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MASSOB expels Uwazuruike, appoints new leader Ï 9^R Ɠ Ə ƐƏ ƗƆƏ Ɛ ƑƐ Ƅ ƌ ƏƊƆƐ Ƈ Ə E Ƒ Val Okara, RƓƆƏƏƈ

ÎÎÎThe

leadership crisis rocking

the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereignty State of Biafra (MASSOB) has taken a new dimen-

sion as the group on Monday expelled its leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, over alleged corruption and deceit.

This is even as members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has warned traders across markets in Continued on page 6

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2015 VOL. 1. NO. 242

GAINERS

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 30th November 2015.

DANGCEM

158

159.99

1.99 %

NB

115.72

116.7

0.98%

MOBIL

GUARANTY

21

21.99

0.99%

CAVERTON

2.37

2.59

0.22%

GUINNESS 122

138.99

N150

132.05 -6.94%

JBERGER

39.5

37.53

-1.97%

120

INTBREW

16.5

16

-0.5%

-2%

Kogi poll: APC sticks with

Bello, spurns Faleke

Ï zƆôƒƆ ƏƆƅƆƈƒƆƗ ƆƋƋ ô ƌƆ – INEC Ï dƑƍƍ ƏƐƆƏ ƅƋ ƈ ƄƑƉ sÆ

Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

replace the late Abubakar Audu’s name with that of Yahaya Bello The Independent National for the December 5 supplementary Electoral Commission (INEC) has governorship election in Kogi. received the request by the All Mr Nick Dazang, INEC Deputy Progressives Congress (APC) to Director, Publicity, disclosed this

ÎÎÎ

in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Dazang, however, did not disclose when the commission received the request.

5

s

``They have sent the name of made these known , just as Suptheir replacement candidate, the porters of James Faleke and Yanoitartsinimda haya ehT eht llac ew tahwin evah their eW .noitart primasecond runner-up Bello, late Prince Abubakar era tser eht neht dna ”srallip evif“ -moc wen ni-nrows sah saw lanubirt ta esac s’ittO t c e p x e e w o d t a h w ,srenoissimrunning mate and runner t r a p m o c e v a h e w o S . s r e l b a n e e h t ries, that is Yahaya Bello, to the Audu’s ?meht morf taht os seirtsinim eht dezilatnem GSS aibA – evitcefed ylbarucni etalpmeDazang t laiceps a evig said. uoy nehw -ni meht morf tcepxe I tahW commission,’’ dnopser lliw ti ,renoissimmoc a ot -dneirf ,ytlayol ,ecnamrofrep edulc lla si tahT .pihs eht fo maerd dna noisiv eht ot seiticapContinued ac ynam ni etatS aon ibA d evres sah The INEC Deputy Director page 6orokO emE .rD -ev esoprup laiceps eht fo revird eht ,snoitacidni lla morF yraterceS eht won si eH .naicitilop dna tnavres livic a sa .uzaepkI .rD ,elcih ekil seirtsinim emos tuB enigne eht si hcihw skrow yna ni tnempoleved fo moor smret ni deppacidnah era ,etats -piuqe ,erutcurtsarfni ,ecaps fo sa hcus rewopnam dna stnem tsom eht erehw ,sreenigne livic

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Five accused persons charged with allegedly forging Tax Clearance Certificate and related offences arriving the Federal High Court in Abuja... on Monday eyuK

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Kelly gL1 Blind: The Extraordinaire blind ƅ ƌƆƗƈ

2

Daily Times Nigeria Tusday, December 1, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial The Paris Climate Change summit

O

n Monday, leaders from more than 150 countries gathered in Paris, the French capital, for the much-awaited Climate Change summit. The conference, which is scheduled to look at ways of curbing green house emissions has for long been a cause of disagreement among the developed and developing countries. Before now, scientists have argued that the continuing emission of carbon monoxide gases from burning of fossil fuels into the atmosphere is responsible for depleting the earth’s ozone layer with deleterious consequences for human civilisation.

They posit that since the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century, human activities have contributed substantially to climate change by adding CO2 and other heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere, thereby causing the earth’s surface temperature to rise. We are equally disturbed at this scientific findings, especially now that the consequences of unrestrained human activities are beginning to be felt in all corners of the globe. In fact, there is no country that has not felt the negative impact of climate change.

More alarming is the fact that 2015 is on course for being the warmest year on record, even as the current average global temperature is around 15C, 1C warmer than before the industrial revolution. There is no denying the fact that warming atmosphere is already increasing the chances of floods, heat waves and storms in many countries, as the problems will only get worse if emissions continue to rise.

That is why there is attention now to the opportunities in reducing emissions. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

claims that more than 600,000 people have died with trillions of dollars lost since 1995 due to climate change. Also, recent report by a United Nations climate panel, revealed that rising temperature will affect peoples’ health, homes, food and safety, even as increasing magnitudes of warming will have severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts.

In summary, the document outlines impacts on the seas and on freshwater systems as well, even as the oceans will become more acidic, threatening coral and the many species they harbour. However, on land, animals, plants and other species will begin to move towards higher ground or towards the poles as the mercury rises,while crop yields for maize, rice and wheat will decrease by more than 25 percent in the period up to 2050.

With such incontrovertible evidence, it is imperative that the international community act in unison to avert a future apocalypse on humanity. Happily, we are consoled by the fact that some powerful personalities are now speaking up. One of them, the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry averred that “unless we act dramatically and quickly, science tells us our climate and our way of life are literally in jeopardy. Denial of the science is malpractice. No single country causes climate change, and no one country can stop it. But we need to match the urgency of our response with the scale of the science.”

In all, the world must act before it is too late. Therefore, to limit climate change, we need to reach carbon neutrality by the end of this century at the latest. To achieve that goal, our dependence on fossil fuels must be reversed.

Refineries: Needless heamorrhage on Nigeria’s economy Sam Nzeh

ÎÎÎThe Nigerian National

Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Monday disclosed that all refineries in the country produced nothing in the month of October, 2015, making many wonder why the nation should continue to commit scare financial resources to revamp them.

The NNPC, which stated this in its financial operation monthly report for October 2015, also said that despite producing at zero percent capacity, the refineries generated a loss of N1.45bn in October, falling from N8.84bn in September.

Fact is that these refineries have all along been a sore on the nation’s devel-

opment. Aside when they were commissioned, it is doubtful if there has ever been a time in recent history when these refineries operated in full installed capacity. Rather, they have over the years turned out to be a ‘bottomless pit’ guzzling billions of Naira in unending Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) exercises. At best such TAM exercises only brought back the refineries to produce at levels far below their installed capacities.

Sadly, successive administrations even where they were aware that the refineries had become a drain pipe on the nation’s economy, lacked the political will to end the heamorrhage.

Even when an attempt was made to privatize them in the twilight of the administration of former President Oluse-

Words On Marble :

gun Obasanjo, his successor, late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, bowing to pressure by some powerful interests, reversed the exercise. Since then, the refineries have continued to be wholly owned by government, run by its appointees and have continued to be a burden on the nation’s economy.

This hemorrhage on Nigeria’s economy should not continue. And the way to do this is for government to wholly privatize the refineries or reduce her stake to a minimal level. Thereafter, government should concentrate on providing the enabling environment which will encourage investors to add to the nation’s stock of refineries. This is what is needed to end the intermittent scarcity of petroleum products in the country, especially petrol.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike Editor Biodun Durojaiye Deputy Editor/Southern Bureau Chief Sam Nzeh Deputy Editor/Northern Bureau Chief Lateef Ibrahim

Group News Editor Segun Adio Politics Editor Akintola Akinjide Business Editor Friday Atufe Head, Graphics/Design King Ododoru

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike Group Executive Commercial/ Business Developement Ifeoluwa Isijiola 08086296714 Group Head Accounts & Control Samson Abiodun

Technical Adviser To Publisher Innocent Nwankwo 08033072614 Ag Head Operations Segun Bamigboye Adverts/Partnerships/ Corporate Subscription Ifeanyi Emefu 08086296714 Konnie Agu 09033765031

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Muhammadu Buhari

Goodluck Jonathan

Richard Akinjide

“The reign of terror will only succeed if peace-loving people choose to remain idle. But I am confident that through our collective efforts, we will defeat this scourge and restore peace’’.

“Politicians are people of many words, they go to so many places, talking to so many people, telling so many lies.”

“One country cannot be run by a set of people all the time. We can have a Yoruba running it this time, next time it could be Igbo, after that it may be Kanuri, Hausa or Fulani”.

4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesay, December 1, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesay, December 1, 2015

5 News

Bayelsa guber: Ex-President Jonathan attacked, escaped unhurt

ÏÏÏFormer

President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday narrowly escaped what could have resulted in a horrific situation in Bayelsa State, after some suspected militants drove into his con-

Graft: EFCC arrests exMinister of State for Finance, Yuguda ÏÏÏ

Former Minister of State for Finance under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, was on Monday arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was picked up at about 4:00pm.

According to a source in the anti-graft agency, Yuguda was being questioned by a team of the operatives for allegedly receiving suspicious payments from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, who is being investigated over a two billion dollars arms deal.

Some of the monies allegedly traced to Ambassador Bashir include N1.2 billion paid to him by the office of the NSA through a company and for unclear reasons.

The former minister also allegedly received 775 million Naira from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation for unclear reasons.

He was also alleged to have received another N1.275 billion from a conglomerate, Stallion Group, during the last presidential election campaign.

All these funds were allegedly transferred to him between December 2014 and May 2015.

voy in the state capital, Yenagoa.

The suspected militants reportedly drove into the motorcade and chased it to the entrance of the private house of the former President in

Yenagoa.

They were eventually overpowered and arrested by a combined team of security operatives attached to Dr. Jonathan.

It was not clear whether the incident was con-

nected to the former President’s endorsement of Mr. Seriake Dickson, as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the December 5 Bayelsa Governorship Election.

Spokesman for the police in the state, DSP Asinim Buswat, said that the suspects were currently being interrogated at the command as at press time.

He added that from pre-

liminary investigation by the police, the suspects may have joined the convoy by mistake, thinking the motorcade belonged to that of their principal, who was not disclosed by the police.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Kogi poll: APC sticks with Bello, spurns Faleke Continued from page 1 up respectively, clashed at APC secretariat in Abuja.

Bello’s supporters arrived at the party’s secretariat at 11.30 a.m. chanting “Sai Yahaya Bello.”

Faleke’s supporters arrived one hour later and both groups started to throw stones and sticks at each other before police reinforcement came.

The police was able to

push back the two groups to opposite sides of the street where some were still chanting solidarity songs.

Stones and sticks used during the fracas littered the street after of the protest.

The windows of many cars were smashed, including that of a reporter with African Independent Television covering APC, Mr Anoyoyo Oghiavboghe.

Speaking further, the

INEC deputy director said that the commission was much ready to conduct both Kogi Supplementary and Bayelsa elections scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5. ``The commission is committed to conduct the two elections. ‘’That is why in respect of Kogi, in spite of what happened, we came out with public notice which invites the APC to submit its replacement candidate for the

President Muhammadu Buhari (right), in a handshake with President Francoise Hollande of France at the opening of United Nations Climate Change conference in Paris, France… on Monday.

election,’’ he said.

Dazang said that as part of the commission’s preparation for the Bayelsa poll, INEC would be holding stakeholders’ forum in the state on Tuesday.

The deputy director added that INEC had concluded the distribution of non-sensitive materials for the Bayelsa poll.

He also said that the commission would be going to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to collect sensitive materials for onward distribution for the Bayelsa election on Wednesday. ``After the stakeholders’ forum, the commission will immediately on Wednesday commence the distribution of sensitive materials in the state. ``We are inviting the representatives of political parties, their agents, observers, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media among others, to witness the distribution of sensitive materials,`` he said.

He said that the commission would deploy its officers at National commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners level from neighbouring states to monitor the Bayelsa election. ``You will agree with me that we don’t take any election for granted, no matter how small it is,’’ he said.

FG to implement Niger Delta Master Plan – Osinbajo

Osinbajo

ÎÎÎVice

President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Federal Government is focused on implementation of Niger Delta Master Plan to drive development of the region.

Osinbajo stated this at the inaugural meeting of Partners for Sustainable Development Forum organised

by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in Port Harcourt on Monday.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had also expressed concern with current degradation of the environment with a view to addressing challenges faced by the region. ``Niger Delta remains a priority of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government with a view to attending to current devastation and environmental degradation in the region. ``The federal government will give NDDC all necessary assistance and support to achieve its mandate of ensuring rapid and sustainable development of the region.

“For meaningful and sustainable development to take place in the region, citizens and stakeholders must be peaceful while curbing militancy and eliminating terrorism”, he said.

Represented by Mr Adeola Ipaye, the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Presidency, Osinbajo added that Niger Delta, being the world’s third largest wetland, had immense potential to become an agriculture hub.

He said the nation’s overdependence on crude oil was partly responsible for “redundant human resource base and high level of corruption.”

According to him, there has to be a major shift from dependence on oil to agricultural production which will assist job creation and encourage development of the manufacturing sector.

The Vice President assured that on-going cleanup of several years of un-addressed oil pollution in Ogoni area of Rivers and other communities in the region would be completed.

Managing Director of NDDC, Mr Bassey Dan-Abia said poor funding was a major challenge facing the commission.

He explained that the commission was an intervention agency, not an alternate government, as widely held by some people.

“Youths should reduce the level of restiveness because NDDC does not have the capacity to solve all their problems.

MASSOB expels Uwazuruike, appoints new leader Continued from page 1 Aba, Abia State not to open for business today (Tuesday) as they continue their protest calling for the release of the detained leader of the IPOB and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

It was gathered that IPOB members visited Ariaria International, Ngwa road, Cemetery and Ekeoha markets with public address system announcing to the traders to shut their shops.

Meanwhile, announcing the expulsion of Uwazuruike, MASSOB alleged that

since 1999 to 2014, members of the separatist group had contributed over N300 million cash to his account and N200 million also allegedly paid into Zenith Bank Accounts of Confidence Uwazuruike.

According to them, the MASSOB leader bought houses in various locations in Owerri, the Imo State capital, as well as 28 plots being part of money contributed by MASSOB members.

The group also further alleged that MASSOB members had contributed over N4 billion since its incep-

tion 16 years ago which the group alleged that Uwazuruike has converted into personal use.

In a communiqué read by newly elected National Secretary, Mr. Ugwuoke Ibem Ugwoke, at Okigwe, the MASSOB headquarters, the group said the vote of no confidence and total rejection has been passed on Uwazuruike and his leadership of MASSOB. Ugwuoke said Uwazuruike’s inability to maintain Ojukwu’s dream of Biafra Actualisation, deviation into mainstream of Nigeria politics, abandonment of

Biafra struggle, using the struggle to enrich himself were some of the reasons for his expulsion from MASSOB. He said: “The introduction of Biafra International passport was a gross and dubious means he generated about N100 million to himself. The existence of the passport without Biafra sovereignty is illegal, as many who attempted using them were landed into trouble. Today, this passport is useless to thousands of holders even Uwazuruike does not see it”.

The MASSOB National

Secretary noted that Uwazuruike had continued to romance with some enemies of Ndigbo which posed serious danger to the actualization of Biafra.

He alleged that all sorts of criminals in Igboland were admitted as MASSOB members and were backed up by Uwazuruike who received monetary refunds through monthly dues into his personal accounts. He pointed out that some of MASSOB members that died since 2006 had been abandoned at various mortuaries across the South East.

Ugwuoke therefore an-

nounced the former National Director of Information, Comrade Uchenna Madu, as the new leader of MASSOB. “On the development, we wish to inform all our members even the loyalists of Uwazuruike to be vigilant and be aware that this step taken is to safeguard their future, interest, sacrifices in MASSOB and their positions are still retained.

“This new leadership warns Uwazuruike to stop parading himself as MASSOB leader or using OjukContinued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Army arrests many dislodged Boko Haram suspects in Lagos – GOC Segun Adio

ÎÎÎAs the war against ter-

ror intensifies in the northeast, so many dislodged Boko Haram terrorists fleeing into Lagos have been arrested, interrogated and sent for profiling by the Nigerian Army in the state.

The General Officer Commanding, 81 Division Headquarters, Major General Isidore Edet, made this disclosure, on Monday, at the decoration of 12 officers to the ranks of Lieutenant-Colonel, Colonel and BrigadierGeneral.

While seven senior officers were promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, four others were promoted to the rank of Colonel and one, a Lieutenant- Colonel.

Edet said, “We are in a war time. The Nigerian Army is at war, so the leadership, in time of war, is what is expected of a newlypromoted officer, especially the One-Star General. Many arrests have been made. We have arrested so many Boko Haram terrorists that are fleeing into Lagos and the South-west generally. I keep saying that the issues of ter-

rorists that are fleeing and coming down here will be arrested.

“We have sent them to the appropriate authorities for profiling and investigation before their prosecution.

For those entertaining fears about existing Boko Haram terrorist in Lagos and South-west.

“We will continue to carry out raids, cordon and search operations. We work extensively with all security agencies. It’s not what the army or the 81 Division does alone.

“For the vandals that are

vandalising oil pipelines, we have made several arrests and they are being profiled and investigated. Over 15 of them – including women, have been arrested. We will continue to arrest more because they are not ready to give up.”

The newly-decorated officers included LieutenantColonel A.S. Fidelis; Colonels I.B. Manjang, A. Garba Danladi and J.A. Emuekpere; Brigadiers- General M.N.B. Mamman, LA Araba, E.V. Onumajuru, I.M. Obot, C.V. Ezeh, A.A. Ojajune and A. Laguda.

7 News

FG charges five FIRS staff with forgery

Fowler

Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe Federal Govern-

ment has filed a 13-count charge against five staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), who allegedly forged Companies Income Tax clearance certificates with which they duped the government of huge sums of money.

The suspects, Batimehin Ojo, Atere Olutayo Ayodeji, Adegbite Adewale,Yusuf Olatunji and Mustapha Dodo, were said to have, through the issuance of fake

certificates to companies, in 2011, perpetuated the crime and pocketed taxes paid by a number of companies in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Batimehin Ojo, Atere Olutayo Ayodeji, and Adegbite Adewale, who were said to have conspired with Yusuf Olatunji and Mustapha Dodo who posed as Senior Tax Manager with the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), a position held by Mr. Nwogu Chris, to issue out fake tax clearance certificates to some unsuspecting tax payers.

In the charge, dated November 18, 2015 and filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the suspects, among others, were alleged to have in November 2011, conspired and forged companies Income Tax clearance certificates with Serial No: 05329283 covering tax years 2008, 2009 and 2010 in favour of Release Auto Garage Company Ltd.

Enugu defers Dec LG poll for paucity of funds Moses Oyediran, Enugu

ÎÎÎStakeholders from across

L-R: Permanent Secretary Ministry of Communications, Mr. Sonny Echono; Minister of Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu; Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar G. Danbatta; Executive Commissioner Technical Standard NCC, Engr. Ubale Maska, and Director Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, when the Commission made a presentation to Shittu in Abuja… on Monday.

Senate queries additional N108b in 2015 Supplementary Budget Olufemi Samuel, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

Senate, on Monday, frowned at the sharp increase in figure of supplementary budget earlier presented to it by President Muhammadu Buhari. The ambitious increase was attributed to an addition of N108 billion earmarked for fuel subsidy payment.

In the 2015 Supplementary Budget appropriation that Buhari sent to the Senate, recently, he requested for an approval of N413 billion as outstanding fuel subsidy payments to oil marketers. This was against what the Senate was told, to the effect that

an additional N108 billion was still required for subsidy payment.

The Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Petroleum, Mrs. Jamila Suara, told the Senate Committee on Appropriation that the amount of N108 billion in contention was not captured in the Supplementary Budget as proposal for the last three months of the year.

She told the Committee that the projected subsidy claims for the last quarter of the year, apart from the N413 billion already requested for, was N108 billion, thus bringing the total required for fuel subsidy payment to N521bil-

lion in the year.

She said, “We just called the attention of the Budget Office to the fact that the proposal for the last quarter had not really been captured because it was about N108 billion,” she said.

However, the submission could not be supported by facts and figures by the Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, just as the Senate Committee directed that the government’s representatives should go back to ensure proper harmonisation of figures.

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Udo Udoma, who was

also at the meeting with the Senate Committee, asked for time to allow his ministry, that of Petroleum Resources and the Finance meet to defend the additional N108 billion in the Supplementary Budget.

The committee led by his Chairman, Danjuma Goje (APC Gombe Central), lambasted the agencies for failure to properly synergise efforts in their operations to produce accurate statistics required by the government to draw programmes.

He wondered why the Petroleum Ministry and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation

Enugu State have approved the setting up of Local Government Caretaker Committees for the 17 local council areas in the state pending the time adequate budgetary allocations would be provided in the 2016 state appropriation for the conduct of local government elections.

The stakeholders who gathered at the Old Government Lodge, Enugu gave the approval after Governor

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi briefed them on various programmes and projects of his administration, including the issue of the pending local government polls since the tenure of the local government councils would expire on January 4, 2016.

Consequently, the governor announced at the expanded meeting that “in order to avoid vacuum, on January 4, 2016, the local government caretaker committees will be constituted and this is in keeping with the extant laws of Enugu State.

FG renews call for UNSC permanent seat Idu Jude, Abuja

ÎÎÎFederal Government

of Nigeria, has renewed its call for a permanent seat in the United Nation Security Council, owing to contributions it has made to the United Nations Peace- Keeping efforts around the world.

This call was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Geoffrey Onyema, during the commemoration of the United Nations 70th anniversary held in Abuja, on Monday.

The Minister, who was represented on the occasion, by the Minister of

State, Minisery of Foriegn Affairs, Honourable Kadijah Bukah Abbah Ibrahim, noted that there was a need for restructuring the structure of the world body and that Nigeria having contributed much both in human and material resources, deserved the seat.

While calling on the international community to increase its humanitarian activities in Nigeria, Onyema noted that Nigeria needed help in the campaign against Boko Haram, child labour, unemployment, as well as poverty and food supply.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Politics

Æs

Otti’s case at tribunal was incurably defective – Abia SSG

Okoro

Dr. Eme Okoro has served Abia State in many capacities as a civil servant and politician. He is now the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG). In this exclusive interview with SUNDAY NWAKANMA in Umuahia, the one-time Secretary to Abia State Elders Council, described moves by the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA) candidate, Dr. Alex Otti’s recent moves to head to Appeal Court to challenge the tribunal victory, of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu as an exercise in futility as his case at the tribunal is incurable defective. Excerpts:

The administration has sworn-in new commissioners, what do we expect from them?

What I expect from them include performance, loyalty, friendship. That is all From all indications, the state government has downsized ministries in the state, how would the state gain from this?

No. What we have done is that if people have followed us rigidly, they would have seen that the cabinet is responding to a major areas of concentration of this adminis-

Deltans to Ogboru: It’s time to bid politics bye

Okowa

Uduaghan

Ogboru

Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr Delta State born politician, Mr. Great Ovedje Ogboru and wife were guests of Pastor Tunde Bakare at the Latter Rain Assembly, Akilo Road, Ogba in Lagos on Sunday, November 29, 2015.

Welcoming the over four times failed gubernatorial aspirant to Latterrians, Pastor Bakare described Ogboru’s political travails with a Yoruba proverb that says, Aja to lo sile ekun, to pada, oye ko dupe! Meaning that, a dog that went into the lion’s den and came back alive should thank God. The Ogborus sat through the fiery teachings of Bakare who was rounding up the tenth of a heated series titled Christians’ Heavenly Bank Account’.

At close of service, the embattled visiting politician had lunch with the Pastor during which

matters affecting his resurfacing and the way forward were believed to have been discussed.

The pulse of Delta State indigenes in and outside the Latter Rain Assembly were felt on Ogboru’s inroad into politics after a failed coup attempt to unseat former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida in 1990. Their reactions are worthy of note.

An officer-member of the Church who preferred anonymity, frowned at the visit at a time Ogboru is seen to have exhausted all abilities to wrest power from the Ibori dynasty and failed.

“I think he is looking for a political godfather now he has met with a brickwall in Delta politics, but it is a little too late for that.

What is he expecting Pastor B to do for him”?, he asked.

A staunch Delta State political

stakeholder and Managing Director/CEO of Lougert Communications Limited, Mr. Louis Edafe Toweh was mildly surprised that Ogboru is heading for the Church after failing at the political front.

“Well, that visit portends that Ogboru is becoming more spiritual; I don’t want to link it with the All Progressives Congress (APC) because Pastor Bakare has not been very active in APC, at least not that we know of; so I would rather look at it more religiously than political,” he said.

On the chances of Ogboru in the future of Delta politics, Toweh said there is no such chance for the man who calls himself ‘Great’ and his reasons are many: “There is no such chance at all; if Ogboru still wants to remain in politics, he should go and try the Senate, and that is if the Delta

Central will mobilise for him; but as for Delta governorship, I believe he has lost it all.”

In my opinion, I think he should step out of politics completely, unless he has something personal or something else he is doing it for. Otherwise, if it is for the interest of Deltans, I think he has made enough effort and he is not getting it right. I suggest he should just move on and be a king maker aspiring to become the king; he should reconcile with the elders and the Urhobo Progressive Union and be a frontliner for Urhobo development.

“After jumping from DPP to Labour Party with all his inconsistencies, there was no way he could have made a head way because Labour Party has no strucCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

tration. We have what we call the “five pillars” and then the rest are the enablers. So we have compartmentalized the ministries so that when you give a special template to a commissioner, it will respond to the vision and dream of the driver of the special purpose vehicle, Dr. Ikpeazu.

