Dtn 16 5 16

Folio Communications, publishers of Daily Times, appoints Egbunike Group GM ÎÎÎThe

Board of the Folio Communications Ltd has announced the appointment of Mr. Olisa Egbunike, the immediate past Managing Editor of the Independent Newspapers as the

Egbunike

Group General Manager with concurrent leadership of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc. Chairman of Folio Communications, Mr. Fidelis Anosike, announced this in a statement

issued at the weekend.

Mr. Egbunike, a veteran Journalist cut his teeth in the Nigerian Institute of Journalism before acquiring a degree in Humanities from the Lagos State

University.

He has worked in diverse capacities in the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, rising to the posiContinued on page 6

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N150

MONDAY, MAY 16, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 109

GAINERS

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 12th May, 2016.

CADBURY

17.24

1.60

10.23%

GLAXOSMITH

22.42

2.06

10.12%

MRS

40.47

-4.36

-9.73%

GOLDBREW

0.85

-0.04

-4.49%

OANDO

5.29

0.49

10.21%

DIAMONDBNK

2.02

0.18

9.78%

IKEJAHOTEL

2.45

-0.12

-4.67%

WEMABANK

0.76

-0.03

-3.80%

N145 petrol price: No going

back on strike – NLC Ï #ƈ LƆƋ ƕƆ ƈ ƈ Ɛ ƌ ƄƈƋƈ ƈ Mƈ ƆƏƈ Ƈ Ə ƌ Ɛ ƆƏé Ƈé ƋƋéƍƏ ƐƆ Ɛ è ƈƇêêê Ï `Ɔƍ ƋƗ ƍƆƅƈ Ƌ Ɔ ƈ ƇƑƆƋ ƑƄ ƈƗƕ Ɛ Ɨ ƕè ƈ ƒƈƐƆ E ƅ ƈƊƓƑ Ɛ ƄƏƈƆƇ 6 Ƒ Ɔ Ï ^#^ `Ɔƍ Ƅ ƅƊ ƑƄ ƈƗƕ ƏƆƌ ƒ Ƌè ƗƆƌ Ɨ ƍ Ƌ ƕ ƇƏ ƌ ^ Ƈ Ə ƄƋ ƅƊƌ ƈƋƈ C Ɛ Ï ƾƠơÕ ƄƑƗ ƆƐ ƍƏ ƒƈ ƈ ôƋƋ ƅƑ ƈ ƆƇƇƆƅƐ Ƈ ƇƑƆƋ ƍƏƈƅƆ ƈƊƆ – Presidency

Joy Ekeke, Kayode Adelowokan, Lagos & Henry Omunu, Abuja

ÎÎÎThe Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday insisted that there

Continued on page 6

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (left); his counterparts for Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari (2nd left); Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (3rd left); Jigawa State, Badaru Abubakar (4th right); Kaduna State, Nasir Ahmed El-Rufa’i (3rd right) and others after the meeting of the Governors of the Northwest Zone held at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Government House, Kaduna… on Sunday.

How N16b SURE-P mass transit funds were squandered –Report gB1

Sheriff begs aggrieved PDP stakeholders, says ‘we can’t afford division’ g8

Family seeks release of Director in Justice Ministry from EFCC detention g12

Sayi Law

What you gL1 get out of marriage is what you want

No evidence Boko Haram gets weapons from ISIS – Buhari

g6

2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

Page Three Æ s

3

PHOTO TIMES

Editorial Reviving Nigeria’s mining industry

N

o Nigerian is oblivious of the fact that the country is going through hard times.

This parlous predicament is the result of both years of economic mismanagement and dwindling revenue from oil. Due to this, most economic activities are slowly halting with attendant increasing unemployment among able-bodied Nigerians. Experts have posited that the country’s present situation could have been avoided if it had not relied solely on oil as its economic mainstay but diversified into other areas such as the mining sector. The monoculture nature of the country’s economy has left it at the whims and mercy of price fluctuations in the world’s crude oil markets.

Incidentally, all indicators point to the fact that price of oil would remain depressed for the near future. That is why the call for a revival of the mining and minerals sector should be heeded.

Economists, geologists and surveyors agree that Nigeria is blessed with enormous mineral resources such as coal, lignite, barite, marble, clay, tantalite, cassiterite, gold, lead, zinc, dolomite, limestone, kaolin, gypsum, bentonite, uranium, phosphate, iron-ore, feldspar, copper, barites, tin and bauxite. They also posit that, these minerals would not only fetch the country bountiful financial returns from their extraction, refining and sales, but also generate hundreds of thousands of jobs for Nigerians. Before the discovery of oil in 1956, the country depended on coal for generating much of its electricity and rail transportation. In addition, products like iron-ore, tin,lead,zinc and bauxites were exported for much needed foreign currency.

There was time when Nigeria was the world’s largest exporter of columbite.

Today, all that remains are relics of these once mighty industries and a sad reminder of their neglect by successive administrations. For too long, the federal and state governments have ignored well-reasoned calls for the immediate exploitation of solid minerals, which, unlike oil that occurs in a few enclaves,

are available in commercial quantities in every state.

Estimates put it that Nigeria loses more than N10 trillion annually in unexploited gold alone. At moment mining of minerals accounts for only 0.3 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP, due to the influence of oil resources. Moreover, the domestic mining industry is underdeveloped; leading to the country having to import such commodities such as salt or iron sheets and billets that can be produced locally.

Paradoxically, most bitumen used in road construction in Nigeria is currently imported.

Government’s lack of attention to the extraction of these minerals is responsible for the unregulated mining activities and illegal smuggling of the products across the borders by unlicensed miners and artisans. According to Nigerian Extractive Industries and Transparency Initiative (NEITI) audit report on solid mineral operation, shows there are six buying centres, nine dredging companies, 11exporters of solid minerals, 14 medium scale mining companies, 35 commercial quarry, 54 construction quarry, eight quarry for manufacturing, bringing a total of 157 activities in the solid mineral sector of the economy.

What the country now needs is a comprehensive mining policy that will facilitate massive private domestic and foreign investment. In economic development mineral resources are the foundation upon which an industrialised economy is built, and industrialisation is essential if Nigeria is to reduce overdependence on oil –which, despite the revenue it generates, provides employment for less than six per cent of the country’s labour force.

In pursuit of this objective, there is the need to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow states to control their own minerals. The placing of mining on the Exclusive List is responsible for the little or no interest in the development of the sector.

The reality of dwindling revenues and the prospect of resource control should be a powerful incentive for states to press for the immediate expansion of mining.

Daily/ Online Editor Biodun Durojaiye

Group News Editor Segun Adio

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L-R: Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and Director-General, National Gallery of Arts, Mr. Abdullahi Muku at the photo exhibition on Political Developments in Nigeria in Abuja… at the weekend.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (3rd left); his wife, Bolanle (3rd right); Deputy Governor, Oluranti Adebule; (2nd left); Chief Judge of Lagos State, Olufunmilayo Atilade (left); Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello and his wife, Ibiyemi during the 2016 International Day of Families at the Lagos House, Ikeja… on Sunday.

Words On Marble :

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike

Ag Deputy Editor/ Northern Bureau Chief Lateef Ibrahim

L-R: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; his counterparts of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and Cross River, Ben Ayade at the PDP 2016 South - South Zonal Congress in Port Harcourt… at the weekend.

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STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Matthew Ashimolowo

John Odigie-Oyegun

Mike Ozekhome

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

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

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

4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

Rivers community decries bad state of roads ÏÏÏThe

people of Gbam community, host of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp, in Rivers, have decried the deplorable condition of roads in the area.

The Chairman, Gbam Community Development Committee (CDC), Tai Local Government Area, Mr. Donatus Ngbawa, expressed the displeasure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

He said that the road network in the community was in a bad shape and militated against easy movement of people and goods, and

called for a reconstruction.

“We have a serious challenge of bad road network.

All the roads here are in a deplorable condition – including the access road to the NYSC permanent orientation camp.

“The roads were not well constructed initially and they have collapsed. We want government to reconstruct them,” he said.

Ngbawa, however, noted that the Federal Government had provided Gbam with portable water, adding that the people needed the amenity to be extended to every part of the community.

“We need portable water in all parts of the commu-

nity. Our streams and rivers are polluted. Gbam is an Ogoni community and we all know what the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report says about it.

“The demand for water in the community is enormous; so, what we need is availability of portable water in every part of our community,” he said.

Ngbawa said that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) was providing electricity for the whole community.

“Shell, for now, is assisting in developing the community. They are mounting electric poles all over the community now,” he said.

Petrol price hike: Coalition urges NLC to shelve proposed strike

ÏÏÏ

to survive these present economic realities that are very obvious.

“We equally appeal to the NLC and other civil society colleagues to shelve the proposed nationwide strike and engage the government. We want the NLC to engage government on a need to create immediate palliatives to cushion the effects of this policy instead of worsening the already bad economy of the country.

“If our country is shut down as proposed, billions of naira will be lost and the country will suffer for it in the long run,” Adeyanju said.

He said that no fewer than 20 CSOs were in support of the bold step of the Federal Government to fully deregulate the oil sector.

According to Adeyanju, the new phase of deregulation championed by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources was worthy of commendation after

many years of monumental corruption in subsidy regime.

“No nation can move forward without liberalisation or deregulation of its critical economic sectors, like ours, as was done in the telecommunication sector.

“About 80 percent of our country’s revenue comes from oil proceeds and as the global economic meltdown continues, there is a need for this to take place if we must be taken seriously in the comity of nations. Therefore, the step taken by the Minister to deregulate this critical sector is the best at this material time,” he said.

The group proposed immediate interventions by government to cushion the effect of the new pump price of petrol, and called for introduction of subsidised transportation system across the country to ameliorate sudden hike in transportation rates.

Fuel price: ÏÏÏ A Lagos law-maker, Mr. Segun Olulade, on Sun, urged the organised Lawmaker day labour to dialogue with the Government rather urges labour Federal than engage in an industrial over the increase in unions to action the pump price of petrol.

Olulade, the Chairman, dialogue Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on with FG

Health, gave the advice in a statement signed by him in Lagos. He said that rather than protest, organised labour should discuss with the government, so as not to put Nigerians through further suffering.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) should dialogue with the government rather than marching innocent

A coalition of civil society organisations has called on the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to shelve their proposed nationwide strike over the increase in the price of petrol.

This was contained in a statement signed by Mr. Tosin Adeyanju, Executive Director, Conscience Nigeria, for the group and issued, on Sunday, in Abuja.

He listed some members of the collation supporting deregulation of the oil sector as Stand up Nigeria, Centre for Leadership Development (CPALD), National Youth Council of Nigeria and Arise Nigeria.

Adeyanju said that embarking on strike would do more harm than good to the country’s economy.

“We all know the implication that will arise as a result of this sudden change.

We must endure this phase in order for our country

5 News

CARTOON

News Analysis

Corruption: Kudos, David Cameron

really do not know that Nigeria is ‘fantastically’ corrupt? Nigerians especially our so-called leaders who have been feigning ignorance of what has been going on in the polity really wanted to hear it from the quarters that it came from, the western world.

That is the naked truth told on their faces. Let’s forget about the diplomatic toga of playing the obvious statement down. President Muhammadu Buhari indeed prepared ahead of the anti-corruption summit in London which held last week with the much enthusiasm to reel out on what he has achieved in the fight against corruption but was seriously dazed with the astonishing pre-conference statement from the host, Prime Minister of Britain, David Cameron.

Nigeria, he said is ‘fantastically corrupt,’ is a verdict which our President least expected from the host which has generated much misgiving on the level of his commitment to get rid of corruption. Although some have argued that Cameron ought not to have said this knowing that the West has also collaborated with the culprits as they receive the loot.

But the fact still remains that if our leaders have been committed to getting rid of corruption since 1999 when the country return to democratic rule, there would have been a good level of sanity in the system.

One is highly pissed off that after the torment Nigerians went through during the despotic years of the military in governance, our politicians are still hellbent on siphoning the commonwealth of the people.

Come to think about it, who are the people that supported Buhari’s candidacy during the presidential election last year? Are

majority of them not in the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) of latter day saints who keep casting aspersions on the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but still they are same bed-fellows in impunity.

Buhari’s belief that he has been fighting corruption with gusto is mere smoke-screen. And that is what Cameron seems to be telling him. There is no need to shy away from this naked truth. His cohorts know the obvious, only if they can be patriotic enough to relinquish their own ill-gotten loot. The West is aware of the deep root of corruption in Nigeria coupled with decayed infrastructure. The globe throttling by the president should be minimised by putting his feet down to work assiduously. Cameron and other leaders in the West whom he is befriending will soon tell him more that the fight against corruption seems to be on the opposition.

workers out for a protest that can earn them no tangible outcome,” he said.

He commended the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for showing understanding and support for the policy.

“I share the pains of Nigerians and the labour force, but there is nothing reasonably viable than to deregulate the sector.

“This will save Nigerians the incessant and persistent agony of accessing petroleum products which are God-given resources to the Nigerian masses. Among all the oil exporting countries,

Nigeria is the only country that still lives in the euphoria of oil sector regulation and, as such, denying the nation of economic benefits accruable from the sector.

“From availability of the products to job creation and to huge oil sales revenue, the hardship is temporary and I am sure Nigerians will smile in no distant future,” he said.

Agozino Agozino

ÏÏÏWHO

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

N145 petrol price: No going back on strike – NLC Continued from page 1 is no going back on the indefinite nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Wednesday to protest the hike of pump price of petrol from N86.50 to N145 per litre by the federal government.

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, had last Wednesday announced the Federal government’s decision to remove petrol subsidy and throw the field open to all Nigerians interested in importing the commodity, subject to guidelines, but setting a price band of N35 to N145 per litre. Such importers are also to independently source their foreign exchange.

Leaders of organised labour, which had just demanded an increase in minimum wage from N18,000 to N56,000, immediately kicked against

the fuel price increase, held an emergency meeting on Friday with their civil society allies and gave the federal government till Tuesday to revert the price to N86.50 or face an indefinite nationwide strike from Wednesday.

However, since the strike was declared on Friday there had been calls on labour leaders to shelf the strike.

Speaking on Sunday on an early morning television programme , the Deputy National President of the NLC, Mr Amechi Asugwuni, warned that the labour unions and their civil society allies were ready to commence the indefinite strike on Wednesday unless the federal government reverses the pump price of petrol to N86.50k.

When asked if they have established talks with the government, he replied; “Not at all, there is no change of

gear, our strike will begin on Wednesday.”

Meanwhile, indications emerged on Sunday that the House of Representatives is to reconvene today at noon to drum support for the removal of fuel subsidy, with the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu expected to brief members, just as it emerged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House caucus may also support the policy.

Also on Sunday, the Presidency said the various social safety nets for which N500bn has been provided for in the 2016 Budget recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari were capable of assuaging the pains arising from the new fuel pricing regime.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr.

Laolu Akande, said this in a statement he made available to journalists in Abuja.

Akande said over eight million only out of over 140 million Nigerians would benefit from the programmes this year.

He, however, said the figure of the beneficiaries was apart from the jobs that would be created by the infrastructural projects that would be restored and the new ones that would soon be taking off.

“Long before now the Presidency has made adequate arrangements in the 2016 budget to ensure that Nigerians are lifted from poverty and hardship,” he said.

Answering questions on a television programme on Sunday night, Senator Dino Melaye, who represents a district in Kogi State in the 8th National Assembly reaffirmed that he will lead Ni-

RƇƇƈƅƈ Ƌ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ 0ƆƗƆƏ Ƌ ` Ɨ d ƇƆƐƕ Əƍ è Ɨƈ ƐƏƈƄƑƐƈ ƇƋƕƆƏ Ɛ ƌ Ɛ Əƈ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ƆƆƗ Ɛ ƄƆƕ ƍƆƆƗ ƋƈƌƈƐ ƈ G Č ƏƆƅƆ ƐƋƕê

gerians to protest against the decision of the Federal Government if it fails to yield to the seven days ultimatum issued last week.

It would be recalled that Senator Melaye, through his Facebook page Thursday night called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ‘immediately reverse’ the new policy measure which he said will have “unbearable” effects on Nigerians.

He had also called on the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to intervene in the matter,

else he would mobilise Nigerians for mass protests.

The Senator who was a guest on a Television programme on Sunday night warned the leadership of APC and President Buhari, not to see themselves as belonging to the party but to Nigerians.

When asked if leading protest against his political party is the solution, Mr. Dino Melaye, said he was not for the party but the voiceless Nigerians who are at the receiving Continued on page 12

0 Ƌƈ ƌƌƑ ƈƅ Ɛƈ è ƍƑƄƋƈ ƆƏ Ƈ # ƈƋƕ jƈƌƆ è ƍƍ ƈ Ɛ & ƄƑ ƈƊƆ 1Ə Ƒƍ 1L Continued from page 1 tion of an Assistant Editor-InChief.He headed many desks in NAN as well as the Headship of Communications, Sure-P in the Presidency.

A member of the Nigeria Guild of Editors and Nigerian Union of Journalists, Mr. Egbunike has attended various workshops, seminars and other platforms for Professional performance enhancements in Nigeria and overseas.

In their mandate, the Board has charged Mr. Egbunike to turn around the fortunes of the Daily Times of Nigeria Plc, infusing the trademark sanguinary vibrancy of the Publishing House. He has free reins to attract the best industry hands to reposition and restore the flagship.

Particularly, the iconic brands as the Lagos Week-

end, Business Times, Sunday Times and other titles must be restored to the newsstands.

The Board has envisioned a holistic turnaround of the Daily Times commencing from the 1st day of June, 2016.

The Newspaper attains 90 on this day and shall commence to wear a new look.

Folio Communications would in addition to the Daily Times production, commence running a news agency that would source and distribute materials to other media houses in the manner of Reuters and the AFP. In the overall, Folio Communications intends to clinch back the exalted Daily Times pedestal that bestrode the Nigerian Journalism arena.

The other titles are also expected to return on the newsstands by the end of the year 2016.

