Dtn 13 1 16

Metuh: PDP Reps issue 48-hour ultimatum to EFCC Lateef Ibrahim and Henry Omunu, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe Peoples Democratic

ÏNEC never asked Jonathan to speak on $2.1b arms deal –Secondus ÏWhy Metuh is still being detained-EFCC

House of Representatives Party (PDP) caucus in the on Tuesday issued a 48-hour

ultimatum to the Economic and Financial Crimes Com-

mission (EFCC) to release the detained National Public-

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Continued on page 6

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N150

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 22

GAINERS

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 12th January 2016.

PORTPAINT

3.94

4.13

0.19%

ACCESS

4.55

4.6

0.05%

CADBURY

16.3

CHAMPION

3.22

3.38

0.16%

MAYBAKER

1

1.05

0.05%

NB

106.24 102.02

I want my country to work like UK, US g 8

Low oil price: OPEC to hold emergency meeting gB1

–Tunde Bakare

15.49

-0.81%

GUARANTY 17.9

-4.22%

PZ

22.21

17.25

-0.65%

21.13

-1.08%

Top Fashion names to look out for in 2016 gL1

Lassa fever

Death toll rises to 41 from 93 suspected cases 14 - Minister g

Is 2016 Budget missing?

Olufemi Samuel and Egena Egena, Abuja

ÎÎÎUnbelievable though it

may seem, the 2016 national budget presented to a joint session of the National

Assembly with fanfare by President Muhammadu Buhari on 22 December, 2015 was on Tuesday declared missing.

The non-availability of the voluminous document

stalled the scheduled debate of the Budget by the legislators, who officially resumed on Tuesday after the Yuletide holidays.

Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, reportedly shocked

senators during an executive session, when he told them the budget documents could not be found.

It was gathered that Ndume explained that deliberations on the budget could

therefore not begin until fresh copies of the documents were obtained from the Presidency, the Ministry of Finance or that of National Planning.

Though President Bu-

hari presented a N6.08 trillion budget for the fiscal year 2016 to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 22, 2015, copies were not distributed to Continued on page 6

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki leaving the Presidential Villa, Abuja… on Tuesday.

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Plight of IDP’s

A

ll through history, people have been displaced as result of war, famine, earthquake, flood and other natural disasters.

Instinctively, victims of such happenstance had always sought shelter in safer places far removed from the troubled spots. Such sudden uprooting of persons in large numbers had always elicited sympathies from public-spirited persons and humanitarian groups who are touched to cater for them. Most times, such internally displaced persons are catered for by respective governments that house them in temporary shelters pending when they would safely return home.

It is therefore not out of place that hundreds of thousands of persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast of Nigeria are kept in temporary shelters by the federal and state governments awaiting the return of normalcy in their areas. According to statistics released by the Internal Displaced Monitoring Centre (IDMC) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Nigeria has 3.3 million persons displaced by conflict, making it the highest number in Africa.

Globally, Nigeria is only ranked behind Syria with 6.5 million IDPs and Columbia with 5.7 million of such persons. Besides the brutal Boko Haram insurgency, communal clashes is another factor contributing to the high number of displaced persons in the country. Fact is that clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen over grazing lands in Benue, Taraba, Zamfara, and parts of Kaduna have seen many people killed and displaced. While these unfortunate Nigerians are living in camps with minimal personal possessions, the news that some of them are being brutalised, raped and even trafficked for money is very chilling.

There is no denying that conditions in most of the camps are atrocious with many of the refugees living in crowded and unhealthy environments, where everything, from water to food, is in short supply. Indeed, rape is increasingly becoming one of the defining features of the tragedy. Besides, some criminals admitted into some of the camps due to inadequate profiling are posing real threats to the inmates.

In addition, complaints of shortage of food, shelter, clothing, bed sheets, mats and mattresses should be addressed wherever they occur.

Such needs demand urgent attention. Poor hygiene and inadequate provisions account for much of the ill health of displaced persons. We believe it is the duty of government to protect these people not only from the elements but also from the nefarious activities of human traffickers and paedophiles.

Only recently, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said that 410 babies were born, even as 187 marriages were conducted at Internally Displaced Persons camps (IDPs) in Borno and Adamawa states between August and September last year. With thousands amongst them being children and pregnant women, cholera outbreak could be disastrous.

We call on the governments to provide these people with water; bread; jobs, welfare and hope for a better tomorrow. Apart from these basic needs, the internally displaced person should be counselled, cared for and assisted to overcome the emotional traumatisation that is usually associated with such nasty experience.

In all, we call on the federal and state governments to equip the displaced persons with relevant skills that would enable them fend for themselves while in the camps and even after they return home.

Lilly-livered politicians and their gospel Sam Nzeh

ÏÏÏOne

thing that the unending defection of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has revealed is that majority of politicians in Nigeria are Lilly-livered and opportunists.

Their propensity to port from one party to another is perhaps unequalled in the world and should get a mention in the Guinness World Book of Records.

They can be best be described as AGIP- Any Government in Power and they are not ashamed. How sad!

Just at the weekend, one of them, former governor of old Anambra State,

Chief Jim Nwobodo, defected to the APC from the PDP where he was till the day of defection, a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT).

Hear his reason: “I want our people to be part of the Federal Government at the centre. I had a problem being an opposition governor.

I am not coming into APC because I want anything.

“I want our people to be reintegrated and have our own share of the Federal Government resources,” Nwobodo added while speaking at an APC meeting in Enugu.

In the same vein, Senator Uche Ekwunife, last week said she dumped the PDP for the APC because of the ineptitude of the PDP leadership.

Former chairman of the PDP in Akwa Ibom State, Chief Otu Ita Otoyo, also recently defected to the

Words On Marble :

APC alongside a former senator, Aloysius Etok and former member of the House of Representatives, Eseme Eyiboh.

One of the decampees, Eseme Eyibo, who was former spokesperson of the House of Representatives, said he was joining the APC, to “take part in the struggle to rescue the state and its people”.

What is clear is that the former PDP members who have now defected to APC and others who in the days ahead may defect to the governing party are fair weather politicians. They just want a piece of the action in the current APC administration. Such political prostitutes and persons who engage in politics of convenience and not conviction should not be taken serious no matter the reasons they adduce to justify their defection.

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike Managing Editor Yinka Olujimi Daily/ Online Editor Biodun Durojaiye Deputy Editor/Southern Bureau Chief Sam Nzeh Deputy Editor/Northern Bureau Chief Lateef Ibrahim

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Sam Amadi

Ifie Sekibo

Pat Utomi

“In this country, we suffer from three things – lack of rigour and role occupant ethic as well as excessive populism.”

“We can’t grow an economy where all we want to spend on are dollar-denominated and foreign goods.”

“Nigeria is a country dying to be led and because it is not being led the potential is being lost.”

4 4

Daily Times Nigeria Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016 Friday, November 13, 2015

‘PEACE ADVANTAGE’ Frequent Flyer Program

Overview PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Air Peace “Peace Advantage” Frequent Flyer Program is a customer initiative by Air Peace to show appreciation to & continuously reward its frequent flyers for their patronage from inception of Air Peace flight operations. The Peace Advantage FFP offers distinctive value to frequent fliers by delivering ‘recognition’, ‘rewards’ and differentiated service levels with an integrated customer interaction strategy to allow for continuous customer expression & feedback via a unique smartphone app (Android/iOS/blackberry 10 versions) and a dedicated website.

The “Peace Advantage” FFP aims to clearly communicate to Air Peace customers the value Air Peace places on their patronage & Air Peace’s commitment to building long lasting mutually beneficial relationships with its customers. The basic principle being that – The More You Fly with Air Peace, The More You Get Back From Air Peace.

The “Peace Advantage” Program rewards program members with an exchangeable loyalty currency called “Peace Points” for all their qualifying International, Regional & Domestic flights on Air Peace. Earned ”Peace Points” can be exchanged by program members for Air Peace flights nationwide, and in Future Air Peace promotional offers, gift merchandise, vouchers & other lifestyle related items from a dedicated online rewards catalogue – The Air Peace Loyalty Shop. In addition, program members will also be entitled to additional benefits – discounts & status benefits – from a network of Air Peace partners nationwide.

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Investigate HURIWA over Buhari’s assassination plot —Fr. Mbaka Moses Oyediran Enugu

ÏÏÏ

Enugu fiery Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, on Tuesday, called on security agents to beam its searchlight on the coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and its National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, over their threat to drag him to court concerning his New Year prophesy on plot to assassinate President Muhammadu Buhari.

The rights group had asked the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBCN) to sanction Rev. Father Mbaka within 21 days “for abandoning his sacred vocation and deviating into the mundane roadside career of politics, while he hid under the canopy of his priestly vocation, failing which he will be dragged to the Holy Father Pope Francis.”

However, reacting through his media aide, Barr. Maximus Ugwuoke, the cleric said it beats every imagination why HURIWA should single out his prophesy concerning Buhari’s life, stressing that

such meant that the rights group should be considered by investigators as the prime suspects.

Ugwuoke stated that “one vital question Nigerians should not fail to ask is why this group of democratic miscreants is not perturbed by all other Prophesies of Fr. Mbaka this year except the plot against Mr. President.”

He said the ministry had noted with great disappointment the statement credited to the Human Rights group in a section of the media threatening to drag Fr. Mbaka to Pope if the Catholic

Bishops Conference of Nigeria fails to reprimand him and stop him from actively associating with politicians.

While describing HURIWA’s statement as careless, he asked: “Are they guilty or privy to the plot which the man of God had exposed? The labourious manner with which they attacked the prophetic message in an attempt to filibuster and water it down betrays their innocence on this issue and this should make them prime suspects in the list of the nation’s intelligent security surveillance.”

FG to assist Kwara in rice expansion Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin

ÏÏÏ

The Federal Government is to assist Kwara state in rice expansion programme to boost food sufficiency in Nigeria.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh stated this on Tuesday in Ilorin when he paid a courtesy visit to the State governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed at his lodge.

Chief Ogbeh, who said Kwara state is identified with massive rice and cassava production, called on farmers in the state to take interest in cashew production as the federal government would soon send varieties of cashew seedlings to Kwara state and some other states of the federation.

He also called on each state of the federation to focus on one or two major export crops with comparative advantage as a measure towards improving Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

The Minister promised that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would turn agricultural sector into new oil and gas by making the sector more attractive to farmers and potential investors.

Ogbeh

5 News Cocaine: NDLEA quizzes own staff, four others Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏ The National Drug Law

Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is currently interrogating one of its operatives over alleged conspiracy to import cocaine from Brazil.

The investigation which commenced after an abandoned luggage from Brazil was found to contain 2.24kg of cocaine at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, had already led to the arrest of five suspects.

Those being interrogated include Ali Bala Adamu, a staff of the NDLEA, Ijeoma Ojukwu, a niece to late Nigerian Politician, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, and three others Victor Umeh, Uche Igwelo and Egbuche Fidelis Osiita.

Reacting to the arrest, the Acting Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Mrs. Roli Bode-George said that the agency will prosecute whoever is found guilty.

“The NDLEA is following every lead professionally and will exploit more opportunities towards getting every culprit arrested. We have also expanded the scope of our investigation and everyone involved in this illegal importation of narcotics shall be diligently prosecuted.”

Adamawa lawmaker backs Buhari‘s anti-graft war Tom Garba, Yola L-R: Member, Delta State House of Assembly (Aniocha North), Mr. Emeka Emmanuel; National Commissioner of INEC in charge of South South, Mr. Mustapha Lecky and Senator representing Delta Central in the National Assebly, Mr. Ovie Omo-Agege, during the collection of Certificate of Return at the INEC headquarters, Abuja... on Tuesday Photo: TEMITOPE BALOGUN.

2016 Budget: Delta Speaker insists on accountability, transparency ÏÏÏ

Speaker of the Delta state House of Assembly, Hon. Monday Igbuya, has said that the House would ensure accountability, probity, transparency and efficiency in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the 2016 budget.

The Speaker said this while opening the Assembly for the 2016 legislative year in Asaba, the state capital.

His words: “I wish to quickly reiterate that the Delta state House of Assembly has been adequately positioned to meet the demands of making well focused research and people

oriented laws that will impact positively on the people of the state. This is contingent on our firm belief that as the pillar of democracy, the legislative arm must be a catalyst of change, working in concert with the other arms of government in providing democratic dividends to the people”.

He asked lawmakers to brace up for the ever-evolving and unfinished business of state development as the months ahead will no doubt be challenging.

“We must work hard to secure a better life and greater opportunities for them through

viable and pragmatic laws and other legislative instruments that would ensure viable socioeconomic and infrastructural transformation in all the 29 constituencies in the state.

“We must also renew our priorities, listen to one another more attentively and remind ourselves of the ways by which our aspirations and destiny are intertwined as a people.

“Presently the price of crude oil at the international market is put at around $38. In the face of declining crude oil price, it is clear that our over-reliance on a mono-product is unhealthy and unsustainable.”

ÏÏÏ

The Chief Whip of Adamawa state House of Assembly, Hassan Mamman Barguma, on Tuesday, expressed his satisfaction over the antigraft crusade of Muhammadu Buhari to retrieve the country’s stolen money by Nigerians.

Barguma described the diversion of $2.1 billion by Sambo Dasuki for the purpose of purchasing arms for the fight against insurgency and to protect the country against any aggression as a painful act to every Nigerian that has the country at heart.

“I am in pain and at the same time I am getting relieved that fight against corruption is getting down to even some APC members which are being prosecuted on the arm deals” Barguma said.

The member representing Hong, one of the areas that was badly destabilised by Boko Haram, cried out that his people wouldn’t have face any trouble by insurgents if the arms were purchased.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Is 2016 Budget missing, stolen or withdrawn?

Continued from page 1 lawmakers before they proceeded on Christmas and New Year holidays.

After Ndume’s bombshell, the Chairman, Senate Committee of Appropriation, Danjuma Goje, was mandated to lead a search for the documents and liaise with the Presidency, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang, and the National Planning ministry on the

matter.

Senators, according to sources at the executive session, also resolved that the matter be kept under wraps, as making it public could embarrass the presidency, the National Assembly and the country.

According to the sources, senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reportedly accused the presidency of being behind the ‘theft’ of the documents, an accusation rejected by their All Progressives Congress’

(APC)counterparts, who reportedly said it was too early to speculate.

However, some of the lawmakers who spoke on condition of anonymity said they were suspicious that the Presidency might have colluded with the management of the National Assembly to quietly withdraw the documents after detecting some discrepancies in them.

Shortlt after Buhari’s maiden media chat on December 30, 2015, there were speculations that the Presi-

dent had withdrawn the documents to enable him to correct some discrepancies.

However, the Presidency and the National planning ministry denied this.

Shortly after the drama at the upper chamber of the National Assembly, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki rushed to the Aso Rock Villa where he met with President Muhammadu Buhari.

The meeting, which lasted for only about 20 minutes, was held behind

L-R: Deputy Head of Mission, Italian Embassy, Dr Luca Attanasio; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Fulvio Rustico and Minister of State, Solid Minerals, Hon. Abubakar Bwari, during a meeting with Fayemi in Abuja…on Tuesday.

closed-doors.

Saraki, however, declined comments on the alleged missing document.

Asked to confirm the report of the missing budget document, the President of the Senate dramatically smiled, joined his two hands, raised and dropped them, walked to his vehicle and drove off.

Reacting to a deluge on online enquiries on the missing budget through his twitter account @ GarShehu yesterday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, tweeted “Nobody except the President can withdraw the budget. As far as we know, he hasn’t done that. The copies in their hundreds have been delivered to both chambers of the National Assembly. By tradition, once the budget is submitted, it ceases to be our property. Enquiries as to where it is should be directed to the appropriate quarters.”

Also, when contacted after the executive session, the Senate Leader, Senator Ndume who is of the ruling APC, said it was not possible for budget to disappear from the National Assembly because each chamber of the National Assembly had its own copy apart from ceremonial copy laid by

Metuh: PDP Reps issue 48-hour ultimatum to EFCC Continued from page 1

ity Secretary of the party, Olisah Metuh, accused of money laundering.

Also, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, on Tuesday, said there was never a time that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party advised former President Goodluck Jonathan to speak on the ongoing investigation on the $2.1 billion arms’ deal scandal.

This is even as the EFCC, on Tuesday, said the continued detention of the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP was due to his refusal to refund or sign an undertaking to refund the N1.2 billion linked to him in the arms scandal.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the

PDP caucus said that while the laws of the land provide that an individual can be held for a stipulated time by security agencies, the law also states that failure to charge the detainee to court for prosecution, the detainee should be set free.

Leader of the caucus and House Minority Leader, Rep. Leo Ogor, who spoke to journalists, accused the anti-graft agency of being biased and preferential in its treatment, saying that it cannot be “different strokes for different folks”.

Rep. Ogor explained that the grudge of the caucus is that he has been held for about 10 days by the EFCC and has not been charged to any competent court of jurisdiction.

According to him, if Metuh is found guilty in a court of law, he should

be made to face the consequences of his actions, adding that the EFCC cannot be the prosecutor and the judge.

“We want to lay emphasis on due process; we are not in support of corrupt attitude or actions. I will lay emphasis on due process and the rule of law and the issue here again is the arrest, the voice of the PDP who is Chief Olisa Metuh.

“As a House, we condemn it totally and we insist that within the next 48hours, Olisa Metuh should be given administrative bail or be taken before a competent law of jurisdiction where he can be tried and if pronounced guilty be made to face the consequence.

“The action of the EFCC as it stands today negates the principle of the laws that run the commission,

it offends the fundamental rights of Olisa Metuh. It is more like pronouncing him guilty before he is put forward for trial.

“On this same issue that borders on the transfer of funds, Jafaru Isa, who was also arrested on the same subject matter was detained by the EFCC and in less than eight hours was given administrative bail after the chairman of the EFCC visited Aso Rock.

“We are not saying that somebody is guilty, but it is not in our position, and I repeat not in the position of any other person but a competent jurisdiction to pronounce anybody guilty.

“EFCC lacks the power to say refund money, it is the courts. If he was asked to use those money for a specific assignment, if he has said he has used the money

and it is not there, it is now for him to defend his action in a competent court of law, “he said.

The Minority House Leader further said that the House will investigate the $2.1billion saga because the legislature didn’t approve such expenditure, adding that if need be the House will approach the international community to seek redress.

Meanwhile, the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, on Tuesday, pointed out that there was never a time that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) advised former President Goodluck Jonathan to speak on the ongoing investigation on the $2.1 billion arms’ deal scandal.

Secondus pointedly made it clear that the call on for-

President Buhari.

A Senator who preferred not to be named however said, “The truth is there is no 2016 budget at the National Assembly at present,” adding, “When a package supposedly containing the budget was laid by the president last year, the National Assembly received it but did not open it.

“Even one of the opposition senators demanded that the disappearance of the 2016 budget proposal must be investigated by the Senate.”

Ndume said,”Budget cannot be missing. One copy can be laid, it is a symbolic copy, the budget will be in custody of both chambers, it cannot be stolen, it cannot be missing. Once the budget is laid in the National Assembly, it has become the property of National Assembly.”

Ndume said Saraki’s visit to Villa was for Senate to get information from the President on the priority of his government on the 2016 budget, stating, “We want to see how we can fast track the passage of the budget before the end of February.

“What is before the Senate is a proposal, once the president signs it, it cannot be amended, we can turn the budget upside down, it cannot be missing… how can budget be missing.”

mer President Jonathan to speak on the ongoing investigation on the arms scandal was the personal opinion of the PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Jalo.

He equally expressed the fear that the country was sliding into anarchy where it can no longer conduct a free, fair and credible election.

The PDP acting national chairman stated these in Abuja during the inauguration of a committee to review the party’s constitution.

He said: “There was no time we discussed at NEC that Jonathan should speak on the arms deal scandal, no time such a thing came out at the NEC. So Jalo must be expressing his personal Continued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Defence minister debunks claims Nigeria bought 24 mine vehicles for $11m Segun Adio

ÎÎÎThe Minister of Defence,

Muhammad Dan-Ali, has debunked claims that the 24 Mine Resistant Armour Protected (MRAP) vehicles donated by the U.S. Government, cost Nigeria a whooping 11million dollars, in just transportation costs.

He made the clarification on Tuesday, at the commissioning of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) projects in Lagos, as well as the inspection of the vehicles.

Dan-Ali commissioned the 201 HAG Flight Line offices and crew room, 445 NAF hospital laboratory and power sub-station, airmen tran-

sit quarters, the gym and MRAP vehicles.

He said, “That is not true.

The transportation cost the United States Government 11million dollars and not the Nigerian government. It’s the assessment of the cost by the U.S. Government that is valued at that. It didn’t cost us much to get the vehicles.

It’s only the freight that we paid for. There is no way the cost of these vehicles can be 11million dollars.”

On the availability of parts to refit the MRAPs he said, “We are going to source for the parts from the manufacturers and our school at the Armoured Street in Bauchi will do the inspec-

tion and we will get the spare parts as soon as possible to put them in order.

“Very soon, we will transport them to Bauchi, where we have the workshop and people that are capable of doing the inspection.”

Also speaking on the issue of insurgency, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, said the military had degraded Boko Haram.

He said, “You heard what Mr. President said during his media chat and that is exactly the position of our counter- insurgency operations.

“Boko Haram has been degraded and they are not

able to carry out coordinated attacks, but, of course, the suicide bombing is an issue we are still grappling with.”

In his speech, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar said, “President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his commitment towards addressing various security challenges across the country with a view to fast- tracking Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

“To this end, NAF along with our sister-services has been engaged in counterinsurgency operations in the north-east and has been playing a prominent role which has significantly degraded the insurgents.

7 News

Anti-graft war: No apology over PDP chieftains’ arrest – APC

Odigie-Oyegun

Egena Egena, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday night, declared that the it owed no one an apology for the arrest of the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh and any other member of the opposition party by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This position was given by the National Chairman

of the ruling APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun after he led its National Working Committee (NWC) to a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The APC position came amidst allegations of witch-hunt and one-sided anti-corruption campaign against the Buhari administration by the PDP. Odigie-Oyegun, who stated that in the process of cleansing the nation, many toes would be stepped upon, contended that “the issue of whether somebody is PDP or not PDP does not arise. I will only put it this way; that the APC is not in any way apologetic. We promised a change. There is a lot of rot in the system.

This must be cleared. And wherever the tree is going to fall, let it be.”

Five dead, 13 injured in Ogun auto crash Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

ÎÎÎNot less than five per-

sons were confirmed dead, while 13 others were critically injured in an accident which happened on Tuesday afternoon along the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The auto crash, which occurred at the “Eldorado” axis in Ayetoro village in the Mowe area, in Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara (2nd left); Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Chief Whip, Hon. Ado Doguwa during the resumption of the House from the Christmas and New Year holidays at the National Assembly Complex Abuja… on Teusday. Photo: TEMITOPE BALOGUN.

Anambra Senatorial ticket: Oyegun, APC leaders shun Ekwunife Tom Okpe, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun and other party stalwarts, on Tuesday, refused to attend to the just defected Senator Uche Ekwunife at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

The drama surrounding the controversial defection of Ekwunife took another dimension, as the latest member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra state was shunned when she made a

surprise visit to the headquarters of the ruling party.

Ekwunife, who formally announced her defection to APC, at the weekend, from the People Democratic Party (PDP), drove into the APC’s national secretariat at about 1p.m., in a black Mercedes Viano, with registration number BWR 180 RP, was seen moving from one office to the other without any of the party officials attending to the new member.

Dependable sources at the party’s secretariat told newsmen that Oyegun was

not billed to see Ekwunife.

One of the sources said that Ekwunife was at the party’s secretariat to lobby its leaders, in her bid to secure Anambra senatorial ticket without going through the primaries.

When newsmen approached her to clarify some issues regarding her defection, Ekwunife looked the other way, and said that she was not in the mood to talk.

At the weekend, Ekwunife said that she joined the APC because the PDP was no longer interested in win-

ning the Anambra Central senatorial election, which was expected to hold in March.

She said that one her reasons was to ensure that her people were well and equitably represented and had a voice in the national government.

Reacting to the development, the Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, said that Ekwunife would not be given an automatic ticket to contest for the Anambra Central Senatorial election in March.

the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, involved a DAF truck with registration number (OYO) GNN 774 XA and a white Mazda passenger bus marked (LAGOS) APP 36 XA. It was gathered that the accident was caused by the white Mazda passenger bus coming from Lagos on top speed, which rammed into the stationary truck.

Lagos to spend N17b on 114 roads Benjamin Omoike

ÎÎÎThe Lagos State Govern-

ment on Tuesday said it had concluded arrangements for the construction of 114 roads across 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

The project, which would gulp the sum of N17.5 billion, is to be funded entirely by the government. It was disclosed that each LGA and LCDA would repair two roads each and work was expected to be completed within six months. The roads to be constructed are

mainly inner roads and key connecting roads carefully selected in each of the LGAs and LCDAs. The aim, it was gathered, was to support the ongoing construction of roads by the government.

Speaking at a joint press briefing addressed by the State’s Ministries of Information and Strategy, Local Government and Community Affairs and the Conference of Executive Secretaries of LGAs and LCDAs, the government disclosed that the project would commence simultaneously in all the councils within the next seven days.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Politics

Æs

I want my country to work like UK, US — Tunde Bakare

The annual state of the nation broadcast by the Latter Rain Assembly Pastor, Tunde Bakare on Sunday January 10, 2016 unearthed a catalogue of revelations touching on the true state of the nation’s economy, the behind-the-scenes operations in the oil industry, the game of wits between the ruling party APC and the opposition PDP as well as operations of Godwin Emefiele’s Central Bank of Nigeria lacking in clarity, forcus and begging for explanation to the Nigerian public. GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR brings snippets: For a radical cleric, lawyer and business man not known to be a card carrying member of any political party, Bakare, after his preambles made his stand clear in the stormy part he plays in the Nigerian polity.

