Dtn 15 12 15

Why we arrested Shiite leader El-Zakzaky – Army Ï 9 Ɔ ƅ ƍƆƗ ƈ Ɛƈ Ɛ Ə Ƒ Ə ƅƆ Ƈ 1 Ɨè ƕ 1Ɔ ê ƑƏ Ɛ ƈ ÎÎÎThe Nigerian Army has explained

Victor Jibrim, Kaduna and Olufemi Samuel, Abuja

that the leader of the Islamic Movement, a Shiite Muslim sect, Sheik

Ibrahim El-Zakzaky was arrested because what the group did was tantamount to trying to form a government

within a government, and this could Continued on page 12

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015 VOL. 2. NO. 1

GAINERS

N150

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 14th December 2015.

GUINNESS

125

127.45

2.45%

FLOURMILL

20.47

21

0.53%

SEPLAT

217.35

210

-7.35%

STANBIC

16.9

16.11

-0.79%

WAPCO

90

91.34

1.34%

BERGER

9.85

10.34

0.49%

FO

248

242

-6%

OKOMUOIL

29.65

29

-0.65%

N32b arms deal:

N13b fraud: Breakdown of alleged monetary transfers

Dasuki, four others docked g6

Amount

Beneficiary

Purpose

N3.35b

Dalhatu Investment

Supply of security equipment

N500m

Dalhatu Investment

Supply of security equipment

N783m

Dalhatu Investment

Supply of security equipment

$100m equivalent

Bafarawa

Electioneering campaign of PDP in North West

N1.1b

Jabbama Ada Global Service

2015 PDP campaign

N400m

Jabbama Ada Global Services

2015 PDP campaign

N1.675b

Vibrant Resources Ltd

Supply of security equipment

Ï Ƈ Ə Ɠ è Ƒ ƑƗ è Ɛ ƆƏ Ƈ Ə ƏƏ ƈ ƌƆ Ɛ Ɛ Ɨ ƕ ƒƆƏ MơƢêÕƄ ƇƏ ƑƗ Ï ƑƏƐ Ə Ɛ # ƊƍƆ ƈ MƿƠƠƌ Ƅ ƈƋ Ï 9 ƏƆƅƆƈƒƆƗ MǀƠƠƌ ƇƏ ƌ LƑô ƖƑè Ɛ # ƑƊƈè ƕ MƓ Ƅ Ɨ

R-L: Former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), Aminu Babakusa, and Shuaibu Salisu when they were docked in Abuja... on Monday.

N17b Malabu Oil fraud: Court decides today gB1

Cynthia Morgan:

The weird but talented musician g L1

Balarabe Musa, g 8 nƐ ƌƈè 0 task FG on looters list

The Daily Times: g7 Waxing stronger one year after rebirth

2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

I M A G E S O F D A I LY T I M E S R E T U R N , O N E Y E A R A F T E R

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

3

Politics Page Three Æ s Editorial Nigerians and increasing destitution

A

ny visitor to the country does not need to look far to see the increasing destitution among Nigerians. Definitely, Nigeria’s economic dilemma is daily forcing many citizens to the fringes of human existence. While the economic hard times may have preceded the Buhari administration, the present government should also take the blame for being too slow in coming up with clear-cut policies on the way out of the quagmire.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), more than 100 million Nigerians are living on less than $1 per day out of an estimated 170 population. That is far below the United Nations benchmark of at least $2 per day for the least deprived persons. Invariably, Nigeria’s enormous wealth has not affected positively on the well-being of the citizens. Moreover, despite the massive revenue from oil, 70 percent of Nigerians still live within the poverty bracket, which means that the present and successive governments have been unable to translate the country’s huge natural resources to the improvement of the citizens’ living standard.

All indices point to the fact that the alarming increase in poverty is attributable to poor governance. Evidence of terribly poor governance is palpable as it manifests in the corrupt, inept political leadership and weak civil institutions to dilapidated infrastructure. We deplore the increasing destitution in the country. It is sad that while many Nigerians are living in grinding poverty in an oilrich country, a privileged few wallow in opulence. We call on the government to take mitigating action and bring the alarming situation under control.

A scenario where only a few are

benefiting from the common patrimony while the vast majority is excluded may likely breed social discontent if not well and quickly addressed.

It is a truism that inadequate economic growth is the main cause of poverty in Nigeria, as the economy has a very narrow and weak base, depending mostly on exportation of petroleum crude oil for revenue, even as the agricultural base has been frustrated and marginalised.

In addition, growing unemployment has also exacerbated the level of destitution among Nigerians, while other factors include problems in the productive sector, widening income inequality, social conflict, including gender, inter-sectoral and environmental issues. There is no gainsaying the fact that poverty especially in the urban area has been made severe by low labour absorption capacity of the non agricultural sector, especially manufacturing, which is because of limited growth of investment and technological innovation.

Arguably, enough has not been done to fight destitution in the country and the conditions that will give Nigerians the opportunity to earn decent and honest living remain a tall dream.

The embarrassing paradox of destitution in Nigeria suggests the compelling need for a single-minded pursuit of the objective of poverty reduction and its eventual elimination. We therefore call on all governments to step up the template for true development by re-energising all the poverty alleviation programmes geared towards improving the living standard of the less vulnerable. In this way, millions of Nigerians would move out of poverty and wanton lack, and to a more productive engagement in which all the basic necessities of life are met.

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

ÏÏÏThe

unimaginable happened last Wednesday when some students suspected to be members of a cult invaded the premises of the Anglican High School and Adenle Middle School in Osogbo, Osun State capital, chasing their teachers with guns.

The invasion which forced other students and members of staff to flee from the school premises was said to have been embarked upon by the suspected student cultists to stop the staff from conducting an examination that would enable them to enjoy the state gover nment-sponsored

free WAEC registration.

The attack forced the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the state to direct all its members to steer clear from the attacked institutions. The state Ministry of Education also closed down the schools to prevent loss of lives.

Clearly, the action of the suspected student cultists is unbecoming and regrettable. However, the action of the suspected student cultists is one among several others which portray the nation’s youths as hooligans. Nowadays, reports of students being unruly, harassing, attacking and injuring their teachers during examinations or when they (teachers) attempt to discipline them (students) are common.

Group Executive Commercial/ Business Developement Ifeoluwa Isijiola 08086296714 Group Head Accounts & Control Samson Abiodun

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In some cases, such students’ behaviours are supported by their parents and guardians. Some of the parents and guardians go to the extent of ensuring that teachers who insist that students ‘stay straight’ are dealt with by the school authorities.

These among others encourage errant behaviours among students across the country which if unchecked may spell doom for all and sundry.

This is reason all hands should be on deck to arrest the moral decadence among youths. Doing this will mean that parents and guardians must monitor their wards and the companies they keep.

Parents and guardians should in addition live exemplary lives.

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Sam Nzeh

Words On Marble :

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike Editor Biodun Durojaiye

When students go berserk

dailytimesng www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu

Tony Momoh

Sa’ad Abubakar

“To say that Igbos are marginalized is stating the obvious and government must try and address the anomaly”.

“Justice must come to the world, otherwise, the world will not have peace”.

“While no group should be allowed to constitute law unto itself or arrogate unconstitutional powers to itself under any guise, the fact still remains that the position of law is clear when there is any breach”.

4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

5

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

N32b arms deal: Dasuki, four others docked Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÎÎÎA Federal Capital Ter-

ritory (FCT) High Court sitting Maitama District of Abuja yesterday remanded the former National Security Adviser, Col.Sambo Mohammed Dasuki (rtd), and two other accused persons in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),following a 19-count criminal charge bordering on the theft of over N32 billion that was voted to buy arms.

The accused persons Dasuki, Shuaibu Salisu, Aminu Baba-Kusa and two companies Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral hospital limited however pleaded not guilty

to each of the charges.

Trial judge, Justice Hussein Baba remanded the accused persons in the custody EFCC, pending the hearing of their bail application today.

Part of the charge read: “That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) whilst being the National Security Adviser and Shuaibu Salisu whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser between October 2014 and April 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the court, agreed to do an illegal act to wit: criminal breach of trust by public officers in respect of an aggregate sum of N13,570,000,000 (Thirteen Billion , Five and

Seventy Million Naira) being part of the funds in the accounts of the office of the National Security Adviser and that the same act was done in pursuance of the agreement among you and you hereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol. LFN 2004.

“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) whilst being the National Security Adviser and Shuaibu Salisu whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the office of the National Security Adviser on or about 28th November, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court, entrusted with dominion over certain properties, to wit: the sum

of N260,000,000 (Two Hundred and Sixty Million Naira) being part of the funds in the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with Skye Bank Plc, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you transferred same to the bank account of Tony Anenih with First Bank of Nigeria Plc and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the penal Code Act,cap 532, Vol. 4. LFN 2004.

“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) whilst being the National Security Adviser and Shuaibu Salisu whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Secu-

rity Adviser between 12 August,2014 and 23rd March 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this court entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: the sum of N670,000,000 (Six Hundred and Seventy Million Naira) being part of the funds in the account of the office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you transferred same to the bank account of General Hydrocarbons Limited with the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc controlled by one Obaigbena Nduka purporting same sum to be payment for “energy consulting” and you hereby

committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the penal Code Act. Cap 532 Vol. LFN 2004 “That you Reliance Referral Hospital Limited and Aminu Baba-kusa on or about April, 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Court dishonestly received stolen property, to wit an aggregate sum of N750,000,000 (Seven Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) which sum belonged to the Federal Government of Nigeria and knowing the said sum to be stolen property but purporting same to be payment for organizing prayers and you hereby committed an offence punishable under Section 317 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Vol. 4 LFN 2004.”

Bafarawa, Yuguda, others for arraignment today over N13.6b fraud Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÎÎÎFormer Governor of So-

L-R: Head, Standard Bank Investor Services West Africa, Mr. Segun Sanni; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Yinka Sanni and Executive Director, Business Development, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Haruna Jalo-Waziri, during the launch of Stanbic IBTC Bank Security Lending product held in Lagos… recently.

koto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, an ex-Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda and former National Security Adviser,Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) will today be arraigned before Justice Peter Affen of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory [FCT] on money laundering charges and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N13.6 billion.

Also to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] on a 22-count charge of fraud and money laundering are Shuaibu Salisu, a

I received N500m only from Mu’azu not Dasuki, says Nwobodo Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÎÎÎFormer

Governor of the old Anambra State and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Jim Nwobodo on Monday denied receiving money from the embattled National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki.

Nwobodo also distanced himself from being part of the PDP chieftains that shared N3.05 billion through the former Minis-

ter of State, Bashir Yuguda.

Embattled former Minister of State, Bashir Yuguda, was said to have in his witness statement under caution informed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he gave a total of N600million cash to six chairmen of the Contact and Mobilisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 general election.

Yuguda listed the beneficiaries as Chief Bode

George (South-West); Amb. Yerima Abdullahi (NorthEast); Dr. Peter Odili (South-South); Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa (NorthWest); Senator Jim Nwobodo (South -East); and Dr. Ahmadu Ali (North-Central).

The former governor, who is currently on medical checkup abroad, explained that though he was the zonal chairman of the PDP for the 2015 Presidential Election, the N500 million he got for the elec-

tion was from the former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu and not from anybody else.

The former Minister explained that the money was also disbursed to the five states in the South East geo-political zone through the state chairmen of the campaign committee, adding that he could not have queried his party chairman as to the sources of the campaign fund, which were strictly spent on the election as directed by the

party.

He vehemently denied any personal knowledge or contact with Dasuki and Yuguda, stressing that “In the first place, I don’t know Col. Sambo Dasuki; I have never met him in person; I have never had any interaction with him. And I didn’t receive money from him. As for Yuguda, the Minister of State, whose name was mentioned, I don’t know him. I think I only met him once and that’s all”.

former Director of Finance at the NSA office; Bafarawa’s son, Sagir; and a company, Dalhatu Investment Limited.

Justice Affen yesterday granted leave for the EFCC to prefer charges against the accused persons and their companies after holding that the proof of evidence has established a prima facie case against them.

The application was moved by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs [SAN] who told the court that money meant for the office of the NSA and for combating terrorism and insurgency was illegally diverted from the account of the NSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] and other Commercial banks to other persons who have nothing to do with national security.

Jacobs relied on the affidavits, proof of evidence, statements of the accused attached to the application in urging the court to grant the motion.

In his ruling, Justice Affen said he was satisfied with the proof of evidence established a prima facie case against the accused persons as there is nexus linking them with the alleged crime. He however fixed today for their arraignment.

In a copy of the charge Continued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

N3.05b: Nwobodo denies receiving money from Dasuki, Yuguda Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÎÎÎFormer

Governor of the old Anambra State and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jim Nwobodo, on Monday, denied receiving money from the embattled National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki.

He also distanced himself from being part of the PDP chieftains that shared N3.05 billion through the former Minister of State, Bashir Yuguda.

Nwobodo, who is currently foe medical check up, explained that though he was the zonal chairman of the PDP for the 2015 Presi-

dential Election, the N500 million he got for the election was from the former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu and not from anybody else.

He explained that the money was also disbursed to the five states in the South East geo-political zone through the state chairmen of the campaign committee, adding that he could not have queried his party chairman as to the source of the campaign fund, which were strictly spent on the election as directed by the party.

He denied any personal knowledge or contact with Dasuki and Yuguda, stress-

ing that “In the first place, I don’t know Col. Sambo Dasuki. I have never met him in person. I have never had any interaction with him, and I didn’t receive money from him. As for Yuguda, the Minister of State, whose name was mentioned, I don’t know him. I think I only met him once and that’s all”.

Nwobodo also lamented that it was unfair to bandy his name about in a manner that suggested he was a treasury looter, stressing that he had no regrets working to see the PDP retain victory in the South East zone.

According to Nwobodo: “The party, during the gen-

eral election, approved N500 million to be given to the South East zone for the campaigns. We have five states and when those of us nominated from the South East zone met, we were asked to choose a chairman and they choose me.

“After a series of meetings, it was agreed that the chairman of the party should make fund available to the committee to enable us start work in our respective states.

“We were invited to the residence of the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu, who handed over money to me for the zone, for the election.

7 News

FG will create attitudinal change among talented youths – Minister

Lai Mohammed

Tom Okpe, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

Federal Government will leverage the creative ability and talent of Nigerian youths to promote the campaign for attitudinal change and national re-orientation, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said.

A statement issued from his office in Abuja, on Sunday, signed by Segun Adeyemi said the Minister announced the plan on Sat-

urday in Kaduna where he attended the state’s first annual Music Festival.

He said because of the large followership being enjoyed by the nation’s artistes, they had the capacity to mobilise and influence attitudinal change among Nigerians.

Mohammed assured that the Federal Government would provide the enabling environment for the creative industry to thrive, in order to harness the potentials of culture for national re-orientation and economic growth.

He underscored the role of the creative sector in the economic growth and development of the nation, while noting that Nigeria became the biggest economy in Africa following the re-basing of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) mainly due to the boom in the creative industry.

I didn’t warn pro-Biafra agitators, says Metuh Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

L-R: Coordinator, Nigeria Sales Excellence (NISE), Award, Dr. Ade Yusuf; Principal Partner, Mr. Dele Adebayo and Co., Dele Adebayo; CEO Economics Associate, Ayodele Teriba; Chairman, Vision and Talent International, Mr. Paul Uduk and President, Institute of Certified Sale Professional (ICSP), Mr. Arthur Ozoigbo, during the 2015 NISE Award/Induction of new members by ICSP, held in Lagos...recently.

Photo: OLAWALE ROTIMI.

The Daily Times: Waxing stronger one year after rebirth Sam Nzeh

ÎÎÎToday, December 15, 2015,

marks exactly one year that the Daily Times, Nigeria’s newspaper of record, returned to newsstands across the country.

The return followed the resolve by Folio Media Group (FMG), under the guardianship of its chairman, Mr. Fidelis Anosike, to ensure that the newspaper once the behemoth of Media practice in Nigeria, got back to reckoning after past attempts.

Recall that Folio Media Group emerged the preferred bidder when the Daily

Times was privatized during former President Olusegun Obansanjo’s administration.

Thereafter, efforts to put the newspaper back on track encountered several hiccups but due to the doggedness of the new owners, those hiccups gave way in 2014, making it possible for the Daily Times to once again grace the newsstands across the country.

In returning the Daily Times to the newsstands, chairman of FMG, publishers of the newspaper, Mr. Anosike, pledged that the newspaper will provide a robust engagement with the public on the media’s time-

tested duty to inform, educate and entertain. He added that the Daily Times would be guided by its motto: “For the interest of the people without fear or favour”.

With that pledge, the editorial team of the newspaper led by Gabriella Osamor, as Managing Editor, with Yinka Olujimi, as editor, hit the ground with the newspaper coming out with incisive reports on politics, business, entertainment, sports among other on its beautifully designed pages each week day, precisely Monday to Fridays.

Though many skeptics boasted that the newspaper

would not last beyond three months this time, the publishers, Folio Media Group and its chairman refused to give in to such skepticism. They determined to stay the course.

So, even when the challenges mounted, they never lost sight of their goal- Keeping the Daily Times flag flying.

So, months came and went by and the Daily Times continued to grace the nation’s newsstands, making the skeptics eat their words.

In the past one year, that the Daily Times has been at the newsstands, its reports Continued on page 12

National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, on Monday, refuted media report that he warned pro-Biafra agitators to desist from disturbing the peace of the South-East zone, describing it as a mere fabrication.

Metuh, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Richard Ihediwa, in Abuja, stated that he never made such a comment, at the PDP South East Executive meeting, in Enugu, on Sunday, or any other forum.

His words, “For the avoid-

ance of doubt, what Chief Metuh said on the agitation was that Nigerians have the right to demonstrate as long as they do so peacefully and within the ambits of the law. He deplored the actions of some security operatives who reportedly went beyond their brief to attack unarmed protesters and admonished that instead of engaging in show of power on the protesters, such security agents should rather demonstrate their bravery by joining others in fighting insurgents in the Sambisa forest, Metuh, explained in the statement”, he said.

Saraki’s wife lauds group over reduction in maternal mortality ÎÎÎThe wife of

the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, has commended the leadership of the White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria (WRAN) for its contributions towards the global reduction of maternal mortality by 43 per cent.

She made the remarks while inaugurating the new board of WRAN in Abuja, and also commended the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood for its efforts towards ensuring respectful maternity care and improved maternity in Nige-

ria.

A long-standing member of WRAN, Mrs Saraki is also the Founder of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa and inaugural WRAN Board Chair said: “The impact of the White Ribbon Alliance globally has been outstanding. Since we began our work, global maternal mortality has dropped by 43%.

Our strategic programmes and advocacy have persuaded governments to prioritise and commit resources to saving the lives of women and children.”

8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Politics

Æs

Pro-Biafra: Court to rule on Kanu’s bail application Dec. 17 The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday fixed Dec.17 to rule on a bail application for the detained leader of the ``Indigenous People of Biafra’’, Nnamdi Kanu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Kanu, who is also the Director of the Pro-Biafra pirate radio, has been in detention for 90 days.

Mr Vincent Obeta, counsel to Kanu had approached the court to

grant his client bail.

Obeta said the State Security Service (SSS), had abused court process by refusing to honour the bail order of a Magistrates’ Court in Abuja.

Obeta, who filed a Fundamental Rights suit against the SSS, held that Kanu’s liberty was being trampled upon when an earlier Magistrates’ Court bail condition was perfected. ``My lord, Kanu has spent exactly

90 days in detention today. This action contravenes the Constitution and the African Charter on Human Rights. ``We have indeed perfected the bail condition as directed by the Magistrate Court but to no avail. ``The lower court has also ordered that Kanu be transferred to the Kuje Prisons but the authority refused to heed the order of the court. That is why we have approached this superior court for justice’’, Obeta said.

The prosecutor, Mr Moses Idakwo, asked the court to disregard the bail application by Kanu’s counsel.

Idakwo argued that Kanu should not be granted bail as the allega-

tions against him were terrorismrelated.

He said the SSS had evidence of bank accounts owned by Kanu, where monies (in dollars and pound sterling) were used for financing terrorism against Nigeria.

Idakwo also said the applicant had dual citizenship of Britain and Nigeria and therefore could flee justice if granted bail.

He further said the bail conditions issued by a Magistrate Court were yet to be perfected by the applicant.

The judge, Adeniyi Ademola, said ``having listened to both parties, I shall be ruling on the application on Dec. 17.’’

Utomi, Balarabe Musa, AYCF task FG on looters list

Kanu

Umeh expresses readiness for Anambra Central senatorial re-run The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, Chief Victor Umeh, has expressed his readiness to test his popularity in the rerun election.

Speaking with newsmen in Awka on Monday, Umeh said that the nullification of the March 28 poll in the area by the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu which ordered for a rerun had presented the people with another opportunity to vote their choice candidate.

He said he had no doubt that nobody would enjoy undue advantage in the turn or event, adding that President MuhamCONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Musa A Political Economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, on Monday urged the Federal Government to expedite action in publishing the list of those who returned stolen public funds to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Similarly, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) urged the Federal Government to ensure that the list was holistic.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said the CBN would soon pub-

Utomi lish the names of officials of the last administration that returned stolen funds.

Utomi told NAN on telephone that it would be proper for the president to mention the looters as long as there were concrete evidences backing it up.

Alhaji Yerima Shettima, the National President of the AYCF said that it would be unfair to mention some names and protect others.

Yerima said that there was nothing wrong in mentioning the names of the looters but

hoped that those names would be all encompassing. ``The CBN must be seen to be fair and must not shield anyone for any reason whatsoever,’’ he said.

According to Shettima, Nigeria will only have problems if the list is not holistic and does not include all found wanting.

The Founder of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Balarabe Musa, told NAN that government would win the confidence of the citizens by publishing the looters.

``It will be a good thing if the president will do so; he will win our confidence,’’ he said.

Musa, a former governor of old Kaduna State, urged the president to also investigate, discover and recover the looted funds from Abacha. ``We want to know the truth about it and know who collected the loot and where the funds have been transferred to. ``This is because we suspect that all those talks about Abacha’s loot may be false.’’

Umeh

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

9 Politics

Lead fight against corruption, Dogara urges lawmakers

Adamawa Assembly Speaker dismisses alleged plan to remove governor

Dogara The Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called on the leadership of Standing Committees of the House to lead in the fight against corruption.

He made the call on Monday in Abuja at a one-day retreat for Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of Standing Committees organised by the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS).

The retreat with the theme, ``Effective Management of Committees,’’ was aimed at increasing the effectiveness of commit-

Buhari tees in achieving the objectives of the legislative agenda of the 8th National Assembly.

Dogara urged the chairmen to focus their investigative activities on exposing corrupt practices in various sectors of the country’s economy. ``Our investigative activities must be based on the need to expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within our legislative competence. ``It must also be in the administration of funds appropriated by the National Assembly,’’ he

Lasun said.

He said that the activities of committees were not only to obstruct but also to scrutinise and identify gaps and errors and correct same through legislative activities and legislation.

He said that committees were not meant to weaken the executive, but constitutionally empowered as agents of the House to prevent misuse and abuse of executive power.

The speaker declared that the change promised Nigerians by the incumbent administration could only endure if anchored

on legislation and not mere policy. ``Change itself must be regulated so that our people will not face the dangers of unregulated change. ``In this respect, legislative committees as the engine room of our legislative activities can complement the change efforts of the executive. ``The committees of which you are Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen must become drivers

Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyawa, the Speaker, Adamawa House of Assembly, has dismissed alleged plans to impeach Gov. Muhammadu Jibrilla.

Mijinyawa, during a special sitting of the house on Monday in Yola, described the alleged plan as “malicious’’.

“The attention of the house is drawn over false publication that members of the house are gathering signatures to impeach the sitting governor.

“The publication was purely a mischief from the enemies of the state who always wish us bad luck,” Mijinyawa said.

Similarly, the Chief Whip of the house, Mr. Hassan Burguma, condemned the allegation.

Burguma, at a news conference in Yola on Monday, also said that the house had never signed any document to impeach the governor.

