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94.22

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Abuja

ÏÏÏ Minster of

Health, Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole, at the weekend, bemoaned the dearth of cancer screening ma-

14.21

Continued on page 12

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 263

NSE QUICK BITE 14.92

chines in the country, saying that out of the two hundreds screening machines that the nation requires for the screening of patients, it can only boast of seven and that out of the seven,

PDP, APC call for reconciliation in Rivers

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GAINERS AS AT December 23, 2016 FO

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Nigeria has only two functional cancer screening machines –Minister

CONOIL

39.45

N150

LOSERS AS AT December 23, 2016 37.48

-4.99%

GUINNESS

88.73

84.30

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Christmas homage:

Buhari seeks N’Delta support on economy Ï ‘We will continue to persuade people of the region on peace’ Ï Says development of infrastructure key to growth Ï Expresses joy over 2016 bumper harvest in agric sector Ï Calls for patience with present administration Ï CAN commends President on anti-graft war

Tony Ailemen, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

President Muhammadu Buhari has again, appealed to the people of the Niger Delta region for support, ahead of implementation of the 2017 bud-

get.

The president, who stated this while addressing a cross section of Nigerians on Christmas Day homage to him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Continued on page 6

3 Northern govs celebrate Christmas in A’Ibom 6 Osun workers ask gov to pay 18 months half salary arrears 12

2 die as police barrack building collapses in Lagos 12

Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu (right) dispensing fuel after the commissioning of HEYDEN PETROLEUM mega station at Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos… at the weekend. With him is CEO HEYDEN PETROLEUM LIMITED, Chief Dapo Abiodun (left).

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Page Four

s PHOTO TIMES

Editorial EFCC and detention of suspects

R

ecently, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) had cause to express dismay at the continued detention without trial of suspects by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

This dismay was sequel to the continued detention of some Nigerians, even while courts of competent jurisdiction had given such suspects bail. According to the National Coordinator of HURIWA, Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko, such action not only deprives citizens of their fundamental rights; it also portrays the country in bad light as a democracy. We equally share such sentiment and call on the anti-graft agency to charge suspects to court within the legally stipulated period.

For example, section 36(5) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended), stipulates that an accused person remains innocent in the eye of the law until proven guilty by a competent court of law.

Moreover, it provides that where a person is accused of a crime, he/she is to be presented within 48 hours before a court to face charges.

We, therefore, see some contradictions, which are clearly in conflict with chapter four of the constitution, even as the continued detention of suspects without trial breaches their fundamental human rights.

Probably, the agency is relying under Sections 293 and 294 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which states that a suspect can be remanded before arraignment in the court. Yet, the same Act gives the court the power to examine the reason for the request of remand.

Only recently, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello, gave the

directive to all serving magistrates within the FCT to stop issuing remand orders to operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with respect to arrest and detention of citizens accused of committing economic and financial crimes in Nigeria; which are investigated and prosecuted by EFCC under its Act of 2004. detention of persons without charge or trial is anathema in any country, which observes the rule of law. Moreover, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 9 stipulates: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.” In addition, Article 9,paragraph 1, in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states; “Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person, even as no one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.”

The same Article 9, paragraph 3 stipulates: “Anyone arrested or detained on a criminal charge shall be brought promptly before a judge or other officer, authorised by law to exercise judicial power and shall be entitled to trial within a reasonable time or to release. International human rights law lays down obligations which states are bound to respect.

By becoming parties to international treaties, states assume obligations and duties under international law to respect, to protect and to fulfill human rights. As signatory to UN Human Rights Conventions, Nigeria has made binding international commitments to adhere to the standards laid down in these universal human rights documents. Therefore, as an agency of government the, EFCC is bound to abide by all the rules.

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L-R: Administrative Assistant to the Primate, African Church, Arch Cathedral, Bethel, Lagos, Ven. Tope Odunlami; Arch. Cathedral Provost, Ven. Adebayo Ologun; Primate, African Church, Archbishop Arch Cathedral, Bethel Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Udofia; Arch Cathedral Bethel, Peoples Warden, Col. Akinsola - Cole(rtd) and Chaplain to the Primate, Ven. Daniel Banjo during the Christmas Service at African Church Arch Cathedral, Bethel, Broad Street in Lagos… on Sunday. PHOTO: TAOFEEK BABAJIDE. L-R: Proto Presbyter, Methodist Church of Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos, Very Rev. Bamidele Osin; Bishop of Tinubu, Rt. Rev. Oladapo Babalola; Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Kanu Uche and Secretary of Conference, Rt. Rev. Michael Akinwale during the Christmas Church Service at Methodist Church of The Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos… on Sunday.

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R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari; Cardinal John Onaiyekan; former chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, FCT chapter, Rev. (Dr.) Isreal Akanji and Archbishop of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, during a Christmas visit to Buhari in Abuja… at the weekend.

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

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

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

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

5 News

Lagos Speaker, members at deeper life retreat, urge prayers for Nigeria Alade Tasma

ÎÎÎSpeaker

of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, on Sunday, led members of the Lagos House to the annual retreat of the Deeper Life Bible Ministry, where he urged churches in the country to pray for the nation.

Obasa further urged Christians to show love to their neighbours, adding the Lagos State government is committed to fight unemployment among the youth in the state.

He said the newly created Employment Trust Fund would help reduce joblessness by providing soft loans with little interest for the enterprising Lagosians.

“We must go beyond religious demarcation and show ourselves that we are brothers and sisters. Let us love one another and extend hands of fellowship to our neighbours” the Speaker stated while addressing the congregation at the on-going retreat with the theme; “Power for the Present Hour” holding

at the Deeper Life Conference Centre [DLCC] KM 42, Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway.

Obasa, who said the Lagos State government is passionate about giving good governance to the people of Lagos, however, expressed his appreciation for the warm reception accorded him and his team from the Lagos House by the leadership of the church.

The General Overseer of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi in his message, said God would

Rivers pledges more projects in Bonny Kingdom Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÎÎÎThe

Rivers State Government says it has earmarked several developmental projects for the people of Bonny Kingdom in the 2017 budget.

The state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, said this during the 20th coronation anniversary of the Natural Ruler and Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple the Third, Perekule the Eleventh in Bonny Local Government Area.

He promised to support the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom in his bid to transform and modernize the kingdom, noting that it was borne out of the relative peace the Monarch has brought to the Kingdom.

The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Kenneth Kobani, stated that he would assist the Bonny Security Committee set up by the Amanyanabo with the sum

of N50 million for the improvement of security in the area.

He lauded the enormous contributions and support to security agencies to fight crime and criminality, particularly in the area of provision of gunboats to police in the high sea and check the criminal activities of sea pirates.

He explained: “In the 2017 budget, government has a lot of projects to be executed for this community. I have no reason to apologize to anybody for supporting Bonny, because the support I received from the people of Bonny and the Amanyanabo in particular, means that there is nothing I cannot do for you.

“Government intends to support you robustly in everything you are doing in Bonny Kingdom. The reason is simple, you have kept the peace. Bonny has been an Island of peace in recent times without problems in many places and you have not disappointed us. I will particularly support your quest for a new and loving

grant President Muhammad Buhari solution to the numerous challenges facing the country in 2017.

The cleric said, “We talk of the hours of recession, difficulty and distress and all that, but God is granting us His promises. We are not going to carry over our problems. We pray and believe that the Lord will answer.

“As you will see and as we get to the New Year, there is no carryover of our problems. God will give solution to the problems of our lives,

families, communities, the state and our nation,” Kumuyi stated at the on-going four day retreat.

He assured that the nation would overcome its challenges with faith and trust in God, adding that with prayer and faith in God the country would get out of all its challenges, including the economic recession.

Kumuyi explained that God created us and wants everything to be sufficient for everybody.

On the team of the Lagos

Speaker to the retreat were the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon, Muyiwa Jimoh and chairman, House Committee on Environment, Mr. Dayo Saka-Fafunmi.

Alsoon the team was Mrs. Funmilayo Tejuosho, chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Petitions and Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission among other government functionaries.

The nation-wide retreat will be concluded on Monday, December 26.

From the Archives: Josy Ajiboye

Bonny. What this means is that Bonny needs to be transformed and modernized in future “, the governor said.

He eulogised the Amanyanabo for his 20 years coronation anniversary, saying his service to humanity was appreciated.

Wike noted: “You have steadfastly preached the message of peace and for that reason, I will like to thank you and the good people of Bonny. Twenty years on the throne is not a joke, particularly when we know how it all started. It is the will of the Almighty God that you will be on the throne.”

In his speech, the Natural Ruler and Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini Pepple, thanked the people of Bonny for the love, loyalty and support accorded him in the last 20 years.

He sued for unity, peace and togetherness among the people in order to sustain the gains recorded over the years and promised not to disappoint them.

ABSUTH workers protest over 7 months’ salary arrears on xmas eve Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia

ÎÎÎProtesting

health workers of the Abia State Teaching Hospital, Aba, Abia State under the umbrella body, Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) last week concluded plans to hold a candle night in honour of their dead col-

leagues and pensioners who died without being paid or receiving his or her salary or pension by the state government.

This came, even as the state government has concluded plans to use its first tranche of the Paris Club refund of N10.6 bill Available reports indicated that the workers who had begun their

agitation on Monday as part of its steps to pressurize the government to pay them, shutdown the gates of the hospital and as such forcing many patients to leave the hospital in droves, while vowing to spend their Christmas holiday at the premises of the hospital in continuation of their agitation over a seven month salary

arrears being owed their union members by the Abia State Government.

Reports have it that the striking workers also vowed not to engage in any discussions to suspend their actions until the state government pays them for three months even as they demand that the state government should also pay retired

staff of the establishment who are being owed over 20 months arrears of pensions, lamenting the inability of the management of the hospital and government has put them into unimagined hardship.

According to them, while it was not the intention of the staff to close down the hospital due

to the love they have for their patients, they don’t have another way of making their plight known to the government than taking such step after various peaceful steps, roundtable discussions and other consultative means could not yield any positive fruit as the government has given deaf ears to their demands.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria L Ɨ ƕè #ƆƅƆƌƄƆƏ ƾÕè ƾƠơÕ

Christmas homage: Buhari seeks N’Delta support on economy Continued from page 1 yesterday, said he will continue to persuade people of the region “to please sit down with us and agree to manage our resources rather than think of fighting.”

President Buhari who blamed the current economic situation in the country on the absence of a saving culture, noted that his administration is well focused on the objectives it has selected, adding that “I think it is good to select objectives and be honest about it and work towards it.”

He noted that his administration has identified areas of focus, which it is working to address.

“The first is security, and we kept on saying whether it is an organisation or a country, we have to first secure it before we can manage it properly. Without security, nothing can work.”

“Secondly, the economy and the unemployment of able bodied persons. We looked at the left and right, from 1999 to 2014, the crude production was over 2.2m barrels per day. The average cost per barrel was $100.”

“When we came, I asked for savings, there was no saving. I asked what they used the money to buy, they said they bought food and oil.

I do not know how long it took me to recover from the shock.”

“Some of you will recall either by history or discussion that it was cocoa, palm kernel, cotton, products of our agro allied indus-

tries that we used to build infrastructures, be it rail or school.”

“We also used the produce to develop oil. When we got the oil, we threw everything away.”

“We thank God this year, the harvest was quite good. Otherwise, I do not know what we would have done. No money saved, no infrastructure built, power is still our main problem. Old roads have dilapidated and they needed to be repaired from Lagos to Kano, Port Harcourt up to Maiduguri. There are rail lines we want to develop from Lagos to Calabar, from Lagos to Kaduna and the Abuja one.”

“If we can get the infrastructure done, we cannot even know the number of Nigerians that will get job. So we have to get infrastructure right. It will take tankers and other articulated vehicles off the road, we will save vehicles and we will save lives and we will get jobs for a lot of Nigerians.”

“I want you to talk to people to be patient with the government.

We are always thinking about our country and we are thinking about our people.”

“God has given Nigerians a lot of preachers and resources both human and materials, we better do the same thing for our children and grandchildren.”

“I assure you that the country and the people of the country are always uppermost in our minds.

With our performance in the North East, Nigerians know that this government is serious.”

3 Northern govs celebrate Christmas in A’Ibom

ÏÏÏ In

a show of unity and solidarity with Christian faithful, three Muslim Northern Governors took part in festivities to commemorate this year’s Christmas in Akwa Ibom State.

The governors, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, joined Governor Udom Emmanuel to felicitate with him over the birth of Christ and as well commiserate with him over the recent tragedy, which claimed scores of lives after a church building collapsed in Uyo, the state capital.

Speaking when he met with Gov Emmanuel, Yari, who is also chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), described the tragedy as unfortunate.

He said the decision to set up an investigative panel to unravel the causes of the collapse is

a right move in the right direction.

“Your Excellency’s miraculous escape from death in the sad incident is surely one of the God’s wonders.

“We at the Governors Forum received with shock, the sad news of the church’s collapse and we want to send message of solidarity to the people and government of Akwa Ibom over this unfortunate incidence. Our prayers are with those who lost loved ones, and those who sustained injuries,” Yari added.

Responding, Gov Emmanuel thanked the visiting governors, especially for choosing a holy day like the Christmas day to visit Akwa Ibom.

He described Nigerian governors as a big and important family, saying the unity exhibited by the visit will further cement the cordial relationship between the peoples of Nigeria.

“For our friends in the Niger Delta area, we will persuade them that they should please sit down with us and agree to manage our resources rather than think of fighting it out.”

Speaking earlier, the FCT Minister, Muhammed Bello, commended Buhari for the success recorded by the nation’s troops that cleared Sambisa Forest of insurgents last week.

According to the minister, “We are very proud of this milestone and we prayed that Boko Haram never rears its head in any part of the country again.”

On his part, chairman of the

Christians Association of Nigeria, FCT branch, Rev. Jonah Samson, said they were in the Presidential Villa to identify with the current administration even as he commend the president for his leadership, which he said had impacted positively on Nigerians.

Samson particularly commended the president for his administration’s anti-corruption war.

He expressed the hope that the anti-graft war would not end with this administration, saying, corruption is a cankerworm. It is a terrible thing that we must kill.

We urge you to ensure that the

war continues. It should not end during this administration.

“We thank God for the victory over Boko Haram. It is a thing of joy worthy of celebration.”

The minister and his aides later presented a giant greeting card to President Buhari for the Christmas.

Representatives of the Aso Villa Chapel also presented a card and locally-made artworks to the President.

The delegation that visited the president included Christian and Muslim leaders, National Assembly members, traditional rulers, top government officials and security chiefs among others.

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2 die from collapsed police barracks’ building in Lagos ÏÏÏ A police sergeant and an-

other person lost their lives when a building collapsed at Highway Police Barracks in Ikeja, Lagos State, on Christmas Day. The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr Adeshina Tiamiyu who confirmed the deat said that the agency had earlier received a distress call on the collapsed building at High Way Police Barracks opposite Area F, Ikeja.

He said that the toilets and stairways of wing `D’ of the building collapsed at about 4.00a.m.

Tiamiyu said the agency’s officials in collaboration with men of Lagos State Fire Services, the police and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) recovered the two bodies of the dead men.

According to him, one of the

corpses was simply identified as Danjuma while the name of the other one was yet to be known while their bodies had been deposited at the Mainland Hospital Mortuary, Yaba,, Tiamiyu said that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, had visited the barracks and ordered the evacuation of residents living in the

1 ƒê ƌƄ ƗƆ

affected building as well as those in other dilapidated buildings.

He added that Owoseni, also, ordered the immediate demolition of the affected block.

Tiamiyu said LASEMA with other stakeholders had commenced the demolition of the affected building following the directives of the Commissioner of Police.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

7 News Umahi signs Ebonyi’s 2017 budget bill ÏÏÏ

R-L: Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Okeke (right); Chaplain of the Prisons, Rev. Fr. Pius Nwankwo (left), after the turning of sod for the Skill Acquisition Centre in Onitsha, Anambra State… at the weekend.

Tony Ailemen, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The recent capture of Sambisa forest from Boko Haram insurgents has continued to elicit commendations from governors and other political leaders who are elated by the development.

This is just as people from other parts of the world have joined Nigerians in celebrating the liberation of the enclave considered the main strong hold of the Boko Haram insurgents.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has revealed that a across the political spectrum have been calling President Muhammadu

Sambisa forest capture: Govs, others hail Buhari Buhari, to congratulate him and the leadership of the armed forces following the takeover of the Sambisa Forest from the Boko Haram terrorists.

According to Shehu, Governors of Jigawa, Kano, Yobe, Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, Kaduna and Sokoto have joined some of their colleagues from South-East, South-South, South-West and North Central states who made earlier calls to commend the

President on the achievement of this feat.

The feat, they said “has pleased the Nigerian people and is also being celebrated all over the world.”

The Governors assured President Buhari that the whole country is behind him in his efforts to secure the country and make it safe for, as they said, “there cannot be any meaningful development without security.”

The Governors also paid trib-

utes to the brave servicemen and women who made supreme sacrifices in the liberation of the Sambisa Forest and hoped that their services will never be forgotten.

They then urged the President to mobilize all resources, both human and material, to sustain the gains made so far in the fight against terrorism and economic sabotage, adding that the attainments of the armed forces under his leadership was something

Christmas: Aregbesola, Ooni, Assembly want Nigerians to demonstrate love Sodiq Adekunle, Osogbo

ÏÏÏ

The governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the state’s assembly have urged Nigerians to demonstrate love during and after the Christmas festivity.

They said this in separate press releases to felicitate with Christians on the celebration of Christmas.

On his part, Aregbesola urged Christians and Nigerians of other faith to take advantage of celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ to pray for

the quick recovery of the country’s economy and the sustainability of an indivisible Nigeria.

Aregbesola also enjoined them to always strive for the good of the land, saying the much publicised change must begin with every Nigerian for a more prosperous country.

The governor, in a Christmas message released by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, urged Christians to look onto God for help and sustenance consistent with the counsel

to “pray always, and not faint.”

He added that the Bible encourages Christians to pray for leaders and those in authority so “that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.”

Aregbesola expressed regrets that despite the huge potential in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing among others, Nigeria has failed to make use of the opportunities.

Quoting from 1 Tim 2:2 and Isaiah 1:19, the governor said, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving

of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.

“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land,” he quoted.

Also, the Osun State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, described Christmas as a season of joy, redemption and one that rekindles hope as well as inspires possibilities in the future.

that was never in doubt at the time of his election in 2015.

The Governors called on the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, the rich countries of Asia, the Mideast and international aid and donor agencies, to raise their support to Nigeria in order to quicken the pace of the resettlement and rehabilitation of the millions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in camps across the country.

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, has signed the 2017 appropriation bill of N127,233,074,799 and the state Public Procurement and Related Matters Amendment Bill into law.

While performing the ceremony at the Government House, Abakaliki, Umahi said that much was expected to come from his administration’s agricultural programme.

He consequently directed key officers in agriculture to structure the sector in such a way that it would generate very high revenue for the state.

Umahi stressed that hardwork was needed in addition to prayers and faith to achieve the best result.

The governor said, “If you check, you will find out that we have a lot of budget coming from our agricultural programme and that’s why I said to the Commissioner for Agriculture and the Secretary to the State Government and Senior Special Adviser , Rice Production that we must have to structure our agricultural sector so as to make money.

“Fasting and prayer will not achieve this budget alone. It has to be a combination of our faith, our honest approach to governance, very hard work and then fasting and prayers.”

APC vows to challenge Rivers Commission of Inquiry Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏ

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has vowed to challenge the Commission of Inquiry setup by the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, to investigate the act of violence and other matters that occurred during the December 10 re-run elections in the state.

The APC plan of action was revealed by Senator Magnus Abe, the Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, at a media interaction in Port Harcourt.

The party also threatened that the law makers elected on the platform of the APC will match into the Rivers State House of Assembly to participate in the deliberations of the House.

Senator Abe said although the setting up of the commission by the governor was amusing and must, therefore, be challenged in Court as such Commission was intended to produce documented indictment on the leaders of APC. He said: “I think this is the joke of the year. Like every other joke that has been reduced to pen and paper, we are going to treat it seriously. We will challenge that so-called commission in the Court”.

Senator Abe said it was necessary to challenge the commission because such a body should be unbiased. He noted that past commissions set up by the governor had demonstrated that the intention was to indict APC members and exonerate PDP members from any culpability.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

CBN Awards Skye Bank for fight against Electronic Fraud

Popular Kara Market, Berger, Lagos gutted by fire ... on Sunday. Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

Waste to wealth mechanism coming in Edo – Obaseki Titus. Akhigbe, Benin Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration’s desire was to turn the excessive wastes generated in the state into wealth and from it, create job opportunities for teeming Edo youths.

Governor Obaseki said this while speaking on Saturday with newsmen during an inspection visit to the existing dump sites and the proposed dump sites in Benin City.

The Governor said his inspection of the sites was to properly have a grasp of the refuse disposal system in place.

He disclosed that the state government had perfected plans to de-congest existing dump sites, create new dump sites that would meet with international best practices within the Benin metropolis.

The governor said that the planned waste disposal system would be effective ``that does not pollute the underground water in the state.’’

Governor Obaseki said, with the

planned blue print, investors would be wooed to come to Edo state to invest in waste recycling management which would ultimately turn excessive generated wastes to wealth.

According to him, “there are plans for waste recycling - this is just an intermediate measure.

“In the New Year, we are going to ensure that we progress the conversations we are having with some investors who have indicated interest in investing in recycling plants.

“We have come today to make sure we have an established system and process by which managers will now dispose their wastes properly in the dump site.”

On the location of the new dump site, he said, “I am particularly pleased with this location because one of the concerns we had before with the other dump site was that it was not sealed.

“And therefore, we ran the risk of polluting our underground water. But in this case, we are going to make sure adequate preparations are made and that the land is properly

prepared and properly sealed so that they can receive wastes in the way it should be done.”

Speaking on the measures put in place by government to address the ugly trend, the Governor said, “Ultimately, we have to recycle these wastes. That is a sustainable solution.

“We have to open up more lands to make sure the new lands are properly sealed so that they do not pollute our underground water. `”That is what we have planned to do – open up more lands and more properly prepared lands, but more importantly to now begin to collaborate with people who will make the investment of turning these waste to wealth.”

Speaking further, Governor Godwin Obaseki said, “you would notice that since we changed the structure of waste disposal by the waste managers, they have now been encouraged to pick more wastes from the city.

“But unfortunately, the process to dump the waste effectively into the

dump site has not been properly managed. And that is why most of the managers have taken the short cut of dumping their wastes on the road.”

Also speaking, the Secretary to Edo State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie said, “We have been concerned about the state of the dump site at Ikhueniro.

“We’ve had to deplore several machines to go and clear the place so that people can begin to dump their wastes in the proper way, because as you know our people, the level of indiscipline is so much.

“People come with their trucks in the night and they just dump them on the road. That is what we want to stop.

“Then, we are also looking for alternative dump sites. We want to create additional dump sites for the city.

That is why we are here to inspect one of the proposed sites.”

Barr. Ogie also said, “we are going to do a kind of reconstruction. We are going to reconstruct it to make it a proper dump site and tripping points and all that.

Ikpeazu, Dep. Gov., Speaker felicitate with Christians at xmas Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has called on Abians and Christians to remember the teachings of Christ which command Christians to love one another.

The state Deputy Governor, Ude Oko Chukwu and the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, also urged Abians to show love this Christmas season.

The Governor in his Christmas message to Abians, called on Christians to pray for peace in Abia and

Nigeria as the world celebrates the birth of Christ, who is the Savior of mankind.

“As Christians, we must remember the teachings of Jesus Christ which calls us to love one another and also to pray for our leaders.

“It is important we see this season as an opportunity to reach out to the less privileged, the needy and also to offer help to the helpless.

“As Abians and Nigerians, we need love to strengthen our relationship with one another. This is the greatest commandment of our Lord Jesus

Christ.”

In his message, the state Deputy Governor, Ude Oko Chukwu, urged the people to extend their celebration to the indigent in and around them so as to curry the favour of God, stating that such acts will attract the blessings of God. Also talking to Abians through his xmas message, the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike congratulated Abians on the successful celebration, asking them to do so peacefully with love and affinity.

Skye Bank Plc. has emerged “The Most Committed Watch Listing Bank in Nigeria” out of four corporate awards that were up for grabs at the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) Annual Dinner and Awards which held in Lagos recently.

This was confirmed in an industry-wide survey administered by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in conjunction with NIBBS. The prestigious award, which is in recognition of efforts of the Banking industry in the fight against electronic fraud is presented to the institution “with the most efficient and robust system for tracking all forms of electronic fraud and arresting perpetrators for prosecution”.

The challenge of securing the Nigerian Payments System will always be a daunting task as with the ease of payment, comes greater adoption, and with increased adoption, the lure of cybercriminals who seek to convert either digital asset or resources or both to their own, becomes even greater.

Speaking at the event which held in Lagos at Colonnades Ikoyi, the NeFF Chairman, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, who is also the Director, Banking and Payment System in CBN, explained that, “an effective fight against fraud is not without robust awareness program; not only for members of the public, but also for staff of organizations that operate within the Payment Space.

He further stressed the importance of starting the awareness program in 2017, “as this would help the industry reduce cost of fraud through increased vigilance and detection abilities”, he said.

On the credibility of the process that led to the emergence of Skye Bank as the winner of the award, “the Central Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with NIBBS carried out a survey to rate the performance of all Banks in the fight against electronic fraud. According to him, most Banks, in their response, acknowledged Skye Bank as the most committed bank when it comes to tracking fraud and arresting perpetrators”.

Skye Bank runs its core banking ICT applications on one of the most advanced, and highly secured and scalable technology software, adjudged by cyber practitioners as consistent with what obtains with other financial giants in most advanced economies of the world.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Politics

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Rivers rerun: Political hostilities and implications for 2019 Patrick Okohue Many may argue that issues arising from the December 10 legislative rerun election in Rivers State have been over flogged and that matters relating to it should be put in the back burners while the nation makes effort to move forward and deal with other emerging political issues.

However, that cannot be the case as everyday new issues keep coming up to dominate the scene and the concern in many quarters now is that with what was been witnessed in the Rivers election, there is the need for all political players in the country including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to quickly put on their thinking caps and begin to map out strategies to deliver a hitch free 2019 general election.

Those showing concern over what may happen in 2019 are worried and wondering that if elections into legislative seats in Rivers should so challenge the security agencies and INEC, then there is cause for concern when the general election which will also include the whole of Rivers State and other parts of the country is held.

These concerns stem from the fact that though there were tensions over the Rivers rerun and election which led to its being postponed previously, with clear indications that it was going to be very tasking, and also with the assurances from all concerned agencies that there was no reason to fear, as everything was under control, the outcome of the polls still lives much to be desired.

Prior to the election, there were claims and counter claims from the two leading political parties the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their leaders about plans to rig the election and also plans to cause mayhem and possibly kill some persons.

Infact, the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike had specifically alleged that there was an order that he should be shot on the day of the election, because according to him, he has found out the plans to rig the polls and was working towards thwarting it. He pointed at the withdrawal of his security details as part of the plans.

Also, the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose came out with an alarm that he has confidential security report of plans to kill Wike on election day.

Wike had accused security agencies of threatening to assassinate him during the rerun elections.

According to him: “For me, they are threatening that I will be the first governor they will assassinate. They are threatening that they will show me that they are security agencies. But, I will always protect the interest of Rivers State, no matter the threat.”

He called on residents of the area to resist any form of threat from security agencies on the election day, arguing that he had also uncovered alleged plot by security agencies to procure fake Police and army uniforms for political thugs on the Election Day. The governor also accused the Independent Na-

tional Electoral Commission, INEC of recruiting members of the All Progressive Congress (APC), as Assistant Presiding Officers for the election, saying: “INEC has released a fake list of adhoc staff for the rerun elections before the conclusion of their mandatory training.