No evidence Boko Haram gets weapons from ISIS Ƒ Əƈ

Ï &n Ɨ ƐƆ öǀƠƌ Ɛ LƑƋƐƈ M Ɛƈ Ƌ C ƈ Ɛ j Ɗ 0 ƏƅƆ Ï Ƒ Əƈ ƆƆƊ öÖơÕƌ Ƈ Ə G ƊƆ Ɨ ƗƆƒƆƋ ƍƌƆ Ɛ Opeoluwani Akintayo

ÎÎÎPresident Muhammadu

Buhari has said that there was no proof that deadly group, Boko Haram sources its weapons from Islamic States, ISIS. He said this during a question and answer session with journalists at the closing of the second Regional Security Summit in Abuja over the weekend.

President Buhari said the claim that Boko Haram was getting its arms and ammunition from IS remained unproven.

According to him, a major source of the group’s sophisticated weaponry was from the various military and police bases attacked at the peak of the insurgency in the affected countries.

“The type of weapons they are using, I believe were the

ones taken from military bases they attacked at the peak of the insurgency especially in Nigeria,” the Nigerian leader said.

“If you recall they attacked military bases and carted away weapons, they attacked police stations and broke into their armouries, that was how they got the kind of weapons they have been using to fight.

“Frankly, up till now we

don’t have firm intelligence of what IS has been able to send to Boko Haram in terms of weapons or even money.

“But the fact that they said they are affiliated to IS has made many people to believe that they were getting weapons from ISIS,” he said.

On the Civilian Task Force, JTF issue, Buhari allayed fears that members of the group are helping in the counter-insurgency operation in the North East , and would constitute threat to security in their various com-

munities.

He said the Civilian JTF were carefully constituted by the various state governments, stressing that there was a broad plan to rehabilitate them in government’s post insurgency programme.

Over 20,000 people have been killed since the Boko Haram insurgency began in North-East Nigeria in 2009.

Millions of others were also displaced by the insurgency although some of them have returned to their communities since Nigerian troops began reclaiming territory

from the insurgents.

On his part, the United States Deputy Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken said the United States had been supportive of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism war in the past two years.

He pledged the US’s commitment to improved support to the Nigerian military and to the government’s post insurgency plan.

Mr. Blinken said more military equipment would be supplied to Nigeria to Continued on page 12

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

7 News

Ganduje promises judicious use of IGR ÎÎÎGovernor

Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has said that he would ensure that internally generated revenue was used for the development of the state.

He made the promise while presenting letters of appointment to staff engaged by Technical Advisers on Improvement of IGR and Consultants con-

ducting Biometric Data Capture in Kano on Sunday.

The governor said that the government would finance part of the 2016 recurrent expenditure and 2017 with internally revenue.

“Whatever we collect as taxes will be used judiciously for the develop-

ment of the state.

“The state needs to stand on its feet instead of depending on something not reliable,” he said.

He explained that the state decided to look inward for improved revenue in reaction to the economic situation in the country.

“We will very soon lay a solid foundation for some

projects to be tagged Tax Aid Projects for people to see how the revenue collected is used,’’ Ganduje said.

According to him, the state government would soon establish a special department in the Revenue Board that would be charged with the responsibility of revenues in min-

istries, departments and agencies.

He said the measure became necessary in order to ensure accountability and transparency in the collection of revenue in the state, The governor called on members of the public to cooperate with the revenue collectors to achieve the desired objective.

Gov. Ganduje

Int’l Day of Families: Spend quality time with your children, cleric advises parents

ÎÎÎThe State Pastor of Liv-

Cross section of traditional birth attendants in Zamfara State after a five-day training on modern skills at Gusau Local Government Secretariat…on Saturday.

Zoning: Group advises Sheriff on compromise with PDP camps ÎÎÎThe Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) Reform Group has urged the party’s National Chairman, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff to reach out to aggrieved groups within the party over zoning formula.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Ariyo-Dare Atoye, the Co-Convener of the PDP Reform Group on Sunday in Abuja.

The group also urged Sheriff to make whatever sacrifice that was necessary to salvage the party in the interest of all.

It said that PDP should not be destroyed, adding that pos-

terity will be kind to Sheriff if he put the party back on track.

The statement said that the group was ``deeply saddened over two avoidable painful developments’’ that had thrown PDP into a serious dilemma and an intractable crisis.

“We are saddened by the infamous decision of some persons in the South-West to betray the zone and throw away the national chairmanship slot.

“We are also not happy for the inability of the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, to stand

firm on his committee’s adopted report.

“We wish to remind those who sold away the political right of the South-West on the chairmanship slot that what goes around comes around.’’

The group said that they had expected party leaders, including Ekweremadu, to resist every attempt to jettison his report.

“We cannot wholeheartedly blame Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff for accepting to serve and refusing to quit at this moment because he was approached to lead the party,’’ the statement said.

Sen. Sheriff

ing Faith Church, Lokoja, Pastor David Popoola, on Sunday, urged parents and guardians to spend adequate and quality time with their wards.

Popoola gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja, on the sidelines of this year’s celebration of International Day of Families.

He said that parents must create quality time for their children, spouses and relatives in order to keep peaceful families and raise godly children.

The pastor said that the

source of family was marriage, and marriage as an institution came into existence through God’s divine agenda and goodwill towards men.

Quoting from Genesis 1 verses 26 and 27 in the Bible, he said: “God said, let us make man in our own image after our likeness.

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He them; male and female, and God blessed them”.

The cleric said that the purpose of God for the establishment of family includes companionship and procreation, among other things.

LWC committed to safety, well-being of host communities, says MD ÎÎÎThe

Group Managing Director of Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Mr. Muminu Badmus, on Sunday, said the Corporation was finding a solution to the flooding of Adiyan Waterworks’ host community.

This is contained in a statement by Mr. Olufemi Akinmuleya, LWC’s Controller, Media and Publicity, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Adiyan Waterworks is located at Iludun Community, Oke-Aro in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The statement said that the corporation was committed to the safety and well-being of inhabitants of communities where its facilities were located.

According to the statement, the corporation is studying the Adiyan Waterworks environment to proffer lasting solution to the problem of flooding in the community anytime water is released from the facility. ``Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out before the execution of Adiyan waterworks project in line with international best practices.

North-West states collaborate on agricultural development ÎÎÎGovernors

of NorthWest states, on Sunday, said they would collaborate closely with stakeholders, including organisations involved in regional integration to boost agriculture in the area.

Rising from a meeting which focused on development of agriculture in the

region in Kaduna, the governors said that they were working on measures that would ensure food security for the people of the area.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State said that closer collaboration among all stakeholders and

regional integration was key ingredient for the expansion and sustenance of agricultural activities in the area.

According to him, working together will ensure access to finance and improvement of infrastructure that will support the sector.

Tambuwal said that North-

West had comparative advantages in key areas and would seek to exploit them for the development of the region and its people.

“In Sokoto, we have advantage with cash crops like wheat, rice, tomato and onions. Others have such advantages with crops like gin-

ger, cotton, maize and other cereal crops.

“So, when we tap all these resources together, pool investments and promote avenues of access to finance, the sector will be transformed and its real value will come to the fore,” he said.

The meeting was attended

by governors of Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and deputy governor of Zamfara.

Also in attendance were commissioners of agriculture, permanent secretaries and directors of agricultural services from states in the region.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

Politics

Æs

PDP South-West Congress: Mimiko, Fayose sue for peace, unity ‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure The Governors of Ondo and Ekiti states, Olusegun Mimiko and Ayodele Fayose, have jointly called on the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to allow unity and peace reign ahead of its National convention.

The duo spoke during the weekend at the party’s South-

West Zonal congress held at the International Event Centre Dome in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Mimiko said the future of the PDP was still very bright based on the doubting performance of the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) noting that the leaders of the party have to work in unity for its best interest.

Mimiko added that the mem-

bers of the PDP was prepared to wrest power from the ruling APC and also appealed to the members of the party in South West to be determined to restore its lost glory.

“Based on the performance of APC, there is no doubt that our party has a bright future. Despite all the bright chances PDP has, we still have a lot of work to do.

We must work toward the future that beacons. Weather anybody like it or not, South West remains the leading light of Nigeria of politics in this nation.

“This time come for us to be able to stand up for what is right with history of integrity and progressives. Let us be determined to do what is right for our party.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Mimiko

Fuel crisis: Oyegun appeals for understanding

Tukur

Stories by Akinjide Akintola, Lagos, Tom Okpe, Abuja

Sheriff

Sheriff begs aggrieved PDP stakeholders, says ‘we can’t afford division’ Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has apologised to aggrieved stakeholders of the party over statements credited to him by his personal aides and associates.

Sheriff, who gave the apology at a media briefing in Jalingo on Sunday, said ``as a well cultured and astute politician, I would never make any comment that would ridicule the party.’’

He added that it was not in his character to join issues with highly respected elders of

the party, noting that he never authorised any of his aides or political associates to react to issues raised by aggrieved elders of the party.

Sheriff said that the aggrieved members of the party reserved the right to complain about issues affecting the party which they considered inimical to the progress of the PDP. He, therefore, urged any aggrieved member to bury the hatchet and join hands with the present leadership to rebuild the party and restore the confidence of Nigerians in it.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Amidst plans by students and civil society groups to commence protest today, National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun has appealed to Nigerians, for understanding of the situation that has led to the partial deregulation of fuel price.

Students nationwide and civil societies have threatened to go on protest as from today while the labour will follow suit on Wednesday if government refuses to revert back the price to N86.50 per litre from the new price of N145, while government appears not to yield leaving room for a face off.

But Oyegun speaking to journalists in his office, at the National Secretariat of the APC said though Nigerians have a right to subsidy of the natural resources that the good Lord endowed on us, but that over time, the subsidy regime has become so intensely manipulated and abused that it really was no longer operating in the interest of the Nigerian public.

“I think that it has become very clear that the kind of queues that have become en-

Oyegun

demic over several regimes is a clear indication that something has gone seriously wrong with the subsidy regime”, he observed.

He said: “Those who were already privileged were exploiting it to amass even more wealth, meanwhile, the people for whom it was basically meant has to bear the cost in

higher transport fares because each time these queues develop, of course, the ordinary Nigerian bears the cost, while the importers and manipulators of the system are the ones that make all the money. You are in fact having the middle class of this nation queuing at the petrol stations for long CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

9 Politics

PDP Southwest Congress: Mimiko, Fayose sue for peace, unity “The PDP has a bright future in this country, but our actions and inactions will determine the future of our party in Nigeria. We must therefore stand for integrity as a party with history of integrity and progressivism. Governor Ayo Fayose and I are working for the progress of the party in the South west and we shall continue to do that.”

Fayose CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

There is no doubt that there have been issues surrounding this congress but I am very sure that the truth shall prevail” He promised that he was prepared to work with Governor Fayose in restoring the lost glory of

the party.

“The PDP has a bright future in this country, but our actions and inactions will determine the future of our party in Nigeria. We must therefore stand for integrity as a party with history of integrity and progressivism. Governor Ayo Fayose and I are working for

the progress of the party in the South west and we shall continue to do that.”

Governor Fayose stressed the need for unity among members of the party in the Southwest and denied insinuation that he was working against the interest the elderly people in the party and

pleaded with the judiciary to be wary of those who only wish to win elections through the court.

He vowed that the party would send the APC out of government come 2019.

Celestine Omehia, the former governor of Rivers State and chairman of the congress who

sworn-in the new leaders implored them to work for the unity of the party.

At the congress, the former Commissioner for Information in Ondo State, Eddy Olorogun Olafeso was elected the zonal chairman of the party, the Zonal Secretary, Rev Bunmi Jenyo (Osun), Organizing Secretary, Hon Wasiu Bankere (Ogun), Youths Leader, Hon Femi Adetola (Oyo) and Women Leader, Mrs. Ajigbeda (Ogun).

Others are the Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon Abiola Makinde (Ondo) Financial Secretary Chief Aifoji, Auditor Hon Biliaminu Ogundele (Oyo), Treasurer, Mr Adeola Ogunrinde (Ekiti) and the Legal Adviser, Mr Sunday OjoWilliams (Osun).

In his acceptance speech, the new zonal chairman, Hon Olafeso promised to work for the party’s interest by reorganise and reunite the party in the zone.

Party leaders present at the congress were Senator Iyiola Omisore, Hon Albert Adeogun, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, Hon Bade Falade and Chief Bayo Faforiji among others.

Lagos Speaker assures outgoing Chinese envoy of improved bilateral relations Alade Tasma Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has assured the outgoing Consular General of the China Consul Office in Lagos, Mr. Liu Kam that Nigeria as a country and Lagos in particular will continue to work to improve the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and China.

The Speaker stated this in his office at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja when Kan came to bid him farewell from the country.

“The fact that you came here to say goodbye is a testimony to the fact that you cherish this relationship and I want to assure you that the feeling is mutual. We will continue to work to improve the already existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and China for the general benefit of our people,” he said.

Hon. Obasa further assured the outgoing envoy that the state government and the House in particular will extend to his successor

similar hands of fellowship he enjoyed throughout his two and half years stay in Lagos, “and we also hope the person coming to replace you will continue from where you left”.

Speaking earlier, Kan expressed his sincere gratitude to the government and people of Nigeria, Lagos and the House of Assembly in particular for the support he enjoyed during his stay in the country which has engendered and improved the existing cordial relationship between the two countries.

The Chinese envoy saıd he is going with fond memories of his stay in Nigeria which he will cherish for life.

Kan further commended the APC leadership of the country, and the numerous positive achievements that have been recorded in a short time in improving the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and China noting that the recent visit by President Buhari to China has further cemented the strong bond between the two countries.

Obasa

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

Fuel crisis: Oyegun pleads for understanding “My appeal and a sincere appeal to the Nigerian people is that there will be a lot of hardship, no question, the increased pump prize will also increase their hardship but the economy is being freed in a way that the ordinary Nigerian will become the major beneficiary and we are talking of a matter of months.’’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

hours to buy fuel at cost N200 a liter. A situation like this is reverberating to the detriment

Wabba

of the same people government whose welfare government has sworn to protect and promote.

“What the new regime is therefore doing is to ensure availability. It is clear that not having fuel at all and preventing this indecent overnight queues at petrol stations has become soothing that is no longer desirable, more so when you get it, it is already over prized”.

The party chairman also assured that, “From our point of view as a party, it has become necessary to fully pull the nation from the present economic situation into which we have been plunged; totally free the economy. Let the normal laws of demand and supply operate.

Of course, government will be standing by to protect the long suffering Nigerians.

Oyegun lamented that, “It is unfortunate, it is painful what has happened, it will increase cost in all a lot of directions, no doubt about that. But in the medium term, three months whatever, with competition, I foresee also that the prizes will come crashing down when there is availability. NNPC will continue to be in the field anyway either through the refineries, to allow the pipeline to continue to function. Through importation, they will continue to be a player in the fuel supply market. prizes are bound to come down.

Using the emergence of the

Telecommunications industry as an example with emphasis on the mobile phone, he pointed that a sim card which initially sold for more than N30,000 is now almost free due to competition in the market, assuring that if the fuel market is free, that result will be likely.

“My appeal and a sincere appeal to the Nigerian people is that there will be a lot of hardship, no question, the increased pump prize will also increase their hardship but the economy is being freed in a way that the ordinary Nigerian will become the major beneficiary and we are talking of a matter of months.

“From removing this one last bottleneck that has held down the Nigerian economy, we are just making an appeal, you should watch what happens in the next few months as far as petrol prizes are concerned as I am very sure that it will come crashing down. And in any case, if we free resources eventually that will be used to create both jobs that have been promised and improve the lives of lots of Nigerians at the margin.

“The economy is in bad shape as a result of which our people are going through some hard times but unless we correct some of these chocked points within the economy, we will be going to revive the economy as quickly as should be”, he assured.

Buhari: One year after, so far, so good Tom Okpe, Abuja When the Whistle blew for the commencement of the 8th Republic for Nigeria’s ardent democracy ahead of the 2015 General Elections, the umpire, the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) under the erudite Professor of political science, Attahiru Jega knew that there was a great task ahead.

INEC got down to work as the two major contenders, Muhammadu Buhari and then incumbent president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan under their different platforms, The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) knew it was not an easy road to travel.

All these took place more than a year ago and the rest today, is history. The question now is, how has it been so far?

The APC, as identified by Ogbuefi Tony Anyameluhu, President, St Patrick’s old Boys Association Asaba, Abuja branch as a

“party that has zero tolerance for corruption. A party that upholds the principle of ‘one man, one vote’, grounded in free and fair elections at all levels.

“Less than one year of this administration, looted funds are being repatriated and are going to be judiciously used for the benefit of all Nigerians.

“No doubt, the APC administration is faced with many challenges which it inherited. What is required from Nigerians is patience as it is easier to destroy than to reconstruct”, he added.

Nigeria today under the leadership of President Buhari is described in the eyes of the whole world as a country that has zero tolerance against corruption. Before we forget, Buhari’s campaign and manifestos were to fight corruption, Insecurity, Reviving the Economy and creating job for our esteemed youth (Youth empowerment).

We must understand that our problem in this country is indisci-

pline and corruption. If the nation can be ridden of this menace, like canker worm that has eaten deep into the fabrics of this country, we would have been a country that its technological development shall be better than the United States of America (USA), China, Taiwan and even Japan.

If only our leaders will imbibe the spirit of discipline, eschew corruption and embrace fairness, equal rights and justices like President Buhari did in his days as Military Head of State between 1983 and 1985, we will be proud to have a country that our children even yet unborn will call their own and will be written in gold among the committee of nations.

The man has done it before and will continue to do it. Remember his popular inaugural broadcast, “I am for everybody, I belong to nobody”. This he has demonstrated in many ways, National Assembly politics and the fight against corruption.

The CCT Trial of the Senate

Buhari

President, Bukola Saraki comes to mind, he puts himself away completely allowing the law to take its cause. Dr Osita Okechukwu, publicity secretary of APC in the South-East has this to say about the trial and the president; “Mr. President on one hand cannot be fighting corruption and

on the other hand tell the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to stop trying the Senate President.

