiative that we started in 2016 for Mixed Secondary Schools to nominate minimum two (2) girls for each category to represent such school. This is our own little way of encourag-

ing the girl child to take interest in education especially the STEM courses,” he said. He also disclosed that, “the ultimate prize for this year’s edition is One Million Naira (=N=1,000,000) and an all-expense paid educational excursion outside the country, while the 1st and 2nd runners up will go home with Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (=N=750,000) only and Five Hundred Thousand Naira (=N=500,000) only respectively.” The Teachers of the winners will be awarded N400, 000.00 while Teachers of 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up will go home with N300, 000 and N200, 000 respectively.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Bee specialist advocates apiaries to boost harvest A specialist in bees, Mr. Johnson Oluwaseun, says the establishment of apiaries or bee farms would lead to bumper harvests in Nigeria. Oluwaseun, a consultant with USAID Market 2 in beekeeping training, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Owerri. According to the entomologist, establishing more apiaries would increase the number of bees which are pollinators that enhance crop production. “The greatest potential in beekeeping is pollination because 80 percent of what we eat is as a result of effective and efficient pollination; if there are no pollinators, there will be no human beings because there will be no food. “Nigeria is yet to harness its enormous potential in beekeeping, that is why farmers record very low output in their per hectare yield of many crops; for a positive change, more farmers should establish apiaries,” he said. Oluwaseun said that USAID Market 2 resolved to build the capacity of rural women in five pilot states of Nigeria to achieve improved nutrition. NAN recalls that USAID Market 2 recently trained 100 women from Eziorsu in Oguta Local Government Area and 50 women from Umukabia Ogodo in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo in basic beekeeping methods. The entomologist noted that Nigeria imports honey worth over N30 billion yearly whereas it has the potential to surpass Ethiopia (the current leading exporter of honey and derivative products in Africa). “Nigeria currently imports honey worth more than N30billion yearly which is about 80 percent of the honey it consumes. “Meanwhile the country has the potential to export six products from bees: honey, beeswax, bee venom, royal jelly, pollen, and propolis, as well as generate foreign exchange,” he said.

B7 AgriBusiness

Industrialist wants cocoa production policy An industrialist, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, has enjoined the Federal Government to initiate a cocoa production policy that would enable Nigeria to regain its lost leadership in cocoa production globally. He made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Tuesday. Ezeemo also urged the government to position farmers to

enable them to engage in massive cocoa production to diversify the country from the mono oil economy. He said that such agricultural policy would not only empower the farmers but also boost the revenue of the country when articulated properly. Ezeemo said that before now, Nigeria occupied the number one position in world cocoa production but expressed concern

that it lost the position due to the erstwhile oil boom. “We can place priority on cocoa production again and reclaim our position in the world,” he said. He said that reviving cocoa production in the country would also create jobs for the youth, bring back moribund beverage industries to live, give room for export and generate the needed foreign exchange for

the country. According to him, all hope for Nigeria to regain the position of being a giant in the production of cocoa again is not lost. Ezeemo further advised that members of the cocoa farmers association be employed to get a directory of all peasant cocoa farmers to enable partner with skilled agriculturalists to establish cocoa plantations.

Osinbajo inaugurates BoA rejuvenation committee The Federal Government has constituted a 21-man steering committee to restructure and recapitalize the Bank of Agriculture (BoA). Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, inaugurating the committee in Abuja on Monday, urged it to work within time to achieve its purpose. He said the restructuring was aimed at revitalizing the bank’s operations to make it more responsive to its mandate. Osinbajo, represented by Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the restructuring, would strengthen the bank as a platform for providing loans to Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) farmers and cooperatives among others. He said the approach was a preprivatization strategy preferred by the Federal Government for the injection of financial and other requisite resources into the bank. “It is noteworthy that in its over 20 years of existence, the BoA has faced a myriad of chal-

Osinbajo

lenges which include, poor funding, poor stakeholder buy-in, particularly Federal Government agencies, and erosion of stakeholders funds. Ogbeh, also the chairman of the committee, said the committee would commence the restructuring with N500 billion and

work within time to actualize its goal. The minister said the committee would give the bank a facelift, and consider staffing issues and electronic improvement while working in every community nationwide to provide credits to SMEs and to farmers.

Ogbeh said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would hand over the anchor borrowers programme (ABP) to the bank after the restructuring to finance agricultural projects. “There will be a better-run and financed BOA so that the interest rate will be easily accommodated by farmers. We will recover some of the credits owed by farmers because some of them have offered to pay,’’ the minister said. Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor and a member of the committee, described its ABP which started in 2016 as `a success’. He expressed optimism that the committee would ensure that the BOA achieved its aims and objectives in a very short time. According to him, the loans that are currently given to farmers through the ABP attracts single digit interest. “The Federal Ministry of Agriculture is asking us to reduce the interest rate to about nine per cent to enable farmers to buy inputs, go to the farm, make a living and feed the country,’’ Emefiele said.

Farmer urges FG, States to establish oil palm industrial parks

AUDU OGBEH

Minister of Agriculture

The Managing Director, Jekon Integrated Farms Nig. Ltd., Uyo, Mr. Godswealth Henry, on Tuesday urged the Federal and State Governments to establish oil palm industrial parks in the country. Henry told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Lagos that the parks would provide a sustainable solution to the scarcity and high cost of palm oil during its flat season. According to him, oil palm stakeholders have severally made known

the need for the industrial parks to relevant authorities at the Federal and State levels. “For years, most of the palm plantations have folded up and Nigeria is nowhere now in terms of palm estates that used to be the pride of the nation. “Majority of oil palm farmers is poor and still doing the farming and production of palm oil at peasant level. “We need to come out of this peasant level farming. “The nation can do this through having cluster villages for oil palm

farmers in all the oil palm producing states,’’ he said. Henry said that this would help the country introduce mechanized oil palm farming and production as well as have palm oil all year round. “Most farmers still use climbing with rope method to harvest palm fruits while other countries have harvesting forks and improved seedlings that they can harvest standing on the ground,’’ he said. Henry said that oil palm pick season starts February and ends midJune, while the flat season starts midJune and ends January.