“Majority of those on the list are known APC Ward Chairmen and Ward Secretaries who are mainly unemployed, but listed by INEC as staff of the University of Port Harcourt. They think that my love for peace is a sign of weakness. But I want to declare that enough is enough. We are supposed to be under an era of change, but the love for fraud

by INEC and Police is unprecedented. Anyone whose son or daughter is on that fraudulent INEC list should tell him/her to stay away on election day.

“All these desperate actions are geared towards the plot to rig in favour of a particular candidate.

But that candidate will not win. The people of Rivers South-East senatorial district must be allowed to vote persons of their choice” But the Police hierarchy in the state, said it was not aware of such threat. Speaking through Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Omoni

The aim of the plot is to cause mayhem, a complete breakdown of law and order and cast the security agencies and the Federal Government in bad light.

It is also intended to divert public and international attention from the ongoing Police investigation into the unwholesome role played by the governor and some of his cronies in the violence that trailed the re-run election in Rivers State which resulted in the gruesome murder of civilians including the beheading of DSP Mohammed Alkali

Nnamdi, the Police said there was no way any security agency would plan to assassinate the governor, insisting that no such threat had come from the Police. “There is no way anybody can plan to kill the governor. He has paraphernalia of security.

Is it the Police, Navy, Army, DSS or Air Force? Well, I am not aware of such threat,” DSP Omoni said.

Also, the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, said no member of any political party was recruited by the commission as adhoc staff. “I don’t know about that.

What I know is that we only recruited students of federal universities. Where we do not have enough corps members and staff of INEC we now use students to complement it. How can we include party members?”

But Governor Fayose, insisted that Wike’s outcry was not unfounded, while presenting the year 2017 budget estimate before the state House of Assembly in Ado-Ekiti, Fayose said that security reports reaching him showed that Wike would be placed on compulsory house arrest on election day.

“We have gathered that there is a plan by the APC-led administration to place Governor Wike on house arrest on Thursday night and early morning of Friday. Any attempt by him to resist it may cost him his life. We are raising this alarm now because that is what we have gathered. So, if anything happens to him, we should know who to hold responsible,” he said.

However, while dismissing all such allegations as diversionary, the APC in turn alleged that there was arms build-up in the state by the Governor Wike-led administration ahead of the re-run elections.

The party said allegations by Rivers government and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Wike’s security aides have been withdrawn and an CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Rivers rerun: Political hostilities rage on CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

assassination threat on the governor were meant to shift attention from the reports of an arms build-up and other sinister plots the Wike-led PDP administration was planning to execute on election day.

“Nobody is after Wike. The governor and the PDP’s diversionary and false alarm is hinged on the reality that they will lose the legislative re-run elections once security is tightened in the state.

“The President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration has successively demonstrated the will to ensure that all elections are free, transparent and credible.

“Saturday’s legislative rerun elections in Rivers will not be different. The administration does not subscribe to such evil machinations where government institutions are used to achieve political ends.

“APC hereby call on security agencies to investigate the report of arms build-up and be on alert over the security situation in Rivers State under Wike’s watch and by extension, the PDP in the lead-up to the elections.

“Wike’s criminal gangs and PDP thugs must not be allowed to steal the votes of the Rivers electorate on Saturday,” the APC said.

After the election and while many people were still trying to heave a sigh of relief that though the election could be better, but that it was not as bad as many had predicted, another round of controversy emerged.

An alleged telephone conversation made between Governor Wike and some officials of INEC suffaced.

The audio, which was allegedly obtained by SaharaReporters, relayed a supposed voice of Wike, heard threatening to collect his money back from an INEC official, who was backing out of the plan and even vowed to kill the official.

Immediately the audio hit town, the APC latched on to it, according to the party the leaked audio recording shows that the victory recorded

by Wike’s quarters and the Peoples Democratic Party in the state were bought.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of APC in Rivers State, Chief Davies Ibiyamu-Ikanya, it said the violence and killings that took place during the state’s re-run election that was conducted proved that Wike and PDP never planned for a free and fair elections.

“You are all aware of the incidents that happened and the comments that were made by leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP especially the Governor, Nyesom Wike in the build up to the December 10 rerun legislative election in the state.

“You are also not ignorant of the inciting comments made by the Governor; his charge to members of his party to resist arrest by security operatives, the threat to officials of INEC and security agencies who fail to do the bidding of the PDP or even the threat to teeming supporters of APC who decide to come out and vote on election day.

“Governor Wike procured the seats won by PDP in the last election. He warned the coordinators of the electoral officers of Khana, Etche, and Ikwerre Local Government and threatened to kill them.

The governor has never been prepared for a free and fair election since 2015. His only strategy is violence,” the party said.

The PDP, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dayo Adeyeye, said the investigation should be conducted by a “non-partisan, unbiased and independent presidential committee.”

He said that investigation was necessary to avoid ‘’turning the truth upside down and making villains out of the victims.’’

The national publicity secretary said that the outcome of the investigation would serve as a

point of reference for the country’s future elections and the need to protect, nurture and deepen its democracy.

Mr. Adeyeye added that it was sarcastic for the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to constitute a panel of investigation for the purported ‘threatening phone call’ by the Governor of Rivers State, Wike.

He said that the IGP should rather commence investigations into all the video indicating alleged killings and hijacking of electoral materials by security agencies with some INEC officials during the elections.

AS if to counter the action of the Police chief, Governor Wike has gone ahead to set up a Judicial Commission of of Inquiry into the Rivers election.

The Commission which is to investigate the killings and other violent acts/matters that occurred during the December 10, 2016 rerun elections in the state is to among other responsibilities investigate the immediate and remote causes of violence during the rerun polls in the state.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, indicated that the constitution of the commission of inquiry was contained in a special government announcement signed by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Mr. Kenneth Kobani.

According to the announcement, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry has Justice Chinwendu Nwogu as Chairman while members are Mrs. Grace Akpughunum-Okwulehie, Prof. O.V.C. Okene and Sir Anthony Ozurumba, Rev. Canon Hossanna Nnaewi, Alphonso Sibi Esq (Chief State Counsel, Secretary) and C. B. Ekeh Esq. (Principal State Counsel, Legal Counsel).

Whether in reaction to his Commission or not, the security agencies has shown that it was not ready to be cowed by anybody including Wike, and that it will not allow the governor to have the last laugh in the matter.

Last week the Department of State Security (DSS) issued a statement in Abuja accusing Wike of plans to breach the peace of the Federal capital among other parts of the country.

The DSS said it had uncovered plot by Wike to disrupt machinery of governance in strategic Federal Government agencies in the nation’s capital.

The DSS said to achieve this, the governor has secured the services of one Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, a Personal Aide to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to mobilise some hoodlums to execute their plan.

In the statement signed by Mr Tony Opuyo, the DSS added that Gov Wike intended to do this by provoking a violent breach of peace in the Federal

Ameachi

IGP

Governor is a man of peace, and would never orchestrate disturbance in any part of the country. The Rivers State Government challenges the SSS to leave Governor Wike alone and instead focus their operational attention on Boko Haram insurgency that has killed over 70,000 people and displaced 6 million Nigerians in the past six years.

Mahmood

Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, from yesterday and beyond, especially at this yuletide season.

Three persons, the service said, have been arrested and are helping with further investigations, while Ikenga is at large.

The aim of the plot, the DSS said, is to cause mayhem, a complete breakdown of law and order and cast the security agencies and the Federal Government in bad light.

The statement added that the plot is also intended to divert public and international attention from the ongoing Police investigation into the unwholesome role played by the governor and some of his cronies in the violence that trailed the rerun election in Rivers State which resulted in the gruesome murder of civilians including the beheading of DSP Mohammed Alkali and some of his colleagues as well as the brutalisation of INEC staff who failed to do the bidding of the governor.

Part of the DSS statement reads, “The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to inform the general public that it has uncovered a sinister plot by the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike to disrupt machinery of governance in strategic Federal Government agencies by provoking a violent breach of peace in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, today, 22nd December, 2016 and beyond especially at this yuletide season.

“To achieve this, the governor had secured the services of one Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, a Personal Aide to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki (Sen), to mobilise some hoodlums to execute their plan.

“The aim of the plot is to cause mayhem, a complete breakdown of law and order and cast the security agencies and the Federal Government in bad light.

“It is also intended to divert public and international attention from the ongoing Police investigation into the unwholesome role played by the governor and some of his cronies in the violence that trailed the re-run election in Rivers State which resulted in the gruesome murder of civilians including the beheading of DSP Mohammed Alkali and some of his colleagues as well as the brutalisation of INEC staff who failed to do the bidding of the governor.

“In furtherance of this plot, protesters are to besiege the National Human Rights Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Assembly, the Nigerian Army and Police Headquarters as well as British High Commission, US Embassy and the UN Secretariat, Abuja; all in an effort to raise false alarm that Rivers State was under siege of security agencies during the elections.”

However, while reacting through his state’s commissioner for information, Austin Tam- George, Wike denied the allegation as “false, baseless and irresponsible scaremongering.

Tam-George said the “Governor is a man of peace, and would never orchestrate disturbance in any part of the country.

“The Rivers State Government challenges the SSS to leave Governor Wike alone and instead focus their operational attention on Boko Haram insurgency that has killed over 70,000 people and displaced 6 million Nigerians in the past six years.”

He said the Rivers State Government would not “succumb to cheap blackmail” by any federal agency.

While it is obvious that the last has not been heard of the Rivers State rerun election, one thing is clear, there is no end in sight for the accusations and counter accusations trailing the election and from all indications anyone hoping to see a cessation in hostilities between the governor and the APC and or security agencies may have a long time to wait, because as it seem nothing positive may be seen until the next elections, in 2019.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

11 Politics

Corruption case against me, plot to tarnish my image -Bafarawa Former Sokoto State governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa, has said that the ongoing graft case against him was a mere ploy to tarnish his political image.

Bafarawa further suggested that since the matter was in the court, he is determined to prove his innocence, adding that he is not a corrupt politician and would never be one.

The former governor spoke in

Sokoto at the weekend while addressing delegates of the Association of the Northern Students who conferred on him the award of ‘The Philanthropist’ at his residence.

Bafarawa also said his ongoing trial would not deter him from fighting for the masses.

“The trial will only encourage me to continue fighting for the right of other people,” he said.

He maintained that the monies given to him by the office of the National Security Adviser

(ONSA) was meant to disburse to some individuals which was duly disbursed.

“Both the N100 million and the N4.1 billion alleged arms money that was received by me had been shared to some people as directed.

“I have accounted for how the disbursement was done and even submitted names of the beneficiaries to EFCC, but were not invited by the agency.

The former governor said while leaving office as a gover-

nor of Sokoto State that he left behind N12 billion.

“I inherited only N20 million and I left N12 billion while leaving office. If I am corrupt, I would have pocketed N2 billion out of the money, but I didn’t do that,” he defended himself.

Bafarawa added that he was the first and only governor that did not receive kickbacks, put at $2,000 per night for official travel, and never bought a ticket more than three times for an international trip throughout his tenure.

Bafarawa

APC hails Army, Buhari on capture of Sambisa forest

Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), with Chairman, Yoruba Tennis Club, Mr. Ayodele Martins (right) and former Chairman of the Club, Dr. Oluyomi Finnih during the Club’s Christmas Eve Dance at the Yoruba Tennis Club Road, Onikan, Lagos, on Saturday

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Armed Forces on the success of Operation Lafiya Dole which resulted in the capture of Boko Haram’s last stronghold, Sambisa Forest on Friday, December 23.

The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi on Sunday described the victory as well-deserved and a welcome development. The party also commended the Nigerian people for the prayers and support offered to the military in the fight against insurgency.

The APC National Publicity Secretary said: “Friday’s capture Of Sambisa Forest, Boko Haram’s last stronghold is well-deserved and a welcome development following the vigorous and focused leadership the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration has provided in the fight against insurgency in the North East.

The victory is in fulfillment of one of the key promises made by the party to protect the citizenry and effectively secure all Nigerian territory.

“Going forward, the priority of government is to intensify ongoing efforts at reconstructing and rehabilitating the North East so that displaced persons can return to their peaceful and productive lives.”

Ambode’s wife assures on economic recovery Wife of the Lagos State governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode has said that the period of economic challenges in the country was only a passing phase that will soon become history.

Mrs. Ambode made the remarks at the Carol Service in Alausa, Ikeja, organised by the state government, as part of activities to celebrate the 2016 Christmas season.

She noted that tough times do not last but tough people do, adding that there was no endlessly smooth situation without interlude.

She said the theme of the Carol Service, ‘Emmanuel, God with us’, was a confirmation that God will continue to see Nigeria through the turbulent waters.

“Our nation and the state will

once again witness abundance and our individual and collective lives new grace and upliftment,” she said.

The governor’s wife also said the occasion of the Carol Service was to give gratitude to God for His abiding faith in the lives of the individuals in spite of the prevailing economic situation.

“Deuteronomy 31:6 says, ‘Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He (it is) that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”.

While charging religious leaders on continuous intercession for the country, Mrs. Ambode tasked everyone to extend a hand of help to the less privileged persons in the society.

In his Goodwill Message, State

Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said Nigerians have countless reasons to be grateful to God for seeing the nation through the year despite the challenges besieging it.

“Our state is much safer and we have made significant strides in infrastructure. We give thanks to God who has been faithful to us; it is not by our might, but by His grace.

Without any doubt, we acknowledge that there is a power greater that is directing the activities of mankind and the strides that we have made could not have been possible without Him. Therefore we must continue to make all efforts to worship the one who created the universe.

Governor Ambode who took

one of the bible readings, however urged Nigerians to use the period to rededicate themselves to the service of humanity by showing love and kindness and go the extra mile by putting a smile on the face of neighbours and the less privileged.

“Christmas is a season of love.

Let us show love to one another at everywhere we do interact, in our offices, in our homes, in the streets and in our religious centres”.

He assured that his administration would continue to place high premium on the welfare of Lagosians, adding that he would continue to fine-tune strategies to enhance welfare programmes and policies of the government to make life more comfortable for the people.

Mrs Ambode

News 12

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Nigeria has only two functional cancer screening machines –Minister

Continued from page 1 only two are functional.

Prof Adewole, a former vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, however expressed hope that things will soon be better as the Federal Government has earmarked the sum of N11.7 billion for upgrade of the various teaching hospitals in the country.

The Minister disclosed these while fielding questions from journalists in his office in Abuja, weekend.

Prof Adewole pointed out though that the N11.7 billion was not adequate for the upgrading of the said hospitals, considering the present high cost of items in the country, saying that there were challenges with the upgrading of the teaching hospitals. Accordipointing out that the challenges were not insurmountable.

On the issue of the cancer screening machines, the minister disclosed that the government has approached some producers of the machines with a view to getting more. He specifically named Varial and Electral as some of the companies that have been approached.

The agreement between the government and the two companies, he said, will last for not less than 10 years. Part of the agreement is for the companies to supply spare parts for the repair of the broken down machines.

The Minister, while saying that the government cannot do it alone, expressed optimism that government is in a good position to handle most of the cancer cases. Prof Adewole however said that 40 per cent of cancer cases can be handled effectively if detected early.

Speaking on the recent case of Lassa Fever in Abeokuta, Ogun State, which has led to the death of a nurse and one other person, the Minister described the development as particularly

worrisome.

He disclosed that about 350 people, who had contact with the late nurse, are currently being monitored by the government.

Prof Adewole therefore, warned that no doctor should treat malaria patients without proper diagnosis.

He equally dismissed claims that there is a resurgence of polio in the country, saying “no resurgence of polio case in Nigeria.”

He revealed that the Ministry of Health has screened over 500,000 Nigerians for diabetes, so far.

In addition, Prof Adewole said his ministry has provided nutritional support for about 200, 000 malnourished people at Internally Displaced Peoples’ (IDP) camps across the country, adding that up to 10, 150 free surgeries have been offered to indigent Nigerians, stressing that free surgery will continue next year.

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PDP, APC call for reconciliation in Rivers Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏ The two contending political parties in Rivers State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) have used the occasion of Christmas festivities to call for truce.

While the PDP through the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, called for reconciliation amongst Rivers and Nigerian political leaders, the APC called for unity among Rivers people towards the progress and stability of the state.

In his Christmas message read to newsmen at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on the eve of Christmas, Governor Wike said that unity was needed for enhanced development.

The governor noted that all Nigerians should take advantage of the spirit of the season to promote forgiveness, love and peace.

He said: “I use this opportuni-

ty to plead with those who may not have achieved what they wanted to get to put aside all interests for the sake of Christmas, let us forgive each other and move the state forward.

“Let us move Rivers State forward, let us move Nigeria forward. That is my personal message this Christmas.”

The governor added: “For all of us who are Christians, this is the period we have to reflect on what Christ means to us. Christ means love and unity.

“As a state, we should use this period to reflect and ponder on the need for us to unite ourselves. We should work as a people who are saved by the birth of Jesus Christ.

“To Nigeria as a country, we should use this period to work as a country, to put our differences aside and show love amongst ourselves.”

He said: “This is a period we should not continue to antagonise ourselves or destroy our-

selves because of selfish interests.

“If Christ could be born for the salvation of all, it behoves on all of us to make sacrifices in order to unite the entire country for the interest of every person.

Not just because a personal interest is not served, then the country should be destroyed.”

The governor emphasised that: “Rivers as a Christian State loves to celebrate Christmas in a way that would edify the people. For us, we have to show that Christ is love.

Speaking for the APC, Senator Magnus Abe, the Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, stressed the need for unity.

Abe said it was hoped that insecurity and violence that characterised 2016 would be a thing of the past in 2017.

“It is our hope and prayer that the insecurity, violence and challenges witnessed in the state in 2016 will be a thing of

the past in 2017.”

He urged those who foment trouble to sheath their sword and embrace peace in the overall interest of the state.

“I want to appeal to all Rivers men and women that we come together, work together for peace, security and stability of our state. I’m sure it is the intention of Rivers people that they need to see change in the way politics is conducted in Rivers State.”

The former Secretary to Rivers State Government commended the people of Rivers South East for voting for him, assuring them that their hopes would not be dashed.

He said:“I want to thank everybody for the support that was given to me in the last election, which cuts across party lines and to say to all those who did not that by the grace of God, your own hope, dream and expectation will be met in the coming year.”

Osun workers ask gov to pay 18 months half salary arrears Sodiq Adekunle, Osogbo

ÏÏÏ Workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Osun State council, have asked the state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, to pay outstanding of their 18 months halfpaid salaries.

It would be recalled that workers in the state have been receiving half of their salaries since July 2015.

The workers spoke in a press statement signed by the chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Jacob ‘Tunde Adekomi.

According to the statement, the state government owed workers on Grade Level 08 and above as well as pensioner for 18 months.

Though they commended Governor Aregbesolan for paying half-salaries of workers in the state up till November, the workers urged him to fulfill his promise of paying the balance of the half salaries for the 18 months.

They said, “We do not doubt that Mr. Governor is a man of his words and he will attend to the balance of the outstanding amount of the salaries of officers on GL.08 as well as the pensioners.

“The outgoing year was challenging for the workers in the state in the face of the grim and unfriendly, essentially, economic situation due to the economic recession.

“The development is no doubt sufficient to trigger industrial crises but the perseverance and understanding of workers in the state assured the civil servant that NLC will pursue the payment of the outstanding balance of half of their salaries since July 2015.”

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

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14 Opinion

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Corruption is deep but can be defeated

S

Jibrin Ibrahim

ection 15(5) of our Constitution is clear: “the State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.” The prosecutorial agencies and the judiciary, of course, have the responsibility to investigate, prosecute and punish those involved in corrupt practices so that the Nigerian State remains faithful to the injunctions provided by our Grand Norm. We know however that the State has lacked the capacity to abolish corrupt practices. In other words, the State has been unable to play its role as the guarantor of the rule of law. As we all know, the rule of law requires the equality of all citizens, but on issues of corruption, Nigerians are very unequal. In Nigerian prisons today, there are thousands of people who are in jail because they have stolen a chicken or a goat. They are in jail because they have committed a crime against the State. Although their theft was petty and most likely due to extreme poverty, they must suffer the punishment because they have committed a crime against the State. The paradox however is that those who steal in billions are usually protected by the same State. Nigeria has developed a system in which punishment for corrupt acts applies only to those citizens who are unable to pay for the right calibre of lawyers or who are unable to pay judges for immunity. This is a crisis that indicates the absence of justice in our society.

In a convocation lecture he delivered at the University of Maiduguri on January 31, 1985, Justice Akinola Aguda drew the attention of his audience to the earliest discovered written Secular Code, King Hammurabi (1728-1686 BC).

The said Code was established: “To make justice appear in the land, to destroy the evil and the wicked, in order that the strong might not oppress the weak”. In Nigeria, our “justice system” appears to be designed to make the strong above the law. The most serious problem begins with the strongest.

The story by Dapo Oloronyomi and Musiliku “Mojeed on the Halliburton Bribe Takers” (NEXT newspaper, March 29, 2009) demonstrated that our leaders in the past have been common criminals who violated our laws and Constitution. The known and fingered personalities include three former presidents; Olusegun Obasanjo, Sani Abacha and Abubakar Abdulsalam; as well as a who’s who of Nigeria’s political and business elite. Our three former successive presidents received millions of dollars in bribes from American and European contractors retained to build Africa’s first liquefied natural gas plant in Bonny, Rivers State.

Also enmeshed in the vast and formalised bribery scheme is a long line of ministers, bureaucrats, top politicians, state and local officials and former oil minister, Dan Etete,

according to American investigators. They all received millions of dollars in bribes from the oil services company in exchange for billions of dollars in contracts to build the gas plant. Halliburton paid $579 million in fines and many of its agents went to jail for bribing our former presidents. Our law enforcement authorities, notably the Attorney General at that time, Michael Aondoakaa, promised a thorough investigation but nothing happened. The National Assembly, the EFCC and the Office of the Attorney General simply refused to act when the story broke. Worse still, Aondoakaa sought to investigate Halliburton for tarnishing the image of the country by bribing its officials. Those who performed the corrupt acts by receiving bribes were of no interest to him; he was more worried about protecting the image of the bribe takers.

I have pointed out many times in this column that the Buhari Administration has many faults but it has an important strength, the will to fight corruption, even if its practice lacks elegance. On November 18, 2015, Nigeria’s president ordered the arrest of a former national security adviser who was accused of anchoring the mega looting of the millions of dollars meant to buy weapons for the fight against Boko Haram militants. Police surrounded the house of Sambo Dasuki in Abuja and eventually arrested him. He was alleged to have organised the systematic looting of over $2 billion. Specifically, between 2012 and 2015, Dasuki awarded fake contracts worth more than $2 billion for fighter jets, helicopters, bombs and ammunition that were never supplied to the armed forces. In 2014, Nigeria spent $5.8 billion on security, a quarter of the country’s total budget. It is fairly clear now that much of that money was stolen. There is a glaring relationship that has developed between the increase of budgets on security and the deteriorating security situation in the country. As senior officers

of the armed forces became multibillionaires, the state of security in the country deteriorated.

One of the key principles of democracy is that those who govern are regularly held accountable to the citizens on whose behalf they exercise power. Accountability comprises the processes and procedures through which citizens and those who exercise responsibility on their behalf engage the process of assessing and enforcing governance. The processes and procedures include elections, recall of candidates who perform badly, referendum and fiscal accounting.

In constitutional democracies, the accountability of those who hold office to the citizenry is based on the mandate given by the electors to those they elect to parliament or to the executive branch of government. Accountability implies that public officials are answerable for their actions and that there is redress when duties and commitments are not met. Accountability requires that standards of expected behaviour be set for those exercising authority so that they can be assessed and judged. When they engage in criminal behaviour, the administration of justice must prosecute them.

One of the successes of the Buhari Administration is bringing the issue of senior lawyers and judges in relation to corruption on the national agenda. I agreed with the acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, when earlier this year he told the Nigerian Bar Association that: “Society is not served when prominent members of the bar not only take clearly tainted briefs, but even facilitate the commission of crimes by knowingly supplying the technical know-how and later, helping in the dispersal of the proceeds of crime.” He concluded on the colourful note that there are silks who: “are vandals of the temple of justice.” The arrest and trial of judges for acts of corruption is a brave move that could take us along the path leading to the

same justice for all citizens.

Nigerians look forward to a future in which public resources would be used for the public good.

It was precisely for this reason that Nigerians rallied round to support President Buhari and get him to power largely on account of his anti-corruption credentials. Between 1984 and 1985, the Buhari regime locked up the entire political class in jail for their corrupt past. They suffered for some time but eventually his regime was overthrown and the jailbirds came back to power and expanded their corrupt acts with renewed vigour. The problem with Buhari’s first regime was that the approach to fighting corruption was ad hoc, using military tribunals rather than the normal instruments of the administration of justice. This time around, the institutions of justice are being used.

There is widespread concern however that sometimes procedures are ignored and even court orders are disregarded at times. If such lapses are addressed, the war against corruption could be institutionalised.

One thing that has been scientifically proved about corruption is that when the system is able to punish those involved in corrupt practices, the quantum decreases steadily.

When there is immunity for engaging in corrupt practices however, the quantum and scale of corrupt acts grows astronomically. Following the successes of Nuhu Ribadu in the EFCC and the way he was bundled out of the institution for doing his work well, confidence returned fully to the practitioners of grand corruption in Nigeria. Nigeria became the only country in the civilised world where corrupt persons could get court injunctions stopping the prosecutorial agencies and the courts from investigating and prosecuting their corrupt acts. The tide is changing. The wheels of justice are turning and our only prayer is that all those guilty of corruption must be prosecuted and go to jail if found to be guilty. Let us resist the attempt by corruption to fight back.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

15 Opinion

Why President Buhari is failing

M Femi Akinfolarin

uhammadu Buhari is a simple man.

Spartan by nature, he rarely smiles but when he does, one can see that behind his taciturnity might be hiding a jovial man. He stands ramrod straight, which is an achievement for a 74 year old man, and in private moments you can see a warm man. This is the picture that was sold to us in 2014 before the elections; as he wore a sexy urbane suit and sat behind a presidential table, while interacting with his grandchildren. He did not look like the hapless hat cladded Mr. Goodluck Jonathan.

The reasons why Buhari is failing Nigerians cannot be found on the exterior. You have to look into his psyche to understand the reason why 18 months into his administration what is emerging is the picture of a tired old man, helplessly out of his depth. Mr. Buhari’s psyche makes him put loyalty way above competence, which explains why his coterie of incompetent aides consistently makes one bad decision after the other. There are glaring examples of this.

Immediately after Buhari’s

inauguration, it was discovered that the National Security Adviser had treated the Central Bank as his personal piggy bank and regularly driven vans there to withdraw funds. Mr. Dasuki is currently in detention for those actions but the Central Bank Governor who had carried out his president’s orders in a manner reminisce of the Idi Amin days in Uganda has held on to his post. The same CBN governor has laid waste to the Nigerian forex markets with a string of incoherent policies which have created the perception of incompetence, further weakening the naira. One day, he claims to have floated the naira, the next he requires Bank MDs to only sell forex at a rate that he informs them of. Imagine a scenario where whenever a bank’s customer wants to sell forex at a rate above the agreed rate, the MD has to call the CBN governor for permission, completely truncating the vaunted fairness of the entire system. The international markets are now actively betting against the CBN governor, yet his boss won’t fire him.