But some ministries like works which is the engine room of development in any state, are handicapped in terms of space, infrastructure, equipments and manpower such as civil engineers, where the most CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

How Kuye’s death brought Ajimobi, Ladoja together Two political arch enemies in Oyo State, Governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja were at the weekend finally united since the last bitter governorship battle.

Both of them fought the last elections with all the venom at their disposal with Ajimobi flying the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ladoja being the candidate of the Accord Party.

Following his loss at the polls to Ajimobi, Ladoja had went straight to the Tribunal to challenge the victory, with all facts and figures to back his claim. However, the Tribunal threw out his case for want CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Kuye

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

9 Politics

Deltan: Why Ogboru should bid politics bye Otti’s case at tribunal was incurably defective – Abia SSG

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

ture in Delta to win any election.

“Our country has not got to a point where a personality alone can win election otherwise Buhari would have won the presidential election before now. It’s only when a structure stood behind him that it came to pass; it’s not about thinking that oh, I am larger than life: the truth is that you need a structure to succeed in politics.”

On why Ogboru was unable to put up a structure all these years of his political career, he said: “It takes a team to put up a structure, not an individual. So when you drive as a lone runner, you cannot put up a structure because you cannot be everywhere at the same time.

“When you look at the way APC built up their structure, it was not around an individual: it was around people, and they kept going to look for people who will help them build the structure and people all came around and built the structure.”

On his weak points: “Great Ogboru is a man of circumstance, and you can see the way he understands his politics. It is only when election comes up that he wakes up. He does not stand as an enduring or endearing opposition: you cannot come during election and

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Ogboru

Towe

Bakare

expect you are going to win.

“He came the other time through the DPP and everybody who desired change in Delta mobilised for him; now DPP has gone extinct, he has moved to Labour Party. He cannot expect the electorate to keep moving aimlessly with him as if he’s the next thing to happen after sliced bread!

“Meanwhile, PDP has remained constantly on ground and beyond the individual or the candidate to the party and the structure - and this is what appeals to every-

body. There is no other party that has laboured in Delta State that should win election except PDP”.

On the botched APC/DPP merger which Ogboru turned it down, he said: “There was no wisdom in turning down that APC proposal because if he was sure that he wanted power, he should have accepted the offer.

“An Ukwani proverb says if you want the eye of a fish, you go for its head. If I were Ogboru, knowing Tinubu and his antecedents and I wanted to win, for Christ’s

sake, I will align with him because he has what it takes to make things happen; he understands the polity and he has the people to mobilise.

“So that was not a wise decision at all and that is why he is where he is today. The moment he refused Tinubu’s offer I knew he was going to fail and he failed and failed again.”

On the 16 years of Ibori dynasty and future of Delta politics, he said: “I am not so concerned of CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

When Kuye’s death brought Ajimobi, Ladoja together of evidence.

Undaunted by the judgment, he filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, challenging the tribunal judgment.

This development was unlike what obtained after the 2011 elections when Ajimobi defeated Ladoja for the first time at the polls.

At that time, Ajimobi ap-

Ladoja

proached Ladoja for a government of unity with his Accord Party, a union that worked briefly before everything went awry. Accord Party provided the deputy speaker of the assembly, some commissioners, special advisers and board members.

It was not long before the centre could no longer hold and things

Ajimobi

fell apart for them. Since then, it has not been well within them.

But the eighth-day fidau of the late Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Omowale Kuye at the weekend appeared to have united them.

The political rivalry between the two appeared to have thawed as they openly embraced each oth-

Kuye

er and exchanged banters at the Ikolaba, Ibadan residence of the late Federal Director of Budget, to the admiration of eminent personalities and clerics at the occasion.

The ceremony provided Ajimobi another opportunity to tell the people of the state that he was not in any way at loggerheads with Ladoja whom he referred as his elder brother, saying that politics apart, the bond between them was still intact. ``Politics is a funny game which pits brothers against brothers, friends against friends and even majority ethnic groups against minority groups. And this is exactly what has happened between me and my brother, Senator Ladoja. ``Even when you don’t want to quarrel, your supporters will be inciting you to quarrel. Such is the nature of politics. Politics makes siblings to go against one another. ``But honestly, politics apart, there is no personal animosity between us. Senator Ladoja is my brother; I will never fight him,’’ he

junior is on level 14. What is the state government doing to rectify this?

Several years ago, when I was still in the service, I tried to indicate to the government at that time that there was the need to do this capacity building. Apparently, there was not enough concentration of efforts in capacity building across this state and because of this deficiency, deficit and gap, we are beginning to see yawning gaps too in having qualified people. But what this administration is planning to do now is to take absolute cognizance of the fact that we require to have proficient people, people who have the capacity, through experience and or training and who are willing to come on board. Therefore, if we find deficiencies and deficits in any of those pillars, enablers, the government will react almost immediately. We have already seen those gaps and if we do the analysis of what is on the ground, these deficiencies will be taken absolute care of. We have seen those deficiencies too, but we have keyed quickly because we require to produce a budget to power this administration, but we have to have competencies. So in respect to engineers particularly, we are going to re-rationalize and make our resources in such a way that in the next six, seven, eight, ten months, we may have all those competencies in the ministry of works. Not that it is the engine room, but it is a powerful ministry to the extent that in terms of physical infrastructure, that ministry will play CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Okoro

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

As Biafra veteran, I can’t be dragged into MASSOB protests - Okoro CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

a very vital role. So we have to power it with the people who have the competence.

Previous administrations in the state and even the present one seem not to be partnering ASEPA, the immediate-past constituency of the present governor. Everywhere is dirty, Umuahia and Aba. What is the government doing to empower this agency to enable them be

alive to their responsibility of cleaning the state?

Yes, but I want you to look at the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, (ASEPA) as just one sub-sub-component of the government and sub-sub-component of the Ministry of Environment.

The job of ASEPA which I actually nurtured several years ago ss the first Chief Executive of that agency, is not necessarily confirmed to movement of refuse. It has a wide and a broader spectrum of perfor-

mance. But when you say every place is dirty, you seem to forget that dirtiness is not a failure of ASEPA, but it is the failure of our people to be clean themselves. So, we are, as an administration, going to look at the two sides of the coin. One, what will be the need for our people to understand that a healthy environment is predicated on clean environment and that means that they must also know how to keep their environment clean and if they dispose refuse in

Ikpeazu

Okoro

Otti

that contested the governorship seat with him, I do not think that any of them could have done better than him.”

He disagrees with the clique that sees Okowa as political stooge of the Ibori dynasty saying: “The fact that Okowa worked with Ibori when he was governor does not mean that he is a stooge of Ibori.

Moreso, Okowa has demonstrated enough of his independence and his own way of doing things. He came into governance with his own ideas and he is driving, promoting and implementing them: what has Ibori got to do with that?

“You know there is no position anybody will occupy that there will be no enemies, and the enemies will always find something to say. We can never have a saint in government because there will always be people that would want to pull him down.”

Whatever becomes of Delta politics will have to unfold and stabilise without Mr. Great Ovedge Ogboru. In the meantime, stakeholders are waiting to see what will become of his relationship with Pastor Bakare now that most Delta political stakeholders have written him off.

How Kuye’s death brought Ajimobi, Ladoja together

Deltans: Why Ogboru should bid politics bye CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Ibori dynasty or not; I am interested in the state being properly and well governed.

“The truth is that Uduaghan failed and failed woefully and I do not think that is because of Ibori.

Uduaghan has limitations of how much he can think, imagine and do, driven by all the incentives of corruption and power.

“When a man gets into power and he begins to do one thing and his wife is doing the other, it becomes a problem, but let’s talk about Delta as it is now: “Ifeanyi Okowa has started well and I am impressed by the way he is running; and if he sustains the tempo, Delta will certainly be good for it. Among all the people

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

said.

The governor advised political leaders to eschew bitterness and not to succumb to the antics of their supporters to cause disaffection amongst them.

Extolling the late Chief Kuye, he described him as a role model, an extremely brilliant, honest and candid man who had a lot of integrity.

Extending his condolences to the family and widow of the deceased, Chief (Mrs.) Priscilla Kuye, Senator Ajimobi encouraged them to take solace in the good legacies left behind by him saying his great works would surely outlive him.

Earlier at a lecture, the Chief Imam of the University of Ibadan Central Mosque, Prof. Abdur-Rahman Oloyede admonished supporters of different political parties to emulate the harmonious relationship between Ladoja and Ajimobi despite their political differences.

He stressed the need for political

an inappropriate manner, they will create a dirty environment. If out of a population of 10 people, nine do that, ASEPA would never succeed. So what we are going to do is even handedness, teach our people that there is the need for them to be sensitized to build a cleaner environment for themselves and let ASEPA offer service, refuse disposal, as one of the sub- components of its assignment. We have other things to do with respect to ASEPA, but it is not primarily due to refuse disposal that ASEPA is not doing well. Our people must know that the environment belongs to all of us and quality environment is also a mental attitude.

If our people can know that there is the need to clean the environment decently, pile up their refuse in a given place, and ASEPA itself receive the mandate of this administration to move refuse very fast in phase one, phase two is to create the dump sites which are going to be very scientifically managed. if you notice that on the express road axis to Aba, you will find out that there is a serious effort about walling those dump sites off, keeping them away from the unsightly positions they occupy, and making sure we even create pathways, for which refuse trucks can come and deposit the refuse in an appropriate manner.

The affirmation of Ikpeazu’s

supporters to stop causing crises and killing one another when indeed, their leaders have meeting points where political differences were settled amicably. ``Irrespective of our earthly possession, we will all die. Whatever position we are holding, we will leave it one day. We should strive to leave good legacies that would justify our earthly sojourn,’’ Oloyede said.

Dignitaries present at the occasion included former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Gen. Raji Rasaki (rtd.), former Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Nurudeen Adekola, a former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun and renowned industrialist, Chief Kola Daisi.

Others were Former Minister of Sports, Gen. I.B.M. Haruna, the Chairman Kakanfo Inn and Con-

victory by the court created much excitement in the state.

How do you describe the performance of judiciary in this country?

Well, I don’t know how to describe judiciary in this country, but I would only confine myself to the verdict as it has affected the governor of Abia State. The verdict of the tribunal from my own perspective which is a vantage one because I was an embodiment of the struggle and it was a fait accompli. I made it clear even before the results of the elections were announced, as soon as I saw the mathematical trends, it was obvious the way the Abians wanted to go. I also insisted that it was the waste of federal resources for the elections to be postponed for a second time. There was no mathematical formulation that would allow Alex Otti to beat Ikpeazu from the first instance and on first ballot and the second one when they said 179,000 people were disenfranchised and that called for a new election, it was a gimmick. Why was it a gimmick? I also said that there was no way the returning officer who I consider very incompetent, could also have said that 179,000 people were disenfranchised. This is because in his poor calculation, some of the result declared were predicated on the votes cast by the 179,000 people. So when he didn’t

ference Centre, Dr. Lekan Are, a former Minister of Sports, Prof.

Taoheed Adedoja, Chief Kareem Latunji, Wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs.) Mutiat Ladoja as well as all Ibadan high chiefs and members of the Olubadan-in-Council.

Kuye

11 Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Group to Aregbesola: Osun indigenes do not deserve to pay any tax A group in Osun State the Civil Society Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEO) has declared that the present administration in the state led by Mr. Rauf Aregbesola does not deserve to collect any tax from indigenes of the state because the governor failed to adhere to the provision of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that stipulated the condition for collection of taxes.

Besides, it stated that the administration did not provide any dividend of democracy to the people of the state since November 27th, 2010 that would encourage the citizens to fulfill their obligation to the state government, insisting that the economic situation of the state has been paralyzed due to the anti-people policies of the administration.

In a statement by its Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman, while appraising the five years of Aregbesola’s government in the state, he declared that it was Con-

stitutional for the government to collect tax from the citizens in accordance with the section 24(f) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Sulaiman however supported his argument with the provisions of the sections 14, 15, 16, 17,18,33,34 & fourth schedule of the amended 1999 Constitution where it enumerated the responsibilities of the state and local government areas to the citizenry in their areas, saying that until the state government under Aregbesola met these provisions of the Constitution would citizens perform their obligation of paying taxes.

According to him, “The last five years of administration of Aregbesola is full of maladministration. The government is nothing to write home about and people of the state are yet to come to terms with the tax regime introduced by the state government when the economy of the state has collapsed totally as a result of Aregbesola’s anti-masses policies. Introduction of exorbitant tax regime by the

Aregbesola state government when the government failed to perform its responsibilities as stipulated by the amended 1999 Constitution of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria is against the principle of justice, equity and egalitarian society”.

CSCEO boss who alleged that

Mr. Aregbesola was ignorant of law and has been working contrary to the Constitutional seventh schedule Oath of allegiance/office of the governor of a state which states government should be for the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our Country on the principles of Freedom, Equality and Justice and for the purpose of Consolidating the Unity of our people.

The rights activist alleged Aregbesola embarked on white elephant projects which did not have any direct impact on the people of the state, adding that most of the acclaimed projects in the last five years were conduit pipes to siphon the meager resources of the state into private purse of few individuals.

He called on state government to provide social amenities as promised by Mr. Aregbesola during his second term electioneering campaign before he could embark on vigorous collection of tax from the citizens of the state.

Agitators for Biafra don’t know what went into it – Okoro listen to me, he made a mess of himself. That was why he didn’t even find up to 120,000 people who didn’t vote in the first time then voting again and then creating a room to believe he was up to some game. And if again, you followed some mathematical trends, presidential election, gubernatorial, House of Assembly election, and senate election, it was easy to project that it was a waste of resources for the Vice- chancellor of the University of Nigeria to still delay announcing Ikpeazu as duly elected

by a majority of our people. So the verdict that the tribunal gave is a fait accompli. Again, when once you don’t have a facts and figures, when once you are not even sure of yourself, when once you are not even sure whether even you should be in this business, and the business of politics in Nigeria is very simple, yet complex, you have to have tutelage, you have to be guided and guarded by people who know the business.

Otti has headed for the Appeal Court. What then will be your advice to him?

I am not giving him any more advice. First of all, I told him he was my friend, I also told him he has clout. Let us put his presence and clout to help build Abia and to help build Abia, he should recognize that Ikpeazu thoroughly beat him. You make yourself a big man out of politics when you accept in a cleanly contested election that you have been defeated.

That will make you a proud man.

If you were brilliant, you will see that there was no need continuing in this exercise. I don’t encourage him to continue. But if he wants to

Okoro

Ikpeazu

Otti

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

continue, he has the funds, he has the reach and he can do whatever he wants. But the point is that he has the five platforms for which he sought to be declared a winner and his case was incurable defective and I don’t know what other evidence he will produce at the Appeal Court what would make his case curably positive.

Few weeks ago, MASSOB brought Umuahia to a standstill with a peaceful rally. What do you expect from the agitation?

I don’t know what they are agitating for. Let me tell you, as an elder in the state, one of the things I don’t want to get involved in is the stupid approaches to solving problems. I was a Biafran veteran and I don’t want to be dragged into this.

But the governor urged the police not to shoot them because they were doing the rally unarmed and is not violent?

This is the role of the governor and he is a statesman. The point is, any human being can support any group of people who are genuinely convinced that they have a case, relate their case to the public. So if people who call themselves MASSOB want to come to Abia and they peacefully let people know what their grievances are, they have a right and that is what democracy is all about. But what I am saying

as an Igbo man, and as a veteran of the Biafran conflict, many of them who are doing this didn’t see Biafra and didn’t go through Biafra and didn’t go through what I went through. All my right leg is wounds of Biafra. So when you want to discuss Biafra, discuss it from a positive perspective, however, the people who said they are campaigning for Biafra have their right and they have their say. But I am saying the majority of our people still reserve the right to have a say. If MASSOB is the minority, it will have its own say.

The state governor started very well, what do we expect from him now that the tribunal has confirmed him as governor of Abia State?

It is not a question of what we are expecting from the governor; the man has shown his vision, and he has set up a team. He first of all set up an administrative nucleus and then he has set up his administrative group and then he told you the direction we are going. The destination he wants to take Abia to is a paradigm shift where Abia people will look at the state and say, ‘is this possible? Is this possible here, where people in Abia can pay their taxes and reap the dividends of paying taxes because their taxes will be deployed into enhancing the efficacy of governance.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

IMF approves reserve-currency status for China’s yuan Ï ƈ ô ƅƑƏƏƆ ƅƕ Ɛ ƒƆ ơƠêÖƾü ƓƆƈ Ɛƈ è Ɛ ƍƍƈ ƕƆ è ƍ Ƒ Ɨ ÎÎÎThe IMF will add the

yuan to its basket of reserve currencies, an international stamp of approval of the strides China has made integrating into a global economic system dominated for decades by the U.S., Europe and Japan.

The International Monetary Fund’s executive board, which represents the fund’s 188 member nations, decided the yuan meets the standard of being “freely usable” and will join the dollar, euro, pound and yen in its Special Drawing Rights basket, the organization said Monday in a statement, quoted by the international news agency, Bloomberg.

Approval was expected

after IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde announced Nov. 13 that her staff recommended inclusion, a position she supported.

It’s the first change in the SDR’s currency composition since 1999, when the euro replaced the deutsche mark and French franc.

It’s also a milestone in a decades-long ascent toward international credibility for the yuan, which was created after World War II and for years could be used only domestically in the Communist-controlled nation. The IMF reviews the composition of the basket every five years and rejected the yuan during the last review, in 2010, saying it didn’t meet the necessary

ƈ Ɔ Ɔ ^ƏƆ ƈƗƆ Ɛ ƈ Cƈ ƍƈ criteria.

The decision is a “recognition of the progress that the Chinese authorities have made in the past years in reforming China’s monetary and financial systems,” Lagarde said Monday. “The continuation and

deepening of these efforts will bring about a more robust international monetary and financial system, which in turn will support the growth and stability of China and the global economy.”

The addition will take effect Oct. 1, 2016, the IMF said. The fund said the yuan would have a 10.92 percent weighting in the basket. Weightings will be 41.73 percent for the dollar, 30.93 percent for the euro, 8.33 percent for the yen and 8.09 percent for the British pound. The dollar currently accounts for 41.9 percent of the basket, while the euro accounts for 37.4 percent, the pound 11.3 percent and the yen 9.4 percent.

Climate change: Nigeria submits intended contributions to UN ÎÎÎNigeria

has submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) to address climate change to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

This followed President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for the exercise on Nov. 26.

This information is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Mr Femi Adesina, the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

He said that Nigeria’s INDC was approved by the President and submitted to the UNFCCC on Nov. 28, ahead of Monday’s opening in Paris of the UN Climate Change conference, widely

L ddR ƆƔƍƆƋ nƓ ƖƑƏƑƈƊƆè ƍƍ ƈ Ɛ ƆƓ ƋƆ ƗƆƏ Continued from page 6

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Nigeria’s foreign reserves dip to $30.04b Mathew Dadiya, ƄƑƉ

ÎÎÎThe

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that the country’s foreign reserves dropped to $30.04 billion by Thursday, November 26, 2015.

The bank disclosed this on the apex bank’s website on Monday.

The CBN said the fig-

ure dropped by $7 million, from $30.11 billion recorded on October 26.

The bank said the $30.04 billion represented the “gross” amount, while $29.33 billion was “liquid” and $719.32 million “blocked”.

The foreign reserves has oscillated between $28 billion and $36 billion in the

last one year.

The reserves hit $36.3 billion in October 2014, fell to $32.4 billion in January 2015, and stood at $28.6 billion by May 2015.

Under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, it gained marginally to $31.9 billion by July, before sliding again to $29.9 billion by

September.

The CBN said the continuous pressure on the foreign exchange market was due to the rise in the internal demand for dollars.

According to the apex bank, the price of crude oil at the international market stood at 44.27 dollar per barrel as at November 30.

known as COP 21.

It stated that the Federal Government’s policy to address climate change, as espoused in the country’s INDC, committed to 20 per cent unconditional and 45 per cent conditional Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emission reduction post 2020.

According to the statement, the action plan announced by the Federal Government represents a fair and meaningful contribution to address climate change.

It said that the plan also reaffirmed President Buhari’s commitment to an economic transformation which placed inclusive, green growth as key priority for his administration.

wu’s name to dupe Ndigbo or garner personal fame in Ojukwu’s name for propagation of his political ambition,” Ugwuoke added.

In his acceptance speech, the MASSOB acting leader, Comrade Uche Madu, said the new leadership will work to enhance the image of MASSOB which was tarnished by the expelled former leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.

All efforts by the Daily Times to get Uwazuruike’s reactions failed as he refused to answer his calls even when he picked his phone.

Meanwhile, in continuation of the protest calling for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB and Director, Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, members of the group has warned traders across markets in Aba, Abia State not to open for business today (Tuesday).

It was gathered that IPOB members visited Ariaria International, Ngwa road, Cemetery and Ekeoha markets with public address system announcing to the traders to shut their shops.

However, a cross section of traders who spoke to our correspondent condemned the order and appealed to the IPOB members to allow

the market open.

Efforts to contact IPOB officials in the city proved abortive as none were ready to speak to journalists but a member of the group told our correspondent that IPOB will continue the protest until their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is released as well as the realisation of an independent state of Biafra.

When contacted, the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, condemned the order directing traders to shut markets in the city.

MASSOB’s Assistant National Director of Information, Sunny Okereafor, said: “MASSOB condemns the order closing down markets.

MASSOB is not aware of such order, we totally condemn it. The markets should be open and people be allowed to go about their businesses. There is hardship in the land and you are talking about closing markets; is this not a way of causing more suffering to the same people we want to liberate?

As at the time of filing this report, Chairman of the Abia State Market Development Committee, ASMDC, Chief Solomon Nwaigwe and the Police Public Relations Officer, Abia State Command, DSP Ezekiel Onyeke, said they were at separate meeting.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday December 1, 2015

Christians, Muslims are brothers, Pope tells CAR

ÏÏÏPope Francis is on his way

back to the Vatican, ending his first African trip, which took him to three countries.

He flew out of the Central African Republic early Monday afternoon following celebrating Mass before a huge gathering at the national stadium in the capital, Bangui. Earlier, at the main mosque in Bangui, the pope said Christians and Muslims are brothers. "Together we must say no to hatred, to revenge and to violence, particularly that violence which is perpetrated in the name of a religion or of God himself."

He said his visit to the country, which has seen political conflict and clashes between Christian and Muslim militants, would be incomplete without meeting with the Muslim community.

In his message at a Mass on Sunday, Pope Francis called on warring parties in the country to lay down their weapons and support efforts to end sectarian conflict.

"Arm yourselves instead with righteousness, with love and mercy, the authentic guarantors of peace," he said at the Cathedral of Bangui.

Earlier, the pope called for unity

Ugandan rebels kill 12 in east DR Congo

ÏÏÏ At least 12 people have been

killed in an overnight attack blamed on Ugandan rebels in the restive east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a witness and local NGO said on Monday.

"I saw four civilians killed by bullets ... and seven patients and a nurse cut up by machete at the hospital," a regional official told AFP at Eringeti in the north of the troubled North Kivu province. A local non-governmental organisation however put the toll much higher, at 30 dead: 14 rebels, seven civilians, eight Congolese soldiers and one soldier with the large UN mission in the DRC, Monusco. The Study Centre for the Promotion of Peace, Democracy and Human Rights (CEPADHO) blamed the attack on Ugandan rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), who have moved beyond bases in the Ruwenzori mountains by the Ugandan border. Neither the army nor Monusco have confirmed the attacks and the casualties.

The rebels "attacked our positions at Eringeti and we repelled them all night," said a Congolese army spokesperson in the region, Lieutenant Mak Hazukay, declining to give any figures.

13 Africa Fresh wave of Burundians fleeing to Uganda ÏÏÏA fresh wave of Burundian

Pope Francis arrives at the Central Mosque in the PK5 neighborhood to meet with members of the Muslim community in Bangui, Nov. 30, 2015..

and for people not to allow religious differences to divide them. In remarks at the presidential palace in Bangui, Francis said he hopes upcoming elections will allow the country to "embark serenely on a new chapter of its history."

Ahead of his arrival, President Catherine Samba-Panza said people see Pope Francis as a messenger of peace and hoped he would inspire a national push for Central Africans to accept each other.

The CAR has endured nearly

three years of violence since a mostly Muslim rebel group, the Seleka, overthrew President Francois Bozize in March of 2013. Killings by the Seleka triggered the rise of mainly Christian militias known as the anti-Balaka.

Obama urges action at Climate summit

ÏÏÏU.S.

President Barack Obama urged world leaders to "rise to this moment" Monday, telling them their progress at a U.N. climate summit in Paris will be measured by "the suffering that is averted and a planet that is preserved."

Obama said the nations of the leaders in attendance share a sense of urgency about their goal of curbing fossil fuel emissions and limiting the rise in global temperatures, and cited some progress the United States and others have already made.

"Our task here in Paris is to turn these achievements into an enduring framework for human progress," he said. "Not a stopgap solution, but a longterm strategy that gives the world confidence in a low carbon future."

He called on the delegations to agree to a system that is transparent and gives them confidence everyone else is meeting their commitments. He also highlighted the need to provide resources to developing nations in order to help them use clean sources of energy. "Let's get to work," Obama said in closing.