“As far as the house is concerned, there was nothing like impeachment discussion in the house.”

He assured that the house was ready to work with the press as partners

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Why Lagos 2016 budget is delayed - Lagos Lawmakers

Obasa

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have explained the reason for the delay in the presentation of the 2016 budget by the state.

According to them, there was no cause for alarm, especially as 2015 ıs an electıon year and that since the State executıve councıl was constıtuted few weeks back with all that was needed have to be captured ın the budget.

The members who were reacting to perceıved delay ın presentıng the 2016 budget by the governor included the Chıef Whıp of the House, Rotımı Abıru, Chaırman, transportatıon commıttee, Hon. Fataı Mojeed and Hon. Adefunmılayo Tejuo-

sho who came back to claım the chaırmanshıp of the commıttee on Judıcıary, Human Rıghts and LASIEC whıch she had earlıer rejected.

They said people the orıented programmes of APC that were captured ın the party manıfestoe must be paınstakınly delıberated and ıncorporated ın the budget before ıts presentatıon to the House.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashıru Obasa saıd members of the House would thoroughly scrutınıze the 2016 budget whenever ıt’s eventually presented to the House by the Governor as constıtutıonally requıred.

The Speaker saıd thıs ın hıs openıng address at a 3 day capacıty

buıldıng semınar for members of the House as well as management staff of the legıslatıve arm of government ın the State. Obasa urged hıs colleagues to be more determined to achieve results as lawmakers and as true representatives of the people.

The semınar whıch has “Enhancing Capacity for Emerging Challenges and State Development” as ıts theme was held at the ”Green Legacy Resort,” Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library complex, Presıdentıal Boulevard, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Obasa who saıd most Nigerians CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Mijinyawa

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Lead fight against corruption, Dogara urges lawmakers

Umeh expresses readiness for Anambra Central senatorial re-run CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Dogara

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

of the `Change’ process. ``This is geared toward providing physical and economic infrastructure as well as social policies that will provide opportunities for all Nigerians, especially the poor and the vulnerable,’’ he said.

He urged the participants to resist any form of inducement in the course of carrying out their duties.

He said: ``you must not succumb to persons or institu-

Buhari

tions that will seek to influence your judgment through corrupt means. ``If you take bribe from any person, you will impugn and destroy the integrity of the House as an institution and you will also scandalise yourself. ``I wish to warn that we should avoid being dragged into the murky waters of corruption. ``Corrupt practices will never be part of the legislative agenda of the 8th Assembly.’’

Dogara tasked the lawmakers

Lasun

on the need to strengthen their individual committees and develop institutional tools and resources to aid their oversight of the executive and ensure effective participation in policy development.

He reminded them that Nigerians relied on them to ensure effective policy implementation, through oversight of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). ``If we accuse the executive arm of failure to implement policies and delivery of social

services as expected, the legislative committees are there to correct this cancerous anomaly,’’ he said.

Earlier, the Deputy Speaker, Yussuf Lasun, said that the aim of oversight was to provide checks and balances to enhance development. ``Accordingly, it has been argued that the principle behind legislative oversight of the executive is to ensure that public policy is administered in accordance with the legislative intent,’’ he said. (NAN)

madu Buhari would not tolerate electoral brigandage. ``I will humbly go back to the electorate with my track record, my resilience as a crusader of my people, my people are sure of what to get from me and that is to make their voice heard. ``Those who were celebrating that they won can come back and face the people. I am sure when the election comes, nobody will have undue advantage over anybody again. ``I am sure the era is gone when people in Abuja ordered that a certain candidate be delivered,’’ Umeh said.

The former APGA national chairman also commended the court for the judgement, adding that it was in line with the prayers in his petition. ``When I went to the tribunal, I said I came to fight election brigandage and banditry. I am glad that the new Federal Government has shown that they are willing to see that things are done the right way,’’ he said.

The appeal tribunal in Enugu on Dec. 7 nullified the election that threw up Sen. Uche Ekwunife of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP to represent the zone.

Why Lagos 2016 budget is delayed - Lagos Lawmakers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

regard Lagos State as the centre of excellence and that the state has been lucky to have had committed leaders since the advent of the current democracy in 1999 starting from the era of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to that of former governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and now Governor Akinwunmi Ambode saıd no efforts should be spared at mapping out an effective strategy that could help the State in tackling the increasing poverty, unemployment and misery that have been confronting our people owing to the worsening global economic woes.

“As lawmakers, the time has

come for us to gird our loins in our determination to successfully battle these problems and liberate our people once and for all.”

He therefore, tasked the lawmakers to wear their thinking caps in order to make the 8th Assembly the most pro-people and pro-developmental Legislative House, not just in Lagos, but across the country.

Whıle commentıng on the soon to be presented 2016 budget, the Speaker saıd budget is very germane to lawmakers daily oversight functions. ”There ıs need to appreciate the basic components of budget such as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), recurrent and capital expenditure, financ-

ing, income, overhead, production, totals, projections and expenses among others.

“This need is as important as the need to apply these same skills to the development, monitoring and implementation of the budget,” he stated.

The chıef lawmaker then urged members to ensure that the 2016 budget ıs properly and thoroughly scrutinized and promptly approved so that the people can start enjoying the dividend of democracy, adding that there is the need to grasp the full understanding of budgeting in line with parliamentary role hence the need for the seminar.

Obasa

Ambode

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

11 Politics

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Bayelsa poll: Our role was to maintain peace- Army Following the allegations against the Nigerian Army of wanton killings during the December 5, governorship election in Bayelsa State, the army has denied this saying its role was simply to maintain peace.

Both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been at each other’s throat over the election making allegations and counter allegations.

But according to the army, its role in the Bayelsa governorship election was to maintain a peaceful and violence-free atmosphere during the polls, dismissing allegations of partisanship.

It was in bid to clear the air over the allegations that came up after the election which was declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the bloodbath in Southern Ijaw which necessitated the cancellation of the polls in the area.

Brigadier General Stephenson Olabanji, told reporters on that military officials had focused on ‘Operation Safe Conduct’.

He was the commander, 2 Brigade, Bori-camp, in Port Harcourt and Head of the Unit that supervised the Bayelsa December 5 and 6 governorship election.

The military commander further told reporters that nine suspected thugs were arrested in relation to the violence that broke out and recovery of arms and ammunition.

The recovered arms and ammunition were shown to the

Sylva

reporters and General Olabanji said the arrested suspects had been handed over to officials of the Nigerian Police Force.

This was concerned by the state Commissioner of Police,

Dickson Nasiru Oki, who told newsmen that the suspects had been moved to Abuja for further interrogation.

With the suspects already in police custody, the head of ‘Op-

eration Safe Conduct’ said his officers were committed to supporting the civil police and other security agencies in providing a safe and secure environment whenever the concluding elec-

tion is rescheduled.

He also called on residents of Bayelsa State to be wary of armed men who might be dressed in the uniform of the security agencies but without proper identification

Why Lagos 2016 budget is delayed - Lagos Lawmakers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

“In the same vein, we need to know that we have oversight functions on the executive, and to effectively do this, we must understand the instrument needed, which is budget in this case. Number one thing there, however, is to know what personnel costs are”, Obasa saıd.

They lauded the facılıtator, ”Jurıs Consults”, for the theme of the semınar whıch ıs basıcally to ımprove theır capacıty buıldıng and to empower them ın confrontıng challenges that

may arıse ın the cause of theır legıslatıve functıons as lawmakers.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Clerk of the House, Mr. Segun Ganiyu Abiru dısclosed that the theme of the seminar was carefully designed in consonance with the change mantra of the current political dispensation.

“You would all recall that the last general election that ushered in the current government in the State and the national level has left no one in doubt as to its reformation agenda as well as uncompromising commitments

to the improvement of the sociopolitical and economic life of the State and the nation.

“Besides, going by the so much expectations that trailed the inauguration of the 8th Legislative Assembly on 8th June, 2015 coupled with the track records already set by the past Assembly, there is need for Honourable Members and staff to redouble their efforts to further improve on their skills and knowledge base which had always been the key to our legislative and commendations by all and sundry,” the Clerk maıntaıned.

Ambode

Obasa

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Why we arrested Shiite leader El-Zakzaky – Army Continued from page 1 not be tolerated.

The GOC, 1 Division, Nigeria Army, Kaduna, Maj. Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, who gave this explanation during a press conference in his office on Monday, assured that ElZakzaky was safe and sound in their protective custody.

El-Zakzaky was arrested on Sunday morning after soldiers besieged his home in Zaria, Kaduna State. No fewer than 12 people were reportedly killed during the arrest. Some reports said those killed included the Sheik’s wife, a son, his Deputy as well as the spokesman of the sect.

Oyebade gave the explana-

tion just as Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Buratai, on Monday recounted the ordeal he passed through when attacked by some members of Shiite sect in Zaria, Kaduna state, stating that it was by the “Grace of God’ that he escaped assassination.

Buratai recounted his ordeal after he held a closeddoor session with members of the Senate Defence Committee, led by Senator Ahmed Lawan.

The Chief Army staff who was accompanied to the Senate by top military officials said members of the Shiite group were very violent, just as he said he was taken by surprise with the attack.

Addressing newsmen on the issue, Buratai who obviously was making attempt refrain from speaking with the media on the issue “You want to know how I escaped?

It was by the will of God that I was able to escape from the place.”

He said the television clip of the attack on his convoy showed clearly that he was the major target.

General Adeniyi Oyebade said the order given to the troops was to ensure that the sect leader was taken into a safe custody and by 09:15hrs he was brought into the custody with his wife and some family members.

The GOC further said very soon the sect leader will be al-

lowed access to his members.

General Oyebade added that in the course of operation there were casualties on both sides even though he refused to give the numbers of those involved.

Going down into the genesis of the crisis he said: “On December 12, 2015, himself and the Commissioner of Police were with President Muhammadu Buhari who was in the state for an assignment when I received distress call that the life of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai was threatened by some hoodlums who blocked his way on Sokoto road in Zaria city.

“After much persuasions from senior officers on the

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (left), in a handshake with Justice Margaret Akpomiemie, Chairman, Judicial Commission of Inquiry charged to investigate the violence, mayhem during the December 5 governorship election in the state held in Yenagoa… on Monday.

Court grants Dokpesi N400m bail Andrew Orolua, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe federal high court

yesterday admitted Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the erstwhile Chairman, DAAR Communications Plc, the owner of African Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power Radio FM to bail in the sum of N400 with two sureties.

However, he was ordered to be remanded in Kuje prisons until the bail conditions were met.

Trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole who granted the request of the accused for bail following his arraignment on six-count charge, also ordered that

the sureties should be government officers no below the rank of Director either serving or retired.

He said that in case the sureties are serving directors, each must produce a letter from their Permanent Secretary confirming their status and appointment. For retired Directors, the sureties must produce government gazette in which he or she was listed to show that he or she retired as a director.

And if the accused choose to produce an entrepreneur as his guarantor, the entrepreneur shall produce three years consecutive income tax.

Each of the guarantors must have landed property worth N200m that must have been certified by qualified estate surveyor and the property deeds should be deposited with the court Registrar.

The sureties must also swear to affidavit of means that in the event that the accused jumped bail they forfeit the said property.

Justice Kolawole also ordered Dokpesi to deposit his International passport with the court deputy registrar who would serve as a committee to verify the property and the claims of guarantors.

The court also made an

order that Dokpesi should not be re-arrested.

Justice Kolawole said that in the event that any government agency want to investigate him, that agency should write him through his lawyer who should produce him for interview or investigation between the hours of 10am and 6.30pm.

He said the order was necessary to prevent government agencies from perverting the cause of justice and at the same time allow them carry out their statutory duties.

Dokpesi trial has been adjourned to February 17, 2016.

entourage, the hoodlums who were later identified as Shi’ites members remained adamant and in line with our rules of engagement, we had no option but to clear

the road for the COAS and in the course of doing that, the hoodlums started throwing missiles on us; and our men responded which resulted to minimum casualties.

The Daily Times: Waxing stronger one year after rebirth Continued from page 7 have lived up to its motto: “For the interest of the people without fear or favour”. The interest of the people had been uppermost in the reports that appeared on the pages of the newspaper. Never in the past one year did the Daily Times shut down a report for fear or favour. It had maintained its editorial independence despite the odds. At all times, the time tested tradition of giving all concerned fair hearing had been upheld in the reports carried by the newspaper.

Thus the Daily Times had in the past one year assisted greatly to shape public opinion and policies.

In the coming year, the publishers of the newspapers have assured that not only will the milestones recorded in the last one year be consolidated, new grounds will be broken as Daily Times gradually takes back its market share.

In this regard, plans are at advanced stages to increase the print run so as to make

the newspaper more visible across the country. This will be complemented with retraining of journalists in its employ on latest technology in reporting.

Also, there are plans to mark the 90 years of the Daily Times in 2016 with a lot of events lined up to make it memorable. The newspaper hopes to engage in some strategic events which are aimed at empowering readers and advertisers.

The continued presence of the Daily Times at newsstands across the country one year after could not have been possible without the doggedness of the publishers of the newspaper, Folio Media Group and its chairman. And going forward, they have promised to ensure that the Daily Times become once again the flagship of print media in Nigeria - a preferred medium for accurate and unbiased reportage on politics, business, sports, lifestyle and entertainment as well as a medium of choice for advertisers.

Bafarawa, Yuguda, others for arraignment today over N13.6b fraud Continued from page 6 obtained by our correspondent, Sambo and Salisu were alleged to had transferred N3.35 billion, N500 million, N783 million respectively to the accounts of Dalhatu Investment for purported contracts for supply of security equipment.

Bafarawa, his son and their company on the other hand were alleged to had aggregated the N3.35 billion, N500 million and N783 million being proceeds of criminal conduct contrary to section 17 (b) of the EFCC Act 2004.

Bafarawa was also alleged to had in April, received from Yuguda, N100 million in dollar equivalent for the

purpose of electioneering campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North-West.

Dasuki, Salisu and Yuguda were also alleged to had fraudulently transferred N1.1 billion and N400 million respectively of the fund in the account of the office of NSA to the account of a company, Jabbama Ada Global Services for PDP campaign in the 2015 general elections.

Dasuki was alleged to had also transferred N1.675 billion to the account of Vibrant Resources Ltd. belonging to his younger brother Abubakar Dasuki for a purported contract for the supply of security equipment.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

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News14

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Senate has no plan to gag media – Saraki

...Says gender-based violence must stop ÏÏÏSenate President, Dr. Abuba- Frivolous Petition Bill. There is a kar Bukola Saraki, on Monday, reiterated that there is no Bill before the Senate that is aimed at gagging or stifling the media in spite of misrepresentation and attacks which has trailed the frivolous petition bill.

Saraki, in his remarks as chairman of a sensitisation meeting on the implementation of Guidelines on Gender Based Violence and Young Persons in Nigeria, organised by the Women Arise for Change Initiative in Abuja, also said it was time to end all forms of gender based violence (GBV) in the country, as he said the offence is the "most persistent human right crimes in the world."

He said that any area the people find objectionable in the frivolous petition bill will be removed when it is being considered clause by clause by the Senate.

Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, in Abuja said: "Finally, I want to throw more light on the

lot of misrepresentation which has led to attacks on the Senate with some wondering whether we want to gag the press. We don't have any anti-Social Media Bill before us. What we have is the Frivolous Petition Bill which concerns cases of writing and submission of petitions.

"Unfortunately, there is a Section 4 of the bill which many people are not comfortable with. This bill is a private member bill not a Leadership bill. But I have since met with the President of Online Media Owners who agree there's need for further self-regulation.

When we are considering the bill line by line, we will remove any area that people find objectionable because this is a Senate that is for the people and will not make any anti-people law," he stated.

He further noted that GBV poses grave danger to both present and future generations of the nation’s young ones if not decisively tackled now.

He said: "Gender Based Violence is one of the most persistent human right crimes in the world, one of the least prosecuted offences, and one of the greatest coercion to lasting peace and development.

He stated that every child in the country has a right to be protected against GBV. "These human rights violations pose serious consequences for us all and our future generations if left un-addressed.

Efforts being made at various quarters to ensure peace and security, reduce poverty and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, will be futile without addressing these crimes.

"The young person in Nigeria constitutes the most important resource that our country has. They represent over 60 percent of our population which is a significant work force and human resource base for Nigeria's economic development. The ability to protect them from Gender Based Violence sharpens their capacity to be part of that great future we desire for our country.

Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof.

Umar Garba Danbatta (left) and Sarkin Ban Kano, District Head of Danbatta Community, Alhaji (Dr.) Mukhtar Adnan during the reception ceremony in honour of Garba Danbatta held in Kano… recently.

ÏÏÏAs part of

activities aimed at bringing the dividends of democracy to the grassroots, the Executive Secretary, Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, has unveiled its first skill acquisition and community development scheme.

In a release signed by the Executive Secretary of the LCDA, Hon. Mrs. Olajoku Hassan, the organisers of the event, stated that this year’s event comes up on Wednesday, 16th December, 2015 at the local government headquarters, Ojokoro, Ijaiye, Lagos.

The Deputy Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Cardinal James Omolaja Odumbaku, will be among other

ÏÏÏTransport

Minister, Hon. Rotimi Ameachi, on Monday, described train services in different parts of Nigeria as one that needs urgent improvement, while facilities must be urgently overhaul to attract passengers.

He also approved the immediate commencement of mass transit train service between Port Harcourt and Aba as part of the positive change in the transportation sector the ministry is set to achieve under the new administration.

It would be recalled that sequel

to substantial progress on the rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge network of Eastern Rail line traversing Port Harcourt to Gombe, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), earlier this year, commenced Intercity Train Services from PH to Kano and also from PH to Gombe.

A statement by the Deputy Director, Public Relations of NRC, Akinwoye Abdul Raouf said the PH-Aba service is part of federal government quest to providing affordable and reliable train services across the country.

He said Hon. Ameachi, together with the Governors of Rivers and

Abia states will flag off the Port Harcourt-Aba train service on Wednesday, December 16th for the two benefitting states.

The statement said further that “going by the economic potentials of Port Harcourt and Aba in commerce, tourism and industrialisation, there is hope for proactive economic growth and virile positive change in the lives of the citizenry in the two benefitting states.”

The train service is scheduled to run four trips daily from Monday to Saturday with the train departing Aba at 05:00 am to arrive Port Harcourt at 7:15 am same day.

dignitaries expected at this year’s Community Programme.

Hassan said this year’s event is scheduled to be a one-day programme with special focus on training and first skills acquisition programme for people residing in the area. The release further stated that the highlights of the event would include among others, graduation awards, grand finale musical performance, special parade and other numerous side attractions.

St David school old students show support Marion Evabor

ÏÏÏ

The Old Students of St David's Grammar School (87 set), Ile Ife has planned to give aid and support to its alma mater in Lagos.

The students said they have benefited a great deal from the school.

According to one of the students, the school had nurtured, Professor Anthony Odiwe, a senior lecturer from University of Ife, who he said, due to the quality of education he received from this great institution, he is ready to add value back to the school.

Professor Odiwe, who in a statement said that he was ready to give awards to the best students in science and arts, and equally support those that can't purchase WAEC and JAMB forms, while stating that he had been in touch with the principal of the school.

Amaechi approves PH-Aba mass transit train service Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

Ojokoro LCDA unveils community scheme

Amaechi

Aregbesola

Osun Gov presents N150.7bn budget proposal for 2016 ÏÏÏGovernor

Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, on Monday, presented a budget proposal of N150.7bn for 2016 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.

The Permanent Secretary, Budget & Economic Planning, Mr. Segun Olorunsogo, presented the proposal on behalf of the governor.

He said the financial document was in line with the six point integral plan of the government.

Olorunsogo told the House that N113.1bn was for recurrent revenue, and N37.5bn was for capital receipts.

He said that personnel cost would take N33. 3bn, while N12.

2bn and N37.1bn would be spent on overhead cost and consolidated revenue fund charges respectively.

The budget for capital expenditure was put at N67.98bn, according to the Permanent Secretary.

He also said that the budget was reviewed downward with a difference of 25.3 per cent against that of 2015.

He said the budget size for 2015 was N201.7bn, a difference of about N51.01bn with that of 2016.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

15 Opinion

Abuja: Increasing challenge of insecurity

W Uche Igwe

ith increasing incidences of suicide bombings and largescale destruction, insecurity is sadly becoming a global phenomenon. Most public facilities are now at one level of risk or another – from airports to stadia, from markets to shopping malls, from churches to mosques, from hotels to theatres have become soft targets.

Since the unfortunate incidents, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya and later in Paris, France where many bombers successfully attacked public building and caused largescale destruction, the world has remained both cautious and alert. Terrorism is now spreading its caustic tentacles around the world. In Paris, for instance the bombings, which recently took place led to an estimated death toll of about 130 persons and while many others, were injured. In Nairobi Kenya, the bombing at Garrissa University led to the death of about 148 persons while 79 others sustained different levels of injuries almost double of 79 deaths which occurred when the popular Westgate shopping mall was attacked in 2013 while 175 others sustained injuries.

Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria has had her own share with bombing in public places. It started with the bombing near the eagle’s square in 2010 during Nigeria’s 50th anniversary event. Other ones include the one that hit popular mammy market in Abacha military barracks on the 1st of January 2011, then followed by the bombing on June 16th same year of the police headquarters then the Christmas eve bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Zuba. The one that probably attracted the highest global attention was the bombing of the United Nations office on 26 August 2011 where 21 persons died and about 73 were injured. There have been other bomb blasts in many spots in the Wuse 2 area, in a popular bus station in Nyanya and near a police station in Kuje all in the outskirts of the town. Eyond bombings, Abuja has recently started witnessing increasing rates of burglary, armed robbery, car snatching and rampant ‘one chance’ attacks. Many citizens have resorted to self-help. Private security companies are sprouting every day to watch over residences especially in areas that are under policed. Many of the private operatives except a few are usually poorly trained and cannot do much. In some of the incidents of burglary, some of the security

guards have caught as accomplices and informants. In a residence in the Jahi area near NEXT supermarket, one serviced apartment was burgled under the watch of a private security company. Investigations revealed that both the managers of the property and the female owner of the security outfit rather than take responsibility connived with investigators to destroy evidence that suggested culpability and unprofessionalism on their part. Similar stories have been reported in many areas around the town recently.

Even with bombings and rumours of bombings in the air, Abuja has managed to keep its motion. It has not lost much in the pace of its nightlife. Residents still cruise around in the night seemingly unperturbed.

Many open gardens still get high patronage. Nightclubs in the Wuse 2 area for instance still records high turnout even as the area had been hit by blasts in the past. It is either that residents do not care or they forget easily or they may have even resorted to fate. I visited some of the spots that were hit by blasts in the past last week. One could hardly recognise the spots as normal activities have taken over the whole area. You will need to work hard to see any footprints of the blasts. Yet, Abuja remains a very

insecure city in my view. Although there are military checkpoints at the entry points into the city, the checks are usually manual and not thorough.

There are still very few functional closed circuit surveillance cameras in the city. Though the average resident remains very suspicious, government has not done much to enlighten them about things to watch out for in a potential suicide bomber and what to do or who to speak to when you suspect anyone. While there has been considerable improvement on the fight against Boko Haram insurgents, it is highly improbable that the December victory dateline will be met. So far, the Nigerian military have recently recorded consistent advances against the terrorists but not without losses of their own personal and equipment. Part of the reasons for the slow progress in the fight against Boko Haram is that some top soldiers have reportedly sabotaged the efforts of Nigerian troops. The insurgents are getting bolder by the day. The success rate of suicide bombings are increasingly making it necessary for further improvement in our intelligence infrastructure, stronger coordination of the efforts of security agencies and preventive strategies to nip suicide attacks in the bud before they happen.

Terrorism: Impact of policy somersault on policing

W

Emeka Oraetoka

hen the Sir Mike Okiroled Police introduced the policy of compulsory display of plate-number on vehicles plying Nigerian roads and those belonging to government officials; long before terrorism started in Nigeria, little did Nigerians know that this proactive measure could be jettisoned by subsequent Inspectors Generals of Police [IGP]. It however, did not take long before the terrorists dared the police in their backyard, as a Golf car was used to bomb the police headquarters.