“Let me for the sake of posterity state clearly here that I am not an agent of any individual and, up till today, whatever I have done for any government, past or present, publicly or behind the scenes, I have done pro bono.”

The Nigeria I crave with passion Bakare recalled a conversation he had with Dr. Andrew Pocock, now Sir Andrew, then British High Commissioner to Nigeria who was still in active service during the 2015 elections.

“After going up and down like a pendulum between the incoming and outgoing presidents, with stopovers at the residence of the British High Commissioner, he asked me a question: ‘What exactly do you want out of all these near impossible interventions?’

“I told him the story of how in 1994, while in the UK, my family applied for British passports for my wife and five children. Within the stipulated time, without a need to contact or visit any ‘connections’ at the British Passport Office, the passports arrived at our doorstep through the post.

There is palpable tension in Benue State as the Supreme Court on Monday reserved Friday January 15 for the judgment of an appeal challenging the election of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue.

Since Monday, supporters of the two parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which challenged the victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election, Governor Ortom have been gripped with anxiety on where the pendulum will swing.

The Justice Walter Onnoghen-led six justices reserved the judgment after counsel to the parties adopted their written addresses.

“We have gradually come to the last stage of the procedure at the bar, leaving us at the bench to give our judgment.

“In view of that, Jan. 15 has been agreed by all of us here to be the date to deliver

Buhari

“I then said to Dr. Pocock that I would like to see my country work like that in my lifetime and I am prepared to work alongside other patriots to make that happen”.

With the broadcast theme - ROAD MAP TO SUCCESSFUL CHANGE, Bakare

Obama

Bakare

said the buzzword ‘change’ was perhaps the key word and message that brought President Muhammadu Buhari to power as he campaigned all over the country on APC’s platform.

“Now that the election is over, it is incumbent upon us all, citizens and gov-

Tension in Benue as Supreme Court delivers judgment Friday

Ï R Ƅ ƏƑ Ɔ Ɛ ƍƆƔ ƑƏƐ the judgment. Therefore, the judgment is reserved to that date,” he said.

Mr Terhemen Tarzoor of PDP had sought a declaration of the apex court to set aside the Court of Appeal judgment which had dismissed his petition for lack of merit.

The appellate court in Makurdi on Nov. 18, 2015 upheld the verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal which affirmed the qualification and election of Ortom as governor of the state.

Tarzoor had asked the court to reverse CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Ortom

Tarzoor

ernment, to do all in our collective power to ensure that we are not short-changed by the change we so desired and voted for.”

The cleric defined the Greek word ‘change’ is metamorphoumetha, “from which we get the word metamorphosis.

Metamorphosis describes the process by which tadpoles lose their tails, grow legs, and become frogs; it is also the course through which caterpillars become butterflies. Metamorphosis involves changing into another form.

“Fellow Nigerians, we cannot rearrange the old and label it the new - that is an exercise in self-deception or delusion.

The tadpole has to be willing to change if it is going to become a frog. The caterpillar must be willing to give up being what it has always been, spin a cocoon around itself, and wait until it is fashioned into a butterfly.

“In like manner, We the People, and those we put in power to serve our collective interests, must be willing to die to our inglorious past. We must expect and accept a clearly defined pathway to what we collectively desire to become. We must turn our backs on what used to be if we are ever to become something new.

That is the secret to successful change.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

9 Politics

I want my country to work like UK, US — Bakare CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

To settle for less than this is to short-change ourselves.”

What Do We Need To Change?

We need to change our way of thinking and then doing. Only transformed people can transform nations. Difficult as it may seem, National Transformation is not rocket science.

Even if it is, rocket scientists are not aliens from another planet - they are human beings like you and me; We need to change our governance structure. The present system is severely wasteful.

Left as is, it will continue to generate as well as perpetuate a syndicate of scams and profligacy at all levels of government; We need to change our Grundnorm by creating a true federal system of government while making the welfare and security of our people the raison d’être of government; We need to change our cash and carry judicial and legislative systems.

Thus, in order to obtain the new, we must release a decaying system that has arrested our development and growth as well as created a very wide gulf between the opportunistic elitist rich and unfortunate poor among our citizens.

That being so, and in order to correct this abnormality, we must critically assess and evaluate our journey so far before adopting our new Road Map to Successful Change.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

the tribunal’s judgment and declare him winner of the April polls.

He said the tribunal erred in its judgment as Ortom was not qualified to contest in the election.

According to him, Ortom is not validly nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to stand for the election as provided by the Electoral Act. Tarzoor had also asked the appellate court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue him with the certificate of return.

In its argument, the APC had insisted that its candidate was validly nominated in conformity with the requirements of the Electoral Act, 2010.

APC further said that the burden of proof rested on the shoul-

Using the Scripture as a script fit for best seller movie, Bakare painted a graphic picture of the decay of corruption that has become the structure and pillar of the Nigerian democracy.

Parable of the Great Mansion A great mansion had a large and beautifully decorated banquet hall. Adjoining the hall were three large kitchens, each with a large storeroom. Each kitchen was unique and servants served various kinds of food and drink to the people in the hall. The banquet hall was filled with people eating, drinking, dancing and rejoicing.

Suddenly, the security guards invaded the mansion, killed some servants, drove the rest out of the banquet hall, settled on the food, ate all they could, and carted some away. Then they broke down the great mansion and, with time, built another edifice. The new edifice had a large banquet hall and six large kitchens, though not as large as the initial three. Each kitchen had a number of storerooms. In all, there were a total of thirtysix storerooms in the edifice.

The security guards hired a new set of servants to manage the edifice and handed the bunch containing all the keys to the servants. Thereafter, they relinquished control and returned to their duty posts.

People came into the banquet hall to celebrate once again.

This time, however, food and drinks were supplied only from one of the kitchens as the security guards had opened just one kitchen and left the others

Cameron

locked as they handed the keys over to the servants.

In addition, the servants helped themselves to much of the food and drink and served only the leftovers. In no time, there was severe shortage and the people began to complain.

Then those who dwelt in the new edifice, believing that their main problem was the theft of food by the dishonest servants, gave control to one among them, formerly a security officer, revered for his integrity and forthrightness. This was followed by much jubilation. However, the food shortage situation intensified and celebration was

Bakare

soon replaced by murmuring, grumbling and commotion, leaving the servants wondering what to do next.

Timely warning Time will fail me to tell further details of my behind-thescenes engagement with the stakeholders ahead of the elections and how, by a whisker, our nation narrowly escaped the jaws of disintegration. Nevertheless, you will recall that as I lifted the prophetic embargo on elections on Sunday March 22, 2015, I sent out a warning: “If anyone thinks PDP’s loss is going to be APC’s gain, he or she should think twice, for af-

ter the polls APC’s pain may be PDP’s gain”.

It turned out that, whereas the PDP lost to the APC in the general elections, bringing an end to 16 years of misgovernance, the PDP brought pain on the APC in elections into the key offices of the National Assembly - an injury the APC is still trying to recover from.

Buhari’s alarm We live in what may be described as trying times for our nation. President Muhammadu Buhari raised the alarm at his inauguration on May 29, 2015 when he noted that, “with deCONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Ogboru goes to Apex Court ders of the appellants.

On his part, Ortom had argued that the procedure for his nomination as the candidate of the party remained the exclusive right of the APC machinery.

The governor, therefore, urged the appellate court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit.

All parties in the case had filed cross appeals and cross appellant appeals challenging certain aspects of the tribunal’s judgment.

Meanwhile, governorship candidate of the Labour Party, (LP), in Delta State in the last election, Chief Great Ogboru, has filed a 21-ground notice of appeal to the Supreme Court challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the election of Gov-

ernor Ifeanyi Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).

Counsel to the aggrieved Labour Party candidate, Dele Adesina (SAN), explained that the appeal was to allow the apex court, “an opportunity to review the correctness or decision reached by their Lordships of the appellant court.”

A statement by Ogboru’s aide, Henry Efe Duku, said they believe it will be a grave disservice to the reasonable expectations of the people and electoral jurisprudence if they failed to approach the Supreme Court to determine the issues with finality.

“Our approach to the issues is simple and consistent. We believe it is better to allow our courts adjudicate on alleged human failings in

the electoral process than to kill ourselves. Even when our patience has understandably waned, we must persevere still.

“The Greatest Salesman in the World, obstacles must be seen as comrades-in-arms forcing us to quit or become better. If we run away from them, we throw away our future. For the future we deserve in Delta State, we must confront obstacles on our paths with confidence, knowing they shall give way some day for the promise of a better future for all.

“Indeed, democracy tasks human patience like no other form of governance. We need divine grace and the endurance of the biblical Job if we must prevail. In our travails in Delta, we shall prevail.

We need not say more for now.

But please pray for Delta State,” it stated.

Ogboru

Politics 10 Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia People say that giving a monkey a cup to drink is not a problem, but retrieving the cup from the monkey is difficult. This is the case with many politicians who will subtly and through many empty promises get their mandate, and would soon after ignore the grassroots that sent them up the ladder.

Very few politicians remember their constituents when they are up the ladder and this include the immediate-past governor of Abia State and now senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District, Theodore Ahamefule Orji.

His constituency – Abia Central includes six local government areas - Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Ikwuano, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma, all in the heart of the state.

First of its kind and remembering to let his constituency enjoy the Christmas with him and know how it has been in the Upper Red chamber, Orji decided to tour the constituency, one by one and explained issues to the cheering crowd that waited for him.

In general, the people’s choice in the “heart of the state” constituency, reviewed the support by the constituency during the April elections and thanked them for being there for him.

The former governor assured the crowd that include party faithful, local government staff, Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) pro-groups, traditional rulers, friends and well wishers that he would not disappoint them as he

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Orji: Responding to needs of the electorate

Orji would always strive to give them effective representation in the senate.

Talking on his efforts so far at the senate, Sen. Orji disclosed that with his six months in the

red camber, he had sponsored seven bills that have passed through first reading, promising to ensure that all the bills sail through.

The senator also handed down cheering news to his constituents that he has concluded arrangements for the endowment of scholarship to 60 students in his Abia Central Constituency, disclosing that this will continue annually as long as he remains in the senate.

According to him, the scholarship scheme would accommodate 10 students from each of the six LGAs of his constituency, while in each constituency, five students would be selected based on academic intelligence while five would be based on indigent disposition of the students, stating that before the end of the month, the names would be published.

While giving bags of rice, other condiments and cash to the people of Ikwuano and Isiala North LGAs, Orji said he owes as an obligation to thank his constituents for voting for him massively and standing behind him during the last April elections.

He disclosed that at the senate, he, alongside other Abia senators are working hard to look at fed-

eral roads in the state, disclosing that he has also sponsored seven bills that have passed first reading, expressing his assurance that the bills would soon become laws.

He also disclosed that he was making attempts to use every available opportunity in the senate to create employment for the people of the constituency and urged them to stand behind him with prayers while promising not to disappoint them and to attract all he could for them from the federal government.

Thanking him over the gesture, the Transition Committee Chairmen of Ikwuano, Clement Onukwue, Isiala Ngwa North, Ginger Onwusibe, Isiala Ngwa South, Chris Nwagboso, Osisioma, Christian Kamanu, Umuahia South, Emenike Onuoha and that of Umuahia North, Alhaji Suleiman Ukandu as well as the respective LGA PDP Chairmen, including Ikwuano LGA PDP chairman, Ndubueze Okeiyi that of Isiala Ngwa North, Ezegbulam thanked the senator for his gesture and promised not to disappoint him and to be behind him as well, and described the gesture as first in history.

They described him as one who made a promise and stood by it, concluding “that was what God said and it gladdens his heart”.

Traditional rulers were not left out of the events as they variously, at each local government area, expressed their opinions and love for him, praying and pouring libations for his success at the senate.

For now, Orji is the cynosure of the eyes of Abia Central constituents and may continue to be so. As governor, he bequeathed governorship position to Ukwa/ Ngwa people in fairness and equity and actualized that in the subsequent election of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as the first governor of the state of Ukwa/Ngwa extraction, thus completing the provisions of the proverbial “Abia Charter of Equity”.

As governor, Orji gave a face lift to the state through massive infrastructural developments and massive empowerment of Abia youths, especially through transportation.

He bequeathed to the state landmark projects including befitting workers secretariat, road construction, ultra-modern international conference centre and much more.

I want my country to work like UK, US – Bakare CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

pleted foreign reserves, falling oil prices, leakages and debts the Nigerian economy is in deep trouble…” He became even more direct on the state of the economy when he declared in October 2015, at the Africa-India Summit in New Delhi, India, that the country was broke and struggling to pay salaries. That declaration was severely criticized in various quarters and especially by the PDP. However, an unbiased assessment of the economy based on major indicators paints a truly gloomy picture - from the 64% drop in year-on-year GDP annual growth rate as at July 2015, to the 2.354 trillion naira plunge in market capitalization as at December 2015; from the 66 billion dollar debt burden as at October 2015, to the 12.63% decline in foreign reserves between De-

cember 2014 and November 2015; from the 48% crash in oil prices between December 2014 and December 2015, to the 67% corresponding fall in crude revenue between September 2014 and July 2015. When these alarming economic indicators, together with the massive expenditure requirements, such as the 10 trillion naira annual infrastructure spending needs, are viewed against the backdrop of the reported lootings during previous administrations, one may start to understand the concerns of the president.

In addition to the economic challenges, the social indicators reveal that Nigerians generally live in less than adequate conditions with the latest Human Development Index (HDI) report, which is a composite statistic of life expectancy, education and income indices, placing Nigeria

Cameron

Obama

Bakare

153rd out of 188 countries.

Apart from the raging battle with insurgency in the North East, the political landscape has been marred by increasingly hostile clamours for self-determination as seen in pro-Biafra agitations in the South-East, sectarian violence in the North Central, tension in the North-West in relation to

the sectarian activities of the Shiite Islamic sect, the increasing perception by the Southern intelligentsia of sectional bias by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, and signs of resumption of violent agitation by militants in the SouthSouth.

The Present 36 States of our “Federation”

In June 2015, barely two weeks into the current administration, we woke up to the alarming news that some states were unable to pay salaries, with at least one state owing 11 months in arrears. These states ran to the federal government which then arranged a special CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

EDO 2016: PDP has learnt its lessons — EDEBIRI Titus Akhigbe, Benin Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Chief Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri has said that he is in the race for the 2016 governorship election in Edo State because nothing has changed in the standard of living of the people of the state.

Edebiri, who spoke with journalists in Benin said: “If things have changed for the better since the last time I contested, I would have looked for other ways to contribute my quota to the state”.

He said that he hopes to create a state where industrialization will be the order of the day as a way of reducing poverty, adding: “I am wishing to change the way people do things and make the masses feel the impact of development.

“I am contesting to make effective social services, health care, education, valid infrastructures, security of lives and property and others available to the people of my state”, he said.

On whether he stands a chance of getting the PDP ticket in view of the complex political process preceding previous primaries, he said that with the transformation going on in the party, he is quite sure the best candidate will

Edebiri

Secondus

emerge without any interference from leaders.

“I tell you, the leaders of our party have learnt their lessons. They cannot afford to mess up this time. The leaders know that if the process is wrong, the result may be unfavourable.

“If the right person emerges, I can assure you that PDP will produce the

next governor of Edo State. But if the wrong person is forced on the party as candidate, I am afraid we may remain in opposition after the election”, he said.

He assured that if given the ticket, the electorate, whom he said have been yearning for him will vote him enmasse at the governorship elections.

11 Politics

Mark knows fate on Feb 13 Former Senate President, Senator David Mark is on the hustlings again and will by February 13 knows his fate whether he will return to the National Assembly or not.

This is because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has scheduled the Benue South Senatorial district rerun election for February 13, 2016.

The re-run election is a straight fight between the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Senate President David Mark and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Daniel Onjeh.

This was sequel to the appeal filed by the APC candidate, Onjeh, where the Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State on November 28, 2015, nullified the election of the sitting Senator, David Mark and ordered INEC to conduct fresh election in the District within 90 days.

Benue South Senatorial District is made up of 9 Local Government Areas, 102 Registration Areas, 1,016 Polling Units and a total of 1,174 Voting Points.

The Commission will deploy a total of 4, 931 staff to conduct the election. The breakdown of staff to be deployed is as follows: 102 Supervising Presiding Officers; 1,016 Presiding Officers; and 3,522 Assistant Presiding Officers (I, II, III).

Others are 1,174 Assistant Presiding Officers (VP); and 235 Reserve Assistant Presiding Officers.

I want my country to work like UK, US – Bakare CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

intervention fund for 27 states.

On the heels of this development, the state governors have further disclosed the inability of their respective states to meet their minimum wage obligations. This underscores the non-viability of most of the 36 states, corroborating a 2013 report that only four states of the federation show signs of viability based on internal revenue generation.

Unveiling Parable of the Great Mansion The parable of the mansion is about the journey of our nation from abundance to the current economic downturn. The mansion is the Nigerian state.

The banquet hall is the Nigerian economy. At Independence, Nigeria had three regions, each of them a significant economic powerhouse. These are the kitchens and storerooms.

The kitchens represent the

Bakare

productive base of the respective regions at that time while the storerooms represent their latent resources. Just as each kitchen in the mansion served its unique menu to the banquet hall, each region made its unique contribution to the Nigerian economy. The Northern Region contributed to the centre through groundnut, cotton, and hides and skin production. The

Eastern Region contributed to the national economy through oil palm and rubber production, while the Western Region contributed mainly through cocoa production. The result was prosperity for Nigeria, represented by the eating, drinking and rejoicing in the banquet hall.

The first set of servants who served in the mansion represents the first set of Nigerian leaders – the Nnamdi Azikiwes, the Obafemi Awolowos, the Ahmadu Bellos and the Tafawa Balewas who demonstrated selfless service. However, just as the security guards took over the house, the military took over government and killed some of our leaders through a coup. Just as the security guards pulled down the mansion, so the military dismantled the regional structure of the nation and laid our thriving Federal System in the vault of their Unitary System while largely enriching

themselves through corruption. However, during the interregnum, the military took the nation through a series of geopolitical experiments until 36 states were created and the nation was subsequently delineated along six geopolitical zones.

These are the six kitchens in the new edifice put together by the security guards. As each kitchen had its storerooms, so does each zone have its states 36 altogether.

The military handed power back to the politicians in 1999 just as the security guards handed the bunch of keys over to the subsequent set of hired servants. But just as only one kitchen and storehouse was open and active while the others were left shut, in like manner, the military and their successor politicians have focused on petroleum from the South-South as the main revenue source for the nation, neglecting the diverse resources spread across the six geo-

political zones. Besides, like the servants in the parable, Nigerian politicians, in the last 16 years, enriched themselves with the nation’s oil wealth and fed crumbs to the Nigerian people, resulting in shortage and causing them to groan. However, the Nigerian people, believing that corruption is the major problem of our land, have elected one whom we believe is the embodiment of anti-corruption - President Muhammadu Buhari. Nevertheless, few months into his administration, the groaning has intensified and now there seems to be a lot of confusion as to the way forward for Nigeria. In the words of Polybius, the Greek historian: “Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories”.

The way forward is to identify what I call beacons of hope – encouraging signs of progress in spite of the social, economic and political upheavals.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

N1.04tr fine: Court turns down FG’s application to block MTN’s funds Peter Fowoyo

ÎÎÎAn application of

Mareva Injunction seeking to bar MTN Nigeria Communications Limited from emptying its accounts in 21 commercial banks in Nigeria was, on Tuesday, turned down by Justice Idris Mohammed of a Lagos Federal High Court.

The application had been filed to prevent MTN from boycotting the payment of the N1.04 trillion fine imposed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission for its failure to deactivate its unregistered subscribers.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), who filed the application on Tuesday, had expressed the fear that MTN could move all its funds out of the country before the N1.04 trillion fine could be enforced.

He had sought an order directing all the 21 banks to open a special interestyielding account in the name of the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court and move N1.04 trillion out of whatever funds that was standing to MTN’s credit in their possession.

Counsel for the AGF, Mr. Dipo Okpeseyi (SAN), in a

14-paragraph affidavit deposed to by his junior, Steve Nwabueze, had argued that MTN was in the habit of regularly repatriating its funds out of Nigeria.

He noted that between October 2007 and May 2009, a period of 19 months, MTN moved over $7.7 billion of the money made in Nigeria to a foreign account.

He further pointed the court’s attention to an instance when in one day, specifically on February 8, 2008, MTN transferred over $936 million out of Nigeria to accounts in Mauritius, Cayman Island and British Virgin Island.

“Unless this honourable court urgently entertains this application, the plaintiff/respondent would move its funds out of Nigeria, being the jurisdiction of this honourable court, and thereby frustrate the enforcement of the fine in the likely event that this honourable court sanctions the imposition of the fine,” the AGF’s counsel added.

Okpeseyi maintained that MTN was under an obligation to pay the N1.04 trillion fine, because it was NCC’s administrative decision, which remained final unless it was reviewed by the commission or nullified by the court.

He said though NCC had earlier given MTN a concession on the fine and reduced it to N780 billion, but since MTN had neglected or failed to pay on or before December 31, 2015, the fine remained N1.04 trillion.

He alleged that instead of taking advantage of the concession MTN resorted to filing a suit in order to buy time, with the hope that

it could move all its funds out of Nigeria before the case would be decided.

Okpseyi urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice to prevent the court’s decision from being rendered nugatory if it went in the favour of NCC and AGF. But Justice Idris Mohammed turned down the application as he said the

AGF had not shown enough facts to prove that MTN was about to empty its bank accounts and move its funds out of the country.

Idris, who noted that the case was sensitive and of public interest, said he would rather urgently hear the case filed by MTN to challenge the fine and give a judgment within a short time.

He, however, made an order for the parties to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the suit and adjourned till January 22, 2016 for hearing.

MTN had assembled seven Senior Advocates of Nigeria, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, to challenge the N1.04 trillion fine imposed on it by NCC.

L-R: Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase ; Deputy Inspector General of Police, Logistic and Supply, Mr. Mamman Tsafe and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Christopher Katso, during the courtesy visit of Mohammed to IGP in Abuja... on Tuesday.

PHOTO: TEMITOPE BALOGUN.

PDP Reps issue 48-hour ultimatum to EFCC over Metuh Continued from page 6

opinion”.

Secondus tasked the Federal Government to do a post-mortem on the just concluded Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections with a view to avoiding the violence that characterised the elections in future.

“I think the government should sit back and review the past elections and do post-mortem in the case of Kogi and Bayelsa.

“If care is not taken, we are degenerating into a situation where we can no longer conduct elections”, he said.

The elections in the two states, he recalled, were conducted twice before a winner could be announced.

Secondus reasoned that until a review of what went

wrong in the last two elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states was carried out, it will be very difficult to conduct election in other parts of the country.

His words: “Where security agencies are involved or participated in an election, it is no longer an election. We don’t want what happened in Zimbabwe to happen here.

“We’ve improved a lot from 1999 to 2015, and so this government should build on that and improve on our elections.

“We invite the international community to review what happened in Kogi and Bayelsa states,” he said.

Secondus pledged that at the appropriate time the party will come out with evidence, of what happened in Bayelsa and Kogi election “so that the world can see if we are making prog-

ress or we are not making progress.”

According to him, people should be allowed to freely elect their leaders without intimidation by security agencies as such is not good for the country.

The acting National Chairman explained that the review of the party’s constitution became imperative so as to position PDP to its new role as an opposition party after 16 years in power.

He thus charged members of the committee to provide an efficient organisational and administrative structure and processes under which the aspirations of party members could be maximally articulated.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Country Director of the International Republican Institute (IRI) in Nige-

ria, Sentell Barnes, which co-hosted of the conference, said that the PDP has found itself in a new role after 16 years, with the outcome of the 2015 elections.

He therefore advised the party leaders to take the opportunity of the new role to strengthen the party and make necessary reforms to move the PDP forward.

In a related development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesdy gave reasons for its continued detention of Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP National Publicity Secretary.

The EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, gave the reasons in a statement he issued in Abuja.

The statement said that Metuh’s continued detention was due to his refusal to refund or sign an undertaking to refund the N1.2

billion linked to him in the arms scandal.

It said that the publicity secretary would be released as soon as he satisfied the bail conditions, making reference to the case of APC Chieftain Jafaru Isa. Uwujaren’s statement also faulted the claim by the PDP that Metuh’s detention was illegal as indicated in a statement by the National Legal Adviser of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Victor Kwon. ``The attention of the EFCC has been drawn to a statement by the National Legal Adviser of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Victor Kwon. ``The statement has alleged compromise and witch-hunt in the release of a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Brig.-Gen. Jafaru Isa, (rtd) by the EFCC.

``While the EFCC will not wish to join issues with Kwon, it is important that the public is presented with the facts regarding the release of Isa.” The statement said the APC chieftain was arrested for his involvement in the arms procurement scam to the tune of N170 million.

According to the statement, upon his arrest, Isa admitted receiving the money from Dasuki and immediately refunded N100 million with an undertaking to refund the balance in two weeks. ``The reasons above and the fact that his health deteriorated after being admitted to custody prompted the commission to offer the suspect bail. ``The bail granted the suspect by the commission does not amount to his exoneration in the case,” the statement added.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

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13

News 14

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Nigeria now benchmark for credible polls in Africa, says INEC Chair Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, on Tuesday, proudly declared that Nigeria was now being seen as the benchmark for conduct of credible election in Africa.