The leaders are working to agree on binding measures to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-Industrial Revo-

lution levels. The U.N. weather agency says the average global temperature is set to rise by 1 degree Celsius, halfway to the limit the U.N. is seeking to impose in order to prevent potentially catastrophic global effects.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the summit "must mark a decisive turning point" and that the leaders "have the power to secure the wellbeing of this and succeeding generations."

"You are here today to write the script for a new future, a future of hope and promise of increased prosperity, security and dignity for all," Ban said. "We need the world to know that we are headed to a low-emissions, climate resilient future and there is no going back."

French President Francois Hollande has warned of obstacles for the 195-nation summit in reaching a compulsory deal in Paris, including the legality of any accord, financing for poorer countries and monitoring of countries' pledges to limit greenhouse gas emissions. So far this year, 183 nations have issued long-term plans to cope with climate change, but difficult negotiations are expected at the summit and related international meetings that run through

December 11.

An attempt in Copenhagen in 2009 to craft a global deal foundered at an ill-tempered summit, with divisions between rich and poor countries. Before the summit opened, U.S. President Barack Obama met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and said the two countries have a common vision of what is needed in an agreement, including steps toward a low carbon global economy and helping financial support to help developing nations adapt.

"As the two largest economies in the world and the two largest carbon emitters, we have both determined that it is our responsibility to take action, and since our historic joint announcement of our post-2020 climate targets in Beijing last year, more than 180 countries have followed in announcing their own targets," Obama said. "So our leadership on this issue has been absolutely vital."

Obama

refugees has entered Uganda this month amid concerns that violence in Burundi is escalating.

New arrivals say they fled after pro-government militia and security forces targeted their families The Nakivali Refugee Settlement in southwestern Uganda is home to refugees from all over Central Africa.

Ugandan officials say that in the past two weeks, about 50 Burundians per day have declared themselves at the border. They suspect the actual number of people arriving is higher, due to some bypassing official checkpoints.

At Nakivali, the Burundians have carved out an area they're calling “New Bujumbura." Many recent arrivals tell a similar story: They say that although they weren't involved in anti-government protests or the political opposition, just knowing someone who was put them in danger.

Faisail Singirankabo, a 40-yearold car salesman, said he fled after the ruling party's Imbonerakure militia killed his parents.

He said he isn't political but his parents were in the opposition.

When they were killed, he said he became afraid, and not long after he left.

16 killed in Guatemala gang prison fight ÏÏÏSixteen

people died in a fight between rival gangs in a maximum security Guatemalan prison where security forces are still working to regain control, Deputy Interior Minister Elmer Sosa said on Monday.

The perimeter of the Granja Penal Canada facility has been surrounded by army and police officers, Sosa said, adding that authorities had avoided entering the prison on Sunday when the fight broke out amid reports that several inmates were carrying firearms.

The decision was meant to mitigate risk to security forces and other inmates, he said.

"We are co-ordinating an investigation into the death of 16 inmates with prosecutors," Sosa told journalists, adding that the fight was believed to be due to a clash between rival gangs.

The maximum security prison is home to nearly 3 100 detainees and is located just 75km south of Guatemala City.

News14

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Bayelsa guber: APC cloning PVCs, fake security uniforms, PDP govs allege Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors' Forum, on Monday, raised the alarm that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has concluded plans to rig the Bayelsa State governorship election with cloned Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

The Director-General of the PDP Governors Forum, Mr. Earl Osaro Onaiwu raised the alarm in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

The Forum also alleged that APC thugs were being given fake security uniforms with the aim to use them to intimidate PDP supporters and assist APC candidate rig the poll.

The Independent National Elec-

toral Commission (INEC) has fixed December 5 for the Bayelsa State governorship election.

The Forum further said that the APC had brought in Indians to effect the PVCs’ cloning in order to circumvent the electoral process in Bayelsa state since the party knows it cannot win without manipulating the system.

According to Onaiwu, the Indians, numbering five, were allegedly lodged in a hotel owned by an APC chieftain in Port Harcourt, where the card cloning process was ongoing.

His words: "The APC is desperate to capture Bayelsa state as an oil-producing state which fits into the party’s inordinate ambition to take over all oil-producing states which was proposed by Gover-

nor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

"To achieve this dangerous plan, the APC brought in five Indians, all IT experts, to help them clone PVCs for the Bayelsa governorship election. "We are raising this alarm so as to alert Nigerians, the INEC and the international community on the machinations of the APC against democracy and the right of the people to freely elect those that should govern them", Osaro further alleged.

He charged INEC to demonstrate its independence and commitment to free, fair and credible election by being vigilant and ensure that it does not kowtow to the whims and caprices of the APC by ensuring that only authentic cards are used.

ÏÏÏThe Lagos State government Lagos presents Benjamin Omoike

has presented hajj certificates of participation to 3,047 pilgrims who took part in the 2015 hajj exercise.

This is even as the National Hajj Commission said efforts are ongoing to collaborate with the Saudi Arabia Government in the search for Nigerians that are still missing in the stampede which claimed several lives during the hajj exercise.

Speaking while presenting the certificates to the pilgrims, the state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. AdbulLateef AbdulHakeem said that the presentation of the certificates was meant to remind the pilgrims of the need

Lara Adejoro the world to mark the World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that expanding antiretroviral therapy to all people living with HIV is key to ending the AIDS epidemic within a generation.

December 1 every year since 1988 is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, and mourning those who have died of the disease. Government and health officials, non-governmental organisations and individuals around the world observe the day, often with education on AIDS prevention and control.

“The Millennium Develop-

Three persons arrested for faking Tinubu, Lagos CP, other Boniface Ebele

ÏÏÏThree

suspected criminals have been arrested for impersonating the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Fatai Owoseni and one other who impersonated a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

Parading the suspects on Monday, the CP Owoseni said that their arrest followed information from the public on how criminals were using the Facebook to dupe people and also wearn police uniform pretending to be police officer.

On the Agbara bank robbery, CP Owoseni commended the IGP Intelligence Response Team for arresting some of the members of the gang, adding that his com-

mand has recovered the two operational boats used by the robbers, but due to the size, they were kept at Morogbo station near Badagry.

He also revealed that the gun boats broke down and the robbers abandoned them and snatched two canoes from local fisherman in which four military uniform, two police mobile uniforms and GSM phones were recovered.

He also revealed that gallant SARS operatives stationed at Gbakodo Ikorodu Greek area, in exchange of fire with hoodlums got two down and recovered their speed boats.

On further interrogation, they revealed that they stole 50 engine boats.

The first suspect, Lucky Adieze, aged 24, who impersonated Tinu-

bu said, “I am a hip hop musician and I opened a Facebook account with Tinubu's picture to attract people to the programme in order to get enough money.

“I am from Umuahia in Abia State. I think it was the person who gave me his account number that made police to find me and arrest me last two weeks.”

However, the suspect whom he said gave him his account number is known as John Ogunnowo, aged 23, said “I work in a health organisation but when I lost my job, I tried to find money to enable me go back to school and study Guidance and Counseling, but the devil stopped me. I only gave him my bank account number not knowing that he had bad intention that will end up putting me in trouble.

to be law abiding.

The Commissioner, who described the presentation of the certificates as parts of the state government moves to acknowledge the participation of the pilgrims in the 2015 hajj exercise, urged the pilgrims to comply with all the laws of Lagos State, especially the Lagos Road Traffic Law 2012.

He reminded the pilgrims of their need to be partner in the development of Lagos State, adding that they must contribute to the security and traffic management in the state.

WHO urges nations to expand antiretroviral therapy to HIV victims ÏÏÏAs Nigeria joins the rest of

Scene of clash between supporters of Yahaha Bello and James Faleke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat, Abuja… on Monday.

Hajj Certificate

ment Goal of reversing the HIV epidemic was reached ahead of the 2015 deadline - an incredible achievement that testifies to the power of national action and international solidarity," declared WHO Director General Margaret Chan.

Expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has resulted in a stark reduction of AIDS-related deaths. At the same time, increasingly effective prevention efforts have reduced numbers of new HIV infections. Since the epidemic’s peak in 2004, the number of - deaths has fallen by 42% with some 7.8 million lives being saved over the last 15 years, according to a new WHO report. The number of new infections has fallen by 35% since the turn of the century.

Ugwuanyi tasks Customs on alternative revenue Moses Oyediran Enugu

ÏÏÏ Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

of Enugu State has identified Nigerian Customs Service as an institution that can provide the alternative revenue channels necessary for government to meet its obligations to the people in the light of the current economic crises occasioned by dwindling earning from the oil sector.

In an address when he received in audience the Controller General of Nigeria Customs Services and his team who paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Enugu, Governor Ugwuanyi noted that the Nigerian Customs Service occupies a unique and prime position within the hub of the international supply chain of goods and services.

The governor commended the

Controller General for the visible steps he had so far taken to restore sanity and discipline in the service for the realization of its mandate.

In his words: “As government, we have always enjoyed the partnership and cooperation of the Nigerian Customs Services, especially in the areas of security and in protecting our people from the activities of smugglers, counterfeiters and other criminal elements.”

Ugwuanyi

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

15 Opinion

Corrupted anti corruption war

N

Denja Yaqub

o doubts, the dawn of the Mohammadu Buhari Presidency has changed the corruption surge in Nigeria, even as anticorruption laws and institutions are still very weak.

Corruption is unarguably Nigeria’s worst problem, every other problems including unemployment, sits on the trivet of corruption and all we urgently need is a serious government that is committed, beyond words.

President Buhari’s promise to fight corruption during his campaigns certainly gave him majority of the votes to power as most Nigerians are eager to clear the global dent on our collective image and he needs to ensure he goes beyond mere declarations.

Since his emergence as President, the only weapon that has been fighting corruption is simply his name. His name has become anticorruption law, agency and court.

Individuals, organisations and government agencies have adopted a culture of self-control; some people who had diverted public funds to their private vaults have been

reported to have quietly returned them. Indeed, the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai publicly said a former public officer, had contacted him to facilitate the return of money he stole while in government.

The Peoples Democratic Party, a party that ruled this country to economic ruins for sixteen years but now in the opposition is swamped with hallucinating fright as most of those being questioned for stealing are members of the party. The party believed the anti-corruption battle is directed at its members.

The global community, not just Nigerians, know clearly that majority of those in possession of our public funds belong to the PDP, though members of other political parties cannot be exculpated.

The PDP must be courageous enough to admit that corruption was like its cardinal principles as stealing of public money went on massively.

For instance, according to a report by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, between 1999 and 2012, a total sum of N1, 4 trn was swiped off our collective treasury. Nigeria was under PDP’s leadership during this period.

One of the party’s key national leaders was indeed jailed for stealing funds belonging to the maritime industry. Former ministers who were flying around in private jets with public funds are members of the party.

If the present administration were serious about fighting corruption, majority of those ultimately heading for the prisons would be members of Africa’s ‘’largest’’ political party.

The party and some of its key leaders didn’t see anything wrong with venality; a former Minister during the Obasanjo regime, Mr. Sunday Afolabi once publicly chided Chief Bola Ige, who was eventually assassinated, to stop being critical of the PDP under whose government he was Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation. He told him he was invited to government “to come and chop”. This is the concept of public service driving most Nigerian leaders.

Moreover, for this reason, when a public office holder is accused of corruption related offences, his tribesmen or recruited adherents drizzle into the streets with claims of ethnic persecution. A major ethnic group in the Niger Delta

has already publicly accused the Buhari administration of pursuing an anti-Ijaw agenda. Possibly referring to alleged ongoing probes of former ministers who served under President Jonathan.

Indeed, according to the National Bureau of Statistic, as at 2004, 32.77 per cent of the South-South populations live in extreme poverty. The figure could be higher, even now. In decent climes, the region should be leading anti-corruption struggles.

The Jonathan administration may have come under public focus as being most corrupt, only because corruption reigned more with open latitude under his administration, but administrations before his, including the Obasanjo regime cannot be exonerated. In any case, corruption assumed governance in Nigeria from independence and became ubiquitous under unaccountable military regimes, especially the General Ibrahim Babangida regime.

The battle against corruption will be unsuccessful if limited to the immediate past; it has to be all encompassing and in all sectors.

Institutions such as the judiciary and law enforcement are evidently too compromised for any anti-corruption efforts to succeed.

YULETIDE: Significance and adherence to traffic rules

Y

Sunday Onyemaechi Eze

uletide: a season of hope, peace and joyful celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is again around the corner. The season and reason for the celebration means different things to different people. To most Christian faithful, the central theme of this joyous occasion finds a place in the fulfillment of the word of God as vividly captured in Isaiah 9:6 “ For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful,Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father; Prince of Peace.” In another biblical stead, Jeremiah 33:14-16 declared, “behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.”

Others view it as a time for annual

celebration of friends and family reunion. Less than one month to Christmas, the world and Nigeria are looking forward to this annual event. Many will travel home to reunite with families, friends and well wishers. In Nigeria, apart from elaborately celebrating its significance, the season is often characterised by huge vehicular movement of people, goods and services within the length and breadth of the nation.

However, the joy of the festive period is more often than not short-lived owing to some prevailing human and environmental circumstances. Therefore, before you embark on that journey home this Christmas, it will not be out of place to put the following factors into consideration. Think safety! A journey is safe only when passengers arrive at their destinations.

Nothing kills on Nigerian roads like over-speeding. The stipulated 80kph for passenger buses are abused, while 100kph for private vehicles are contemptuously ignored.

The law guiding speed limits should be strictly adhered to especially by road users while seat belts must always be put on when driving.

The rate of accidents recorded within the supposed joyous period is very alarming. The Federal Road

Safety Commission (FRSC) said; “120 persons were killed in road accidents between 19 - 28, December, 2014.

This happened just within an interval of ten days. The figure translates to 42 percent reduction when compared to 2013 figure of 208within the same period.

Most road users including drivers should be abreast of traffic rules.

Therefore, before a driver inserts the key into the ignition of that vehicle he must be at home with the enabling traffic laws.

The literates who can read and interpret road signs should be allowed to acquire drivers licence before plying the roads.

It has been established that most road accidents are caused by impatience of the drivers and other road users. The reality of the existence of objects, stray animals and the surprises they could spring are critical elements that deserve the patience of road users.

Drivers should be extremely cautious and possess defensive driving skills. This can be achieved through adherence to a variety of general guidelines,such as following the assured clear distance ahead and two second rules, as well as the practice of specific driving techniques.

Many drivers and transport operators desire to make much during Christmas. They embark on as many trips as possible and based on that throw caution to the wind. In the final analysis, the unfortunate aftermath of impatience often leads to untimely death and injuries. The state of private or public vehicles on our roads deserves adequate care for them to give optimal performance.

There is always a noticeable attitude or tendency of primitive accumulation of more wealth for the season. The society witnesses increase in the nefarious activities of armed robbers and ritualists who are on the prowl to making evil money.

Moreover, unnecessary hike in the cost of goods and services unfortunately characterises the celebration of the birth of Christ. We have come to terms with the culture and make desperate effort to shop one or two weeks before the celebration. Christmas is a season of joy and Jesus Christ is the reason for the celebration. The above narratives demean the significances of the occasion.

If one must drink and drive, it must be cold natural water. The state of mind of the driver goes a long way in shaping the fate of every journey.

News 16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1 , 2015

CBN grants armed forces waiver on BVN registration Olufemi Samuel Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved an extension for the registration of Biometric Verification Number (BVN) for members of the armed forces.

At a Senate committee meeting on appropriation on Monday, the Senate said the extension would enable the military personnel access salaries paid into their various accounts.

Speaking at the meeting, Suleiman Barau, Deputy Governor Operations, Central Bank of Nigeria, said the apex bank received a request for an extension from the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Dan-Ali. Barau, who came along

with other relevant stakeholders, also discussed the proposed N465 billion supplementary budget.

He agreed with the minister stating that the bank understood the plight of the military operatives.

Also, the Minister had earlier pleaded with the committee to direct that BVN registration be extended for military personnel, especially those in the war front to be able to access their salaries.

Minister of Defence, General Dan Ali told the Committee that the extension of time for BVN registration was necessary because majority of soldiers on the field could not access their savings through their families.

Said he: “Their families

are suffering as they could not access their money”.

He said the BVN registration extension for the soldiers would enable their families have access to their salaries and boost the morale of the soldiers.

The Appropriation Committee Chairman, Senator Danjuma Goje, earlier urged the CBN to consider the request of the defence minister.

He added that the soldiers cannot abandon the war front, their primary point of duty to go to the bank for BVN registration.

“Our soldiers in the field cannot access their money because of the BVN; our soldiers should be given extension so that they and their family can access their

salary.

“We need to appeal to the CBN governor if that can be done as it will enhance the morale of our soldiers,” Dan-Ali said.

Danjuma Goje, the chairman of the committee in agreement also sought that special extension be given to the military in this regard.

With the current fight against insurgency in Nigeria, many soldiers have been deployed to the North eastern parts of the country to defeat the Boko Haram insurgents.

11 bag First Class at Ajayi Crowther varsity Remi Oladoye Ibadan

ÏÏÏThe

Vice-Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Prof. Dayo Asaju, on Monday, disclosed that 11 of the 370 students that would be graduating on December 5 bagged first class.

The varsity don disclosed this at a news conference held at the premises of the institution on Monday to herald the convocation ceremony.

He stated further that 68 of the graduands bagged second class upper, 166 made

Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏThe Buhari

Nigerian Air Force has released the promotion of 153 senior military officers to the next higher ranks.

The newly promoted officers include 14 Air Vice Marshals, 26 Air Commodores, 22 Group Captains and 91 Wing Commanders.

Those promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal are the: Chief of Aircraft Engineering at the Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Onyemaechi Osahor; Director of Works at the Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Shehu Adamu; Director Air Intelligence at the Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman; Principal Air Staff Officer to the Chief of Air

second class lower, while 113 students graduated with third class The convocation ceremony would take place in the 1000-seater Faculty of Law building donated by the family of Chief (Mrs) Folorunsho Alakija. Asaju said that the convocation lecture entitled ``Faith Based Universities and National Development: Towards a Mandate Re-Appraisal’’ would be delivered at the school auditorium on Dec. 4 by Prof. Jide Alo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Research), University of Lagos.

NAF promotes 153 officers Staff, Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Abdul-Wahab.

Others are Commander 75 Strike Group Yola, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Amao; Commander 303 Flying Training School, Kano, Air Vice Marshal John Baba; Commander 81 Air Maritime Group Benin, Air Vice Marshal Okechukwu Ntukogu; a Directing Staff at the National Defence College, Air Vice Marshal Humphrey Okpala; Commander 203 Medium Airlift Group Ilorin, Air Vice Marshal Yekeen Ishola and Director of Information Communication Technology at the National Defence College, Air Vice Marshal Christian Dii.

A cross section of members of the Diplomatic Corps at the celebration of United Nations 70th Anniversary held in Abuja… on Monday.

Buhari approves INDC for climate change Egena Egena Abuja

ÏÏÏPresident

Muhammadu Buhari has approved the submission of the country’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) to address climate change to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

A statement issued Monday by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said Nigeria's INDC was approved by Buhari on November 26 and submitted to the UNFCCC on November

28, ahead of Monday's opening in Paris of the United Nations Climate Change conference, widely known as COP 21.

The statement said the Federal Government’s policy to address climate change, as espoused in the country’s INDC, commits to 20 per cent unconditional and 45 per cent conditional Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emission reduction post 2020.

The action plan announced by the Federal Government represented a fair and meaningful contri-

bution to address climate change, and equally reaffirmed Buhari’s commitment to an economic transformation which placed inclusive, green growth as key priority for the administration.

The statement further said that Buhari was fully aware of the acute threat that climate change posed to Nigeria’s development through flooding, desertification and insecurity, and many of these accrue from weather-related natural disasters.

In Paris, the issue of Lake

Chad’s current depletion, which has become a cause of international concern, would be major focus of a meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Summit of Heads of State and Government, which Buhari would attend with Nigeria’s delegation today. The Lake Chad is currently less than 10 per cent of its original size and little of the remaining waters is in Nigeria. Of an estimated 20 million people that lived on the Lake Chad Basin as at 2013, about 11.7 million were in the North eastern region of Nigeria.

Synagogue: Arraignment of SCOAN trustees, engineers stalled Titilope Joseph

ÏÏÏThe

arraignment of the Registered Trustees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) and the indicted engineers that was scheduled for Monday before a Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, could not hold due to the absence of four out of the five defendants in court.

The defendants, Registered Trustees of the church, Hardrock Construction Company, Jadny Trust Ltd, Oladele Ogundeji and Akinbela Fatiregun were

charged by the Lagos State government over their indictment and subsequent recommendation for prosecution by the Coroner Inquest that was set up to investigate the cause of the collapse that led to the death of 116 people mostly South Africans in September 12, 2014.

The Registered Trustees of the church, which the senior pastor, Prophet T.B. Joshua is a member was represented by a member of the Trustees, while others were absent.

Business Times Æ s

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

17

Financial Reports

The Equities market segment of the Nigerian Stock Market (NSE) resumed the week on a negative note as lead indicators today depreciated by 0.84 per cent Specifically, the NSE All Share Index and Market Capitalization dropped 231.8 points and N79.7 billion lower from their previous figures to close at 27, 3859.69 and N9.42 trillion respectively compared to 27,617.45 and N9.950 trillion recorded last Friday.

Similarly, the volume of equities traded reduced by 5% to 319.8 million units of shares from 338.2 million units traded last Friday, while the value of equities traded increased by L-R Chief Executive Officer Sfurna Global ltd, Anshul Pal; Chief Executive, Institute for Government Research Leadership Technology (IGRLT), Amb. Moses Essien and Ukrainian Envoy to Nigeria, Amb. Valerii Aleksandruk during the IGRLT African Governance and Corporation Leadership Awards held in Abuja on Monday

Ndukwe, others advocate secondary market for spectrum Tony Nwakaegho Stakeholders in the Information Technology (IT) industry have advocated for the creation of secondary market for spectrum trading to ensure ubiquitous broadband, access and affordability.

The stakeholders who spoke unanimously at the just concluded Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI-Nigeria) Coalition Meeting called on the Federal Government to convoke all stakeholders’ Forum through the Frequency Management Board (FMB) to fine-tune regulatory impetuses to aid the process.

They disclosed that country like India approved for spectrum trading in September this year with eighteen-point regulatory attachments to the process.

The stakeholder, however noted that spectrum trading, though still strange to African market, is apt and will remove the bottlenecks associated with retrieving

already allotted spectrum licenses, but unused.

Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, national Coordinator of A4AI-Nigeria leading the discussion said: “Many African countries are not participating in spectrum trading, but Nigeria has always pride itself as taking the lead. We have led the Continent in terms of network expansions. In fact, the NCC has always been looked upon as the pacesetter in Africa in the area of the regulations of the telecoms industry.

“So, I want to support the speakers that those who have chunks of spectrum should be allowed to sale in the secondary market, because spectrum trading comes with a proviso that you bought the spectrum in a competitive manner. It is not where you are dashed a spectrum then you go and sale it. Anybody who obtained spectrum licence has right to it all through the lifespan of the licence, because he bought it. But when allocated it

can be withdrawn any time.”

Engr. Lanre Ajayi, president of the Association of Telecommunications Company of Nigeria (ATCON), stated that the secondary market for spectrum allocation is something the present administration should not shy away from.

“A number of Companies have spectrum they have not been able to put to use for some reasons and NCC as the regulator, for whatever reason, has not been able to retrieve the spectrum from them. In actually fact, I think it is very difficult to retrieve such. The best way is to create the secondary spectrum market, where companies can trade and utilize it. This market exists in other markets and Nigeria should not be an exception,” Ajayi said.

Also speaking Mr. Osondu Nwokolo, director, Regulatory Affairs at nTel, said spectrum trading will actually help the Federal Government save funds.

In recognition of its unwavering commitment to quality service, productivity, and bestin-class profitability, Africa Prudential Registrars Plc, a leading Nigerian registrar has received a double award at the prestigious Pearl Awards. The company was announced winner and presented with the awards – Best Profit Margin Ratio, and Best Corporate Governance – at the 20th Pearl Awards Dinner held at the weekend in Lagos.

In the Market Excellence category, APR Plc won the award for Best Profit Margin Ratio, beating every other listed company in Nigeria. In 2014, it led the entire group of listed companies by profit margin with a distance at 54%, the closest rival being 40.7% by Dangote Cement.

APR Plc also won the Best Corporate Governance in the Special Recognition category, making her awards two on the night. Other nominees in this category are Total Nigeria Plc and Custodian and Allied Plc. Organisers of the Pearl Awards noted that it was established to reward corporate excellence, thereby challenge and spur quoted companies to explore innovative and competitive approaches towards achieving outstanding performance and growth. Therefore, nominees and eventual winners were selected through a verifiable and objective award selection process.

Peter O. Ashade, Managing Director/CEO of APR Plc who was on hand with directors and management team of the company to receive the award said,

12% from N2.7 billion to N3.1 billion.

The market closed with 21 gainers led by CONTINSURE, BETAGLAS, STERLNBANK, CUTIX and MAYBAKER against 37 losers led by PZ, CCNN, FO, UNITYBNK, STUDPRESS. In a related development liquidity position of the money market led to decrease in the Nigerian Interbank Offered Rates (NIBOR) across all tenor buckets. The Overnight rate decreased by 0.03% to close at 0.85% as against the previous rate of 0.88%. Similarly, rates for 1-month, 3-month and 6-month NIBOR declined by 0.49%, 0.19% and 0.23% to close at 8.4%, 10.4% and 12.4% respectively.