Motoring B8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The all-new Nissan Navara could be a game-changer in the one-tonne market. Although no changes are expected for two top-selling bakkies, the Hilux and Ranger having already been renewed in the past year, 2017 is still looking to be an exciting year for bakkie fans, with five new or updated one-tonners on the horizon and a complete segment buster expected from Renault. Here’s what you can look forward to in the coming year: Fiat Fullback range expansion Fiat’s Mitsubishi Triton based Fullback one-tonner was launched in June last year, but buyers have had very little range choice, with just three derivatives to choose from. Fiat will, however, be expanding the range during the second quarter, with the 2.5-litre diesel double cab, currently only available in manual guise, being offered with an automatic gearbox, while the single cab 2.4-litre petrol model will be joined by a diesel derivative. Mazda BT-50 facelift Mazda’s one-tonner will imminently receive its first upgrade since the Ford divorce. The 2017 BT-50 is still based on the Ranger, given that it’s just a facelift, but the next-generation Mazda bakkie will instead share a platform with the next Isuzu KB. The facelifted BT-50 range has been scaled down to just three diesel double cab models: 2.2 SLX 4x2, 2.2 SLE 4x2 and 3.2 SLE 4x4. The 2.2-litre engine has not be upgraded in line with Ford’s, thus continuing to offer 110kW and 375Nm. Mitsubishi Triton If it weren’t for the challenges, we would have seen the new Triton around the middle of last year already, but now it’s finally on course, with the local launch scheduled for late January. One positive, however, is that Mitsubishi will offer its all-new 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine, instead of the old 2.5 that was originally planned. The 2.4 has outputs of 133kW (up 2kW) and 430Nm (up 30Nm) thanks to a variable geometry turbocharger that offers a better response from lower in the rev range. The new bakkie is also said to be quieter and roomier than the current model, with higher quality cabin finishes and a full-colour multimedia display.

FiatFullbac

MazdaBT50 MitsubishiTriton

RenaultOroch

VWAmaroka

MercXClass Nissan Navara Even more overdue than the Triton, Nissan’s Navara will also grace our streets in 2017 and it’s said to be quite a game-changer, with its smooth-riding multilink suspension with coil springs making its leaf-sprung rivals look rather dated. Though the launch date hasn’t been set in stone, the Navara is expected to make an appearance earlier rather than later in the year. The initial models will be

powered by a new 140kW/450Nm 2.3-litre turbodiesel and specced to the hilt, with touch-screen infotainment and leather seats as standard, but we would also bet on lower-specced versions following at a later stage if and when local production commences. Renault Oroch Renault’s Duster Oroch double cab will bring a totally new dimension to the local bakkie market when it arrives later in

the year. Like the Chev Utility and Nissan NP200 it’s a unibody vehicle (in this case based on the Duster SUV), just taken into a more upmarket double cab format. The local engine line-up has yet to be confirmed, but it is likely to follow its SUV cousin in offering 1.6-litre normally aspirated petrol and 1.5-litre turbodiesel options, with the latter possibly available with all-wheel drive. Also, a possibility is the 105kW 2-litre petrol engine offered in Brazil. VW Amarok It might not look all that different at first glance but Volkswagen’s Amarok has received some serious upgrades and you can expect the newcomer on local shores around July this year. The most exciting prospect is the fitment of a new 3-litre V6 TDI turbodiesel engine, offered

in 120kW, 150kW and 165kW output levels overseas, and although it technically has yet to be confirmed for our market, it’s hard to see why VW would starve power-hungry bakkie fans of this brawny new addition. The other big thing about the 2017 Amarok is its completely redesigned, and much smarter looking cabin. Merc’s bakkie only due in 2018 Sadly, the most exciting new bakkie entrant in years is not going to make it by the end of 2017, but well-heeled bakkie fans can look forward to the MercedesBenz X-Class arriving during the first quarter of 2018. The X-Class has yet to be revealed in production guise, but the concept below will give you a fairly good idea of how the classy new pick-up, based on the new Nissan Navara, will look.

The Edo Times

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Niger Delta: There’s no substitute ET 3 for unity -Brig-Gen. Idada

Govt pledges support for community newspapers

ET 4

Obaseki commissions SEEFOR projects, calls for more support ÏÏÏ Governor Godwin Obaseki

Mr. Taiwo Akerele Chief of Staff to the Governor, representative Governor Godwin Obaseki, commissioning a block of 3 classrooms in Akoko Edo LGA of the state. His is assisted by Mr. Jeffery Obasomi, Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) in the LGA.

EDSG to support Child Rights Law implementation

Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏ

The Edo

T E A M

Edo State Government has reiterated its earlier resolve not to spare violators of the Child Rights Act, saying street traders and hawkers, when apprehended, would also be sanctioned in accordance with relevant laws. Governor Godwin Obaseki made the declaration in Benin, when he received in audience, members of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Edo State Chapter, led by its Chairman, Prince Roy Oribhabor. He said the law which received a boost with the es-

tablishment and inauguration of family court in the Benin High Court last week, must be enabled to function properly so that justice could be served on issues of child rights violation. Represented by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, the governor decried the activities of street traders and hawkers in Benin City for converting walkways and other public places to emergency market places. The governor decried their illegal and unlawful actions that had defaced the once beautified environment, warning that parents/guard-