He made the declaration while playing host to his Nigerien counterpart, Ibrahim Boube, who paid him a cour-

tesy visit in Abuja.

Yakubu maintained that Nigeria was becoming a reference point in the conduct of credible elections in Africa.

He pointed out that the conduct of successful elections in the country had earned her visitations from many African countries that were seeking to learn from INEC’s experience.

His words, “I wish to state that we are particularly delighted that INEC-Nigeria is

now seen as the benchmark for the conduct of credible election in Africa”.

Yakubu gave an assurance that INEC would be happy to share its experience with Niger Republic, especially in the area of provisions made to allow internally displaced persons (IDPs) to cast their votes.

He added that, “Five out of the eight states in the Niger Republic share borders with Nigeria. Apart from the obvious commonality in culture,

in terms of security, Niger is facing the same insecurity challenges as we are having in the north-east part of Nigeria”.

Boube told Yakubu that his delegation was in Nigeria to tap from the INEC’s experience in conducting credible elections.

Niger, he disclosed, had five states that shared borders with Nigeria, and added that his country, like Nigeria, was also faced with security chal-

lenges in her north-eastern borders.

Also, on Tuesday, Yakubu presented a certificate of return to a senator-elect from Delta State, Mr. Omo-Agege, who’d represent Delta Central Senatorial District.

ÎÎÎThe Delta State Police Ekiti govt Commissioner, Mr. Alkali begins Usman, has declared the suschairman of Uvwie disbursement pended Local Government Council, Mr. Henry Baro, and the of N500m Chairman of Central Motor SMES loan Park, Effurun, Mr. Napoleon ÎÎÎThe Ekiti State Govern-

Police, DSS quiz two Abia commissioners Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

ÎÎÎThe Abia State Police Command and the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), on Tuesday, quizzed a former functionary of the Federal House of Representatives and now Commissioner for Works, Abia State, Eziuche Ubani and his Sports counterpart, Chinwe Nwanganga over allegation threat to life.

Ubani said that they were invited by the virtue of a letter given to them by the police from the SCID section, Umuahia, for an interview.

Ubani said that it was on the strength of a petition written against them by

on Ahamdi Nweke of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), whom, he said, had few weeks ago, threatened him, and for which he “wrote a petition that we were planning to kidnap and kill him and we came to honour the invitation at the State Command Headquarters, where we met the Commissioner of Police and the officers who directed us to the State CID, where we met with police officers in charge.

“We must say that the police were very professional, even in terms of the invitation given to us.

This is because, this is what they need to do. If there is a petition alleging anything against anybody,

they will be the laws into their own hands, like the other agencies did by invading my house”, he said, and expressed his happiness that they came and the police were very courteous, understanding and firm in doing their job.

“We have begun the process of the interview.

We have done it with the Commissioner of Police and met with the officers of the State CID, who explained to us the process of this interview and we are going home to come another day to continue with the process.

“I thank them for being thorough and their show of understanding. This is what the DSS and the military should have done

instead of invading my house at 2 a.m. like thieves in the night. This is what the process says, this is what they laws says, this is operational rules which were violated through the petition written by the same person, Ahamdi Nweke. He wrote to the police, miliatary and the DSS and they came all the way from Abuja and did their own their way”, he noted.

He commended the police for doing their job own in a professional manner and being non-partisan.

On his relationship with the petitioner, Ahamdi Nweke, Ubani said he knew him as somebody, who had been running for office and had been failing serially in this state.

Delta Police apprehend 24 kidnap, armed robbery suspects Monday Osayande, Asaba

Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado- Ekiti

L-R: National Coordinator, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams; Italy Coordinator, Oodua Progressive Union, Alhaji Olufunsho Odutola; Ifakayode Opifa Anipupo and Pastor, Christ Apostolic Church, Kehinde Adedokun, during the OPC New Year thanksgiving service, held at Oregun, Lagos… on Tuesday.

Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI.

Usman

ment will today (Wednesday), begin the disbursement of N500 million Small-and-Medium-SizedEnterprises (SMEs) loan to 4,564 beneficiaries.

The amount is the first tranche of the N2 billion that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has earmarked to support small - and medium-scale enterprises in the state.

The 4,564 beneficiaries will get a minimum of N50, 000 and maximum of N1 million.

Governor Ayodele Fayose, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti, while meeting with the management of Community and Micro-Finance Banks. The banks are to serve as the medium of disbursing the loans.

In a statement in Ado-Ekiti by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor would also meet the beneficiaries of the loan at his office later in the week.

Fayose said the loans would not be allowed to go down the drain, as in the past, adding that the state government stood as surety for the beneficiaries.

“I am happy to let the good people of Ekiti know that the first tranche of N500 million has been given to the state from the N2 billion we are expecting to help SMES grow in our state.

The release of the remaining sum is predicated on how well this first payment is utilized,” Fayose said.

Odibu, wanted over their alleged involvement in the Warri Shopping Mall attack where scores of persons died and several others injured.

Usman, who made the declaration in Asaba, while briefing journalists said, “The Divisional Police Officer of Ekpan Division received a distress call from the Operation Manager of the Warri Shopping Mall that it was under attack by hoodlums.

Consequently, patrol teams from various divisions in Warri were swiftly mobilised to the scene. The miscreants on seeing the policemen took to their heels”.

Adavi gets new Ohi Ibrahim Obansa, Lokoja

ÎÎÎThe

Council of King makers in Adavi Local government Area of Kogi State has elected Alhaji Bello Muhammed Ireyi as the new Ohielect of Adavi.

The election was conducted on Tuesday at the residence of the late Ohi, who died on October 14, 2015 in the local government.

The Returning Officer, Mallam Yakubu Isah Beida disclosed that Bello pulled 8 votes, Audu Yakubu Ohinoyi, Ibrahim Adai Sooliman, Ibrahim Siaka Anataku, Saliu Ibrahim Oricha all scored 1 vote each, while Adinoyi Mutalib Muhammed, Aliu Hamza Ohinoyi, Andah Finian Salami Shaibu Jimoh Anakobe and Usman Ohizi Abdulrahman did not scored any vote.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Olanrewaju Aderemi Obafemi First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

T

he above quote was by Martin Niemoller (18921984), a Protestant pastor who was an outspoken critic of Adolf Hitler in pre-Second World War Germany.

For his exertions, he spent seven years in concentration camps under the Nazis.

The Nigerian society is known for vibrancy. There is a joke about asking one hundred Nigerians, one question and getting one hundred answers. It used to be so, but after May 29 2014 when the present President, General Muhammadu Buhari, was sworn in society in Nigeria seems to have fallen into slumber.

The feeling is so palpable that I ask: is Nigeria under mass enchantment? Has some spiritual force held Nigerian citizens, at home and without, captive and deprived them of their natural vibrancy?

Nigerians are being treated to “Dasukigate” with many, expectedly, frothing at the mouth on the strength of the “revelations”.

Not a day passes without another “revelation” about another “goat” that ate our yams. Popular is the refrain “if they had procured arms with the money thousands of our citizens, including soldiers, that fell to Boko Haram may have been saved”. It is natural to express indignation when one hears stories about untoward actions, particularly about public officers, but tarry awhile. Have we heard from the accused? The Yoruba have a saying that counsels that it is wicked to deliver judgement in a case after hearing from only one side. In the present case, the accused is not dead, neither is their whereabouts unknown. The accusing authorities have simply denied us a chance of hearing their side of the story while plying us daily with stories of their misdeeds.

That the accused is denied a chance of telling his story is damning enough, what is particularly unpalatable about the Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) debacle is that the man is being held incommunicado against express orders of courts of competent jurisdiction. Three

15 Opinion

Is Nigeria under mass enchantment? different high courts in Nigeria ordered that Dasuki be released on bail, with one giving him permission to travel abroad for medical treatment, but the number one citizen of Nigeria who swore to protect and defend the Constitution has vowed that the former National Security Adviser will not be allowed bail because the man could run from the law. That should send chills up the spine of conscientious citizens. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is very explicit about the roles of institutions in Nigeria. It is not the remit of the President to determine who should be behind bars, or who is likely to run away from the judicial process. That role is exclusively for the judiciary. The President is wreaking violence against the Constitution that he vowed to uphold.

No matter the gravity of allegations or perceived wrongdoing, the same man must never be allowed to be the accuser, judge and executioner.

This is not about fanciful notions about democracy and fundamental human rights. What is frightening about the Dasuki travails is that what he is going through is not a once off but a trend. Patrick Akpobolokemi, former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were docked in Lagos for allegedly defrauding the Federal Government and diverting monies all to the tune of N3 -13824. He was granted bail and was to return to Court on January 18 2016, but was re-arrested outside the court in Lagos. He was manhandled and roughly thrown into a combi bus.

THEWILL, an online newspaper, reports that one Salisu Mamman, a nephew to President Muhammadu Buhari, has been detained alongside members of his “gang” in Port Harcourt Prison for obtaining money from some individuals through false pretences. He is said to promise to employ his closeness to the President to help those individuals procure crude oil lifting licences.

He has not been charged to any court, yet he is cooling his heels, alongside members of his “gang” in prison! When did individuals who are yet to appear in court start making prison? One is not impressed that the individual concerned is a relative of the President. He simply has no business in a prison unless a court of competent jurisdiction sent him there!

Brig. Gen. Jafaaru Isa (rtd.), an associate of the President, was arrested last week but quickly released after eight hours, some say on the orders of the President. His real offence, some analysts insist, is that he was one of those that helped Col. Sambo Dasuki perfect his bail conditions.

Nnamdi Kanu leads an organisa-

Buhari

tion called Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), whose overarching objective is to have the South East secede from Nigeria. He was arrested in Lagos and charged to court. The court granted him bail, but again, Buhari thought his crime was too serious to have him breathe fresh air. The last time he was in court, Kanu declined to go through trial, as he was sure that government would not respect the judgement of the court if it did not go its way. The judge has washed his hands off the case and the young man is languishing in jail. I am sure I am not alone in wishing that Nigeria, as presently constituted, would last till the end of days, but those that do not share my enthusiasm are not guilty of any crime, as far as I am concerned.

Although Prof. Wole Soyinka made a volte-face before the last Presidential Election, we need to refresh our collective memory about why Soyinka was so vehemently against Buhari becoming Nigeria’s President in 2007: During his time as Nigeria’s military Head of State, General Buhari took pleasure in making Nigeria a prison for its citizens. Under the guise of instilling discipline, citizens were treated like trash; Buhari’s fight against corruption was directed at the Second Republic opposition. Arrested NPN big wigs miraculously escaped and made their ways abroad, while opposition figures that were not found guilty by any court or tribunal were incarcerated until the fall of Buhari’s government; He backdated a decree that prescribed the death penalty for drug couriering and through that decree

sanctioned the execution of three Nigerian youths. When asked after his retirement from the army, Buhari insisted that he had no regret executing those youths; Buhari showed utter contempt for the Oputa Panel set up by Obasanjo during his tenure as President and refused to appear before it.

The above are only a few of what Soyinka said back in 2007 but the déjà vu will not go away. Nothing that Buhari has done since his swearing-in on May 29 2015 has reassured one that what Nigeria has is a reformed democrat. His contempt for Nigerians is still there. Save for the disastrous Media Chat that he allowed, belatedly, in December 2015, Nigerians have to hear from their President only when he was abroad and through his spokespersons.

His fight against corruption is still a selective one. Reasons other than corruption are responsible for who is grilled and who gets a tap on the wrist.

President Buhari is not a democrat, period. No democrat would disobey a court order with relish.

No matter what the allegation is, court orders are court orders.

What is scary is that, save a few courageous voices that have pointed out what is going on, most of Nigeria is sleepwalking into the nightmare to come. Are Nigerians simply desperate for the promise of the better life that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has lured them with, or are they truly enchanted and are powerless to break the spell that holds them captive?

What manner of a judge goes on with a case after an order he

gave was contemptuously wished away? Should the judge not wash his hands off the case until the executive has shown that it believes in the separation of power doctrine that Nigeria’s Constitution is based on? The judges are obviously part of the enchanted mob! During Buhari’s time as military head of state, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) played a leading role in exposing the draconian nature of his regime. Lawyers boycotted the tribunals that the military set up to try corruption cases, and the only one that disobeyed that decision, late Gani Fawehinmi, was blacklisted. Although the president of the NBA, Augustine Alegeh, SAN, has decried Buhari’s disobedience of court orders the NBA can do better than that. It is not too much to ask the NBA to direct its members to boycott all cases involving the Federal Government until it undertakes to obey all decisions of courts in Nigeria.

Where is the National Assembly?

Has the National Assembly forgotten that it can call upon Buhari to do the right thing? If the President will not act according to a resolution of the National Assembly to obey court orders, disobedience of court orders is an impeachable offence. Surely!

Where is the robust, fearless, enthusiastic and free Nigerian mass media? It has been pocketed. It is also a victim of enchantment.

Obviously piqued at comments

by Yoruba Muslims on Facebook 1 Babatunde Gbadamosi posted on his Facebook timeline last week “They have dealt with the Shiites.

You cheered them on. They are dealing with PDP, you are hailing them. Soon, they will start on the Ibos, you will sing their praises.

They will complete their elimination of the Middle Belt tribes, and you will still justify it. Then they will come for the Yoruba Christians, and you will claim piety. Then they will tell you that you are not very Muslim and deal with you finally. There will be no one left to stop them from finishing you.

Keep hailing the evil tyrants that see nothing wrong in taking lives that they cannot give or create.

Your day will come, sooner than you think, at their hands.”

Gbadamosi’s prophesy need not become our history if citizens will snap out of their reverie and act like citizens. The prize of liberty is eternal vigilance! There is no gainsaying the fact that corruption needs to be fought vigorously in Nigeria, but that fight must be within the ambit of the rule of law. It must not be selective. Nobody, no matter how trusted or vaunted his squeakyclean credentials look, should be endowed with the capacity to be accuser, jury and executioner.

News 16

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13 , 2016

Kwara Speaker rallies support for state media Kehinde Akinpelu Ilorin

ÏÏÏ

L-R: Commissioner for Local Government & Community Affairs, Alhaji Muslim Folami;Chairman; Conference 57 & Executive Secretary, Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Kolade Alabi; Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and Public Relations Officer, Conference 57 & Executive Secretary, Epe Local Government, Hon. Hammed Seriki while addressing journalists on the commencement of construction of 114 roads in Lagos State by Conference of LCDA, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Center, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos... on Tuesday.

Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI

Gale of arrests in Abia APGA over alleged N1m fraud Jacob Ogodo Abakaliki

ÏÏÏThe

National Deputy Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and deputy governorship candidate of the party in Ebonyi state in the 2015 general election, Chief Jerry Obasi has been arrested by Ebonyi state police over alleged N1m million fraud.

Chief Obasi has been in detention since Monday afternoon when he was picked up by the operatives of the Command.

It was gathered that Obasi allegedly collected N1m from Mr. Peter Udude, the Ebonyi North Senatorial candidate of APGA in the 2015 general election in

agreement he would use it to rectify the problem Udude had with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Udude’s name was said to have been missed in the list of senatorial candidates short listed by INEC ahead of the 2015 general election and he needed to rectify it, hence he gave Obasi the money.

But Obasi, despite allegedly receiving the N1m, failed to fulfill his own part of the agreement throughout the end of the election; thereby dashing the senatorial ambition of Mr. Udude.

It was learnt that when Udude demanded for a refund, Obasi reportedly declined which made him (Udude) to run to the police

for help.

A police source said since last year, the Command has been trailing Obasi who he claimed had been at large until Monday when he was arrested.

When Journalists got the information about Obasi’s arrest, they visited the state police headquarters where he was already waiting for interrogation undressed.

He tried to explain the reason for his arrest to Journalists but the explanation was interrupted midway by police officers who claimed he had no such opportunity; however, he told Journalist that the matter in which he was arrested in connection was already before the Federal High Court, Abakaliki.

NAPTIP rescues 32 victims from human traffickers Julius Joseph Uyo

ÏÏÏThe

National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP), has rescued 32 persons from two suspected human traffickers, traveling with the victims to the western part of the country from Cross River.

Making the revelation was NAPTIP’s Zonal Commander for Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers, Mr. Ikechi Nwachukwu, who said on Tuesday that the victims were intercepted along

Itighidi in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River state.

Nwachukwu said that the victims; 28 males and four females were rescued by officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service, along with two suspects and brought to the Uyo zonal office.

He gave the ages of the 28 males to be ranging from 15 to 21, while the four females range from 18 to 21.

“The officers of Nigeria Immigration Service intercepted these 32 young Nigerians who were travelling from Obubra and Yakurr Local Government Areas of Cross River loaded in two

buses.

“Two suspects who were conveying the victims in two buses are in our custody for interrogation,” he said.

While lamenting the spate of human trafficking in the state, the Zonal Commander warned parents not to yield to the antics and tactics of traffickers at the expense of their children future.

Nwachukwu assured that human traffickers have no hiding place as he urged them to give up their trade of modern slavery which has given the country bad image.

Speaker, Kwara state House of Assembly, Hon. Ali Ahmad has pledged the House commitment to collaborate and support the state television broadcasting services, (KWTV) in a bid to make it more efficient and effective.

Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Matthew Okedare during the station’s management courtesy call to the Assembly on Tuesday, Ahmad stressed that it became imperative to support the television station as it is a pride of Kwarans.

In a statement issued by the Speaker’s Media Aide, Shuaib Abdulkadir, the Speaker commended the television station for doing the state proud with its various enlightened and educative programmes, which he noted had been impacting the citizens positively.

He, however, encouraged the

Hon. Ali Ahmad

management to sustain the tempo by continue to promote government programmes and activities which would further enlighten the public and shape their opinions and views about government.

Earlier, the station’s General Manager, Alhaji Abdulfatai Adebowale had appreciated the lawmakers’ resolute and fortitude while carrying out their legislative duties.

Anambra NDLEA arrests 687 suspects Nkiru Nwagbo Awka

ÏÏÏA total of 687 drug suspects

were arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in the last two years in Anambra state.

A beak down of the arrested suspects show that some were apprehended over trafficking on substances confirmed to be cannabis sativa, cocaine, heroin, psychotropic.

Out of the number, 62 of them were females, while 59 of the suspects were convicted for the various offenses.

Briefing reporters on Tuesday

at the NDLEA headquarters in Awka, the state commander, Sule Momodu, said the offences were between 2014 and 2015 respectively.

However, three of the suspects were arrested January 9th, 2016, at Inland town Onitsha and Okija respectively with 124.2 and 1.790 kilograms of the substances, including a Toyota Avalon packed with the drugs.

Momodu, gave the names of those arrested as Monday Eze, Uche Ojuma with the vehicle, while Chukwuma Ibisi was arrested in Onitsha selling the drugs like recharge cards.

Ex-militants fume over alleged sale of amnesty slots ÏÏÏHundreds

of ex-militants under the federal government phase II amnesty programme have accused officials of the amnesty office of allegedly selling slots for educational training of ex-militants to influential Nigerians for N500, 000 per individual.

The ex-militants, who converged at Ughelli, Delta State, also denounced reports that they were used and paid by the federal government to perpetrate violence in the Bayelsa elections.

Speaking on behalf of the exmilitants, leader of Okurugbolu Amphibiou barrack, “General”

Clinton Ebiama, alleged that though the federal government has approved the training for ex-militants, some staff in the office of the Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, are in the habit of selling the slots to persons who are not participants of the programme.

Sounding a note of warning to the federal government to be wary of the activities of these individuals, Ebiama said: “This has been the case during the Kingsley Kuku era. Now these individuals are perpetuating the same act under the tenure of Gen. Paul Boroh (Retd).

Education Times Æ s Augustine Okezie, Abuja The Federal Government has tasked Nigerian universities under the African Centre of Excellence (ACE) project to device other ways to augment funding to support the success and sustainability of projects in their various institutions.

Education Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who gave the charge in Abuja on Monday at a capacity enhancement and sustainability workshop for the African Centres of Excellence in Nigerian universities, also called on other ministries to rededicate their ministries in providing support for the projects, adding that the ability to explore and exploit new sources of funding to finance the search for excellence must be accepted as an integral part of it.

He said: “I urge you to collaborate with one another and find ways of sustaining this laudable project beyond the World Bank”.

Adamu further maintained that sufficient opportunity should be taken towards turning the university system around particularly in areas of research.

While noting that the responsibility placed before the varsities is enormous, the Education minister said: “We now look forward to them to proffer solutions to Nigeria’s, and by extension, Africa’s numerous challenges”, adding that the project must not be taken lightly because the success of the ACE project in the sub-region depends squarely on the success of each of the ACE’s in Nigeria.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

17

FG tasks varsities on funding for ACE project

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (left), congratulating the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, LASU, Prof. Olarenwaju Fagbohun (right), after taking his oath of Office, at the Conference room, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday.

The minister further explained that Federal Government through the National Universities Commission (NUC) has made it possible for all Nigerian universities irrespective of proprietorship to participate in the project, saying “this attests to the fact that our priority is the pursuit after excellence.”

“The Federal Government

will continue to provide a conducive environment and a level playing ground for all Nigerian universities to develop since all our universities are producing graduates for the same labour market,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, in his remark said the ACE projects are geared towards addressing common regional development challenges faced by West and

Central African sub region.

Okojie said significant progress has been made in the last two years since the commencement of the project even though it will take time to mature.

The workshop, he said, was designed to strengthen the capacities of the Nigerian ACEs to achieve the objectives of the project and to ensure sustainability beyond the

expiration of funding from the World Bank.

On his part, Mr. Andreas Blom, the World Bank Task team Leader, said that the project was a West Africa-led programme, adding that it had revealed quality of Nigerian universities.

He urged stakeholders to fashion out ways of sustaining the project, stressing that science and technology remained key to the development of the sub-region.

In his goodwill message, Mr. Adur-Raheem Shittu, the Minister of Communication, urged stakeholders to utilise Information Communication Technology (ICT) for enhancing research and become globally competitive.

Recall that the World Bank, in 2013, provided 80-milliondollar grant to the 10 ACEs in Nigeria being hosted by Redeemers’ University, Mowe, Ogun State, University of Ibadan, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

Others are Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Jos, University of Benin, University of Port Harcourt, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Bayero University, Kano, and Benue State University, Makurdi.

Rekindle hope, rebuild confidence in LASU, Ambode charges new VC Sam Nzeh Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday, charged the new Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University, Ojo, Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, to rekindle hope as well as rebuild confidence in the institution.

Recall that the university had been engulfed by protracted crisis between the management of the university during the tenure of the immediate past vice chancellor, Prof. John Obafunwa and members of the Academic Staff

Union (ASUU) in the university.

Ambode gave the charge at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, during the inauguration of Fagbohun as the 8th substantive vice chancellor of the institution, stressing that in doing this, the new VC “requires the support and cooperation of all the stakeholders particularly the academic and non-academic staff as well as students, all of whom he must carry along to enthrone a peaceful atmosphere that will promote academic excellence”.

The governor while acknowledging that Prof. Fagbohun is assuming office as vice chancellor

of LASU at a challenging time in the history of the university, noted that the protracted crisis in the university was recently resolved.

He noted that Fagbohun was appointed to put things right in the institution after a thorough screening and selection process by the Governing Council.

While insisting that he was not oblivious of the unique position that LASU occupies, Gov. Ambode charged the new leadership of the institution to re-focus on intellectual engagement, show leadership and brace up to the developmental and academic chal-

lenges of an emerging globally competitive citadel of learning.

The governor said the priority of his administration for educational institutions at the tertiary level is for them to nurture students to become wealth creators and innovators capable of contributing positively to the communities and the nation.

In his acceptance speech, Prof. Fagbohun said the passion that he has for the job is such that he was already running, adding that LASU shall become great again.

He said: “My strategic imperatives are to restore peace, fos-

ter high level scholarship, make gains on previous gains, create an environment that can attract funds and make the institution a valued partner to the Lagos State, the Nigerian nation and the international community.

“From this moment, the language of engagement is inclusive governance, consultative approach and the will mantra.

We will robustly and consistently engage in open, honest and constructive communication on critical issues such as welfare of staff and students, among others.

Overall, we will ensure that our dear University worth its name.

Education Times 18

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Schools don’t have right to impose levies on parents —NAPTAN president The National President, National Parent/Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Mr. Haruna Danjuma, has said that schools do not have the right to impose levies on members of Parent/Teachers’ Associations (PTAs) in Unity schools.

Danjuma made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said that many parents had complained to the association that Federal Government Colleges, which their wards attended, forced them to pay outrageous PTA levies on resumption days.

Danjuma assured parents that the problem would be discussed and tackled in the next council meeting, which would hold within the month. ``Every parent has the right to sit and agree on the amount they need to pay for a particular proj-

ect. ``No school should impose PTA levies on parents under any guise,’’ he said.

Commenting on the levies charged for insurance schemes in the schools, Danjuma said it was meant to be optional and paid by parents who were willing.

Also on the levies tagged, PTA Teachers, Danjuma said the money was for the payment of salaries of part-time teachers.

He said that PTAs on their own employed part-time teachers in various schools to ensure they had enough hands to cater to the needs of the children.

Danjuma explained that the employment of part-time teachers was temporary pending the time government would recruit permanent teachers.

Danjuma said complaints by some parents that their wards were not being fed well in schools had not reached the association.

He, however said the association would investigate the issue and report its findings to the Federal Ministry of Education for action.

Some parents whose children attended Federal Government Colleges had told NAN that they were forced to pay extra sums as PTA levies before their children could be allowed into school premises.