Africa Prudential Registrars wins two PEARL Awards “despite the feat recorded by the company on profit margin ratio, we will always strive to improve our performance year-on-year, particularly when it comes to ability to convert revenue into profit.”

Chief (Mrs) Eniola Fadayomi, Chairman of the company also explained that the Best Corporate Governance Award highlights that the Board and Management of the company have been working in harmony. She assured stakeholders that the company will continue to protect their interests, while ensuring international best practices in corporate governance.

APR Plc has steadily recorded a positive return on investment for its numerous local and international investors. In the current financial year, the company has already paid 17 Kobo interim dividend per share to its shareholders. It will be recalled that a thirty-five (35) Kobo dividend was paid to shareholders for 2013 and 2014 financial year, respectively.

Business News 18

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Transcorp Power to provide 25% of Nigeria’s electricity

Transcorp power generation

Opeoluwani Akintayo Newly merged company, Transcorp Power Limited, has promised to provide 25 per cent of Nigeria’s total consumed energy.

The encouraging pledge was made in a statement released by the company’s management and signed by the company’s Director

of Resources, Dupe Kupoluyi Olusola after its power subsidiaries, Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited (TUPL) and Ughelli Power Plc (UPP), were merged into Transcorp Power Limited recently.

According to them, the company is working aggressively to increase its power output for the betterment of the country.

Speaking about the merger, the

management said it wass a significant milestone in the corporate history of Transcorp Plc to harmonize the management and operations of the power business for greater efficiency.

The new move is expected to lead to higher power generation and increased shareholder value.

However, the company says while its structure has changed, the company’s objectives have not.

“As one of the leading power generating companies in Nigeria, our focus remains on aggressively increasing our output and expanding capacity to generate at least 25% of Nigeria’s power.

At Transcorp Power, we are strengthening our part of the power value chain and in doing so, we are Lighting Up Nigeria,” Nnorom said.

Transcorp Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) is a publicly quoted conglomerate with a diversified shareholder base of over 300,000 investors, the most prominent of which Heirs Holdings Limited, a pan-African propriety investment company. Its portfolio comprises strategic investment in

the hospitality agribusiness and energy sectors.

In 2013, a subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), officially took physical ownership of Ughelli Power Plc, the owner and operator of the 1000MW capacity Ughelli Power Plant following a handover ceremony hosted by the Nigerian Federal Government.

Ughelli Power Plc, operator of the Ughelli Power Plant is one of the six power generation companies created from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Transcorp’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Adeoye Fadeyibi, an engineer had said on takeover of the plant on November 1, 2013, the core investor inherited only four operational turbines generating only 160MW of power. But in July 2015, its management says it plans to increase the generating capacity of the plant from 972 megawatts (Mw) to 2,200Mw in the next three years.

Fadeyibi, noted that in June, the core investor had rehabilitated and made 13 out of the 18 units fully operational and generating about 635MW of available capacity.

He said in the company’s generation forecast, by December, this year, the generation capacity would be raised to about 850Mw and in December 2017 to about 1,650Mw and 2,200Mw in 2018.

Dangote to build 500mw power plant in Kano Charles Okonji Dangote Group, one of the pan-African conglomerates, has concluded preliminary arrangements to build a multi-million Naira 500mw of electricity, which would be injected into the national grid for the people of Kano.

This was disclosed over the weekend by the Group Executive Director, Stakeholders Management and Corporate Communications, Engineer Mansur Ahmed at the group’s special day event of the Kano 36th International Trade Fair, as the cement mega promo boosted sales at the fair.

Ahmed noted that the electricity will be of benefit to the new power plan, which is part of the philanthropic gesture of the company, stressing that the project was meant to support government’s effort in the provision of electricity for the people in the region, as it would benefit Jigawa, Kastina and some parts of Kaduna, when completed He said; “The Dangote Foundation was scaling up its charity works across several African

countries and has started deepening its philanthropic gestures in the areas of health and education.”

“The Foundation’s projects in Kano include the construction of a Diagnostic Centre at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, the building of eleven health care centres and 200 boreholes, as well as its nutrition programme.”

“In the North Eastern part of the country, the Foundation has provided over a billion naira to support the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and is desirous of addressing the challenges of unemployment in the country.”

“Dangote cement recently launched a promo through which it intends to financially empower its cement end users by making available over N300 million to be won by customers on daily basis through a draw.”

Also speaking at the Fair, the Regional Director, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama, urged Nigerians to grab the opportunity offered by the Group as 183 millionaires will emerge in 90 days of the promo.

Dangote

He stressed that the fair has become a veritable avenue for the display of innovative products of the Dangote group, saying that visitors to the group’s pavilion will have the opportunity of buying the products at discounted rates.

Earlier in his speech at the opening ceremony, the Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who was represented by the Commissioner for Com-

merce, Rabiu Bako said the state government and KACCIMA are working together to encourage private sector participation, and also to ensure the planned economic development of the state.

He said; “Kano State is creating an industrial layout for those in the private sector with guaranteed supply of electricity to support government’s industrialization strides.”

Makanjuola

Caverton Plc assures shareholders of optimistic future Adesola Akindele The Chief Executive Officer of Caverton Offshore Support Group Plc., Mr. Olabode Makanjuola has assured the company’s shareholders on their optimism of future growth amidst challenges facing the Oil and Gas Sector.

He said this during the company’s courtesy visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange recently, adding that the recent appointment of ministers gives room for reasonable optimism.

According to him the dip witnessed in terms of new opportunities for the sector has not deemed the revenue stream for the company because most of the company’s business contracts were concluded before the decline in oil prices.

However, for the nine months period ended 30th September 2015,, the company posted a 5 per cent revenue decline of N17.8 billion in 2015 from N18.7 billion achieved in 2014. While the group’s profit decreased by 26 per cent to N2.3 billion.

For full year 2014, Caverton Plc’s dividend was N335 million which amounted to 10 kobo for every 50 kobo ordinary share held by the shareholders.

With N3.4 billion shares outstanding and Caverton’s share price currently at N2.59, its market capitalisation stands at N8.7 billion.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

19 Labour

Buhari tasks African broadcasters on quality media content

The President was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammedat the event which was jointly organised by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

He noted that the creation of content and world-class production had the capacity to create jobs as well as provide revenue for the government and quality

entertainment was capable of increasing broadcasters’ share of the advertising benefits. ``It is the creation of content and world class production that will create jobs, provide revenue for government and quality entertainment capable of increasing the broadcasters’ share of the advertising pie.” ``Therefore, I challenge you to be the stimulant for growth in your creative industries and

serve the promotion of culture.” ``You must not lose the younger generation, who are fast changing their view of television, what they watch and how they watch it.” ``If the issue of content is not addressed urgently, public broadcasters in Africa that once dominated the broadcasting landscape will have no viewers in the next 10 years.” ``Equally important, is the Digital Switch Over (DSO), which must not be seen as a simple crossover from Analogue to Digital, but an opportunity to provide enhanced services, quality programming, interactive content, and a new and vibrant media industry that will help grow the economy of the various African countries and create more jobs.’’

Buhari said that Nigeria had recorded significant progress in its digitisation effort, adding that it would willingly share experiences with AUB member countries He urged the assembly, formerly known as the Union of African National Television and Radio Organisations (URTNA), to retake the initiative of ensuring that more African viewers watched global sport events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. ``URTNA used to get the radio and TV rights for broadcasting such events to African viewers,

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has urged the Federal Government to decentralise loading of petroleum products for effective loading at depots across the country.

National President, IPMAN, Lawson Obasi, told journalists in Port Harcourt that spreading petroleum products to other coastal depots across the country would end current scarcity.

He said a situation where government only distributed petroleum products to tank farms in Lagos was partly responsible for current scarcity and high cost of product. “The current government approach, where marketers across the country are expected to load petroleum products from only depots in Lagos State, is counter-productive. “To solve current scarcity of fuel; government must decongest Lagos by sending petro-

leum products to coastal depots in Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri. “By decentralising supply and distribution from Lagos to other depots; it would become easier for IPMAN members to lift products and distribute to filling stations,” he said. Obasi said the current policy by government should be revised to enable marketers have unlimited access to petroleum products for distribution to final consumers.

He denied that marketers had hoarded products to deepen current scarcity to make more profit from sales. According to him, the Pipelines Products Marketing Company, PPMC should, as a matter of urgency, commence distribution of products to other depots in the South- South to end fuel scarcity n a related development, organised labour and the Independent Petroleum Marketers

Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Ekiti State stormed no fewer than 30 filling stations in Ado Ekiti and Ikere Ekiti over the weekend to ensure that petrol pump prices were brought down from N160.

They insisted that no filling station should sell the product for above N135 per litre to ensure fuel users were not made to continue to pay through their noses. Before their intervention, filling stations were selling the product for between N150 and N160 per litre and mostly at night, thus getting the product across to black market operators who in turn sell for between N180 and N200 per litre.

Leaders of the picketing team, following a stakeholders meeting between labour and IPMAN, consisted of Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ade Adesanmi;

Buhari

Stories by Joy Ekeke President Muhammadu Buhari has charged broadcasters in Africa to leverage on quality media content to impact positively on their target audiences.

Buhari gave the charge while addressing the Ninth African Union of Broadcasters’ (AUB) General Assembly held in Abuja.

IPMAN tasks FG to decentralise fuel loading depot

Obasi

using public broadcasters, instead of the practice now whereby some individual marketing companies will simply secure the rights and price such beyond the reach of national broadcasters, thus limiting viewership to the few who can afford pay TV subscription.” ``The AUB must work hard to regain its lost glory in this respect.’’

Buhari urged AUB member countries to explore and exploit the commercial viability of the services of the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) for the socio-economic benefit of Africa and the world at large.

The Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr Emeka Mba, called for an effective leadership in Africa to fund the DSO project.

He said that NBC had put in place all the necessary elements for a successful digital switchover by 2017. ``When it comes to making it happen, we have problem of funding. How do we fund this?

So we need effective leadership and funding. ``So, what I can say in conclusion is that as far as we are concerned in Nigeria, we’ve put all the necessary elements in place for a successful pilot of ideas and to ensure that by 2017 we are able to conclude our digital (switch-over).’’

In his response, the President of AUB, Mr Tewfik Khelladi, said that the AUB General Assembly was to create a platform that would enable broadcasters in Africa to collaborate and work on a roadmap towards achieving the digitisation objectives.

his counterpart in Trade Union Congress, Comrade Odunayo Adesoye; Chairman of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Com Oluwole Jegede and IPMAN secretary in the State, Alhaji Subair Jimoh.

The NLC and TUC Chairmen said that as much as they would not want the marketers to run at loss, they would not also fold their arms and allow the people to be cheated. They urged President Muhammadu Buhari to move swiftly to bring to a halt the perennial fuel scarcity in the country which had become a recurring decimal, describing the scenario as burdensome.

They urged the Presidency and the National Assembly to resolve the issue of discrepancy in the oil subsidy funds with the marketers and find means of resuscitating the moribund refineries to ease the burden of fuel supply in the country.

Energy 20

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Orange, Engie sign electricity deal in Africa Stéphane Richard, CEO of Orange and Isabelle Kocher, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of ENGIE, have signed a partnership covering two projects – the expansion of the rural electricity grid and ENGIE’s optimisation of energy supplied to Orange’s telecoms infrastructure in Africa.

The deal between Orange and ENGIE––both official partners of COP21––reasserts the companies’ willingness to use their technological knowledge to achieve sustainable progress and economic and social development in Africa.

The strength of the partnership is based on Orange’s expertise as an international telecoms carrier present in 19 countries in Africa and the Middle East, and ENGIE’s know-how as an international player in the energy sector.

Orange is keen to take part in such a major challenge to expand the electricity grid in Africa and encourage responsible power consumption on the continent based on the expertise of ENGIE, one of the world’s leading energy companies.

ENGIE currently supplies 760 MW of power in Africa and aims to become one of the major en-

ergy leaders on the continent by 2025 with several major projects planned. To reinforce its position as the leading independent producer of electricity in Africa, ENGIE has created a dedicated Business Unit with around a hundred employees.

Orange and ENGIE bring electricity to rural Africa Based on Orange’s expertise as a telecoms carrier and ENGIE’s experience in renewable energy production, aggregation and maintenance, the two Groups will trial a range of domestic power supply solutions for rural populations that could then be marketed

by Orange.

These solutions could, for instance, include individual solar kits and small-scale, local electricity networks. The service could then be billed via mobile using Orange Money.

The trials will allow the companies to validate the technical solutions, the sales and distribution models, and the economic feasibility of the service before making it available on a larger scale.

ENGIE helps to optimise the supply of Orange telecoms towers.

Ogoni Youth graduate from Shell-sponsored training Ï dM&^ R L#è Ɠ RƇƏƉ ƍƆ Ƌ Ɠ ƃ ƏƍƎƄ Ɠ ƐƆ ƆƎ Ǝ M & A total of 60 youths from Ogoniland on Tuesday graduated from a training programme on agricultural entrepreneurial programme organised by The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd operated Joint Venture in an effort to introduce youths in the area to viable means of livelihood.

The youths from the four local government areas in Ogoniland - Tai, Khana, Gokana and Eleme - received the four-week training at the Songhai Farm at Bunu-Tai, where they learnt vital skills in fishery, cassava production and poultry farming.

“The training is key first step towards making Ogoni youths self-reliant and eventually become employers of labour,” said SPDC’s Ogoni Restoration Project Manager, Vincent Nwabueze, at the graduation ceremony. “We urge the new entrepreneurs to work hard and be steadfast in their various enterprises irrespective of any initial challenges that may confront

them.”

King Godwin Giniwa, the Gbene Mene Tai and President, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers said: “I want to thank Shell for what they are doing. They should continue to do more, especially to touch the lives of the people, because we are partners.”

The Director of Youth Enterprise Development and Promotion in the Rivers State Ministry of Youth Development, Mr. Festus Ugwuzuo, said that the agricultural training initiative of the SPDC JV under the Ogoni Youth Entrepreneurial Scheme has come at a time when there is growing need to diversify Nigeria’s economy. Brian Udoh, the training officer of Songhai Farm Rivers State said that the 60 trainees recorded 85 per cent success in the programme, which has equipped them to maximise the full value chain of each of their areas of specialisation.

Representatives of the trainees, Jane Jiala, Nkiken Nwafor and Hanson Nwidobie, thanked SPDC and their trainers for the opportunity given them to make a difference in their lives.

L-R: Ammuna Lawan Ali (Non-Executive Director, Independent), Mr. Peter Elumelu (Non-Executive Director), Mr. Peter Ashade (Managing Director/CEO), Chief (Mrs.) Eniola Fadayomi (Chairman), and Mr. Musa Bello (Company Secretary/Legal Adviser) all of Africa Prudential Registrars Plc as the company received two awards (Best Profit Margin Ratio, and Best Corporate Governance) at the 20th Pearl Awards held at the weekend in Lagos.

NNPC/Chevron takes roll back Malaria to Ibeju-Lekki Stories by Opeoluwani Akintayo The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and Chevron Plc, have launched the Roll Back Malaria project in Lagos State, starting with Ibeju-lekki Local Government Area.

In a launch which took place recently at the Ibeju-Lekki LGA secretariat, Igando Oloja, Lagos State, saw locals of the area, NNPC and Chevron representatives, health workers in Lagos State, the media, and the project’s implementing partner from Africare, all present for the event.

The NNPC/Chevron Roll Back Malaria project was introduced in 2008.

The programme, which involved enlightenment campaign on malaria prevention, malaria testing/treatment, distribution of insecticide-treated nets and sensitisation on the use of the nets as well as indoor residual spray in different houses in the communities, aimed at providing support for malaria prevention; including health promotion activities that would significantly reduce the prevalence of the disease and benefit the population.

Representing Ambode, the Commissioner For Health, Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris, said the Lagos State Government is determined to eliminate the killer

disease as it causes high morbidity and mortality among children under the age of 5 years and pregnant women.

Towards this end, Dr Idris said the Lagos State Government in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme, NMEP, is intensifying implementation of strategic Malaria elimination interventions as part of the National Malaria Strategic Plan to end the disease with a effective drug between 2014 and 2020.

According to him, the Chevron supported interventions would be coordinated by the Lagos State Ministry of Health and implemented by the Primary Healthcare Board and Africare (the implementing partner of Chevron).

In his Address of Welcome, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr Deji Haastrup represented by Mr. Oke Gbenro, expressed gratitude to Ambode for the opportunity to partner with the state government on programmes that improve the quality of life and promote healthy living of the people.

He said the RBM programme involves training of health workers and community people on baseline prevention and treatment of malaria, prevention strategies, including the use of long lasting insecticide treated

nets and chemo prophylaxis for pregnant women, conduct of baseline and mapping assessment on the health structures, providers and facility based baseline malaria data review.

Dr. Patrick Adams of Africare remarked that the project is very special to the firm because it involves social mobilisation and spreading of mosquito treated nets.

He hinted that 10 health workers who will go from house to house have been selected from Ibeju Lekki.

According to him, the trained health workers have the responsibility of sensitizing the people of the locality about malaria, the cause and preventions.

After the launch, a demonstration /hanging of the Long - lasting Insecticide Treated Net, LITN, malaria testing and IPT was done in the presence of all.

This is not the first attempt for the NNPC /Chevron group. In 2009, the group was in Lekki to present drugs and long lasting insecticide treated mosquitoes net to the General Hospital as part of its efforts to support the government’s effort to improve healthcare delivery to the people of the state.

Other states of the federation who have also benefitted from the programme are, Delta, Bayelsa, Ojo LGA, and others.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

21

News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

FG moves to curb leakages, wastages in public expenditure Mathew Dadiya Abuja

ÏÏÏIn a bid to ensure ef-

ficiency in government’s spending, the Federal Ministry of Finance has set up Efficiency Unit charged with the responsibilities of coming up with improved public financial management of government’s expenditures.

Inaugurating the Steering Committee of the Unit on Monday in Abuja, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said that the primary objective of the initiative was to assist the government in identifying opportunities to reduce wasteful and inefficient spending by doing more

with less.

Mrs. Adeosun stated that without a major intervention to manage the costs of government, no amount of fiscal innovation, financial re-engineering, or other well intentioned economic policy, will deliver the desired results if the manner in which government money is expended is not carefully controlled.

Explaining the importance of the Unit to the nation’s economic development, she said ‘’our vision is that our Efficiency Unit will be a ‘change agent’ and catalyst for improving the management and delivery of public services so that we make sure that every naira we spends counts.”

She emphasized the need

THE TRUTH CHRIST PURPOSE MINISTRY The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part “C” of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. OladeindeAdesola Alice (General Overseer) 2. OladeindeTobiloba Ruth (Secretary) 3. AdewaleKolawoleOluwole 4. OdufuwaOlaoluwa Daniel THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS:To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent off AguiyiIronsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 Days from the date of this Publication.

SIGNED BY:SECRETARY

for the Efficiency Unit to provide policy recommendations to generate fiscal savings for higher priority uses, especially capital expenditure.

According to her, the remit of the Efficiency Unit will be a wide one encompassing every ministry, department or agency that is in receipt of public funds, adding that spending public money is a trust and there must be both discipline and accountability in its uses.

The minister noted that “Much has been said about the devastating effects of corruption on our economy, but little has been said about the costly and incrementally damaging effect of inefficiency and wastage. Inefficiency spending

is systematic and very hard to identify since it is often embedded in the day-to-day activities of government. ‘’Our own initial reviews have found wide variations in the prices of basic items between departments and within agencies. Paper costs varied by up to 80% between departments; range of prices for airline flights to the same destination differed by 100% and printer cartridges of the same specification ranged in price from N16,000 to N62,000.

“We are determined to change the balance between capital and recurrent expenditure to release funds for the investment in infrastructure that we need. To do so, we must be more efficient in how we spend.”

THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1). IWEGBU RALPH NDUBUISI (2) VICTORIA CHIDINMA RAPH-IWEGBU ( 3) EZEGBOGU CHUKWUMA CHRISTIAN (4) OBI IFEANYICHUKWU (5) SOFOLUWE DAVID OLALEKAN (6) ABIA EKOMOBONG PETER

Any objection to this 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.

Lai Mohammed

GOD’S SATELLITE CENTRE

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR IFEANYI AGUENE 2. PASTOR DICKSON OKORO

OLAYEMI OLUWAFUNMILAYO I, formerly known as Miss Ajagbonna Oluwafunmilayo now wish to be lnown and addressed as Mrs Olayemi Oluwafunmilayo. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

AFOLABI ADEGOKE OJO I formerly known and addressed as Adewale Adegoke Ojo Now wish to be known, called and addressed as Afolabi Adegoke Ojo. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. general public take note.

(Chairman) (Secretary)

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the word of God 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.

COMFORT AJIBOYE

AGBEDOR OGHUMAH I, formerly known and addressed as Ajiya Binta Ameepee Oghumah Now wish to be known, called and addressed as Binta Agbedor Oghumah. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

ised by the party during the electioneering campaign “no change has been witnessed” .

Olujimi, who is representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, added that Nigerians have not witnessed any relieve since Buhari came on board, describing the much touted ‘Change Manta’ of the All Progressives Congress as mere political gimmick targeted at garnering votes during the 2015 general election.

“I know the change mantra of the APC at the federal level must have influenced this topic. But it is now clear to all Nigerians that the change mantra was used as election gimmick to garner votes during the 2015 presidential polls.

“A catchy phrase it was, but with APC being six months in power, whether the change is truly change is for all Nigerians to assess”, she said.

Describing vibrant journalism practice as the fulcrum of any democracy, Olujimi challenges Nigerian journalists to continue to put those in positions of power on their toes for meaningful development to be attainable in the system.

SUNDAY CALISTUS I, formerly known and addressed as Eze Sunny Emmanuel, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Eziakor Sunday Calistus. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

CLEMENTINA NGOZI

Signed: PASTOR IFEANYI AGUENE (Chairman)

AGBONLUARE GRACE MFON

ity Whip and ex- Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Senator Biodun Olujimi, has declared that the ruling party, All Progressives Congress Party (APC) has nothing to offer Nigeria, in view of what she believed to be lacklustre performance of the party in the last six months of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senator, who spoke on Monday while delivering a lecture entitled: ‘Journalism: A Catalyst For The Real Change in Nigeria’, to mark the 2015 Lecture series organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti Council, added that despite the change prom-

THE AIM & OBJECTIVE IS :TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY

THE TRUSTEES ARE:(1) NDUBUISI IKEM MBANUGO (2) IGWE CHUXX AHMED (3) CHRISTY RAY OKOYE

Signed By:SECRETARY

ÏÏÏSenate Deputy Minor-

PRESIDENT SECRETARY

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

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

Ado Ekiti

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 ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

THE AIMS& OBJECTIVES ARE:(1) To provide a forum for social and cultural interaction among old boys (2) To foster and strengthen the bonds of unity among members wherever they may be

Gbenga Sodeinde

AFRICA DEVELOPMENT AID INITIATIVE NIGERIA CHAPTER

Signed By:SECRETARY

ZIXTON OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

APC govt has nothing to offer, says Olujimi

UWEM EFUK PATRICIA

I, formerly known and addressed as Akwarandu Clementina Ngozi, now wishes to be known and addressed as Chukwu Clementina Ngozi. All former documents remain valid. General Public please take note.

THEOPHILUS ONYEKA TONY I, formerly known as Theophilus Izuchukwu Aaron now wish to be lnown and addressed as Theophilus Onyeka Tony. All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

SA R O F

LE

ABIMBOLA TOWOBOLA This is to formerly inform the general public that Akinlabi Towobola Ololade is the same person Asogunseye Abimbola Towobola, and should now be recognized with both names all document remain valid for both names.

I formerly known as Miss Tade Iyaniwura, now wish to be addressed as Mrs Comfort Oduyemi Ajiboye. All former document remain valid, general public take note.

I formerly known as Miss Okon Patricia Gloria, now wish to be addressed as Mrs Uwem Efuk Patricia Gloria. All former document remain valid.

ISAAC ZACHARIA

KOLAWALE MUSLIUDEEN

THOMAS ALUFAH

LUCKY DANIEL CHINEDU

NWOLISA HOPE

I, formerly known and addressed as Isaac Adeoye now wish to be known and addressed as Isaac Zacharia. All documents bearing my former Name remain valid, General public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Kolawale Paul Olawale now wish to be known and addressed as Kolawale Musliudeen. All documents bearing my former Name remain valid, General public should please take note.

This is to formerly inform the general public that Adolphus Tom is the same as Adolphus Thomas Alufah, and should now be recognized officially with both names. all document remain valid for both names.

I, formerly known and addressed as Lawrence Akpata Paul, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Lucky Daniel Chinedu. All former document remain valid, general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as NZEAKOR HOPE NKIRUKA Now wish to be known, called and addressed as NWOLISA HOPE NKIRUKA. All documents and certificates bearing my former names remain valid. General public and relevant authorities should please take note.

I, formerly known as MIss Effiong Grace Mfon, now wish to be lnown and addressed as Mrs Agbonluare Grace Mfon.

All former documents remain valid, general public take note.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Oyo Speaker denies strike rumour Remi Oladoye

ÏÏÏThe Speaker of the Oyo State

Senior Superintendent Apostle Gabriel Akinadewo (Omo Jesu II) (left) addressing the 92 parishioners ordained at the annual harvest of Motailatu Church Cherubim & Seraphim Worldwide, Restoration Parish, Akute, Ogun State... recently.

