Dtn 8 12 16

THE

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TIMES

Data rate hike Groups fault inevitable –NCC ‘prosecution’ Lateef Ibrahim, of Jonathan’s Abuja family members ÏÏÏ

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on Wednesday, hinted that data rate hike by telecom operators in the country was inevitable, citing high cost of foreign exchange, poor power supply and taxation as some of the reasons for this.

The NCC however quickly added that before the review of the

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ÏÏÏ A coalition of ethic nationalities across six geo-political zones of Nigeria on Wednesday, proContinued on page 6

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 251

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GAINERS AS AT December 7, 2016

Ï Senate screens EFCC boss today

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Southern Kaduna killings: Hold

el-Rufai responsible –Senator Ï Wants gov prosecuted for being accessory to mass murder Ï Accuses him of concealing findings on alleged genocide Ï Challenges him to produce killers, having identified culprits, locations Ï Asks gov to reveal how much of state’s funds have been spent on killers

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏ The Senator represent-

ing Kaduna South senatorial district in the National Assembly, Danjuma Tella

Laah has said that the state governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai should be held responsible for the ongoing killings of defenseless and Continued on page 6

‘Nigeria lacks will to retrieve oil wells from IOCs’ 5 Pensioners to 5 protest in Owerri over unpaid arrears

L-R: National Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Mai Mala Buni; National Chairman, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, when Saraki and APC Senators visited the National Secretariat of the party, in Abuja… on Wednesday.

Why we redeployed Wike’s CSO 20 –IGP 5 Court gives Justice Ngwuta more time for defence 12

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

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Editorial Nigeria and physically challenged citizens

L

ast Saturday, December 3 the world marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The annual event, aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well being of persons with disabilities. It, also, seeks to emphasise the gains that come from the integration of such persons in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The theme for this year’s celebration is: “ Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want”. This theme notes the recent adoption of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the role of these goals in building a more inclusive and equitable world for persons with disabilities.

Moreover, it points out how physically challenged persons are excluded from society by promoting the removal of all types of barriers, including those relating to the physical environment, information and communications technology (ICT), or attitudinal barriers.

It is estimated that one billion people living with disabilities worldwide face many barriers to inclusion in many key aspects of society. As a result, they do not enjoy access to society on an equal basis with others, which includes areas of transportation, employment, and education as well as social and political participation. According to statistics from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social development (FMWASD), there are more than 20 million Nigerians living with one form of disability or the other. Definitely, these Nigerians have the right to participate in public life in order to reduce inequalities in the society. It is therefore imperative for the government to empower the physically challenged in the society.

This will enhance their own capaci-

ties and enable them set their own priorities. Such empowerment involves investing in job opportunities, health, nutrition, education, and social protection.

There is no denying that when people are empowered they are better prepared to take advantage of opportunities, they become change agents and can more readily embrace their civic responsibilities. Despite being a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), successive Nigerian governments have continued to place the least emphasis on the welfare of those with disabilities.

For example, our roads and highways do not have dedicated lanes for persons with disabilities. In addition, vehicles and high-rise buildings lack facilities for the physically challenged to access them easily. The plight of the disabled is even more pathetic when it comes to their families and communities as many are regarded as source of shame, even as they are treated as objects of charity by the larger society. Even the few vocational institutes set up for them by the various levels of government are ill-equipped and ill-maintained; so it is no surprise that many of them end up on the streets as beggars while others turn to drugs and other socially unacceptable practices for means of livelihood.

A country’s development is measured by its attitude towards the physically challenged population.

This is why we applaud the Senate for passing the Bill to prohibit Discrimination against persons with disability”. This will not only protect the interests of this discriminated section of society, but also restore their dignity. Signing the bill into law will reaffirm their faith in themselves and most especially in their country, Nigeria.

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L-R: President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Mr. Anthony Arabome; Director, Human Resources, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Gbemiga Owolabi; Registrar/CEO, CIPM, Mr. Sunday Adeyemi and immediate past president, CIPM, Mr. Victor Famuyibo, during the conferment of Fellowship award on Owolabi at the 48th Annual Conference of CIPM in Abuja… recently.

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Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal (middle) during the commissioning of the newlyinstalled 60 MVA power transformer at the Sokoto Transmission Station … on Wednesday.

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Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (left) and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee to Works, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, when Okechukwu led a delegation of the committee on a courtesy visit at Government House, Enugu… on Wednesday.

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Any priest who preaches resurrection of Jesus Christ without seeing the resurrection of the economy - is wasting his time

Ibrahim Babangida

Wole Soyinka

“The work of Nigeria is not complete for as long as there is any one Nigerian who goes to bed on empty stomach.”

“The greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.”

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

5 News

Why we redeployed Wike’s CSO, says IGP Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Nigeria Police has

explained the reason behind the redeployment of DSP Promise Nwosu, the Chief Security Officer to Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, saying it was due to his gross professional misconduct.

Force headquarters said it observed the innuendos, distortion of facts and wild allegations peddled in the mass media following the redeployment of the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Governor of Rivers state, DSP Nwosu.

The Police, in a statement signed by DCP Don N. Awunah, recalled that on Novem-

ber 17, 2016 during peaceful demonstrations of an opposition party in the state, the All Progressive Congress (APC), the Chief Security Officer to the governor, DSP Nwosu, was found among the protesting party faithful in a manner prejudicial to discipline and displaying conduct unexpected of an officer of his calibre and office.

It said that in the course of monitoring the public protest, an Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in Rivers state, observed the presence of the CSO among the protesting partisan crowd, describing it as illegal, unlawful and outside prescribed schedule of

the duties of a CSO. “The active presence of the CSO to the governor in a partisan crowd of an opposition party to the governor in a clandestine and suspicious manner was considered mischievous and detrimental to the security of the state and public order and also contrary to his oath of office which constitute an offence against discipline.

“When challenged by a superior officer demonstrated brazen indiscipline, the CSO showed disrespect to the senior officer, exhibiting conduct that violates all known norms of the force.

“Accordingly, the CSO was officially queried for discred-

itable conduct, insubordination, engaging in partisan political activities, illegal duty and act unbecoming of a public officer”, the police headquarters explained.

As a result of such gross misconduct and apparent partisanship, the statement noted, the IGP ordered the redeployment of the CSO pending further disciplinary action. The IGP has also constituted an investigative inquiry into the officer’s alleged open engagement in political activities, disrespect to senior officers and unethical practices.

The police said that it was absolutely imperative that its officers and men are insulated from partisan politics. The IGP

therefore warned all police officers in any capacity to desist from acts that portray the force in a bad light and question the integrity of the personnel.

In addition, that statement said, any police officer, especially CSOs, Aides-de-Camp (ADCs), and orderlies attached to political officer holders or senior government officials who engage in activities outside the official schedule, would be removed and made to face severe disciplinary action.

The police therefore stressed that it was instructive to maintain that “the redeployment of the CSO to Governor Wike must not be misconstrued or misinterpreted as it is widely re-

ported in the media. The police force must not be drawn to direct partisan politics and acts that are inimical to peace and public order.”

It also explained that the governor, as Chief Security Officer of the state, is at liberty to select any officer of his choice from the strength of the command to serve as his CSO but under no circumstance should any officer abandon the security of his principal and legitimate duties to engage in direct partisan politics or conversely should any political office holder use police officers attached to them for political machinations.

‘Nigeria lacks will to retrieve oil wells from IOCs’

Emmanuel Iriogbe, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Yussuff Lasun, yesterday, disclosed that Nigeria remains the only country in the world that does not take back its oil wells from foreign companies even after expiration of their contracts.

Lasun spoke when he inaugurated the ad-hoc committee charged with the investigation of an alleged $17bn stolen from undeclared crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports to global destinations.

The Deputy Speaker said he noticed that the country and its people lacked a grasp of the workings of the oil industry when he served as

a youth corps member over 30 years ago in Shell and that nothing has changed.

According to him; “I trained as a mechanical engineer and served with Shell Petroleum Development Company and what I saw there 30 years ago educated me that we do not have the grasp of the oil industry and nothing has changed till date.

“We do not know how to make retrieval of our oil wells from foreign companies. Olobiri ran dry and never given to the Nigerian government. Saudi Arabia retrieved their oil wells from America many years ago.

Also, it is disheartening to note that no Nigerian is involved in the business of the 5,000 vessels that leaves the country with our crude

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano (middle); Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (3rd left) and other military officers during a courtesy visit on Obiano in Awka, Anambra State… on Wednesday. yearly.”

Meanwhile, Speaker Yakubu Dogara has stated that if government is able to curb all oil related corruption in the country, we will be able to reduce corruption in the country by over 80 per cent.

He said this is due to the

fact that stolen oil and gas income has serious consequences on the economy and the people. “It benefits the elite few, while at the same time fuelling conflicts for us all, thereby creating instability in the body polity,” the Speaker said through

his deputy, Lasun at the ceremony.

Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Rep. Abdulrazaq Namdas, in his opening speech, stated that to date, there are many reports about illegal bunkering in Nigeria but none of these reports have

accurately established the figures of crude oil taken illegally from the country. He therefore posted that “by the grace of God, we will try to establish accurate figures of Nigerian crude oil stolen and sold to buyers, globally between 2010 and 2015.”

Pensioners to protest in Owerri over unpaid arrears

Val Okara, Owerri

ÏÏÏThe Nigeria Union of

Pensioners (NUP) in Imo state, has concluded plans to stage a peaceful demonstration in Owerri the state capital on December 12 to mark this year’s Pensioners Day celebration.

The protest, the union said, is to draw public attention to the continued refusal of the state government to pay 76 months’ arrears of pension and gra-

tuities owed to them in the state.

The state chairman of the NUP, Chief Gideon Ezeji, dropped the hint on Wednesday in Owerri, while briefing journalists on the activities lined up for the 2016 Pensioner’s Day. He said that Imo pensioners have been hearing that government will pay their pensions, but “should that fail, on December 12, which is the day we will mark this year’s Pensions Day, we

will demonstrate over our plights.’’

Ezeji said that each branch of NUP across the 27 Local Government Areas will transport between five and 10 persons to Owerri to join the demonstration, saying the demonstration will take off from the Imo State House of Assembly complex Owerri and spread to other parts of the state capital.

“The reason for the demonstration is to draw public attention to the continued

punishment of pensioners and to clearly condemn move by Gov. Okorocha to force pensioners to sign off 60 per cent of the arrears of pensions and gratuities owed them. ``The pensioners of Imo state say capital no to any partial payment of our pension and gratuities and Gov. Okorocha and he the governor should note that our monthly pension and gratuities are the only wealth most pensioners have.’’

According to him, it is unthinkable for the state government to say that they will pay pensioners only 40 per cent of the arrears owed them, while the pensioners forfeit the remaining 60 per cent of their money to the state government.

He lamented that the world over, it is not heard that a debtor will force the person he owes to accept a paltry sum of what he feels he could offer to pay.

He regretted that the

State Lawmakers have been have passive over the plights of pensioners, stressing that,``we have written Imo State speaker and 26 other state lawmakers, none of them have shown concern over our predicament.’’

He further disclosed that retirees from Alvan Ikokwu College of Education Owerri are being owed for 76 months Local Government pensioners, 33 months, while the civil pensioners are owed 22 months.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

S’ Kaduna killings: Hold el-Rufai responsible –Senator

Continued from page 1

innocent natives and the destruction of their villages by the socalled ‘Fulani herdsmen.’

As the Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial Zone, I hereby wish to make my assertion, and indeed, views and position of my constituency on some very vexing and serious utterances made by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state as it concerns the survival and wellbeing of Southern Kaduna.

The Senator, in a statement made available to The Daily Times in Abuja, said Governor Nasir el-Rufai should be prosecute after his term in office for being an accessory to mass murder, and his refusal to reveal these findings to the rightful authority “for actions to stop the evil that is spreading to many states today.”

“El-Rufai should be held to produce the killers of innocent Nigerians since he has been able to identify them and their locations.

This will lead to their sponsors in Nigeria and other places. Nigeria should then use its diplomatic relationship and extradite these murderers of its citizens, plunderers and arsonists to face justice in Nigeria.”

He called on el-Rufai to also state how much of Kaduna state’s scarce resources have been moved to these killers and whether he has the authority of the law to so spend the money on enemies of Kaduna and Nigeria.

The senator also called on the federal government, especially the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), the Army, Police, Directorate of State Services (DSS) and other security agents to prevail on Governor el-Rufai to produce the people killing the Southern Kaduna natives, since he (el-Rufia) claimed he has paid money to the dreaded Fulani men to stop the killings.

Laah said, “This is from the outcome of Newspapers’ and on-

line captions quoting Governor Nasir el-Rufai as saying that he has had to trace some of the murderous herdsmen that have been killing defenseless, innocent Southern Kaduna natives and destroying their villages. The news sources said that after tracing them, he told them that he was also a Fulani man and paid them sums of money to stop the massacre, burning and tearing down of scores of communities in Southern Kaduna.”

According to Laah, the Governor also uttered a very bizarre threat that he has compiled, for arrest and prosecution, names of persons asking the people of Southern Kaduna to defend themselves against the obvious inability of the chief security officer of the state (Governor Nasir el-Rufai) to secure their lives and property and save them the trauma of being under perpetual fear

of further unprovoked violence.

“Knowing how swiftly he reacts to any untoward issue unfairly thrown at him in the media, I have waited for days to hear or read a rebuttal from him but to no avail. This therefore confirms these unfortunate utterances as truly that of the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir elRufai,” he stated.

Continuing, he said, “I wish to state that these statements are not only unfortunate, callous, insensitive, crude and demeaning of his office and intelligence, it throws him up as a bigot and we feel he is culpable in the ongoing genocide in Southern Kaduna,” he said.

A December 4, 20016 edition of a (not Daily Times) under the headline: “Foreigners Behind Southern Kaduna Massacre, el-Rufai, the senator said, was quoted as saying about what hap-

pened during the 2011 post presidential election violence thus: “Some of them (killer Fulani) were from Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Mali and Senegal,” adding that “Many of these people were killed, cattle lost and they organised themselves and came back to revenge. We took certain steps. We got a group of people that were going round, trying to trace some of these people in Cameroon, Niger Republic and so on to tell them that there is a new governor, who is Fulani like them and has no problem paying compensations for lives lost and he is begging you to stop the killing,” the statement noted.

It went further to state that “In most of the communities, once that appeal was made to them, they said they have forgiven.

There is one or two that asked for monetary compensation. They said they have forgiven the death

of human beings, but want compensation for cattle. We said no problem, some we paid.”

Sen Laah therefore called on all Kaduna State natives, all Hausa and Fulani of our area, who are genuinely interested in peace to forget about political, tribal and religious leanings and come together in prayers and for genuine dialogue amongst us as the last option left for peace and security in Southern Kaduna.

“My colleague and I in the National Assembly will continue to do our best to secure federal assistance to add to what we are doing at home against this evil.

“However, as it has become manifest through the utterances, actions and inactions of Governor Nasir el-Rufai, law abiding indigenes of Kaduna must prepare to defend themselves using Continued on page 12

L-R: Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike; Chairman, Rivers State Private Hospitals Loan Scheme, Prof. Blessing Didia; Commissioner for Health, Dr. Theophilus Odagme and representative of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Ibitoru Korubo, during the disbursement of N500 million Private Hospitals Loan Scheme by Wike, at Government House, Port Harcourt… on Wednesday.

Groups fault prosecution of Jonathan’s family members Continued from page 1

tested against the persecution of former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and a cousin to the former President, Roberts Azibaola and his wife, Stella, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on alleged phantom charges under the guise of war against corruption.

This is even as the groups alleged that operatives of EFCC, Department of State Services (DSS) and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had twice invaded the Abuja residence of the former first lady, fortunately in her absence without any formal notice or warrant to that effect.

The protest coincided with the

disclosure on Wednesday that the Senate will today screen Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

At the protest rally held at the Federal Secretariat, the coalition comprising of Ijaw Youths, Ohanaeze Ndigbo youths, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, and Yoruba Youth Council, among others, expressed their displeasure on the way and manner the EFCC has been embarrassing the former president through blackmails called prosecution.

The protesters carrying various inscriptions lampooning the anti-graft agency called on the National Assembly and concerned Nigerians to help in ar-

resting the ugly trend.

Consequently, in a jointly signed communiqué issued by leaders of various ethic nationalities and addressed to the leadership of the National of Assembly, appealed to the federal lawmakers to call EFCC to order on its alleged witch-hunting exercise against the former president’s family members.

They called on the federal lawmakers to make anti-graft agency adhere strictly to the principle of rule of law in any of its operations being an agency set up by an Act of Parliament.

“An agency set up by an Act of Parliament in constitutional democracy can definitely not be allowed to be turned into a tool for witch-hunting of perceived

enemies by any government in power,” they said.

They specifically condemned the freezing of the account of former first lady and other innocent people related to her without any investigation, saying “this is direct violation of one of three cardinal tenets of the rule of law as regards promotion of human and protection from arbitrariness.”

According to them, the socalled prosecution of Patience Jonathan in particular by the EFCC on alleged money laundering is nothing but media trial, which they say will not in any way add any value to the war against corruption.

Meanwhile, the Senate will today, conduct hearing on Mr.

Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the EFCC. The confirmatory hearing is taking place after about five months of receiving his letter of appointment and request for confirmation as the chairman of the EFCC. Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary session on Wednesday, gave the hint.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had in July this year, in a letter addressed to the Senate President Bukola Saraki, requested the confirmation of Magu’s appointment but not a word had been said to it since then, giving rise to different speculations in the media.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday December 8, 2016

7 News

Oyegun seeks cooperation in APC for quality leadership

DHQ expresses readinesss to combat trans-border crimes

Tom okpe, Abuja

Michael Uzendu, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has called for unity and cooperation within the party to enable the deliverance of quality leadership and deliverance of dividends of democracy to the people.

Oyegun led the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on Wednesday to hold its inaugural meeting with the leadership of the Senate APC Caucus at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.

The Senate APC Caucus leadership led by the President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, Dr. Bukola Saraki has other members including Sen. Ali-Ndume Senate Leader; Sen. Bala Ibn Na’Allah, Senate Deputy Majority Leader and Sen. Olusola Adeyeye, Senate Chief Whip.

Oyegun said, “I want to welcome you most warmly to this first formal interaction between the NWC of the party and the leadership of the Senate. As they say, it is better late than never.

What is important is that as at today, the party is at a critical juncture in its existence and we have the opportunity to take a strong look at the party, an opportunity to take a strong look at our control of the Senate and our leadership of the Senate, the opportunity to draw up a new basis of cooperation between the Party, its members in the Senate and of course the executive because we all belong to one Party”.

“Unfortunately, it is clear, it is public knowledge, that our very first steps when we came in to office created problems and the very nature itself of the amalgamating parties, created its own issues all of which has tended up till now to affect the mode of operations and the level of interactions between the various arms of government and the Party.

So we have a unique, Godgiven opportunity to take a look at ourselves, take a look at the National Assembly, take a look at the Party and take a look at the way we all interact between us and the government. It is my hope that we will at the end of it all be able to present to the

Nigerian public, a government, a party and a National Assembly that are all working in the same direction.

“The economy is tough as a result, people are going through hard times and it is certainly not acceptable that the public, looking up at us will not see that we are all concentrated, determined, focused on issues that will ameliorate not just the economy but the conditions of living for the ordinary Nigerian.

“I hope we will deepen this interaction and that the public of this nation will start seeing a new relationship, a new party, a new National Assembly and indeed a focused and committed governance of the people.”

Oyegun commended the Senate and the entire National Assembly for the way they have worked so far with the Executive saying, “We are determined and we concluded that we must work closely together to address some of the glitches that still exist, the relationship between the National Assembly and the executive.

“We want to assure the general public that they will see results that will lift their spirits in the next few weeks and months to follow.

It means that an end is in sight. We have started the process, but there are issues to be resolved and there is no question at all that we are a family and when things have gone wrong, we are determined to right those wrongs”, he said.

The Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki in his remarks thanks the chairman and the party leaders for the invitation to the inaugural meeting.

Speaking to journalists after the two hour meeting, Saraki said, “First of all, formally we both bared our minds, We told ourselves hard truths but at the end of the day we accepted that certain things were not done but we accepted to move forward, work closely with the Party for the interest of building the Party because of Nigerians that believe in us; we need to work closely together and we are hopeful that a new chapter is being opened today and we are committed to the hopes and aspirations we gave Nigerians who came out to vote a year and half ago”.

ÏÏÏThe Defence Headquar-

ters has expressed its readiness to comfront tran-border criminals and other criminal activities hatched outside the shores of this country.

This was made known Wednesday by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin during the opening ceremony of the Meeting of Multinational Joint Military Technical Cooperation between Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo, Niger and Nigeria on Joint Border Protection.

In a statement in Abuja

by the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar, The Army boss who was represented by the Director of Training DHQ, Rear Admiral Jonathan Ango, reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Armed Former to protect Nigeria’s borders against trans-border crimes and to checkmate the security challenges in the North East posed by remnants of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

According to him, the military will not spare any efforts to weed the country of transborder criminals, adding that

they are ready to partner with allied forces from France and other countries to crush all external aggression.

He pointed out that no effort will be spared to contain trans-border criminal activities. He expressed Defence Headquarters’ (DHQ) readiness to partner with the French Military in technical assistance and synergy in order to protect the West African borders in the fight against insurgency .

He pointed out that all countries sharing borders with Nigeria must work together to ensure the security of its people and borders just

as he appreciated the French Government and other French speaking countries for their tremendous support in the area of intelligence sharing, training and fight against terrorism assuring the meeting that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would be doing its best to ensure that trans-border crimes are reduced to minimum.

Olonisakin noted that terrorism transcends border crimes and challenged all regional countries to collaborate in the elimination of the menace posed by terrorist elements still operating in the fringes of the region.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (2nd right); Commissioner for Works, Dr. Eziuche Ubani (2nd left) and others during an inspection tour of Faulks Road under reconstruction in Aba, Abia State… on Wednesday.

FG: Restoring oil production output our immediate priority Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, Wednesday said that Nigeria’s immediate priority was to get oil production output back to the desired level to secure revenue needed to diversify the economy.

Senator Udoma told the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Director for Africa, Mr Abdoulaye Mar Deiye, in Abuja, that although the country is focused on diversification of its economy, it needs oil to get out of

the oil-propelled economy.

He explained that though the global slump in oil prices introduced some shocks that affected the country’s economy, the immediate reason for the slump into recession is the massive reduction in output caused by militancy in the oil-bearing Niger Delta region.

While exploring a number of engagements that will ensure return of normal production activities in the region, the Minister said government is intensely focused on a long term economic agenda that will ensure sustainable economic growth and develop-

ment.

The visiting UNDP Regional Director was briefed on the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (NERGP) that is currently being finalized by the Federal Government; a draft of which the Minister promised to share with the UN System for inputs before its finalization.

The Minister acknowledged the support of the UNDP particularly in the area of technical assistance, including capacity building and the humanitarian situation in the North East.

In his response, Mr

Deiye was delighted that the Ministry of Budget and National Planning was given the coordinating role of the situation in the North East and indicated UNDP’s willingness to support the Ministry to ensure success in its defined goals.

He said UNDP was aware of the current complexity of the situation in Nigeria, particularly with respect to the security challenges and the oil price collapse, noting that the fall in oil price which is the country’s main source of revenue has also affected budget implementation.

News 8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

Buhari submits action plan for Open Government Partnership in Paris Ibe Uwaleke

ÏÏÏPresident

Muhammadu Buhari formally submitted the National Action Plan for the implementation of the Open Government Partnership(OGP) principles on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Paris this morning.

This is part of an ongoing effort by the Federal Government to enthrone a culture of transparency and accountability in conducting its affairs.

According to a press statement issued by comrade Salihu Othman Isah, the special adviser on media and publicity to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, (SAN), the AGF who is leader of the Nigerian

delegation to the fourth summit of the OGP in France represented President Buhari at the event.

In his speech at the OGP 4th Global Summit in Paris, France, National Work Plan, the President frowned at how corruption has allowed the public resources originally made for development of the country to fritter away.

Buhari reiterated the commitment of his government to do away with the culture of opacity through transparent management of public resources and responsiveness to the aspiration of his citizens.

He expressed the determination of his leadership to continue to strenghten public institutions in the country and to foster inclusiveness in order to regain the trust of citizens and stake-

holders in the public sector.

The Nigeria OGP National Action Plan spans into four key thematic areas, namely: fiscal transparency, anticorruption, access to information, and citizen engagement. The commitments were co-created through a robust collaboration between government and civil society.

Some of the key deliverables are open budgeting, open contracting, revenue transparency, and a publication of a register of beneficial ownership especially in the extractive industry among others. These arose from the issues that Mr. President committed to during the anti-corruption ummit in London in May, 2016 aimed at consolidating ongoing reform efforts over the next two years.

To recount, “The OGP is an interna-

tional multi-stakeholder initiative focused on improving transparency, accountability, citizen participation and responsiveness to citizens through technology and innovation.

“It brings together government and civil society champions of reforms who recognizes that governments are more likely to be more effective and credible when governance is subjected to public scrutiny, input and oversight.

At the national level, OGP introduces a domestic policy mechanism through which the government and civil society can have an ongoing dialogue. At the international level, it provides a global platform to connect, empower and support domestic reformers committed to transforming governments and societies through

openness.

Malami, who is also the Co-Chair of OGP in Nigeria, noted that the Federal Government of Nigeria will work assiduously to ensure that all the fourteen commitments contained in the plan are realized within the timeline set in the National Action Plan.

He re-echoed with delight that Nigeria has now joined the global elite club of reformers and that the principles of OGP are consistent with the policies embarked upon by the Buhari administration.

The Minister praised the leadership of the civil society who participated in co-creating the OGP National Action Plan for their collaboration and promised that government will continue to partner with them all through the implementation period.

$2.1b arms fraud: Shuaib’s absence stalls Dasuki, others trial Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÏÏÏ

The absence in court of Mr. Salisu Shuaibu, a former director of finance and account (DFA) in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) yesterday stalled the trial of Col. Ibrahim Dasuki (rtd.) and others, Trial judge,Justice Baba Yusuf on Wednesday adjourned the trial to January 25, 2017 following the absence of the second defendant Salisu Shuaibu who was reported to be ill.

Justice Yusuf said the second defendant had never been absent in court since the trial began and for that reason, “the court is obliged to grant the request for the adjournment.”

Consequently, he adjourned the trial to January 25, 2017 with the consent of the lawyers in the matter. He also adjourned the second case involving same parties that was transferred from Justice Peter Affen’s court to him to January 24, 2017 for mention.

When the cases were called yesterday the prosecution counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe informed the court that he had been served with the medical report of the defendant confirming that he had been hospitalized.

He further told the court that the trial could not proceed in the absence of the defendant. He therefore applied for a short adjournment pending the recovery of the defendant.

Counsel to Shuaib, Mr. Adetayo Adeyemo apologized to the court that his client could not attend the court session because of his illness. He said the medical report of his client has been filed and served on the prosecution counsel and other parties in the matter.

Lawyers who represented other defendants did not object to the application for adjournment on the ground that Salisu had always been present in court since the charge was filed against them.

Recession: More hard times await states in 2017, say revenue boss Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

ÏÏÏStates of the federation

are to go through more difficult economic period as the current economic recession in Nigeria bites harder, chairman Kwara Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), Dr Muritala Awodun has said.

He said with the incessant spate of bombings taking place by militants in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria the prices of crude oil is likely to decline further. A situation, which he said would make it

more difficult for many states that depend heavily on funds from the federal account to recover from recession.

Awodun made the submission Wednesday, when he featured on the 16th edition of Media Parliament, a news platform of the Kwara Sate Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) where he spoke on ‘‘Sustainability of Public Revenue and Challenges of Economic Recovery’’, held at the Press center Ilorin.

L-R: Director, MTN Foundation, Mrs. Aishatu Sadauki; Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Sen. Aisha Jummai AlHassan and Senior Special Adviser to the President on Disability Matters, Dr. Samuel Ankeli, at the commemoration of the 2016 International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Abuja...recently.

Ex-NIMASA DG re-arraigned over alleged N8bn fraud Oguntade Ismaila

ÏÏÏThe Economic and Finan-

cial Crimes Commission, EFCC on December 5, 2016 re-arraigned a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi; Major General Emmanuel Atewe; Kime Enzogu and Josephine Otuaga before Justice S.Saidu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on a 22-count amended charge of conspiracy, stealing and money laundering to the tune of N8, 537, 586, 798.

58 (Eight Billion, Five Hundred and Thirty Seven Million, Five Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Eight Naira, Fifty Eight kobo.