Report has it that on June 16, 2011; Louis Edet House would have been brought down, were it not for the security measure put in place there. On the fateful day, the unnumbered car laden with bomb, was said to have followed the then Inspector General Police [IGP] Hafiz Ringim from his official residence at Maitama to the force headquarters.

On arrival, the terrorist attempted to park at the official car park of the IG, when the eagle eyed traffic warden, ordered him out of the park. As soon as he left the park, the bomb exploded. The belief was that

had the then IGP Sir Mike Okiro not taken time to sanitise the building of indiscriminate parking, the bomb would done more damage.

With the information that those who carried out the November 20, 2015, attack on Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali, were driving a vehicle with diplomatic license plates; and the United States of America Embassy in Nigeria warned its citizens that groups “associated with terrorism” may be planning attacks on hotels in the country. The report that the terrorists in Mali, drove in diplomatic Special Utility Vehicles [SUV] cars to gain access to the hotel where they killed 20 people, could be averted here through this approach.

Security experts in Nigeria believe that police nonchalant attitude towards strict enforcement of order on vehicle plate-number, and terrorists to inflict deadly damage on government institutions could exploit the reckless manner Nigerians and government officials go about in vehicles without plate-numbers. The experts are of the view that these dare devil terrorists could invade any of the three arms of government building if they want. All they needed to do is to deploy Hilux Pick-up Vans packed with impro-

vised explosive devises and guns to any of the of government structure.

Since all they need to do to gain easy access to any of these places is to write PILOT on the body of the Hilux Vans and use pouch to cover those places where plate-number are supposed to be affixed, nobody will stop them at these security points because of the belief that the vans are government own.

It is also the belief of security experts that Police should start a thorough background check and inventory of the whole diplomatic vehicles in Nigeria to avoid a situation where any or some of the vehicles could be deployed for terrorist attack. Sometime in Lagos State, a diplomatic vehicle parked in a mechanic workshop was discovered to be stolen.

This discovery was made by Mike Okiro, who then was a Divisional Police Officer [DPO]. It was said that when he was on patrol, his team discovered that the said diplomatic vehicle had different registration numbers, as there was difference between the number on the vehicle glasses and the plate-number on the body. The vehicle was then impounded and on investigation, discovered to be stolen. The investigative report Okiro forwarded to the

Commissioner of Police, which was in turn sent to the IGP then, led to background and integrity check on all diplomatic vehicles in Nigeria.

This measure may have been abandoned now.

With the USA warning of high profile terrorist attacks, coupled with the recent Nigerian military warnings of attacks in FCT, the Nigeria Police may need to embark on strict pro-active policing to complement the army. To this end, the police should muster the will to start impounding all vehicles without plate number, inclusive of those belonging to government. If possible, the police should approach the two arms of the National Assembly for resolution in this regard.

Diplomatic vehicles should not left out here. The Police should also start integrity test on all vehicles belonging to embassies of various Nations in Nigeria. _A STITCH IN TIME COULD SAVE NINE. In this era of insecurity, the issue of policy somersault on the part of police with respect to vehicle platenumber enforcement and related matters may not augur well for the security and well-being of Nigerians. There is the need for the police to re-activate this policy as complement to the fight against insurgency.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Siasia eyes Olympics soccer

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Siasia

oach of the National U-23 Team, Dream Team VI, Samson Siasia, says he is optimistic that Nigeria will win the Rio 2016 Olympics football.

Siasia said this on Monday shortly on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Dream Team VI defeated their Algerian counterpart

2-1 in Saturday’s final of the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal to win the trophy.

“I am looking forward to what we can achieve in Rio. We were there in 2008 and we got to the finals.

“This time, if we don’t win the games, it means we have done nothing; I think the game is a very difficult and long road, but we need to be patient.

“If we start on time with our preparations, we might be able to do something,” he said.

Siasia advised the players to remain focused and try not to allow the victory to get into their heads.

“I want the boys to be hardworking and remain disciplined, just as they did during the Africa Cup of Nations,” he said.”

Page 17

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Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Amuneke, Etebo, others nominated for Glo-CAF Awards ANDREW EKEJIUBA

S

ix Nigerians were on Monday in Abuja, Nigeria shortlisted for 2015 Glo-CAF Awards by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

They include Coach Emmanuel Amuneke (Coach of the Year), Kelechi Nwakali and Victor Osimhen (Youth Player of the Year), Ngozi Ebere (Women Player of the Year) and the duo of Azubuike Okechukwu and Etebo Oghenekaro (Most promising Talent).

Also released were the names of the top three players competing for the prized crown of African Footballer of the year Award.

The Confederation of African Football, organisers of the most prestigious annual African footballer of the year award and its exclusive sponsor, Globacom, the Next Generation Network announced the names at a joint press conference held at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja on Monday.

The three nominees announced by

CAF Executive Committee Member, Mr. Moucharafou Anjorin, are Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borrussia Dortmund of Germany; four-time African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire and Manchester City and Andrew Ayew of Ghana and Swansea City FC. CAF also released the names of top three finalists for the Africa-based ‘Player of the Year’ Award. They are: Mbwana Aly Samatta of Tanzania and TP Mazembe; Baghdad Bounedjah of Algeria and Etoile du Sahel and Robert Kidiaba of Democratic Republic of Congo and TP Mazembe.

Shortlisted for Women Player of the Year are the duo of Gabrielle Onguene and Gaelle Enganamouit of Cameroon; Ngozi Ebere of Nigeria; N’rehy Tia Ines of Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana’s Portia Boakye while the Youth Player of the Year has Adama Traore of Mali, Kelechi Nwakali of Nigeria, Samuel Diarra of Mali, Victor Osimhen of Nigeria and Yaw Yeboha of Ghana as nominees.

Amuneke

Ex-internationals raise awareness against HIV/AIDS stigma ANDREW EKEJIUBA

A

s part of plans to provide over 7500 persons across Nigeria with free HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) as well as reach over 3.5million people with Information, Education and Communication (IEC), the Nigeria

Costa happy at Chelsea, 19 claims Mourinho

Red Ribbon Coalition, an alliance of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) and private sector partners organised a Celebrity Novelty Football match recently to commemorate this year’s world AIDS Day. The HIV/AIDS awareness Novelty match which was one of the headline

Ex-Super Eagles striker, Victor Agali (4th from left) during the World AIDS Day Novelty Football Match held at UNILAG Sports Complex, Akoka, organised by Nigerian Red Ribbon Coalition recently.

events of the week-long outreach, held at the University of Lagos, (UNILAG) Sports Complex, Akoka, Lagos on Saturday, December 5, 2015.

A crowd of soccer enthusiasts and stakeholders converged in the sports complex to witness the match.

The match offered an opportunity for people within the Yaba community in Lagos to access free HCT, as well as receive up-to-date information about HIV/AIDS in a friendly environment.

The match was between Team Ex-Super Eagles which featured former Nigeria football exports like Ifeanyi Udeze, Taiwo Enegwea, Victor Agali and Abdul Issa; Team Corporate, which included staff of Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, YEDI, and

NEPLWAIDS. Team Ex-Super Eagles won by a lone goal.

Speaking at the event, the Director of Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Clem Ugorji, reiterated the company’s commitment to sustainable development of the communities in which they operate.

Ugorji said that, “We are one of the frontline companies that, over the past 10 years have invested significantly in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The essence of this program is to create awareness and more importantly, educate on how infected patients can manage themselves. It is an all-inclusive program which entails awareness, testing, counselling and continuous follow up treatment, if needed.”

NFF 71st General Assembly holds in Abuja ANDREW EKEJIUBA Sport Editor

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will hold its 71st Annual General Assembly at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on Wednesday with the opening ceremony slated for 10am.

NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, revealed to Extra Time on Monday that the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, will declare the big event open. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Christian Ohaa and the Director–General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Alhassan Yakmut, are also expected.

It is the second successive year that the NFF is holding its annual general assembly in a high-octane hotel facility. Last year, the concluding part of the NFF’s annual general assembly took place at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The assembly is coming few days after Nigeria lifted the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal, making the country the champions of the continent at U-23 boys, U-20 boys and senior women categories, apart from being champions of the world at U-17 boys’ level.

Further successes in a highly fruitful year for Nigerian football also include qualification of the home –based senior boys for the African Nations Championship; progress of the Super Eagles to the group stage of the African series for the 2018 World Cup; qualification of the Falconets for the 2016 U-20 World Cup; bronze medal –finish of the U-23 boys at the All-Africa Games; a domestic League praised at home and abroad and; quality, overseas capacity–enhancing programs for referees, coaches and administrators.

Pinnick

18

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

EXTRATIME

CHAN: Eagles commence training without ailing Oliseh

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igeria began preparations for next year’s CHAN on Monday in Abuja, but without ailing coach Sunday Oliseh.

Assistant coaches Salisu Yusuf and Jean Francois Loscuito supervised the team’s training with Oliseh calling the shots from his sick bed in Belgium.

“He will be in touch with the camp via Skype and telephone, like he did when they played the second leg of the qualifiers in Burkina Faso without him on the bench,” an official said.

Oliseh has named 26 players for this training camp with a possibility that some of the stand-out players from the

U-23 AFCON in Senegal will be drafted.

The CHAN Eagles are scheduled for a training camp in South Africa later this month with Oliseh likely to join the team there.

A warm-up match against another CHAN-bound side Cote d’Ivoire has already been fixed for January 9, 2016 in Pretoria.

Nigeria, who placed third at last year’s tournament, are drawn in the same group with Niger, Tunisia and Guinea.

The competition begins on January 16, 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda with Nigeria opening their campaign two days later against Niger.

N

igeria U-23 team coach Samson Siasia has dropped a bombshell by saying his team did not deserve to be champions of Africa if their preparations for the U-23 AFCON were anything to go by.

Nigeria beat Algeria 2-1 in Saturday’s final to clinch the second edition of the tournament, which also doubles as a qualifier for the Olympics.

Former Super Eagles coach Siasia said his team’s build-up to the U-23 AFCON was nothing to write home about.

“From how we prepared, we did not deserve to win anything. It was just a miracle we won,” lamented the coach.

“We had to manage everything, from kits to what have you, for the past one year.”

He added: “Motivating the boys was not easy at all, it was tough but thank God we survived it.”

Siasia’s Dream Team VI were criticised after the first two games for conceding two goals in the

Siasia

Siasia

faults victorious U-23 AFCON build-up

second half after a convincing lead in the first half.

The coach was therefore selective in crediting those behind his team’s triumph.

“I dedicate the victory at the

U-23 championship to God and well-meaning Nigerians who were praying for us to succeed, but not the wicked ones who wanted me and the team to fail,” Siasia said.

Cooreman appointed new Akwa United coach

B Oliseh

elgian coach Maurice Cooreman has replaced Zakary Baraje, who led Akwa United to a historic Federation Cup triumph last month.

Cooreman has handled several top clubs including Enyimba, Gombe United and Ghana’s Asante Kotoko.

In November, the experienced Baraje guided

Akwa United to win a first-ever major trophy at the expense of Lobi Stars after they survived relegation from the Nigeria top flight for the second straight season.

They will represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup and will face V.Club Mokanda of Congo in the preliminary round of the annual competition in February.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

EXTRATIME

Arsenal battle Barca in UCL

City’s Begiristain wary of Kiev threat

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anchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain insists his club will not take Dynamo Kiev lightly in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Having been paired with and knocked out by Begiristain’s former club Barcelona at the same stage in each of the last two seasons, City’s progression as Group D winners this time around has granted them a comparatively more favourable draw.

And Begiristain was keen to offer a reminder that the Premier League team remain relative newcomers to elite European competition, despite the considerable resources at their disposal.

“It’s never easy, again in this round,” he said.

“They have shown in the group stage against Chelsea that they have a good side and it is going to be difficult for us.

“We are growing and growing in this competition and we are going to fight.

“We have to be ready to try to improve in this competition.”

BRIEFS

Costa

happy at Chelsea, claims Mourinho

A

rsenal have been drawn against holders Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Chelsea will face Paris SaintGermain in the knockout stages for the third season running, while Manchester City’s opponents are Dynamo Kiev.

Arsenal were always vulnerable to a difficult draw having scraped through their qualifying group as runners-up, and the nightmare scenario was confirmed when they were pulled out with the current champions.

Barca eliminated Arsene Wenger’s side in successive years in 2010 and 2011 and denied the Gunners the trophy with two late goals in the 2006 final at the Stade de France.

And the Londoners will be long odds-against to reverse those results against opponents boasting two of the three Ballon d’Or nominees in Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Chelsea, on paper at least, have been handed one of the more difficult draws possible as group winners and must take on a PSG side that knocked them out at the same stage last season.

Costa

C

helsea manager Jose Mourinho has brushed off rumours of a potential Diego Costa exit.

The out-of-sorts striker told reporters that “life is full of surprises” and “you never know” when asked about a potential return to former club Atletico Madrid.

Mourinho said his words had been taken out of context and insisted the striker was

committed to the reigning Premier League champions.

“He never said he’d like to go back, he said that in football you never know,” Mourinho said.

“Atletico is a great club, Madrid is a great city, La Liga is a great league, so why shouldn’t a player, 27 years old, think that in football it is possible to go back?

“I don’t see that as a

problem.

Diego is happy here, he likes to be here. He has more than three years on his contract.

“I see him staying at Chelsea for three more years, no problem.”

Costa, who signed for Chelsea for £32million in 2014, has struggled to hit the heights of his first season at the club, scoring just four goals in 17 appearances across all competitions, after netting 21 goals in 37 games last season.

Klopp: L

Anfield.

Klopp did not shake hands with the Baggies boss at the final whistle and was involved in a confrontation with a member of the visiting team’s backroom staff as he went onto the pitch to celebrate with his players.

Craig Gardner’s knee-high challenge on Dejan Lovren, which went unpunished while the defender departed on a stretcher and left the ground on crutches, was the most debatable of the afternoon’s tackles but Klopp said he did not have a personal issue with Pulis.

“I didn’t see him after the game. I can say nothing,” he said. “We had some words in the game; sometimes it takes more than a few seconds to cool down.

“If you want to make a big story, then please.

Sometimes it is like this. Usually I shake hands; I did not today because it was not a friendly game.”

Rooney

Man United take on Midtjylland in Europa

M

anchester United will face Danish side Midtjylland in the last 32 of the Europa League after failing to make the knockout stage of the Champions League.

United were beaten 3-2 by Wolfsburg in the final set of group games last week and now face the side that put Southampton out of the competition during the Europa League qualifying stage.

Midtjylland, whose majority shareholder is Brentford’s owner Matthew Benham, won the Superliga title last season but failed to make it into the group stage of the Champions League as they were knocked out by APOEL Nicosia.

Pellegrini targets 80-point haul

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I have no problem with Pulis! iverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he has no problem with West Brom or their manager Tony Pulis despite a fractious 2-2 draw at

19

Jurgen Klopp (left) did not shake hands with Tony Pulis at Anfield.

Jordan Henderson had given Liverpool an early lead but Craig Dawson and Jonas Olsson - who also had a goal ruled out for offside - scored from corners to turn things around, and only substitute Divock Origi’s deflected strike in the sixth of eight minutes of added time rescued a point for the hosts.

Simon Mignolet’s error led to West Brom’s first goal when he failed to claim the ball after coming for a deep corner, but Klopp defended his goalkeeper despite the growing criticism from fans.

“I said to Simon at half-time, ‘If somebody says it was your fault, it is not true, it is my fault’. I have nothing negative to say about Simon,” he added.

Pulis played down any perceived animosity with Klopp, insisting he was more annoyed about not leaving with three points.

anchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes fewer than 80 points will be needed to win the Premier League this season. Only three times since the inaugural season in 1992-93 has the title been won with such a low tally, with the 1998-99 Manchester United team the last to achieve the feat. But the unpredictable first half of the current campaign sees Arsenal topping the table on just 33 points. Pellegrini, whose City side sit second, said not even 80 points would be needed to be crowned champions.

Wilkins: Red Devils need experience!

L

ouis van Gaal must pick his more experienced players while Manchester United are struggling, according to Ray Wilkins. United fielded their sixth youngest Premier League side of all time on Saturday in their 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth. Wilkins, a United player between 1979 and 1984, is happy van Gaal is willing to give young players a chance, but said now is not the time to experiment given the former champions are now five games without a win.

20

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

EXTRATIME

Garcia welcomes Real challenge

R

udi Garcia says Roma face a tough task to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League after they were drawn against Real Madrid in the round of 16, but the coach has stressed they will give their all to cause an upset.

The Stadio Olimpico side only just made it through the group stages after collecting six points from as many games, losing 6-1 to Barcelona on matchday five before recording a scoreless draw at home to BATE to seal second place.

Madrid by contrast cruised through Group A, finishing first and thrashing M a l m o 8-0 on matchday six to sign off in style, leaving Garcia t o acknowledge his side are the underdogs in the knockout tie.

“Real Madrid will be favourites,” Garcia told reporters. “We faced Barcelona in the group stage and now Real Madrid, but we are in the Champions League for this reason.

“In February we will have a few players back from injury and we will be ready to give everything.

All the lads are ready and looking forward to this game.”

Roma CEO Italo Zanzi, meanwhile, is adamant the club does not fear Real Madrid and has vowed they will be ready for Cristiano Ronaldo and his illustrious team-mates.

“There aren’t any easy fixtures at this stage – every team will be tough to face,” Zanzi stated.

“It will be a good contest against Real. We always say that we respect every team but we fear no one. We tackle Champions League games with the same self-belief as we do Serie A. “As for Cristiano Ronaldo, we’ll be ready both for him and the rest of the side.”

L Messi

ionel Messi has called on Barcelona to crown an “unforgettable” year with Club World Cup (CWC) glory in Japan.

In their first season under Luis Enrique, Barca repeated the famous treble achieved by Pep Guardiola’s 2008-09 vintage of the Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles.

The glut of silverware was embellished by a 2-1 extra time win over Estudiantes in the 2009 Club World Cup final and Messi, who netted the decisive goal on that occasion, does not believe his team-mates will lack for motivation to emulate this success.

“There’s no need to search for motivation,” he said. “We know just how much the Club World Cup means and for us it’s about winning another title, these

championship wins are an indelible legacy in the history of the club. It’s something very important.

“It’s been an amazing year. That time when we won everything under Guardiola looked unrepeatable, we genuinely weren’t sure if we’d one day get close to that again.

“And here we are. Now what’s left for us to do is end the year in the best possible way and make it unforgettable.”

Barcelona begin their campaign against Guangzhou Evergrande on Thursday and could meet Argentinian giants River Plate in what would be a mouth-watering final.

It would be only the second time Messi has taken on a club side from his homeland following the Estudiantes clash and he confirmed that he could have joined River as a youngster before opting to make Catalonia his home.

Messi hungry to lift

CWC once more signs new P Cocu PSV deal SV head coach Phillip Cocu has signed a contract extension with the Eredivisie champions until 2019.

The former Netherlands midfielder’s previous deal was set to expire in 18 months’ time and there had been suggestions he could opt to leave the Philips Stadion next year.

However, Cocu still has plenty of targets at PSV after committing to a new deal.

“We’ve embarked on a new route - one with a beautiful view.

But there’s still more to come from the club, as there is from me. That’s why I want to continue here.

“We’re going to focus on our own youth but, at the same time, we want to continue to supplement the team with more experienced players. We’ll continue to do so wherever possible,” he said.

PSV were drawn against Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League on Monday and Cocu admits his side will need to be clinical in order to overcome the 2014 finalists.

“Every game they show that they are a fighting machine,” he said of Diego Simeone’s side. “They don’t

Transfer: Juve warn clubs off

J

uventus director Giuseppe Marotta has issued a hands-off warning for clubs targeting duo Paulo Dybala and

concede many goals and physically they’re a very strong team.

“But against that kind of team, we have to believe in ourselves. You will always get a chance, so we have to do everything to make the most of it.

“You can see Simeone’s philosophy when you see Atletico play. They don’t have to have the ball all the time. Atletico are the favourites, so we have to be at our best on two occasions. If we do that, then we have a chance of beating them.”

Espanyol sack head coach Sergio

E

spanyol have confirmed that Sergio Gonzalez has been sacked as the club’s head coach.

The Catalan club have won just two of their last 11 matches in all competitions and Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Celta Vigo has left them 12th in La Liga after 15 matches.

Sergio, who took charge of the first team in 2014 after a spell as head coach of Espanyol B, was dismissed following a meeting of the board of directors on Monday. Another exEspanyol player, Constantin Galca, is one of the favourites to succeed Sergio as head coach.

Benitez defiant despite defeat

R

eal Madrid boss Rafael Benitez insists all is not lost in the La Liga title race despite a costly 1-0 defeat at Villarreal on Sunday evening. Roberto Soldado’s ninth-minute goal proved enough to secure Villarreal’s victory on an evening when Benitez’s team disappointed in front of goal despite an improved showing in the second half. It was Real’s third league loss of the season and leaves them third, five points adrift of joint leaders Barcelona and city rivals Atletico.

Dortmund fired up for Porto clash

B

orussia Dortmund CEO HansJoachim Watzke is relishing the prospect of a Champions League tie with Porto in the Europa League last 32. Thomas Tuchel’s side finished second in their group and have been handed the tough task of facing the Portuguese giants, who narrowly missed out on a place in the Champions League knockouts to Chelsea and Dynamo Kiev. Sporting director Michael Zorc agrees Dortmund have been given a tough task but is relishing the prospect of two well-matched sides going head-to-head.

A campaign as Juve accounted for Fiorentina 3-1 on Sunday and Marotta insists the 22-year-old will not be sold.

“He is a player who is improving and still hasn’t expressed his full potential, because he is so young,” Marotta told reporters.

“Week by week he is showing what he can do, but we have no intention of selling him this year or any other year. We invested a Dybala lot of money in him and he represents the foundation Juve from Palermo during to build on in future.”

Alvaro Morata.

Barcelona have been linked the off-season.

Morata re-signed with Dybala netted his the Italian champions with a move for Argentine striker Dybala, who only joined eighth goal of the Serie during the week,

Dybala, Morata Garcia

BRIEFS

committing his future until June 2020.

However, former club Real Madrid still have a buy-back clause for the Spain international.

“It won’t make any difference, it’s just that if he remains with us then it’s only right to invest in a player who has plenty of quality,” Marotta added.

“We will enter negotiations with Real Madrid as soon as possible to resolve this situation and can make it transparent. We hope to remove this clause.

Real Madrid are well

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

21 Public Notice

Anti-graft war: PDP urges Buhari, FG to allow EFCC, ICPC, others free hands

Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

ÏÏÏThe

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has declared that if the President

Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government is interested in tackling corruption, it will do well to strengthen the agencies charged with fighting cor-

ruption and allow such agencies the freedom to do their work without interference.

The PDP made the declaration in a statement is-

sued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh.

The Party stated that the present situation where officials of the government like the Minister of Information will go about slandering opposition figures whilst ignoring the clear cases of corruption against members of the ruling party, will do the country more harm than good.

It maintained that the issue of corruption in Nigeria is not political and has no partisan inclination and should not therefore be treated as a campaign issue.

The opposition PDP said that the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC), must understand that Nigerians are tired of the unnecessary blame game.