Mr. Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria, obviously learning rapidly from the impunity, proceeded to get a contract to provide succour to the devastated North-Central

region by cutting grass in a region where millions of misplaced people are starving. The contract was awarded to a company owned and operated by him, even though there are civil service rules against such transaction. Even when he resigned from the company, he still retained himself as the signatory to the organisation’s account. Mr. Buhari has only belatedly asked for a probe after the National Assembly indicted the man!

The Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari, who is now officially the gate keeper to Mr. Buhari, has been accused in numerous instances of influence peddling.

Mr. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army staff, was accused of paying fantastical sums to acquire homes in Dubai a few months ago, while the Minister of the Interior was accused of buying houses in Boston.

Mr. Buhari generally does not comment about the alleged corruption within his inner circles. Here his taciturnity is at its best.

But it is this blind loyalty and inability to objectively assess the people closest to him that has always being the president’s Achilles heel. In 1985, even though he knew that the then Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Babangida was harbouring evil

thoughts against his government, he did not move against him until the coup of August. Also while at the Petroleum Trust Fund, one of the complaints about Mr. Buhari was that while he had performed significantly well, he had also surrounded himself with a cabal of trusted aides who, based on his belief in them, used the Fund to enrich themselves. Of the current crop of ministers, there isn’t a single one that has had a star performance, yet they are retained till date. In fact the Youth and Sports minister, Solomon Dalung has single handedly seized the title of worst minister in the history of the Nigerian state, which is a hard task considering the long list of sub-par ministers that we have had since independence.

Mr. Buhari still has about two years to turn around his administration. He would do well to start by washing the Aegean stables that is his cabinet and immediate staff clean. He should fire all ministers and staff who have the faintest whiff of corruption and incompetence around them. And, replace them with strong technocrats who would have access to the president at all times, while being allowed do their jobs free of hinderance.

Or come 2019, the president won’t even win half the votes in Daura.

James Ibori’s freedom from London prison

C

William Bozimo

all it a tale of an Odyssey for the whizkid from the rural serenity of Ogharavillage in Ethiope West of Delta State.

A former governor from 1999 to May 2007, the second Urhobo man to be elected after Felix Ibru’s two year term which was truncated by the military in 1991.

Barely forty years old when he came to power on May 29, 1999, he was a child of circumstance.

A businessman turned - politician, Ibori swung into action and summoned the two leading leaders of Izon, Urhobo and Itsekiri to Asaba to find a cure for these endless clashes.

Pa Benjamin Okumagba, led the Urhobo group, Pa Edwin Clark led the Izon group while Justice Franklin Atake, led the Itsekiri group.

In a mercurial style, Ibori, succeeded in brokering peace in the Warri axis.

After successfully coming to the end of his first term curious twists and turns surfaced to the effect that he had a an ex- convict case hanging over his head.

Unmoved, he pursued the case to the Supreme Court and was discharged of the allegation. Eventually, he went for a second term and won.

James OnanefeIbori, soldiered

on despite political distractions by opponents of his charismatic mien, tall and dark ebony skin with a swagger of a Resource control exponent.

Ibori, along with DSP Alamsco of Bayelsa State, were the leading arrow-heads of the battle for Resource Control.

Many described Ibori as the oil sheikh of the Niger Delta and he fought the battle to such an extent that he the twosome fell- foul of former President OlusegunObasanjo, who disliked their guts.

Alamieyeseigha was impeached by the Bayelsa Assembly.

For Ibori, he fled for the UK and under very unclear circumstances; was arraigned in a London Court for allegations of money laundering and sent to prison for 13 years.

Speaking from London, Chief IghoyotaAmori, Ibori’s alter ego told me about the festive atmosphere in London as many Nigerians thronged the court premises to witness his release.

James Ibori was an- all round administrator who improved the quality of life of ordinary politicians who trooped into Asaba in bathroom slippers and within six months started driving Jeeps.

Ibori could be called a man of the people and despite his obstacles created by envy and detractors; he built Delta into a formidable sport-

ing state that carted away many gold medals during National Sports festivals.

While the Ibori- mania had taken over the social media sphere. There appears to be two conflicting orders from London and Abuja. While London insists he should not travel out of the UK, the Federal government had started the process of extradition from London to Nigeria to perhaps, continue with EFCC 170 charges whose case file has been sent to the Attorney General of the Federation.

The Southwark Crown Court had on April 17, 2012 had sentenced Ibori to 13 years in prison for admitting guilt to counts of money laundering and stealing $250 million.

The Ibori Odyssey started long ago but most politicians felt he was a victim of political victimisation and that having paid his dues from the London prison Nigerians, seem persuaded that Ibori does not to need to go through another legal trials in Nigeria.

They aver it is tantamount to double jeopardy to try a man for the same offence.

The judiciary would be stretched this time around.

The new Sheriff inAso Rock, Buhari has a zero tolerance for corruption and an unrelieved stickler for transparency in government.

For most Nigerians, he would see Chief James Ibori’s discomfiture as a test case to drive home his campaign.

Most politicians in the APC were friends of Ibori like AlhajiAtiku and the President of the Senate Dr. BukolaSaraki. Whispers in the air are suggestive of whether Chief Ibori would change camps politically in the face of these seemingly unending court trials?

Will Ibori, the Odidgborigbo of Africa abandon the PDP for APC? For the moment, Chief James Ibori, is the most credible and charismatic leader in Delta today.

What the Ibori handlers would need to do is a fast strategic move to reassure the party in power that all that he needs now is freedom to go home to see his brothers and sisters in Oghara.

Chief Ibori does not need politics to survive and he should return to his first love- business.

I had once averred that with his release from London prison, he would behave like a Mandela or an Obasanjo, who jumped from Prison to the Presidency. And to achieve that he would need a state pardon before he could talk politics in the years ahead.

Whatever he is up to after the London ordeal, Chief James OnanefeIbori deserves some period of peace with his family.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

17

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

TIMES AGAINST CORRUPTION

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The nitty-gritty of proposed Whistleblower programme Federal government last week released in full, details of the proposed Whistleblower Programme, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Below is the details of all you need to know about Whistleblower programme based on response to all the questions people may want answers to.

What is the Federal Ministry of Finance Whistleblowing Programme.?

It is a programme designed to encourage anyone with information about a violation, misconduct or improper activity that impacts negatively on the Nigerian people and Government to report it.

Who is a Whistleblower?

Any person who voluntarily discloses information in good faith about a possible misconduct or violation that has occurred, is on-going, or is about to occur.

What is the Whistleblowing Portal?

A secure online portal where the information can be submitted. If you have already submitted your information, you can also check the status of your report on the portal.

What type of information can be submitted?

Some examples of information that can be submitted include: Mismanagement or misappropriation of public funds and assets (e.g. properties and vehicles).

Financial malpractice or fraud.

Collecting / soliciting bribes.

Corruption.

Diversion of revenues.

Fraudulent and unapproved payments.

Splitting of contracts.

Procurement fraud (kickbacks and over-invoicing etc.)

What type of information cannot be submitted?

The programme does not apply to personal matters concerning private contracts or agreements.

How do I submit my information under the Whistleblower

Programme?

You can submit your information through the online portal by e-mail or by phone.

Who can make use of the Whistleblowing Portal?

Anybody with the required information including but not limited to: Internal stakeholders e.g. Government employees; Inter-Government stakeholders e.g. Government agencies; Institutional stakeholders; and All members of the public.

Can I submit my information to the Whistleblowing Portal anonymously?

Yes. You do not have to disclose your identity while providing information.

What additional information is required from a whistleblower?

You can submit documentary evidence on the portal. You can also provide specific and fact based information such as what occurred, amount involved, who was involved and dates of occurrence on the portal.

Will my identity remain confidential?

Yes. Confidentiality will be maintained to the fullest extent within the limitations of the law.

If you choose not to disclose your identity, there will be no record of who you are.

If you choose to disclose your identity, it will be fully protected.

Will I be protected as a whistleblower?

Yes. If you whistleblow in public-spirit and in good faith, youwill be protected.

If you feel that you have been treated badly because of your

Kemi Adeosun, Finance Minister report, you can file a formal complaint.

If you have suffered harassment, intimidation or victimisation for sharing your concerns, restitution will be made for any loss suffered.

How will the information that I provided be used?

The information you provide will be reviewed and analysed to determine whether or not to open an investigation on the matter.

Investigations will be confidential, objective and speedy.

What if it is a criminal case?

That has been considered. It will be referred to the relevant agencies; Police, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) or Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Will there be sanctions for individuals or corporate bodies involved in diversion of public funds?

Yes.

Referral to anti-corruption agencies for possible prosecution.

Blacklisted from working with or doing business with the Government.

Is the whistleblower entitled to a financial reward?

It depends.

If there is a voluntary return of stolen or concealedpublic funds or assets on the account of the information provided, the whistleblower may be entitled to anywhere between 2.5% (Minimum) and 5.0% (Maximum) of thetotal amount recovered.

You must have provided the Government with information it does not already have and could not otherwise obtain from any other publicly available source.

Is there protection from False or Malicious Claims?

Yes. A first level review will always be carried out to determine credibility and sufficiency of information received.

If you report false or misleading information, it will be referred to the enforcement agents for investigation and possible prosecution.

What turnaround time should I expect once the information is acknowledged?

You receive an acknowledgement immediately you submit the information.

An initial review to confirm violation or potential violation (10 working days) If an investigation is opened, the nature and complexity of the matters under investigation will dictate the time frame.

You can always independently monitor the status or progress report with code generated.

Can I receive status updates on the progress with the information that I have provided?

Yes. When you submit information, the portal will generate a unique reference number. To know the status of your submitted tip, simply click on “Get Feedback” and enter the reference number.

What is the purpose or expected outcome of the programme?

Increase exposure of financial or financial related crimes; Support the fight against financial crimes and corruption; Improved level of public confidence in public entities; Enhance transparency and accountability in the management of public funds; Improve Nigeria’s Open Government Ranking and Ease of Doing Business Indicators; and Recovery of public funds that can be deployed to finance Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit.

Job scam: EFCC arraigns NSCDC staff in Kano The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Joshua Dan-Daura before Honourable Justice Dije Abdu Aboki of the Kano State High Court on a one count charge of Obtaining by False Pretense.

The accused person, a Deputy Suprintendent in the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps allegedly obtained the

sum of N450,000 (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only) from the complainant under the pretext of securing a job for the complainant at the (NSCDC).

The charge, according to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, reads thus: “That you Joshua Dan-Daura sometimes in March, 2013 at Kano within the Judicial Divi-

sion of the Kano High Court with intent to defraud obatained the sum of N450,000 ( Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only) from one Yahaya Ibrahim Musa by falsely representing that you would help him secure a job with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, a representation you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offense contrary to section 320

of the Penal Code and punishable under section 322 of the same Law” The accused person pleaded not guilty to the one count charge.

Prosecution counsel, Musa Isah asked the court for a trial date in view of the plea of the accused person. However the defence counsel moved a bail application praying the court to

Continue on page 18

admit his client to bail pending the determination of the case.

Justice Aboki granted the accused person bail in the sum of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only) and one surety who shall be a resident of Kano with a landed property within the jurisdiction.

The case has been adjourned to January 25, 2017 for the commencements

18 Times Against Corruption

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Hope for IDPs as EFCC signs MoU with WFP Internally displaced people currently living in the various Internally Displaced Persons Camps IDPs, got a big relief recently as Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu vows to cooperate with the World Food Programme WFP, to ensure that supplies actually get to the right people.

The new move which is to check incidence of abuse in the handling of humanitarian supplies to the IDP camps, is coming amidst reports of diversions of food and other humanitarian items supplied to the camp.

The EFCC acting Chairman, Magu, while giving the pledge when he signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the WFP at the EFCC’s Head Office, Abuja, assured that with the involvement of the EFCC, the incidence will become a thing of the past.

He stated that such efforts are necessary to support the World Food Programme, WFP, towards ensuring that all support deployed by its donors and the government of Nigeria reaches its beneficiaries without any threat of corruption.

The EFCC boss while noting that corruption is a serious threat that negatively affects the development of a nation, said the new partnership will in

no small measure help in alleviating the sufferings of internally displaced people especially in the northern part of Nigeria. “ we assure you that we will follow you to every nook and cranny of the North Eastern states like Yobe, Borno and Adamawa” We will be with you where ever you need our attention, if there are no operative where you are, we will send you operatives from here. We will support and work with your intervention to reach its beneficiaries without any threat of corruption”.

Earlier, Bernadin Assiene, Director of Inspections and Investigations, WFP, noted that that the MoU between WFP and EFCC is an important aspect of WFP’s intervention in Nigeria and its main objective is to ensure that all the support mobilized by it effectively reaches its beneficiaries and is safeproofed from any risk of fraud and corruption.

He also described the importance of signing of the MoU with EFCC as first of its kind saying,”today’s MoU signing is the confirmation that EFCC is the right partner to help WFP establish specific assurance mechanisms in Nigeria.”

He also poured accolades on the Commission’s doggedness in the fight against corruption add-

EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu with officials of the WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME at the signing of the agreement in Abuja. ing that, “EFCC’s expertise, reputation and track record of successful engagements in the fight against fraud and corruption in the utilization of foreign assistance is well recognized, both nationally and internationally.”

Sory Ouane, WFP Representative and Country Director, in his remark explained how the WFP had provided intervention to the North East through its intervention programme assuring that it would continue.

“The ongoing conflict in Northeast Nigeria has the potential to cause further displacement and increase food insecurity. Therefore, WFP is re-

vising its emergency operations to implement a robust scale up and an integrated response to meet the overwhelming needs in Northeast Nigeria, targetting 1.8 milllion people in Borno and Yobe States in 2017”, he said.

While Magu signed the MoU on behalf of the EFCC, Assiene signed for the WFP. Other members of the WFP at the event include: Peter Musoko Deputy Regional Director; Femi Amure, West Africa Project Advisor/Liaison and Ijeoma M. Garba, External Partnership.

The occasion was witnessed by members of the management team of the EFCC.

Don, others seek media support for anti-graft war The need to cooperate and develop strong support for the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions to tackle corruption was again brought to the front burner last week by lecturer in the School of Communication, Lagos State University, Ojo, Prof.

Lai Osho.

According to Osho, journalists must support the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in its war against corruption.

He therefore, urged journalists to be more vigorous and professional in investigative reporting as a way of making the anti-graft war a success in the country.

Speaking at a one-day workshop organised by the EFCC for journalists in Lagos, Osho, who lauded the EFCC’s recently held Nigerian Women Against Corruption (WAC) programme in Abuja, added that investigative reporting would ensure the setting of agenda for the government.

Osho, who spoke on “Investigative Reporting and the Fight

Against Corruption: The Nigeria Experience’’, said ‘‘ Investigative journalism will bring about the setting agenda for the government, while also boosting the image of the anti-corruption agencies. ‘‘Unlike routine news reporting, investigative reporting is not event-dependent; rather, it is independent and original. Also, talking about the social relevance of investigative journalism, one can say that it will direct public attention, uphold standard of public morality and mobilize public opinion for change.’’

The mass communication lecturer, however, stated that the Nigerian experience had shown that powerful individuals and groups had been manipulating the ‘‘weak state and institutions for their parochial interest.’’

He further said that the media, in the fight against corruption, had been perceived as ethic and regional in their editorial orientation.

“Apart from weak and economic base of media organisations, one can also talk of insecure elite hegemony and lack of

national consensus on issues.’’

Also speaking, Simon Kolawole, Publisher, The Cable, lamented the lack of understanding of what determines corruption by Nigerians. ‘‘Though we claim to be fighting corruption, there seems to be no general agreement on what corruption is,’’ he said.

Speaking on ‘‘Journalism and the Fight Against Corruption: Lessons from Abroad,’’ the former editor of This Day Newspaper added that it is constitutional for the media to be part of the war against corruption.

He also stated that one of the social responsibilities of the media entailed setting agenda for the government through investigative journalism.

According to him, ‘‘Unlike in Nigeria, the way investigative journalism is done abroad is that it involves fact checking, leaks and collaborative work, among others. Many would frown on media leaks, but I would say it is good. My concern, however, is that it is not being done well in Nigeria. Investigative journalism is not just about winning awards, but making the country

a better place.’’

He also encouraged journalists to always follow-up on their stories, saying that ‘‘If a news item is covered frequently and prominently, the audience will regard the issue as very important.’’

In his paper titled ‘‘Law, Journalism and the Fight Against Corruption’’, Lanre Arogundade, Director, International Press Centre, said both law and journalism exist to perform public services.

He added that the relationship between law and journalism should be complementary rather than conflicting.‘‘It should also be cooperative rather than contradictory,’’ he added. ‘‘Legal institution and personnel, such as lawyers, judges, solicitors, are useful sources and contacts for the investigative or anti-corruption reporters.’’

At the well-attended event, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, expressed the gratitude of the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, to the journalists for their support to the agency’s activities since inception.

More travails for Dame Jonathan as EFCC stumbles on fresh account There are strong indications that the travails of former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan over accounts allegedly linked to her are far from over.

This followed revelation of the discovery of yet another bank account where about N9B is currently lying idle said to belong to the former First Lady by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC. Recall that in August this year, the anti graft organization had alleged that it unveil a $15m account allegedly belonging to the former First Lady.

This was followed by the discovery of another account worth $5m in September.

The agency went ahead and frozen the account in Skye Bank Plc, titled ‘Patience Ibifaka Jonathan.

This last week the agency which had beamed its search light on the financial empire of the former First Lady came up with yet another revelation of an account bearing her signature but with a BVN and name of another woman Following the latest discovery, the EFCC is said to have launched a fresh manhunt for one Esther Oba, said to be fronting for her Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola has already granted an order freezing the bank accounts worth over N9B. Daily Times investigations show that the said accomplice has gone into hiding while the EFCC which has set up serious manhunt to unravel her mystery has also vowed to do all necessary to arrest her.

The move, according to EFCC sources became necessary as the agency believes that Esther is fronting for Patience and that her arrest will help to unravel the mystery behind the account.

Dame Jonathan

Daily Times Nigeria Monday December 26, 2016

Adamawa primary school teachers to smile soon –NUT Chairman Tom Garba, Yola

ÏÏÏ The Chairman of the

Adamawa State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Rodney S. Nathan, has called upon primary school teachers in the state to remain calm as the government has promised to pay them their three months’ salary.

According to him, Governor Muhammadu Umar Jibrilla is a people oriented leader who delivers when he promised teachers, and therefore they should give him that benefit of doubt.

Nathan, who spoke to journalists after he received an award of excellence by the Pan- African Leadership Transparency Centre (PALTC) Abuja, maintained that the award of excellency in leadership was given in recognition of his good leadership qualities since he assumed office in July 2016.

“They said they were monitoring my activities, my achievement and leadership styles since I assumed office”, he stated.

The unionist maintained that the award came immediately after his exco passed a vote of confidence on his leadership.

Nathan confessed that the award and vote of confidence has gingered him to put in his best towards achieving the objectives of the union.

The NUT chairman disclosed that he has inherited a lot of problems ranging from the nonpayment of salary, issues of promotion, leave grants and a host of others.

“All these problems did not deter me, but rather they fueled my desire to bring about a change in line with the change mantra of the APC led leadership”, he disclosed.

19 News

FG, FERMA repair Umuahia/ Ikot Ekpene road Sunday Nwakanma, Umushia

ÏÏÏThe

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has given the nod for immediate commencement of palliative work on the Umuahia - Ikot Ekpene road while total reconstruction would start early next year.

The palliative works on the road was flagged off at the weekend by the senator representing Abia Central, Senator Theodore Orji and the representative of Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Sam Onuigbo.

Speaking at the flagging off ceremony held at Okwe Ukwu community in Ikwuano local gov-

ernment, Senator Orji commended the federal government for realizing the importance of this particular road to the economy of not only the states it serves but also the national economy.

Sen. Orji who said that the road has always been in very bad shape due to the heavy vehicles that plies on it on daily basis, urged the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA and the contractor it engaged for the palliative work “to do a very good job” as any shoddy job on the road would not go down well with the people who have been enduring so much pains and loss of man hours just to travel from Abia to Akwa Ibom through this route.

The Abia Central senator added that both he joined forces with the representative of Ikwuano/

Umuahia Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Sam Onuigbo, to draw the attention of the federal government to the sufferings of road users that travel on this road.

Speaking on the occasion, Hon Onuigbo assured that the palliative work was just the beginning of the journey to fixing the road permanently, adding “despite the dire economic situation in the country, which has stalled the execution of capital projects, we have been determined that our people deserve some respite.

“We are not done yet. The road serves as an important channel through which petroleum products, cement and other key economic materials are moved from Akwa Ibom, Cross River through Umuahia to Aba, Port Harcourt

and other parts of the country.”

He called on the minister of works to keep his promise of reconstruction of the road in 2017 so that “our pains, our sufferings, and our anguish on this road will be a thing of the past”.

Earlier in his remarks the state director of FRMA, Engr Abraham Akange, disclosed that the problem of Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene federal road was that it was not built to carry heavy traffic hence the road could no longer cope with the weight of heavy duty vehicles plying on it, lamenting that haulage transportation has put much stress on the country’s road network and urged the federal government to lay more emphasis on rail transport in order to ease the stress on the roads and make them last longer.

Christmas: Imbibe Jesus’ virtues of love, perseverance, Lagos Speaker tells Nigerians ÏÏÏThe Speaker of

the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa has called on Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of peace, love and perseverance from the life of Jesus Christ to move the country forward and ensure its development and growth.

The appeal was contained in the Speaker’s Christmas message to the people released on Saturday in Lagos. The statement was signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Musbau Razak.

“As we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, we should not forget to imbibe his virtues as criteria for national development,” Obasa said.

According to him, Jesus Christ was the harbinger of peace and love while perseverance radiated all over him during his lifetime noting that, “he was peace, love and perseverance personified. At this point in time in our socio-political history, we need to imbibe all these virtues as a people for our country to grow and develop”.

Describing Christmas as a period of joy and festivity where people celebrate, dance and wine together, the Lagos Assembly Speaker urged Nigerians to do everything in moderation so that the society will remain at peace.

“Our people should desist from activities that can cause

chaos and violence. We should always remember that Christmas goes beyond wining and dining alone, it is also a period to share love, preach peace and ensure we all co-habit amicably. Therefore, we should desist from unnecessary indulgence capable of breaching the peace of the society,” Obasa said.

The Lagos chief lawmaker, however, wished Nigerians a happy Christmas celebration.

L-R: People’s warden of Holy Trinity African Church, Sango, Ibadan (HTAC), Peter Bolaji; Vicar in Charge, HTAC, Ven. Oluwasegun Oladosu; Archbishop of Ibadan Province and Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, Most Rev. Julius Olayinka Abbe and Vice Lay President of Ikirun Diocese, Evang. Dr. Olatoke Olawale, at the commissioning of church lock-up shops in Ibadan...on Sunday. Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI.

Delta proposes N1.2 tr for 4-year devt programme Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

ÏÏÏ Given its development

thrust and the outlined strategies in achieving the set as encapsulated in its Medium Term Development Plan, the Delta State Government has said that it has earmarked N1.186 trillion as overall resource requirement for development in the next four years.

The State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr. Kingsley Emu, who disclosed this to journalists at a press briefing held in Asaba yesterday, stated that the Delta State Medium Term Development Plan (DSMTDP) document which provides an indicative cost estimate, also, proposes a total indicative

public sector investment size of N616.712 billion.

The DSMTDP document, according to him, outlines the goals of the present state government, its approach in achieving the set goals, which according to him, focuses majorly on the job and wealth creation programmes of the state government, as well as its vision of “prosperity for All Deltans.

Emu in his briefing, stated that the state government, recorded a total revenue receipts of N118, 154, 509, 648 billion within the past nine months (January to September) as against N152, 105, 003, 091 received within same period in 2015.

Dr. Emu, who disclosed this while briefing the press

on the activities of his ministry within the past 18 months, said that the figure represented an overall budget performance of 66.09, over the expected proportionate revenue receipts of N178, 786, 104, 115 billion.

According to him, the sum of N61, 682, 654, 457 billion was received as statutory allocation from the Federal Account, which he noted, represented a budget performance of 67.07 percent as against the proportionate estimate of N91, 965, 560, 998 billion within the period under review.

On Value Added Tax (VAT) during the period under review, Emu stated that the sum of N7, 216, 768, 923 billion was recorded as against the projected proportionate

revised estimate of N118, 12, 476, 884 billion which according to him represented a budget performance of 105.93 percent.

He said that within the period, the sum of N29, 943, 471, 936 billion was realized as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as against the projected proportionate revenue of N50, 265, 484, 495 billion, representing a budget performance of 59.57 percent.

Also, he said, the sum of N3, 500, 000, 000 representing 11.77 percent was recorded from other capital receipts during the period under review as against the proportionate budget of N29, 742, 581, 739, adding that during the period (2016) the sum of N15, 811, 614, 332 was record-

ed as unspent funds from the 2015 budget.

The sum, he explained, represents transfers from cash and bank balances as at December, 31, 2016. Speaking further, the commissioner stated that within the period under review, out of the projected proportionate budget of N102, 194, 901, 970 the sum of N99, 928, 217, 638 was spent as recurrent expenditures, which he noted, represented a total budget performance of 97.98 percent.

He explained that during the period, the personnel cost spent was N47, 951, 188, 430 as against the proportionate expenditure estimate of N45, 635, 723, 048 representing a budget performance of 105.07 percent.

20

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

UNITY DRIVERS ASSOCIATION.

This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for registration under part ‘’C’’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act,1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: ONYEDIKACHI JONAH BERNARD FRANK NNANNA ORJI OGOKE CHIKODI STEPHEN

VICTOR CHIJOKE OSIGWELEM OGOKE GODWIN ANAYOCHUKWU

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.To promote unity and peace among drivers and support Government development programmes.

2.To Establish metropolitan bus service in urban towns in Nigeria.

3.To create employment for qualified drivers and assist them train drivers/ workers in driving schools.

4.To organize and contribute to the social welfare for drivers and people.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed.: Secretary.

SPRINGFIELD PEACE ESTATE ASSOCIATION AYOBO, LAGOS

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. UFOMADU COSMOS NWADINOBI - CHAIRMAN 2. STEVE OLORUNISOLA 3. MR. EMEKA OTIKPO FOXXY 4 OLANIYI AKEEM BAKARE 5. NATHANIEL ADEGBOYE _ SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PROMOTE UNITY AND PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE OF ALL THE PEOPLE LIVING AND RESIDENT IN THE ESTATE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, MAITAMA DISTRICT, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. BARR ERIC OGUDU. 2. CHIEF ANTHONY CHUKWU. 3. SAMUEL CHUKWU. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO ASSIST MEMBERS IN THEIR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. 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.: TRUSTEES,

SIGNED: BARR. ONYINYECHI EZETE. 08032908277.

SAVE OUR SOUL CHILDREN VICTIMS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT FOUNDATION.

GREENMIND INITIATIVE FOR AGRICULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACTS OF 1 1990

AIMS: 1. To safe the children victims of traffic accident.

2. To help the children to achieve the standard of life that will help to build a better future.

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

Signed: Trustees

RESCUE THE WOMEN FOUNDATION

EKOLI-IVO RIVERBANK EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘’C’’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT,1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named Foundation has applied with the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts of no 11990.