Nigerian judiciary system too weak to fight corruption, says Kwara Speaker Remi Oladoye

ÏÏÏThe Speaker, Kwara House of

Assembly, Dr. Alli Ahmad, said, on Monday, that the anti-corruption efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari might not yield positive results, if the Judiciary was not strengthened by a firm implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Alli, who was a guest of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, at the Oyo State monthly lecture series, said the judicial system was too weak to win any serious battle against corruption.

“Nigerian courts are not presently well-positioned to perform the function of fighting widespread corruption. And even under a fully-implemented ACJA regime, how many cases can our courts handle from trial courts to

the Supreme Courts in four years,” he demanded.

A former member of the National Assembly, Alli also maintained that “a government would seem to have lost the war on corruption if its new-found strategy is to use a three man Code of Conduct Tribunal to checkmate 469 federal legislators, 36 governors, 36 ministers, and a host of other public officials and civil servants. No doubt, the tribunal cannot but be selective in choosing the cases it adjudicates upon, as we are presently witnessing. But, in being selective, we have compromised and tainted the very essence of the fight against corruption.

“I urge the National Assembly to re-enact the constitutional amendments of Section 241 passed by the 7th Assembly, in order to make delay in criminal trials a thing of

the past, otherwise Section 306 of ACJA stay on proceedings will remain unconstitutional.

“It is the constitutional duty of each member of the National Assembly to expose corruption.

You could accuse the National Assembly of anything, but, certainly, not that it is failing in this specific duty. The National Assembly is empowered in Section 88 of the Constitution to direct or cause to be directed investigation of any person or authority with the aim of exposing corruption” Alli said further that other corruption-related laws passed by the 7th Assembly, but remained unsigned, included Whistle-Blower Protection Bill, Nigerian International Financial Centre Establishment Bill, Civil Forfeiture and Federal Audit Service Commission Bill.

Imo Fed workers decry poor working condition Val Okara Owerri

ÏÏÏThe Association of

Heads of Federal Establishments (AHOFE), in Imo State, at the weekend, frowned upon the poor working condition of staff at the Federal Secretariat, Owerri.

It decried, among other things, the absence of light in the entire Secretariat building, for over two years, stressing that the generating set at the Secretariat was cut off from the entire building, when a minor demarcation was carried out.

It also complained about the stuffiness of the building, the foul odour from the toilet facilities as well as the poor furniture in their

various offices.

According to them, the condition of the offices of the Heads of the Federal Establishments and Parastatals at the Secretariat was not befitting their status.

The association further lamented over the state of roads at the Secretariat and the over- grown weeds surrounding the Secretariat premises and called for an urgent Federal Government attention.

It noted that some ministers and other federal government officials that visited the area had made promises that were yet to be fulfilled.

“Here, in the Secretariat, we don’t have good access road; no electricity, as we have been cut off by the PHCN now EEDC; the

entire environment is dirty and no good conveniences. It is a serious issue to run any office without electricity supply. Buying of generating set with the attendant fuel problem is not the best,” the association said.

Speaking after the monthly meeting of the Heads of Federal Establishment in the state, its Chairman, Mrs. Theresa Alily, explained that the issue of light in the area had lingered for a long time, despite the formation of committee to look into the problem.

She noted that the generating set that serves the area was cut off, while the environment started being dirty following the Federal Government’s policy that stopped employing cleaners and labourers.

House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Adeyemo, has debunked the rumour that members of the House boycotted the sitting, last week, over unpaid salary and allowances.

Adeyemo told journalists, at the Press Centre, at Iyaganku, in Ibadan, the state capital, that there was nothing like a strike, as was reported in some media, last week. “Last Thursday, I was away, in Ilorin, for the Conference of the Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, while other ad hoc committee that were yet to submit their report in Ogbomoso, on the issue LAUTECH Teaching Hos-

Joy Ekeke

ÏÏÏThe

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Lagos State, has organised a special award of excellence and appreciation service tagged: “The Church as a panacea on National Issues: Insecurity and Corruption.”

The event was held at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.

In his welcome address, the General Secretary of CAN Lagos, Elder (Dr.) Israel Akinadewo said that in the past months, especially in the 2015 election, the Church of God was publicly disparaged, due to the unholy activities of some Christians leaders, who openly supported political parties and candidates, as against the cardinal principles of the Church.

“Two of the main issues confronting our nation, Nigeria, are insecurity and large-scale corruption. Many leaders have been enmeshed in corruption, which have brought dishonour to their faith. People steal money, which

Gov Umahi suspends aide over unruly behaviour Jacob Ogodo

Abakaliki ÏÏÏThe Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, has suspended, indefinitely, the Special Adviser in charge of Lagos State Liaison Office, Mrs Jacinta Nworie, for alleged unruly behaviour.

The Governor’s Principal Secretary, Chief Nweke Clement, told newsmen that the suspension followed acts by Nworie that were found unbecoming of a public office holder, which portrayed the state in a bad light.

Nworie has been directed to directed to hand over all government properties in her possession to the

23 News pital and others were busy. So, by not sitting on that day doesn’t not mean that we were on strike. We are going to sit tomorrow.

“There is no crisis and we are up to the task. The House is poised for effective law-making that will better the lot of people of the state,” he said Speaking on a need for the autonomy of the House of Assembly, Adeyemo said that “The autonomy of the Legislature was very paramount, as we are calling for the autonomy of the Judiciary. We have three arms of government in democracy and they should all be operating independently, and that is why we can say we are practicing democracy in the real sense of it. Everybody should be talking on the autonomy of the legislative arm of government.

CAN indicts church leaders on corruption, partisanship they believe will be kept for their future generations; up to the tenth generation. Also, the level of insecurity in the nation, is so endemic that it is the priority of all, and not that of government alone. We have the case of Boko Haram, with so many of our youngsters taken away from parental care, to an obscure forest. Any nation that is unable to secure the lives of its future generation, has no future at all. ” The Chairman, CPFN\PFN Pastor J.K. Ibidapo, who was also the guest speaker said, “Corruption has become a cankerworm, which has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society. It has established itself in all spheres of the socio-economic and political realms of the nation. Instances of it have been acknowledged at international and global..." he said.

most senior civil servant in the office.

It will be recalled that Nworie was, last week, redeployed to the state as Special Adviser on Talent Development, under the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. It was reliably gathered that the suspension may not be unconnected to the refusal of Nworie to return to the State after one week of the Governor’s directive.

Umahi

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

OAU students protest poor welfare, want VC probed Sodiq Adekunle Osogbo

ÏÏÏThe students of

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Monday, demanded an improvement upon their welfare.

The protesting students chorused “WAR”, with an inscription on their placards that the administration of Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, should be probed by anti-

corruption agencies.

The students alleged that epileptic power and poor water supply, was making the OAU campus less conducive for learning.

The students also blamed the termination of the admission of an incoming part-one student of the History Department, Olawale Owolabi, for their action.

It was learnt that Owolabi, popularly referred to as

Ogunruku, had joined the protest against increment of acceptance fee from N2,000 to N20,000 in 2011, when his admission was terminated.

Some of the students also said the protest was a warning to the school management not to increase accommodation (hostel) fee.

In the past, similar protests of this nature had led to the closure of the school.

Few months ago, the man-

agement of the institution declared a mid-semester break.

The President of the OAU Students’ Union, Mr. Omotayo Akande, said, “The union has exhausted the tool of diplomacy without getting reasonable concession on how our welfare would be improved upon.

Our demands are more than just light and water, as the horrendous living condition of our hostels re-

quire immediate attention.

“A room in Moremi Hall was on fire recently and the ladies couldn’t get a fire extinguisher in the block to put out the fire.

This, among other things, inform our demand for safe and decent hostel facilities.”

The Chairman, Awolowo Hall, Opeyemi Aina, described the condition under which the student were living in the hostels

as pitiable.

“Our welfare is more important to us than anything; it’s a foundation for us to have sound understanding of what we are being taught. The toilets are bad. We are not happy with the inadequate funding of education,” he added.

Akintola Hall Chairperson, Sade Adeyeni, lamented that the roofs of some rooms in the hostel were leaking.

Gov Bello pledges seeds, irrigation equipment for farmers Saka Bolaji Minna.

ÏÏÏThe Niger State gover-

L-R: Director of Finance, Weyinmi Jimade; Nigerian Chapter President, Ajibola Yewande Ponnle; Board Secretary, Titilayo Ajoke Akinsanya and Director Membership, Habiba Balogun all of the International Coach Federation (ICF), during a programme to commemorate the 20th anniversary of ICF held in Lagos… on Monday

NSTIF to sanction defaulting coys on employees compensation scheme Akor Ejumene Abuja

ÏÏÏCompanies that fail to

enroll their workers on the Employees Compensation Scheme by the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) may face sanctions.

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, who stressed a need for the NSITF management to come hard on defaulters, during a department briefing with the management team in his office in Abuja, said that there was a need to review the Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) Act 2010, to include more stringent penalties

for employers who failed to register their employees in the scheme.

While revealing why non-compliance can no longer be tolerated, Ngige said that the level of compliance was still low after over four years of implementation, adding that he was yet to hear of prosecution of employers for noncompliance.

Ngige urged the NSITF management to make a business case of the scheme to the Governors’ Forum, stressing that it would be a more effective way to get the states to come buy into it.

He said: “We have no option but to push the ECS to

performance level. There is no doubt that the idea is a great one. We must, however, ensure that Nigerians feel the positive impact of this initiative. I think that the management has to engage the Governors through their forum, so that we can explain the advantages of this scheme to them. I believe that the stipend to be paid on employees’ salaries is small compared to the advantages that the Scheme gives to workers, especially when they are injured in the course of work. I believe every Governor would be happy to hear about the numerous advantages that their workers stand to benefit by joining the Scheme.

Therefore, the management must find a way to speak to all the Governors at their forum through presentations on what the Scheme is all about. It is not acceptable that no employer has been sanctioned for non-compliance, especially when cases or non-compliance abound.

This must change.”

Ngige further observed that the operations of the Fund could be further enhanced through an interagency collaboration with agencies like National Directorate for Employment (NDE), noting that such collaboration could provide the Fund with the much needed data to expand its frontiers.

nor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has pledged to assist farmers with improved rice seeds and implements. The pledge was when he paid unscheduled visit to a dry season farm at Bina village, in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State, on his way back on Sunday from Kogi State, after attending eight days’ Fidau prayers for the late Abubakar Audu, the All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in last month’s inconclusive election.

A villager, Alhaji Abdulkarim Usman, said that Bello, who was impressed by the farmers’ diligence, sighted them from far

around after 6 p.m. Then, he and his convoy stopped and walked to them and identified himself immediately.

Consequently, the governor asked them about what challenges they faced.

Bello gave an assurance to send a group of delegates to inspect the place and to offer proper recommendations to him just as he urged the farmers to add sugar cane to their crops, as that would add more value to their farming activities.

He promised to support the farmers with improved rice seeds, fertilisers, irrigation and other farming equipment.

Bello assured that the state government will buy their yields from them after harvest at reasonable prices.

Group to train youths on block machines with egg laying Sunday Nwaanma Umuahia

ÏÏÏA new youth empow-

erment/engagement programme was, at the weekend, in Umuahia, Abia State, introduced by a nongovernmental organisation known as Youth Development and Actualisation Outreach, to train youths across the country in brick/ block-making and construction technologies, using specially designed foreignmade machines called “Egg Laying Machines”.

Speaking on the occasion, the founder and President Mr. Ifeanyi Williams Okeke, said that the project, tagged: “Block- Making And Construction Technology”, was aimed at training

youths and equipping them with the most efficient and market-relevant skills on the technology of brick/ block making and general on-site construction”.

He described it as a threepronged instrument for youth empowerment, skill acquisition and mass construction for mass housing and a sustainable solution to the creation of jobs for the youths that would come with a Youth Secretariat in each of the six zones of the country, which would also act as a Vocational Learning Center where workers would be taught basic construction skills like brickmaking, plumbing, roofing, tilling etc. by site engineers, foremen, project managers and skilled artisans.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, december 1, 2015

Law Æ s

25

Sambo Dasuki: Executive refusal to obey court order, beginning of anarchy- Bankole Professor Bankole Sodipo, a law teacher who served as Dean, School of Law and Security Studies, Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State was called to the Bar about three decades ago.He told PETER FOWOYO, during the 7th inaugural lecture of the school titled: ‘The Oracle, Intellectual Property and Allied Rights, The Knowledge Economy and The Development Agenda’ that the oracle is a guide which he consults to know which areas of that sector needs to be addressed. Besides, he spoke on the judiciary, the rule of law, election petition tribunal and other sundry issues.

What informed your decision to choose the title: The Oracle, Intellectual Property and Allied Rights, The Knowledge Economy and The Development Agenda, to be the title of this lecture?

Well, intelleftual property and allied rights, the sector of law which i have done most of my research writing and teaching on and the oracle is like any Africa oracle, it is a guide for me, i consult the oracle regularly and he had instructed me in terms of what areas that intellectual properties will need to address, things that will be interesting in the future, things to deal with and this is related to my future research and part of my ongoing research because i believe that copy rights, patent designs, traditional knowledge, confidential information, plants and animal varities, these are things which are referred to as intellectual properties in many parts of the world but which in Nigeria we don’t have very strong laws or where we have some laws, the laws are not adequate to meet the current demands of commercial activities and those are some of the things we hope to address so that intellectual properties will be more relevant.

For instance, there is a lot of Nigeria music and film being used and being watched all over the world but the creators are not earning what is due to them so that means intellectual property is not playing the role it is supposed to play so how can we make it play the role it is supposed to play is some of the issues which are germane to my discource.

You mentioned that those in the music and film industry are not enjoying the fruit of their labour due to copyrights. Are there any steps taken to ensure this anomaly is stopped by the laws?

Well, the government is trying in that its agency, the copyrights commission has just uploaded

Bankole

in the last few weeks a new bill which seeks to expand the frontiers of copyright laws and it will deal with a lot of the issues that are burging the industry today. For instance, online piracy which the current law is a little weak are addressing. However, the government needs to do more now that the bill is ready, the minister has to present it at the national assembly because the minister cannot make law himself but i think the industry itself need to wake up and push the bill, in 1988 the reason why the copyright law was passed is because we marched on the street of Lagos from government house to the attorney gen-

eral, it was in the month of November and before Christmas a law was passed but, that was under military rule, under civilian regime, it takes a number of reading and public hearing before a law is passed. I believe if the right stakeholders go to the nationql assembly, these are people the lawmakers will be happy to take photographs with but they are not using that clout to lobby for the law.

What is your view about the judgment of the Taraba state gubernatorial election petition tribunal which nullified the election of the incumbent governor from PDP and declared the APC candidate as

winner of that election?

Well, sometimes we don’t agree with the decisions of tribunals but i am generally happy that the judiciary is being seen as an organ of government that can intervene with what it perceived to be excess of either the executive or the populace and that is why i commend the decision of the judiciary in that case.

For me, what i celebrate is not the correctness or wrongness in that judgment. It is much more than that.

The court for instance, installed Rotimi Amaechi as governor of Rivers state then rather than ordering a new election

Government should be more ingenious in making an end to the services of anybody that they don’t like but if there is no provision for them in the law to do this, they should amend the law.

Otherwise, it will just realise the person is protected by the law and there is nothing it can do. but at least it send strong signal to the executive and that is the way i look at it that if you are approaching elections, you have to be very cautious to ensure you make the people happy, if they are not happy and there are issues arising then you run the risk of winning but losing at the tribunal because at the end of the day, after you have been declared winner by the umpire, the court can overturn that election. That is a celebration the public should have, to say alright, is that the way you are treating me Mr. Governor, you won’t last.

You talked about the Rotimi Amaechi matter, would you say that this judgment has toed the line of the supreme court judgment which nullified the election of former governor Celestine Omehia and declared Rotimi Amaechi as the winner of the Rivers state gubernatorial election

Continued on page 26

Law 26

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

‘I detest technicalities when they override justice’ Bankole

Continued from page 25 if not, what is the difference between the two judgments?

That is the way i see it that it’s along the same tenure, the same spirit, in form, it may not be exactly the same but whilst i celebrate, i am also not happy because many sections of the bar and even the judiciary were not happy about the man who the judiciary crowned in Rivers state because towards the end of his tenure courts could not function for about a year.

One would have thought that for somebody who climbed into an office based on court, he would bend over backward to ensure that courts continue to function but he did not do this.

So whilst i celebrate, i am not completely exhiliarated by the event because i am hoping that the officer who will be sworn in would not do the same thing as Amaechi because i think no matter how good Amaechi has been, history is going to judge him for not allowing the courts to work for about a year.

The number of people who died, businesses that failed during that period does not justify whatever reason he had whether right or wrong that is why i have tried not to go into if you noticed, whether right or wrong because sometimes judgment arrived at is because lawyers did not prepare for the case, sometimes because of some technical issues, such as you didn’t sign, you didn’t bring this document in and so on but what matter most is justice and fairness and i think both cases are fair in terms of the decisions of the court.

Do you think the issue of technicality should ge allowed to overide the merit of a case?

I detest technicality when they override justice. The court is a court of justice, it is not a court of technicality and whilst technicality cannot be completely thrown overboard but the judges that have made impact internationally and have been spoken of years after their birth and their dead or retired, they are not judges who gave judgment based on technicalities, they are judges who gave judgments based on justice.

Whatever you believe, whether you are an African region person, you are a Muslim, you are a Christian or you don’t believe in anything, justice will not allow technicality before your maker and i think the courts, i pray they will remember this that one day they will stand before their maker and what their maker would ask is not did you apply the rules or was there an end to justice because Lord Denin was able to arrive at justice and become an outstanding judge by relating rules that avoided the technicality of the law to arrive at the end of justice and i think that is what we should seek to do When a Brazilian bank was defrauded by some Nigerians and some Brazilians several years ago, the English court that they went to avoided all rules of technicality and rose the money and that was what saved some of the investors in the bank, the bank had to go under but, some of the monies were traced because the judges in England said it is end of justice. If it was in Nigeria, they would say sorry, you have not done this, you have not done that and then there will be no justice and that is where the common man now says the law is an ass, that is why the common man courses lawyers and the legal system and if somebody who have been

cheated courses a lawyer, courses the legal system, i think God will probably hear that course. I would rather ask that justice be done than just technicality.

How would you assess this government adherence to the rule of law when you take into cognizance the refusal of the state security service to obey court order which asked former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, be released to go for medical check up?

If this is what is happening, i don’t know what will happen later on. I worried. Actually, i think until court decision is set aside, it is meant to be obeyed. I am disappointed because we are behaving as if we are under the military government. If the federal government does that why shouldn’t the state government do it? If the state government do it, why shouldn’t the private person do it? That is the beginning of anarchy and that is why i am worried. I am really worried.

The President has been dissolving some statutory bodies without recourse to the laws that established these bodies. Does the President has the powers to exercise this function?

A statutory cooperation is born by statutes and live by statutes, anything anybody does outside the statutes is ultra vires, nobody has any right to do things outside the statutes which created the body which is the enabling Act. If indeed the President does that, he has acted ultra vires, the law says it is ultra vires, it is void and has no effect whatsoever. The people concerned should challenge it, they should not be afraid of challenging it because the democracy will not last if they don’t challenge it, they should challenge

the government and the government would know that it cannot take laws into its hands.

How would you assess the judiciary in terms of the number of years it takes to litigate, do you think the common man truly sees the judiciary as his last hope?

Again, i am worried because if the legal system, the judiciary, the lawyers and judges involved review the system we have, they would see that not much has been fulfilled. Justice Kayode Eso retired from the Supreme Court a fulfilled man but he realized upon retirement that the judicial system he had served had lots of lapses and that was because in his retirement he needed money from his investment property, he sued and he was frustrated by the delay in the system and so he said as a former supreme court judge, is this what i have been sitting on?

So he took his whole life into the reform and there have been lot of reforms but not much progress. We need to realise that there is not much progress in the system, evaluate that and then work towards dealing with it because if you say it is service delivery, the services we are delivering is very poor as lawyers, as judges in the judicial system a lot of problems can be attributed, we don’t have enough courts, we don’t have enough judges, we have new rules that are so technical and judges who permits all sort of things rely on technicalities and these are things we need to curb.

The President has directed the EFCC Chairman to proceed on terminal leave when his tenure has not expired, we also had similar case during last regime when Chairman of INEC was also asked to proceed on terminal leave.

Does the President has the powers to do this or is he merely following the precedent of his predecessor?

Terminal leave could be used as an excuse in the sense that if you are entitled to accumulate leaves of a year and your term is going to expire in another year, the presidency could say proceed on terminal leave when he wants you to take it, i think that is a reasonable thing between the employer and the employee, it is not the employer that will decide when he wants to take his or her leave. Sometimes, the employer can say you should go on leave now.

So if somebody has accumulated so much leave and then the boss says you have accumulated six months leave, take it now and when he or she fails to take it maybe he or she will forfeit the leave that is the option which i think is reasonable but anything outside that will be tantamount to acting ultra vires. I encourage people who are aggrieved to challenge the government. Mind you, if you challenge the government they may not pay your gratuity, they may not pay your pension and so people are timid and are worried if it make a sense to challenge the government but those who have challenged the government, few of them have come out better and they won their cases. Anything outside asking you to take the leave which you are entitled to before you retire may be ultra vires. Government should be more ingenious in making an end to the services of anybody that they don’t like but if there is no provision for them in the law to do this, they should amend the law. Otherwise, it will just realise the person is protected by the law and there is nothing it can do.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

27

Siasia

promises Olympic ticket N

igeria U-23 head coach, Samson Siasia, has promised the nation that his side will qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The Dream Team is currently in Senegal for the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, from which the top three finishing teams will all earn a place at

the Olympics.

Nigeria began the tournament with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Mali and Siasia is determined to earn a place in the top three.

“We are here to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. We have to train hard and make sure the players play to instructions. All teams

Ewoama FC lift median Restoration Cup title Akam James Yenagoa

G

overnor Seriake Dickson Football Tournament tagged, “The Restoration Cup 2015” was concluded at the weekend with Ewoama Football Club of Brass emerging as champions of the competition.

The finals which was played at the Nembe City Stadium saw Ewoama FC getting a hard-earned victory over River Ramos Football Club of Ekeremor on penalties.

It took just four minutes into the first half with River Ramos FC getting the first goal through John Preye, with a 20-yard strike, while winger, Didi Komboye made it 2-0, twenty minutes later after

receiving a sublime pass from his teammate, rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home from 12 yards.

The Agge-based club were totally in control of the game as they had good ball possession and attacking prowess to the discomfort of Ewoama FC and their fans.

Five minutes to the end of the first half, Ewoama FC found the back of the net. The Brass team mounted some pressure which resulted into a corner and the resilient striker MarkOne Andrew scored from close range to give his team a glimpse of hope.

The goal seems to re-energize the team as they constantly pressurized their opponents and finally their hard work was successful as a cross from the right flank found dare-devil striker, Mark-One Andrew, and he

‘MVP reward for hard work’

N

iger Tornadoes captain and goalkeeper, Mustapha Aliko has said hard work was key in his choice as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the just concluded Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Four clash in Abuja.

Tornadoes piped Plateau United 1-0 in the final on Sunday to emerge champions of the 2014/15 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.

Aliko said everything his side achieved in the out gone season is outright reward of hard work and they will continue on that path in the top flight next season.

“The choice of my humble self as the MVP of the NNL Super Four is a clear evidence and reward for hard work, same goes for the side’s overall victory at the end of the competition.

Siasia

deserve to be here. For us, we are tactically sound and know the kind of opposition to expect,” he said.

Nigeria U-23 and Heartland goalkeeper Emmanuel Iwu is delighted to be part of the squad in Senegal and reiterated his coach’s sentiments, saying they would not let the country down.

Amadi

CRS will continue to dominate school sports

—Amadi ANDREW EKEJIUBA

placed it at the left corner beyond the reach of the goalkeeper to level up with just few minutes remaining.

In the shoot-out, Ewoama Football club scored four times with the goalscorer Andrew the only culprit, while River Ramos of Ekeremor scored thrice and losing two of their spot kicks, and finishing as the second team of the tournament.

In the third-place match, Aluku Dynamics of Yenagoa defeated MD Football Club of Ekeremor 1-0 to emerge victorious.

Governor Seriake Dickson, represented by the Commissioner for Sports, Perekiye Buruboyefe, while presenting the trophies to the teams, congratulated them for their determination and courage during the competition, while assuring that his administration would continue to promote grassroots sports competition.

“There is nothing we could have achieved without actually working very hard for it even our promotion to the Premier league, too is as a result of hard work so we are challenged to work even harder in the Premier league next season.

“We now know there is a reward for hard work and there is nothing one cannot achieve once one works hard for it.

“I’m excited we are heading to the top flight on high and I strongly believe we won’t make up the number but compete favourably.

“We are in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to stay and vie for the top prizes therein like the league title as well as continental ticket,” Aliko said.

Aliko

T

he Executive Secretary/ Director of Sports in Cross River State Sports Commission, Mr. Jude Amadi, has affirmed that the state will continue to dominate school sports in the country following the solid sports development structure put in place by the state government.

Speaking ahead of the 8th edition of the National School Sports Festival, Amadi told Extra Time that athletes from the state are preparing seriously in order to retain the first position it won in the last edition of the competition in 2014.

“We are preparing adequately well to retain our first position and also winning it back-toback. Remember as defending champions we must continue to show that our winning prowess aaaa was not a mere fluke. A pip into the records has shown that we have dominated this competition since we emerged tops in 2011.