A parent, Mrs. Anthonia Nwokedi, said she paid N6,500 for her daughter in Federal Government College, Rubochi, Federal Capital Territory, and N5,000 for her son in Federal Science Technical College, Doma, Nasarawa State.

Another parent, Mrs. Janet Okwori, said she paid N6,000 PTA levy for her son in Federal Government Boys’ College, Apo, on resumption day to enable him to enter the school on resumption.

Monarch lauds Mimiko’s mega primary school initiative Oba Adegoke Adewusi, Olufon of Ifon, has lauded the mega primary school initiative by Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

Adewusi gave the commendation while receiving the management of Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in Ifon, Ose Local Government Area on Tuesday.

According to him, the concept has enhanced education in the state.

The monarch thanked Mimiko for citing one mega primary school in the community, adding that the school was not only for academic activities, but also served as a tourist attraction in the town. ``Whenever the school is posted on social media, it always generates positive comments from sons and daughters of the community within and outside the country’’, he said.

Adewusi, however, urged the

government to introduce free shuttle bus scheme to the local government to encourage more parents to send their children to public schools.

Chairman of ONSUBEB, Mr. Rotimi Olasogbo, urged the traditional ruler to sensitise his subjects on the importance of sending their children and wards to public schools.

The chairman held that public schools provided quality education from qualified teachers.

Gov. Mimiko

Softcom, Mountain Top varsity partner on mobile learning Tony Nwakaegho

Hon. Lola Akande (4th left ), flanked by members during the inauguration of sub committees to end violence against children in Lagos State... on Monday.

UNIABUJA matriculates 3,900 fresh students Augustine Okezie, Abuja The University of Abuja has matriculated a total of 3,900 students into her nine faculties and the College of Health Sciences for the 2015/2016 session with a call by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Adikwu, on the students to focus on being creative in their disciplines in order to prepare well for the challenges of national development ahead.

A statement released to newsmen in Abuja which was signed by the university’s director of Information, Mallam Waziri Garba, said the vice

chancellor told the students at the ceremony held separately in each of the faculties of the institution on Saturday that the current unemployment challenges facing the nation could only be overcome through the creative potentials of the youth and urged the students to seize the initiative from day one in the university.

Prof. Adikwu said that the task of creating more jobs or adding value to existing opportunities to enhance national growth could only be attained if the youth gave vent to their creativity and tapped all the potentials in their fields of

study.

The vice chancellor further urged the students to look beyond their text books for knowledge that would inspire them into undertaking tasks of great ingenuity surpassing ordinary textbook knowledge.

He appealed to the students for perseverance as the university was now in the process of rebuilding and repositioning, adding that the entire education system in the country was facing serious challenges which could only be overcome if all stakeholders committed themselves to discharging their roles in the best way they can.

An Information Technology firm, SoftCom Solutions Limited, has introduced a mobile learning app for students of the newly-established university, Mountain Top University, Lagos.

The app, developed in conjunction with Samsung Business, is a revolutionary portable mobile device bundled with EduSocial apps that allow students access course materials, lecture notes, case studies and varsity libraries via their mobile devices.

Speaking at the launch, Managing Partner/CEO, Softcom Solutions Limited, Mr. Yomi Adedeji, said the device was a strategic initiative aimed at encouraging students, having realised that mobile learning is the future of education globally.

He said: “Everybody knows

that the country’s educational system is a bit short in terms of global competitiveness. There is a need to improve education service delivery through technology adoption which will improve learning experience and boost the overall academic outcome of students in Nigeria.

“Mobile learning is the future of education and having seen it worked effectively in some selected varsities that have adopted it, we are motivated to extend this across the country.”

Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Adebowale Elijah, who said the institution would provide infrastructure, facilities and a conduciveenvironmentforthestudents to excel, added that the introduction of the mobile learning device is part of the resolve to provide top-rate education for the new in-takes.

Jigawa to establish 14 additional nomadic schools

The Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Agency for Nomadic Education, Alhaji Ali Manu, on Tuesday, said the state government had concluded plans to establish 14 additional nomadic schools in the state.

Manu told journalists in Dutse that the schools would be established in Kwangara village in Birninkudu, Kafin Baci in Kiyawa, Kulma in Jahun, Ardo Usaini in Gumel, and Kutum in Malammadori.

He said that others would be established in Kubayi in Guri,

Modibawa in Miga, Jawura in Buji, Muwi in Babura, Gallekyar in Giwa and Wangara and Dojar in Dutse.

The executive secretary said that the state government had also planned to renovate the existing 10 nomadic schools in some selected local government areas of the state.

He said those to be renovated were in Ladduga in Birninkudu, Kufito in Kaugama, Ketawa in Maigatari, Gezojin Wambai in Kazaure, Barnawa in Taura and Dolel Dabdili in Kirikasamma.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

19 Education Times

Nigeria’s smaller neighbours have better Education policies — FUT Minna ASUU chair What is the relationship between the FUT Minna management and ASUU? It depends on how we look at it but as ASUU chairman of Federal University of Technology Minna, I believe that we have a cordial relationship with the management but you know university administration being government representative, they don’t always trust a pressure group and ASUU is a pressure group.

We are more or less trying to make sure that there is check and balances. If not for these pressure groups, the level of funding of education in Nigeria is more or less nothing to write home about. The government will have to wait for ASUU to go on strike before they will remember there was need to fund the educational system in Nigeria especially tertiary institutions.

The public needs to continue to thank ASUU because it is very obvious that our public primary schools are no longer functioning. They killed it in order to promote their own private schools they established.

The same thing happened to secondary schools and I am telling you if care is not taken, they are now going the way of primary and secondary schools to kill public universities so that the poor masses won’t have access to university education and we will look at this as a way of complying with the advice of World Bank that the tertiary educational system cannot be for all which is against humanity.

Let people decide whether they want to get knowledge or not and it is the responsibility of government to provide not just education but quality education.

As far as we are concerned, we don’t have any issue around the management but we always have areas of challenges because they will want to behave in their position as government representative while we are pressure group and we will always insist that the right thing should always be done more especially if we go on struggle and the struggle pays off like the NEEDS Assessment money released. ASUU has put all the mechanisms in place in conjunction with the implementation and monitoring committee to ensure that all the money released by the Federal Government will be used and not only used but used for what they are supposed to be used for.

In summary, will you say the current FUT Minna VC is the listening type, does he listen to superior argument?

ASUU believes in superior argument. We always have areas of disagreement but at the same time, where he knows that we have superior argument and to me as a gentleman, he doesn’t have option than to go with the superior argument, but you know the way they behave generally. It is not peculiar to him but all the Vice Chancellors always look for ways to do the bidding of government.

What is the state of affairs as far as academic activities are concerned in terms of timeliness in release of results, compliance with academic calendar? What is it like in FUT Minna?

To be fair to the administration of FUT Minna, that is very okay, the results are being released as at when due. In fact, now in

Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, Niger State chapter, Dr. AbdulFatai Jimoh, in this interview with AUGUSTINE OKEZIE speaks on relationship between the union and the university management, implementation of the 2013 NEEDS Assessment agreement by the Federal Government as well as quality of Education in Nigeria among others. Excerpts:

Jimoh

FUT Minna, we always ensure that students get their CAs before the exams. If you see your continuous assessment which is always over 40 percent, the exam is over 60 percent, it would enable you to know how far you have gone and for you to prepare yourself for exams to make up where you have weaknesses.

Results are released on time. There is a studentship period and if you have a very weak academic performance, FUT Minna will not hesitate to send you out of the university.

ASUU is complaining that since 2013 when the Federal Government made the first release on the NEEDS Assessment agreement, they have not made any other.

What do you think might be responsible?

It is nothing but an act of insincerity on the part of Federal Government and this is what we are always telling the public but it is unfortunate that the public are like the patriots who intervened during the 2013 strike.

I do not want to state categorically that they are not following the trend of things after that struggle because if we signed an agreement and they specifically stated how these funds would be released, thank God the media is aware that after that first release, nothing else has been released.

Even the funds released, some of the universities that are yet to meet up with the mechanisms, the laid down rules and regulations for them to access the money, the money is already with university but they cannot spend it until they meet up with all the rules and regulations but with this single treasury

account policy, all these money are already mopped up but we just hope that the money is safe but I want to tell the public that they should see what is going on, that ASUU, we have satisfied our own part of the agreement by going back to classes, by continuing doing our work but apart from that first release, government has not done anything in line with the agreement which is very disheartening.

You noted that government fails to move into action until pressure groups embark on strike. So, coupled with the national meeting held recently in Zaria, is ASUU contemplating going on strike?

ASUU does not just wake up one day and go on strike, it is when we take up an issue and government is not what is expected and we know that things have deteriorated that we resort to our last weapon which is strike.

We are consulting. We have already written to President Muhammadu Buhari. We know that he just resumed office; we are trying to given him benefit of doubt. The agreements are there, memoranda signed are there and we also in our letter updated him on what has been implemented and what are yet to be implemented. It is left to him to call the stakeholders; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, the necessary directors, and the ministers to review these documents. We don’t need to wait until pressure groups go on strike before we do what is expected of us.

Sometimes ago I was in Johannesburg, South Africa and there was an agreement

between their labour union and the government of South Africa on increasing their salary. On the agreed date, the labour union need not remind the government again. All you need is see your pay slip at the due date and see that the implementation of the new agreement has commenced but in Nigeria, if you follow the trend of things, you will discover that you will first of all go on strike, the strike will lead you to having an agreement signed and it may require another strike to get Nigerian government to implement agreement they willingly entered into with a pressure group or ASUU which to me as a civilized community it is not supposed to be but it is part of what we are going through.

Earlier you made reference to the epileptic system of education in the country, what would you propose as way forward?

Believe you me, as small as Ghana is and the Republic Benin is, they have a very sound policies on education. They know what percentage of the annual budget they always set aside for the development of educational system. UNESCO has also made clear statement on what development countries like Nigeria should do in order to enhance their educational system. Policies are not the problem in this country but the sincerity in the implementation of these policies. If these things are done sincerely, I think our educational system will outgrow the level we are now.

Recall in the early 60s and 70s that people from other countries like Cameroon, Niger, and South Africa always rushed to Nigeria for sound and quality educational system but how many foreigners are here again now to study? The reverse is now the case.

Nigerians are now going to Ghana for quality education, running to South Africa for quality education, what an irony!

Do you think the present government has what it takes to change the face of Nigeria’s education?

Well, it is too early for us to start commenting. We are watching, after one year, we can begin to make our statement.

By now at least they are supposed to have given us a clear cut statement; what is their foreign policy, what is their policy on education, what is their policy on economy, what is their policy on infrastructural development. These are the things Nigerians need to hear but it might be too early to say we want to start assessing them because if you talk now, they will tell you they are trying to settle down but we hope that after one year, a serious government would have settled down properly and hit the ground.

Are you saying for now ASUU is declaring a moratorium on strike?

We approach issues as they come. For now, I am not aware of anything like strike and then we are doing our constitutional responsibilities of teaching, research and community service.

Education Times 20

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Inside Campus Æ s

SOSAN pledges national unity through cultural diplomacy The theme for this year conference was, “Cultural Studies and National Unity: Emerging Trends.” The theme of the conference can be traced to the association’s vision statement which is to foster social education for the enhancement of the acquisition of necessary political, social and cultural knowledge, as well as attitudes and skills for effective and responsible democratic citizenship.

Arising from the scholarly papers presented and the meaningful discussion held at the conference, the association released its communiqué to the government and the good people of Nigeria.

In the communiqué, the association extolled the leadership effort of the Federal Government in ensuring peace and security in most part of the country.

“The genuine efforts of the Federal Government in ensuring the unity of Nigeria as well as her relentless effort in curtailing insecurity affronts are highly appreciated, and the Association wishes the federal government of Nigeria a resounding success in this direction,” the communique read in part.

The association noted that the various approaches being devised by the Federal Government in achieving national unity, security

In its drive to promote cultural values and national unity as well as the educational standard in Nigeria through cultural studies, the Social Studies Educationists Association of Nigeria (SOSAN), has held its 31st annual national conference at the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo State. OLAWALE ODEYEMI, (400-Level History) Unilorin reports.

(L-R) SOSAN President, Professor Samuel Ogundare (middle), Treasurer, Dr. (Mrs.) Eunice Oyetade, Secretary, Dr. Abdulraheem Yusuf (third right) and other newly inducted members of SOSAN at the event.

and solidarity have been effective only to some extent and suggested that in addition to these approaches, there is the need to incorporate cultural diplomacy into these approaches.

“Cultural studies have been found to be another strategy to build bridges and fill gaps across divides. Understanding of others’ culture promotes recognition and

respect and thereby facilitates unity,” the association said.

Consequently, the association urged the Federal Government to take a deeper look at the informal and formal approaches of using culture to promote national unity.

The association also urged the Federal Government to swiftly include cultural diplomacy within the nation in its change mantra,

saying: “A curriculum is a veritable tool for change and at this moment we suggests that our school curriculum, when next it is revised, should infuse the teaching and learning of Nigeria cultural value in all the subjects at the primary and secondary levels.

The association wishes the nation brighter days in its second centenary existence.”

Students win big at UNIZIK Project Fame Franklin Onwubiko

It was a carnival of talents at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, the Anambra State capital, last weekend as students showcased their talents at an event organised to pick the next reality music star and UNIZIK’s Intellectual Millionaire.

The show tagged UNIZIK Project Fame and Millionaire’s Quiz, was put together by Very Reverend Father Bonachristus Umeogu International Scholarship Schemes and Foundation. It was aimed at developing and rewarding students with exceptional abilities.

There was no dull moment at the university auditorium, venue

Cross section of particpants

of the event, which was filled to capacity. The contestants dished out electrifying performances that sent members of the audience into excitement.

The contestants, including Jurassic Band from the Department of Music, were drawn from various departments.

The presence of Dr. Alvan

Ikoku Nwamara, a seasoned music lecturer, and Mr. Chikezie Uzuegbunam, a lecturer of the Department of Mass Communication, added glamour to the event.

Ten contestants emerged after the preliminary screening and moved to the grand finale. The contestants took turns to display their mastery of different minds of music. The audience was held spellbound by their performance that lasted for hours.

At the end of the show, Frank Nlebedim, a 300-Level Psychology student, who bears Frankstrings as his stage name, emerged the winner, winning a scholarship. Nnekka Okafor and Alfred Umeaku emerged first and second runners-up. They were rewarded with cash prizes.

Foundation awards recipients of essay competition Ezekiel Efeobhokhan, (UNIBEN) The Ibhawoh foundation has announced the winners of its maiden essay competition titled, “Strategies for addressing the challenges of funding higher education in Nigeria”.

Speaking at the event, Gerald Ibhawoh, stated that the initiative was brought about by the need to give back to the society.

“We all know the stress involved in passing through any higher institution in Nigeria hence the foundation has seen it fit to encourage those who could differentiate themselves from the mass”.

The award ceremony which was held at the luncheon organized at Protea Hotel, Benin City was gracedby the judges, facilitators and well-wishers.

The winners were in two categories. Joy Oboh, a 400 level History and International Studies student emerged winner from the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma as well as Ezekiel Efeobhokhan, a Pharmacy student from the University of Benin.

Commenting on the award, the winner from AAU, Oboh expressed delight, adding that this was a landmark to success and that the award was an encouragement to participate in productive essays like this.

“I really appreciate this opportunity given to me by the foundation. My horizon has been broadened by extensive research carried out in the course of the competition; I encourage other students to fully participate in subsequent competitions”.

Addressing the awardees, Bonny Ibhawoh encouraged them to keep up the good work and face their studies as this was the only criteria to sustain the level of excellence they just achieved.

However, Gerald congratulated the winners and emphasized that they were now an ambassadors of the foundation and hence they should be known for good conduct so that the foundation could be seen in good light.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Timessearch e-mail: oyin_K@yahoo.com 08055103156

Is TUC in support of increase in electricity tariff?

Sarah ODEDE

What’s going on with SMEDAN? I would be happy if the TIMESEARCH could help find out why the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) has refused to do something tangible to help this country improve especially with the situation of the nation where there is no job.

In the past, the issue of Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria brought hope and smiles to faces of youths, thinking they are battle ready to eliminate the matter of unemployment in the country, but the reverse is the case now.

I am highly affected because I had graduated three years ago and to date, I have no job. I am still in my parent’s house hoping each day to bring something of my heart desire to me, which of course is either a job or capital to start a business of my own with.

So much has been said of SMEs development in Nigeria, and I would be happy if the TIMESEARCH being an investigative column could please use its good offices to throw more light on this issue, because I know many unemployed Nigerian youths like me would be happy to read this piece of information concerning the SMEs development in this country.

Mr. Niyi Ladiran P.O. Box 3386 Sagamu, Ogun State TIMESEARCH gathered that lack of access to finance infrastructure among others as major challenges hampering the growth of small and medium enterprises in the country.

An official who was taken up on the issue revealed to the TIMESEARCH that on November 15, 2015, the Director- General,

What happens if employers fail to register employees under Employee Compensation scheme?

Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria, (SMEDAN,) Alhaji Bature Umar Masari, listed lack of access to finance infrastructure among other as major challenges hampering the growth of small and medium enterprises in the country.

According to him, any developed country was able to achieve that because they were dedicated and committed to developing their SMEs sector and Nigeria should not be different. “That is why we are very busy trying to impress it on Nigeria to begin to accept the idea of value addition of products that are readily available in every part of the country”, he added.

Investigation revealed further that the challenges mainly has to do with lack of affordable access to finance. Nigerians, according to the spokesman, “naturally are entrepreneurial in nature.

We are ready and willing to do business as long as those things are sustainable by access to funds that are affordable by the SMEs”.

It was also gathered that lack of adequate infrastructure is equally another hindrance and that is why the agency is trying to ensure that SMEs cluster practices are created in every part of the country so that common facilities can be provided for SMEs operators so they can begin to take advantage of such to do business. There are so many other challenges but lack of affordable access to finance is the major hindrance to SMEs development in the country, it was ascertained.

The Director-General was said to have claimed the agency

Many Nigerians would be grateful to the TIMESEARCH if it could use its good offices to help find out from the appropriate quarters what happens to employers who failed to register their employees under the Employee Compensation Scheme.

The company I am serving now (name withheld) to the best of our (employees) knowledge has not been remitting our money to the Employee Compensation Scheme, but no one was able to challenge the Managing Director or the accountant for

21

Masari

was doing quite a lot. “SMEDAN has been able to identity potentiality in every local government areas in Nigeria, which individual communities have comparative advantages over other communities and we have been moving around trying to conduct a need assessment in different localities with the need to guiding them on how to help their enterprises along the value chain line of available opportunities in every locality in the country,” he said.

“Millions of Nigerians are very appreciative of that particular initiative that is coming from the agency, and the agency is busy providing guidance and mentorship and ensuring that they develop business ideas that are bankable and we are busy introducing those Nigerians who have business plans under the guidance of the agency to bank response where they can be able to access funds for their enterprise set up and their development,” he added.

fear of not losing our jobs.

It has been rumoured that measures would be taken against such employer who fails to register its employees by this present government but how sure is this information and how safe is our money that the company has been deducting over the years.

It would be a great relief if this issue is handled like the other ones I have been reading and I pray for God’s protection for this investigator.

Mr. Christopher Ekong

I would be grateful if the TIMESEARCH could help find out what the Trade Union Congress (TUC) is up to in the much rumoured increase in electricity tariff by the electricity distribution companies in the country.

I am interested to know if the Trade Union Congress is in support of the increment or not. Nigerians are tired of incessant increment in electricity tariff, because the increment does not boost the supply of energy in the country, instead, darkness erode the more, meaning increment in tariff does not guarantee supply of electricity as expected in all advanced countries, even in our neighbouring countries, (Benin Republic and Ghana.)

I know the Nigeria Labor Congress has been hammering on this issue but I am yet to know what the TUC has up its sleeves as regards this issue.

God bless the TIMESEARCH and the Daily Times of Nigeria for helping the masses solve their problems, especially for those of us who could not sue afford a lawyer’s fee.

Mr. Kenneth Sotimilehin P.O. Box 7743 Ikotun, Lagos At the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria Office in Abuja, the TIMESEARCH contacted some members of the Congress from where it was gathered that the Congress was not in support of the increment in electricity tariff proposed by the electricity distribution companies in the country.

It was revealed that the TUC vowed to resist the reported plans by the electricity distribution companies in the county to increase tariff by 49.4 per cent.

Mr. James Orepodun Hannah Ibe 228 Abeokuta Express Way, Lagos At the Ministry of Labour and Employment Abuja, the issue of non-registration of employees under the Employee Compensation Scheme was tabled before a top official of the Ministry who was referred to as the only authentic source to comment on the issue.

The official, who craved anonymity, was quick to reveal to the TIMESEARCH on hearing the na-

In a statement, the TUC described the reported plans as “wrong and lacks human face” especially in views of the present harsh economic realities in the land.”

According to TUC, a number of proposals have already been submitted to the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) pursuant to this objective.

The statement issued by the TUC President, Musal Lawal, in October 2015, said: “Why should the masses be at the receiving end of every wrong and retrogressive policy in the country? Why must they always pay for what the rich consume more of?

What sense does it make for a man who earns less than N20,000 per month to be made to pay over N8,000 for electricity bill alone within the same month.

Why should they pay so much for what they do not use regularly enough, with officers of the distribution companies rarely bothering to read the analogue meters? Why should these questionable issues that are spared no thought in other climes always take centre stage in Nigeria?

Surely, Nigerians deserve a much better deal.”

TUC added: “Also, the Congress is informed that NERC is considering introducing measures that will facilitate reduction of the rate of the fixed charge on consumers. What has been happening all along is same with what is obtainable in the telecom sector.

“They either assign tones to subscribers or enrol them on plans that attract daily, weekly or monthly deductions.

ture of the issue that in November 2015, barely two months ago, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Nigige, had earlier advocated stiff sanctions for employers who defaulted tin registering their employees under the Employee Compensation Scheme.

According to the official, “Ngige, who lamented low level of compliance with the provisions of the law establishing the scheme, urged the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund to come up with stiff sanctions for such defaulters.

22

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

AL-MUNAWARAH FOUNDATION INT’L The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, of 1990.

The Trustees Are: 1. Amodu Shakiru Adebiyi 4. Olaiya Tajudeen Kayode 2. Amodu Modinat Adenike 5. Amodu Sulcarinean Ademola 3. Lawal Abibat Abimbola Aims And Objectives: 1. To Help The Less Privilege 2. Helping The Needy And Empowering Them Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris crescent of Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED: TRUSTEES

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

Trustees: 1. Abiodun Ajibade 3. Adeyinka Ojo 2 . Titilayo Ikugbagbe 4. Bolade Bello Aims & Objectives: a.) Provision of succour support for the Orphans b.) Vocational training for true motherhood, c.) Empowerment, skill acquisition and entrepreneurial development training for women and youth Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris crescent of Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication Signed: Secretary

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE ABEOKUTA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION The general public is hereby notified that the above has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, of 1990.

Trustees: I. Femi Ajala Ibukunoluwa 6. Sogunle Folakemi 2. Babalola Tosin 7. Adeleke Fisayomi 3. Koshoedo Oluwasegun 8. Kalejaiye Omotola 4. Adeniran Adedamola 9. Ishola Kharaet 5. Dawodu Opeyemi I0. Oderinde Rotimi Aims And Objective: To Preach The Gospel of Jesus Christ Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 tigris crescent of Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

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

Trustees.

1. Mr.Udemba Nathaniel.

2. Mr. Nwosu Cosmas Ngodurubie.

3. Mr.Ineh Tony Neku.

4. Mr. Chijioke Ikenna Valentine.

Aims & objective To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to all nation.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris crescent of Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Trustees

OMOLARA EARLY BIRD READERS FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES: 1. Mrs. Kofoworola Omolara Jagboro 2. Prof. Godwin Onajite Jagboro 3. Mr. Ezekiel Ogooluwa Williams-Osula 4. Mrs. Helen Onajowho Garba.

Aims and Objectives: 1. To establish reading clubs in primary school and secondary schools 2. To encourage writing skills among primary and secondary school students 3. To organise annual reading competition of different categories.

4. To donate books to the club.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 tigris crescent of Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

INITIATIVE FOR CORRUPT - FREE NIGERIA

The general public is hereby notified tha the above named nongovernmental organisation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja , for registration as an incorporated trustee under Part C of companies and Allied Matters Act, cap. C-20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The Trustee are: 1. Kennedy Nwagwu - Chairman 2. Ndidi Mbagwu -Secretary The Aims and Objectives: 1. To promote the culture of probity and accountability in Nigerian Government and society in general.

2. to expose cases of corruption, embezzlement and misappropriation of government revenue.

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

Signed: Onah Chigozir Serguis, Esq. Gozie-Best Law Consulting Plot 1226, Minister’s Quarters Annex, Mabushi, Abuja. 08037400124.

POWER OF RESURRECTION CATHOLIC MINISTRY, ANAMBRA, NIG

ALAYO PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied to the corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

Trustees: 1. Rev. Fr. Egbuonu Stephenmary - Chairman 2. Mrs. Onwumelu Jacinta Obianuju - Secretary

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 TRUSTEES ARE: 1 Ajayi Oluwatoyin Otolorin 2 Olubunmi Akanbi Solola.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. 1 manage&improve affairs of the association.

2 organise empowerment programmes&seminars for members.

3 promote&carry out research to improve wellbeing of members.

4 Enhance community cohesion.

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

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

SIGNED: CHAIRMAN: OLUBUNMI AKANBI SOLOLA.