At the resumed hearing , the Prosecution Counsel Rotimi

Oyedepo, informed the court of an amended charge and prayed that the charge be read to enable the defendant’s take their plea again.

One of the charges reads: “That you Patrick Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, Kime Enzogu and Josephine Otuaga, sometime in 2014, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, with intent to defraud conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: Conversion of the sum of N8, 537, 586, 798. 58 (Eight Billion, Five Hundred and Thirty Seven Million, Five Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Eight Naira, Fifty Eight kobo), property of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and you

thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act”. They pleaded not guilty to the amended charges.

The prosecution continued trial with the evidence of the prosecution witness, Adamu Usman Yusuf, an investigating officer with the EFCC. Adamu told the court that sometime in 2015, the EFCC received intelligence reports alleging mismanagement of funds by NIMASA under the leadership of Dr.Patrick Akpobolokemi part of which was the alleged conspiracy with the high command of the Joint Task Force, JTF, “Operation Pulo Shield” to which billions of Naira were laundered.

He further revealed that upon

investigation, documents such as payment vouchers, transfer instructions and applications from JTF “Operation Pulo Shield” requesting financial assistance from NIMASA with details on how the money will be utilized was recovered from the headquarters of NIMASA situated at No 4, Boma Road, Apapa Lagos.

He told the court that billions of Naira were transferred to the Zenith Bank account of JTF “Operation Pulo Shield”, as well as six other companies : Jagan Limited, Jagan Trading company, Jagan Global Services, Paper Warehouse, Easepoint Integrated Services Limited, Profoma Project & Services Limited, The New Link Service Limited, First Investment Nigeria Limited, IMP Ltd and some others.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

Politics

9

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As Supreme Court decides Ayade’s fate...

Ayadi

Agi

After an elongated legal squabble and bickering between two members of the same political party, MATHEW DADIYA, takes a look at the issue in contention in Cross River State governorship tussle.

The Supreme Court is set to deliver a final judgment on issues bordering on Cross River State governor’s birtherism case instituted by Mr Joe Agi against the governor, Professor Benedict Bengioshuye Ayade due to conflicting dates of birth.

Both Mr Ayade and Mr Agi are of the same political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This was why many have been left wondering why issue of birth was allowed to pitch members of the same political party against each other and not illegalities arising from the conduct of the party’s primaries.

However, Prof. Ayade has so far secured favourable judgment from the lower Court to the Court of Appeal. The final say on the issue in contention in the long drawn legal squabble would now be decided by a five-man panel headed by the reputable Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour.

Mr Agi had lost out to the incumbent governor in the PDP primary alongside former NNPC General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing, Mr Goddy Jedy Agba, Rev. Father Francis Eworo, Dr Peter Oti, as well as the pioneer National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Emmanuel Ebeshi.

Then Senator, Prof. Ayade polled 752 out of 782 votes cast while Mr Agi polled 11 votes; Jedy Agba and Rev Father Eworo each got five votes. The duo of Peter Oti and Emmanuel got no vote.

The result was announced by the then Chairman of the electoral panel and Returning Officer, Chief Olusola Akanmode which was accepted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mr Agi was dissatisfied with the outcome of the party’s primary, and subsequently institut-

ed a case against the governor at the Federal High Court, Abuja. He was praying the court to remove the governor from office on the ground that he gave conflicting information about his age, saying it was in contravention of Section 177 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and PDP’s guidelines.

The judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja was given on July 31, 2015 after both counsels made their oral and written addresses, and deposed affidavits. The presiding judge, Justice Abdul Kafarati, in his judgment ruled that, payment of subscription fees by members of political party “is an internal affair of the party concerned for which the court do not have jurisdiction to entertain.”

On Mr Agi’s second prayer bordering on criminality, forgery and perjury, the learned Judge ruled thus: “I do not want to waste time on this. It is trite that both forgery and perjury being criminal offences have to been proved beyond reasonable doubt. This suit was commenced by way of originating summons. It is impracticable to prove these by affidavit evidence.

“Secondly, it was not pointed out by the plaintiff which document was forged. All these

need to be properly investigated which had not been done. On the whole, I hold that the plaintiff’s case has no merit and is designed just to waste the precious time of this court. In the circumstance the suit is dismissed for being frivolous and lacking in merit. That is the judgment of this court.”

Mr Agi proceeded to the Court of Appeal, Abuja division and filed an appeal with suit number CA/A/518/2015, asking the appellate court to set aside the decision of the lower court.

After a thorough examination of the issues in contention, the court entered its judgment and the panel of Justices headed by Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson held that, “The error made in the year 1969 instead of 1968 in the circumstances of this case cannot amount to a device to browbeat the constitutional requirement of the minimum age of 35 years for the office of a governor.

“In the circumstances, the Appellant (Agi) also failed to substantiate his allegation that the 1st respondent (PDP) breached its guidelines to the advantage of the 3rd respondent (Ayade) and to the disadvantage of the Appellant in nominating the 3rd respondent as its

By the virtue of section 177 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, it states that for you to contest for the office of the governor you must be 35 years and above and Governor Ben Ayade was 46 years when he contested the election. If his aide had filled a (governorship) form and instead of 1968 the aide wrote 1969, Prof Ayade was above age limit as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution

governorship candidate in the last elections.

“It is instructive to note that at the primaries, the 3rd respondent now governor of Cross River State scored 752 votes, while the Appellant scored only 11 votes. Having resolved all the issues against the Appellant, the appeal is disallowed. On the whole, in the circumstances of this case, the learned trial judge was correct when he dismissed the Appellant’s suit as lacking in merit. This appeal is unmeritorious and it is hereby dismissed.”

Still dissatisfied, Mr Agi approached the Supreme Court on March 31, 2016 seeking to upturn the rulings of the lower courts in a suit no. SC/256/2016. Appellants in the case - the PDP and INEC - filed their briefs of argument dated May 17, 2016 and May 24, 2016 respectively. While on September 27, 2016, the Apex Court heard the suit from counsels to all parties.

Pro et Contra Looking at the pros and cons of the legal tussle between Governor Ayade and Mr Agi, which took a dramatic dimension at the Supreme Court during the parties’ pleadings, the counsel to PDP, Mr. N. Ibegbulam told the panel of five justices headed by Justice Rhodes-Vivour that his client has decided to concede the appeal to Mr Agi. Justifying the reason for the sudden volteface, Ibegbulam argued that Governor Ayade violated the party’s electoral guidelines, and wants the court to apply Article 14b and Article 15 sub 2, adding that they are withdrawing the PDP brief of argument.

“We are urging the court to apply the provisions of Articles 14(b) and 15(2) of the PDP guideline which disqualify the 3rd respondent (Ayade),” he said. When asked what law firm he belonged, Ibegbunam said he was a counsel in the firm of Ferdinand Orbih and Co. The court asked the question after Ayade’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) drew the attention of the court to the fact that the brief was settled by Ferdinand Orbih and not Ibegbunam.”

But the court turned down that request after asking Mr Ibegbunam which law firm he was operating from.

The PDP Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi, denounced the party’s lawyer’s antics with an official letter to the Executive Governor. Mr Makarfi restated the party’s support for the governor saying he remained the party’s legitimate candidate and governor under the party’s platform.

Postulation of legal luminaries Perhaps, since the spectacle at the apex court played out, some legal experts and concerned stakeholders have postulated their views on the case. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Paul Erokoro (SAN) contended that Mr Agi was “trying to capitalise on a simple error made by the governor’s Special Assistant on his nomination form, by writing 1969 instead of 1968. Neither date makes a difference to Prof Ayade’s qualification for the office of govCONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

Lagos 2017 budget, evidence of Ambode’s big plans -Abiru

Hon. Lateef Rotimi Abiru, a ranking member of the Lagos State House of Assembly who represents Shomolu constituency 2 is currently on his third consecutive term at the House. The Chief Whip of the House gave an overview of the N813bn Golden Jubilee Budget for 2017 as presented by Governor Akinwumi Ambode while he also expresses confidence that the immediate past Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji will again be acquitted in his re-trial ordered by the Court of Appeal. He Speaks with ALADE TASMA.

How impactful do you think this 2017 budget of unprecedented promotion would be on the average Lagosians?

The governor has actually presented the budget of N813bn and the budget is indeed ambitious. One which actually aims at improving a number of things such as, education, health, security, infrastructure among others.

No doubt, the event of the outgoing year has done considerably well in term of performance. As we speak, the budget of the outgoing year has performed up to 72 percent with the possibility of performing more before the end of the year. One, the state government is contemplating floating the first tranche of a bond just as it would also receive more grant due to the state allocation from the federal government.

Going forward, government intends to wrap up most of the outgoing projects before the end of second quarter and then embark on further massive infrastructure projects that would further enhance the status of Lagos. For instance, the fourth Mainland bridge which though is going to be on a PPP arrangement, the AgbowaItokin-Ijebu-Ode axis road, Epe outward and others in that axis and if all these are added to the existing ones, surely, it would boost commerce in the state.

So in terms of projects to do, I think they are in order. However, my major challenge is on the funding, because government intends to fund most of the budget from Internally Generated Revenue IGR, considering the current economic challenge in the country and in the face of the prevailing recession.

Some of the projections of the state in 2016 were not met as a result of the economic situation in the country. Again, in terms of borrowing to finance budget, there is nothing wrong provided the money are going to be committed to the purpose for which they were borrowed.

Another good thing about the 2017 budget is that 63 percent or so is committed to capital projects expenditures leaving 27 percent for recurrent expenditure; you will agree with me that it’s highly commendable.

However, part of my concern is that companies are moving out of the state, these companies that either-to use to pay tax to the state government PAYE to shore up its revenue profile.

In improving the revenue base of the state, part of what we have suggested to the executive is to re-invigorate the “money factory” of the state, the LIRS. They need to be further trained to brace up for the challenge ahead. Their performance I think is currently around N20.3bn and we intend to shore up to N30bn from next fiscal year, you will agree with me that for them to be able to achieve this, something has to be done to encourage as well as challenge them for better performance.

In view of these concerns you have raised and with a possibility that revenue does not come as projected, what can the House do to ensure that the people are not over burdened with tax?

Abiru

Majorly, our duty is to monitor how government spends tax payers money and what we do on quarterly basis is that we review how government is fairing and see to it that public funds are well utilised. First, I can say the budget had just been committed to the committees and until the committees are done with their assignments then we may know the next step to take.

Beyond that, it’s for us to begin to monitor that all the intent of the budget are being followed so that there would not be more deviation.

You are aware that OPEC has just cut down

the production out-put from the oil producing countries and you know of course, this means more money to the producing nations and this will come down to the states in case of Nigeria.

Also on the part of the federal government, I’m sure they are also planning to take the country out of the current economic challenge. Yes, we agree we don’t have all the money to fund the budget, but there is provision for bond, external borrowing and other internal arrangements.

The governor at the Budget presentation affirmed that the 2016 budget had performed up to 72 percent as at October, if that is correct, can we say the performance

Going forward, government intends to wrap up most of the outgoing projects before the end of second quarter and then embark on further massive infrastructure projects that would further enhance the status of Lagos. For instance, the fourth Mainland bridge which though is going to be on a PPP arrangement, the Agbowa-Itokin-Ijebu-Ode axis road, Epe outward and others in that axis and if all these are added to the existing ones, surely, it would boost commerce in the state.

of the budget is commensurable with the infrastructure development in the state in the period under review?

I give it to the governor, virtually in all axis of the state projects are ongoing, the flyover at Ajah axis is on-going, at Abule Egba again, massive work is on-going there even at Pen Cinema where preliminary works is also ongoing there. If you go to Epe, there is a massive expansion work from Epe Round About heading towards Ikosi and probably the project will terminate at Itoikin.

Apart from all these, there are some junction projects going on and these are what are loudly visible for the people to see. There are also massive investments in the area of security. Sometimes ago, Mr. President was represented in the state by the Vice President where massive equipments both for rescue operations and for the Nigeria Police were handed over by the state government. Very recently again, the state bought some gun boats for monitoring activities on our water ways. Therefore, to a reasonable extent, I think the government of the state has actually tried. All over the state, schools are being improved upon, constructions are on-going. And to a reasonable extent, let us give it to the governor and I think there is more to be done before the end of the year, because more money are being expected. Let us just hope it will continue to get better.

Don’t forget Lagos will be 50 next year and that is why the Budget was tagged ‘the Budget of Golden Jubilee’ and the governor want to ensure some of these gigantic projects would be commissioned to mark the state 50th anniversary.

As oil explorations is set to begin in Lagos, is there any pro-active arrangements by the state to forestall any likely agitation by the people of Badagry and its environ like that of the Niger-Delta as a result of likely oil spillage in the area when the exploration is finally commenced in the state?

Again by December this year, the state government would be earning 13 percent derivation based on the agreement it had with the federal government. However, the House of Assembly has set up a committee to look into the activities of oil explorations in the state and its effect on the people. Though, the committee is yet to commence work, the matter was indeed raised on the floor of the House, by the chairman House committee on energy and of course, those Honourable members representing Badagry constituencies have also expressed their fears of their people. And looking at what is currently going on in the Niger-Delta regarding oil spillage, so we had thought before we experience any oil spillage which may likely promote agitation by the people we should on the part of the government be pro-active by doing all that is humanly possible to save the environment and I think it’s incumbent on the CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

11 Politics

‘Lagos 2017 budget is evidence of Ambode’s big plans’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

State House of Assembly to do this to the best interest of our people. he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara recently and openly castigated some state governor for failing to conduct local government election in their states just as he also said most of the State Houses of Assembly have been pocketed by the governors, how would you react to this as a state lawmaker?

Well, the local government administration is a constitutional matter, the constitution stipulates how that tier of government should be run but of course, circumstances beyond the control of the State House of Assembly

actually necessitated the situation we found ourselves in Lagos and I think the government of the state is contemplating the conduct of local government election very soon. I have also heard people suggested to the federal government that any state that fails to conduct local government election should have their allocation withheld. I’m sure state governors would do all that is possible within their means to conduct local government election in their states.

Again, as I speak in Lagos for instance, I think there is still a matter in court relating to the conduct of the local government election which I think may also be one of the reasons the conduct of the election has not taken place.

However, I believe it is better to have a democratically elected government at the local government level, if this is done, a lot of people

would be involved rather than the present arrangement.

Talking about the State Houses of Assembly being pocketed by the governors and I’m sure that could not be said of us in Lagos and it behooves on you members of the fourth estate to do your analysis and come out with a position on this. I wonder if any legislature at the state level will agree to the position expressed by the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

The Appeal Court has just ordered the retrial of the immediate past Speaker of the Lagos House. Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji who was earlier acquitted by a Lagos High Court. The fear in some quarter now is that if the former Speaker goes down some of you who also served with him as principal officers of the House may also

go down, are you scared?

The case in Court is very clear and the Court can only make pronouncement on the case before it. The former Speaker was charged alongside his Personal Assistant.

It’s most unfortunate that an Appeal Court quashed the ruling of a Lagos High Court that acquitted the former Speaker. But like I said, it’s the finger that erred that can be caught, yes; I served in that Assembly and was invited along other principal officers of the House during preliminary investigations before the former Speaker and his PA were charged. I want to wish the former Speaker the best and I know just as he was acquitted by the lower court, he will also be acquitted by the higher court.

Ex-minister charges Buhari on effective rail transportation Idu Jude, Abuja Former minister of Agriculture, Alhaji Sani Zangon Daura, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure

that the evil of that bedeviled the railway transportation system in Nigeria in the 1980s are not repeated.

Zangon Daura who was Minister of Agriculture and Rural De-

velopment, said this to journalists in Abuja, while waiting to catch a train to his base in Kaduna.

According to the statesman, government has at the moment thought well by resuscitating the

near dead industry, but urges them to do everything within its capacity to ensure a sustained operation for economic development.

The former Minister, observed that good transportation system,

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (left) with his Osun and Oyo States counterparts, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Sen. Abiola Ajimobi during the opening ceremony of the 5th National Women Summit with the theme ‘The Ultimate Woman At A Time Like This’ organised by the Oyo State Officials’ Wives Association (OYSOWA) in Ibadan, on Wednesday.

has economically empowered so many countries of the world, his words, “Railway transportation, was once dead in Nigeria, it was what was in vogue in the 80s, it seem to be the cheapest and safest means of transportation, but became moribund due to misstatement by the past administrations.

“In any advance nation, rail transportation, is a major sector of the economy and for Nigeria to stabilise its economy, such must be sustained by giving it priority.’’

Alhaji Zangoan Daura, further warned that since government has reawakened the system, that political will is needed to ensure no collapse of the system again. He however noted that millions of naira being pumped into the project can only be prudently accounted for if there is reasonable improvement and sustainability in the project.

He said, “Since the government has reasoned towards resuscitating the industry, for economic improvement, for creation of employment opportunities for the teeming Nigerian youths. Since it has waken from its slumber and are committed to rail improvement such that it is given the priority it deserves, the generality of Nigeria, would embrace the idea.”

As Supreme Court decides Ayade’s fate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

ernor.”

In fact, he pointed out that “INEC saw it as a trivial error, especially as his (Ayade’s) age declaration attached to the form showed his correct age. Mr. Agi is, however, bent on feeding distorted facts to a section of the media in order to scandalise the governor.”

Dr. Steve Odey said “I am very optimistic that the Supreme Court will uphold the ruling of the Appeal Court because the governor has done no wrong. By the virtue of section 177 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, it states that for you to contest for the office of the governor you must be 35 years and above and Governor Ben Ayade was 46 years when he contested the election. If

his aide had filled a (governorship) form and instead of 1968 the aide wrote 1969, Prof Ayade was above age limit as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution, therefore Ayade has not done anything to circumvent the law. Therefore, Friday is going to be celebration for us.”

In the opinion of Mr Nehemiah Abang, the Special Legal Adviser to Governor Ayade, “it is impossible for PDP to approbate and reprobate.

“Remember that PDP as a party has filed court processes on oath and defended His Excellency, Governor Ayade in Court of first instance being the trial Court and also the Court of Appeal where Ayade emerged victorious.”

According to him, “Those processes formed part of the records of Appeal now before the Supreme Court. In law, the court is bound to look at all the documents in its record and also

to take judicial notice of its records.

The fact that PDP has conceded to the case of the Appellant, doesn’t take away the evidence on printed record before the court,” Mr Abang said.

Also, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) frowned at the drama in court saying, “We say this attitude of the PDP as a party is uncultured, undemocratic and selfish.”

Mr Paddy Ally and Hon. Baron Eyo, state secretary and chairman of IPAC, respectively stated in a statement jointly signed, “That IPAC frowns at the drama at the Supreme Court where a political party denies its member.

“That the action of the defense lawyer of a political party denying its client at the level it did is unethical, uncivilised and makes a

ridicule of Nigerian lawyers and its judicial process and progress. IPAC condemns this in totality and calls on the NJC to investigate the lawyer or lawyers to restore hope of Nigerians on lawyers.

“IPAC calls on the Supreme Court to take strict disciplinary measures on the action, confession, and attitude of the PDP agreeing through their lawyer to sponsoring a wrong candidate before the Supreme Court.”

But legal experts have said the Supreme Court will not find it difficult to make objective decision when it rules tomorrow as the lower courts have made similar commendable judicial pronouncements. But the Supreme Court’s decision will no doubt enhance the legal structure in the country due to the peculiar nature of this case.

News 12 Court gives Justice Ngwuta more time for defence Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÏÏÏ Justice John Tsoho of the federal high court on Wednesday, gave Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court about six weeks to prepare defence for 16 count charges of corruption he is facing.

The trial, which ought to progress with the first prosecution witness testifying, was put off by an adjournment.

Justice Tsoho adjourned the trial till January 18, 2017 after he overruled the objection of the prosecution counsel, Charles Adeogun-Philips, who was ready to call the first prosecution witness.

He also overruled prosecution submission that the trial is a high profile case that requires an efficient Administration of Crimes Justice Act. The judge said that in view of defence unpreparedness for trial and his prayer for more time, the court was disposed to granting the request of the defence team.

“The court is disposed to granting the defence more time to avail him adequate time to prepare and get documents for the trial,” Justice Tsoho ruled.

Justice Tsoho said that Section 36(6)(b) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which the defence relied on, superseded Section 396(4) ACJA, which the prosecution hinged his objection. The judge also noted that a defendant is entitled to ask for an adjournment under the law.

Daily Times Nigeria j ƑƏ Ɨ ƕè #ƆƅƆƌƄƆƏ Ƥè ƾƠơÕ

Continued from page 1 data price is reviewed, necessary wide consultations among all the stakeholders in the telecom industry will first be embarked upon.

The commission stated this at a press conference jointly addressed by some of its directors in Abuja.

The NCC’s directors at the event were Mr. Tony Ojobo (Public Affairs); Mrs. Josephine Amuwa (Policy Analysis) and Mr. Abubakar Yakubu (Tariffs and competition).

The NCC directors pointed out that the operating environment seriously calls for realistic approach to the issue on ground.

While saying that NCC was not out to inflict pains on Nigerians and decide what price floor the telecom operators should undertake, they stated that it became necessary for the commission to intervene so as to ensure that no party was cheated.

Data rate hike inevitable –NCC According to Mr. Ojobo, “issues such as high cost of foreign exchange, electricity and general infrastructure challenges make the review of the cost of data inevitable so that the system does collapse.”

He clarified that it was necessary to intervene by way of price cap to make the sector attractive.

Continuing, he said, “Price floor is one of the regulatory safeguards normally put in place by the telecommunications regulator to check anti-competitive practices, particularly by dominant operators.

“Without a price floor, the dominant operators can engage in predatory pricing to drive down prices and drive out other operators from the market. Where this is successfully executed, the dominant operators will then increase

prices to the detriment of the subscribers.

“If this is allowed to happen, the industry could be moving towards a monopoly,” he said.

The reintroduction of price floor on December 1, 2016, the NCC maintained, was due to the fact that some service providers were actually pricing their services below cost, a situation which could spell doom for the industry.

According to the NCC, “dominant operators in the wholesale leased line market, who also operate in the retail market embarked on massive predatory pricing, a conduct capable of substantially lessening competition.

“The removal of price floor for data resulted in eroding value market.

“The need to safeguard investment and ensure growth, devel-

opment and sustainability of the telecoms industry, and maintain the integrity of the network as operators lack capacity to accommodate the volume of transaction on their network,” the commission explained.

Continuing, the NCC said in order to thoroughly exhaust the process, letters were sent to service providers in August for their input regarding appropriate rate as interim floor for data services pending the finalization of the study on the determination of cost based pricing for retail broadband and data services in Nigeria.

After a stakeholders’ meeting, the commission said it observed that “operators agreed on the need for price floor, fixed rate to encourage growth, rollout services and to start investment to the sector.”

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S’ Kaduna killings: Hold el-Rufai responsible –Senator

Continued from page 6

every possible means of defence that is lawful against these murderous herdsmen, who are now on the loose more than ever, even as we search for solutions to this heinous crime against our land,” the senator assured.

The statement further reads: “In the light of the above, I wish to state as follows: that there was never in a time in 2011 that Fulani from Mali, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Mali and Senegal were killed in Southern Kaduna with their cattle. This is a silly and an absurd lie. Southern Kaduna is not a junction of these countries. So how could they have all converged on Southern Kaduna on their usual migration back home? The governor just made fabrications to make excuses for these murderous herdsmen to continue their extermination of our people and the occupation of our lands.

“As the main political leader and representative of Southern Kaduna at the federal level, de-

spite many overtures of trying to meet with the governor over the insecurity in my zone with no success, he has never deemed it fit to inform me of these actions so as to seek my views and that of my constituency over the matter.

This is a very curious development, especially as I was able to make the Senate to pass a resolution asking the federal government to declare a state of emergency on security in Southern Kaduna last month. I expected him to cash in on that, using his connection with the President and Commander-in-Chief. But, he was obviously not concerned.

Though he (el-Rufai) has ferried much undisclosed amounts of money to murderers, I am pleading with Kaduna state indigenes and residents to ask why he has stubbornly refused to render basic assistance of rebuilding of even a home, or any form of monetary assistance to the surviving victims in Southern Kaduna. Most are still left without food and shelter, despite the modest assistance that some

of us, churches, NGOs, etc have continued to render from time to time.

“I am constrained to add that Nasir el-Rufai with his lack of will to show commitment to the insecurity in Southern Kaduna, and his resolve to carry on with over six cattle grazing reserves in Southern Kaduna, he is actually creating new, permanent ‘conquered’ settlements.

“I said this because these herdsmen have killed people and chased them out from their communities and are now fully settled with their families and cattle in several villages in Kaura, Sanga and Jema’a local government areas, while the governor turns his eyes the other way.

“My conviction on this is based on the findings that the state government was able to wage a concerted war against cattle thieves and bandits in the expansive forests and hills of Birnin Gwari environs and easily succumbed to the criminals, but has refused to extend even a fraction of that effort to save precious human

lives and human communities in Southern Kaduna. The simple reason is that just as it is in the interest of law abiding Fulani to recover their cattle and goats in Birnin Gwari from same rogue herdsmen, it also may be in the interest of these herdsmen to leave our damaged and, yet to be ruined communities, weak and helpless for them to easily take over.”

“I hinged my belief on the above based on threat the governor gave against law abiding citizens trying to defend themselves from the unprovoked aggression.

He said in that story: “There are people that are sending a message, defend yourselves. We will get them. Defend yourself is hate speech. You can’t defend yourself if there is a government. We are going to arrest and prosecute all those that pass that message.”

To me, this is very strange and ridiculous. But it is also pregnant with meanings. Why is the governor saying that law abiding citizens should not deploy

self-defense when El-Rufai’s marauding herdsmen come hacking them down and burning their communities with the governor unable to tame or arrest the situation?”

“In what way will it benefit the indigenous of Kaduna if they do not defend themselves and their population killed, survivors sent out as refugees? Because it is clear that instead of el-Rufai stopping the carnage, it seems to be rising the more since he has gone to give them money. It is only the herdsmen that will gain, of course! That is the meaning.

It cannot be that Nasir el-Rufai is unaware that Chapter VII, Article 51 of the Human Right Charter of the United Nations and Section 33(2) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria has affirmed self-defense as a human rght.”

“I see this as a threat to scare law abiding indigenous in southern part of Kaduna from standing up to these murderous herdsmen Based on this, I call on governor Nasir el-Rufai to first arrest me.”

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

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14 Opinion

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

Unmasking real owners of Nigeria’s extractive asset

O

Godwin Okpere

ne of the ways in which corruption continues to ravage the economies of resource-rich countries is through hidden ownership of companies operating in extractive industries. Hidden ownership allows companies to avoid taxes through practices such as goldplatting and transfer pricing. It also allows public officials to use their positions to corner extractive asset at the expense of the larger society.

In most resource-rich countries, especially those in the developing world, the danger of anonymous ownership is not just a textbook illustration. It is a real and present problem. Governments and citizens of these countries have lost and continue to lose billions of dollars to such schemes, aided, in no small measure, by weak regulation and lack of transparency.

Ownership transparency, through beneficial ownership reporting, is the latest global initiative to combat this threat. A beneficial owner is described as “the real, life and blood individual who profits from or exercises control over a company”. When companies are incorporated for the purpose of hiding conflict of interests or perpetrating other illegal activities, the names of beneficial owners are deliberately obscured from public view.

When a company is incorporated in one country but carries out operation in other jurisdictions, records of its true owners may deliberately be hidden in a labyrinth.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) requires all EITI-implementing countries to, by 2020, fully disclose identities of beneficial owners. The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) began providing information about beneficial owners of asset in the extractive sector in 2015, following its inclusion in an EITI pilot. In the NEITI 2012 industry audit reports, ownership information was published for forty out of forty-two companies covered in the oil and gas audit, and thirty-two out of sixty-five companies in the solid minerals audit.

However, the current form of beneficial ownership reporting by NEITI in its 2012 and 2013 reports only goes some way in revealing the real owners of extractive industry companies.

The adoption of a global approach to beneficial ownership disclosure tries to address some of the challenges in identifying the real owners of extractive companies. Requiring different countries to establish public registers of beneficial owners will help to peel off at least one or more layer of corporate cover used by anonymous owners or companies registered in other countries. Publicly accessible ownership information in different countries will help to increase the scope of beneficial ownership reporting by implementing countries.

It is important to point out that not all anonymous ownerships or offshore incorporations are intended for corrupt or criminal purposes. However, the Panama Papers recently showed

that off-shore companies with anonymous owners are often deliberately created for dishonest reasons. The Panama incident also showed that the problem is undoubtedly serious and widespread.

