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EFCC moves against ex-CDS Badeh, seals Abuja house Peter Fowoyo

ÎÎÎOperatives of

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the Economic and Financial Crimes Abuja house of the immeCommission (EFCC), on diate past Chief of Defence Wednesday, sealed off the Staff (CDS), Air Chief Mar-

shal Alex Badeh, in Abuja.

This is even as the antigraft agency will today

arraign ex-Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, otherwise

known as Tompolo, and former Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agen-

dailytimesng

https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

Continued on page 6

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 23

GAINERS

N150

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NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 13th January 2016.

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26.5

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0.67

0.02%

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820

779

-41%

NB

102.2

97.18

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4.06

4.2

0.14%

NIG-GERMAN

4.91

4.91

0%

7UP

182

175

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WAPCO

94.86

91.31

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‘Missing’ Budget: Senate quizzes NASS officials Òd ƌƆ Ɨ ƅƑƌƆ Ɛ ƏƆ ƌƈ ƈ Ɨ ƓƆ Ɠ Ɛ Ɛ Ƈƈ Ɨ ƑƐ Ɠê zƆ ƒƆ ƈ ƐƆƏƒƈƆƓƆƗ ƌƆ ƍƆ ƍƋƆê zƆ ƏƆ Ƌƌ Ɛ ƅ ƅƋƑƗƈ ê zƆ ƒƆ ƋƏƆ Ɨƕ Ɔ Ƈ Ə Ɨ ƓƆ Ɗ Ɠ Ɠ Ɛ ƈ ƍƍƆ ƈ ÿ Ï Four officials quizzed, four offices combed by search panel Ï No budget is missing, Media committee insists Ï They have found it, says Presidential adviser ÏDebate on budget starts January 19 ÎÎÎThe

Olufemi Samuel,

Committee set up by the Senate to unravel the

Abuja

mystery behind the missing 2016 budget on Wednesday

queried some officials of the National Assembly who

they suspected were part of the conspiracy leading to its

sudden disappearance.

Continued on page 6

Anxiety grips Ministries as FG scrutinises payroll accounts gB1

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Outstanding debt to universities

R

ecently, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) accused the Federal Government of owing public universities N660 billion as Needs Intervention Fund (NIF). According to the Zonal Coordinator and Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter of ASUU, Prof. Segun Ajiboye, the money was part of the unpaid intervention fund for the last three years. He said the amount owed for 2014 was N220 billion; that of 2015 was N220 billion and another N220 billion for 2016 which was part of the N1.3trillion intervention FGN/ASUU agreement signed in 2013.

In addition, he lamented that the Federal Government still owes academic staff in public universities a whopping N200 billion arrears of earned allowances for the 2014 and 2015 academic years.

We are really saddened by this development, considering the fact that the Federal Government and ASUU had over the years been locked in running battles over implementation of agreements on the funding of the country’s public universities. Incidentally, the consequence is the steady decline in infrastructural development in particular and academic learning in general.

We recall that the present cause of disagreement was part of agreement between the parties in 2009 for payment of N220 billion annually for five years for infrastructure development in public universities.

Recall that former president of ASUU, Professor Festus Iyayi, died in a ghastly car crash along the Lokoja/ Abuja highway during that period, while leading ASUU team to the negotiation with the Federal Government.

It would be unfortunate and disservice to academic learning if the universities are forced to embark on another

round of strike to call attention to the non-implementation of agreements reached by both parties.

Nigerians need not be reminded, especially parents and students of the severe dislocation to academic studies should any untoward action be taken

by ASUU to force implementation.

Strike actions have contributed significantly to the decline in the quality of graduates of our public universities as students are hurried with lectures as soon as such strike actions are called off. As a result of hurried academic calendars, little attention is paid to research, which is an important component of academic pursuits. Is it any wonder that our public universities have continued to go down the ladder of academic ranking, even among their peers in Africa?

Under funding of the education sector, over the years, has had collateral effect on the country. Our universities, hitherto exemplary centres of excellence that attracted academics from far and near, have now become grotesque carcasses of their former selves. A government that cannot stand by what it pledged four years is inviting chaos in the citadels of higher learning.

We therefore urge both parties to always consider the future of the students and implement the agreed pact.

In doing this, the Federal Government should take the initiative as a responsible corporate citizen who respects agreements with other parties and institutions. We say so because such disputes with university lecturers and workers had always been due to broken promises and unfilled agreements, very often on the part of government.

Under the decrepit condition of our university system today, expecting well-refined graduates to come out of it is like sowing a maize seedling and expect to harvest wheat.

Bayelsa poll: How come security still failed?

Sam Nzeh

ÏÏÏOne

sore development whose memory will linger for some time to come is the killings that took place during the rescheduled supplementary governorship election held in seven of the eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the Bayelsa Sate on Saturday.

Reports had it on Sunday that 4 policemen, 2 soldiers and eleven others were killed during the poll.

Also, at least six persons were shot dead in a post-election gun battle between supporters of the two leading political parties in Peremabiri community of Southern Ijaw area of the state.

The killings, no doubt, are linked to the desperation of politicians involved in the election and should be condemned by well-meaning persons.

However, the disturbing aspect in the whole affair is that the killings took place despite the massive deployment of policemen and operatives of other security outfits, which many have attributed to failure of security.

The police hierarchy, for instance, deployed not less than 5,000 personnel, helicopters, boats, among others during the poll in seven of the eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state on Saturday. Other security outfits also deployed personnel in their numbers to provide security. Sadly, with all these security personnel on ground, vi-

Words On Marble :

olence still broke out and claimed lives.

So, what really happened? Is this not a clear case of failure of security? Can the number of security personnel deployed to the state on Saturday be described as inadequate or were they compromised?

The hierarchy of the Police and other security outfits who deployed personnel in Bayelsa State on Saturday need to respond to the above posers.

Fact is that the violence and killings in Bayelsa State on Saturday couldn’t have taken place if the security personnel were on top of their game. So, before another round of elections hold anywhere in the country, the Police and other security outfits should ensure that what happened in Bayelsa does not repeat itself.

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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

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

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike Group Executive Commercial/ Business Developement Ifeoluwa Isijiola 08086296714 Head Finance/Shared services Simpa Ajayi

Business Dev. Manager Bello Ganiyu Sales & Marketing Manager Tunde Dosumu Technical Adviser To Publisher Innocent Nwankwo Adverts/Partnerships/ Corporate Subscription Ifeanyi Emefu 08086296714 Konnie Agu 09033765031

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Matthew Ashimolowo

John Odigie-Oyegun

Mike Ozekhome

“If you have your eyes permanently on the rear view mirror, you cannot drive fast.”

“We have absolutely no intention to pressurize any group or the nation towards a one-party state. It is not in our interest to do so because we need a vibrant opposition.”

“Democracy is not a 100 meters Usain Bolt or Ben Johnson’s quick dash race. Democracy is a marathon race that requires perseverance, patience, settlement, horse-trading, putting together and trying to find a middle course between forces that are centripetal and forces that are centrifugal.”

4

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

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Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Labour shuts down Imo over planned sack of workers Val Okara, Owerri

ÎÎÎ

The organised labour, on Wednesday, shut down Owerri, the Imo State capital, bringing the social and business activates in the state to a halt. The protesting workers, who were drawn from ministries, parastatals and agencies, were against the state government’s alleged plan to lay off over 6000 workers from the civil service and deduction of their salaries.

The rally which was described as “Mother of all rallies” saw the demonstrators march through the major streets of Owerri, including Wethedral and Bank roads chanting solidarity songs and displaying some unprintable comments on their placards against Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration.

The protesters numbering over 10,000 were led by the officers of the Nigeria Labour Congress from Abuja and other industrial unions from the South-East and SouthSouth geo-political zones in solidarity with their Imo State counterparts, resulting vehicular problems.

Some of the placard displayed by the demonstrating workers read: “We cannot be intimidated by Governor Okorocha, enough is enough.” “Let Imo workers to be.” “Salary is over right.”

Addressing the National President of the Nigeria

Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba and his entourage at the Government House, Okorocha said that they were obviously misinformed about the conditions of the Imo State workers.

He said that “I appreciate the concern of the national leaders of the NLC but you must have been misinformed about the situation in Imo State, because this govern-

ment is anchored on the welfare of the people,” adding that “I was the first governor in the entire country to pay workers N20,000 minimum wage when others are paying N18,000 and I have paid workers on the 18th of every month in the past four years but the labour leaders last year instigated workers to embark on strike when the government owed them just one month, which was really

unnecessary”.

He accused the workers of not only being ungrateful but that they have acted as opposition members and not partners with the state government, insisting that the state government was not owning workers any salary except the workers of Adapalm, because of issues arising from their employment which the state government was trying to resolve.

5 News

FG tackles snake bites in Plateau

Akor Ejumene, Abuja

ÎÎÎIn a bid to contain the

rampant incidents of snakebites in Kanke, Panshin and Shendam communities of Plateau State, the Federal Ministry of Health has donated large quantities (vail) of anti-snake venom (ASV) to the Plateau State Government.

Presenting the drugs at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), recently, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, stated that the donation was in response to the outcry from the people in the affected communities and as part of

the Federal Government’s intervention in stemming the scourge, which had been ravaging the region since August 2015.

The Minister, represented by an Assistant director, Mr. Fatai Oyediran, who led a team of medical experts and environmental scientists from Federal Ministry of Health to Plateau State, said that his team was in the state to confirm the complaint, assess the current status of the snake-bite and carry out a sensitisation and awareness campaign aimed at raising the bar in terms of prevention and control of the scourge.

UNIJOS to partner Harvard School on health Chijioke Kingsley, Jos

ÎÎÎ The University of Jos,

in partnership with Ahmadu Bello University and their United States Partners, Harvard school of Public health (HSPH) and Northwestern University, have received a major training and research grant from the Fogarty International Centre of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States of America.

The Vice-Chancellor of University of Jos, Professor Hayward Mafuyai, made the disclosure, while briefing journalists at the Senate chambers of the institution.

According to Mafuyai, the Office of the Director, National Institute of Health, was partnering with the National institutes of Nursing Research, Na-

Ability in disability.

Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

tional Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the Fogarty International Centre to support the four institutions with $640, 000 over five years, to increase the research capacities of junior faculty in the University of Jos and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Mafuyai, in company of Professor Phyllis Kanki from Harvard School of Public health, Boston, U.S.A. and Professor Robert Murphy Northwestern University, Chicago, U.S.A. said that the support of training and mentoring in Nigeria for academics (STAMMINA) will help energise research training programmes for junior faculty at the University of Jos and Ahmadu Bello University.

FCT APC chair lauds turn out for PVCs Idu Jude Abuja

ÎÎÎ The Chairman of the

Ngige denies running for Anambra senatorial election Tom Okpe, Abuja

ÎÎÎ The Minister of

Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has said that he will not abandon the national assignment given to him as a minister to contest Anambra Central enatorial election.

Ngige explained that he would not contest the senatorial election for both personal and official reasons, adding that the task given to him by President Muhammadu Buhari, re-

quired a Spartan like him to get the job done.

Speaking with newsmen at the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday, in Abuja, Ngige that said despite the economic downturn in the country, his ministry would do everything possible to fulfill his party’s manifestoes of job creation.

“I am not running because of official and personal reasons; the official reason being that I have

an assignment given to me

by Mr. President as Minister of Labour and Employment. As a matter of fact, the job is 60 percent more of employment generation than labour. Labour matters constitute only about 40 percent which is about labour and industrial relations, workers welfare and the rest of them all. “Unemployment is a very big scourge, a very serious disease in Nigeria now and we need to fight it frontally. I have gone to that ministry, had brief-

ings from relevant officers and top management officers and I feel Nigeria is at a crossroads”.

“The APC manifesto stipulates what we are going to do. We promised Nigerians that we were going to create jobs. We are going to create employment and unfortunately for us, the economy has taken a serious downturn, so we need Spartans like me to keep our flag flying and bring out water from the rock and that is exactly what we are going to do.”

All Progressive Congress (APC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Abdumalik Usman, has expressed confidence over the huge turnout of people seeking the registration of permanent voter card, in readiness for the forthcoming area council elections.

Usman, who led a team of APC officials on inspection tour of major registration centres across Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Buari area councils, said that the large turnout was an indication that the people were well sensitised on the political era in the FCT.

Oyegun According to him the visit to Wuse Zone 2 Primary School, Garki 2 Primary School, Government Secondary School Life Camp all in AMAC area council as well as Kubwa Village Primary School and PW primary School in Buiari area council was satisfactory. said that all decisions reached in such meetings would be binding on all the stakeholders.

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

‘Missing’ Budget: Senate quizzes NASS officials Continued from page 1 The Senate Committee Chairman of Media and Publicity, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi told the Daily Times that deferent individuals had been offering assistance on providing answers on the missing budget. He, however, issued a statement later on Wednesday on behalf of his committee that the budget was not missing.

Also, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Political Adviser, Senator Babafemi Ojodu, on Wednesday evening responded to an inquiry by the Daily Times via a text message, saying

the budget had been found.

“Budget is not missing.

It was with the Clerk of House of Representatives.

They have found it,” said Senator Ojodu.

A member of one of the Committee, Senator Peter Nwabushi earlier in the day said no fewer than four officials of the National Assembly had been quizzed on the role they played on the missing budget.

He said: “Some documents are missing and we want to find out how. We have interviewed some people. We are almost concluding. We have already gone far and we know what is happening”

It was learnt, however, that four offices that had been combed by the search panel were the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Legislative Matters (Senate), that of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Rules and Business, and the Office of the Senate President.

Senators had expressed fears of alleged high level of compromise by aides in offices with interested parties from the Presidency, leading to the disappearance of the budget.

Senate had during the plenary confirmed that the 2016 budget was indeed missing, having earlier de-

nied reports to that effect.

The confirmation was made through a point of order raised by Senator Eyinaya Abaribe (Abia South), calling on Senators to look into the issue of the missing budget because of the controversy it has been generating.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki had earlier attempted to lay the issue of the missing budget to rest when he announced that debate on the budget would commence next Tuesday, January 19.

The debate on the budget, according to him, will run through Thursday, just as he also announced that

copies of the budget would be distributed to all members today (Thursday).

Saraki had advised that Senators who wished to partake in the debate over the budget should register their names to indicate the date they intended to do so.

However, a twist was added to the issue of missing budget when Abaribe raised a point of order to call the attention of his colleagues to the raging issue.

He had raised Order 41(1) of Senate’s Standing Rule stating that he was personally bothered by reports that the 2016 budget was missing, amid the controversy it has continued

to generate in the media.

He said he had been receiving calls from his constituency, and that it was incumbent on the leadership to provide an answer on the issues at stake.

He said, “The matter that the budget is missing has been a major topic of discussions in all newspapers, radio and television stations. As you know, this matter came up during our closed-door session Tuesday. For us we are worried.

Mr President, where is our budget” Responding, the Senate President told Abaribe that Continued on page 12

Drama as Buhari arrives FEC meeting ‘too early’ Egena Egena, Abuja A mild drama preceded the commencement of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday as President Muhammadu Buhari arrived the Council Chambers of the State House at 9.15am for the meeting scheduled for 10am.

At the time of his arrival, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari, National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, and 19 ministers were yet to

turn up for the meeting.

After a quick glance at the few ministers who had taken their seats before he arrived, Buhari remarked: “I came too early”.

The president then asked for the recitation of the National Anthem and the meeting began immediately.

Osinbajo and others however arrived about five minutes into the meeting and were said to have been allowed into the Chambers through the tea room as the main door had been shut soon after the President’s arrival in consonance with protocol.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (2nd right); Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (right); Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Olusola Adeyeye (2nd left) and Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio during the inauguration of the Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review at the National Assembly Complex Abuja… on Wednesday.

EFCC moves against ex-CDS Badeh, seals Abuja home Continued from page 1 cy, NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, among others at a Federal High Court in Lagos today over fraud allegations.

However, the house said to be belonging to the former CDS is being occupied by his son, Tony Badeh and family. The junior Badeh who is a pilot, and family were out of the country as at the time the EFCC operatives stormed the house, a source who did not want his name in print disclosed.

The source also told our correspondent that the son of the former CDS, Tony Badeh, had foreknowledge of EFCC’s visit and quickly travelled out of the country with his family on Tuesday.

Efforts made to reach EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren proved abortive as he failed to respond to text messages. His mobile line was switched off.

Meanwhile, hearing in the substantive charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against ex-Niger Delta militant,

Government Ekpemupolo, otherwise known as Tompolo, has been slated for today.

Already, speculation is rife that a Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an order sought by the EFCC to serve the summons, compelling Tompolo to appear before the court to face a 40-count charge of fraudulent conversion of several millions of naira, dollars and property belonging to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, for personal purposes.

The order, which was granted in Charge No: FHC/L/553c/2015, was sequel to a motion ex-parte sought by the EFCC. Also affected by the order were ex-NIMASA Director-General, Mr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, Tompolo’s company, Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, Odimixi Electricals Limited, Kime Engozu, Boloboere Property and Estate Limited, Rex Elem, Destre Consult Limited, Gregory Mbonu and Captain Warredi Enisuoh.

The 40-count charge in-

clude the conversion of N601, 516.13 and $1, 766, 428.62 property of NIMASA into private concerns, conversion of NIMASA’s N27,690,113.79 and $17, 491, 378.64, as well as another N27, 690,113.79 and $17, 491, 378.64, belonging to the agency into personal effects, an offence contrary to section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act. The EFCC had explained that it rearrested ex-NI-

MASA DG, Akpobolokemi, after he was granted bail by a competent court because of fresh N34 billion fraud allegation against him, while the commission also asked Tompolo to appear in its office Thursday, December 17, 2015 for questioning regarding the N13 billion land acquisition controversy for Nigerian Maritime University, NMU, in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, with a threat to declare him wanted should he fail to appear.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

7 News

Anti-graft war perfect, working, says Gov. Ayade Egena Egena Abuja

ÏÏÏCross River state governor,

Ben Ayade, has described the ongoing anti-corruption war of the President Muhammadu Buhariled All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government as simply “perfect” and “working.”

He said the success of the antigraft fight had given the country the international image it deserved, and as one ready to do business.

APC vows to take control of Anambra Nkiru Nwagbo Awka

ÏÏÏThe

All Progressives Congress (APC), has vowed to take over Anambra state, starting with the Central senatorial election in March, 2016.

The state Chairman of APC, Emeka Ibe, while receiving one of the senatorial aspirants for central zone on Wednesday, Lady Sharon Ikeazor, at the party’s office in Awka, said the party had come to

Ayade made this declaration on Wednesday after a meeting with President Buhari in his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The position of the governor is, however, contrary to the popular one held by his opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is ceaselessly alleging that the war is one-sided.

He said: “The anti-corruption war is perfect. For those who know the pain and hardship that Nigerians have passed through, for the hardship and the frustrations.

reposition Nigeria.

There was heavy gridlock at Zik’s Avenue in Awka, when members of the party stormed the APC secretariat, where Ikeazor submitted and read her letter of intent to the party executive and members.

The daughter of late Chief Chimezie Ikeazor (SAN), the aspirant, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of APC, said if given the opportunity, she would represent the party with pride and honour.

Ikeazor, who was also a member of APC registration committee and APC presidential campaign team, before now, served as the National Women leader of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

Labour asks Gov. Wada to account for missing N2b Ibrahim Obansa Lokojo

ÏÏÏThe

lingering crisis between Organised Labour and Governor Idris Wada of Kogi state took another dimension on Wednesday, as the labour leaders asked him to account for the disappearance of over two billion naira from the state account.

The workers have been on strike action since December 23rd over the non-payment of the state workers’ salaries running into four months now, and over 28 months salaries owed primary school teachers and local government staff in the state.

In a bulletin No. 04, jointly signed by the state Chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Onuh Edoka and his counterparts in the Trade Union

Congress and Joint Negotiating Council and made available to journalists, it said Wada inherited a robust state from his predecessor only to hand over a debt infested state running into billions of naira to his successor.

Aside from over N10 billion allegedly misappropriated by Wada, the labour leaders again asked him to account for the over N1.9 billion he claimed to have released for the procurement of earth moving equipment which has suddenly grown wings.

The workers also asked Wada to explain the disappearance of the monthly N50 million set aside for payment of pensioners in the state and the sudden disappearance of SURE-P funded buses which they alleged the governor used a private company as a cover to siphon.

Ayade

“As a nation, there is so much in terms of natural resources but the people are so poor. It is only obvious that any serious government must take the issue of corruption seriously, and I think that is why today, Nigeria is beginning to have national and international image that looks like Nigeria is getting prepared for business.

“That is why investments are flowing into Cross River state, that is a sign that the anti-corruption war is actually working and it is giving Nigeria the interna-

tional image that we need.”

On the current state of the 360km Cross River-Benue Super Highway, he said, “the Super Highway, everything is ready. We are ahead of schedule in terms of periodicity of our programme and that is heartwarming for me.”

Governor Ayade also spoke on the Tinapa monorail, disclosing that the project was first of its kind in the West African sub region, which he said would be commissioned on February 14th, 2016.

General Counsel, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Dr. Adesegun Akin–Olugbade (left), in a handshake with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, during a courtesy call on the Vice President by AFC executives in Abuja on Wednesday. With them is, President African Finance Corporation, Andrew Alli.

House passes Bill on minimum wage by foreign coys Henry Omunu Abuja

ÏÏÏThe House of

Representatives, on Wednesday, passed for second reading a bill seeking to reverse the exclusion of companies that have foreign interests from the list of establishments exempted from the payment of the National Minimum Wage.

The Bill titled: “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Minimum Wage Act, 2004” is sponsored by Hon. Peter Akpatason (APC-Edo).

In his lead debate, Akpatason said it was regrettable that companies that make millions and billions of Naira in Nigeria do

not employ up to 50 workers and yet do not pay the National Minimum Wage of N18, 000 to their workers in flagrant disregard of the law.

According to him, the exemption of foreign owned companies from the list of establishments that are excluded from the payment of the minimum wage has done a great disservice to the nation in terms of revenue.

He said that under Section (6), sub-section (3) of the existing Act, the Attorney-General of the Federation has the discretion to determine who to prosecute or not in terms of contraventions of the law on payment of the na-

tional minimum wage.

While urging his fellow lawmakers to support the proposed amendment to the existing legislation, he said that in the last amendment to the existing Act, the interpretation of the foreign companies included those that have up to 50 per cent equity participation by foreigners.

The House adopted the bill without further debate as House members voted unanimously for the bill to scale second reading when Speaker Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote.

He later referred the bill to the House Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity for further legislative action.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Politics

Æs

PDP progressively losing ground to APC in South-East Since the beginning of the year, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been losing prominent politicians in its midst in the South Eastern part of the country to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Prominent amongst those who have defected to

the APC from the PDP are former representing Anambra Cenrial District, Senator Uche and former Minister of CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Senator tral SenatoEkwunife Information, and GoverNwobodo nor of the

Secondus Ekwunife

Ekwunife’s defection, good omen for APC — Party scribe

Patience

Remi Oladoye, Ibadan An Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of Ibadan, Professor John Ayoade has attributed the undue influence of wife of the former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and activities of surrogates who formed a cabal around Goodluck Jonathan as the major reason for his failure to win his second term bid.

Ayoade, who is now with the Department of Political Science and Diplomatic Studies, Bowen University, Iwo Osun State said this in Ibadan, Oyo State, during this year’s maiden monthly lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER).

“The contributions of Jonathan’s wife to the campaign was negative: innocent of the macro-fundamentals of political marketing, said: ‘Buhari

Professor John Ayoade

Edwin Clark

2015 POLL: How

Patience, Edwin Clark, others caused Jonathan’s loss — Don was brain-dead’; instructed her listeners to stone anybody who shouted “change”, the slogan of the APC; said: ‘if student no pass, he must repeat class, you must give Jonathan chance to

come back and repeat class’; said: ‘if you vote PDP and Jonathan, it would be better for you, if you vote APC, you will go to prison; I am not ready to carry food to my husband in-

The Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra, Mr Chuma Agupugo, has described the defection of Sen. Uche Ekwunife to the party as a “good omen” for the APC in the state.

Agupugo stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Wednesday, following Ekwunife’s formal defection from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

He said that the APC had formerly received Ekwunife and presented her with a broom to sweep away “bad leadership” and usher in a change of government in the state in 2017”.

The party scribe expressed confidence that APC would win the Anambra Central Senatorial District poll, which Ekwunife would be seeking to re-contest on the platform of her new political party.

“Ekwunife’s entry into the party portends good omen for the APC as it will further CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

side prison’; everybody is staying there for eight years, now it is our turn, we must complete our eight years” - all these utCONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Mai Mala Buni

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

How Patience, Edwin Clark, others caused Jonathan’s loss — Don CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

terances, the Professor declared contributed to the failure of Jonathan to return last year.

“Jonathan’s surrogates messed up his election chances further, some dreggier put the sacred to the service of the secular; the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), was a bundle of political contradictions-claim to be non-political but promised to build 10 cottage industries in each state and create one million jobs in the next four years.

“The last support group are the alleged beneficiaries from stage patronage, the group includes Ayodele Fayose, Edwin Clark, Asari Dokubo, Government Ekpwmupolo; Ayodele Fayose published a death wish for Buhari by putting him in the group of three Northern Heads of state who died in office; Buhari was alleged to be a prostate cancer patient and when he went to lecture at Chattam House, London, he was said to be in hospital; Buhari’s eligibility was challenged by the allegation that he had no school certificate.

The Political Scientist who declared that the former President had all he can employ to win the elections failed to utilize the opportunity thereby

resulting into his failure at the poll.

“He has all the resources, manpower and resources to turn around the system but failed to do so.

“Apart from hands-on-advantage, the incumbent has other electorally functions advantages, the incumbent has, higher early name recognition, better and more frequent relations with the media, more experienced staff (not paid at his expense), better finances, more volunteers, superior connections with parties and interest groups, ability to dispense favors and state patronages, case work by staff, credit for government projects, appropriation of state security resources and better and tested experience, exposure and prospects in fundraising.

Ayoade advised politicians to be more practical, talk straight and talk more about things which would make the society better instead of lying and failing to fulfill their promises as the electorate is becoming wiser.

“Politicians should become more realistic and level with the people, money spent on common goods is more electorally rewarding than money given to the movers and shakers of society”, he stressed.