Nigerians, the PDP stated, want an honest apMRS OLASIJI OLUWATOYIN OZIOFU

FAKOREDE TEMILADE RACHAEL

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS AJAYI OLUWATOYIN OZIOFU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OLASIJI OLUWATOYIN OZIOFU. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as TEMILADE RACHAEL OGUNBONA now wish to be known and addressed as FAKOREDE TEMILADE RACHAEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

MR. AKPOKEME EMMANUEL A. UCHECHUKWU, AKPOKEME NDUMELE

ONYIRIUKA CHIJOKE CYRIL

MRS ONYIRIUKA ANTHONIA NKEIRUKA

ALESHINLOYE DAUDA OLALEKAN

I, formerly known and addressed as ONYERIUKA CHIJIOKE CYRIL now wished to be known and addressed as ONYIRIUKA CHIJOKE CYRIL. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formarly known as MISS NWEKE ANTHONIA NKEIRUKA , now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ONYIRIUKA ANTHONIA NKEIRUKA. All former documents remian valid. The general public take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as NOJIMU OLALEKAN ALESHINLOYE now wished to be known and addressed as ALESHINLOYE DAUDA OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

HAMZAT VICTORIA ADEFUNKE

MRS ALICE HANSON

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as AYINNLADE VICTORIA ADEFUNKE now wished to be known and addressed as HAMZAT VICTORIA ADEFUNKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I formarly known as MISS ALICE AKPAN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS ALICE HANSON. All former documents remian valid. The general public take note.

I, MRS. AGUDA REGINA OLUREMI ARIKE, was formerly known as MISS AKINKUNMI REGINA OLUREMI ARIKE. The Management of First Bank Plc and the general public, please take note.

I, MR. RICHARD OSEMU EMUAN, was formerly known as MASTER RICHARD OKOJIE and RICHARD ANOSEMUANMHEN. The Management of Access Bank Plc and the general public, please take note.

VULNERABLE CITIZENS HEALTH& WELFARE SUPPORT FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. SEYI-OJO OLUSEYI ADEBUSUYI. 2. SEY -OJO OLUKEMI YEWALE. 3. SEYI-OJO AYOMIDE. 4. SEYI -OJO ANJOLA. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To give health and welfare support to the society.

2. To render Health support to the Aged in the society.

3. To render Health care to the Handicapped.

Any Objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar General, corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi. Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

LEADING THEM TO GREATNESS FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named “FOUNDATION” has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under the part C of companies and allied matters Acts, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES. (1) MONSIGNOR LIVINUS UKAH. (2) MR. NDUKWE BENJAMIN UMUNNAKWE. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To care for the less privileged children in the society.

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Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Registrar- General, Corporate Affairs Commission, P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja, within {28} days of this publication.

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08032167288

proach to the issue of tackling corruption.

It added that a situation where someone is only corrupt if he does not cross over to the APC is simply laughable.

“It is indeed ridiculous that clearly corrupt people are rewarded with government positions upon embracing the APC, whilst those who stay back in PDP are vilified”, it said.

The Party insisted that

ALIU AJANI FAKUNMOJU

ABRAHAM NATHANIEL

FAKUNLE ADENIKE OLUWASAYO

I, formerly known and addressed as OLUSEGUN JOSEPH now wished to be known and addressed as ALIU AJANI FAKUNMOJU. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

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I formarly known as ADENIKE SUNMOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as FAKUNLE ADENIKE OLUWASAYO, all former documents remian valid the general public take note.

MR. AKPOKEME VICTOR CHIBUIKE

CHIOMA PRECIOUS EDEM

MRS. ADEOSUN FUNMILAYO ROSELINE

ADEOYE OJO ADEWUNMI

I, formerly known and addressed as MR. JOHN N.VICTOR CHIBUIKE now wished to be known and addressed as MR. AKPOKEME VICTOR CHIBUIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

I formerly known and addressed as CHIOMA PRECIOUS WILLIAMS now wish to be known and addressed as CHIOMA PRECIOUS EDEM. All former documents remain valid. and.

The general public please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. ISAIAH FUNMILAYO ROSELINE now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADEOSUN FUNMILAYO ROSELINE. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as ADEOYE MISIKILU AKANNI now wish to be known and addressed as ADEOYE OJO ADEWUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OBI IGBO NILE PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION

I, formerly known and addressed as MR. JOHN A. EMMANUEL UCHECHUKWU, NDUMELE JOHN AKPOKEME now wish to be known and addressed as MR. AKPOKEME EMMANUEL A. UCHECHUKWU, AKPOKEME NDUMELE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ABRAHAM BLESSINGS GLOBAL FOUNDATION

This is to inform the General Public 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 1 of 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1 of 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) EJIKE ASIEGBU - Chairman.

(2) RICHARD NWANNA (3) HELEN MADUABUCHI. (4). JANE ODIGBOH.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (I) ONWUEKWU ROSELINE NKEM (2) OBI DOREEN (3) DAVID BANDELE IDOWU (4) FELIX IFEKU SALIU

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES (1) To foster and promote peace alongside unity amongst members.

(2) To ensure and encourage overall development within Obi Igbo Nile progressive association.

AIMS ; 1- TO CATER AND SEE TO THE WELFARE OF ORPHANS AND LESS PRIVILEGE 2- FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CHILD CARE/ WATCH 3- TO AID WOMEN EMPOWERMENT.

Any Objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, PMB 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION PLOT H 20, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA P.M.B 198,GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION

Signed by: TRUSTEES.

SIGNED: Secretary

TESTIMONY HOUSE OF HARVEST MINISTRY

UMU IGBO UNITE CARES FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the corporate Affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part “C” of the companies and allied matters act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Onyeyem Joseph 2. Uti Rita Azuka AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. Tp preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. To enhance peaceful living amongst mankind preaching the gospel of peace.

3. To win souls for Christ.

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

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

TRUSTEES 1. Emeka okpukpara.0 2. Ijeomaokoli .

3. AmakaOnyereri.

4. ChineduOkpukpara.

AIMSTo cater for the less privileged in the society.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED.: SECRETARY

News 22

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Court jails ex-DPO to 10 yrs for manslaughter Peter Fowoyo and Titilope Joseph

ÏÏÏA

Lagos State High Court, sitting in Igbosere, on Monday, sentenced a former Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Mr. Segun Fabunmi to 10 years in prison for manslaughter.

The convicted DPO shot one Ademola Ade (or

Ademola Aderintola Daramola) to death during the 2012 fuel subsidy protest in Lagos.

Ade, a fashion designer, was shot around 9a.m. on January 9, when the defendant led a patrol team comprising five junior officers to Yaya-Abatan and Abeokuta Streets at Ogba area of Lagos.

Justice Olabisi Akinlade also found Fabunmi, a dismissed Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), guilty of shooting three other persons, Alimi Abubakar, Egbujor Samuel and Chizoba Odoh, during the protest, thereby causing them grievous bodily harm. She sentenced Fabunmi to five years on this count, but

both sentences are to run concurrently.

Fabunmi, of No. 12, Oyewole Street, Ogudu, Lagos, was arraigned on May 5, 2013, by the Lagos State Government on a sevencount charge bordering on murder, attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm.

At the time of the inci-

dent, the defendant was the DPO of Pen Cinema Police Station, Agege, and had led out his men to Yaya-Abatan area of Ogba, following intelligence report that there was a disturbance in that area.

The court agreed with the defendant that there was, indeed, a mob at the scene of the incident, but concluded that he gave conflicting testimonies on whether or how an attempt was made to snatch his AK47 rifle and who fired the weapon.

The learned judge also rejected the defence counsel’s argument that the shooting was the result of an accident when the defendant struggled with the mob to retain possession of his rifle.

Relying on the witness

testimonies and all the evidence tendered, Justice Akinlade said: “The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the defendant recklessly shot his rifle and in the process the bullet hit the deceased. He definitely knew that shooting an AK47 can cause grievous bodily harm to anyone the bullet hit.

“The fact that he was on a lawful duty did not mean that he should have shot his gun sporadically.”

The judge held that the prosecutors, Lagos Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mrs. Idowu Alakija and Assistant Director, Mrs. Abiola Adeyinka, satisfactorily proved the offence of murder, but that the evidence provided by the defence team led by Mr. George Oguntade (SAN), availed the defendant of the defence of provocation, resulting in the lesser charge of manslaughter.

She said: “The defence of provocation will avail the defendant. It is evident that there was no time for his passion to cool before the gun was fired.”

Armed robbery victim narrates ordeal in court Titilope Joseph L-R: Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika; Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and Acting Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro, during the facility visit by the Ministerial delegation to NIMASA Resource Centre at Kirikiri, Lagos… on Monday

Ambode urges communities to take ownership of govt projects ÏÏÏLagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday, charged residents to take ownership of every government projects located in their communities and ensure a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

He stated this while handing over 33KV Electrical Sub-Station at the Gberigbe Piggery Farm and a Community Hall in Gberigbe, Ikorodu Local Government Area, and said the change mantra of the Buhari ad-

ministration must be carried beyond rhetoric, as it started with the people, who were the real agent of change.

While reiterating that his administration was that of continuity with improvement and better performance, Ambode assured residents of improved inclusive and communitydriven projects, so as to take advantage of the synergy and complimentary role of the grassroots for viable and sustainable development.

Represented by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo, Ambode noted that the two community projects would create job opportunity for the unemployed youths, and would equally be beneficial to the people and attract wealth to them and the environs.

He implored the people of the state to take ownership of every project and programme put together by the government and ensure a conducive environment for

businesses to thrive, adding that it was important for the people to take the advantage of the productive activities in creating wealth in the communities.

While assuring the people of Gberigbe of the provision of additional three transformers, so as to boost the economy and improved standard of living, Anbode, however, charged the residents to ensure that the security of lives and properties were given utmost concern.

Court grants bail to five ex-perm secs in Niger State Saka Bolaji Minna

ÏÏÏA

Chief Magistrate Court, sitting in Minna has granted an order for the immediate release of five persons in police custody

over complicity in connection with N2.9 billion loan taken by the immediate past government in the state.

The order was given by Chief Magistrate Hamidu Bima, on Monday, but as

of the time of filing this report the five – including three ex-Permanent Secretaries, a serving Permanent Secretary and the ALGON Chairman Yunusa Adamu, were still at the Paiko police division.

The Chief Magistrate ordered that “I have consider the bail application made on behalf of the applicant.

As the learned counsel has submitted, granting bail is a judicial discretion of the court”.

ÏÏÏA victim in a robbery

case, Kehinde Falowo has narrated before a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja how a robbery suspect, Ibrahim Olaniyi, robbed and inflicted injury on him.

Falowo informed the court, presided over by Justice Kudirat Jose, that the suspect, Ibrahim Olaniyi, came to his house at Ewegbemi Street, Meiran, Ajasa Command, Lagos, on February 17, 2012, with two other members of his gang, and robbed him of his valuables and money.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Babatunde Odusemowo, Falowo told the court that the suspect and his gang gained access into his house after burgling his sitting room window, and armed with gun and cutlass.

Said Falomo: “When I peeped through the window to see what was happening, they pointed guns at me, I ran into my room and lock the door but I remembered that the lock to my wife and kids room is bad, I have to come out and face the gang”.

“When I came out, they

asked m e for

Owoseni, Lagos State CP

money while one of them went to fetech my wife and the kids to join me in the sitting room.

“I told them that I had only fifteen thousand (15,000) at home and it was in the pockect of my jeans trouser. One of them went to take the money without letting his mates know, while others collected our phones and some of our valuables”.

Falowo further informed the court that when Ibrahim and his gang were leaving, he asked him for the 15,000 and he told them one of them had taken it but they all denied taking the money. “The suspect (Ibrahim) said he’ll kill me and he raised the cutlass he had with him to hit my fore head but I raised my hand to dodge it and I ended up sustaining a serious injury on my hand”.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

MMIA to be certified within 28 days Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÏÏÏIn order to avert the wrath of

Chief Host and President, Shaddaiville Ministries, Dr. Kunle Hamilton; his wife, Taiwo; CEO, Matcom Ltd, Mr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele; his wife, Bola and Medical Director, Triumph Medical Centre, Dr. Deji Morenikeji during the Annual Euphony Concert and Graduation Awards Ceremony of Shaddaiville in Lagos…recently.

Photo: TAOFEEK BABAJIDE.

N35b: NDLEA welcomes Reps probe of Agency ÏÏÏThe

planned probe of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) by the House of Representatives has been described as a blessing by the body.

This is because the said amount represents the estimated value of seized drugs by the body and not physical cash. Such seized drugs are regularly destroyed publicly in line with the NDLEA Act. The body stated that the probe would not only give it a clean bill of health but would ultimately enable the House to appreciate its impressive score-card in the past ten years and increase its budgetary appropriation for optimal performance in the country’s war against narcotics.

NDLEA deserves commendation as one of the agencies of government that has judiciously managed its annual budgetary allocations with zero tolerance for

corruption. The remarkable result recorded is a product of pragmatic leadership, selfless-sacrifices made by dedicated officers, as well as the goodwill of stakeholders.

The past ten years of the NDLEA under the immediate past Chairman/Chief Executive, Ahmadu Giade, can best be described as the golden era of drug control in Nigeria. This has led to the ever rising international profile of Nigeria through dislodgement of drug trafficking cartels, removal of Nigeria from the Drug Majors List by the United States, unprecedented seizures of drugs, as well as arrests and convictions of drug traffickers.

Between 2006 and 2014, NDLEA seized narcotic drugs weighing fifty-five million, eight hundred and thirty thousand, eight hundred and thirty-seven kilogrammes (55,830,837kg) valued at over one

trillion naira. It also arrested 72,253 suspected drug traffickers.

The suspected traffickers consisted of 67,773 males and 4,480 females while the breakdown of drugs is as follows; 55,657,727.32kg of cannabis, 17,748.382kg of cocaine, 874.304kg of heroin and 153,831.6kg of psychotropic substances. The NDLEA also prosecuted 14,801 drug traffickers within the period and won 14,668 cases.

In his congratulations letter, UNODC Executive Director, Mr. Yury Fedotove, lauded the former Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, for his pragmatic and visionary leadership in the fight against drug trafficking syndicates. In a letter signed by the Deputy Executive Director Mr. Aldo Lale-Demoz, UNODC commended the commitment and engagement of the NDLEA boss in the continued close co-operation with stakeholders.

Enugu APC denies taking Ugwuanyi to court over caretaker c’ttees

Moses Oyediran Enugu

ÏÏÏThe

Enugu State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC), on Monday, disassociated itself from a law suit purportedly filed by some members of the party, challenging the decision of the state governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to set up caretaker committees in all the 17 local government areas of the state.

Ugwuanyi had announced, at the expanded meeting of stakeholders last month that, in order to avoid a power vacuum on January 4, 2016, the local government caretaker committees would be consti-

tuted.

But a statement allegedly issued by the State Publicity Secretary of theAPC, Mrs. Kate Ofor, claimed that the party had instituted a legal action against the planned Caretaker Committees in the Councils.

Speaking to journalists in Enugu, the State Chairman of the APC, Dr. Ben Nwoye, insisted that there was no time the state working committee of the party met and decided to challenge the action of the governor in court.

Nwoye expressed dismay that some destabilising agents in the party took a decision without informing him as the chairman of

the party and other members of the State Working Committee of the party.

He stated that though the setting up of Caretaker Committee in the local government areas was unconstitutional, he was happy that one of the reasons the governor gave for not conducting the election was that he had embarked on the process of restructuring the local government system.

Nwoye added that he would be happy if the governor would restructure the local government system, to enable the votes of the people to count, saying that he would only support a credible election at the local government level.

the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on Nigeria and to consolidate on the Category One status of the country, a committee to certify the Murtala Mohammed International Airport has been set up.

Sources close to the committee told the Daily Times that it had been given 28 days within which to certify the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Ikeja was in order to have a smooth ride during

Pita Chikwem

Minna ÏÏÏAs part of its activities to build a firm human resource base that can penetrate the foreign market, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), on Monday, embarked on a massive sensitisation campaigns and capacity-building of exporters in the country.

The Executive Director of NEPC, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, disclosed this in Minna, at a oneday workshop on “The Legal Aspects of Export Contract of the Council”, to educate exporters properly on the law guiding the exports business both here and outside the country.

Awolowo said that the campaigns and capacity building would help the exporters to act

FETHA establishes Child Health Institute Jacob Ogodo Abakaliki

23 News the March 2016 ICAO audit in the country.

The sources disclosed that the country stood the chance of losing the Category One status should she fail to certify the airport before the visit of ICAO team.

Aviation stakeholders have called severally on the government to certify airports in the country after a lot of money was budgeted for the exercise by past administration.

It would be recalled that foreign airlines had threatened to boycott the country’s airport should the management fail to put in place necessary facilities – including airport certification.

Nigeria has 23 airports but only about four are viable.

NEPC to sensitise foreign markets within the law, to enable them penetrate the foreign market and achieve their desired goal.

According to him, “We can achieve this through our programmes like Zero to Export, Export Skill Acquisition Programme (ESAP), Export for Beginners and various other projects.”

He noted that the agency had initiated special projects which were targeted towards diversifying the economy even as Nigeria Diaspora Export Programme (NDEX) was designed to provide a platform for harnessing the energy generated by the presence of Nigerians abroad for development.

one year of age, either by community visit and follow up or by invitation to the Well-Baby Clinic”, she said.

She noted that the Institute would increase child routine visits to at least 18 years for immunisation and checks on dental care, developmental and behavioural problems.

ÏÏÏThe Federal Teaching Hospi-

tal, Abakaliki (FETHA) has established Institute of Child Health (ICH) in the hospital to promote and protect the health and rights of children and youths through monitoring, education and advocacy.

Speaking on the occasion at FETHA 1, the Director of the institute Dr. Thecla Ezeonu said the establishment would bridge the gap created by ignorance on the part of care-givers, which often begot diseases.

“It is our vision to ensure health care and monitoring, up to the age of five years for children in the community, by scheduling appointments for at least two routine checks in a year for children after

Umahi

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Buhari passionate about completion of Ajaokuta Steel coy, says Fayemi Ibrahim Obansa Lokoja

ÏÏÏThe Minister of

Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is very passionate about the completion and effective operation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, located in Kogi state.

Speaking Monday in Ajaokuta, after a one day official visit to the company, Fayemi said the new government is taking a holistic look at the company

Fayemi

to ensure that the steel complex works for the benefit of Nigerians.

"I want to let you know that the President is very passionate about the Ajaokuta steel company. We will take a look at the company holistically with a view to making it work for the benefits of Nigerians.

"We are looking at the entire steel complex. We are not going to segment the plant. We are told that the captive power plant, has been reactivated. After taking the one needed by the company, we will be happy if Kogi and its environs could benefit from the remaining Megawatt” the minister stated.

Earlier, the Sole Administrator of the company, Engr.

Isah Joseph Onobere, noted that since the determination of the Russian contract, the original designers

of the company in 1994, no significant progress was made in the fortunes of the company.

He called on the government to ensure the timely completion of the company, saying that the minister's visit after few months in office, is a clear demonstration of government's good intention to complete the steel plant.

He described the much taunted obsolete nature of the technology adopted by the Ajaokuta steel company as borne largely out of ignorance and campaign of calumny against the Nigerian state.

According to him, the campaign is to ensure that the company perpetually remain a dumping ground for steel products from the developed nations.

He commended the workers of the company for their

resilience, saying that they have shown uncommon patriotism in defending and protecting the steel plant equipment and facilities in the last 21 years.

Speaking also the two unions, Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ISSSAN), and Steel and Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria, (SEWUN), said no nation can attain economic stability, real industrial and technological advancement without massive investment in the steel sector.

The union position which was made known by the chairman of ISSSAN, Comrade Bello Itopa, said one of the greatest things a man can do for his country is emancipating her citizens from economic slavery, saying that it is what the present administration is doing to the citizenry.

L-R: Sen. Dino Melaye; Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin during a two-day sensitisation meeting on the implementation of the guideline on gender-based violence and young persons held in Abuja... on Monday.

Adamawa lawmakers refute alleged plan to impeach Gov Bindow Tom Garba Yola

ÏÏÏThe

25 lawmakers of Adamawa State House of Assembly, on Monday, refuted and distance the entire leadership of the house of any move or attempt to impeach Governor Jibrilla Umaru Bindow.

The Speaker of the House, Kabiru Mijinyawa, who presided over the House plenary, said they were not envisioning any move or any plot of such to the governor

as impeachment in the past has caused serious underdevelopment in the state.

Some of the lawmakers who spoke during the plenary said the move was aimed at causing confusion and disharmony in the state.

They called on newsmen to crosscheck their facts before going to the press in order not to feed the general public with wrong information. Also during an interview session with journalists shortly after the House

sitting, the Chief Whip of the House and member representing Hong constituency, Hassan Barguma, said the House is not contemplating impeaching the governor as such exercise has proven counterproductive in the past.

He said for impeachment to commence, a lot of procedures has to be put in place including investigations into financial misconduct upon which public account committee would act there-

in, setting up a 5-man panel which will look into the issue before any impeachment could be effected, noting that for now none of the procedures was contemplated. On the issue of the various cash approvals granted the executive, Barguma noted that all the approvals have met due process of the law as they were duly deliberated before being granted.

During plenary sitting, the House also approved a loan to the tune of over N900 million from Zenith Bank which would be used to settle counterpart funding for Universal Basic Education in the state

Augustine Okezie

Abuja ÏÏÏNigeria has announced her readiness to host the 6th Congress and Exhibition of African Petroleum Producers Association (APPA) in Abuja, between March15-17th, 2016.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and President of the Association, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, who made the announcement in Abuja on Monday, while addressing a world press conference said the event which will also feature 33 ordinary session of APPA council of Ministers meeting involving APPA member countries, is being organised in conjunction with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and AME trade Ltd, UK. Kachikwu further dis-

Nigeria to host 6th APPA Congress, Exhibition closed that the event will attract delegates of the highest rank from the 18member countries He said, ’’The CAPE 6 event is significant to us and we believe will benefit Nigeria in a number of ways. It is homecoming event as Nigeria was a key founding member of APPA and a promoter of the African petroleum Congress. ‘’We hope that it will highlight the nation’s oil and gas potential to global audience and help showcase Nigeria’s small and medium scale oil and gas companies to the larger world’’ Kachikwu added.

NTI trains 700 teachers Saka Bolaji

Minna ÏÏÏThe Director General and Chief Executive of National Teachers Institute (NTI), Professor Aminu Ladan Sharehu has said that the Institute have trained over 700 teachers in the last eight years, while hoping to increase its target annually if funds are provided.

Professor Sharehu made the disclosure on Monday in Minna at the flag-off ceremony of the Capacity Building Workshop for Teachers in the country, under the 2014 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),

Abia NYSC holds low-key passing out ceremony Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

ÏÏÏConsequent

upon late night directive by National Youth Service Corps national authorities, Abia State Command of the service decamped Batch 'B' stream 'C' of its corpers amidst tight security at the NYSC permanent orientation camp at Umunna, in Bende Local Government Area.

This directive came allegedly over the recent activities of MASSOB/ IPOB in Ebonyi state.

However, in Abia, the State Commandant of the

Batch B, conducted in 2015.

He said that the training is going to be an intensive and in house one for a week in which there will be test and examination that will bring positive change to the teachers, improved teacher classroom performance as well as their professional competence.

The DG further urged the state governments to key into the programme so as to complement federal government efforts to have a regular training and retraining of teachers in their various states in order to improve the standard of education in Nigeria.

scheme, Omotayo Adewoye said there was no threat to security in the camp, stating that the state command followed the order based on fear of spill over.

However, Adewoye said the corpers were released and issued with their posting letters.

Disclosing his satisfaction over convivial atmosphere in the state, the NYSC state commandant said, "so far so good, in Abia state, the relationship between the state government and NYSC is cordial", stating that corps members and NYSC management are happy with the state. According to him, throughout the period of camping, there was no threat to security there, stating "Abia state is really a home away from home".

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

25 Opinion

Dasuki should be innocent until proven guilty Temple Chima Ubochi If you spend your time hoping someone will suffer the consequences for what they did to your heart, then you are allowing them to hurt you a second time in your mind.

(Shannon L. Alder)

ÏÏÏ Despite the fact that Nigerians are irked by President Buhari’s frequent foreign travels in the midst of crises engulfing Nigeria, the last has not been heard of this wanderlust. Anyway, anybody criticizing Buhari is missing something. Let us not forget that Buhari is Fulani, and Fulani nomads know no other life than that of moving from place to place. Nigerians elected him, and so, nobody should complain.