The danger posed by anonymous ownership is more serious than, and goes beyond the problem of corruption in the extractive sector. Again, as the Panama Papers showed most poignantly, anonymous ownership of companies, especially in offshore locations, is typically used for tax avoidance or outright tax evasion.

The consequence is the huge loss of revenues to governments and citizens.

Developing countries lose up to $1 trillion every year due to tax evasion and other fraudulent schemes, according to the ONE Campaign. This amount is huge, even by the standard of rich countries.

‘Secret’ offshore companies affect the global social, political and economic community in more profound than quantifiable ways. They are a threat to global security as they are a major vehicle for money laundering.

Still, the real danger lies in the possible role of these corporate vehicles as facilitators of the drug trade, human trafficking, terrorism financing and armed conflict. Taken together, these phenomena continue to undermine the social, economic and political stability of nations and are a major threat to global peace and security.

The need to tackle corruption and illicit financial flows led to the current initiative towards mandatory disclosure requirements for companies doing business within and across national borders. The global EITI has taken the lead on beneficial ownership disclosure by requiring EITI implementing countries to include reports of beneficial owners of extractive companies in their annual audit reports.

In furtherance of this objective, EITI recently convened a regional workshop in Abuja on beneficial ownership implementation by member countries from Anglophone and Luxophone Africa. The workshop, which held between November 1st and 3rd, ended with a resolution for

implementing countries to produce a beneficial ownership roadmap by January 2017.

Nigeria, like other EITI implementing countries, has begun designing a roadmap towards full implementation of Beneficial Ownership reporting.

By 2020, full implementation will commence.

As earlier noted, the pilot has shown that beneficial ownership disclosure from corporate filings is only a necessary first step in identifying the real owners of extractive industry asset. It is far from sufficient. Anonymous owners would go the extra mile, as it were, to remain hidden, if there is enough incentive for them to continue to do so. Stakeholders at the Abuja workshop, including civil society organisations, extractive companies, implementing countries and regulatory agencies, concluded that the problem is a hydra-headed monster that requires a multi-pronged antidote.

At the risk of tipping the bad guys off, some of the measures include publicly accessible national registries, sharing databases, ownership disclosure at point of incorporation or bidding for licenses, tracking financial transactions, etc. Some of the measures would require greater enforcement of existing regulations while others would require new legislation or amendment to existing ones.

At this point, it is important to reiterate that while the objective of beneficial ownership reporting by EITI countries is targeted at corruption in the extractive sector, it is being implemented by non-EITI countries, as well as being part of a global initiative to combat other criminal activities associated with illicit financial flows.

It would therefore require collaboration across various stakeholder constituencies operating in different sectors – civil society organisations, development and global governance institutions, as well as regulatory and enforcement agencies involved in different sectors.

It is also part of a global strategy to increase government accountability to citizens by subjecting governance processes to greater public scrutiny.

This agenda is being implemented

through global coalitions like the Open Government Partnership (OGP) requiring fiscal transparency, access to information, public asset declaration and citizen engagement; and the Open Contracting Data Standard, which requires governments to make details and processes of all government contracts, including licenses, accessible to the public.

In May 2016 at the London anticorruption summit, President Muhammadu Buhari committed Nigeria to the implementation of these initiatives, including support for the EITI principles which the country is already implementing. There can be no doubt therefore that commitment to the openness agenda is high. So are the stakes. The openness campaign seeks to give citizens greater access to the activities of government. However, the ultimate purpose transcends the mechanics of transparency, encompassing the core elements of democratic accountability.

What beneficial ownership transparency seeks to do is to put information in the public domain and thus expand the options for official accountability. It would require citizen vigilance to ensure regulatory diligence. Citizen action would not only ensure that the rules are being followed, but that citizens will demand answers beyond information that has been placed in the public domain.

In the meantime, there is still much work to be done to establish a structure for actual implementation. The roadmap goes some way in laying the groundwork in terms of activities, resources and timelines. However, the roadmap is only the first step. Once the roadmap is in place, policymaking should commence in earnest.

However, it would not be a task for only the policymakers. All stakeholders, especially civil society organisations, should be steadfast in their participation, not just because it is their democratic responsibility to do so.

Beneficial ownership reporting seeks to challenge the status quo; hence its implementation will not be without its own challenges.

Godwin Okpene is the Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary of NEITI.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

15 Opinion

The grave need not be so close

N Owei Lakemfa

igeria in 1988, had just a handful of human or civil right organisations.

They were in their infancy in a country with very high mortality rate. To some of us, it was worrying that while large parts of the world would mark the 40th commemoration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the largest Black nation in the world, was going to be left out.

More so when the country was under military dictatorship, which had, scant regard for human rights. Therefore, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) met to organize a national.

To organize it, the NBA sent Obi Okusogu, a brilliant mind with a natural disposition of putting people at ease. The NMA presented a thoughtful Dr. Ekpo then of the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital, Lagos while the NUJ sent Kayode Komolafe, now the Deputy Editorin-Chief of THISDAY Newspapers, and I. Given the short notice, we worked non-stop to put up a national event packed full with people including No-

bel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka. Needless to say, the four of us became quite close. United by common beliefs of social justice and faith in the ability of Nigerians to take their future in their hands. We were to play lead roles in the eventually confrontation with military dictatorship. Okusogu was later elected General Secretary of the NBA and conferred with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) I knew I had a dedicated brother out there in the legal world who would not hesitate to gallop to my side pro bono.

What I did not know was that on November 23, death will pluck such a noble heart. Henry Odugala, was courage, commitment, intelligence and a high sense of proletarian internationalism combined. He was young, brilliant and a good journalist. He was ready to throw away his job at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Benin if that was the penalty for being committed to a better country. Just as I moved from journalism to the trade unions, he also moved, becoming the General Secretary of the Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU) In labour, he helped to anchor many of our programmes giving them the professional touch of a broadcaster.

November 4, was my birthday, a

mutual friend and veteran of street battles, Biodun Aremu called me.

He did not know whether to wish me happy birthday, or simply to break the tragic news; Henry Odugala passed away! I could not wait for the month of November to pass away as it seemed to rain death. The dedicated human rights community in Nigeria is small. A lot also depends on lawyers who take the defence of human rights as their primary duty. One of the most outstanding was Fred Agbaje.

He was a dogged fighter and defended the weak using the judicial system. Just as I heaved a sigh of relief that November was finally folding up, it took along Fred Agbaje. It was November 24. If the best of our middle and upper middle-class patriots are dropping off so fast, we need no divinity to tell us what is happening to the masses down there.

Every one of these brothers have some means, will and courage to fight off death; if they succumbed, then what we require as a people, is collective fight.

WE NEED NOT BOTHER WITH ANY TALE OF FATALISM OR DESTINY, BUT TO RE-EXAMINE OURSELVES AND ASK; WHY IS DEATH LURKING AROUND NIGERIA AND SCORING SO CHEAP GOALS? It is not a matter of Nigeria being a poor under developed

country lacking resources; it is more a matter of priority, planning and leadership. Cuba, the small island of the brave and courageous, lacking the vast natural resources we have, enduring over fifty years of economic blockade and isolation, has one of the best healthcare systems in the world.

This is not just in terms of its modern facilities, but more importantly, in its holistic approach to healthcare as general wellness of the body; physical and mental.

It has a life expectancy of 78, and a healthcare system focused on prevention rather than cure.

The ratb.org.uk organization notes that: “Cuba has a record unmatched in dealing with chronic and infectious diseases with amazingly limited resources.

These include (with date eradicated): polio (1962), malaria (1967), neonatal tetanus (1972), diphtheria (1979), congenital rubella syndrome (1989), post-mumps meningitis (1989), measles (1993), rubella (1995), and TB meningitis (1997)” We can learn from small Cuba beginning with keeping our communities clean by at least clearing refuse; didn’t the Holy Book say cleanliness is next to godliness?

Cuba teaches us that you do not need to be rich to make healthcare affordable. Fellow Nigerians, the grave need not be so close.

become. Her tiredness thereafter prevented her from participating well in the military drill NYSC orientation camps are known for leading to her collapsing during an exercise. This account, by her sister, widely shared on social media and yet to be disputed by NYSC officials, had it that they refused to help her on the premise that she was pretending so as not to continue with the drill. Yes, you read that right, and so they neglected her until when they saw that her condition was serious and she was no thespian. They then took her to Gwarzo General Hospital where she was able to contact her sister, a nurse, who told the nurse on duty what to do.

Unfortunately, the hospital did not have the drugs that could save her life and so, Ifedolapo Oladepo died, just like that. Killed by the Nigerian state that failed her in equipping a general hospital well, that failed her in having clueless and wicked NYSC officials including soldiers conducting the drill and could not protect her when she was vulnerable.

As I write this, the NYSC director general has not said a word and the superintending minister, the comic actor known as Solomon Dalong, could not be

bothered as well. He is probably busy searching for the next trip that will take him out of Nigeria. There has been no enquiries or inquest not to talk of arrest over this needless death. Beyond lamentation on social media and typing, “RIP” as youngsters today do, there has been no protest by those who are still at the orientation camp in Kano; there has been no mobilization demanding for probe into this death and we all just shrug our shoulders pretending nothing happened because we are not affected. The NYSC seems more interested in its budgetary allocation and purchase of uniforms, boots, and food items for thousands of young graduates in its care than their welfare.

The scheme, like many things in our country, is due for reform. Now I learnt that it is not automatic that graduates are ‘mobilised’ as participation is no longer guaranteed. Unlike two batches years ago, there are three now and it’s not uncommon for graduates of a school to be in different batches. Ifedolapo must not die in vain; all culpable in her death must be brought to book as without that, NYSC could as well be scrapped.

Just like that

A Wale Fatade

former health minister in Zimbabwe once said in 1997 I think, that there are alternatives to death in Europe while it also has options in United States, but inevitable in Africa. He said these two decades ago on why mortality was on the increase at a World Health Organisation forum. Painfully, the situation has gone worse for many in Africa.

Often, it is not the accident or sickness that kills in this part of the world but the negligence and ineptness of people charged with protection of lives and treating sick people. And that is the sad story of a young woman, Ifedolapo Oladepo, a first class Transport Management graduate of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State who died recently at Gwarzo General Hospital, Kano. On assignment at Kano for her national service, the NYSC management failed in its duty of care to her.

Her school had been in the throes of a strike action by lecturers for nearly a year due to a needless kerfuffle between the owner states – Osun and Oyo. So it’s an achievement that she escaped

from the prison that the institution has become only for the Kano State NYSC to snuff life out of her.

As one who has suffered bereavement due to negligence, nothing can assuage the pain, not even bringing the culprits to book but it is more painful when a parent loses his daughter in such circumstances when quick action could have prevented the death.

The lame defence by Abdullahi Baba, the Kano NYSC state coordinator, only confirmed what public officials in Nigeria think of citizens’ lives. This man, who one is not sure is a father, as a person who understands what it takes to bring up a child to a university graduate level will not utter such inanity that “she did not died at the camp but at a government hospital” as though his oversight function ends at the orientation camp or that the death location absolved him or the agency for Oladepo’s death.

The story is that the young woman got to Kano through road, apparently the means of transportation the parents could afford, and so was tired and weary from the stress of the long trip. Anyone who travels on our roads will know how treacherous they have

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

Features

s

The pains, anguish of Jakande Estate demolition Lagos State Government moved against illegal structures, sending panic among offenders, in this report by Staff Writer, Ladesope Ladelokun When Alhaji Owooniran Rasheed retired 10 years ago, he had looked forward to a post-retirement years that is devoid of pains and suffering. Having ensured all his children are university graduates, he had hoped that someday they would take care of his needs when the strength to work leaves him. But, his hope is dashed by the current economic realities as none of his children has secured a job.

As if that is not enough, Owooniran’s case is worsened by the the fact that the shop he erected to provide another stream of income apart from his monthly pension has been demolished by men of the Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC). Like scores of residents of Jakande estate, whose shops had been demolished, life has never been the same again for Alhaji Owooniran.

“I live on the little money I get from my demolished shop and my monthly pension.

My children have graduated, they don’t have jobs.Now, the shop is gone. If they can build the shops again and redistribute it according to flats,we would be glad. We don’t mind paying. It’s better than having nothing to do. I know at least four people that have died due to the demolition of structures here. The shock was too much for them to bear, but I thank God that I’m still alive,’’ he said.

On why shops in the estate were demolished, Owooniran said,”Many retired old people wrote petition to the Lagos State Government that some of the people that sell electronic gadgets disturb residents with the blast of music. Some complained that while some residents had three or four shops, some had none; those that didn’t have wrote petition against those who have.

So, government came to the conclusion that the shops here should be demolished.’’

But, Owooniran is not alone in his songs of lamentation. Another resident, Semiu Arowolo,wants the government to find an alternative place for those affected by the demolition of shops in the estate, as many have died as a result of the shock occasioned by the demolition of shops,which served as their means of livelihood.

Arowolo said,’’ My wife’s shop has been demolished. I don’t really have a shop here, but my shop is at the powerline. I hear they are also coming there to demolish shops and buildings.”.

He added that,’’many people here no longer work. They rely on pension and what they get from their shops. Many people have died as a result of this demolition. Ask the Medical Director of the hospital nearby, they refer people to the general hospital everyday. We were just given three days notice

Rubbles of the demotion

to quit.’’

For a school administrator, Mrs Agbayike Evelyn, she believes government should have created an alternative before embarking on the demolition exercise in order to cushion the effect on affected residents.’’

I think what a responsible government should do is to create an alternative for those whose shops have been demolished before embarking on the exercise. There is Oja market close to this place, but the market is very small. It can’t contain everybody.’’

She added: “Even the fence in my house

Victim salvaging what is left of his property

was brought down. I felt sad, but I quickly got over it when I witnessed the demolition of a house that the owner claimed was worth N50m very close to this place.’’

However, Mr. Ola Ajayi, a freight forwarder, who has been living in the estate since 1999, says the demolition is in order.

According to him, government owns the estate and the land belongs to the government. He further stated that: “For me,life continues. I lost my shop too but I’m not losing sleep over it. When my wife doesn’t work,she can’t provide any assistance as

“For me,life continues.I lost my shop too but I’m not losing sleep over it.When my wife doesn’t work,she can’t provide any assistance as per our needs in the family.It affects me but that does not mean I shouldn’t say the truth.I don’t think the Lagos State government is wrong in this case.’’

per our needs in the family. It affects me but that does not mean I shouldn’t say the truth.I don’t think the Lagos State government is wrong in this case.’’

Reacting to the allegation leveled against the Lagos state government that the notice for the demolition was short, Ajayi said, “the executives of the shop owners should be blamed for that,I’m aware they were served the notice to quit their shops since last year.’’

Speaking with The Daily Times, Head, Press and Public Affairs Unit of the Lagos Task Force, Mr Taofeek Adebayo, said men of the Task Force only provided security for those who carried out the demolition.

He said the Lagos Business Investment Company was responsible for the demolition.

But efforts to get the Head of Administration and Corporate Affairs Unit of Lagos Building And Investment Company to speak on the matter proved abortive, as at the time of going to the press.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

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Crime

Vigilante seeking recognition for community policing As Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) scaled through the Second Reading Bill at the National Assembly, sponsored by Commander General of VGN, Alhaji Ali Sokoto, expectations are high that its outcome will give a better direction for community policing in the country, writes OGUNTADE ISMAILA The role of the VGN, as a nongovernmental and informal community policing entity, with the objective of assisting the Nigeria Police and any other security agency to curb crime, came into the fore recently.

The aim of the group is to maintain outmost security at all levels of government in the country.

The VGN organization seeks to curb crime, most specially in this current security upsurge facing the country; and to protect life and property, maintain law and order and enhance peace and prosperity.

Interestingly, the police have been supportive in discharging their responsibility towards effective training and manpower development.

The Basic Intelligent Training (BIT) of the group is organized by the department of police training and development force, as directed by the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, to train every member of the NGN to partner the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies in the protection of lives and property.

Consequently, at the passing out parade of the Lagos State Command of the (VGN) after five days’ Basic Intelligent Training (BIT) by the Nigeria police in Lagos, with well over 3000 registered members of the group at the Bishop Vine, Air force playing ground in Ikeja, it was a historic moment for the participants.

The event was colorful and demonstrated the readiness of the VGN to combat crime in Lagos state and to assist the police and other security agencies in the prevention of crime and protection of lives and property in the state.

The event attracted many dignitaries, Royal fathers, the traditional leaders, the spiritual leaders, government functionaries from various levels of the state, the community and market leaders, as well as, private security companies.

The VGN Lagos State command, it was gathered, seeks to assist the state government in overcoming the challenges of insecurity in the State and its environs. Men of the group are well on the ground in all the 20 local government areas and 37, local council development areas of the state.

The units are spread across various communities and wards in the state. The VGN scheme was designed to help the people of Lagos State with some special squads, which were created in different

Commander presenting certificate of Participant to the units Commandant

zone to engage dare-devil criminals in the state.

The VGN ideology presents the government and the community with the opportunity to adequately police the community through community policing, which is the most modern policing technique that seeks to nip crimes in the bud, unlike the traditional policing method that responded after the crime had been committed.

VGN is a community-based policing that is close to the people at the grassroots levels as the Police cannot do it alone.

In Lagos for example, with a population of over 20 million people and the police strength of is just over 3000 officers and men, how would the state be adequately protected? Therefore, they cannot do it alone because of their inadequate manpower.

According to the Commander of the VGN in Lagos State, Otunba james Udoma, a member of Chartered Security Institute of Nigeria, University of Lagos, also, among others, said that, “The VGN is present in all the 36 states of the federation and includes the Federation Capital Territory (FCT).” “We are not doing the NGO for the purpose

Vehicle Donated to VGN at the event

of making money or to enrich our pocket, but we voluntarily wish to protect lives and properties of people”, he said.

He said, “Our main duties are to assist the police and other security agencies in curbing the crime at the grassroots. That the core of the VGN is community policing, which means that it is the member of the community who knows the topography and demography of an area.”

Udoma, commended the Com-

mander General of the VGN in Nigeria, Alhaji Aliyu Sokoto, for his effort in pursuing the Second Reading of the Bill passed by the National Assembly, which will commence public hearing any moment from now.

He thanked both the Nigeria Police for training members of the VGN and royal fathers, who had been providing some logistics and moral support to the VGN in the state.

He also stressed further that the

“Our main duties are to assist the police and other security agencies in curbing the crime at the grassroots. That the core of the VGN is community policing, which means that it is the member of the community who knows the topography and demography of an area.”

community members are members of VGN, who are domiciled in every community where they work.

He also spoke about the difference between the registered VGN and the mushroom local security, saying, “I called them mushroom because they did not undergo any training or orientation and it will very dangerous for such people to handle arms in public.” So, the Lagos State Command of the VGN are able, experience, and intelligent sets of People. Most men are ex-service military and paramilitary officers from the rank of Assistance Commissioner of Police (ACP), Major in the Nigerian Army and many intellectuals, who have served the country one way or the other on national security assignment.”

He said,”The VGN is being guarded by the Constitution; we have our code of conduct as to integrate training and better orientation from our ex-service men.

On these note, governors of several neighboring states have come under significant pressure from large sectors of the general public to introduce the VGN on the basis of their perceived “success” in combating crime.

However, he added that, moves were underway by the Governor of Lagos State, Akiwunmi Ambode to introduce the VGN into the system.

The Neighbourwood Watch Bill has been passed by the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, RT. Hon. Obasa Mudashiru, on neighborhood Corps recently.

Also speaking at the event, The Deputy State Commander of VGN, Mr. Emanuel Ayisiri said, VGN is non-religious, non-partisan or a militant group or social- cultural organization, adding that, it is a group that cuts across the 774 local governments, including the Federal Capital Territory in which each state chapter is under the control and supervision of the command.

Ayisiri, commented that community policing in essence is the collaboration between the police and the community to identify and solve the community security challenges.

Ayisiri, said that of all the military and paramilitary organizations in Nigeria, the VGN has unique attribute that will “enhance our internal security”, adding that, the men of the group are domiciled in the area of operation because they know the terrain, topography and the demography of the area.

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

WORD OF LIFE PROPHETIC DOMINION MINISTRY The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. PASTOR FAITH OKPARA -CHAIR ,PERSON. 2. PS T. BEAUTY U. EKWE - SECRETARY 3.MR. CHINEDU OGBONNA. 4. DIKE GODFREY ONUNWOR. 5. MRS. OFONDU OKONKWO NDIDIAMAKA S. AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. SALVATION OF SOULS. 2. DELIVERANCE OF SOULS. 3.HELPING THE NEEDY. 4.SPREADING THE GOSPEL. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitam Abuja within 28days of this publication SIGNED: SECRETARY

OFUOBIE DIUTO BROTHERS CLUB OF NIGERIA

21 Public Notice

ALUGU-LUNGU MUSLIMS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION GWARINPA ABUJA

HIS BLOODFLOW PRAYER CITY MINISTRY

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

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

Trustees are 1. HON. ISMAILA AHMED GADAKA - Chairman 2. HON. LAWALI HASSAN ANKA 3. IBRAHIM UMAR 4. MUHAMMAD BASHIR - Secretary 5. ISMAIL ABDULLAHI 6. LAWAL IDRIS MUSA 7. IBRAHIM ADAMU

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Apostle Charles Fubara (President) 2. Victoria Charles (Secretary).

AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. To promote the interest of Muslim Community in Alugu-Lungu, Gwarinpa, Abuja amongst others Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28days of this publication SIGNED: SECRETARY UNIVERSITY OF BENIN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ALUMNI CLASS OF 1991

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

2. To liberate souls and to prepare people for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

SIGNED: SECRETARY

NEW HEAVEN CHURCH WORLDWIDE

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

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004

This is to inform the general public that the above Named has applied for Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ANAYO GODWIN ONYEOMA - Chairman 2. OSITA AGADAVice - Chairman 3. SUNDAY ECHIZANA UMEH - Secretary 4. SYLVESTER IKWU - Treasurer

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr (Mrs) Gloria Patrick - Ferife - Chairman 2. Dr Ogierhiakhi Omokaro - Secretary 3. Dr. Darlington Ewaen Obaseki 4. Dr Casimir Erhunmwun Omuemu 5. Dr Abieyuwa Patricia Osemwenkha 6. Dr Mojeed Oshiorenua Momoh 7. Dr Okunweme Ohiosimuan Iriah 8. Dr Chizoba Barbara Wonodi 9. Prof. Ikpeme Asanye Ikpeme 10. Dr Felix Akpomedaye Nomuoja

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ARCHIBONG PETER GLORIA 2. OLUKUNLE HELEN HAVILLAH 3. DYO TERZUNGWE SHADDY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To create, nurture and promote the spirit of brotherliness and friendship among the members.

2. To encourage members to be responsible in life and hardworking in business.

3. For social and recreational interaction.

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

SIGNED: SYLVESTER I. ONYEAMA, ESQ. Legal Adviser (08079923660)

UTOKANA ONE LOVE CLUB OF NIGERIA This is to notify the general public that the above named association has applied for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Emehelu Jude Obinna - Chairman 2. Ojirinnaka Obinna Paul - Vice Chairman 3. Bright Robert Chimezie - Secretary 4. Nwankwo Melitus Ugochukwu - Financial Secretary 5. Udeozor Romanus Okafor - Treasurer 6. Amalu Ifeanyi Clement - Provost 7. Ezeh Onyebuchi Chukwudi - Member AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To create, nurture and promote the spirit of brotherliness and friendship among the members.

2. To encourage members to be responsible in life and hardworking in business.

3. For social and recreational interaction.

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

Signed: Sylvester I. Onyeama, Esq. Legal Adviser (08079923660) CHRIST POWER OF LIBRATION EVANGELISTIC MINISTRY INT’L ILE OMINIRA

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To maintain relationships and seek for the welfare of all classmates.

Any objections to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar General, Corporate Affairs.Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Abuja.within 28days of this publication.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

SIGNED : SECRETARY

SIGNED BY SECRETARY.

DIVINE APOSTOLIC WONDERS EVANGELICAL MINISTRY This is to inform the general public that the above Named has applied for Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) Apostle Idowu Adeleke Adeyinka 2) Pastor Nathan Oluwatumise.

3) Mrs Olufunmi Idowu Adeleke 4) Pst Okuneye Adeleke.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To propagate the gospel of the Lord.

2. To provide the best and sound education 3. Health care services to the members Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES GATE OF THANKSGIVING MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. To bring unity among members and help one another in time of need Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

This is to inform the general public that the above Named has applied for Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr Adekunle Babayemi FCIH – Chairman 2. Barrister Akintoye Adeoye – Vice Chairman 3. Mr Dean Dairo FCA – Secretary/Treasurer AIMS & OBJECTIVES: 1) Develop sustainable operational framework across member nations of Africa to make economic growth and job creation pivotal to the human capital development needs of the citizens.

2) Develop entrepreneurship development programmes (EDP) amongst young people, micro, small and medium business owners, business support organisations and education providers etc. in partnership with government agencies to foster a strong and enduring passion and sensitisation for wealth creation, poverty alleviation and gender equality in economic growth needs for the continent.

3) To positively impact on national, regional and international policy paradigms relating to youth employment initiatives and global facility for employment in troubled regions and/fragile States of Africa.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, PMB 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

INDIGENEOUS PEOPLE OF NIGER DELTA ASSOCIATION

This is to inform the General Public that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) Pastor Maha John Iko-Ojotule (2) Pastor Maha Gloria Ota

TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ROLAND EDIRI IDIMI – CHAIRMAN 3. BARR. CHIOMA MMEREOLE 5. OSIGWE OMO IKIRODAH 7. OCHUI AUGUSTINE AKWONG 9. GIFT BEBA

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED BY : SECRETARY

1. Mr. Joseph Ekundayo 2. Mr. Samual alade oluwaloba.

3. Samuel sunday Dania

xxx AFRICAN INNOVATION FOR CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

This is to inform the general public that the above name has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under part “C” of the companies and Allied matters Act 1990

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:(1) To preach the gospel of our lord jesus christ (2) To promote unity among christians (3) To propagate the need for peaceful co-existence among other religious sect (4) To deliver the oppressed, heal the sick, set the captive free and establish faith clinic (5) To organize bible teaching, prayer meetings , crusade/outreaches, and christian seminars (6) To impact men and women to the discoveries of their gifts, talent and call

UGBANA SOCIAL CLUB UGBOSHI-AFE EDO This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

Board of Trustees

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. Giving the world a taste of heaven now on earth 2. Reconciling the people back to god 3. Building a people after god’s heart

GOD OF SOLUTION AND DIVINE DELIVERANCE MINISTRY

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied for Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

Board of Trustees 1. Pastor Obasuyi joys ogbeyanu 2. Pastor Dr. Obasuyi Monday Azolla 3. Pastor Paul Akpeokhai 4. Pastor Emmanuel Ojeme 5. Deacons Mrs, Edith Nwaka Idegun .

6. Obasuyi Osaiyekemwen Lee AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

2. ADESUYI ADEWOLE 4. CMRD ERNIEBOB – MANUEL 6. CMRD VICTOR UROH KIANI 8. MONDAY EKARIKA 10. SANI LAWAL

AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. To promote peace and unity amongst members Any objective to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris crescent Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 days of the publication SIGNED SECRETARY

AUCTION SALES THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE BONNY DIVISIONAL POLICE HEAD QUATER RIVERS STATE , PLANS TO DISPOSE MOTOR CYCLES AND HOUSE HOLD ITEMS.

BY THIS NOTICE CLAIMANTS ARE THEREFORE ADVISED TO REPORT TO THE ABOVE POLICE STATION WITHING 21 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. ASSORTED MOTORCYCLES AND HOUSE HOLD ITEMS. SIGNED: VICTOR OBEAHON AUCTIONEER

22

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

AJIBOWU-YEKINI ROFLAT OLASHILE

Formerly known and addressed as YEKINI ROFLAT OLASHILE now wish to be known and addressed as AJIBOWU-YEKINI ROFLAT OLASHILE. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

NJOKU JENNIFER CHINWENDU

Formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Chukwudi Blessing Chidinma now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Njoku Jennifer Chinwendu. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLAJIDE OMOLARA ESTHER. Formerly known and addressed as BAMIGBOYE OMOLARA ESTHER, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLAJIDE OMOLARA ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLUWAYEMISI OKONKWO.

UDOKANG PATIENCE OCHEME.

Formerly known and addressed as UDOKANG SUNDAY PATIENCE MMEMEH now wish to be known and addressed as UDOKANG PATIENCE OCHEME. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OTOBOHU EDITH ITOHAN.

Formerly known and addressed OTOBOHU MERCY ITOHAN now wish to be known and addressed as OTOBOHU EDITH ITOHAN. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLANREWAJU ESTHER TOSIN.