9 Politics

Carry opposition in Bayelsa along, politicians urge Gov. Dickson

Dickson

Slyva

Some politicians in Lagos have urged the re-elected Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, to carry along the opposition with him.

The politicians, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews on Wednesday in Lagos, said that the state would benefit immensely if the governor were to do that.

Chief Gboyega Adeniji, the 2015 Governorship Candidate of the KOWA Party in Lagos State, explained that it will be a mark of statesmanship if the governor ensures that other parties partic-

ipate in the administration.

“Let the victor be magnanimous with victory; Bayelsa people have spoken, the handwriting had been on the wall and it is a good thing especially for INEC. “INEC has been very objective especially with their change of tactics that you get accredited and vote immediately since they are now using latest technology.

“We are at home with the result; we believe it is the wish of the Bayelsa people and that the votes have counted so credit to INEC”, he said.

Mr Joseph Ogebule, the Chair-

man of the Lagos chapter of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), advised all those who lost in the last election to rally support for the governor’s programmes in the next dispensation.

“We just have to abide with the result and support him and let him carry on; we need to allow peace to reign.

“When you contest, one candidate must win and the others should abide with it, two winners cannot come to a football field and win”, he added On his part, Dr Akin Badmus, the Lagos State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), commended INEC for the role it played in the successful conduct of the election in spite of the challenges.

“The contest was very keen and INEC did their best and the result came out the way it is, it is okay.

“The party is okay with the result and because the party came third and that is the best; you know the APC and PDP are the two major parties on ground and the PDM tried its best”, he said, adding, “at least it shows that it is a party of the future”.

NAN reports that Dickson polled 134,998 to defeat former Gov. Timipre Sylva, who scored 86,852 votes.

PDP progressively losing ground to APC in South-East CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, who was also a former Senator from Enugu State. It also included former Senator Fidelis Okoro who was in the Senate between 1999- 2007. They all announced their individual defection from the party last Friday and subsequent marriage with the APC. Ekwunife was a former member of the House of Representatives who later represented Anambra Central at the Senate, before her election was recently annulled by the Appeal Court in Enugu, on December 6 with an order to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in the zone within 90 days.

Ekwunife, who has begun preparation for the repeat poll confirmed her defection in a statement.

”Today, I officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC),” she said. ”My good people of Anambra Central, the outcome of what we witnessed was a conspiracy between some elements in PDP and the state government who were panicking over what they referred to as my rising profile. ”Even after these minor setbacks, I advised PDP to conduct primaries in other to produce a candidate who will fly the party’s flag in the oncoming repeat election, but since then, nothing meaningful has been done as they are busy creating more confusion in the party, a confusion which will lead the party nowhere. ”My good people of Anambra Central Senatorial District; taking cognizance of these developments, I took time to make wide consultations and have decided to join the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Nwobodo

Ekwunife

”It is true some of us did not give our support to APC in the previous election, it is true you voted for me massively in PDP, but then my brothers and sisters, that seed of confusion that militated against PDP in the previous election is still inherent and may not be of any good to any people.

”We Ndigbo cannot continue to be relegated from the national bargain which we are co-owners.

This is the time to join forces with the Federal Government to move our country forward.”

“It’s better now for me to join the APC. “Let the heat be there; I am al-

ready on campaigns for my return to the senate, to complete my contract with the people of Anambra Central District,” she said, adding that her plans for her constituents under the APC would soon be made public.

However, critics have alleged that her defection to the APC was to ensure that she dumps the sinking boat of the PDP and join the ruling party in order to win the forthcoming rerun polls.

Also, Nwobodo, a former Senator and presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP, attended an APC meeting, convened by Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Jeffrey Onyeama, in Enugu, where he declared his membership of the party to the surprise of most of the APC members present at the event.

Besides, a former PDP senator from Enugu State, Chief Fidelis CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Politics 10 As negotiations have began over of workers in Osun State with a view to resolving the crisis, a Civil Society Organization (CSO) under the aegis of Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEO) has advised the state governor, Comrade Rauf Aregbesola to resign from office.

The group said the governor should tender his resignation over illegal sack of no fewer than 141 members of the Academic and Non-Academic Staff Union of the two Colleges of Education in the state, and condemned the state government action over the matter.

The group also alleged that Aregbesola has directed the management of the two Polytechnics in the state to give sack letters to over 100 both academic and non- academic staff of the institutions this week, adding that the development had shown that Mr. Aregbesola did not have capability to rule the state again and he should resign honourably for a visionary leader to take the mantle of state leadership.

The rights group maintained that the illegal action of Mr. Aregbesola confirmed the group’s earlier prediction that Aregbesola had concluded arrangement to sack 9,582 workers across the 30 local governments and Modakeke Area Council, Civil Service, tertiary institutions, teaching and other public service establishment of the state.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Resign now, Civil Society tells Aregbesola over workers’ sack in Osun It threw its weight behind the on-going strike embarked upon by the medical doctors under the aegis of Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and their counterparts, Osun State Association of Medical and Dental Officers (OSAMDO), and supported the decision of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, to join the ongoing strike as part of their solidarity with their colleagues in the State Civil Service.

A statement by CSCEO’s Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi, Sulaiman in Osogbo vowed that the Civil Society group is prepared to resist all the anti-workers policies of Aregbesola’s government which is contrary to the Labour Law, Labour and Allied Matter Act, Workmen’s Compensation Act and Locus Classicus Labour Act, urging the affected workers in the state owned tertiary institutions to remain steadfast in rejection of the obnoxious and illegal termination of their appointment by the state government.

Comrade Sulaiman who also

doubles as Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), advised the state government to rescind its decision by withdrawing the sack letters issued to the affected workers in the state owned tertiary institutions immediately and tender the unreserved public apology to the affected workers.

He then urged the governor to withdraw the threat statement of sacking of over 500 medical doctors in the service of the state government and meeting their legal home demands, adding that failure of the state government to yield to the warning against this illegal action, might lead to statewide continuous peaceful protest to be tagged “Operation Stop Nonsense, Operation Counter Anti-Workers agenda, Operation Pay Workers Salaries, Operation Enough is Enough, Operation Bring out bailout Fund, Operation Aregbesola Must Go and host of others”.

CSCEO boss declared that the group was ready to team up with the leadership of the affected unions to champion the struggle against the state government on its current anti workers policies

Aregbesola which should not be allowed to stand, insisting that Mr Aregbesola had shown his inability to govern the state again and he should resign immediately without further delay.

His words: “Aregbesola’s administration is deficient in honesty, deficient in honour and deficient in truth. The only thing it has in

surplus is saying something and doing something else. His financial recklessness which resulted in borrowing in excess of over N400billion which he claimed he spent on projects which are not in the interest of the welfare of our people had left Osun people poorer. So great is his dishonesty that when he says ‘good morning’ one needs to cross-check three times before answering”.

On the educational policy of the state government, Comrade Sulaiman maintained that Aregbesola promised to build 27 model schools across the state with the N11.4 billion acclaimed free interest loan obtained from “SUKUK” in 2013 while the Federal Government, through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) also released N13.9billion to the state for the same purpose, stressing that the question on the lips of right thinking citizens of the state now is that what happened to the UBEC’s fund released for the same purpose?, pointing out that Aregbesola had succeeded in shortchanging the good people of the state for his own selfish benefit and must be made to account for it.

PDP progressively losing ground to APC in South-East CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Okoro, also defected to the APC at the meeting. Okoro was in the Senate between 1999 and 2007.

In his declaration, Nwobodo condemned the PDP, and blamed the party’s leadership for allowing five governors to leave for the APC in the build up to the 2015 general elections.

According to him, he is joining the APC to move the people of Enugu State into the mainstream at the federal level because from his experience as a governor, it was not good being in the opposition.

“I must condemn our former party, PDP; I know we had problems,” he said.

“I told our former chairman, how come did we allow five governors to leave the party? I am not looking for a job, I am talking because I want peace. 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

Secondus

Nwobodo

share of the Federal Government resources,” Nwobodo said.

Nwobodo recalled that while he was in PDP, his wife had always been an active member of the APC. Expectedly, Nwobodo’s defection which is coming on the heels of his recent indictment for allegedly receiving N600 million from the $2.1 Billion Dasuki Oilgate scandal has already received flaks from many quarters.

The South-East APC described

Nwobodo’s entry into the party as a grand plan to shield himself from the long arm of the law, following his alleged involvement in the $2.1 billion arms deals ongoing probe by the Economic Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC).

The ex-governor was reportedly mentioned as one of the beneficiaries of the arms deal to the tune of N600 million meant for the PDP, campaigns and mobilization in the South-East geopolitical zone in the days leading to last

general election.

Reacting to the defection in a statement, APC South-East Caucus spokesperson, Osita Okechukwu said, Nwobodo entered APC through the window as a fugitive running from justice.

According to him, Nwobodo and his soul mates connived with the PDP stalwarts in utilizing the money from Dasukigate to allocate 14,175 votes to President Muhammadu Buhari, which amounted to less than three percent of the over 15 million votes garnered by the President”.

Besides, the Presidency on Monday said the defection from other political parties to the ruling APC by politicians accused of corruption would not stop them from being investigated and prosecuted.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, who said this in an interview had been asked whether those who defected from PDP to the APC would be shielded from the $2.1bn arms scandal investigation and prosecution.

Nwobodo, also a former Minister of Sports, had been named as one of the beneficiaries of some

funds distributed by a former Minister of State for Finance, Yuguda. But Nwobodo said he was the Chairman of the Contact Committee of the PDP Presidential Campaign for the SouthEast, and the only fund received by the committee for its work was N100m from PDP’s National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu.

Adesina, said the present administration’s anti-corruption fight would not be based on party affiliation, adding that the President would not encourage any cover-up.

“It is not in the nature of this administration to cover anyone who has questions to answer on corruption, irrespective of party affiliation,” he said.

The presidential spokesman explained that the release of a former military governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the APC, Jafaru Isa, by the EFCC had nothing to do with Isa’s relationship with the President.

Isa, who was quizzed by the commission, was said to have been released after he refunded N100m of the N170m he allegedly received from the embattled Dasuki.

11 Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Moses Oyediran, Enugu A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has described the recently inaugurated caretaker chairmen to oversee the affairs of the 17 local government areas in the state by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as undemocratic and unconstitutional.

The governor had during the inauguration of the 17 caretaker committee chairmen and their deputes directed them to brace up for a governance style embedded in a strict fiscal discipline in view of the peculiar situations confronting their council areas.

The inauguration did not go down well with a faction of the APC in the state which sees it as undemocratic.

Okechukwu told Daily Times that APC in Enugu State was already in Court to challenge the illegality of using caretaker chairmen to run local governments in the state.

“The constitution says Local Government chairmen and councilors should be democratically elected, so anything contrary to that is illegal.

“The excuse by the governor that the state has no money to conduct election is not enough reason to use caretakers to run local governments in the state”, he said.

APC chieftain: Caretaker LG committees illegal

Oyegun “I am hopeful that court will nullify the use of caretaker committees to run the local government councils in the state since it is unconstitutional.

It would be recalled that,

Gov Ugwuanyi had last week inaugurated caretaker committees in 17 Local Government Area of the state.

Meanwhile, the former Secretary to Nsukka Local Government Area, Mr. Ofobuike

Senate urges Buhari to set up National Council on Public Procurement The Senate on Wednesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently set up the National Council on Public Procurement in line with the Procurement Act. The appeal followed a motion moved by Sen. Theodore Orji (PDP-Abia Central), who expressed concern that since the passage of the Act in 2007, the Council was yet to be established.

“Without the establishment of the National Council on Procurement, the Procurement Act is as good as a dead letter no matter the rhetoric.

“There is every need to empanel the Council to avoid erosion of public confidence in

the procurement process”, he stressed.

Orji also called for harmonisation of existing government policies and practice through the development of legal framework and professional capacity for procurement in the country.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, urged Buhari to ensure that the council was set up as soon as possible.

He also called on the relevant committees of the Senate to take a critical look at the Procurement Act and review it where necessary, in order to make it more efficient. (NAN)

Saraki

Igwebueze, has urged the caretaker chairman for Nsukka LGA , Prof. Rose Onah, to see her appointment as a rescue mission to the council.

Ofobuike a legal practitioner told Daily Times in an interview that given the ‘cat and dog relationship’ that existed between the immediate past chairman, Mr. Charles Ugwu, and the council workers as result of the nonpayment of the eight months arrears owed them.

He said Onah had great task of restoring confidence of workers in government in order to move Nsukka council forward.

“The first task before Prof.

Onah is to put measures in place that will restore the confidence of workers in government.

“Prof. Onah should do everything within her capacity to pay workers at least one or two months areas of salary owed in order to give them sense of belonging.

“The last administration did not only owe workers arrears of salaries but failed to carry them along which resulted in constant protests by National

Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) chapter of the council,” he said.

Igwebueze said Ugwu’s administration did not only owe council workers but had no visible developmental projects to justify its two years stay in office.

“I know there is decline in allocation to local governments as result of fall of oil price in international market but the little Ugwu received should have been judiciously used, “he said.

Ofobubike expressed hope that Onah being a university Don from the Department of Public Administration and Local government, University of Nigeria Nsukka, would use her intellectual competence to correct all anomalies in the council.

“I applaud Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for appointing the university Don as the caretaker chairman of Nsukka at this critical moment.

“I appeal to workers, stakeholders and residents to give her the required support and encouragement to enable her to reposition the council as well as move it to the next level,” he said.

Ekwunife’s defection, good omen for APC — Party scribe CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

strengthen the party for future elections.

“She is an Amazon in Anambra politics.

“We now expect that she will join forces with the party to sweep away the evil machinations of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) government in the state.

“The party is completely prepared and ready for the senatorial election and she also has a chance as every other party member to excel,” Agupugo said.

Agupugo said that the party was still waiting for INEC’s directive on a date to conduct the party’s primary for the senatorial election.

The party’s scribe disclosed that two other persons had indicated interest to seek for the

party’s ticket at the primary.

NAN recalls that Ekwunife, who was inaugurated as a senator in June 2015, had her election nullified by the Court of Appeal in Enugu on December 6, 2015.

The court had nullified the election on the grounds of irregularities and ordered for fresh election in the senatorial district within 90 days. (NAN)

Ekwunife

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Counter-insurgency: Nigerian Army establishes new Division in northern Borno The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, on Wednesday announced the establishment of the Nigerian Army 8 Division located in the northern part of Borno.

Buratai disclosed this while delivering a lecture titled: `Nigerian Army: Challenges and Future Perspectives’, at the National Defence College, Abuja.

He said the establishment of the new division was part of a strategic plan by the Army to boost military operations against terrorists, particularly in areas around the Lake Chad Basin.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Army Command had in August 2013 established the 7th Infantry Division in Maiduguri to boost the military’s counterinsurgency operation in the North-East.

Though details of the new establishment were not disclosed, Buratai said the division would soon become fully operational with logistics and manpower deployments.

The chief of army staff also said that plans were underway to establish another division to be known as the Nigerian Army 6 Division with Headquarters in the South-South region of the country.

He said the establishment of the new divisions was part of a strategic plan to improve on the Nigerian Army’s operational capabilities in the face of emerging threats to national security.

He said the establishment of the additional formations

would bring the number of divisions in the Nigerian Army to eight. ``Emerging threats to the security of our nation which have been aggravated by the proliferation of armed groups have added to the task of the military in protecting the lives of Nigerians and the integrity of its territory. `` The focus of the Nigerian Army today is to find lasting solutions to these contemporary threats posed by the activities of the armed groups and their allies. ``The Nigerian Army, therefore, remains poised to the extermination of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria; today, they can no longer hold any territory as it used to be in the past, that is why they have resorted to the use of IEDs to hit soft targets. ``We have established the 8 division located in the northern part of Borno specifically to clear the area of the remaining terrorists elements while another division, 6 Division, will be established in the South-South,’’ he said.

Buratai said the Army would embark on an ambitious expansion programme to address manpower needs of the force to respond appropriately to contemporary threats to national security.

He said the Army planned to increase its personnel strength from its present 100,000 strength-force to slightly above 200,000 in the next eight years.

According to him, 12,000 personnel would be recruited in 2016 alone to fill the va-

cancies created as a result of the new establishments in the army.

He said the Army’s expansion programme was aimed at boosting its response capacity, while stressing that its capabilities to effectively deal with its present challenges were, however, not in doubt.

Buratai added that contemporary national security needs and Nigeria’s territorial size required more than the army presently had in

terms of personnel strength.

He said the citing of the Special Forces Training Centre in Buni Yadi in Yobe, one of the theatres of the Boko Haram war, was an indication of the Army’s determination to end insurgency.

Buratai identified Nigeria’s weak industrial base, the effect of climate change on the environment and Nigeria’s porous borders as some of the factors fuelling armed conflicts in the coun-

try.

In an interview with newsmen, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade, said Buratai’s presentation would be invaluable to the strategic plan of the Armed Forces.

He said participants of the National Defence College’s strategic leadership course would draw valuable lessons from the experience shared by the Army Chief.

Burutai

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole (2nd right), sympathising with survival of Lassa Fever, Santi Saidu (sitting), during a visit of Adewole to Fuka, Niger … on Wednesday.

‘Missing’ Budget: Senate quizzes NASS officials Continued from page 6 he was aware that the issue was discussed during the Senate’s closed-door session on Tuesday and that a Committee had been assigned to search for the document.

He said it would be necessary for the Senate to wait for the Committee to report back to the Senate

to take the next line of action.

Saraki said, “As you know, we are all part of the decisions at the closed session. We gave assignment to some people. They will come back tomorrow to give reports.”

The Senate Committees on Appropriation and Ethics and Public Petition saddled with the task

of decoding the riddles behind the missing budget failed to brief the media on the level of progress they had attained as at the close of work for the day.

However, the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs dismissed reports on missing budget, insisting that there was nothing that indi-

cated that the 2016 budget was missing.

The Committee Chairman Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi in a statement said no statement made by any Senator during the plenary today could be interpreted to mean an admission that the 2016 budget is missing.

He said, “There is no budget missing and the

Senate will tomorrow (Thursday) distribute copies of the budget to all the Senators so as to arm them to properly contribute to the debate which will take place between Tuesday, January 19 to Thursday, January 21, 2015.

“Already, all senators have indicated the date they will make their own

contribution on the budget.”

Senator Abdullahi added: “The media should please avoid unnecessary sensationalism. We assure Nigerians that our time-table of completing work on the budget

by February ending remains sacrosanct and we will work assiduously to achieve it.”

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

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News 14

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Ondo SDP explains N100m campaign fund from Anenih ’Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

ÎÎÎThe

Social Democratic Party, (SDP) in Ondo State, has reiterated that the N100 million fund received from Chief Tony Anenih, the for-

Maths Centre boss rues absence of qualified teachers

mer Chairman, Board of Trustee (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was for an alliance to campaign for former president Goodluck Jonathan in the last general election.

In a statement entitl: “The Truth About The N100million from Chief Tony Anenih to the SDP”, and signed by its Chairman, Chief Korede Duyile and Secretary, Hon. Bayo Fajemilua, issued to journalists, on Wednesday, in Akure, the state capital, said it strongly believed that the money was part of the PDP Presidential Campaign Fund disbursed to prosecute an

inter-party electoral co-operation as usual in democracies all over the world.

The duo explained that the money was disbursed to most of the state chapters for the purpose of the presidential campaigns during the last general election.

The statement read: “We are aware that Chief Tony Anenih, as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP visited Chief Olu Falae in his house in Akure in January 2015 and subsequently, there was an exchange of correspondence between the two of them on the need for an interparty co-operation between

the PDP and SDP. “The contents of the letters were thoroughly debated at the National Executive Committee meeting of the SDP before a decision was taken to work for the re-election of the former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“We are aware that Chief Falae, as the National Chairman of our party set up a committee at the national level to work out the modalities for the disbursement of the fund and based on the report of the committee, the money was disbursed accordingly. What came to us in Ondo State was also disbursed to all the Fed-

eral and State constituencies in the state.”

The SDP disclosed that several media outfits had, in the past few days, failed to seek the side of the SDP in connection with the money before rushing to conclude that the money was from the alleged 2.1 billion dollars arms purchase fund from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

“It was well publicised in the media that the PDP launched a campaign fund where well above N20 billion was reported to have been realised for the execution of its nation-wide campaign.

Augustine Okezie, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

Director-General and Chief Executive, National Mathematical Centre, Prof. Adewale Solarin, has raised the alarm over the dearth of specialists to handle basic areas of mathematics, particularly algebra in Nigerian universities.

He further noted the use of non-experts to teach algebra which was a core subject in the training of mathematicians at the under-graduate level, which had not yielded much result.

He made the declaration in Abuja, on Wednesday, during the inauguration of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair Programme on Mathematics at the centre and Workshop on Algebra.

Solarin called for the support of stakeholders, especially in the critical areas of funding, and disclosed that the essence of the workshop was the promotion of a comprehensive framework of educational activities, research and provision of information and documentation in the area of mathematics (Algebra) on a local, national and regional level.

He said UNESCO Chair programme on mathematics was estimated to cost over $3.4 million over the period of four years considering the various activities to be carried out.

Ezekwesili

Ezekwesili, Odia, others for Gani Fawehinmi Lecture Titilope Joseph

ÎÎÎFormer Minister of Edu-

cation, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, and renowned writer, Odia Ofeimun, are billed to deliver speeches at this year’s Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture.

The theme of the 12th edition of the lecture, which is billed to come up on Friday January 15, at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, is entitled, “The Collapse of Public Education: The Past, Present and Future Prospect of the Nigerian State.”

The organiser of the event, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch, the occasion would be used to distribute the book “People’s Right to Free Education (At All Levels) authored by the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi in 1974.

Court to rule on suspension of Adamawa lawmaker Feb 18 ÎÎÎA Yola High Court, prePresident, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Com. Ayuba Wabba addressing Imo workers over alleged wrongful disbursement of bailout fund given to the state government during a rally organised by NLC, in Owerri… on Wednesday.

Ekiti PDP tackles EFCC over release of Buhari’s associate Gbenga Sodeinde, Ado Ekiti

ÎÎÎThe Ekiti State chapter

of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged the Federal Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to explain to Nigerians how an associate of President Muhammadu Buhari. Colonel Jaffar Isa, was released after being quizzed by the EFCC over his involvement in the al-

leged $2.1 billion arms deal.

The party noted that the case of Isa, a former military administrator of Kaduna State, whom the EFCC said was released after repaying N100 million out of the money collected from the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, was concocted by the EFCC. The PDP, in a statement by the State Publicity Secretary, Jackson Adebayo,

in Ado-Ekiti, on Wednesday, said the EFCC and the FG only concocted the Isa story as a cover-up, because of the credibility problem that the anti-corruption war was suffering, because it was obviously targeted against only members of the PDP. The party accused the FG of deliberately deceiving the whole world with the drama of the arrest, release and refund of money

Isa allegedly collected from Dasuki.

“The whole thing was like a drama from Nollywood where you can see the end of a film from the beginning. The arrest, purported refund of N100 million by Isa and his eventual release was a charade taken too far.

“The EFCC and the FG should explain to the world the money collected by Isa was meant for.”

sided over by Justice Ambrose Mammadi, on Tuesday, fixed February 18, 2016 for ruling in a suit challenging the suspension of Alhaji Abdulrahman Abubakar as member of Adamawa House of Assembly.

Mammadi will rule on the plenary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, as well as pass judgement on the suit already argued before him by the parties involved.

Abubakar, who represents Mubi South Constituency, had, in 2015, dragged the Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyawa and the Assembly to court over his suspension for three months and dissolution of the House Committee on Finance, which he chaired.

The state Attorney-General was later joined in the suit as 3rd respondent.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

15 Opinion

If Buhari were Mandela (1)

N Ubanese Nwanganga

elson Mandela, beloved iconic freedom fighter, was a great man. His story is well known to narrate here.

However, we cannot fail to mention that he showed love to the very man who unjustifiably sentenced him to life imprisonment because he was a black man fighting for the freedom of South Africa. He spent 27 years of his life in prison. Yet, he forgave, forgot, and visited the man’s widow with love. Mandela demonstrated a rare quality of largeness of heart, which is in short supply among African leaders, who are tribalist, ethnic champions who place sectional and sectarian interests above national.

President Mandela served for oneterm. He refused to convert the country for which he sacrificed so much including his legal career, marriage, family life, to his personal estate. A democrat to the core, his respect for the rule of law while in office was unqualified.

Mandela did not cause any South African, black or white to disappear while President. No South African was assassinated during his presidency. He knew the value of the opposition in any democracy. After his victory, all South Africans became

his subjects. There was no question of since the majority of Robin Island inmates, victims of apartheid repression, were Xhosa the country became theirs only.

Mandela was not arrogant. He was not rigid. His vision of South Africa was not one that must be implemented or everything could go into flames. Yes, he did not claim the Wisdom of Solomon. He was human and knew his limitations. He was not he who must be obeyed. He refused to surround himself with hard line Xhosa people who gave no consideration for other members of South Africa.

Mandela’s participation in the struggle to free South Africa from racial arrogance was not motivated by an arrogant ethnic agenda. It was a struggle to free all South Africans including whites from the destruction of apartheid. In doing so, the Xhosa did not become like a species from another planet. Their right to rule South Africa was no more than the right of the Zulu, Tswana, etc. The Xhosa, despite their disproportionate sacrifice to secure freedom, did not claim to rule South Africa as birthright.

Mandela did not have a narrow vision of leadership. He was a leader by choice who knew that his country was complex to rule. He wanted the

best for everybody.

If Mandela had lost the election of 1994, he would have gladly played the role of an opposition leader. He would not have wept openly and incite black youths to go on the rampage. While the struggle to free South Africa was his life, to rule the country was not.

Mandela did not believe in God. Therefore, the question of religious bias is irrelevant. Even if he believed in God, he would not have used it to the advantage of his professed faith. I read from a book by one of South Africa’s writers, Gumede, that Mandela wanted Cyril Ramaphosa, President Zuma’s current VP, Venda and not Xhosa, to succeed him. It was pressure from the Robin Island veterans that led to emergence of Mbeki as Mandela’s successor.

Mandela, as a freedom fighter believed South Africa was for all South Africans. The Xhosa people constituted a fraction of the country in land mass and population. He never imagined that South Arica was Xhosa and vice versa. Instead of going after the whites that committed unspeakable atrocities against blacks, he established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, an innovation that even the Pope might have found difficult to imagine.