Trustees : 1. MOHAMMED USMAN BABA 2. TRAORE RASSADOU 3. ALFA DAGBAMA KOUDJOHOUDOU 4. BUKARI ALIDOU 5. RABIU AKANO 6. ALIU SAHEEDU 7. ASBAT ABUBAKAR

21

TRUSTEES: 1. OGUNWALE ALABI JAMES - PRESIDENT 2. NWANI UCHENNA INNOCENT - VICE PRESIDENT 3. ADEKUNLE ADEDOLAPO MARY - GEN. SECRETARY 4. OGUNLEYE OLUWADAMILOLA VICTORIA -ASST. GEN. SEC. 5. OLADEJI ISAAC OLAWALE - PROJECT OFFICER 6. KOLAWOLE ABIODUN - ASST. PROJECT OFFICER 7. ADEOSUN REBECCA OLUWABUNMI - ACCOUNT OFFICER 8. BELLO SUNDAY - TECHNICAL OFFICER 9. BELLO ERICSON - ASST. TECHNICAL OFFICER

EXCEEDING GRACE OVERCOMERS INT’L MINISTRY. This is to inform the general public that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part c of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts of no 1 1990 .

1. PASTOR FATOYE FELIX OLUTUNDE 2. MRS. FATOYE GRACE MOROUNMUBO 3. FATOYE STEPHEN OLUWASEUN 4. FATOYE SAMUEL OLUWASEYI 5. FATOYE RHODA OLUWATOYIN

AIMS: 1. TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA. 2. TO TRAIN AND ORGANISE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL PLOT 420.TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MARIANA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

AIMS 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. To worship God in spirit and truth. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar General corporate affairs commission plot 420, off Aguiyi Irons street Mataima, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

Signed : Trustees.

RESCUE THE WOMEN FOUNDATION

RUACH HAKO’DESH INITIATIVE

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

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

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for registration to Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.SALIM WADA USMAN 2.HALIMA YAHUZA AHMAD 3.SANI MUHAMMAD FAGE 4.ALIYU HASSAN ABDULLAHI 5.GANIYAT MUNKAILA

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.SALIM WADA USMAN 2.HALIMA YAHUZA AHMAD 3.SANI MUHAMMAD FAGE 4.ALIYU HASSAN ABDULLAHI 5.GANIYAT MUNKAILA

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. AQUAISUA UDUAK DUPE 2. BASSEY AQUAISUA

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SUPPORT TO THE AFFECTED RAPE VICTIMS. 2.TO RAISE AWARENESS LEVEL ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND TEENAGE GIRLS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO REGISTRAR - GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI MAITAMA, ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.TO PROVIDE MEDICAL SUPPORT TO THE AFFECTED RAPE VICTIMS. 2.TO RAISE AWARENESS LEVEL ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND TEENAGE GIRLS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO REGISTRAR - GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT OFF AGUIYI IRONSI MAITAMA, ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: ABUBAKAR AUWAL AHMAD ESQ. SUITE 35,MANGA L PLAZA AREA 11,GARKI FCT, ABUJA.

SIGNED: ABUBAKAR AUWAL AHMAD ESQ. SUITE 35,MANGA L PLAZA AREA 11,GARKI FCT, ABUJA.

CHANGE OF NAME: I, VINCENT NJIDEKA FLORENCE the Biological mother of the underlisted children wish to change their names as follow: 1. From NWAFOR CHUKWUEBUKA KINGSLEY to VINCENT CHUKWUEBUKA KINGSLEY. 2. From NWAFOR CHIDERA FORTUNE to VINCENT CHIDERA FORTUNE. 3. From NWAFOR EMMANUEL CHINECHEREM to VINCENT EMMANUEL CHINECHEREM. 4. From NWAFOR IFECHUKWU THANKGOD to VINCENT ALEX IFECHUKWU. 5.

From NWAFOR CHUKWUAGOZIEM AUGUSTINE to VINCENT CHUKWUAGOZIEM AUGUSTINE. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note.

MACROBIOTICS LIFESTYLE AND WELLNESS FOUNDATION. ADDRESS : N0. 20A BABATUNDE KUBOYE STREET LEKKI 1, LAGOS.

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, of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. EDMOND OBIORA NNAJI. 2. EBELE IRENE NNAJI. 3. MONICA NNENNA NNAJI. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : 1. To promote, propagate and increase awareness in macrobiotics lifestyle, diet, cooking methods and other wellness practices.

2. To organize and participate in lectures, seminars, conferences and trainings, locally and internationally on Macrobiotics lifestyle, wellness, and healthy living.

3. To educate, train and teach Macrobiotics cooking, dietary and wellness methods, including message, physical and mental exercises techniques.

4. To conduct studies on local foodstuffs, ingredients and dishes, and also teach and render advice on how to utilize them to optimize healthy living and wellness .

5. To source, promote and lawfully deal on Macrobiotics and lifestyle products including food items, cooking materials, books, household items and other wellness products.

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

SIGNED ; SECRETARY.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE:1. To provide prompt response in time of disaster in the society.

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

SIGNED:- BARR. LADI OCHUGBOJU-ABIDO 08038644644

INTERNATIONAL HAIRSTYLISTS AND BODYTHERAPISTS ASSOCIATION NIGERIA CHAPTER.

HEART OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE BONNY.

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, of 1990.

Trustees 1. MRS LOLA OSHINOWO 2. MRS ADENIKE SHOBWALE 3. ALHAJI AZEEZ ADEBARE 4. ALHAJI OLALEKAN ADEBAMIRO 5. ENGR. TIMOTHY OLADELE AKEJU

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, of 1990.

Aim and obj 1 To foster unity among the members

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : 1. To foster peace and progress amongst members.

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

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

Signed: Secretary

SIGNED ; IRIMAGHA ALBERTA IBIERE (PRESIDENT).

CHRIST TRUE WORD DELIVERANCE MINISTRY INT’L. 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, of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. PASTOR MIKE EFFIONG AKPABIO - GENERAL OVERSEER. 2. BRO. PRINCE MIKE EFFIONG - GENERAL SECRETARY. 3. HON. (DR) NDUEHE UDO ESITIKOT. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : 1. To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all Nations.

2. To set the captives free and heal the sick through the word of God. 3. To edify the body of Christ.

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

SIGNED ; A. S. EROMOSELE ESQ.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. IRIMAGHA ALBERTA IBIERE - PRESIDENT. 2. BROWN SOPIRIALA - SECRETARY. 3. IRIMAGHA INYINGI IWARISO - TREASURER.

PREMIUM LEAGUE OF FRIENDS CLUB PORT HARCOURT. 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, of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. IBITURU PEPPLE - PRESIDENT. 2. ESSIEN WHITE - SECRETARY. 3. SUNNY AMADI - MEMBER. 4. AZIMHI OZEMHOYA - MEMBER. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : 1. To promote love , peace and unity and among members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affaira Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this Publication.

SIGNED ; IBITURU PEPPLE .

22

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

EKEH MARYANN CHISOM.

NWEKE JOHN IKECHUKWU

I, formerly known and addressed as, Okoye Maryann Chisom, now wish to be known and addressed as, Mrs Ekeh Maryann Chisom. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, EGWU JOHN IKECHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as, NWEKE JOHN IKECHUKWU. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

SUNDAY AGOCHA

ODUNUKWE AMARACHI ISABELLA

ODEY MANFRED ANDY I, formerly known and addressed as, ANDY ABANG, now wish to be known and addressed as, ODEY MANFRED ANDY. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

EDWIN .U. GABRIEL.

I, formerly known and addressed as, JERRY OCHEGWIYE, now wish to be known and addressed as, SUNDAY AGOCHA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, EZEUKWU AMARACHI ISABELLA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. ODUNUKWE AMARACHI ISABELLA. All former documents remain valid. General

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

ANEME CHILAKA STEPHEN

EBIERE AGNES ADEBOWALE. I, formerly known and addressed as EBIERE AGNES WILSON, now wish to be known, called and addressed EBIERE AGNES ADEBOWALE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ajala oluwatumininu Janet. now wish to be known and addressed as Abiodun Olasupo Janet. All former documents remain valid . General public take notice

OGBUEFI OBIANUJU YVONNE. OBANYE: I formerly known and addressed as MISS OBANYE OBIANUJU YVONNE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OGBUEFI OBIANUJU YVONNE. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public please take note.

ONYEKWEREH: I formerly known and addressed as PEACE-BERNADETTE CHIOMA ONYEKWEREH now wish to be known and addressed as PEACE COLLINS NWACHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ANEME P. STEPHEN, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ANEME CHILAKA STEPHEN. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

NKIRUKA CHINENYENWA NWASIKE

ECHETALDIKE: I formerly known and addressed as MISS NKIRUKA CHINENYENWA ECHETALDIKE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. NKIRUKA CHINENYENWA NWASIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UBAKA-ANYANECHI OGOCHUKWU PRISCILIA

NNAMANI EZINNE SOPHIA.

ENEH: I formerly known and addressed as MISS ENEH OGOCHUKWU PRISCILIAnow wish to be known and addressed as MRS. UBAKA-ANYANECHI OGOCHUKWU PRISCILIA. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public please take note.

NNAMANI: I, formerly known and addressed as NNAMANI EZINNE FAVOUR, now wish to be known and addressed as NNAMANI EZINNE SOPHIA. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

UGBUTA HELEN NKIRUKA

ENEOBONG OMOTOSO OLUWATAYO

I formerly known and addressed as OKORONKWO HELEN now wish to be known and addressed as UGBUTA HELEN NKIRUKA All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ENEOBONG EKPO TAYO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ENEOBONG OMOTOSO OLUWATAYO All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

DICK JULIANA SAVIOUR.

AWOSEYI DAVID

DICK: I, formerly known as ROBERT JULIANA SUNDAY, now wish to be known and addressed as DICK JULIANA SAVIOUR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as AWOSEYI DAVID KAYODE, now wish to be known and addressed as AWOSEYI DAVID. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

ADELEKE MOSHOOD ADEJINMI is one and same person known as ADEJINMI ADELEKE KOLA. I wish to confirm that my correct name is ADELEKE MOSHOOD ADEJINMI. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note.

FRANCISCA NGOZI OCHUBA is one and same person known as FRANCISCA OBUNWE OCHUBA. I wish to confirm that my correct name is FRANCISCA NGOZI OCHUBA. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note.

BABATOPE OLUWATOYIN ABIMBOLA

NOSIRU-DEEN SULE BAKARE

ABIODUN OLASUPO JANET

PEACE-BERNADETTE CHIOMA ONYEKWEREH

ADDITION OF NAME

That I was formerly known and addressed as OSUCHUKWU OLUCHI that I now wish to add IJEOMA ANGEL to my former name that I now wish to be known and addressed as OSUCHUKWU OLUCHI IJEOMA ANGEL. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

VINCENT NJIDEKA FLORENCE

I formerly known and addressed as NWAFOR NJIDEKA FLORENCE now wish to be known and addressed as VINCENT NJIDEKA FLORENCE All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

GLORY IGELLE JOHN.

I, formerly known and addressed as CLEMENT GLORY IGELLE, now wish to be known and addressed as GLORY IGELLE JOHN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEDAYO ADEFEMI KARUNWI

Formerly known and addressed as ADEDAYO ADEFEMI ONAFUWA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEDAYO ADEFEMI KARUNWI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OGUNDIPE ABAYOMI DAVID

Formerly known and addressed as OGUNDIPE ABAYOMI FEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as OGUNDIPE ABAYOMI DAVID. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OGUNLEYE OLUWATOYIN ABIMBOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as BABATOPE OLUWATOYIN ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as NOSIRU KAYODE BAKARE, now wish to be known and addressed as NOSIRU-DEEN SULE BAKARE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OKON ANTHONY

CORRECTION OF NAME:

CHIBUZOR CAPTAIN IHEDIWA

I MICHEAL USIRARE EJORHOBU wishes to notify the authority concern that my correct names are MICHEAL USIRARE EJORHOBU and not EJORHOBU USIRARE. That henceforth my correct name is MICHEAL USIRARE EJORHOBU general public and authority concern take note.

Formerly known and addressed as CHIBUZOR CHRISTOPHER IHEDIWA, now wish to be known and addressed as CHIBUZOR CAPTAIN IHEDIWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

II formerly known as AKPAN ANTHONY TONY now wish to be called and addressed as OKON ANTHONY. Former documents remain valid, general public please take note.

GRACE NICHOLAS OBO. I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. GRACE NICHOLAS UKPONG, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. GRACE NICHOLAS OBO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. BLESSING GIDEON UDOFIA, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. BLESSING JUDE OSAGIE IMHANBOBE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. MIRIAM NCHEDO ADINNU, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. MIRIAM NCHEDO ISIRIMAH. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME. This is to confirm that I, EGHOVEH JAMES SYLVANUS and EGHOVEH JAMES, refer to one and same person but now wish to be known and addressed as, EGHOVEH JAMES SYLVANUS. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

HEZEKIAH BOLATAN OGUNDE I, formerly known, called and addressed as DADA OGUNDE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as HEZEKIAH BOLATAN OGUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly written in my documents as SURAJ AROYEHUN instead of SURAJ AFOLABI AROYEHUN. The correct name is SURAJ AFOLABI AROYEHUN. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLALEYE FUNKE BISOLA. I, formerly known and addressed as AJAYI FUNKE BISOLA now wish to be known and addressed as OLALEYE FUNKE BISOLA. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note OKORIE CHINAZA CORDELIA.

OKORIE: I formerly known and addressed as OKORIE CHINAZOR now wish to be known and addressed as OKORIE CHINAZA CORDELIA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

UDUAK OBONG EKPENE INYANG.

I formerly known and addressed as Uduak Udoh Ekpene, now wish to be known and addressed as UDUAK OBONG EKPENE INYANG. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

BALOGUN TEMITAYO ORIYOMI

I formerly known and addressed as ADEBOYE TEMITAYO ORIYOMI now wish to be known and addressed as BALOGUN TEMITAYO ORIYOMI All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

SHOKUNBI DEBORAH OLUWATOYIN

Formerly known and addressed as OBAFEMI DEBORAH OLUWATOYIN, now wish to be known and addressed as SHOKUNBI DEBORAH OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

FLORENCE AGNES OZIMEDE

Formerly known and addressed as FLORENCE AGNES IROGHAMA AGHAYERE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FLORENCE AGNES OZIMEDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

NWAGU JENNIFER LUCKY OGHENOVO

Formerly known and addressed as MISS. AGEMERIEN JENNIFER LUCKY OGHENOVO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. NWAGU JENNIFER LUCKY OGHENOVO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

This is to inform the general public that my name was wrongly written in my documents as ANYANWU EMEKA JOSEPH instead of ANYANWU EMEKA JOE. The correct name is ANYANWU EMEKA JOE. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BLESSING JUDE OSAGIE IMHANBOBE.

MIRIAM NCHEDO ISIRIMAH

CORRECTION OF NAME

GBADEBO OLUWATOBI OLUWASEUN.

CHIDINMA PRECIOUS UCHE-ONYEABOR

I, formerly known and addressed as GBADEBO OLUWATOBILOBA OLUWASEUN now wish to be known and addressed as GBADEBO OLUWATOBI OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS CHIDINMA PRECIOUS OKEZIE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS CHIDINMA PRECIOUS UCHE-ONYEABOR. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

NWODO MARY IFEOMA

NWANKWO: I formerly known and addressed as MISS NWANKWO MARY IFEOMAnow wish to be known and addressed as MRS. NWODO MARY IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHUKWUZOBA MADUAKOLAM

I formerly known and addressed as CHIZOBA SAMUEL MADUAKONA,, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUZOBA MADUAKOLAM. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OMEJE JUSTINA CHIBUZO.

ONAH: I formerly known and addressed as ONAH JUSTINA CHIBUZO now wish to be known and addressed as OMEJE JUSTINA CHIBUZO. All former documents remain valid. Fidelity Bank and General public please take note.

APATA AKHERE PATIENCE

I formerly known and addressed as MISS UGBO AKHERE PATIENCE now wish to be known and addressed as APATA AKHERE PATIENCE All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

ANAMONYE CHIANU CHRISTY

BALOGUN SAMSON OLUWASHOLA

I formerly known and addressed as AJUMUKA CHRISTY CHIANU now wish to be known and addressed as ANAMONYE CHIANU CHRISTY All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as BELLO OLUWAGBEMIGA AYODEJI now wish to be known and addressed as BALOGUN SAMSON OLUWASHOLA All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

PAITTO ANNAN LORD. Formerly known and addressed as LORD KOBI A. PAITOO, now wish to be known and addressed as PAITTO ANNAN LORD. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as NDUWUBA LOVETH NNE, now wish to be known and addressed as EJIAMA LOVETH NNE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

BADEJO TAWAKALITU AMOKE

Formerly known and addressed as ISIAKA TAWAKALITU AMOKE, now wish to be known and addressed as BADEJO TAWAKALITU AMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

EJIAMA LOVETH NNE.

CORRECTION OF NAME

My name was wrongly written on my BVN as CHARITY EMMANUEL AKPAN instead of CHARITY SYLVESTER ETUKUDO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

GLORIOUS MIND FOUNDATION.

The general public is hereby inform 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.ENGR MORGAN CHANINOMI AKPUMA -PRESIDENT. 2.CAPT. JAMES NNADI -VICE PRESIDENT. 3. MR. IFEANYI UZOIGWE -SECRETARY. 4.MRS. DOROTHY ADAEZE OKAMIGBO -TREASURER. 5.MRS. LILIAN CHIKELU -MEMBER. 6. MR. ONYEKA CYRIL ONYEKACHI -COORDINATOR. 7. HENRY ODIAKOSE -MEMBER. 8.MR. RAYMOND OGAR -MEMBER. 9.ENGR. EMMANUEL .O.ENUANI -MEMBER 10.MR. BERNARD ONOJA -MEMBER. 11.MRS. CHIDINMA.ORUMBA -ASST.SEC. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To help the less privileges. 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

News 23

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Fire guts Nigerian Breweries factory on Christmas day Bonny Amadi

ÏÏÏAs Nigerians and other Chris-

tians across the globe heralded Christmas day, December 25th, marking the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, Nigerian Breweries, Nigerian top alcoholic/none alcoholic beverages manufacturer, was ravaged by inferno.

It was gathered that the bottling section of the brewery plant at Igamu Lagos, was razed on Sunday, Christmas morning ,barely five days to the end of the 2016 financial year, a development which the company has revealed would not retard its operations in any way.

The fire incident which recorded no casualty of death or injury, was stopped from spreading to other de-

partments and buildings by combined team of Lagos state fire fighters, NB fire fighters and volunteer organisations and individuals.

A statement made available to Daily Times from Nigerian Breweries signed by its Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, acknowledged the incident and allayed fear of disruption of operations.

The statement partly read, “There was a fire outbreak today at the empty bottle compound of the Lagos plant of Nigerian Breweries Plc in Iganmu, Lagos” According to the statement, the fire incident which started early in the morning was put off soon after it had started, by men of the Lagos State Fire Service supported by the Brewery fire team and other nearby corporate or-

ganisations.

Nigerian Breweries, while thanking all stakeholders who called in support of the Lagos Brewery following the incident, in the statement revealed that “There were no injuries or fatalities arising from the fire. Only empty bottles, plastic crates and some sections of the bottle holding bay were impacted by the fire. Brewery operations were not disrupted by the incidence.

The brewing company has ten operational breweries from which its products are distributed to all parts of Nigeria, in addition to the malting plants in Aba and Kaduna. Nigerian Breweries also supports operations in Champion Breweries Plc, Uyo. Nigerian breweries was Incorporated in 1946 and its first bottle of beer, STAR Lager, rolled off the bottling

lines of its Lagos brewery in June 1949.

The company, majorly owned by Dutch beer maker, Heineken, ranks amongst top producers of beer across Sub Saharan Africa with popular brands such as Star and Gulder. The company has ten operational breweries from which its products are distributed to all parts of Nigeria, in addition to the malting plants in Aba and Kaduna, in addition to supporting operations in Champion Breweries Plc, Uyo. In November 2015, Nigerian Breweries launched the international brand Strongbow cider which makes it the first in Nigeria to produce and bottle the cider category beverage.

In December 31st 2014, the company completed the merger with Consolidated Breweries Plc which added the three breweries in Ijebu-ode, Awo-

Omama and Makurdi to the company and also with the brands 33 Export Lager, Williams Dark Ale, Turbo King Stout, More Lager, Breezer, Himalt and Maltex, Nigeria’s first malt drink.

In October 2011, Nigerian Breweries acquired majority equity interests in Sona Systems Associates Business Management Limited, (Sona Systems) and Life Breweries Limited from Heineken N.V. This followed Heineken’s acquisition of controlling interests in five breweries in Nigeria from Sona Group in January 2011.

Sona Systems’ two breweries in Ota and Kaduna, and Life Breweries in Onitsha have now become part of Nigerian Breweries Plc, together with the three brands: Goldberg lager, Malta Gold and Life Continental lager.

No power can stop me, Wike warns Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏ The embattled governor

of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, said that no power can bring him down because he is solidly and comfortably rooted in God. Governor Wike spoke at the Rivers State Headquarters of Living Faith Church in Port Harcourt during a Special Christmas Church Service on Sunday .

He was accompanied to the Christmas Church Service by his wife, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike and their children.

The governor said that Rivers State will continue to overcome trials and oppressive tendencies because of God’s grace.

According to him, while other states are battling with economic downturn, Rivers State is operating a Jesus economy, which entails Divine provision and sustenance.

“If God be for us, nobody

can be against us. We have had turbulent times, but we have always come out victorious.

This state is a Christian State. Therefore, we shall continue to collaborate with the Church”, the governor said.

He said that the State Government would support schools owned by Churches with grants adding that the ongoing construction of the State Ecumenical Centre would be completed by May, 2017.

He noted that the Church stood by him right from the campaign period till date, when he is transforming the state.

The governor called on the Church to continue praying for his administration for God’s protection and wisdom.

In his sermon, Resident Pastor of Living Faith Church, Rivers State Headquarters, Pastor Peter Ogbondemin, said that Christmas is relevant because Jesus Christ came to restore Divine presence to man.

R-L: Representative of Rivers State Governor, Hon Engr Chukwuemeka Woke in a handshake with chairman, Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs, Chief Dr. Sunday K. A. T Kalaowolo (JP), at the unveiling of monument and banquet of the legend, King Ibanichuka (ADO VI) Amanyanabo of Okrika in Okrika … at the weekend.

Fayose promotes 15, 772 workers as end of year gift Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

ÏÏÏEkiti State Governor, Ayo

Fayose, has promoted no fewer than 15, 772 workers cutting across the local government, teaching service and the core civil service in the State.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, and made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sunday stated that Fayose approved the mass promotion at a meeting held with labour union leaders and top civil servants in Ado-Ekiti.

The beneficiaries who are those whose promotions were due in 2012, 2013 and 2014, were to be given the letters of promotion immediately on the order of the governor while the cash- backing for the promotions would be effective as from March 2017.

Adelusi quoted the governor as saying that though the state is grappling with economic challenges, that should not hinder the recognition of hard work and diligence of those serving thestate.

“We won’t deny our workers their dues and entitlements economic recession or no economic recession. As leaders of the state, we must be fair to all and that is what we are doing. Our administration is resolute in giving the best to all Ekiti people, including those in the public service,” the statement noted.

It further said,”This month, we have paid two salaries. We are paying Christmas bonus after the holiday. We deliberately spaced that one out so that after Christmas holiday, workers will get that in their accounts.”

The document said that in 2017,

“we made provision for the fencing of the State Secretariat and provision of furniture to make our working places look better. I appreciate the support of workers and I want them to also know that to whom much is given, much is expected.

They should put more efforts and continue to support the government,” he said.

The Vice Chairman, Ekiti State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Adeniyi.

Olugbenga, described the gesture as unprecedented in the history of the state.

“If you look at the figure of those affected, you will appreciate what the governor has done. The backlog of promotion was not created by this administration, but Governor Ayodele Fayose has done the needful. Some people would have hid under the guise of economic recession

not to approve the exercise, but he did not. Kudos to him,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the State President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Bunmi Ajimoko, said Governor Fayose is truly a friend of workers.

“Some detractors would say he is still owing us some salaries, yes, but we know the number of months he is owing and he has promised not to leave any salary unpaid before leaving office. What about some states where workers are paid percentages of their salaries? How will they calculate how much they are being owed? When will they be paid?

“This singular gesture is going to touch a large percentage of workers in the state and when you look at the cost implications, you are bound to thank the governor in this austere period,” he noted.

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Customs intercepts truck loaded with frozen products, rice Joy Anyim

ÎÎÎ

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone A, has intercepted two Dangote cement trucks loaded with frozen poultry products, bags of rice, vegetable oil and four containers loaded with second hand clothing all put at a duty paid value of three hundred and twenty five million, five hundred and thirty thousand, Eighty five Naira only.

The Controller of the Zone, Comptroller Haruna Mamudu who made this disclosure while briefing news men at a maiden press briefing in Lagos stated that about 120 different seizures

were made between 25th October when he took over leadership of the zone and November 2016, with 77 suspects arrested in connection with the seizures.

Information revealed that the trucks which were intercepted at Idiroko and Papalanto in Ogun State were seized based on information received from good spirited members of the public and swift action taken by men of the zone.

The seizures were said to also include smuggled vehicles, various general merchandise and one thousand three hundred parcels of Indian helm which have been handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement

Agency with three suspects - Itobo Egebe, Munirudeen Ekumopali and Aremu Hameed for further investigation and prosecution.

While commenting on the other successes of the zone in line with the operational duties of the NCS, Comptroller Haruna further disclosed that six warehouses in Lagos have been sealed up for contravening the laws.

He said: “ You will recall that since I took over here, we have also intensified our operations at various bonded terminals/warehouses to ensure compliance to the extent laws. To this end, about six warehouses in Lagos that have contravened the laws are under Customs seal

pending thorough investigation. “ Similarly, the zone also recovered Two Hundred and Eighty six million, six Hundred and twenty three thousand, Eight Hundred and fifty three Naira only from duty payments primarily from vehicles and general goods.

The Comptroller explained that the amount recovered was “from duty payments and demand notices on vehicles and other general goods that tried to beat the system from seaports, airports and border stations in the guise of false declaration, transfer of value, and shortchange in duty payment that are meant for the federal government of Nigeria, making a cumu-

lative of six hundred and Eleven million, six hundred and seventy six thousand, nine hundred and thirty eight naira only.”

While calling for more public support in the fight against smuggling, the Controller warned smugglers to desist form their nefarious activities as the zone was all out to make the illegal activity unattractive especially in the yuletide.

He said. “you will agree with me that smuggling is a global phenomenon, which cannot be curbed entirely but can be brought to its barest minimum. Let me use this opportunity to praise the commitment and diligence of the officers and men of the FOU

Luggage: Medview dispatches aircraft to, London

Women tasked on human rights

Tom Garba, Yola

ÎÎÎ

Women in Nigerian and the world at large have been urged to take their responsibilities seriously as they are the custodians of culture.

The Deputy Speaker Adamawa House of Assembly Hon. Sunday Peter, Member representing Guyuk Constituency) made the call when Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, in partnership with the Protection Sector Working Group (PSWG) UN Women, UNFPA, OCHA, UNHCR conducted an advocacy march to the Adamawa House of Assembly on equal opportunities bill, Child Rights Act and Violence Against Person’s Prohibition Bill.

According to him, without women, there cannot be development, ‘If we don’t carry women along our work here in the assembly amounts to nothing’.

The Deputy speaker promised that in 2017, the House will look into the three Bills and ensure that by the end of 2017, the gender bills will be passed.

Earlier, the Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs Hon. Aliyu Tola Bello disclosed that they have decided to come out because in September, this year, world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly at the “Global Leaders Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: A commitment to Action,” made concrete commitments andfirm pledges in order close the gender equality gaps.

A for thwarting the antics of dare devil smugglers. Like Oliver Twist, I believe we have what it takes to do better and therefore I call on all officers and men of the Service and the general public to join us in the fight against smuggling considering the economic diversification effort of the Federal government which is for the good and wellbeing of all Nigerians.