Formerly known and addressed as OLANREWAJU ESTHER OLUWATOSIN, now wish to be known and addressed as OLANREWAJU ESTHER TOSIN. All former documents remain valid.

GT Bank, Fidelity Bank and general public take note.

CHIBUZO CHUKWUOGO FAVOUR

I formerly known and addressed as MRS. YETUNDE OKONKWO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLUWAYEMISI OKONKWO. all former documents remain valid,general public take note.

I Formerly known and addressed as OKONKWO CHUKWUOGO EYITAYO CONFIDENCE now wish to be known and addressed as CHIBUZO CHUKWUOGO FAVOUR. all former documents remain valid,general public take note.

AMADI LILIAN NWOBIANDU I Formerly known and addressed as MAXWELL-AKANI LILIAN NWOBIANDU, now Wish to be known and addressed AMADI LILIAN NWOBIANDU .

All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note

I, Formerly known and addressed as MISS. ESEOGHENE ONOKPASA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OBA HAROLD ESEOGHENE. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note

REBECCA IFEOMA ABINYE BROWN

I, formerly known and addressed as, AGOMUOH BECKY IFEOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as, REBECCA IFEOMA ABINYE BROWN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OBA HAROLD ESEOGHENE.

INNOCENT CHISOM BESSY.

I, formerly known and addressed as, ATUM BESSY CHISOM, now wish to be known and addressed as, INNOCENT CHISOM BESSY. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that VINCENT ANWUZIA ADUBOR is the same person as ANINI OTUTU ADUBOR. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

OMONDIAGBE DAVID AGBONJAGUE

Formerly known and addressed as Omondiagbe David Aigue, now wish to be known and addressed as Omondiagbe David Agbonjague. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

OPARA CHIDI JOHN

Formerly known and addressed as JOHN CHIDI EMMANUEL, now wish to be known and addressed as OPARA CHIDI JOHN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHIBUZO OZIOMA GIFT.

I formely known and addressed as OKONKWO OZIOMA GIFT JESUTOFUNMI now wish to be known and addressed as CHIBUZO OZIOMA GIFT. All former documents remain valid .

The general public should take note.

EBIKABOERE EZE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. EBIKABOERE SAWARI, now wish to be known and addressed as EBIKABOERE EZE . All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note .

ORDU CHINEDU.

I, formerly known and addressed as, OBIA CHINEDU, now wish to be known and addressed as, ORDU CHINEDU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

SUNDAY IDORENYIN DANIEL.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME.

CORRECTION OF NAME.

I, formerly known and addressed as, SUNDAY HOPE DANIEL, now wish to be known and addressed as, SUNDAY IDORENYIN DANIEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

IMEH ARCHIBONG as appeared in my BVN and Fidelity Bank, and ETUKUDO IMEH ARCHIBONG as appeared in my Zenith Bank Account, refer to one and same person but, now wish to be known and addressed as ETUKUDO IMEH ARCHIBONG. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

I, OKON, KINGSLEY DAVID Wish to correct my name which was wrongly written as DAVID KINGSLEY OKON In my BVN Instead of OKON. KINGSLEY DAVID. I Now wish to be known and addressed as OKON, KINGSLEY DAVID. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

EZEH BERNARDINE IFEOMA.

I formerly known and addressed as OSUJI-EZEH BERNARDINE IFEOMA now wish to be known and addressed as EZEH BERNARDINE IFEOMA. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

OLAPADE VICTOR NDIDI ENDURANCE

I formerly known and addressed as ENDURANCE NDIDI IFEDIORAH now wish to be known and addressed as OLAPADE VICTOR NDIDI ENDURANCE. All documents and certificates bearing my

THE TUNDE ONIBODE FOUNDATION

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

The Trustees are: 1. Mr. Babatunde Onibode 2. Mrs. Bukola Onibode 3. Miss Kofoworola Jennifer Onibode 4. Mr. Osuolale Bailey Onibode AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To provide medical Care for less privilege 2. To provide food and water for less privilege 3. To train the less privilege to have good skills and livelihood project 4. To provide emergency relief and recovery for those devastated by disaster 5. To provide aid for victims of trafficking 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:A.A. AGBOLUAJE ESQ - DE-REMEDIUM CHAMBERS

AJADI BUKOLA MARY I formerly known and addressed as EMMANUEL BUKOLA MARY now wish to be known and addressed as AJADI BUKOLA MARY. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

NNODI JULIANA ONYEKA. I formerly known and addressed as MISS UZOMA JULIANA ONYEKA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. NNODI JULIANA ONYEKA. All documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

DANIMOH RAJI ENESI

I formerly known and addressed as RAJI LASISI ENESI now I want to change my first name RAJI to DANIMO. I wish to be known and addressed as DANIMOH RAJI ENESI. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

ADEWUMI CLAUDIUS TAYO

Formerly known and addressed as ADEWUMI CLAUDIUS DESMOND now wish to be known and addressed as ADEWUMI CLAUDIUS TAYO 19-6-1982. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLORUNMUYIWA KEHINDE IBUKUN

Formerly known and addressed as MISS OLABISI KEHINDE IBUKUN now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLORUNMUYIWA KEHINDE IBUKUN. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

SULAIMAN TAWA IYABO

Formerly known and addressed as Alimi Tawa Iyabo now wish to be known and addressed as Sulaiman Tawa Iyabo. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

UKEJE NELLY VERONICA

FABIYI ODUNOLA RACHAEL

Formerly known and addressed as NNENNA FELIX now wish to be known and addressed as UKEJE NELLY VERONICA. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Formerly known and addressed as MISS AJAYI ODUNOLA RACHAEL, now wish to be known and addressed as MISS. FABIYI ODUNOLA RACHAEL. All former document remain valid. General public take note.

NDUBUISI OSITADINMA IFEANYI.

ENAIS LAZONTE

I Formerly known and addressed as NDUBUISI OSINACHI HENRY now wish to be known and addressed as NDUBUISI OSITADINMA IFEANYI. all former documents remain valid. general public take note .

I, Formerly known and addressed as ENAIFOGHE ASUELIMEN LAZONTE now wish to be known and addressed as ENAIS LAZONTE .all former documents remain valid, general public take note

BLESSING EDET JOHN

I,Formerly known and addressed as ATIM EDET JOHN. now wish to be known and addressed as BLESSING EDET JOHN. All former documents remain valid. The general public take note.

RICH PRECIOUS CHIOMA

Formerly known and addressed as NWOSU CHIOMA PRECIOUS now wish to be known and addressed as RICH PRECIOUS CHIOMA. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MBACHU GLORIA CHINWE.

I, Formerly known and addressed as MBACHU IFEOMA GLORY, now wish to be known and addressed as MBACHU GLORIA CHINWE. all former documents re main valid. The general public should take note

MIRABEL EBERE OKORO I Formerly known and addressed as MISS IFEOMA MIRABEL CHEDOM now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MIRABEL EBERE OKORO. All former documents remain valid, General public should please take note.

DIKE IBOIYO GLADYS JOY.

I Formerly known and addressed as MISS. IBOIYO GLADYS JOY. now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. DIKE IBOIYO GLADYS JOY. All former documents remain valid, General public should please take note.

AUGUSTA MOSES MOSES .

OVORO EZEKIEL JEFFERY.

QUEEN CONFIDENCE VISIGAH KOGBARA

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. AUGUSTA AUGUSTINE JAMES, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. AUGUSTA MOSES MOSES . All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note .

I, formerly known and addressed as EZEKIEL OVORO OGAGA, now wish to be known and addressed as OVORO EZEKIEL JEFFERY. All former documents remain valid. The general public should take note .

I, formerly known and addressed as QUEEN CONFIDENCE KOGBARA, now wish to be known and addressed as QUEEN CONFIDENCE VISIGAH KOGBARA. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

NKEM VIVIAN OLAUGO I, formerly known and addressed as, ASEME VIVIAN ULOUGO, now wish to be known and addressed as, NKEM VIVIAN OLAUGO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME I, AKANDE ROTIMI SUNDAY, wish to correct my name that was wrongly written as, AKANDE ROTIMI OLAYIDE. I now wish to be known and addressed as, AKANDE ROTIMI SUNDAY and that my correct date of birth is 10th JUNE, 1961. All former documents remain valid. Bank and general public should take note.

JOHN ROSE.

I formerly known and addressed as ROSE ROBINSON now wish to be known and addressed as JOHN ROSE. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. The general public should please take note.

VICTORIA JOHN OLUCHUKWU EJIM

I, formerly known and addressed as, MISS. VICTORIA SUNDAY ESSIEN, now wish to be known and addressed as, MRS. VICTORIA JOHN OLUCHUKWU EJIM. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

FRANK HOPE.

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

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to notify the General Public that we, Mr.Abayomi Ayodele Ojomo, Mr. Adetokunbo Olaniyi, Atobatele and Mr. Olanrewaju Babatunde Atobatele all Administrators of the Estate of Christianah Olubukunola Atobatele of No. 70, Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos, lost and cannot find the original Certificate of Occupancy Registered as No. 29 Page 29 in Volume 1981D dated 18th August, 1981 and the original Deed of sublease Registered as No. 44 page 44 in Volume1846 dated 4th November, 1983 in respect of the Estate property situate at Plot 384, George Crescent, Agbalajobi Estate, Ogba Scheme Residential layout, Ogba, Lagos, measuring about 838.16 square meters Lagos State Ministry of Lands and the General Public are duly notified.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

EDAH-DIKE, ODJUS AYOMIDE

I, formerly known, called and addressed EDAH-DIKE ODJUS EMMANUEL, now wish to be known, called and addressed as EDAH-DIKE, ODJUS AYOMIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

KAMA UCHENNA FLORENCE.

I, formerly known and addressed as KAMA ADAOBI FLORENCE, now wish to be known and addressed as KAMA UCHENNA FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

MBA IKECHUKWU SAMUEL.

I, formerly known and addressed as ERICK SAMUEL IYKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MBA IKECHUKWU SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public should please take note.

AGATHA OGECHUKWU UMEJIOFOR

I, formerly known and addressed as AGATHA OGECHUKWU CHIAHA CHIJIOKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AGATHA OGECHUKWU UMEJIOFOR. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME.

This is to confirm and certify that, NKOLAGU DANIEL ONYEDIKA and DAN NKOLAGU JUNIOR refer to one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as DAN NKOLAGU JUNIOR. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

BAKARE IBRAHIM LANRE.

I formerly known and addressed as Bakare Oladehinde Ibrahim now wish to be known and addressed as Bakare Ibrahim Lanre. All former documents remain valid.

General public to please note.

BELLO SUWEBAT LAMI

I, formerly known and addressed as BELLO SUWEBAT ADEWUNMI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as BELLO SUWEBAT LAMI. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

UGWU JACINTA CHINAGOROM

I, formerly known and addressed as, ONAH JACINTA CHINAGOROM, now wish to be known and addressed as UGWU JACINTA CHINAGOROM. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

NZEKWE LOVETH

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OKAFOR LOVETH, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NZEKWE LOVETH.All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Police Force and General public should please take note.

EVELYN ROSEMARY UFENE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS EVELYN INNOCENT ABUYA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS EVELYN ROSEMARY UFENE. All former documents remain valid.

Banks and General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME.

This is to confirm and certify that, EZE JONATHAN OKWUDILI and EZE JONATHAN OKWIErefer to one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as EZE JONATHAN OKWUDILI. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

MAZI-OKOLI ECHEZONACHUKWU SAMUEL.

I formerly known and addressed as Mazi-Okoli Echzonachukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Mazi-Okoli Echezonachukwu Samuel. All former documents remain valid. General public to please note.

EDEH DANIEL CHUKWUDI.

I, formerly known and addressed as EDEH IGNATIUS NONSO, now wish to be known and addressed as EDEH DANIEL CHUKWUDI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note MONDAY AWOKE ALOM

ODOH LOVETH IFEOMA

IGWEAGU CHARITY OLUCHI.

ILO EUCHARIA UZOCHUKWU AND ILOANI EUCHARIA UZOCHUKWU

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS ODOH CHARITY OLUCHI, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS IGWEAGU CHARITY OLUCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OBALADILDE EUCHARIA UZOCHUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ILO EUCHARIA UZOCHUKWU and MRS ILOANI EUCHARIA UZOCHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ODO LOVETH CHERECHI, now wish to be known and addressed as ODOH LOVETH IFEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note OKEUGO OLUCHI CHRIS.

I, formerly known and addressed as OKEUGO OLUCHI CHRISTIANA, now wish to be known and addressed as OKEUGO OLUCHI CHRIS. All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should please take note.

OYEWOLE ATINUKE AFOLASHADE

GLADYS OGHENERIOBORUE OKORO.

I formerly known as Onabodu Atinuke Afolashade Elizabeth now which to be called Oyewole Atinuke Afolashade Elizabeth.former documents remains valid.

General public note

I FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS GLADYS OGHENERIOBORUE EDOJARIOGBA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS GLADYS OGHENERIOBORUE OKORO. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

IKEJIOFOR ROSE.

I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Ikejiofor Rose Omunuzuo now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ikejiofor Rose. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ZAKARIYAH MONSOUR OLAWALE

MAKINDE GRACE NSIKAK.

ODEBIYI OMOWUNMI

Formerly known and addressed as OLAJUMOKE OMOWUNMI ODEBIYI now wish to be known and addressed as ODEBIYI OMOWUNMI. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as MUKAILA IBRAHIM now wish to be known and addressed as IBRAHIM MUKAILA MOHAMMED. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that OLANIYAN MOROLAYO AJOKE is the same person as OLANIYAN MOROLAYO BARAKAT. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

NNAJI STEPHANIE

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS NWAFOR STEPHANIE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS NNAJI STEPHANIE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

FASHINA FAUSAT IBILOLA

SHOYINKA SHERIFAT OMOBONIKE.

IBRAHIM MUKAILA MOHAMMED

EGWU AZUBUIKE OGBONNA.

I, formerly known and addressed as AMBROSE OGBONNA AZUBUIKE, now wish to be known and addressed as EGWU AZUBUIKE OGBONNA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

I, formerly known as AFOLABI IBILOLA wish to be known and addressed as FASHINA FAUSAT IBILOLA. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as AKINPELU SHERIFAT OMOBONIKE now wish to be known and addressed as SHOYINKA SHERIFAT OMOBONIKE. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as VALENTINE OKWANUZO NWACHUKWUnow wish to be known and addressed as VALENTINE OKWANUZO EDEME-NWACHUKWU. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AGU IFEOMA AULDRA

I, formerly known and addressed as AGU IFEOMA JENNIFER, now wish to be known and addressed as AGU IFEOMA AULDRA. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

OKORO SAMSON IGWEBUIKE

I, formerly known and addressed as OTENG JAMES NANAYAW, now wish to be known and addressed as OKORO SAMSON IGWEBUIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME.

Formerly known and addressed as YEKINI WAHAB OLASHILE now wish to be known and addressed as AJIBOWU-YEKINI WAHAB OLASHILE. All documents remain valid. General public take note

VALENTINE OKWANUZO EDEME-NWACHUKWU.

OKAFOR BONIFACE CHIKA

I, formerly known and addressed as OKEKE SYLVESTER CHIGOZIE, now wish to be known and addressed as OKAFOR BONIFACE CHIKA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MBA CHARLES AGU, now wish to be known and addressed as AGUMBA CHARLES. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

LUKA JOHNSON

I, formerly known and addressed as LUKA JOHNSON MAPAK, now wish to be known and addressed as LUKA JOHNSON. My correct date of birth is 1/2/1979. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

This is to confirm and certify that, OKWOR CHIBUIKE, OKWOR CHIBUIKE MAGNUS and OKWOR CHIBUIKE MICHAEL refer to one and the same person, now wish to be known and addressed as OKWOR CHIBUIKE MICHAEL. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

AJIBOWU-YEKINI WAHAB OLASHILE.

Formerly known and addressed as ZAKARIYAH MONSURU now wish to be known and addressed as ZAKARIYAH MONSOUR OLAWALE. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AGUMBA CHARLES.

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS MADUABUCHI IFEYINWA CHRISTIANA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONUAGULUCHI IFEYINWA CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

RASHEED ZULEEKAH IRETIOLA

TOSIN MOGBONJUBOLA M

ONUAGULUCHI IFEYINWA CHRISTIANA

EKEKE ADAEZE IFEAKONAM

I, formerly known and addressed as EKEKE ADAEZE IFEOMA, now wish to be known and addressed as EKEKE ADAEZE IFEAKONAM. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MONDAYAWOKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MONDAY AWOKE ALOM. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note.

Formerly known and addressed as RASHEED IRETIOLA TEMITOPE now wish to be known and addressed as RASHEED ZULEEKAH IRETIOLA. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as TOSIN MOGBONJUBOLA P now wish to be known and addressed as TOSIN MOGBONJUBOLA M. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHUKWUAGBANARILAM GIFT MARIA

I, formerly known and addressed as ONYINYECHI CHUKWUAGBANARILAM MARIA, now wish to be known and addressed as CHUKWUAGBANARILAM GIFT MARIA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

23

Formerly known and addressed as MISS ARCHIBONG GRACE NSIKAK now wish to be known and addressed as MRS MAKINDE GRACE NSIKAK. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

COLE TOLUWANI CHRISTABEL

I formerly known and addressed as MRS DELE TOKUNBO OGBO now wish to be known and addressed as MS COLE TOLUWANI CHRISTABEL. All former documents remain valid. Bank and General public take note.

CHIEJINA FRED AMAECHI.

Formerly known and addressed as CHIEJINA ONYEMAECHI FREDRICK now wish to be known and addressed as CHIEJINA FRED AMAECHI. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OYEWOLE OLATUNJI SUNDAY

Formerly known and addressed as OYEWOLE SUNDAY GBOYEGA now wish to be known and addressed as OYEWOLE OLATUNJI SUNDAY. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEGOKE ADETUTU YEMISI

OKORONKWO CHRISTOPHER NDUBUISI

Formerly known and addressed as EYABARE ESE EBUN now wish to be known and addressed as ADEGOKE ADETUTU YEMISI. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly known and addressed as OKONKWO CHRISTOPHER NDUBISInow wish to be known and addressed as OKORONKWO CHRISTOPHER NDUBUISI. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

IBRAHIM MUKAILA MOHAMMED.

Formerly known and addressed as MUKAILA IBRAHIM now wish to be known and addressed as IBRAHIM MUKAILA MOHAMMED. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OLANIYAN MOROLAYO BARAKAT

This is to confirm that OLANIYAN MOROLAYO AJOKE is the same person as OLANIYAN MOROLAYO BARAKAT. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

AMINAT OLABISI BODUNRIN

I, formerly known as ASHIRU AMINAT OLABISI, now wish to be known and addressed as AMINAT OLABISI BODUNRIN. All documents bearing my former name remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

AYERETI ADEFIKAYO TITILOPE

Formerly known and addressed as OYEWUMI ADEFIKAYO TITILOPE now wish to be known and addressed as AYERETI ADEFIKAYO TITILOPE. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

OJODU BALIKIS OLABISI

Formerly known and addressed as OJUDU BALIKIS OLABISI now wish to be known and addressed as OJODU BALIKIS OLABISI. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ADEKOYA HANNA REMILEKUN

Formerly known and addressed as MISS FUNSHO HANNA REMILEKUN now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADEKOYA HANNA REMILEKUN. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

IBRAHIM MUKAILA MOHAMMED

Formerly known and addressed as MUKAILA IBRAHIM now wish to be known and addressed as IBRAHIM MUKAILA MOHAMMED. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

GEORGE OYINDAMOLA OJO

I, formerly known as GEORGE OLANIYAN , now wish to be known and addressed as GEORGE OYINDAMOLA OJO , All documents bearing my former name remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

AKWERIGBE TOLU TOYIN.

Formerly known and addressed as MRS ISAIAH TOLU TOYIN now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AKWERIGBE TOLU TOYIN. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

JTAYESHE OJULAPE RASHEED

Formerly known and addressed as ADEGOKE OJUOLAPE RASHIDAT now wish to be known and addressed as JTAYESHE OJULAPE RASHEEDAT 12-7-1980. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

NJOKU CHINEDU MICHEAL

Formerly known and addressed as GODWIN CHINEDU MICHEAL now wish to be known and addressed as NJOKU CHINEDU MICHEAL. All documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

This is to confirm that DOMINIE MATHEN AKUSHE is the same person as DOMINIE MATHEW AKUSHE KADOM. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

24

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

BABATUNDE REBECCA

I formerly known and addressed as ONAH REBECCA now wish to be known and addressed as BABATUNDE REBECCA All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

SAMMY OLUDAYO ODUTAYO

FABIYI FUNKE OLAJUMOKE

I formerly known and addressed as NASIR RASHIDAT now wish to be known and addressed as FABIYI FUNKE OLAJUMOKE All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

JOSHUA THEOPHILUS

I formerly known and addressed as ODUTOLA ADEKUNLE ODUTAYO now wish to be known and addressed as SAMMY OLUDAYO ODUTAYO All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as EMMANUEL OSINACHI JOSHUA now wish to be known and addressed as JOSHUA THEOPHILUS All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

THEOPHILUS ADESANYA KUSHIMO

OLATUNJI OLAKANMI OLUWA

I formerly known and addressed as TUNDE ADESANYA KUSHIMO now wish to be known and addressed as THEOPHILUS ADESANYA KUSHIMO All former documents remain vavalid. General public to please take note.

ANAETO MARYJANE . E

I, formerly known as OKEKE MARYJANE . E . wish to be known and addressed as ANAETO MARYJANE . E . All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

OGUNLEYE. JOSEPH

I formerly known and addressed as BEYIOKU OLATUNJI OLAKANMI now wish to be known and addressed as OLATUNJI OLAKANMI OLUWA All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

ORABIYI TEMITOPE OLUWAKEMI.

I, formerly known as TAIWO TEMITOPE OLUWAKEMI wish to be known and addressed as ORABIYI TEMITOPE OLUWAKEMI. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

OGUNNIYI ADERONKE OLAJUMOKE MARY

I formerly known and addressed as Bakanike Joseph now wish to be known and addressed as Ogunleye. Joseph. All Former documents remain valid general public should take note.

I. Formely known and addressed Miss. Serifat. Aderonke Ogundele now wish to be known and addressed as. Mrs. Ogunniyi Aderonke Olajumoke Mary all Former documents.

Remain valid general public should take note

EKEH. ANTHONY NSORO

ADEJOLA. OLUYEMISI.

I formerly known and addressed as. Ekeh Anthony.

Nkwopara. Now wish to be known and addressed as Ekeh. Anthony Nsoro. All Former documents remain valid general public should take note.

SALIHU. NMA

I formerly known and addressed as. Umaru. Salihu. Haji. Now wish to be known and addressed as Salihu. Nma. All Former documents. Remain valid general public should take note.

I. Formely known and addressed as. Adewusi. Oluyemisi now wish to be known and addressed as. Adejola.

Oluyemisi. All Former documents remain valid general public should take note.

SOWEMIMO JANET. .Y.

I. Formely known and addressed as. Janet.

Odugbemi now wish to be known and addressed as.

Sowemimo Janet. .y. all Former documents remain valid general public should take note

JOHN OLUFEMI SUNDAY EMMANUEL

UZOMA EVELYN OMEREONYE

I formerly known and addressed as JOHN SUNDAY EMMNUEL, now I wish to be known and addressed as JOHN OLUFEMI SUNDAY EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. ACCESS BANK AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

I, formerly known and addressed as UZOMA EKPO now wish to be formally known and addressed as UZOMA EVELYN OMEREONYE. All documents bearing my maiden names remain valid.

EZE CHIDI NDUBISI

ADEGBOLA ANUOLUWAPO RASHIDAT

I formerly known and addressed as ADEGBOLA AHMED RASHIDAT now wish to be known and addressed as ADEGBOLA ANUOLUWAPO RASHIDAT All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

OBOSHI NUWA ANUKPO

I formerly known and addressed as OBOSHI MATHEW ANUKPO now wish to be known and addressed as OBOSHI NUWA ANUKPO All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

BOSE WASI OLUYOMI

I formerly known and addressed as MARRY WASI OLUYOMI now wish to be known and addressed as BOSE WASI OLUYOMI All former documents remain valid.

General public to please take note.

MOO MONSURATU TANWA.

I, formerly known as Muyideen Monsurat Tanwa wish to be known and addressed as Amoo Monsuratu Tanwa. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

KUFEJI OLUWASOLA OMOWUMI I formerly known and addressed as MISS OGUNLEYE OLUWASOLA OMOWUMI now wish to be known and addressed as MRS KUFEJI OLUWASOLA OMOWUMI All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

OLADELE ESTHER ADEOLA

I, formerly known and addressed as ADEMOLA ESTHER ADEOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as OLADELE ESTHER ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note IFEANYI EZENWAJIOBI

I, formerly known as Nwajiobi Gregory Ifeanyi wish to be known and addressed as Ifeanyi Ezenwajiobi. All former document remain valid, general public please take note

EMMANUEL. ONYEMA. STEPHEN

INSPECTOR. JOSEPHINE. OSEMWENKHAE

I. Formely known and addressed as. Ahanonu. Onyema. Stephen. Now. Wish to be known and addressed as Emmanuel. Onyema. Stephen all Former document s remain valid general public should take note.

I. Formely known and addressed as W/PC. Okoro.

Josephine. Now wish to be known and addressed as inspector. Josephine. Osemwenkhae all Former documents remain valid general public should take note

IBITOYE. BUKOLA.

I formerly known and addressed as. Okiki. Bukola.

Now wish to be known and addressed as. Ibitoye. Bukola. All Former documents. remain valid general public should take note ADDITION. OF NAME

UMARU. ESTHER. PETER

I. Formely known and addressed as. Esther. Dogo.

Watata now wish to be known and addressed as . Umaru. Esther. Peter all Former documents remain valid general public should take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

I. Formely known and addressed as. Adebayo. Emmanuel I want to add Fadeyi. To my name now wish to be known and addressed as. Adebayo. Emmanuel. Fadeyi all Former documents. Remain valid general public should take note.

That. My name was wrongly writing as Mandik. Elisha Rosemary Linda my correct name is Elisha Rosemary.

Linda all Former documents.

Remain valid general public should take note

OMOTOSO TAIWO ESTHER

0GINI ADUNNI FOLASHADE I, formerly known and addressed as FOLASHADE ADUNNI WILLIAMS, now wish to be known and addressed as 0GINI ADUNNI FOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as, AJAYI TAIWO ESTHER, now wish to be known and addressed as, OMOTOSO TAIWO ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OPARA LINDA NGOZI

DIKE JOY ADAUKA

I, formerly known, called and addressed as NWOSU LINDA NGOZI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. OPARA LINDA NGOZI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known, called and addressed as DIKE HELINE JOY, now wish to be known, called and addressed as DIKE JOY ADAUKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ALUKO OLUFUNMILAYO TAIWO

CHRISTIANAH OLUFUNMILAYO ADELAKUN.

I, formerly known, called and addressed CHRISTIANAH OLUFUNMILAYO ODERANTI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as CHRISTIANAH OLUFUNMILAYO ADELAKUN. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

OBETA STELLA NEBECHI

I, formerly known, called and addressed as ADEGOKE OLUFUNMILAYO TAIWO, now wish to be known, called and addressed as ALUKO OLUFUNMILAYO TAIWO. All former documents remain valid.

General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

I, formerly known, called and addressed as CHIDI NDUBUEZE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as EZE CHIDI NDUBISI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note

KEHINDE BOLUWATIFE ADEKUNLE

I formerly known and addressed as ADEJARE KEHINDE AMOS OJO now wish to be known and addressed as KEHINDE BOLUWATIFE ADEKUNLE All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note

Formerly known and addressed as UGWU STELLA NEBECHI Now wish to be OBETA STELLA NEBECHI. All former documents remain valid.

General public please note.

HELEN IBEAWUCHI

I, formerly known, called and addressed as HELEN IGBOAMALU, now wish to be known, called and addressed as HELEN IBEAWUCHI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I am the same person bearing UCHENNA IDEKPE DONATUS AWGU and IDEKPE UCHENNA DONATUS . All document bearing any of the above mentioned names remains mine and valid.

General public should take note.

ADESANYA OGHOGHO HAPPINESS

I formerly known and addressed as AGHO, OGHOGHO HAPPINESS now wish to be known and addressed as ADESANYA OGHOGHO HAPPINESS All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

AKINYEMI SHAKIRU MUFUTAU

I formerly known and addressed as MUFUTAU SHAKIRU AYOFEMI now wish to be known and addressed as AKINYEMI SHAKIRU MUFUTAU All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

EGWUMBA CHIKA PERPETUA

I, formerly known as Ibekwe Chika Perpetua wish to be known and addressed as Egwumba Chika Perpetua.