“Don’t forget the manifestos of the APC; I am a member of the Merger Committee and also, member of the manifesto subcommittee. It became our first carCONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

11 Politics

Delta Speaker congratulates Ogidi

Sheriff

Sheriff begs aggrieved PDP stakeholders, we cant afford division CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

He also noted that the PDP as the main opposition party in the country could not afford to have a divided house and appealed to members to work for the unity of the party at all times.

He explained that the present leadership of the party was poised to lend a listening ear to all shades of opinions with a view to strengthening it to face

the challenges ahead.

He maintained that the battle for 2019 general elections had started in earnest, adding that the party could not afford to remain divided if the desired goal was to be achieved.

He said ``under our leadership and the support and encouragement of stakeholders and supporters, PDP will definitely bounce back in 2019.’’

The Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya has described the elected National Vice Chairman, South-South of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Emmanuel Ogidi as “a dependable leader and an affable gentleman”.

Igbuya, who spoke on Saturday at Obi Wali Centre, venue of the party’s zonal congress, urged the new chairman to increase the base of the party in the zone.

“I consider it remarkable that another Deltan is occupying this position. I am confident that those values which inspired the members to elect you will be maintained and even surpassed” he said.

He called on the new chairman to engage party faithful in new and exciting ways.

“I am sure that with your impeccable credentials, you stand in a good position to discharge the burden of the new office and take the zone to new heights.

The September governorship election in Edo State is another occasion to prove to ourselves that we can do it. We also need to start planning for electoral success in 2019” he advised Igbuya, a trusted politician

Igbuya

in Delta State, asked the chairman to ensure that his words and actions promote peace and harmony.

“You have a huge task ahead” Pledging support to Ogidi in his new assignment, Igbuya said “I shall provide all the nec-

essary support you may require for the success of your tenure as National Vice Chairman, SouthSouth”.

“I wish you God’s help in yet another phase of your continuing service to mankind” he added.

Buhari: One year after, so far, so good CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

Jonathan

dinal programme and if we don’t pluck all these loopholes, even if oil is sold at $1000 per barrel, we are not going anywhere that is the truth of the matter, which is what China did.

“It is the day the Chinese enacted a law that anybody found culpable, be executed, because corruption is a human factor, but if you don’t curb it strongly it can’t go”. He chided the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) whom he accused of destroying the commonwealth of the nation and refused to save for the raining days of plenty, while oil was selling for over $100.

“Already the President has been accused of been selective in his anti-corruption crusade and that those who are accusing the President of been selective have forgotten that they presided over the affairs of this country for 16 years with reckless abandonment and now that they are called upon to give account of their stewardship

they are crying hell.

For those who accused him of been selective also forget that if you are trying Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) as former NSA, you can’t try any other person because all of us can’t be NSA at the same time”.

At the inaugural NEC meeting of the party after swearing ceremony, President Buhari told his party members that the need to come together and work as one body as they had “won the fight, but yet to win the war”. He called on party faithful to sheath their swords and bury their differences to enable them win the war.

At the 2016 NEC meeting, Buhari reiterated his love for Nigerians when he said, “I feel the pains of Nigerians, I want to leave an indelible mark in this country a good mark that, I love Nigerians, I love everyone, I feel your pains.

In a very short while, things will begin to work out for good”.

What a leader? In all religion in life, the one and only law is “Love”, our president has shown

us this love that during the electioneering campaign, he was called names, told many things, insulted in many ways even to his family but all he had to say was, “All these are distractions and I refused to be distracted”.

If fighting corruption and insecurity is all President Buhari will achieve in his first four years in office, Nigerians, let us join hands with him to make it a reality so that we can be lifted out of this menace called corruption.

Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Chairman of the APC said, “We are building a new solid foundation and credible image for our country as the new administration is working towards pulling the country out of its present hardship. We are not shutting our eyes to the pains of the Nigerian people, it is real, it is genuine, and we can only plead for patience.

Thank God, the APC government has its first National Budget and the implementations will be passionately pursued.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

Family seeks release of Director in Justice Ministry from EFCC detention ÎÎÎThe family of

embattled Director of Law reporting, Ministry of Justice, Mrs Chinyere Christie Ekweonu, has asked for her immediate release from detention.

On May 11, 2016, about the hours of 10.15 am, Ekweonu was arrested by the EFCC at

her office at the Ministry of Justice, Abuja for standing as a surety for one Mr Duru.

Writing on behalf of the family, Joan Mbachu nee Duru, said Ekweonu was arrested for standing as a surety for one Nze Chidi Duru in a case of alleged fraud

handled by his company, First Guarantee Pension Ltd,(FGPL). “ It is with great difficulty and restraint that I issue this press statement on behalf of the family of late Chief Chistopher M. C. Duru and the husband of Mrs Chinyere

Christie Ekweonu, Mr Mike Ekweonu...,” he wrote.

According to him, Ekwenou has since been detained and in the custody of the EFCC, without lawful cause in disregard of relevant laws of Nigeria.

Citing Section 7 of the Administration of the Criminal

Justice Act which states that: ‘a person shall not be arrested in place of a suspect’, wants President Buhari and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to look into the case for the effective release of their sibling from detention.

Explaining further, Joan Mbachu said on October 3rd, 2011, a public holiday, at the hours of 8:45am and at the prompting of Kashim Ibrahim Imam and Chinelo AnohuAmaizu, DG National Pension Commission, the EFCC with-

out any invitation nor call to Nze Chidi Duru, invaded Duru’s residence at Maitama, Abuja, arrested him and detained him overnight.

“He was presented with a petition signed by Kashim Imam arising from the “Draft First Guarantee Pension Examination Report’ and ‘First Guarantee Pension Target Report’ authored by the National Pension Commission”.

On October 4th, 2011, Mrs Chinyere Christie Ekweonu and Mr. C. Nwanze, stood as surety for Nze Chidi Duru.

No evidence Boko Haram gets weapons from ISIS – Buhari Continued from page 6

Special Adviser to Governor of Bauchi State on Security, Brig.-Gen. Ladan Yusuf (middle), presenting relief materials to Alhaji Usman Bansuye an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by Presidential Initiative for North East of Bauchi State on… Saturday.

counter Boko Haram and to help in sustaining the gains that have been recorded in the war against insurgency.

He, however, warned that the battle against terrorism was far from over as much would be required to win the

N145 petrol price: No going back on strike – NLC Continued from page 6 end of the hash policies of the government.

“My sincere advise is for the National Chairman of our party to suggest that the federal government immediately reverse the announced increase in the pump price of PMS,” Melaye had written on his Facebook page last Thursday.

“If after 7 days from Monday there is no reversal, I will mobilize Nigerians from all walks of life for the motherof-all-protest. This is not what we promised Nigerians. The time is not right and the negative effects will be unbearable. A word is enough for the wise.”

Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja, the House Minority Leader, Rep. Leo Ogor disclosed that the PDP House caucus will meet by 9.00am today to adopt a common position before the commencement of plenary.

Ogor said it’s unheard of for any nation to support the subsidy of imported products as Nigeria was doing with refined fuel imports.

He argued that subsidy removal will result in the establishment of modular refineries in the country, generate employment opportunities, enhance capacity, promote competition that will lead to the fall in prices and protect the nation’s foreign exchange earnings.

While appealing to labour and Nigerians to understand the situation which the Buhari administration finds itself in terms of the huge resources expended on fuel imports, Rep. Ogor however, noted that while former President Goodluck Jonathan decided in 2012 that subsidy regime was no longer feasible, “those in power today spoke vehemently against subsidy removal and condemned Jonathan for considering such an option.

“The former president was blackmailed into dropping the initiative which would’ve saved us millions of Naira.

The Buhari administration owes Jonathan and Nigerians an apology for their lack of understanding of the economic dynamics of removing subsidy in 2012.

“The APC and the Buhari administration have set us backwards by eight years because the savings that would’ve been recorded from the removal of subsidy would’ve been for development and provision of the much needed infrastructure.

“My appeal to Nigerians is for them to accept the bitter pill for a better tomorrow.”

The Minority Leader added that the government made a grave mistake by not engaging in consultations with all relevant stakeholders before fixing the pump price of petrol at N145 per litre.

According to him, the government must sit with or-

ganized labour to avert the shutting down of the entire country, insisting that the administration must discuss with labour on issues of palliatives such as the increase in minimum wage.

“Labour should give a listening ear to the arguments of government because we don’t have the capacity nor the resources to fund the subsidy regime.

“The PDP is not against the removal of subsidy because we know and believe subsidy is not sustainable.

The APC prepared the 2016 budget and made no provision for subsidy, so they can’t deny removing it”, he stated.

House Majority Leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila on his blog expressed support for the removal of subsidy, even though he had been vehement against its removal in the past.

As Minority Leader in the seventh assembly, Gbajabiamila had written a caustic

and scathing letter to then President Jonathan in 2010, opposing any planned removal of subsidy.

“So what if it costs the government billions of Naira to subsidize every year? Mr. Acting President, so what? Every year for the past eight years, government has funded different events costing the tax payers billions of naira, some of which many will consider unnecessary... For crying out loud you have just proposed in your 2010 budget to spend billions on such fancies but no we do not have billions to subsidize oil for the welfare of Nigerians? Common sense. Mr. Acting President, common sense,” Gbajabiamila had written.

But in an apparent U-turn, Gbajabiamila on his blog posted that he was convinced of the need for a reversal after a “doomsday prognosis” by the Minister of State for Petroleum at a stakeholders meeting last Wednesday.

war as well as the peace.

Furthermore, the Vice President of the European Union, Federica Mogherini said the EU had committed 50 million Euro to support the Multi National Joint Task Force.

He said the EU remained committed to the peace process in the Lake Chad region as well as the resuscitation of economic and social activities in the region.

The Presidents of France, Senegal, Niger, Chad, Gabon, Cameroon as well as representatives of other partners attended the summit.

Meanwhile, President Buhari also urged Ecowas member states and other Western allies to give countries of the Lake Chad Basin financial support for effective implementation of the Lake Chad Development and Climate Resilience Action Plan, LCDCRAP. Mr. Buhari said an estimated 916 million Euro is required for meaningful implementation of the plan, which, he said, is “crucial to reducing the high poverty rate in the basin, a major factor in the recruitment of terrorists.”

“Implementing the Lake Chad Development and Climate Resilience Action Plan, which was submitted to donor countries and organization at the Conference of Parties (COP 21) side event on the Lake Chad, therefore, remains a vital challenge,” Mr. Buhari said.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

13 News

PROWA inaugurates 16 shops to empower members ÏÏÏThe

National Chairperson, Prisons Officer’s Wives Association (PROWA), Mrs. Lizzy Ekpendu, has inaugurated 16 shops in Oji-River, Enugu State, constructed by the body to empower its members.

She said that the project was facilitated by the Managing Director, Pipeline West African Limited, Mr. Uju Nolue, who had been assisting the

association in its activities.

She described the association as a nongovernmental organisation formed to promote unity, love and understanding among the prisons officer’s wives.

The PROWA president said that they also engaged in charitable and humanitarian programmes.

The chairperson regretted the poor attitude being exhibited by some

members towards the growth of the association.

“Some officers’ wives do not attend meetings and this is very bad; we are supposed to be bounded in love with one another and commit ourselves to PROWA. “We are expected to make some sacrifices towards PROWA and never expect rewards,” she said.

Ekpendu regretted that 300 shops built by

the association in Enugu were demolished by the past government of Gov Sullivan Chime without any compensation.

She commended the facilitator for his humanitarian work and urged him not to relent in empowering members and women prisoners across the country.

In his address, the Controller of Prisons in the state, Dr. Alloy Uchenwa,

commended the association for its laudable achievements.

“Before today’s commissioning, Enugu chapter of PROWA had built and opened a model school for the educational need of our children and larger society,” he said.

Uchenwa said that the shops built in Oji River would enhance the economic activities of the area, which would, in turn, contribute to the economic uplift of

the state, and Nigeria in general.

He urged the investors to take advantage of the opportunity as the shops were located at the nerve centre of the area.

In her remarks, the state Chairperson of PROWA, Mrs. Anthonia Uchenwa, also lauded the numerous achievements of the national chairperson.

The project facilitator, Mr. Uju Nolue said he was excited to be part of PROWA and pledged to support them whenever the need arose.

Nolue said that he ventured into the project and partnership with PROWA to better the lots of members and create employment for their children.

Kwara Poly to re-open Radio Station ÏÏÏThe

Kwara State Polytechnic, in Ilorin plans to re-open its radio station, to serve as a source of information to its host communities.

The Rector of the Institution, Alhaji Masud Elelu, told newsmen, on Sunday, in Ilorin that, “Radio Polytechnic” was shut down in 1982. ‘’ My administration decided to revamp it for the purpose of disseminating information within the campus and the host communities.’’

According to him, the institution needed N50 million to register the radio station with the National Broadcasting Commission for transmission rights.

The rector disclosed that the institution would commence, soon, Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication course.

“In the same vein, additional five science courses had been presented to the National Board for Technical Education, for approval.”

Elelu stated that more than 300 staff of the polytechnic had undergone different forms of training in Nigeria and abroad.

He reaffirmed the determination of the management of the institution to encourage training and retraining of its workforce, to enhance effective teaching and learning.

News 14

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

IGR: Ondo govt realises N2.3bn in 3 months

ÏÏÏThe Chairman, Ondo State

Board of Internal Revenue, Mr. Akin Akinsehinwa, on Sunday, said that the state generated N2.3

Gov. Mimiko

billion as Internally Generated Revenue between January and March.

Akinsehinwa disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure.

He said the agency realised the amount within three months because it shifted focus from individual tax payers to corporate organisations.

The chairman said the shift in focus was as a result of the harsh economic realities in the state which had been worsened by the

dwindling resources from the Federation Account.

“Things are tough nowadays and we do not want to add more burdens to our people. Therefore, we have to shift our focus to corporate organisations.

“We are also very careful in dealing with the corporate organisations because we do not want to kill the geese that lay the golden eggs.

“We are aware that they too are being affected by the harsh economic weather,” he said.

Akinsehinwa, however, re-

minded individuals and corporate bodies in the state that payment of taxes was their civic obligation and government needed the resources to develop the state. The chairman warned tax defaulters in the state to change their attitude because the state government would prosecute any individual or company evading tax.

“We have tried some people in court and the premises of some companies have been sealed for defaulting. Tax payment is compulsory and it is a criminal offence not pay.

Attack: Enugu CP warns rumour mongers ÏÏÏThe

Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, has warned people spreading rumour of impending attack of some communities in the state to desist from it, saying there is no substance in the story.

In a statement signed by the Police Spokesman in the command, Ebere Amaraizu, on Sunday, Ojukwu said that anybody found to be spreading the rumour would be prosecuted.

The statement was sequel to media report that some communities in the state would be attacked by suspected herdsmen.

Describing the reports as rumour, Ojukwu said that they were capable of causing panic and fear in law abiding citizens of the state.

He, however, said that measures had been put in place for the safety and security of communities through relevant partnership with stakeholders to ensure that there was peace across the state.

“Rumour mongering creates fear and panic in minds of people even when there is nothing to fear about as command is ready to ensure safety and security of the citizens of the state,” he said.

He advised members of the public with useful information to reach the nearest police division through any fast means

Nation building: Association urges Nigerians to work for peaceful co-existence

ÏÏÏThe

National Complementary and Alternative Medicine Association (NACAMA) has urged Nigerians to seek and work for peaceful co-existence within their neighbourhoods and communities to enhance economic growth.

Its National President, Prof.

Peter Katchy, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Sunday.

Katchy, who spoke on ways to engender rapid economic growth in localities in the country, noted that there should be deliberate national policy and plan-of-action to de-radicalise youths for them to embrace peace and shun violence. ``Nigerians, especially the youths, should imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and free others held under the bondage of hate and segregation for the nation to achieve a rapid and all-encompassing economic growth,’’ he said.

He also reminded Nigerians that there was nowhere in the world they could call their home except in Nigeria.

Ugwuanyi urges communities to ensure peace to attract democracy dividends

ÏÏÏGovernor L-R Officer-in-charge, United Nation Information Centre (UNIC Lagos), Oluseyi Soremekun; Head of Department (HoD) Mass Communication Dept., University of Lagos, Dr Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika; Dean, College of Social and Management Sciences, Caleb University, Lagos, Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibie and Director, Nigerian Press Council, Lagos Office, Mr Patrick Izobo at a workshop organised as part of activities to mark the World Press Freedom Day in Lagos… recently.

Domestic violence traceable to dysfunctional family background-Ambode ÏÏÏLagos State governor, Mr.

Akinwunmi Ambode, on Sunday, identified dysfunctional family background as one of the major reasons for rising cases of domestic violence, just as he advocated the need for parents to imbibe in their wards the virtues of honesty, respect, morality, good neighbourliness, peace and love.

Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House during the family day celebration, hosted by the state government in commemoration of the International Family Day, also said a lot of acts of terror and violence that have ruptured global peace and security could be traced to the absence of strong family ties, and as such parents must spend time with their children no mat-

ter how difficult it may be.

The governor described the family as the smallest but most important unit of the society, saying things can only go right in the country if first addressed in the family.

He said: “Most of the recorded incidence of domestic violence are as a result of dysfunctional family backgrounds. Our traditional family cohesion and bond has been weakened due to daily life challenges of trying to make ends meet.

“We must, as a matter of urgency, in spite of the demanding pace of life pause and find time to reconnect with our families.

Our families need us; our children need us. The family always provides emotional support in times of need. We have family

members in need of emotional, physical and moral support. The support and encouragement given to a family member today can prevent a violent act of terror or suicide tomorrow.”