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

Signed: Secretary

CENTRE FOR TEENAGE DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT INITIATIVE

DESTINY CHILDREN OF GOD CHURCH MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

AIMS: To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ unto repentance.

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

Signed: J.E ANAEKWE & CO. 08055847466

CENTER OF HOPE FOUNDATION The General Public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees Are:1. Ezenwa Austine 2. Onuoha John Epeagba The Aims And Objectives Are:1) To Provide Clean Water For Communities.

2) Health Care Facility For Communities.

3) Rescue Children And Women From Trafficking

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

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

Signed: Oyeku Opeyemi Esq.

TRUSTEES: 1. OGBUDU CHRISTOPHER KENI 2. BINAEBI JOYCE IZONEBI 3. JACK JACKSON AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO MENTOR, GUIDE, TUTOR, COUNSEL AND TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE ON SELF-IMPROVEMENT, SELF-RELIANCE AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND BUILD CAPACITY THROUGH THE ORGANISATION OF SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES, AIMED AT INSTILLING NEW TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS ON THE TARGET GROUP. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE LIVING COVENANT HOUSE OF GOD CHURCH

NEW LIGHT OF GLORY REDEEMER GOSPEL CHURCH

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. REV. PASTOR PAUL UDO -FOUNDER 2. BRO VICTOR EFFIONG 3. BRO INNOCENT IKPE IQUO 4. BRO NSEOBONG AKPAN DANIEL 5. DEACONESS ESTHER PAUL UDO AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO ALL MANKIND. 2. TO ENGAGE IN CHARITY ACTIVITIES ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: EKONG O. EKONG LEGAL PRACTITIONER 08024573737

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. PASTOR AYODELE ATOYEBI -GENERAL OVERSEER 2. BROTHER JAMES OLUWAGBEMIGA ATOYEBI -SECRETARY 3. BROTHER WILLIAM OJO FALEYE -TREASURER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST ALL OVER THE WORLD. 2. TO TAKE CARE OF THE WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS. 3. TO ESTABLISH LOCAL BRANCHES FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL WORLDWIDE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: TUNDE OGUNDIJO, NOVEL ‘N’ NOBLE CHAMBERS 08056123459

IREBAMIBO PEARL CENTRE OF HOPE

The Trustees Are:1. Olayinka-Aliu Damilola Adepeju 2. Idahor Vincent 3. Jimoh Ganiyu Owoyemi 4. Aliu Olayinka Ayodele The Aim and Objective Is:To Assist The Less Privileged

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 2. EVANGELIST CHINYERE ANGELA IGOH -FOUNDER 3. MR. PIUS OKPABI IGOH 4. MR. JOHN IGOH 5. MR. JAMES ARUGO IGOH 6. BARRISTER PATRICK O. IBE -SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD WORLDWIDE 2. TO WIN SOULS FOR CHRIST ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

GRACE CHINWEOKWU CHARITY FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. MR. BARTHOLOMEW IDENYI 2. DR. DANIEL OLISANYE UNEGBU 3. DR. SAMSON OBIESIE EGBULONU AIMS AND OBJECTIVES TO HELP THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: BARR. ELIZABETH ONATADE SOLICITOR

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

23

WORLD SOCIETY FOR PEACE AND WELLNESS

ZAMAN-LAFIYA-MUKEZO ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

CHRIST CARE EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

The general public is hereby notified that the above Association has Applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration Under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts, 1990 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. APOSTLE BARUWKELYON CHIDI GADDIYEL - President 2. DR. MRS UME-SHEDRACK NGOZI Secretary 3. UME JACOB SHEDRACK AGAFE Treasurer

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Alhaji Mani Buda Chairman 2. AlhajiUsmanAbubakarSalau 3. Alhaji Alfa MahamudAhamad 4. AlhajiMuritalaAbubakar 5. Alhaji Ibrahim Doctor AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1 To bring together different traders and businessmen and women engaged in lawful trading and/or commercial endeavors in and around kotankowa market AbuleEgba Lagos.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyiironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED: Barr Adebayo Cole

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) Egbevwore Wisdom Anthony - General Overseer 2) Akanle Emmanuel Olorungbon 3) Egbevwore Esther Oghoyoma 4) Oluwakuyide Remilekun Tosin 5) Omoigui Voke. - Secretary 6) Ugochukwu Gabriel Isabella 7) Joel Floda Ovinuchi Aims And Objectives: 1) To Preach The Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

2) To Deliver The Oppressed, Heal The Sick And Set The Captive Free.

3) To Organisze Seminars, Symposia And Faith Clinic To Enhance The Spiritual Growth Of The Members.

4) To Engage In Evangelistic And Charitable Work In Nigeria And Abroad.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general corporate affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent of aguiyiironsi street maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication Signed: Secretary

QUARRY OPERATORS,TIPPER’S OWNERS & DRIVERS ASSOCIATION AKURE

UNITY LIVING ORGANISATION FOR SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote the well being of the needy 2. To promote peace and unity of members Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama , Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Trustees

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

This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Ajayi Abiodun. - Chairman 5. Lasisi Bakare. - Member 2. Ponnle Mombomi. - Member 6. Festus Agboola. - Member 3. Rufus Adeoye.

- Member 7. Adeyemi. Akintoye. - Member 4. Bolarinde Akinlolu. - Secretary Aim and objective 1 To promote the interest of member of the association

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISION 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGN: A.M.E. HAILEY, ESQ. 070339760493

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off AguyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed : Barrister Olatunji George Agbaminoja , 1247 , Aminu Kano Crescent .

This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. OSAWE IZIEGBE. (MR). - CHAIRMAN 2. OSAWE EZINNE IZIEGBE. (MRS) 3. JOHN UKELAH IKOROGBUDU (MR) - SECRETARY Aim and objective 1. To promote unity ,peace and harmony among members for purposes of achieving development 2. To cater for the social needs of members in order to achieve growth in the society Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off AguyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Barr. CHUKS

BABBAN GONA MEMBERS TRUST FUND ASSOCIATION NIGERIA

CHRIST THE PILLAR OF LIVING TRUTH GLORIOUS TABERNACLE

EYAESIRI FAITH MISSION

The Trustees Are: 1. Rev. Omotoso Ralph Light 4. Deaconess Akinyemi Grace Adeolu 2. Dr. Omotoso Sharon Adetutu 5. Evang. Olagunju Abimbola Owolabi 3. Pastor Morakinyo Oluwaseyi Caleb Aim And Objectives: 1. To Preach The Gospel Of Salvation To All Nations.

2. To Raise Godly And Wealthy Men And Women of Integrity and Substance.

3. To Turn All Men And Women Away From Evil Unto God And Separated For Eternal Life With The Lord.

This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustee are: 1. HRM MUHAMMAD SANUSI. II (CON) 4. BUKOLA MASHA 2. BALA YUSUF YUNUSA 5. OMOLOLA MASHA 3. JULIAN PEACH 6. OLAKEMI SALAU Aim and objective 1. To inspire and enable hardworking small holder farmers reach their full potentials 2. To promote activities improve the incomes the livehood of smallholder farmers 3. To promote and foster education , training and development in farming and associated subjected.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off AguyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Trustee

UCHE OKOLI FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation is seeking for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Part C., 2004.

Trustees: (1) Mr. UcheOkoli (6) Mr.AustineUjubuonwu (2) Mrs. LilianOkoli (7) Mr. UzomaAlaribe (3) Mr. LotannaOkoli (8) Dr. GamalielAjoku (4) Dr. IkechukwuOkafor (9) Mr. EmekaAnozie (5) Mr. Chris Chigbo Jnr Aim and objective 1. To carter for the needies and less privileged in the society.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off AguyiIronsi Street, P.M.B. 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

SIGNED: BarrOsitaAnene

This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies And Allied Matters Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Church is seeking for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Part C., 2004.

The Trustees are: (1)Evang Confidence Erharuyi - chairman.

(2) pastor (Mrs) Regina Erharuyi - secretary (3) Deaconess Vivian Enogieru- member.

Aims and objective: 1. To preach the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ.

The Trustees are: 1) Rev. Solomon Adarighofua Akpenoro2) Rev. Dr. Anthony Akobia 3) Apostle Ejiro Akpenoro4) Moses Ogbe 5) Engr. Ufuoma Joseph Aims And Objectives: 1. To lead sinners to Christ by teaching God’s words and by showing example.2.To help man and woman discover their purpose here on earth.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off AguyiIronsi Street, P.M.B. 198, Matiama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

Signed: Secretary

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off AguyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

LULLABY CLASSICAL MUSIC FOUNDATION

IBOM PETROLEUN DEALERS ASSOCIATION

This is to inform the General Public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration of trustees under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 (as amended THE TRUSTEES ARE1. OGBUJI CHIKA - CHAIRMAN 2. OPARAMANUIKE JOSEPH CHINEDU - SECRETARY 3. DAVIDS KEHINDE - MEMBER 4. APUGO AKUBUIKE CHRISTIAN- MEMBER AIM AND OBJECTIVE To promote classical music among the populace

This is to inform the General Public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration of trustees under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 (as amended TRUSTEES ARE. 1 CHIEF SAMUEL ETUKUDO UDOKOP... CHAIRMAN 2 CHIEF FRIDAY UQUANG EKPOTU.... VICE CHAIRMAN 3 MR DOUGLAS AKPAN BASSEY..... SEC

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

Signed: Trustees

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE 1 TO FORM UNITY AMONG MEMBERS. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty eight (28)days of this publication.

SIGNED: CHAIRMAN

PLAYSAFE LIFE CARE FOUNDATION

DYNAMIC AND CREATIVE YOUTHS FOR CHANGE INITIATIVE

APOSTOLIC LIFE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD

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

The general public is hereby notified that the above named INITIATIVE has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act,cap 20, LFN 2004 as amended.

The trustees are: 1. Ifeanyi Christian Okoye - President.

2. Ifeoma Ngozi Lauretta Okoye - Secretary.

3. Alex Emumena Uriri.

4. Francis Chukwuneye Eburie 5. Idemili Innocent Onyebuchi.

Aims And Objectives: 1. To organise workshops and seminars for youth empowerment.

2. To promote good governance by participation through advocacy, training, education, information dissemination and capacity building.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 tigris crescent of Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: Secretary

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CHURCH has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act, cap 20, LFN 2004 as amended.

The trustees are: 1. Apostle Richard Olayemi Oladele.

2. Evangelist Oluremi Priscilla 3. Evangelist Mary Kafayat Olaleye.

4. Emmannuel Roland Ogbonaghara.

5. Adeyenuwo Kolawole Aims And Objectives: 1. To preach the gospel of our lord Jesus christ.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar general Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris Crescent of Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: Secretary

The Trustees are: 1. Famuyiwa Banjo Paul Chairman 2. Ade-Agbo Funmilayo Esther Secretary 3. Famuyiwa Olubunmi Adenike 4. Famuyiwa Oluwasegun Daniel Aims and Objectives 1. To provide care and support for vulnerable children.

2. To Create Awareness on HIV/AIDS, Cancer, Malaria, Tuberculosis Any objection to this application should be forwarded to: The Registrar – General, Corporate Affairs Commission Wuse 2, Zone 5 Abuja and within 28days of this publication.

Signed: Tunde Falola Esq

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Falling oil prices wake up call for diversification, says Dogara Henry Omunu Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Speaker of the House of the Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, has said that the global fall in oil prices was a wake-up call for Nigeria to diversify from a monoeconomy that relies only on revenue from oil.

He said this on Tuesday, in Abuja, in his speech to welcome House members back from the Christmas recess and the resumption of plenary.

He said that the crashing prices of crude oil in the international market and the concomitant impact on the nation’s economy was a

sad reminder of the collective failure over the years to diversify from a monoproduct economy.

“It is a wake-up call for walking the talk on diversification which has been our rhetoric for decades and we have no excuse for letting this opportunity slip by again. I believe, dear colleagues, that this realisation will shape our views and decisions as we consider the 2016 Appropriation Bill”, he added.

While tasking his colleagues to pass the 2016 Appropriation Bill into law fast, he reminded them that so many Nigerians were being because of the downturn being experienced

BENEDICT EKEJIUBA FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. CHINYERE NNENNA IGBWEGBE 2. KELECHI IFEANYI IGWEGBE 3. NKEM CLARA PHILIP ABASIRI 4. UZODINMA IGWEGBE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO EMPOWER THE YOUTHS, LESS PRIVILEGED, ORPHANS AND WIDOWS THROUGH SKILL ACQUISITION, TALENT DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: OBY ONYEKWULUJE SOLICITOR

EILEEN NKEAKA OKOLIE I formerly known and addressed as Eileen Nkeaka N. now wish to be known and addressed Eileen Nkeaka Okolie. All former document remain valid general public should please take note.

in the economy, especially the sufferings of construction workers, majority of whom haven’t been paid for months and those laid off because of the inability of government to settle outstanding debts owed the firms.

The Speaker, therefore, advised House members to back the Buhari administration in tackling the rising unemployment in the country, asserting that, “Since job creation is one of the fundamental policies of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration, we cannot treat job losses lightly.

“As true representatives of the people, we owe it a

Plateau police parade female soldier over murder of baby Chijioke Kingsley Jos

ÏÏÏA

Dogara

duty to make haste and whether we make haste slowly or we slowly make haste, we must hasten those long nights of despair into a glorious morning for our citizens, who hope to go back to work, as soon as government pays the firms they were working for.

GROOMED FOR SUCCESS INITIATIVE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES-1. NASIRU SANI ZANGON DAURA-CHAIRMAN 2. ZAINAB HAYATUDDEEN (FORMERLY ZAINAB ABDULKADIR KUSO) –SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. ORGANIZE TRAINING, SKILL ACQUISITION, EMPOWERMENT SEMINARS, PRESENTATION OF PAPERS, MAGAZINES AND TRACKS. 2. TO PROVIDE CAPACITY BUILDING FOR YOUTHS AND DEVELOPING THEIR SKILL SET AS A POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. 3. TO INCULCATE IN YOUTH THE VALUES OF GOOD AND QUALITY EDUCATION ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

lady suspected to have thrown her infant baby through the window of a storey building in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, has been paraded by the Police among other suspected criminals at the Plateau State Police Command in Jos. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adekunle Oladunjoye, while addressing members of the press at the Command’s quarterly briefing in his office, paraded one Miss Salome Samuel of Shonong village, who threw her baby down from a storey building, whose case was transferred by Operation Safe Haven (STF) on December 15, 2015.

According to Adekunle, during interrogation, Miss Samuel confessed to have been impregnated by one Francis Salu, an army officer attached to Makera Base Riyom LGA, but was transferred out of the area after getting her pregnant.

On transfer, the soldier handed Miss Samuel over

to another soldier who also had carnal knowledge of her. She consequently delivered the baby beside the room of her new lover.

In her words, “When I went into labour and couldn’t access the hospital, I eventually delivered the baby in an open place beside our room (the room of her new lover, Jibrin Usman, a private soldier) and the baby died instantly. I had no option than to throw the dead baby through the window of the building”, she stated However, Jibrin Usman is now in police custody.

Adekunle said investigation into the case had been completed and, as soon as the court resumed, the suspect would be arraigned.

Furthermore, under the culpable homicide categories, the Police detectives from the State CID Department arrested one Ishaya Mafwahai (male) of Mbar village in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State, on November 17, 2015, for allegedly poisoning his four-yearold son, Bwesaf Palony, to death with a D.D. force insecticide.

CHIBUZOR OWOLABI

ADEBAYO MODUPE

AJAYI JANET KIKELOMO

CABINET CLUB OF NIGERIA

I formerly known and addressed as Njoku Chibuzor Samson now wish to be known and addressed as Samson Chibuzor Owolabi. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Olowofoyeku Modupe Sarah now wish to be known and addressed Adebayo Modupe Sarah. All former document remain valid general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Janet Kikelomo Omosanyin now wish to be known and addressed as Ajayi Janet Kikelomo. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. MR. PETER NGANWUCHI CHUKWUMA 2. TR/DR BONIFACE UGOCHINYERE OHIRI 3. NZE FRANCIS OBIOMA IGBO 4. MR. GODDY UBADIKE 5. TR/DR. SAMUEL ARISHIEAKAMA OGUERI 6. MILETUS EJIKE OPARA 7. HON ROBERT UZOMA NJOKU 8. ENGR RAYMOND NDIMIGWE OGAZI 9. MR. CHRISTIAN ECHIKA EZUKA, KSM 10. MR. BONAVENTURE CHUKWUMA MADUAKOLAM

OLUWATOBILOBA ADEBAYO

JEREMIAH JOHN UDOH

FOLASAYO TITILAYO

I formerly known and addressed as Ige Adedayo Adebayo now wish to be known and addressed as Ige Adedayo Oluwatobiloba Adebayo. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Joseph Chukwu John Udoh now wish to be known and addressed as Favour Jeremiah John Udoh. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ajewole Folasayo Titilayo now wish to be known and addressed Mrs Jayeoba Folasayo Titilayo.

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

I, formerly Known As Charity Irapadaoluwa Adeniran, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Charity Irapadaoluwa Adalumo. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. General public, please take note.

NGOZI OLUCHUKWU

OLUWATOYIN NWOBODO

OMOSANYIN CLARA OKE

ANWUZIA MARGARET

I formerly known and addressed as Nnonyelu Ngozi Oluchukwu now wish to be known and addressed as Chukwunyelu Ngozi Oluchukwu. Former document remain valid general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Adewunmi Oluwatoyin Adebiyi now wish to be known and addressed as Adewunmi Oluwatoyin Nwobodo. Former document remain valid general public take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Olajoseph Clara Oke now wish to be known and addressed Omosanyin Clara Oke. All former document remain valid general public should please take note.

I formerly known as Margaret Olatunbosun Agbale wishes to be known and addressed as Mrs Agbale Iwegbu Anwuzia Margaret. All former document remain valid general public should please take note.

ADESINA OLAWALE

KELVIN KOMLA NOTOU

OMODIAGBE MICHAEL

OKAFOR JOHN OBINNA

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. IBRAHIM OLAWALE AROWOROWON. 2. JOSEPH OLAJIDE AKANDE. 3. NURUDEEN BALOGUN ADEYEMI. 4. OLASUNKANMI MUSBAU BABALOLA. 5. OLUWOLE KAYODE ADEOYE:

I formerly known and addressed as Elakama Kelvin now wish to be known and addressed KELVIN KOMLA NOTOU all former document remain valid general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Omodia Omon Michael now wish to be known and addressed Omodiagbe Michael. All former document remain valid general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as OKAFOR JOHN NWANKWO now wish to be known and addressed as OKAFOR JOHN OBINNA. All former documents remain valid.

Diamond Bank and General Public take note.

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Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

25 Opinion

Trick or Treat

ÏÏÏ ’Nigeria’s auto

industry to produce 4 million cars yearly by 2050’. A loud Amen to that.

There’s a caveat though if the roads and highways are not continuously maintained the project will remain nothing but a dream. The roads both federal and state, are still ‘jagajaga’. Education system in Nigeria is ‘scatter, scatter’. Jagajaga roads, jagajaga mentality. The infrastructural amenities are ‘scatter, scatter’. Our oil money didn’t grease the wheel of development.

Funds have now dried up, none for road maintenance nor repairs. Since 1999, we had seen huge lumps of money allocated to education, road maintenance and repairs, health ... in the annual budget.

Where’s it all gone? Travelling on the Lagos - Ibadan Expressway, what is it one sees or goes through the length and breadth of the road - crater highways, crater roads. And continuous maintenance of infrastructure cannot be carried out because of inadequate funds. I ask again, where’s all the money gone? Early in the week beginning 23 November 2015, news reached us that contractors had resumed work on the expressway.

Halleluyah! Babatunde

Raji Fashola (BRF), Minister of Works, Power and Housing, has come to the rescue!

States cannot pay workers or, when paid workers aren’t paid in full. States’ governors have gone back to the Federal Might cap in hand to demand for another disbursement.

‘Busybody’ said some states lodged the money disbursed in the first instance in banks accounts accruing interests on the sums. The CBN then threatened to sanction states that hadn’t used the first tranche of money disbursed to them and since then we haven’t heard from our ‘Oliver Twist’ governors again. The nation is presently passing through the valley of the shadow of hopelessness another name for which is death. There is shortage of food, fuel, security, and infrastructure. In short, there’s a shortage of hope.

Exactly a week ago Ms Lagarde passed thru here On her way to Central Africa She said we were doing fine She said she was pleased with us Why she thought we needed Lessons from her I don’t know

Buhari

What I know is that She’s been asked to Return to France and Render explanations on The role she played In the Bernard Tapie’s affair When she occupied the Post of Finance Minister She barely left our shores When they said that our Naira must lose its value I never listened to the message Those Bretton Woods specialists Go around preaching in The developing world I know no economics Don’t know do-re-mi-fa-so About finance o All I know is that When the Bretton Woods Specialists come a-calling The currency always Loses its value

W E A T H E R ABUJA

ASABA

LAGOS

Low 22°C High 40°C

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Low 24°C High 36°C

KADUNA

IBADAN

ILORIN

Low 17°C High 35°C

Low 22°C High 43°C

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Meanwhile, President Buhari’s demanding attitudinal change. At different fora, PMB has been quoted as saying that in spite of the falling oil price, the nation still has a great future. So, he’s beckoning on us to ‘embrace discipline, faithfulness, honesty and strong commitment to the nation’s development’ to realise that hope of a greater future.

He demands attitudinal change in the country so that there’d be development of talent, creative mind and great leadership.

Some state governors have also joined in demanding attitudinal change from us all. But National Assembly members feel unconcerned by such demands. Like a spoilt

child they demand and must get their N4.7b exotic vehicles for committees.

And that in this austere time! Leadership is by example Messrs governors, statesmen and women.

Not only is it a bumpy ride PMB is taking us all, when we think of the NASS and their luxury cars, we hope PMB’s vehicle isn’t a bone rattler. PMB is confident that Nigeria will overcome present socio-economic challenges but there are negative forces striving to thwart that confidence.

Another group not listening to PMB is the Discos. Would the main reason for high estimated billing be attributed to the inability of EKDC to ‘source funds for its’ capital expenditure plans’?

A columnist wrote that, ‘NERC should not have provided the discos with estimates of generation capacity for the current tariff review as NERC’s action allows the discos to transfer all the risks of their businesses to consumer’. Eko discos stated that ‘sourcing funds for its capital expenditure plans have so far proved difficult’. The EPSR Act 2005, we learn, specifies that ‘services should be provided with continued improvements of their technical and economic efficiency. Each disco and its core investor should have the expertise with which to engage with the transmission company and work out improvements/ investments that would make for efficient realisation of the disco’s business plans.’ The discos’ business activities are not ‘kosher’ because all the consumers get from them

is the opposite of what’s stipulated in their business plan which brings to mind the poem ‘Nepa Means Tales’ by Obanya Halim (known to friends and foes as Shékèrè) that reads: They call them NEPA We call them: Never Expect Power Again, They say privatise NEPA We say criticise NEPA. They say NEPA means light We say NEPA means: TALES BY MOONLIGHT. Once, electricity was their Modus, Now, Candle flame their opus.

This poem written in 1993 is still relevant 13 years after. What a pity!

All of us should recognise that the Lassa Fever is as deadly as the Ebola Fever. Lets work together to keep it off our shores.

The magic word is ‘cleanliness’. Look after your environment. The host virus is that rodent, the mouse, found in residential buildings. It looks for discarded food in garbage. So keep all food items in covered containers. Lassa Fever is transmitted through the faeces and urine of the affected mice. One must not come in contact with the body fluids of any person suffering from Lassa Fever, just like Ebola. Health is wealth. Remember that medical ignorance kills very fast. God forbid that I’ll liken the Bretton Woods Institutions to the rodent that bites one’s toes and still blows some air unto them - killing one softly, abi?

O’Yemi Afolabi can be reached at: oyemiajike@ gmail.com; @oyemiajike

R E P O R T KANO Low 15°C High 34°C

BENIN CITY Low 8°C High 17°C

P/HARCOURT Low 23°C High 37°C

CALABAR Low 25°C High 40°C

ENUGU Low 21°C High 37°C

WARRI Low 25°C High 37°C

26

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Features

Æs

GENDER IMBALANCE IN NIGERIAN POLITY:

Women must rise up to re-orientate themselves — Oluremi Tinubu After the National Assembly elections, eight women made it to the Senate, which has 109 senators (7.3 per cent), while 14 won seats in the 360-member House of Representatives (the lower house), accounting for only four per cent. The governorship elections also produced four women deputy governors in all of the nation’s 36 states!

This not so commendable chronicle was compounded by the swearing in on 11th November last year of 36 ministers

by President Muhammadu Buhari as members of his cabinet, with only five women on board!

All these realities exist in spite of the National Gender Policy which seeks to support women to occupy 35 per cent of elective positions in the country. Activists who are sympathetic towards the gender inclusion say Nigeria, being the Giant of Africa, needs to lead in that direction.

Comparative statistics As a continent, Africa is striving to give women a better deal than ever before with appreciable increase in parliaments of some countries.

Statistics released from the Department for International Development (DID) of UK in 2001 gave a picture of women’s presence in the legislature of some countries.

The statistics indicate that South Africa has 33.2 and 42 per cent respectively in the upper and lower legislative chambers, while Kenya has 27 and 20 per cent respectively in the two chambers.

In Rwanda, women make up 61 out of 106 parliamentarians (58 per cent) and in Senegal, women occupy 65 of the 150 parliamentary seats (43 per cent).