All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

BAMIDELE KUNLE DANIEL

I, formerly known as John Kunle Daniel wish to be known and addressed as Bamidele Kunle Daniel. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

AKINMERESE FREDERICK KOLAWOLE

I. Formely known and addressed as Akinhinmirese.

Frederick. Kolawole now wish to be known and addressed as Akinmerese Frederick Kolawole. All Former documents remain valid general public should take note.

NWOGU. GRACE. CHINYERE

. I. Formely known and addressed as Onyebuchi. Grace.

Chinyere. Now wish to be known and addressed as.

Nwogu. Grace. Chinyere all Former documents Remain valid general public should take note.

ILALE MARY HARIET

I formerly known and addressed as HARIET OTSE MARY now I wish to be known and addressed as ILALE MARY HARIET .All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note ADELUOLA ELIZABETH A

I, formerly known and addressed as KUKU ELIZABETH AZAZMARE, now wish to be known and addressed as ADELUOLA ELIZABETH A. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note INAUGHE ELIZABETH IKHIAMIEGBHAI.

I, formerly known, called and addressed as MISS OKPALOAFE ELIZABETH IKHIAMIEGBHAI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. INAUGHE ELIZABETH IKHIAMIEGBHAI. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

IKECHUKWU OKAFOR

I formerly known and addressed as IKEY ANI now wish to be known and addressed as IKECHUKWU OKAFOR All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

MOMOH ANNE OMOSOMI

I formerly known and addressed as AKEKE ANNE OMOSOMI now wish to be known and addressed as MOMOH ANNE OMOSOMI All former documents remain valid. General public to please take note.

NWOGWU SILAS EMEKA

I, formerly known as NWOGWU CHUKWUEMEKA wish to be known and addressed as NWOGWU SILAS EMEKA. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

JIMOH MUSA STANLEY.

I, formerly known as Ogede Musa Stanley wish to be known and addressed as Jimoh Musa Stanley. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

AWORENI BENSON. RACHEAL.

I. Formely known and addressed as Benson Racheal. Now wish to be known and addressed as Aworeni Benson. Racheal.

All Former documents remain valid general public should take note.

ELVIS. NTIEDO. ASUQUO ETUK I. Formely known and addressed as. Nntiedo. Asukwo.

Now wish to be known and addressed as. Mr. Elvis. Ntiedo.

Asuquo Etuk all Former documents. Remain valid general public should take note.

JULIET GABRIEL AMANESI

I formerly known and addressed as Jummai Musa now I wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Juliet Gabriel Amanesi. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note ADDITION OF NAME That on my bank documents, my name appears as ABAM OFEM, but now wish to add ‘USANG’ to my name. That I now wish to be known and addressed as ABAM OFEM USANG. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

AYONRINDE LATIFATU OLUWAKEMI.

I, formerly known, called and addressed as AYORINDE LATIFAT OLUWAKEMI, now wish to be known, called and addressed as AYONRINDE LATIFATU OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

HELEN OLUWATOYIN AKANBI

CHUKWUEKE COLLINS NNAEMEKA.

I, formerly known, called and Addressed as MISS. HELEN OLUWATOYIN ODUYOYE, now wish to be known, called and Addressed as MRS. HELEN OLUWATOYIN AKANBI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly known, called and addressed CHUKWUEKE HONEST NNAEMEKA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as CHUKWUEKE COLLINS NNAEMEKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public and Authorities Concerned should please take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

OHWONIGHO MOSES GIFT ESEOGHENE

I formerly known and addressed as OGHENE MOSES GIFT, now wish to be known and addressed as OHWONIGHO MOSES GIFT ESEOGHENE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OLUWAFUNMILAYO SAMUEL LAWRENCE

I formerly known and addressed as FUNMI LAWRENCE INNOCENT now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWAFUNMILAYO SAMUEL LAWRENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that MRS. MARIA IYABO TAYINON JAMOGHA (NEE FADONOUGBO) is the same person as JAMOGHA MARIA CLARA, JAMOGHA JAMOGHA TAYINON IYABO MARIE CLARIE IYABO and IYABO MARIE CLARE TAYION JAMOGHA. The general public, please take note.

ADEWUMI OLUBUNMI AINA I formerly known and addressed as MISS YEKEEN OLUBUNMI AINA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADEWUMI OLUBUNMI AINA. All former documents remain valid. The West African Examinations Council and the general public take note.

MRS. HERZBERGER TINA I formerly known and addressed as MISS USIGBE TINA now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. HERZBERGER TINA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

KAMORU KOLAWOLE RAFIU

I formerly known and addressed as KAMAR RAFIU KOLAWOLE now wish to be known and addressed as KAMORU KOLAWOLE RAFIU. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

UGWUJA LUCY UKAMAKA I formerly known and addressed as ODEH LUCY UKAMAKA now wish to be known and addressed as UGWUJA LUCY UKAMAKA. All former documents remain valid. The West African Examinations Council and the general public take note.

TATAOBUZOGWU CORDELLIA I formerly known and addressed as BIOSE CORDELLIA IFEANYICHUKWU now wish to be known and addressed as TATAOBUZOGWU CORDELLIA. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

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

OMABU NGOZI ASSUMPTA

VINCENT FREDERICK- OLUSHOLA

MRS. ADEKOYA LEILA EHALOYA

I formerly known and addressed as NGOZI ASSUMPTA ORAEGBU, now wish to be known and addressed as OMABU NGOZI ASSUMPTA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as VINCENT FREDERICK AIKHUELE OLUSHOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as VINCENT FREDERICK- OLUSHOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS. OMOVBUDE LEILA EHALOYA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADEKOYA LEILA EHALOYA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

ABU RASHEED AYOMIDE

OSIGBEAME MARY

This is to confirm and certify that OKOSODO EMMANUEL AZIEGBEMI is the same person as OKOSODO EMMANUEL as appeared on my other documents, but wish to be known and addressed as OKOSODO EMMANUEL AZIEGBEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ABU RASHEED AJIBADE, now wish to be known and addressed as ABU RASHEED AYOMIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as ITIMI MARY, now wish to be known and addressed as OSIGBEAME MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLADUJA OLUWATOLA AYODELE

PETERS FLORENCE KEMI

ADDITION OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as BABAFEMI OLUWATOLA AYODELE, now wish to be known and addressed as OLADUJA OLUWATOLA AYODELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as LAWAL FLORENCE KEMI, now wish to be known and addressed as PETERS FLORENCE KEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, MR. UGOH DOMINIC CHUKWUDI wish to add ANAEKPERECHI to my children’s surname-1. UGOH ANAEKPERECHI HENRY 2. UGOH ANAEKPERECHI LEVIS EZEAGOZIE 3. UGOH ANAEKPERECHI CHISOMEBI. All former documents remain valid. The general public please take note.

OYEBODE OLAJUMOKE ARINOLA I formerly known and addressed as DARAMOLA OLAJUMOKE ARINOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as OYEBODE OLAJUMOKE ARINOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

KAREEM SAHEED AKANJI I, formerly known and addressed as KARIM SAHEED AKANJI, now wish to be known and addressed as KAREEM SAHEED AKANJI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

TAWA ABEKE DAIRO I, formerly known and addressed as BOLUWADURO DAIRO, now wish to be known and addressed TAWA ABEKE DAIRO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that I, DADA FRANKLIN OGUNLOWO is one and same person as MARCUS -OGUNLOWO DADA FRANKLIN. All documents bearing the above names are mine and remain valid. Gnereal public take note.

ANI SAMUELA NNENNE

OLALERE OLATEJU ABIOLA

I formerly known and addressed as EDEH SAMUELA NNENNE, now wish to be known and addressed as ANI SAMUELA NNENNE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS. RABID PLATEAU ABIOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLALERE OLATEJU ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ENEJI OLAOLUWABIYI GWENDOLINE

EIGBIRE CHRISTIANA

I, formerly known and addressed as MRS ENEJI-ONI OLAOLUWABIYI G., now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ENEJI OLAOLUWABIYI GWENDOLINE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AKPAN NDIFEREKE JIM

I, formerly known and addressed as JIM WALTER AKPAN, now wish to be known and addressed MR. AKPAN NDIFEREKE JIM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to confirm that I, MBATA CHIENYENWA JOSPHINE is one and same person as CHIENYE AMADIMBATA. All documents bearing the above names are mine and remain valid. Gnereal public take note.

25 Public Notice

USMAN ABUBAKAR SADIQ ENENCHE

I formerly known and addressed as USMAN ABUH ENENCHE now wish to be known and addressed as USMAN ABUBAKAR SADIQ ENENCHE. All former documents remain valid. The West African Examinations Council and the general public take note.

PRINCESS HODGE ABANG

I formerly known and addressed as ONYEBUCHI ONYEKWERE CHRISTOGONUS now wish to be known and addressed as ONYEKWERE ONYEBUCHI. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

My name was wrongly written in my WAEC RESULT OF JUNE 1995 as INAH DAVID IKPA instead of INAH DAVID AKPA.The general public and relevant authorities please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as PRINCESS HODGE now wish to be known and addressed as BOLAJI PRINCESS HODGE ABANG. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

FAMILY CHANGE OF NAME Formerly known and addressed as AGUORU DANIEL ANTHONY, AGUORU CHINECHEREM ANTHONY and AGUORU BLESSING ANTHONY now wish to be known and addressed as ANTHONY DANIEL BENSON, ANTHONY CHINECHEREM BENSON and ANTHONY BLESSING CHUKWUEBUKA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

SAKARIYAU RIDWAN OLAMILEKAN

OLUWATOYIN COMFORT KASUMU

I, formerly known and addressed as SAKARIYAU RIDWAN, now wish to be known and addressed as SAKARIYAU RIDWAN OLAMILEKAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as DR. (MISS) OLUWATOYIN COMFORT ARIYO, now wish to be known and addressed as DR. (MRS) OLUWATOYIN COMFORT KASUMU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OZIEGBE CELESTINA BLESSING

AGBUELA RASAKI MORUFU

I formerly known and addressed as OZIEGBE BLESSING CHRISTIANA, now wish to be known and addressed as OZIEGBE CELESTINA BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OKE OLAYINKA JAMIU, now wish to be known and addressed as AGBUELA RASAKI MORUFU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

NWAOKO – PAT OLAJUMOKE DUROSINMI

AZEEZ ABASS OLANREWAJU

I formerly known and addressed as KAREEM NURAT AJOKE, now wish to be known and addressed as MOGAJI NURAT AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as DUROSINMI OLAJUMOKE BILIKISU, now wish to be known and addressed as NWAOKO – PAT OLAJUMOKE DUROSINMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as AGBOOLA RASAKI MORUFU, now wish to be known and addressed as AZEEZ ABASS OLANREWAJU .

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

LATEEFAH GBEMISOLA OMILABU

NWANKWO ANGEL UJU

MRS. ALAGBON FUNMILADE VICTORIA

I formerly known and addressed as MRS. AKINMADE FUNMILADE VICTORIA, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ALAGBON FUNMILADE VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MOGAJI NURAT AJOKE

I formerly known and addressed as MOROHUNFOLA GBEMISOLA HAMEED, now wish to be known and addressed as LATEEFAH GBEMISOLA OMILABU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLOWE, UDEME OREOLUWA I formerly known and addressed as MISS. UDO, UDEME EDET, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OLOWE, UDEME OREOLUWA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

NGWAKA NGOZI EDITH

MMEREOLE NGOZI MARIAM

EMMANUEL ONYEKWELU IBEH

ARRANGEMENT OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as OGUNDIMU TOPE BOLAJI now wish to be known and addressed as BOLAJI ADEKUNLE AKINSEMOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as IGWILO NGOZI EDITH, now wish to be known and addressed as NGWAKA NGOZI EDITH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

My name was wrongly arranged as ABDUL RAHEEM WAHEED ABDUL KUNLE instead of RAHEEM ABDUL OLAKUNLE. All documents bearing the above names are mine and remain valid. Gnereal public take note.

BOLAJI ADEKUNLE AKINSEMOYIN

ONYEKWERE ONYEBUCHI

I, formerly known and addressed as EIGBIRE CHRISTIE A. and EIGBIRE CHRISTY ABIODUN., now wish to be known and addressed EIGBIRE CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as MMEREOLE NGOZI BLESSING, now wish to be known and addressed as MMEREOLE NGOZI MARIAM. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MRS. JOSEPHINE LAWRENCE OGHENEOCHUKWO

I formerly known and addressed as OZORO JOSEPHINE OGHENEOCHUKWO now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. JOSEPHINE LAWRENCE OGHENEOCHUKWO. All former documents remain valid. The West African Examinations Council and the general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as EMMANUEL ONYEKA IBEKENDU, now wish to be known and addressed as EMMANUEL ONYEKWELU IBEH . All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

BENSON-UDE MAUREEN NKIRUKA I, formerly known and addressed as UDE MAUREEN NKIRUKA, now wish to be known and addressed as BENSONUDE MAUREEN NKIRUKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as NWOSU ANGEL UJU, now wish to be known and addressed as NWANKWO ANGEL UJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OLUWAKEMI AYODELE- OLA I formerly known and addressed as OLUWAKEMI SULEIMAN, now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWAKEMI AYODELE- OLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

EZEH NGOZICHUKWUKA I, formerly known and addressed as EZEH NGOZI HELEN, now wish to be known and addressd as EZEH NGOZICHUKWUKA. former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OKORIE FLORENCE

.I, formerly known and addressed as AKANAGA FLORENCE , now wish to be known and addressed as OKORIE FLORENCE. My date of birth is 26/07/1975 and not 25/07/1976.

All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OJIABOR AUGUSTINE OJIABO

I, formerly known and addressed as OJIABOR AYIM, now wish to be known and addressed as OJIABOR AUGUSTINE OJIABO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OKON OTOBONG OFFIONG I formerly known and addressed as CHRISTIAN OFFIONG OKON, now wish to be known and addressed as OKON OTOBONG OFFIONG. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

SABI KAFILAT BOLANLE I formerly known and addressed as ADESANYA KAFILAT, now wish to be known and addressed as SABI KAFILAT BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ODUNLAMI OLUWASEUN OMOLOLA EUNICE.

I formerly known and addressed as MISS. AKINBAMIRE OLUWASEUN OMOLOLA EUNICE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ODUNLAMI OLUWASEUN OMOLOLA EUNICE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

IBRAHIM MOHAMMED ADEJO

I, formerly known and addressed as IBRAHIM MUHAMMED PAPA, now wish to be known and addressed as IBRAHIM MOHAMMED ADEJO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME/ CORRECTION OF BIRTH DATE

I, formerly known and addressed as ADEBAYO GBENGA ADESINA, now wish to be known and addressed as ADESINA KAYODE SUNDAY. WRONG DATE OF BIRTH – 09/11/1983.

CORRECT DATE OF BIRTH – 11/09/1980. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

Health

s

Health minister unveils book on cancer, lauds registry staff Lara Adejoro

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has inaugurated a book that provides information on the incidence and prevalence of cancer in Nigeria.

The book titled: “Cancer inNigeria: 2009 – 2013,” is a collaborative work of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), National Systems of Cancer Registries and the Federal Ministry of Health.

While inaugurating the book in Abuja, the Director, Hospital Services of the ministry, Dr. Wapada Balami, who represented the minister said that cancer data was vital to physicians, public health planners, legislators and stakeholders in winning the war against cancer.

Balami said the book would contribute to the

Prof. Adewole

“ease of access to information regarding cancer data in Nigeria. The website of the ministry will be used to host the soft copy of the compendium,” he said.

He commended the cancer registry staff from 26 states in the country for contributing data from their registries for the book.

The minister also commended the National Systems of Cancer Registries headquartered at IHVN for working tirelessly since 2009 to strengthen cancer registries in Nigeria through the provision of training, logistics, technical and scientific support to cancer registries.

“The ministry has as its priority among other measures, cancer surveillance through the cancer registry and active control of the incidence, prevalence

Physically-challenged persons lament poor healthcare, discrimination Lara Adejoro The Joint National Association of Persons Living with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has lamented that Nigerians living with disabilities have been facing lots of barriers ranging from discrimination, poor education, lack of health care, among others.

The association however said that over 25 million persons with disabilities in the country can contribute to National development, if barriers facing them can be removed.

Speaking in commemoration of the International Day of persons with disability (PWDs) 2016 themed: “Achieving 17 Goals for the Future we Want,” the National President of the Association, Ekaete Umoh, said that PWDs are powerful, resourceful, strong and intelligent enough to contribute to the growth and development of Nigeria.

“SDG Agenda 2030 said, leave no one

behind, and there are persons with disabilities in our community and we must work together to implement this goal not only as beneficiary but as implementers. As government begun to implement the SDG they should not forget the people with disabilities in the community,” Umoh said.

“I am challenging everyone to begin to

Physically-challenged people

see persons with disabilities from that perceptive of people who can contributes to national development, we are ready to contribute our quotas to national development but all that is happening is that, we are experiencing some forms of barriers that is not enabling us to participate actively and contribute immensely to the growth of the country.”

and mortality arising from cancers,” he said.

IHVN Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Patrick Dakum, who was represented at the inauguration by the IHVN Director, Clinical Services, Dr. Ernest Ekong, said the book was a valid source of information on the types and the number of cancers in different zones in the country.

Contributions to the book were made by population-based cancer registries in Ibadan, Calabar, Enugu, Abuja, Sokoto and Ekiti and hospital-based cancer registries in teaching hospitals in Lagos, Kano, Anambra, Osun, Edo, Rivers, Borno, Akwa Ibom and Imo states and the Federal Medical Centres in Abeokuta, Keffi, Gombe, Lokoja, and Yenagoa.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to notify the General Public that we, Mr.Abayomi Ayodele Ojomo, Mr. Adetokunbo Olaniyi, Atobatele and Mr. Olanrewaju Babatunde Atobatele all administrators of the Estate of Christianah Olubukunola Atobatele of No. 70, Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos, lost and cannot find the original Deed of Lease Registered as No. 80 page 80 in Volume 1790 dated the 19th of May, 1980 in respect of two (2) plots of land situate at plots 20/22 Ajanaku Street, Awuse Estate, Off Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos, measuring about 1,050 square meters each, Lagos State Ministry of Lands and the General Public are duly notified.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

27 Health

Groups urge Lagos Assembly to reject PPP on water in budget

ERA/FoEN Deputy Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi

Lara Adejoro Civil society and labour activists have demanded that the Lagos State House of Assembly should reject a recommendation in the 2017 budget proposal, which explicitly suggests Public Private Partnership (PPP), as the arrangement to improve the wa-

ter sector in the state.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, while presenting the 2017 budget proposal of N812.998 billion to the State House of Assembly, explicitly noted that, “in the area of environment, we will improve water supply through PPP and increase the capacity utilization of water treatment

plants....”

The coalition of civil society and labour unions on the platform of the Our Water Our Right Campaign have poked the proposal, insisting that it does not reflect the genuine yearnings of Lagos citizens who believe that only democratic control of water under the public sector will guarantee access and affordability of water in Lagos.

The groups include Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/ FoEN), Peace and Development Project (PEDEP), Citizen Center and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), among others.

ERA/FoEN Deputy Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi said: “We find it strange and disturbing that despite the position of local communities, activists and unions that what Lagos really needs is public investment and democratic control of water, the spurious provision on PPP was smuggled into the budget proposal for 2017. This suggestion should be discarded by the State Assembly if the honourable lawmakers truly represent the people.”

Oluwafemi pointed out that, “Since the budget is an agglomeration of recommendations from all the ministries it has

become very clear that the PPP idea is being floated by a ministry in the state that knows it is a myth but wants to foist it on us purely for profit motives.

We have provided the state government a simple alternative in the document “Lagos Water Crisis: Alternative Roadmap for Water Sector”. We believe the recommendations can be implemented by the Lagos State Government and Lagos State Water Corporation over a short and long-term”.

National President of AUPCTRE, Comrade Solomon Adelegan said: “It is absurd that despite the successes of the Ambode administration in many respects, it may have been conned into buying into the PPP myth. Under a PPP regime not only will the rights of our people to a free gift of nature be violated, workers will also be shown the way out.”

Adelegan insisted that PPP has failed in all the poster countries of the World Bank such as Manila, Nagpur, and even Paris, even as he added that, “keeping water in the public sector under Public-Public-Partnership (PUP) is one of the tested alternatives. We want the PPP proposal totally removed from the budget proposal” Executive Director of PEDEP, Francis Abayomi said: “The budget proposal in relation to water is a bad idea. It has all the

marks of prioritizing profits over human rights, which will further burden our people.”

He said,”Clearly, the governor has been misadvised by those who want to spring this through the backdoor just like the water courts and the recent imposition of high charges by the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commissioned which has led to substantial increase in the cost of water and threats to sue the state government in places like, Okokomaiko and Ikorodu.”

Abayomi added that, “the State House of Assembly must stand by the people by rejecting the PPP proposition. The House must demand adequate budgetary allocations to the water sector and stand by the people in upholding the human right to water as an obligation of the government, representing the people. The PPP proposal does not have the blessing of Lagos citizens. It is unacceptable.”

The group further pointed out that comprehensive alternative arrangements to the PPP have been clearly enumerated in the book: LAGOS WATER CRISIS: ‘Alternative Roadmap for Water Sector’ publicly presented in the state recently.

“Again, we reiterate our call to Governor Ambode to take a dispassionate look at our recommendations in that book which include roadmap for sustainable funding of the sector and how Lagos public water utility can collaborate with other public utilities to share expertise and knowledge as a more sustainable solution to water crisis in Lagos in the short and long run,” Oluwafemi added.

Calcium fortified Loya milk promotes swimming among children Lara Adejoro

In a bid to encourage swimming amongst Secondary School students in Nigeria, Loya Milk, a premium milk brand from the stable of Promasidor Nigeria Limited on Saturday, 3 December 2016, organised a swimming competition dubbed “Loya Swim Meet” for Secondary Schools in Lagos State where cash prizes of over N1, 000,000 (one million naira) and other consolation prizes were given to participants.

The competition which held at the Grange School, Harold Shodipo, Ikeja, GRA, Lagos had 10 Secondary Schools in attendance with five boys and five girls each participating in the three categories of 25 metres freestyle, 50 metres freestyle and 100 metres freestyle relay respectively.

Speaking at the event, the Category Manager, Dairy, Promasidor Nigeria, Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji, said “Loya Milk is fortified with 50 percent more calcium which helps in building stronger bone, tougher teeth and a healthy heart”.

“At the heart of this brand, is improving the well-being of children in Nigeria, and this is achieved not only by providing the best nutrition in Loya Milk but also by identifying with a sport that promotes this promise,” he stated.

Abiodun added “ we are aware that swimming is a 360-degrees’ sport that involves all parts of your body, and it helps to maintain a healthy weight, healthy heart, control your muscle and above all, a fun exercise for growing children.”

The schools that participated

in the competition were Dowen College, Chrisland College, Greensprings School, Halifield Schools, ST&T Regency international school, Supreme Education Foundation, Queensland Academy, Grace High School, Avi-cenna International and Honeyland College.

Commenting on the event, Mr. F.J Vander Merwe, one of

the principals of Chrisland Schools who emerged winner in the 50 metres swimming competition for boys, said “ l think it is a wonderful incentive for our students, and we would definitely maintain our performance in subsequent competition. We commend Loya Milk for this laudable initiative and would urge other organisations

to emulate this.”

On his team’s performance, Merwe affirmed “l am very proud of our students as they worked very hard for this, and if we can get more sponsors of this kind of event in Nigeria it would give students the encouragement to participate in swimming.”

Students of Chrisland School, Supreme Education Foundation and Greensprings School, which took the first, second and third position respectively in the 100 metres relay for girls during the Loya Milk swimming competition for select secondary schools in Lagos, dubbed Loya Swim Meet, organised by Loya Milk on Saturday, 3 December at the Grange School, Harold Shodipo Crescent, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

News 28 Zungeru Dam: Community asks court to suspend work Saka Bolaji, Minna

ÎÎÎDespite

the assurance by the Niger state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sanni Bello, that about 98 communities in Shiroro local government area of the state will be adequately compensated by the federal government, they have dragged the government to court seeking to stoppage of the ongoing construction of Zungeru HydrpPower Dam. The case was filed at Federal High Court in Minna where the communities is seeking for the suspension of work until the federal government concluded it compensation.

The community lawyer and a human rights activist, Chief Joshua Akinaola Ajayi, during an interview told newsmen in Minna that the community people are demanding for how much was earmarked for its compensation by the last administration of president Goodluck Jonathan.

Barrister Ajayi noted that they only heard that billions of naira but the real affected persons were left without resettlement and compensation hence were given between N2,000 and N20,000 only.

He accused the Alagbe Surveyors and valuers, Eze Consultant, Emirate council of Minna and Niger State government as well as Sky bank and UBA for jettisoned the agreement reached with the federal government by cornering the compensation.

The plaintiff lawyer added that government do not acquired land forcefully saying that the accused shared with money meant for the communities for selves between N2million to N11 million hence keeping the people in darkness.

He called for enumeration and data based information to authenticate the beneficiaries therefore rejected the state government committee set up to verify the matter earlier which he described as a waste.

The Niger State chapter of Civil Right Congress, Alhaji Awaisu Giwa said that the community people are not satisfied with state government committee set up to investigate the matter hence demanded for adequate compensation.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

Senate proposes special tribunal for maritime criminals ÎÎÎThe

Senate Committee on the Nigerian Navy (NN) has said it would propose the establishment of a special tribunal for the prosecution of maritime criminals.

Chairman of the committee, Sen. Isa Maisau, stated this in Lagos when the committee members inspected facilities at the headquarters of the Western Naval Command (WNC) and Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC).

Maisau said the Senate

would emplace a legislation to ensure that the tribunal starts and concludes litigation to lessen the burden on the Navy.

Said he, “We are looking at a situation where arrested vessels are taken care of in three months. We shall have a special tribunal to handle cases of arrested vessels so that within three months, all the exhibits are handed over to the appropriate agencies and prosecution is concluded.

“We will put legislation in place whereby such vessels

are forfeited to the Federal Government to deter sponsors because if you auction them, they will go behind to buy it and continue the illegality.

“But if you put it to government use, it will deter criminals from venturing into criminality, given the fact that they will forfeit their vessel to the government.”

The Senator also said that the visit was necessitated by the need to have firsthand experience on the needs of the Navy, especially as the 2017

budget would soon be sent to the National Assembly.

He continued, “The Navy needs so much than the government is approving in the budget. About 75 to 80 per cent of the resources coming to government coffers lie within the maritime domain and the Navy is in charge of protecting the facilities.

“With the kind of budget, we are approving, the Navy cannot perform its functions effectively. We are trying to see how we can make a spe-

cial presentation and appeal to the President, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Finance Minister and budget office to get intervention from other sources for the Navy.

“As a committee, we would ensure the Navy gets enough funds to perform its duties. If the resources are availed of the Navy, the activities of militants in the Niger Delta will reduce, because they have the discipline, capacity and welltrained officers to do it, but no equipment,” he said.

Insurgency: Ahmed commends military Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin

ÎÎÎKwara state Governor,

L-R: (back row) Coordinator Indomie Fan Club (IFC), Mrs. Faith Joshua; Brand Manager, Indomie, Mr. Amber Yadav; General Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc., Girish Sharma and Public Relations and Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, during the 2016 IFC end of the year party in Lagos...on Wednesday. Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI.

Yuletide: Luxury bus owners bemoan gridlocks, multiple road checks Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÎÎÎ

As the year gradually comes to an end, ushering Christmas and new year festivities, transporters, especially luxury bus owners, have appealed to the federal government to order the removal of the road blocks mounted by the Nigerian Army on many strategic highways in the South-eastern part of the country, owing to the impediments they constitute to the free flow of vehicular traffic.

The inter-state transporters said on Wednesday that the military road blocks have led to gridlocks which result in road users being stranded for hours while some commercial vehicles get to their destinations two days after departing their terminals.

Speaking in Lagos while reacting to what he said was re-

cent harrowing experiences of luxury bus operators and other commercial vehicle owners since the Nigerian army’s ‘Operation Python Dance’ commenced, the President of the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON), Chief Dan Okemuo, lamented that some travelers depart Lagos in the morning and get to their eastern destinations the following day.

The association’s President called on the Federal Government and the Army to listen to the cry of users of the eastern highways and halt the operation immediately or conduct it off-road and in a manner, that will not affect the flow of traffic.