On Monday, December 1, 2015, the Department of State Service (DSS) arrested the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), over an alleged $2bn arms contract scam. Few days after, he was transferred to an EFCC facility. Remember that the DSS kept Dasuki under house arrest for a month, and even when a court ordered his international passport be given back to him so he can travel for medical check up, the DSS refused. The agency claimed that Dasuki, was feigning illness to escape justice. Not only that, the DSS wants his trial to be in secret and for felony, breach

of public trust and money laundering. The federal government has also appointed a private legal practitioner, Oladipupo Okpeseyitan, to continue the prosecution.

Dasuki has denied ever receiving any formal or informal invitation to appear before an Investigative Panel on the Procurement of Hardware and Munitions. Sambo Dasuki said: “For the record I am proud to serve my nation with the best of intention and ensuring the recovery of more than 22 local government councils from Boko Haram terrorists. Because of the pride on how we tackled terrorism through our gallant troops and partners in the twilight of the previous administration, that is the reason I have insisted on open and public trial of my stewardship rather than secret trial as being canvassed by my prosecutors. I wish Nigerians will go back and reflect on what we did with even little or no supports from some countries. I thought the committee was to investigate procurement from 2007 to 2015. Yet, only my name is being mentioned even when some of the issues were before I came into the government.

I leave Nigerians to judge”.

It was alleged that Dasuki has started to sing, and has made some “mindboggling” revelations on the $2billion “phoney” arms contracts. It was alleged that the names Dasuki mentioned, who have been taken in for questioning, are Special Adviser on Media to President Jonathan, Chief Raymond Dokpesi; former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa; former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former Chairman

Buhari

Dasuki

of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Marine Safety, Air Vice Marshal Salihu Atawodi.

Others mentioned but not yet arrested include Chief Bode George, former Rivers State governor, Peter Odili; and Bukola Saraki, Senate President.

Just as Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) noted, this might be a case of “Politics and Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles”. Something is not clear here! For now, these are mere allegations.

This is a government built on lies, obfuscation and obstruction, and is nothing to be proud of. It might be hounding these people through lies. Dasuki’s persecution and prosecution have something more to do with his role, during the IBB’s coup on August 27, 1985. Now, Dasuki claims that the DSS are lying against him, as he wasn’t invited to appear before any investigative panel before he was indicted; that he didn’t spend such an amount of money; and that he didn’t implicate or mention anybody’s name as a beneficiary from the arm deal fund. Confirming this, his lawyer, Ahmed Raji, said: “I was with Dasuki on December 3, 2015, and wish to state that my client

never made any statement of such nature or named anybody or group in any statement. Dasuki has not done anything like that.

It is the figment of the imagination of the authors aimed at creating falsehood for reasons best known to them. They are just out to scandalise Dasuki and bring his image and character into disrepute. They want him deserted and that will fail.”

In addition, Chief Olabode George, described as “phantom” story alleging that he collected N100 million from Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). In a statement on December 3, he said the “libelous publication” is out rightly borne upon a twisted and depraved imagination, lacking substance, stripped of any iota of truth and prompted by a primitive malignity. Chief George challenged his accusers by telling them that “Dasuki of course is very much alive to corroborate this position”.

We should think very carefully before condemning here; just as Supreme Court of the United States (Westbrook v. Mihaly 2 Cal. 3d 756) wrote that “Constitutional rights may not be infringed simply because the majority of the people choose that they be”. We

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do not know who is saying the truth here; the court will have to sort this out for us. However, if in the end, these allegations are well founded, then, Sambo Dasuki has serious questions to answer. Nevertheless, the doubts linger. The whole thing seems vindictive; and Fayose, the Ekiti State Governor, put it into perspective. Hear him: “disobeying court order and later arresting and detaining the same person the court ordered to be allowed to travel abroad for Medicare is the peak of dictatorship”. He also demanded for an open trial as against the Federal Government’s demand for a secret one.

Just as said earlier: These allegations are weighty, and if proven, these men should rot in jail. However, having said that, those on trial are PDP and Goodluck Jonathan’s men. They are not the only corrupt ones in Nigeria. Other criminals in APC should be facing the music also. The war against corruption should be evenhanded. Remember the ex-Minister of Education, Shekarau, accused Buhari of hobnobbing with corrupt persons who ruined Nigeria. They were part of those 16 years, which Buhari claimed that PDP ruined Nigeria and today because they are APC, they are saints.. The Amaechis are all part of the PDP. The entire election crisis that President Buhari was accusing PDP of perpetrating was a creation of these people, the same who are with him now.

Buhari protects his friends and deals with others. How can he effectively fight corruption in Nigeria, when he told us, some years back, that Abacha did not steal our money? ThisDay wrote on June 9, 2008: “Gen.

Muhammadu Buhari, who ruled Nigeria between 1983 and 1985, and his successor, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, gave Abacha the clean bill in Kano after the remembrance prayers marking 10 years of his by saying that he did not loot the national treasury contrary to the general impression”.

Buhari has started probing Jonathan’s administration. Jonathan’s government was not the most corrupt, and I wonder how this government and Jonathan’s traducers want us to believe that the government was more corrupt than others. Nigerians have short memories, and that is why the politicians use them for their own selfish gains. Remember that the Transparency International (TI) rated the out-gone government of President Goodluck Jonathan as the best compared to those of President Muhammadu Buhari in 1983 and Olusegun Obasanjo. Transparency International noted that data from 1979 until date shows that the tenures of both Buhari and Obasanjo were more corrupt than the tenure of Jonathan. The data also showed that under Jonathan, Nigeria recorded its best score in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) since 1979. Jonathan was not saint but he had cleverer direction and better philosophy for fighting corruption than the Buhari administration. Buhari is only engaging in fire brigade approach, as long as the basic things fuelling corruption in Nigeria have not been addressed. That some of Jonathan’s appointees are being accused of corruption should not make him the most corrupt leader ever. After all, these accused people are innocent until proven guilty!

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26

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Law Æ s Conspirators both in APC, PDP don’t want Buhari’s success— Agbakoba Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate and former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in this media chat with journalists bore his mind on various national issues affecting the nation.

Peter Fowoyo, was there.

Agbakoba

What prompted you to write president Buhari again?

This is end of the year to reflect on how far our new government has settled down. We all know that there has been state of anomy, nothing is really working in the minds of the people, the President has finally set up a cabinet of basically technical people in my opinion who have a strong mind to deliver on infrastructures, the economy and the soft institutions, what we now need to see as they settle down into office is the product of agenda of government in the first quarter of 2016.

There is already a supplementary budget and 2016 budget is the highest budget ever, it is between 6-8 trillion naira. The government said it would focus on primarily social democratic issues that promotes issue and policy and it has already got a huge chunk of issues to deal with benefits, giving money to disadvantaged members of the society, people who are unemployed even though it is difficult to say how that will be achieved and who are likely to be the beneficiaries among the 25 million Nigerians, quite how that will be arranged remains to be seen. My

view is that apart from the late Chief Awolowo, this is the first time I am seeing a government based on ideology.

Nigeria essentially runs a corporatist state policy where the government favors the rich, the departure here is that the government has identified itselt as a left of the center, this is the first time we are having such and anyone who is familiar with the left of center parties will know that the left of center delivers benefits at the bottom and I have heard vice president Yemi Osinbajo repeatedly say we will legalise chapter two of the constitution that deals with social welfare but are not enforceable in the court. I think those are very fantastic and lofty ideas that need to be supported.

How would you assess this administration’s fight against corruption. There are suggestions that the President is using the anti-graft agency to fight political opponents.

What is your view?

The war on corruption even though not well clarified in my view, is the most serious attempt to deal with people who have stolen public funds in this country even though it can still be better institutionalised. I think it

The war on corruption even though not well clarified in my view, is the most serious attempt to deal with people who have stolen public funds in this country even though it can still be better institutionalised. represent the most far reaching concrete attempt to tackle it and it should be applauded.

In order to then shift programme of government from right of center to the left of center, we have people who opposed it and it is not the common man that opposed it, it is often the elites so, I have classified those people as the conspirators, those who want business to continue as usual and I might say that I am an elite and that I suffer greatly from the impact of the tight foreign exchange restriction, our law firm cannot remit funds, you can’t believe it, we are owing things like five hundred pounds to pay for subscription but that is the sacrifice that I am ready to undertake because

people have abused the system and what they want is business as usual.

I think it would summarise what this government is going to do, mark you, it hasn’t done it, I make no judgment as to whether the government has succeeced, I am certainly making comment that if you review where we are and compare it to the government of the past, what are we likely to say without any equivocation as a left of center man anyway, all through my public life I have been a left of center person and I make no apology about that, whilst I am happy to have money,I am not happy to have it to the exclusion of about 180 millions Nigerians who are hungry, why should I be a rich man when everybody around me is so poor, it makes no sense.

So if there are crosses of equalising our natural resources which is what the government intend to do then I would have to support it but, this conspirators you will find in both APC and PDP and I can assure you that if there is the possibility of PDP returning to power and there is a very strong likelihood that it would succeed, 70 per cent of politicians in APC will cross over to PDP. That is how non ideological our political parties have been so when you have parties that are not driven by ideology but by their pockets, when they then see that what this government intends to do is to shut them out from the usual largesse and patronage, they are not going to be happy so, they are the ones that are making the president look bad that is not to say that the president couldn’t have done things better for in-

stance, the delay in appointing his cabinet ought to have been faster, lack of clarification of what he’s doing, I don’t see why he has Femi Adesina and Garba Sheu as press secretaries which is not done anywhere else. Either Femi or Garba should be president secretary reporting the president diary and the other one is reporting the government activity. The government said it has recovered a lot of loot running into about ten trillion naira why must we, those of us that are informed, have access to information that ought to be in public domain? The government has not communicated enough and that failure to communicate that gives the impression that people are not clear where the president is going.

What do you mean by communication lethargy?

In my view, the government has all of the attributes I have described which is a people driven government so, if you ask Nigerians what do you think about President Buhari? Some would say the man is not doing anything, some would say that he has integrity, some would say he is too slow. We shouldn’t have that communication gap if someone is saying what the government is trying to do. I understand that because I have taken the pains to find out, by the way, I wasn’t a Buhari fan at all, so I am the last person to get behind him but, neither was I a Jonathan’s fan because I was close to Jonathan and I regret he missed opportunities because at the time I used to say to him, “You are behind”, he didn’t under-

Continued on page 27

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

27 Law

‘We have political parties without ideology’ Continued from page 26 stand it, I remember one Saturday I came from Ivory Coast and I told him, I can say it because that is the truth, one thing I am happy about is that not a single Nigerian politician has given me a dime neither have I benefitted any penny from any government activity for example, presidential flood committee, national conference so, you know what I am now? I am a free man, I can talk, I can face anybody and say how much have you given me?

So I can say it, Jonathan made a strategic error, he had a chance to continue and that is it, he had a number of lofty ideas, this TSA is his idea but, they sat on their fannings, they sat on their asses doing nothing and blew their chances. So, now come Buhari a more austere person. Jonathan’s government was flamboyant, immediately the conspirators would be affected.

Hilton hotel is no longer free, Hilton hotel is now running at 50 per cent empty that is the problem. So, all the jollification is gone, you think they would like Buhari? That is the problem. Do people know what you are doing? Because if they know they would be in love with it, they would say keep the money there, let it be in TSA, don’t allow it to be stolen, oh, so what you want is for it to be stolen? Now that it is in the TSA, we can then ask, since you speak for the president can’t you advise him to also spend the money. That is the communication I am referring to, the man is packing the money so, do you prefer the old one where there was nothing at all?

Some governors are saying they cannot pay the minimum wage of their workers, is this part of the elites’ conspiracy?

No, I think that is a different thing, the problem is that the governors can’t pay and it also strikes me as absurd that there is one national minimum wage because I can tell you, in some parts of the North food is very cheap.

You can’t say you will pay everybody N18,000 as minimum wage and I found it absurd in the national conference, I sat next to the deputy president of labor and I thought he would support the devolution of labor as a national issue, it is for various governors discussing with their labor to decide what they can pay, why should it be a national issue? Why should there be a national minimum wage?

You pay what is relevant to local situations.

The National Human Rights

I can assure you that if circumstances made it possible for Jonathan to come back, all these men in APC will decamp that is what the media should focus on.

Agbakoba

day has come and gone but since the advent of democracy in 1999, human rights crusade is no longer what it used to be. What would you say has gone wrong?

What’s gone wrong is that things have changed, in 1991, I was a big opposition in the country because all the ambassadors were very happy to ask me what I thought about this, about that, we led the opposition movement across Africa to various regional, european, commonwealth, in fact, the last one we went was in Oakland. So there was that relevance of human rights because there wasn’t anything else, there was a military government versus the people therefore, we had that role because the human rights was actually more limited than what we have in Nigeria but, we expanded it because of the role we had to carry at the time now, by 1998 politicians came and the real challenge was whether we would want to cross over into politics, we made a mistake not to have crossed, in not crossing, nobody elected me anyway but, the man who is elected from the constituency is the person who represents you and should do all those things that I felt called upon to do when there was nobody.

So, you are taking far too much on the shoulders of the human rights actors, I think as today they would be as relevant as they were when there was a need for them to do it that is the general issue but don’t forget that we also have specialised kinds of issues and struggles, I mean Oby Ezekwesili has led

the bring back our girls, there is the budget issue, there is the issue of enough is enough so, the debate has continued but not under the same name, the current name now for activism is governance and we have a lot of them talking about governance, making sure that things are well monitored so it continues but in a different way.

President Olusegun Obasanjo demolished toll gates across the country and now this administration is trying to build same toll gates across our roads. Is there no way we can make government accountable to the people?

This is the conspiracy of the elites, whether they are traditional rulers you jumped there, you go and cover them, you make them look important, they come to churches and occupy the pews, these are people who should actually be afraid to come out but they are not afraid because they are adored and sanctified. The only man in religion who speaks the truth is Rev. Fr. Mbaka, all others were laying hands, how come the country is so poor, I don’t know what the statistics are but I think it is about 70 million people poor, all I hear are how pastors, chiefs, lay hands on people and part with our money and you are the ones who promote it.

Those are parts of the conspiracy, they will take the money and they will dine and wine with political elites, the business elites, the men of cloths, the traditional rulers and you will report them in packaged newspaper

handouts and we glorify them when we should be asking them to leave the seat. Obasanjo is so adored and glorified by the media yet he has absolutely no values, his time is gone, he should go to commonwealth heads of government, AU meetings and create a foundation like Jimmy Carter who is 90 years old or Bill Clinton who has the Global Initiative.

That is the area, not for him to be contesting for political space, he has been president once and twice, what again? Have you seen what has come out with the scandalous money meant to fight boko haram? And it has not even started, we have not gone into how oil money was looted. That is why these people cannot leave, they are prepared to kill their friends and mothers to be there that is the challenge, it is so deep that I am shocked you are all ignorant, you don’t understand that these people are the ones holding the country, they would not allow it to shift, you think they want national conference?

They don’t want a national conference, they want everything to be in confusion so that they can continue. Why shouldn’t the governor of Anambra state be able to run his affairs without interference from Abuja but, it won’t happen.

What is your take on the constitutional crisis that the recently conducted gubernatorial elections threw up.

Who do you think should be the governor of Kogi state?

I got phone calls while I was on my way outside the country to

Malta and journalists were asking me this question and I said to myself that our media has become insensitive to the fact that somebody died. How can someone die and the question you are asking me is, who will succeed him? You are not interested in the fact that the man died, you are interested in who will succeed him, shame on you people in the media, a man had died, I thought you will be calling to ask me what I think of the death of Audu no, you are interested in who will succeed him. His son joined the race, is it a hereditry position? You know why we can kill our mothers for power here?

Rotimi Amaechi got N1billion a month for eight years and that is N12 billion a year multiply it by eight years totalling N96billion allocated to him during his tenure in office that he is not accountable for. Then he uses it to prop up the APC during elections, those are the conspirators, I can assure you that if circumstances made it possible for Jonathan to come back, all these men in APC will decamp that is what the media should focus on. In the UK, we have the conservatives and we know what they stand for, we have the Labor party, we know what they stand for, David Cemeroon will never drop any of the major plan of the Conservative party, he can never sacrifice it and in fairness to him, he is showing results neither will the Labor party drop any of the cardinal programme but in Nigeria because there is no ideology anyway, you will find that happen. It is a shame.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Tech Times Æ s

28

Inye Kemabonta, Editor, Tech Times inye@technologylaw.com.ng

NITDA plans open, healthy competition among software developers Stories By Tony Nwakaegho The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Engr. Peter Olu Jack, has disclosed that plans were on by the Agency to create open and healthy competition among Information Communication Technology (ICT) software developers in the country.

Jack made this disclosure at the sideline during the just concluded three-day e-Nigeria 2015 Conference, organised

by NITDA in Abuja adding that the competition would involve developers of various solutions in the various sectors.

“We will create competition opportunities for software developers for the various solutions in the various sectors.

“So, if we are focused on the health sector, we will allow developers to compete for solution for the health sector and when we focus on the agricultural sector, we will open competition for solution

Jack, NITDA DG

in the agricultural sector as well.

“Because NITDA mandate is all pervasive, all encompassing,

touching the various arms and tiers of government, touching the private sector, the civil society groups, every aspect

of our life, we have decided to the e-Nigeria should focus year by year on topics of greatest interest to the country,” NITDA DG said.

Jack posited that the nation has various elections this year, stressing that acceptable and reliable elections were necessary for the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.

NITDA, he said has consciously and purposefully focused this year`s e-Nigeria on electoral process for the Agency to collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to him, e-voting would have been fully introduced and dominated the Nigerian electoral system by 2019.

He buttressed that there was urgent need to improve the legislations on ICT and e-Voting which has remained the catalyst for the nation’s social, political and economic growth.

He enjoined the lawmakers in the country to change the legal framework on ICT for the better, adding that efforts were being made to scale it up from its current level of just 10 per cent to 20 per cent in 2020.

NBC to host African digital broadcasting switchover forum 2016

Mba, DG NBC

National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) will host the African Digital Broadcasting Switchover Forum 2016, following the recent signing of a hosting agreement with the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO).

The event which has been held almost exclusively in South Africa since it was launched in 2006 is moving to West Africa for the first time and will take place on 11 - 13 May 2016 in Abuja.

Emeka Mba, NBC’s directorgeneral said: “The economic potential for broadcasting on the continent is yet to be fully tapped into. Nigeria has a lot to offer, and so we are excited at hosting this event next year and we look forward to engaging media regulators and broadcasters from the continent and beyond, here in Abuja.”

Shola Taylor, secretarygeneral of the CTO, commended Mr Mba for seizing the opportunity to host Africa’s broadcasting industry

in Nigeria, adding that “When it comes to broadcasting, Nigeria is a destination of choice and a reference on the continent and increasing also in the world, and on behalf of members of the CTO Council, I must commend you for seizing this opportunity so promptly.”

In the previous editions, the event had focused predominantly on the technical, regulatory and costs aspects of the digital CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Tech Times 29

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Shittu pledges to partner NCS on IT issues

By Tony Nwakaegho Barrister Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications, has pledged that the present administration was determined to partner with the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) on information technology (IT) related matters.

Shittu made the pledge while welcoming in his office NCS delegation led by the president, Professor Adesola Aderounmu, adding he welcomes positive and impactful ideas that will bring development and growth to Nigeria through IT. He disclosed that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government would make local content issue his priority to generate employment and capacity building for the young people.

Shittu affirmed that he was ready to learn, to listen, and collaborate with NCS in all IT related issues.

Earlier, Professor Aderounmu said that in its over 36 years of existence, the NCS has gotten the Federal Government to pass Act Number 49 of 1993 establishing Computer Professionals Registration Council (CPN) which regulates the profession and practice of information technology in Nigeria.

He recalled that NCS also worked with the Federal Government to establish the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) which formulates policies and develops IT initiatives and recently worked with the Federal Government in establishing the Ministry of Communications Technology.

“The importance of the IT

Shittu, Communications Minister

sector as an agent of change and development cannot be overemphasized. All over the world, IT is a major driver of the economy. Being the acknowledged professional authority in this sector, our aims are socio-economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and deepened diversification of the economy. Indeed technology holds significant promise as a major revenue earner.

“In developing this agenda, NCS is firmly committed to partnering with the Federal Government to build an inclusive, prosperous and digitally enabled nation. We recommend the identified

NBC to host African digital broadcasting switchover forum 2016 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

migration process, attracting key private sector players such as production, transmission and end-user equipment manufacturers, as well as satellite carriers and content distributors.

“This will be the first Commonwealth broadcasting event held for the region since the first internationally agreed switchover deadline of

17 June this year, and as most countries accelerate their migration to digital systems, we expect next year’s event to put more emphasis on content production and business models,” Taylor added.

NBC is the parastatal of the Federal Government of Nigeria established in 1992 and mandated to regulate the broadcasting sector in the Nigeria.

issues high level and prominence on the agenda to leverage IT to achieve the goals of the Buhari administration.

“While the impact of technology is being felt more than ever before, there is still a need to fully ensure technology enables social and economic transformation that inclusively benefits all Nigerians,” the NCS President said.

He said that effective and efficient exploitation of IT is essential for the future of the nation’s economic well being.

“In this regard, we recommend that priority be given to the use of registered local IT professionals and registered local IT companies to execute IT jobs. In particular such IT firms and professionals should be involved in Strategic IT projects.

“NCS additionally calls for a deliberate focus on youth innovation to generate massive employment for millions of our youth through riding on the startup boom in Nigeria.

Incubation and accelerator centers similar to IDEA centers should be established to engender nationwide spread. Youth strengths and

energies need to be utilized to meet present needs and also to prepare the nation on a sound footing for the emerging next generation.

“These measures will create jobs and expand the economy in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) subscribed to by Nigeria,” he said.

The NCS President also advocated that information technology should be used to improve all strategic facets of governance in Nigeria.

He noted that in particular NCS is committed to the fight against corruption through technology and strongly recommends the use of innovative IT tools and solutions to frontally address the major concerns of bribery and corruption facing the nation.

“Developing and deploying IT to facilitate transparency and accountability in government will build a globally respected nation whose citizens can hold up their heads anywhere in the world”.

He said that the Communication Technology Ministry along with other IT

agencies in Nigeria possess the ability to resolve Nigeria job crises and further create wealth for the nation similar to the IT revolution going on in India.

“Hence there is the urgent need for the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to: Consider the appointment of seasoned IT professionals (registered members of NCS and CPN) to head IT agencies in the country; appoint seasoned IT professionals on the boards of MDAs to maximize and deepen the benefits of electronic governance and digital transformation in Nigeria; direct BPP to amend the prequalification requirements for IT projects to include Evidence of registration with CPN and NCS in addition to the newly introduced pre-qualification requirements such as evidence of registration with PENCOM, and evidence of remittance of fund to ITF. “Mandate MDAs to appoint IT professionals as directors of IT, direct all MDAs to establish IT career structure if not yet in place, implement the use of CPN registration as a condition to employ IT professional staff in MDAs to level 10 as approved and gazetted by the Federal Government of Nigeria (the Federal Government already implemented this condition for professionals in Engineering, Health, etc.).

“Mandate NCS in collaboration with NITDA to supervise all IT projects to be implemented in Nigeria.

Security He added that, to fully pursue the administration’s goal of ensuring improved security for the nation and its citizens, NCS recommends that IT in Security be placed high on the agenda.

Commitment in this regard, he said will exemplify greater determination and focus to defeat Boko Haram and other security threats.

“NCS is committed to working with the Federal Government to root out vices such as kidnapping and neutralise the various forms of criminalities that threaten the social peace of Nigerians. NCS concurs with President Mohammadu Buhari on the harmonization of the national database for Nigeria,” he said.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

30 Tech Times

ASUS unveils ZenFone family in Nigeria

By Tony Nwakaegho The innovative ZenFone family from ASUS, Number one laptop brand in Europe, has made its debut into the Nigeria market with a recent media event held in Lagos, Nigeria.