While it did not produce the desired result, Mandela convinced his black

people that it was the only option for their country to move on. To forgive was better than to hold on to bitterness and grudges. No wonder the world celebrated him while alive.

At his death, no less a persona than the President of United States of America, Barak Obama, attended his funeral.

Now to Nigeria, where there is Muhammadu Buhari, Fulani, Muslim, retired General and President of Nigeria. As in the case of Mandela, Buhari does not need introduction to the reading public. Notwithstanding, Buhari is a man of immense unforgiving heart. He found it difficult to forgive IBB, his former colleague who overthrew him in 1985. After he lost election after election from 2003, he finally won election in 2015. Upon assumption of office, he declared that he was for nobody and was for everybody. Unfortunately, that pronouncement was merely for the inauguration ceremony only. For, he became president for those who voted him into office in the order of Fulani, Muslim, Northerners and the rest. He openly referred to his compatriot as an enemy instead of an opponent because he came from another party to snatch an office in the National Assembly meant for the winners.

APC saints, PDP sinners, and Nigeria’s future

D

O’Femi Kolawole

ay by day, the anti-corruption war of the Buhari administration gets more interesting and Nigerians are enjoying it. It is good for our country because it is Nigeria’s future at stake. And that is why every effort by the administration to recover looted public funds from past leadersshould be genuinely commended.

With the revelations so far out since EFCC investigations started into how funds meant for procuring arms were diverted into private accounts by former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, it is clear that many highly-placed and hitherto-respected Nigerians have had their hands soiled, and their integrity battered.

The situation we have found ourselves is a collective shame. If we will tell ourselves the truth, the country we have is one which corruption permeates almost all its fabrics.

Despite their preachments to the contrary, most of our politicians and public officers have abused their positions.

The integrity of the media as a watchdog has also been called to question in spite of its contributions to Nigeria’s political history and democratic journey so far.

For our religious leaders and traditional rulers, they too are not without blame. In addition, for civil society activists, a good number of them say one thing in public but do another in private.

Our youths, seem disorganised, directionless and hardly come across as knowing their right from left.

Those on the streets, appear helpless and taking solace in religion.

Moreover, some among them who follow political developments prefer to abuse those who hold different political views.

Therefore, whatever arguments we make or positions we hold, I believe everyone can do better in taking personal responsibility for our country.

We all can do much more in making Nigeria’s future a better one!

The main point I however want to call attention to in this intervention today is concern about the direction the anti-graft war of the Buhari government. It is coming across like members of the President’s own party, APC, are ‘saints,’ while those of the PDP are ‘sinners’. That the gathering of corrupt and dirty politicians is only under the PDP’s umbrella while those in the APC are clean, without ‘sin.’ I believe this should not be so.

Or how else do you explain a situation where a long-standing associate of President Buhari and APC

chieftain, Jafaru Isa, is arrested for collecting five million dollars from Dasuki, allegedly from funds meant to procure arms but would be released barely eight hours later by the EFCC, while Olisa Metuh, spokesman of the PDP, has been held for almost two weeks without being charged to court?

I think the Buhari administration should not carry on as if it cares little about how its actions are seen by the citizens or the international community. Any serious government, wants to be seen as doing the right thing at all times. However, when there is a hint or indication that it is trying to shield its friends and hunt its enemies, it not only opens itself up to ridicule and blackmail but also raises questions about its sincerity and integrity.

Corruption has for long hindered development and stunted growth in our country. Therefore, having a leader who is serious at correcting the ills of the past and recovering stolen funds from corrupt officials is great.

Where I have, issue is it is being selective or perceived to be so.

Such efforts will not be far-reaching enough before it is seen for what it is.

If we are serious at taking back our country, all known looters should be investigated and punished according to the law if found guilty.

Because he who comes to equity must come with clean hands, it is always better to remove the log in your own eyes before removing the speck in another’s. But when Buhari claims there are no corrupt people in his cabinet despite damning and shocking allegations against persons like Rotimi Amaechi, former Rivers State Governor, and Babatunde Fashola, former Lagos State Governor, then, it gives serious cause for concern. How many Nigerians even believe him on that?

Now, some Nigerians have argued that if this administration puts all ‘PDP thieves’ in jail, when next the PDP wins elections, they can also put ‘APC thieves’ in jail and our country will be the better for it. While the idea is not bad, I doubt if this would not be called vendetta.

Since fighting corruption appears to have taken the major attention, Buhari and his team need to be reminded that the economy deserves more attention than they are currently giving.

I strongly believe we need leaders who are not lost in the hullabaloo of now but who devote themselves to preparing for our tomorrow.

Leaders who understand that while their party, and the President must fight corruption, the Presidency is much more than that because of the promises they made to Nigerians.

News 16

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Again, Senate to review Constitution Dasukigate: Group hails Anenih’s courage amendment processes Olufemi Samuel Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Senate has indicated resolve to once again, re-examine the issue of constitution amendment as it asked its Committee on Constitution amendment to file its recommendations before it within the next six month.

The 7th Senate had passed the constitution amendment proposal, although the document is yet to get the assent of the President to become law.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki gave the directive to the Constitution Amendment Committee, chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, just as he gave a speech to welcome members back from

Saraki

recess.

Saraki in the speech directed the 38-member committee, to file in its reports on constitution amendment latest by the 30th of June this year.

Said he: “Distinguished colleagues, before we proceeded on the end of year recess, we constituted the Senate Ad-Hoc

Committee on Constitutional Review. I would like to urge the committee to consolidate the various items that the seventh Senate had exhaustively considered and passed as key areas to concentrate upon.

“This in my view will ensure that the process is expedited and the cost reduced significantly in line with our fiscal consolidation objectives.

“In this regards, all unnecessary travels and tours should be eliminated. It is my view that the committee should send in their report to plenary for passage on or before the 30th of June 2016”.

Saraki promised that the National Assembly would adopt stronger measures aimed at ensuring thorough, fair and prudent passage of the 2016 budget.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni has been dragged before a Federal High Court in Lagos by a security consultant, Olanrewaju Olabinjo, over his arrest and continued detention at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba without trial.

Olanrewaju, who is the head of a security outfit in Ikorodu, known as ‘Onyaabo’, was arrested on January 4, 2016 at the State Criminal Investigation Department while honouring Police invitation for the third time in a row.

The business man, who also owns a textile outfit averred that

ÏÏÏ

A non-governmental organization (NGO), Centre for Reform Education Initiative (CREI) has applauded the courage and sincerity of the former Chairman Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, in explaining his role in the $2.1billon arms saga.

Chief Anenih had last week written to the EFCC confessing that the sum of N260 million was paid into his bank account from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA); and gave details on how he shared the money.

The group, in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Hon. Chinwe Ugwu, and made available to newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday, said Anenih’s action was exemplary and an indica-

Yakubu Salisu Kano

ÏÏÏA 23-year-old man, Isah Id-

ris, who allegedly stripped off his sister’s clothes during a fight which broke out between them has been remanded in custody by a shari’a court in Kano on Wednesday after pleading guilty.

The complainant, Rukayya Isah, was said to have provoked her brother by stepping on his shoes after coming out of the toilet, a development which degen-

Lagos CP sued for wrongful detention ÏÏÏLagos

Enugu

Man in custody for stripping sister naked

Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Prof. Sonni Tyoden (2rd right); Provost, Plateau State College of Nursing and Midwifery, VOM, Mr. Luke Gaji (right) during the deputy governor’s inspection of facilities at the College, in Jos on Wednesday.

Titilope Joseph

Moses Oyediran

the police is holding him over allegations that he must be aware of the disappearance of one Waheed.

Since his arrest, Olanrewaju has remained in Police custody with no formal charges brought against him.

Joined as co-respondents in the Enforcement of Fundamental Human Rights suit filed on behalf of the applicant by his Counsel, Olanrewaju Ajanaku Esq. are Deputy Commissioner of Police (SCID), Panti; Officer In Charge, Homicide Section (SCID), Panti, and Sergeant Akpan {the IPO}, Homicide Section, State CID. The suit is brought in pursuant to Order 1 & 2 of the Fundamental

Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009; Sections 35, 26 and 46 of the Nigerian Constitution,1999; Articles 4,5,6 and 7 of African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right and Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Olanrewaju in a declaration seeks that his continued detention by the respondents, their agents and privies since January 4, 2016 is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional as same constitutes a flagrant abuse of his rights as a Nigerian citizen.

The applicant also seeks a declaration that his continued detention without trial or any lawful order of court is unlawful and an abuse of his human rights.

Tom Okpe Abuja

ÏÏÏA

registered youth group, Youth for Change (YC) on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has given the National chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, seven days ultimatum to reinstate the party’s deputy National publicity secretary, Comrade Timi Frank as the acting spokesman for the party.

The youth group warned that if nothing favourable is done at the expiration of the 7 -day ultimatum, it will have no option than to mobilise Nigerian youth across the country against the party leadership in a massive protest.

A statement signed in Abuja on Wednesday by the National Coordinator and the Publicity

tion that he harbours no criminal tendencies.

Ugwu noted that it was instructive and most commendable that the elder statesman shared out the money as he was directed and never benefited from the money.

The statement read: “We want to commend Chief Tony Anenih, for being a leading light in the ongoing fight against corruption.

“Although, he was not approached by the EFCC, he voluntarily offered to help the anti-corruption agency by owning up and explaining his role.

“That the elder statesman did not deny receiving money and was bold enough to state categorically how he shared the money that was paid into his account from the Office of the former NSA shows that he is an incorruptible leader and will not condone corruption in whatever form”, the statement stated. erated into a duel between the two with the sister mercilessly beaten up.

The presiding Judge, Justice Abubakar Ayagi stated that the action contradicts section 165 of the Kano shari’a law and expressed his dismay how a mere stepping on shoes could provoke such action from the accused. He, however, cautioned families to always apply restraint on family issues to avoid ending up before a constituted authorities as the law does not entertain excuses once a matter has been reported.

He ordered that the young man be remanded in prison till 20th of January for ruling, so as to serve as a deterrent to those whom are in the habit of disturbing public peace.

Youths tip Timi Frank for APC spokesman Secretary of the Group, Adamu Muhammad and Daniels Ojolowo respectively, expressed disappointment in the leadership of APC for running modern democratic government without any youth in the cabinet.

“We are shocked at the Party’s act of breaching its constitution and exhibiting this undemocratic act under democratic dispensation by arrogating the role of the party publicity secretary, thereby denying Comrade Timi Frank, who is constitutionally recognised as the spokesperson.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Features

17

Æs

‘TECHNICAL’ VICTORY OVER INSURGENCY:

What Nigeria can learn from history Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, recently announced that the military had `technically’ met President Muhmmadu Buhari’s deadline of Dec. 31 to subdue the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.

He noted that the military had also been able to ‘demean’ the capability of the insurgents to annex territories.

In the light of this feat, some analysts say while it can be true that the capability of Boko Haram to annex territories has been dislodged, that may not tantamount to ousting the insurgents from the geo-entity called Nigeria.

On the hand, key stakeholders are comfortable with the ‘technical’ victory as announced by the military given the swiftness of the Nigerian military to demystify the insurgents and drag them out from their hideouts in Sambisa Forest. This is heartwarming, they said.

Speaking at an interactive session with editors in Lagos recently, the minister also said the war against Boko Haram is ‘largely won’.

Mohammed maintained that his views were based on what he saw when he led a group of 33 journalists from both local and international media to the hotbed of the insurgency - Maidguri, Konduga, Kaure and Bama.

“I have been having a series of meetings with various stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union and Civil Society Organisations.

“The meetings are all geared at ensuring a more effective and seamless communication between the government and the people, which is key to the success of any democracy, as well as forging a mutually beneficial working relationship in the interest of Nigerians.

“The biggest security challenge we face as a nation today is the Boko Haram insurgency that has left thousands dead, injured and displaced more than two million people and economically and socially crippled the North East, with ripple effects felt

Buhari

Lai Mohammed

across the nation.

“You will agree with me that the Buhari administration hit the ground running in tackling the insurgency.”

Recounting that the President not only relocated the military’s command and control centre to the theatre of war in Maiduguri promptly, Muhammed stressed that Buhari immediately raised the morale of the troops through enhanced welfare and the provision of

the necessary fighting tools, besides rallying sub-regional, regional and global support for the war.

“Today, I can report that the war against Boko Haram is largely won. I can confidently say this because just recently, I led a group of 33 journalists, from both the local and the international media, to the hotbed of the insurgency.

“Let me remind you that, until just four months ago, Bama was the

It was the sixth edition of the New Year bash organised under the auspices of Godwin and Patricia Okeke Foundation (GPOF), a multidisciplinary Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with core interests in Community Health, Community Development and Global Education.

About 2,000 children and adults have so far benefited from its Hope Scholarship scheme under GPOF with majority of the beneficiaries in the tertiary institutions and colleges across the country.

headquarters of the self-declared Caliphate of Boko Haram.

“It was the ground-zero of the war, from where the terrorists called the shots, collected taxes and dispensed jungle justice.

“The palace of the Emir of Bama whom they sacked was their operational headquarters.

Also, Konduga was attacked several times by the insurgents who wanted to use it as a staging post to attack Maiduguri,” he noted.

But today, the over 70-kilometre stretch from Maiduguri to Bama and all the way to Banki are in the control of Nigerian soldiers, the minister said.

“Our soldiers’ presence can be felt every few metres along the road that skirts the Sambisa Forest.

“Based on what I saw during my trip to the liberated areas of Borno and the briefings I received from the Chief of Defence Staff and the Theatre Commander, I can confidently inform you that our gallant military has largely met that deadline.

“They have so degraded the capability of Boko Haram that the terrorists can no longer hold on to any territory, just as they can no longer carry out any spectacular attack,’’ Mohammed observed.

Reacting to the sporadic operations of the insurgents in some places in the North-East, the minister said that it was part of the nature of insurgency anywhere in the world.

“Unlike war between two armies,

Continued on page 18

Day NGO feted Anambra kids It was the 6th edition of the annual Children’s Party of an educational and humanitarian foundation in Anambra State on January 1, 2016 at Adazi-Ani in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra state. DILIONYE DILIBE filed in this report from Onitsha During the January 1 party which has become a traditional, children of Adazi-Ani community, home town of Godwin Okeke, the Chairman of the Foundation and other beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme as well

as friends and non-beneficiaries were treated to sumptuous feast and drinks; prices were also awarded to winners after dancing competitions.

Continued on page 18

Features 18 Continued from page 17 insurgency never ends with an armistice; even in countries such as Colombia, Afghanistan and others where insurgency was supposed to have ended decades ago, attacks still happen,’’ Mohammed stressed.

To complement the efforts of the military, he said that his ministry had begun a nationwide national security campaign to raise public awareness on the need to support the military to stamp out the remnant of the insurgents.

“In this time of war, the media cannot afford to be neutral. Yes, you must remain professional at all times, and we are not asking you to do anything less, but you must also act in the national interest always.

“Boko Haram is dispersed and largely defeated. The insurgents are hungry, they are sick and they are desperate and will clutch at any straw, don’t let us prop them up with sensational reports,” he cautioned the media.

In a recent interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. President also stressed that his administration had technically won the war against Boko Haram.

“I assure you we haven’t failed. Adamawa, Yobe are free from Boko Haram; so, I think technically we have won the war because people are going back to their neighbourhoods.

“Our major problem now is rehabilitation, but the Boko Haram, as an organised

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Insurgency never ends with an armistice — Lai Muhammed

Boko Haram

fighting force, has been dealt with,” Buhari said.

One Abdullahi No-Sweat, a 78-year-old veteran journalist, who in the early 60’s and 70s lived and experienced similar non-conventional wars in places such as Vietnam, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Algeria, applauded the military for routing the insurgents from their stronghold in Sambisa forest.

No-Sweat, who in 1983, was persuaded by former President Shehu Shagari to return to Nigeria from Afghanistan, insisted that “anyone who knows the intricacies of fighting ideologically-

motivated wars would have no reason but to commend the Nigerian military in the last few months.

“Routing the insurgents from their operational base in Sambisa forest in an unconventional war is legendary.

“The United States which initially ruled out negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan later entered into a dialogue through President Hamid Kharzai of the country.

“It would be recalled also that in 1979, the now-defunct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) pledged never to negotiate with the Mujahideen

in Afghanistan.

“But at the end of the day, the Soviets were forced to withdraw from the country after 10 years of intense fighting, so, fighting insurgency is a very difficult task.”

He said what should preoccupy the minds of Nigerians should be how to effectively engage the traditional institutions to play their roles to fish out strange characters in their various communities.

“President Buhari has discharged his constitutional role of providing security to protect lives and property of Nigerians.

Day NGO feted Anambra kids Continued from page 17 The event anchored by hosts Lady Patricia Okeke and her husband, Chief Godwin Okeke, Chairman of G.U. Okeke Group of Companies attracted the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike and his counterpart from the Information Ministry, Dr. Uju Nworgu.

A beneficiary of Hope scholarship programme under the foundation, Miss Chisom Nnaji, an SS3 student of Supreme Knowledge Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkpor near Onitsha, stated that five of her siblings were granted scholarship in Supreme Knowledge Comprehensive School owned and administered by Lady Okeke. Nnaji said she sees herself as a daughter to the couple, while Chief Godwin Okeke and the wife treats the children as their own.

Impressed by the parental conduct

and care of her benefactors, despite her poor parental background and town of origin, Ubahu community,

Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu state, Miss Nnaji charged other children to make judicious

“The military has also discharged its constitutional role of defending the territorial integrity of the country.

“But the traditional rulers must think out of the box.

Boko Haram elements live in communities, in villages, in towns, in cities and in neighbourhoods.

“In the past, no one lives in a community without the knowledge of the emir or heads of wards, villages and districts across the entire northern region.

“So, the traditional rulers have a role to play to complement the efforts of the military and other security outfits,’’ No-Sweat said.

By and large, observers insist that irrespective of the feat achieved by the military, government must not ignore other options, including granting amnesty to the repentant insurgents.

So far so good as we match towards the path to peace.

Stakeholders reason that if America and the former USSR who had pledged never to negotiate with insurgents turned around to negotiate through a third party with the Taliban, Nigerian government should not hesitate to do the same even if takes granting amnesty to the insurgents to achieve peace.

use of the scholarship Scheme to alleviate their families from intense poverty.

Explaining the vision of the foundation that was established six years ago, Lady Patricia Okeke said it was her passion to help children succeed in life that gave birth to the foundation.

She noted that the foundation which has catered for the educational needs of children from various parental backgrounds and towns of origin was not discriminatory and promised to continue to provide for indigent children as God continues to keep her alive.

Her husband, Chief Sir G.U. Okeke who co-founded the foundation with the wife said that caring for people in need was a major secret of his sustained wealth and God’s mercies and protection of the family.

Chief Okeke further stressed that the scholarship scheme under the foundation has produced a lot of professionals in various disciplines.

Daily Times Nigeria j ƑƏ Ɨ ƕè C Ƒ Əƕ ơƿè ƾƠơÕ

Crime

19

Æs

Herbalist dupes mom and daughter of N7.9 million Joy Anyim

The long arm of the law has at last caught up with one Ifatade Elegbeleye Ademola, a native doctor who disguises as a taxi driver to dupe innocent citizens in the Ipaja area of Lagos.

42-year-old Ifatade, an indigene of Ekiti State, is alleged to have been in the act for a long time. He however met his waterloo after he had successful duped one Dayo and her mother whom he had picked up at Iyana Ipaja bus stop of N7.9 million.

Information has it that Ifatade had engaged the duo in a discussion after picking them at about 11:30 pm and as usual, introduced himself as a native doctor and one who helps people looking for house helps.

The incident which started in March 2011 was however reported to the Lagos State Police Command through a petition by Miss Dayo in November 2014.

The case was transferred to the X-Squad unit of the command who carefully investigated the matter and subsequently arrested the suspect in his shrine.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos who paraded the suspect at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, “Ifatade disguises himself as a taxi driver, picks his victims, engages them in a discussion and subsequently introduces himself as a native doctor who cures all incurable diseases just to lure unsuspecting victims.

“In addition he would tell his victims that he is also into recruiting housemaids for those who need them in their shops or homes. This was same strategy he applied to lure the mother of the victim.

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9Ƈ Ɛ ƗƆ

9 Ɠ Ɛ ƊƆ Ɛ Əƈ Ɔ Ɨ Ɛ ƆƏƆ Ɔ Ɨ ƐƓ Ɛ ƆƏ ƌƆ Ɨ ƅ Ə Ƌ Ɗ ƓƋƆƗ Ɔ Ƈ ƌƆê 9 Ɠ ƕƍ Ɛƈ ƆƗ Ɨ Ƒ ƆƗê 6Ɔ Ɛ Ɗ Ɨƒ Ɛ Ɔ Ƈ ƌƕ ƈ ƅƆ ƅƆê 0 Ə Ɔ ƕƆ Əè 9 Ɠ Ɛ ƌƕ ƆƋƇê 9 Ɠ ƌƆ Ɛ ƋƋƕ ƗƆƏ ƈƋƆƗì 9 Ɠ Ɛ ƈ ƌƕ Əƈ Ɛ Ɔ Ɔ ƗƑƆ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ƅ Əƌ Ɔ Ɨ Ƒ ƆƗ ƌƆê 9Ɛ Ɠ ƇƐƆƏ 9 Ɨ ƄƆƆ ƐƏƆ ƐƆƗ Ɨ ƏƆ ƈ ƆƗ ƌƕ Ɔ Ɔ ƈ ƾƠơƿ Ɛ Ɛ 9 ƅ Ɔ Ɛ Ƈƈ Ɛ Ƈ Ə ƌƕ Əƈ Ɛ

In the process of his intrigue, he has been able to dupe the victims of N7.9 million which he had invested in buying two Toyota vehicles and built two bungalows in Lagos and Ado Ekiti respectively.”

The suspect’s account “It is true I am a native doctor and a businessman too. I own two vehicles which I gave out to be used for taxi business at the airport. I always go to pick one of my taxis from my driver every weekend. It was on one of such occasions that I met Dayo and her mother, while I was returning from the airport. It was at about 11:30 pm when I was passing through Iyana-Ipaja, I discovered there were so many people at Iyana- Paja garage. Some of them started calling for cab.

“Immediately I stopped,

it was Mama Dayo and her daughter that rushed into my taxi.

“They told me they were going to Abesan and that they have been waiting for a vehicle for a long time. Coincidentally, that was same area I was going. While we were going, we started discussing. They told me of how they have been waiting for long and no vehicle. I then told them it was because they were going to the same route I was going that was why I agreed to carry them. I told them that most times when I go to pick my taxi I often carry passenger to sometime Abesan or Ayobo. I just concluded that they were lucky.

“We kept discussing and I told them I am a herbalist. It was at this point that the mother told me that she needed my help with some-

thing, because she sensed I was a good person.

“I told her that if it was something within my power, I would assist since I am a herbalist. She told me she needed a sales assistant and I accepted to help her because I have been doing so for some other people. We exchanged contacts and I did not even collect money from them that night.

“The next day, Mama Dayo called me and was thanking me for the previous day. She then requested for my office address which I told her was at Ipaja at Olude bustop. She promised to call me when she is coming.

“On the third day after we met, Mama called me that she was coming with her daughter. I told her I was around but busy with some job for some persons who had come to seek help. When they arrived, they met people and I ushered them in. she explained a few things to me and I told her I would be needing a foul and Schnapps for which she gave me N1,300. I did the job and she was very thankful. She even said if she had known me, what happened to her first son wouldn’t have happened.

She then gave me N300 as payment for the job.

“Mama then brought up the issue of Dayo not been married at her age. I did some consultation and told her what I had seen that it was a case of spiritual husband. “She asked what was the way out and I told her I would do some job for Dayo.

I told her Dayo would have to bath at a place called whitehouse where she would pay N100. That was all I did, I never collected any N7.9 million that they are claiming.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Crime 20 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

Victims Account 31-year-old Dayo, a business woman with interest in the oil and gas sector told Daily Times she was not with her mother the day they met.

“My mother runs her own shop and she closes quite late. Most of the taxi drivers at Ipaja roundabout know her. That day, while my mother was trying to signal one of the taxis, Ifatade walked up to her and told her she had patronised him about three times, he mentioned our bus stop, our house address too.

This convinced my mother and she just joined his taxi.

“While in transit he then asked my mother how about her sales helps; my mother responded that they have gone for the Easter holiday and that they would soon return. He then said that it means the job will be too much for my mother.

“He offered to get my mother a sales help for the time being. He said there were some people who came from Ekiti that can be helpful. My mother agreed. They exchanged phone numbers.

Two days after, he called my mother that he has gotten someone and my mother told him to bring the person to her shop which he did. However my mother was disappointed because the girl he brought was an illiterate.

She told him that she needed someone who could read and write. She gave the girl N500 and Ifatade N500 for their transport. He promised to get another person.

“After four days, he kept disturbing my mother on phone. My mother just picked the phone to know what he was calling for. He informed my mother that through spiritual findings that he discovered that the girl he brought will not steal and would be beneficial to her. He also told her that he found out that she lost her first child at age 23 and that her other children will die one after the other.

“My mother was scared and informed me, she put the phone on speaker and I heard the whole conversation. My mother was scared and was asking that who has she offended that wants all her children dead?

“She then requested I accompany her to Ifatade’s place which I did. He gave us his address at Major’s building, Olude bus stop. When we got there, he discussed with my mother and I did not say

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Beware of discussing your private life with strangers — Police

Lagos CP, Oseni

a word.

“He then asked why I was not saying anything, he also asked what I do for a living and I told him. He told me I had a spiritual husband. I told him I have a fiancé and that I was still young. He insisted it will still affect my marriage plans, so I requested what he would have me do; he said I will bath at the stream and that will be all.”

The plot “The next day he called me to come to command gate, Ipaja that there I will take a bike to a white garment Church close by. I paid the N100 and he gave me three local sponges to bath with differently.

“I did the first and second, but immediately I poured water on the third one, the sponge sparked and caught fire.

“I started shouting; he rushed to where I was bathing and I was naked. He asked me what was wrong and I told him what had happened. It was at this point that a man and a woman walked up to us.