“I advise those economic saboteurs who see yuletide season as a peak period for their nefarious acts to desist from such illegal business as the Unit has devised other tactical strategies that will make them run for their monies and count their loses.”

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÎÎÎ

L-R: Administrator, Boom for Good Foundation (BFGF), Ms. Kate Alaneme-Douglas; Host, BFGF/ Father of the late Temi Braithwaite, Mr. Des Braithwaite; chairman, BFGF, Dr. Pamela Ajayi; Managing Director/CEO, Keystone Bank, Mr. Phillip Ikeazor and mother of the late Temi Braithwaite, Mrs. Ajoke Braithwaite, during the 2nd memorial anniversary of Temi, who died of meningitis in Lagos…at the weekend.

Task Force arrests Togolese land grabber, three others in Lagos Joy Anyim

ÎÎÎ

A 16 year old Togolesse, Segun Sunday has been arrested by the Lagos State Government Task Force for his notorious involvement in land grabbing activities in the Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.

The suspect who was arrested alongside three others - Ben Micheal, 31, Segun Muda 58 and Toheeb Oladele 20, were arrested with two locally made pistols amongst other dangerous weapons.

The Daily Times gathered that the arrest of the four suspects was sequel to a petition submitted to the Lagos State Committee on Land Grabbers by the people of Oko-Olomi Golf Course area of Ibejulekki, Lagos.

The petition which was subsequently copied to Lagos State Police Command was directed to the Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force SP Olayinka Egbeyemi for immediate action.

SP Olayinka Egbeyemi

who led the operatives of the Agency stormed the area yesterday and arrested the 4 notorious land grabbers in whose possession 2 locally made Pistol were recovered.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr Fatai Owoseni after being well briefed about the arrest directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Lagos for further interrogations.

“I am using this oppor-

tunity to urge members of the public to report any activities of land grabbers to the Lagos State Committee on Land Grabbers.

The war on the activities of land grabbers is still on-going and we will not relent in our effort to make our society a better place. “ While their group leader Mr. Segun Muda refused to say anything others made a passionate appeal to the government for forgiveness. They also disclosed it was a cartel.

Med-View Airline yesterday dispatched special flight to London to bring back to Lagos left over baggage following the earlier inability of Gatwick Airport authorities to screen them.

In a statement, the airline expressed regret over the development, saying the Gatwick Airport had on arrival of the aircraft said it had no capacity to screen the baggage as only a handful of its workforce was on duty because of the holidays.

The airline said it regretted the inconveniences caused the affected passengers whose left over baggage are still in London by this “unhealthy” development.

“We thought by Sunday we would have resolved the left over baggage issue if not for Gatwick Airport authorities”, the airline Chief Operating Officer (COO/AM) Engineer Lookman Animashaun said.

Animashaun said another flight would be leaving for London today (Monday) to bring back home the left over baggage, and appealed to the affected passengers for their understanding.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Gbenga Daniel calls for peace at Christmas ÏÏÏImmediate past governor of

Ogun State and Asiwaju of Remo Christians, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has urged Nigerians to use the occasion of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ to offer special prayers for peace to reign in the country and the world at large.

Daniel, who stated this in his Christmas message to the people, tasked both Christians and Muslims to rededicate themselves to love, peace, unity, equity and justice to further strengthen their spiritual confrontation of the ills plaguing the society.

According to him in a statement signed by his media aid, Ayo-Giwa, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of God’s great love for humanity. He therefore called on Christians to remain committed to the spirit of the season.

“We must remain committed to the worthy ideals of the season and spread the joy of God to others, irrespective of their religion affiliations.”

“Despite myriad of challenges facing us as a nation in poverty, diseases, crimes, violence and insurgency, our continued existence as a nation was a great testimony that God is still with Nigeria and will continue to protect us the more if we come closer to him,” he stated.

He also urged Christians to “celebrate the season with prudence and remember the less privileged as it is a season of humility, goodwill and selflessness as taught by the scriptures.”

The celebration, he said, must be observed with moderation and care for fellow citizens as we join others in recognising the renewed hope and reaffirmation of God’s great love for the people of the world and Nigerians in particular.

Lagos to be 3rd largest economy in Africa -Ambode Benjamin Omoike

ÏÏÏLagos state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, weekend, said one of his administration’s objectives is to propel the State from being the fifth to becoming the third largest economy in Africa.

To achieve this, Ambode said the state government would focus more on education (especially vocational training), scaling up of its health facilities, including renewal and building of world class infrastructure in 2017.

Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Christmas Eve Dance organised by the Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan, said he remains committed to making the state globally competitive, adding that by virtue of its indices, Lagos has become a major City-State in the world.

Lagos, he noted, is currently home to 65 per cent of Nigeria’s businesses, with a presence of over 2,000 manufacturing companies, 200 financial institutions and the largest collection of small and medium enterprises in Africa.

The governor added that with an estimated population of about 24 million people, over 15.2 million are within the ages of 15 and 64 years, which positions the state as having the largest share of working population in subSaharan Africa.

“We are Africa’s fastest growing market and still the 5th largest economy in Africa with a GDP of $91billion. The drop in our GDP value from $131billion is as a result of the fluctuation in foreign exchange but our ultimate goal is to grow our GDP to move

Bishop Nwokolo tasks Christians to be Godly Alphonsus Nweze

ÏÏÏ The Bishop, Diocese on the

Niger, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Owen Nwokolo, has challenged Christians to develop positive attitude towards God and their fellow mankind. Bishop Nwokolo was speaking yesterday in sermon during the Christmas service at the All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State.

The Bishop said for any Christian to be part of the kingdom, he or she must live an upright life, stressing that “today, we are celebrating God’s love to mankind. Christmas is a celebration of God’s love to humanity. We should translate that love to our people. Don’t backbite, don’t destroy people because you can do that, run away from envy, bitterness, grudge and embrace the life of Christ as shown by this season.”

Alluding to the prevailing economic recession, Bishop Nwokolo urged Christians not allow the prevailing economic situation in the country to affect their belief in Christ Jesus, which is the reason for the season, saying that recession or hardship has nothing to do with living our Christian lives.

The Sub-dean, All Saints Cathedral, Ven. Obiora Uzochukwu, on his part, said Christmas is a period of joy, when our hope in God was being renewed. He urged Christians to pray for the nation and the resuscitation of the economy, saying “Christians in this period should pray hard, work hard, invest in agriculture, buy made in Nigeria goods, don’t be idle, don’t be lazy, live in the fear of God,” among other things

Chairman, Ijebu-North Local Government, Hon. Adebayo Adekoya (left) in a handshake with General Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, during a crusade in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State… at the weekend.

Wike wants Okrika chiefs to reconcile Amaka Agbu, Port Harcourt

ÏÏÏRivers

from fifth to third largest in Africa,” Governor Ambode said.

The governor also restated his commitment to deliver a Lagos that is safe, clean and prosperous as well as a city that works for all regardless of race, religion or gender.

The governor, while congratulating the club on its 90th year anniversary, also thanked members for the massive support given to his administration during the outgoing year.

Also speaking at the Christmas Eve Dance of the Island Club, Governor Ambode expressed optimism that with the Y2017 “Golden Jubilee” Budget currently undergoing consideration by the House of Assembly, the State was adequately positioned to record milestone developments in the coming year.

25 News

State Governor Nyesom Wike has appealed for peace among the traditional rulers and chiefs in Okrika area of the state.

The governor stated this at the unveiling of a monument and banquet of the legend, King Ibanichuka (ADO VI) Amanyanabo of Okrika between 1816-1896, the last of Okrika’s sovereign rulers.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Engr Chukwuemeka Woke, the governor urged the Okrika chiefs to resolve their differences so they could take their rightful place in the state.

Governor Wike also said his administration believes that the role of the traditional institution could not be over emphasized with re-

spect to governance.

He said: “Permit me to join the chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council to make an appeal for peace. I am here to say that the Rivers State Traditional Council is missing its very important branch.

“Whatever is the disagreement, please work towards making peace, so that this Kingdom gets a representative in the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council.

“The role of traditional rulers in the promotion of good governance cannot be over-emphasised. Therefore, the present administration will continue to promote a robust relationship with traditional rulers.”

On the achievements of King Ibanichuka VI, Governor Wike said

practically all that was said about King Ibanichuka is what his administration is doing by providing amenities, facilitating commerce, and protecting integrity of the kingdoms.

He said: “So it is in the understanding of this that the present administration enjoys a robust relationship with the Rivers State Traditional Council. We have provided every logistic support that is required to ensure the full functioning of the council.”

The occasion was graced by traditional rulers from different parts of the state. Chairman of the Rivers State Traditional Council, King Dandeson Jaja, the Amanyanabo of Opobo, also sued for peace amongst the Okrika Chiefs.

FG urged to re-introduce price control

Femi Ganiyu

ÏÏÏ

The Federal Government has been told to re-introduce price control board in the country, so as to manage commodity prices, especially against the backdrop of the spiral inflation threatening the economy.

According to a computer expert, Chief Livinus Okwara, while speaking in Lagos on Thursday, on the urgent need to curtail price instability and high cost of living, he said that the re-introduction of price control board, with the objective of managing the commodity prices and other essential goods, similar to what obtained in the 1960s up to the early 80’s, would significantly add value to the economy in line with the change mantra of the All Progressives Congress, APC-led administration of President

Muhammau Buhari.

He said that the general hike in prices of goods and services in the economy was “An unacceptable face of capitalism”, which has consequently led to the disarticulation of the economy; and exacerbated poverty, want and disease, particularly among the very poor people of the country.

He said apart from establishing the board, a new monitoring template should also be put on the ground to checkmate fraudsters from scuttling it.

He said the modalities for managing the board should include, appointing credible farmers, associations, security agencies, Central Bank of Nigeria, or its agents, other financial institutions, with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture becoming its regulator.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Features

s

Poor electricity supply, recession take shine off Christmas

Olodi Apapa community

Efodigbue Blessing This year’s Christmas was celebrated across the country with fanfare. However, while the celebration lasted, cries of poor sales, scarcity of funds, and, in particular, poor electricity supply marred the celebration.

In Lagos, Oyo, Kano, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Abuja and elsewhere in the country, inadequate power supply by the Distribution companies, gave Nigerians high blood pressure, as darkness enveloped the states, while refrigerators and other uses to which electricity demanded, were hampered.

In Lagos, the challenge posed by poor popwer supply or lack of it, impacted social life and economic activities, negatively givibg residents so much concern.

For example, Olodi Apapa area of the state, was one of the worst hit by poor electricity supply.

Indeed, Olodi Apapa, Ajegunle, a sprawling community in Lagos State, is known to many people for its social activities.

Over the years, the area had nurtured several artistes, including Daddy Shock-

ey, Fada U-turn and Daddy Fresh, to local and international reckoning.

That community, which plays host to cultures from all works of life, including the Yorubas, Igbos, Edos and Hausas, is always a beauty to behold.

However, this year was a different experience for the people, as poor electricity supply, high cost of living and, indeed, recession, took shines of the area.

To say the least, these were not the best of times for the residents of Olodi Apapa, as people complained about how they could not keep the streets alive with Christmas songs because of lack of electricity, high costs of petrol and food to meet their needs during the Yuletide.

According to Bright Wilkie, in the past, people got rice in abundance in the area because most of the people around the area works at Apapa Wharf, Tin Can area; and after discharging rice, you could get plenty of rice with prices ranging from N1500 per bag, to N2000 per bag; but now, even those working there cannot afford the high cost of a bag of rice, which now ranges between N20,000.00- N22,000.00.

It was observed that, unlike before when Christmas Carnivals took over

the streets, and decorations were everywhere, making people felt happy, there were only a few of such things this time around. Most streets in the community were in total darkness, as public electricity supply, it was learnt, had been poor for weeks.

In fact, most people stayed indoors, except a few youths who were out in the streets enjoying themselves.

This is why, Mrs. Bose Adinebo, complained that now she used grinding stone to grind her tomatoes and pepper instead of the usual grinding machine she was used to, a development, she said, was due to the high grinding charges, which used to be #30 before, but is now #70.

She added that, her business was also affected by the high price of virtually everything in the market, which is why she found it challenging to buy Christmas clothes for her children, unlike in the past, when she used to purchase as much as her children needed.

At Kumuyi street, where Ibrahim Babatunde lives, he said that, “before by this time in our area, guys would buy goats and kill them to celebrate Christmas. Thereafter, sounds of music and

knockouts would be all over the place; but now, nobody is doing that because everyone is struggling to survive.”

He said that, just a few people looked excited about Christmas, because people of the community were busy running around to make ends meet, as well as prepare for the New Year.

Alhaja Salimat Afisat, on her part, said that despite the fact that she is a Muslim, people never knew that because of the way she used to celebrate Christmas in the past even with non-Muslims, every year, but now, she regretted that, there was no money to do that. She said, there were no “arrangements, no Christmas carol, no street jazz, no street decorations.”

She said, “I can’t even afford to buy food stuffs in my house not to talk of Christmas clothes for my children.”

Mrs. Grace Ayoda said unlike before, when the streets in Olodi Apapa were agog with celebrations, with children, who were dressed in beautiful clothes, adding colour to the streets, there was not much that was noticeable this time around, even with the approach of the New Year.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

27 Interview

Buhari’s ‘change begins with me’ is dead -NIPR Chairman Mr. Olusegun Mcmedal, the Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Lagos State Chapter, in this interview with FEMI GANIYU and LADESOPE LADELOKUN, says President Muhammadu Buhari’s image-building campaign has no mass appeal. Excerpts

What is the mandate of NIPR? The mandate of the institute is very simple. NIPR was established in 1963.

The law establishing it mandates us to regulate the practice and direct the development of public relations as a profession in Nigeria; and, among others, to establish, prescribe and ensure the observance of high standards of professional and ethical practice.

Image making, branding are critical to organizations.How should organizations manage their image?

Very true. If you are not developed,you are developing.The polarity is very clear.

And all the indices that go with it.First of all,I need to establish that public relations is all about telling the truth. And of course, say it the way it is.Having that at the back of your mind, I think that will set the pace.

Now, for every well meaning person, the whole idea is centred on the vision of the leadership.The vision of the leadership will drive everything and the strategy that carries all the stakeholders and get a wholesome image. A company will try to attract the the best minds, once you have the best minds and you are able to articulate your vision to these minds,you are on the way to having a positive image; and of course, the brand touch point. The places where you have your event can either up your image or bring it down.

Having said that, and bearing in mind that communication is supposed to drive everything, you cannot be at the helm of affairs and not be able to articulate the vision of the organization.Once you are able to articulate the vision, then, you can drive every other thing. So,what you say, how you say it, where you say it,they all add up to give you that image.

If you are someone who is just starting and people don’t know your pedigree,one of the fastest ways to actually arrive to have that image is to leverage people who are already known.People who already have pedigree that you like, just make sure you parley-parley with them. Of course, you can leverage on their image to build your own.

The human factor is critical to an organisation’s image.What specific role should workers in the organization play, how do they key into the vision of the leadership?

It’s very easy. The leadership of any organistaion should have a mission and a vision.Your mission and vision should be written down.That’s why you see that sometimes, a company has downsized because the people asked to go are not the kind of people they want; and don’t be surprised that that same company, in the next one or two months, will start recruiting another batch. If you don’t have KPI, there is no justification to ask you to leave.

Every worker is supposed to have KPI. It varies from worker to worker. For every job role, there must be evaluation.And

Mcmeda

there is a benchmark,most times,it’s about 70%, and if they are lenient, it may be 60% or so. So, once you score above,you are doing well,but if you score less , then, you have issues to face.They may give you time to make up. For some companies, they do it every quarter. For some, it’s every six months; while for some, it’s every year.

Research has shown that most Nigerian companies don’t last more than ten years; is it as a result of the fact that the company is woven around the leadership, or the leadership is bereft of ideas; what’s your reaction to this?

First of all,that statistics is changing. If you say start-ups,they are different.The average lifespan is about five to ten years.

But, normal structured companies last longer. Most of the businesses die because entrepreneurs don’t have ideas’ and the ‘‘me too’’ syndrome does not help.

Structured companies last longer, because, they have their vision and mission; and the management cascade it down to the employees which they buy into.

As a PR practitioner,what would you be telling your clients who are facing challenges in this recession?What would you be telling them about how to manage their companies?

There is a general notion that if a country or a company is facing a recession,the general trend is that people will try to downsize or cut salaries,they will look for measures to reduce their overheads.There is merit in that.But there are companies that will not do that.

What we are experiencing is because government has reduced its spending habit. And, that is why the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is advising government to pay contractors.To answer your

He went abroad to say Nigerians are corrupt. Those are the issues we need to get right.We don’t know where we are going. There is no blueprint to drive the economy. Everything they are doing is reactionary.

question,there is what is called niche market.You don’t play in all the markets; if you are known for something, do your best in that sector.

I would advise that at this time, stay in the niche market. Create your niche market and establish yourself. People who are in the niche market can’t complain because they know them.They know all the stakeholders involved. And, there is also wisdom in cutting down on your expenses.

This this is the time to talk more, advertise more, communicate more and spend more on PR. What is the convergence between PR and advertising ?

PR creates the market for advertisers.

You don’t buy things if youdon’t know about them. PR and advertisers are communicating to sell, but we are communicating to get mutual understanding.We are partners. Let’s assume that you want to buy a phone, you know it comes in a pack,all the information on how to use it and every other information on it, is PR.That’s how we work.That’s the convergence.

The current government came on the mantra of change.Over the last 18 months,there have been a lot of issues and shocks concerning the image of the FG. What do you think the government has done right or wrong in the last 18 months,what would you do as a PR man, do better than those at the helms of affairs?

To be honest, some good things are happening.People resist change naturally.You see, Nigerians are set in a particular way before that we need to be checked. It is that checking that is going on now. It was on that mantra of change that Nigerians bought into.

Apart from Treasury Single Account, TSA, not much has actually happened under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

Government should be more proactive.

Now, look at Donald Trump, he has not been inaugurated as the US President; and in about a month after being declared as the winner of the election, he has chosen close to ten appointees. Unlike here in Nigeria, 6 months into the government and there was no ministerial appointments.

This goes to show you that he (Buhari) is not fully prepared. It’s like he didn’t know that he was going to win the last Presidential election.

On the part of communication, they are not talking enough.We are not seeing anything.Although, recently, he’s tried with the town hall meeting and ‘changebegins-with-me’, but, that is dead now.

Now, he’s talking less. Before now, he was unguarded in his comments. He went abroad to say Nigerians are corrupt.

Those are the issues we need to get right.

We don’t know where we are going.There is no blueprint to drive the economy. Everything they are doing is reactionary.

Foreign 28 North Korea defiant over nuclear weapons build up ÎÎÎ

Undeterred by international rebukes and increased sanctions in 2016, North Korea set forth to advance and legitimize its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

However, the county is said to have paused suddenly, most likely to assess unexpected political changes underway in the United States and South Korea.

North Korea began the year with a powerful nuclear bomb blast in January that caused a magnitude 5.1 earthquake. The state-controlled news organization KCNA claimed the military had successfully tested a miniaturized thermonuclear hydrogen bomb 100 times more powerful than past weapons tested.

But some analysts were skeptical. An examination of air samples and seismic data indicated the explosion was not powerful enough to be an H-bomb, and was more likely a conventional nuclear bomb made with enhanced fuels.

The nuclear test ended a brief period of inter-Korean cooperation during which the North and South arranged a rare reunion for families separated by decades of division and considered other types of nonpolitical exchanges.

With the January test, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was setting a new, uncompromising and defiant tone, openly declaring his intention to force the world to accept his country as a nuclear state, and rejecting U.N. Security Council resolutions banning the North’s nuclear and missile programs.

Regional security analyst Daniel Pinkston said that beyond the existential threat to the world posed by permitting the unpredictable and repressive North Korean state to possess these weapons of mass destruction, acquiescing to Pyongyang’s demand to withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty it signed in the 1980s could also spark a new global arms race.

“If other states were to look at this and say, ‘Well, we can do that as well. There are no costs to nuclear breakout.

We would like to acquire our nuclear deterrence as well, because it’s basically costless,’ I think that makes the world a much more dangerous place,” said Pinkston, a lecturer in international relations at Troy University in Seoul.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Christmas in Philippines marred by typhoon ÎÎÎ

A powerful typhoon has disrupted Christmas festivities in the eastern Philippines, forcing tens of thousands of people to set aside their holiday celebrations and head to shelters.

The weather service in Manila says Typhoon Nock-Ten struck Sunday evening on the remote island of Catanduanes with wind gusts of up to 255 kilometers per hour. No casualties were immediately been reported.

As many as 200,000 people were under evacuation orders, but officials say it has been difficult to get them to leave their homes because of the Christmas holiday, which is a major

Rodrigo Duterte celebration in the largely Roman Catholic nation.

One governor resorted to enticing people by promising that the shelters would be serving “lechon,” a roast pig Christmas delica-

cy. Governor Villafuerte of Camarines Sur, which is in the typhoon’s path, tweeted “I know it’s Christmas but this is a legit typhoon Please evacuate, we’ll be having lechon at evacua-

tion centers.”

The Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported more than 11,000 ship passengers and more than 1,000 cargo ships were waiting out the storm in various ports. Heavy rains and strong winds have been battering the Bicol peninsula where the storm came ashore.

Nock-Ten is expected to move westward, reaching densely populated areas of the Philippines, including the capital, Manila, in the coming hours through Monday.

Welfare official Felinio Castro told the Associated Press, “It’s difficult to force celebrations when our

Russian military best choir members’ among air crash victims ÎÎÎMourners gathered Sun-

day outside the Moscow headquarters of the Alexandrov Ensemble to honor the victims of a plane crash that killed 94 people including 60 male members of the ensemble, better known internationally as the Red Army Choir.

The official choir of the Russian armed forces was on its way to an air base in Syria to entertain troops celebrating the New Year.

“Today we are in the shock of the catastrophe in which our [colleagues] of the Alexandrov Choirs and Dances disappeared,” said Gen. Viktor Eliseev, conductor and director of the Red Army Choir.

Founded in 1929 by prominent composer Aleksandr V. Aleksandrov, the choir had its origins during the Soviet era and today consists of an orchestra, dance ensemble and choir.

The New York Times re-

ported that Aleksandrov’s grandson, Yevgeny, told a Russian news website that “the best members of the ensemble died.”

“All the best soloists, the whole choir,” he said. “Everything will collapse now, the best ones are gone.”

Reports said Viktor Yeliseyev, head of a rival choir representing the Russian National Guard, said “most singers of the choir have died.’’

The military choir is one of two Russian orchestras allowed to use the tittle “Red Army Choir,” the New York Times said.

According to the choir’s official website, Eliseev has conducted the ensemble in at least 7,000 performances for 20 million people in more than 50 countries, including famous concert halls in China, Japan, Korea, Australia, Germany and France.

FILE - This photo taken on

Russian military best choir Oct. 23, 2015 shows the official army choir of the Russian armed forces, also known as the Alexandrov Ensemble, standing while the choir Conductor General Viktor Eliseev (R) arrives onstage at the Palais des Sports in Paris.

FILE - This photo taken on Oct. 23, 2015 shows the official army choir of the Russian armed forces, also known as

the Alexandrov Ensemble, standing while the choir Conductor General Viktor Eliseev (R) arrives onstage at the Palais des Sports in Paris.

The ensemble has a military body of 400 artists including musicians, singers and dancers, of whom 50 have received the supreme title of Emeritus Artist of Russia, the website reports.

War, terror concern to world leaders at Christmas ÎÎÎPope

Francis offered a Christmas Day wish for peace to a world scarred by wars and the threat of terrorism.

Speaking from the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Francis spoke of those suffering through the Syrian war, especially in the “most awful battles” in Aleppo, and urged the international community to find a negotiated solution to the conflict.

Addressing tens of thousands who had gathered in Saint Peter’s Square for his

annual “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) address, Francis said that terrorism is sowing “fear and death” in cities and countries around the world.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual leader of the Church of England and the global communion of 85 million Anglican Christians, sounded a similar note in addressing the anxiety many are feeling around the world.

In a statement prepared for

delivery in London later Sunday, he said, “The end of 2016 finds us all in a different kind of world; one less predictable and certain, which feels more awash with fear and division.”

Security forces were deployed near churches and cathedrals across Europe, on high alert amid warnings that Islamist terrorists might be planning attacks on Christians as they mark their religion’s most popular festival.

Elsewhere, Christians car-

Pope Francis ried out traditional rituals marking the day on which they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, whom they worship as the son of God.

lives will be put at risk.”

He urged people to “prioritize safety and take heed of warnings by local government units.”

The Philippines has a history of typhoons striking near the end of the year. In November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan plowed into the Philippines as one of the most deadly tropical cyclones on record. Also known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda, the storm killed 7,800 people according to national emergency management officials.

The Philippines’ weather agency says seven Christmas Day typhoons have struck the nation over the past 65 years.

Iraqi Christians return home for Christmas Eve mass As Christians around the world prepared to celebrate the religious holiday, several hundred Iraqi Christians were celebrating Christmas Eve Mass in their hometown near Mosul as both a sign of hope and defiance.

Once home to thousands of Assyrian Christians, Bartella, on the outskirts of Mosul in Nineveh province, fell to Islamic State (IS) militants in August 2014.

IS ransacked the Mar Shimoni church, destroying crosses and removing religious icons and other fixtures, before setting it alight.

Iraqi forces freed Bartella in October as part of an ongoing campaign to liberate nearby Mosul.

But residents have not been able to return; much of the town has been destroyed in recent fighting, and basic services are lacking. The militants also planted bombs in the city.

Worshippers were bused to the town from the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital of Irbil, where they have been living.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

29

NPFL

kicks off Jan.14

T

he League Management Company (LMC) has announced that the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League will commence on January 14, 2017.

In a statement, the LMC confirmed the kick off date and incentives for the new NPFL season after it congress with Kano Pillars hosting FC Ifeanyiubah in the only opening match of the season.

“The AGM endorsed January 15 kickoff date and July conclusion date for

the 2016/17 NPFL season with Kano Pillars versus FC Ifeanyiubah on January 14,” said the LMC. “LMC also announced that the AGM also endorsed incentives to NPFL clubs as proposed by the LMC board in the 2017 budget.

“NPFL Clubs stand to receive N500, 000 for each away win, N200, 000 for away draws as well as N250, 000 for attracting over 5,000 fans at home games.

Page 30

“The NPFL clubs will also be paid N200,000 monthly for stadium maintenance, N100,000 for dressing three U-18 youth players in a matchday and one playing 15 minutes, plus N200,000 for dressing three U-18 youth players in a matchday with one playing at least 45 minutes.”

It further announced plans to organise a male age-grade football league among teams in the top flight league in partnership with the Spanish’s La Liga. LMC boss, Shehu Dikko.

Monday, December 26, 2016

N

igeria will feature alongside Ghana, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago and the hosts Bahamas in the male event of the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games.

Beach Soccer will feature for the first time at the age-grade global sports event with hosts, Ghana, Cook Islands, St Kitts & Nevis, South Africa and Turks & Caicos in the female event.

“We’re thrilled to unveil the Commonwealth nations and territories teams invited to compete in one of the world’s greatest international multi-sport competitions for young athletes,” said Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation, David Grevemberg.

“We’re especially pleased to be making history by presenting the first ever Beach Volleyball and Beach Soccer tournaments at a Commonwealth Youth Games, which – alongside Rugby Sevens – will field an equal number of men’s and women’s teams as part of our continued commitment to sporting equality.”