Speaking on the essence of the international celebration which was designated by the United Nations, Governor Ambode said everyone was born into a family and that the most important moments of people’s lives have taken place in the family, saying it was for that reason that the international body places a lot of emphasis on the family as a key factor in human relations thereby setting aside May 15 every year to celebrate the value of the family bond across ethnic, religious, social and economic divide.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has enjoined communities in the state to promote peace so as to attract democracy dividends.

Ugwuanyi made the call at a civic reception organised in his honour by the people of Edem Community in Nsukka Local Government Area on Sunday.

The governor advised the people on the importance of unity to the rapid growth of any community.

He noted that government, organisation and individuals would only invest in an environment devoid of rancour and acrimony.

Ugwuanyi said that in spite of the slow down of economic activities due to economic meltdown in the country, the state administration would continue to provide social amenities to the people.

The governor told the people that his administration was liaising with traditional rulers and town union authorities to beef up security.

He therefore urged the people to continue to pray for his administration to succeed in spite of current challenges.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

15 Opinion

Can the PDP re-invent itself?

I Mazi Sam

Ohuabunwa OFR

n 1998,34 distinguished Nigerians (politicians, businessmen and retired soldiers) gathered to lay the foundation for the party that latter emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP).

This group known as G-34 metamorphosed from an original G-18, which was formed to oppose General Sanni Abacha’s move to succeed himself, pushing for a return to true civilian democratic rule. Among these men were Alex Ekwueme, Bola Ige, Jerry Gana, Adamu Ciroma,Abubakar Rimi, Solomon Lar, Sule Lamido and Elder Awoniyi and others, some of whom are late now. They were soon to be joined by men from other political groups, such as Atiku Abubakar who came from the Peoples Democratic Movement( PDM). Subsequently they were joined by a number of retired military generals including Ibrahim Babangida who succeeded in attracting General Olusegun Obasanjo, whom they eventually elected as their presidential candidate for the 1999 elections.

The PDP enjoyed a lot of support at inception and became very popular. The calibre of its founding fathers, the broad membership ethnic base cutting across all the regions and zones of Nigeria, coupled with

its democratic promises and the right of the centre economic slant all combined to help it win the 1999 General elections, beating the All Peoples Party (APP) and the Alliance for Democracy( AD). In 2003, it also won the elections as Obasanjo was returned with a massive 61.9% of the popular votes. In the Legislative elections, PDP won 223 seats in the House out of 360, while it won 79 out of the 90 seats in the Senate. In 2007, PDP won again, increasing its control of the house to 260 and senate to 85. President Yar’Adua could not complete his first term as he died early in 2010, making way for Dr Goodluck Jonathan the Vice President to become President.

A major crack occurred in the PDP in 2011as Goodluck Jonathan stood for elections for a four-year term, after completing Yar’Adua’s term. A significant number of PDP members crossed over to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The North did its best to stop Jonathan from becoming President, after completing Yar’Adua’s term. Indeed, he was nearly stopped from becoming acting President when it was clear that Yar’Adua’s health could not let him continue in office. Jonathan’s struggle to become acting President, then President( to complete Yar’Adua’s term) and then to seek a full 4-year

term severely strained the party.

The demand by some of the Northern members of PDP that the North should be allowed to complete its 8-year term, led to internal sabotage within the party. But when Jonathan decided to seek a second term in 2015, the division in the party enlarged drastically. And when they could not stop him, an internal revolution occurred causing a fission of the party to form the “New PDP “.

The “New PDP” eventually merged with the Action Congress of Nigeria( ACN) to form the new mega party, All Progressives Congress( APC) which swept PDP out of power at the last general elections in 2015. With a margin of 2.6 million votes, President Muhammadu Buhari of APC defeated the incumbent, Dr Goodluck Jonathan of PDP. Thus after 16 years in power, PDP became the opposition party.

Beyond the all-consuming determination of the North to produce the President, which first led to the crack in the party, and latter anti party activities of most of the Northern political leaders, other factors contributed to the fall of PDP. Among these factors is impunity within and without the party. A party that was founded on democratic principles began to impose candi-

dates and force its ways. Next was arrogance, being in power for so many years gave the party leaders a false feeling of invincibility and they began to behave as if Nigerians had no other choice. Indeed, it did not seem to care when hordes of its membership began to defect to other parties .The third was that the party went cold on fighting corruption.

Though it pursued fairly aggressively, the economic programme of privatization and deregulation, which took power and discretion away from public servants as a way of minimising corruption, and introduced some electoral reforms that minimised electoral corruption( Jega & Card reader for example), many Nigerians still felt that corruption was proliferating. Fourth was that the party became incapable of disciplining its members. Nowhere was this incapacity so visible as in the Presidency.

Poor performance was tolerated and many public servants were treated as untouchables. Fifth, the party seemed to have lost any ability to resolve conflicts, as it seemed to move from one crisis to another. Up till date, Anambra State runs parallel party leadership. Lastly, PDP became a party run by geriatrics. I believe all these factors combined to humble the party at the 2015 elections.

Prayer for Nigeria in Distress (2)

S Ikechukwu Muo

ocially, we are also in distress. Of course, the economic sphere always snowballs into the social arena.

There is tension everywhere: northsouth tension, Christian-Moslem, Sunni-Shiite, farmer-herdsmen, indigene-settler and rich-poor tension.

Audacious kill-and-go herdsmen, who, according to Soyinka, have placed themselves above the law of settled humanity, have overtaken the land. Moreover, the government issues weak or no statements at all depending on who is involved. It was only late in April that Buhari condemned the Fulani massacres and ordered the security forces to act.

Therefore, the security forces were waiting for orders. Meanwhile, APC says that PMB was silently working to solve the problem! When did APC become a silent party?

Politically, we are also in severe distress. Three core issues of democratic governance have been disastrously handled: the appointment of ministers, the budget, and election, have all been handled in a disastrously lousy manner. The INEC chairman, a Professor, recently gave himself and INEC a pass-mark. He is not the first to do so. But it is on

record that all the petty and mini elections- Kogi, (where there was a minor error) Bayelsa, Rivers (where fake result sheets were used), Abia and Anambra (which have been put on hold) Abuja Area Council and Kano ended disastrously. So, how can we manage national elections?

The executive is at war with the legislature; various camps of APC are at war with each other and even members of the party at various strata are at war with the leadership and PDP is being put under the sword. Indeed, I had severally wondered whether we had entered a one-chance bus with the present government but the Labour Party, which suddenly found its voice had affirmed that we are actually in a precarious situation. Read them: The PMB government has ‘polarised the country, created social disconnect and broken the necessary cohesion needed at this time of our history and what we see is the efficacy of the government’s propaganda bakery which has consistently manufactured and produced excuses and lies to defraud the people’s mentality, cover up economic misfortune and give reasons for the appointment of misfits into government in a bid to satisfy local and regional pressure of party block-heads at the expense of

the greater interest of the country’ I have forgotten what made Alan Paton in 1948 to wail: ‘Cry the beloved Country’. However, I think we need to cry for Nigeria. As a nation, our problems have worsened: we have never had it so bad: no fuel, no electricity, no gas, no job, no pay, no food and no peace. All this has generated despondency in a broke and broken nation, a collective national pain that shoots all round, and shaken faith in our existence. (Cosmas Odemenam, Sun, 25/3/16, p19).

I think Prophet Joel appropriately foretold our situation today: We are now in a day of darkness, (no light) gloom, (due to socio-economic challenges) cloud (a foreboding scenario) and blackness (no gas to power the turbines and no fuel to power the generators)(Joel, 2:2) And the only thing we get from government is It is Jonathan’s fault; as if excuses had ever solved any problem!

We need to pray for Buhari but most important, we need to pray for Nigeria in distress. The few who believe that Nigeria has never had it so good should also pray for Nigeria in prosperity. Either way, we are praying for Nigeria. In addition, to the prayer, should add enough dose of good work because faith without good work is fake. For those who, for

whatever reason, have not heard this powerful 22-year-old prayer, should read below.

All powerful and merciful Father, You are the God of Justice, Love and Peace. You rule over all the Nations on earth. Power and Might are in Your hands and No one can withstand You. We present Our country Nigeria before You. We praise and thank You for You are the source of all We have and are. We are sorry for all the sins We have committed and for the good deeds We failed to do. In Your Loving forgiveness, keep Us safe from the punishments We deserve. Lord, We are weighed down not only by uncertainties, but also by moral, economic and political problems. Listen to the cries of your people who confidently turn to you. God of infinite goodness, Our strength in adversity, Our health in weakness, Our comfort in sorrow, be merciful to us your people. Spare this Nation, Nigeria from chaos, anarchy and doom. Bless us with your kingdom of Justice, Love and Peace. We ask this through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Dr. Ikechukwu Muo (PhD, FCIB) is of Dept of Business Administration, Olabisi Onabanjo University, and Ogun State.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

17

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Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

Features Æ s

CORRUPTION:

We are keenly awaiting verdicts of the courts — Gbenga Onayiga An executive of the new National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG) otherwise known as Governing Board for the Nigeria extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), veteran journalist Gbenga Onayiga has charged the Nigerian media to rise up to their responsibility as the watchdog for the society. GBUBEMI GOD’S COVENANT SNR presents highlights of his presentation at a recent lecture held at the Lagos Business School, Lekki, Victoria Island.

Journalists at the Triennial National Delegates Confab in Abuja

Gbenga Onayiga

Beginning with the crisis rocking Nigeria’s dwindling Naira, oil and the subsidy or no subsidy controversy, Mr. Onayiga recalled that the previous government had tried unsuccessfully to decide the matter completely. Of the bold move last Wednesday by the Buhari administration, he said: “The issue of subsidy is still lingering in Nigeria, even though it cost about 4% of the GDP. Attempts were made by the last administration to remove it completely to no avail. The present administration is facing the same challenge of subsidy removal.”

Having apparently tested the ground and felt the pulse of the people in his one year in office, the Buhari administration made bold to end the subsidy scam permanently by pegging the price of our

premium motor spirit, popularly known as petrol at N145 per litre and gave market forces free hand to determine the cost of the product.

The decision was reached after an extensive meeting held at the headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in Abuja, after which officials who attended the meeting, said the price of petrol would start from N145 per litre, but explained that the government would strictly monitor compliance..

Making spirited efforts to find a balancing point between government policies and media participatory input, Mr. Onayiga, in his presentation titled, Media Re-Shaping the Nigerian National Economy, admitted openly that he is affected by the current meltdown as much as anyone else.

The veteran journalist compared the travails of Nigeria to

‘‘If we can tap into the same zeal with which we helped to bring down a sitting government with a party that had been in power for sixteen years, we can surely revive our dying economy. By virtue of the nature of our role and power, we should be in the vanguard of a campaign of creating a truly transparent oil and gas industry that will be accountable to the Nigerian people. We should even be able to call the industry players to order when necessary.’’ that of Moses and the children of Israel, pointing out that the challenges in virtually all facets of our national life are exerting tremendous changes in the way we do things as individuals and collectively as a nation. His presentation: These socio-economic and political quaking in Nigeria have also forced a reorientation of our political and social attitudes. Those who could some years ago give a gift of fifty thousand naira without batting an eyelid now think twice before parting with ten thou-

sand Naira. The challenge these alterations pose for the media is quite easy to see.

As a critical component of our development as a nation, these charges or reforms stand a much greater chance of succeeding if policy makers constantly bear in mind that they must be mediadriven. Only the media can sell the package to the public; and only when the public buy into it does it have a chance of enduring success.” Borrowing a leaf from Aremo Taiwo Allimi’s famous line, “while you may have information

without development, you cannot have development without information.”

The Nigerian media and politics of corruption One cannot define the Nigerian democracy and governance without the corruption component.

But the truth is, whether we are really so corrupt or not, the media has created a picture of massive corruption – looting infact, in our entire psyche. This is what analysts refer to as the politics of corruption – that is, the use of the term corruption to fight political wars.

It is difficult therefore to discuss Nigerian media and politics without speaking of the politics of corruption or the corruption of politics. But no matter the argument, depending on the side one belongs, you will agree that the revelations from what has now been widely called Dasukigate and related cases are mind-boggling. We are keenly awaiting the verdicts of the courts, anyway.

Be that as it may, the 28th President of the United States of America, Woodrow Wilson (18651924) said “Everybody knows that corruption thrives in secret places and avoids public places, and (we believe) it is fair presumption that CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

19 Features

Preventing child abuse through awareness, vigilance — a national responsibility

Children fetching firewood during school hours

Children should be sensitised to various inappropriate behaviours directed at them by members of the society. An informed girl-child would not be a subject of abuse, whether it is done by family members, friends or strangers.

We need to empower the girl-child and also empower her through information because information is knowledge. A lot of our children don’t get the right information from the right source at the right time — Mrs Chukwuma, Project Alert on Violence against Women and Children, Child in emotional trauma

Kanayo Offiong, (NAN) Child abuse has become a global problem that needs to be addressed to give children the right to life and freedom, analysts has proposed.

They note that increase in child abuse globally and its effects call for urgent assessment, prevention and mitigation to secure the future of Nigerian children.

According to them, child

abuse or child maltreatment is any act, or failure to act, by a parent or other caregiver that results in potential or actual harm to a child.

Also, the World Health Organisation (WHO) views child abuse as ``all forms of physical or emotional ill-treatment of children’’.

It says the abuse can be sexual, negligent attitudes and commercial exploitation that threaten the child’s health, survival, development and dignity.

Sociologists argue that child

abuse is a crime because it is a social problem that denies the child of his or her rights in the society.

Expressing concern about the spate of child abuse in Nigeria, Mrs Odi Lagi, Senior Programme Officer, Network of University Legal Aid Institutions, attributed the trend to the current socio-economic situation in the country. ``Child abuse is on the increase in Nigeria and this is because the economic hardship has increased.

``When there is economic hardship, the vulnerable group, the children, suffer the impact more. ``This is because people tend to carry out their frustrations on children during crisis situations,’’ she said.

She explained that domestic servitude -- a form of child abuse -- could be attributed to lack of finance, especially in the household.

This, according to her, happens when children are not catered for, making them vulner-

able and as a result, affects the society negatively. ``There are people who have been treated with less value in the society. If they don’t understand the worth of human life because of the way they are treated, they will treat other people in the same way,’’ she said. ``It should be able to impact on the children if there is violence against them. The government institutions have to wake up. ``Other institutions can also join hands to check the menace by creating children’s shelters where abused children can go. ``When a child is abused by his own father, you can’t send the child back to that home, he or she will need a place to ease off the trauma,’’ she said.

In her view, Mrs Josephine Chukwuma, Executive Director, Project Alert on Violence against Women and Children, said children should be sensitised to various inappropriate behaviours directed at them by members of the society.

She explained that an informed girl-child would not be a subject of abuse, whether it is done by family members, friends or strangers. ``We need to empower the girl-child and also empower her through information; because information is knowledge. ``A lot of our children don’t get the right information from the right source at the right time. ``There are a lot of things that come into play when a child is growing up, including the environment, culture and of course, the family. ``With family as the cornerstone, parents can only give their child the information they have but if they don’t have it, they can’t give it. ``That’s why programmes in the school and in the community generally can empower the girl-child to resist violence of any form, especially sexual abuse. ``Let a girl-child from an early age know the difference between a good touch and a bad touch,’’ she advised.

Chukwuma said that parents and guardians should establish a good relationship with the children so that the children would not be afraid to report any advances made at them. ``We call it age appropriate messaging. There’s a way you

Features 20

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

Domestic servitude is a form of child abuse CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

talk to a four-year-old child, it’s different from the way you communicate with a 10-year-old and definitely different from the way you communicate with a 14-year-old. ``People will say that you are teaching these children sex. No, you are empowering them to

take ownership of their bodies and not allow their bodies to be abused by those, who ordinarily, should know better ``We have an epidemic of abuse on our hands and it is only through awareness and vigilance that we can protect our children,’’ she said.

To discourage child abuse, Mr Fatai Adeniji, a Lagos-based

lawyer, called for adequate punishment for anybody found guilty of child abuse.

The lawyer urged relevant agencies of government to strictly enforce laws against child abuse to check the vice.

He observed that the increasing cases of child abuse called for full operation of Child Rights Act to properly protect the rights of children.

According to him, child abuse includes rape, molestation and child labour while the rate of rape or sexual abuse of children from nine years to 16 years of age is higher. ``Nurturing the girl-child is not the responsibility of government alone but all stakeholders; government and its security agencies need to create a safe environment that will protect children from various forms of abuse,’’ Adeniji said.

Corroborating this viewpoint, Mr Ola Ogunbiyi, a lawyer, pleaded with government at all levels to adequately enforce Child Rights Law enacted in 2011. ``The state government should be more proactive and protect children from being abused. We need to build our tomorrow if we want to improve our quality of life,’’ he said.

A victtim of child abuse in Lagos

The media should push for stiffer punishment for corrupt public officials CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

Buhari

secrecy means impropriety.”

From the foregoing we see that there is a nexus in full disclosure, good governance, corruption and the media. Reverend Father Matthew Kukah (1999) postulated that “for democracy to take firm roots in our nation there is no doubt that the media will have to be alert to its duties and responsibilities as a genuine watchdog... Let us not also forget that it takes a well fed dog to watch effectively.”

No matter the situation, the role of the journalist is quite crucial as Napoleon Bonaparte insisted that “a journalist is a grumbler, a censurer, a giver of advice, a regent of sovereigns, a tutor of nations …”

The reality is that there is a correlation between economic progress and social mobilisation.

Mobilisation for Transparency Onayiga who was one time head of Radio Nigeria’s political desk is known for indicting journalists of being perhaps too obsessed with mainstream politics, though he acknowledges the centrality of politics in the life of any nation.

But allow me to use my position as someone who has spent almost forty years in the profession to say that we must also find time to pay attention to the other realms of the

Estate, such as the economy which today has taken us unawares.

Without doubt, the primacy of our economy in the sustenance of our democracy will remain ever crucial. No government can wield power without money. So is the primacy of the duty of the media in watch-dogging the society, the economy inclusive.

We must recognise that our role in consolidating a democratic culture anchored on justice is a multi-dimensional one which involves monitoring the economy.