Special Project Editor Sam Nzeh

Correspondent Titus Akhigbe

ians who send their children/ wards to hawk would be apprehended and prosecuted. He, however, solicited the collaboration of the group and other stakeholders with a view to sensitising the citizenry aimed at nipping in the bud the menace of street trading, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and environmental pollution. Gov. Obaseki reminded the public of the biblical allusion that ``cleanliness is next to godliness.’’ In the area of job creation, the governor affirmed his administration’s commitment to harness the massive agricultural potentials of the state to create the promised over 200,000 jobs within the next four years. He also disclosed that the government plans to estab-

lish industrial parks across the state with the development of the Gelegele seaport as a priority. He added that it was the target of Edo State Government to create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive in order to stimulate the tempo of socio-economic development of the state. Earlier in an address, the Chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), Prince Roy Oribhabor, commended Gov. Obaseki for banning all forms of revenue collection by private agents. Oribhabor pledged group’s support for the administration, adding that they would not however, shy away from appraising government policies and programmes from time to time.

has called for more public-private partnership in Edo State, even as he commissioned six projects in Igarra, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state. The State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) completed the projects, which included a 300KVA transformer at Ogogoro road and a renovation of 2.4km Momodu Ajayi road at Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Edo North Senatorial District of the state. Speaking during the official opening of the projects at Igarra, Obaseki, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, urged the people of the state to be more committed to the state’s development in order to enjoy a good standard of living. He revealed that the state government adopted counterpart funding to complete the projects with international partners and the community also contributing to the development. He said government is collaborating with the United Nations (UN), World Bank and other developmental partners to assist with resources through counterpart funding to ensure improved quality of life of our people. He however explained that this partnership is not exclusive to Edo North. He said: “What we have witnessed today is a replication of what is happening across the state. For us to continue to attract developmental effort, every community in the state must be organised and have a Community Development Association. They must have a community development account where resources can be pooled together to support developmental projects such as that of World Bank, EU and other developmental agencies. This is so because when communities contribute in project execution, they have ownership and protect such projects”. In addition, he commended the efforts of individuals who contributed to the counterpart funding on behalf of the community in the execution of some of the projects, while also calling on Nigerians in diaspora to contribute towards community development as a way of giving back to their fatherland.

The Edo Times 2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

Leave Edo,CP warns criminals

ÏÏÏ The Edo State Police Commis-

sioner, Mr. Haliru Gwandu, has warned criminals to steer clear and see the state as a no safe zone for their Heinous activities. Gwandu, who gave the warning on Wednesday while briefing newsmen on achievements of the Command in the past two weeks, said 27 persons have been arrested for armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and cyber crime. The Compol, who reaffirmed his commitment to tame the tide of crime and criminality, also warned that the command will not deter in fishing out criminals and prosecuting them according to the Law. Also, he said, the command will no longer tolerate overzealous bloggers who defame individuals and institutions for monetary

gains. He said six persons were apprehended in relation to armed robbery out of which four are currently undergoing investigation; five were arrested for kidnapping; thirteen in me. He said the command through community policing and other aids have so far checkmated armed robbery, car snatching, cultism, thuggery, kidnapping and cyber crimes, which according to him, can’t afford to continue. Items recovered from the suspects, Compol Gwandu noted are 2 cut to size, live cartages, 1 Toyota Saloon car, 1 BMW, 1 Toyota Yaris, 1 locally made pistol, 1 English gun, 1 short gun, 1 pump action and 1 double barrel.

CJ advises judicial officers against stringent bail conditions

ÏÏÏd Ɠ è ózƄóƐƄ Ǝƍ ƅ ƍƊƄƕ &ƕ ƇƏƕƆƃƆ ƍƓ ƅƍ Ɗ Ɖ ƏƄ Ǝ ƕƆ ƆƎ Ɖô

ÏÏÏ Chief Judge of Edo State, Jus-

tice Cromwell Idahosa, has advised judicial officers against granting bail on stringent conditions to accused persons. Justice Idahosa gave the advice when he visited Ubiaja Prisons on Tuesday. The chief judge, who would retire on January 25, cautioned judges, magistrates, and presidents of customary courts to grant bail on liberal terms. “You should not make it difficult by asking for a surety on a particular grade level,” he said, adding that what matters was to verify if the surety had verifiable address. According to him, if you have decided to grant bail, give condition that a surety can fulfill, not making it difficult. If you do not want to give bail, don’t give. “In our neighbouring countries, such stringent condition does not exist and please let us be mindful when giving bail condition.” Idahosa’s advice followed a case of a female inmate, Linda Agbada, 35, who stood as surety to bail her son who was changed for assault. Agbada’s son refused to appear in court after the bail, consequently, the court issued a bench warrant on her. The court granted her bail in the like sum of N200, 000 with two sureties who must be on grade level 14 in like sum. Idahosa, however, reduced the bail sum from N200, 000 to N50, 000 with two sureties who reside within the court’s jurisdiction. He also decried kidnappers who abduct citizen, abuse their victims and still collect ransom before their release. “Kidnapping is the worse form of offence a criminal will commit. I really frawn at how they abduct victims, restrict their movent, abuse

and also collect ransom.” The Assistant Comptroller of Ubiaja Prisons, Mr. John Oriabule, said one of the major challenge was vehicle to convey 260 awaiting trial inmates to courts. In another development, Justice Cromwell Idahosa, said the Edo State judiciary has been transformed from analogue to digital through provision of internet facilities for speedy justice dispensation. Idahosa stated this at his farewell visit to Edo North on Tuesday where he met with the judiciary staff and members of the Bar and Bench. “We have transformed and raised Edo judiciary to an enviable height through electronic recording of cases to speedy dispensation of justice. “But, a lot still need to done to improve the judiciary system in the state,” he said. He said that the state judiciary now has a website where all activities were done electronically. He said the state judiciary was still grappling with challenges of dilapidated structures and hoped that the new administration under the leadership of Gov. Godwin Obaseki would address the issue. Idahosa, who would retire on January 25, commended the bench for not involving themselves in any act of indiscipline and corruption. “I must commend Edo judiciary for not being involve in any corruption saga that led to the clampdown of some judges in the country,” he said. He urged members of the bench to be upright in the discharge of their constitutional duties, even as he freed two inmates that are awaiting trial at the Auchi prison. Earlier, the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Davinson Alegbe, said the tenure of Idahosa witnessed a land mark achievement.