Commenting on the inclusion of the sport, Joan Cusco, CEO of FIFA Beach Soccer said: “The beach soccer family is really happy and proud to take part, for the first time, in such a special event as the Commonwealth Youth Games, which will take place at the home of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017.

Supersand Eagles line up before a match.

Bahamas 2017:

Nigeria,others to feature in

Beach Soccer

Pillar of Sports,

Cleric floats football club, solicits support to progress Ejidike prays for peace!

A

cleric, Rev.Fr. Livinus Obijiofor, who floated and nurtured an amateur football club to the Nigerian National League (NNL) Division Three, has solicited for the funding of the team to progress further.

Obijiofor, who is the Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Kpirikpiri in Abakaliki and proprietor of Altar Night FC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that the club qualified from the non-league play-offs in Edo. “I am the sole sponsor of the club and only receive assistance from sports loving parishioners, including well-wishers.

“That is the reason we are creating awareness for the

club as life in the NNL is tougher than the one in nonleague cadre.

“We are therefore soliciting for support from the public and private sector to ensure that the team competes favourably in the NNL and bring glory to the state,” he said.

He regretted the absence of a top football club in Ebonyi, noting that his club could have gained more if such clubs existed in the state.

“State governments and private investors should realize that big clubs serve as sources of motivation to smaller ones such as ours.

“They could serve as launching pads for players in clubs to express their talents

at the big stage and become international figures, such as Mikel Obi, Kanu Nwankwo, among others,” he said.

According to him, his players are young, aged from 18 to25, and that the team has produced players currently playing for clubs across the country.

“One of our players underwent trials with a club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently as we hope to produce more stars to represent the state and country,” he said.

Obijiofor stated that the club was formed in 2007 when he assumed the leadership of the parish adding that it had metamorphosed from a team of ‘mass-servants, to its present status.

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

N

igeria’s Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike, has sent a message of hope and peace to the people of Nigeria as Christmas and New Year is being celebrated in the face of economic crunch and recession.

Ejidike in a yuletide statement said that “we need to give thanks to God in all situations, though year 2016 is marked with a lot of challenges; however, we take solace in God who kept us together as a nation.”

The sports philanthropist assured that Nigeria will survive all vicissitudes and overcome all the challenges bedeviling it.

He further urged Nigerians to follow the path of peace in this yuletide by shunning all forms of violence even in the face of slighted provocation and pray for a prosperous new year.

Ejidike who also doubles as the National President of Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN) particularly commended sportsmen and women who excelled in the 2016 and urged them to exhibit more confidence and win more laurels in year 2017.

He lauded President Mohammadu Buhari for his untiring effort towards making Nigeria great, even as he called on citizens to support his anti-corruption agenda.

Ejidike

Monday, December 26, 2016

EXTRATIME

31

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE…ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE…ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE…

Defoe

‘ priceless to Sunderland’

David Moyes insists Sunderland will not sell Jermain Defoe in January as the “priceless” forward represents his side’s best chance of staying in the Premier League. The 34-year-old has been huge success for the Black Cats since joining from Toronto FC in 2015 following a short stint in Major League Soccer and has scored 30 goals in 68 matches. It is understood that West Ham are interested in re-signing their former player in the new year as they look to bolster their striking options following an injury to Diafra Sakho.

Klopp talks up Liverpool´s title chances

Liverpool have the squad to claim a first Premier League trophy this season, says Jurgen Klopp. The Reds have not been champions of England since 1990, two years before the Premier League was launched.

Under previous managers they have challenged for the title but have always fallen short - most recently in 201314 under Brendan Rodgers when Manchester City finished two points clear of Liverpool.

Ibrahimovic will end career at United — Mourinho D

espite the lures of the lucrative MLS and Chinese Super League, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said evergreen striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will bow out of the game at Old Trafford.

At 35 years of age, Ibrahimovic has shown he still has plenty of football left in the tank with the former Sweden captain United’s top scorer this season having netted 16 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions, 11 of those coming in

Klopp loving life

at Liverpool Guardiola vows to crush Hull J Pep Guardiola has vowed to crush ambitious Hull City today, but acknowledges Manchester City have tightened up defensively in their last two games. City emerged from a bad spell by keeping a first clean sheet in nine attempts in a Premier League victory over Watford earlier this month and followed that up by coming from behind to beat Arsenal 2-1 last weekend. The back line has appeared to be City’s weak link this season but Guardiola has stressed the way to improve it is not by focusing on fundamentals such as tackling, but improving the all-round play of the team.

urgen Klopp believes Liverpool are the perfect club to help him realise his Premier League dream.

During his seven years at Borussia Dortmund Klopp forged a reputation as one of Europe’s best coaches, and was linked with a hosts of clubs across the continent.

Klopp won five trophies with the club - including two Bundesliga titles - before leaving at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

He was expected to take a sabbatical but a couple of months later he was lured to England to replace Brendan Rodgers at Anfield.

And the 49-year-old says the decision to test himself in the Premier League has already proved to be “an unbelievably good” one.

Sam ‘stronger’ after

England axe Sam Sam Allardyce insists he is ready for the challenge of trying to keep Crystal Palace in the Premier League after emerging from his England nightmare a “better, stronger man”.

Allardyce was confirmed as Alan Pardew’s successor on Friday just 87 days after he was sacked as England manager - signing a two-and-a-half year deal at Palace

following talks with chairman Steve Parish.

The 62-year-old had long coveted the role of England manager, but lasted just 67 days in the job after being filmed discussing ways to circumvent Football Association rules on player transfers during an undercover Daily Telegraph investigation into corruption in football.

In an exclusive interview, Allardyce admitted he was surprised to be given an opportunity to return to management prior to the New Year and hopes he can maintain his record of never being relegated from the Premier League.

“I was always really interested in the Premier League and being involved now is great. It’s intense, but great,” he told reporters. “Being at Liverpool shows I’m a really lucky guy.

“For the third time it’s an unbelievably good decision, the perfect club for me. “

Klopp

Ibrahimovic

the Premier League.

Ibrahimovic arrived at Old Trafford on an initial one-year deal but all indications are leading to a contract extension amid his run of 10 goals in nine matches and Mourinho does not believe the

former ex-Paris Saint-Germain star will see out his career in either the United States or China.

“I’m really happy for him. Maybe some people thought he was a top scorer but not anymore at 35 years old. But for him, 35 is the

same as 25, Ligue 1 is the same as the Premier League,” Mourinho said.

“He scores goals, he plays well and I’m really happy for him because he will end his career on a high, which is amazing. He’s not ending his career in America or in China, he’s ending his career at the top of the top.

“I’m really pleased with him.

His record is good and he can improve. With no penalties, which is amazing too because normally the other guys that are top scorers around the world, they score a lot of penalties and he has had one penalty in 17 Premier League matches so I couldn’t be happier.”

Ibrahimovic has the chance to add to his season tally when United host Sunderland today.

Ibrahimovic celebrates Xmas with snow angel

Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrated Christmas in a way only he could this year...by making snow angels!

The Manchester United strike posted a video on Instagram showing him making the shapes in the snow with the comment “Dare to Zlatan”. Dressed only his underpants, Ibrahimovic did what many people do when it snows,

while also performing a few situps for good measure. He then raced off camera to presumably warm up in the freezing conditions.

Ibrahimovic has been in fine form for United this season after making the free transfer from Paris SaintGermain, the 35-year-old scoring 16 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions.

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Editor Daily: ROSE MOSES

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2016

VOL. 2. NO. 262

NPFL kicks off Jan.14

P 30

Price: N150 News Hotlines: Advert Hotlines: 08086296714

E Mikel

Hot Stuff!

Inter, Milan battle to sign Mikel Rangers set to

hijack Pillars’duo

C

hampions Enugu Rangers are set to hijack former Enyimba stars Chinedu Udoji and Razak Aliyu from Kano Pillars.

Rangers are willing to break the bank to lure the two players who joined Kano Pillars two months ago, according to defensive midfielder Aliyu.

“Yes it is true Rangers have come calling, we are still talking and hopefully in the next two days we will know whether we will still remain in Pillars or not,” he said.

“Football is all about mobility of labour, the most important thing is a conducive atmosphere to work and where the right motivation t o work is in place.”

Former Enyimba captain, Chinedu Udoji, on Rangers radar.

PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES TODAY’S MATCHES Watford v Crystal Palace 13:30 Arsenal v West Brom 16:00 Burnley v Middlesbrough 16:00 Chelsea v Bournemouth 16:00 Leicester City v Everton 16:00 Man Utd v Sunderland 16:00 Swansea v West Ham 16:00 Hull City v Man City 18:15

njoying the holidays is the last thing on the mind of representatives of Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi as they have stormed Italian club Inter Milan to discuss a possible transfer for the Nigeria star.

This comes just as Inter’s main city rivals AC Milan are also understood to have joined the race to sign Mikel.

A top source exclusively informed: “Mikel’s representatives are in Milan now to discuss with Inter.”

“An agent is also proposing AC Milan, where he has some good connections,” added the source close to the player.

It is believed that Inter are now pushing to snap up the midfielder, whose contract at Chelsea runs out in June 2017 and it does not look likely it will be renewed as he has fallen out of favour after more than 10 years at Stamford Bridge.

French giants Olympique Marseille as well as several Chinese clubs are also in the chase for the Super Eagles skipper.

The Anambra Times Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Obiano is leaving lasting AT3 footprints in Akpo – Engr. Ezeno

Cleric urges Christians to develop positive attitude

AT 2

Police disrupt church service in Ezunaka, arrest lawyer

…as Church, Civil Societies petition IGP Alphonsus Nweze Awka

ÏÏÏ The Anglican faithful in Nk-

Gov Obiano (right) Ezeno (middle) and others during the Sept visit.

Christmas: Keep hope alive, Archbishop urges Nigerians Philip Balepo and Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha

ÏÏÏ The Catholic Archbishop

The

Anambra

T E A M

of Onitsha and the Metropolitan See of the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Reverend Dr. Valerian Maduka Okeke, has urged Christians in particular and Nigerians in general to keep hope alive despite recession in the country.

Archbishop Okeke gave the charge in his Christmas message, noting that though the times are challenging, Nigerians should be patient and not give up, saying, “God is able to save us. Our God is able”.

He said: “As we celebrate and re-live the birth of Christ, I want to encourage all of you to keep hope alive.

“The times are challenging.

We have what we generally call ‘economic recession.’ We are experiencing hardship in various forms. Inflation, the type we have not experienced in recent times. Hunger, joblessness; the traders are stranded because of the circumstances of the time.

Many graduates have no jobs; many families are suffering.

I want to plead with you and urge you to be patient; do not give up; God is able to save us.

Our God is able.

“The Almighty is still Almighty. And He is with us.

We are celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace, who came that we may have life and have it in abundance.

What we need to do now is

Special Projects Editor Sam Nzeh

Correspondents: Alphonsus Nweze Philip Balepo John Chinenye

prayer, patience, hard work and calmness. Do not be agitated. Do not take it out on your brothers and sisters. Do not shit blames and accuse each other. Do not quarrel with members of your families.

“Be patient, our God is able. Shun violence; shun lawlessness; let us celebrate love. Christ is Love! Christ is Peace!! That is the one that is born to us, the Saviour who has come that we may have Life.

Anambra commissioner hails victorious karate team

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The Commissioner for Sports in Anambra State, Uju Nwogu, has congratulated the state’s team for emerging tops in the national open karate championship held in Lagos.

Nwogu made the commendation when she received the team led by its coach, Godwin Okoro, in Awka on Thursday.

The commissioner said that the team had made Anambra proud and promised to continue to give it more support in future engagements.

“We are happy with what

you have done and I urge you to continue in this step and always shine out the light anywhere you go to,” she said.

The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team excelled at the championship which held between Dec. 5 and Dec. 10 by winning all the categories, including the cadet, junior and senior cadres.

The team won a total of 21 medals made up of seven gold, four silver and 10 bronze from both the KATA and KUMITE events.

welle Ezunaka community, Oyi in Local Government Area of Anambra State has dispatched a strongly worded petition to the Acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over “the unlawful inversion and disruption” of their special thanksgiving church service on December 16, 2016, as well as the abduction of their Financial Secretary, Barrister William Enwelum, by three heavily armed policemen.

This came even as some civil society organisations represented

by Centre for Justice, Nigeria, has joined forces with the church to ensure justice is served.

In a statement jointly signed by its parish priest, Ven. Dr. Fred Nwachukwuma; Chief Eugene Okeke; Coordinator of Centre for Justice, Chief Anthony Ojemba Chigbo among others, the church said it was a brazen affront on the Church of God which the police can’t try in the mosque.

“Without decorum, decency, respect for God Almighty, humanity and the rule of law as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), three policemen namely ASP Ologbo, Inspector Omilo and one other nicknamed Major dressed in camouflage combat gear stormed the Sacred Auditorium of St. Barnabas Anglican Church in the middle of a thanksgiving service, armed with assault rifle and abducted Barrister William Enwelum in a commando style,” they said in the petition.

Continuing they said: “The policemen claimed to be acting on the directive of their boss, CSP Kolo of the IGP Tactical Squad, who in turn claims he was responsible only to the IG. Three questions that must be answered are: Did the IGP direct this assault on the church?

Was the AIG Zone 9 aware of this directive? Was the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State aware of this directive? The actions of these brutish men in police uniform must be condemned by all wellmeaning Nigerians. We demand that these men must be made answerable to their actions and that justice be seen to be done through the unconditional and immediate release of Barrister William Enwelum. Whatever be his offences, let due process be followed.”

The Anambra Times 2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Six months after, Police yet to present autopsy New CLO boss pledges to sustain rights struggle result of dead children in Ekweumili Alphonsus Nweze Stories by Alphonsus Nweze Awka

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Six months after the mysterious death of six children of the same parents after taken their launch in the sleepy town of Ekweumili in Nnewi South Local Government Council Area of Anambra State, the Anambra State Police Command is yet to come with the result of the autopsy.

After the unfortunate demise of the children, the homicide squad came from the State Police Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, the state capital, to collect the samples of the diseased both the cooked and uncooked food they allegedly ate before their untimely death of their children.

However, when the Anambra Times contacted the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nkiru Nwode, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), she said she was not in position to respond to our inquiry because she was not in charge of the office at the time of incident.

Awka

The sleepy town of Ekwulimili on July 16, 2016 was thrown unto darkness in the broad day light as the six children of the same parents died one after the other in less than an hour.

This tragic incident had been subject of several interpretations hence the efforts by the community, police and Anambra State government to unravel the circumstances that led to the sudden death of those children.

The youth of the community had also taken to the street to demand immediate unraveling of the cause of the death of children from the elders of the community.

Some people were accused of being responsible for the death of the children.

The six siblings namely: Chukwuebuka 17; Chinemerem 15; Afomachukwu 13; Chekwubechukwu 11; Onyekachukwu 9; and Chukwuziterem 6 had returned from school on the faithful day and after eating their lunch developed stomach upset and within some few minutes died one after the other.

There was however speculation that the children may have been used in exchange of spiritual powers, a claim nobody was able to substantiate.

The President General of the community, Chief Ugochukwu Eweluaku, said that Ekwulumilli was a peaceful town until the demise of the children.

The President General however said that the community was still awaiting the result of the autopsy conducted on the unfortunate children and will not rest on their oars until the cause of their death is made public.

“We will not even mind to exhume the remains to conduct a fresh one if the Homicide squad is finding it difficult because the community would not allow anything to dent their image.”

But the Chairman of the Elders forum and elder statesman in the community, Chief Patrick Dim Anyichie, told our correspondent that normalcy is gradually returning to the town and that the community is doing everything to unravel the mystery.

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The newly elected State Chairman of the Anambra State branch of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, has vowed to sustain the tempo of struggle towards the enthronement of human rights culture in the Anambra State anchored on respect for the constitution, rule of law, promotion of democracy and good governance.

Comrade Ekwueme, who gave this assurance after his election as the State chairman of the CLO, said the struggle to ensure human right culture has been the hallmark of CLO. He lauded the members for the confidence reposed on him and other members of the executive which he promised not to betray as well as the previous executives for the sacrifices to sustain the ideals of the organisation in the state.

In his speech shortly before swearing in the new executive, the South East chairman of CLO, Comrade Alloysius Attah, advised them to not to be distracted from their mandate which is the ensure that the rights of ordinary citizens in the state are protected.

He also said that they should not compromise their position by pandering to the rich and the power that be, stressing that

there are a lot of human rights abuses in the state that will engage their attention.

Attah assured the new team of the support of CLO in the South East and the national as long as they work within the confines of the constitution of the organisation.

Other members of the executive are Innocent Okeke who is the Vice Chairaman while Comrade Chidi Mbah was elected the Branch Secretary. Chike Umesonwunne was also elected the Assistant Secretary.

Others include Comrade Hyginus Udensi, Treasurer; Amoke Nicholas, Campaign and Publicity Secretary; Dennis Ezeokoli, Research Secretary while Comrades Ugochukwu Oforma and Okoro Stanley were also elected ex-officio members.

In an acceptance speech shortly after they were sworn into office by the South East Zonal Chairman of the CLO, Comrade Aloysius Emeka Attah, the newly elected State chair, Comrade Ezekwueme, thanked the members for the confidence reposed on them which he promised not to betray.

In the same vein, the state Branch of the CLO has reaffirmed the indefinite suspension of Justus Ijeoma, Alex Olisa and Chibueze Nwajiaku erstwhile Legal Secretary, Vice Chairman and Secretary respectively.

JDPC initiates new project for the poor Philip Balepo Onitsha

ÏÏÏ Foremost

Wife of Anambra State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Obiageli Okeke presenting gifts to children and women at Uke in Idemili North LGA...recently

Cleric urges Christians to develop positive attitude ÏÏÏ The

Bishop, Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Owen Nwokolo, has challenged Christians to develop positive attitude towards God and their fellow mankind.

Bishop Nwokolo spoke on Sunday in his sermon during the Christmas service at the All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State.

The Bishop said for any Christian to be part of the kingdom, he or she must live an upright life. He said: “Today, we are celebrating God’s

love to mankind. Christmas is a celebration of God’s love to humanity. We should translate that love to our people.

Don’t backbite, don’t destroy people, run away from envy, bitterness, grudge and embrace the life of Christ as shown by this season”.

Alluding to the prevailing economic recession, Bishop Nwokolo urged Christians not allow the prevailing economic situation in the country to affect their lives’’, saying that recession or hardship has nothing to do with living

our Christian lives.

The sub Dean, All Saints Cathedral, Ven. Obiora Uzochukwu, said Christmas was a period of joy, when our hope in God was being renewed and urged Christians to pray for the nation and the resuscitation of the economy.

He said: “Christians in this period should pray hard, work hard, invest in agriculture, buy made in Nigeria goods, don’t be idle, don’t be lazy, and live in the fear of God”.

non-governmental and non-profit civil society organisation in Anambra State, Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Onitsha, has added to her numerous projects with the latest being “Voice to the People” (V2P).

The prject is supported by some foreign bodies like Department for International Development (DFID) and UKaid as well as Christian aid Nigeria.

The project in summary is “making governance work for the poor and the marginalised people.” And to achieve this, JDPC mobilised both professionals within Nigeria and in diaspora to work with rural community leaders for effective and collective actions on policy issues and service deliveries. And they pay special attention on Social Development Goals, SDGs, which is the global agenda for the good of all.

The Project Manager, Mr. Alphonsus Nwoye, made it clear that “we follow strictly our mantra which says ‘Leave no one behind’, as emphasised by SDGs,”

insisting that “we are also following up on the budget and government responsiveness to our people’s demands. We are truly committed for joint activities for sustainable development,” he explained.

In the workshop JDPC recently organised in Onitsha with the community stakeholders and some professionals, the Activity Coordinator, Mrs. Ngozi Osuchukwu, told the Anambra Times that she is really happy that “the communities are becoming politically committed to these projects we are initiating.

“From the previous projects done, they gave us updates especially by those in diaspora - Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and so on and during our last tour, we saw what some of these communities achieved. Again, our working relationship with the Traditional Rulers, Women Leaders, Youth Leaders and other stakeholders have really been commendable.

We are not there yet, but we are encouraged to engage these communities more. Remember it is a process and the V2P is all about making governance work for poor and marginalised people,” she added

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

The Anambra Times 3

Obiano is leaving lasting footprints in Akpo – Engr. Ezeno The people of Akpo townin Agwata Local Government Area of Anambra State broke a long standing political history by making a deal with Governor Willie Obiano in September 2016.

President-General of Akpo Development Association (ADA), Engineer G.O.C. Ezeno, takes the Daily Times Features Editor, GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR, to the genesis of the turnaround, the governor’s strides and the certainty of voting him for a second term come 2019 if…., among others. Excerpts: For records, who are the Akpo people?

Our people are descendants of NRI, the famous ancestral home of Igbo nation. Our progenitor, Umennobe, begat Amoesi, Akpo and Achina, but the town developed to six big villages and two other semiautonomous ones, all culminating into eight clans presently. Unfortunately, we have only one electoral constituency, though we are struggling to add two or three more.

You’re in the second term of your tenure as PresidentGeneral of ADA, what’s your scorecard.

During my regime, Akpo has made many beautiful strides in spite of few squabbles here and there which is purely human.

One of the milestones of my regime was our witty vision that brought the current Governor, Chief (Dr.) Willie Obiano, to visit Akpo on September 17, 2016.

We are the first community in the whole of Anambra State to have invited Governor Obiano to our town to declare our support for him; to assure him that come 2019, we will vote him in for a second term.

Akpo had always opposed

All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) government for ages. What informed your romance with Gov. Obiano?

Politics is like an investment. Some people frown at the saying, but that is the truth because you put your money where your mouth is.

It’s true that Akpo used to be predominantly PDP, voting for them all the time while the government in power in the state has always been APGA and that put Akpo people in conflict always with the government in power. This affected us so much in terms of dividends of democracy because we were not getting anything and were neglected.

But in my tenure, we decided to make a turn around and invited the governor and made a deal with him.

Did the governor’s visit yield any positive result?

Yes, indeed. The visit yielded lots of fruits and other towns are now following suit, not necessarily because of the promises he made to us; it’s really because they see reason why Obiano should continue in office – he is doing very well.

There is this N20 million he gave to every town; it was not disbursed physically to anyone though. Each town was asked to design a good project that will utilise the amount, and the contractor of such project must come from within the community.

We chose agriculture to invest our own N20 million and this happened to be part of the Governor’s four-cardinal point agenda. This is a pointer to the fact that the governor knows what he is doing.

When Obiano visited Akpo, he didn’t know we have such potentials. In my address to him, I let him know we have over 15 professors in Akpo town; engineers and scientists here are like apprentices!

So recognising and giving awards to five indigenes of Akpo gladdens our hearts, you asked for my scorecards, so let me give you a run down on the awardees: For starters, the Director General, Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Agency, Prof. Law-

We chose agriculture to invest our own N20 million and this happened to be part of the Governor’s fourcardinal point agenda. This is a pointer to the fact that the governor knows what he is doing

Ezeno rence Dim, is from Akpo. He is a professor of Nuclear Physics. He had lectured at the Ahmadu Bello University before going into government.

Professor I.P. Orajiaka was the Vice Chancellor of Anambra State University. After his tenure, he went back to Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Unizik) as a lecturer.

Jude Onyebuchi (Ichie Akuenwebe), a very big philanthropist, is a man with a very humble beginning but by share hard work, he has broken even. He is one of the biggest names in Bureau de Change. If you visit his house this Christmas season, you will think a Church service is going on, but the crowd you see there are people coming for help.

He is everywhere help is needed. There was a time we needed N3.6 million for our counterpart payment for the rural water project; we were the first people in Anambra State to pay up because this man got up and paid it up.

Another time we needed over N4m owed Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) which made them to take light from our town.

Akuenwebe told us, look, don’t trouble our old people to raise the money: he paid it up, so it was very heart-warming that government also recognised

him for the award.

Then Chief Rumanus Ezeonwuka (Ogirisigbo), a BoT member of APGA is the proprietor of Rojenny International Stadium, Oba along Onitsha-Owerri Road. He’s been doing a yeoman’s job.

It’s a thing of joy that these achievements have come during my humble tenure.

What’s your vision for the

future?

I must tell you that we have not attained the community we used to be beyond 16 years back. We were known to be peaceful; you don’t hear such things like people drinking or eating and are poisoned, and we were not notorious so much that people emulate our people.

So my vision for my Akpo community is that of a people that will be mentioned anywhere and they are known for something noteworthy. That is why I decided to choose agriculture for our project through which I will project my community as a land where agriculture and other health facilities abound.

Recession: Prophet predict harder times in 2017 Alphonsus Nweze Awka

ÏÏÏ The

General Overseer of Gospel Fire Cathedral, Nkwelle Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Prophet Chinedu Strongson, has said that the present economic recession in the country may linger in spite of the promises by President Muhammadu Buhariled government that it will abate in 2017.

Prophet Strongson, who stated this during his interaction with the media at the headquarters of his church, said that the nation’s economy was not man-made but an act designed by the devil to punish the children of God. He said the crash of the economy, though very painful, will bring in positive development as a lot of people will use the opportunity to turn to God, urging

every Nigerian to seek the face of God so that He will change all old things to become new.

Calling on the children of God to go on their knees in prayers, Prophet Chinedu Strongson however said he and other prayer intercessors have embarked on fasting and prayer, asking God to come down and heal our land.

On why God allowed His children to be in difficulty, he said it was not the will of God that any should suffer but our sins separate us from Him. Predicting that 2017 will be tougher than this outgoing year, the man of God cautioned the nation’s leaders to eschew discrimination, segregation and any act capable of disintegrating the unity of Nigeria, noting that it was only when the nation is united and pray with one mind that the solution to the nation’s problems will be revealed.

The Anambra Times 4 The Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha and the Metropolitan See of the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Reverend Dr. Valerian Maduka Okeke recently had a chat with journalists at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Cathedral Onitsha. PHILIP BALEPO and ALPHONSUS NEWZE who were there for Anambra Times report…

On recklessness during festivities We have already started the campaign telling people that shooting guns and using knockout do not mean the proper celebration of Christmas. Actually, Christmas does not mean hurting another person. If you hurt another person because you are rejoicing, then your celebration is out of place. You do not have to kill one person in order to be happy, you are a sadist. The Church is already teaching and emphasising that.

Christmas means peace; it means love. It does not mean violence. That is why I said shun recklessness; shun violence; shun lawlessness. It is part of my Christmas message. And I think the state shares entirely what we are teaching to the youths.

On youth empowerment The Church is at the forefront of youth empowerment.

You will recall that we have a Youth Village in Amansea, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State that has won the best University hostel in Anambra State; the best University hostel in the South East;

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

Let’s rediscover the greatness, spirit of our founding fathers - Archbishop Okeke the best University hostel in Nigeria. And it is in Anambra State. It houses a little bit above a thousand students. The facilities are first class. Each room is self-contained with water and light available 24 hours, seven days a week. The security there is reasonably high. There is a Police post and some other security outfit.

The graduating students there, most of them came out with first class and second class upper division. And that is the effort the Church is making to ensure that the future is great for these young people. Recently, the first grandaunts from the Odimegwu Ojukwu University, College of Medicine, among whom came the best graduating student, was a resident of the Youth Village. She had so many awards; up to five scholarships because of her performance.

And she said that among other things, she excelled because she was provided with an enabling environment, the best environment possible for any student who wants to study. And I think that type of hostel so far, can only be found in Anambra State.

We have also been visiting some schools and rewarding outstanding students.

On Governor Willie Obiano’s performance so far The world is not perfect; the human person is not perfect.