“They told me a lot about

myself and that what Ifatade had requested me to do would cost some money. I was asked to make payment of N500,000 and they warned me not to tell anyone about what we had discussed.

“The next day, he also requested for N300,000 and then in another instance he requested for another N500,000. Out of fear I kept it as a secret to myself and he

Ifatade

continued to exploit me. I did not know how it happened but I think I was charmed into believing all their rubbish.

“Between March and June 2011, he collected N1.8 million. I travelled out for two months that same year and when I returned, he called me that the woman who spoke to me at the stream wanted to see me. I had to go.

“When I got there, she told me that I needed to protect myself in the job I was doing and that it would cost money.

I told them I was okay in my business but they insisted and told me it would cost money. At this stage, another round of exploitation started.

“I was taken to a shrine and there he and two other men had carnal knowledge of me. I was hypnotized and used. He took advantage of my innocence. For one year, I was not myself. I was mentally derailed; I was not in my right senses due to the charm he had used on me. It was after I had been treated and regained my senses in 2014 that I chose to fight for my right.” She concluded.

SP Dolapo also stated that investigation is still ongoing as the case is that of conspiracy, obtaining money through false pretence and sexual harassment and that when investigation has been concluded, the suspect will be charged to court.

She advised all members of the public to be careful especially in their dealings with total strangers. “I am

calling on all members of the public to beware in talking to strangers about your private lives. Everyone should be careful.” She warned.

Immediately I poured water on the third one, the sponge sparked and caught fire. I started shouting; he rushed to where I was bathing and I was naked. He asked me what was wrong and I told him what had happened. It was at this point that a man and a woman walked up to us.

They told me a lot about myself and that what Ifatade had requested me to do would cost some money. I was asked to make payment of N500,000 and they warned me not to tell anyone about what we had discussed.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

JTF arrests 5 pipeline vandals, recovers 23 cars, 2 guns in Arepo Segun Adio

ÏÏÏThe

Anti-pipeline Vandalism Joint Task Force (JTF), on Wednesday, paraded some pipeline suspects, who allegedly vandalised Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines at the Wawa area of Arepo, Ogun State.

The Jount Task Force (JTF) had been tasked to protect NNPC pipelines from Atlas Cove to Mosimi Depot, which has been carrying out Operation Awatse, in the area.

In line with that mandate, the JTF, comprising the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), had unearthed a massive pipeline vandalism syndicate at the Wawa area of Arepo.

Acting on a tip-off, the JTF

FRIDAY JOSEPH OKOH I formerly known and addressed as Joseph Okoh now wish to be known and addressed Friday Joseph Okoh. All former document remain valid general public should please take note.

AGU JOY NNEOMA I formerly known and addressed as Agu Joy Radiance now wish to be known and addressed Agu Joy Nneoma. All former document remain valid general public should please take note.

had stormed the area where they caught the vandals in the act while trying to cart away stolen products in three mini-vans, with a waste disposal truck belonging to one Ganiu Ventures.

The security operatives were engaged in a gun duel by the vandals before they (vandals) were overpowered. In the end, five of the suspects were arrested while others fled.

The arrested suspects were identified as Afeez Isiaka, Nurudeen Fatai, Oladele Godfrey, Ogbonna Agbo and Kayode Ademola.

The JTF also recovered two Dane guns with 23 live ammunition, 23 vehicles and cars, and nine motorcycles.

The recovered cars were Toyota Camry, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Corolla, Peugeot Wagon, Ford bus,

with registration numbers Ex487ABC, EX957GGE, CW477LND, DC556FST and FKJ396XP, respectively.

Others are Mercedes Benz bus, Toyota Avalon, Renault bus and Mercedes Benz bus with registration numbers YA39AKD, BD875AKD, EPE954XA and XC481ABC respectively.

Also recovered were Toyota Hiace bus, Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Volkswagen Transporter, Toyota Camry, with registration numbers SMK615XC, MUS227DA, GGE546DP, XZ04GGE and KTU262DE respectively.

A Varagon bus, Peugeot Turbod, Nissan Quest and Mitsubishi SUV with registration numbers AAA625XL, SMK634BA, FKJ489XP, HW537AAA, CX2444LSR, respectively, were also recovered.

FAAN set to build new head office Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏThe

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has initiated the process of the construction of a befitting corporate headquarters.

The process has commenced with the invitation for competent and reputable companies to submit Expression of Interest (EOI), for the design and supervision of the construction of a new corporate headquarters for the organisation.

The General Manager Corporate Communications, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said that the project, which was advertised in several national dailies and the Federal

21 News Tenders Journal on Monday, January 11, 2016, would be funded through the Authoritys internally generated revenue (IGR) budget for the year 2016.

Dati said the submission of “Expression of Interest” for the project would close at exactly 11:30 a.m. on Monday, February 29, 2016.

It could be recalled that the Honourable Minister of Transport, Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, on his first visit to the corporate headquarters of FAAN, directed that the agency commenced building of a befitting corporate headquarters.

Amaechi

IGE FAOZIAT RONKE

BUKOLA ESTHER

JOLAYEMI MARY BOLA

JOSEPH AZUBUDIKE OKONJI

FUNMILAYO MODUPE

I formerly known and addressed as Ige Fausat Ronke now wish to be known and addressed as Ige Faoziat Ronke.

All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Akindipe Bukola Esther now wish to be known and addressed Mrs. Sogbamu Bukola Esther. All former document remain valid general public should please take note.

I formerly known as Adeyemi Mary Bola and Abidoye Sherifat Bola now wish to be known and addressed as Jolayemi Mary Bola. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Miss. Mercy Tseji GM Okome Bobomagbemi now wish to be known and addressed Mercy Tseji Joseph Azubudike Okonji. All former document remain valid general public should please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Adebayo Funmilayo Modupe now wish to be known and addressed as Akinola Funmilayo Modupe. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

ABOLANLE KIKELOMO

OKOYE CHIZOBA JULIANA

SHERIFAT OMOLA OMOSEKE

EKOLI NGOZI RUTH

OKOLI CHINENYE CHIMAOBIM

I formerly known and addressed as Yusuf Kikelomo Bolani now wish to be known and addressed as Asepe Abolanle Kikelomo. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Onwumere Chizoba Juliana now wish to be known and addressed Okoye Chizoba Juliana.

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

I formerly known and addressed as Aberu-Agba Sherifat Omola Omoseke now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ojurayo Sherifat Omola Omoseke. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I formerly known and addressed as Uzoegwu Ngozi Ruth now wish to be known and addressed Mrs. Ekoli Ngozi Ruth. All former document remain valid general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as Okoafor Chinenye Chimaobim, now wish to be known and addressed as Okoli Chinenye Chimaobim. All former documents remain valid. The general public, Ministries, Agencies and Departments please note.

FOLUMY SICKLE CELL 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. MR AYODELE JOSEPH TIMOTHY 2. MISS FIYINFOLUWA OLORUNMOLA 3. MR SUNDAY .O. THOMAS 4. MR ABIODUN NOEL 5. MR MICHEAL B. OLORUNMOLA 6. ELDER A. P. S AROGUNDADE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:,1. TO CARRY OUT PUBLIC ADVOCACY IN CREATING AWARENESS AND INFORMATION ABOUT SICKLE CELL. 2. TO SUPPORT HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO SICKLE CELL PATIENTS. 3. TO GIVE VOICES AND RESTORING HOPE TO VICTIMS OF SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA. 4. TO CARRY OUT COUNSELING, EMBRACING THE VICTIMS, THE FAMILY AND THE PUBLIC ETC. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Trustees

NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION This is to inform the general public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part ‘’C’’ Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990.

Names Of Trustees: 1. Hon. Justice Joseph Chimezie Iguh 2. Prof. Francis Chukwuemeka Ezeonu 3. Hon. Justice O’connell Ogbonna 4. Sir Emeka Anyaeji 5. Hon. Justice Christopher Emeka Eze 6. Capt. Casmir Chinonso Charlesmary Nwafor 7. Hon. Justice Michael Nelson Onuzulike Okonkwo 8. Chief. Chike Udeze 9. Deaconess Norah Nwadiogo Mbadugha 10. Barr. Nwafili Mark Okwuosa Aims and Objectives: 1. To promote comradeship and co-operation among members 2. To work towards the promotion of the development and well being of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University .

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: Barr. Nwafili Mark Okwuosa0818 307 7807

BARRISTER FUNSHO OJUMORO ESQ. (08035015598 &08070999408) This announcement is meant to duly inform the general public of certain missing Documents titled Documents of Nos. 7, Ibrahim Onashokun Street, Ifako Oworonshoki, Lagos State; which belongs to one Alhaji Salawu Fadare.

Announcing this on behalf of the principal is, Mr Terry Kayode Fadare, Mrs Modupe Mary Arojojoye and Ms Temitope Christiana Fadare.

Kindly endeavour to return to any of the aforementioned name or to the nearest police station if eventually found.

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

The Trustees are : 1. Alh. Is’haq Akanmu Raji 2. Alh. Ajuwon Kehinde Hassan 3. Alh. Abdul Kabir Abiola Oriola Aim and Objective : To develop an enlightened Muslim society Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

IGHALO ORPHANAGE HOME

CABINET CLUB OF NIGERIA

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

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

The Trustees Are: 1. Omorogieva Sonia 2. Nwabueze Chiedozie Phintan 3. Ighalo Odion Jude 4. Owolabi Oludare Peter Aims and Objectives To Give Humaniterian Services.

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.

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 Aims and objectives: To promote the interest and welfare of members .

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: OBY ONYEKWULUJE SOLICITOR

News 22 Yakubu Salisu Kano

ÏÏÏHundreds of

Shi’ite members, on Wednesday, staged a peaceful demonstration in Kano over the continual detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim AlZakzakky, by the federal government.

The group which converged at the Tal’udu round about comprised of women and young men carrying pictures of their leader and placards that read: “free Al-Zakzakky now!”

Some of the protesters told the Daily Times that it was unfortunate that the federal government has continued to turn a deaf ear to their plea to release their leader for health reason.

They said that they were Ni-

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

El-Zakzaky: Shi’ite group protests in Kano gerians and since the constitution of the country allowed freedom of worship and association they saw no reason why they should always be treated with contempt by some persons or quarters just because they share not in their ideologies.

According to them Al-Zakzakky is a man of peace who did not support violence.

L-R: Chairman, Inter-Parliamentary Union- Forum of Young Parliamentarians, Hon. Raphael Nnanna Igbokwe; Members, House of Representative, Hon. Kehinde Agboola; Hon. Saheed Akinade Fijabi and an officer from the Public Affairs Section, United States Embassy, Bella Anne Ndubuisi during the Young Legislators Accountability Project Media Launch in Abuja... on Wednesday.

FG approves $200m loan for Lagos Egena Egena Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Wednesday, approved a 200 million dollar loan for Lagos State Government to complete some of the infrastructural development projects.

The loan, which will be sourced from the World Bank, is the second major approval of such facility for any state government by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Edo State was the first to benefit from a similar gesture.

Addressing State House correspondents after a FEC meeting, presided over by Buhari, Minister of Power, Works and Hous-

Measles kills 112 children in Nigeria Jacob Ogodo Abakaliki

ÏÏÏNo fewer than 112 children

in the country have died of measles outbreak since 2015.

Also 22,667 suspected cases were recorded across the 36 states of the federation and Abuja in the year under review.

A consultant with the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Dr. Emmanuel Idoko, disclosed this, on Wednesday, in Abakaliki, at a one-day media orientation meeting on 2016 Measles Vaccination

ing, Babatunde Fasola, explained that the loan in question was not entirely a new one as part of it had been collected during the past administration.

He said that the delay in approving the balance of the loan was due to partisan political differences as Lagos State was being controlled by a different political party other than that of the government at the centre.

According to him, the loan was approved in 2010, by the Federal Government, with an initial moratorium of 10 years and a repayment period of 40 years.

He regretted that due to the branding of Nigeria as the largest economy in Africa at the moment, the terms and conditions of the loan had changed with a

Campaign (MVC) He described measles as a contagious disease that spread quickly from child to child, especially in crowded areas.

Idoko said children under nine months were the most vulnerable to measles and called on parents to ensure that their children were immunised against the disease.

Earlier, an immunization officer in the state Ministry of health, Mrs. Priscilla Odi, said that the country was embarking on a nation-wide mass vaccination of children against the killer disease.

She disclosed that the campaign would hold in all the 17 states in the southern part of the country from January 28, 2016 to February 1, 2016 with children between ages of 9-59 months expected to be immunised.

Ambode

reduction of moratorium period to only five years, repayment period to 25 years and an imposition of 2.5 percent interest rate.

He said: “The point to make is that this is not a new loan; it’s a segment of a programme of de-

velopmental initiatives and it was approved in 2010 with a total sum of $600 million for Lagos State to be disbursed in tranches of 200 million each year starting from 2011 to 2013. But it suffered delays as a result of partisan political differences in the last dispensation. After the first tranche was disbursed, there was a freeze on the second.

“The initial agreements we had with the World Bank was a 40-year loan, a 10-year moratorium, 0.5 percent interest.

But because of the delays that subsequently characterised the partisan interference that took place, our profile as a nation also changed; we had become a bigger economy, so money was being lent to us not now as a highly in-

debted nation anymore.

“But what is still heart-warning about it is that it helps to finance infrastructure. When we look at road construction and the value chain that people benefit from it, labourers, those shops that sell iron rods, artisans, craftsmen, that means, really globally, economies are being reflated and infrastructure defines how big a nation can grow. It is the defining line between poor and rich nations.”

Fasola in whose era as Lagos State governor the first tranche of the loan was received, however, expressed gratitude that the government of the day at the centre had given approval for the loan to complete the numerous roads and other projects.

Crisis brews in Aniocha over 2016 PDP Congress Monday Osayande Asaba

ÏÏÏCrisis appears to be brewing

in Aniocha South Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following allegations of plan to impose some leaders on it.

A PDP chieftain and former Chairmanship aspirant in Aniocha South Local Government Area, Mr. Paul Okwufulueze, said he was bullied, thrown into police cell and charged to court for defamation of character by the federal house member representing Aniocha/Oshimili, Hon. Mrs. Onyemaechi Mrakpor.

Okwufulueze, who spoke in an interview with newsmen immediately after he was released

on bail from the police cell, on Wednesday, in Asaba, said he found himself in cell on account of a candid advice he offered leaders of the party in the state.

He said his advice to the governor and leaders in his constituency (including Hon. Mrakpor), which was conveyed in a text message was taken personal by Mrakpor, who arrested and charged him for defamation of character.

Okwufulueze called on the party leadership to redress what he described as injustice done to him by the law-maker as the party ought to be an umbrella for everybody and not just for the mighty.

He said his advice was on spreading insinuations that pre-

meditated lists of executives from the wards to the local government areas had been scripted to be imposed at the sound of a whistle for the coming party congresses.

“So I sent out the message that the forth coming PDP Ward/ LGA/Senatorial and, indeed, the State congresses should be transparent and for delegates to be allowed to choose their choice candidates.

“I am a party stakeholder from Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South and a former PDP chairmanship aspirant in the local government.

I felt I owe the party a responsibility to advice and offer correction in some noticed anomalies and as such I gave my piece of advice.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

23 News

Kwara community seeks Buhari’s protection from attacks Augustine Okezie

Abuja

ÏÏÏThe people of

Shaare community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, represented by Shaare patriotic Movement, led by Associate Professor Abdulfatai Jimoh, has called on President Mohammed Buhari and the Nigerian security agencies to protect them from ceaseless attacks by Nupe-Tsaragii sponsored terrorists.

Addressing the press, in Abuja, on Wednesday, Jimoh decried what he called a litany of falsehood that was being peddled in certain quarters which tended to portray the peace-loving people of

Shaare as guilty and fond of provoking their neighbours to unnecessary scuffles and violence.

He said that “The Tsaragi terrorists, who invaded Shaare between 19th and 20th December, 2015, may have to justify to the public and convince the law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities why felling of trees around former Native Authority School (now Community Primary School) and UMCA Primary school, both in Share, had to be greeted with sporadic shooting of people, killing and maiming of harmless and law abiding Shaare citizens, destructions of houses, shops, places of worship (churches and mosques), schools,

animals, banks and telecommunication masts in Shaare community”.

Narrating how the unfortunate incident started in September 2015, he said it all began when the headmaster of Community LGEA Primary School, Shaare, informed the Management of the School, the Parent-Teacher Association, the leadership of Shaare Patriotic Movement (SPM), Shaare Descendants Union (SDU) and Shaare Traditional Council (STC) on a need to clear the school premises of thick bush, which constituted security threat to pupils and teachers. And that after obtaining the needed approval and bush-clearing commenced,

Buhari

some Nupe youths from Tsaragi – a neighboring community – appeared and tried to stop the clearing work claiming the area belonged to them.

He further disclosed that initial peace efforts by security agencies especially the police authority represented by Bode Saadu, the Area Commander, Mr. Oyekan (an Assistant Commissioner of Police), DPOs of Shaare and Tsaragi Divisions respectively, failed, thus leading to a further breakdown of law an order that, on Saturday, 19th December, 2015, a group of Tsaragi youths led by one Alhaji Ahmed, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Tsaragi Youth Leader, in Tsaragai; Mr. Ndanna (a serving Councilor) and Mr. Dede (Ex-Vice Chairman of Edu Local Government Area), attacked Shaare community destroying life and property.

Ekiti govt to implement contributory pension scheme Gbenga Sodeinde A cross section of Adhoc INEC staff attend to prospective voters as continuous voter registration commenced in Abuja… on Wednesday.

Terrorism: Minister urges Police to protect vulnerable areas Tom Okpe Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has appealed to the Nigeria Police Force to provide more security for vulnerable places across the country, in order to prevent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents.

He made the appeal when he paid a courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, in his office, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

“As we have told Nigerians on many occasions, our military has decimated Boko Haram and uprooted them from the territories they once controlled. What

the terrorists are now engaged in are attacks on soft targets, by which I mean highly-vulnerable places like markets, motor parks, as well as worship and entertainment centres, etc.

“Here in lies the important task of the police – the body statutorily given the role of maintaining law and order. The police, leveraging its large network, its investigative capacity and the fact that its personnel reside largely among the people, are now required to step in to protect these vulnerable places.

This they can do by working with transport workers, market women, local government councils and Police Public Community Relations Councils, faith-based

organisations, community development councils and other necessary stakeholders,” he said.

Mohammed specifically urged the police to provide 24-hour, costfree protection for the premises of broadcasting establishments.

“May I also use the opportunity of this visit to formally convey to the Inspector-General the message from the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), when I met with their members last week, in Abuja; they asked me to implore the Inspector-General to provide a 24-hour police protection, at no extra cost, for the premises of their organisations. I am hereby presenting and endorsing their demand,” he said.

Ado Ekiti

ÏÏÏThe Ekiti State Government

is set to commence the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) with the aim of surmounting the challenges of the traditional Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

Speaking in Ikogosi Ekiti, at an enlightenment workshop, on the implementation of the scheme, the State Head of Service, Dr. Olugbenga Faseluka, noted that the inability of government to effectively cope with the huge funding requirement leading to subsequent accumulation of debts on pension and gratuities had made CPS as a preferred option for the payment of exit benefit in the

Ebonyi NSCDC arrests 52 suspects Jacob Ogodo Abakaliki

ÏÏÏTHE Nigeria Security and

Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Ebonyi State Command has so far arrested 52 suspects, instituted legal action against four vandals and resolved 11 cases bordering on vandalism and other related matters in line with the mandate of the body in the 2015

public service.

Faseluka emphasised an urgent need to take proactive measures to manage the inevitable future payment of pension and gratuities of upcoming civil servants, adding that the switch to the CPS would eliminate the burden on government as well as ensure prompt payment of due allowances to beneficiaries.

“The DBS has been bedeviled with so many challenges, majorly the inability of government to effectively cope with the huge funding requirement coupled with the mismanagement of funds by the immediate past administration, which led to a considerable increase in the accumulated debts on pensions and gratuities”, he said.

Addressing newsmen at the Command’s headquarters, in Abakaliki, on how the Command had faired in 2015, the State Commandant, Shuayb Jibril, expressed the readiness of the body to nip the activities of vandals and illegal petroleum dealers in the bud.

He explained that most of the cases of petroleum pipeline vandalism was reported in Ivo Local Government Area, and noted that it recorded huge successes, because of the existing collaboration between it, communities in the state and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other sister agencies in the state.

News 24 Adamawa lawmaker donates educational materials to 600 pupils

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Save Ekiti pensioners from untimely death, APC charges Fayose

Tom Garba Yola

Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti

ÎÎÎThe

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has called on Governor Ayo Fayose to stop his antipeople policies against workers to prevent life-threatening consequences.

The party added that the governor’s “deliberate” failure to pay pensioners their retirement benefits had resulted in the deaths of some pensioners, saying that it is sheer wickedness to deliberately punish pensioners

Member, representing Uba/Gaiya of Adamawa House of Assembly, Mohammed Hayatu Atiku, has donated educational materials to 600 pupils of secondary and primary schools of his constituency.

Hayatu, on delivery said he selected 100 students from each ward of the area to benefit from his long desire prayer to promote education and to alleviate parents from the harsh economy as well as the effects of Boko Haram insurgency that has bedeviled the entire Northern zone of Adamawa state.

Among the things he donated are writing materials, schools bags, uniforms, sandals and paid one year tissue fees to secondary school students.

According to Atiku, his main work as a legislature is to make laws that will benefit the people of his constituency, but he cannot shy away from touching the lives of people in many other way, most especially those considered the less privilege ones.

Lagos intensifies effort to light up city

ÎÎÎIn fulfillment of the elec-

tioneering campaign promise of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the Lagos state government has intensified efforts on the Light up Lagos Project, an initiative aimed at lighting up every nook and cranny of the state.

Already, most major highways and streets have been lightened up, while massive repair of street lights are being carried out in other strategic places.

In keeping faith with the actualisation of the project targeted at creating an enabling environment that will ensure 24-hour power supply to residents in the next two years, Governor Ambode had set up an Advisory Council, chaired by the Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Idiat Oluranti-Adebule, with a charge to make electricity available to Lagosians for both business and domestic use.

ÎÎÎThe

who served the state meritoriously.

Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said in a statement that the appeal became imperative on the heels of the recent death of the State Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Pa Rufus Kayode Ogedengbe, who died of minor ailment because he could not afford simple medicare.

“Ekiti people can no longer tolerate this deliberate callousness that results in the deaths of those that paid through their sweats to pro-

ductively contribute to the development of Ekiti state while Fayose releases N5 million monthly to his media aide, Lere Olayinka, to abuse President Muhammadu Buhari on social media.

“While Fayose is in the habit of always cajoling the pensioners who are senior citizens of the state that there is no money, he has increased his security vote to N250 million, which we learn has been increased to N300 million while his sons studying abroad ride multimillion naira automobiles”

Olatubosun said.

He said it was heartless for the governor to deny pensioners their entitlements over purported shortage of funds while buying up pages of newspapers to abuse the President for self-serving motives on a daily basis.

APC spokesman also berated the governor over refusal to pay the state workers who are children of pensioners their entitlements, while also making life unbearable for traders through heavy taxation.

“Private business owners

Gov Fayose are facing unbearable tax burden to cope with daily survival while petty traders have been sent packing from the trading posts and the few ones still in operation are being pursued by Fayose’s agents for obnoxious taxes,” he said.

Ogbaru community may sue firm over project Dilionye Dilibe Onitsha

ÎÎÎThe East Niger Commu-

A cultural group performing during the inauguration of Comrade Sule Shehuwa Secretariat of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria in Bauchi… on Wednesday.

LG polls: Niger PDP alleges clampdown on its members Pita Chikwem Minna

ÎÎÎThe Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP), on Wednesday, alleged that it has uncovered a plot by the government to arrest key members of the Party ahead of the local government elections slated for Saturday.

The Party said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had already connived with the Police and other security agents in the state to perpetrate the act.

State Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Umar Musa Maali, who made the allegation in Minna, told the security agencies in the state not to allow themselves to be misled by the ruling party to commit il-

legal act.

“We want to use this opportunity to plead with security agencies in the state to show absolute neutrality during the election. Our appeal has become necessary because information reaching us has shown the government of the day is already in alliance with the Police and other security agencies in the state to arrest some leaders of our party, a few days to the election primarily to stop them from mobilising our supporters.

“Our intelligence have reported that the APC has engaged thugs in many local government areas who have been paid and trained on ballot box snatching and intimidation of voters all because of the dwindling popularity of the party in the state.

“We pray that this will not happen because it will not be in the interest of anybody for tension to be mounted anywhere in the state before, during, and after the election” Maali said.

He said PDP as a law abiding party would not do anything that would infringe on the peace and security of the state, adding that “this is why we ask the security operatives to realise that they are paid from public coffers and not from the pocket of the APC”.

The Party Chairman also told the Niger state Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) not to toy with the idea of abandoning the use of the Smart Card Readers machines because its usage is backed by law.

Deputy Chairman of the

Party, Tanko Beji, also said that the PDP is not happy with the plans made for the election by NSIEC, because three days to the polls, the commission had not deemed it fit to call a meeting of stakeholders to brief them on the plans for the election.

Beji declared that, “the conduct of election is not cultism, it must be made open to everyone, claiming that the position had shown that ‘NSIEC is up to something.”

The Deputy Chairman said that no matter what happens, the PDP will take part in the election and ‘we are sure of victory’.

The election will hold in the 25 Local Government Areas of the state for the chairmanship and 274 councillorship positions.

nity in Ogbaru Local Government Area has threatened to drag a construction firm handling the Sakamori/ Nwangene flood control and dredging project, Benejaf International Ltd to court over what it called a deceptive and shabby contract, which has caused the submerging of over fifty buildings in their area of operation.

The affected buildings that have been affected by the company’s shabby contract are located along Udeaja and Ibe Streets, including Ogbuagu Street in Okpoko, all in Ogbaru Local Government.

Briefing newsmen in company of the executives of East Niger Layout Development Union, the President-General of the union, Chief Ernest Ojimba, noted with dismay the compromising and substandard work carried out by the construction firm which has resulted in the loss of lives and property worth several millions of naira through flooding.

He recounted that the community had invested huge amount of money to control flood during rainy season, but all in vain, which he said necessitated to the joy of the people of the area when the Sakamori contract was awarded.