Corroborating Okemuo’s views, ALBON Vice President, Prince Emeka Mamah, expressed the fear that if the situation remains the same

till Christmas, travelling to the east for the festivities would be nightmarish for the easterners.

He explained that this is because the volume of traffic on the highways leading to the south-east is expected to increase sharply, while some of the roads are in bad condition already, and slow down traffic even on normal days.

“In the past few days,” Mamah recalled, “the traffic congestion caused by the Operation Python Dance road blocks was so bad that many of our buses and passengers slept on the road while some trips lasted close to 48 hours.”

The Vice President further remarked: “This is not the kind of Christmas gift we want for our customers who grow in number during the yuletide. The road blocks are simply compounding the prob-

lems on the roads.”

In place of road blocks that are counter-productive, trafficwise, Mamah suggested that patrol teams be deployed to some identified trouble spots and stretches of the highways, noting, “I believe that this will be more effective and reassuring to the road users than road blocks that cause traffic jams and keep travelers stranded.”

He added: “We at ALBON will like to use this medium to thank our numerous customers who have been travelling with our members’ vehicles to various destinations over the years, a merry and safe Christmas celebration. You are the reason we are still in business, and we will do whatever we can to ensure that you travel comfortably and safely throughout this season and beyond”

Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, has commended the Nigeria Army and other security agencies for their bravery in the fight against insurgency in the country.

The Governor who made this commendation in Ilorin while playing host to a new commandant, 22 Armourned Brigade, Nigeria Army, Sobi, Brigadier-General Sulaiman Idris and the out-going commandant, Brigadier-General Benjamin Sawyerr, reiterated his readiness to continue to strengthen relationship with security organizations in the state.

According to Governor Ahmed, the Nigeria Army is a pride to the nation and has demonstrated sufficient competence to secure the nation against internal and external aggressions.

“Given the enabling environment, the Army has the capacity to protect and secure the country,” the governor said.

Dr. Ahmed eulogise the out-going commandant as someone who had truly demonstrated his professionalism by being “able to strengthen security in the state and created interface between the military and the civilian team especially in Share/Tsaragi axis where we have skirmishes of communal clashes,” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

xxxx

29

Miss Nigeria 2016

2016

World awaits emergence of Miss Nigeria 2016 as audition ends Bonny Amadi

ÎÎÎThe

global entertainment and beauty industry now awaits the emergence of Nigeria’s symbol of beauty, ‘Miss Nigeria 2016’, following the conclusion of its 40th edition auditioning process.

The audition process that would lead to eventual emergence of Nigeria’s ‘crown queen’, Miss Nigeria was concluded on 5th December,2016 in Lagos.

The 2016 auditions stretched across four tourist destinations in the country. Port Harcourt, Abuja, Enugu and Lagos played host as audition centers to Miss Nigeria 2016 contenders, from the 29th of November to 5th of December 2016.

Organisers of the pageant, Miss Nigeria organisation disclosed to Daily Times that the divergence of audition centers was to accommodate contestants from the thirty-six states in Nigeria and the federal capital, Abuja.

The finalists emerged through celebration of beauty and brain which manifested in the auditioning processes in Port-Harcourt on the 29th of November at Hotel Presidential, Abuja, on the 1st of December at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel and Enugu, on the 3rd of December at The Hotel, Independence Layout,.

The selection process was crowned with the final audition which stimulated the beauty of creation among the contenders, in Lagos on the 4th and 5th of December at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Lagos show gave an insight into the exalted standard of the 2016 contest, the high level of global interest generated by the pageant, the mix of beauty, intelligence and stability of the contestants as well as the mastery displayed by the organizers and the panel of judges.

There was a huge turnout of contestants vying for the crown, as the reigning queen, Pamela Peter-Vigboro was present at

the Lagos auditions to inspire the contestants. Interviews and screenings were conducted by experienced pageant judges.

The expertise and professionalism of the panel of judges gave credence to the quality pageant, the contestants and the finalists that emerged.

The judges are, CEO, Clothes Rac Stores Yenebi Dike, Fashion Influencer, Daye Horsefall, CEO, Kaka’s hair Salon, Kaka Peters and Akpos Okudu, a Designer of repute, charged with Port Harcourt auditions.

Panel of Judges for Abuja Miss Nigeria Auditions, comprises of ,Geraldine Uba, Chine Anosike, Vannessa Oghomwen Ogida,(Project Manager and Judge, Miss Nigeria 2016 as well as May Ikeora, Director, Miss Nigeria Organisation.

The Judges that streamlined contestants’ performances in the Enugu zone auditions are, Jasmine Naza, Odogwuchyke, Benzufele, and Noreen Odor.

The climax of the auditions in Lagos was articulated by er-

udite judge, Second Runner-up, Miss Nigeria 2011, Isibor Nowe Alexis, Communications Director, Miss Nigeria 2016, Lilian Unachukwu, Project Manager & Judge, Miss Nigeria 2016, Vanessa Oghomwen Ogida and Pageant Manager, Miss Nigeria 2016, Konnie Nnachetam.

Miss Nigeria organisation revealed to Daily Times of Nigeria that the beautiful finalists are currently camped where they will be involved in different activities which include 80 per cent empowerment training, fun choreography and etiquette classes.

Other activities for the camping duration include exploration of Nigeria’s culture and heritage in Benin, the international beach soccer, courtesy of Powerhorse, and Mentorship by a renowned WIMBIZ member, amongst other intellectual, empowerment and discovery activities.

The 40th Miss Nigeria will be crowned on the 19th of December 2016 at the Eko Con-

vention Centre by 7:30pm with Red and Green carpet from 5:00pm -7:00pm. Tickets on sale at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. For enquires and table booking, contact: 08033150455, 07064933209, 08176201460 or the website www. missnigeria.ng.

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Iwobi pleased to open UCL account Egbuchulam tips Rangers

A

lex Iwobi scored his first goal in the Uefa Champions League for Arsenal on Tuesday as the Gunners beat FC Basel 4-1 in Switzerland.

The Nigerian star reacted well to steer home Mesut Ozil’s low cross in the 53rd minute at a parked St Jakob Park.

Iwobi who scored an own goal in Arsenal’s last Champions League game – a 2-2 draw at home to PSG – was understandably pleased to get off the mark at the right end.

to lift Super 4 title

E

“Pleased To Get My First Champions League Goal But Most Importantly, Good To Finish Top Of The Group,” he wrote on Twitter via @alexiwobi.

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger also spoke about Iwobi’s debut goal in the competition explaining that it will do the striker’s confidence a world of good.

Iwobi will now be keen to repeat his recent form in the Premier League where he is yet to get off the mark after making 10 appearances for the Gunners in that competition.

nugu Rangers’s Chisom Egbuchulam has says that the 2016 NPFL Super Four Tournament will be tough, but insists that his side boast of the quality to emerge as champions.

The NPFL champions will kick off their Super 4 campaign against Rivers United at the Nnamdi Azikwe stadium, Enu-

Page 30

gu.

“We are ready for the Super 4 and I believe we have the team that can win the title at the end of the day,” Egbuchulam said.

“Well, it’s not going to be easy with the quality of teams in the competition, but I have the full confidence that we are coming out victorious in all games.”

Thursday, DECEMBER 8, 2016

Onome Ebi (right) after the successful surgery.

Falcons star Ebi undergoes surgery I

njured Super Falcons defender Onome Ebi has undergone a successful surgery on her arm.

Central defender Ebi was injured in the arm during last weekend’s women’s AFCON final against hosts Cameroun in Yaounde.

The experienced Ebi played through the pain barrier for

Nigeria to clinch a record eighth AWCON. She underwent a corrective surgery in Abuja, but it is unclear whether the cost of the operation was borne by the player herself or the cash-strapped Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Falcons midfielder Ngozi Okobi was the other player who was injured in the bruising final against Cameroun.

Ranieri not scared of losing Foxes’job

C

laudio Ranieri does not fear losing his job at Leicester City, but concedes owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is unhappy with the club’s on-field struggles.

The Italian led the Foxes to a scarcely believable Premier League title triumph last season, but this term has been in complete contrast to those heroics.

Leicester are two points

above the relegation zone having won only three of their 14 top-flight matches and Ranieri conceded after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Sunderland that they are in a relegation battle.

But Ranieri – whose side secured top spot in Champions League Group G with a game to spare – says he is not concerned about being replaced at the King Power Stadium.

“Never, because it’s not my

decision,” he said.

“The owner is always behind us, he always tells us how he can help us and is always positive. Of course, he’s not happy – no one at the club is.

“When we win, we win together. When we lose, we lose together. My experience says it’s important to stay calm and be positive, believe in your players and do the best for your team.”

Ranieri

Nolito backs Guardiola’s rotation policy

N

olito insists he has no qualms over Pep Guardiola’s squad rotation at Manchester City.

The Spain forward moved to the Etihad Stadium from Celta Vigo in July, but has found himself in and out of the City’s XI this term, starting seven Premier League matches.

City have an embarrassment of riches in forward areas, with Nolito competing with the likes of Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Leroy Sane, Jesus Navas and Kelechi Iheanacho for a starting berth.

And Nolito, who started in Tuesday’s 1-1 Champions League draw against Celtic, says he understands why boss Guardiola is so keen to freshen up the team.

“After more than a week without playing, I’m very happy to have started,” said Nolito.

“Although there wasn’t anything at stake in this game, it was still a Champions League game and everyone likes to play in this competition.

“I’m honestly very happy. I know that at City it’s difficult to play when you have great players.

“The coach is rotating the players and sometimes you play and others you don’t. From a selfish standpoint, of course I would like to play in every game.

“But in the end, all the Premier League and Champions League matches are demanding and the coach is doing well to rotate the squad.”

Thursday, December 8, 2016

EXTRATIME

31

SPECIAL FEATURE Segun Odegbami

T

he award ceremony for the 2016 Best African Player of the Year comes up in January in Nigeria.

It is ironic that Nigeria may have one of the strongest national teams in the continent of Africa at the moment, yet the country does not have a single representative in the last five shortlisted players for the 2016 African Player of the Year Award. That speaks volumes.

At the start of the year 2016 the Nigerian national team was in shambles. The Nigerian people had lost all confidence in an unstable team that was ‘wobbling and fumbling’ from match to match, unable to score goals, unable to win matches, unable to convince anyone that they had the same DNA as the team that had made the Super Eagles brand a globally appreciated and respected phenomenon that always entertained with glimpses of huge possibilities in world football.

The two years preceding 2016 were ‘bad’ for Nigerian football, and indigenous coaches were made to bear the brunt of responsibility for not producing a national team of class and of really outstanding players worthy to be crowned best in Africa - an award that Nigeria had completely dominated at a time not too far away in the past.

Looking back at the past few months, even I, the unofficial leader of the anti-foreign coach for Nigeria advocacy group, is now left holding feebly to my nationalistic ideals, and looking on as a change truly has come for the national team with the introduction of a foreign coach and a few players, suddenly, have begun to look good enough candidates to wear the coveted African crown in the near future. Unfortunately, for the 2016 Awards, their surge into reckoning is coming too late in the day.

Last week, Africa made their choices and no Nigerian was shortlisted for the award, understandably. Their own time will come from 2017 when one of the present set of players dazzling beautifully in the Premier League, and with several others coming up faintly on the horizon in other teams in Europe, will reclaim their lost crown and glory. I can guarantee that Victor Moses’ and Kelechi Iheanacho’s names will be high up on the list of candidates in 2017!

That’s why I am in agreement completely with CAF’s final choice of the five players from whom a 2016 African player of the year will be chosen.

Who do I think will eventually wear the crown?

Pierre Aubameyang (Gabon and Borussia Dortmund): Borussia Dortmund have sustained their great performance from last season and are already in the chase for the German trophy as well as the Champions League this season.

Pierre has remained as the main man upfront and has sustained his goal-scoring form of last season. No one will be surprised if he wins it again this year.

Riyad Mahrez (Algeria and Leicester City): I don’t know what is happening to the player that dominated the English Premiership in the first half of this year, even emerging as the players’ choice for Player of the Year. He is now a shadow of himself for both his club and country. However, he may have done enough already to pocket the crown and take the mantle up north again after a long spell of monopoly by West and Central Africa.

Mahrez:

The next king of African football!

Sadio Mane (Senegal, Southampton and Liverpool): He has been consistent throughout 2016 for both Southampton and now Liverpool, where he is shining very brightly, a key component of Jurgen Klopp’s authentic attempt to win the Premier League this season. His record of scoring the fastest hat-trick in EPL history last season is startling. On current form he is probably the best African player in the Premiership. I will not be surprised if Liverpool wins the league this season and he wins the African crown in 2017!

Islam Slimani (Algeria and Leicester City):

“Last week, Africa made their choices and no Nigerian was shortlisted for the award, understandably. Their own time will come from 2017 when one of the present set of players dazzling beautifully in the Premier League, and with several others coming up faintly on the horizon in other teams in Europe, will reclaim their lost crown and glory.

I can guarantee that Victor Moses’ and Kelechi Iheanacho’s names will be high up on the list of candidates in 2017!”

n Ə

L ƏƆƖ Slimani’s biggest ‘draw back’ is that he comes from the same country and plays for the same team as Mahrez. He will surely not be chosen ahead of his more favoured compatriot.

Mohamed Salah (Egypt and AC Roma): He may be the dark horse of this year’s award. His playing records everywhere he has played from 2011, in Basel, Chelsea,

Fiorentina and now Roma have been impeccable.

He is a great goal-scorer. This year being an Egyptian is a great psychological advantage. His national team is doing extremely well and his role in it is pivotal.

So, who wears the crown? For me, by a very slim margin, it will be Riyad Mahrez! Ï ƑƋƋƆƗ ƇƏ ƌ ƑƍƆƏ ƍ ƏƐêƅ ƌ

Falcons star Ebi undergoes surgery

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P Pinnick

Yusuf

Pinnick submits nomination for CAF executive seat

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick has formally submitted his nomination to contest for a seat on the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in March 2017.

Top CAF sources informed that the nomination papers of the NFF boss have been received.

Ghana Football Association (GFA) Kwesi Nyantakyi and Anjorin Moucharafou of Benin FA are the incumbent representatives of Zone 3 (Zone West B), which covers Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Togo, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire and Niger as well.

Nyantakyi is also on the FIFA council and he will be open for re-election on March 16, 2017.

It would also be recalled that Pinnick, who is in his first term as NFF boss, was not endorsed for the September elections into the FIFA council, which got Nyantakyi to be among the decision makers of the world football governing body.

Former NFF presidents Ibrahim Galadima and Aminu Maigari have in recent times failed to be elected on the CAF executive committee.

Amos Adamu was the last Nigerian to seat on the CAF executive committee by November 2010 before he was handed a three-year ban by FIFA for breaching bribery rules following a sting operation

by The Sunday Times of UK.

NPFL Super 4: Wikki beats FCIU

Philip Balipo

T

he Nigerian Professional Football League Super Four kicked off in a friendly atmosphere at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu yesterday with Wikki Tourists of Bauchi beating FC Ifeanyi Ubah by 2-1, in the opening game.

The first half offered no goals as both teams exercised so much caution. However the tempo increased in the second half as individual players exhibited high level hunger for goals on both sides.

Ifeanyi Ubah boys drew the first blood in 57th

minute, as Yaya Kone converted a penalty following a hard tackle on Osanga King inside Wikki box.

Ubah boys, also known as the Anambra Warriors, lost concentration and cordination in most part of the second half, as Wikki players onetwo combination yielded the equaliser in the 84th minute though Shammah Tanze.

Wikki players equaliser further leveraged their grip on the fairly contested game and paid off nine minutes later (90+3) through Abdulahi Musa.

In the second match of the night, Enugu Rangers defeated Rivers United by 2-0.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

Expert links petroleum stock rally to enhanced dividend anticipationPage B2

Discos not responsible for stoppage of CAPMI scheme –ANED The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) on Wednesday said that the body was not responsible for the stoppage of the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI).

Mr Sunday Oduntan, the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, ANED, disclosed this to the media while reacting to the continuous blaming of the DisCos for the stoppage of the scheme.

The CAPMI scheme gives interested customers the option to pay money to the DisCos in advance, to get the prepaid meters and to recover the money back with interest.

ANED is the umbrella body of all the 11 Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in Nigeria.

According to Oduntan, the scheme was stopped by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

He said the DisCos were willing to use the scheme to install more meters, apart from the normal DisCo meter roll outs but the stoppage had incapacitated them from doing so.

“Help us to beg the NERC to return CAPMI because we are not against the scheme.

“We are now metering our consumers through our own meter roll-out scheme, but the CAPMI scheme is an additional option for those who are yet to be metered.

“If they did not stop the scheme, more consumers would have been metered by now and the issue of estimated billing would have been reduced.

“Presently, we do not have the resources to meter all our consumers within a year and that is why the clamour for meter installation has increased.

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

Opeoluwani Akintayo The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, has said that Nigeria will maintain oil output of 1.9 million barrels per day.

He revealed this in a Statement On Wednesday.

In October, The Federal Government said it expected its oil production rate to jump by 22% by the year’s end to 2.2 million bpd.

However, Kachikwu said the target was for 1.9milllion b/d at

Don’t scrap BoI, expert cautions

Page B3

Thursday, Deceember 8, 2016

AfDB to stimulate Nigeria’s agriculture with $800m Page B7

Nigeria to maintain 1.9mbp oil output - Kachikwu the moment.

Apart from the impact of low oil prices, whose sales account for 70% of the Nigerian government’s revenue, the country’s energy facilities have been crippled by attacks by militants calling for a greater share of the country’s oil wealth.

The world had expected Nige-

ria to ramp up production and increase its crude export after OPEC exempted the country from joining the cut deal due to attacks on its oil and gas pipelines by militants which had slowed down its production.

OPEC agreed to reduce output by 1.2 million barrels a day.

The cut will take effect from

January 2017.

As a result of the cut which would boost oil prices, Nigeria is one of the countries expected to benefit from the deal.

Oil prices slipped on Wednesday on doubts that promised production cuts by OPEC and Russia would be deep enough CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

L – R: Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Capital Markets Division, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, NSE; Mr. John Momoh, Chairman, Channels Media Group; Mrs. Sola Momoh, Vice Chairman, Channels Media Group and Mr. Bola Adeeko, Head, Corporate Services Division, NSE at the Closing Gong Ceremony at the NSE Wednesday.

PIB: NNPC gives conditions on PIGB

Ulufemi Samuel and Chris Emetoh, Abuja

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has told the Senate to empower the Nigerian Petroleum Company (NPC) through the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) to enter into contracts with the Nigerian Petroleum Assess Management Company (NPAMC) to sell the respective crude oil on behalf of the agencies which aligns with world best practice.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru gave the advice in his submission on the PIGB during a public hearing organized by the Senate Joint

Committee on PIBG yesterday.

The Bill seeks to unbundle the NNPC by creating more entities, to which the NNPC says it supports, noting that creation of the entities, particularly the Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPRC), the Nigerian Petroleum Assets Management Company (NPAMC) and the Nigerian Petroleum Company (NPC) would create transparency in the petroleum sector.

The GMD of NNPC commended the senate for the enormous amount of work that has been put into the development of the Bill, stating that it largely reflects the aspirations of industries for the replacement of an effective insti-

tutional and regulatory framework that promotes growth and efficient operations. ``NNPC recognises the presentation of the governance and industrial framework as separate legislation isolated from fiscal and commercial framework that enables speedy consideration and provides ease of execution when eventually passed into law”.

As part of NNPC’s recommendation, Maikanti said that there should be more emphasis on transparent and efficient administration creating lower overhead cost for petroleum companies. ``This is very important under low oil and gas prices,” he noted.

Other recommendations Mai-

kanti said include a better definition of the roles of the minister of environment with relation to the minister of petroleum and the Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NPRC).

Also speaking, Comrade Hyginus Chika Onuegbu, Chairman PIB Committee of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) said that ``Nigeria had lost 200 billion dollars of investments due to its inability to legislate the proposed reforms in its oil and gas industry.

He nonetheless, said that the Bill would determine the future of the Nigerian oil and gas industry, as well as the Nigerian workers.

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, Deceember 8, 2016

Africa still difficult region for paying taxes - PwC Femi Ganiyu A report by the World Bank and influential P r i c e Wa t e r H o u s e C o o p e r s, PwC, indicates that, economies around the world continue to make progress in simplifying and reducing the burden of tax compliance on business.

According to a statement by PwC, “The report finds that the total tax rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points to 40.6 per cent; time to comply declined by 8 hours to 251 hours; and the number of payments by 0.8 to 25 payments.

The statement said that, “while The Paying Taxes 2017 report examines the ease of paying taxes in 190 economies, the report models business taxation in each economy, using a medium-sized domestic case study company”; saying that, “In an expanded analysis this year, the report finds that for some economies, post-filing processes for Value-Added Tax (VAT) and Corporate Income Tax (CIT) returns could be among the most challenging and lengthy processes for businesses to comply with.”

The statement added that in some cases, the length of the processes can create cash flow and administrative delays for companies of more than a year, just as the “The reduction in the global average for time to comply of 8 hours, is higher than in recent years reflecting ongoing improvements in electronic tax systems, and, in particular, as a

result of reforms implemented in Brazil. Similarly, the fall in the payments sub-indicator is largely due to the introduction and use of electronic filing and payment systems, which was the most common feature of tax reform in the past year.”

According to the statement, “The small decrease in the total tax rate results from 44 economies increasing taxes, while 38 recorded a reduction. It also represents a combination of a decrease in other taxes offset by small increases in both profit and labour taxes.”

The statement said, “Overall, this year, South Africa’s Paying Taxes ranking declined from position 20 to 51. For the first time, this year’s study has been extended to look at the processes that take place after a tax return has been filed. The new post-filing index measures two processes that might take place after filing: claiming a VAT refund, and correcting an error on a corporate income tax (CIT) return including going through an audit when applicable.”

It added that, “In South Africa, it takes 26 weeks for a company to obtain a VAT refund.

“However, much of this poor performance in the context of a scenario, such as, the one in the case study is due to delays from the point of view of the taxpayer.

In a scenario such as this were taxpayers to comply timeously it would significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to obtain a refund.

Nigeria to maintain 1.9mbp oil output - Kachikwu CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

to end a supply overhang that has weighed on the markets for more than two years.

North Sea Brent crude LCOc1 was down 30 cents a barrel at $53.63 by 0840 GMT. However, Kachikwu has said oil price must stable at between $54 per barrel and $55 p/b before Nigeria can benefit from the cut.

With the absence of attacks on the country’s oil and gas pipelines, Nigeria produces between 2.2 million barrels per day, highest 2.8 million b/d.

1.9 million b/d is a huge shortfall- an internal cut which analysts have said would likely stand against the country’s

struggle to revamp its already comatose economy.

As a result of recession, Nigeria’s economy plunged deeper, losing a total of $200 billion worth of investment in the oil and gas sector in 2016.

OPEC recently exempted Nigeria from its plan to cut oil output for the first time in eight years- according to analysts, this points out how far the country which used to be Africa’s biggest producer has fallen.

Business Times gathered that from January to October, just over three wells a month were drilled in Nigeria, down from a monthly average of almost 22 in 2006, according to Petroleum Ministry data.

L: R: Member, Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate $17 billion undeclared crude oil, Mr, Ibrahim Isiaka; Chairman of the committee, Mr Abdulraqaki Namdas, and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Lasun Yusuf, during the inauguration of a committee to investigate undeclared $17 billion crude oil in Abuja... on Wednesday.

Photo: Temitope Balogun

NAGAFF hails ban on importation of vehicles through land borders The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) on Wednesday commended the Federal Government on its plan to ban importation of vehicles into the country through land borders.

Mr Stanley Ezenga, the National Publicity Secretary of the association gave the commendation during an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

He said that the country had a lot to gain from the planned ban that would take effect from Jan. 2017, adding that the move would boost port activities and

improve revenue.

“The announcement by the government that imported vehicles will no longer come through the land borders, but through the seaports from next year is a welcome development.

“It will no doubt address the diversion of vehicle cargoes to neigbouring countries by importers; consequently boost government revenue as these cargoes would now have to go though our seaports.

“This decision deserves the commendation of all stakeholders as it means more busi-

ness for freight forwarders and others and more revenue for the country,’’ he said.

Ezenga, however, urged the Federal Government to back the plan with effective policing of land borders as smugglers would do everything to undermine the policy.

The NAGAFF`s spokesman dismissed fears in some quarters that the new policy might lead to increase in prices of imported vehicles.

He said that it would rather promote competitive vehicle sales that would moderate prices.

Expert links petroleum stock rally to enhanced dividend anticipation

Omodion

A capital market expert has attributed investors’ renewed interest in petroleum stocks to increase in dividend anticipation and crude oil price rally due to outcome of November OPEC meeting.

Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Limited, made this known in an interview with journalists in Lagos on Wednesday.

Omordion said traders had resorted to downstream oil and gas stock because of strong corporate earnings released by some of the companies and anticipation of better reward for the year ending Dec. 31, 2016.

He said the deal by oil producers to cut output by 1.7 million

barrels per day at November OPEC meeting effective 2017 contributed to the price rally of petroleum equities on the nation’s bourse.

Omordion explained that the recent NIPCO acquisition of 60 percent stake in Mobil Nigeria Plc from its parent companyExxonMobil contributed to the development.

He said that ongoing negotiation with companies for divestment of Total Nigeria downstream assets from its core investor contributed to the price rally in the sector.

According to him, market’s presumption of low price for Forte oil caused the current increase being experienced by the equity.

Money Market B3

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, Deceember 8, 2016

Intervention funds: CBN cautions banks against double-digit interest rate charges Stories by Motolani Oseni The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has warned financial institutions (PFIs) in the country against charging double-digit interest rate on intervention funds guaranteed by the CBN. This was disclosed in a statement by the CBN’s acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, on Wednesday.

Emefiele gave the warning in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during an interaction between the Presidential Task Force on Agricultural Commodities and Production and young farmers at the Owowo Model Farm Estate, according to the statement.

The CBN governor assured the young farmers of the CBN funding support through their respective PFIs.

He however tasked them to report any bank that charged above 9 percent interest on loans guaranteed by the CBN. The apex bank boss assured them that the CBN’s development finance officers were available to assist them on how to access credit from its various intervention funds to create wealth and meet the country’s food needs.

He advised the young farmers to take advantage of the Bank’s Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund to create wealth.

Also, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief AuduOgbeh, assured the youth that the federal government would support their quests to make legitimate earnings from agriculture.

Ogbeh expressed confidence in the ability of the youths to pro-

Gov Bagudu

Gov Amosun

duce agricultural commodities that would earn the country the much-needed foreign exchange.

He also commended the effort of the CBN governor who, he noted, was very concerned about

the country’s huge import bill, particularly as it had to do with rice importation.

Also, Gov. Atiku Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi commended the CBN for its support to revamping agricultural value chains across different crop types.

Similarly, the host governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in his remarks, thanked the presidential task force for visiting the state, assuring that his administration would partner with the CBN and do all within available resources to fund the agricultural sector.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, in November launched the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Programme in Kebbi, which is aimed at upgrading small farmers to commercial farmers, thereby achieving the trio objective of stimulating the needed capacity to meet the nation’s increasing food needs.

Shareholders approve Union Bank’s N50b rights issue Industrialist wants lower bank approval at an extraordinary capital to N17.5 billion. lending rates to stimulate economy “Obtaining shareholder apgeneral meeting held in Lagos An industrialist, Mr Kuti George, on Wednesday called for reduction of bank lending rates to average of 10 per cent for economic growth and sustainable local production.

George, also the Chairman, National Association of Small Scale Manufacturers, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to him, reducing bank lending rates to about 10 per cent for small scale producers in the country was imperative for their survival.

“The rate needs to be brought down, especially now that the nation’s economy is in recession”.

The chairman said that most companies thriving abroad got

loans at two per cent interest rate.

“If the situation of bank lending rate is not addressed, many domestic firms will find it too extremely challenging to continue to be in business and the impact will be catastrophic to the society, ‘’ he said.

George also said that entrepreneurs were finding it difficult to access the intervention funds given to small business owners by government.

“Our members usually find those government intervention funds to entrepreneurs inaccessible, which has become our bane in business.

“Even when a handful of them get, it is often insignificant to the generality of us,’’ the chairman said.

Union Ban MD, Emeka Emuwa

Union Bank is to raise N50 billion through rights issue following approval by shareholders.

The shareholders gave their

yesterday.

In a bid to accommodate the new shares, the shareholders’ approved the increase of authorized capital of the bank from N9.5 billion (made up of 19 billion ordinary shares) of 50 kobo each to N17.5 billion (made up of 35 billion ordinary shares) of 50 kobo each by the creation of additional of approximately 16 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each ranking equally with the existing shares of the bank.