Benin monarch suspends frontline palace chief

Ï ƉƉƄ Ƅ Ɔ ƏƂ ƍƕƆ ƎƆ Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏ The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba

N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, on Tuesday, suspended Isekhurhe of Benin Kingdom, Chief Nosakhare Isekhurhe, for alleged misconduct ranging from forceful and illegal collection of gratifications as well as the reviewing cases already dealt with in the Oba palace. Addressing journalists at a press conference in Benin presided over by the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe and other top palace chiefs, Igbe said the Isekhurhe of Benin allegedly desecrated the duties of the title and designated his house as a palace where he held court in which he sometimes reviewed cases already dealt with in the Oba palace. “Of course gratifications were

there offered or forced and collected. He used his position to influence new chiefs celebrating their investiture to perform certain rites in his residence, during which monies, kalolanuts and drinks were collected. Senior chiefs were at times openly bad-mouthed and vilified by him, and during those times, he declared that the chiefs were not senior to him and that he would not pay respects to them again as palace cultures demand. He turned himself into a be all and end all, and a seeming authority in the Benin culture and tradition”, especially palace procedures. He even pronounced himself the Head of the Royal family”, Igbe said. Igbe added “during Emwinekhua (obsequies), he neglected and deliberately refused to perform his traditional duties before, during and after the event, and has since remained

infinitely unrepentant”. Furthermore, Igbe said: “We cannot believe that anyone, any Benin individual who knows what the motivating Benin cultures and tradition are, and have worn the toga of a Benin Chief could do what Isekhurhe did these past two years. We find it difficult to accept even the idea that he was a chief. The disconnect has become actual and natural. “We recommend in the circumstances therefore, that he be suspended; and with the authority of Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin, he is, with effect from today, 17th of January, 2017, suspended indefinitely from performing the duties of the Isekhurhe title which he now bears. Those duties were originally performed by the Ihama of Benin. They will now revert to the Ihama N’Ihogbe”.

Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu (first right) with others assisting the father of the triplets whose wife died one week after delivery in Benin... recently

RƂ ƄƈƆ ƍƄ Ǝ ƎƄ ƃ ƊƊƆƎƊƄ Ǝ Ǝ ƍƏƉƄ ƅ Ɖ Ƒ ÏÏÏ To encourage investments and promote security in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the rule of law. The governor made this position known when he received the executive members of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) at the Government House in Benin City on Wednesday. Citing the rule of law as a precondition for investment or investors to come into the state to invest, he said “the rule of law is so important that if I cannot enforce contracts, if I do not feel safe in an environment, and, if my properties would not be protected, I would not invest in that environment.” Obaseki said having been an economic banker all his life, the importance of the rule of law was clear to him. He explained that his govern-

ment would embrace it to woo investors and investment to the state to create jobs for the youths and empower the young people. “If you have listened to our pronouncements as a government, one of the cardinal focus of this administration is that we want to increase the amount of economic activities in the state so that we can create jobs and empower the young people,” he said. He however added that this is only achievable if everyone acknowledges the rule of law, which is important to achieve the vision of the administration. Speaking further, he added that, “It is in our own interest as a government to ensure we strengthen the judiciary and we would be the biggest beneficiaries if we have the proper rule of law in place. “You may have noticed in our budget proposal to the House of Assembly this year that we increased

the amount of capital expenditure to the judiciary by almost 600 percent. I want to assure you that ours is a government that understands that if we do not strengthen judiciary, it will be at our own peril.” Gov. Obaseki therefore called on the Judiciary officers to uphold the rule of law while assuring them of the Government’s support. He said: “I want to assure you that this government has an open mind and would have a cordial conversation in the spirit of trying to resolve the issue and finding a resolution to it”. The national president of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Marwan Mustapha Adamu, congratulated the governor for his success in the governorship election of the state and said their visit is with a view to ensuring peaceful and industrial harmony between the judiciary and executive arms of the government.

Interview Brig-General Don Ikponwen Idada (rtd), a prominent leader in the Niger Delta region, in this interview with TITUS AKHIGBE, comments on Nigerians expectation from the President Muhammadu-led administration in the outgone year, the current year as well as proffers solution to crisis in the Niger Delta among other issues in the polity. Excerpts: The year 2016 was a difficult one for all Nigerians economically. Are you confident that we are going to see some kind of respite in 2017? Without a doubt, the year 2016 was a very turbulent and worrisome one for Nigerians; the economy was at its lowest ebb, the Naira going down to about N500 to a Dollar, simple food items needed by average Nigerians was unaffordable, our roads did not experience any noticeable improvement and this left a lot of worries for Nigerians. In terms of security, even though the fight by the military against Boko Haram appears to have yielded substantial dividends with the insurgents completely living underground for which we must give kudos to the President and the military but the truth on the whole is that security in Nigeria remains very worrisome. With cattle herdsmen ravaging everywhere in the North, South, West and Eastern part, their rampage has been very devastating and the people are worried asking why should this situation persist. The problem in the East, the agitation by Biafra; the Niger Delta remain source of funding projects yet the activities of the militants has kept oil production below the standard that was expected. We have also heard of so many kidnappings and gruesome murders in many parts of the country. On the whole, we cannot say the security of Nigeria has reached the level that anybody can say we now sleep with our two eyes closed and it is the same with the state of our economy. In 2017, we at best wish the administration of Muhammadu Buhari the best and must urge Nigerians to cooperate to solve the problem of this country. The problem we are experiencing is not problem for government personnel alone, it is not problem for APC, PDP or Buhari alone. I believe that it is only sincerity and political will eschewing the spirit of selfish-