He regretted that their joy was short-lived as the construction firm even made their situation worse by engaging in sub-standard work which has rendered some of the inhabitants homeless.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

25 Opinion

Nigeria Vision 20-2020 Mirage (3)?

ÏÏÏIn part 2, we began

an examination of the economic potential of Nigeria, specifically, agribusiness. Subsistence farming, when the country is not importing food, which it does scandalously in billions of naira, is the order of the day. One painful ‘joke’, albeit true, is that whereas Nigeria gave palm oil seedlings to Malaysia in the 1960s, the latter now supplies palm oil to Nigeria! This is Indefensible. It is unpatriotic.

It is scandalous.

Naturally, I support Central Bank of Nigeria’s summer 2015 decision to take off a number of food items from access to official foreign exchange for their imports. There is no food that Nigeria needs to import. This includes Irish potatoes. Plateau State can supply more than enough. And cheese.

Kwara and many other states in Nigeria can supply tons of it.

And fish. Between Lagos, Kogi, Rivers, Delta, Benue, Borno, Niger and Bayelsa States, they can supply sufficient for Nigeria. The potential of agribusiness is best appreciated when one calculates how much food is imported to Nigeria. If I am right that the country can supply all its food needs, we can use FAO’s figures to do our calcula-

tions. FAO reports that in spite of petroleum, agriculture remains the base of the Nigerian economy, providing the main source of livelihood for most Nigerians.

It then goes on to inform that Nigeria has lost US$10 billion in annual export opportunity from groundnut, palm oil, cocoa and cotton alone due to continuous decline in the production of those commodities. But that does not tell us how much Nigeria eats.

However it adds to the information we are looking for i.e. the potential of agribusiness. So we have US$10 billion i.e.

2,000,000,000,000 (N2 trillion) untapped annually. Rice eaten is 6 million metric tons. That is N880,000,000,000 (880 billion naira) per annum.

Nigerian can produce 150 million metric tons of cassava per annum that is N12,450,000,000,000 (12.5 trillion naira) per annum. If we take cassava to the secondary level by turning them to chips before selling/ exporting the value would increase. At 20kg per person per annum, Nigeria can consume 3.9 million tons of fish, that is, N191,832,000,000 (192 billion naira per annum).

OPEC Revenues Fact Sheet shows that Nige-

Buhari

ria’s earnings from crude oil exports in 2014 was N15,169,000,000,000 (15 trillion naira).

For 2015 it is estimated to be half of that figure, which would be about 7.5 trillion naira. What all these facts and figures are already pointing to is that we can make more money from agribusiness than from petroleum where we have erroneously focused all our economic thought for decades. This is apart from the fact that with agribusiness, majority of Nigerians would actually be employed incompara-

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bly more than is the case with the elitist oil and gas industry.

Alexander Chiejina has done a comprehensive review of the potential of agribusiness in Nigeria.

I set out here the outlines of his submissions titled “Unlocking Nigeria’s Agribusiness Potential”.

He invites us to picture Kaduna, Abuja and Onitsha as mega-polis just like Lagos with populations of over 12 million people. Let us then imagine them eating made-in-Nigeria food.

Let us picture some of the food coming from urban

agriculture on roof tops and gardens along rail and waterways; a rail and road network that picks up food where it is produced and delivers it to consumers with marginal losses of goods. Imagine Nigerian researchers breeding a cassava variety that grows in the most difficult of climates and gives double the current yield; researchers breeding livestock immune to some of the new epidemics and under extreme weather conditions.; researchers and extension services supporting big and small farmers to decide what best to grow on their lands, even where extreme rains and droughts are degrading lands.

Imagine new generation of Nigerian farmers who choose what to grow next season after checking domestic and international market trends online, using appropriate technology and machinery even on medium sized farms. Citing Chinedum Nwajiuba, professor of Agricultural Economics and executive director, Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team (NEST), he argues that this indeed is the huge untapped agricultural market awaiting investment in Nigeria.

I totally agree with them. Quoting from World Bank estimates, he went on to submit that, together, agriculture and agribusiness are Africa’s largest economic sectors, projected to reach $1 trillion in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by 2030 (compared to US$ 313 billion in 2010).

We know that one out of every four persons in SSA is a Nigerian.

The meaning of this, he argues is that as agribusiness plays a critical role

in jump-starting economic transformation through development of agrobased industries, successful agribusiness investments would stimulate agricultural growth by providing new markets and developing a vibrant input supply sector. He explains that the agriculture sector contributes about 40 percent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs over 70 percent of over 150 million people, mainly made up of smallholder farmers focused on subsistence farming. Interestingly, over 90 percent of agricultural production is rainfed in a nation with about 924,000 square kilometres of land mass, of which 32 million hectares are cultivated. He went to say that with agro-allied industries extending from production, manufacturing, agro-inputs (fertilisers, pesticides, etc.), to packaging and distribution, not talk of extension of credit facilities for agricultural investment, the market potential in Africa’s fast growing, arguably largest economy, Nigeria, is huge.

But, according to him, the sector is yet to reach its potential production level as crop and livestock production remain below demand, not enough to support the ever-growing population.

As a result, Nigeria, once a net exporter of food has now become a net importer, spending over $4.2 billion on food in 2010 with import rising exponentially in order to feed the growing population.

Next week in this column, we shall continue our analysis of the potential of agribusiness in Nigeria.

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26

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Health Æ s

Lassa Fever: One blast, too many Lassa fever is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. It has killed over 40 in the past seven weeks as at the time of filing this report.

However, experts say, with precautionary measures against the acute febrile disease caused by the Lassa virus belonging to the arena virus group, Nigerians can wage war against it.

LARA ADEJORO writes.

Though the onset of the disease is usually gradual, starting with fever, general weakness, and malaise followed by headache, sore throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and bleeding from mouth, nose, vagina or gastrointestinal tract, and low blood pressure; the acute viral haemorrhagic illness has spread to 10 states.

The first case of the current outbreak was reported in Bauchi in November, 2015. This was followed by cases reported by Kano State, and then to Taraba, Nassarawa, Niger, Rivers, Edo, Plateau, Gombe and Oyo states claiming over 40 lives from 93 reported cases in the above mentioned states of the country.

Recall that, a week after two Lassa fever deaths were reported from Kano State, Taraba State government on Sunday, January 3rd confirmed an outbreak of the zoonotic viral disease.

According to the state Commissioner of Health, Innocent Vakkai, “One person died and two others quarantined and their blood samples have already been taken to Irrua Specialists’ Hospital in Edo State for further confirmation.”

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it is investigating suspected Lassa Fever cases reported by the Mainland Hospital, Yaba and General Hospital, Mushin, following the death of three women that exhibited symptoms similar to Lassa virus infection.

The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH) and the 26 General Hospitals in the State are already at red alert for isolation of any suspected Lassa fever cases.

Speaking on the development in a media briefing, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris said: “The first is a 47 year-old woman who was referred to General Hospital, Mushin, from a private health facility

The Natal multimammate mouse

(Alafia Tayo Maternity Home) on 7th January, 2016 with three days history of sore throat; frequent watery stooling of eight hours duration; difficulty in breathing of one hour duration and widespread petechae hemorrhages on the body.”

Confirming that the patient later died few minutes after reaching the hospital, Idris said the result of laboratory investigation (blood) was negative for Lassa fever.

He said the second suspected case, a 31 year-old woman from Nasarawa State, was referred from a private hospital to Mainland Hospital, Yaba, on account of a host of symptoms she developed on 4th January, 2016 .

“The symptoms included fever, sore throat, abdominal pain, discharge from the eyes, bleeding per vagina, passage of bloody urine, anal bleeding and hemoptysis. Result of laboratory investigation (blood) was negative for Lassa fever,” Idris noted.

“The third suspected case, a 24-year-old housemaid who returned from Taraba State, was brought by her relations to Mainland Hospital, Yaba, on the 8th January, 2016 on account of fever,

vomiting and diarrhea on 9th January, 2016. Result of laboratory investigation was negative for Lassa fever.”

The Commissioner noted that one of the primary contacts of the confirmed case in Rivers State who resides in Lagos is presently being monitored along with her contacts (secondary contacts).

“All the contacts as at the time of this briefing are apparently healthy,” he said.

Also, the Ondo State government, on Tuesday confirmed two suspected cases of Lassa fever deaths in the state.

Adeyanju, who spoke at a Lassa Prevention Stakeholders’ meeting for health workers, religious and opinion leaders, said, one of the suspects came into the state through the border town of Edo State.

He disclosed that the government had put thirty-one (31) persons under close monitoring by activating its surveillance mechanism to ensure it does not spread across the state.

The Commissioner said, the suspects were those who had personal contacts with the two dead persons in the state.

Adeyanju also counselled reli-

gious leaders not to entertain sick persons who manifest symptoms of Lassa but to refer them to the nearest hospital for prompt treatment.

Eradicate Lassa Fever like Ebola Virus, Nigerians tell FG Some Nigerians who spoke with our correspondent have urged the Federal and State governments to adopt the strategies against the Ebola Virus Disease in fighting Lassa Fever.

Mr Dele Ajayi, a resident at Ikeja said, “This is shocking in a new year. I think the government should impose travel restrictions from and to areas currently affected. With concerted efforts, I believe we can win this war the way we did against Ebola virus.”

Mrs Remi Abdullahi said, “the government must not relent in telling everybody through available means that the disease is here and fight it the way they fought Ebola. This is a serious thing and everyone must be at alert.

“All hands must be on deck and if the tactics and vigour the state and federal governments used in fighting the Ebola virus is directed towards Lassa Fever, it will put an immediate end to it in the

country,” she said.

Also, a trader at the Iju area of Lagos, who identified himself as Mr Collins Ibekwe said, “it hasn’t dawned on most people that this disease is bad. I just want to implore both the state and Federal governments to deploy the means they used during the Ebola virus period to fight this too. I want every Nigerian too to take precautionary measures and be hygienic.”

Observe good personal hygiene, Experts tell Nigerians With the death percentage put at 43.2 per cent, experts have urged the general public to beware of rat delicacies, dirty environment, avoid contact between rats and human beings, observe good personal hygiene, store foods in rat proof containers and cook all foods thoroughly before eating.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Times, Dr Nasir Ariyibi, a public health consultant at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos said Nigerians should avoid contact between rats and human beings, “observe good personal

Continued on page 27

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

27 Health

Lassa virus can be transmitted through sex Continued from page 26

L-R: Corporate Communications Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, Akomen Omijeh; Consumer Services Manager, NBC, Peace Emele; General Manager, Lagos Television (LTV), Deji Balogun; Regional Logistics Director, Lagos/West, NBC, Nurain Saka, and Commercial Manager, Ikeja A, Commercial Territory, NBC, Tope Ayeni during the celebration of the LTV Family Funfair at Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbin, Ikeja, Lagos; recently.

LUTH Resident Doctors get new president Stories by Lara Adejoro Dr Akinkunmi Afolabi, a cardiolaogist has been elected President of the Association of Resident Doctors of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (ARD-LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos Afolabi from Ogun State said, the new executives would deliver their duties with vigour, enthusiasm and singleness of purpose.

Expressing , his appreciation to members for putting the mandate on him, the new ARD president said his administration would ensure the improvement

of the welfare of all resident doctors in the tertiary institution.

“I will ensure the welfare of the resident doctors is improves and foster interactions among the doctors in the hospital.

“We are about 700 doctors here and I plan to having a fitness centre during my tenure, where people can come to relax, interact and that will build the culture of exercise among members of ARD because that’s what we preach but sometimes, the avenues to exercise are not available.”

Afolabi said, the fitness centre will be brought close to the members of the association so it will

be easier for them to imbibe the fitness culture.

Dr Afolabi is deputised by a Paediatrician, Dr Ayodele Renner while the Secretary General is Dr Alabi Basit in the Surgery department of the hospital.

Afolabi studied Medicine and Surgery at the University of Ibadan (UI). He did his housemanship at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta and had his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kaduna where he served at a private healthcare centre. From there, he worked at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi before moving to LUTH as a resident doctor in 2012.

Promote better health coverage in 2016, FG urged

Dr. Obembe, NMA President

The Federal Government has been urged to promote better health coverage 2016 so that more Nigerians can have access to quality health care.

At a post-National Executive Council press briefing in Ado-

Ekiti recently, President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Dr. Kayode Obembe, said though there had been some significant improvement in the system, “there is need for better health coverage in 2016.”

Obembe however urged Nigerians to have more confidence in medical treatment being given by Nigerians doctors rather than rushing abroad for treatment of every little ailments.

“I still want to believe that there are competent doctors in Nigeria but most of the rich people still travel abroad for medical treatments because of ignorance. There should be attitudinal change, so that our people can have confidence in the system”, he said.

Also speaking, the immedi-

ate past Chief Medical Director, Prof Akin Osibogun said, in 2016, the Governments at all levels as well as all Nigerians need to focus on how to ensure that more Nigerians have access to quality health Care based upon need.

“We therefore need to focus on mechanisms that can provide financial protection to those in need of critical health services by adopting more efficient means of health services delivery. We need to promote mandatory Community Based Health Insurance that will ensure all Nigerians can access needed services. Improved and efficient delivery of services can be promoted through structured collaboration between public and private sectors,” Osibogun said.

hygiene, including hand washing with soap and running water regularly; dispose of waste properly and clean the environment.

“Discourage rodents from entering the house by blocking all possible entry points, while food manufacturers and handlers should not spread food where rats could have access to them,” he said.

Dr. Ogugua Osi-Ogbu, a chief consultant physician and coordinator for Lassa fever infection control, National Hospital, Abuja also said, “bushes and clutters around the house must be cleared to make the surrounding unattractive to rats. Health workers must wear gloves, protective gowns and masks while caring for individuals suspected of Lassa fever. Hospitalised suspected cases must be isolated and contact with staff of the hospital minimised. Individualised equipment must be provided for such patients. Separate thermometers, blood pressure apparatuses, bath utensils etc, must be provided.”

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the clinical course of the disease is so variable, detection of the disease in affected patients has been difficult. “However, when presence of the disease is confirmed in a community, prompt isolation of affected patients, good infection protection and control practices and rigorous contact tracing can stop outbreaks.”

Lassa fever has an incubation period of 6-21 days. About 80 per cent of human infections are asymptomatic; the remaining cases have severe multi-system disease, where the virus affects several organs in the body, such as the liver, spleen and kidneys.

Dr Ariyibi said, humans usually become infected with Lassa virus from exposure to excreta of

The Natal multimammate mouse

infected Mastomys via direct exposure (to the excreta) of rat.

Lassa virus may also be spread between humans through direct contact with the blood, urine, faeces, or other bodily secretions of a person with Lassa Fever.

There is no epidemiological evidence supporting airborne spread between humans. Personto-person transmission occurs in both community and health care settings, where the virus may be spread by contaminated medical equipment, such as re-used needles.

Sexual transmission of Lassa virus has been reported, says WHO. The public health expert said, universal precaution must be practiced “including hand washing with soap and running water regularly. Appropriate personal protective clothings (hand gloves, face masks, eye goggles and overall) must be worn when attending to cases. Hands must be washed after each contact with patient or contaminated materials. They must first be rinsed in disinfectant and then washed with soap and water.

“For Instruments and dressings, each patient must have an individual thermometer labelled with the patient’s name and kept in a receptacle containing disinfectant. The stethoscope and the sleeve of the syphgmomanometre must be decontaminated between each use by rinsing them in disinfectant solution,” he advised.

The antiviral drug ribavirin seems to be an effective treatment for Lassa fever if given early on in the course of clinical illness.

There is no evidence to support the role of ribavirin as post-exposure prophylactic treatment for Lassa fever.

There is currently no vaccine that protects against Lassa fever, says the World Health body.

Ahmedu condoles NFF on Abubakar’s passing ANDREW EKEJIUBA

T Abubakar

he Director, Aspire Football Dreams (Nigeria), Colonel Sam Ahmedu (rtd) on Wednesday paid a condolence visit to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat, lamenting the death of the Federation’s Head of Protocol, Ibrahim Abubakar.

Abubakar was killed on Wednesday, January 6, by gunmen who stormed his house in Kado Estate, Gwarinpa in the early hours.

“The death of ‘Ibro’ remains very shocking. It is a tragic thing and we can only pray that God will comfort the NFF and the young family that ‘Ibro’ has left behind.

“On behalf of Aspire Academy for

Sports Excellence, I condole you and pray that this kind of thing never happens again in NFF and in Nigeria football generally,” he said.

Ahmedu, who is also president of Zone 3 of basketball’s FIBA Africa, was received by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who thanked Ahmedu and Aspire Academy for their sympathy.

I want to win trophies at Dortmund —Aubameyang

Page 28

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Dstv beams

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

I

CHAN 2016 to subscribers

D

Stv is kicking-off subscribers’ 2016 viewing experience with exciting football action.

Extra Time gathered that from January 16 to February 7, DStv subscribers will be treated to the 2016 African Nations Championships (CHAN) football action from Rwanda live on SuperSport 9, Select, Maximo 2 and Maximo 3.

CHAN, a biennial tournament which is now in its fourth edition, strictly open for players based on the continent and plying their trade in their national championship/ league is poised to become the fertile ground to unearth the raw talent currently being sought after by clubs all over the world during the January transfer window.

In a bid to bolster their squads for the title run-in, scouts are currently at their busiest scouring the continent for new signings and are expected to frequent Rwanda from January 16 when the tournament kicks off until February 7, when the tournament ends.

There will be plenty of talent to choose from with a total of 16 qualified nations including Rwanda, Angola, Morocco, Ethiopia, DRC, Nigeria, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Gabon, Cameroon, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mali, Niger and Guinea gearing up to go head-to-head in 32 matches.

The first clash will see the host nation, Rwanda, take on Ivory Coast at 1:45pm, followed by the Gabon vs Morocco match at 4:45pm on January 16 live on SuperSport 9 and Select.

More exciting match fixtures includes; Nigeria vs Niger on January 18 at 4:45pm; Zimbabwe vs Zambia on January 19 at 1:45pm and Mali vs Uganda at 4:45pm on the same day.

One of the most anticipated games of the tournament is undoubtedly the ‘Battle of the Eagles’ between Nigeria’s homebased Super Eagles and Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles on January 22 at 1:15pm live on SuperSport 9 and Select.

g 29

L-R: Captain of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida Golf & Country Club, Abuja, Hamid Abbo; Specialist, High Value Sponsorships and Event, Etisalat Nigeria, Amaka Agu and General Manager, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Etienne Gailliez during the Gala Night of the Capital Golf Invitational Tournament sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria in Abuja at the weekend.

t a l a s Eti s k c a b f l o G y t i r a Ch Tour ney

n demonstration of its commitment to empowering Nigerians, Nigeria’s, most innovative and customer-friendly Telecommunications Service Company, Etisalat, recently supported The Capital Golf Invitational Tournament, a charity golf tournament, with the aim of raising assistance for the less privileged members of the society.

Commenting on the reason for supporting the worthy cause, Modupe Thani, Head, Events and Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria said the company was delighted to identify with the less privileged in the society, and offer them assistance.

“We at Etisalat are delighted at this opportunity to demonstrate our human contribution to the betterment of the society,” she said.

In his remarks at the gala night, Hamid Abbo, Captain, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida Golf & Country Club, Abuja, lauded Etisalat for supporting the tournament just as he announced that money raised through the registration of participants for the tournament will be donated to Ace Charity.

One of the highpoints of the event was the presentation of trophies to winners of various stages of the tournament with Emeka Okata receiving a giant trophy being the star prize– for emerging the overall winner of the tournament.

The tournament featured a ladies’ competition, pro and amateur golf challenge, special preevent cocktail, a gala night with entertainment and a fashion show hosted by top designers.

The tournament fused golfing excellence with lifestyle and entertainment and presented two days of exceptional golf in Abuja as golfers vied for honours at the first Capital Golf Invitational on the lush greens of IBB International Golf & Country Club.

JAMB Registrar seeks support for golf development Pita Chikwem, Minna

R

egistrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde has called on government, corporate organizations and other public-spirited individuals to support the game of golf in Nigeria.

Ojerinde made the call in Minna on Wednesday while speaking at the commissioning of Raf 15 of the Minna Cantonment Golf course which he assisted to re-green.

He said the much-talked about employment of

youths in the country could be speedily achieved if government emphasized on their participation in Golf because as professionals such youth golfers would be able to fend for themselves and their families.

Golf the JAMB Registrar said ‘is a game of life’ which also allows individuals to mix freely within their immediate community and outside the shores of the country.

It took three years to re-green Raf 15 because the course being one of the oldest in the country had 18 holes with only 8 meeting international standard. Therefore, Ojerinde asked other Golfers in

Ojerinde the club to assist to upgrade the remaining holes.

The Raf 15 was named the ‘Achievers hole’ and dedicated to Professor Ojerinde because of his contribution to the club in the short time he became its member.

A tournament marking the commissioning is ongoing at the Course and Tournament Secretary Mr. O. Olusegun said 24 players are taking part in the competition.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

EXTRATIME

NFF blasts

Cross River renews NSF bid

report of poor conditions in Eagles’ camp

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

Fidelis Saviour (middle) scored goals for Mosta, but was kicked out after the Maltese club fell out with the Nigerian investor.

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has condemned, in strong terms, a report in a national sports newspaper of Wednesday, January 13, 2016 which detailed imagined ‘poor conditions’ in the camp of the Super Eagles B in Pretoria, South Africa.

The said report had talked of ‘inferior’ NIKE kits being used by the team at the pre-CHAN camp in Pretoria and unsubstantiated ‘distractions here and there,’ all attributed to a nebulous ‘highly placed source’.

NFF’s Assistant Director (Communications), Ademola Olajire said the report was littered with so much falsehood that it was clear the reporter was out to cause disaffection and damage morale in the camp ahead of the 4th African Nations Championship.

“The Super Eagles B delegation is heading to Rwanda on Friday (January 15). This report has come out at this time to demoralize players and officials ahead of the Championship.”

“It is a shame that while the NFF is doing everything to keep the team happy and focused, and every stakeholder in Nigeria is wishing the team well, a reporter would be so committed to bringing down morale in the camp.

“Strangely, the reporter and his mysterious source admitted that Amaju Pinnick paid for assistant coach Lusciuto’s medical bills, but said it was not NFF that paid!”

The Super Eagles’ Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, revealed from Pretoria that the report is the handiwork of a detractor and that the reality on ground is far from what was painted by the reporter.

29

tese MalM osta

club drag Yabo to court M altese club Mosta FC have dragged Nigerian businessman, Faruk Malami Yabo, to court over what they term as a breach of contract.

Yabo, who is a leading politician and was at a time Commissioner for Finance in Sokoto State, had reached an agreement to invest in Mosta last year and it was based on this that the club took in five players from Nigeria for the current season.

The players who included Fidelis

Saviour and Yau Hassan were to be granted residence permit in Malta, while Mosta claim they did not receive the cash injection promised them by the Nigerian investor.

“They were not transparent with us,” simply said one of the representatives of the Nigerian businessman.

However, following a complete breakdown of relationship between the club and the Nigerian investor, all five players were fired in December.

T

he Cross River State Government has renewed its resolve to host the twice postponed National Sports Festival originally slated for 2014.

The State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Comrade Asu Okang, gave this assurance on Monday while leading a three- man State delegation on a courtesy visit to the Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr Solomon Dalung in Abuja.

Okang also assured the Minister that facilities for a successful sports festival were being put in place while the old ones were being upgraded. He urged the Minister to pay a working visit to the State to see the level of preparation for himself.

Responding, the Minister assured the delegation of his support for Cross River State to host the National Sports Festival.

“The hosting right given to the State is still intact and having received this new commitment from the State Government, I will personally report this development at the next meeting of the Nigerian Executive Sports Committee which will be meeting soon,” he said.

The National Sports Festival was originally billed to hold in 2014 but funding was identified as a major problem that had stalled the event.

Cross River State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Comrade Asu Okang.

30

Thursday, January 14, 2016

EXTRATIME

Van Gaal

Hernandez

defends Van Gaal

B

ayer Leverkusen striker Javier Hernandez has defended Louis van Gaal’s decision to let him leave Manchester United.

Having been a key figure during Sir Alex Ferguson’s final years at Old Trafford, Hernandez’s influence gradually diminished under David Moyes and Van Gaal.

The Mexico international was shipped out on loan to Real Madrid last season before his five-year spell with United was finally brought to an end when he was sold to Leverkusen.

Chicharito has since rediscovered his goalscoring form, netting 19 goals in 22 appearances for the Bundesliga club winning consecutive Player of the Month awards in the process.

United’s recent troubles in front of goal have seen Hernandez’s stock rise, with some fans criticising Van Gaal’s decision to let him go.

BRIEFS Rahman frustrated with Chelsea role

C

helsea full-back Baba Rahman has voiced his frustration at a lack of playing time since joining from Augsburg.

The Ghana international joined Chelsea from the Bundesliga in August 2015, but has so far been unable to secure regular first-team action at Stamford Bridge. Rahman, 21, has made just four Premier League appearances so far and is determined to get more action in the second half of the season.

Mignolet set for Anfield stay

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iverpool are close to rewarding goalkeeper Simon Mignolet with a new contract, according to sources. The 27-year-old has come under fire this season after a number of errors, but the Belgium international looks set to sign a new deal that will keep him at Anfield to 2020. Mignolet joined Liverpool from Sunderland in the summer of 2013 for £9m having started his career with Belgian side St Truiden.

Smalling unhappy over ref’s penalty call

M

anchester United defender Chris Smalling has hit out at referee Mike Dean for his decision to award Newcastle United a penalty in Tuesday’s 3-3 Premier League draw. Dean pointed to the spot after a duel between Smalling and Aleksandar Mitrovic and the United defender was left to rue what he perceived to be inconsistent decision making by the official.

e r u o T p u s b m u th Wenger K

olo Toure has hailed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s ability to transform average players into world class performers.

Wenger plucked Toure from the obscurity of the Ivorian Ligue 1 in 2002 and, after a successful trial, agreed to sign the defender on a long-term contract.

Toure made 326 appearances during his seven years with Arsenal and played a major role in the 2004 Invincibles team, along with a number of other players who were perceived as risks or unknowns when they signed for the

Wenger

club.

Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira and Freddie Ljungberg were just some of t h o s e players and Toure feels his and their development

S i l v a desperate

is down to the work of Wenger.

“Wenger is a top manager, he has shown that unbelievably,” Toure said.