In the unfolding Nigeria, the media should be the chief advocate of the need to nurture a transparent economic system that does not pander to any interest group, be it public or private. It was Henry Peter Brougham, the 1st Baron of Brougham and Vaux in the United Kingdom who said ‘education makes a people easy to lead but difficult to drive; Easy to govern but impossible to enslave.’ That is why I am worried about the level of ignorance of many of our people (even journalists) about the oil and gas sector. Many industry watchers have said that the secrecy in the sector is its greatest undoing. Now the onus rests on us to creatively challenge the problems of this mascot, which has brought us to a situation that paints a picture of ‘a culture here

nothing works’.

Whether we admit it or not, the reality is that for development to take root in our nation these negative images and ugly myths must be uprooted. Why should the actual amount that NNPC remits to the national coffers be a subject of controversy until recently?

Essentially, the role of the media in this terrain is to promote transparency and provide the atmosphere for the fight against corruption to thrive. The debate on how best to reform NNPC is currently on and the media must come out in bold and clear terms to show the way forward. Yes we can do it!

The media has always risen to the occasion. A political editor with Radio Nigeria, Victorson Agbenson once said about the 2015 elections ‘the PDP lost the election in the media’, while popular human rights activist turned politician, Corade Shehu Sani, who now represents Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the Senate alluded to this when he declared in an interview recently that ‘Nigeria’s media helped to bring down Jonathan.’ The implication of this is that the media can determine what happens and who governs in our nation. We can therefore deploy our arsenal to ensure the repositioning of our economy.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

SURE FUTURE CHURCH INT’L

21 Public Notice

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SPECIAL IMPACT GENERATION FOUNDATION

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CHRIST THE OVERCOMER’S MESSIAH ZION CHURCH

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

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

Signed,, Greg Malise Product Management Consultant E-paments Technologe

SIGNED: BARR. K.C. NDUKUBA 08037156585

COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANISATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MORGAN ORIOHA 2. ANASTASIA EZEWUDO 3. JOSHUA NWOKEJI 4. ONYEKAOZURU ANIH

GOOD SISTERS ASSOCIATION OF PORT-HARCOURT THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. NNADIKA OGECHI I. 2. UGWU CHINYERE R. 3. CHIOMA IHENACHO 4. IWEJUO ONYINYECHI OKWUDI

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PROMOTE THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO ENHANCE THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF ITS MEMBERS AND OTHER UNDER PRIVILEGED MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. 2. TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF ITS MEMBERS THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECTS.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

CHARIS PENTECOSTAL ASSEMBLY

DISC JOCKEY’S ASSOCIATION OF EDO STATE

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

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

TRUSTEES: 1. APOSTLE STEPHEN EKANEM UDOH -GENERAL OVERSEER 2. ELD. ABASIAMA DAVID AKPAN -SECRETARY 3. ELD. MMAMABASI EBONG EBONG 4. ELD. IME ISAAC MKPA 5. ELD. INYANG UKPONG OKURE 6. ELD. MOSES UDO UKPONG 7. ELD. NSEOBONG UDOM IWUO

TRUSTEES: 1. REV. IBINAYIN STEPHEN AYODELE -CHAIRMAN 2. MRS OJO AKINWOLE ROMANS -SECRETARY 3. MR. OFUOMA ODOGUN JAMES 4. AYO-IBINAYIN RUKEVWE JOSIAH ADEDAYO 5. REV. (MRS) AYO-IBINAYIN OBATARHE BECKY 6. MRS. DODOME SELIMA MARGARET 7. MISS AYO-IBINAYIN TEMITOPE UFUOMA

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

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST ALL OVER THE WORLD. 2. TO TAKE CARE OF THE WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS. 3. TO ESTABLISH LOCAL BRANCHES FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL WORLDWIDE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

AJUMAPETERS CARE FOUNDATION

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST ALL OVER THE WORLD. 2. TO TAKE CARE OF THE WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS. 3. TO ESTABLISH LOCAL BRANCHES FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL WORLDWIDE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. EUDORAH EZEONYE 08037650176

TIVID ORPHANAGE HOME INT’L.

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

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

TRUSTEES 1.HARUNA GABRIEL 2.HARUNA OJONEMI VERONICA 3.SUZIE RACHAEL MOMOH 4.FATIMA ONUMA MOMOH 5.HARUNA T EMMANUEL 6.HARUNA MICHEAL GEORGE

TRUSTEES ARE. 1, FAVOUR ADAH PAUL. 2, ANNA ADAH PAUL. 3, USHAHEMBA UKANGE. 4, DOOGA EDWARD. 5, ENGR. DR. OKOPI ALEX MOMOH. 6,. DR. ROBINSON I. ELIJAH.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. FIGHTING AGAINST THE VICTIMIZATION OF WIDOW 2. EMPOWERING THE WIDOWS

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF ORPHANS.

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

ISLAMIC CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Trustees 1- Daood Imran Molasan, Chairman and Founder.

2- KASALI NURUDEEN ADELAJA, - Member.

3- LAMIDI IYABO LATIFAT, - Treasurer.

4- IMRAN ABUBAKR OLADIMEJI - Secretary.

PRINCIPAL AIMS & OBJECTIVE ...

1 PROMOTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH 2-RESEARCH STUDY AND CONSULTANCY SERVICES 3- ADR- ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION 4- TRAINER & SPONSOR OF MUSLIM STUDENTS

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED, BARR. JOSHUA ANIKEZE. ABUJA, 08030799020

CANDLE OF PEACE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY.

TRUSTEES 1. BRIGHT OSAYOMORE -(PRESIDENT) 2. OMOZUWA SATURDAY - (SECRETARY) 3. IDAHOSA RUFUS 4. EDOBOR UYI 5. AMADIN OYEBEMINA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES - TO FOSTER UNITY AND PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF HER MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

DIAMOND CHILDREN’S SHELTER & ORPHANAGE. This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Trustees 1. Dr Remi Obinatu, 2. Mrs Blessing OBinatu 3. Chidera OBinatu Aims: 1. To operate an orphanage, 2. To provide shelter and home care for orphans .

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

Signed. Secretary

EKITI KETE GOOD CITIZEN ASSOCIATION

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

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

TRUSTEES 1. DR. MAIGA ABDOU. - CHAIRMAN 2. BISHOP DANIEL IBE OKAYI 3. REV. MARTINS OKEME. - SECRETARY 4 BISHOP (DR) CROWN GABRIEL ADEBO 5. APOSTLE MIRACLE TEMITOPE HENRY

Trustees 1.TRESUREER. - OGUNBIYI OLASUNKANMI OLALEKE 2.SECRETARY. - OMOLAYO SOLA 3.CHAIRMAN. - Ayodeji Babatola

Aim and objectives 1. Tpromote the culture of peace in the world.

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

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

Signed. Secretary

Signed. SECRETARY

Aim and objectives 1. To. Foster unity among the member.

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

Signed. Bar ugo oparah

Public Notice 22 OLAOLUWA AREMU JOHNSON

ISMAILA ABDULAHI DANJUMA

I, formerly known as OLAOLWA JOHSON FADIPE. wish to be known and addressed as OLAOLUWA AREMU JOHNSON. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

I, formerly known as OMALE ISMAILA DANJUMA. wish to be known and addressed as ISMAILA ABDULAHI DANJUMA All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

BADMUS SULIAT OLUWADAMILOLA

NWACHI ULOMA GLORY

I formerly known as Lateef Suliat Oluwadamilola wish to be known and addressed as Badmus Suliat Oluwadamilola. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

I Formerly known as Uwachi Uloma Glory. Wish to be known and addressed as Nwachi Uloma Glory. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

LEKKI JUNIOR STRIKERS FOOTBALL CLUB

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

MRS RITA WARISO IHEME

OKUBADEJO ESTHER TITILAYO

ISEK ABIGAIL ONYAM

BEN EGESIE ALARIBE

I, formerly known as OGUNAIKE ESTHER TITILAYO. wish to be known and addressed as OKUBADEJO ESTHER TITILAYO All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

I, formerly known as ABENG ABIGAIL ANDREW. wish to be known and addressed as ISEK ABIGAIL ONYAM. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

I, formerly known as CHRISTOPHER CHIDI KANU. wish to be known and addressed as BEN EGESIE ALARIBE All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

MRS EDU NATHANIEL SUNDAY B

CONFIRMATION OF NAME:

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

ADEYANJU BUKOLA ABIMBOLA.

I was formerly known as.

Miss Efut Edu Okure now I wish to be known and address as Mrs Edu nathaniel Sunday B All Forner Documents Remain Valid General Public Should Take Note

That I, ISHOLA AFISI OLANREWAJU ABIODUN is the same person as ISHOLA AFEEZ OLANREWAJU. That all documents/ credential bearing this name remain valid, general public please take note

THAT I AM THE SAME PERSON BEARING: KUKU ADEBIMPE RAMAT AND KUKU RAMOTA ADEBIMPE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

I, formerly known as OLAJUBU BUKOLA ABIMBOLA. wish to be known and addressed as ADEYANJU BUKOLA ABIMBOLA. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

I, formerly known as MISS RITA DANIELS. wish to be known and addressed as MRS RITA WARISO IHEME. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

AFRICA YOUNG SCHOLARS FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above Named Club has applied to the Corporate affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act 1990.

This Is to inform the general public that the above named Foundation has applied to the corporate Affairs commission for registration under part’ C’ of the company and Allied Matters Act of 1990 .

TRUSTEES 1TIJANI ABDULSALAM -OGUEYI 2 RALIAT ABDULSALAM 3 AMINA ANAKO-ODOFFIN 4 ABIODUN AWOSIKA

TRUSTEES 1 SIMON STANLEY UGOCHUKWU 2 AIMUA FIDELIS 3 OGUADIMMA MARK SUNDAY 4 AGHIMIEN KINGSLEY OSAIGBOVO

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1 To provide developmentally appropriate soccer programs 2 to teach the game of soccer as a componement of developing well rounded childrent 3 to develop children to the best of their ability and foster a lifelong enjoyment of the game of soccer 4 to develop potential young players both technically and personally in a challenging safe and supportive environment 5 to develop players who will progress and one day play for senior teams 6 to establish a football academy which is attractive to players parents and coaches Any objections to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general corporate Affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent off aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED BY SECRETARY.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1 To promote educational research 2 to establish educational libraries for secondary tertiary and post graduate studies 3 to encourage and support educational programmes 4 to provide educational scholarship for students 5 to provide a platform for promoting scholarstic excellence Any objections to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi street Maitama Abuja within 28days of this publication.

SIGNED SECRETARY

REMO SECONDARY SCHOOL HOUSE 87 OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

SURVIVORS AFRICA UNITY FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above Named Association has applied to the Corporate affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act 1990.

This Is to inform the general public that the above named Foundation has applied to the corporate Affairs commission for registration under part’ C’ of the company and Allied Matters Act of 1990 .

NAMES OF TRUSTEES: 1. TAYO BABATUNDE 2. MOJIBOLA ABOSEDE IBHAZE 3. NINILOLA MARIAM EBAGUA 4. MARCUS ADEMUYIWA OSINDERO 5. AKINTUNDE .O. AKINFISOYE-OWOLABI 6. AUGUSTUS OYENIYI AGEH 7. THEOPHILUS OLUWOLE ADEYEMI

The Trustees are : 1) NUMBERE ETHEL IBIBOBA - Chairman 2) NUMBERE SYNDY BEKINWARI - Secretary 3) NUMBERE LIBERTY IBIBO - Member 4) NUMBERE SOIBIBO IBIBO -Member 5) WEST STEPHEN -Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1, TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY 2, TO PROMOTE WELFARE OF MEMBERS Any objections to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general corporate Affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent off aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED BY SECRETARY.

LIFESTYLE IN CHRISTKINGDOM CHURCH The General Public is hereby notified that the above Named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Acts No 1 of 1990.

The Trustees Are: (1) BALOGUN OLANREWAJU IFEJESU (2) BALOGUN OLAYEMI JANET (3) SALAMI OLAYINKA FUHAD (4) DAWODU AFOLAKE OBAFUNKE Aims & Objectives: (i) To Preach & propagate the Gospel of Jesus (ii) To Promote Godliness & Biblical Doctrines Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: Pastor Olanrewaju Balogun.

RAJI RASAKI RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION The general public is hereby notified that the above Named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for the change of Trustees and Amendment of their Constitution under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Names of Old Trustees: 1) FELIX EWENIKE (REMOVED) 2) CHIEF MATHEW OYEYEMI ABORISADE (REMOVED) 3) ANTHONY ONYEBUCHI ANIMALU (REMOVED) 4) CHARLES UCHENNA OMEILI (RETAINED) 5) CHIEF BENSON MEKOBA (RETAINED) 6) CHIEF PATRICK CHIBO AKUJOBI (RETAINED) 6) CALLISTUS UJU OKAFOR (RETAINED) 7)CHARLES OKEY UDEJI (RETAINED) 9) CHIEF CLEMENT OKWUEGO (RETAINED) Names of the New Trustees: 1)CHIEF PATRICK CHIBO AKUJOBI (RETAINED) 2) CHARLES UCHENNA OMEILI(RETAINED) 3) CHIEF BENSON MEKOBA (RETAINED) 4) CHIEF CLEMENT OKWUEGO(RETAINED) 5) CHARLES OKEY UDEJI (RETAINED) 6) CALLISTUS UJU OKAFOR (RETAINED) 7) ARCHITECT ANTHONY ALABI (APPOINTED) 8) CHIEF RICHARD IJELI(APPOINTED) 9)CHIEF VINCENT IKEREGO (APPOINTED) Also the Constitutions of the association has been changed in its entirety.

Any objection to this application should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: FOLA ALEX-AINA & CO (LEGAL PRACTIONERS) 21 ROAD L CLOSE BLOCK 1FLAT 9 FESTAC TOWN LAGOS.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1) To Engage in less privilege activities to young persons in the Society.

2) To provide educational Aids to less privilege in the Society

GOD’S GRACE AND GLORY GOSPEL MINISTRY This is to inform the general public that the above named Ministry has applied to the corporate Affairs commission for registration under part’ C’ of the company and Allied Matters Act of 1990 .

The Trustees are : 1) PASTOR SAMUEL JOHN PETER - Chairman 2) PASTOR (MRS) CHIZOBA EDINAH SAMUEL - Secretary 3) PASTOR RAMMYSON NENYIEBARI KEKE - Member AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1) To Preach the gospel of Grace and Glory to the World 2) To teach and make disciple of Jesus Christ Any objections to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi street Maitama Abuja within 28days of this publication.

Signed : Sir S.E.S. PAUL, ESQ.

CHUNK FANCE CLUB ENUGU THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES ARE: 1. CHINEDU NWAOKEAFOR 2. PATRICK ABANGA 3. AMECHI UMEH 4. JIDEOFOR EZEH 5. SAMUEL CHITUA AIMS : 1. TO PROMOTE THE WELEARE OF MEMBERS 2. TO BE OUR BROTHERS KEEPER. SIGNED: TRUSTEES

Any objections to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi street Maitama Abuja within 28days of this publication.

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

Signed : Nengi Princewell Esq.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PEACEMAKERS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and allied Matters Act of 1990.

TRUSTEES ARE. 1. DR. ADEYEMI ADEYANJU ADEDEJI – CHAIRMAN 2. PASTOR (MRS.) OLUWANISHOLA ADENIKE 3. PASTOR (MRS.) OLUWANISHOLA ADEDEJI 4. DEACON OLADELE ISREAL OLUBORODE 5. BISHOP JOSEPH ADEGBOYE ADEDEJI 6. PROF. ADENIYI ISRAEL OLATUNBOSUN 7. MRS. MARGARET IDOWU RASHEED 8. PROPHET EMMANUEL KOLAWOLE AJIBOYE 9. MRS. OLAYINKA ADENIKE ADELOWORE 10. PASTOR JOSEPH OYEDIRAN IDOWU AIM AND OBJECTIVE. To promote unity and progress among members Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED: TRUSTEES

POSTERITY CARE AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA

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

TRUSTEES ARE. 1. CHIEF OGOH OCHECHE EMMANUEL – CHAIRMAN 2. OCHECHE INALEGWU SOLOMON - SECRETARY 3. OCHECHE CATHERINE ONYECHE AIM AND OBJECTIVE. To promote unity and progress among members Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED: TRUSTEES

NEHEMIAH – HOPE INITIATIVE

VIRGINHILL CHRISTIAN CHURCH

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

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

TRUSTEES ARE. 1. MR. ADEMOSU AKINWANDE – CHAIRMAN 2. MR. ADELUSI OLUFEMI AKINWUNMI 3 MRS. ADELUSI OMOLARA IYABO 4 MRS. OGBECHIE GODREY IFEANYI 5 MRS. ADEBAYO OLUFUNKE OLABISI 6 MR. AKINYEMI OLUSOLA - SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE. 1 Propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 To provide humanitarian aid to the indigent and internally displaced persons 3 To provide economic empowerment to young girls, indigent women and men 4 To provide basic educational support programmes to less privileged children and adult.

TRUSTEES ARE. 1. MAKINDE AKINLABI OLATOBI - G.O 2. ADEJUYIGBE OLUWAFEMI SAMUEL 3. ADEDOKUN ADESOJI - SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the gospel of Christ 2 To promote psychological, intellectual, social and spiritual well- being of members

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

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

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

23 News

PDP South-West Congress: Mimiko, Fayose sue for peace, unity ’Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

ÎÎÎThe Governors of

Ondo and Ekiti states, Olusegun Mimiko and Ayodele Fayose, have jointly called on the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to allow unity and peace ton reign ahead of its national convention.

The duo spoke, at the weekend, at the party’s SouthWest zonal congress, which was held at the International Event Centre Dome, in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

Mimiko said the future of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was still very bright, based on the doubting performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that the leaders of the party had to work in unity for its best

interest.