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

3 The Edo Times

Niger Delta: There’s no substitute for unity -Brig-Gen. Idada ness that will make this country move forward. As a keen supporter of President Buhari’s anti-corruption war, what is your take on Federal Government’s plan to reward whistle-blower with 5 percent of recovered loot? Quite frankly, I think it is a measure government felt they have to adopt because incentive is a factor that must have its inter-play. It is true that every Nigerians owes it a duty to expose corruption and wrong doing but we also know that people are afraid to speak up, a lot of them don’t even trust that the Police when given information will treat it in such a way that will jeopardise the life of those providing this information. To provide information about wrong doing of anybody involves a lot of risk and therefore some incentives must be needed in order to prompt those who otherwise will sit on the fence to do something and this will yield results. Even beyond Nigeria, some investigating organs pay money to get information because information is not free. Some Nigerians are worried that they are yet to see government put into use recovered looted funds; what’s your take? I will not say am not aware that Nigerians are complaining that they are not seeing exactly what the monies taken from Abacha and other loots have been put into. The truth is that government has not told us what amount they have received and for what? I recalled very clearly the disappointment of many Nigerians during the Independence day broadcast where people sat before their television listening to Presidential broadcast to listen to the names of those who are returning stolen money and at the end of the day no names was mentioned. In any case, that has come and gone, government knows better because they are more informed about issues of governance, it is in government position to balance individual interest and to do certain things that the ordinary person may think it is unacceptable but government believe it is some way forward and we can’t deny the

Brig-Gen. Idada

Until we learnt to unite, Niger Delta people will always remain a tool in the hands of those who want to use them government the right to rule because that is what government is voted for and forget that there is a lot of power in the Presidential system. According to an America Professor, he was quoted to have stated that the presidency is such an institution that can do virtually anything so far as it is in the best interest of the nation, so the only thing presidency cannot do is what the constitution and status prohibits. Recently, Mr. President was reported to have stated that he is in search of genuine Niger Delta leaders to dialogue with and this appears to be a disconnect between the President and Niger Delta. As a critical stakeholder in the struggle, what is your take on this? I am a pioneer in the struggle for Niger Delta’s right from 1998 when we have SSPA and so on. I was a major player all along even in the renewed effort to improve the economy of the

nation and to stop the blowing of oil pipeline and theft in the region. The truth must be said; if am the President, I will be worried by the situation in the Niger Delta. Time was when people said there was nobody to discuss with in Niger Delta because of too many groups and organisations parading as leaders. We came up with the equivalent of Afenifere, Arewa and Ohaneze Ndi Igbo. Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) was born. One would have thought that that would be a relief. But what did we see? It was different ethnic groups, traditional rulers, and different people coming out to rubbish the whole idea of PANDEF as a spokes organisation for Niger Delta. Some maybe speaking what they believe, some may be saying what they believe for selfish reasons. One would have expected that since unity has always been the problem among the people of the Niger Delta of various background and cultures, everybody should at this stage recognise the need for the evolution of a group that can speak for everybody so that the whole arrangement of having one group as a spokesperson would work and guide and monitor the leaders. We are not saying other groups have no right but there is need for leadership. The sad thing about Niger Del-

ta even after the formation of PANDEF and the President gave recognition. Almost immediately, other groups who are part of PANDEF were going to see the Vice President and President. I think this is completely deplorable but for us to behave in a way to rubbish the group we formed is not good at all and even for the traditional rulers, because society gets the kind of leadership they deserve. Traditional rulers are not supposed to be card carrying members of any party or guided by politicians, rather they are supposed to be neutral leaders. Ideally, traditional rulers are not supposed to carry placards to the Villa to protest that Niger Delta is not treated well and not to be struggling power over who leads people to the President. On the issue of how to end this pipeline mentality, I think a lot of our people need to get out of this slave mentality. Until we learnt to unite, Niger Delta people will always remain a tool in the hands of those who want to use them. In this country, the idea of divide and rule has always been there and effort must be made so that the people of Niger Delta do not continue to fall prey because there is no substitute for unity. For those people who continue to frustrate the need for dialogue and I believe come under this umbrella because you cannot be preaching de-militarisation in one breath and in the other breath you are still blowing up pipeline. We must understand that the Federal Government has the duty to maintain law and order. As an insider in the struggle for Niger Delta, when we are crying that Federal Government is marginalising us, we equally know very well we are marginalising ourselves. Many of our governors carted away with huge sums that could be used to develop the region and empower our people. Are they not part of the problem? Did we not also have a President who was from Niger Delta and refused to complete the East West road? How was his empowerment programmes? Is it enough to be empowering those who were criminals? And that is why am against dialoguing with militants because the more you empower them, it creates more rooms for others to out.

The Edo Times 4 Ernest Omoarelojie

ÏÏÏ Ask me for a cynic’s de-

light, I will point in the direction of Edo State Governor, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki. At least, many pundits were sceptical of his chances before he even emerged as a major contender for the State’s gubernatorial elections. The feeling was not altogether misinformed given the undercurrent that left many to think less of him as having any real chance of upstaging the more savvy political generals fielded against him both in his ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP. In the beginning, even the unflinching support he got from his predecessor, one of the state’s most daring political figures, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, didn’t help matters too. But times have changed and he has since taken over as the new sheriff in town, and has been left to carve a niche for himself – a feat he appears to be achieving in style. The interesting and, perhaps, intriguing thing about Obaseki is that despite showcasing one of the most impressive credentials for a political office seeker, he still had to prove his mettle. Even as he did much more than his fellow contenders by traversing the length and breadth of all the wards of the state, the only credit many gave him was that he was an avenue for Oshiomhole to accomplish third term agenda. Unmoved by claims that he lacked the ability and experience to ignite the needed political will to muscle his way through inherent blockades, he trudged on and made very impressive and practicable promises that succeeded in further distancing him from the pack as a contender that understood not just what he wanted but also the people’s real sustainable development desires. Clearly, he came on at a time when, among other headaches, the state required a governor with the ability to rein in the hydra-headed unemployment challenge running loose in frightening double digit figures. He came with his depth to put an end to alleged double taxation, release all local government finances, curtail the nuisance