“The thing I like is this manager can make an average player one of the best players in the world. He did that with so many players.

“George Weah, Patrick Vieira was in Milan not playing a lot, Thierry Henry was at Juventus and he brought him here and made him one of the best players in the world.

for Champions League title M

anchester City midfielder David Silva is desperate to claim the one trophy that has eluded him so far - the Champions League.

Silva, who turned 30 last week, has claimed a World Cup, two European Championships and as many Premier League titles among others in his professional playing career.

However, Silva has never played past the quarter-final stage of a Champions League tournament and the Spain international said he is as hungry as ever to keep improving and winning trophies.

“I think I’ve said on a few occasions that the thing that’s still missing, that I haven’t got my

Silva hands on is the Champions League. That’s something I’d still love to be able to do,” Silva said.

“The main thing is to still have that hunger. I still have that same desire and same hunger to keep winning trophies and more than anything to keep improving.

“I still consider it a work in progress, with

C y m e R going nowhere, says Hiddink

Remy

constantly striving to get better and hopefully achieving more with the team.

“The league is always the trophy you probably most want to win because that’s the tournament you’re playing in week in, week out.

helsea boss Guus Hiddink has dismissed the prospect of striker Loic Remy leaving Stamford Bridge during the transfer window.

Remy has struggled for regular first-team football since joining the reigning Premier League champions from QPR in 2014.

The 29-year-old has made a solitary league start this season and been widely linked to a move elsewhere in England, with Aston Villa manager Remi Garde expressing interest last month.

Hiddink felt Garde’s public

discussion of the striker lacked respect and the veteran coach told a news conference that he is hopeful Remy can deliver for Chelsea once his fitness problems subside.

“He will stay until the end of the season,” said Hiddink. “I have seen little of him because he repeatedly fell into injury. I am curious. I hope Remy picks it up. I hope he will deliver if he is needed.”

Aside from leading frontman Diego Costa showing flashes of returning to his best form, Hiddink is faced with a dearth of striking options.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

EXTRATIME

BRIEFS

Messi

Bayern to hold Gotze talks

B

receives Adidas

Lionel Messi with his five Ballon d’Or titles and new Platinum adidas boots.

Platinum boot

A

didas have marked Lionel Messi’s Ballon d’Or triumph by presenting the Barcelona star with a new platinum football boot.

Messi fought off long-term adversary Cristiano Ronaldo and team-mate Neymar to win world football’s biggest accolade for an unprecedented fifth time in Zurich on Monday.

The Argentina international stands alone with the most Ballon d’Or titles, two clear of Ronaldo and a host of footballing legends, including Johan

P

V

Messi ponders ending career in Argentina

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g n a y e m —Auba

sac Roma

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containing real platinum elements, never seen before on a football boot.

“Messi is the ultimate creator, and the platinum Messi 15 marks his other worldly achievements in football. Gold is for winners, platinum is for the greatest,” an adidas statement read.

icente del Bosque said he was “surprised” to see not one Atletico Madrid player make the 2015 FIFPro World XI. In every year since 2005, over 40,000 professional footballers worldwide pick one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards to decide who makes the best team of the year. The best 11 are then announced at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in January. This year, eight out of the 11 were from La Liga, but featured no Atletico players and Del Bosque said he could not believe Atletico were snubbed once again.

o t t n a w I s e i h p o r t win d n u m t r at Do Aubameyang

Gakrecdibay oma have sacked French coach Rudi Garcia after a poor run of form, the Serie A club confirmed on Wednesday.

Roma won their first 10 league matches in 2013/14 and enjoyed two consecutive second-place finishes in Serie A, but Garcia leaves with the capital club fifth in the table, seven points behind leaders Napoli.

ayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer is not too worried about Mario Gotze’s recent comments that his long-term future at the club is undecided and has made it clear they will sit down with the Germany international shortly to resolve his situation. Sammer quickly dismissed suggestions Gotze could leave Bayern for Liverpool in the January transfer window when such rumours surfaced, but the 23-yearold then fuelled speculation that he could be on the move after all by stressing his future depends on new coach Carlo Ancelotti’s plans for him.

Del Bosque ´surprised´ by Atletico snub

Cruyff, Michel Platini and Marco van Basten.

For adidas, Messi’s latest accolade cemented his place as the greatest player in the history of football and they have marked the moment with the launch of their new campaign called ‘I’m here to create’, a celebration of Messi’s most jaw-dropping moments in football.

The German sports manufacturer have continued to honour Messi by presenting him with a new platinum boot designed for the ultimate creator,

ierre-Emerick Aubameyang has reiterated he wants to win titles with Borussia Dortmund amid reported interest from Arsenal and Barcelona.

The 26-year-old fuelled speculation linking him with a move away from Dortmund after he missed a training session last week due to a “personal appointment”.

The Gabon striker, who was last week named African Player of the Year, has been linked with a move to the Gunners and Barcelona, but he appears happy at Signal Iduna Park.

Aubameyang has won the DFL-Supercup with Dortmund but has expressed a desire to win more silverware with Thomas Tuchel’s side.

“In football nothing lasts forever,” he told reporters. “But my contract runs until 2020, which is a fact.

“I feel happy, still want to achieve lots with Dortmund and win titles that is also fact.

“I am here and nowhere else - not at Arsenal, not at Barcelona, not on the moon - you can see that.”

31

The final straw was last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to AC Milan, which left Roma with just one win in their last 10 games in all competitions.

“AS Roma confirms that Rudi Garcia, and his assistants Frederic Bompard and Claude Fichaux, will cease to manage its first team with immediate effect,” read a statement in English on the club’s website.

B

Neymar

arcelona forward Neymar has been ordered to appear in Spain’s national court over allegations of fraud in relation to his transfer from Santos to the Liga champions.

According to reports on Wednesday, the Brazil captain has been subpoenaed to testify

Neymar

to appear in court over transfer fraud

a r c e l o n a superstar Lionel Messi dreams of finishing his career back in his homeland of Argentina. Messi left Rosario as a 13-yearold to begin his journey to the top of world football in Catalonia.

The 28-year-old won his fifth Ballon d’Or in Zurich on Monday and at the ceremony he told reporters that he would i d e a l l y complete his playing days at Barca, where his current contract ends in 2018. But speaking to FIFA. com, Messi revealed that the lure of a return home – where his boyhood club was Newell’s Old Boys – still holds considerable appeal.

on February 2, on the same day as his parents.

On February 1, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his predecessor Sandro Rosell will give evidence, while the court has also called Santos directors Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Rodriguez Rivero and Odilo Fliho.

Neymar moved from Santos to Barcelona in 2013 and the court is examining a complaint by Brazilian investment group DIS, which claims it was financially harmed when Barcelona and Neymar allegedly withheld the true value of the transfer.

The complaint made by DIS in June names Neymar, his father, Rosell, Bartomeu and Barcelona as defendants. All parties have denied any wrongdoing.

Published by folio commUNicATioNS lTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.com.ng; email: info@dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

VOL. 2. NO.23

Price: N150

Neymar

Cross River g 29

to appear in court over transfer fraud

renews NSF bid

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e h t f o End oad! r J erome Valcke has been sacked from his position as FIFA secretary general, world football’s governing body has confirmed.

The adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s Ethics Committee recently opened formal proceedings against the 55-year-old - who was also provisionally suspended from all football-related activities - over allegations of corruption and they have now decided to cancel the Frenchman’s contract.

Valcke is alleged to have been linked to a scheme that intended to sell tickets for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at above their face value, prior to the contract being cancelled before any were sold.

FIFA fires Valcke

The former right-hand man to suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter has denied the allegations, but world football’s governing body has decided to take action against him.

“The FIFA Emergency Committee decided, on January 9, 2016, to dismiss Jerome Valcke from the position of FIFA Secretary General with immediate effect,” an official statement read.

“Valcke is therefore no longer the Secretary General of FIFA. The employment relationship between FIFA and Valcke has also been terminated.

“Valcke was provisionally released from his duties as Secretary General on September

Valcke

17, 2015, and on January 7, 2016, formal adjudicatory proceedings were opened against him by the adjudicatory chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee chaired by Hans-Joachim Eckert.

“The provisional suspension imposed on Valcke on October 8, 2015 and extended on January 6, 2016 continues to be valid.

“The duties of the Secretary General will continue to be assumed by the Acting Secretary General, Dr Markus Kattner.”

Valcke’s dismissal is the latest episode in the ongoing saga at FIFA, with Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini both being banned from all football-related

activity for eight years last month in relation to a payment of two million Swiss francs (£1.3million) made by FIFA, and authorised

by Blatter, to Platini in February 2011.

Blatter and Platini have since appealed their suspension, while the investigatory chamber intends to appeal against the decision as well, seeking a life ban for the disgraced duo instead.

Platini opted to pull out of the race for the FIFA presidency following the recent turn of events, with Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa and Tokyo Sexwale standing in the election on February 26.

Business Times Thursday, January 14, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria

89% Nigerians want Buhari focus on job creation, security

Page B3

Forex crisis: Experts predict further Page B4 depreciation as naira crashes to 305/1$

Why bearish mood persists in African markets Page B6

Naira devaluation: Workers express relief, commend Buhari

Members of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) have expressed relief over the stance of President Muhammadu Buhari in not yielding to pressures from financial experts to devalue the Naira, Nigeria’s currency.

According to a statement from the Secretary-General of ASCSN, Alade Bashir Lawal, if the Naira were devalued, the workers would be the worst hit as their CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Oil rises for first time on China, US stocks draw

L-R: Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Mr. Oliver Tunde Andrews; General Counsel of AFC, Dr. Adesegun Akin–Olugbade and President, Andrew Alli, during a courtesy call on the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo by AFC Executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja... on Wednesday.

Anxiety grips Ministries as FG scrutinises payroll accounts Stories by Joy Ekeke Federal Ministry of Finance has commenced scrutiny of payroll accounts of ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government, an exercise which is causing many officials to get in a fret.

Daily Times gathered that the purpose of the exercise is to expose those behind such irregularities as ghost workers and identity duplication.

The success of the exercise is guaranteed by the deployment of Bank Verification Number (BVN)

which uniquely identifies each bank’s customer for “know your customer” KYC purposes.

Prior to the deployment of the BVN, the federal government had attempted with little or no success to clean up the system through the enrolment of staff on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

A statement signed by the Director of Press in the ministry of Finance, Marshall Gundu, yesterday, said that the strategy of using BVN rather than requiring the physical presence of each member of staff has significantly

simplified and accelerated the progress of the project and at a lower cost than anticipated.

The statement reads: “The BVN provides a pool of reliable data against which records held on the Federal Government’s payroll will be cross checked to identify inconsistencies including duplicate payments, payments to dormant accounts, multiple payments to a single account holder, non-matching of data provided, among others,” According to the ministry, genuine staff have nothing to be concerned about but those who

are collecting multiple salaries and those engaged in any type of payroll fraud are guaranteed to be caught out, adding that the Ministry of Finance has also built in controls to counteract those seeking to transfer their salary receiving accounts to micro-finance, mortgage bank and other non BVN accounts in order to evade detection.

“Since the advent of BVN we have seen a trend of such requests for transfer from commercial bank accounts to non BVN accounts. Accordingly, we plan to CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

AMCON offers PAN for sale

Motolani Oseni

Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has invited prospective investors to submit Expressions of Interest for the acquisition of its stake in PAN Nigeria Limited.

In a recent publication, AMCON said it owned 79.31 per cent of the share capital of PAN, having acquired the stake four years ago after purchasing the company’s debt and taking some

as equity.

The company operations had earlier been reported to have nosedived and accumulating bad loans shortly after the government sold its stake via a privatisation arrangement to local core investors in 2006.

AMCON said PAN Nigeria had total assets of N24.96bn as of December 2014 and equity of N11.98bn, in which it was seeking investors with experience in automobile manufacturing to

buy the stake on offer.

According to the bad debt manager, the bids for the EoI will close on January 26.

In a bid to promote a ‘Made-inNigeria’ industrial policy in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari led administration had last November met Peugeot’s Executive Vice President for Africa and the Middle-East, JeanChristophe Quemard, to discuss the revival of local production.

CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Kuru

Oil prices rose yesterday as positive Chinese trade data and an unexpected draw in weekly U.S. crude oil inventories gave investors reasons to buy crude futures.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, was up 63 cents at 31.49 dollars a barrel.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) was up 69 cents at 31.13 dollars a barrel.

“The API inventory data triggered a profit-taking wave, that’s the main reason for this uptick,” said Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist at ABN Amro in Amsterdam.

“But the overall sentiment is still negative, meaning downside risk is still greater than upside potential.”

U.S. crude stocks fell unexpectedly last week, data from industry group, the American Petroleum Institute showed on Tuesday.

China reported exports dipped just 1.4 per cent in U.S. dollar terms in December, compared to forecasts of an eight per cent drop, positively surprising world markets.

The world’s second-biggest oil consumer has also been taking advantage of the oil price rout to stock reserves, increase exports of refined products, and may be set to overtake the United States as the world’s largest importer.

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

L RM ƅƅƄƍ ^ M ƅ ƍ ƉƄ

NASME to reposition SMEs in Ogun Ï6ƄƉƋ ƄƃƏƍƄ Ɖ ƅ ƍ Ơƞèƞƞƞ ƍ ƕƏ ƎƄ ƅ ƍƊƄƍ Charles Okonji New chairman of Ogun State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Yemi Oshifodunrin has stated that necessary steps would be taken to re-position Small and Medium -scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the state, with the intention of generating massive jobs for the teaming population.

He noted that this decision was taken following the level of poverty and unemployment rocking the state and the nation at large, adding that the new executive members of NASME in the state will partner with international and local agencies such as UNIDO, UNDP, IFC, ministries of agriculture, commerce and industry associations as well as various chambers of commerce and industry to improve on the nation’s economy.

He stated that the new slogan “Ogun Operation One, One Project” is a system in which NASME had devised various means through which graduates would be engaged in farming, to create wealth and employment, explaining that the association will secured credit facilities for about 30,000 graduate farmers from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other financial institutions.

He said, “Nigeria’s poverty ordeal is a time bomb that is ready for explosion, except we do the needful and go back to farming, which is our roots, the masses, the

M Ɔƍ ƕƄƐ ƉƏ ƎƆ ë z ƍƈƄƍ ƄƒƋƍƄ ƍƄƉƆƄƅè ƃ ƊƊƄ ƕ Ə ƍƆ

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

Amosun

teaming unemployed graduates and the entire youth force will soon fight back. NASME is mobilizing people in the state to confront poverty collectively through Poverty Alleviation, Empowerment, Employment and Mass Mobilization (PEEM) in order to turn the state’s economy around.”

“As you know, Ogun State is the most industrialized state in Nigeria today, and since our slogan is “NASME OGUN – ENGINE ROOM OF THE ECONOMY” we want to radically complement this with Ogun becoming the food basket of the nation.”

“For this purpose, the state has been divided into four zones of Ijebu, Remo, Egba and Yewa.

Each zone has chosen, as a first step, one particular agricultural project to embark upon, on commercial scale.

Ijebu has chosen TILAPIA FISH, Remo choose KOLANUT, Egba Choose PIGGERY and Yewa’s choice is BROILER production and processing.”

“Apart from this, all zones must key into the all greenhouse vegetable farming which is compulsory for all zones. The cashew processing, and cocoa farming are optional. NASME Ogun hopes to partner with the state government, who has reiterated his promise to collaborate with private sector led BMO is the state.”

“The graduate start up programme (GSUP), we are looking at, will engage between 20,000 – 30,000 graduate farmers of Ogun state at full capacity. They would

be organized into cooperative (CLUSTER) to key into the new Central Bank GSUP scheme, using their certificate as collateral.

Interested graduate farmers should visit their nearest Ogun Local Government Council and put down their names for registration with the business development committee (BDC) desk officer.”

“We also have programme for those who are not interested in Agriculture. The industrialists, the traders, market women, businessmen, general merchants, and artisans, are all included in our plan.”

“All they need to do is to be in group of Ten (10) – Twenty (20) and in the same profession. We will form them into Cooperative clusters, register them and assist them to access loans. They must be in one place called Cluster village for monitoring and administration purpose. You know we have zero tolerance for bad debt.

Cooperative member’s loan liability is single and joint. Default in repayment of single member is the default and burden of the entire cooperative group in repayment.”

“We are also considering training for participants of these projects and they will undergo a two-day workshop of imparting general business rudiments in order to provide them with in-depth operational knowledge and skills in their chosen enterprises. This is to enable them create and manage viable enterprises.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

“We are not exporting anything and will therefore not earn any dividend by allowing our currency to hit the roof top for the fun of it.”

He added: “Devaluation will only succeed in sending more Nigerians into the poverty trap as they would be cut off from being able to afford the good things of life.”

salaries would further be depleted through the loss of its purchasing value.

Lawal said the union “totally agreed with the President that the country being an import dependent one cannot reap anything good from continued devaluation of its currency.”

Explaining further, Lawal said:

The government, however, under the National Automotive Industry Development Plan has ordered local car distributors to come up with plans for new assembly plants, along with threats of imposing prohibitive import duties.

United States carmaker, Ford Motor Corporation’s partnership with a local car dealer, built its first model in Nigeria at a new assembly plant in November last year and said it would produce an initial 10 vehicles a day for the domestic market.

The auto market in Africa’s biggest economy has huge potential but only a small number of new vehicles are sold annually because the sector is dominated by imported used vehicles, and the absence of an industrial policy that would encourage

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

undertake a detailed review of all persons who have requested such transfers in the last 12 months,” it added.

“We believe that the use of BVN rather than requiring physical presentation as a first line check on the integrity of our payroll is a cost effective and efficient measure. This will accelerate the pace of enrollment on IPPIS as well as identify anomalies which can be flagged for further investigation and review.”

“To date, despite over five years since initiation of the project, just 20 per cent of public employees have actually been enrolled onto IPPIS due to a variety of reasons.

As part of our public financial management reforms, we are committed to scrutinizing our largest single expense item. Personnel related costs account for over 40 per cent of government expenditure and must be prudently managed to ensure the validity of every payment. We are therefore determined that everyone who collects a salary form the Federal Purse is on the IPPIS system,” said the ministry.

While, commending the Central Bank of Nigeria and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Plc (NIBBS) for their co-operation in the ex-

According to the union, the President was on the right course by agreeing to look inward in solving the country’s economic problems through the enforcement of monetary regulations to stop financial leakages and also adopting global best practices in generating more revenue to mitigate the effect of dwindling oil prices on the Nigerian economy.

suppliers to set up in Nigeria has stunted growth.

AMCON was set up to absorb bad loans from banks after a $4bn bailout in 2009 rescued nine lenders from collapse. AMCON then bought bad loans at a discount in exchange for government-backed bonds and has since been selling off collaterals against those loans to pay back the bonds.

Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited (PAN) was a joint venture between the Federal Government and Peugeot, the major French automaker, with Peugeot Citroen as the technical partner to the assembly plant.

The company currently has capacity to assemble 240 cars a day, according to information on its website. Its annual production capacity in the 1980s was 90,000 cars.

ƒƆƄƎƓ ƍƆƋ LƆ Ɔ ƎƍƆƄ 01 ƃƍƏƎƆ Ɔ Ƅ Ƌ Ɠƍ ƉƉ ƃƃ Ə Ǝ ercise, the Minister of Finance noted that under the BVN initiative, more than 30 million biometric and personal data records had been captured.

Adeosun

The union advised all “the pseudo-economists around including those who are agents of the Britton wood institutions to go and look for another work to do and leave the country alone.”

Lawal said: “We have had enough of all their retrogressive ideas that have ended up in making the Dollar exchange for more than N200.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

B3 Business News WEF to discuss 4th industrial revolution

L-R: Member, Committee on National Taskforce on Small Arms, Ammunition and Light weapons, Dr. Christopher Maduko; Director General, Chief Osita Okereke and Director, Plateau State Command, Prof. Mike Ikupolati during a press briefing of the taskforce in Abuja... on Wednesday.

89% Nigerians want Buhari focus on job creation, security Joy Ekeke

Eighty-nine percent of Nigerians are optimistic about the Nigeria economy under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

NOIPolls has recently held a series of New Year Special Edition to assess the areas Nigerians want the President to focus his attention on as well as their expectations for the economy in the next six months.

Majority of them anticipated an improvement in the country’s economy in the next six months as reported by 89 percent of the

respondents interviewed. This perception cuts across gender, geo-political zone and age-group.

According to results, analysis on age-group indicates that majority (96 percent) of respondents who asserted that it will improve fall within the age-group of 18-25 years and most of the respondents in this category are students. This may be accredited to the provision for education which had the highest allocation (369.6 billion naira from a total of 6.08 trillion naira budget) in the recurrent expenditure in the budget.

The budget tends to provide jobs which will ultimately improve the welfare of the teeming youths

who fall within this age group.

The result showed that the perceptions of respondents on the key areas Nigerians expect President Muhammadu Buhari to focus on are: Job creation (16 percent), Security (15 percent) and Economy (12 percent) amongst others key areas.

It further explained that Nigerians who are mostly worried about job creation are residents of the South-South Zone (31 percent) which has the larger proportion of Nigerians who expect the President to focus on job creation in 2016.

This result is consistent with the report of international youth

Fidelity Bank to intensify support for MSMEs Ï dL& ƕƄƋ ƆƎ ƉƆ ƂƆƉƆƎƓ Ƒ Ɔ ƄƒƃƄ ƅ MƟƼƞƂ Sam Nzeh Fidelity Bank Plc plans to intensify support for Micro and Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through a number of unique initiatives geared towards raising their level of competitiveness in a challenging business environment.

Towards this direction, the bank hopes this year to increase its loan book by aggressively lending to MSMEs which have been touted to be the next

cash cow in the economy.

Speaking on the Fidelity SME Forum, a weekly radio talk show programme organised by the bank on a radio station in Lagos, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, disclosed that the bank currently boasts of a 50 percent SME loan to deposit ratio, which is an indication that the lender remains highly committed to supporting MSMEs in Nigeria, particularly in the area of access to finance.

He explained that Fidelity Bank’s SME deposit liability which is in excess of N120 billion and loans in excess of N60 billion are clear testaments to the bank’s avowed commitment

to the sector.

Alluding to the bank’s plan to step up the tempo of engagement with MSMEs amid the nation’s harsh economic conditions, Okonkwo noted that the bank’s SME customer base is in excess of 600,000 and are evenly spread across Nigeria’s geographical regions.

Okonkwo pointed out that the bank has made significant headway in the disbursement of the Central Bank’s MSME Development Fund as 70 customers have already accessed requisite credit to expand their business.

“We are currently one of the top two leading banks in the disbursement of the fund,” he added.

foundation on Niger Delta youth assessment which stated that the youth (15-24 years) unemployment rate is 40 percent, far exceeding the national average youth unemployment rate of 14 percent.

This reflects the security challenges in these zones as a result of insurgency.

Furthermore, while other zones across the country are more concerned about job creation, electricity and economic/welfare, the North-East and North-West were mostly worried about security; thereby accounting for the highest percentage of Nigerians who expect the President to focus on security.

Augustine Okezie Abuja Nigerian National Petroleum corporation (NNPC) and its joint venture partners, Chevron Nigeria Limited have clinched the prestigious Thomson Reuters / PFI Magazine “Africa and Middle East Oil Deal of the Year Award 2015’’, for conceptualizing, structuring and delivering an over-subscribed deal in a challenging macro-economic environment.

The NNPC in a press release signed by its Group General Manager Public Affairs, Ohi Alegbe in Abuja yesterday stated that the award was in recognition of the novel $1.2 billion multi-year drilling financing package for 36 offshore/onshore oil wells under the NNPC/CNL joint venture initiated under the Accelerated

Over 40 heads of state and government, as well as 2,500 leaders from business and society will convene at the 46th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, from 20 to 23 January in DavosKlosters, Switzerland, under the theme, Mastering the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Critical current challenges, such as security, climate change and “new normal” global growth and commodity prices, are among the issues on the agenda.

The Co-Chairs of the Annual Meeting 2016 are: Mary Barra, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Motors Company; Sharan Burrow, General-Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC); Satya Nadella, Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft Corporation; Hiroaki Nakanishi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hitachi; Tidjane Thiam, Chief Executive Officer, Credit Suisse; and Amira Yahyaoui, Founder, Al Bawsala and Global Shaper.

“The Fourth Industrial Revolution refers to the fusion of technologies across the physical, digital and biological worlds which are creating entirely new capabilities and dramatic impacts on political, social and economic systems. The speed, scale and systemic nature of this transformation has the potential to disrupt all sectors and call into question the essence of human nature and identity.

NNPC grabs Reuters 2015 oil deal award

Upstream Financing Programme executed at a signing-ceremony in London in September, 2015.

The release further stated that the initiative was designed by the NNPC to address the perennial challenge experienced by the Federal Government in providing its counter-part funding of JV upstream activities. Codenamed Project Cheetah, the $1.2bn alternative financing package, was the first to combine funding of both oil production as well as domestic gas to support power generation in Nigeria from a medley of carefully sequenced offshore and onshore wells.

Money Market B4 Stories by Motolani Oseni Following the recent stoppage of foreign exchange sales to Bureau De Changes (BDCs), finance experts have predicted further depreciation of naira, as the new policy has failed to lift the value of the naira upwards.

The naira exchanged between N303 and N305 against the United States dollar across the country, depending on the volume of dollar you are buying.

Finance experts said the naira would depreciate further in the short term because the decision to stop sale of dollars to the BDC operators was waiting to happen.

The CBN had earlier reduced the amount it sells to each BDC from $60,000 per week to $10,000 per week, due to the dwindling foreign earnings of the nation.

Reacting to the development, Executive Director, Corporate Finance, BGL Capital Limited, Femi Ademola, disclosed that the discontinuation of the sales of dollars to the BDCs, which is estimated at between $1.47 billion to $8.6 billion per annum would be used to meet some of the genuine demand for foreign exchange at the interbank market. He also said the policy would allowed the

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Forex crisis: Experts predict further depreciation as naira crashes to 305/1$ demand for dollar for payment of school fees and travel allowances to be met at the interbank market.

He explained that based on the current development, the decision appeared to be a wise one by the monetary authority to focus the official (interbank) foreign exchange market on meeting essential demand for international trade while the non-essentials would be met at the autonomous and parallel markets.