The brand-new models, which come with comprehensive camera solutions, PixelMaster Technology and ZenUI software support include ZenFone Selfie, ZenFone Laser 5.5, ZenFone Go 5.0, and ZenFone C 4.5.

PixelMaster is a unique ASUS-developed technology that combines software, hardware and optical design to deliver incredible image quality.

Speaking at the event, ASUS Nigeria Country Product Manager, Mr. Simplice Zaongo, said: “We are very excited to bring our latest ZenFone family to the Nigerian market. These brand-new innovations are each an empowering luxury that strikes the perfect balance of beauty, functionality and performance, and especially offers Nigerian consumers a comprehensive camera experience via both hardware and software.”

“All ZenFone models are equipped with ASUS PixelMaster technology, a unique ASUS-developed technology that combines software, hardware and optical design to deliver incredible image quality.

ZenFone Selfie is the ultimate choice for selfies with its twin 13MP PixelMaster cameras and a dual-color, dual-LED Real Tone flash at both front and

… debuts revolutionary ZenFone Selfie in Anglophone Africa

L-R: Folorunso Steve, Sales Manager, Nigeria; Alvin Huang, Director, South Africa and English Speaking African Countries; Simplice Zaongo, Nigeria Country Product Manager and Lawrence Lin, Nigeria Product Manager (Phones & Tablets), all of ASUS, at the ZenFone Family Launch organised by ASUS in Lagos, Nigeria, recently

rear. It also features the new multifaceted polygonal design aesthetic to the ZenFone, offering beauty and power in abundance.

“ZenFone Laser 5.5 includes laser auto-focus technology in its 13MP PixelMaster camera for clear, near-instant shots in just 0.3 seconds. ZenFone Go 5.0 and ZenFone C 4.5 are equipped with PixelMaster camera for up to 400% brighter photo and video,” he added.

The comprehensive camera solutions of ZenFone were demonstrated with the ZenFone Selfie, which made its first entry into Englishspeaking Africa with the launch. ZenMotion Touch

NCC decries lack of broadband access in Nigeria

Gesture allows users to open the front camera by simply drawing “S” on the screen.

The built-in beatification camera tool can make the skin smooth, change the skin tone, slim the cheek and enlarge the eyes on a click – in a click!

Immediately a selfie is taken, the photo is shown on the laptop screen via ASUS ZenUI app–PC Link, which allows users to operate their phones from a laptop. All photos taken with a ZenFone at an event can be shared toother ZenFones instantly via ASUS Party Link app without consuming any data.

ZenFone Selfie rear camera is just as advanced with a large f/2.0 aperture lens for superior

By Tony Nwakaegho The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has decried lack of broadband access despite the huge bandwidth capacity of over 9 terabytes at the shores of the country via four submarine cable operators – Glo-1, MTN-WASC, MainOne and SAT-3 still lagging far behind with less than 30 per cent as acceptable.

The commission disclosed that broadband penetration is further behind with less than 10 per cent of the population compared to that of Voice. Over 150 million

low-light shots. Both front and rear cameras are engineered with five-prism Largan lenses and top-quality Toshiba sensors, and include dual-LED Real Tone flash technology for perfect illumination in any lighting conditions. It delivers superb macro photography that works on subjects as close as 6cm, plus rear laser autofocus to compose shots in the blink of an eye.

ZenFone Laser 5.5 model benefits from a powerful 13MP PixelMaster camera with an f/2.0 wide-aperture lens to capture stunning, highresolution photos with zero shutter lag — augmented by laser auto-focus technology that empowers users to

Nigerians, representing 80 per cent of the population are active users of voice services.

“There is a huge bandwidth capacity of over 9 terabytes landed on the shores of the country, but growth in the country’s data segment is lagging far behind with less than 30 percent and broadband even further behind with less than 10 per cent of the population, compared to that of Voice,” NCC said in a presentation titled ‘Regulations, Broadband & Convergence’ delivered at an event in Lagos.

NCC said these bandwidth capacity needed to be processed

capture perfect clarity in just 0.3 seconds. Available in5.5-inch (ZE550KL) version with 1280 x 800-pixel HD resolution, ZenFone Laser incorporates the latest and toughest Corning Gorilla Glass 4. It boasts up to quadcore 64-bit Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor with 2GB memory and 4G/LTE connectivity with dual-SIM slots.

ZenFone Go 5.0’s powerful quad-core MediaTek processor easily handles multiple tasks and delivers immersive gaming experiences. is equipped with a high-resolution 1280 x 720 HD IPS display, sporting a pixel density of 294ppi for an impressive visual appearance with improved clarity, brightness and vivid colors.

ZenFone C 4.5’s fashionable vibrant colors are designed to match users’ unique style; with MediaTek quadcore processors for the best performance and power efficiency in their class.

ASUS is the No. 1 laptop brand in Europe and a worldwide top-three consumer laptop vendor. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,326 awards in 2014 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™ The ZenFone family will be available at Slot, Park N Shop, Konga, Genuss, Onyx, and Jumia.

and translated to provide adequate domestic bandwidth for broadband services.

It noted that the commission is vigorously making efforts towards improving broadband penetration by coming up with appropriate policies that encourage investment and growth in broadband penetration.

Some of such policies, according to the regulator is promoting the rapid establishment of recovery agreements and the delivery of additional cable landing points to other coastal states in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Tech Times 31

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Nigerian partners discover new opportunities in Sophos road show

By Tony Nwakaegho Sophos (LSE: SOPH), a global leader in network and endpoint security has concluded first in its series of pan Africa partner roadshows held in Lagos, Nigeria.

The event conducted with the theme of “Discover Sophos”, kicked off as a multi-city channel partner tour that saw Sophos reaching out and connecting with resellers, distributors and other partners across Africa, covering all major markets. The roadshow aims to launch full range of Sophos security products and educate partners on next generation of end-user, network and server protection solutions. In addition, Nigerian partners were also provided with understanding on what’s in store with roadmap, upcoming products & solution opportunities and channel initiatives.

Lagos partner roadshow came close on the heels of recent launch of Synchronized Security, which made Sophos the first security company to link Network and Endpoint products to enable improved and advanced protection without the need for in-house security manpower or multiple security solutions.

Nigerian partners have access to these revolutionary security solutions from Sophos that include firewall, end-user protection, data security, mobile security and server protection.

Following its successful integration with Cyberoam, and more recently appointment of Harish Chib (a Cyberoam veteran) as new leader for MEA, Sophos has begun making rapid

As part of the cardinal objective of President Mohammadu Buhuri’s change mantra, the Federal Government said it is to create Information Communication Technology hubs across the nation.

This is the fall out of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on ‘’ICT for Change Empowerment Programme’’ between the Federal Government and Huawei Technologies Co. Nig Ltd at the State House Abuja.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said: “We are looking at developing existing hubs and to see how we can empower those who are already working in the various ICT hubs.’’

According to him, some of the ICT organisations were already growing into a silicon valley in Yaba, Lagos, and many people are engaged in programming and developing applications.

He said that the Federal Government would expand

strides, strengthening its reach while augmenting expansion in Africa.

“Now is one of the most exciting and profitable times to target Nigeria’s network and IT security market,” Moiz Maloo MD of Mart networks said.

“Discover Sophos partner tour lived up to its name and provided partners with the in-depth security solutions knowledge needed to succeed in this growing market. Sophos brings balanced focus on both Network and Endpoint side and has one of the most comprehensive security portfolios in the industry. It also understands Nigeria’s unique needs, especially need for simple security. We are thrilled with new opportunities and given Sophos’ channel commitment; we’re looking forward to accelerate our security business success even faster.”

Consolidation with Cyberoam has allowed Sophos to significantly expand its presence in Middle East and Africa, with total partner count exceeding over 2000 experienced resellers.

Sharing his comment on the roadshow, Harish Chib, VP MEA, Sophos said, “Being a 100 % channel centric company is the hallmark of our success and we are proud of our Nigerian partners for adding to our growth. As we bring Sophos and Cyberoam strengths together, we are set to double down on our commitment to partners, ensuring continued growth, latest skills, simplified management of business and customers and greater profitability. Discover Sophos roadshow is our initiative to transition our partners from product-centric sales approach

to solutions-based selling. With a broad range of Sophos products, we want to enable our partners to be solution provider for all sort of security needs for their customers.”

Moreover, at a time when cyber fraud, financial malware scare and other internet perils are spiralling security concerns in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, Sophos partners have a ripe opportunity to take latest security technologies and solutions to market. Africa is poised to undergo another round of ICT led transition, which would benefit its healthcare, banking & financial services, education and government projects, adding to citizens’ welfare.

However, with mobile and broadband connectivity reaching more users and businesses, cyber criminals have more targets in their radar. Sophos, with its proven expertise in network,

enduser and server protection brings tremendous opportunity to Nigerian partners to address these needs and emerge endto-end security provider, experiencing incremental revenue growth.

Sophos’ products allow users to secure every end point of their network, from laptops to virtual desktops and servers, to web and email traffic and mobile devices. The company is the only vendor that’s placed as a leader in UTM, Endpoint and Mobile Data Protection magic quadrants of a leading global analyst, which holds testimony to its proven consistency in product delivery, and a mature vision for the technology.

The roadshow also saw Sophos announcing several partner enablement initiatives including skills development, training and certification programmes and incentives for growth.

Chib, MEA Sophos leader

NCC decries lack of broadband access in Nigeria CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30

country. The commission said it’s also looking into ways to facilitate the distribution of the current landed fibre capacity of over 9 terabytes at the shores of Lagos to fast track last mile penetration in the country.

It also believes that the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2013-2018), which sets out a five-year roadmap and strategy, with the primary objective of achieving a five-fold increase in broadband penetration in Nigeria by the year 2018, will facilitate universal broadband rollout and promote access and usage.

“With the faithful execution of the broadband plan the 2018 broadband penetration targets can be achieved but it needs everyone on board. With Increased Broadband Penetration and Access, Nigerians can do more!

A connected Nigeria is a transformed Nigeria,” it said.

Some of the indices for Broadband roll-out and provision that the government is looking at include availability for service nationwide, improved quality of service, an affordability of service, a market driven competition, incentives to encourage foreign direct investment and consumer protection.

FG to create ICT hubs across Nigeria the scope of technology and incubate the start-ups of young people to advance ICT. He said that the development of ICT was an opportunity for people to get quick and decent jobs to enhance their lives and the economy.

He commended the group for the partnership with the government, and assured that the government would work with

Osinbajo, Vice President

it to achieve success.

The vice president said that the government was creating an opportunity to ease business for entrepreneurs, adding that the country must move up in the business index by opening up the market.

He said the Federal Government would encourage not only the selling of products but also their local manufacture so that the large population in the country could occupy the middle class.

He said that it was an opportunity for China to improve on its technology transfer, being a strategic partner with the Federal Government and that the effort would lead to greater prosperity for both China and Nigeria.

Osinbajo hailed the ladies who qualified to go to China for ICT training, saying that it was the

objective of the administration to advance the girl-child education and women in business because of their large population.

“If you don’t engage women in business and education, we will be shooting ourselves in the feet as women have a very great role to play in nation building.

“Chinese Ambassador has proved to us that he is not only an ambassador but a brother, because he has stuck to us very closely and has taken every opportunity to work with Nigerian government to achieve our objective,’’ he said.

He also commended Huawei technologies for the manner it was advancing technology development globally, remarking that knowledge was key ‘’and only the knowledge society will succeed’’.

The vice president said he was

excited about “certain attitude the young generation has about technology’’, adding that it was time for young people to be trained to imbibe ICT and the entire technology field.

Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications, said that the trainees would be evenly selected and urged Huawei group to increase the number of Nigerian trainers for the project to save cost of sending trainees to China.

On his part, Gu Xiaojie, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria said that his country was ready to develop the economic cooperation with Nigeria through 10 key cooperation plans, including industrialization, agriculture, infrastructure, financial services, rail development and public health.

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tuESdaY, dEcEmBER 15, 2015

VOL. 2. NO.1

Price: n150

Siasia

g 19

eyes Olympics soccer gold

D

avid Nakhid has failed in his attempt to have his disqualification from the FIFA presidency election overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder announced his intention to stand as a candidate to replace current incumbent Sepp Blatter in August.

Nakhid, who is based in Lebanon where he runs a football academy, then needed to secure letters of support from five different national associations to be accepted as a contender.

He thought he had that but when FIFA confirmed a list of seven candidates in October, the 51-year-old’s name was not on

FIFA y c n e d i Pres l u f e hop

d i h k Nas CAS lose l a e p ap

it.

It was later revealed Nakhid and another of those bidding to replace Blatter - who is currently suspended from all football activity - had received backing from the same nation.

Given each country can back just one candidate, only one of the people they had supported could stand and Nakhid was discounted.

The list could yet reduce to six candidates if Michel Platini is removed from it between now and the election on February 26.

He and Blatter’s hearing by FIFA’s ethics committee into a payment to the Frenchman signed off by the latter as a backdated salary payment takes place later this week.

A decision is expected by Christmas and it could see both men, who deny any wrongdoing, receive more substantial bans from involvement in the game than the 90day suspensions they are currently serving.

Whatever happens there, Nakhid definitely will not be standing after CAS upheld FIFA’s decision to rule him out.

A statement read: “In its decision of October 28, 2015, the FIFA ad hoc electoral committee found that Mr Nakhid had not presented declarations of support from at least five member associations.

“For this reason, he could not be admitted as a candidate for the election for the office of FIFA president on February 26, 2016.

“In appealing to the CAS on November 13, 2015, Mr Nakhid sought the annulment of the challenged decision and an order that his candidacy be reinstated.

“In line with the FIFA AEC, the CAS panel found one member association had issued declarations of support to two candidates, including one for Mr Nakhid, in violation of the applicable FIFA rules.

“As a consequence, those letters of support were disregarded, meaning David Nakhid had not met the qualifying criterion of obtaining declarations of support from at least five member associations.

“Accordingly, his candidature could not be validated. The full award with the grounds will be notified to the parties in a few days.”

Business Times

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria

CBN tightens rules for BDCs Page B3

Dangote to inject N10b in TBCG Page B4

TUC bemoans Nigerian workers, manufacturers’ woes Page B6

Amaechi orders financial, staff audit of NIMASA Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has directed immediate financial and staff audit of the Nigerian Maritime and Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

The minister gave the directive yesterday during his maiden tour of Lagos ports and a stop-over at NIMASA Resource Centre, Kirikiri.

Amaechi also directed the Acting Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Haruna Jauro, to forward details of contracts awarded by CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Unions urge AMCON to dissolve Aero Contractors board

L - R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc., Nnamdi Okonkwo; Managing Director, Altobel Nigeria Limited, Chief Udoma Kalu and Executive Director, Lagos and South West, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe as Fidelity Bank celebrated its customers for their support and patronage during the 2015 Customer Appreciation Day (CAD) which took place at the corporate head office of the Bank in Lagos on Monday.

N17 b Malabu Oil fraud: Court decides today Opeoluwani Akintayo

A British court will today decide whether the $85 million (17 billion) frozen by UK authorities should be released to Dan Etete’s Malabu Oil and Gas. Justice Edis of the SouthWark Crown Court had postponed ruling on the $85 million which would now be given tomorrow.

The money which was frozen at the request of Italian authorities, is part of the $1.092 billion paid by oil giants, Shell, ENI to Malabu through the Federal Gov-

ernment.

It was earlier reported that the corrupt deal is currently under investigation by authorities in four countries from three continents.

The $1.092 billion was meant as payment for an oil bloc, OPL 245, the juiciest oil bloc in Africa and estimated to contain about 9.23 billion barrels of crude oil.

Etete awarded the oil bloc to Malibu in 1998 while he was Nigeria’s petroleum minister against Nigerian laws as he failed to declare his interest in the company

New electricity tarrif to be announced this week Amadi

—NERC boss

Two leading aviation unions yesterday asked the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) to dissolve the board of Aero Contractors airline, alleging mismanagement and insensitivity to staff welfare.

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), made the call during a peaceful protest at Aero Contractors’ office in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AMCON controls 60 per cent of Aero Contractors’ shares after taking over the airline’s debts to some Nigerian banks.

NAN reports that over 800 workers marched around the premises of the airline at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, singing solidarity songs and carrying various placards conveying their grievances.

Addressing the workers, Mr. Benjamin Okewu, President of ATSSSAN, passed a vote of no confidence on the four-man board appointed by AMCON to run the airline. Okewu said it was unfortunate that Aero Contractors, which is the oldest Nigerian carrier, was being mismanaged by those who ought

and actually falsified a fictional character, Kweku Amafegha, through which he owned shares in the company.

Both Shell and ENI, and the Nigerian government had given contradictory reasons on the 2011 agreement which led to Mr. Etete being paid money which should have gone to improving the lives of Nigerians.

While Shell and ENI have, contrary to all evidence, claimed that they paid the money to the Nigerian government not knowing who the final beneficiary would

be, the Nigerian government through the former attorney general, Mohammed Adoke, claimed it only acted as a “facilitator” between two willing parties.

However, while about two thirds of the money (over $800 million) has been shared and largely spent by Mr. Etete and his cohorts, about $195 million dollars remain frozen in two separate countries- England and Switzerland.

The first of the frozen sum, CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Augustine Okezie, Abuja

the Nigerian electricity market Dr. Amadi who made the disclosure in Abuja on Friday while declaring open a one-day workshop for Energy Correspondents said all processes including the inputs from the federal and state governments to assess the socio-economic implications of any increase or otherwise on Nigerians and businesses in the country has been concluded and baring any unforeseen hitches a new Tarrif would be announced this week.

He said,’’ we are already done with the technical processes and

issues concerning the new tariff regime and before the end of next week (i.e. this week), a new tariff will be announced.”

He further disclosed Indicating that both the presidency and state governors had the opportunity to study the final outcome of the electricity tariff review and that the commission also sought the approval of the tariff from the political class to arrive at a potential policy responses to mitigate the impacts.

Recall that Amadi, said at the final public consultation on

The Executive Chairman National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi has told Nigerians to expect a new electricity Tarrif by the end of the week following the conclusion of the various processes of consolations with relevant stakeholders and the final outcome of an ongoing review of retail electricity rates to be charged by electricity distribution companies (Discos) in

CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Amaechi orders financial, staff audit of NIMASA

New electricity tarrif to be announced CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

the agency for verification.

The former Rivers governor demanded a detailed financial report of the agency since its inception.

“Over N100 billion is given to this agency yearly and I am yet to see how it has been spent. I am yet to see some of the projects being executed by this agency,’’ Amaechi said.

The minister also requested for the staff nominal roll and details of staff employed by the agency and their qualifications.

He instructed the acting director-general to forward the staff nominal roll of the agency to the Federal Ministry of Transport to know if there were vacancies to be filled.

Amaechi expressed dissatisfaction with the ill-equipped clinic laboratory at the NIMASA Resource centre.

“From my inspection so far, I discovered that the Search and Rescue clinic is not equipped; the canteen is in deteriorated condition; the chairs are not okay and the place is leaking,’’ the minster said.

Unions urge AMCON CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

to elevate the airline to greater heights.

He alleged that the over 1,000 employees of the company would soon be thrown into the labour market unless something drastic was done.

“If AMCON wants to give us board members, they should give us professionals who have what it takes to run airlines,” he said.

Similarly, Mr Olayinka Abioye, Secretary-General of NUATE, alleged that the board, as presently constituted, was not fit to run the airline.

Abioye said AMCON should not only be interested in recovering its debts from the airline, but should be concerned with the welfare of workers of the company.

Also speaking, Mr. Emokpo Ayo-Ife, ATSSSAN Chairman, Aero Contractors Chapter, decried the refusal of the management to review the existing structure, saying it has not been updated in the last eight years.

When contacted for his reaction, Mr Simon Tumba, Media Consultant to Aero Contractors Airline, told NAN that he had not been briefed by his client about the protest.

Tumba said he was only aware of the meeting held by the unions.

Kachikwu

Nigeria to host 6th APPA congress and exhibition Augustine Okezie, Abuja Nigeria has announced its readiness to host the 6th congress and Exhibition of African Petroleum Producers Association (APPA), in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory between March15-17th, 2016 The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and President of the Association, Dr.Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu who made the announcement in Abuja yesterday while addressing a world press conference said the event which will also feature 33 ordinary session of APPA council of Ministers meeting involving APPA member countries, is being organized in conjunction with the Ministry of petroleum resources and AME trade Ltd, UK Kachikwu further disclosed that event will attract delegates

of the highest rank from the 18 member countries He said ’’The CAPE 6 event is significant to us and we believe will benefit Nigeria in a number of ways. It is homecoming event as Nigeria was a key founding member of APPA and a promoter of the African petroleum Congress. ‘’We hope that it will highlight the nation’s oil and gas potential to global audience and help showcase Nigeria’s small and medium scale oil and gas companies to the larger world.’’

Recall that the Association which was founded 28 years ago (precisely 1987 in Lagos),with 8 countries , was formed to serve as a cooperative framework for the promotion of common initiatives and projects related to management policies and strategies in all areas of petroleum industry of the oil producing countries in Africa.

Malabu Oil fraud: Court decides today CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

$110.5 million (N22.1 billion) is held by Swiss authorities on the request of Italian prosecutors who are investigating ENI’s role in the fraud.

The money was transferred to Switzerland from London after Emeka Obi, through his company, Energy Venture Partners (EVP), won a suit against Malabu. Mr. Obi sued Malabu in London claiming he was entitled to a share of the largesse as he had helped facilitate the deal between the oil majors and Malabu. In July 2013, the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench

Division presided by Lady Justice Gloster ruled in favour of Mr. Obi that he was entitled to “a fee of 8.5% of the total disposal consideration of $1.3 billion.”

Following the court’s ruling, the money was transferred to EVP’s Swiss accounts. However, Italian authorities who had by then started investigating the fraudulent deal asked Swiss authorities to freeze the money where it has since remained.

Like it did in Switzerland, the Italian prosecutors also called for a freeze of $85 million in the London account.

the shared review of the tariff presented by Discos in Abuja by stakeholders including consumers that the new rates would have some socio-economic outcomes, hence, the need to get the buy-in of the political class. The Discos at the meeting had requested an average increase of 40 percent as adequate costs for distributing electricity to their customers.

Accordingly, the submissions made by the Discos showed that they had proposed sweeping increase in their current charges to consumers. For example, Abuja Disco with its current average charge of N27.80, has proposed an average increase to N41.22; Benin from N29.35 to N47.26 while Enugu seeks to increase from N27.05 to N43.16 averagely.

Electricity consumers want planned tariff increase shelved In a related develpoment some electricity consumers in Lagos yesterday kicked against the planned increase in electricity tariff as announced by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Raji Fashola (SAN).

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) had to fulfill some obligations before considering any increment.

It will be recalled that the minister, at a news conference in Abuja on Dec. 8, said that electricity tariff would slightly go up He, however, said that the government would meet with the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ensure that consumers and investors are not cheated.

Reacting to the planned increase, Mr Abdul-Rasak Osho, Chairman, Iponri Estate Residents Association, told NAN that consumers had kicked against it during the consultative forum organised by DISCOs

in Lagos.

He said that the consumers had condemned the plan because power supply was not regular.

The chairman said that consumers were paying for electricity supply that was not available and so there was no need for the planned increment.

“The management of Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDP) met with us more than three times on the issue and we objected to the increment because we are not enjoying the power supply.

“They promised to improve on the supply and we said when the power improved, we would come back and talk again.

“It is strange to now hear the minister saying the tariff will increase.

“Honestly, there is nothing to increase because in the last three days, we have not had power supply and at the end of the month, they will bring outrageous bills,’’ he said.

Mr Yusuf Raji, Chairman, Alaba-Oro, Mosafejo Landlords Association, said that DISCOs should ensure that all houses in the community were metered before any tariff increment.

Raji said that most of the meters in the community were obsolete and faulty and needed to be replaced with pre-paid meters.

The chairman said that because of the problem, most of the consumers in the area were given estimated bills of between N25,000 and N40,000 in November. ``We have told them that if there is going to be meaningful increment in tariff, our community should be metered so that we will be able to monitor our energy consumption,” he said.