Consequently, the memorandum and articles of association of the bank will be amended to reflect the increase in the authorized share

proval for our capital increase is a necessary step bringing us closer to the rights issue.

Incremental capital will further strengthen Union Bank’s near-term positioning and enable us realize our long-term growth aspirations,” said Emeka Emuwa, the bank’s chief executive.

“We view the rights issue approval as a strong sign of shareholder support for Union Bank’s growth strategy and our plans to scale up operations and strengthen our position in readiness for uptake when the macroeconomic direction changes,” the CEO emphasized.

Don’t scrap BoI, expert cautions A financial expert, Dr Samuel Nzekwe, on Wednesday described the proposed plans to scrap the Bank of Industry (BoI) as “inconsistent with policies’’.

Nzekwe, a former President, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota, Ogun.

NAN reports that Mr Waheed Olagunju, acting Managing Director, BoI, had on Monday kicked against the move by the Senate to scrap the bank and establish a National Development Bank in its place.

According to him, the persistent changes in government policies would not help the national economy to develop and achieve the desired goals.

“There is need for the Federal Government to continue with its BoI activities which cover identified areas of deficiency, to enable the economy to be able to perform well,’’ he said.

The former ANAN president, however, advised the government to strengthen the BoI in its weak areas so that the bank would be able to grant loans to the real sector.

Nzekwe said that some of the manufacturers were able to get loans from the deposit banks due to the inability of BoI to give loans to them.

“The government should employ experts to look into the BoI and come out with suggestions that would take care of those areas that they are functioning well,’’ he said.

Dr. Nzekwe

w

Capital Market B4 Equities market records marginal rebound Stories by Afolabi Adesola Equities trading on the Nigerian Stock exchange (NSE) recorded a rebound of 0.01 per cent as the All Share Index closed at 25,673.80 points compared to previous closing figure of 25,671.23 points.

Market capitalization also rose to N8.833 trillion from N8.831 trillion recorded after Tuesday’s session.

Forte Oil led the day’s top three gainers with a growth of 10.24 percent to close at N87.42 per share, Transcorp followed with a growth of 7.32 percent to close at 88 kobo per share while Portland paints added 4.81 per-

cent to close at N2.18 per share.

Conversely, Oando led the day’s retreating stocks, with a 9.43 percent decline to close at N4.13 per share, Transcorp Hotel lost 4.96 percent to close at N4.98 per share and Avon Crown dropped 4.55 percent to close at N1.26 per share.

Wema Bank emerged the most traded stock with 100.2 million shares valued at N53.1 million, Diamond Bank followed with 35 million units of shares worth N30 million while Access Bank came third with the sale of 22.4 million shares worth N123.1 million. Overall, investors exchanged a total of 255.8 million units of shares valued at N2.1 billion in 2,480

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, Deceember 8, 2016

SEC strengthens market development policies The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has assured sustenance of market development policies as contained in the capital market 10 years development master plan.

The market development policy tools which the SEC is currently implementing to further enhance market confidence include electronic dividend payment (e-Dividend), Direct Cash Settlement (DCS), Dematerial-

Summary of activities on NSE ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP

25,673.80 2,480.00

255,774,261.00 2,081,110,988.49 8,833,749,271,673.86

Gwarzo

ization, National Investor Protection Fund, Recapitalization of Capital Market Operators, Corporate Governance Scorecard, and Financial Literacy campaign.

The policy tools contained in the 10 years Capital market master plan, was also re-echoed in the recently launched Nigerian Journal of Securities Market (NJSM) under the sub theme: Role of the Capital Market Regulator’ The SEC Director General SEC. Mr. Mounir Gwarzo at a recent event in Lagos assured that the commission is working towards successful implementation of new rules for product innovation, non interest products, and advocacy for fiscal incentives, improved issuance process and development of commodities exchanges.

Gwarzo, argued that a more developed capital market is a necessary enabler for governments fiscal and monetary policies needed to lift the country out of recession, adding that the implementation of these

initiatives, prioritized over one hundred other initiatives developed to improve competitiveness and attractiveness of the market, from the capital market master plan, to be implemented over the next decade, will significantly develop the Nigerian Capital Market, advance the financial system and catalyse economic growth.

Since the stock market crash of 2008, which dealt a huge blow to investor confidence in the Nigerian Capital market, particularly to retail investors, the SEC’s focus has been to implement policies geared towards restoring that confidence to attract them back to the market, as restoring investor confidence is expected to contribute to the early return of growth.

Gwarzo who said the SEC is statutorily mandated to regulate and develop the Nigerian capital market, explained that the focus of the paper, presented through the NJSM, is that financial markets are critical in making fiscal policies of government more effective.

Professionals urge investments in securities to mitigate unplanned consumption.

The President of Fund Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN), Dr. Ore Sofekun, has urged Nigerian retail investors to imbibe investments in securities as a way to save money to combat unplanned consumption.

According to her, increase in income, raises savings, to further raise in investment, which is the key to promoting economic growth.

Dr. Ore whilst presenting her paper termed Deepening Retail Investors Participation in the capital market, to capital market correspondents in Lagos recently, said that Domestic participation on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) dropped from N3.97 trillion in 2008 to N881 billion in 2015, however, she noted that in 2016, domestic trades began dominance of the exchange, albeit at lower volumes, further highlighting retail investors significant contribution of 50 percent to overall domestic transactions on the NSE. Speaking on how Retail investors participation can be achieved, she noted that forced or incentives voluntary savings, investor protection & confidence building, accessible distribution

channels, financial inclusion as well as financial literacy as tools to embrace to achieve a deeper level of participation.

She stressed the need for continuous education on the benefits and types of investments suited to the average retail investor, who is not financially literate and is consumption driven.

Dr. Ore further distributed the financial life cycle of retail investors into four groups.

The first which is within the ages of 18-25, was characterised as the consumption stage with spending, as its key financial activity. Dr. Ore’s recommendation under financial literacy for this group was investment.

The next group within the age 26-35 and characterised with asset acquisition, were also urged to invest, while the Nigerian investor within the age group of 3655 poised with the challenges of family maintenance were urged to protect and preserve investments previously accumulated in order to distribute and transfer at the next stage of retirement, which falls within the age category of 56 years and above.

Giving an illustration, she said N54 billion annually could be realised if 4.5 million people,

Sofekun

who represent 8 percent of Nigeria’s workforce, invest N1000 per month.

According to Sofekun, information from the Securities and Exchange Commission, as at Nov 25, 2016, show that money

market funds, designed for the objective of earning a reasonable return without fears of the principal loss accounts for 48.2 percent of all eight fund types in Nigeria.

Others are, Equity based

funds that are exposed to the stock market with the objective of long term growth and income account for 5.80 percent. Bond fund account for 3.40 percent, fixed income funds, for investments in government and corporate debt instruments, mainly to provide steady cash flow for the investor, accounts for 7.53 percent, while the real estate fund meets 20.73 percent of the overall securities market.

Balanced Funds, which contains a mix of fixed income and equities for risk diversification, to achieve income and a capital appreciation contributes 10.61 percent, while Ethical Fund and Exchange Traded Fund also accounted for 2.13 and 1.63 percent respectively.

She explained that integrity and transparency in the dealings of capital market operators with investor will engender confidence and encourage more participation, while initiatives such as the SEC sponsored National Investors Protection Fund (NIPF), that compensates investors for pecuniary loses arising from insolvency, bankruptcy and negligence of sundry capital market operators will build trust that can bring back investor confidence.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, Deceember 8, 2016

29,000

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, Deceember 8, 2016

Loya Milk promotes swimming among children In a bid to encourage swimming amongst secondary school students in Nigeria, Loya Milk, a milk brand from the stable of Promasidor Nigeria Limited recently organised a swimming competition dubbed “Loya Swim Meet” for Secondary Schools in Lagos State where cash prizes of over N1, 000,000 (one million naira) and other consolation prizes were given to participants.

The competition which held at the Grange School, Harold Shodipo, Ikeja, GRA, Lagos had 10 Secondary Schools in attendance with five boys and five girls each participating in the three categories of 25 metres freestyle, 50 metres freestyle and 100 metres freestyle relay respectively.

Speaking at the event, the Category Manager, Dairy, Promasidor Nigeria, Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji, said “Loya Milk is fortified with 50 percent more calcium which helps in building stronger bone, tougher teeth and a healthy heart”.

“At the heart of this brand, is improving the well-being of children in Nigeria, and this is achieved not only by providing the best nutrition in Loya Milk but also by identifying with a sport that promotes this promise,” he stated.

Abiodun added “ we are aware that swimming is a 360-degrees’ sport that involves all parts of your body, and it helps to maintain a healthy weight, healthy heart, control your muscle and above all, a fun exercise for growing children.”

The schools that participated in the competition were Dowen College, Chrisland College, Greensprings School, Halifield Schools, ST&T Regency international school, Supreme Education Foundation, Queensland Academy, Grace High School, Avi-cenna International and Honeyland College.

B6 Brands & Marketing

APCON to battle unregistered OOH companies Stories by Godwin Anyebe The federal government parastatal saddled with the responsibility of regulating the business of advertising in Nigeria, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, has vowed to battle unregistered out of home, OOH, advertising agencies.

This intension was given by the Registrar/CEO of APCON, Alh. Garba Bello-Kankarofi, who disclosed recently in Lagos that his agency has activated its enforcement powers and is now taking action against illegal practitioners and unlicensed organisations infiltrating the outdoor advertising industry in Nigeria.

The enforcement, which commenced a couple of months

ago, has moved to military cantonments and police barracks across Nigeria. Sources said the military establishments have demanded a month for those who own advertising hoardings within their barracks to secure all the necessary documentations from their sectoral body, that is, the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria, OAAN. It would be recalled that the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, (LASAA) does not regulate out-of-home (OOH) facilities within military and police establishments.

This was contained in a recent letter titled: Practice of Non Licensed Persons and Companies, and duly signed by Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi, with reference number (CLD/03/Vol.1/080/2016,

dated October 12, 2016 was sent to the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria, MIPAN’s President, Dr. Ken OnyealiIkpe.

The strong-worded correspondence reads in part: “We wish to bring to your attention the practice by some of your membercompanies who engage the services of non-registered/licensed persons and organisations and the purchase of advertising media space/airtime from such unregistered/unlicensed persons and organisations”.

APCON reminded MIPAN of its responsibility as a key stakeholder in promoting growth within Nigeria’s integrated marketing communications industry by supporting bona fide and registered practitioners and organ-

L-R: Camp Director, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Lagos, Akhamie Priscilla (left); Public relations Manager, Power Oil, Azeez Omotayo; Corps member, Anetor Paul; and Medical Consultant, Dr Gbolahan Diya at the Power Oil health activities at the NYSC Orientation Camp, recently in Lagos.

NYSC, Power Oil interface on healthy living

The Lagos State National Youth Service Corp Orientation Camp Iyana Ipaja received the Power Oil Health Team who came to enlighten and engage members of its staff and corps members on the significance of leading a healthy conscious lifestyle during the ongoing three weeks orientation exercise.

Power Oil Health Team was present along with its medical professionals one of whom engaged the members of staff and the 2016 Batch B Corp members on sensitization talk about healthy living and heart health

isations.

The letter continued, “As you are aware, it is a violation of Nigeria Advertising Law and Regulations for persons not registered as advertising practitioners and organisations, and not licensed as advertising firms to practice advertising for gain and undertake the business of advertising.

The Advertising Practitioners (Registration, etc) CAP and Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 Part IV, Section 17 and 18 refers”.

Kankarofi further said that while the council was doing its best to stop the nefarious activities of and/or sanction these unlicensed organisations as well as non-practitioners, MIPAN member-organisations should stop patronising them.

related matters. Power oil also presented the platform to free basic medical checkup (BMI, Blood Pressure, and Body temperature), medical consultation/ nutritional advice and the opportunity to directly experience the nutritious taste and quality of the brand through some products donation for cooking at the camp.

Commenting on the partnership with NYSC last week in Lagos, Amisha Chawla, Brand Manager, Power Oil “As the need to further reach out to more Nigerians becomes more imperative, we are highly delighted to

partner with the Lagos State National Youth Service Corp this year in reaching more Nigerians, considering the alarming rate of heart health complications which we believe sometimes could be avoidable through proper enlightenment and regular checkups, and that is what we are trying to achieve.”

“Also as part of the corporate social responsibility of Power Oil, we felt the need to offer something more to our consumers considering the costs of accessing medical check-up in the country and the low level of awareness on the

need to stay healthy”, she said.

The Lagos State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corp, Mr. Cyril Akhanemhe expressed his profound appreciation to Raffles Oil makers of Power oil on the partnership exercise while stressing the significant benefits of leading a healthy life. “You will agree with me that we take physical fitness and nutrition very importantly, going by our regular daily drills and healthy choice of meals that staff and Corp members are being served during the orientation weeks, under the most hygienic condition”.

We also have our own medical community outreach programme which sees medical corp members providing free medical checkups to rural community dwellers in Lagos, that is why we are readily inclined to identify with Power Oil’s initiative because it is in the interest of all.

According to Miss. Onyinye Uzowulu, Lagos State NYSC Corp member, I particularly agree with the doctor who gave the sensitization talk on healthy living and ways to achieve stable heart condition, as a lot of people are unaware of the risks involved in paying little attention to the body.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, Deceember 8 , 2016

Stories by Charles Okonji The African Development Bank (AfDB) has concluded plans to launch $800 million scheme to support the Nigerian agricultural sector.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, AfDB, who disclosed in Abuja earlier in the week, noted that the support is an initiative called Technology for African Agriculture Transformation (TAAT), adding that it is part of the efforts designed to encourage technological innovation in the sector.

Adesina made this disclosure at the opening ceremony of the African Economic Conference (ACE) organised by the bank in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in Abuja.

He stated that the scheme when implemented would reach 40 million farmers in one year, adding that another $24 billion would be used to support Nigeria’s agric sector to fight hunger and postharvest loses.

B7 AgriBusiness

AfDB to stimulate Nigeria’s agriculture with $800m He said: “To take new agricultural technologies to scale, we are launching $800 million initiative known as TAAT. It has a goal of reaching over 40 million farmers in 10 years. We must equally reduce the food system losses along the value-chain from the farm, transport, storage, processing and marketing.”

He called for a rapid and inclusive bottom up approach to addressing challenges facing the agriculture sector, stressing that poor infrastructure and access to finance were major challenges, and it became imperative to develop the Staple Crops Processing Zones (SCPZ).

The AfDB President pointed out that the initiative would reduce post-harvest losses, urging African nations to invest in the SCPZ in order to create jobs, and

Akinwumi Adesina

to support private agro-allied firms through incentives and infrastructure.

Adesina said: “It is important to seek innovative approach to solving finance challenges.

When I was the Nigerian agriculture minister, we started NIRSAL which increased lending to farmers by six per cent. To drive agro-industrialization, the role of finance is key so we are investing $24 billion into agriculture in the next 20 years.”

In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, denied claims that the nation would face famine by 2017, explaining that the federal government had already mapped out plans to support dry-season farming that would discourage the presumed food shortage.

Tomato paste processing is our priority - FG Ebonyi earmarks 54,000 hectares for dry season farming The Ebonyi State Government will allocate 54,000 hectares for the 2016/ 2017 dry season farming.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Uchenna Orji, disclosed this in Abakaliki, while receiving a team from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-supported Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in the state for 2016 fourth supervision mission.

Orji noted that the government had met with Local Government Area (LGA) Caretaker Committees, farmers associations and technical partners for the commencement of the dry season farming.

“We have commenced identification of lands to ascertain areas with dams, surface water

and other water sources, to meet the anticipated irrigational needs during cultivation. We have also embarked on land development by using bulldozers and other mechanized equipment to prepare the land with the active participation of our technical partners,” he said.

Orji disclosed that the government had acquired 40 threshers for processing of harvested rice paddy and had paid 40 per cent of the total cost of acquisition.

“Our farmers are currently procuring the threshers at 40 per cent of the cost with the payment pattern staggered between three and four years for easy payment.

We ensure that the farmers who are procuring the equipment are not political farmers, but genuine ones who would also serve as service providers.

The federal government has stated that the production of tomato paste was its utmost priority.

President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, stated this in Abuja on Monday, while declaring open the 2016 Africa Economic Conference, with the theme “Feed Africa: Towards agro-allied industrialization for inclusive growth.”

“Tomato paste processing will be prioritized by the federal government. It will be an opportunity to generate a large number of agricultural jobs and also add value along the agro-allied chain,” he promised.

“Tomato paste processing will be prioritized by the federal government this year as part its strategic implementation plan to become self-sufficient in the product.

The choice of tomato is predicated

on our ability to produce tomatoes in large quantities several times a year as well as its extensive use in Nigerian meals. There is of course the opportunity to generate a large number of agricultural jobs and also as a means to adding value along the agro-allied chain.”

The president stressed the need to plant the appropriate quality of the crop to be used for processing, saying the a lot of small scalefarms were not linked to large farms, so they faced the problems of transportation and storage, posing additional challenges.

He noted that the high cost of finance was a factor tomato farmers and tomato paste manufacturers had to contend with, maintaining that the government was trying to mitigate this through development institutions as the Bank of Agriculture and the Bank of Industry, together with the micro farmers credit scheme targeting

Audu Ogbeh small scale farmers.

Buhari commended the contributions of the African Development Bank in supporting Nigeria towards economy diversification.

Farmers accuse unpatriotic individuals, others for rice sca city

Rice mill

The president of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Aminu Goronyo, has alleged that some individuals and corporate bodies were responsible for the current scarcity of rice hitting hard on the nation.

Goronyo alleged this on Monday while speaking with news correspondents on the state of rice production and availability of the staple in the Yuletide.

He said that the individuals and corporate bodies were hell-bent

on sabotaging the federal government’s efforts to diversify the economy through agriculture, assuring Nigerians of RIFAN members’ readiness to make the price of rice affordable and accessible in 2017.

According to him, the association had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with some farm input suppliers in the country to ensure prompt supply of cheap fertilizers and pesticides to boost production.

“We are going to assist the federal governmentto produce more than enough rice for this country in 2017. It is part of the plan that we must bring down the price of rice in this country. There are several efforts that we are making to see that in no distant time, the price of rice will come down for Nigerians to have access to affordable milled rice,’’ he promised.

Goronyo said that the association was also collaborating with both local and foreign companies

to assist in the electronic mapping and registration of rice farms across the country, adding that the exercise would help government to plan by having accurate and verifiable available land for rice production in the country.

“We have more than 4.5 million hectares of FADAMA land for rice production and each hectare has the capacity with a very good practice and management to produce five tonnes per hectare minimum..”

Motoring B8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, Deceember 8, 2016

Speed Limiter: Transporters scramble to beat FRSC deadline The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) launched the implementation of the vehicle speed limiter device on October 1, 2016. Since then, transporters have been making beelines to stockists to install the device in their vehicles. One of such suppliers is Purple Global Services & Technologies Africa, a company that specializes in technologies for efficiency and productivity.

Speaking to journalists at the its Lagos corporate office, one of the company’s customer, Mr.Deepanjan Roy, Managing Director/CEO of a leading Beverage Company in West Africa, said “our company just got the supply of 500 devices from Purple Global and they are being installed at our premises.

Not only because of the FRSC deadlines but also for the safety deliverables of the device for our

vehicle assets, employees and our customers. This is most relevant in this festive season as many people will travel and the roads are going to be busy.”

On his part, Mr. Rocheet Abbi, Director of Purple Global Services and Technologies Africa stressed the need for motorists to look beyond the FRSC enforcement and its guiding policy on speed limiter. “Although the commission has started the phased implementation for commercial vehicles since October 1, 2016 and will start impounding noncompliant vehicles from February 1, 2017, our advice to all motorists is to fit the device for their overall safety first.

Speed is a highly reflex action, and can be enjoyable pressing the accelerator while forgetting every other thing, but what if something suddenly happens, then you are no longer in control”.

Ford Ranger is Nigeria’s Pickup-of-the-year

The Ford Ranger has been selected as the 2016 Pick-up of the Year by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), reinforcing its status as a segment-defining model in the highly competitive light commercial vehicle sector.

The award, which was accepted by the marketing team of Coscharis Motors, the sole authorized Ford dealer in Nigeria, at the NAJA annual auto awards, held in Lagos and was well attended by key stakeholders in the Nigerian automobile industry.

“We’re delighted that the Ford Ranger won this coveted Pick-up of the Year title, which recognised its impressive range of technologies, bold design and outstanding capabilities,” said Rob Johnston, Regional Manager Sales and Marketing, Ford Customer Services Division for Sub Saharan Africa.

“The Ranger is the key model driving Ford’s expansion across the Sub-Saharan Africa region, and despite facing stiff competition from the likes of the new Toyota Hilux, its ‘Built Ford Tough’ qualities clearly position it as a cut above the rest,” Johnston

stated.

Ford is represented in Nigeria

by Coscharis Motors, with its president, Dr Cosmas Maduka, being honoured as Automotive Personality of the Year. “Congratulations to Dr Maduka for the award, which acknowledges his important contribution to the domestic motor industry,” Johnston added.

A full line-up of Ford Rangers is sold in Nigeria, including the Single Cab commercial models, the versatile Super Cab (or RAP Cab) versions with the additional rear-hinged doors, and the extensive range of practical Double Cab derivatives which includes the XL, XLT, Limited and rangetopping Wildtrak derivatives.

Rangers sold in Nigeria are imported from Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant in South Africa, either as fully-built up units, or as semi-knocked down (SKD) kits for selected double cab models which are assembled locally by Coscharis Motors. This initiative is aimed at bolstering the industrialisation and development of the automotive industry in West Africa.

Guinness boss campaigns against drunk driving Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Whatever you do this season, please do not drink and drive. When you go out in a group to have fun, designate someone to drive and that person should not drink. If you are going out alone, arrange for taxi to take you home after you have had some drink. I urge everyone to drink responsibly and also act as ambassadors of responsible drinking during this season and beyond.

This is the crux of an ongoing campaign on responsible drinking by the duo of Guinness Nigeria and the Federal Roads Safety Corps, FRSC. Speaking at the flag-off of this year’s ember months responsible drinking campaign which took place at the Ketu Motor Park in Lagos, Managing Director/ CEO, Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, disclosed that the partnership between Guinness Nigeria and FRSC, which has

lasted over a decade, has blossomed into an impactful platform, making it possible for both parties to jointly deliver ember months campaigns that annually reach millions of Nigerians.

“Through our ember months campaigns, we aim to play a part in helping consumers make the right choices. The message we deliver to consumers through our annual campaigns is consistent with our values at Guinness Nigeria. Consumers are at the heart of everything we do as an organization, and are the basis for our success. We are therefore genuinely concerned when we see consumers put themselves at risk through practices like drink driving. The timing of this campaign takes into cognizance the high frequency of vehicular movement during ember months, particularly during the Christmas season. Historically, the occurrence of road accidents also increases during ember months. This campaign therefore aims to help

prevent alcohol-related accidents this season,” Ndegwa said.

Ndegwa also commended the FRSC for their critical role in helping to reduce accidents on the nation’s highways. “I would like to specially thank the FRSC for their partnership through the years and for the good work they do every day to ensure the safety of road users in Nigeria. As a company, we are proud of the impact we will be able to make through our partnership with the FRSC and other stakeholders this season. I’m positive that our collective actions will help promote the culture of responsible drinking and ensure the safety of Nigerians traveling to various destinations,” he enthused.

On his part, Corps Commander, Lagos Sector Command of the FRSC, Mr. Hyginus Omeje, commended Guinness Nigeria for sustaining this giant stride for the past nine years, while taking into cognizance the fact that road safety is a shared responsibility.

L-R Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Sesan Sobowale;FRSC Sector Commander, Lagos state, Hyginus Omeje; Director, Vehicle Inspection Services, Lagos State, Abdulazeez Toriola; Managing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Peter Ndegwa; and Deputy Chairman, Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Lagos Chapter, Sunday Yusuf during the flag-off of the 2016 Guinness/FRSC Ember months campaign at the Ketu Motor Park Lagos..

Stallion Nissan bags ISO certification for quality mgt.

Stallion NMN Limited, the Nissan manufacturer and national sales company was yesterday decorated with the ISO/ TS – 16949:2009 Certification for world class quality management system.

The certification is in recognition of the company’s excellence in vehicle assembly management, sales & marketing of Nissan cars, pick-ups, buses, SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) and LCVs (Light Commercial Vehicles.)

Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) who gave this certification in Lagos described Nissan as the first automobile company in Nigeria to attain this

status.

A member body of International Organization for Standardization (ISO), SON is responsible for delineating quality management requirements for design and development as well as production, service and installation of automotive-related products in Nigeria.

The ISO/TS – 16949:2009 Certification is applied throughout the automotive supply chain including Stallion NMN vehicle assembly process, the plant’s design center, assembly lines, corporate headquarters, distribution centers and customer-specified parts and service arenas, SON explained.

Stallion NMN Managing Director Parvir Singh has described the certification as another first for the vehicle manufacturing and sales company who in April 2014 became the first indigenous motor plant to churn-out wholly homemade Nissan badge automobiles, moments after the Federal Government introduced the National Automotive Policy.

He said: “Stallion and Nissan Sub-Saharan Africa had painstakingly worked together to achieve this goal, promising to rebuild industrialization in Nigeria and contribute to the growth of the manufacturing sector.

The Edo Times

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

Edo Guber: Obaseki, APC urge tribunal to ET 2 throw out YDP petition

I’ve no regret working with Oshiomhole - Ex-dep. gov Odubu ET 3

Obaseki calls for prayers to end recession

ÏÏÏ

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (3rd right) and Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu (2nd right), with Labour leaders in the state after a meeting in Benin City...on Wednesday

Bill to amend Neighbourhood Watch law in Edo underway

Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏ Edo State Government has

The Edo

T E A M

proposed a bill seeking to amend the laws establishing neighbourhood watch.

It said the alteration would be couched in an executive bill to the state House of Assembly at a date yet to be announced after due consultation with relevant stakeholders.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. John Mayaki, said the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, disclosed this when the 4 Brigade Commander of the Nigerian Army, Brig-General Ibrahim Garba, paid him a courtesy call recently in Government House, Benin City.

He said training of the staff of the security outfit was mandatory in order to meet contemporary challenges.

“We have decided to revamp our neighbourhood watch. We are renaming it. We are going to ask the state House of Assembly to look at the bill.

“We are putting our resources to ensure that it accomplishes the task of local Community policing”, he said.

Obaseki noted that the security plan would help to fortify the security architecture which is under the control of the Federal Government.

Describing the influx of out of school children bestriding some major streets in Benin City, the state capital as unacceptable,

Special Project Editor Sam Nzeh

Correspondent Titus Akhigbe

Obaseki said urgent steps would be taken to address the menace.

Brig-General Ibrahim Garba, the 4 Brigade Commander of

the Nigerian Army, had earlier pledged his support for the state government alongside other issues.

EDSG tasks multinational firms on CSR ÏÏÏ

Edo State Government has called on multinational companies operating in the state to deliver on their corporate social Responsibilities (CSR).

The Governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. John Mayaki, said the people of the state have little or nothing to show for the several years of existence of oil and gas companies in the state, especially in areas of employment and human development.

Governor Obaseki disclosed this when members of Senate Committee on Petroleum and Upstream paid him a courtesy call recently in Government House, Benin.

“The core of what is left in NNPC is NPDC and that is the heart of the Corporation. It is located in Edo

State which is an oil producing state.

But, we do not feel the impact of that institution locally.

“We have seen here, planes arrive, contractors arrive in the morning, disembark from their private jets; they come into the state, they have conversation, hold discussion and in the evening, they board their flights and leave.

“What they came to discuss sometimes amount to billions of dollars and transactions; we do not get the benefit of it and we feel that it is something to be addressed”, he said.

Obaseki however implored members of the National Assembly through the instrument of law and peaceful means to support him in the crusade, clarifying that Edo people have never been known for violence.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has called for prayers from religious bodies to end recession, adding that the peaceful conduct of the gubernatorial election in the state was as a result of prayers.

Obaseki made the call on Tuesday in Benin when the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Ministry, Pastor Williams Kumuyi, paid him a courtesy visit in Government House.

Obaseki, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu, said Pastor Kumuyi’s visit to the state was apt and a divine call.

He said: “In our state, we have a brand new Oba, in the person of Oba Ewaure II, and a brand new leadership. We believe that with this programme - Showers of Blessing, God’s hand is in Edo, and as a state we would want to tap from the anointing.