“Although the development may see the exchange rate go up significantly in the autonomous and parallel market in the short term, I think it would stabilize after a while based on demand and supply.

“I think that since the long term strategy to manage the exchange rate is to completely float the currency, the development in the BDC market would be a good test-case for the eventually floating of the Naira exchange rate,” he noted.

The Head of Investment Research, Afrinvest West Africa

Igawa State Governor, Muhammad Badaru (middle) assenting to 2016 Budget of the state at the Government House in Dutse, Jigawa State on Wednesday. With him are, Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan (right) and Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Umar Namadi.

Limited, Mr. Ayodeji Ebo, said the stoppage of forex sale to the BDCs meant that the CBN wanted everybody to apply to the banks for dollars.

He stated, “But we feel the pressure now will move from the

Sterling Bank, Stanbic, Ja’iz to benefit from NDIC insurance scheme Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has said Sterling Bank, Stanbic IBTC and Ja’iz Bank are part of the beneficiaries of the newly developed insurance framework for non-interest commercial banks and Microfinance Banks (MfB), so as to insure deposit liabilities of non-interest banks in the country.

A statement from the corporation noted that the three aforeNIBOR as @ Jan. 13, 2016 FAQs Tenor

Rate (%)

Change (%)

O/N

2.125

0.58 ?

1M

8.1344

-0.63 ?

3M

9.5454

-0.50 ?

6M

11.006

-0.68 ?

mentioned banks are currently operating non-interest banking, which was not covered under its existing Deposit Insurance Scheme (DIS).

Putting the Maximum Deposit Insurance Coverage (NDIC) for the non-interest banking institutions at N500,000 and N200,000 per depositor per account in Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Microfinance Banks (MfBs) respectively, it added that, safe keeping deposit (Wadi’ah); interest free deposit for investment (Qard); profit sharing/loss bearing deposit (Mudarabah); profit and loss sharing deposit (Musharakah); and any other deposit type that is non-interest based and ap-

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

272.9632

proved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are covered under this scheme.

It, however, said; insider deposits, counter-claims from one person who maintains both a deposit account and a non-interest bearing loan account and or a loan based on Murabahah financing where the deposit account serves as a collateral for either or both of the loan accounts and inter-bank takings, are not insured under this coverage.

The objectives of the new framework, it said, are based on public interest which seeks to provide corresponding protection to holders of non-interest financial products similar to that of conventional banks.

It listed other objectives to include: depositor protection against loss in the event of failure of any non-interest bank; engender public confidence and enhance resilience of noninterest financial institutions; encourage competitiveness of non-interest financial institutions as well as to promote and contribute to the stability of Nigeria’s financial system, even as it helps to contain the cost of resolving failed non-interest banks and provide an orderly failure resolution mechanism.

BDCs to the parallel market. We will see significant spike in the value of the naira at the parallel market because the little supply to the BDCs have also helped to cushion the demand at the parallel market.

“It will further compound or increase the spread between the parallel market and the interbank market. So, it will also increase round-tripping and unethical practices within the financial system.”

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), has launched the #GTBankMobileWin100k competition to reward its mobile banking customers by availing them a chance to win N100,000 weekly in January rewards.

The competition will run throughout the month of January 2016 and ten lucky customers will win N100,000 weekly during the period.

Commenting on the launch, Segun Agbaje, Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of GTBank said: “Understanding that customers are always on the go, mobile banking puts us in the palm of our customers and provides a unique opportunity to offer quick and more efficient ways of providing banking services.

“As a bank, we remain firm on our objective to deliver value adding services that are tailored to meet the diverse needs of our ever-growing customer base by leveraging technology to make banking more convenient for all our customers,” he said.

However, to participate in the competition, customers are required to perform two banking transactions weekly on the GTBank Mobile App, such transactions include funds transfers, airtime purchases, bills payments and purchases on the

GTBank boosts mobile banking, rewards customers with cash SME MarketHub. Multiple entries are allowed and winners will be notified by telephone or email.

The bank explained that the mobile application merges the bank’s internet banking and mobile money service offerings to allow customers enjoy 24/7 flexibility in carrying out banking transactions without having to visit the bank’s offices. Using the mobile app, customers can confirm transactions, transfer funds, pay bills and check balances from the comfort of their mobile devices.

The app also hosts other features such as the SME MarketHub; an online e-commerce platform that allows businesses owners creates online stores to sell and promote their offerings to millions of buyers online.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

B5 Brands & Marketing

L –R: Minister of Budget and National Planning , Mr. Udoma Udo Udoma ; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment , Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah ; Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Mr. Baba-shir David Lawal and Minister of state, Agriculture and Rural Development , Senator Heineken Lakpobiri at the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja … on Wednesday.

Procter & Gamble (P&G) one of Nigeria’s leading consumer goods manufacturing company has unveiled popular R&B singer Tiwa Savage as Lead Advocate in Pampers Baby-Dry diaper new campaign “Moms Know Best.”

This was disclosed at the unveiling of the campaign with the new television commercial (TVC) of Pampers Baby-Dry Diaper held recently in Lagos, Speaking at the event, Brand Marketing Director, Procter and Gamble, Nigeria, Ehis Enekabor said that the Pampers ‘Moms Know Best’ campaign is about encouraging moms to discuss what is best for their babies and

P&G unveils Tiwa Savage as lead advocate of new campaign share useful tips with each other, because the everyday decisions moms make about their babies, plays a role in their overall healthy development. The campaign also aims to share with Nigerian moms the improvements on Pampers Baby-Dry that have made it the driest diaper in the Nigerian market presently.

Tiwa Savage on her part, ex-

out of many other diapers available in the market. My experience was just as great as with the one I used in the UK. It keeps my baby dry throughout the night.

He wakes up full of strength and so I have come to trust it.”

Doctor Ronke Akinola, Pampers Paediatrician, and a fellow of the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinologists, also pres-

ent at the event, described Pampers Baby-Dry as a diaper that is well suited for the long hours of comfortable and sound sleep that the baby needs. She advised mothers to always ensure that their babies get a simple bath, a change of diaper and a light cloth as appropriate for comfortable sleep that aids babies’ steady development.

Etisalat, Traffina applauded over maternal health initiative

Charles Okonji

Following the successful implementation of the maternal health initiative in 16 communities across six states in the South-East and South-South regions of the country by one Nigeria’s most innovative telecommunications brand, Etisalat and Traffina Foundation for Maternal Health, commendation messages have continued to pour in the way of the two organisations.

Eze Ebube Dike of Ulakwo Autonomous Community, Owerri North in Imo State, HRH, Raphael Nnana Oparaochaekwe, whose community benefitted from the scheme is among several leaders who have expressed delight at the immediate impact of the initiative just as he commended the organizers over it.

“I am very happy to witness

An MTN customer has complained about the re-registration bonuses awarded to the customers of the telecommunication company that have successfully completed their re-registration exercise.

Pastor Mike Okhihiemen, Managing Director, Blue Partners, who lodged the complaint over the weekend in Lagos noted that for over a decade ago that MTN started business in Nigeria, it has never granted any reasonable bonus to Nigerians.

He said “Now that the communication company is carrying out re-registration exercise, MTN awarded various sums as bonuses, ranging from N1,000 to N10,000, but the malady is that the bonus cannot be converted to data. The normal recharge code is not used so that the bonus airtime could be exhausted speedily.”

MTN re-registration bonus, a deceit – Okhihiemen

this in my community. It might sound strange, but this is the first time I have seen a company come do a thing as this here. I am happy that they also noticed that the rate at which pregnant women die in this community has been alarming, and with this kind of education, it will be minimised. We are happy because we have been favoured.

We are not the only community affected by this, but we have been favoured,” he said.

While speaking on the importance of the initiative, the chairman of Aniocha Local Government Council, Delta State, Hon. Chuks Oseme, commended the team for picking a very good cause to promote and also for the useful insights offered on maternal health.

His words, “I am very happy and proud of the organisers for

pressed excitement on the campaign. She said she seems not to understand why many moms are discouraged from using the Nigeria Pampers saying as a mother, her experience of it so far has been great.

She said: “When I was in the UK, I used Pampers for my baby and when we came back, I decided to try the Nigerian Pampers

the good they are doing to our community and other communities. I will say I am elated by this programme. I can see they picked a very good cause to promote. There is a lot of value in doing this. The talks have also shown that rich or poor, you can survive if you have the right information and work with such.”

The Chairman of Calabar South local government council, Mrs. Majorie Eyo Asuquo, commended the organizers for focusing on pregnant women, which was never the case.

“This is very good indeed and laudable. We have always focused on health workers and facilities but have never really touched the pregnant women themselves, those carrying the babies and Etisalat is doing this, for the first time, so it is very good.

He lamented that the so called N10,000 re-registration bonus awarded to him got exhausted in less than an hour, adding that the bonus is a fluke, intended to deceive Nigerians in their assumed generosity.

He said, “If not, why should MTN lure Nigerians to re-register with such gift, only to disappoint them. I have put a call across to NCC, registering my protest and displeasure over the fake bonuses to save Nigerians from the hands of MTN dubious and fake bonuses. I had earlier called MTN twice on this issue, but only to hear that they are working on it.”

Capital Market B6

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

Stock Market Report Stock market index falls by 4% The Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index (NSE ASI) and the market capitalization decreased by 3.58 percent yesterday, while the Year-toDate return stood at -12.36 percent. The All- Share Index closed at 25,103.05 against the previous day’s close of 26,034.93 while market capitalization closed at N8.633 trillion against previous close of N8.954 trillion.

Volume of shares traded increased by 65.29 percent from 223.386 million to 369.233 million, while the total value of stock traded decreased by 32.76 percent from N2.512 billion to N1.689 billion in 2,887 deals.

The Financial Services sector led the activity chart with 343.896 million shares exchanged for N1.196 billion. Consumer Goods came next with 13.09 million shares traded for N0.279 billion, Conglomerates, Industrial Goods, Healthcare sectors followed in that order on the activity chart.

Diamond Bank, Unity Kapital, Zenith Bank, Fidelity Bank and UBA were the most active stocks by volume. Ashakacem, Custodian Insurance and NEM emerged the highest price gainers on the chart, while Okomu Oil, Zenith Bank, Ikeja Hotel, UBA and Continental Insurance topped the losers chart.

Summary of activities on The Nigerian Stock Exchange ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP

25,103.05 2,887.00 369,233,091.00 1,689,219,209.70 8,633,406,943,196.17

L-R: Pampers Paediatrician; Dr. Akionla Ronke, Pampers #momsknowbest Advocate; Tiwa Savage and Brands Marketing Director Procter and Gamble Nigeria; Ehis Enekabor during the unveiling of the Pampers’ new campaign #momsknowbest recently in Lagos.

Why bearish mood persists in African markets Stories by Azubike Nnadozie

Gwarzo urges investors to register for e-dividend Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has urged investors in the Capital Market to register for their e-Dividend as he said that the Commission is committed to ensuring that investors receive their unclaimed dividends which currently stands at N90 billion.

Gwarzo who said this when the Commission took its e-dividend sensitization exercise to Nyanyan and other parts of Abuja, said that once the commission has completed the on-going registration of investors, the next phase would be to ensure that the owners of the unclaimed dividends are paid their money.

He said, “e-dividend is very important because I believe it is going to be a major game changer, it is an issue we have had since the inception of this market whereby people buy shares and are unable to claim their dividend either because the warrant becomes stale, they change address or are living in an area that is quite far and it will take more than what the dividend warrant is worth and they

will not want to go and collect it.

“One of the things we are doing once we are through with the registration is to see how those huge unclaimed dividends can be verified and paid to the owners.

You know there is a limitation of the law that says after 12 years you cannot claim. But those that are below 12 years once people have registered and they are able to show proof that they are the owners of that dividend they should be able to claim that part of the unclaimed dividend.”

Gwarzo explained that the reason why the Commission has chosen these densely populated areas for the campaign is because the high level of unclaimed dividends belongs to the retail holders, the people that have small holdings.

“Somebody that has N1m or N500, 000 dividends will certainly find a way to claim it. So it is the N2, 000, N3, 000 dividends that people have not been claiming that has accumulated to this level. That is why strategically SEC focused on this enlightenment programme,” he said.

Cautious optimism that prevailed during most of 2015 in African stock markets has persisted into the second week of January 2016. Many investors, especially United States dollar (USD)-based investors are still not looking forward with much enthusiasm in 2016, as they had a hard year in Africa in 2015.

According to a recent edition of African Capital Market News, published by the African Securities Exchanges group, “Out of all the African markets which list returns in USD, only the regional market Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières SA (BRVM) had a positive return, with a 6 per cent gain over the year to 31 December 2015, according to these figures published by Ryan Hoover who writes in investinginafrica.net.

By comparison the S&P 500 lost only 0.7 per cent over the year.

Performance in all the other markets listed was bad, partly as African currencies crashed against the USD, driven down by deteriorating exports as commodity prices fell. The best of the rest for USD investors were the Namibian and Botswana bourses with -4.3 per cent and -5.9 per cent respectively, better than Johannesburg at -27.9.5 per cent (NAD is linked to ZAR 1 for 1 and the ZAR USD collapsed in December with finance minister drama as reported).

Zambia’s kwacha declined hard and the Lusaka Stock Exchange offered USD a 46.1 per cent fall, slightly worse than Rwanda (-43.2%) and Zimbabwe (-29.4%). Samuel Kerosi of enjoyable website Kenyan Wall Street who looked at performance to

local currency investors pointed out that only three were up by the measure of their indices: BRVM Composite Index was up 18.5 per cent, the Botswana Domestic Companies index climbed 11.6 per cent and the JSE All Share Index was up 2.4 per cent for the year.

Zimbabwe Stock Exchange is priced in USD and was the worstperforming market in Africa despite not having currency decline, as companies struggled to cope both as they cannot devalue to stay competitive with imports and in the continuing political difficulties.

Kerosi pointed out that 25 companies in Zimbabwe had negative earnings per share and six of the top 10 saw market capitalization down, with Econet Wireless, a great telecoms company, down by 64 per cent in 2015.

Guinness Nigeria acquires Distribution rights for USL brand Guinness Nigeria Plc has announced the acquisition of distribution rights to United Spirits Limited’s brand in Nigeria.

According to a statement signed

by Corporate Relations Director, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, Guinness Nigeria Plc (“GN”) has agreed to acquire the rights to distribute McDowell’s’, a mainstream spirits brand of United Spirits Limited (USL) in Nigeria. USL is an Indian mainstream spirits business which is also a subsidiary

of Diageo Plc. It added that this transaction will become effective on 1 st February 2016.

The latest acquisition would be an addition to its other popular brands such as Foreign Extra Stout and Extra Smooth, Malta Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Cîroc, Baileys, Smirnoff, JB, Orijin, Harp Lager, Satzenbrau, Dubic Lager and Snapp.

United Spirits Limited (USL) is a subsidiary of Diageo plc which is a global leader in beverage alco-

hol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. In 2013-14, Diageo plc acquired a 54.8% shareholding in United Spirits making India one of its largest markets.

Founded in 1826, USL is the largest Indian spirits company involved in the manufacture, sale and distribution of beverage alcohol. USL produces and sells around 120 million cases of Scotch whisky, IMFL whisky, brandy, rum, vodka, gin and wine.

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

B7 Capital Market

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY ( EQUITIES) 13-01-2016

Motoring B8

Daily Times Nigeria Thursday, January 14, 2016

KIA introduces drive wise

Ï M ƕ Ɖ Ə ƐƄƆƉ EƆ ô éƃ ƍ Stories by Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Kia Motors has launched a new sub-brand, ‘DRIVE WISE,’ to encompass its future Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). DRIVE WISE embodies Kia’s philosophy to realize intelligently safe

vehicles featuring Kia’s latest and forthcoming ADAS technologies.

Kia recently announced plans to manufacture partially-autonomous cars by 2020, and aims to bring its first fully-autonomous vehicle to the market by 2030.

DRIVE WISE will enable Kia to introduce intelligent safety technologies in its future model range, helping to eliminate potential dangers and, for many, the boredom of driving, while changing the ways in which

owners interact with their vehicles.

By 2020, Kia aims to introduce its first partially-autonomous car with DRIVE WISE technologies by building upon the current generation of driver-assistance systems.

The advanced technologies under development by Kia provide the driver with greater levels of assistance, anticipating and reacting to changing road conditions and potential hazards to improve safety for all road users.

By helping to eliminate many of the inherent dangers, stresses and hassles of driving on today’s congested roads, DRIVE WISE will enable owners to focus more on the pleasures of driving.

Kia’s future DRIVE WISE technologies on display at CES 2016 include Highway Autonomous Driving, Urban Autonomous Driving, Preceding Vehicle Following, Emergency Stop System, Traffic Jam Assist and a new Autonomous Parking & Out function:

Hyundai’s iX35 SUV thrills youth at ‘Headies’ annual music fiesta Hyundai Motors Nigeria (HMN) in collaboration with HipHop World has presented a Hyundai iX35 sport utility vehicle (SUV) to Marvin Records Reekado Banks, winner of the ‘Next Rated’ commemorative plaque at the just ended 2015 ‘Headies’ Awards.

The 22-year-old University of Lagos History and Strategic Study graduate, Ayoleyi Hanniel Solomon popularly called Reekado Banks outshined rival nominees Kiss Daniel, Cynthia Morgan, Korede Bello and Lil’ Kesh to emerge winner in the ‘Next Rated’ category of the

contest.

Next rated category spotlights probable outstanding artiste and is arguably the most coveted grouping in the nine year old musical show with past winners like international music sensation Asa; Wande Coal, Omawunmi, Wizkid, Davido, Sean Tizzle and Patoranking.

Stallion Hyundai Motors Nigeria has since 2011 underwrite the Next Rated category of Headies’ Awards, a seeming adaptation of the prestigious Grammy Awards, where local outstanding and upcoming ar-

Marvin Records Reekardo Banks (2nd right), winner Next Rated category receiving the coveted prized Hyundai iX35 SUV dummy key from Vijay Singh (2nd right) and Santhosh Nair (r) with Ibironke Olumuyiwa (l) all of Hyundai Motors Nigeria Limited at the grand ceremony of the 2015 Headies Awards in Lagos recently.

tistes in the year are honoured.

In his post award remarks, Hyundai Motors Nigeria head of sales and marketing Jatin

Nadkarni said: “Hyundai is delighted to be associated with Headies’ entertainment’ talent hunt initiative which has con-

DRIVE WISE technologies will also facilitate communication and interaction between the driver and vehicle with innovative new Human Machine Interface (HMI) functions, such as gesture control, fingerprint sensors and smart-device connectivity.

Featured in a special I-Cockpit display at CES, Kia’s nextgeneration HMI is based on the concept of ‘blind control’, with a fingerprint touchpad and gesture recognition used to operate the car’s controls. Automatically recognizing individual drivers’ preferences on start-up based on their fingerprint or smartwatch the car can immediately change the cabin ambience for the driver with their favourite music, preferred climate control temperature.

Meanwhile, tennis superstar and Kia global brand ambassador Rafael Nadal lifted the cover off of Kia’s latest ‘X-Car’ in Melbourne, Australia during the official VIK handover ceremony for the Australian Open 2016.

The one-of-a-kind Sportage CUV was created in collaboration with Twentieth Century Fox and modelled after the popular X-Men character Mystique.

Boasting of a unique design with special textured ‘tone-ontone’ matte and gloss blue paint finish, racing wheels and tires along with red and yellow bodywork highlights, the Kia X-Car and Rafael Nadal combine powers in an online video released ahead of this year’s Australian Open. instrument panel.

sistently celebrated local music icons with recourse to the consequence of music being one of the most effective media of communication and the best way to reach out to the world most potent population.”

“We intend to continue to use this platform to raise the profile of evolving arts that are fast becoming an attribute for socio-cultural emancipation,” Mr. Nadkarni noted.

Also remarking that the sponsorship was in harmony with Headies, HMN sales and marketing helmsman said the musical show could subsequently rid the streets of drifters.

Mr. Nadkarni added that Hyundai vehicles are stylish, sleek and sporty with dynamic curves that could best be likened to contemporary youth transformation and their socio-cultural philosophy.

Life&

TIMES Thursday, January 14, 2016

Tayo Sobola:

From Video Vixen to stardom

L2,3

P

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 14, 2016

Movie industry:

I still have

a lot to learn Tayo Sobola Delectable movie diva, Tayo Sobola fondly known as Sotayo by her teeming fans is one of the most sought-after actresses in the movie industry, having featured in several movies. The multi-talented dancer, model, TV presenter cum actress has also added production to her cap as she recently unveiled her outfit, Sotee Entertainment amidst pops and glitz. Sotayo created a huge buzz in 2011 when she released her first self-produced work, Arewa Onijogbon. The graduate of Public Administration from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) has to her credit, several movies and she is not resting on her oars. In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, Sotayo spoke on her movie career, plans for the year and why she created her own entertainment outfit. Excerpts:

Life&

T E A M

What’s your plan for 2016?

2016 is definitely going to be a good one for me as I have a lot in stock and most especially to seek the grace of God to accomplish the plans set aside. 2015 was indeed wholesome for me and so shall this year be too.

A lot of people don’t know you have been in the industry for quite sometime, what took you so long to be noticed?

I believe hard work pays any day; not many know that I was once a writer, video vixen and also into staging events. All this I started when I was in the university and after graduating, I did few of the aforementioned before I fell in love with acting. There is this thing about me which is the showbiz business. I believe God made me popular when he actually wanted people to know about me.

You are quite popular in the movie industry; would you say that you have arrived?

I haven’t gotten to where I am going yet. To me, on a scale of one to 10, I am still at one. I haven’t started, I see myself like I am just starting because I have not gotten anywhere and there are still lots to learn.

What keeps you going in the industry?

Humility, perseverance and being loyal.

Are you fulfilled with Yoruba movies?

I didn’t start on this note. Some people would see me and say I am a Yoruba actress. I tell them that the fact that I act Yoruba movies doesn’t mean I am a Yoruba actress. I started as an Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) member and I am still. I do both Yoruba and English movies. I started English movies with Mercy Johnson and the likes. But how many people

knew me while I was active in English movies and the rest? I went to London at a time and I didn’t want to come back, but I was dragged back to Nigeria to start afresh. Before I knew it, I saw myself doing Yoruba movies and I was noticed too. I don’t like it when they segregate or put a label that some are English actors while others are Yoruba; for crying out loud, we all are actors and theatre practitioners.

How do you combine being an actress, writer, dancer, singer, and the others?

(Laughs)…I just think if you have a flair for something, it will remain in you. Everybody has got talent. I was in a musical group and Tee A was the one pushing it. I did other performances on stage and all that; The Nescafe Vibes Waves. All of a sudden, my mom was not cool with it so I had to stop. She said she couldn’t walk on the street without somebody stopping her to say they saw her daughter on TV. So I started doing modeling, going for casting and photo shoot. I am not a runway model but the photographer model. As for entertainment, if you are a dancer, they will use you for video shoot. I didn’t learn that from anywhere. I just found myself doing it. It has not been easy.

Writing is also just flair and I went for a Diploma in Law at Lagos State University before changing to University of Ibadan.

Once you are in that kind of line, the next thing is writing or sketching something. That is why the ability to balance five or six things at the same time has not been easy for me.

But there are times in life when you have to sit down and draw your board to pick out the one working out for you. But now I will say it is

Movie and Music Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

the consistency that I have put in the Yoruba movie that has made me a new face. With a little push, I know I am there.

Let’s talk about Sotee entertainment, what is it all about?

We have a photo studio, editing studio, and we are into public relations and advertising.

Sotee Entertainment is a company, not just an office. Very soon, we plan to unveil a television programme that has something to do with charity. We have many things we do that people don’t get to know about. For the production, we are more concerned about the needy. In the next five years, we hope to be everywhere and I am certain about that. Since we just started I don’t want to say we would be at a particular level or compare us with other companies. I am not a lazy person and I don’t think I am working with lazy people. We are all working together

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Adebambo Segun

and making sure we grow as a company.

Why do you wait for your birthday to introduce new things?

Most time since it is one’s birthday people want to see new things. I am not so much into party, but once it is my birthday, there is hunger to do something. In 2014 on my birthday, I had a video premiere because I saw it as an avenue to put that in place and I opened an entertainment outfit too to mark my birthday last month. I just feel it is nice to celebrate it big on my birthday.

Why did you venture into running an entertainment outfit?

I didn’t just wake up one morning and say I want to do this. I have been thinking of having a place of my own so as to accommodate

Continued on L3

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 14, 2016

L3 Interview

Continued from L2 visitors, most especially business associates. Whenever people meet me at events they ask for the address of my office and I get confused. I cannot always give my house address to everyone, but I now have an office where people can always meet me. This is my 11 years in showbiz, but people know me for different things. I used to be a dancer, TV presenter and I write.

I decided to stick with movie to focus on one thing because my manger then told me that I needed to pick one thing and let people know me for that. Now, I am going back to the things I used to do before; things I know I can do well. I am not there yet, but I would get there. I have been thinking of this for a while. I just don’t want to set up a cubicle; I want a place where we can do everything entertainment. Even when I am not around I have people who can attend to clients or associates.

How did you raise funds?

I have been working; that is the truth. I know many people will query where I got the money from since they believe acting is not so lucrative anymore. I hear this every day. If I say I made all what I have from movies I am lying. We all have things we do different from our regular job unless you are a lazy person.

Since I became a grown up I do extra jobs. I do contract jobs, among others; I make my money in my own way. I didn’t borrow money to put this place together; I spent my money.

What is the worth?

I am not putting any figure to it. I believe we all know what is good and what is not, so you can use your discretion.

You seem to be in love with Tattoos?

There is nothing serious; I just love tattoos but I don’t think I am getting anymore. I have four tattoos on my body at the moment.

When do you plan to start a family?

It is very soon. You don’t need to rush; I would call you when I am ready.

Are there no fears that this might be a flop?

I don’t think I have ever ventured into something that went bad in the long run. I am a goal-getter and I do whatever I want to do. If I really want to get something, I get it except I lost interest in it along the way. I am not being proud, but if you do your homework well you would get good answers. And I did my homework well. Nigeria is a huge market and it accommodates everybody. Regardless of the magnitude of competitions, all you need to do is to carve a niche for yourself in whatever you decide to do. What will stand us out from others is the production that comes out of the company.