Opinion

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 19, 2017

In Edo: Better days, it seems

Obaseki values of certain characters employed as muscles for revenue mop, and, in particular, shore up the state’s finances by harnessing all of its investable natural potentials. Thus far, he seems to be living up to his pedigree and like the sure footed, straight thinking investment mobilizer that he is, he has taken steps that seem to give the heart-warming assurance that he has the ability to deliver on his promises with a view to bringing back better days to the nation’s heartbeat. Obaseki served notice, quite early too, that he was ready to roll in a direction that will leave no one in any doubt about his desire to execute his electoral mandate. As a first move, he secured agreements with vital investors, home and abroad, who are already reported to be mobilizing necessary resources

into the state. Expectedly, the move seems to be producing an Uhuru effect on everyone, including some of his opponents who are reported to be claiming that he is operating their manifesto. In more ways than one, his moves thus far, bear great semblance to an unfolding El Dorado for the army of unemployed people in the. The bottom line is that by simply working on campaign promises with such earnest urgency, he puts to the sword any scepticism concerning whether he knows what he is talking about with his promise to create at least 200,000 jobs within the first four years. Ab initio, Obaseki made it clear that his administration will not depend on monthly federal stipends to give the state a new lease of economic life. He was point blank in positing that he wants to

Give or take, the coming of the Obaseki administration seems to be bringing better days for the people of Edo State. From being perceived as Oshiomhole’s third term through the back door, it is fast proving to be an administration with a mind of its own make millionaires of the citizenry with a view to raising the tax and economic profiles of the state. Repeatedly, Obaseki said his mission is to turn the state into an economic hub. Quietly, he went about the even as cynics went to town, howling with aplomb, that he will succeed only in mouthing empty ballots and gathering political catch phrases designed to give wings to his acclaimed investment versatility. Yet, his assured moves thus far suggest that he is not only a man who walks his talk, he is also very independent-minded. Even more so, he seems to be confounding his cynics as he takes the well calculated steps towards turning the state into the nation’s main

economic reference point. Worthy of note are his decisions on the Gelegele seaport, his transparency in policy governance and his peoplecentric disposition. Unambiguously, Obaseki promised to be people-centric in policy implementation. As part of the processes leading up to fulfilling the promise, he assured the people that his administration will abolish all forms of double taxation, where it exists. Just as well, he added that he will give a humane face to the collection of all taxes and other levies. He made good on these promises in his New Year broadcast to the people by proclaiming mouth-watering incentives for habitual tax evaders. He followed it up by giving the marching order to all itinerary tax collectors hitherto engaged to carry out the responsibility to withdraw their services with immediate effect. Give or take, the coming of the Obaseki administration seems to be bringing better days for the people of Edo State. From being perceived as Oshiomhole’s third term through the back door, it is fast proving to be an administration with a mind of its own. Even as professional sceptics still exercise reservation from their well-stocked armoury, the populace are beginning to warm up to him as they experience systematic reforms from his policy decisions. They are, thus far, grinning from ear to ear, convinced that better days may have come for both them and the state.

Govt pledges support for community newspapers Titus Akhigbe, Benin

ÏÏÏ

Edo State Government has expressed its desire to support and partner with community newspapers in the state for efficient and effective delivery of government policies and programmes to the rural dwellers. Governor Godwin Obaseki made the pledge when he played host to the executive

members of the Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), Edo State Chapter, at the Government House, Benin City recently. The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, commended members of the ACNPN for the good work they are doing in the state. The governor disclosed that his administration was

committed to taking Edo State to the next level and called on all well-meaning people of the state to play their parts for the realisation of the lofty government policies and programmes. He called on the community newspaper publishers to continue to help government in educating the people, particularly traders shading on the walk ways to desist from doing so and also to shun

street trading which he described as very dangerous. Earlier, Chairman of the Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), Deacon Ralph Okhiria, said they were in Government House to congratulate the governor and his lieutenants on their successful assumption of office and to interface on ways of moving the state forward.

Life&

TIMES Thursday, January 19, 2017

Ibinabo Fiberesima gives scholarship to 8 kids

Gist L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Mutiat Alli

Ugovinna out with Rain on me visual Former project fame contestant, Ugovinna, is soaring high in his musical career as he recently dropped the visual of his smashing single, Shot in multiple locations rector, Paul Gambit; it will be recalled that the song got him a nomination Best Alternative Song at Headies 2015. Recently, Ugovinna

teamed up with Cohbams Asuquo Music Production and Vintage Grey media to

Ugovinna

Debbie.

New act Alert: Mabi out with Asko Fast- rising musician, Mabinure Ajana, better known as Mabi is sure of the newest act in the music industry whose style of music is distinctive through the quality of his choice of words.

disclosed to Life& Times that his sojourn into music is not just for the popularity it brings but for the inner passion he has towards the art. He, however, described his genre of music as Afro-Hip-hop. Mabi is one of the newbies to look out for.

Ibinabo celebrates birthday, gives out scholarships their lives. “It is good to have children who you can give the best education, but when you look out there, you see thousands of children whose parents cannot afford to send them to school. I know assisting eight people will at least change their lives in some ways,” she said.