Mimiko added that the members of the (PDP) were prepared to wrestle power from the ruling APC and also appealed to the members of the party in South- West to be determined to restore its lost glory.

“Based on the performance of All Progressives Congress, there is no doubt that our party has a bright future. Despite all the bright chances that the PDP has, we still have a lot of work to do. We must work towards the future that beacons. The South West remains the leading light of politics in this nation.

“The time has come for us to be able to stand up for what is right with the history of integrity and progressives. Let us be determined to do what

Mimiko

is right for our party. There is no doubt that there have been issues surrounding this congress, but I am very sure that the truth shall prevail.”

He promised that he was prepared to work with Fayose in restoring the lost glory of the party.

“The PDP has a bright future in this country, but our

actions and inactions will determine the future of our party. We must, therefore, stand for integrity as a party with history of integrity and progressivism. Governor Ayo Fayose and I are working for the progress of the party in the South-West and we shall continue to do that.”

Fayose stressed a need for unity among members of the party in the Sout-West and denied insinuation that he was working against the interest the elderly people in the party, and pleaded with the judiciary to be wary of those who only wish to win elections through the court.

He vowed that the party would send the APC out of government come 2019.

The former governor of Rivers State and chairman

of the congress, Celestine Omeha, who swore the new leaders in, beseeched them to work for the unity of the party.

A former Commissioner for Information in Ondo State, Eddy Olorogun Olafeso, was elected the Zonal Chairman, Zonal Secretary, Rev Bunmi Jenyo (Osun), Organising Secretary, Hon Wasiu Bankere (Ogun), Youths Leader, Hon Femi Adetola (Oyo) and Women Leader, Mrs. Ajigbeda (Ogun).

Others were Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon Abiola Makinde (Ondo) Financial Secretary Chief Aifoji, Auditor, Hon Biliaminu Ogundele (Oyo), Treasurer, Mr. Adeola Ogunrinde (Ekiti) and the Legal Adviser, Mr. Sunday OjoWilliams (Osun).

Gbonigi begs labour unions to shelve strike ’Tosin Ajuwon, Akure

ÎÎÎBishop

A man answering the call of nature under the bridge, Otedola Estate, by Berger, Lagos… on Sunday.

PHOTO: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI.

950m campaign fund: Shekarau denies receiving N25m Yakubu Salisu, Kano

ÎÎÎFormer

governor of Kano State and former Minister of Education of Nigeria Dr. Ibrahim Shekarau, on Sunday, denied, at a press briefing, receiving any money as claimed by Ambassador Aminu Wali.

Shekarau, who was detained for two days by the Economy and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) said that he willingly went to

the EFCC himself to honour the agency’s invitation and that he was released after fulfilling his bail conditions, noting that it was in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not politically motivated He, however, stressed that he never took part in the sharing of N950 million; that his house was only used for the distribution of the said amount for security reasons and that he was amazed how Wali could have mentioned

him based on assumption.

Shekarau said that he was willing to submit his single account, since the past twenty years, to the EFCC for further investigation.

He called on his supporters to remain calm and lawabiding, and continue to pray and show their support and not to be discouraged by what is currently happening.

“They search my whole apartment and found no money or document to con-

nect me to the alleged crime and have no concrete prove against me,” he said.

Shekarau

Bolanle Emmanuel Gbonigi, the retired bishop of Akure Anglican Diocese, has pleaded with the leadership of the organised labour unions in the country – the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) – to immediately halt their nation-wide planned strike against the removal of the fuel subsidy.

Gbonigi, spoke at a public presentation and launch of two books authored by Oyewumi Agunbiade, a fastrising prominent broadcast journalist with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Positive FM, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The two books: “Tomorrow Begins Today: Reorientation; Speeches, Essays & Narrative” and “Discovering and Fulfilling Your God Given Vision”, were launched, at the weekend, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre.

AKERELE ABIODUN OLUMIDE

I, formerly known as AYODELE ABIODUN OLUMIDE. wish to be known and addressed as AKERELE ABIODUN OLUMIDE. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

ADEKOLA-SADIQ ABIOLA ISHOLA I formerly known and addressed as SADIQ ABIOLA ISHOLA, now wish to be referred to as ADEKOLA-SADIQ ABIOLA ISHOLA, all erstwhile documents still remain valid,general public please take note

ONYEABOR CHIZARAM HOPE (MRS) I formerly known and addressed as IGBERE CHIZARAM HOPE (Miss) now wishes to be known and addressed as ONYEABOR CHIZARAM HOPE (Mrs). All former documents remains valid. The general public should please take note.

KONYEME LOVE NNEKA I, formerly known and addressed as KONYEME CATHERIN ,now wish to be known and addressed as KONYEME LOVE NNEKA.This change of name was done due to my Christian faith . All documents bearing my former name remain valid. General public please take note

BURIAL ANNOUNCEMENT MR. Daniel .D. Bond died on Friday 22nd April 2016. after a lot of struggle from partial stroke. To be buried on 27th June, 2016.

Signed: Cynthia Bond For the family OYEKANMI ADEKUNLE MICHAEL

I formerly known as Oyekanmi Kunle Tosin wish to be known as Oyekanmi Adekunle Michael. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to notify the general public of loss of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) belonging to Mr. Forster Chijioke Reg. as 40/40/1083 in respect of Land situated at Plot 11 Ugwu Ugbene Community Estate Extension, Abakpa Nike, Enugu, got lost. All effort to trace it proved abortive. If found please contact Ministry of Land, Enugu.

MICHAEL ERIC COKER I, formerly known as MICHAEL TIMILEHIN DAVID. wish to be known and addressed as MICHAEL ERIC COKER. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

AKAH LUCY UMARI I, formerly known as UMARI LUCY UKWA. wish to be known and addressed as AKAH LUCY UMARI All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

MRS MECY NNENNA UCHECHUKWU I, formerly known as MRS MERCY CHIMNDINMA UCHECHUKWU. wish to be known and addressed as MRS MECY NNENNA UCHECHUKWU . All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

KIKELOMO SHAKIRAT ODUWOLE

EGUAOJE PATRICIA IMENBIHORO

I formerly known, called and addressed as KIKELOMO SHAKIRAT YUSUFF. Now wish to be known, called and addressed as KIKELOMO SHAKIRAT ODUWOLE. All documents bearing my former name remain valid, General public should please take note.

I, formerly known as DANIEL PATRICIA IMENBIHORO. wish to be known and addressed as EGUAOJE PATRICIA IMENBIHORO. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

PENGASSAN urges FG to tackle resurgence of militancy in Niger Delta militancy ÎÎÎThe

Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has urged the Federal Government to tackle militancy and oil pipelines vandalism in the Niger Delta.

Its President, Mr. Francis Olabode-Johnson, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Calabar.

According to him, the current fight against pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft in the region had not recorded the desired success and

needed to be intensified.

He said that the country had continued to lose huge revenue owing to the bombing of oil pipelines by militants, stressing that, “I am calling on the Federal Government to effectively check

the activities of militants and pipelines vandals in the Niger Delta region.

“Nigeria is losing a large percentage of its revenue due to the activities of the militants.

“I want government and

the multi-national oil companies to use modern technologies in checking pipelines vandalism and crude oil theft.

“We also expect the managers of the pipelines to cultivate the habit of regular maintenance, while govern-

ment lives up to its responsibility of providing security to these national asset,” he said.

Olabode-Johnson appealed to the security agencies protecting the pipelines to be more resolute in carrying out their assignment.

Residents fear disease outbreak as refuse take over Calabar

ÎÎÎSome parts of

How we are partnering with the rich and the poor – Nwokike Moses Oyediran Enugu

ÎÎÎThe Chief Executive Offi-

cer of a pressure group, Let’s Partner With You, Chief Patrick Nwokike, has said that the major objective of his organisation was to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

Nwokike told journalists in Enugu that his organisation was committed to putting smile on the faces of the poor in the society, as well as empowering operators of small- and medium-scale enterprises.

He said that, “The major objective of this organisation is to provide the low-income earners in Nigeria with required financial assistance to enable them carry out their small businesses.”

According to him, “Since its inception in 201, the organisation has empowered millions of people in the society.

“Our idea is to partner with low income earners like market men and women, akara sellers, butchers, food vendors, hair stylists – those people who cannot easily obtain loans from banks due to non-availability of collaterals.

“We have been providing sustainable financial services to petty traders, the economically- disadvantaged, as well as savings, partnership, contribution, remittances, asset development, and business advisory services to our clients,” he said.

Ayade

L-R: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; his wife Dolapo and Head, Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Eyo-Ita at the wedding of the son of Eyo-Ita in Abuja… on Saturday.

Oil exploration causes environmental warming in Nigeria – NGO ÎÎÎA non-governmental or-

ganisation (NGO), Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), has said that oil exploration by multi-national companies was a major contributor to environmental warming and climate change effects in Nigeria.

Its Co-ordinator, Mr Nnimo Bassey, stated this, on Sunday, at an environmental awareness campaign tagged: “Break Free 2016”, in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom.

He said that the exploitation of crude oil and flaring of gas had destroyed the ecosystem, thereby causing environmental warming in the country.

“We can break free from fossil fuel. We cannot keep on burning fossil fuel and the oil companies knew many years ago that oil extraction causes global warming,” Bassey said.

He said that the spread of chemical in the ocean during oil spills had affected fishing activities in the parts of the country.

According to him, the polluted water had affected the quality and quantity of fish

in the ocean.

“It is happening in15 countries around the world. Everybody is saying the use of crude oil, the use of gas is destroying the planet. It makes the planet to change. Everywhere is hot. It is because when oil is burning, it pollutes the air as the weather is changing,” Bassey said.

He said that a scientific study sponsored by a multinational in the area had proved that oil exploration was detrimental to human health and the environment.

“They paid scientists to hide the information so that they can make profits in dollars now that the information is coming out in the Inted States of America (USA),” Bassey said.

He called on the multi-national companies to the leave the oil in the soil, saying that 80 per cent of the chemical kept in the soil had polluted the ocean.

Also speaking, Executive Director, Peace Point Action (PPA), another NGO, Mr Umo Isua-Ikoh, said that the residents of oil-bearing communities were suffering

from respiratory and skin diseases.

He attributed the situation to breathing of poisonous gases emitted into the air through oil exploration and extraction activities in the area.

Isua-Ikoh said that the objective of the awareness campaign was to stop the impunity in the Niger Delta by the multi-national oil companies.

“If we are sincere about doing our part to fight climate change, then we must leave the oil and gas in the soil,” Ikoh said.

He said that oil and gas companies were sacrificing peoples’ lives and future of children “at the altar of profit”, and that governments in the country had “unfortunately, become their bedfellows.

“Our roofs top wear and tear very fast because of acid rain. Companies around continue to flare gas with impunity, in spite of several targets to end gas flaring.

“We want to see an end to gas flaring in the Niger Delta region,” Ikoh demanded.

He claimed that although Akwa Ibom had been the highest oil producing state in Nigeria, it had the worst socio-economic indicators in the Niger Delta.

According to him, oil wealth did not directly translate to wealth and sustainable development for the people.

“The truth is that oil and gas exploration and production have left, in its wake, environmental disaster, time bomb, poverty, disease and conflict in the region,” Ikoh said.

A former Chief Medical Superintendent in the state, Dr. Charles Abakam, decried the state of devastation of the environment in Ibeno Local Government Area by oil activities.

Abakam said that people living in an environment where oil was exploited had the tendency to develop prostate cancer.

He said that apart from destroying the ecosystem, oil exploration was injurious to the health of the people in the oil- producing areas and called for a cessation of oil extraction.

Calabar, renowned for its cleanness and once rated the cleanest city in the country, has now been taken over by refuse, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A check by NAN showed that the most affected places in the Cross River state capital were the popular Marian Market, Akai Street, State Housing Estate and Ikot Ishie area, among others.

The NAN check also showed that the refuse had taken over a better part of some roads, forcing motorists to use one lane.

Passers-by close their noses to avoid inhaling the stench from the dumps and contracting infectious diseases.

Meanwhile, some residents have complained about the development and expressed fear of a possible outbreak of disease, if the refuse was not cleared.

Cleric urges marketers not to increase cost of goods as Ramadan approaches

ÎÎÎThe

General Overseer of Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry, Sabon Tasha, Kaduna, Pastor Yohanna Buru, has urged marketers not to increase the cost of goods as the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan approaches.

He made the call, on Sunday, when he led a team of Muslim and Christian clerics on a tour to some markets in Kaduna.

The team visited the Central Market of Kaduna, Kasuwar Barchi, Railway Market, Barnawa Market, Sabon Tasha Market and some other markets at Unguwar Dosa in Kaduna North.

Buru said that, “marketers should reason with the common man and reduce the cost of their goods, especially food items, to enable people to buy them at affordable rates.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

25 Opinion

NBC na bank?

Yinka

Odumakin ÏÏÏ It was supposed to be

an internal memorandum but by some divine measure it found its way to the social media. It was a letter authorised by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and signed

by Mr. Peter Dama, the Director of Public Relations and Protocol in the Ministry to the Acting Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC).The letter was requesting for a loan of over N13m for the Minister and some aides to embark on a trip to China. Sorry it was not a request but a directive by the Minister that the NBC must look for a loan for the trip which the memo said would be repaid when the Ministry budget was released.

When the online medium that broke the story confronted the minister, we saw the usual bluffing and impunity of Nigerian officials, “I don’t owe you any explanation”. When the reporter asked the minister if he owed the

people of Nigeria any explanation as to how he spends their money, “I don’t” was his response.

The implications of the leaked memo was later to sink on the minister later and he has been offering explanation as to the curious memo which should be an embarrassment to the administration that is smarting from the savage attack by British PM, Mr. Cameron that the country is “fantastically corrupt” in spite of the media trial of only opponents that is going on in the name of anti-corruption war.

The minister’s explanation is reproduced below: “My attention has been drawn to a letter I endorsed to the Ag. Director-General, National Broadcasting Commission requesting for a loan of N13,120,470.00 to cover tickets and travel expenses of a five-member delegation being led by the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture to Beijing, China, which was mischievously leaked to the social media by staff of National Broadcasting Commission.

•The loan being requested for is for the Ministry to meet up its obligations to enable the Minister and members of his delegation attend an allimportant Conference on Tourism for Development in China that is meant to benefit this country.

•The loan is not meant for the Honourable Minister alone as personal expenses, but for the expenses of all members of the delegation.

•The Conference, which is being organised by the United Nations World

Lai Mohammed

Tourism Organisation in conjunction with the Government of the People’s Republic of China, under the overall theme, “Tourism for Peace and Development,” will feature amongst others discussions on major issues for sustainable development including the contribution of Tourism to poverty reduction and peace.

•The Conference will also feature discussion on major issues that have direct bearing on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), poverty alleviation through Tourism and the linkage between Tourism peace at the National and International levels.

W E A T H E R ABUJA

ASABA

LAgOS

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KADUNA

IBADAN

ILORIN

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•China on this occasion as chair of G20 will also host the 7th T20 Ministers meeting under the theme “Sustainable Tourism, An Effective Tool for Inclusive Development.’’

•The Conference is a veritable platform to develop synergy and partnership with players in the global Tourism Industry, which will go a long way in boosting our drive to diversify the Nigerian economy.”

Sound and fury signifying nothing.

The explanation did not address the salient issues involved in this scandalous request. The minister’s action is a clear violation of the provisions

of the law of budgetary appropriation and that of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), since NBC ought not to have any fund to lend to anybody as it is not a financial institution.

Even when TSA was not operational, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and his party when in opposition coined the phrase “NNPC has become ATM” and were not expected to turn parastatals to ATM now that they are in power.

Is the NBC now a bank with its Acting DirectorGeneral as Managing Director who can be approached for unsecured loans? Are we going to know how many of such requests (directives) that

the minister has issued to the NBC before the leaked one? How many similar memos has the minister issued to other agencies and parastatals under him in this new vista of corruption?

We are being made to understand that the minister is now probing the NBC so the person who leaked the letter can be punished. This is what Yoruba call “aitete mole, ole nmoloko” (the nonspeedy arrest of a thief emboldens the thief to go after the owner).

If indeed we are shaking off the ‘fantastically corrupt” label and the antigraft war is holistic, it is the minister that should be in the dock now to be exposing such clear case of corruption of the system in clear breach of the administration posturing of installing a transparent order.

Perhaps this is the chicken coming home to roost. It would be recalled that in the days of ministerial screenings, there was an avalanche of corruption allegations against some of the ministerial nominees which were largely ignored. In fact, one of them had to be cleared solely by members of the ruling party alone because the opposition party boycotted his screening because the allegations of corruption against him were swept under the carpet.

The Holy Book says if judgement is not speedily executed, the hearts of men are set to do iniquity.

When you created sacred cows, you have doublestandards.

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26

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

Our Heritage Æ s

Rastaman, Bob Marley still vibrates, 35 years after If Bob Marley were to be alive today, he would have released more powerful hits against injustice and oppression going on in the world. He fought for the emancipation of the black race. He committed his phenomenal artistic talent and energy to global harmony. He advocated a world where skin colour, tongue or race should constitute no barrier.

AGOZINO AGOZINO remembers the singer who passed on 35 years ago, leaving an indelible legacy yet to be surpassed.

Marley

Thirty-five years ago, singer, philosopher and reggae musician Robert Nesta Marley (Bob Marley) passed on at the height of his global stardom. But the Jamaican still remains a mythical figure ever after notwithstanding the waning status of the genre of music he played - reggae.

His death via cancer came at a period in his stardom when his vision of ‘One World, One Love,’ inspired by his belief in Rastafarian philosophy was spreading, across the globe, through reggae music. Marley was a uniquely talented phenomenal musician. His fame spread like wild fire from mid 1960s to his death in 1981. The last time he travelled internationally, with his band, Bob Marley and the Wailers was in 1980.

The tour of Europe and America attracted the largest audiences at that time for any musical act in Europe.

Bob’s peculiar story was like fairy tale, which is why it continues to resonate like a myth. The message embodies a triumph over a squalid background marked by abandonment, political repression and personal artistic drive, metaphysical insights, gang land brawls and clashes, and various periods of mystical wilderness.