But some of your colleagues are not as enterprising?

You mean I should tell people how to use their money? The truth is that nobody is perfect and everyone has his or her way

Humility, perseverance and loyalty have kept me going – Tayo Sobola of doing things. I just wish I am in the right position to say certain things, but I won’t say anything for some reasons well known to me. I would just urge everyone to use their money well and always think of the future.

Do you have any intention to venture into fashion business since you are highly fashionable?

Are you talking about me selling clothes, shoes among others? Sorry, that is no-go area for me. I have tried it before; I used to have a boutique and I ended up giving out my products while some people bought things they didn’t later pay for. If you ask

them for your money they would turn things to violence. So why can’t I buy my clothes for myself alone and give to people? I don’t really think it is the right line of business for me to do. Most women like to buy clothes even when they are short of money, but it is hard to get money from them. I think I would just stick to what I do; this works for me. You cannot walk in here and say you want to do a photo shoot without paying. You cannot say you want to edit a movie without paying the editor.

Are you working on any new movie?

I just finished a production some weeks ago.

Buzz byte Michael George

NollywoodNewNow berth on Radio ‘WFM 91.7 Lovers of Nollywood, Nigeria’s fast-growing film industry can now interact with their favourite artistes, producers and directors on NollywoodNewsNowOnRadio.

The station is currently an on-line news platform reporting Nigeria’s film industry news, celebrations and happen stances, goes live on Nigeria’s first women radio, WFM 91.7 with effect from Saturday, January 16, 2016.

According to the Executive Producer, Biodun Kupoluyi, has been designed to find, give voice and expression to Nollywood in an artistically intuitive narrative and interactive style. He said ‘ the platform will showcase actors, directors, producers, film reviews, film trailers, interviews, hot gist, latest releases, among others.

Speaking on the development, the Chief Executive Officer of WFM 91.7, Toun Okewale Sonaiya said, “At WFM 91.7, we are excited to have NollywoodNewsNowOnRadio. Its arrival lends credence to our movement to inspire, educate, unite, empower, restore family values, and break the culture of silence among women. All these and more reflect in the styling and pictures of Nollywood. We believe the programme, NollywoodNewsNowOnRadio will drive the movement further and make both men and women in Nollywood better citizens.

releases music video of debut single

‘my God’

Biodun Kupoluyi

Following the recent premiere of his debut singles My God, Uwese and Chioma, Nigeria’s sensational gospel music act Michael George, has released the video of the spirit moving single ‘My God’ which has been enjoying massive airplay on Nigeria’s urban foremost radio stations.

With his very unique and beautiful voice, Michael George croons ‘My God’ a song inspired by his late mother- Caroline Omogberha to delight of his listeners. ‘My God’ is a worship song that connects listeners to the awesomeness of God, ushering them into the worship mode of the Almighty, the Glorious God and certainly bringing down the Holy Spirit.

The music video is directed by AJE Film works shows a reflection of the wonderful artwork of God’s creation through series of scenes displayed in the background. This music video incites a divine consciousness as you watch and listen to his rendition of each verse

Music Gists L4

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 14, 2016

Mutiat Alli

Wizkid to Collabo with Kiss Daniel

Kiss Daniel & Wizkid

Star boy entertainment act, Wizkid has shown possible indication of how 2016 will be as he begins with a collaboration with Woju star, Kiss Daniel. Wizkid and Kiss Daniel have announced on their Twitter accounts that they shall be working together on a collaborative track. Fans of these superstars should expect nothing but sheer joy in the two works of their project.

The pair are one of the many highly rated music stars in the country at the moment.

Wizkid, especially has been involved in some few top notch collaboration. In the past, he got American vocalist to spit on his‘Ojuelegba’ song. This became a massive fan favourite, expectedly putting him higher on the international map. Kiss Daniel also expresses his appreciation for Wizkid’s music and an evident excitement regarding the impending joint effort on his Twitter handle.

MTN Foundation musical arts

…powers Kakadu, Wakaa the musical It was an all-round entertainment for lovers of theatre, dance, drama and music, when award-winning hit musicals, Kakadu and Wakaa hit the stage at the popular Agip and Shell Hall of Muson Center in Lagos. Proudly sponsored by MTN Foundation as part of its contributions to arts and culture, advancing theatre and performing arts in Nigeria, Kakadu and Wakaa, the musical from the stables of Playhouse Initiative and Bolanle AustenPeters Production were among the very few entertainment concerts that closed out 2015 on a good note.

Commenting on the Foundation’s sponsorship of the musical dramas, the Executive Secretary for the MTN Foundation, Ms. Nonny Ugboma, said the Foundation is excited to see a crop of beneficiaries of its music scholarship programme in partnership with MUSON distinguishing themselves in their chosen careers and applying what they have learnt in the course of their programme.

“It is worthy of note that some of the beneficiaries of the MTNF-Muson Scholarship programme who have excelled in their chosen careers are part of the two plays. For instance, two of the beneficiaries - Ayo Ajayi and Lawal Seyi who graduated in 2008 and

Chocolate City rapper Loose, releases “The Gemini Project” Mixtape

Timi Dakolo Headlines 40-Man Cast

…… As Love Is The Musical Hits Eko Hotel

Timi Dakolo

2014 respectively were part of the cast and crew for ‘Wakaa, The Musical.’ While the former is the play’s Music Director, the latter is the Tenor Sax. We at the Foundation are really excited about these bold moves from our beneficiaries,” she said.

The MTNF music scholarship programme which is implemented in partnership with the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) is targeted at students with a flair for music. The scholarship provides the beneficiaries an opportunity to acquire quality music education leading to the MUSON Diploma in Music. In its nine years of existence, over 200 students have graduated from the programme while another 60 students are presently undergoing training.

Wakaa! The Musical is a play about the trials, successes and experiences of six young graduates with varied backgrounds. The story revealed the struggles and challenges young people face in Nigeria and abroad. Wakaa!

While Kakadu on the other hand was a journey back into history. Kakadu tells the story of Nigeria starting from the early sixties and terminating with the end of the civil war. The two musical drama presented unbelievable stage spectacle and magic to the audiences.

R&B artiste, Timi Dakolo will be at the top of the bill on Friday 5 February at the third edition of “Love Is…The Musical” holding at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Telling a musical story of three female characters - a poet, a professional dancer and a businesswoman - who are on a journey in search of love, the show follows their journey of discovery as they attempt to answer the question: “What is Love?” Preceded by an art exhibition entitled “Love Becomes Art” at 6pm, the night will also witness comedy sets from comedians Gordons, Igos and Emma Oh Ma God as well as performances by Yinka Davies and dance group Ijodi. Completing the night’s A-list lineup are Efe Paul, The Poet and The Poet Donna.

In the mind of event Producer, Clementine Vervelde, “Love is...The Musical” is set to be the richest and most nuanced in the series thus far.

Her words: “The idea behind this edition of Love is…The Musical is to take the exploration of the theme of love to a new elemental level that resonates with everyone at a very deep part of their soul. The reference to a journey or a quest or a search of love is one that the audience will understand and connect with. At the end of the day, those in attendance will go home having watched more than just a show, but having enriched their personal experience and understanding of what love is.”

Created and directed by Ice Nweke, “Love is…The Musical” features a 40-member cast and crew and it is produced by Ixtreme and Limitless Mind Africa.

loose

Chocolate City Music artiste, Loose Kaynon has released arguably Nigeria’s most anticipated hiphop project – ‘The Gemini Project’. He has been involved with this project for over three years, and that work has culminated into the released project.

“The Gemini Project” contains features from Ice Prince, Sir Dauda, Milli, Victoria Kimani, Zaina, Koker, Dice Ailes, Isaac Geralds and Ruby Gyang.

Production credits on the project goes to Kid Konnect alongside Don L37, Reinhard, Ckay and M.I. Abaga.

Olamide drops t r le A ‘I love Lagos’ video New Video

Eyan Mayweather crooner, Olamide (Baddo) storms 2016 with an exciting and patriotic new music and video titled – ‘I Love Lagos‘. After the release of his five studio album, “Eyan Mayweather”, the rapper drops this new song with a visual dedicated to his home city, Lagos. ‘I Love Lagos’ video features a cameo appearance by popular Yoruba actor Odunlade Adekola, and it is directed by Unlimited L.A.

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 14, 2016

L5 Movie Gists

Judith Frank-Edet and Mutiat Alli

Dairy of a Lagos girl gets February release date

New movie, Love Is In The Hair, hits cinema tomorrow Nollywood is opening the New Year on a good note. With a new movie, Love Is In The Hair, the Nigerian motion picture industry is set to record one of its major box office hits in 2016.

Love Is in the Hair, a rom-com from one of the best producers in the country, Emem Isong Misodi, will hit cinemas nationwide on Friday January 15, 2016.

Written by Rita C. Onwurah and directed by Ayana Saunders, Love Is In The Hair tells the incredible but hilarious story of Jonny, aka Twelve Fingers, who on a chance meeting with Doreen, a jetsetting executive, steals a piece of her hair and uses it as juju to charm her into falling in love with him. Unfortunately, Doreen’s hair is an Indian attachment, and the real owner - a middle aged Indian woman - comes after Jonny with the craze of a charmed woman in love.

Distributed by Silverbird Film Distribution, Love Is In the Hair boasts of a competent cast including Bishop Imeh Umoh, Uti Nwachukwu, Toyin Aimakhu, Okey Bakassi, and Funny Bone Chibuna. Others are Vani Vyas, Micheal Bassey, Omotu Bissong, Emem Ufot, Funky Mallam, and Obioma Beulah.

According to Emem Isong, rather

Bishop Imeh on set than be premiered, the film will go straight to cinemas across the country this weekend. “Yes, we are opening the New Year with a surprise package. Love Is In The Hair is a never seen kind of film in this clime. You cannot compare it to any other film. It is a comedy, quite funny and hilarious. It will keep you laughing all through. I can assure movie goers that Love Is In the Hair is worth their time and money,” she assures.

While the film’s executive producer is Africa Magic, Patrick Namani did the screenplay and Chiji Vivian ably assisted him. Tom Robson was Director of Photography, Awolabi Gbade anchored sound, and Daniel Tom edited the film.

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Funke Akindele displays rap talent

Dry gets US Distribution deal Stephanie Linus’s self-directed film, “Dry” has signed an agreement with ARC Entertainment for the distribution of her film in the United States of America.The award-winning movie based on a real life story portrays the lives of two girls forced to become child brides.The film is presently available on several online platforms including Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Sony PlayStation and VUDU. Linus plays multiple roles in this film – she produced, directed and also features as an actor.

Dry was recently nominated in the 2016 Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards (AMVCA). It was nominated for awards in the Best Director, Best Overall Movie (Africa), Best Movie (West Africa) and Best Supporting Actress categories.

The movie has equally been screened in the USA, United Kingdom and Canada. The film will be shown at the Toronto Black Film Festival early 2016.

Stephanie Linus

Known for her many talents, star actress, Funke Akindele popularly known as Jenifa, a role she carved for herself in her popular movie ‘Jenifa and The Return of Jenifa’ is not resting on her oars. Funke takes on a rap gang mood as she releases the musical visual of her much talked about series, ‘Jenifa’s Diary’.

Funke showed her prowess in rap, giving a clear cut picture that she might one day hit the musical scene with her comical musical skills. The video was however produced by Fliptyce and Video was shot by Q and directed by JJCSKILLZ. It equally had cameo appearances by top notch entertainers that include, Bimbo Thomas, Vector, Sound Sultan, Kaffy, May-D, Gbenro Ajibade, Lolo of Wazobia, Laura Ikeji, soccer star, Assisat Oshoala, DJ Switch.

Eniola Badmus, Gabriel Afolayan star in Ghettohood

Eniola Badmus, Tope Adebayo and DJ Tee

Top Nollywood big names like Binta Ayo Mogaji, Gabriel Afolayan, Bukky Wright, Yemi Solade, Eniola Badmus amongst others are currently on set of an upcoming movie, titled ‘Ghettohood’, which ex-rays the real ghetto happenings including there every day live to mention but a few.

The movie, which is being shot on location in Lagos by renowned cinematographer, Dj Tee is directed by Tope Adebayo.

Mixed Grill L6

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 14, 2016

Mutiat Alli

Stars, celebrities glamourize Glo-CAF Awards night It was a starry night at the Glo-CAF Awards on 7th of January, 2016, as the crème de la crème in the public and private sectors, Nollywoodstars, Nigerian footballers, ex internationals, other celebrities and very important personalities from different walks of life watched the event live at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Top African music icons were also spotted at the event. They included Malian legend, Salif Keita, Grammy Award winning Lady Smith Black Mambazo of South Africa, Awilo Longomba from Congo, Shatta Wale from Ghana, Ahmed Soultan from Morocco and the best in Nigerian entertainers, King Sunny Ade, D’banj, Flavour, Korede Bello, Di’ja, BezIdakula, Omawumi, Ego and Paul Okoye of P-Square. Some of the Globacom Ambassadors at the event included Funke Akindele, Ini Edo andRichard Mofe-Damijo. From Ghana, there were

Glo Ambassadors like Van Vicker, Jackie Apia and Nadia Buhari.

A high powered government delegation comprising five ministers graced the occasion which included Sports Minister, Solomon Dalong, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari who won the CAF Platinum Award and Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, Acting President of FIFA and Confederation of African Football President, Issa Hayatou, winner of the 2015 Glo-CAF Awards, Pierre-emerick Aubameyang; firstrunner-up, Yaya Toure, and the second runner-up, Andrew Ayew, who came with his father and Ghanaian legend, Abedi Pele. President of Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinick; Vice President of the Federation, Seyi Akinwunmi, Chairman of League Management Company, Shehu Diko to mention but a few.

Jackie Appiah, Van Vicker and Nadi a buari

D’banj

Fade Ogunro unveils website Ivie Okujaiye, Wangi Uba-uzoukwu, Head of Brands and Marketing Communications and Akin Lewis

Cross section of Hotel Majestic crew

Fade Ogunro Barely few weeks after she announced her exit from her popular radio show on The Beat 99.9FM, Fade Ogunro has definitely moved on as she recently launched her website: www.FadeOgunro.com which is updated daily, showcasing exclusive footage from all her TV productions; you can watch every single music video, TV Commercial, documentaries and reality TV shows she has produced.

She reveals a brand new reality show on her website called ASSISTANT SEARCH, you can equally watch the first episode exclusively on her site portal. For the next five weeks, we watch as Fade Ogunro puts the top five applicants vying to be her personal assistant through some grueling tasks, from proof reading, to styling and treatment writing.

According to Fade, her website is a one stop to find out everything about her personality, from her love for fashion, behind the scenes of all TV production amongst others.

DJ Neptune

Ebuka Uchendu

Harrysong thrilling guest

It’s a wrap! Hotel Majestic ends with pomp and excitement!

The Intercontinental Hotel in Lagos was agog as various celebrities, socialites and the cast and crew of Hotel Majestic, gathered to celebrate the final episode of the critically acclaimed telenovella.

The event which was hosted by ace compere and television host, Ebuka Uchendu, featured stellar performances from artistes and comedians including rave of the moment, Y.C, Harrysong, Funnybone and Kenny Black. The gathering also provided an avenue for fans of the show to celebrate up close with their favourite cast members, even as Africa Magic, the continent’s leading provider of premium African entertainment content, promised more for its viewers.

Some of the faces spotted at the event include Patrick Doyle, Sadiq Daba, Ivie Okujaye, Tina Mba, Linda Ejiofor, Wole Ojo, Ibukun Ukeje, Kemi-lala Akindoju, Franklin Leonard, Olamide Akintobi, Shade Ladipo, Vixen Ikwerre, Zaina

bBalogun, Funke Bucknor Obruthe among others.

Speaking at the event, the Director, M-Net West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, said: “Tonight we celebrate the success of Hotel Majestic. We recognize that this level of success would be unachievable without the incredible support that our viewers across Africa and indeed the rest of the world have shown and we want to thank everyone who partook in the show’s success. The cast and crew have been phenomenal, even as Hotel Majestic officially provided a platform for many new exciting talents to shine.

“However, the excitement on Africa Magic does not end there as this January, we are also premiering Jikulumessu, an exciting Angolan series. In everything, the Africa Magic channels will continue being the home of the best entertainment for Africa by Africans,” Mba-Uzoukwu added. Here are fun pictures from the well-attended event.

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 14, 2016

Mutiat Alli

Licensed to wed: When marriage vow is key

You think you know all what it takes to get married? Then this religious comedy movie is for you.

The movie, Licensed to wed ex-rays the life of a newly engaged Ben Murphy’s and Sadie Jones who have been in a loving relationship for six months finally decided to get married.

Sadie who has always fantasized on having her traditional wedding at her family’s St. Augustine’s church got stuck when they discovered there was only one wedding slot available in the next two years in the church but with a cross-check, it was discovered that there was a slot for another two weeks wedding date.

While Sadie and Ben do qualify for the slot, the church’s eccentric minister, Reverend Frank (Robin Williams), will not wed the couple until they agree to attend his prenuptial course (shortened, due to the new date, from three months to three weeks). As their wedding date draws near, Sadie and Ben must now follow all of Reverend Frank’s rules, attend his unusual classes, and complete a series of homework assignments designed specifically to irritate one another — in order to get past puppy love and ensure that their union will have a sound foundation.

On the long run, problem gradually begins to develop between the couple due to the course.

Ben begins an investigation into Rev. Frank, and eventually discovers that he was once married to a Maria Gonzalez. Shortly before the wedding, Sadie becomes reluctant to have the wedding, among other things because Ben has not prepared marriage vows as Frank instructed them to do.

The 1hour 41minutes romantic comedy movie is produced by Arnold Mosser, Kim Zubick, Dane Goldberg and Robert Simonds and parades A-list Hollywood stars that include Robin William , Mandy Moore, John Krasinki, Christian Taylor, Josh Futter and Peter Strass amongst others.

Although the plot and setting of the movie is fantastic, it is important to note that the usage of so many casts in the film made it a little confusing towards the tail end of the movie. Aside the huge cast crew involvement, the production was fair enough with good lightning, proper sound track and scene synchronization. The captivating and mind-blowing movie deserve a 7/10 movie rate.

L7 Reviews

Abimbola Obatayo

Tiwa Savage’s African Waist:

African waist or tiny waist

Going down memory lane, we would remember that Mavin diva, Tiwa Savage was one of the sexiest and finest female artistes in the country with hit songs and a lot of collaboration with both known and upcoming artistes. In fact, she was a force to reckon with in the music industry amongst her other counterparts with songs like ‘My darling’, ‘Eminado’ amongst others.

After the birth of her son, Jamal, she released African Waist which everyone thought would be a bomb like her other songs. Much was expected from her due to the fact that she took a break from music after the birth of her son. Tiwa featured Don Jazzy in the song which was released about two weeks ago with about 499,801 views on YouTube, the song lasted four minutes 35 seconds.

Though the title of the song’ African Waist’ which talks about shaking the curves and body, the video did not interpret the song. African men prefer ladies on the big side and a video like this needs big ladies and not the skinny ones used by Tiwa in her video. Those ladies didn’t have any waist to flaunt, they were just there doing their thing with no interpretation of the African waist. Despite the fact that the song was all about the waist, the waist was not properly depicted.

The costume was really nice as well as the video quality but Tiwa Savage needs to up her game in the industry because there are lots of divas out there who are working tirelessly to be the best. Unlike before, when her dance steps are extra ordinary, but in this video, she didn’t attempt to dance as she just made little body movements and that was all. She has to work on herself and put that charm where it used to be. If she continues this way, she might be set aside by her fans. Funny but true, Don Jazzy sang ‘what the hell is wrong with your body oh... This not time to denge pose, shake something oh, no they stand dey do like say you no sabi oh, everybody roll your body for daddy oh’ and he twisted his waist more than the ladies used in the video.

Unlike other songs which she was featured like in ‘Girlie’ by Patoranking, Tiwa gave her best shoot in the video. We expect such vibes from her but it seems motherhood is taking away the sexy Tiwa we know away from the music scene and if she misses it at this stage, she might not be able to make up for the past and there might not be a chance for a comeback. I hope in her next song, she will be able to interpret her videos well and also give us the old Tiwa Savage style. She should not make her fans have the thinking that motherhood takes away almost everything from a woman. Keep the fire burning Tiwa Savage, your fans expect more from you and not just a quality video without good interpretation.

The song is a good one, good lines, fine costumes, but the dance was not well delivered.

Daily Times Nigeria

Thursday January 14, 2016

Showing on

Showing on

112 Studio

105 Movies Family

19:00

13:02

Thu, 13 Jan | PG

Thu, 13 Jan | PG

A hotel handyman’s life is changed forever when the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to mysteriously come true. Adam Sandler, Guy Pearce, Keri Russell. (2008) Adam Shankman

You’re never too young to dream big as this endearing family film shows, Saige must overcome her fears to save her school’s art programme- and a very special friendship. Alexandra Peters, Alana Gordillo, Sidney Fullmer.(2013) Vince Marcello

101 M-Net

23:19 Behind The Scenes: Transformer Age....

23:39 Behind The Scenes: The Purge: Anarchy

00:10 Made In Hollywood 00:57 Ed Sheeran 01:15 Nanny Cam 02:42 Behind The Scenes: Beatenberg 02:53 Behind The Scenes: Swing City...

03:10 Made In Hollywood 04:00 Masterchef Australia 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 The Middle 06:30 Sarah Graham's Food Safari 07:30 Chicago Med 08:30 Captain Webb 10:30 The GoldBergs 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 MasterChef Australia 13:00 Carte Blanche 14:00 Shades Of Blue 15:00 The Muppets 15:30 The Muppets 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 Kevin From Work 17:30 MasterChef Australia 18:30 My Story

118 Telemundo

23:40 The Face Of Destiny 00:30 Elena's Ghost 01:20 Cruel Love 02:10 For Love And Justice 03:00 The Face Of Destiny 03:50 Fearless Heart 05:20 Elena's Ghost 06:10 Husband For Hire 07:00 The Face Of Destiny 07:50 Fearless Heart 08:40 For Love And Justice 09:30 Cruel Love 10:20 Husband For Hire 11:10 The Face Of Destiny 12:00 Fearless Heart 12:50 For Love And Justice 13:40 Cruel Love 14:30 Husband For Hire 15:20 The Face Of Destiny 16:10 Fearless Heart 17:00 For Love And Justice 17:50 Cruel Love 18:40 Husband For Hire 19:30 The Face Of Destiny 20:20 Fearless Heart 21:10 For Love And Justice 22:00 Cruel Love 22:50 Husband For Hire

L8 TV guide

120 BBC Entertainment

23:14 The Graham Norton Show

11:45 QI

00:05 An Idiot Abroad

12:15 The Cube

00:54 The Cube

13:10 Top Gear

01:41 Police Interceptors

14:05 Police Interceptors

02:31 Demolition: The Wrecking Crew

15:00 Undercover Boss

03:25 Undercover Boss

15:55 Would I Lie To You?

04:12 Pointless

16:30 QI

05:00 The Cube

17:00 Pointless

06:20 QI

18:00 Top Gear

06:55 Police Interceptors

19:00 Dragons' Den

07:45 Top Gear

20:00 QI

08:40 Pointless

20:30 Pramface

09:30 Undercover Boss

21:10 Top Gear

10:20 Ducks Quacks Don't Echo

22:15 Top Gear: The Race

11:10 Would I Lie To You?

08:30 Living With Trisha 09:30 Goge Africa 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas

23:00 Most Shocking 23:45 World's Wildest Police Videos 00:35 World's Wildest Police Videos 01:25 Kenny Vs Spenny 01:55 Extreme Reality Clips 02:20 Rude Tube 02:45 Sexy Car Wash 03:15 Sexy Car Wash 03:45 Video Zonkers 04:10 South Beach Tow 04:35 South Beach Tow 05:00 World's Wildest Police Videos 05:45 World's Wildest Police Videos 06:35 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking

155 AfricaMagic World

154 AfricaMagic Family

128 SONY MAX

07:25 Video Zonkers 07:50 South Beach Tow

08:00 Jara

08:15 South Beach Tow

09:00 Good Morning Africa

08:40 Most Shocking

10:05 Doctors' Quarters

09:35 World's Wildest Police Videos

11:00 Doctors' Quarters

10:30 World's Wildest Police Videos

12:00 Deal Or No Deal SA

11:30 Baywatch

13:00 Music On Africa Magic

12:30 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking

14:00 Music On Africa Magic

13:30 South Beach Tow

15:05 Music On Africa Magic

14:00 World's Wildest Police Videos

16: Star Gist

15:00 World's Wildest Police Videos

16:35 Deal Or No Deal SA

16:00 Most Shocking

17:25 53 Extra 18:00 Jara

17:00 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking

18:30 Tinsel

18:00 South Beach Tow

19:00 Lies That Bind

18:30 South Beach Tow

19:30 Lies That Bind

19:00 Baywatch

20:00 Jacob's Cross

20:00 Extreme Reality Clips

20:49 Jacob's Cross

20:30 Rude Tube

21:38 Jacob's Cross

21:00 Rude Tube

12:00 Music On Africa Magic

23:32 Behind The Scenes: Broken

13:05 Tinsel

23:50 Music On Africa Magic

23:06 Living With Trisha

13:35 Star Gist

00:45 Behind The Scenes: Make A Move

00:00 Tinsel

14:00 The Dzigbordi Show

01:00 Good Morning Africa

00:36 Star Gist

15:00 Windeck

02:05 53 Extra

01:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh

16:00 At Homw With Michelle Attoh

02:45 Star Gist

02:00 Good Morning Africa

17:00 Affections

03:15 Star Gist

03:00 Good Morning Africa

17:30 Nowehere To Be Found

03:45 Jara

04:00 Music On Africa Magic

18:10 Living With Trisha

04:25 Jara

05:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh

19:00 Tinsel

05:00 Good morning Africa

06:00 Good Morning Africa

19:30 Star Gist

06:00 Deal Or No Deal SA

07:00 Star Gist

07:00 53 Extra

22:24 Behind The Scenes: Secret Room

21:30 Kenny Ve Spenny

20:00 2 Sides Of A Coin

07:30 Windeck

21:35 Scarlet

07:30 Star Gist

22:50 Music On Africa Magic

22:30 Sexy Car Wash

22:00 Sexy Car Wash