Therefore, that Nigeria is a patriarchal society, a feature mirrored in many aspects of its national life is stating the obvious.

At a recent discourse on the Nigerian situation, stakeholders noted that women, for a long time in the nation’s history, have been kept behind the scene and prevented from taking centre stage; it was also noted with displeasure that women in the Nigerian polity are still treated as

With evolving democracy of the world encouraging greater women representation in politics, the issue of gender imbalance has continued to draw the attention of many, especially in the largely male dominated Nigerian polity.

It would be recalled that only one female was among the 14 candidates who tried to get the nation’s number one seat in the 2015 presidential election.

Remi Tinubu

second class citizens.

“Our women are relegated in the area of political appointments due to cultural stereotypes, traditional practices and the patriarchal structure of the society,” a speaker representing the Benue State disclosed.

Another contributor, Mrs. Susan BobManuel from Rivers State said clearly that lack of funds and the violent nature of politics in Nigeria is largely responsible. “The absence of agreed quotas for women and failure of political parties to nominate women for elective offices are contributing stumbling blocks to the women,” Susan said, but the most thought provoking aspect of the dis-

Buhari

course came when a Madam Rachel Eze from Enugu State declared that lack of support from other women is a problem only the women can overcome.

Speaking on the subject, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu believes that the challenge in ensuring women’s participation goes beyond electing a larger number of women in the parliament or executive.

“It is about changing the endemic perception that the public domain is an exclusive preserve of men. There is the need for attitudinal change and increased awareness of the role that women can play in nation building and devel-

Ezekwesili

opment,” she said.

The Senator further said women constitute about half of Nigeria’s population. “They constitute a great majority in voting population, yet they are the minority when you look at the number of candidates running for elective positions or the few who actually get elected.

“Nigerian women must rise up to enlighten and re-orientate themselves on the positive role they can play in governance by coming on board to contest for elective positions.

“They must believe that if they want to make the 21st century the woman`s

Continued on page 27

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Continued from page 26 century, they should not wait to be called leaders, but embrace the role naturally.

“We need increased women participation in politics to enable us feel more relevant as productive members of the society,’’ Tinubu said.

The senator representing the Lagos Central Senatorial District said she believes that the empowerment of women and equality between men and women are support prerequisites for achieving political, social, economic, cultural and environmental security among all peoples.

In her contribution, Prof.

Remi Sonaiya, Presidential Candidate of KOWA Party during the 2015 election, believes women need to redefine their roles in the polity.

“There is need for women to redefine their cultural roles in the polity, away from the ‘Aso Ebi’ syndrome, singing and dancing during electioneering.”

Sonaiya believes that women are being used for electoral campaigns; they sing praises of the men and when the men get elected, they forget that these women have a role to play in policy formation.

She charged that women should begin to realise that their participation in government decision-making is fundamental to inclusive governance, without which good governance is not possible.

“Women need to redefine their role in the polity because our democracy cannot thrive without their full participation.

“No country can progress or prosper if half of its citizens are left behind or treated as mere subjects.

“Progress for women and progress for democracy go hand in hand toward sustainable development if government is to meet the needs of both men and women through a balanced representation at all levels and in all fields of decision making,” Sonaiya said.

The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, thinks that the lack of synergy among women in the public and private sectors is a contributory factor to the poor representation of women.

Adebule said women need to support one another and work together to achieve collective empowerment in the face of a male-dominated society.

“In spite of decades of struggle for gender equality and women empowerment, women’s political involvement has always been low. Idiat Adebule “It appears that women in the private sector have been exclud-

Features 27

In politics, power is grabbed, not given — Capt. Shelle

Remi Sonaiya

One of the greatest hurdles women face is financing the process of getting a nomination.

Money is a prerequisite for competing in most political systems today, but patterns of gender discrimination force women candidates to make do with more limited resources than men. Financial resources often determine whose voice is loudest and most heard - Oluwatoyin Sanni ed in the struggle for women representation in government, thereby missing out in the opportunity to build a better synergy between women across the board.

“Between women in public governance and women in business/private sector for example, women have consistently demonstrated that they are great leaders with skills and approaches to leadership and management that are both innovative and outstanding and we can harness these potential

Bukky Wright

with strong collaboration and for one another to increase female representation in politics,’’ she said.

Adebule believes that partnerships for development between civil society, public and private sectors will have to be re-enforced among women to build a very strong team that can penetrate in a supposedly man’s game and be recognised for it.

Finance Chief Executive Officer of United Capital Plc, an African Investment Bank, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni, said that women often do not have access to the same corporate and business networks that their male counterparts use to raise money for their political ambition.

“Money is a prerequisite for competing in most political systems today, but patterns of gender discrimination force women candidates to make do with more limited resources than men. ”Financial resources often determine whose voice is loudest and most heard.

“One of the greatest hurdles women face is financing the process of getting a nomination.

“Women tend to have less financial freedom, they earn disproportionately less and they tend to be kept outside of existing part establishments, resulting in limited access to their professional fundraisers and political networks.

“Nomination costs require

women to come up with funds to build name recognition, travel, attend party meetings, organise campaign teams and cultivate a constituency.

“With all these financial limitations, we will continue to have poor representation of women except women development groups can assist to set up Political Action Committees to assist and support female candidates get sponsorships and build their own financial partnership networks,’’ she said.

Also reacting to the women issue, wife of the former governor of Ekiti State, Mrs. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, believes there is the need for a constitutional amendment that would have affirmative action and quotas for women in the polity.

“We must work toward having a legislative framework that will accommodate and stipulate the position of women in the polity, the needs and concern of women, as well as reserve a certain number of leadership positions for women,’’ she said.

Adeleye-Fayemi also says that the few women who hold key positions by the virtue of their trail blazing appointments, selection or election, have not been able to develop agenda for change for the majority of Nigerian women. ``If you occupy a leadership position as a woman and you are unable to serve and support other women, or even leave an identifiable legacy behind when your time is done, I’m afraid you have wasted that space; be you a

member of the legislature, first lady or local government chairman. ``Worse still, you have made it more difficult for another woman to be considered. With your position, you should be passionate about the issues affecting the majority of Nigerian women,’’ Adeleye-Fayemi said.

On the role of political parties, Mrs. Sarah Sosan, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, says that party leaders should be held responsible for the poor number of women in government.

“I do not believe that the problem of poor representation is about finance, constitutional stipulation or support from other women. `”Our women need to hold our party leaders accountable to ensure that they support and give higher tickets or quotas to women as they do to men,’’ she said.

But Mr. Abiodun Salami, Assistant Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State chapter, said that his party at its level gives 100 per cent concession to women who indicate interest to contest for any elective position.

“The women do not pay for nomination form; the forms are given out free to the women, while men pay through their nose to get their forms.

“That is APC way of encouraging more women to come out.

It now depends on the women to take advantage of such concession,” he said.

Retired Capt. Tunji Shelle, Chairman, Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also said his party recognises the important place of women and has accordingly granted them suffrage like their male counterparts.

He said that many of the women are as intelligent, vibrant and bright as the men and have proved so in various endeavours without any hindrance.

As far as the party is concerned, everybody is a potential candidate for nomination and when the party decides who gets the ticket, we give every support and deploy every resource to ensure that the candidate, man or woman, wins the election,’’ he said.

Shelle believes that in politics, power is grabbed, not given like some who get it due to their family background and influence; and women politicians, like their male counterparts, should brace up for the challenges.

Lawal joins Osmanlispor

N Lawal

igeria midfielder Raheem Lawal has agreed to join U-23 star Aminu Umar at Osmanlispor after he terminated his contract with Eskisehirspor over unpaid wages.

According to reports out of Turkey, Lawal has agreed to join the Turkish Super league side and he is expected to pen a-two-and-a-half year deal shortly.

The former Nigeria U-20 international will now

play for the fourth Turkish club having already played for Adana Demirspor, Mersin Idmanyurdu and Eskisehirspor.

The 25-year-old midfielder has four international caps for Nigeria and has played in Spain for Atletico Beleares.

Galatasaray and Italian club Roma were among the clubs linked with the hard working midfielder in recent times.

Messi´s father

lauds son´s inspiring achievements

Page 28

g 30

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

GLO/CAF Award:

I don’t care what Yaya says about me

-Aubameyang B

orussia Dortmund and Gabon striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ,says he’s not interested in what Manchester City’s Yaya Toure has said about him.

Aubameyang responded to the Cote d’Ivoire skipper after he questioned the award criteria by the Confederation of African Football after he won the 2015 CAF Footballer of the Year award last week.

‘Auba’ spoke for the first time since Yaya’s utterances saying he’s “not interested” in criticism from Toure.

The Citizens midfielder had won the award three years in a row, but was beaten by the Gabonese international to the 2015 honour, leaving the City midfielder questioning the award criteria after the ceremony.

“I’m very, very disappointed. It’s sad to see Africa react this way, that they don’t think African achievements are important,” Toure told RFI. “I think this is what brings shame to Africa,

because to act in that way is indecent. But what can we do about it?

“Us Africans, we don’t show that Africa is important in our eyes. We favour more what’s abroad than our own continent - that is pathetic.”

Toure was angered to not get the gong after leading the Elephants as they claimed the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations last year, while Gabon were eliminated in the early stages.

However, Aubameyang’s displays in the German Bundesliga and the Europa League were enough to end Toure’s reign as the best African player.

Speaking further at Dortmund’s winter training camp in Dubai, Aubameyang said that he won’t let Toure spoil his achievement.

“I really don’t know why he said that in the first place,” said Aubameyang.

“But I don’t get annoyed with it, and by now I don’t even care about it. I am not interested in it.”

‘Auba’ has netted 18 goals in 17 Bundesliga games in the first half of the season and a total of 41 goals in all club competitions in 2015.

Blatter, Platini face life bans from FIFA F

Aubameyang

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini

IFA’s investigatory chamber is appealing the eight-year bans for Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini because they want lifetime bans.

Blatter and Platini were banned from football for eight years last month by FIFA judges, but FIFA investigators want the sanctions to be increased to life bans.

Andreas Bantel, the spokesman for the investigatory chamber of FIFA’s ethics committee, said: “We have seven days to

appeal to FIFA’s Appeal Committee and we are intending to appeal.”

Blatter, the FIFA president, and Platini, the UEFA president, were banned for eight years after evidence emerged that Blatter had signed off a £1.3m payment to Platini without a written contract.

FIFA’s ethics committee is split into two arms - an investigating arm and a judging arm.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

EXTRATIME

Pinnick,

Oliseh predicts tough battle for CHAN Eagles

N

igeria coach Sunday Oliseh has said he expects the other teams at this year’s CHAN to come out fighting when they face the Super Eagles.

The Eagles will be in Rwanda for their second CHAN appearance after they made their debut in 2014 and finished third.

“Everyone will be out to fight us in Rwanda,” Oliseh predicted.

“But we’re on track, the boys are in high spirit and physically okay.”

Nigeria begin their 2016 CHAN campaign on Monday, January 18, against Niger. They will also battle Tunisia and Guinea in the group stage.

Oliseh

29

Sanusi for Accra WAFU Congress

ri: ha Bu otball Fo likes me!

ANDREW EKEJIUBA Sport Editor

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his promise to reward athletes who made the country proud from 1985 to 2015 and affirmed that the round leather game likes him.

President Buhari gave the assurance on Monday at the State House, Abuja, when the Hon Minister of Youth and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung presented to him the Glo/CAF Platinum Award which he received on his behalf at the CAF Awards held last Thursday at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

While receiving the trophy and the certificate, the President expressed

President Buhari

gratitude to the sponsors of the awards.

“I was in office when the National U-17 team won the maiden edition of the FIFA World Cup in 1985 in China. Thirty years after, I am being presented again with a trophy won by the Golden Eaglets in Chile and the Africa U-23 Championship won by the Dream Team VI in Senegal. Surely, football likes me,” President Buhari said.

Earlier, Dalung who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr Chinyeaka Christian Ohaa also presented a plaque from ‘Friends of Buhari’ to Mr President. The Minister said that all the awards were given to him for his good leadership since he assumed office as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

N

FF President Amaju Pinnick and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi arrived Accra, Ghana on Tuesday for the Ordinary Congress of the West African Football Union (Zone B).

Top on the agenda is the election of a new president for the Zone, who will serve for the period 2016-2020. Incumbent Kwesi Nyantakyi, who is also President of the Ghana Football Association, is challenged by Djibrilla Hima Hamidou of Niger Republic.

According to a statement by Aka Malan, General Secretary of WAFU Zone B, the five candidates for next month’s FIFA presidential election taking place in Zurich have also indicated their interest in presenting their programs to the various FA presidents of the Zone at the Congress.

Already confirmed to be on ground to talk to the WAFU chieftains are Infantino, Prince Ali Hussein of Jordan and Sheikh Salman.

Former FIFA Deputy General Secretary Jerome Champagne, also a candidate, will send a message to the Congress, while South African Tokyo Sexwale is yet to confirm his arrival.

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick (left) with General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, in Accra, on Tuesday.

30

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

EXTRATIME

Messi´s father

P

aul Pogba has denied he wants to join Barcelona, but spoke of his desire to one day play alongside Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Juventus midfielder was named in the 2015 FIFPro World XI after helping the Serie A outfit win the Scudetto, Coppa Italia, and reach the Champions League final.

Pogba was present in Zurich on Monday as Messi won a record fifth Ballon d’Or crown, finishing in front of Real Madrid’s Ronaldo.

The 22-year-old said a goal of his is to play alongside one of the two in the future, but when asked if he wanted to join Barcelona he claimed: “I’ve never said that.

“Right now I am playing with Juventus.”

lauds son´s inspiring achievements

L

ionel Messi’s father says he could never have dreamed of the success Barcelona’s five-time Ballon d’Or winner has enjoyed.

Messi collected the coveted gong once more at Monday’s FIFA gala in Zurich, the latest dazzling achievement of a career journey which began when his family relocated from Argentina to Barcelona with him as a 13-year-old.

Jorge Messi reflected on that time and marvelled at his son’s subsequent progress in a letter to a Spanish newspaper.

“We left Argentina with a wealth of dreams and illusions, but also many fears. Lionel enjoyed that trip,” the letter read.

“I guess he began to forge the idea of succeeding in what he loved most: football.

“Today he is where we never dreamed he could be, a magical place that he started towards in 2007 – the world of football has recognised him five times as the best player on the planet.

“From the family, we are very proud of him because everything he achieved came from huge effort.

“Lionel’s spirit and the ability to overcome, and his desire to improve every day, are an inspiration and of great value to those who are close to him.”

Ppo g b a lays down

Barcelona link Ramos hails ZidanteR´esal Pogba

impact a

Zidane

Messi

BRIEFS

Guardiola just needs quality, says Robben

B

ayern Munich attacker Arjen Robben expects Pep Guardiola to be successful, if he has a quality squad at his disposal in the Premier League. Guardiola has confirmed his desire to move to England next season, with Manchester City tipped to be his most likely destination.The Bayern coach has enjoyed success in Germany and Spain, as well as in the Champions League. Robben said the Spaniard was sure to be just as good in the Premier League, as long as he had the quality.

S

Schalke rubbish Sane exit talk

chalke have warned Leroy Sane’s reported suitors there is no release clause that can be activated to trigger his release, as reports continue to link him with a move to Manchester City. The 20-year-old Germany international has been heavily linked with the Premier League club in recent weeks, having become one of the Bundesliga’s hottest prospects since making his Schalke debut in April 2014. Sane’s deal is due to expire in 2019, although general manager Horst Heldt recently suggested that even City did not have the financial capability to lure the Schalke man to the Etihad Stadium.

Z

inedine Zidane’s appointment as coach has had a positive impact on the Real Madrid squad, according to captain Sergio Ramos.

Madrid great Zidane replaced Rafael Benitez last week, the former Liverpool manager’s tumultuous tenure having been ended after little more than seven months in charge.

Saturday’s 5-0 rout of Deportivo La

Coruna got Zidane off to a winning start and Ramos is relishing further improvement over the coming months, with Madrid four points off the top in La Liga.

“The coaching change has been good.

I hope 2016 is a big year for Real Madrid,” said Ramos, who was speaking at the Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich.

Ramos’ team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo lost out to Barcelona star Lionel Messi in

the Ballon d’Or vote, making it the eighth year in succession that one of the dominant duo have taken the prize.

“I think both Messi and Cristiano are two extra-terrestrials,” Ramos said.

“Perhaps Leo has done the treble and won two more titles this season that compliment Barcelona’s level.

“They are two megastars but maybe in the past year Leo had a little more.”

Schelotto takes charge a

Palermo

P

alermo have appointed their third coach of the Serie A season, naming Guillermo Barros Schelotto to replace

Davide Ballardini.

Ballardini came under-fire from his players after being accused of not interacting with them during their 1-0 win over Hellas Verona last Sunday.

t

The 52-year-old Italian was sacked just months into the job, having replaced Giuseppe Iachini in November.

Palermo announced Schelotto, a former Argentina

international whose only previous coaching job was in charge of Lanus, had taken over on Monday.

“Guillermo Barros Schelotto is the new coach of Palermo,” the club said in a statement.

“The Argentine will be assisted

by Fabio Viviani, who, during the week started training the first team.

“The rest of the coaching staff will be announced in the coming days.”

Palermo sit 16th in Serie A, six points clear of the relegation zone.

Aguero

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

EXTRATIME

E

ngland international midfielder, Dele Alli, has committed his long term future to Spurs by signing a contract extension which runs until 2021.

The 19-year-old has made a huge impact at Spurs since arriving from MK Dons and he made his first start for England against France in November, scoring a spectacular opener in a 2-0 friendly win.

Alli came through the youth system at MK Dons and, although he was signed by Spurs on transfer deadline day in February, he remained on loan in Milton Keynes for the rest of the season, helping them secure promotion to the Championship.

He made his Spurs debut from the bench when they kicked off their Premier League season with a 1-0 loss at Manchester United and wasted little time in becoming a regular starter - he has started 15 of the last 16 Premier League games since his first start in the 1-0 win at Sunderland in September.

A l l i hande

BRIEFS Liverpool make Caulker approach

L

“I’m delighted.

The club has been really great to me since I arrived,” Alli told reporters.

‘Van Gaal too conservative’

Hiddink getting too much credit, Sterling

Sterling: We can´t worry about title rivals

M

anchester City cannot worry about what their title rivals are doing, according to Raheem Sterling.

City are looking to secure a third Premier League crown in five seasons.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side are third in the league after 20 games, three points behind league-leaders Arsenal.

Sterling said the side just need to focus on themselves rather than the clubs around them in the table.

“We just need to focus on what we need to do to win the Premier League and not worry about other teams and what they’re doing,” he said.

“That way, we don’t let anything affect our thinking and purely focus on our own performance.

“We’ve played a lot of away games over the past fortnight so we’re looking forward to playing in front of our own fans again today.”

City played Everton in their League Cup semi-final first leg last week, and face the Merseyside club in the league today.

iverpool have made an approach to QPR to take defender Steven Caulker on loan for the remainder of the season.

Caulker is currently on loan at Southampton but has struggled for regular game time at St Mary’s this season.

L i v e r p o o l have suffered a defensive crisis of late with frontline centre-backs Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren, M a m a d o u Sakho, Kolo Touré and Joe Gomez all missing Friday’s d r a w against Exeter.

d new Spurs deal He has scored five goals in 18 Premier League appearances for Mauricio Pochettino’s side and made his England debut when he was a late substitute against Estonia on October 9.

says Pulis

C

rediting Guus Hiddink for a Chelsea revival is a “load of c**p*”, according to West Brom head coach Tony Pulis.

The Dutchman took charge at Stamford Bridge in December after Jose Mourinho was sacked, leading his team on a fourmatch unbeaten run in all competitions.

M

anchester United fans will not be buoyed by Tony Cascarino’s latest assessment of their spluttering team and referring to Louis van Gaal as being conservative in his tactical approach to matches. Although United made it into the fourth round of the FA Cup this weekend, they needed a late Wayne Rooney penalty to see them overcome League One outfit Sheffield United with their tactics once again in the spotlight.

Pulis, whose men visit Chelsea in the Premier League today, said the reaction since the Portuguese tactician was sacked had been unfair.

“To be honest, what’s been said is a load of c**p in lots of respects,” he said.

“The fact Mourinho won the league by a country mile - to say someone’s come in and changed it and they’re playing better and doing everything else better.

“There might have been other reasons that things didn’t go so well this year.

Newcastle agree fee for Shelvey

N

Alli Hiddink

a l o i d r a Gu o t h s u r o n in make EPL move

B

ayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola says it could be two years until he moves to the Premier League.

Guardiola last month confirmed he would leave

31

Guardiola

Bayern when his contract expires at the end of this season and he subsequently announced that his desire to work in England’s top flight is behind the decision.

Several leading club have been tipped to move for Guardiola, with Manchester City viewed as the frontrunners to have the 44-year-old in place for the start of

ewcastle are closing in on their second signing of the transfer window after agreeing a fee with Swansea for midfielder Jonjo Shelvey. Shelvey, 23, has been an important figure for the Swans since joining from Liverpool in July 2013 but has failed to hold down a regular place in Alan Curtis’ first-choice XI in recent weeks, having previously fallen from favour under Garry Monk prior to the manager’s sacking in December. the 2016-17 season, due in part to his close relationship with City director of football Txiki Begiristain.

But the former Barcelona boss told a news conference that his move to the Premier League does not necessarily have to come next season.

“When I sign a contract I will announce it immediately,” he said.

“Maybe it will be two years until I will coach a team in England.”

“I am very happy about my experience in Munich. I am working until my last second here.

“After that I will go home and wait to see if it is possible to move to England or not. If it’s not, then I won’t.”

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Published by folio communicationS ltd, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.com. ng; email: info@dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. GROUP EDITOR: Biodun duRoJaiYE news Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. advert Hotlines: 08086296714

WEdnESdaY, JanuaRY 13, 2016

VOL. 2. NO.22

Price: n150

Pogba

g 30

plays down Barcelona link

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: r a m Ney

eymar was not short of superlatives for his teammate and now five-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi after the Barcelona forward picked up the award again on Monday.

The Brazilian finished third behind Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo but said there was daylight between Messi and the rest.

“As far as I am concerned, Leo is from another planet,” Neymar said.

“For me, Messi is the best in the world, he’s my idol and I hope we can enjoy watching him for years to come.

“It’s been one of the best days of my life, I enjoyed watching from the front row as Leo won and spending the day by the side of two of the best players there.

“I hope I can be at the ceremony again.”

Neymar said he had asked Messi for advice on how to win his own Ballon d’Or, but it seems the Argentinean’s response was rather simple.

“Yeah; play better,” Neymar said.

i s s e M from r e h t o an ! t e n pla

Lionel Mess i won his fift h Ballon d’Or Award on Monday.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

Ban on sale of forex to BDCs: Welcome development but belated Page B3 — Stakeholders

FG determined to eliminate wastages, inefficiencies in MDAs— Oniha Page B2

Low patronage: Ship owners to export crude oil Page B4

FG to push for 5% loan interest rate for farmers, Ogbe Chief Audu Ogbe, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has said Federal Government would lobby banks to peg interest rate at five per cent instead of the current nine per cent.

Ogbe made this known yesterday in Ilorin at the launching of the 2nd phase of Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise (AEHE) programme at the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanism, (NCAM).

The minister was of the view that nine per cent was too high as CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

FG pledges to curb import dependence, unemployment Joy Ekeke

L – R: Dr. Michael Blank, Director of the Delegation of German Industry & Commerce; Mr. Aron Mir Haschemi, Deputy Consul General of Germany; Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON, Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Mr. Ingo Herbert, Consul General of Germany; Mr. Rene Marco Siebenhaar, Commercial, Cultural and Political Attaché and Mr. Bola Adeeko, Head, Corporate Services Division, NSE at the Closing Gong Ceremony at The Nigerian Stock Exchange ....on Tuesday.

Low oil price:

OPEC to hold emergency meeting ÏL ƐƄ Ǝ change strategy Opeoluwani Akintayo Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu has said some members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, have requested to hold an

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

emergency meeting.

He told Reuters on Tuesday that a “couple” of OPEC members see the need for an urgent session due to the current market conditions.

At an energy conference which held in Abu Dhabi, Kachikwu said that the objective of the emergency meeting would be to review OPEC’s policy to see if there was any need to change strategy.

Unions accuse Aero board, management, of duplicity, fraud ÏSend distress signal on airline’s health

Kachikwu

He however declined to name the countries which had requested the emergency meeting.

It will be recalled that the world, especially oil dependent countries, Nigeria inclusive, have been thrown into financial drought since oil prices have been falling consistently since mid-year 2014.

Oil prices have dropped to a twelve-year low due to over - supply of some members of OPEC into the market, forcing price be-

low $30 per barrel as at the time of filing this report.

Countries like Iraq, Saudi Arabia and others have kept pumping more than enough into the market, with Iran threatening to pump in even more once its ban is lifted.

Even the US recently lifted its 40 year old ban on export, a move which has threatened its continuous patronage of some oil producing countries like Nigeria.

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

Employees (NUATE), Olayinka Abioye and his Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) colleague, Rotimi Kehinde the unions implored AMCON to investigate its present representative alongside the board members of Aero.

The Unions in their letter alleged numerous fraudulent practices and embezzlement orchestrated by the management of Aero, the Board of Aero and AMCON representative calling for a forensic Audit to be carried out with the intervention of ICPC or the EFCC to look into how tax

Staff of Aero Contractors have sent out a distress cry to the management of the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), urging the company to rescue the airline from the brink of bankruptcy allegedly been manipulated by some powerful cabal in the management of the company.