Beyond these, the philosophically deep and highly prophetic lines of his poetry and songs were like global warnings of a God-sent seer that have come to pass almost as he stated them. Hence, despite his death, his audience has continued to widen. It such that when Nigerian pop star, TuFace Idibia who idolises him visited

the Bob Marley home/museum, in Kingston, Jamaica, some years ago he dubbed a personal pilgrimage. Like TuFace, many of the world’s celebrities and leaders still fete Marley almost three decades after his death.

To the West and most of the developed world, Bob’s apocalyptic truths prove inspirational and life-changing. In the Third World his impact goes much farther, not just among Africans, who he dubbed as his kit and kin being a black Jamiacan, but also to other parts of the world where he is seen as a redeemer figure who used his rebel-cry penetrating songs to lead the course of liberation for black race. He sang for the low and oppressed of mankind.

In the clear Jamaican sunlight you can pick out the component parts of which the myth of Marley is comprised: the sadness, the love, the understanding, the abundant natural talent. He was a man who evolved naturally from the surpressed corners of his society. He imbibed their pains and sang in their tongue in a manner that touched both the minds of the elite and the masses of every part of the world.

Bob Marley never wrote a bad song. He left behind the most remarkable body of recorded works. “The reservoir of music he has left behind is like an encyclopedia,” says Judy Mowatt of the I-Threes. “When you need to refer to a certain situation or crisis, there will always be a Bob Marley song that will relate to it. Bob was a musical prophet.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

...and Bob Marley lives on CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

Mowatt was Marley’s back-up singer until his death.

In Marley, the tiny Third World country of Jamaica produced an artiste who has transcended all categories, class, and creed through a combination of innate modesty and profound wisdom.

Marley, the Natural Mystic, has been marked out as the most significant musical artiste of the 20th century. This is because, Marley gave the world a brilliant and evocative music. His studio recording work and international performing tours, which spanned two decades produced some timeless and universal art pieces. Bob Marley & the Wailers worked their way into the steeped fabric of people’s lives.

Marley, as a performing act was one of the most charismatic and challenging artistes to behold as his Zimbabwe, United States of America concerts buttress. His music was real as it could only have been created from only one source, the street culture of Jamaica. His stage nuances were exclusively, his style. And none who heard him sing once, could forget his vocal hallmark.

It is important to consider the roots of this legend. He encapsulated the traits of Jamaica Island, the marginalised black man and the Third World in that era of Cold War. The days of slavery are a recent folk memory on the island made up, largely, of descendants of African slaves who were forcibly taken from their home lands to toil for European land lords in the sugarcane plantations in the Carribeans. That slavery consciousness permeated the mental and social essence of Jamaica’s culture, from the slavelabour plantations of the mid-19th century to the popular music of his own times. Although slavery was abolished in 1834, the Africans in the Caribbean island and their descendants developed their own culture which were actually half-remembered African traditions mingled with the customs of the British slave masters. This hybrid culture, of course, had parallels with the emerging black consciousness society in America. Jamaica, however, remained a rural community which, without the industrialisation of its northern neighbours, was more closely rooted to its African legacy.

By the start of the 20th century that African heritage was given political expression by Marcus Garvey, a shrewd Jamaican preacher and entrepreneur who founded the Universal Negro Im-

provement Association (UNIA).

The organisation advocated the creation of a new black state in Africa, free from white domination. As the first step in this dream, Garvey founded the Black Star Line, a steamship company which, in popular imagination at least, was to take the black population from America and the Caribbean back to their homeland of Africa.

A few years later, in 1930, Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia and he took a new name, Haile Selassie, The Emperor claimed to be the 225th ruler in a line that stretched back to Menelik, the son of Solomon and Sheba (the biblical Queen of Sheba).

The Marcus Garvey followers in Jamaica, consulting their New Testaments for a sign, believed Haile Selassie was the black king whom Garvey had prophesied would deliver the Negro race. It was the start of a new religion called Rastafari.

Fifteen years later, in Rhoden Hall, north of Jamaica, Marley was born. His mother was an eighteen-year-old black girl called Cedella Booker while his father was Captain Norval Marley, a 50-year-old white quartermaster attached to the British West Indian Regiment.

The couple married in 1944 and Robert Nesta Marley was born on February 6, 1945. Norval Marley’s family, however, applied constant pressure. Hence, although he provided financial support, the soldier seldom saw his son who grew up in the rural surroundings of St. Ann, north of the island.

For country people in Jamaica, the country’s capital Kingston was the city of their dreams, the land of opportunity. The reality was that Kingston had little work

Bob Marley and the wailers tour of 1976

to offer, yet through the 1950s and 1960s, people flooded to the city.

The newcomers, despite their rapid disillusion with the capital, seldom returned to their native rural parishes. Instead, they squatted in the shanty towns that grew up in western Kingston, the most notorious of which was Trenchtown (so named because it was built over a ditch that drained the sewage of old Kingston.)

Marley, barely into his teens, moved to Kingston in the late 1950s with his mother. Like many before them, Marley and his mother eventually settled in Trenchtown. His friends were other street youths, also impatient with their place in Jamaican society.

One friend in particular was Neville O’Riley Livingston, known as Bunny, with whom Bob took his first hesitant musical steps.

The two youngsters were fascinated by the extraordinary music they could pick up from American radio stations. In particular there was one New Orleans station broadcasting the latest tunes by such artists as Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Curtis Mayfield and Brook Benton. Bob and Bunny also paid close attention to the black vocal groups, such as the Drifters, who were extremely popular in Jamaica.

When Marley quit school he seemed to have but one ambition: music. Although he took a job in a welding shop, he spent all his free time with Bunny, perfecting their vocal abilities. They were helped by one of Trench Town’s famous residents, the singer Joe Higgs who held informal lessons for aspiring vocalists in the tenement yards. It was at one of those sessions that Marley and Bunny met Peter McIntosh, another youth with big musical ambitions.

27 Our Heritage

28

Monday, May 16, 2015

EXTRATIME

INTERNATIONAL TAEKWONDO COURSE ENDS IN LAGOS Andrew Ekejiuba

O

ver 120 Taekwondo instructors, referees and coaches attended the fourday international master’s instructors and two-day international Hammdang Referees course held at the main bowl of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

The attendees include former Board Member of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) and immediate past chairman of the Lagos State Taekwondo Association, Tayo Popoola, Chairman of the Lagos State Taekwondo Association

International Taekwondo instructor, Grandmaster Tony Vohra.

Jimmy Ogunowo, Emmanuel Peters (first Nigerian to win an Olympic medal), Uzoma Onwucheka (President, Nigeria Taekwondo Black Belt College), Seun Ajomale, Dimeji Ogunowo, Ferguson Oluigbo and Yemi Adeyemi among others.

Chairman of the Lagos State Taekwondo Association, Jimmy Ogunowo, said the programme is aimed at developing Taekwondo from the grassroots level, and that was why the Lagos State Taekwondo Association cashed in on the just concluded Hammdang Taekwondo Championship held in Calabar, to invite the first United Kingdom-based Taekwondo 9th Dan Black Belt holder, Grandmaster Tony Vohra, an all-round martial Artist who started his Taekwondo trade in 1978 and became a world class professional instructor in 1982 to come and lecture them.

Ogunowo described Taekwondo as dynamic and living sport that changes on daily bases hence the need for Nigerian practitioners to adjust to the new tactics and rules governing the game.

Meanwhile, the international instructor, Grandmaster Tony Vohra who was sent by the world Kukkiwon body from Korea, who is visiting Nigeria for the first time in his life, said he is indeed overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and passion shown by Nigerians and prays that he gets a second chance for another visit to Nigeria for the programme.

T

he international friendly match between the Super Eagles and the National Team of Luxembourg has been brought forward by 24 hours.

A letter to the NFF by the Football Association of Luxembourg on Friday explained that the match, earlier scheduled for 1st June, had to be moved forward by a day as a result of the Tour de France cycling competition, with Luxembourg much involved.

“The change in date will not in any way affect our program. The entire contingent will move to Luxembourg from Rouen in France, where we will play Mali on May 27.

We will still have three days to train for the match against Luxembourg,” Eagles’ Team Administrator, Enebi Achor, said. The match in Luxembourg will take place at 7pm on Tuesday, May 31, at the Josy Barthel Stadium in that country’s capital city.

Achor also affirmed that a number of technical and administrative officials have now been issued Schengen visas, enabling them to enter the two countries for the matches. The NFF has also submitted fresh applications for those who were earlier denied.

The Super Eagles play Mali’s Les Aiglons in Rouen on May 27 and play Luxembourg in that country on May 31, as part of preparations for the first matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying series to be played later this year.

MILO BASKETBAL L:

Adamawa, Kogi in good start at Confluence Conference Andrew Ekejiuba

D

Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball action

etermination, dedication and team work are some of key words by the sole sponsor of Nestle Milo when the Milo Championship started 18years ago and all these attributes were evident as the girls took the centre stage first at the Confluence Conference in Lokoja.

The Confluence defending champion in the Girls Category, Government Secondary School Numan, Adamawa State had the first outing against Girls High School Gindiri, Plateau State.

The Adamawa team used experience, team cohesion and confidence to outscore Girls High School, Plateau State by 32-11 points, while host, Harmony Secondary School Lokoja defeated Govt Girls Unity Secondary School, Graham, Jigawa State by 27-09.

In the Boys’ cadre, Kogi State representative, Crothe Memorial College Lokoja out-dunked Ahmadiyah College Kano 44-28 points, while Cocin Comprehensive College Gindiri, Plateau State defeated Giwo Science Academy, BauchI State by 50-14 points.

Also, General Muritala Muhammad College Yola, Adamawa State out-dunked Darusalam Science & Academy Maiduguri, Borno State with 53-25 points.

Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi

SUPER EAGLES,

LUXEMBOURG FRIENDLY HOLDS MAY 31

LBA shortlists eight for NPFL

April awards Andrew Ekejiuba

T

he League Bloggers Awards (LBA), on Sunday, named its nominees to vie for the Player and Manager awards for the month of April in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The top-flight performance of the managers and players for their various clubs produced a neck and neck race for the month under review which led to carefully going through the figures to reach the eight shortlists.

Four coaches are in the running for the April Manager award. Rangers gaffer, Imama Amapakabo, makes

the nominees for the second month on the spin and will have to compete for the award with Kennedy Boboye of Abia Warriors, Solomon Ogbeide of Sunshine Stars and Ard Sluis of Warri Wolves.

The players’ category is dominated by attacking players. Three of them, Okiki Afolabi (Sunshine Stars), Anthony Oussou (Heartland) and Chinonso Okonkwo (Rivers United), are the strikers among the quartet.

Nasarawa United’s Esosa Igbinoba completes the shortlist for the April player contest as the only midfielder in the running.

The winners will be announced this week.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

29

30

Monday, November 2, 2015

EXTRATIME

BENFICA

DISPATCH NACIONAL TO CLAIM PRIMEIRA TITLE

RAMOS CONGRATULATES ‘DESERVING WINNERS’ BARCA S ergio Ramos believes Barcelona deserved to win La Liga, but is adamant his Real Madrid side are still in good spirits heading into the Champions League final.

Zinedine Zidane’s men won 12 games in succession to put the pressure on Barcelona during the Liga run-in, but it was not enough, as the Catalans retained their crown on Saturday following a 3-0 win over Granada.

Ramos was disappointed to miss out on the title, but has already set his sights

J

avi Martinez was forced to miss Bayern Munich’s title celebrations on Sunday in order to receive treatment for an ankle problem.

The 27-year-old was not involved in the 3-1 win over Hannover on Saturday as Pep Guardiola’s side wrapped up

on the European final against Atletico Madrid.

“It’s a shame we’ve not been able to win La Liga but we’ll learn from it for next year. The team who makes the fewest mistakes is the one who takes the title,” he said.

“We’ve been here until the end and you’ve got to congratulate Barcelona because they are deserving winners of this league.

“We’re proud of how the team has put the pressure on Barcelona and had belief

until the last moment. It’s easy to have an opinion now, you remember a lot of games and all the points you’ve dropped.

“Our aim was to put the pressure on and we’ve done that. It’s great for us in terms of morale heading into the Champions League final. Now we have a beautiful Champions League final that we want to win to make it an unforgettable year.”

The decider of UEFA’s elite club competition takes place on May 28 at San Siro.

their Bundesliga title defence at the Allianz Arena.

Martinez was absent as the Bayern squad paraded the trophy to supporters at Marienplatz and the club have confirmed he was being treated for an ankle injury sustained in training.

Bayern hope he will be fit for the DFB-Pokal final against Borussia Dortmund next Saturday.

“Bayern fans noticed at once that Javi Martinez was not present for the championship celebrations at the Allianz Arena on Saturday and on Marienplatz

MARTINEZ

skips Bayern celebrations for treatment

B

enfica claimed the Primeira Liga title for the third season in a row after a 4-1 win over Nacional on the final matchday.

Two goals from captian Nicolas Gaitan, either side of Jonas’s 32nd league goal of a stunning season, set the home side on their way to victory at Estadio da Luz before Pizzi rattled in a fourth in the closing stages.

Salvador Agra netted an injury-time consolation.

The victory ensured Benfica finish top of the table on 88 points and sealed the title in Rui Vitoria’s first campaign in charge.

Sporting CP finish second on 86 points after their 4-0 win over 10man Braga on Sunday.

Benfica have now been crowned champions 35 times in total, with Sporting finishing as runners-up for the second time in three seasons.

Vitoria’s side have been top of the table ever since the beat Sporting 1-0 on March 5 to leapfrog their city rivals.

That result proved to be pivotal, as both teams won all their remaining matches in the top flight.

on Sunday,” a club statement read.

“The defensive all-rounder sustained an ankle injury in training last Thursday and continued to receive treatment over the weekend in order to be available for selection in the final against Borussia Dortmund.”

TRANSFER BRIEFS Blanc pays tribute to outgoing Ibrahimovic

Laurent Blanc paid tribute to Zlatan Ibrahimovic after his last game for Paris Saint-Germain at Parc de Princes on Saturday. PSG celebrated their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title in style with a 4-0 drubbing of Nantes, in which Ibrahimovic signed off with two goals.

Ibrahimovic’s bracer made the Sweden international the club’s most prolific goalscorer in one league season with 38 goals.

Vasilyev confirms Falcao’s return to Monaco

Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev has confirmed Radamel Falcao will be playing for the Ligue 1 side again in 2016-17. The Colombia international joined Monaco from Atletico Madrid in 2013, but picked up a serious knee injury halfway through his first season at the Stade Louis II. He was then sent out on loan to Manchester United in 2014-15, only to be moved on to Chelsea the following season.

Abbiati bids adieu to Milan after loss

Long-serving AC Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati managed to keep his emotions contained after playing his last game following his retirement from football. The season ended on a disappointing note for Milan as the Serie A outfit were defeated 3-1 at home by Roma on Saturday, condemning the San Siro side to a seventh-place finish in the league. Abbiati made almost 400 appearances for Milan.

Griezmann in talks over new Atletico deal

Antoine Griezmann is in talks over a new contract at Atletico Madrid and the France international claims even the presence of Zinedine Zindane would not persuade him to join bitter rivals Real Madrid. Griezmann has scored 32 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions for Atletico this season, including a memorable strike at Bayern Munich to help secure a Champions League final showdown against Madrid.

Ben Yedder confirms Toulouse departure Wissam Ben Yedder has claimed Saturday’s dramatic 3-2 win over Angers on the final day of the Ligue 1 season was his last match for Toulouse.

Ben Yedder was on target for Toulouse in the victory at Stade Jean-Bouin, which was secured as goals from Martin Braithwaite and Yann Bodiger overturned a 2-1 deficit - ensuring they escaped relegation from Ligue 1 at the expense of Reims.

Monday, May 16, 2015

EXTRATIME

31

DRINKWATER

DENIES HIDDINK WINNING SEND-OFF A

brilliant strike from Danny Drinkwater denied Chelsea the chance to mark Guus Hiddink’s final game in charge with a win, earning Premier League champions Leicester City a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Hiddink took over from Jose Mourinho in December and helped steer the club into the top half of the table, but Drinkwater’s effort ensured he would not get a winning send-off before Antonio Conte takes the reins next season.

Leicester clinched the title following Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham on May 2, and the Foxes were welcomed onto

Drinkwater

GIROUD’S

the pitch by last season’s winners with a guard of honour - Claudio Ranieri, Blues manager from 2000 to 2004, receiving a warm ovation from the home fans.

Kasper Schmeichel produced excellent saves to keep Willian and Cesc Fabregas out in the first half, but he was beaten 21 minutes after the restart. After substitute Jeffrey Schlupp felled Nemanja Matic inside the box, Fabregas slotted a cool finish from the penalty spot beyond the Dane.

The deposed champions were unable to see out the win, though, with Drinkwater, returning from suspension in place of Shinji

Giroud

A

rsenal ended their Premier League season on a high as Olivier Giroud’s hat-trick ensured they beat rivals Tottenham to second place after cruising to a 4-0 victory over relegated Aston Villa.

Spurs failed to get the point they required to make sure of second place in their game at Newcastle United, astonishingly losing 5-1.

Pellegrini secures Man City UCL slot

M

anchester City scraped into next season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) courtesy of a 1-1 draw at Swansea City to secure fourth place in the Premier League.

The expected final-day battle between City and Manchester United did not materialise as their rivals’ match against AFC Bournemouth was abandoned after

a suspicious package was discovered at Old Trafford.

Barring an improbable 19-goal victory when that match is rescheduled, United are now unable to finish above their neighbours due to a vastly inferior goal difference.

Kelechi Iheanacho gave Manuel Pellegrini’s team an early lead, but, in the City manager’s final match before

IBE’S

brilliance earns Liverpool draw

HAT-TRICK SEES GUNNERS FINISH ABOVE SPURS

That opened the door to Arsenal and Giroud made it six consecutive goalscoring appearances against Villa with a first-half header and two late finishes.