“In the last edition in Oturkpo we amassed a whopping 105 gold medals to finish first ahead of other contending states, but this time we are looking at surpassing that record,” Amadi said.

“We are looking at possibly getting up to 120 gold medals to confirm our superiority to other states who may want to contend the top spot with Cross River.

“Today, it is clear that Cross River is Nigeria’s new home for sports

development regarding all we have achieved in the past four editions of the school sports festival.”

The highly travelled sports technocrat also took time to explain the secret behind the success story of Cross River in school sports.

“The secret as far as I’m concerned is in the implementation of the Comprehensive School Sports Development Programme established by immediate past Governor of the state, Liyel Imoke in 2009.

“The program had to do with going back to the grassroots, especially in schools to discover athletes and nurture them to stardom.

“Once we discover a future Izilein athlete in any school in the state, we put them in School of Sports Excellence to nurture them.

We had six School of Sports Excellence in total and we have two of them located in each of the three senatorial zones of Cross River State.”

At the School of Sports Excellence, these future athletes are made to combine their education with sports under the watchful eyes of specialized coaches in the various sporting events they are good at.

“These schools are well equipped with sporting facilities which have enabled Cross River to harness the abundant future Olympians at their right ages.

“Today, our effort is yielding fruits at the National School Sports Festival and that has been the secret of our achievement.

From our 6th position in 2010 at the National School Sports Festival in Kano, we have taken a step further by winning the events in 2011 in Cross River, 2012 in Port Harcourt, 2013 in Ilorin and 2014 in Oturkpo. We are set to do it again in the 2015 edition,” he concluded.

28

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

L

iverpool forward Jordon Ibe thinks “anything is possible” for the in-form Reds following their latest victory on Sunday.

But the 19-year-old says manager Jurgen Klopp has warned his squad to focus on their own results rather than concern themselves with what the Premier League’s other top sides are doing.

Ibe was in impressive form against Swansea at Anfield, earning the penalty which secured the home side’s 1-0 victory.

And the return of long-term injured duo Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge gave Klopp’s side a further boost.

They have now won six of their last seven matches and weekend draws for Arsenal and Tottenham mean the sixth-placed Reds are four points behind Arsenal in fourth and two behind Spurs.

But Ibe said: “The manager didn’t want to focus on any other team, “With good players coming back just focus on us and keeping that in, also Philippe Coutinho as well, consistency, keep winning games.

“It was great to get the three hopefully we will climb even higher.

“Anything is possible right now. points and keep climbing the table.

We will take it game by game and We just need to keep doing well.

Ibe:

Silva

De Bruyne relishing

Silva link-up

K

evin De Bruyne believes he and the returning David Silva can inspire Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge this season.

Spain international Silva made his return from an ankle injury off the bench in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Southampton, during which De Bruyne scored once and provided two assists.

The attacking duo have only played three times together so far this season but De Bruyne is confident the combination of their different styles will make City tough to stop in the final third.

“We didn’t play that much together, and that’s been really difficult fo r both of us, but he’s such a great player that it’s easy to play together with him,” said the Belgium international.

“Everybody has his own style, and I think we play almost at the same position, but we’re very different players, so it’s better to have different players who play together than to have all the same.

“I’m more direct than him, he can keep the ball a little bit more than me, so with the two together that’s an advantage and we can switch different things.”

City’s win over Southampton, which moved them back to the top of the table, followed a disappointing week in which they lost 4-1 at home to Liverpool before slipping to a 1-0 defeat away to Juventus.

“It happens, we didn’t play well against Liverpool, we lost, so we had to move on,” De Bruyne added.

“I think against Juventus we played much better, we deserved a draw over there and here we also showed a reaction.”

Anything is possible for Liverpool! do it again on Wednesday against Southampton in the Capital One Cup. “I was just happy with the result, keeping that consistency with three

Arsenal can cope without Sanchez, says

Bellerin S

Bellerin

panish fullback Hector Bellerin insisted Arsenal have the depth to cope with the loss of injured forward Alexis Sanchez.

A hamstring injury forced Sanchez from the field in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Norwich City in the Premier League on Sunday.

Sanchez hobbled off after an hour, while team-mate Laurent Koscielny took a knock in the first half.

Bellerin, however, believes there is no need for Arsenal to worry about the absence of the injured duo.

Mourinho T right to drop Costa —Cascarino

ony Cascarino says Jose Mourinho was right to drop Diego Costa against Tottenham - but has backed him to return and score for Chelsea on Saturday.

The striker was left on the bench for Sunday’s 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane after scoring just three Premier League goals this season and only four in all competitions.

Costa has been widely criticised for his performances and behaviour

“I have said it before, there is great depth in the team,” he told reporters.

“There are a lot of young players in the team waiting to come through, and we have a lot of quality training with us every day.

“They are ready to step up so obviously every single player on the bench can do the same job as every single player in the starting XI. “We don’t need to worry about the injuries to Alexis and Koscielny. The only thing we need to do is go out onto the pitch with the right mentality, it does not matter who we play.”

so far this term while by this point last season, the Spanish international had struck 11 times in the league leading Chelsea to a blistering start on their way to the Premier League title.

Mourinho maintains there is no issue with the former Atletico Madrid forward, even though there have been suggestions of a rift between the two, highlighted when Costa appeared to toss his bib over his shoulder towards the Blues boss

Jordon Ibe (right) caused Swansea plenty of problems on Sunday.

wins on the bounce. Hopefully we can make it a fourth.”

And Klopp has confirmed that Coutinho should be back for the Cup tie at Southampton in midweek.

BRIEFS Hazard happy with Spurs point

helsea midfielder Eden C Hazard was happy with a point after the 0-0 draw with

Tottenham on Sunday. The Belgian led the line after Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho dropped striker Diego Costa and a much improved display saw the Blues rewarded with a point from their trip to White Hart Lane.

Davies wants Man City quarter-final to get crazy

ull City defender Curtis H Davies is hoping for a “crazy” occurrence as his side bid to shock Manchester City in the League Cup quarter-finals. Steve Bruce’s team travel to Manchester today having knocked out the Premier League’s surprise high-flyers Leicester City on penalties in the last 16.

Vardy reveals painful road to EPL record

amie Vardy has accepted Jbarrier playing through the pain to seal his record English

Premier League (EPL) scoring run.

The Leicester City striker scored for the 11th consecutive match in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy’s previous record of 10 during the Premier League era. after returning to the dugout while warming up during the game.

Cascarino has played that incident down and expects Costa to feature against Bournemouth on Saturday.

“These sorts of instances are more childish than anything.

He’s probably quite fortunate it didn’t land on Jose because I think there might have been a different reaction from him.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Ribery

Barca lodge complaint against ex-Madrid duo

ordeal over, says

Rummenigge B

B

arcelona have approached the Spanish government’s Sports Council (CSD) to open proceedings against former Real Madrid players Manuel Sanchis and Poli Rincon over their comments about Neymar.

Working as sports pundits on radio network, Sanchis and Rincon “publicly and repeatedly justified the act of aggression that the Real Madrid player Isco committed against the FC Barcelona player Neymar”, according to a statement by Barcelona.

The comments came after Isco was sent off for a late tackle on Neymar during the closing stages of Barcelona’s 4-0 La Liga win at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this month.

Neymar scored his team’s third goal in the rout and Barcelona have approached the Anti-Violence Commission, an affiliate organisation of the CSD, with their complaint.

Despite being given the opportunity to condemn Isco’s actions, the Barcelona statement said that Sanchis stated that: “Neymar is going over the line, he isn’t getting hit enough.”

Rincon added: “If I am there, I will hit Neymar, there should be no doubt that I hit him; me and anyone else.”

Barcelona’s statement concluded: “FC Barcelona considers these statements to be an invitation to violence and therefore asks the AntiViolence Commission to act.”

ayern Munich chief executive officer Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says “the ordeal is over” for Franck Ribery as he prepares to rejoin first-team training.

Ribery has not played a competitive game since March 11 owing to a persistent ankle problem, but stepped up his recovery plans earlier this month.

The winger has set a target of December 12, when Bayern take on Ingolstadt, for his return to action and Rummenigge is confident the 32-year-old is on track.

“The ordeal is over. Franck will be back in team training next week. He will be back,” he said at a Bayern fan club event.

Persistent injuries to Ribery, Arjen Robben and other Bayern stars last season prompted the departure of long-standing club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt, although several first-team players still visit the 73-year-old for treatment on occasion.

Rummenigge regrets the manner in which Muller-Wohlfahrt left the club, but is happy to see him continue to offer treatment to Bayern players.

BRIEFS Mihajlovic targets Coppa Italia triumph

A

C Milan must aim to win the Coppa Italia this season, according to head coach Sinisa Mihajlovic. The San Siro-based side have gone 12 years without getting their hands on the trophy but have been handed a favourable draw this season, with Serie B side Crotone the visitors for a fourthround clash today.

Bender relieved to end Dortmund losing streak

S

ven Bender admits another Borussia Dortmund defeat “would have been tough to swallow” and was relieved with the 4-1 Bundesliga victory over Stuttgart on Sunday. Thomas Tuchel’s side were beaten 3-1

by Hamburg last Friday before slipping to a 1-0 defeat in this week’s Europa League trip to face FC Krasnodar. Dortmund responded in style to those backto-back losses, however, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring twice in an emphatic win against Stuttgart at Signal Iduna Park and Bender feels the result was hugely important.

Defiant Garcia refuses to resign as Roma boss

R

udi Garcia insists he will not resign as Roma head coach despite a damaging run of results. The injury-ravaged capital club were beaten 2-0 at home

by Atalanta in an ill-tempered clash on Sunday, and Garcia was booed by a large number of home fans prior to kick-off. That defeat followed a humbling 6-1 thrashing

by Barcelona in the Champions League and a draw with Bologna on November 21, but Garcia is determined to stay at the Stadio Olimpic

Crazy Munich could convince Guardiola to stay

P

ep Guardiola admits the appeal of living in Germany could yet convince him to stay at Bayern Munich.

The former Barcelona coach’s future remains the subject of increasing speculation, with reports last week suggesting he has reached an agreement in principle to take over

at Manchester City next season.

Guardiola has also been linked with Manchester United and even a return to La Liga with Real Madrid should he decline to extend his current deal with Bayern, which expires at the end of the campaign.

The 44-year-old says he and his family are very happy

in Munich however, which could play a significant part in any decision on his future.

“The town is crazy. I love it. I am very satisfied, my family too,” he was quoted as saying at a fan club event.

When asked if he could extend his stay as a result, he added: “Yes, it would be a big reason.

Kuyt open to Feyenoord extension

D Neymar

29

irk Kuyt is open to the idea of extending his second spell at Feyenoord but will not rush into a decision on his future.

The former Netherlands international returned to the Rotterdam-based club in the off-

Kuyt season after leaving for Liverpool in 2006. He spent six years at Anfield and a further three at Fenerbahce before moving back to De Kuip on a 12-month deal.

He has made a huge impact, scoring 11 goals in 14 Eredivisie games as Feyenoord have mounted a title challenge - they

Guardiola

sit second, three points behind leaders Ajax.

And the 35-year-old has not ruled out signing a new deal with the club.

“We will discuss a potential renewal at the end of the season.

I want to focus on playing football for now. I am feeling well and want to keep playing for a long time. A contract renewal could be an option if Feyenoord are on the same page as me. But I am in no rush to resolve my future,” he said.

Kuyt, who scored back-to-back hat-tricks against Heerenveen and AZ Alkmaar last month, is hoping to land a first league title with Feyenoord under coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Hummels defends himself after media criticism

U

nder-fire Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels feels his performances have been “wrongly analysed” by the German media.

Germany international Hummels has come in for criticism following a series of unconvincing displays for Thomas Tuchel’s men, but believes the negative comments have gone over the top.

“I definitely feel wrongly analysed and honestly see my performances better than some of the media.

“It gains its own momentum: Bad things sell better than if you report positively. If there is the chance for it to snowball, this chance is gladly taken in my case,” he said.

30

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

NIGERIAN PLAYERS ABROAD WITH MIKE OTANWA

First Blackburn goal excites

Fatai, Sparta Prague march on in Europa League

Akpan

K

ehinde Fatai’s Czech Republic club Sparta Prague have qualified for the next stage of the UEFA Europa League following a 1-0 win over Asteras Tripolis.

Asteras Tripolis of Greece are third on four points.

Sparta Prague are second in Group K with nine points behind Schalke 04 on 11 points with a round of games to spare.

Fatai, who has netted twice in Europa League this season, was in action for 80 minutes before he was replaced by Tiemoko Kanote.

Sparta only goal was scored in the 33rd minute through Jakub Brabec.

N

igeria midfielder, Hope Akpan, was excited to have scored his first-ever goal for English Championship side Blackburn Rovers on

Saturday in their 2-2 draw at home with Sheffield Wednesday.

Blackburn Rovers are 14th on the league table with 21 points

Akpan

Uche

on road to recovery

Fatai

I

kechukwu Uche is making good progress on his injury and has resumed training. The Nigerian-born striker has been off the grid for many weeks due to his knee injury, but he has

Adi

propels Portland to historic MLS Cup final

N

igerian striker Fanendo Adi was among the goals scorers for Portland Timbers as they drew 2-2 at FC Dallas to reach the MLS Cup final for the first time in their history.

Adi won the Western Conference title with Portland Timber on 5-3 aggregate win over Tesho Akindele’s FC Dallas.

With this feat, Portland Timbers became

now started light training and is expected back to full fitness in the Mexican league soon.

“Good work out today,” Ike Uche tweeted.

Uche, 31, now plays for Tigres UANL in the top flight and has managed just one game, back in September. His team won 2-1 with him scoring a goal after a long lay-off due to injury and returned to treatment table as he got injured on his debut for Tigres.

His last club was Villarreal in Spain.

Ighalo

Adi the first Pacific Northwest to win an MLS conference championship on Sunday.

Portland Timbers will face Columbus Crew, the Eastern Conference champions, in the MLS Cup final on December 6.

Fanendo Adi scored first goal in the 54th minute, putting away Diego Valeri’s cutback.

He has now scored 18 goals this season.

He played 85 minutes on Sunday, while Akindele was introduced in the 56th minute for FC Dallas.

shines again, as Ujah hits target

Ighalo

N

igerian strikers, Odion Ighalo and Anthony Ujah scored for their respective European clubs with contrasting results on Saturday.

Ighalo shone like a millions stars for his EPL side Watford on Saturday as

from 18 games.

The 24-year-old Akpan, who joined Blackburn Rovers in the summer, scored in the fifth minute to give his team a 1-0 lead.

He has played 15 games since he joined the team.

The midfielder has four caps for Nigeria and has played for Everton, Crawley and Reading.

Uche

they humbled hosts Aston Villa 3-1, scoring a goal to take his tally to eight. Watford now have 19 points from 14 games.

Ighalo opened the scoring in the 17th minute, when he scored off a rebound from Watson blocked effort.

The former Udinese turned in the 69th minute and ready to shot when Alan Hutton tried to prevent him and scored an own goal to make it 2-1 to Watford.

The Nigerian star was involved in the third goal as well when Deeney Troy headed home from a rebound off Ighalo’s goal-bound shot which was blocked by Richard Micah in the 85th minute.

Meanwhile, compatriot Ujah scored his sixth goal in the German Bundesliga game for Werder Bremen as they lost 3-1 at home to Hamburg.

Werder Bremen are 15th on the league table with 13 points from 14 games, while Hamburg are sixth with 21 points from 14 games.

Ujah scored in the 62nd minute to take scores to 2-1.

The 25-year-old forward has played for Lillestrom (Norway), Cologne and Mainz (both in Germany).

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

31 Opinion

Biafra: Issues that must be resolved sooner Lucas Anuforo “When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.” ...Nelson Mandela

ÏÏÏIn an establish state

where some section of the country start to be vocal or inquisitive on some sensitive issues which militate against their wellbeing such as marginalisation or hegemony of power by a particular ethnic group, things are not really well with such nation.

A nation that craves for development and strong union should carry everyone along irrespective of language, colour, race and creed. In essence, the country in question should practise an equitable distribution of wealth, opportunities and procrustean development where every individual will see each other as equal.

Since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 by imperial Britain the consequences of it was the country being forced into sham marriage between the three ethno groups mainly the north, west and east.

These were three separate countries with different religion and cultural

values coming together but consequently, failed to manage their differences as an entity. Rather, what it witnessed was war, hatred, ethnicity, tribalism, nepotism and corruption.

These vices gave reason for Biafra, which led to 30 months bloody civil war from 1967 to 1970.

The post civil war era of the late 1960s-1970 created odium within the fabric of Nigerian society as the Igbo became victims of marginalization. It implies that they have no much role to play in Nigeria both politically and economically.

However, the civil war was a set back to the Igbos just like the holocaust against the Jews in Auschwitz from (1938 -1945) where 6,000,000 Jews were exterminated. The holocaust is now a yearly remembrance across the globe. In addition, it has become a sensitive issue to the Israelis you dare not, make any contradictory statement, to falsify or alter the history of the Jewish genocide unless you want to get into trouble with Israel.

The civil war was a pogrom and ethnic cleansing carried out Nigerian authorities. Until today, no account was given and no proper reconciliation despite the lip service of ‘no ‘victors no vanquish’ and the (3Rs) initiated by the then federal government.

The Nigerian state has not done enough to really reintegrate the Igbo fully in the administrative governance of the country.

All successive adminis-

Buhari

trations in the past were intransigent on the Igbo seeing them as a threat to the national unity. It could be recalled that no successive administration were able to allow the Igbo to handle some sensitive administrative positions relating to the nation’s security such as the Police, Army, Air force and Navy. Despite all these, the Igbo have been undaunted.

Only the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan dealt with the injustice against the Igbo.

On the issue of Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MOSSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) these pressure groups were founded on the platform of agitation based on the marginalisation of the Igbo. Many believed

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that some highly placed individuals sponsored the current demonstrations. Thus, one should be reminded that the world is now on cyber age and a global village where people are being inspired through online media and cable TV. More so some events that had already taken place in other countries could serve as morale booster to further such agitation.

There are insinuations from detractors that pro Biafra protesters are miscreants. Igbo youths are not Almajiris or the Area boys that can be induced to be restive. An average Igbo youth knows what he/ she wants. Moreover, they do not pay allegiance or obsequious to anyone. Yes, they can venerate but not when it comes in taking advantage of them.

The demonstration by these youths was not necessarily only for the incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) but due to the long outstanding issues that relate to the wellbeing of the people of southeast and south south. They did not vehemently, wake up and start demanding for Biafra but because they’ve seen that the country has failed them in all facet of life.

However the recent publication on Vanguard November 20/2015 captioned “Ohaneze disowned Biafra agitators, says Biafra died 1970.” Going through the publication it now raises question about the genuineness and creditability of the Ohanaeze. The question a rational mind will ask who are the Ohanaeze? Is it those that have given up their birthrights for just a plate of porridge or those who gallivant and make jaywalk to Aso Rock Abuja for menial contracts? If there is Ohanaeze where were they when Igbo citizens were slaughtered in hundreds during the Kano riot? If there is Ohanaeze why the 2nd Niger Bridge still remain uncompleted for such a long period of time? They should borrow a leaf from AREWA Consultative Assembly that has made good representation for their people. It is not surprise that Ohanaeze will deny the Igbo youths because of the commitments they’ve made that south-east will continue to be perpetually underdeveloped in as much as their names are in Abuja

payroll they don’t care the plights of others.

The era of crushing and repression in order to silence, popular opinion is over. Technology has changed the way people view things. The internet age has changed the system of information dissemination. Today, an ordinary hawker and other food vendors could video, record every slight event in a matter of seconds, and send it to world. International community is closely watching the recent event and the government should be very sensitive in handling the issue. Crushing MASSOB and IPOB would not solve the problem but rather it may further more civil unrest. It is the duty of government to carry all ethnics along in line with constitution of the country which allowed every individual to have an opportunity that will result in an equal outcome regardless of the state or tribe.

No successive administration has ever addressed the issue of marginalisation because, it has been a clandestine issue hence the Hausa and the Yoruba are at the helm of affairs they give no hoot to other ethnic groups. No ethnic, race or tribe is indispensible.

What formed the American Union today are different nationalities irrespective of colour, creed, religion or language. America consists of the Hispanics, the Latinos, the African- Americans, Irish Americans, the Native Americans etc that what makes United States the greatest country in the world.

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tuESdaY, dEcEmBER 1, 2015

VOL. 1. NO.242

Price: n150

U-23 AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS FIXTURES Today’s Matches South Africa v Zambia 17:00 Tunisia v Senegal 20:00 Wednesday, December 2, 2015 Algeria v Mali 17:00 Nigeria v Egypt 20:00

CAPITAL ONE CUP FIXTURES Today’s Matches Manchester City v Hull City 20:45 Middlesbrough v Everton 20:45 Stoke City v Sheffield Wednesday 20:45

Neymar

Wednesday, December 2, 2015 Southampton v Liverpool 20:45 CECAFA CUP PLAY-OFF RESULTS Uganda 2 – 0 Malawi Ethiopia 3 – 2 Tanzania Today’s Matches Rwanda v Kenya 12:00 South Sudan v Sudan 1 2:00

L

Ronaldo

Messi

, i s s Me , o d l a n Ro r a m Ney ated

ionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have been shortlisted for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or. The award has been dominated by Ronaldo and Messi over the past seven years, with the Real Madrid man bagging the trophy three times and the Argentine taking the honour home on four occasions.

Messi is favourite to make it five after a wonderful 2014-15 season which saw him play a lead role as Barca clinched a treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League, scoring 58 goals in all competitions.

He has managed nine in 13 appearances in 2015-16 after missing nearly two months of action with a knee injury sustained against Las Palmas in September.

The only blemish on Messi’s year was Argentina’s failure to land the Copa America in Chile. Messi scored in their opening game against Paraguay but then did not find the back of the net for the remainder of the tournament as Gerardo Martino’s side lost the final to the host nation.

Ronaldo outscored Messi last season by netting 61 times but Madrid failed to land a trophy in 2015.

The Portuguese has not had a great

nomin n d´Or o l l a B r fo start to 2015-16 by his lofty standards - despite the statistics showing a record of 16 goals in 20 games. He grabbed five goals in one game and has often cut a frustrated figure under new Madrid boss Rafael Benitez.

Ronaldo himself has said he expects Barcelona’s collective brilliance to prove decisive.

“To be honest I think Messi is going to win this year because this kind of trophy, it depends on votes.

“You win competitions, you win Champions League, you win the league...

“I did probably the best season of my career which is good and I was the highest scorer in Europe, but it’s all about votes, it’s difficult and to be honest I’m not very worried about that because as I

said many times, I never thought I’d win it three times to be honest,” he said.

Neymar is the outsider despite a hugely impressive 12 months.

The Brazil captain has become a key member of the much-vaunted MSN (Messi-Luis Suarez-Neymar) combination which contributed 122 goals in Barca’s treble - Neymar grabbing 39.

He also proved his growing influence on the Camp Nou side by taking a leading role when Messi was injured.

Like his fellow South American, however, he enjoyed a less successful year on the international stage, seeing red for his part in a mass brawl which marred the group stage defeat to Colombia and missing the rest of the tournament as a result as Brazil were

eliminated at the quarter-final stage.

The women’s player of the year award will be contested by Carli Lloyd, Aya Miyama and Celia Sasic.

Lloyd was the face of the 2015 World Cup in Canada for her performances for tournament winners United States, Miyama was Japan’s captain as they reached the final while Germany striker Sasic landed the Golden Boot.

Life&

TIMES Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Kelly

Blind:

L2,3

P

The Extraordinaire blind comedian

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

I once looked down on myself

— Kelly Blind

For Kelly Igberh, there is ability in his disability. Popularly known as Kelly Blind, this Delta State born comic was brought up in Sapele. Though blind, Igberhi is fast becoming a force in the comedy industry. He is the first ever blind comedian to trot the stage as an entertainer. In this interview, the self-acclaimed Blind Comedian of the Federal Republic (BCFR), shares how he started his career as a musician and a comedian. Excerpts:

Mutiat Alli

Life&

T E A M

You don’t seem to be disabled inside of you, how did that happen?

Disability is a thing of the mind, if you feel you can succeed it’s in the mind, the mind does everything. I have a foundation, Inner Eyes Foundation that I registered because I believe we all have physical eyes, but we still have the inner eyes that works a lot. The inner one is what we need and not the physical one. The inner one is the one that keeps me going and not the physical one; the physical one might be there, but I make the inner one my strength.

Where you born blind?

No! At the age of six, I had measles which affected my left eye.

Although my parents took me for surgery, I lost the left eye, but managed to finish my primary education at Wesley Primary School, Sapele.

In 1996, during my second year in secondary school, I went totally blind. While playing football one afternoon, I experienced total darkness, I assumed I was dreaming.

People around me initially thought I was joking because I was shouting when it happened. I rested right there on the football field for few minutes, when I stood up, I could see so, I ran to my house. I washed my eyes and was able to see thereafter. I rushed back to continue with the football match, but 10 minutes later, I couldn’t see again, washed my eyes and I was able to see again, I managed it for three days.

I didn’t tell my parents about it because I thought I could handle it on my own. Few days after that, I was walking down to the school and, I fell into the gutter. People came to rescue me and thereafter, they took me to our home. That was when my father noticed it. My father took me to a hospital in Sapele but we were transferred to an eye specialist in Enugu. Getting there, the ophthalmologist told us that he can’t give us full guarantee that the eye surgery which he intends to carry out on me will be totally successful.