Mr Ade-Owas Owabumuwa, President, Amuwo-Odofin Landlords Association, New Town, said that consumers in AmuwoOdofin were against any attempt to increase tariff without meaningful improvement in power supply.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

B3 Money Market

CBN tightens rules for BDCs Ï Ɔƍ Ɖƕ Ǝ MƼƾƽ Ǝ Ƌ ƍ ƉƉƄƉ Ɗ ƍƈƄƎ Stories by Motolani Oseni In a bid to tighten regulation to curb speculation after the long slide in oil prices which has hit the nation’s external reserves and its currency, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has revised the rules for operating retail Bureaux De Change in the country.

The naira, which was traded at a record low of 260 to the dollar among most retail money exchange operators on Friday, bounced back on Monday to N254 at the parallel market. Although, exchange of naira to dollar remained N199 at the official interbank market, close to a rate at which it has been pegged since February, 2015.

The circular, which will come into effect in January in Africa’s biggest economy, orders retail money exchanges to deposit a mandatory cautionary deposit

L-R: The Executive Director (Commercial Banking) of Union Bank, Mr Adekunle Sonola, Ogun State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga, and the chairman, Internal Revenue Service, Mr Kunle Adeosun, during the presentation of two Toyota Hilux vans by the bank in Abeokuta recently.

of 35 million naira in an account with the central bank, in addition to a minimum capital requirement of 35 million naira.

The CBN has been struggling to shore up its naira currency hard hit by the plunge in oil prices, the nation’s main export, which started late last year. The new guideline is the latest mea-

sure which has cramped dollar demand and the banking sector.

The banking regulator restricted BDC agents to one branch operations, whose license will be renewed yearly and gave those operating with branches 90 days to close them.

The apex bank said BDCs, which account for less than five

per cent of total dollar trades in Nigeria, can obtain dollars from private sources including its window to fund travel allowance of up to $5,000.

Meanwhile, there are strong indications that CBN is seriously considering discontinuing its twice-weekly dollar cash sales to BDC operators as it seeks

to sanitise the sub-sector. The move on the country’s foreign reserves has fallen in the past few weeks in lockstep with the exchange rate of the naira at the parallel market. Daily Times gathered from an industry source that the CBN is determined at reducing growing pressure on foreign reserves which currently stood at $29.597 billion, according to data on the Central bank’s website.

Financial analysts have said that the gulf between the official rate and the black market is an incentive to financial institutions to engage in roundtripping and this has a negative effect on the Naira. If this continues, the government will have no choice but to further devalue the Naira.

Analyst at Lagos-based FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Mr. Jide Solanke recently said: “There’s a current high demand for dollars as people are taking profits and their money out.

The reserve position is robust, which means the central bank can defend the naira. These are temporary fluctuations.” However, the local currency continues to dip as the CBN holds on to its stringent dollar sales policy.

&ƃ Ƃ ƈè &# Ǝƍ Ɔ è Ƒ ƍƕ ƍ Ǝ Ǝ Ƃ Ǝ Ƅ ƎƍƄƋƍƄ ƄƏƍ ƆƋ Ecobank Nigeria in partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of the Pan Atlantic University has trained and extended financial grants worth millions of naira to five budding Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operators in the country under the ‘Ecobank New Venture Initiative’ (ENVI). The five selected SME entrepreneurs otherwise NIBOR as @ Dec. 14, 2015 FAQs Tenor

Rate (%)

Change (%)

O/N

0.9917

0.03 ?

1M

9.3218

0.43 ?

3M

11.1704

0.50 ?

6M

13.1352

0.41 ?

known as ENVI Fellows include: Olufemi Adenekan, Daily Fresh Farms; James Onyebuchi, Ojames Footwears; Winifred Obazeh, Asa Organics; Ifeoluwa Olatayo, Soupah Kitchen Limited and Adegboyega Adesida, Charms Horizon International Farms Ltd. The beneficiaries were enrolled for a one year training and mentorship with EDC leading to the award of the highly sought Certificate Entrepreneurial Management at EDC, the premier SME focused training Centre of the Pan- Atlantic university. The grant was awarded midway into the training so as to monitor a real life growth in their businesses over the one

year mentorship with EDC. Commenting on this development, Business Executive, Business Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Umadia, said the massive support for SMEs is in line with the bank’s philosophy which recognizes the SME sub sector as the engine room of the nation’s economic growth. According to Umadia “the EMVI initiative is part of our plans to help grow small businesses.

Apart from capacity building, we want to see these businesses grow hence the financial support. I believe this will further deepen Ecobank brand in the SME sector in Nigeria”. Stat-

ing the rationale of ENVI, Head SME/Value Chain, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Sunkami Olowo, explained that the programme is geared towards developing the capacity of entrepreneurs, there by creating sustainability in their business and also growing their bottom line.

“The EMVI is an initiative between Ecobank and EDC. The SMEs were selected from over 150 participants that applied for the program across the country while 32 SMEs made the final list, the 5 successful participants were selected after a rigorous ex-

Inflation Rates (%)

Money Market Indicators (%) -2015

CBN Exchange Rates

Month

January

February

March

Inter-Bank Call Rate

10.21

23.5

12.59

Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

13

13

13

198.6185

Treasury Bill Rate

11.2

10.88

10.77

1.6023

1.6063

Savings Deposit Rate

3.48

3.47

3.76

0.3057

0.3157

0.3257

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.61

8.47

8.42

WAUA

270.5555

271.2458

271.9361

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.64

9.54

9.02

YUAN/RENMINBI

30.4813

30.5595

30.6377

6 Months Deposit Rate

9.74

9.46

9.88

RIYAL

52.2197

52.3529

52.4861

12 Months Deposit Rate

9.51

9.37

9.52

DANISH KRONA

28.6904

28.7636

28.8368

Prime Lending rate

16.86

16.77

16.9

SDR

272.026

272.72

273.4141

Maximum Lending Rate

25.97

26.33

26.61

Date

Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central(NGN)

Selling(NGN)

12/9/15

US DOLLAR

195.97

196.47

196.97

POUNDS STERLING

295.4444

296.1982

296.952

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR)

EURO

214.058

214.6042

215.1503

SWISS FRANC

197.6102

198.1143

YEN

1.5982

CFA

ercise.

The selected entrepreneurs were all young business owners below the age of 35 years. From our interaction, the training is already impacting positively in their business as the participants have grown their business averagely by over 250% since we commence the program.

We will support and monitor them over a period of one year with EDC and subsequently their business growth over many years,” he stated.

2015

Month

January

February

March

All Items (Year on Change)

8.2

8.4

8.5

All Items (12 Months Avg. Change)

8.1

8.1

8.2

Food (Year on Change)/1

9.2

9.4

9.4

Food (12 Months Avg. Change)/1

9.5

9.5

9.5

All Items Less Farm Produce (Year on Change)/2

6.8

7

7.5

All Items Less Farm Produce (12 Months Avg. Change)/2

6.9

6.9

6.9

All Items Less Farm Produce and Energy (Year on Change)/3

7.1

7.1

7.5

All Items Less Farm Produce and Energy (12 Months Avg. Change)/3

7.1

7.1

7.1

Capital Market B4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Dangote to inject N10b in TBCG

Stories by Adesola Akindele

A notice submitted to the Nigerian Stock Exchange by the Company Secretary of Tiger Brands Consumer Goods Plc (TBCG)., on the14th December 2015 has revealed that the sum of N10 billion will be injected by Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) into Tiger Branded Consumer Goods PLC, after which Tiger Brands will divest its 65.7% shareholding in TBCG to DIL for a nominal consideration and write off its shareholder loans to TBCG. This is coming on the heels of the announcement dated 16 November 2015 advising that Tiger Brands had decided not to provide further financial support with respect to its investment in Tiger Branded Consumer Goods

PLC (“TBCG”).

It would be recalled that Tiger Brands Limited has informed the board of directors of Tiger Branded Consumer Goods Plc of Tiger Brands Limited’s decision not to provide any further financial support with respect to its investment in Tiger Branded Consumer Goods Plc and also informed the board of Tiger Branded Consumer Goods Plc that it is currently exploring various alternatives with regard to its investment in Tiger Branded Consumer Goods Plc. Tiger Brands Limited, a leading South African consumer goods company became majority shareholder of Dangote Flour Plc after acquiring 70 per cent of the flour company in September 2012, Dangote Industrial Limited retained its 10 per cent, while

other investors have 20 per cent.

However, after discussions between both parties the above agreement was reached, subject to its terms being considered and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), in accordance with regulatory requirements.

According to the notice, other details of the transaction reveals that TBCG is maintained as a viable going concern, able to retain its employees and meet its obligations to its stakeholders, with the transaction envisaging that sufficient capital will be injected into TBCG in order to stabilise the business and place it on a sustainable path aimed at creating value for its stakeholders.

In addition, Tiger Brands will assume and settle outstanding

debt guaranteed on behalf of TBCG. The former directors of TBCG Messrs Olakunle Alake, Arnold Ekpe and Asue Ighodalo have agreed to re-join the board of TBCG and have consequently been reappointed with effect from 10th December 2015 The terms of the transaction will be set out in a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement (SSPA), which the Parties will enter into.

The transaction and the Parties will, as soon as is practicable, submit details of the Transaction and the SSPA to SEC for approval. Apart from the approval of the SEC, implementation of the Transaction will also be subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions The transaction is also prec-

Dangote

edent on the approval of the Exchange Control Division of the South African Reserve Bank.

If this transaction is approved, Dangote Industrial Limited would own 80 per cent of the company while other investors would retain their 20 per cent.

More information is expected to be released upon implementation of the Transaction.

Stock market report Equities transactions on the Nigerian stock exchange resumed the week on a negative note, as key indicators depreciated by 0.33 per cent compared to the increase of 0.23 per cent achieved last Friday.

Specifically, the NSE All Share Index lost 90.43 points to close at 27,179.28 points against 63.76 points gained previously to close at 27,269.71 points, while Market Capitalization declined by N31.1 billion to close at N9.34 trillion against N21.9 billion added previously to close at N9.4 trillion.

Eight of the sectoral Indices led by the NSE Oil/Gas Index which declined by 2 per cent likewise closed south, The NSE Industrial index and Consumer Goods Index appreciated by 0.6 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively, while the NSE ASeM Index remained flat.

Market breadth closed the day with 15 gainers against 23 losers.

Tiger Brands Plc., spurred by its

latest announcement of a possible N10 billion cash Injection by Dangote Industries Limited halted a near one month loss to top the gainers chart with an increase of 9.57 per cent or 11 kobo to close at N1.26 per share followed by Berger Plc., which added 4.97 per cent or 49 kobo to close at N10.34 per share, while Vanleer Plc., gained 4.91 per cent or 46 kobo to close at N9.83 per share.

Ikeja Hotel Plc appreciated by 4.78 per cent or 15 kobo to close at N3.29 per share while Law Union Plc., increased by 4.48 per cent or 3 kobo to close at 70 kobo per share.

Conversely, Eterna Plc led the losers chart with a decline of 5.03 per cent or 9 kobo to close at N1.70 per share trailed by Oando Plc., which depreciated by 5.00 per cent or 27 kobo to close at N5.13 per share while Livestock Plc., dropped 4.96 per cent or 7 kobo to close at N1.34 per share.

L-R: Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr, Ibe kachukwu and Permanent Secretary,of the Ministry, Dr. Mrs Jemila Soara during the World Press briefing on thecoming hosting of 6th African Petroleum Congress and Exhibitioncoming up in March 2016 at their Corporate Headquarter in Abuja recently. PHOTO: TEMITOPE BALOGUN

Guinness Nigeria to integrate N2.4b worth of Diageo IPS Guinness Nigeria Plc has agreed to the acquisition of exclusive distribution rights to Diageo plc’s international Premium Spirits (IPS) brands in Nigeria.

As part of the transaction, Guinness Nigeria will also take over various assets including the current inventory of Diageo Brands Nigeria Limited, the wholly-owned Diageo business which currently distributes and markets the IPS brands in Nigeria.

The consideration for the transaction is approximately N2.35bn. The transaction is expected to be concluded by 31 December 2015 and the new distribution agreement for the IPS brands will become effective on 1 January 2016 subject to receiving all regulatory approvals.

Peter Ndegwa, the Managing Director/CEO of Guinness Nigeria Plc commented: “The transaction we are announcing today will facilitate the achievement of our ambition to create the best

performing, most trusted and respected consumer products company in Nigeria by leveraging the strength of our unparalleled portfolio of beer, adult premium non-alcoholic drinks (APNADs), ready to drink (RTDs) as well as spirits. “The integration of the Diageo IPS brands with the Guinness Nigeria brand portfolio best fits our strategy of filling the gap in our total beverage alcohol portfolio, and allows us to compete across segments within the market”.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

B5 Capital Market

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY ( EQUITIES) 14-12-2015

Labour B6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

TUC bemoans Nigerian workers, manufacturers’ woes Stories by Joy Ekeke Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has expressed concerns over the unacceptable state of workers’ welfare in the country as well as the policy barriers in the way of local manufacturers.

Holding its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, at the Airport hotel Ikeja, Lagos, weekend, the Congress deliberated extensively on issues affecting Nigerian Workers including the state of the nation.

In a communique signed by TUC President Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama and Secretary General Comrade Musa Lawal, the NEC called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency settle all outstanding arrears of salaries, promotion, and other allowances owed federal workers since compilation of the indebtedness had since been concluded.

The Congress also assessed the ongoing efforts of the President Buhari led administration in tackling corruption and stated specifically that the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy of the government, would serve as an efficient instrument in curbing corruption.

“We however condemn in serious terms the use of consultants for the collection of the accruing monies, and advocate that the

L-R: Managing Director, TATA International Limited, Mr. Noel Tata; Regional Director, West Africa, TATA Africa Holding, Mr. Naresh Leekha and India High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Ajjiampu R. Ghanshyam, during the unveiling of TATA Motor Showroom, at the TATA Africa Service (Nigeria) Limited, in Lagos recently.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should take over the process of TSA management,” the TUC added.

It also urged the Federal Government to take a second look at the list of 42 prohibited items in its foreign exchange policy, stressing that: “the policy should be made flexible so that genuine manufacturers can access needed raw materials.”

The NEC-in-Session also commended the stance of the Federal Government not to remove fuel subsidy, in consideration for the common man.

Pensioners demand harmonisation, 42 months arrears As part of the annual celebration of Pensioners’ Day, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has demanded the harmonisation of pension packages to upgrade the pension packages of old retirees as well as the immediate payment of its members’ 42 months pension arrears.

In a communique released after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, the pensioners appealed to the Office of the Accountant General, Budget Office of the Federation and Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to work together towards ensuring that their pensions are paid as at when due.

“We demand that the arrears of 42 months of 33 per cent pension increase should be paid without further delay. We also demand

the balance of 20.4 per cent that is overdue,” read the communique, signed by the national president of NUP, Dr. Abel Afolayan, and the general secretary, Elder Actor Zal. The NUP also lamented the lingering disparities in pensions between the old and new pensioners and solicited immediate harmonisation of the old pensions.

The union commended PTAD for the commencement of the biometric/verification exercise for pensioners, stressing the need for the directorate to sustain and complete the exercise in good time, while quickly addressing the problems being encountered by pensioners in the ongoing biometric/verification exercise.

It also condemned the recent pronouncement of some governors aimed at reducing the minimum wage.

“The NEC-in-Session enjoins the Federal Government to find a permanent solution to fuel crisis, especially through revamping the existing oil refineries, building new ones, and stepping up the fight against crude oil theft, oil pipeline vandalism and corruption in the oil and gas sector.

“We believe that with all these effectively done, the dependence on importation of refined oil products will drastically reduce, which in turn will naturally fizzle out the need to pay any form of subsidy for them. It will also

automatically boost employment in line with the government’s drive to create more jobs.”

President Buhari’s administration was commended by the NEC-in-Session for it’s the zerotolerance stance on issues of corruption.

“In particular, the NEC enjoins the Federal Government to track all the looters of our commonwealth, including various sums of money involved in the latest arms scam. All the culprits must be duly prosecuted and looted funds recovered to the treasury,” the TUC said.

President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon by the National Union of Electricity Employees, (NUEE), in Lafia, Nasarawa State, to urgently review the privatization of the electricity sector in order to ensure stable power supply in the country.

This came as the union berated the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, over his perceived support for increase in electricity tariff despite unstable power supply and planned reintroduction of toll gates on the nation’s high ways.

At its 5th Quadrennial and 10th National Delegates Conference, taking place in Lafia, President of the union, Mr. Mansur Musa, lamented that since privatization, the new investors in the power sector had not added any improvement to the sector, but had been milking the citizenry dry.

According to him, “While the country still groans in darkness, lack of meters, dearth in power

FG urged to review electricity privatization, tariffs infrastructure and high tariff, the investors smile to the banks at the expense of the workers who have little or nothing to “Apart from the investment government made in the sector prior to privatization, investors do not consider it expedient to invest on the growth and development of Electric Power in the country. We strongly advocate for a review of the privatization exercise.” On his part, General Secretary of the Union, Mr. Joe Ajaero, berated the Power, Works and Housing Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, over his perceived anti-People stance, insisting that the minister’s support of electricity tariff increase in the midst of erratic power supply, and planned reintroduction of toll gates on the nation’s high ways, were clearly anti-people.

Labour Party advocates wage increment for workers Labour Party (LP) has described the current N18,000 minimum wage as unrealistic urging the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to work with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other stakeholders to get an improved wage scale for Nigerian workers.

In a communique issued at the end of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State, the party also condemned some state governors who threatened to downsize their state’s workforce in order to pay the N18000 minimum wage.

The communique signed by the party’s national chairman Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam and national publicity secretary Barrister Ebere Ifendu stated that any state governor who could not pay workers salary was displaying his incompetence.

It said that the slogan of change mantra of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to impact in the lives of citizens and urged the President to urgently fix the situation.

The NEC in session considered the voluntary resignation of the National Secretary Barrister Kayode Ajulo who bowed out to concentrate on his law practice and service to humanity. The NEC accepted his resignation and elevated the Deputy National Secretary Barrister Julius Abure to be the Acting National Secretary.

It also considered the allegation of anti-party activities levelled against Nasarawa, Bayelsa, Katsina and Imo states chairmen and secretaries and approved their suspension.

The party also said that Nigeria was ripe for electronics voting to boost the confidence of Nigerians in the electoral process.

Wabba

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

B7 Energy

Oil rig

Stories by Opeoluwani Akintayo As part of its corporate social responsibilities to Nigeria, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Chevron and its ally companies, FAMFA, BR Petrobras and Statoil - Agbami, have teamed up renovate the Female Ward, donated a new ambulance bus to 61-year-old Epe General Hospital, Lagos recently.

The brief event which took place within the premises of the hospital, saw high-profiled dignitaries storm the hospital to witness the handing over from the group, Agbami, to management of the hospital.

In his Address of Welcome, Chevron’s Managing Director, Clay Neff, ably represented by the company’s Acting General Manager, Policy, Government &

NNPC/Chevron, Agbami renovate 61-year old Epe General Hospital Public Affairs, PGPA, Sola Adebanwo, he said the interventions and support have been made in line with the Chevron and Coventures’ Tradition of Care, which includes a robust health programme in the pursuit of corporate responsibility as conscientious business organisations.

“We view healthcare as a crucial social service that needs inclusive support,” he said.

He also thanked the Lagos State Government for partnering with them in making sure they perform their social re-

sponsibilities to Nigerians.

“We thank the Lagos State Government for partnering with us in deploying this and other corporate responsibility programme by our companies. Over the years, we have successfully partnered with the Senate to implement various programmes in the areas of health, education, economic empowerment and the environment,” he said.

Governor Akinbode’s representative, Acting Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olubunmi Olakunle Enigbokan, appreciat-

Shell launches Africa’s 1st kinetic pitch Shell has launched Africa’s first human and solar powered football pitch in Lagos State.

The pitch, located at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, was built with kinetic tiles developed by Pavegen, a UK energy startup which has been a recipient of Shell Live Wire funding, founded by entrepreneur, Laurence Kemball-Cook.

The tiles below the pitch capture kinetic energy created by the movement of players. The energy is then stored and combined with the power generated by solar panels next to the pitch, converted into renewable electricity for light on the football pitch for players at night.

Speaking at the launch and

handing over of the pitch which took place within the school’s premises recently, Osagie Okunbo, Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria & Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd, SPDC, said Shell makes a significant contribution to energy solutions for Nigeria, and is committed to supporting the Nigerian economy and its people.

“We need bright energy ideas.

Some of these will come from Shell but naturally, others will come from outside our business.

So it’s crucial that Shell supports energy entrepreneurs, and we hope that this pitch will inspire more entrepreneurs and young people to help us make a smarter

energy future,” he said.

Silver Americo, Global Head of Social and Alternate Media, Shell, commented that the project is all about “giving birth to ideas.” The ideas he said, is meant to develop humanity. According to him, the pitch is the 2nd in the world and 1st in Africa.

“It is a great pleasure to collaborate with Laurence to make this work,” Americo said.

While speaking on how the project came about, Founder & CEO, Pavegen, Lawrence KemballCook, said the idea was birthed inside his bedroom six years ago.

But after several disappointment he got from people he shared the idea with, a breakthrough eventually came.

ed the kind gesture by the group, commenting that NNPC, Chevron and Agbami, have been at the fore of providing education and healthcare services to the people of Lagos State. According to him, the group also helped in curbing the spread of the Ebola virus in Nigeria.

Director, Epe General Hospital, Dr Mustapha, pointed out that the hospital which was founded on September 24, 1954, has “never witnessed any renovation whatsoever” until recently. He therefore called on other multinationals, groups and in-

Taiwo Olusina has taken over as the man sitting at the helms of affairs in Conoil.

Olusina made the transition from asset manager at Afren to the very top of Conoil Producing. He took over from Ebi Omatsola, the iconic explorationist who built the company from scratch. Dr. Omatsola has moved on to be a Non- Executive Director of Mike Adenuga and Co, a sister company to Conoil and the telecoms giant Glo, both owned by the enigmatic Nigerian businessman Mike Adenuga.

The handover of the levers of Conoil Producing from 73 year old Omatsola to 48 year old Olusina, is interesting as much for the age difference as it is for the contrasting backgrounds of the two men. A passionate explorer,

dividuals to take a cue from the group to assist the community.

Other projects recently done by the group include, donation of Chest Clinic and equipment to St. Kizoitos Clinic in Lekki, and the Alimosho General Hospital in Lagos, Medical equipment to Massey Children’s hospital, Lagos Island, upgrading of Okun-Afa Medical Centre, supply and installation of a 40K va sound-proof generator and the renovation of a building to serve as both operations offices and stores to the hospital in 2009, among others.

Conoil appoints new helmsman Omatsola was Chief Geologist at Shell when he left to work at Conoil in 1990. Although Conoil ended up being largely a production company, (2014 average, ~ 9,000BOPD), Omatsola’s personal, ongoing interest, has remained how to look for radically new ways to find oil.

He is the co-creator of the escalator regression model, a comprehensive explanation of the architecture of the Niger Delta basin.

Aviation B8 Stories by Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The Airport Council International (ACI) has commenced training of staff of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMIA),Lagos.

The General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mr Yakubu Dati, who made known the development, explained that this followed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Managing Director of FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma and President of Airports Council international (ACI) World, Angela Gittens Dati stated that the training conducted by Mr Kevin Cooper courtesy of ACI would be concluded in two weeks with beneficiaries drawn from MMIA, Lagos and international wing of the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport (NAA), Abuja.

He further explained that the subsidised training was offered

by ACI, following the successful participation of the Lagos and Abuja staff in the Airport Excellence (Apex) review exercise, with a proviso that participants of the trainings are pre-determined by the Apex Safety team.