T E A M

Life&

cultural night tagged “Reviving Our Lost Cultural Heritage”, which held at the Performing Arts Theatre, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, recently. The Head of Department of Political Science, Dr A.A Mohammed, while presenting an award to Alhaji Abass Obesere as the “Ambassador of Cultural Music”, endorsed him as the VC of Entertainment in agreement

with the teeming audience. The climax of the event was when Alhaji Obesere was called to receive his own award. The clamour was tense while the audience continued to hail him while Mohammed spoke, saying: “The students today endorse you as the VC of Entertainment but unfortunately, our VC is not here today to present this award so that it would be VC to VC. However, I am representing the VC to present this award for promoting the Yoruba culture,” he said. Other awardees like the popular Nollywood actor, Femi Adebayo, Abdulateef Adedimeji were on seat. report has it that after the en-

Obesere

dorsement, the popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Alabi Pasurecently allegedly carrying the title.

Ebuka to host Big Brother Naija

scene, Mabi is out with Asko as produced by Rymonz.

ries of the scholarship Beauty queen, actress, philanthropist and current president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ibinabo Fiberesima, celebrated her birthday yesterday in grand style. The event, which ment world, was held at Liligate Hotel in Lekki, Lagos. Unlike other celebrity birthdays that are characterized by binge partying, Ibinabo decided to make her own different by changing the lives of deserving young Nigerians. She gave out eight scholarships to eight Nigerians from across the country. In a chat with Daily Times, Ibinabo thanked the recipients for allowing her to be a part of

… Pasuma allegedly claims title

Popular Fuji musician, Alhaji Abass Akande Obesere, has been endorsed by Nigerian students of the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ilorin, as the Vice Chancellor of Entertainment. This was made public at the

titled “The Midnight Collection Vol1”, due for release quarter of 2017. Previous to this song, Ugovinna released a Master-

Nigerian students endorse Obesere as VC of Entertainment

set Ibinabo will assist; she has been interested in children and even adopted some as her children. Ibinabo asked other Nigerians to take up the challenge of assisting children who are in need to go to school. scholarship scheme include; Paul Prince Stephens from Akwa Ibom, Arinze Maxi Chukwu from Anambra, Odunaike Olamilekan from Lagos, and Treasure Okwuke from Edo State. Others are Oluwafemi Usman, and three other children from one family in Kogi State. At the event were celebrities including Charles Granville, Aneke Twins, AY, Ricardo Agbor, Monalisa Chinda, amongst many others The parents of the children took turns to thank Ibinabo for her kind gesture and also asked other Nigerians to borrow a leaf from her act.

Entertainment Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Abimbola Obatayo

Organizers of the Big Brother Naija reality TV show have announced that a one former participant of the show, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, will coordinate the activities of the programme. The former housemate in Big Brother Nigeria show back in 2006 will make a vival but this time as the host. The lawyer- turned media personality with his infectious laugh and charismatic persona will usher the housemates into the Big Brother Naija house and will take up the task of announcing the evictees week after week. “We are particularly excited to have Ebuka as host of Big Brother Naija. This was the platform that unearthed his potential and propelled him to stardom”, said John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria. “He has over the years grown to become a prominent face on the Nigerian pop culture and entertainment scene while also lending his voice to youth empowerment initiatives. We believe his cool and debonair personality combined with his healthy dose of wit will spice up the show. Our viewers are in for a great entertainment experience!” Ugbe said. In just less than a decade, Ebuka has risen to become one of the most loved and admired personalities in the Nigeriing gigs include Friend or Foe on NTA, the GLO Show, also on NTA, as well as cused TV show on Channels television. While on EbonyLife TV on DStv channel 165, he is one of the co-hosts of The Spot, a show that combines a bit

Ebuka

of reality TV with talk show and sitcom, show with an all-male ensemble who strongly air their opinions on a range of topical issues. Big Brother Naija reality show starts Sunday, 22 January at 7pm and will run for eleven weeks on all DStv packages on channel 198 and GOtv Plus on channel 29. Big Brother Naija is sponsored by PayPorte, your preferred online retail store.

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday, January 19, 2017

L3 Mixed grill

Mutiat Alli

Media Panache Announces Campaign; ‘Inspire Youngsters’ for Lagos Secondary Schools make the announcement.

Timilehin Bello Media Panache Nigeria (MPN); one of the leading Public Relations and digital agencies in Lagos, has announced a new campaign set to kick off on Thursday; January 17, 2017. The agency which went viral in December 2016 for their evocative photo shoot took to their social media pages to

is geared towards motivating youngsters on various facets of life through inspirational speech, thought-provoking topics, including the power of social media, as well as appropriate and ethical ways to use social media in a contemporary age. The agency is set to kick off al School situated at Gbagada on today Thursday, 17thof January, 2016. Speaking on the idea behind

“The need to enlighten the younger ones; especially in the area of technology is relatively media has grown to be a conventional tool – it is arguably the most prevalent and formidable tool of communication, and as

Ojukokoro: Wale Ojo, Linda Ejiofor, others star in new movie

these kids understand how it works and how best to exert it at “We aim to help them understand the effects and societal impact of social media as well Media Panache is set to visit over 15 schools in Lagos course of three months; starting January. The PR agency was founded in 2015 and has since become one of the most reputable PR and digital marketing agencies in Lagos and Nigeria at large. The agency boasts a commendable number of clients including veteran comedian Alibaba, popular on-air personality program Turning Point, Nolly-

Logistics and a host of others.

Ycee set for first international tour set for his first international tour which is expected to kick off Janruary 5, 2017. tiste visit cities like London, Manchester, Birmingham, Swansea and Luton. enjoying massive airplay on radio, the artiste will release his first body of work to be titled

Wale Ojo and a cast on set

A new gripping Comedy - crime-thriller, Ojukokoro written and directed by Dare Olaitan starring a star-studded cast is set to raise the game and bring fresh excitement to movie lovers across Nigeria. Ojukokoro (Greed) is another Nollywith multiple Nigerian Production companies involved, created by Singularity Media in collaboration with House Gabriel After its successful screening at the Afin November, the movie from Producer Olufemi D. Ogunsanwo has been tipped emas this year. Ojukokoro (Greed) unwraps an intriguing tale about a money-strapped manager of a shady Petrol Station who decides to rob his employers but along the line,

alone in his ambition and that a good reaSpeaking on the movie, the director said, “Ojukokoro was inspired by the state of events in Nigeria during 2014 elections with the general state of greed in the nation due to the upcoming elecdeals primarily with a heist which is an avenue that is rarely explored in Nollywood Cinema. cast including Wale Ojo, Ali Nuhu, Tope

and Seun Ajayi. Others acts in the movie -

Koker out with Bokiniyen year with yet another hit single Bokiniyen.

the year. tertainment in 2016, under which

that are loved by fans all over with the twist of a mid-tempo vibe.