This really made my father very angry. He took me out of the hospital in annoyance. People came around and advised my father to take me to churches and other spiritual healing homes which he did but none of them was able to proffer a solution.

Will you say going to the school for the blind changed your perception about your life?

Obviously, it was the school that helped me in terms of changing my orientation. When I was there we were thought mobility, and other things. I was always depending on people to take me around, but since I attended the school, I moved and travelled alone without anybody

Movie & Music Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

guarding me. I will also advise any visually impaired people to go for it because it will change theirs too.

Let’s get to know you better?

My name is Kelly Igberhi, also known as Kelly the Blind. I’m from a family of eight, I’m the second child.

In 2000, at some point, somebody came to tell my parents that there is a school for the blind in Lagos.

Then, I was in Sapele, so my parents allowed me to come down to Lagos for the programme. On getting to the school, I saw so many blind males and females and I was like, so these are people like me too!

Immediately I got there, I discovered that blind people can actually do a

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

lot. We were taught how to do so many things like reading, music and how to write, farming, hand crafts, mobility and how to operate a cell phone. So after the programme, I went back to Delta State to look for a job, and to be told that there are people ahead of us who will be given a job and that we should wait.

So I waited and waited, but nothing was forthcoming, and then I decided to find my way back to Lagos to see how I’m going to survive because I had some music experience while doing the programme.

In 2002, I put in for an advanced music school just to learn more.

That was when I met with Samklef,

Graphics Sunday O. Emmanuel

we became school mates in that music school. I was playing drum for people and churches. So after then, I decided to do my music album, which I eventually did but did not go far.

What tangible thing have you done after going to the music school in terms of music?

I did an album of about seven tracks which I titled Golden City in the year 2006, but it did not make any wave the way I wanted it.

Why? Because the marketer said the tracks are too religious and that they can only be heard in the church which actually kind of discouraged me but I still kept the fire burning.

Tell us about your encounter with AY? I discovered that I can make people laugh when I talk, and at some point I felt something in me telling me to go for one comedy competition, so one of my friends encouraged me into doing comedy.

That particular period, AY usually do auditions for young comedians then, I took interest in it and summoned courage to go for it. I made the move and got in contact with AY. I went to his office at Surulere. On getting to his office, he never knew the person he was talking to was blind. I went there alone and when the receptionist saw me, she asked who I wanted to see and I told her AY, I was asked to seat and wait for him. When he came out to see me, the receptionist was not on seat to introduce me to him, so AY started asking who wanted to see him, he never knew I was blind, eventually he saw me and saw that I was blind, he was like were you the one talking to me since yesterday? And I was like Bros na me. He now asked how we could take it up from there.

So, I told him what I can do and my passion to become a comedian, and he said ok and also told me that because I’m blind it might not be easy talking to your audience, and I told him bros, I believe this is what

CONTINUED ON

L3

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Mutiat Alli

L3 Movie & Music Chart

Top ten music and movie charts

Foreign English Yoruba Foreign Nigeria movie 1.

movie

movie

music

The Hunger Games:

Mocking jay –Part 2

1.

Victims

1. Adele-Hello 1.

Ijogbon

2.

Iseju Kan

2.

The Peanut Movie

2.

First Lady

3.

Spectre

3.

Taxi Driver

3.

Oro Abere

4.

The Night Before

4.

Lunch Time

4.

RudoIjogbon

5.

Secret in their eyes

5.

Dark

5.

Egan

6.

The Martian

6.

The Visit

6.

Aruga

7.

Love the coopers

7.

One Night in Vegas

7.

Pitan

8.

Goosebumps

Jenrayo

The 33

Beyond Disability

8.

9.

8.

Firepemi

Bridge the spies

Holding Hope

9.

10.

9.

10.

Anger

10.

oloburo

2. Justin Bieber-Sorry 3. Drake-Hot Bling 4. Justin Bieber-Love yourself 5. Justin Bieber-What do you mean?

6. The Weeknd-The Hills 7. Shawn Mendes-Stitches 8. FettyWap Ft. Remy Boyz-679 9. Taylor Swift-Wildest Dreams 10. Alessia Cara-Here

music chart

1. Davido Ft. Olamide-The Money 2. Davido- Dodo 3. Reekado Banks-Katapot 4. Darey Alade- Pray for me 5. Minjin-Like Philo 6. Lil Kesh ft. Patoranking-Is it because I love you 7. Waje ft. Patoranking-Left for good 8. Adekunle Gold-Orente 9. Falz Ft. Reekado Banks-Celebrity Girlfriend 10. DJ Shabby Ft. Kiss Daniel &Sugar boy- Raba

Interview CONTINUED FROM

L2

I can do, but he will give me an opportunity, so it wouldn’t say AY killed my career. AY is a good person I must confess, he’s not the kind of person that turns people down. So that day, he gave me the form free of charge, I filled it and submitted and he also gave me transport fare back home after seeing the spirit and courage by coming to his office alone. I went for the audition at National Theatre and we were told the rules and regulations of the competition.

We were about 97 of us getting ready for the audition and when everybody saw me they were like na wa oo; so dis comedy business sef don cheap oo; see blind man sef dey follow us hustle comedy but as God will have it I came out as the best among all of them by winning the comedy challenge in April 2009.

So how has it been for you since then?

I started to perform in most of the shows like Crack Ur Ribs, Nite of a Thousand Laffetc; that same year and as I speak to you now, I’ve performed in quite a number of shows.

What have been the good and the bad times for you being visu-

I once looked down on myself ally impaired?

The challenge so far; since I lost my sight was that being a person that likes playing game, balls and also watching football. There was a time my friends told me they were going to watch football, it’s not that they were mocking me, but they just needed to tell me where they were heading to. I really felt down because I couldn’t go with them to watch.

It’s something I really love to do, but I can’t do all these. I came to Lagos as a blind person, I have never seen any picture of Lagos before but I was told Lagos is beautiful.

Has there been any time people showed you love because of your condition?

To be candid, some Nigerians are really kind, they have the act of sympathising especially when you are doing well. The only people you see on the streets begging are the physically challenged people, but today you see able bodied going about begging for money and some people will still give them; you can imagine that, not to talk of you do-

ing well for yourself. Being a comedian, I’ve seen a lot. At times, I will be performing and after my performance, people will come to me to appreciate me, some will come to bless me with whatever they have, extending hands of love in kinds.

What’s your advice for the physically challenged people who are also disabled in the mind?

I used to say this that people are disabled in so many ways; it’s the way you see yourself that matters.

I tell people that you don’t do things that will make people pity you because you are disabled. I was talking to my friend who is also blind who was telling me that dem say make I no beg again, but I go find wetin to do, any how any how people go pity me buy am. I told him this is where he is getting it wrong.

If somebody is buying from you out of pity, then that means they might not buy it tomorrow. I told him to do whatever he wants to do so that people who need him will come for him, rather than out of pity. Today Kelly Blind is a brand, it’s not my doing, but God. How have you been able to use yourself to change the mindsets of visually impaired people around you?

I’m also a radio presenter, I

have a radio programme I do, and through this medium, I have been able to be a voice for them. The radio programme is called Better Naija for people living with disability on Wazobia FM every Saturday morning from 10:30am, one of the most popular radio stations in the country.

People living with disability in the country are over 19 million and it’s like I’m their voice. I know how many calls I get in a day on complaints about different problems and I’ve been encouraging them.

A lot of these people are still ignorant, they don’t know there are schools for the blind, we should not even talk about the government because they have not been supportive to people with physical disabilities. No supports whatsoever, anything we want to do we do it on our own. People should stop seeing us a third class citizens, they should know that we cannot be relegated. That is what I’ve been doing to lend my voice to people.

Eyola L4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

1ne Putting together a wellcoordinated outfit comes easily to some, but it is an art others have to master. Although the general rule applies where darker colors are considered as formal and brighter colors as casual, sporty and fun; it is still puzzling for some people to figure out how to pair bright or dark colours together, and just as baffling, the basic techniques of combining colours. First and foremost, it is important to understand the basic guide to colour: Primary colours - red, blue and green (- the parents of the colour family. All other colours come from a combination of these three hues); Neutral colours black, white and grey; Warm colours orange, yellow and red; Cool colours - blue, green and purple.

The Art

2wo Wearing primary colours - As a general foolproof rule: do not wear more than three colours at a time. If you are not so confident with colour coordinating, there is a simple technique you can follow: the one colour trick. By sticking to one colour throughout your outfit and by keeping the rest of the colours neutral, your outfit will stand out without clashing. So, instead of trying to match colors together, you simply wear one primary color in your outfit, and keep the rest of your clothing in neutral colours.

Here are some one-colour-trick outfit suggestions: Red shirt, grey blazer, black jeans White shirt, green jacket, grey trousers

3hree Nailing the monochromatic look - Primary colours are great to use when creating the ever so modern and stylish monochromatic look - a look that comprises of only one colour from head to toe. To pull off this look, choose one colour then pick every item of your outfit in that colour. It is perfectly fine to use different shades of your chosen colour. Primary colours are perfect for creating this look and an added bonus for using one colour throughout your outfit is that it instantly makes you look taller and slimmer.

5ive The colour wheel - For the adventurous-hearted, a simple yet effective way of mixing flattering colours together is by using the basic colour wheel.

This wheel helps you to easily create harmonious colours by

of

Colour

Coordination

always choosing any two colours directly opposite each other. By this logic, blue and orange are a complimentary match and so is red and green - a festiveappropriate colour harmony.

6ix Cool vs. warm colours - Cool (and darker) colours are great to use when coordinating an outfit with an ultimate aim of instantly slimming certain parts of your body. Warm colours, on

the other hand, will command attention and will instantly bulk you up. Following this theory, if you would like to make your shoulders or your upper body appear bigger, wear a red (warm-hued) top or cover up such as a T-Shirt or blazer jacket. For your bottom half to appear slimmer, wear cool-hued (or dark coloured) bottoms.

7even Wearing patterns and prints

- Some people find it hard to coordinate clothing decorated with patterns and prints, but it need not be a great challenge.

A simple trick is to make the pattern (or print) the focal point of your outfit and make sure that the rest of your outfit is in a neutral or plain colour.

8ight Colour combination sins Some colours just don’t go well together, but luckily there is an

easy way to avoid committing fashion colour faux-pas. The following colours should never be worn together in the same outfit: black and navy blue, black and brown. white and cream. brown and grey. These colours, more often than not, don’t enhance or compliment each other and therefore pairing these colours together is committing the ultimate fashion faux-pas.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

L5

Teens world

L6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Ann Izedunor All teens have sexual lives, whether with others or through fantasies.

An important part of adolescence is thinking about and experimenting with aspects of your sexuality. This will help you to grow and discover who you are. An important part of your sexuality is physical changes your body go through; for example, puberty, which includes the onset of the first menstrual period for girls, and the first emission of semen for boys. Because of changes in nutrition, these changes in your bodies occur at earlier ages than they did for your parents. Many teens are physically ready for sexual activity before they are emotionally ready. It is important to think, learn, and plan for sexual activity. Parents are the best teacher when it comes to advising their teens towards having an early sex. When parents fail to guide their teens, they become something else. Teens need guideline for them to succeed. Most teens have started engaging themselves in early sexual activities. And not only that, they even engage themselves in drugs dealing! When teens engage themselves in early sex, it ends up destroying their lives! The pressure on teens to have sex is ‘’enormous,’’ and not only do they have to contend with the direct pressure to do it from their date or steady boyfriend\ girlfriend. When teenage girls have early sex they end up experiencing these: pains, worries, fear, anxiety, regret, dishonor, dread, embarrassment, apprehension, humiliation, hesitation, etc. They may also feel their internal pressure to keep pace with their friends, as if they are competing in a marathon to lose their virginity. The only way parents can help their teens resist these pressures is by anticipating them and also discussing it with them. Parents need to be free with their teens even when it comes to sex! For they will surely come across it if they are not properly lectured, they will definitely encounter it through their friends, in school and other places. It’s not easy being a teen. Teens face lots of challenges and they have many activities going on in their lives.

Teens need to be taught and advised towards having an early sex, so as to enlighten them on the risks they will encounter, which will end up ruining their lives. Furthermore, teens are more likely to have early sex if they: Ò Entered puberty early; Ò Socialize with youngsters who approve of and encourage sexual activity; Ò Place little value on education; Ò Have a poor relationship with their parents, particularly their father; Ò Rarly attend religious instruction or services.

So parents really need to lecture their teens towards having early sex.

Teens that have sexual intercourse at a young age and have multiple partners have a higher rate of contacting diseases. Early sexual activity puts teens at risk for pregnancy

Guiding teens towards early

and sexually transmitted diseases, and of cervical cancer. Preventing teenage sex requires skillful parenting, an open dialogue about sexual matters, and straight talk about the potential health and emotional risks.

Parents need to be open with their teen by having a conversational chat with them. Parents are more likely to do some of these: Healthy Communication: when parents order their teens not to have sex, she might get defensive and shut down the lines of communication. Instead, instill open and honest communication, which will help her feel safe in discussing sexual matters without fear of judgment, criticism or punishment. She’ll also be

more likely to listen to your concerns and recommendations. To initiate a dialogue, ask for her feelings about sex. You might lead off by saying, “I’m curious -- what are your feelings about sex?” Show genuine interest in her viewpoints without arguing or criticizing them, even if you don’t agree. If she admits to having a sexual experience, avoid become angry or critical. Instead, let her know that you’ll always love her unconditionally.

Share Your Views: After your teen shares her viewpoints about sex, it’s your turn. Avoid acting upset, fearful or insistent that she agrees with your point of view.

Instead, calmly explain why you

! x e s

hope she’ll wait to have sex until she’s older and in a committed relationship. Tell her why you believe sex is more meaningful and rewarding when it’s an intimate act between two loving and responsible adults.

You might even share some of your own early sexual experiences and any lessons about sexual responsibility that you learned from them.

Encourage her to always feel free to talk to you about sexual matters, including questions that may seem confusing and annoying.

Consequences: Without making it sound like a lecture, calmly inform your teen about the dangers associated with early sex. For the females, Sex places

her at risk for unwanted pregnancy and contracting STDs such as HIV, herpes, syphilis and gonorrhea.

And for the male, early sex makes them lose concentration and even causes them some damages. Your teen might believe that it’s safe to engage in some sexual activities that don’t include intercourse, but the only way to ensure total safety is through abstinence. Let her know that some STDs can be contracted through anal sex, oral-genital sex or even skin-to-skin contact. When parents have conversational chat with their teens, they will understand the dangers of having early sex and they will turn a new leaf. But when parents are ignorant of the attitude of their teens towards sex, they will make wrong decisions with their lives and terrible mistakes. Teens love it when they are being cared for and advised. Teens are not perfect, they are still growing up and they are mostly attracted to what they consider fun. When it comes to the girls, parents need to advise them on the dangers of having early sex. Like becoming pregnant, losing their virginity, contracting diseases, losing concentration, etc. There are so many dangers attached to teenagers having early sex, and parents are advised to lead their teens on the right path. Because if parents fail to educate their teens and they later ruin their lives, they will question their parents and can even go to the extreme end of hating their parents.

Teens are not perfect, they need to be loved!

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

L7 Relationship

Depression!

Ann Izedunor

A deadly illness in relationship

Depression is an illness that by its very nature undermines many of the aspects of a loving relationship that make it possible to continue the struggle when things become difficult. Relationships thrive on communication, for example, and a certain amount of give and take, but depression erodes both of these. Meaningful communication is often one of the first casualties of depression, and depressed people simply lose the energy to give or the will to take. Depression is one of the most common psychological difficulties disorders affecting couples, and not only couples, but Adults, Teens, and even relationships! Depression is a complex condition with physical, cognitive, social and emotional consequences for people who suffer from this debilitating psychological difficulty.

The physical effects of depression include changes in sleep patterns such as disturbed sleep and changes in eating habits which may cause weight loss or weight gain. Depression is like an unwelcome obnoxious guest at a party, the bully at the table next to you in school, the bad roommate you can’t kick out of your house. It’s overwhelming, saddening, frustrating, and imposing. When depression worms its way into a marriage, it can turn a good thing upside down in a short time.Depression pushes its way between two spouses when it shows up. It puts its mark on people.

That’s the trickery of depression. Depression sometimes comes on after something that might make anyone emotionally upset, like a death in the family or diagnosis of a serious illness. And the cognitive effects include difficulty concentrating, causing problems, and performing work, academic and other daily activities. People who are depressed are literally not themselves, and that makes it difficult for both parties to remain committed to working things out.

People who are depressed are likely to lose interest in activities that both partners formerly enjoyed. They are likely to lose interest in sex, for example, and may find it dif-

ficult to sleep or to get out of bed. They may lose interest in food or enjoyable activities, etc. There can often be changes in cognitive thought patterns with depressed people developing negative thought patterns about the world, other people and themselves.

The emotional effects of depression include low mood, tearfulness, mood swings and being particularly prone to anger. Managing depression in a relationship requires the couple to work together on “how” it is taken care of. It sounds mechanical, but part of it needs to be. If depression isn’t cared for, it can wreak havoc! If depression comes in between partners, it will do nothing but impact: 1) loneliness 2) paralyzing fear 3) racing heart and thoughts 4) achy body 5) headaches 6) stomach aches 7) insomnia

8) sleeping all day 9) annoyance towards your friends and family And even a whole lot more. Oh! And also for being a lousy partner in a relationship. So you see, depression is a terrifying killer! And when couples and partners allow it into their lives, it will do nothing but wreck up their lives! Couples and as well as partners may respond to depression in different ways.

Men, for example, tend to display anger and may even become abusive, while women are more likely to sink into sadness and despair. People who are depressed are likely to say or do things they would never ordinarily do or say. It’s important for the healthy partner to realize that they shouldn’t take these behaviors personally. Despite what he or she may say, depressed couples or partner needs his or her loved ones more than ever in order to get adequate and appropriate treatment and recover from depression.

It’s also more important than ever to keep

communicating. Offer encouragement, but keep your own expectations realistic. Gently encourage your depressed partner to eat a healthful diet, exercise, and socialize occasionally. But avoid criticism and nagging! Neither is likely to be helpful. Instead of allowing depression to ruin the good time you are having with your partner, you really have to stand up for your right and fight it back. It’s not going to be easy, but you have to try, at least it’s better than allowing it take over your relationship. Once you have finally succeeded in winning the spirit of depression, you and your partner can try some of these: Reconnect with each other: reconnecting yourselves is a wonderful way to reassure yourselves on the love you have for each other. It’s a way to understand one another. And by doing so, the couple\partners will also appreciate one another. Reconnection fills in the space that was made blank, due to the time when depression took place.

Spending more time with each other: spending more time with your partner is wonderful. In fact, you can even go out to recreational centers, cinemas, etc. or you can even play video games together, crack jokes, and do all the crazy things you can even imagine. You can even bake cakes, prepare different varieties of dishes. Have a pillow fight, bath together, sleep together, as a matter of fact do everything together.

It builds up the love.

Attending events: this is indeed a great deal of making each other happy after suffering from depression. You can attend clubs, parties, and even weddings. It will help both partners, and it will rebuild their love lives.

Vacations: Both partners can have a time out and spend more time together. You can go on vacation, or go to the beach. Everything you do must have a sign of true love in it. Once you and your partner hooks up with all these tips, you will both find out that depression is useless! Because you have succeeded in kicking it out of your lives.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

L8 Television Showing on

Showing on

152 Africa Magic Epic

20:58

140 Eva Channel

13:05

Tue, 1 Dec | PG 16

Tue, 1 Dec | PG16

While exploring a cave, two skiers find the body of a 400-year-old samurai warrior entombed in ice. He is brought to the United States and revived through cryosurgery. John Calvin, Charles Lampkin, Frank Schuller, Hiroshi Fujioka, Janet Julian. (1985) J. Larry Carroll

101 M-Net West

00:15 3 Days To Kill 02:15 All Is Lost 04:01 Britain’s Got Talent 04:47 Behind The Scenes: Beatenberg 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 The Big Bang Theory 06:30 Proof 07:30 Idols SA 09:13 Behind The Scenes: Delivery Boys 09:30 Resurrection 10:30 The McCarthys 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 Britain’s Got Talent 13:00 State Of Affairs 14:00 Revenge 15:00 Madam Secretary 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 The Odd Couple 17:30 Britain’s Got Talent 18:30 Chicago PD 19:30 Mr. Robot 20:30 Battle Creek 21:30 State Of Affairs 22:30 Secrets & Lies

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo 00:30 The Del Monte Dynasty 01:20 Cruel Love 02:10 For Love And Justice 03:00 Part Of Me 03:50 Queen Of Hearts 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Husband For Hire 07:00 Part Of Me 07:50 Queen Of Hearts 08:40 For Love And Justice 09:30 Cruel Love 10:20 Husband For Hire 11:10 Part Of Me 12:00 Queen Of Hearts 12:50 For Love And Justice 13:40 Cruel Love 14:30 Husband For Hire 15:20 Part Of Me 16:10 Queen Of Hearts 17:00 For Love And Justice 17:50 Cruel Love 18:40 Husband For Hire 19:30 Part Of Me 20:20 Queen Of Hearts 21:10 For Love And Justice 22:00 Cruel Love 22:50 Husband For Hire

00:40 The Weakest Link

11:35 Hell’s Kitchen USA

01:26 Luther

12:24 Top Gear

02:20 Come Dine With Me

13:20 Come Dine With Me

03:10 EastEnders

14:14 Live At The Apollo

03:39 QI

15:06 The Weakest Link

04:10 Top Gear

15:59 EastEnders

05:00 Only Fools And Horses

16:30 Deal Or No Deal

05:31 QI

17:10 Pointless

06:04 My Family 06:36 EastEnders

18:02 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

07:05 Antiques Roadshow

18:59 QI

07:57 The Weakest Link

19:34 QI

08:47 Pointless

20:08 Would I Lie To You?

09:36 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

20:42 Mr Sloane

10:20 Deal Or No Deal

21:13 Miranda Special Xmas 2014

11:01 My Family

21:53 Mrs Brown’s Boys 22:27 Mrs Brown’s Boys

154 Africa Magic Family 00:06 Star Gist 00:37 At Home With Michelle Attoh 01:37 Good Morning Africa 02:37 Good Morning Africa 03:15 Music Block 04:12 Filler: Entertainment 04:37 At Home With Michelle Attoh 05:30 Behind The Scenes: When Love Happens 06:00 Good Morning Africa 06:36 Behind The Scenes: Secret Room 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 Jonzing 08:45 Coco Bill

Aka Amaka The Village Girl. Falsely accused of a crime, a girl suffers the fate of the poor. But in a bid to clear her name, things spiral out of control for the worse. Ngozi Ezeonu, Queen Nwokoye. (2014) NonsoEkene Okonkwo

09:00 Katemba Mu Kkooti 09:18 Behind The Scenes: Nemesis 09:30 Kumwesu 10:00 Good Morning Africa 10:34 Behind The Scenes: When Love Happens 11:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 12:00 Music Block 13:00 Tinsel 13:30 Star Gist 14:00 Nowhere To Be Found 14:30 Rolling With Faith History 15:04 Lies That Bind 15:30 Lies That Bind 15:49 Behind The Scenes: Nemesis

155 Africa Magic World 16:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 17:00 Kumwesu 17:30 Mashariki Mix 18:00 Katemba Mu Kkooti 18:18 Behind The Scenes: Enitan 18:30 Kakibe Ki 19:00 Tinsel 19:30 Star Gist 20:00 Karma 20:30 Rolling With Faith History 21:00 Jara 21:33 Playing Victim 22:38 Behind The Scenes: The Kingdom

00:25 Jara 01:00 Good Morning Africa 02:00 Music Block 03:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 04:00 Jacob’s Cross 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 Soul On Fire 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 So Wrong So Wright 10:30 Prem 11:00 Jacob’s Cross 12:00 Jacob’s Cross 13:00 Music Block 14:00 Music Block 15:00 Star Gist 15:30 Star Gist 16:00 Star Gist 16:30 Star Gist 17:00 Jacob’s Cross 18:00 Jacob’s Cross

128 SONY MAX

00:00 Caught On Camera 00:50 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 01:15 1000 Ways To Die 01:40 1000 Ways To Die 02:05 Lock Up 03:45 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 04:35 Extreme Reality Clips 05:00 World’s Wildest Police Videos 05:50 World’s Wildest Police Videos 06:40 Video Zonkers 07:05 Whaddyado 07:30 Caught On Camera 08:30 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 09:30 Extreme Reality Clips 10:00 World’s Wildest Police Videos 11:00 World’s Wildest Police Videos 11:55 Video Zonkers 12:25 Whaddyado 12:55 Caught On Camera 13:50 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 14:45 Extreme Reality Clips 15:15 Stunts Unlimited 16:30 Video Zonkers 17:00 Caught On Camera 18:00 Whaddyado 18:30 Extreme Reality Clips 19:00 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 20:00 Bad Ink 20:30 Guy Code 21:00 Online Dating Rituals...

22:00 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:30 World’s Wildest Police Videos

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Tech Times Æ s

TT 1

Inye Kemabonta, Editor, Tech Times inye@technologylaw.com.ng

CPN Institutes in Owerri, Enugu train graduates, others on technology — Opara George Opara is the Chief Operating Officer, Centre Point Nigeria (CPN). His firm was recently recognised as the IT Services & Support Company of the Year, 2015 at the NiTA Award in Lagos. He spoke to Tony Nwakaegho in this exclusive interview on the benefits of technology, CPN operations and solutions. Excerpts: Opara What is your company being recognised for today at this NiTA event?