The training modules, which include, Global Safety Network

NAHCO secures validation for PH operations

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

ACI commences training for FAAN staff

L-R: Head of Ground operations, Dana Air Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, Mr. Emem Ettete, Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Obi Mbanuzuo, Communications Manager, Mr. Kingsley Ezenwa and Lagos station Manager, Mr. Tokunbo Oladejo during the airline’s inaugural flight Lagos-Accra, Ghana at the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos shortly before their departure to Accra, Ghana recently.

(GSN 1) Safety Management Systems (SMS) aimed at a comprehensive review of the SMS and offering of understanding on correct implementation of the airport environment.

The course, he stated also offered the essential guidance on establishing, implementing and enhancing SMS.

Global Safety Network (GSN 2), which deals with airside safety and operations, provides an overview of all aspects of airside safety and operations.

It provides airport managers and supervisors with essential guidance on best practices, latest technology, new equipment and procedures and regulations

for safe and efficient operation of the airside environment.

The Managing Director of FAAN led top management of the agency on a visit to the training session coordinated by the General Manager Planning, Nse Ikiddeh.

Dunoma charged staff to embrace new trends in the aviation

sector and commended ACI for adding value to staff manpower.

The Managing Director was accompanied by Director of Airport Operations, Capt Henry Omeogu, Director of Maintenance and Engineering and Engr Femi Ogunode, Director of Finance and Accounts, Chibuzor Nwachukwu.

The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc Nacho has been awarded with Ra 3 Validation for its operations in Port Harcourt Airport by the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO. The Regulated Agent Third Country Validation Process (Ra3 Validation) for Port Harcourt brings to three the number of airports where nahco aviance had secured the all-important validation.

Nahco aviance was the first ground handling company in the

country to pass and receive the Ra3 Validation in compliance with the European Union regulatory requirements had previously received the first for the Lagos operations in 2013, followed by Abuja and now Port Harcourt. These three stations are vital to its operations and efforts are also in top gear towards securing same for other equally important stations where it operates.

Meanwhile, with this validation, nahco aviance has reaffirmed its position as the ground handler of choice for major air-

lines operating aircrafts from Nigeria to the European Union.

It further means that shipments emanating from its facility would be directly accepted in all EU Countries.

Like other licenses, the Ra3 Validationwhich is a critical requirement for EU bound flights will aid in drastically reducing the cost of acquiring ACC3 validation for the airline’s operations.

Announcing the feat, the Chief Commercial Officer, Seyi Adewale, said the import of these licenses for the client airlines

would be a reduction in the cost of doing business.

According to Adewale, “Notwithstanding the negative and unpleasant attention generated by the ‘worst airport’ toga on the Port Harcourt airport, we were undeterred and to show our patriotism, we deployed all our resources and compliance capabilities to reverse the impression. Consequently, all EU countries have been notified of Port Harcourt airport’s compliance to cargo export and this is worth celebrating.”

Stakeholders decry poor air connectivity within Africa Stakeholders and professionals in the Nigerian aviation industry have called on African Governments to enhance air connectivity within the continent.

Airline operators in the sector are also advised to collaborate more in order to enhance revenue generation and compete favourably with their counterparts anywhere in the world.

Speaking at one-day seminar organised by the Association of Foreign Airlines and Representa-

tives in Nigeria, AFARN, players in the sector decried that it was more problematic for air travellers to connect some countries within the continent than most European countries.

In his paper, ‘Collaboration for Sustained Aviation in Nigeria’ by the Area Manager, South West Africa, Mr. Samson Fatokun, lamented that connectivity within the continent was poor, adding that Nigeria as a country was yet to connect to some African

countries due to the absence of airlines that fly directly to those places.

He specifically mentioned that to connect Niger from Nigeria, air travellers would first fly to Europe or some African countries, which indicated that more time, would be spent transiting between the two countries.

He however noted that the International Air Transport Association, IATA, was looking at connecting the continent through

Gross Domestic Product, GDP, adding that this would lead to more productivity within players in the sector.

Fatokun also identified bad government policies, owner-manager syndrome, poor business acumen as some of the barriers militating against collaboration.

He said, “Collaboration is key for aviation development including airlines, airports, travel agents, air navigation service providers, civil aviation authori-

ties and industry partners.

“Building collaboration within the industry is key in Africa.

IATA wants more collaboration in the industry for more profits, efficiency and safety in the sector.”

Also, the President of Aviation Round Table, ART, Mr. Gbenga Olowo called for co-ordinated security system at all the Nigerian airports just as we have in the United States, US, and several European countries.

Life&

TIMES Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Cynthia

Morgan: The weird but talented musician

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Criticisms take you higher

— Cynthia Cynthia Morgan recently got the wrath of Nigerians who felt the cover of her Baby Mama single, where she carried a baby and was smoking as a chimney, was irresponsible. In this encounter with MUTIAT ALLI, Morgan remains unrepentant saying it was all for the arts which should not be taken to the extreme. She also spoke on her childhood experience without a father in the house, while bemoaning single parenthood. Excerpts:

Life&

T E A M

What would you say about the rant between you and Caroline Danjuma and others on social media?

I think they are those people who don’t understand the whole idea and they have their opinion. I think when you see things like that you should take your time to study it well. We are all humans; it is only an insane person that would carry a baby with smoke and see it as swag. She must have an intention.

When you act movies of being a bad mother or witch, you are passing a message to the public and people will learn one or two things from it. As an actress, you should understand the arts or where the person is coming from, but everybody got their opinions. Like I said I am an artiste; this is my job and there will always be critics. Criticism even takes your work far.

What did you try to achieve with your single cover that has generated a lot of mixed feelings?

A whole lot of people actually got it wrong. I tried to pass a message and some people did get it right while others got it wrong. In a way or two that song right now passed message to the younger generation and my generation.

It was a picture where there was

a small girl and another picture where I was standing with a baby and a smoke. I am an artiste; I can decide to pass positive or negative message with my song but at that point I was thinking of what would benefit the younger generation coming and my generation. There is a lot of teenage pregnancy here and there without thinking of marriage. These young people don’t even know what single parents actually go through. I am from a single home; I was raised by my mother.

How did you come about the concept?

I have a friend of mine who is really young and gave birth to a child. She is on drug too. She is now pregnant for another man she is not married to and she still feels cool about it. So, I said to myself that this is happening in the society and people don’t even look into it.

Even celebrities endorse the fact that being a baby daddy or baby Mama is cool. I decided to do a song along that line since I grew up without my parents together.

Though it is a dance track, you can still do dance track and pass messages across to people.

How was it like growing up without a father?

I think the first time I met my father was when I was seven years old and I know what it feels like.

Movie & Music Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Isaac Oguntoye

There is the psychological effect that comes with growing up without your parents together as a kid.

It is only few people like me that came out normal and I became determined to be successful in life so as to make my mother proud.

Some people use that as an escape to be wayward and turn out to be a single parent just like their mothers gave birth to them. They forgot that no woman wishes to be a single parent if they really knew what they were going into. Everyone wants the best for their kids and having a father is one of those things. Those days in school, parents came to pick their kids and my friends often told me how they went to vacation with both parents.

I felt bad because I didn’t have such experience. It is only few kids who experienced what I did would understand because it goes a long way in shaping one’s life even when you become an adult. You feel alone and lost. I came out to touch that part people didn’t see.

This is as serious as rape, child abuse and domestic violence. I have met a couple of young people who told me they won’t get married; they just want to have babies.

This is actually what prompted me into writing the song, Baby Mama.

But don’t you think you could do without the cover and still

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

pass a strong message?

I didn’t want to just drop a single without people understanding what I was trying to say. So, I did that cover but obviously we all have different ways of seeing things. People decided to mock the picture of me holding a baby and smoke. I was playing two characters; one part was Cynthia carrying the baby properly and the other was a young lady who had a baby but lost. You have a baby or not, there are things you do and you don’t know the kind of life you are putting that baby through. That is what I was depicting in that picture and some people took it badly. I am an artiste and 100 per cent creativity should reflect in what I do. I can do whatever I desire to do depending on me. The Baby Mama Song is like a campaign for young ladies right now. It is an awareness to make young people understand that because your parents did that doesn’t mean you should do the same thing. The song is actually talking about ladies who are already married but still need to hold their men. Despite having the ring, you still have to be cool and keep yourself presentable for your husband not to look outside. But some ladies tried to take me down with the whole thing.

Does that mean the cover

Graphics Sunday O. Emmanuel

gave you more popularity?

I am a successful artiste of course; Baby Mama has nothing to do with my popularity. But it made many people to be aware that there is something coming up. And the more the critics the more everybody wanted to know or hear the song. Everything is good publicity actually if you know how to handle your business.

People get disturbed a lot but as an artiste it is what you’ve signed up for.

But why do you think being a single parent has become fashionable?

That is the question you should ask people. Nobody is shedding light on it; people are not aware of the impact on their kids. They are just young people; they see how their celebrities do it so there is nothing wrong about it. It is a trend like you just said, but is it a good one?

What should we expect in the video?

It is exclusive; I am going to keep that to myself. Just expect that video will make more, educate more people that bringing kids to this world means a lot.

You are bringing a life and kids are very vulnerable; what they

CONTINUED ON

L3

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Ekanem Patience

L3 Movie & Music Chart

Top ten music and movie charts

Foreign

Foreign

music chart

movie chart

1. Adele – Hello 2. Drake – Hotline Bling 3. Justin Bieber – sorry 4. The Weekend – The Hills 5. Shawn Mendes – Stitches 6. Justine Bieber – What do you mean?

7. FettyWap Featuring Remy Boys – 679 8. Taylor Swift – Wildest Dreams 9. Megan Trainor Featuring John Legend – Like I’m gonna lose you 10. Elle King – EX’s & OH’s

1. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2 2. Creed 3. Krampus 4. The Good Dinosaur 5. The Night Before 6. Spectre 7. Secrets in their eyes 8. The Peanut movie 9. Love the coopers 10. The Martians

Nigeria chart

1. First Lady 2. Dry 3. Taxi Driver

English movie

5. Dazzling Mirage 6. One Night in Vegas 7. Dark 8. Anger 9. Unforgiveable 10. Silence

Yoruba movie

1. Davido Ft. Olamide-The Money 2. Davido- Dodo 3. Reekado Banks-Katapot

1.

OhunIkoko

4. Darey Alade- Pray for me

2.

Baba Oba

5. Minjin-Like Philo

3.

Fowora

6. Lil Kesh ft. Patoranking-Is it because

4.

Obinrin

5.

Kurukuru

7. Waje ft. Patoranking-Left for good

6.

Okansooso

8. Adekunle Gold-Orente

7.

OjuEledumare

9. Falz Ft. Reekado Banks-Celebrity Girlfriend

8.

AyindeOniPafu

9.

July 1st

I love you

10. DJ Shabby Ft. Kiss Daniel & Sugar boy- Raba

Interview

4. Lunch Time

10. Shadow

Why my style is strange CONTINUED FROM

L2

see at young age stick to their head. My grandma told me that you can hurt a grown up man and he would forget, but you cannot hurt a kid and expect him to forget. So, it is whatever you plant in them right now they would hold on to. Men that treat girls rudely must have taken after their fathers; perhaps they saw the way their mothers were treated. Some women cannot love too because they saw the mothers suffering in the hands of their fathers. I am a victim of that actually; I keep reflecting that to what my mother, aunty and people so close to

you went through. Kids are very vulnerable and you have to let young people get aware of that fact.

When do you intend to release your debut album?

It would drop first quarter of next year; I am actually working on it. In the album, I would have collaborations with artistes like P-Square, Burna Boy, Tuface, among others.

Your style is strange?

I am a different artiste and everybody knows that. My sound, my music and as a person, I am very different. Just like the cover, people might not understand my style but I am an artiste and it is a brand. I am a strong brand right now in the industry be-

cause I have been able to stand on my lane and let people understand that this is me.

They should love who I am and my music. It is entertainment and business at the same time. I have a very distinct and strong sound the same way my look is. For me, I just try to be comfortable and I am always Cynthia Morgan.

But it seems you are calm inside?

That is why I am human; this is arts. I am actually calm; I love family; I am humble and a homely kind of girl. But I am different when it comes to my music. You cannot live the same life off and on camera and that is what people don’t understand. You have to understand that arts is arts; entertainment is entertainment.

L4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

L5

Teens world

L6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Ann Izedunor

Dangers of early makeup in teenage girls Most teenage girls prefer their artificial looks to their natural looks. Cosmetics can be found everywhere. Make up and teenagers combined are becoming a growing concern. Majority of teenage girls are worried about their looks and how they are perceived by societies. Some teenage girls will see make up advertisement on television and they will feel they are not beautiful, simply because of what they saw on the television. And this is a very negative message which can cause a loss of self esteem and confidence in some teenage girls. A good portion of girls believe that makeup would create a better life for them. They have the mind frame of not being accepted without their makeup. Thinking that they are not good enough can lead girls, especially at this age, on a very destructive path! Cosmetic advertising targets women, primarily’’ teens’’. Companies that produce the makeup, steals from you, and most especially teens, they steal their self esteem and self respect. After stealing these, they offer it back to them for a price!

Some teenage girls perceive themselves worthless when they see the ideal image.

And they have even gone as far as making celebrities their role model simply because what they see in them. What most teenage girls always do not understand is that make up is for the camera, and because celebrities are always in public eyes. They think they must achieve the

look in order to be somebody, they also feel and think that for them to be a celebrity, they’ll have to look that way and which is not true. Make up was intended to give people (especially girls) more confidence with the way they look. But most teenagers prefers it to their education, they see it as their most important priority just because of the way they perceive themselves when they go out without makeup! A lot of girls are hiding behind it because they feel they will not be accepted without it. Makeup was made to form a barrier between the skin and the weather and also to brighten up your looks and enhance your appearance.

But lots of teenage girls may not know that

if they wear too much makeup if they start wearing early makeup, it will cause them nothing but distractions and it will even endanger their skin. They could easily contact skin problems, because when the skin becomes too clogged and oily, it creates a problem and that’s because oxygen can’t get through. This causes a buildup, which in turn creates pimples and other skin problems. Parents are the best teacher to teens, because they have been through all those things before and they know the negative effect of early make up. So it is the duty of the parents to advise and lecture their teenage girls about wearing early makeup. Open up with them and tell them

the side effects and the dangers behind it and even the trouble it will cause them.

The only good thing about makeup is ‘’Beautification’’. It will support your look, enhance your appearance, boosts you up and so many others. When teenage girls start wearing makeup at a very early age, it will cause them these: Ò Distractions: Distraction comes in when a teenage girl fills her head with assorted cosmetics. She becomes distracted in school, in planning for the future and goals/dreams, and she will even be spending more time trying to figure out the next cosmetic to purchase simply to impress the boys and be popular. By doing all these things, her grade falls and she becomes confused. Ò Early Maturity\Old Age: Of course we all know that cosmetics are chemicals, so it was supposed to be used on a certain age, but when teenage girls wears them, it will first of all enhance their look, but later early maturity comes in, due to the chemicals.

It is the duty of the parents to lecture their teens towards early makeup, so they can have bright futures and also concentrate more on their studies and even think about important things that will be of value to themselves. And if they focus more on important things, they will be proud of themselves and they will have nothing to worry about.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

L7 Relationship

Patience Ekanem

Keeping your Spouse

Faithful and Loyal Faithfulness has been one of the major challenges we encounter in our everyday lives. We encounter it in our love life and in our relationships. But the big question is, why do we find it difficult to be faithful to our partner?

In the world today, 80% of men are guilty of cheating on their women, the same is applicable to women but not at the same rate to which the men are cheating. Even in marriages, you still see married men going after other women. I have seen a family in which the husband neglects his responsibilities both as a father and a husband, just because he has another woman out there to whom he’s spending his money and time with.

Many marriages and relationship are broken today because of unfaithfulness. We women are finding it really difficult to comprehend why our spouse are cheating on us, some are being neglected by their partners just because there is someone out there who is stealing the affection of their spouse.

But sometimes we are the ones that give way for unfaithfulness to creep in by the things we do. And here are some of it:Flirting around: - It is very dangerous for one

to flirt around once in a relationship; if someone flirts with you please ignore it, if possible ignore such a person. If you are in a relationship or married, you should never engage in this type of behavior with anyone other than your spouse. It is a full-on form of unfaithfulness that leads to no good. The one you’re flirting with may take it as an invitation and pursue a relationship you never intended.

Dressing up to attract someone other than your spouse: - If you are dressing up to please someone other than your partner you are creating room for unfaithfulness, because when you “dress to kill” as people call it, you will be attracting men to pursue you, this one is applicable to the ladies. If you must dress up to attract someone, let that person be your spouse.

Lack of time with your spouse: - Some people find it pretty difficult to spend time with their spouse, maybe because of the nature of their job. Both partners are affected in this aspect but at least, no matter the nature of your job, you have to create time for your spouse so as to avoid creating space for unfaithfulness, because once the attention is not there, there’s a possibility of seeking it elsewhere.

Writing personal letters to someone else: - If you are writing a letter of condolence or gratitude, or other good wishes, let it come from both you and your spouse, so that there will be no misunderstanding about your intentions.

Putting your parents before your spouse: This is one of the mistakes people encounter in a relationship; instead of holding your spouse in high esteem, that is putting them first in everything you do, you run to your parents for help, seeking for parents help or advice isn’t a wrong idea. But if anything good happens to you maybe you got promoted in your work place, your spouse should be the first to know before any other person/ parents.

We can put an end to all these, if we try this: Don’t be too controlling: - Most spouses want to be the one in charge, they want to be the one in control, this goes for both partners which is very wrong, we should avoid complaining, nagging, critizing, threatening just to be in control.

Give your spouse the space they need: Some spouse cheat because they feel they are being oppressed in the relationship they

find themselves. So they feel by engaging themselves in an affair, will give them the freedom they need. Allow your spouse time for themselves without you around, don’t try to occupy your spouse time, allow him/her to spend time with friends and do other things so that they don’t feel as if they are being imprisoned in the relationship.

How to overcome unfaithfulness: Spend more time with your spouse: - when you create time for your love one, there’s no how unfaithfulness can creep in to destroy the love you share. No matter the nature of your job or whatever may cause you not to spend time with your spouse at least create time with them no matter how little that time may be.

Show them love and care: - when you show them enough love and care, they won’t go out looking for someone else. But when you nag at your spouse (these act is mostly seen in we ladies) you only chase them into the hands of other woman, we should learn to show love to our spouse by so doing we’ll not only create a forum for peace but also for a better relationship.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 15, 2015

L8 Television Showing on

Showing on

152 Africa Magic Epic

20:58

140 Eva Channel

13:05

Tue, 15 Dec | PG 16

Tue, 15 Dec | PG16

While exploring a cave, two skiers find the body of a 400-year-old samurai warrior entombed in ice. He is brought to the United States and revived through cryosurgery. John Calvin, Charles Lampkin, Frank Schuller, Hiroshi Fujioka, Janet Julian. (1985) J. Larry Carroll

101 M-Net West

00:15 3 Days To Kill 02:15 All Is Lost 04:01 Britain’s Got Talent 04:47 Behind The Scenes: Beatenberg 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 The Big Bang Theory 06:30 Proof 07:30 Idols SA 09:13 Behind The Scenes: Delivery Boys 09:30 Resurrection 10:30 The McCarthys 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 Britain’s Got Talent 13:00 State Of Affairs 14:00 Revenge 15:00 Madam Secretary 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 The Odd Couple 17:30 Britain’s Got Talent 18:30 Chicago PD 19:30 Mr. Robot 20:30 Battle Creek 21:30 State Of Affairs 22:30 Secrets & Lies

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo 00:30 The Del Monte Dynasty 01:20 Cruel Love 02:10 For Love And Justice 03:00 Part Of Me 03:50 Queen Of Hearts 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Husband For Hire 07:00 Part Of Me 07:50 Queen Of Hearts 08:40 For Love And Justice 09:30 Cruel Love 10:20 Husband For Hire 11:10 Part Of Me 12:00 Queen Of Hearts 12:50 For Love And Justice 13:40 Cruel Love 14:30 Husband For Hire 15:20 Part Of Me 16:10 Queen Of Hearts 17:00 For Love And Justice 17:50 Cruel Love 18:40 Husband For Hire 19:30 Part Of Me 20:20 Queen Of Hearts 21:10 For Love And Justice 22:00 Cruel Love 22:50 Husband For Hire

00:40 The Weakest Link

11:35 Hell’s Kitchen USA

01:26 Luther

12:24 Top Gear

02:20 Come Dine With Me

13:20 Come Dine With Me

03:10 EastEnders

14:14 Live At The Apollo

03:39 QI

15:06 The Weakest Link

04:10 Top Gear

15:59 EastEnders

05:00 Only Fools And Horses

16:30 Deal Or No Deal

05:31 QI

17:10 Pointless

06:04 My Family 06:36 EastEnders

18:02 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

07:05 Antiques Roadshow

18:59 QI

07:57 The Weakest Link

19:34 QI

08:47 Pointless

20:08 Would I Lie To You?

09:36 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

20:42 Mr Sloane

10:20 Deal Or No Deal

21:13 Miranda Special Xmas 2014

11:01 My Family

21:53 Mrs Brown’s Boys 22:27 Mrs Brown’s Boys

154 Africa Magic Family 00:06 Star Gist 00:37 At Home With Michelle Attoh 01:37 Good Morning Africa 02:37 Good Morning Africa 03:15 Music Block 04:12 Filler: Entertainment 04:37 At Home With Michelle Attoh 05:30 Behind The Scenes: When Love Happens 06:00 Good Morning Africa 06:36 Behind The Scenes: Secret Room 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 Jonzing 08:45 Coco Bill

Aka Amaka The Village Girl. Falsely accused of a crime, a girl suffers the fate of the poor. But in a bid to clear her name, things spiral out of control for the worse. Ngozi Ezeonu, Queen Nwokoye. (2014) NonsoEkene Okonkwo

09:00 Katemba Mu Kkooti 09:18 Behind The Scenes: Nemesis 09:30 Kumwesu 10:00 Good Morning Africa 10:34 Behind The Scenes: When Love Happens 11:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 12:00 Music Block 13:00 Tinsel 13:30 Star Gist 14:00 Nowhere To Be Found 14:30 Rolling With Faith History 15:04 Lies That Bind 15:30 Lies That Bind 15:49 Behind The Scenes: Nemesis

155 Africa Magic World 16:00 At Home With Michelle Attoh 17:00 Kumwesu 17:30 Mashariki Mix 18:00 Katemba Mu Kkooti 18:18 Behind The Scenes: Enitan 18:30 Kakibe Ki 19:00 Tinsel 19:30 Star Gist 20:00 Karma 20:30 Rolling With Faith History 21:00 Jara 21:33 Playing Victim 22:38 Behind The Scenes: The Kingdom

00:25 Jara 01:00 Good Morning Africa 02:00 Music Block 03:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 04:00 Jacob’s Cross 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 Soul On Fire 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 So Wrong So Wright 10:30 Prem 11:00 Jacob’s Cross 12:00 Jacob’s Cross 13:00 Music Block 14:00 Music Block 15:00 Star Gist 15:30 Star Gist 16:00 Star Gist 16:30 Star Gist 17:00 Jacob’s Cross 18:00 Jacob’s Cross

128 SONY MAX

00:00 Caught On Camera 00:50 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 01:15 1000 Ways To Die 01:40 1000 Ways To Die 02:05 Lock Up 03:45 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 04:35 Extreme Reality Clips 05:00 World’s Wildest Police Videos 05:50 World’s Wildest Police Videos 06:40 Video Zonkers 07:05 Whaddyado 07:30 Caught On Camera 08:30 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 09:30 Extreme Reality Clips 10:00 World’s Wildest Police Videos 11:00 World’s Wildest Police Videos 11:55 Video Zonkers 12:25 Whaddyado 12:55 Caught On Camera 13:50 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 14:45 Extreme Reality Clips 15:15 Stunts Unlimited 16:30 Video Zonkers 17:00 Caught On Camera 18:00 Whaddyado 18:30 Extreme Reality Clips 19:00 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 20:00 Bad Ink 20:30 Guy Code 21:00 Online Dating Rituals...

22:00 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:30 World’s Wildest Police Videos