Only God is perfect. And so, to ask if there are areas of improvement is to labour the obvious. There will always be areas of improvement otherwise, we should not be in this world. We should be somewhere in heav-

the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with a group in Australia organised an essay competition for secondary schools in the country. Anambra State won the first four positions, while the fifth position went to Lagos State. So, it shows that our schools are improving.

Our secondary schools’ students have won many accolades in many National competitions.

There are many other things happening. Health wise, I understand that every local government in the state has a Health Centre. I don’t know what else you want me to tell you. But I think something is happening and more can still happen.

Archbishop Okeke

A leader should be confident in his/her leadership role.

Such a leader will feel the impact of his work; will see it and will definitely experience it enly paradise.

But also, to ask the question if the governor is working? You circulate more than me; because being a leader, sometimes you are shielded and you are so busy that you don’t see everything.

So, I am sure you see more than

Road accident claims 5 lives in Anambra – FRSC ÏÏÏ Five passengers of an Onitsha

bound commercial vehicle on Friday lost their lives when the Toyota Previa vehicle they were travelling with collided with a truck near Abba junction in Anambra, on the EnuguOnitsha expressway.

Mr. Sunday Ajayi, the state Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the deaths in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Ajayi, who said four adults and a child lost their lives in the unfortunate incident, noted that the accident occurred around 6.19 a.m. on Friday, blaming it on route violation by the truck driver.

Interview

“We were there to rescue the victims of the accident where five souls were lost.

“From the information I have with me, I learnt that the truck was taking one-way and because of that, they had head-on-collision and five people were killed instantly.

“We have six people involved in the accident which meant that only the driver of the truck is alive.

“It is wrong to take one – way on the highways; it is dangerous and may lead to death.

“We advise people not to lay too much claims on their rights. They should be conscious while driving on the road. If someone is doing

wrong on the road, they should avoid such driver to stay alive.

“The law will surely catch up with whoever does the wrong thing on the road,” he said.

Ajayi said the bodies of the deceased had been deposited at the Enugu-Ukwu General Hospital mortuary.

An eyewitness, who said the commercial vehicle took off from Enugu, also blamed the truck which was heading towards Awka for the accident.

The source appealed to FRSC to sensitise and enlighten commuters on the need to always utilise their routes to avoid such fatal accidents.

me. Again, it is clear that many things have happened in the administration. Perhaps, you pass Awka, some of you came from there. Did you pass any fly-over?

Perhaps, one, two or three? Were they there before? Were they introduced during this administration? Okay then. Something is happening.

Recently, an Anambrarian was kidnapped in Delta State, the machinery of the state went to Delta and liberated the person. An Anambrarian was also kidnapped in Kogi State. Also, the machinery of Anambra State went to Kogi State and rescued the nun. By just giving a call to the governor, the rest was history.

From all indications, Anambra State is one of the safest states in the country in terms of security. And just recently, an educational programme from

On leadership A leader should be confident in his/her leadership role. Such a leader will feel the impact of his work; will see it and will definitely experience it. You don’t have to be telling them that you are leading them. They have to feel it; they have to see it; even the blind will see it; the deaf will hear it, if you are leading well.

If you set an exam for yourself; mark it yourself and award yourself 100%; there is a Latin adage: ‘Nebo udex, impropria causa’ (Nobody is a judge in his own case). So, I will prefer that all of us are advised.

His message to Nigerians “Let us rediscover the greatness and the spirit of our founding fathers; let us rediscover the spirit of hard work; the spirit of greatness, the spirit of glory. Let us rediscover the family heritage; the heritage of blessing; the heritage of brotherhood; the heritage of love, peace and joy.

Police boss reassures residents of adequate security ÏÏÏ

Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Mr. Sam Okaula, has reassured residents of state of adequate security throughout the festive celebration and beyond.

Okaula gave the reassurance in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Awka.

He said that the police command, with assistance of the state government, had put in place plans to forestall any insecurity challenges during yuletide and beyond.

The police boss said that the police was also partnering with vigilante groups to provide adequate security across the state.

He, however, urged the people to

be security conscious and continue to partner with the security agencies by providing them with useful information that would assist in curbing crime in the state.

“Christmas holiday is a special time when families, friends, civil servants and others go out to celebrate the season in public places, like amusement parks, eateries, among others.

“On a sad note, it is a time for some unscrupulous elements in the society to carry out their evil deeds like stealing, killing, kidnapping and causing harmful acts against innocent persons during yuletide,’’ he said.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26 , 2016

CBN floats N40bn TBs, as interbank rate hits 50% Page B3

Resolving N’Delta militancy will enable Oil and Gas industry thrive - Fawibe Page B8

2016: Recession, low penetration, corporate losses roil underwriting

Page B7

IOCs to stop divesting – Fawibe

L – R: Grama Narasimhan, Executive Director, Retail Banking, Sterling Bank Plc; Omolara Akinfolarin, Head MSME Banking, Sterling Bank Plc; Moses Agosu, BM Ikoyi Branch, Sterling Bank Plc and Mark George, Principal Consultant, OMG Consulting at the Sterling Bank MSME Academy workshop held recently in Lagos.

By Simon Ugwu The International Oil Companies (IOCs) will soon stop divesting from Nigeria as one of the major problems affecting them is being addressed.

The Chairman/CEO, International Energy Services Limited, Dr.Diran Fawibe, stated this in an exclusive interview with Business Times in Lagos.

“The Federal Government is addressing the major problems of the IOCs by way of exiting from the cash call. If that is done, it means that for next year, you may not see major divestment because their complaint is now being addressed. Except investment in Nigeria does not support the global oil market. This policy is going to stop the tide of divestment by IOCs”, he said.

“It is heartwarming that Nigeria has been exempted from production cut down by Organisation of Oil Producing Countries (OPEC), which is the consideration of the serious economic challenges being experienced

by Nigeria. Last week, the government also took another step by exiting the cash calls obligation. So oil producing companies will no longer have any constraint in carrying out oil production as long as the market can absorb it. In the past, because government cannot cope in its own share of the cost of production, it affected the operations of the oil companies.

All things being equal, we will be producing more than 2.2 million barrels projected per day in 2017. The production capacity will increase substantially as there will be resources to operate seamlessly by the companies.

All these revolve around peace in the Niger Delta. So hopefully, next year will be a better year”. He said on 2.2 million projected by day by the federal government.

CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

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

2014 oil allocation: How middlemen cornered over 90%

By Opeoluwani Akintayo

A document obtained by Business Times has revealed how 90 percent of oil allocation by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was sold to middlemen instead of directly to end-users.

Nigeria is the only major and stable world oil producer that sells crude mostly to traders rather than end-users.

Before the NNPC re-

form which took place this year, economy analysts have indicted it for entering into term contracts with unqualified intermediaries that captured margins for themselves and created reputational risks for legitimate market players while adding little or no value to deals.

Findings also revealed that NNPC sold to governments that do not refine the crude they buy. These deals were said to have featured an excess of un-

necessary middlemen, and prompted corruption scandals in five buyer countries.

Traders holding NNPCPPMC (Pipeline and Product Marketing Company, Ltd) swap contracts deliver fuel into the existing supply chain for Nigerian fuel imports.

As the 2012 fuel subsidy scandal revealed, the complexity of the supply chain serves a number of entrenched, lucrative rackets around shipping,

distribution and sales of fuel. These included smuggling, selling locally refined products back to NNPC at import prices, over-charging for deliveries, and outright theft. The 2012 fuel subsidy investigations focused mainly on the mismanagement of standard import contracts, but we found that swap imports carry many similar risks.

According to authors of ‘Inside NNPC Oil Sale: a case for reform in Nige-

ria, 2015’, Aaron Sayne, Alexandra Gillies, and Christina Katsouris, “Unless the worst rackets around fuel imports are eradicated, the swaps will hemorrhage”.

Findings have shown that the marketplace for NNPC crude was uncommonly crowded with intermediaries. By our count, Nigeria is the world’s only major oil producer (i.e., with average outputs of well over 1.6 million barrels per day) that CONTINUES ON PAGE B2

Oil workers commend FG on JV exit, offer input Joy Ekeke

Oil workers have called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to ensure that stakeholders in the oil and gas industry are engaged in the implementation of the new Joint Venture (JV) Cash Calls, passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIB) and amendment of the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Act. The workers, under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural

Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), made the call after their National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja. In a communiqué issued after the NEC meeting, the senior staff trade union commended the Federal Government’s efforts at exiting the JV Cash Calls that led to its indebtedness to the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the attendant challenges associated with the system.

The communiqué read in part: “The NEC-in-Session appreciates the Federal Government efforts in the payment of arrears of Joint Venture Cash Calls, particularly the establishment of a roadmap to clear outstanding Cash Calls arrears.

“The NEC-in-Session reiterates the need for the Federal Government to engage the labour unions in the implementation of the proposed new Joint Venture Cash Calls structure which is

scheduled to commence in January, 2017.”

Expressing its observation on a recent attempt to amend the NLNG Act (Fiscal, Guarantees, Assurances and Incentives) by the House of Representatives, PENGASSAN said the consequences of the proposed amendment, which among several things, will impinge on the continued existence of the nation’s most productive public corporation.

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

CBN rewards Skye Bank for fighting electronic fraud Skye Bank Plc. has emerged “The Most Committed Watch Listing Bank in Nigeria” out of four corporate awards that were up for grabs at the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) Annual Dinner and Awards which held in Lagos recently.

This was confirmed in an industry-wide survey administered by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in conjunction with the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System, NIBBS. The prestigious award, which is in recognition of efforts of the Banking industry in the fight against electronic fraud is presented to the institution “with the most efficient and robust system for tracking all forms of

electronic fraud and arresting perpetrators for prosecution”.

The challenge of securing the Nigerian Payments System will always be a daunting task as with the ease of payment, comes greater adoption, and with increased adoption, the lure of cybercriminals who seek to convert either digital asset or resources or both to their own, becomes even greater.

Speaking at the event which held in Lagos recently, the NeFF Chairman, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, who is also the Director, Banking and Payment System in CBN, explained that, “an effective fight against fraud is not without robust awareness program; not only for members of the public, but also for staff of organizations that operate within the Pay-

ment Space.

He further stressed the importance of starting the awareness program in 2017, “as this would help the industry reduce cost of fraud through increased vigilance and detection abilities”, he said.

On the credibility of the process that led to the emergence of Skye Bank as the winner of the award, “the Central Bank of Nigeria in collaboration with NIBBS carried out a survey to rate the performance of all Banks in the fight against electronic fraud. According to him, most Banks, in their response, acknowledged Skye Bank as the most committed bank when it comes to tracking fraud and arresting perpetrators”.

Skye Bank runs its core banking ICT applications on one of the most advanced, and highly secured and scalable technology software, adjudged by cyber practitioners as consistent with what obtains with other financial giants in most advanced economies of the world.

The Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) is a forum where financial services stakeholders – banks and other organizations within the financial and payment systems – meet on a quarterly basis to deliberate on issues of electronic fraud and its prevention.

The forum is organized and supervised by Central Bank of Nigeria.

L-R: Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri; Head, Treasury, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mrs. Tolani Akanbi; Member, Governing Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Mr. Abdulrahman Yinusa, during a forum on custody services organized by Stanbic IBTC in Lagos ... at the weekend.

IOCs to stop divesting – Fawibe CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

On deregulation of the downstream, “to be efficient and to run its affairs positively, the downstream sector must be deregulated. And it seems to be on the part now. But the fear is that we may go back to regulate the sector. But if the government is disciplined enough to say backward never, forward ever, it won’t go back to regulate the downstream sector. The challenge may be high but in a long run we shall be better for it”.

The IESL boss however stated that the unstable foreign exchange is a major factor affecting the importation of petroleum products and other products imported into the country. “The solution is to be able to refine crude locally.

But in the short term government has to assist the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make available allocation of foreign exchange to the marketing companies. Of course it comes with a price, today, like the Minister of States for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu said, that Nigeria is spending about 32-35 percent of the foreign exchange earnings on imported fuel. It shouldn’t be, this problem is affecting the country negatively. There should be a programme to provide the marketers the foreign exchange to import fuel”.

The Chairman further stated that is very interesting that the government has decided to pay N100 billion out of what the government ministries, department and agencies are owing the Generation Companies (Gencos)and Distribution Companies (Discos). This has been announced and if the government backs up the announcement with action, the Gencos and Discos will be able to plough back this money into further development and the economy will be better for it. It is not just about paying this, government must be able to set up a mechanism to pay for electricity consumption by this government ministries, agencies and departments on a continuous basis. It is not after paying this you go into another round of owing the Discos. It will not work.

Editor’s note:Read full Interview on page B8.

2014 oil allocation: How middlemen cornered over 90% CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

sold almost all of its crude to middlemen, rather than end-users (with the exception of highly unstable countries like Libya). Over 90 percent of the barrels NNPC allocated in 2014 went to trading companies rather than end-users.

Aaron Sayne, Alexandra Gillies, and Christina Katsouris authenticated this when they said that “the names on NNPC’s lists of approved buyers, numbered 43 in 2014- included a small group of large, experienced Nigerian and foreign commodity traders and many low profile, inexperienced briefcase companies.” This latter

group according to them, poses especially high governance risks.

For instance, some reportedly help buyers of the oil to avoid taxes and channel payments to politically exposed persons (PEPs).

Involving middlemen who serve no commercial function creates a marketplace with greater commercial, reputational and legal risks for its legitimate participants, which include some of the world’s leading trading houses, banks and refiners. Past NNPC oil sales to the governments of Zambia and South Africa are good examples: in both, NNPC sold to intermediaries that lacked basic

capacities, which led to corruption scandals in those countries.

Each year, foreign governments or state-owned companies featured among the list of entities that buy oil from NNPC..

Although they make up a relatively small part of total NNPC oil sales—reports range from 8 to 24 percent in recent years. Offering oil to other governments could be a useful way to find new buyers for Nigerian crude or pursue foreign policy aims. “But in recent years NNPC executed these government-to-government deals in ways that appeared not to have advanced either of

these agendas. Moreover, some past government to government (g-to-g) transactions have exhibited significant governance risks”, report said. This is particularly true for deals struck with small countries that lack the capability to refine the crude they receive.

Public scandals have ensued, including investigations into NNPC’s g-to-g deals with Liberia, Jamaica, Zambia, Malawi and South Africa.

The country has been selling oil through such deals since at least 1974, when Gen. Yakubu Gowon was head of state. The crude that buyer countries lift under their

contracts comes out of NNPC’s equity share of Nigeria’s production. In recent years, NNPC has had two broad categories of g-tog customers: Established Nigerian Oil Companies, National Oil Companies (NOCs) with refining capacities: NNPC routinely sells cargoes of oil to NOCs in Brazil (Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.), China (mostly Unipec, the trading arm of Sinopec), and India (the Indian Oil Corporation). Less often, the corporation has sold oil to state-owned companies from Azerbaijan (Socar Trading) and Thailand (PTT Public Company Ltd.).

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

B3 Money Market

CBN floats N40bn TBs, as interbank rate hits 50% Stories by Motolani Oseni

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) raised N39.72 billion naira ($130.57 million) for the federal government at a treasury bill (TB) sale last week, with yields unchanged on the previous auction, the apex bank said on its website on Friday.

This is just as the overnight lending rate rose sharply to around 50 percent on Friday, from an average of 4.5 percent the previous day, after the bank debited commercial lenders’ accounts for special foreign exchange sales, traders said.

The CBN sold N13.17 billion of three-month paper at 14 percent,

the same yield as on Dec. 14, and sold N26.55 billion of six-month paper at an also unchanged 17.5 percent.

The apex lender on behalf of the federal government periodically issues treasury bills regularly to help banks manage their liquidity, curb rising inflation and provide naira to help the government fund its budget.

However, the CBN last week asked banks to submit bids for a “special currency auction” to clear the backlog of matured outstanding dollar obligations for selected sectors of the economy, which include airlines, fuel importers and manufacturing firms.

Traders said the central bank

sold “funded forwards of two to five months tenor” dollars to the targeted sectors at an auction during the week and required them to pay for the dollar sale on Friday.

The CBN is yet to disclose the amount sold but currency traders said the cost of borrowing among banks climbed because of a scramble for funds among commercial lenders to pay for the foreign exchange purchases.

“The market is extremely volatile today as a result of the funding for the special forex auction, and we have seen rates up to around 50 percent and more,” one currency dealer said.

Nigeria’s financial market is closed until Wednesday due to

public holidays over the Christmas period.

Meanwhile, financial experts Cowry Assets Management Limited in Lagos said there was liquidity pressure which was evident in the increase recorded in the Nigerian Interbank Offered Rate (NIBOR).

NIBOR represents the rate at which banks borrow from and lend funds to each other. It is the short-term lending rates of selected banks in the Nigerian interbank market quoted as annualized rates.

According to the experts, total money that left the financial system exceeded the total money that came into the system.

Emefiele

“The inflows were offset by outflows from auctioned bills worth N57.66 billion and via Open Market Operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria, through 198 treasury bills worth N10.29billion and 352-day bills worth N7.64billion,” the assets managers said in an emailed note.

GTBank rewards customer with Porsche car

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim (middle), National Chairman of FICAN, Mr. Babajide Komolafe (left) and Vice President (North) Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Suleiman Gaya (right), during the 2016 FICAN Workshop organized by NDIC in Kaduna ... recently.

Customers besiege cashless ATMs over Christmas … Banks deny illiquidity Commercial bank customers in Lagos and Ogun States over the weekend decried the lack of money in many Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), as they besieged banks to withdraw funds for the Christmas celebrations.

Deposit money banks (DMBs) deny allegations of a cash crunch in the system, but many of their customers in Lagos and Ogun States said they could not withdraw money from the ATMs. Business Times observed long queues in most of the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) ATM points across the two states.

Practically all the banks in different parts of Lagos on Friday and Saturday recorded a huge crowd of customers, with most of them waiting to withdraw funds for the long holiday.

In Ikeja, Oshodi, and other areas

in the Lagos metropolis, there were long queues of customers lamenting that they have visited several ATMs since morning but could not withdraw their money.

Similarly, in Agege, Egbeda, and Iyana Ipaja, also in Lagos, depositors were seen fighting among themselves, with security men attached to the banks finding it difficult to curtail the huge crowd.

Findings, however, revealed that some depositors could not withstand the stress and later left, while those that had no alternative waited patiently for hours for their turn and eventually got access to their funds.

An official of one of the banks, who would not want his name mentioned because he was not authorized to speak to the press, said: “This is not surprising because this is what we face anytime when there

is an annual celebration or long holiday.”

Some of the banks visited were First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Ecobank, and Zenith Bank.

Other banks visited were Diamond Bank, Wema Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Sterling Bank, First City Monument Bank and Access Bank across Abule-Egba, Lagos and Sango Ota in Ogun State.

At Wema Bank in the Ifo area of Ogun State, a customer, Mr. Faseluka Akinlowo, said he had been waiting under the sun for more than two hours and had been unable to withdraw money due to the long queue.

“The bank management is aware that Wema Bank is the only commercial bank in this area and ought to have made adequate provision, especially making funds available in ATMs during this festival season,” Akinlowo bemoaned.

After six months of a promo to reward customers, Guaranty Trust Bank has announced Abdulkareem Buhari, as the winner of its Porsche 911 Giveaway Draw for Platinum Banking Customers.

The GTBank Porsche 911 Giveaway is part of the Bank’s Platinum rewards for its Platinum Banking Customers, a niche segment that enjoys premium products and dedicated services such as access to personal banking lounges, fast track banking services, Platinum MasterCards and specialized Credit Facilities as well as higher transaction limits on alternative channels.

Abdulkareem, a trader in Kaduna, won the brand new Porsche 911 Carrera after a raffle draw held at the bank’s Head Office. “I am incredibly excited and immensely grateful to GTBank for such an amazing gift,” enthused Abdulkareem as he received the keys to his new Porsche from the CEO and Managing Director of GTBank, Mr. Segun Agbaje.

“The GTBank Porsche 911 Giveaway Draw is our special way of expressing our utmost gratitude to our customers for making our suc-

cess possible,” said Agbaje.

He further stated that “As a bank that’s committed to creating memorable experiences, we are excited at how happy we have made one of our most loyal customers and we will continue to ensure that our customers get the excellent service and best-in-class financial solutions that they deserve.”

GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry. The GTBank brand is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best-run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries and serves as a role model within the financial service industry due to its bias for world class corporate governance standards, excellent service quality, and innovation.

The novel promo is open to all GTBank customers between the ages of 18-64 years, who have either a current or savings account and maintains an average balance of N3million for three months during the promo period. Customers who maintain such balance qualify for a raffle draw where they stand a chance to win a brand new Porsche sports car 911.

Capital Market B4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

UBA, Mutual Benefits, Diamond Bank top activity table … As equities market slip 0.83 percent

Stories by Afolabi Adesola The Nigerian Stock Exchange(NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) and Market Capitalization depreciated by 0.83 percent to close last week at 26,486.02 and N9.113 trillion respectively, as the financial services sector emerged most-traded stocks.

The NSE report for the week ended Friday 23rd December 2016 showed that all other Indices finished lower for the period with the exception of the NSE Premium Index and NSE Industrial Goods Index that rose by 1.91 percent and 3.21 percent respectively while the NSE ASeM Index closed flat Topping the list of the most-trad-

ed stocks were United Bank For Africa, Mutual Benefits Assurance and Diamond Bank.

These stocks contributed 28.46 percent and 5.41 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value traded on the NSE respectively, accounting for 358.709 million shares worth N960.482 million in 870 deals, The NSE recorded a total turnover of 1.261 billion shares worth N17.520 billion in 14,861 deals, in contrast to a total of 1.656 billion shares valued at N12.580 billion that exchanged hands the previous week in 12,860 deals.

The Financial Services Industry led the activity chart by volume measured, with 798.128 million shares valued at N4.319 billion traded in 9,115 deals. This contributed 63.31

percent and 24.33 percent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Consumer Goods Industry followed with 222.511 million shares worth N4.379 billion in 2,022 deals.

The Oil and Gas Industry was next with a turnover of 89.061 million shares worth N7.862 billion in 1,937 deals.

Twenty-six equities led by A.G Leventis appreciated in price, lower than 40 equities of the previous week.

Unilever led the week’s 36 depreciating equities, which were higher than 19 equities in the previous week, while 113 equities remained unchanged, lower than 116 equities recorded in the preceding week.

Diamond, Fidelity, Sterling Bank exit NSE 30 index

CSCS announces full dematerialization of capital market The General Manager of Information Technology at the Nigeria’s Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), Mr. Joe Mekiliuwa, has confirmed the achievement of 100 percent full dematerialization of share certificates.

This means that all share certificates in the country have been converted to electronic format, making it seamless for investors in the market to conduct transactions, thus aiding liquidity.

Mekiliuwa, who gave the confirmation to our correspondent, said the feat was achieved 10 years after it was initiated. He ascribed it to the initiatives put in place by the capital Market’s apex regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and efforts of the market community.

In terms of figures, Mekiliuwa said about 8.5 million accounts are now dematerialized in addition to 7.5 million accounts that were dematerialized

prior to now, adding that the CSCS had migrated the dematerialized shares to where they will be available for immediate trading.

Speaking further on the dematerialization process, the CSCS boss explained that because many investors never had CSCS accounts, the process ensured that accounts were opened for each investor under the umbrella of their relevant registrars.

He urged investors who do not have accounts with the CSCS to approach their stock broking firms who will perform a Know-YourCustomer (KYC) procedure, after which the investor will elect a stock broking firm of his/her choice to migrate his/her account to.

From the 8.5 million dematerialized accounts, he said about 7.3 million accounts are currently under the registrar’s position, waiting for eventual migration to the broker’s position in the name of the investors so that they will be available for trading.

Summary of trading activities on NSE ASI 26,486.02 DEALS 1,703.00

Diamond Bank MD, Uzoma Dozie

Bonny Amadi, Afolabi Adesola Three banks hitherto listed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) 30 Index of highly capitalized stocks have been removed by the bourse’s index committee.

The NSE 2016 year-end index review recently concluded by the index review committee took into consideration prevailing valuation of quoted stocks and their capitalization strength to map out some companies for delisting from the top 30 and sector indices as well as new entrants.

The second index review for the year which took into consideration the 123 trading days during the review period between June 24, 2016 and December 23, 2016 recommended the three banks for delisting.

They would be replaced by

Fidelity Bank MD, Nnamdi Okonkwo

Conoil of the oil and gas sector; as well as Okomu Oil; and, Presco both of which are listed under the Agriculture and Allied sector of the NSE. The NSE 30 index is a price index, weighted by adjusted market capitalization, that is the number of a company’s listed shares multiplied by the closing price of that company, multiplied by a capping factor The NSE which conducts a review of the composition of its indices twice every year, uses the NSE 30 Index to track the top-30 companies in terms of market capitalization and liquidity.

For the NSE Insurance Index, Equity Assurance, Linkage Assurance and Universal Assurance were listed as companies to exit the NSE Insurance Index, while Prestige Assurance, Sovereign Trust Insurance and Unity Kapital Assurance are to be admitted in their place.

Companies mapped out for delist-

Serling Bank MD, Yemi Adeola

ing from the NSE pension Index are Beta Glass, International Breweries, and Skye Bank; while United Capital, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and Dangote Flour as new entrants int the index.

The NSE’s report said there were no changes to the NSE Consumer Goods Index, the NSE Banking Index, the NSE Industrial Index and the NSE Oil and Gas Index, but noted that changes to the Lotus Islamic Index is to be presented.

Besides the All-Share Index that tracks the general market movement of all listed equities on the Exchange, the NSE has 11 other sector indices.

They are the Premium, Pension, Banking, NSE 30, ASEM, Industrial, Consumer Goods, Oil and Gas, Lotus Islamic, Insurance and FTSE ASEA Pan Africa Index Series that represents the performance of eligible securities listed on ASEA (African Securities Exchanges Association) member exchanges.

VOLUME

139,097,525.00

VALUE CAP

1,432,886,956.87 9,113,213,334,212.58

FMDQ admits N42bn commercial papers

… Lists 15 securities as 2016 fiscal year winds up Bonny Amadi The FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange (FMDQ) or the OTC Exchange admitted commercial papers worth N42 billion worth in 2016,enabling corporate organizations and other commercial concerns to meet their funding needs..

The FMDQ recently listed Wema Funding SPV Bond and the Sterling Bank Commercial Paper (CP) Programme, the quotations of the Access Bank PLC N8.45bn Series 1, N4.22bn Series 2 and N22.33bn Series 3 Commercial Paper Notes under its N100.00bn Commercial Pa-

per Programme.

During the financial year, Access Bank and UPDC Securities joined the host of other corporates and commercial entities to benefit from the uniqueness and value addition provided by the FMDQ listings and quotations service.

Also, the UACN Property Development Company Plc N2.27bn Series 2 and N4.00bn Series 3 Commercial Paper Notes were listed under the FMDQ N24.00bn Commercial Paper Programme. The quotations bring the number of securities admitted onto the FMDQ platform this year to 15.

B5

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

D aily M ark e t Ro u n d U p D a ily M a r k e t Re vi e w a n d O u t l o o k Th e e q uities m arke t ext en d e d g ains a t t h e e n d o f tra din g o n Frid ay a ddin g 10b ps t o close a t 26,486.02 p oin ts w hile YTD loss im prove d t o -7.5 % . p ositive close w as a t trib u te d t o g ains in D A N G CE M (+2.3 %), F O RTE (+10.2 %) a n d ST A N BIC (+5.0 %). H o w ever, m ark e t activity re m ain e d mixe d as volu m e tra d e d f ell 26.4 % t o se t tle a t 138.9m u nits w hile valu e tra d e d

To p 10 G ain ers Tic k e r FO A GLEVEN T ST A NBIC CCN N STERLN B A N K N A HC O INTBRE W C AP UBN O ANDO

To p 10 Tr a d es b y V olu m e Pric e(N) 103.87 0.84 14.92 4.86 0.85 2.56 17.94 32.00 4.70 4.50

Pric e C h g % 10.2 % 5.0 % 5.0 % 5.0 % 4.9 % 4.9 % 3.7 % 3.2 % 2.8 % 2.7 %

Price(N) 10.03 3.69 14.25 37.48 84.30 23.43 3.37 137.55 3.40 1.08

Price Chg % -9.6 % -9.6 % -5.0 % -5.0 % -5.0 % -5.0 % -4.8 % -3.1 % -2.9 % -2.7 %

To p 10 Losers

im prove d 3.2 % t o close a t N1.4b n.