The event today is about recognising excellence performance and achievement. And we thank God because Centre Point Network (CPN) was nominated by some people we don’t even know. And it is the masses that determined the winner. The masses voted and that is how Centre Point Network won the best IT of the year 2015 award which is being recognised today.

What is the position of technology in Centre Point Network business?

Without technology, you and I will not be where we are today.

Flash your mind back to when there was no GSM phone and when there was only land line.

With your smart phone you are on the move, you are transacting business, you are on the social media, you are getting information, distributing and filing report to your head office.

Technology has conquered the process that could have made you to write down and rush to your office. With your ATM you can go to any bank on weekend and pick your cash, but it was not possible before. It was technology that solved it. It has improved our lives. Services in the oil companies, banks and everything we do now are based on technology.

What is your take with respect to the merging of the ministry of Communication Technology to Communications Ministry?

We are in the private sector.

Our job is to keep driving forward with technology, looking for new ways in doing things, making sure that we bridge the gap between the advanced world and the developing world. We are learning from the advanced world, but what I am saying is that no matter the bridging it’s just a kind of relationship that will not dampen the spirit for our drive for technology. The drive for the private sector will continue to rise. We see that innovations are coming up and these innovations have to be utilized for the benefit of our people. Whether the ministries are merged, technology will continue to grow.

technology to monitor what is happening at home. He watches it through the link on the screen and that is technology. You are coming home and you press a button in your car, the cursor will open the gate for you. But some other person wants to press the same cursor from his own car and it will not work.

You press your cursor and the gate opens, you press the cursor again and the gate closes. We are going to experience boom and the boom we are going to experience will be when we have constant power supply. Technology does not thrive on lack of electricity. When we have constant power supply, technology will continue to boom. In the next two years I see a lot of organisation especially the ministry being technology compliant, getting to know that they can’t do anything manually except through the use of technology.

Where would you place technology in the next five years?

There are a lot of dynamics in the industry. There are a lot of changes; even your smart phone today in the next six months is outdated, obsolete. So technology is a continuous changing thing. I see a phase where we might not even be able to do anything again without technology. You can see somebody not at home, but at work using

What is Centre Point Network doing to boost technology in Nigeria?

The CPN team has been computing a lot of operational work flow. We have set up an e-library for Imo State government. It is digitalized e-library. CPN from design to planning to delivery, we implemented it. We look at word process where you do manual operations and convert it to automatic operation to help efficiency. That is technology and

this technology is interested in the bottom-line of every organisation because something that could cost you less than nothing with just a few staff to realise, you are using multiple staff to do it. And once technology comes in you can redeploy those fossil staff into other areas. Technology takes care of that and reduces your overhead.

Technology is the way to every organisation because without it even people who are doing laundry services uses washing machines, dryers and it makes it faster for them. Technology has reduced the man hour for washing, drying and ironing the clothes and gets the result faster in 10 minutes.

What are the solutions being produced by Centre Point Network?

We have the e-library and Resource System, POS softwares and developed accounting softwares, build local area network, wide area networks and internet security networks. We are into education because we believe that apart from deploying the network, we also pass the knowledge to the upcoming ones. Go to our universities today, somebody will say I ama graduate of computer science, but give him the computer he doesn’t know how to use it, and he run away from it. Centre Point Network has established an insti-

tute in Owerri and Enugu that will train every graduate, non graduate, corporate organisation on technology and every aspect of ICT, be it from the simplest computer appreciation to the highest one which is ethical hacking. CPN has an institution that is well equipped and funded and we keep training our young ones to be able to catch up. This is how India started, and they started with having so many ICT schools. Today India is producing more programmers and selling it to the world. CPN looked back and said in order to support the government we need to go back and set up schools to teach people ICT. We can partner with universities and say you teach theory and we will come and teach the practical because only the theory cannot get the person anywhere. That is how we set up that school. It is a world class school. The Owerri school will soon be commissioned.

How do you get your funding for such projects?

Basically, the Broad of Directors support us because it is not easy to get funding from anywhere, but the Broad are doing a lot for us. We also approach the banks to help us with fund.

If adequate fund was to be there we could replicate the schools in so many cities to help our people. Funding is a challenge actually.

Tech Times TT 2 Stories by Tony Nwakaegho As part of its desire to consolidate on its relationship with the Nigerian government and other stakeholders through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) declared that it was already working with the NITDA to identify ICT start-ups in the country in order to help grow local entrepreneurship into global technology players.

Mr. Bilal Al-Rais, DWTC’s director of Sales Exhibitions and Events Management, who was attending the eNigeria conference and exhibition at the instance of the NITDA made this announcement to the media during a recent courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Mrs. Uju HassanBaba, in Abuja.

The NIPC had last October featured in the Nigerian Pavilion inside the GITEX technology show organised by the DWTC. The Nigerian Pavilion at GITEX was put together by the NITDA as part of efforts to drive global attention and investment on Nigeria’s fledgling technology sector. GITEX is the fastest growing technology expo in the world.

In the 35th edition that took place this year, the NITDA themed Nigeria’s presence on ‘opening global marketplace for local ICT startups.’ Fourteen startups were promoted alongside 12 other more established

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

NITDA, DWTC connect NIPC, other stakeholders to promote ICT startups Nigerian ICT companies in the five-day event that recorded over 145, 000 trade visitors from over 115 countries.

“I’m in the country to attend the eNigeria conference organised by the NITDA and also explore further opportunities with other stakeholders. As you may already be aware, the Dubai World Trade Centre is the organiser of the fastest growing largescale ICT exhibition in the world called GITEX Technology Week and Nigeria’s participation has steadily been growing in value through the efforts of Mr. Peter Jack and his team at the NITDA,” Al Rais said.

Al Rais said part of the objectives of his visit is to see how the NITDA could further consolidate on its goal to promote local startups globally with the participation of sister agencies such as the NIPC and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) that he had also paid courtesy visit too.

“We are mandated by the Government of Dubai to focus on ICT start-ups on a global level and we have an outreach programme dedicated to identifying who these fantastic start-ups are.

Under this programme, we are scouting for the start-ups in Nigeria to enable us to put forward investors to them and provide

them with mentorship in a variety of incubation zones. I have been talking to a lot of startups at the ongoing eNigeria conference and I believe that there are a lot of fantastic solutions that could make it in the global marketplace.

“The ultimate objective is to support them through their journeys of increasing their business opportunities to the global community at GITEX, which comes up in October 2016. I believe the NITDA could further expand the opportunities for local startups through an effective synergy with strategic partners such as the NIPC tasked with generating investments across sectors into Nigeria,” Al Rais added.

In her response, Hassan-Baba said the NIPC will welcome every opportunity geared at achieving the Commission’s goals for investment even as she stated that the NIPC was able to leverage on its participation at the 2015 GITEX to open talks with prospective investors into Nigeria.

“What they are trying to do is to assist young people to start up their own businesses in the ICT sector. NIPC is ensuring that investments come into all sectors of the economy. So, this is the start-up that will help harness the creativity of our young peo-

Jack ple in ICT.” As the agency responsible for promoting Nigeria’s IT agenda, the NITDA, in the last few years, has aggressively sought to grow local ICT startups as well as provide impetus to achieve the government’s Local Content policy.

As the country contact organisation for the DWTC, it invited private and public sector stakeholders including the NIPC,

NEPC and state ICT agencies to ensure Nigeria’s successful participation in GITEX 2015.

To further thicken its engagement with the DWTC, it invited the trade centre to attend its own annual IT conference and expo: the eNigeria so as to afford the DWTC opportunity to engage the local stakeholders and have an on-the-spot assessment of Nigeria’s IT sector.

‘ICT Industry needs convergence for benefit of consumers’

Shittu

Stakeholders have expressed their reservations on the use of different regulators both in the telecom and broadcast industry and harped on the need for convergence for the benefit of the consumers.

This position is fallout of the trends from recent West Africa Convergence Conference held in Lagos to analyse the benefits of convergence to the consumer.

In other climes, the consumer remains the biggest gainer in the convergence bargain because he is in an era of ubiquitous connectivity, where his connectivity device and his entire life are tied together. But in today’s ICT terrain, convergence is forcing industries to adapt to new ways of doing things, while new industries are emerging to deliver enriched user experiences to the consumer.

In countries where there is fibre to the home, converged services are being offered to subscribers, from your cable decoder, you can connect your television,

telephone and computer for Internet access. You could also link the Internet terminal to a router for wireless Internet access.

Today, convergence delivers similar services like video, telephony, data, over the same transmission platform; and so balancing regulation has become more difficult for the regulators both in the telecom and broadcast industry.

Therefore, convergence of technology and media at the Nigeria’s level is still shrouded in regulatory quagmires, as the country presently has different regulators for telecommunications and broadcasting, which is the NCC and NBC respectively.

‘Addressing Infrastructural Challenges in a Converged Market’ organised by Knowhow Media, publisher of IT Edge Magazine, the majority of the speakers agreed that one single regulatory body is needed, instead of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which takes care of telecom and the Nation-

al Broadcasting Commission (NBC), which takes care of broadcasting.

This, they say, will fast track convergence trend and ultimately benefit the consumers. First to share this opinion is the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). Engr. Lanre Ajayi, the President of the association stated emphatically that there is an urgent need for both the NCC and the NBC to converge, saying the two agencies are regulating same technology.

“Technically, the industry has converged today by doing multiple things in one device. So why is the administrative side of the industry not converging?” he asked.

For Engr. E. I. Amana, the Chairman DigiTeam Nigeria, the company saddled with the responsibility of guiding Nigeria through the digital migration process, convergence is the way to go, but cautioned that it should be allowed to go through policy CONTINUED ON PAGE TT 3

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

TT 3 Tech Times

NCC, NGF, MDAs to harmonize multiple taxation, others ÏAs ATC Nigeria pledge improved QoS Stories by Tony Nwakaegho The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) alongside other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are brainstorming on modalities to end multiple taxations, regulations in the information and communication technology (ICT) industry.

The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta disclosed this at the end of meeting with a delegation who paid him a courtesy call in his office from ATC Wireless Infrastructure Company of Nigeria (ATC Nigeria).

Danbatta said the Commission is also engaging other agencies of government in talks in respect to relationship with telecommunications Service Providers who are often the victims of these taxes and multiple regulations.

NCC as a responsible regulatory agency, the EVC said that is worried about multiple regulations and taxes because they do not augur well for smooth development of the telecommunications sector.

“So we have decided to engage all stakeholders especially other government agencies in order to cushion the pains operators go through.

“The NCC is particularly worried about the indiscriminate way base transceiver stations are sealed by agencies and some State governments and we have appealed to these agencies and the State Governors to show some understanding,” he added.

According to him, the commission is particularly in talks with them to understand the implications of these actions as they affect quality of service and other sundry matters, including power supply.

The EVC NCC tasked ATC Nigeria to ensure regular power supply to the managed base stations in order to make a differ-

Danbatta

ence, because government has created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

In his earlier remarks, Chief Executive of ATC Nigeria, Mr. Gordon Porter said his team came to acquaint itself with the

NCC management and to “tell you what we do, how we do it and why we do what we do”.

ATC disclosed that it recently acquired 4716 cell sites from Bharti Airtel Nigeria and for the past 146 days it has deployed 1,000

generators and replaced 600 aircondition units.

Porter said so far over $11million has been invested by the company on these towers with a view to extensively improve the quality of service.

Porter also said ATC has been in constant talks with host communities with a view to improving relations and right-of-way.

He explained that even though it has a commercial relationship with Airtel, it is interested in working with other operators especially on the issue of colocation, adding that ATC hopes to inject about $100million in the business in the next two years.

The EVC NCC received the visitors in the presence of Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, Chief of Staff to the EVC, Mr. Usman Malah, while Porter led Ms Lucretia Fontaine, Director, Corporate Advisory & International Compliance, Nigeria, Mr. Onyeaghana Oji, Regional Manager, Regulatory and Mr. Dubem Agbakoba, Head, Health, Safety and Environment.

SAP , Acumen catalyze advancement of social entrepreneurs in Africa, India SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) in collaboration with Acumen, a non-profit global social venture fund that invests in companies, leaders and ideas to change the way the world tackles poverty gathered to celebrate the progress of the SAP Social Entrepreneur Fellowship today in Nairobi.

Bringing together SAP’s global business and innovation expertise and Acumen’s 15 years of investing in early-stage social enterprises, the100-day programme was created to help social entrepreneurs in Africa and India bring their companies to scale and drive faster solutions to poverty by addressing the shared challenges social enterprises face in emerging markets.

“Social enterprises can accelerate innovation, create jobs, and spur economic growth,”

ICT industry needs convergence

said Andrew Waititu, Managing Director at SAP East Africa.

“That’s especially true in Kenya, which needs to create more 3.9 million jobs by 2020, according to a new Endeavour Insight Report. The SAP Social Entrepreneur Fellowship gives these CEOs the opportunity to learn from business and technology experts, so they can take their business to the next level while driving sustainable growth in their countries.”

As part of the fellowship, the CEOs, all from Acumen’s portfolio, travelled to Silicon Valley in July to take part in a leadership development programme before returning to execute their plans for growth in their respective countries.

Their enterprises, which represent a variety of sectors including energy, agriculture and education, take an inno-

CONTINUED FROM PAGE TT 1

processes, especially on the part of regulatory authorities.

Amana argued in a presentation titled ‘Challenges to Digital Migration and Local Content in a Converged Market’ that “Convergence should involve a new regulatory structure, which should be built on the back of existing structure, laws and regu-

L-R: Andrew Waititu, Managing Director, Sap East Africa and Duncan Onyango, Managing Director, Acumen East Africa.

vative approach to addressing the problems of poverty. They have proven business models with the potential to scale and replicate across multiple markets but face a number of challenges, ranging from marketing

to talent recruitment, keeping them from becoming sustainable businesses capable of creating lasting social impact. The SAP fellowship was designed to address these challenges and build social enterprises to cre-

ate jobs and promote economic growth throughout these emerging markets.

“With a 40-person team spread across seven countries, it’s been challenging to actually make

latory bodies, as convergence in the communications industry is no longer a theoretical possibility, but rather the realistic trend of the actual development in telecommunications, broadcasting and information technology.”

The challenge before the regulator in a converged environment is enormous bearing in mind that the internet which convergence is subjected to is not amenable to

certain rules and regulations that the regulatory bodies will want to enforce.

For the Nigerian Communications Commission, it will continue to play an active role in providing quality regulatory interventions in terms of promoting ethical conduct, ensuring a level playing ground, fair and transparent competition.

The telecom regulator believes

that convergence is driven by growth in the penetration of broadband Internet services and competition from new service providers, which often results in the prevalence of IP-based networks.

Professor U. G. Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said: “With more

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Tech Times TT 4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 1, 2015

ICT industry needs convergence to thrive CONTINUED FROM PAGE TT 3

broadband deployment, the potential for enormous economic, social benefits and better convergence services can be achieved, regardless of the technology used to deliver the services.”

The telecommunication and the broadcast industry are in transition, where technology is driving changes. The social relevance of the services the two industries provide are on the increase, so it is advised the regulators should be clever in their duty.

Today, convergence delivers similar services like video, telephony, data, over the same transmission platform; and so balancing regulation has become more difficult for the regulators both in the telecom and broadcast industry.

Emeka MBA, Director General of the National Broadcasting

Commission (NBC) admitted that “Convergence places a regulatory dilemma for us.”

Mba said balancing the need to employ regulations to achieve a fully competitive multi platform market, and consumer protection against the need to protect and promote investment and competitiveness in the sector has become more difficult.

He therefore urged government not to impede convergence if there is no undesirable concentration of market power, adding that there is a need to avoid different treatment of competitors.

“Reduce regulation if competition increases, reconsider the need for regulation when new services emerge and consider how to treat new substitutes for regulated services,” DG NBC said.

The rapid convergence of ICT

has significant meaning for consumers, as they are benefiting from it in many ways. For example, convergence places variety of services on the same platform for the consumer. This lowers the aggregate cost to the consumer and higher profits for the provider.

According to Mr. Ikechukwu Nnamani, the Chief Executive Officer of Medallion Communications, a Lagos Interconnect firm, with convergence, players in the telecom and broadcast industry can easily share infrastructure.

He said the industry has moved on from the era of competition to what he described as co-petition.

Nnamani opines that convergence allows GSM companies to provide broadcast content on mobile services, even without a broadcast authorisation.

“Convergence thrives in a

Shittu

friendlier regulatory environment. The regulator must look at new ways of guiding people to do things that give them comfort, but will not give discomfort to other people,” he said.

Though, there appears to be no clear cut blueprint to be adopted by the industry for convergence to fully take place from the regulatory point of view, the forces are there. 4G and other incoming

WRC-15 ends, allocates spectrum for future innovation

Shola Taylor congratulating Festus Daudu after his election

Stories by Tony Nwakaegho The World Radiocommunication Conference 2015 (WRC15) ended its four-week meeting in the Geneva with a sign-off on the final Acts that revised the Radio Regulations, the international treaty governing the use of radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits and allocating spectrum for future innovation.

Experts said that this step would spur long-term investments in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry globally.

This meeting saw the first Nigerian chairmanship over the

conference led by Mr Festus Yusufu Narai Daudu, assisted by six Vice Chairmen, namely Mr A. Jamieson (New Zealand), Mr Y. Al-Bulushi (Oman), Mr D. Obam (Kenya), Ms D. Tomimura (Brazil), Mr A. Kühn (Germany), and Mr N. Nikiforov (Russian Federation).

About 3,300 participants, representing 162 out of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s 193 Member States attended the conference from 2 to 27 November. Some 500 participants representing 130 other entities, including industry, also attended the conference as observers.

In his address, chairman of WRC-15, Mr. Daudu hinted that

as new technological innovations and applications emerge, they set new challenges as well as bring new opportunities for billions around the world.

“This conference dealt with a large number of important and sensitive issues, ranging from mobile broadband communications and satellite systems to emergency communications and disaster relief, maritime and aeronautical communications, environmental monitoring and climate change, universal time and space research as well as radiocommunication services that the public relies on for health, information, education, security and safety,” Daudu said.

Also speaking, the ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao pointed out that this World Radiocommunication Conference has defined new and better ways to regulate radio services and applications.

“In a world where radiocommunications are playing an increasingly important role in connecting people, I am convinced that the outcome of this conference will represent a major contribution in making the world a better – and safer – place for all.

“A great deal has been achieved in the last four weeks and the results will have a major impact on the future of the telecommunication sector in general and radiocommunications in particular,” Zhao said.

technologies will clear the way for convergence.

“As regulator, convergence places a regulatory dilemma on us. There must be a balancing need to employ regulations to achieve a fully competitive multiplatform market, and consumer protection against the need to protect and promote investment and competitiveness in the sector…” Mba added.

SAP, Acumen to boost Africa, India social entrepreneurs Waititu, MD SAP, East Africa CONTINUED FROM PAGE TT 3

swift progress,” said Ashifi Gogo, CEO of Sproxil, a mobile verification service that helps protect East African consumers from counterfeit medicine and other products.“We took the learnings from the fellowship to create a common language and synthesize our ideas. It can be lonely as a entrepreneur when you’re discovering these new growth frontiers, so it’s important to find like-minded people to reinforce our beliefs and trigger collective success. The fellowship was a tremendous platform to bring CEOs like myself together.”

Ninety per cent of the participating entrepreneurs felt the programme contributed to the growth of their businesses made significant progress in developing their company’s senior management and driving new innovations. On a whole, the entrepreneurs improved their leadership skills in a number of areas, ranging from sharpening their pitch for investors to taking a more strategic approach to operations in order to grow their business properly.

“The Acumen CEOs who participated in the felllowship together represent a new vision for a future where all people will have choice and opportunity,” said Duncan Onyango, Acumen’s East Africa Director.

Over the last 14 years, Acumen has invested in social enterprises that are creating a real, meaningful impact in the lives of the poor.Working together with companies like SAP that share our commitment, we are helping to build a stronger environment for social entrepreneurs to succeed and creating a more inclusive economy in which everyone will benefit.”

More than 100 of East Africa’s leading investors, social change leaders and technical partners from Acumen and SAP’s communities, including guest speaker Vimal Shah, CEO of Bidco Africa, attended the celebration event, which brought attention to the power of social enterprise in accelerating positive social change and the need to create new avenues for advancing social entrepreneurship in Africa and beyond.

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VIVIAN

Vivian Chukwuemeka (born May 4, 1975) is a Nigerian shot putter and two-time Olympian.

She won the gold medal in the shot put at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and has won three consecutive titles at the All Africa Games from 1999 to 2007.

She was the African Champion in the event in 2002, 2006 and 2008 and also competes in discus throw and hammer throw, but not on world level.

Her personal best throw is 18.43 metres, achieved in April 2003 in Walnut. This is the African record.

She competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics and the World Championships in 2003 and 2005 without reaching the finals. She won a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

She graduated from Azusa Pacific University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Social Work.

She received a two-year ban from athletics for a failed drug test at the 2009 Nigerian Championships. Chukwuemeka had an intense stand-off with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. Her “B� sample had several clerical errors, including inconsistencies in bottle numbers and the meeting at which the sample was taken, and she was refused permission to have a representative present at the second testing in South Africa. She accused Nigerian doping officers of corruption and sexual harassment, as well as accusing the federation president Solomon Ogba of coercing Amaka Ogoegbunam to implicate her in drug distribution.

Her claims were dismissed by the appeals panel and her two-year ban from the IAAF remained.

Chukwuemeka returned to competition in 2012 and failed a second drugs test - for the anabolic steroid stanozolol - shortly before the Olympic Games. Subsequently, she was given a lifetime ban from competition.

Chukwuemeka

ABOUT

X2 Tuesday, December 1, 2015

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Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Chukwuemeka

VIVIAN

EXTRATIME

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Tuesday, December 1, 2015

EXTRATIME

Fayele vows to win Asoju-Oba Table Tennis tourney Sunday Akintoye

T

he runner up of 2014 Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship, David Faleye, has vowed that he will do everything to win this year’s edition.

Fayele disclosed this after defeating Saheed Amusa 4-0 on Monday at Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

The 47th edition of Asoju- Oba Table Tennis Championship served-

off on Monday and it attracted lots of ping-pongs and fans across the state.

Fayele expressed confidence that no player can stop him from winning the singles event, boasting that failure to reach his target will be a huge disappointment.

Speaking on the tournament, one of the officials, Lajide Oluranti told Extra Time that over 300 players from clubs and schools are taking part in the championship that will end on Friday.

GOtv excites subscribers with CAF U-23 AFCON matches

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

G

Otv subscribers are in for another exciting football tournament as they bring the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations – which also serves as the continent’s qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil – live to their screens.

According to Efe Obiomah, Public Relations Manager of GOtv, the tournament which holds between Nov 28—Dec 12 features the following eight teams: Senegal, South Africa, Zambia and Tunisia in Group A, while Egypt, Algeria, Mali and Nigeria are in Group B. The top

three teams at the tournament will qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as Africa’s representatives.

GOtv subscribers are also to view all the matches live on SuperSport Select 1 and SuperSport 9.

“It gives us great pleasure to bring this tournament to our subscribers; it is a two-in-one action as they get to see what serves as the qualifiers for the Olympic Games next year. GOtv’s broadcast of the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations further shows our commitment to bringing our subscribers quality football action,” Obiomah stated.

ionel perstar, L u s ’s a n s Barcelo ht) celebrate oal Messi (rigring a wonder-g after sco thletic Bilbao against Aopa del Rey final during C May 2015. game in

Messi leads nominees

for Puskas Award

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arcelona superstar Lionel Messi has been nominated for the FIFA Puskas Award that credits the finest goal scored in world football during a calendar year.

Messi, who is also in contention for a fifth Ballon d’Or at FIFA’s January ceremony in Zurich, was voted through from a 10-goal selection thanks to a stunning solo effort in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey final triumph against Athletic Bil-

bao in May. A goal against Barcelona - Alessandro Florenzi’s long-range strike for Roma in this season’s Champions League - and Wendell Lira’s bicycle kick for Goianesia against Atletico Goianiense in Brazil’s Campeonato Goiano complete the three final contenders.

Meanwhile, Luis Enrique, Pep Guardiola and Jorge Sampaoli have been named as the final three nominees for the FIFA World Coach

of the Year award.

Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique guided the club to a historic treble in his first season at the Camp Nou helm in 2014-15, while Guardiola delivered another Bundesliga title to Bayern Munich, who are unbeaten in the league this term.

Sampaoli made history at international level as he took Chile to the Copa America title on home soil with a penalty shoot-out win over Argentina in July.

Karate coach appeals to Jigawa Govt for assistance

M

allam Abdulhadi Bilal, the Assistant Coach, Jigawa Gyakuryu Karate Team, has appealed to the State Government to give more attention to the development of the game.

Bilal told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Dutse that the disparity between Karate and

other games was responsible for its declining standard in the state.

He said that if the Karate team were given the needed attention, it could compete and represent the state credibly at major national and international competitions.

The coach, therefore, urged the state Commissioner for Information

and Sports, Alhaji Bala Muhammad, to restructure the team in order to attract youths to the profession.

According to him, restructuring Karate would also attract viable sponsors, noting that it was only through proper restructuring that the game could thrive.