“Though we have recession in the country now, we believe it will end. We want you to pray for the state and the country so that the recession will end”.

The governor also disclosed that government was putting emphasis on job creation, noting that though the administration was just few weeks old, steps taken so far would ensure that all electioneering promises would be kept.

He further appreciated the prayers of the churches during the last governorship election in the state, saying it was the first time in the history of the state where election had been conducted peacefully without any recorded incidence of violence.

Earlier, Pastor Kumuyi said that he was in the state for his congregation’s mass gathering and to be a blessing to the state.

The Edo Times 2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

Succour underway for Edo pensioners, Obaseki assures

ÏÏÏSuccour is on the way for Edo

pensioners, as Edo state Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Wednesday, promised to resolve all pension issues in the state so that all eligible pensioners can join the contributory pension scheme in January.

“We will resolve pension issues this month because we want to move into the pension scheme effective January”, a statement endorsed by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. John Mayaki, quoted Governor Godwin Obaseki when he received the leadership of the organised labour led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman in the state, Comrade Emmanuel Ademokun and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Marshal Orhue.

Besides, Obaseki said that government would not accept anything that would lead to loss of jobs by workers as the administration was committed to creating jobs.

He appealed to the organised labour to work with his administration as the administration’s goal was to make Edo one of the most attractive states in the country and that the organised labour has to be part of it.

Obaseki noted that though he may not wear kaki, the Labour uniform, but that he carries the struggle of the union in his heart and that there was the need to begin to think about outstanding issues to address.

According to Obaseki, “During my campaign, when I came to the Labour house, we talked about lots of issues and I mean all of them. We need to begin to rebuild the State and Nigeria. Struggling now is not about who is oppressed, because the era of oil boom is over, we need to focus on how to reclaim our country”.

According to Obaseki, “Edo has been reclaimed politically, but we need to reclaim it economically and

socially”, he said.

The governor said that there was the need to address fundamental issues, adding that if challenges exist it was not because the organised labour and the government are on two different sides.

He stressed that there was need for all to sit down and be open, adding that in defending workers, you don’t indulge them.

In his words: “There is need for us to sit down and be open to ourselves because, in defending workers, you don’t indulge them. We have to increase our scope and be productive as well as change the mantra. We also need a total approach to work and our work environment - indeed we have lot of work to do”, he said.

Obaseki further gave assurance that however difficult the situation was, government would look for ways to address them. He said all issues would be addressed openly, dispassionately and fairly, adding that, “We should look at how our demands will stabilize the society”.

He emphasized that his administration was concerned about remuneration and compensation adding that government would do a facelift on work places in the state, since the environment was key to enhancing productivity.

Earlier, NLC chairman in the state, Comrade Ademokun, said that the government should look into the issue of redeployment of ICT staff in the state as there was dearth of workers in state ministries.

He appealed for urgent recruitment of workers to fill vacant positions.

He also called for timely and regular meetings between government and the organised labour to ensure industrial peace as Labour would always add value to governance.

Edo, Delta NUJ, NAWOJ laud Mayaki’s appointment as CPS

ÏÏÏ Members of the Nigeria Union

of Journalists and National Association of Women Journalists ( NAWOJ) have commended Governor Godwin Obaseki’s appointment of Mr. John Mayaki as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), describing the recipient as very cerebral and thoroughbred professional.

The leadership of both unions made the commendation at a reception organised by friends of Mayaki in the Media, held recently at the NUJ centre in Benin, Edo State capital.

The state chairman of the NUJ, Comarde Roland Osakue, at the occasion said he was elated on hearing news of Mayaki’s appointment, describing it as well deserving.

The Edo State NUJ scribe, Comrade Alemma-Ozioruva Aliu, congratulated Mayaki on his appointment, saying, “He is a tested hand”.

The Edo State NOWAJ chairperson, Comrade Flora Bossy, commended Governor Obaseki’s choice of Mayaki as his CPS and noted that the appointment was very apt and appropriate.

The Coordinator of the occasion, Mr. Ofure Oshebo of the Pilot Newspaper, said the event was to celebrate John Mayaki who had proved beyond doubt that he’s a core professional and a committed journalist.

While describing Mayaki as a thoroughbred home-grown media practitioner, Oshebo noted that “he’s known for his incisive and undercover reports which even set heads to roll in Edo. Mayaki started his journalism practice with the defunct Comet Newspaper and became the state Correspondent of the Nation Newspaper from where he became twotime CPS to Akoko-Edo Local Government Council.

Edo varsity gets deadline to partner with global institution Stories by Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏ Edo State Governor, Mr. God-

win Obaseki, on Wednesday, in Benin, gave the Edo University, Iyamho, twelve months to enter into partnership with a world class institution to sustain its present tuition, adding that the university was conceived to compete with world class institutions.

The governor said all stakeholders must go back to the dream that gave birth to the university, adding that the university was conceived by the immediate past Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, with active support from him.

The governor gave the ultimatum when the Governing Council of the university led by its Chairman, Prof.

Pat Utomi, visited him at his request in Government House, a statement

by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. John Mayaki, said.

Obaseki said his administration’s support for the institution would be contingent on the partnership the institution would be able to draw from her partners preferably a world class institution.

He said:” My call to you today is that you have 12 calendar months to have a partner, preferably a world class university. I want to say that our support for the university will be contingent on partnership from world class university so that the institution can sustain the tuition presently been charged. This institution was conceived by my predecessor with active collaboration and support from me because we believe that we need to create a new paradigm in university education in Nigeria. I must say that I am very pleased with the work done so far by

the Governing Council of the University”.

He also said that that the previous administration had tried to provide world class structure for the university, though lots of work and construction were still ongoing, adding that government will ensure it completes all the construction work.

He further asked the institution to return to the core basis of its establishment which was science and technology, adding that he was aware the National Universities Commission (NUC) would have given licence to the university before its diversification to other field of discipline.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Governing Council of Edo University, Iyamho, Prof. Pat Utomi, congratulated Governor Obaseki on his recent inauguration as the Governor of Edo State and assured him of their commitment to his success.

L-R: Wife of National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs. Victoria Odigie-Oyegun; APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; Captain Hosa Okunbo; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his wife, Betsy, iafter the APC National Chairman received a lifetime achievement award presented to him by the Warri Choral Society during a concert the Society held in his honour at the Muson Center in Lagos...recently.

Edo Guber: Obaseki, APC urge tribunal to dismiss YDP’s petition ÏÏÏ Edo State Governor, Mr. God-

win Obaseki and the All Progressive Congress (APC) have asked the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin City to throw out the petition filed by the Young Democratic Party (YDP) and its governorship candidate, Nurudeen Inwanfero, for lack of merit.

Inwanfero, in the petition, is asking the tribunal to cancel the entire September 28 governorship election because the party’s logo was not included in the ballot papers used for the election.

At the resumed pre-hearing session of the tribunal, Lead counsel to the APC, Lateef Fagbemi, in his application, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition and ‘give it a decent burial’ because there was no reasonable cause of action.

Fagbemi informed the tribunal that the petitioner filed two petitions

at the tribunal and also filed a notice of discontinuous on one of the petition without complying with the Electoral Act. He said issues raised by the petitioner was pre-election matters that are not within the purview of the tribunal to decide whether INEC was right or wrong.

Fagbemi argued that the petitioner was wrong to use the words ‘lawfully excluded and corrupt practices’ in the petition when the petitioner did not participate in the election.

His words: “Having regard to the Electoral laws, has the petition complied with the Electoral Act? All the decisions referred to are not relevant and do not apply to election matters.

The law has proscribed what is to be done. Withdrawal is not automatic.

“This tribunal is not to deal with pre-election matter. Whether INEC is wrong or right not to recognise

their logo is not within the purview of the tribunal. I urge your Lordship to give the petition a decent burial. It is dead on arrival.”

Lead counsel to INEC, Mr. Onyebuchi Ikpeazu, said there was no reason to oppose Fagbemi’s application because he found no justification for the petition.

Lead counsel to Obaseki, Wole Olanipekun said it would be hypocritical for him to oppose the application.

Counsel to YDP, Ugo Nwofor, opposed the application and described it as an abuse of court process.

Nwofor said arguments in the application were already dealing with the substantive matter.

Chairman of the three-man panel, Ahmed Badamasi, adjourned sitting to December 8, 2016 for ruling on the application.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

3 The Edo Times

I’ve no regret working with Oshiomhole -Ex-dep. gov, Odubu

Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State in this interview with TITUS AKHIGBE in Benin, speaks on number of issues affecting the polity. Excerpts:

After eight years in office, how have you being coping with life outside government?

Firstly, let me give all the praises, adoration to God Almighty who made it all possible. Indeed, He did not only make it all possible, He gave us the necessary enablement to discharge our duties well. For me, life after office there is nothing unusual because I have never really carried myself in a way to suggest I was living a life out of the ordinary. You will recall that I was in the National Assembly for eight years and I think I prepared for the office of the deputy governor when I was called upon to serve.

How will you describe Edo State under the eight years of Governor Oshiomhole administration?

I will answer you in this manner: When we came on board in 2008, Mr. Governor booked a mass at St. Paul Catholic Church for our thanksgiving.

In the homily, the Reverend Father then, charged us to do the greatest good to the greatest number of people persons within the shortest possible time.

I believed strongly that we did just that and the evidence abound for everybody to see. But nobody can finish it all, nobody can do it all. But I believe that the Oshiomhole-led administration performed credibly well. In fact, I have often said we performed beyond previously established boundaries.

At what point would you say the amiable relationship you had with Governor got soured and what is your regret?

No regret at all. The relationship did not sour at any time. I know what you have in mind now is the primary

election issue. Well, this is a free society and everybody has the right of association. He (Oshiomhole) choose to support who he wanted to support and I choose to contest without his support.

All that is history now. What matters was the way we bounded back after the primary, it was as if nothing happened because we realised and we know, I know as far as I’m concerned that it was a contest and like I said throughout that contest, that for me, I have no enemy, just opponent and for me, that was just the way it is. You could see how we put the issue behind us and I went to campaign vigorously for the winner of the primary, now the Governor, Godwin Obaseki. I went round the eighteen local governments with them and led the campaign to my local government, despite the fact that the PDP candidate was from my local government. We discharged ourselves creditably well to the admiration of all and sundry. You, know that in participatory politics, you will always have contending interests.

What matters is that at the end of the day, you have the ability to put that behind you your interests and unite in the interest of the party.

We heard the governor prevailed on you not to contest the primary.

Looking back, will you say it was a good fight to have contested?

At no point did Mr. Governor, Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole impressed it upon me or told me not to contest. He never did do so. I contested and I think we did a very good job.

Everybody can attest to that; that the primaries were keenly contested. I’m proud of that, but for me, once I put my hands on the plough, I don’t look back. Immediately all that was over, I have been a loyal party man and you can attest to that, that immediately all that was over, we collapsed all our structures and worked 110 percent for the party.

Amidst the crisis that ensued between you and the Comrade Gover-

I can only just tell Governor Obaseki and his deputy for now to be level headed and keep to the campaign promises that they made, carry the people along and be true to themselves. I know they have the capacity to deliver

Odubu nor, we heard that your office was consequently starved of funds. Is it true?

I don’t know where you got the information from that I was denied certain privileges. Your assertion is not true.

You know the Deputy Governor is the other side of the coin and largely according to the provision of the constitution, you are to do those jobs assigned to you by Mr. Governor. I earned the respect of the Governor and he saddled me with several sensitive responsibilities and I discharged them creditably well. I have no regret at all. I believe I did my best and everybody is also saying so. Severally I won awards as the best Deputy Governor of the federation and that is a mark of the peoples rating of my performances and at no point did the Governor indicated that I was not doing my job. In fact, he praised me to high heaven publicly and privately for being the most loyal and most dutiful deputy.

News

Appointments: Group lauds Obaseki

Titus Akhigbe Benin

ÏÏÏ A social political group, AkokoEdo People’s Assembly, has thumped up Governor Godwin Obaseki’s policies and programmes, saying his appointment of two of their sons has ended the age-long marginalisation of the people of the locality.

Chairman of the group, Dr. Philip Ugbodaga, made the remark at a reception held to honour two of their illustrious sons, Comrade Taiwo Akerele and Comrade John Mayaki as Chief of Staff and Chief Press Secretary to the

state Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

Ugbodaga said: “We have been marginalised so much that at a time we actually thought that we were not from Edo State. All we need to ask from all of us is let us rally round them in prayers and to do all that are necessary to ensure that they succeed.

Though the challenges attached to their positions although deserving, Ugbodaga implored the appointees to always be good examples to the youths of the locality.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Justine Okonobo, urged their kinsmen, particularly

youths from the locality not to see the appointments of the Chief of Staff and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor as goldmine.

The Speaker, represented by the member, representing Akoko-Edo Constituency I, Hon. Kabiru Adjoto, assured of a good working relationship between the executive and the legislature.

Responding on behalf of the honourees, Comrade Mayaki, while pledging not to betray the confidence reposed in them, however, asked for prayers and support of their kinsmen to enable them deliver on their new assignments.

What are those things you admired and hate about outgone Governor Oshiomhole?

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is an enigma. You cannot really say you know him in his entirety but what we admired about him is his doggedness, courage, forthrightness, his ability to call and spade a spade, his hard working nature and he is very down to earth.

Don’t mind the tough man you see of him. He is very, very down to earth, simple and very cordial, jovial and easy to get along with him. I will not say there is anything I do not like about him.

But I believe those of us who worked with him, we complained every now and then of the demand; he demands a whole lot of you, he demands of you to work hard and demands perfection from you. I don’t hate him for that, I’m just saying he is a hard worker and he wants everybody to work just as hard as himself.

Only recently, there was public outcry over the decision of the State House of Assembly to amend the pension law and approved the sum of N200 million and N100 million worth of residential homes for you and former Governor Oshiomhole as pension benefits. What is your position on this?

Quite frankly, I believe it is on record that in Edo State, the Governor, the Deputy Governor and the cabinet are the lest paid in the whole federation.

There was nothing really to take home by way of remuneration under Comrade Governor Oshiomhole. I believe with the enormity of his accomplishment, the House of Assembly, the Honourable members felt bound to compensate Mr. Governor and the Deputy Governor and it is a law that is going to endure and all appertaining privileges will also be enjoyed by all those who

are coming after us. But comparatively speaking at the risk of been modest, I don’t think a N100 million or N200 million can buy 1X 2 parcel of land in Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Benin City, not to talk about Abuja. We appreciate them for that kind gesture but I think if it is by way of appreciation of what Comrade Adams Oshiomhole administration did, that is just a tip of the iceberg by way of compensation.

It is in every other state, just compare with every other states, you will find what is provided for the Governor and Deputy Governor as pension benefits.

This, to my mind, is well. We appreciate the Honourable members for that, but you know it is not too much by way of appreciation to what Comrade Adams Oshiomhole did for the people of Edo State.

Having gone through the road for eight year, what is your advice for Governor Obaseki and his Deputy?

Well, basically there is no much to tell them, because they were part and parcel of the last administration. The Governor was the chairman of the Economic team. Comrade Phillips Shuaibu was a member of the House of Assembly twice. They were part and parcel of our administration, they related with us marvelously well and they know. I can only just tell Governor Obaseki and his deputy for now to be level headed and keep to the campaign promises that they made, carry the people along and be true to themselves.

I know they have the capacity to deliver.

I just pray that God gives them the courage, the wisdom and the enablement to discharge their duty very well to the admiration of the people.

After eight years as Deputy Governor, what next?

I was once interviewed by one journalist and he posed this question and I told him that my life and indeed my political career is in the hands of God. Let him use me in any which way He knows I will contribute to the welfare of the people.

The Edo Times 4

Opinion

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, December 8, 2016

Obaseki will perform more than Oshiomhole - Ogiemwonyi

Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State and former Minister of State for Works, in this interview with TITUS AKHIGBE in Benin, comments on number of issues affecting Edo State in particular and Nigeria in general. Excerpts:

You participated in the Edo State June 18th, 2016 Governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress. What lesson did you draw from it?

The Edo State primaries of June 18, 2016 has come and gone and I have since moved back to my Oil and Gas consulting business. Talking about lessons learnt from the primaries, one thing was very prominent and that was the role played by a seating governor and I have since realised that the seating governor has an overwhelming influence on who succeeds him.

He has about 60 percent role influence.

Secondly, looking at the various primaries within and outside Edo State, I can see the high level of opaqueness, that is, the more you look the less you see. There is a mind-set of who will win the primaries from the onset and that is why today people are clamouring for an Independent candidacy and I pray that our politics will evolve to that level so that people who have the capacity can come out as an independent candidates.

Like you said earlier, the primary election has come and gone.

What should be the focus for the new Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, as a stakeholder in the Edo project?

It will be difficult to talk about the new government that is barely few weeks old; the only thing one can say is to wish the governor good luck, and a good tenure. To assess the state therefore is to look at what is on ground today. We must look at the last 8 years of Adams Oshiomhole. In doing this, we look at the various projects he embarked upon, including the Red Roofs schools, the Benin Water Storm project, and roads among others but I strongly feel that it is not sufficient. For a state that is so endowed like Edo, one had expected that wealth and job creation, industrialisation, sports, Agriculture, and solid minerals exploitation among others will be given much attention but today we don’t have much of those. Youth unemployment is very high, hunger is everywhere. During my campaign, I visited Afuze for example and what I saw there was pitiable.

Again, another issue about the previous government was that most of the big projects were hardly adver-

tised. I come from an industry where we believe in value for money audit, big contracts are usually advertised.

But in Edo State, am told contracts are hardly advertised, cost of projects were hardly disclosed and these are some of the things bothering the minds of Edo people. The issue of education is very pertinent. I have heard the opposition saying we have only 5 physics teachers, 10 Chemistry teachers in Edo State. What is more important is not the frame but the content; no matter the number of Red Roof buildings, what is important is the content. So in that situation students can do well. We believe that these are areas Godwin Obaseki will address and I have no doubt at all that he will do a better job, realising his noble family background and the industry he is coming from. He is well read, we hope the ills of the previous Governor will be on the front burner in the Obaseki’s administration.

Some of your party leaders opposed to the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, are calling for his resignation. What is your take?

You will recall when I joined APC in November 20, 2014, I said two individuals caused me to join the party. The two being General Buhari (rtd) and Chief John Oyegun for their respective individual characters. Chief John Odigie – Oyegun has been a first all his life. A brilliant and principled public servant, he is well read, an economist from a premier University and spent all his years in the public service. A man who at the tender age of 36 rose to the position of Permanent Secretary at the Federal level, taking charge of key Federal Ministries.

He challenged the money bags in the then Edo State and their collaborators in Abuja to become the first Executive Governor of Edo State. This is a man who could have clinched key Ministerial position in General Abacha’s government but instead opted out as NADECO Secretary in exile. For 16 years that PDP was in power, Chief John Oyegun was wooed and cajoled to join “the biggest party in Africa” but he refused to bulge and abandon his progressive position in partisan politics. So having Oyegun as the national chairman of APC is a blessing.

I don’t know what Nigerians want; we have this ‘pull him down syndrome’.

Who are the people calling for his removal? They are some over ambitious APC chieftains; some of them are not well read. Oyegun is a quiet and amiable gentleman with capacity to work. The Nigerian media must not join this people in flying kites; some of them have resorted to all sort of propaganda so that Mr. President will take action against Chief Oyegun. We urge President Buhari and APC as a party to be weary of this overzealous politicians that want to destroy the

Ogiemwonyi

If I have my way, I will expand EFCC to be like a ministry and as such have EFCC Czar in all the states just like we have Commissioners of Police. We just have to expand it, the cases before the commission are too many APC. What they are doing today is not really Oyegun, rather they are throwing stones at Mr. President and that is because before they get to Mr. President, they want to get Oyegun out of the way, they see him as a buffer for Mr. President and ultimately for 2019.

We are barely two years into the Buhari-led administration and they are already fighting ahead of 2019. Their desire is to discredit Oyegun so that their plot against Mr. President can work. So it is not Oyegun after all they are fighting but President Buhari.

There are pressures on President Buhari to reshuffle his cabinet over alleged non-performance, how do you respond to this?

Nigerians are too much in a hurry.

Asking Mr. President to remove a minister that has served just less than 18 months is unfair. When I was Group Executive Director in the NNPC, I went for a meeting with

the Algerians. Little did I know that the Algerian minister had a PhD in Gas Engineering and his been there for 12 years. He became an authority when you talk about Gas but we don’t do that in Nigeria. You put a man in office and under one year people start fighting to remove him. For me, Mr. President has a good team, my advice is to realign their portfolios.

Today people are talking about many lawyers in his cabinet, but what Mr. President should do is to look for core professionals and move them to their related ministries, that is square peg in square hole. People are speculating that Oshiomhiole is coming in; he definitely can do well as labour minister considering the fact that he was once a strong unionist as NLC President.

People should be appointed in such a way that they can add value. Look at the two Ministers of Health being core medical personnel. So, Mr. President can look inward and see how he can rejig and realign ministers to ministries related to their fields of study.

What are your perspectives on the recession and possible way out?

Truly, we are in a recession caused by several factors. Firstly, it was poor leadership by the previous government. Then oil price drop, Nigeria’s over- dependence on foreign products, corruption, Mono-economy (over-dependency on oil and gas), the activities of militants and pipeline vandals, unstable monetary policies, unemployment are contributing factors. Corruption grew like an oak tree and we allowed it to grow. Today, we import all kinds of things into the country including tooth picks. Now, the question is how do we come out of it? On a short term, I recommend to Mr. President that we should quickly

resolve the Niger Delta issue. Recently, some Niger Delta leaders met with Mr. President but I want to differ because I feel the governors should be the arrowheads of such meeting because they know the people. Secondly, what we need to do by way of moving our nation forward comprises the following: By putting in place strong institutions that will ensure proper implementation and interpretation of our laws; it must be mentioned that waste must be cut in the government. The security vote must be reduced both at the federal level and at state levels; promote “Made in Nigeria” goods; we should encourage new businesses by lowering our interest rates; tackle job creation through agriculture and solid mineral development. We must as a matter of urgency encourage all tiers of government to embark on road construction to ease transportation of goods and services. On the medium and long term, the rail sector should be developed.

Do you subscribe to the sale of our national assets as part of solutions in tackling the current recession?

We hear people talk about selling of nation’s assets and people are pointing at NLNG. I’m completely opposed to the sale of our assets, there are alternatives. If you look at the NLNG model today, it is a 51 percent IOC and 49 percent Federal Government Joint Ventures. Instead of just selling, my take is that government should go and borrow with good interest rates. Borrowing is not bad but it should be well utilised. This is where good leadership with clear vision comes in. And that is why we are lucky with President Buhari and his zero tolerance to corruption. With President Buhari, we can borrow, and tie the funds to capital projects.

What is your view on the anticorruption war of President Buhari?

There is corruption everywhere, even the cook you send to the market, driver you send to buy fuel are all corrupt. We allowed it to grow to a cancerous stage; we just have to quickly strengthen the security agencies especially the EFCC. I have also heard that people are saying it is one-sided and only targeted at the opposition. Look at cases of the Judges, corruption has eaten into the very fabric of our nation today. The EFCC is not doing badly. If I have my way, I will expand EFCC to be like a ministry and as such have EFCC Czar in all the states just like we have Commissioners of Police. We just have to expand it, the cases before the commission are too many. The Judiciary again is not helping matters; I think there should be legislation where no case will exceed 6 months. And the EFFC boss, Mr. Magu should be confirmed to immediately give him confidence.

Life&

TIMES Thursday, December 8, 2016

Tayo Sobola to stage

5-in-1 all white concert

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Mutiat Alli

Young John, Pheelz, others Nextworld music signs first act for Beatz Awards 2.0 As part of giving back to the society, former Kennis Music act and now part owner of

In its second season, organizers of the Beatz Awards have the awards will be remarkable as all hands are currently on deck tion of the event targeted towards awarding creative professionals behind music productions and business.

Slated for December 17, 2016 at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, pected to attract top players in the

entertainment industry at large. edition, DJ Coboulon, Cobhams, Pheelz, Mastercraft, Sarz and Selebobo will slug it out in the Best Producer of the Year category.

While Don Jazzy led Mavin Records will go head-to-head with YBNL, Starboy Music Worldwide, Fivestar, X3Music, Gworld entertainment and Chocolate City to emerge as the record label of the year under review.

Desmond Idubamo Jonah, better kim Manipal University” disclosed that he is thoroughly set for the inbeing signed on the label will inHosted by comedian Seyi law and packaged by Lanre Makun.

The Beatz award is an initiative of Eliworld international limited.

Multichoice concludes auditions for Big Brother Naija MultiChoice Nigeria has concluded its search for participants in the upcoming Big Brother Naija reality TV show.

The auditions which held in Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt, witnessed an impressive turn out of Big Brother Naija hopefuls from different backgrounds, each with unique skills and personalities.

Caroline Oghuma, Public Relations, Manager, MultiChoice,

abundance of talent displayed during the auditions. She noted that the Big Brother reality show is about providing a platform to showcase people from different walks of life, creating an avenue for talent to be spotted and ultimately propelling people into superstardom.

“We believe that Big BrotherNaija will birth a new and refreshing crop of talented Nigerians.

Judging from the energy we witnessed at the audition, it is safe

to say that Nigerians are in for an amazing show”, said Oghuma.

The Big Brother Naija reality TV show starts in January 2017 and will air on dedicated 24/7 channels on DStv and for the housemate will win the prize money of 25 million Naira and a brand new KIA Sorento car.

Big Brother Naija is sponsored

by PayPorte, your preferred online retail store.

Tayo Sobola to Light-up Lagos with “December to Remember” gig company has undertaken in well as the end-of-the-year party for her staff, families and friends.

Billed to hold December 30, 2016 at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, the event is

working with the right hand especially with Jaywon being on board, makes it a lot more easy for good music to be released. broke into the music industry in

2013 when he moved to Lagos,

made a cross-over to the Lagos music scene with his mid-tempo Summer Jam, “Pause It” that the budding star got the media sphere buzzing.

Twist has also worked with some of the best hands in Ghana with the likes of “Trigmatic, Ra-

Twist Da Fireman is a splendid vocalist and he oozes versatility as his unique sound blends Dance-hall, Afrobeat, R&B and Reggae into one tightly knit package. His songs span from ballads full of depth, sometimes to controversial subject matter as well as, as his Dance-hall tendency im-

Twist plies, songs that are just meant to get you in the mood for the groove.

Joke Silva, Toolz, others headline new Samsung campaign, Open Your Mind novative, life-changing products and services will be on display in its new campaign tagged, “Open Your Mind.” Samsung Electronics West Africa stated that the campaign innovation, quality and service to its consumers. The campaign will, also, serve as a reing support in the provision of world class devices that would help them in realizing their dreams and potentials.

Emmanouil Revmatas, Director and Business Leader, Information Mobile and Technology, Samsung Electronics West Africa, said that as the market leader in smart devices and solutions, “Samsung will continue

with a readiness to delivering the best-inclass solutions that combine the strengths of

ers. “Samsung will continue to provide cutting edge technology enabling consumers realize their potentials through innovation and technology. We hope to inspire progress and spur dreams to success through this campaign,” says Revmatas.

The “Open Your Mind” campaign is a follow-up to the 2015 Samsung Electronics West Africa brand theme, “Dream Your Dream,” w h i c h seeks to nurture the aspiration of young Nigerians who have great dreams with the potential to impact the country positively.

The “Open Your Mind” campaign will feature celebrities such as popular Nollywood actresses, Joke Silva and Funke Akindele-

notch personalities.

Sotee entertainment team Multi-talented Nollywood actress, Tayo Sobola, popularly known in the Nigerian entertainment industry as Sotayo is set to ignite the city of Lagos with her forth-coming 5-in-1 grand event tagged “A December To Remember”, an all-white concert.

Sotayo disclosed that the 5-in-1 event is de-

Life&

T E A M

bition of movies and projects the production

actress noted that “I always received request from numerous young people who want to train under me, but to everyone, and I discussed this with some of my industry seniors like Antar Laniyan who shows interest and promised to support the project, hence the birth of the academy. Aside this, I have a charity project I run and I do have lots of blind kids that are very talented that need opportunities and a platform to showcase their talents”, she said.

Entertainment Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Abimbola Obatayo

comedian, Ali Baba and a host of others. In the course of the campaign, Nigerians will be availed the opportunity to know and understand the inspiration, dreams and the place of innovation in the accomplishments of the respective careers of the celebrities. These celebrities inspire people every day and innovation is at the heart of what they do to remain engaging and inspirational to their

cludes services, which are geared towards making a difference in the lives of consum-

Toolz