Sect or p erf orm a nce w as bro a dly mixe d as 2 in dices g ain e d a g ainst 2 d eclin ers w hile 1 close d fla t. Th e O il & G as in d ex (+2.2 %) le d sect or g ain ers f or t h e seco n d ro w d u e to invest ors in t erest in F O RTE (+10.2 %) a n d O A N D O (+2.7 %). Th e In d ustrial G o o ds in d ex f ollo w e d suit closin g 1.5 % hig h er o n acco u n t o f D A N G CE M (+2.3 %) w hile t h e Insura nce in d ex

Tick er C A D BURY UPL PZ C O N OIL G UIN NESS G U ARA N TY EK O C ORP NB FBN H FC M B

Tick er V olu m e (m) TRA NSC ORP 26.5 UB A 23.5 CH A MPIO N 22.1 G U ARA N TY 14.4 STERLN B A N K 7.6 FBN H 7.0 INTBRE W 4.1 ZENITHB A N K 3.9 DIA M O N D BN K 3.7 UC AP 3.6 To p 10 Tr a d es b y V alu e Tick er V alu e (m ) G U ARA N TY 340.0 NB 253.5 NESTLE 163.5 UB A 105.9 INTBRE W 69.0 TOTAL 62.8 ZENITHB A N K 55.9 CH A MPIO N 52.5 M O BIL 50.4 FO 30.9

Chg % -1.2 % -1.1 % 1.2 % -5.0 % 4.9 % -2.9 % 3.7 % 0.3 % -2.2 % 1.5 % Ch g % -5.0 % -3.1 % 0.0 % -1.1 % 3.7 % 2.5 % 0.3 % 1.2 % 0.0 % 10.2 %

m argin ally g ain e d 1b ps o n th e b ack o f g ains in A IIC O (+1.7 %). O n t he flipsid e w e h ave t h e Ba n kin g a n d Co nsu m er G o o ds in dices losin g 1.8 % a piece d u e t o losses in G U A R A N T Y (-4.9 %), U B A (-1.1 %) C A D BURY (-9.6 %), PZ (5.0 %) a n d G UIN N ESS (-4.9 %).

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

Naira Value (m)

29,500

13,000

Se n tim e n t w e a k e n e d as re flect e d in t h e m arke t bre a d t h w hich st o o d a t 0.9x (fro m 1.4x) co nse q u e nt o n 16 st ocks t h a t a p precia t e d a g ainst 17

9,500

27,000

d eclin ers. Th e b est p erf ormin g st ocks w ere F O RTE (+10.2 %), A GLE V E N T (+5.0 %), a n d ST A N BIC (+5.0 %) w hile C A D B URY (-9.6 %), UPL (-9.6 %) a n d PZ (-5.0 %) w ere t he w orst p erf orm ers. W it h 3 tra din g sessio ns le f t t o t he

6,000 24,500

close o f t h e ye ar w e exp ect activities in t he e q uities m ark e t t o b e m ajorly by

invest m e n t

m a n a g ers

re-b ala ncin g

of

2,500

p ort f olio.

(1,000)

22,000 03-Oct 06-Oct 09-Oct 12-Oct 15-Oct 18-Oct 21-Oct 24-Oct 27-Oct 30-Oct 02-Nov 05-Nov 08-Nov 11-Nov 14-Nov 17-Nov 20-Nov 23-Nov 26-Nov 29-Nov 02-Dec 05-Dec 08-Dec 11-Dec 14-Dec 17-Dec 20-Dec 23-Dec

drive n

`

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 co m p a ny o w n e d by its users/m e m b ers co nverts in t o a co m p a ny o w n e d by shCo are u hpold o n ers.

Ra t eIn 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 ut u aliz e d com p a ny Th e yield p aid by a fixe d inco m e security. A fixe d inco m e security's co u p o n ra t e is sim ply just t h e a n n u al co u p o n p aym e n ts p aid by t h e issu er rela tive t o t h e b o n d's f ace or p ar valu e.

B6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday,December 26, 2016

So far, so good?

A look back at Energy and Power sector in 2016 Opeoluwani Akintayo The energy sector being the mainstay of the Nigerian economy has been the worsthit during the recession in the out-going year.

The oil glut in the market caused by big-volume producers including Saudi Arabia and the United States in the ‘battle’ for who controls the oil market, succeeded in dragging down the economies of oil-dependent countries such as Nigeria, while those of developed countries still managed to stay afloat.

The US had suspended exportation of its shale oil for many years only to resume, eventually flooding the market, sending prices crashing below $40 per barrel within the year.

Saudi Arabia which is the world’s largest exporter and a member of the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided to retaliate by equally increasing its production, forcing U.S shale oil producers out of the market.

Iran which also had its sanction lifted in January, did not want to be left out in the struggle to reclaim its old market share.

Seeing the effect of the oil glut which had crashed prices in especially developing nations, both OPEC and non-OPEC producers agreed it was time to redeem their economies by agreeing on a cut deal.

It was agreed that a $50 per barrel oil would at least do the magic.

Nigeria said its economy would benefit from the cut only if price hit anything from $54 to$56 per barrel.

By and large, after several deliberations and doubts of a deal, OPEC and non-OPEC producers championed by Russia, finally presented certain amount of barrels to be cut from their productions.

OPEC agreed to cut 1.2 million barrels per day starting from January 2017, while non-OPEC producers said they would cut 558,000 barrels per day, lesser than 600,000 which was earlier projected, starting from this month.

The agreement became a catalyst which eventually pushed the price of oil now above $57 per barrel, and analysts have said $60 per barrel would be achieved in the first half of 2017. The glut in the market is now drying up as a result of the deal.

Even oil at $57 per barrel is still a far cry from the era when oil hovered above $100 per barrel.

Analysts say it could take the market farther that 2017 to hit $100 per barrel again.

However, the world market still fears that U.S shale oil producers might decide to flood the market

Fashola

Kachikwu again with its oil, eventually taking over OPEC’s traditional quota.

And when this happens, “there will be trouble”, according to Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Ibe Kachikwu.

“The shale issue is a major one because if shale begins to mop up production and cut into our traditional shares of OPEC members then, we are going to see some reactions. Everybody is on some sort of watching edge, making sure the deal comes true. Both OPEC and non-OPEC are working to keep to the deal,” he said.

Coming back home, Nigeria was exempted from cutting its output level as a result of its long battle with oil militants in the Niger Delta which had crippled its oil production and export. So, the country did not have to face just the reality that its crude oil had become almost worthless in the international market, it also had to deal with its depleting oil reserve and inability to even join the rest of the world in fully raking in the meagre price oil sold for.

The Niger Delta Avengers, having threatened to cripple the economy as a result of the needs of the region not being met made the country ungovernable even for the federal government. No crude production and export, no earning of foreign exchange for importation, no money to run the economy and carry out capital projects - Nigeria’s economy simply sank into recession.

“We have been in recession and have had very negative growth rate within the last eight months. But if we can get to 2017 and clean the

year out with a growth of between 5%, we will be delighted,” he said.

It makes the situation even worse when as on oil producing nation, Nigeria still has to spend 30 percent of its foreign exchange earnings on refined oil importation, according to Kachikwu.

Kachikwu again submitted that although the oil and gas sector is still a very important sector to Nigeria, he however admitted that Nigeria had lost its years of surplus earnings after failing to invest into other sectors of the economy.

“What is more important is that oil got us here and oil will be used to get us out of this. We have to clean up our oil sector, make sure the right incentives and momentum are there, eliminate corruption and contractual terms that don’t make sense. And then, begin to grow refining because we can’t continue to ship out all the time. We need to get into petrochemicals.

Thirty percent of our foreign exchange burden goes into importation of refined petroleum products. It is regretful for a country that produces billions of barrels of crude not to have working refineries. That’s what we are focused on right now. We have lost years of surplus income that could have been very well applied to other sectors of the economy. Now there is a race against time. We are trying to restructure the economy, move more to agriculture and services.

And the GDPs of these sectors are growing by the day,” he said.

Nigeria has also had to face the hard truth that its crude is having the challenge of finding buyers at

the international market.

Nigeria’s sweet crude grade used to be one of the most sought after at the international market because of its low hydrocarbon. However, the world is gradually shifting towards light crude which analysts said perfectly describes the U.S’ shale oil.

“My experience with India is that the price sensitivity becomes high once it crosses the $60 per barrel, and countries are going to deepen their ability to look for alternatives, and save cost by … limiting their consumption.

However, there is still a good appetite for Nigerian oil in Asian countries but there is sensitivity towards pricing. I believe once the price crosses $60, we are going to begin to see some old level of reaction again,” Kachikwu said while trying to douse fears that Nigeria’s oil is struggling to find buyers at the international market.

Already, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) witnessed the most overhauling, as most industry experts agreed that the company should be run like a real business enterprise. The overhauling saw the removal of fuel subsidy which led to the increment in price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol from N86 to N145 per litre and the renaming of the Petroleum Industry Bill to Petroleum Governance Industry Bill (PGIB), The NNPC was itself split into seven units, and a 12-point agenda put in place

by NNPC’s new Group Managing Director, Maikanti Baru, besides other moves.

What about the power sector?

2016 saw more growth and acceptance of renewable power all over the world. The wide acceptance of renewable type of energy came as a result of crash in value of oil, with many analysts beginning to project into how the likes of electric cars would take over from oil and gaspowered ones in the nearest future, beginning from 2030-2040.

As a result of the low crude price and crises in the Niger Delta, capital projects in the power sector were also stalled in the year.

Up till date, no huge power projects were realized. The power sector merely witnessed several workshops, seminars and conferences, all geared towards deliberating on the way forward for the sector.

The Power Minister, Babatunde Fashola, revealed that the government could not singlehandedly fund capital projects hence, private bodies and individuals were called upon to invest in the sector. The minister also said the generation, transmission and distribution sectors will be privatized. This move puts to rest calls from different quarters that the federal government should de-privatize the sector.

Electricity improved a bit during the year with generation hitting a record of 5000 megawatts. However, the good times did not last long, as generation has since dropped below 3000MW. Vandalism of oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta also led to drop in gas-power production, plunging the country into further darkness.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26, 2016

B7 Insurance

2016: Recession, low penetration, corporate losses roil underwriting

By Ayode Adelowokan The Insurance industry in 2016 has not been left out in the current economic meltdown in the country. About 30 percent of insurance companies have still not presented their 2015 financial records. Up to 95 percent of companies have made losses and unable to pay dividends to their shareholders.

Across the world, insurance is seen as the last hope of the common man. But the penetration level in some African countries has remained low as against Europe, Asia, and South America who are advanced in insurance adoption and acceptance.

Nigeria is not an exemption in this regard, as penetration remains at 0.3 per cent while the contribution of the insurance sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

With the current financial crisis occasioned by high inflation and low disposable income, most individuals and corporate organizations are sacrificing their insurance budget to meet their more immediate needs, until things change.

Yet, experience has shown that the best time to procure insurance is during economic hardship, the values of assets increase every day, meaning it would cost more to replace an asset bought before.

According to a recent report by The Daily Times, at least 17 insurance firms, some quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, are still struggling with their financial records which have kept them from conducting their 2015 Annual General Meeting (AGM).

This compares with 52 licensed insurance companies in the country, according to information on the website of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA).

Some of the companies, from records over the last five years have been unable to present financial scorecards for the regulator, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to scrutinize, not to talk of paying dividends.

Linkage Assurance, African Alliance Insurance, UNIC Insurance, NICON Insurance and Guinea Insurance are still battling regulatory issues, as they were unable to do the needful to have their accounts approved by the insurance industry regulator.

As at 7th of November, 2016, Great Nigeria Insurance, Industrial and General Insurance, Goldlink Insurance, Alliance & General Insurance, Alliance & General Life, Investment & Allied Insurance Plc, Spring Life Assurance Plc,

Mohammed Kari, Commissioner for Insurance, NAICOM Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation and Unitrust Insurance Company had not even submitted their 2015 accounts to the regulatory authority.

Fin Insurance, Equity Assurance and International Energy Insurance that have gotten their accounts approved were unable to brief their respective shareholders on the 2015 financial positions.

Most of the affected underwriters are loss-making institutions and till date are still having challenges balancing their books.

While most of the underwriters are making profits on a yearly basis, the investigation revealed that they devoted most of their profits to clear their negative reserves.

Until they extinguish the debts, shareholders would have to wait longer for returns on their investments.

At AGMs, shareholders have lambasted underwriters for their failure to give them dividend or bonus, especially as some companies has declared nothing to their shareholders in the last five years.

Speaking recently on this development at a seminar organized by the NAICOM for insurance correspondents in Gombe, the Director of Finance and Account at NAICOM, Mr. Nicholas Opara, disclosed that, by regulation, the companies are not allowed to pay a dividend until they clear their negative reserves.

“The commission will always ask them to extinguish the negative reserves before they pay a dividend. Hopefully, most of them are making profit and if it continues, they should be able to declare a dividend in the near future,” he pointed out.

Shareholders of insurance firms across the country are unhappy that their companies, for years, have yet to declare a dividend.

The shareholders, who expressed their grievances at the AGMs of the underwriting firms that had so far held their 2015 AGMs, were unhappy that their companies, in spite of making profits, still could not pay meaningful dividend or bonus to shareholders, while some had their accounts in negative after offsetting their previous debt.

National Chairman of the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Boniface Okezie, was unhappy about the low level of insurance penetration in the country and its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), stating that this has accounted for the below par value at which most of the listed insurance stocks are being sold on the NSE. The shareholders, he pointed out, require return-on-investment and performance, charging insurers to improve in this regard.

Also in the year, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) ordered the 58 insurance companies in the country to cancel any form of channels used to sell their products and services except the ones licensed by the commission.

The commission equally disclosed that all previous and current relationships of underwriting firms with any financial institutions, telecommunication companies, and airlines are no longer valid starting from August 17, 2016.

Henceforth, the Commission wants to license any agency and referral agents that are doing businesses and earning commission from the insurance industry.

Meanwhile, findings show that most underwriting firms who are in partnership with the big telecommunication outfits, such as Glo, MTN, Airtel, and Etisalat on mobile insurance will have to terminate such transactions that are generating the benefiting insurers several millions of naira on a monthly basis. However, the bancassurance arrangement between the banks and insurers has equally been put on hold.

Enforcing its order, NAICOM threatened to sanction any firm who may ignore the order and continue to use financial institutions, telecommunication companies, and airlines, as channels to sell their products and services, unless these distribution agencies are licensed by the commission to do so.

Alhaji Muhammed Kari, Commissioner for Insurance, NAICOM, addressing journalists in Lagos, warned that any insurer who goes against this directive would be sanctioned by the regulatory body.

He stated that the commission had asked banks acting as agency or referrals of insurance firms to offer themselves for licensing by the commission, but got a letter from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last week, saying, NAICOM has no power to license any institution within the purview of the CBN. Without a doubt, the order further reduced the penetration which was celebrated owing to leveraging on the widespread telecommunications’ network in the country.

Furthermore, the insurance industry took the idea of rebranding the industry on a top priority before it was later suspended over inadequate fund for the multi-million naira project.

The multi-million insurance rebranding project was expected to take off in October 2016 after

all financial commitment to the project ended but the committee lamented the inability of its member companies failed to remit their part of the contributions.

The rebranding initiative is funded by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) as well as the 58 insurance companies in the country.

The insurance rebranding project is an innovation of the Insurers’ Committee aimed at deepening insurance acceptance and penetration through massive insurance education and awareness across all states of the federation, with Lagos and Abuja as pilot areas.

Mr. Oye Hassan Odukale, Head, Media and Publicity Sub-Committee of the Insurers’ Committee, at a meeting in the year said that the first phase of this multi-million Naira project will use the online medium such as Facebook, Twitter, and other online platforms to create awareness on the need to subscribe to insurance products and services, following the rapid increase in the number of Internet and online users in the country.

Looking back on the year, Mr Gbadebo Olameru, President of the Association of Registered Insurance Agents of Nigeria (ARIAN), called on Nigerians to take the issue of insurance seriously so that they don’t have to spend more whenever mishap occurs.

He stated that the little money in the economy left people with less disposable income, and this was reducing the level of insurance businesses underwriters were currently getting.

The people, according to him, don’t have money to purchase insurance cover, while the existing customers were not finding it easy to renew their insurances.

“Most people, who have risen above poverty before become poor again because their sources of livelihood were not insured. A manufacturer, who fails to insure his factory just for a token premium, will regret not taking that decision, when fire razes his factory,” he said.

On his part, the managing director, Anchor Insurance Company, Mr. Ademayowa Adeduro, said, “You may think that you don’t have enough money to feed; you only have one car, struggling to pay school fees. What if there is a cut off from that small income you have? The car you bought one year ago, if it is a total write off, how will you replace the car?” he queried.

Business Interview B8

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, December 26 , 2016

Resolving N’Delta militancy will enable Oil and Gas industry thrive - Fawibe The Federal government targeted 7,000 megawatts of electricity generation by end of this year. The year remains two weeks to go and generation averages only 3,000 megawatts. Will this target be achievable?

What do you think the government and other stakeholders should do to improve power supply on sustainable basis?

Well, the issue here is not about installed capacity.

That is, if gas is available to supply to power plants or if there is enough rainfall for the hydro dams, but if these are not available it cannot be achieved. So, government’s projection is based on optimism that, all things being equal, the gas and enough rainfall to power the hydro dams will be available. But if gas is not available there is no way you can achieve the projected megawatts of electricity supply. If there is enough gas for the power plants, meeting 7,000 megawatts will not be an issue.

But availability of gas has been a major problem. The Generating Companies (Gencos) and the Distribution Companies (Discos) have been sensitized to generate and distribute power supply. So also it is not that there is no gas in the country but the militants in the Niger Delta in recent times have been vandalizing the gas pipelines and when it is fixed they vandalize it again and again. This is a major setback to power generation in Nigeria. I have not seen this type of sabotage of the economic system in any other country except Nigeria. So it is worrisome. When you look at this issue you find out that the fundamental elements to make these things work are not there.

The government has to dialogue with the militants to stop bombing of the gas pipelines so that the oil companies will continue their operations in the oil fields. Once this is settled, there will be no problem of gas and meeting 7,000 megawatts target won’t be an issue.

Electricity generation and distribution companies say debts amounting

The energy industry has been hard hit by the crash in the global oil price and the militancy in the Niger Delta. The Chairman/CEO of International Energy Services Limited, Dr. Diran Fawibe, in this interview with Simon Ugwu, proffers solution to the problems. to about N1 trillion militate against their anticipated performance and the chunk of this debt is owed by government ministries, departments and agencies, what is your take on this?

It is very interesting that the government has decided to pay N100 billion out of what the government ministries, department and agencies owe. This has been announced and if the government backs up the announcement with action, the Gencos and Discos will be able to plough back this money into further development and the economy will be better for it. It is not just about paying this; government must be able to set up a mechanism to pay for electricity consumption by these government ministries, agencies and departments on a continuous basis. It is not after paying this you go into another round of owing the Discos. It will not work.

Vandalism of power equipment and energy theft through bypass of meters and illegal connections has become a challenge. What is the way out?

The Gencos, Discos and the stakeholders in the power sector don’t have the authority to enforce the law.

The government has given the authority to the law enforcement agents to take punitive measures against those who have violated the law in terms of theft and vandalism. The law enforcement agencies must do their work. But Nigerians should think twice. Why engaging in self destruction?

There should be a change of attitude but in any society you always have a case of people who are deviants.

So, this is where the role of law enforcement agents comes to play; not only the police but the law courts.

If anybody is arrested for vandalism and is charged to court, the court should

Fawibe adjudicate the case speedily. So that justice takes its course to serve as a deterrent to others.

Oil production stands at 1.6 million barrels per day while targeted production is 3 million barrels. What can the government do to optimize production?

Nigeria is currently producing average of 1.6 million barrels a day not because we don’t have the capacity to produce more but simply because of the restiveness of the militants in the Niger Delta.

So the militants should be engaged in dialogue to stop the vandalism in the Niger

Delta. It is heartwarming that Nigeria has been exempted from production cut down by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which is the consideration of the serious economic challenges being experienced by Nigeria. Last week, the government also took another step by exiting the cash calls obligation. So, oil producing companies will no longer have any constraint in carrying out oil production as long as the market can absorb it. In the past, because government cannot cope in its own share of the cost of production, it affected the operations of the oil companies. All things being equal,

we will be producing more than 2.2 million barrels projected per day in 2017.

The production capacity will increase substantially as there will be resources to operate seamlessly by the companies. All these revolve around peace in the Niger Delta. So hopefully, next year will be a better year.

When there is fall in the oil price as being experienced now, Nigeria is hard hit. How can the government overcome this challenge in the future?

We should learn a big lesson from what happened last year and this year, we

had the problem of eating with our whole fingers in the mouth. We were not making provision for the rainy day. The state governors were agitating to share from the excess crude account and also from the federation account.

Though, they were warned.

They turned deaf ears to the warnings by former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. It was a tugof-war to establish the Sovereign Wealth Fund.

While some other countries have up to $700 billion in their Sovereign Wealth Fund, Nigeria could only boast of a little over $1 billion. So we have to save for the rainy day. We have to be judicious in managing the resources. So, apart from stopping the stealing, we should also stop reckless spending of our resources that should be invested in strategic projects that will enable the economy to be self-sufficient. We should pursue aggressively, the non-oil sector development so that some of the things we were spending our foreign exchange to buy will be produced locally. For instance, if we achieve self sufficiency in food production, we will save the foreign exchange spent on importation of food. We should internalize in our people that we should produce what we need and that will have the multiplier effect on the economy. So, that is the only way we can develop. The crash in the global oil price we have been experiencing since 2014 is a cycle. One cannot say it will not happen again. Unfortunately, this time around, the crash in the global oil price is a prolonged one. One may not see the global oil price rising above $100 per barrel for some time. The question is, have we learnt enough lessons from the recession?

This is the time to prepare for the next recession because it will certainly happen again.

Life&

TIMES Monday, December 26, 2016

Linda Ejiofor: On career, relationship & stardom

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Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, December 26, 2016

When the right man comes my way, I will marry-Linda Ejiofor Linda Ejiofor, one of the promising Nollywood stars, is famed for her role in the popular TV soap, Tinsel. Bimpe, as she is fondly called by her fans,

What was growing up like for you?

It was the best childhood ever. I mean I had fun and I am happy that my parents gave birth to more kids with brothers and sisters.

What memories of your childhood days do you love the most? talk to and play with. I, also, had my father who tells us folk tale at night; you know all those things at night when you are sleeping or you are about to go to bed and there is no light and you just surround your father. My father told us stories, he said this is what we usually get when we were in the village with our parents and children will surround us. We gathered around and listen to stories.

My father told us stories and we learnt a lot from the tortoise and the lion and monkeys and we sang some

songs, some folk tale songs

and I pray that my father sees his grandchildren because I will so love him to say those stories to them because I could not remember how to sing those songs but I will love him to sing those songs to them.

How did your journey into acting start?

mouth, is that the real Linda in real set?

Those are the writers, they are the ones writing this thing, but Linda Ihoma Ejiofor, is that how I am

State to study Sociology, I had done a diploma course in Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. I think I was at the University of Ibadan for about three months.

However, when I was getting into the groove and enjoying

sometimes my mum would be like slow down,I am not hearing what you are saying and my siblings talk too fast too.

His plan will always set the motion. So, here I am as an actress again with his full support and I have made him proud.

In other words, I will like act two or three people at the

How did you come to play Bimpe in Tinsel? about her because she was just dumb. When I read my script and saw all the stupid things she had to do and the stupid questions she asked, I just concluded that she was dumb and sarcastic. She was supposed to know the answers to the questions, but she never got it. So, I was always complaining to the director. But the writer kept telling me to enjoy the character. He would say the only way to love the character is to enjoy the character; and before I knew it, I started enjoying the character. So, I had to go and watch a lot of dumb movies like Legally Blonde.

At a point, I had to go and watch Devil Wears Prada

love to play because I think being good is overrated. Too many people are playing good roles; so, I want to do something else.

Are your parents not bent on your getting married soon?

When the right man comes, I will get married.

Tinsel, over the years, has provided platforms for new couples, will Tinsel provide you a man someday?

Are you serious? Hmm you mean that platform would provide me a man in Tinsel or outside Tinsel. If God says this is who I am to marry on Tinsel, who am I to say no.

What qualities are you looking for?

God fearing, smart man who listens and can tell me

how to be like these people.

Life&

T E A M

On Tinsel set, we have this Bimpe with sharp

Entertainment Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Abimbola Obatayo

hear it. He would stand by me and give me advice when I am wrong.

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, December 26, 2016

Nutrition

Gbemisola Soremekun

Date fruit:

More than just a fruit -

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Nutritional values of dates

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Wellness L4

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday, December 26, 2016

Mutiat Alli

Tips on how to lose baby weight From the moment the baby weight starts to accumulate, the scheming starts on how to lose it after the baby is born. After the

Breastfeed: When a nursing mother breastfeeds, she needs an extra 500 calories a day or about 2,700 in total. Breastfeeding burns up to 600/800 calories a day. Even if all you do is just sitting comfortably and feeding the baby, you could still loose weight.

With this method some lucky women drop all their baby fat. But be informed that as soon as you stop breastfeeding, your calories will increase and you could add more weight if your diet isnt adjusted or if

Lift weights, get strong: Weight training goes a long way when it comes to speeding up your metabolism. Instead of going to the gym and investing your time into lifting some sets of dumb bells, Jeffreys advices that you incorporate your chest and do lunges or doing lunges behind the stroller as you walk. You can also lie on your back, holding the baby above your chest and slowly press her up toward the ceiling several times.

Watch calories: variety of nutrient rich meals containing whole grains, vegetables, fresh fruits, lean protein and plenty of low fat dairy products. Experts advise against going on a diet immediately after child birth. “To get your body is working to repair itself.

Eating small, frequent meals throughout the day will keep your blood-sugar levels steady and will juice. All the Vitamin C needed for a day is in a potentially naughty cravings will be kept in check. help prevent you from over eating. Also watch the small glass of orange juice.

Any more than that will be Eat healthful snacks: Eating much sugar can drinking extra calories. send your blood-sugar levels very high. And when Take naps: “Getting plenty of sleep has been shown to help with weight loss because

whatever it is you lay your hands on. To avoid temptation, keep only nutritious foods at home, stock up on low fat milk and yogurt can aid weight loss by blocking a hormone that allows the body store fat.

calorie, high sugar foods cycles like those forced on you by a new born can upset your metabolism and make it harder to lose your pregnancy weight.

Take a nap anytime the baby does, leave the housework. That way,

your energy levels and

wheat crackers with veggies, can help with digestion and regularity.

Get with other new moms: Getting with other new moms for regular exercise can be helpful. Some new moms form an early morning running group. Sometimes doing it alone can be boring and discouraging. Doing exercises in pairs can bring about friendly conversations and also help your regularity towards your goal.