In an eight paged letter written by the unions in the Nigerian domestic carrier and signed by the General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has said that the Federal Government was committed to reducing the levels of import dependence and unemployment in the country.

Onu made the declaration when he received a delegation of the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), led by its National President, Engr. Ezekiel Essien, in his office in Abuja on Monday.

The minister noted that with the development of science and technology, Nigeria ought to be in a position to absorb the present economic shock that its people were currently experiencing.

He promised that the Federal Government would do everything possible to encourage small scale industrialists in order to address over-importation and unemployment problems confronting the nation.

“With development of science and technology, we will be in a position to absorb the shock that will come. Take the situation we have today, where are dependent on oil and gas. Now we have a shock, assuming our economy has been diversified, with strong CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

payers’ money invested in Aero has been embezzled by a few individuals.

The unions said that AMCON took over the loans of Aero from Eco bank at an undisclosed discounted rate, and made a decision to invest in Aero to turn the fortunes of the airline around, according to them, unfortunately there were a lot of middle men who just wanted to use Aero as a front to siphon tax payers money from AMCON. The union alleged,” These people who were majorly AMCON seCONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Business News B2 FG to push for 5% loan interest rate for farmers, Ogbe

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Adeosun

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

interest rate for farmers, adding that for people of Nigeria to feed well, agriculture must grow.

“So interest rate has to come down, if this is done, banks will have more loans to give and more farmers will be taking the loan because of the low rate,” Ogbe said.

The Minister said incessant clashes between farmers and cattle herdsmen in the country would be brought to an end in the next two years.

He Federal Government would create grazing areas in the country where the herdsmen would take care of their cattle.

“We will grow grass in the South to feed the cattle in the North, just as Saudi Arabia did,” he said.

According to the minister, if Saudi Arabia with the largest cattle ranch in the world can grow its grass for the cows in the United States of America, Nigeria should be able to do same.

The minister said he would soon come out with a road map for the ministry, adding that the ministry would come up with soil map of the country.

With this soil map, farmers would know the type of fertiliser suitable for his farm and how to apply same for optimal yield.

He said his ministry was targeting three million metric tons of cocoa and planned to plant more castor trees, rice, sugar and wheat.

Ogbe commended NCAM for its efforts in the mechanization of agriculture, adding that no country can practice large scale agriculture without mechanization.

He promised that the Federal Government would assist NCAM to improve on the tractors it developed.

“We cannot develop agriculture by distributing cutlasses and hoes to the farmers, only one per cent of farms are produced by mechanized farming,” he said.

The minister lamented that Nigeria has less than 300 tractors while the whole of Europe was mechanized and USA completely mechanized.

Ogbe said that from available statistics, there are 800 million hectares of farm land in the world with 400 million of this from Africa.

He said Nigerian has 79 per cent of farmland which translated to 92 sq km of land, adding that Nigeria is wealthy as land is wealth everywhere.

Unions accuse Aero board, management of duplicity, fraud

FG determined to eliminate wastages, inefficiencies in MDAs— Oniha Motolani Oseni

Newly established Efficiency Unit in the Federal Ministry of Finance said it was determined to eliminate wastes and inefficiencies in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The unit which is a comprehensive public sector reform initiative whose mandate goes beyond merely regulating government procurement processes said it would undertake a review of the Federal Government’s expenditure profile and pattern while working with MDAs to introduce more efficient processes and procedures to achieve prudent deployment of material and human resources and value for money for the nation.

In a note made available to our correspondent, the Head of the Efficiency Unit, Ms. Patience Oniha, pointed that the unit was about reviewing the internal mechanisms of government recurrent expenditure, work and procurement processes as well as practices in the public sector which promote or support wastage and inefficiency.

According to her, the mandate of the unit includes a review of the procurement process in government for the purpose of identifying oppor-

tunities for savings, the Efficiency Unit is not a procurement regulatory agency. Its broad objective is to entrench a new culture of service delivery that promotes efficiency, value for money, prudence and integrity in the public service.

“The need to ensure that government’s resources are used in the most efficient manner so that the nation gets value for money while government is able to eliminate waste, duplications and inefficiencies in her expenditure processes and systems is the Unit’s most compelling mandate,” she said.

Oniha added that the nation would enjoy some unique benefits from this new government initiative. These, according to her, include savings for the government which can be channeled to finance infrastructure, training for government officials to improve skills sets and service delivery.

Also, it offers a participatory and cooperative platform for MDAs to accept and institutionalize a culture of efficiency across board as part of the overall attitudinal change needed to move the country forward, particularly in times such as now when government resources are not only lean but also under pressure.

In her words, “The Efficiency Unit’s mandate is clear.

nior management staff seconded to the board of Aero with Aero management devised various ways of siphoning money from AMCON in the name of Aero.

Those management staff in Aero who did not cooperate with their plan were either sacked or advised to resign. Some of the ways they orchestrated to siphon tax payers monies out of AMCON in the name aero are listed below.”

“N266M (Two Hundred and Sixty Two Million Naira) was paid in the name Austen Peters & Co and the monies transferred to one Alpine Gates Company for alleged Negotiated settlements fee to AMCON as consultancy fee.

On further investigation it was discovered that this money were just being siphoned from aero in the name of consultancy fees and passed back to a beneficiaries in AMCON.” “$250.000 (Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars) was paid twice in favour of Bayo – NegotiaCONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

industrial base, we would not be importing the things as we are importing today.

“The pressure on our naira will not be what it is now, and the effect will not be what it is. The recurrent impact will be easier if we had diversified through science and technology.

That is why we need to be resilient.”

The National President of NASSI, Engr. Essien on his part stated that the association has the capacity to generate about two million jobs annually, with support from government.

The NASSI President, who lamented so many years of neglect by successive administration, said the association found the minister as dependable able committed partner to actualize their strategic plan for the country.

With the network of its members scattered across the country, he said that the association could create two million jobs yearly if only government would address issues of multiple taxation, power and creation of industrial pack in each state of the federation.

According to him, Nigeria cannot develop if government continues to pay leap service to science and technology from which the small scale industrialists draw strength for development.

“With the right environment, the SMEs can create two million

tion &Finalization of restructuring with AMCON and was also reflected on our invoices as general vendor for consultancy fees.

These monies were taken away

by AMCON staff even while the company was undergoing serious cash crunch.”

“AMCON claims to have reinvested almost ten billion Naira in Aero since taking it over sometime in 2011 but this monies have always found their way back to the pockets of private individuals who go abroad to negotiate aircraft lease without any technical experience and even most times over bloated lease rates which being a burden on the company.”

“Over a million dollars was paid to Wall & Ace as legal fees to advice management on industrial dispute which should ordinarily have been settled by it human resource department. Most of these monies were paid in dollars as against the CBN act that prohibits indigenous transactions to be paid in dollars. “

FG pledges to curb import dependence, unemployment

Onu

jobs annually. Creation of jobs for us is easy because when you create one job, it can create additional 50 jobs.

“We came to intimate the minister on our 2016 strategic plans for the small scale industrialists in Nigeria and to brain storm with him and see how we can develop small scale industries and move them forward to coincide with the wind of change the present administration is blowing across the country.

“We feel that the appointment of the minister was a round spade in a round hole.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

B3 Money Market

Ban on sale of forex to BDCs: Welcome development but belated — Stakeholders Ï # Ƒ Ǝ review of N35m cautionary fee Stories by Motolani Oseni Following the immediate banned of weekly dollars cash sales to Bureau De Change (BDCs) operators by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently, Industry Stakeholders in the Nigerian economy have commended the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) for banning the sale of foreign exchange to bureaux de change (BDCs), remarking that the policy was belated.

In a bid to safeguard the value of the nation’s currency, the naira, the CBN on Monday in a press statement by its Governor, Godwin Emefiele banned the sale of foreign exchange to BDCs among others But speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily Times on telephone, a renowned economist and Managing Director of Cocosh Nigeria Limited, Mr. Henry Boyo, bemoaned the lateness in coming up with a policy to stop sales of forex to BDCs. According to him, why has CBN waited so long before the banned of forex to BDC operators?

“CBN should have come up with this policy long time ago, in fact why would CBN commence the sale of forex to BDCs 10 years ago, these are the questions you should ask, because corrupt politicians are using this window to NIBOR as @ Jan. 12, 2016 FAQs Tenor

Rate (%)

Change (%)

O/N

1.5417

0.54 ?

1M

8.7663

0.17 ?

3M

10.046

0.07 ?

6M

11.688

0.34 ?

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Inspiration FM, Lagos, Charles Supo-Orija; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc., Nnamdi Okonkwo; Founder, LEAP Africa, Ndidi Nwuneli and Divisional Head, Managed SMEs, Fidelity Bank Plc., Ken Opara at the Fidelity SME Forum in Lagos where Okonkwo, as guest speaker provided valuable insights into Fidelity Bank’s unique approach to supporting SMEs in Nigeria…on Tuesday.

convert naira to dollars which is not good for the economy, because there is no place in the world where central banks sells forex to their BDCs,” he explained.

In a similar comment, the Managing Director/CEO, GTI Securities, Mr. Babatunde Oyekunle, said: “CBN recent ban on sales of forex to bureau de change operators, for me is the way to go to curb the current the forex challenges and volatility in Nigeria’s forex market.”

He said the CBN should have some blame only that they are not accepting their blame because they ought to have done this a long ago rather than impending people not to pay direct forex into their domiciliary accounts. He stressed that it is a welcome development but should have been done a long time ago.

Also reacting to the development, the acting president of the Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Aminu Gwadabe, urged the CBN to review downwards the N35 million cautionary deposit BDCs pay to the apex bank, adding that,

CBN Exchange Rates Date

Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central(NGN)

Selling(NGN)

1/11/16

US DOLLAR

196

196.5

197

POUNDS STERLING

285.7288

286.4577

287.1866

EURO

213.6008

214.1457

214.6906

SWISS FRANC

196.6292

197.1308

197.6324

YEN

1.6647

1.6689

1.6732

CFA

0.3056

0.3156

0.3256

WAUA

270.7026

271.3931

272.0837

YUAN/RENMINBI

29.8113

29.8878

29.9643

RIYAL

52.1873

52.3205

52.4536

DANISH KRONA

28.6307

28.7037

28.7768

SDR

271.5776

272.2704

272.963

“this has tied down the capital of many BDCs, remarking that to get other sources of foreign exchange we need capital.”

He noted that this would in turn lead to “cost inflation” as the country is an import dependent economy, importing almost all its needs. Asides this, he said many BDCs would be forced out of business leading to job loss in the sector.

He noted that on the average, an average BDC employs four persons, saying that about 12,000 jobs could be lost. He explained that BDCs have limited sources of foreign exchange and had to rely on the CBN window.

“In other climes BDCs don’t have access to the central bank window because they have other sources of forex to them which includes banks but in Nigeria banks are being restricted from selling to BDCs, exporters can also patronize BDCs in other

countries’s but here it is being restricted. These are some of the issues.”

He also noted that the move by the CBN would further encourage activities of street hawkers and illegal foreign exchange operators “because most people will say why do I have licence since I don’t have access to the CBN window, so I better operate as an illegal operator.

This he said would make it impossible for the apex bank to monitor the outflow and inflow of forex into the country and what the forex is being used for.

He also said the BDC operators would this week hold a meeting to deliberate on the CBN policy and determine the way forward.

Mr. Uchenna Nwobodo, a customer of one the tier-one bank in the country told Daily Times that if the BDCs were being sincere, why is it hard to render returns to CBN, according to what the

apex bank said before the total ban of forex sales to them?

He said: “Unless politician are hiding loots in their homes that are doing the purchase at the BDCs to convert all they have stolen to dollars.”

Also, Mr. Abodunrin Luqman, a depositor in one of the commercial said: “If your business is legitimate there is no need of going to black market to get forex, lamenting that BDCs are the major source of money laundry and theft in the country.

He explained that if your business is legal use form M or form A to get foreign exchange from your bank or use your master or visa card abroad, even though banks have placed a ban on usage of cards abroad but I believed is temporary and with the new policy of the CBN, allowing deposit of forex into customers account, that will also become a thing of the past.

Naira weakens further as CBN stops forex sales to BDCs The naira on Tuesday depreciated by 2.51 per cent to exchange at N285 to the dollar at the Bureau De Change (BDCs) segment of the foreign exchange market.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the naira was traded to the dollar at N278 on Monday Jan. 11 A currency trader, Mr Harrison Owoh, said the further depreciation of the Naira was as a result of the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN’s) announcement to stop the sale of foreign exchange to BDCs. Owoh, the Managing Director of HJ Trust Investment Ltd., said

that CBN was yet to issue circular informing BDCs on the latest development, adding that they got the information from the pages of newspapers.

According to him, by CBN allowing dollar deposits into domiciliary accounts by Nigerians means the banks would now have more foreign exchange at their disposal.

He said that the announcement that the BDCs should source for foreign exchange from the autonomous market needed to be defined by the CBN. This, he said, would enable them to know whether BDCs would now

have access to banks to source for foreign exchange.

Owoh said that the naira started falling when the CBN banned banks from selling to BDCs. ``The recent development means there will mass retrenchment in the industry. ``The CBN needs to define the autonomous market because we still need more clarification on this,’’ he said.

Owoh said that there was the tendency for the naira to continue to fall as the announcement had already resulted into scarcity of dollar in the market.

Maritime B4

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Low patronage: Ship owners to export crude oil

Stories by Babajide Okeowo In the wake of the gloomy prediction against the shipping sector in 2016, the Secretary General of the Nigerian Ship Owners Association (NISA) Mr. Tunji Brown has said that discussions were at advanced stage for ship owners to be involved in the exportation of crude oil to international markets.

“Due to the low patronage we are getting, we plan to be involved in the exportation of crude oil. We

have started discussing with the government on this. Even if it is only one million barrels of crude that will be exported, we want to be involved,” he said Speaking further, Brown said “The current oil prices have discouraged importers from bringing in refined petroleum because the prices are unprofitable. And you know our services lie in the inward movement of refined products into the country via the coast Giving further reasons why

there is need for them to be involved in the exportation of crude, Brown said that coastal shipping of refined petroleum products from the point of discharge at Lome had suffered a 30 per cent reduction in patronage and that NISA was hopeful about the upward movement of oil prices in the future so that its members could have jobs.

He said, “There has to be someone who is willing to import the refined petroleum products before we can begin to move them

Technology to enhance cargo clearance — NCMDCLA Delay of cargo clearance in Nigerian Ports has been traced to the duplication of functions by government agencies, this is the position of the chairman, National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDCLA) PTML branch, Mr. Ari Ayuba while urging the application of automated processing for cargo clearance. ``What is supposed to be 48 hours cargo clearance becomes elongated because of the duplication of duties by officers,” Ari said ``The Customs service should work with the automated system as it applies in other parts of the world. ``Less human interference is

required to ensure that the system works effectively and by now, the process should have been faster and easier,’’ Ayuba stated.

He urged customs agents to avail themselves of training in order understand better the technicalities involved. ``That is why it is important for agents to know the tariff and classification well so that the customs do not cash in on your ignorance when they should be trade facilitators,’’ the freight forwarder said.

Ayuba also suggested that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col Hameed Alli, should address the issue of officers raising Debit Notes (DNs) for agents after a container had left the customs

system. ``You will go to the gate thinking your container is about coming out; somebody at the gate will just hold your document that you did not pay very well,’’ he said.

Ayuba said these were some of the reasons why doing business in Nigerian ports had become more expensive.

According to him, the terminal operator will collect his money for the extra days the cargo stays.

He said delays dragging up to three to four days could cause an agent as much as N4 million demurrage, payable to the terminal operator.

Ayuba said this had resulted into many uncleared containers at the ports.

into Nigeria.

“I know offshore oil rigs were previously active; most of the oil companies are not producing.

Their cost of production is above $30 and the oil price is about $35 per barrel so they are shutting down their platforms.

“Until they come back on stream, we can’t have jobs. Most of our members have their tankers idle at the jetty with the hope that oil prices will go up.”

Brown added that the association had submitted a proposal to

A Federal high court sitting at the Lagos division has adjourned till 4th of February, 2016 the fundamental human right enforcement suit filed before the court by Mrs. Timi Beauty Akpobolokemi, wife of embattled former Director General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpolobokemi against Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

When the case came up for hearing, her counsel Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN) who announced his appearance for the applicants told the court that EFCC may not be aware that the case has been transferred from Justice Ofili Ajumogbobia’s court where the case was formerly pending to the present court

the government for the movement of goods and passengers through the inland waterways to the hinterland.

He said, “We want to explore that sector and raise revenue because it will not be oil dependent.

The government can assist by dredging the channels for goods and passengers.”

Currently, no Nigerian ship owner is involved in the exportation of the nation’s crude which is being carried on a Free on Board basis by foreign flagged vessels.

Court adjourns ex-NIMASA boss wife’s case presided over by Justice Saliu Saidu. More so, he had not received any process from EFCC and therefore asked for an adjournment for definite hearing of the case.

Consequently, Justice Saidu adjourned the matter till 4th of February, 2016.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Stories by Tony Nwakaegho MainOne, a leading telecoms and network services provider in West Africa, has disclosed that the high capacity Nigerian-Cameroun Submarine Cable System (NCSCS) connecting Lagos, Nigeria and Kribi, Cameroun has been completed and went live last month.

The company said the new submarine cable system would address increasing demand for reliable broadband connectivity in Cameroun, and is a key component of the country’s strategic plan to provide internet access to its citizens via a National Broadband Network.

The submarine cable installation, which commenced in June 2015 following a tripartite partnership between MainOne, The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, Cameroun and Huawei Marine Networks, had investment provided by the Cameroun Government.

The six-pair, 1,100 kilometre repeater submarine cable system will deliver capacity of up to 12.8Tbps to broadband users in Cameroun and is being lit with 40GB capacity from Day 1. This extension is expected to boost Cameroun’s extremely low fixed broadband penetration, currently estimated to be circa five percent.

B5 ICT

MainOne Nigeria-Cameroon submarine cable system goes live Built with branching units for strategic extension of its connectivity into Nigeria’s Escravos in Delta State, Qua Iboe in Akwa Ibom State, and Bonny Island in Rivers State, MainOne has concluded plans for a distribution hub in Port Harcourt, designed to bridge the technology gap between the South-South and the rest of Nigeria.

In his comments, Kazeem Oladepo. MainOne’s regional executive for West Africa, reiterated the company’s vision for a better connected West Africa: “This is an excellent addition to our network and is added proof of our commitment to expand broadband, improve quality and drive down cost of internet services in West Africa.

“As part of our strategy to boost West Africa’s economic and commercial development, we will continue to make deliberate and significant investments in connectivity projects that will facilitate increased access to broadband. The proposed extension of our submarine system

Funke Opeke, CEO MainOne

to the Niger Delta region is particularly important for further development of the oil producing region of Nigeria, and will aid the region’s rapid transition from an oil-dependent economy to a knowledge-focused one.

“We have seen phenomenal changes across other areas with internet infrastructure such as Lagos, Nigeria where Yaba’s Silicon Hub continues to provide opportunities for jobs, increased investor funding, and enhanced social entrepreneurship which is pushing the frontiers of eCommerce in Nigeria. Nigeria’s South-South region and Cameroun now have the platform to leverage the same quality of access to the Internet to catalyze social, economic and technological development,” Oladepo said.

Speaking on the milestone, David Nkoto Emane, General Manager, Cameroon Telecommunications Corporation (CAMTEL), said, “The NCSCS system enables us to provide users with faster bandwidth connectivity at a significantly lower cost.

NPF unveils mobile app Microsoft ‘Smart Police’ to cater for woos customers rape, robbery cases Nigerian Police has unveiled a mobile application to cater for case reporting such as rape, robbery, assault and theft without compromise of identity.

The app called Smart Police, was created by Cyberspace, a wholly Nigerian company created in 1995 to deliver ICT services and cutting edge networking solutions.

Cyberspace is reputed for being the first to build a world class converged IP network that supports applications based on the 3 hierarchical models in 2002.

To download the application, prospective users are to visit Google play on Android devices or the app store on other devices to download.

Users could also register via Facebook, Google+ with anonymous login to create account.

The application allows users to make distress call (emergency call) at ease by using the ‘Panic Mode button’. It also allows users to interact with police officials.

to Edge, ends support for Internet Explorer

Arase

Microsoft Edge, the software giant in a bid to woo customers said it’s stopping the support for all versions of the Internet Explorer effective January 12th, 2016, except for the latest one available on supported operating systems.

“After January 12, 2016, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for older versions of Internet Explorer,” Microsoft said on its official website.

The company added that to

Nadella, Microsoft CEO.

help customers who have a business need for using Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft will continue to invest in compatibility improvements, tools and other resources to help customers upgrade and stay up-to-date on the latest browser.

Many people believe that the end of support for all older versions of the Internet Explorer is a move by the software giant is to get people to use Microsoft Edge, the brand new, positivelyreviewed browser on Windows

10.

But for most consumers, upgrading to a new browser will probably not be too much of a problem, especially if automatic updates are turned on, but even Microsoft acknowledges that enterprise users may run into bumps along the road.

Businesses that have built apps based on older versions of IE will be hugely affected, but Microsoft says Enterprise Mode on IE 11 will ease the process for businesses.

Capital Market B6

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Stock Market Report

NSE index falls by 1.20% Ï ndè &Əƍ Ǝ ƃƈ ƍƆ Ƅè Ɔ Ǝ ƂƆƉƆ Ƅ Azubike Nnadozie The Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index (NSE ASI) and the market capitalization decreased by 1.20 per cent while the Year-to-Date return stood at -9.10 per cent.

The All Share Index closed at 26,034.93 against the previous day’s 26,350.18 while market capitalization closed at N8.954 trillion against the previous day level of N9.062 trillion. Volume traded increased by 74.96 per cent from 127.680 million to 223.386 million, while the total value of stock traded increased by 83.06 per cent from N1.372 billion to N2.512 billion in 2,776 deals.

The Financial Services sector led the activity chart with 199.57 million shares exchanged for N2.007 billion. Consumer Goods came next with 7.613 million shares traded for N0.379 billion, Conglomerates, Agriculture, Services sectors followed in that order on the activity chart.

Guaranty, FBNH, UBA, Diamondbnk and AIICO were the most active stocks by volume, while Maybaker, Champion, Eterna, Portpaint and Transexpr emerged the highest price gainers on the chart, while Livestock, Tigerbrands, NAHCO, UACPROP and Cadbury topped the losers chart.

While most emerging market stocks struggle, U.S. and European stocks rallied yesterday, as commodities and the currencies of nations that produce raw materials pared declines, following efforts by China to shore up its currency.

Stocks in developing economies climbed 0.4 per cent with Russian shares advancing after valuations fell to their lowest level in more than a year and stocks in Brazil and Poland climbed from the weakest close since 2009.

The Shanghai since September Composite Index rose 0.2 per cent after dropping below the

3,000 level for the first time. The gauge sank 5.3 per cent on Monday, even after state-controlled funds intervened in the market last week. Emerging-market currencies rose, halting a seven-day plunge. South Africa’s rand led gains, rising 2 per cent versus the U.S. dollar, while Brazil’s real and Russia’s Ruble also strengthened.

Bloomberg reports that the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index climbed for a second day, with health-care and technology companies leading gains, as Brent crude reversed losses that sent it near $30 a barrel.

Automakers led the first advance in the Stoxx Europe 600 Index after a four-day rout, while bonds fell amid government debt sales. China’s Yuan traded in Hong Kong erased its discount to the onshore rate as the state sought to ward off speculators.

China stepped up its defence of the Yuan on Tuesday, sparking a record surge in Hong Kong’s money-market rates to deter bearish bets and helping to stabilize equity markets. Concern that turmoil in the nation’s stocks and currency would spread had helped spur declines in financial markets this year, pushing crude 16 per cent lower since Dec. 31, and leaving a global equity gauge on course for its lowest close since 2013.

“This is a market that’s been selling off very hard and is probably short- rying to read the dayto-day implications from Chinese policy moves is exceptionally term oversold,” said Alan Gayle, senior strategist for Atlantabased Ridgeworth Investments, which has about $42.5 billion in assets. “It’s not surprising that we’re seeing a snap back. It is challenging.”

The S&P 500 added 0.7 per cent at 10:08 a.m. New York time, after ending its last session up 0.1 per cent following a tumultuous trading session. The main U.S. equity benchmark’s tumble to start 2016 has left it 9.7 per cent below its all-time high set in May. It is 3 per cent above the bottom of an August swoon which was also sparked by anxiety over the impact of China’s weakness on worldwide growth.

Summary of activities on NSE ASI

26,034.93

DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP

2,776.00 223,385,556.00 2,512,075,747.30 8,953,900,811,825.16

L-R: The Executive Director (Finance and administration) of NICON Insurance Plc, Steve Ojo; the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; the Managing Director of NICON Insurance, Bayode Samuel; and the Executive Director (Marketing), Alhaji Kamal Hammed during a courtesy visit to Fayemi in Abuja... on Monday.

SEC verifies 580 complaints, to pay investors soon Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday said it would soon begin payments of verified 580 complaints of unclaimed dividend to investors.

The Head, Marketing Development, SEC, Mr Henry Rowlands, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the investors would be paid from the N5 billion National Investor Protection Fund (NIPF) set aside by the commission.

“In November 2015, SEC launched a fund called National Investor Protection Fund (NIPF) and at the time of its launching, SEC put an initial seed of N5 bil-

lion.

“What the fund is intended for is that any investor within the market that has any form of losses will be compensated once SEC verifies that the complaint is genuine.