Director Q.

BoomPlayer: With 1M download, subscriber to enjoy more music streaming As the entertainment industry grows

with the Boom Player app because it gives

download and streaming platform, Boom Player, which launched on Google Play Store in April 2016 has reached over 1m installs This development rightly places Boom Player as the leader of the pack while giving a wide gap to its competing platforms across Africa. According to the General Manager of

of latest releases in both audio and video ing and interactive features available on the app, it is not a surprise that we have reached this milestone in such a short time, we only just put Boom Player in the Google Play Store 9 months ago he said. To further enjoy the live streaming of the application, Music lovers will come March 2017 enjoys usage of the new app version. Boom Player has become a must-have app for every music lover and a service

very easy for music lovers to fall in love

that every artist needs to latch on to in order to connect with their fans while making revenue for their music sales. has been on a runaway success since it started operations just over a year ago. The service, founded by the giant telecomnow has more than 6 million app installations in total thanks to its pre-install strategy. Boom Player boasts of 400k+ Daily Active Users i.e music lovers who actively stream or download songs and videos of their favourite artists.

Gist L4

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Mutiat Alli

Meet Jakuzzi, Zidiq; the new kids on the block Oluwaseun Paul Olaniyi better known as Jakuzzi is set to hit the music industry hard with he did with the Famous DJ Real

indigenous rapper released the video of his last released singles “Gbabe” last year and enjoyed massive airplay. is a very prospective song with melodious and danceable rhythm. Jakuzzi has featured in lots of works, including the classical evergreen hit by solid star – (one in a million Remix) which got massive airplay all over

Nero, Swag, Poppito and More. Zidiq on the other hand, is song writer and a vocalist whose sojourn into music made him participate in several music reality shows that include Project Fame West Africa, Nigerian Idol.

Wives on strike, Life of a Nigerian couple to hit Ibaka TV in February

that held in South Africa. Prior to the competition, he had worked

which was later released in

rampage ever since dealing with some good and sought after artiste like Dj Real, Dr. Frabz,

Entertainment in 2013 and had since been working with top -notch producers. He has a different perspective towards

Gray Jones, W4, Jay Sleek, Dagrin, Yemi Alade, Frank D,

bores a total different feel of music.

come Friday February 3, 2017 and Friday February 17, 2017 respectively. The movie which featured talented acts that Sage Hassan, Oma Ikomi x-rays the life of a beautiful couple where at some point, you wish you are married while in some instances you detest the holy matrimony called marriage as challenges set in. Produced from the stable of Adekaz production and Ibironke Odusanya; A life a Nigerian Couple is not your regular kind of movie as it brings to viewers real life happenings. The movie is, however, expected to keep you glued to your seat all through as you enjoy every fantastic moment. On the other hand, award- winning hilarious

Life of a Nigerian couple & wives on strike

who decided to take matters into their own hands against their husbands in a bid to stir them into standing up for a young girl whom they wanted to protect from the wishes of her own father. The women, who hilariously interpret their roles, set a series of events in motion to give the movie many moments of laughter without missing a beat on the reason for everyone to know why they are on strike. This hilarious movie stars talented superstars

exclusively on Ibaka TV on Feb 17, 2017. Wives on strike tells the story of a group of market women Agwu, amongst others

Jakuzzi & Zidiq

Timaya

Lumen Christi Channel berth on DStv

My Lagos Dairies: Freedom foundation shares inspiring rehabilitation stories To give hope to destitutes and reassure them of live, the Freedom Foundation, a faith- based non

soon -to -be -released documentary four episodes of the series screened to selected media practitioners.

MultiChoice Nigeria is pleased to announce the addition of Lumen Christi, a Catholic TV channel, on its DStv platform. The channel already commenced airing on Tuesday January 17, 2017 will be available to subscribers on Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family and Access. Lumen Christi Television Network (LCTN) is a Catholic television channel that showcases the principles and doctrines of the Catholic Church. The channel will broadcast programmes centered on faith that will appeal to the whole family. It will also broadcast in-house news segment, teachings by priests and scholars, interviews as well as musicals, dramas, documentaries and videos. Speaking on the latest development, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe, said the addition of the subscribers. “We are making great content more accessible with the launch of Lumen Christi and we believe it will enrich the lives of our subscribers especially those of the Catholic faith. Our subscribers remain our number one priority; so we listen to them and provide them with more of their favourite content, at great value”, he concluded.

goal is to sensitize the general public about the struggles of these underprivileged persons while providing an opportunity for interested individuals and organizations to support Freedom and funding. According to Dr. Tony Rapu, Senior Pastor at This Present

challenges people face trying to survive in the city of Lagos. Since inception, the Freedom Foundation has transformed and positively impacted several lives in impoverished communities including but not limited to Ejigbo, Ijora, Iwaya, Ajegunle, Mushin creation of this video journal which documents 10 years of my team

Imax, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos

The premiere will launch the 13The premiere will also feature week documentary series which will begin airing online on Freedom a unique photo exhibition by well as on television from the end of February. It will tell some of the real stories of rehabilitated prostitutes, armed robbers, drug addicts, beggars and other neglected individuals in the society.

notable celebrities as models to depict thought- provoking poverty scenarios. This exhibition is designed to build further awareness and trigger social change and soul searching amongst Nigerians.