“Once complaint is lodged, SEC verifies the complaint to ensure it is genuine and effects the payment of an amount to the investor concerned,’’ Rowlands said.

According to him, the NIPF covers all categories of investors that transact business with market operators who are not dealing members of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE).

He, however, explained that all

losses to an investor by an operator who was a dealing member of the NSE would however be refunded through the NSE investors’ protection fund. “ So the SEC created this enlarged NIPF to compliment all those investors that are not dealing with members of the NSE. “ I can assure that it is functional because as at today, the SEC has verified about 580 complaints and are in the process of paying those investors,’’ he said.

Rowlands explained that in cases where there were unclaimed dividends, they might form part of the NIPF after much consideration.

NSE may list Transcorp Hotels’ N10b bond on Jan 18

An official of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) said on Tuesday that the listing of Transcorp Hotels’ N10 billion bond may take place on Jan. 18 barring unforeseen circumstances.

Mr. Ade Bajomo, NSE Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the listing was to spur activities at the exchange.

A NAN investigation, however, showed that the N10 billion was the first tranche of N30 billion bond approved by the exchange

for the company.

Bajomo said the bond was one of the efforts by the company to finance long-term projects, adding that the NSE was delighted with the listing.

Bajomo urged more corporate companies to float corporate bonds this year with the current economic challenges to finance long-term projects.

According to him, companies require funding to pursue more capital projects and the capital market offers the best funding for long-term development proj-

ects.

NAN reports that Transcorp Hotels in November, 2015 announced a successful naira bond market transaction of N10 billion.

The proceeds of the issue, according to the company, will be used to finance the upgrade of the company’s Hotel, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, and to build a multipurpose banquet centre.

The transaction was a 7-year fixed-rate bond due in 2022 under a N30 billion medium-term programme.

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

B7 Capital Market

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY ( EQUITIES) 12-01-2016

Aviation B8 FAAN partners FRSC on traffic

Daily Times Nigeria Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Managing director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN Engr. Saleh Dunoma, has said that the authority would continue to do its best to ensure safety and security on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Access Road, Lagos.

He made this remark during a working visit paid to the authority by officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The meeting was centered on providing a safe and secure drive-

way along MMIA Access Road, Lagos by permanently vacating the petroleum tankers positioned along that road.

Engr. Dunoma stated that it is the primary duty of the petroleum marketers to provide a permanent parking space for its tankers however due to the authority’s concern for safety and security for airport users, it would do its best in assisting the petroleum marketers in ensuring that the tankers are parked and positioned appropriately.

Those present at the meeting include members of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), FAAN Director of Airport Operations, Capt. Henry Omeogu, Action Director of Cargo and Business Development, Director of maintenance and Engineering, Engr.

Femi Ogunode, Acting Director of Security Service, Omaghomi J.J, General Manager, Business Development, Abubakar Achimugu and Assistant General Manager, Yahaya Dantoro.

L -R: Former President,Saheed Oki, Director of Cooperative Services, Zulikha Ibrahim, Limcu President Engr. Stanley Da’Silva and members of the Lagos State, Federal Cooperatives with the newly crowned Miss Limcu at a recent Limcu Annual Leaders retreat at Equity Hotels, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State...recently.

Airbus exceeds 2015 aircraft delivery targets Stories by Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus has exceeded its targets for 2015, achieving a new record of 635 aircraft deliveries for 85 customers of which 10 are new. These deliveries comprise: 491 A320 Family aircraft; 103 A330s; 27 A380s; and 14 A350 XWBs. Airbus also achieved 1,036 net

IATA projects 3.8billion passengers in 2016

orders from 53 customers (of which eight are new), comprising 897 single-aisle aircraft and 139 wide bodies. At 2015 year-end the overall backlog had climbed to a new industry record of 6,787 aircraft valued at US$996.3 billion at list prices.

The aircraft manufacturer has also announced an increased the average list prices of its aircraft by 1.1 percent across the product line. The new pricing is effective from January 1st 2016.

The 1.1 percent price increase has been calculated according to Airbus’ standard escalation formula over the January 2015 to January 2016 period and takes into account the drop in materials and commodities prices.

On its target, Airbus President and CEO, Fabrice Brégier said: “This commercial and industrial performance unequivocally proves that global demand for our aircraft has remained resilient.”

He adds: “In 2015 Airbus has also

laid firm foundations for the future, increasing the capability and variety of the aircraft which we can offer to our customers.”

Overall, 2015 has been a year of solid and wide-ranging Airbus accomplishments. For example, the A320neo was certified by the aviation authorities on both sides of the Atlantic just five years after its launch. In addition, Airbus delivered 14 A350s – making good its pledge to the airlines who are now benefitting from the world’s most efficient and advanced airliner.

Important progress was also made on the A350 programme’s next variant, the A350-1000 – whose major components and structures are now taking shape across various production sites.

In 2016 total passenger numbers are expected to rise to 3.8 billion traveling over some 54,000 routes.

This is contained in an International Air Transport Association IATA release for its profitability and perspective for 2016.

According to IATA, in both 2015 and 2016 the aviation industry industry’s return on capital (8.3 percent and 8.6 percent respectively) is expected to exceed the industry’s cost of capital (estimated to be just under 7.0

percent in 2015 and 2016 because of low bond yields).

“This is an historic achievement for an industry that has been notorious for destroying capital throughout its history.

But let’s keep that achievement in perspective. With net profit margins still in the five percent range there is little buffer.

Achieving returns that barely exceed the cost of capital means that airlines are finally meeting the minimum expectations of their shareholders. For most

other industries this is the norm and not the exception.

And this is coming as expectations build that we are nearing the top of the business cycle. On average airlines will still make less than $10 per passenger carried. The industry’s profitability is better described as ‘fragile’ than ‘sustainable’,” said Tyler.

There are several indicators that improvements in airline profitability are likely to slow.

The first is found in the cyclical nature of the airline business.

Airport privatisation should be done in clusters — Ojikutu Aviation expert and former Commandant, Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd) said the only way the Federal Government would achieve its objective on privatisation of the major aerodrome is to ensure that they are done in clusters with the unviable ones.

Ojikutu, who spoke to our reporter said for instance, the privatisation of the Lagos airport, must be done along with three or four unviable ones spread across the North, East and the West; so also for the remaining three in Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Kano airports.

He however commended the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for ‘reverting back to the privatisation of airports’ that he said was abandoned in 2004 which is in line with the privatisation and commercialisation Act 2000.

The Federal Government through Amaachi revealed recently, the plan to privatize four airports in the county, to guarantee efficiency, good management and continuous development of relevant infrastructure in the sector.

Ojikutu however said the planned privatisation must not include the safety and security services which he stated must remain government’s responsibility and a commitment to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) charters and its 19 Annexes.

His words, “The privatisation must be limited to only passenger terminal buildings like the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2.

Tyler, DG/CEO, IATA

Life&

TIMES Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Top Fashion names to look out for in 2016 L2,3

P

Fashion L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Mutiat Alli

Top Fashion names to look out for in 2016 The fashion industry is blessed with top movers in the industry ranging from top notch fashion houses, models, photographers to mention but few. 2016 will sure be a fabulous outcome for fashion trend setters that includes the likes of Meena, Nikki Anyasi, Queen Onyemaechi, and industry mainstay such as Ituen Basi, Maki Oh, Omoyemi Akerele, and others. Life &Times ex-rays few of the top fashion names to look out for in the industry.

Ninioma Anosike

Models

Ninioma Anosike has been quiet since she left Nigeria in 2014, on the heels of her win at the 2013 Elite Model Look Nigeria competition. Signed in New York to internationally revered Ford Models, Anosike landed a campaign for MAC, phenomenal considering how rarely the brand fronts campaigns with models of colour. Anosike is in the best shape of her life, and ready to become a first grade model in 2016.

Uju Marshall

Seun Logan No model has stayed relevant and as in demand as Uju Marshall. With a stellar year behind her, walking 32 shows at the 2015 Fashion and Design Week behind her and several critically received editorial campaigns to her name and many debating that she is easily Nigeria’s first home grown super model.

Stylists

Olamide Ogundele

T E A M

More commonly known by her instagram avatar, Krusha Lamar, Ogundele has had a stellar debut year in 2015. The dark horse came out of nowhere to front the coveted editorial campaign for the 2015 Lagos Fashion and Design Week, following the footprints of Uju Marshall. With editorials in print and for brands filling her portfolio, Ogundele is poised to turn all the buzz into success.

Life&

Movie and Music Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Current muse for menswear brand Seun Logan was a revelation at the 2015 Lagos Fashion and Design Week. He quickly followed this with editorials for Naatal Media helmed

by Nigerian fashion veteran, Helen Jennings. 2016 will be quite a year for Seun Logan as he is already one of the top 10 finalists for the Music Meets Runway model search, where a win will catapult him into relevance.

Tokyo James Tokyo James had a busy 2015 consolidating his position as editor of Made Magazine with several high profile covers, including Patoranking and 2face Idibia, Seyi Shay and Waje. He’s also had to his credit, editorials in Citizen’s Magazine UK, Tiffany Amber’s ss15 look book, The House of Tara Colorburst campaign that earned him a Jaguar Lagos Fashion Awards nomination.

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

Bubu Ogisi Super stylist, Bubu Ogisi, has worked with everyone from Mania magazine and 53 Extra, Nigerian singers Asa and Seyi Shay to the Nigerian delegation to the International Fashion Showcase in London. With campaigns like The Rebahia Spring 2015 collection and the Lagos Fashion and Design Week’s editorial campaign, her new flagship store and her forays into interior design, her trajectory over the years will be interesting to watch.

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Adebambo Segun

High Street Brands Zazaii

Twenty Six

The other new retail to rise from the ashes of L’Espace, Isoken Ogiemwonyi’s Zazaii came out the hatch running, with concession deals with Purple Lagos, Things Nigerians Love, Lady Biba, Funke Adepoju, Sanusi Lagos, Nuraniya Studios, Ethnik by Tunde Owolabi, DZYN, Kamokini, Andreah Iyamah, Dapmod and Obsidian Way.

Skirt brand, Twenty Six has grown from retailing only knee length circle skirts via instagram to a fully-fledged lifestyle offering accessories, skirts, dresses and a children’s line. With the launch of their e-commerce site and partnerships with the Nik-Nak store, Twenty Six might be our ethical answer to Nasty Gal.

Continued on L3

Daily Times Nigeria

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

L3 Fashion

Continued from L2

Photographers

Designers Adeju Thompson Adeju Thompson made a splash in 2014 as part of that year’s Lagos Fashion and Design Fashion Focus programme. With his unique aesthetic of marrying contemporary punk and streetwear designs with inspiration from Lagos, his city of residence, he has thrilled with his subsequent collection System Error and was featured in 2014 as the artist in focus at the Stranger Salon. With a number of projects under his sleeve, critical acclaim and small but fiercely loyal client base, 2016 is the year of Adeju Thompson.

Reclusive photographer, Lakin Ogunbanwo, came out of hiding to pad his portfolio with shoots for Naatal Media, Maki Oh and the Lagos Fashion and Design Week in 2015.

As he explores his art and hones his style through private shoots and public exhibitions, 2016 might be the year we see Lakin Ogunbanwo shed his mystery and embrace the mythos of gifted eccentricity that has grown around him.

Babatunde Mason

Creating his niche in fashion portraiture, Seye Isikalu has created a name for himself, photographing many international celebrities including Rita Ora, A$ap Rocky and Ciara. He also made his name in Nigerian fashion photography in 2015, working on Blanck Digital homeland issue that featured covers with Zainab Balogun, Tiwa Savage, Bankole Wellington and Tolu Oniru.

Sylvia and Olivia Enekwe ended 2015 with a stocking deal with new fashion retail brand Zazaii, a clientele that includes fashion influencer, Omoyemi Akerele, nominations from the Jaguar Lagos Fashion Awards and two new collections. The only way is up for these sisters.

Maxivive Papa Oyeyemi’s Maxivive made headway at the Lagos Fashion and Design Week showcase with his Harmattan collection ‘Arodan’ proving once and for all that he deserved his place at the showcase’s fashion incubator programme the year before. With a diffusion line MXVV and plans for concessions, the choices Papa makes will be very interesting to watch in 2016.

Ejiro Amos Tafiri

Lakin Ogunbanwo

Seye Isikalu

Gozel Green

Babatunde Mason started shooting with his father’s camera in 2012 as part of the three man collective over at Blackfabulousity. com. Come 2015, Tunde Mason transitioned from enthusiastic amateur to real contender, working with established brands like Grey Projects, Tiffany Amber, Grey Velvet and a cover for Ignite magazine. With his eye for portraits and his unique take on photography, we contend he will get even bigger in 2016.

Ade Okelarin

Jerrie Rotimi

Through his photography studio, Ade Asiko, Okelarin has bulldozed through the Nigerian fashion industry, working on covers for Pride Magazine Nigeria, Blanck Digital, Wow Magazine, FAB magazine and New African Woman. With those many covers in 2014- 2015, we know we will see more of him in 2016.

Jerrie Rotimi’s niche is in editorial photography, shooting campaigns for T.I. Nathan, high street brand ANL by Annie Leash, Bellanaija, Sisiano and Tzar Studios. With work for satellite fashion channel, Spice TV Africa, in his portfolio, Rotimi has enough talent to become a major player in 2016.

It took her three years, but Ejiro Amos Tafiri has taken her eponymous brand from suspected vanity project to bonafide runaway success.

Embraced by all demographics of women for her flattering cuts and her understanding of the unique needs of women of colour, E.A.T’s Spring 16 collection inspired by religious imagery shattered any doubts that she is rock solid design wise.

Orange Culture Premier menswear brand Orange Culture was part of Nigeria’s delegation to the 2015 International Fashion Showcase and was invited to show at premier menswear trade show, Pitti Uomo under the Ethical Fashion Initiative. He released two collections that featured collaborations with O’Eclat, TreeFairfax and Shem Paronelli. In late 2015, he announced not one but two diffusion labels, Orange by Orange Culture, a sister brand to Orange Culture, and O.C by Orange Culture, a streetwear brand. With that many channels for expression, we cannot wait to see where Bayo Oke Lawal takes his brand.

L4

Daily Times Nigeria

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

L5

Fashion L6

Daily Times Nigeria

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Abimbola Obatayo

Beauty trends to watch in 2016 It is obvious Contouring had a huge moment in 2015, but the pendulum is going in the other direction in 2016. Makeup is going to go all natural. Read on for beauty trends you need to look out for this New Year.

Smoky Eyes: Sexy, smoky eyes isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Neither are cat eyes, but they are taking a more subtle approach this year.

Glittery Lids: Adding a little glitter to your lids seems to be the way to ramp up your makeup look in 2016, according to the looks shown at Delpozo and Baja East.

Brushed-Up Brows: The “Interest Brow” is taking a backseat in 2016, making room for easier-going arches that are effortlessly brushed-up and feathery.

Bold, Beautiful Lips: Neutral and classic shades like crimson, pinks, deep burgundies, and gorgeous nudes are rising to the top this year, pushing crazy lipstick shades like cobalt blue to the wayside.

Perfectly Lined Pouts: Prepare to kiss the Kylie Lip Challenge goodbye in 2016 because it’s all about embracing what you’ve got.

A Gorgeous Glow: Strobing got a little out of hand in 2016, so a good way to reel it in is with a healthy glow that gives your skin a subtle sheen rather than a bright spotlight on your skin. Pat a little clear lip gloss on the high points of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, and your eyelids for an instant glow.

Subtle Contouring: Skip clown contouring this year and instead, “spot treat” your face by choosing one area to accentuate, like your cheekbones, jawline, or nose rather than all three, so you look more naturally contoured.

Perfectly Pink Cheeks: Going for a subtly amped up flush will always make you look instantly fresh-faced and like you got 12 hours of sleep. Applying the blush on your cheekbones and blending into the hollows of your cheeks to mimic where little kids naturally get pink in the face.

Tailored Nails: Coffin and bubble nails had their moment in 2015, but it’s all about a more natural shape in 2016 whether you keep your tips short or a touch on the longer side.

Fierce, Unexpected French Tips: Sure, your average thin (not thick!)

French tip is still classy, but this year take your nail art game to the next level, creating a new twist on the French tip.

Chic, Short Hair: Long bobs are taking over one celebrity at a time — and the cropped cut is showing zero signs of slowing down. This year, you might be so inclined to add bangs into the mix.

Braids, Twists, and Ponytails Galore: Braids, twists, and ponytails will never go out of style, but this year, they’re going to be done in an unconventional way. Take the two-strand twist at a public school for example.

It’s simple to execute, but looks super sophisticated.

Abdullahi Zaheenab

Spice up your look with baseball cap Baseball cap became popular during the early 1940s. Latex rubber became the stiffening material inside the hat and the modern baseball cap was born.

Baseball caps are made of many types of material and shaped in various styles for different purposes. This is a type of soft cap with a rounded crown and a stiff peak projecting in front.

The front of the cap typically contains designs or logos of sports teams (namely baseball teams, or names of relevant companies, when used as a commercial

marketing technique). Some people go to the extent of customizing their name in the front of the cap and sometimes at the back.

The back of the cap may be “fitted” to the wearer’s head size or it may have a plastic, Velcro, or elastic adjuster so that it can be quickly adjusted to fit different wearers.

The baseball cap is a part of the traditional baseball uniform worn by players, with the brim pointing forward to shield the eyes from the sun. The cap is often seen in everyday casual wear. It has become what everybody wears.

Smokey Eyes

Glitery lid

Bold lips

Daily Times Nigeria

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

L7 Fashion

Mutiat Alli

Ombre hair tips The ombre hair trend seems to be the longest running hair situation, having trended all of last year and has continued to trend this year. It’s clearly moved on from just being a celebrity must-have trend. One of the biggest mistakes one can make with ombre hair is having too dramatic a shift in colour without any graduation between the two.

So here are things you must consider before getting on the ombre hair bandwagon and how to maintain your fresh color transitions.

• What is a must do when getting the look? Make sure you go to a highly trained hair colourist for this process.

Just because someone does colour, doesn’t mean they’ve been trained to execute the latest trends or that they can do them well. The ombre look is more about multidimensional beautiful colour, not just dark roots and light ends.

• How do you get the right colouring transition? The application is everything. The best way to achieve this is with a balayage technique, or individually freehand painted

Ombre lips: Dramatic lips you should totally rock In retrospect, ombre lips is a better and modernised form of blending different lip stick colours on your lips. It may look difficult to achieve but here are some easy and cheap ways to achieve this look.

Step 1. First, start by applying foundation and powder to have a blank canvas and blend with your lips to even them out.

Step 2. Go around your lips with a sharp pencil liner for the colour you want at the bottom part of your lips.

Step 3. Use the liner to define and fill in your base for the lipstick, this helps colours stay on much longer.

Step 4. Next step is to put in your lipstick. Note that working with matte lip stick or gloss is best for ombre lips as it affords a smoother application.

Step 5. Line the edges of your lips once more with the pencil liner and begin to blend.

Tricks to note Application of the liner or lipstick might look a little bit messy, so here are some tips to help with that.

1. Apply lipstick with an angled brush.

2. Blotting with tissue helps keep lipstick from smudging 3. Lip stains are great options if you don’t want the mess of lipstick.

4. Dab loose transparent powder on the lips then re-apply to keep lipstick matte much longer.

pieces. With this technique, you achieve a seamless colour transition.

• What is the big mistake when getting this trend? Do not attempt to do this yourself. Beyond that, if your base colour, the roots area, is almost black, lighten the base to brown for a softer overall look.

• How to maintain it? The best part of this trend is that it looks better as it grows out, so you don’t have to worry about touching it up.

At home

ombre nail effect

Items needed Nail Polishes, Top coat, Eye shadow sponge brush, Nail Polish remover • Gather polishes. You can use up to three colours.

• Paint the polishes directly onto the sponge.

Keep in mind: the colour on top will end up at the root of your nail. You obviously need to dab it around your nail a little bit until you have the colour and ombré effect you want. To get the nail at the very bottom of your nail, put extra polish at the very end of the sponge and dab it straight where you want it.

• Wait for your nails to be semi-dry and go over them one more time and add top coat.

• To remove excess nail polish, pour nail polish remover into the cap and dip a Q-tip into the cap. Rub the Q-tip onto the skin by your nail, being careful not to touch your nails themselves.

Daily Times Nigeria

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Showing on

Showing on

150 Africa Magic Showcase

140 AMC Channel

00:05

06:00

Wed, 13 Jan | 18

Wed, 13 Jan | PG13

A special military unit ventures into the Demilitarised Zone of Korea to destroy a North Korean nuclear power plant slated to start producing nuclear weapons. Adrian Paul, Michael Biehn, Mark Edward Anderson. (1997) Stephen Milburn Anderson.

101 M-Net West

00:00 Plastic 02:00 Crush 04:00 The Voice 05:00 Ellen’s Design Challenge 06:00 The Goldbergs 06:30 Grey’s Anatomy 07:30 Grey’s Anatomy 08:30 Salmon Fishing In The Yemen 10:30 Mike & Molly 11:00 Ellen’s Design Challenge 12:00 The Voice 13:00 Battle Creek 14:00 Elementary 15:00 Chicago PD 16:00 Ellen’s Design Challenge 17:00 The Middle 17:30 The Voice 18:30 Modern Family 19:00 Two And A Half Men 19:30 The Blacklist 20:30 CSI: Cyber

154 Africa Magic Family 00:00 Tinsel 00:30 Star Gist 01:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 02:00 Music Block 03:00 Good Morning Africa 04:00 Music Block 05:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist 07:30 Days Without Rain 08:55 Living With Trisha 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 Tinsel 11:30 Star Gist 12:00 Music Block 13:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 14:00 Jara 14:30 Family Ties 15:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 16:00 Prem

16:30 Living With Trisha 17:30 Mary Slessor 18:00 Meet The Adebanjos 18:30 Jane And Abel 19:00 Tinsel 19:30 Star Gist 20:00 Airtel Touching Lives 20:30 President For A Day 21:25 Family Ties 22:00 Tyme Out With Tee-A 22:00 Tyme Out With Tee-A 23:40 53 Extra

‘S3/E779 - 3/779’. Star Gist shines the spotlight on African and international celebrities. The show also features the latest news and takes you behind the scenes of magazine, movies and music video shoots.

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

00:30 The Del Monte Dynasty 01:20 The Impostor 02:10 Labour Of Love 03:00 Part Of Me 03:50 Queen Of Hearts 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Labour Of Love 07:00 Part Of Me 07:50 Queen Of Hearts 08:40 The Impostor 09:30 Forbidden Passions 10:20 Labour Of Love 11:10 Part Of Me 12:00 Queen Of Hearts 12:50 The Impostor 13:40 Forbidden Passions 14:30 Labour Of Love 15:20 Part Of Me 16:10 Queen Of Hearts 17:00 The Impostor 17:50 Forbidden Passions 18:40 Labour Of Love 19:30 Part Of Me 20:20 Queen Of Hearts 21:10 The Impostor 22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Labour Of Love 23:05 QI

L8 TV guide

128 SONY MAX

00:25 Most Shocking 01:20 Sexy Car Wash 01:50 Rude Tube 02:20 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 00:30 The Weakest Link

11:00 My Family

01:20 Silent Witness

11:30 Hell’s Kitchen USA

02:15 Total Wipeout UK

12:20 Top Gear

03:10 EastEnders

13:15 Come Dine With Me

03:40 QI

14:15 Hell’s Kitchen USA

04:10 Top Gear

15:05 The Weakest Link

05:00 Mr. Bean: The Animated Series

16:00 EastEnders

05:25 QI

16:30 Deal Or No Deal

06:00 The Thin Blue Line

17:10 The Cube

06:30 EastEnders

18:00 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

07:00 Antiques Roadshow

19:00 Dragons’ Den

07:55 The Weakest Link

20:05 Top Gear

08:45 The Cube

21:05 Hell’s Kitchen USA

09:30 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

22:00 Live At The Apollo

10:20 Deal Or No Deal

22:50 QI

155 AfricaMagic World 00:00 Music Block 01:00 Good Morning Africa 02:05 Deal Or No Deal SA 03:00 Music Block 04:00 The Dzigbordi Show 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 The Bleeding Heart 07:30 Star Gist 07:55 Star Gist 08:25 Star Gist 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 The Dzigbordi Show 11:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 12:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 13:00 Music Block 14:00 Star Gist 14:30 Star Gist

02:45 Upload With Shaquille O’Neal 03:10 Hip Hop Squares 03:35 Most Shocking 04:30 South Beach Tow 05:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak 05:25 Exposed 05:50 Exposed 06:15 Video Zonkers 06:40 Video Zonkers 07:05 World’s Wildest Police Videos 08:05 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 09:05 South Beach Tow 09:35 Most Shocking 10:35 Most Shocking 11:35 Video Zonkers 12:05 Video Zonkers 12:35 World’s Wildest Police Videos 13:35 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 14:35 South Beach Tow 15:05 Most Shocking 16:05 1000 Ways To Die 16:30 Video Zonkers 17:00 Video Zonkers

15:00 Star Gist 15:30 Lies That Bind 16:00 The Dzigbordi Show 17:00 So Wrong So Wright 17:30 So Wrong So Wright 18:00 The Dzigbordi Show 18:55 Kumwesu 19:25 Kumwesu 20:00 The Mastermind

17:30 World’s Wildest Police Videos 18:30 South Beach Tow 19:00 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 20:00 Jerks With Cameras 20:30 Impractical Jokers 21:00 Rude Tube 21:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:00 Sexy Car Wash