Substitute Mikel Arteta then forced a late own goal by cannoning a shot against the bar and in off goalkeeper Mark Bunn to ensure the Gunners kept their side of the bargain at a delighted Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal fans relished the surprise final-day turnaround as Tottenham missed out on the chance to finish above them for the first time since 1995, prior to the beginning of Arsene Wenger’s reign.

While there is frustration at their failure to win the league in a season when underdogs Leicester City secured the title, it is the first time Arsenal have finished in the top two since 2005 - an achievement made all the sweeter by Spurs’ late-season collapse.

Villa end the season with only three victories and 17 points to their name as they prepare for Championship football in 2016-17.

Okazaki, firing beyond Thibaut Courtois - back in the line-up after recovering from illness - with eight minutes remaining.

However, Drinkwater denied Chelsea the chance to send Hiddink off with three points, firing beyond Courtois with eight minutes remaining to end the champions season of highs on another positive.

Stoke’s win at home to West Ham leaves Chelsea 10th after a season of stagnation, while Leicester end their memorable campaign 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the summit.

ordon Ibe scored his first Premier League goal in brilliant fashion as Liverpool warmed up for the Europa League final by rounding off their Premier League campaign with a 1-1 draw at West Brom.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp named several youngsters in his XI at The Hawthorns, with the Reds due to play Sevilla in Basle on Wednesday. Victory in that match would secure them a place in the Champions League next

season.

The hosts made the most of the absence of the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino when Salomon Rondon struck the opener after brilliant work by their own youngster, Jonathan Leko.

Liverpool went in level at the break, though, as Ibe netted his first top-flight goal with a fine solo effort, finishing calmly after showing brilliant pace down the right.

West Brom created the better chances after the break, with Rondon particularly dangerous - including hitting the post with a header early in the second half - but Tony Pulis’ men ended the season on a nine-match winless run.

making way for Pep Guardiola, he endured a familiar tale of wasted chances within a patchy performance - the kind of display that has turned a campaign that promised so much into a gruelling slog for the one-time title favourites.

Andre Ayew’s 12th Premier League goal this term came via a deflected free-kick in first-half stoppage time and Swansea end the season in 12th,

looking forward to an extended spell under Francesco Guidolin after their boss penned a two-year contract extension this week.

Ki Sung-yueng’s absence due to military service in his native South Korea contributed to Swansea making four changes to the XI that beat West Ham 4-1 last weekend, while Manchester City were unchanged.

ibe

J

Published by fOliO cOMMuNicAtiONS ltD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.com.ng; email: info@dailytimes.com.ng. Tel: 018447948. GROUP EDITOR: BiODuN DuROJAiYE News Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. Advert Hotlines: 08086296714

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FIFA

President, Infantino, to visit Nigeria

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (left) with NFF President Amaju Pinnick (second left), Ivorian FA boss Sidy Diallo (second right) and former African Player of the Year Samuel Eto’o Fils (right) at the 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico City.

ANDREW EKEJIUBA Sport Editor

F

ollowing robust and illuminating sessions with the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) at the 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico City, the president of football’s world governing body, Gianni Infantino, has promised to visit Nigeria in a few weeks.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick told Extra Time at the weekend that during the visit, which date will be communicated in a number of days, the world’s number one football administrator will pay a courtesy call on His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari

(GCFR), attend the finals of the NFF/ZENITH Bank Future Eagles Championship, have an evening with Corporate Nigeria and also have an interactive session with a horde of African FA Presidents who will also be in Nigeria to receive him.

Pinnick said: “The FIFA President says Nigeria is a big country and a massive footballing nation that should help with the new FIFA leadership’s drive to truly develop the game. He is excited about our various capacity– building and youth development programs and that is why he is coming to watch the NFF/ ZENITH Bank Championship finals.

“He sees a lot of potentials and dynamism in the current NFF leadership and says he would

love to work with the NFF for the general development of the game.”

Infantino took office at the head of world football after winning election at an extraordinary general congress in Zurich on 26th February 2016. The 46-year-old Italian’s motto is “bringing football back to FIFA and FIFA back to football.”

At the recently–ended FIFA Congress in Mexico City, the world body appointed Senegalese Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura, 54, as its first–ever woman Secretary General.

The multi–lingual Samoura, who spent 21 years working for the United Nations, will take office next month.

Pele dubs Messi as “the prince”of football

B

Messi

razil legend Pele feels Lionel Messi is arguably the best player of his time and has hailed the Barcelona star as “the prince” of football.

Pele was nicknamed ‘the king’ during his career and he thinks Messi is as important to the game as he was during his playing days, even if he believes

the prolific attacker is not the best Argentine player ever.

“If I am the king, then Messi has been the prince over the past 15 years,” Pele told reporters.

“I cannot call him the king, because there is only one king. I believe that Alfredo Di Stefano was the most complete of the Argentine stars, he was

more complete than Diego Maradona and Messi.

“I am glad that I played in my era, even if it’s true everything is more simple now.

“Players like Di Stefano are I are not as well-known because there are far fewer recordings of our performances.”

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

Diamond Bank, Union Bank, others flout CBN’s 5% NPL Page B3 requirement

Top 10 Business Risks in 2016

Oil stocks spur NSE ASI growth by 2.88% WoW

Page B4

Page B6

Dangote want Nigeria to capitalise on oil market glut for economic diversification Aliko Dangote, president, Dangote Group, has advised Nigerians to encourage governments at all levels to implement reforms that will help in achieving a more diversified economy.

He said that the current reality prevailing in the international oil market provides the best opportunity for the nation to diversify the economy, leveraging on the agriculture sector.

Dangote, who made this discloCONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Airtel backs NSE campaign against cancer Andrew Ekejiuba

L–R: Ogun State Commissioner for Special Duties, Barr. Adeleke Adewole; Former President of Colombia, Mr. Cesar Augusto Gaviria Trugillo and Business Executive, South West, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Rasaq Aboyeji at the Ogun State Investors’ Forum held in Abeokuta...at the weekend.

How N16b SURE-P mass transit funds were squandered- Report Opeoluwani Akintayo A new report has uncovered how over N16 billion of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P funds released by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2012 for the Public Mass Transit Revolving Fund, PMTF, was squandered.

The International Centre For Investigative Reporting, ICIR, in its report, said the fund, administered as a revolving loan by The Infrastructure Bank, TIB, was given out in form of mass transit vehicles to 31 beneficiaries, mostly commercial transport operators. A total of 1,179 vehicles were released to the beneficiaries under the scheme,

Independent marketers charge FG on downstream liberalization

Monday, May 16, 2016

with a repayment plan covering four years.

However, according to it, four years after the vehicles were disbursed, only two of the beneficiaries-ABC Transport PLC and Young Shall Grow Transport Limited, have fully liquidated their loans. Most of the beneficiaries are yet to pay back as stipulated in the contractual agreements signed between them and the TIB. TIB then lists as “chronic defaulters 15 companies and organizations, owing a total of N4,586,088,671.63 as at December 2015. That figure would have gone up as at the time of filing this report. The loan defaulters include the Nigerian Union of Road

Opeoluwani Akintayo Independent marketers under the aegis of Odu’a Petrol Station Owners and Dealers Association of Nigeria (OPSODAN), has urged the Federal Government to liberalize the downstream sector and allow full participation of all marketers who have the capacity to import and distribute petroleum products effectively.

Speaking with pressmen on

Transport Workers, NURTW, which got N2.3 billion; National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, N403,487,239; RTEAN, N370,738,460; Greenline Bus, N370,500,000; Global Ginikana, N295,290,190 and Classic Link Express, N123,500,000.

“To a large extent, it was discovered that the Jonathan administration gave out the loans as political patronage, with many of the recipient believing that they were actually helping the government out of the blind spot it ran to after the fuel subsidy protests of January 2012,” the report read.

The report revealed the scheme was compromised by the stakeholders, including the beneficiaries, TIB and the Bureau of

Public Procurement (BPP).

“Most of the beneficiaries who defaulted in loan repayment have cited supply of poor quality vehicles by TIB as major reason for their inability to pay back.

While the beneficiaries requested Toyota, Mercedes and Ashley Leyland high capacity buses, they were supplied Hyundai and IVM Innoson vehicles, which they said is unsuitable for commercial use,” it said.

Unlike Mercedez, Leyland and Toyota vehicles, the loan defaulters said that spare parts for Hyundai and Innoson vehicles are also not easily available in the country, a situation that forced many of the beneficiaries to park the vehicles less than a year after delivery.

Sunday in Lagos, the National President, OPSODAN, who also doubles as the Vice Chairman, Lagos Private Depot Operators, Dr. Kolawole Adewoyin, commended the steps taken by the government to deregulate the downstream sector.

According to him, “it is a welcome development. With time, price of premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol will come down just like diesel.

We believe that if the sector is

liberalized, every competent marketer will be able to import and sell the product. This can only happen under liberalization policy.

“When liberalized, government won’t have to fix pump price of petrol because it is not its business. The government should only ensure effective supervision and regulatory framework to ensure Nigerians are not cheated during the process,” he said.

As its contribution towards the fight against cancer in Nigeria, leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has expressed its support to a cancer awareness initiative tagged ‘eRace Cancer.’

Organised by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to sensitise members of the public on cancer and also raise awareness on early prevention of the disease, the ‘eRace Cancer’, a 5-kilometre race held on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at Muri-Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Commenting on the telco’s support to the initiative, Director of Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Oparah, said Airtel Nigeria is committed to partnering with credible organizations and platforms to improve the quality of lives of Nigerians.

According to him, Airtel’s support to the ‘eRace Cancer’ is demonstration of its commitment to Nigerians, noting that Health intervention is one the key pillars of Airtel’s CRS programmes.

The race, which is open only to employees of corporate organisations, kicked off at 6: 00 am.

Each participating organisations formed a team of 5 staff who contested in the race.

According to the organisers, funds raised from the programme will be used to purchase Mobile Cancer Centres (MCCs) designed to conduct cancer screening and treatment programme across the country.

Furthermore, he stated that “the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) should live up to its responsibility by ensuring effective regulation of the sector to avoid sharp practices, underdispensing and hoarding.”

He stated further that the government should also provide some incentives for small and indigenous marketers, through waivers on import duties, to compete favourably with the majors.

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

FG applauds Galaxy Backbone digital inclusion plans

R – L: Chief Corporate Services Officer, Mrs. Kunbi Labiyi, Chief Legal Officer, Lucky Ayomoto, Chief Technical Officer, Ashok Acharya and Head, Agents and Channels Development, Mrs. Felicia Nlemoha, all of Benin Electricity Distribution Plc (BEDC) during the Customer’s forum held by the organization for customers in Edo state and environs last Wednesday.

Tony Nwakaegho The Federal Government has applauded the roles of Galaxy Backbone Ltd in the digitization of the public sector in the country for a digitally inclusive society.

The Minister of Communication, Barr. Adebayo Shittu gave this accolade at the 14th Innovation Africa Digital Summit 2016 which held in Abuja, recently, adding that the company has the mandate to build and operate a nationwide broadband network that provides IP-based connectivity services to all Federal Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and institutions.

According to him, Galaxy Backbone focuses on providing ICT infrastructure, applications and services to all Federal Government institutions which includes but not limited to managing Government Data Centers and databases, Directory Services, National Information Repositories, IP-telephony and other solutions/services delivered on the shared platform.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting the Ministry of Communications and Galaxy Backbone Ltd who partnered with Extensia Ltd Uk to host the Innovation Africa Digital Summit 2016 in Abuja for the first time.

He explained that Nigeria’s hosting of the summit at this time was most significant due to the fact that the present government in Nigeria was easily the first government since the country’s independence to win election by leveraging the benefits of the ICT and social media in particular.

He reiterated that the time has now come for the government and Nigerians “to fully embrace ICT to enhance our lives, to enhance transparency and good governance if we really are to fulfil the “Change mandate that Nigerians voted President Muhammadu Buhari to bring about.”

Buhari

Experts charge NCAA on JET A1 quality Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo Aviation security expert, Group Capt. John Ojikutu (rtd) has charged the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to draw up standards for Jet-A1 quality assurance, starting with the transportation vehicles type or profile; supply and trucking systems; storage and dispensing systems.

He stated that at the moment, vehicles supplying aviation fuel, otherwise known as Jet-A1 are not sufficiently distinct from those supplying other petroleum products.

Ojikutu disclosed that the consequence of all these development could result in fuel contamination as some of the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) Reports of some aircraft accidents have shown.

His words, “Up till about 1992, Jet-A1 supply to Murtala Muhammed Airport, was through pipelines from Ejigbo or the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot. The supply from the MMA depot to the hydrants on the apron where fuel is dispensed to aircraft, were done also through the pipelines. The method then was quality assurance in practice.”

He however regretted that unfortunately, since the pipelines got ruptured in 1992, nobody in NNPC, NCAA, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and even the airlines-the end us-

ers, raised serious concern on why there had been no repairs of the pipelines in 24 years.

The former commandant, Murtala Muhammed Airport, stated that the neglect of the repair of the pipelines is a major reason for the high cost of JetA1 and invariably the airlines operating cost if the costs of transportation and demurrage on the tankers are considered.

He explained that these costs are huge and are substantial earnings for the owners of the tankers used for bridging the fuel supply between the NNPC depot and the airport depot, stressing that the tanker owners are those who would not want to see the pipelines repaired.

Meanwhile, Ojikutu has raised alarm over the rising indebtedness of Nigeria’s domestic airlines which grew up to the present level because, most of the operators are sponsored by or are sponsors of political office holders in government.

He noted that with the ‘attitude of we own the government’ most of these operators had no intention of paying for the services rendered to them by the government services providers, despite the Economic Regulation Provisions in the National Civil Aviation Regulations (NCARs) Part 12 Sections 18.10.1-5, but thanks to the ‘change attitude’brought about by the administration of President Mohamadu Buhari.

LCCI to inaugurate Mining and Solid Minerals Group Charles Okonji The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has over the weekend stated that it has concluded plans to inaugurate its newlyformed Mining and Solid Minerals Group.

This was contained in a statement made available to Daily Times.

According to the statement, the inaugural meeting, which is scheduled to hold at the LCCI Conference and Exhibition Centre on Tuesday 17th of May, 2016, is borne out of the urgent need to diversify the economy and encourage investment in the sector.

Nike Akande, President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce

and Industry (LCCI) said: “the major reason for the creation of the LCCI Mining and Solid Minerals Group is to give operators in the sector a viable platform to engage the government and exchange ideas on the growth and development of the sector.

“The objectives of the group amongst others include: advocacy at every level to government and its relevant agencies, value-addition to members of the group and sustainable growth of the sector” Akande disclosed.

She added that seasoned professionals and experienced operators in the mining and solid minerals sector are expected to attend the inauguration, to deliberate on key issues that affect the sector, aggregate their yearnings

Dangote want Nigeria to capitalise on oil market glut for economic diversification CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

sure at the just concluded Katsina State Investment and Economic Summit, specifically wants state governors to take advantage of the prevailing situation, just as the federal government has commenced the process of diversification at the national level.

“I believe this is the best period in the history of our country to actually diversify our economy, rather than seeing the current happenings from a negative perspective “It was under this same kind of situation that countries like Brazil, transformed their economies, and today they have become one of the leading economies in the world.

“We are luck that the glut we are

talking about only affects the oil sector, and does not affect commodities which we have the capacity to export in the agriculture sector” he noted.

Accordingly, Dangote stated that since the northern part of the country, possesses vast potentials in the field of agriculture, state governments in the region must put more practical efforts to transform the sector.

“For them to maximum the available resources to address the issue of poverty, and particularly, the high level of unemployment prevailing in the region, they must put in place policies that can attract investors within and outside the country” he said addressing the northern states.

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

B3 Money Market

Diamond Bank, Union Bank, others flout CBN’s 5% NPL requirement Stories by Motolani Oseni In spite of the fact that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Non-Performing Loan (NPL) requirement has been pegged at five percent, Diamond Bank Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and six other Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) have flouted the regulator’s order.

For instance, Diamond Bank recorded NPL of 6.9 percent in its financial year ended 31st of December, 2015, against 2014 NPL of 5.2 percent, which financial experts have referred to as lack of proper prudency on the part of management of Diamond Bank in manag-

ing its risk portfolios.

It is worthy of note that the lender is not the only bank with NPL above the regulatory ratio of five percent, including other listed banks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that have violated CBN requirement, such as: First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc, Ecobank and Union Bank of Nigeria plc, with two other commercial banks.

But Diamond Bank’s group in 2015 reported a total NPL and advances of N56.68 billion from N42.4 billion recorded in 2014.

Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, in a statement said: “2015 was un-

doubtedly a challenging year for us owing to a mixture of external factors not limited to regulatory headwinds and a difficult macroeconomic environment.

“Whilst this led to additional impairment charges following a prudent review, we have further tightened the criteria for loan originations in order to better align our loan portfolio with the macroeconomic conditions.”

According to him, a number of mitigating actions are being taken to address and drastically reduce these challenges, thereby putting Diamond Bank in a better position to achieve better results and strong earnings for the share-

holders in the current business year. On the part of Union Bank of Nigeria, its NPL has hits a new record of 6.99 percent for the financial year ended December 2015 to become one of the eight banks that exceeds five percent regulatory limit.

The long-standing and most respected financial institution in its report for the year under review gained 1.85 percent to 6.99 percent in NPL from 5.14 percent recorded in 2014 The Group total non-performing loans and advances for 2015 stood at N25.9 billion as against N16.9 billion recorded in 2014, representing nearly four per cent of

the 22 banks N649.63 billion NPL in 2015.

For the year under review, the UBN loan to customers rose by 17 per cent from N312.8 billion in 2014 to N366.7 billion in 2015.

Furthermore, the Group net impairment charge for credit losses moved to N4.8 billion, up 106 per cent from N4.8 billion recorded in 2014.

However, the group profit after tax for December 2015 dropped by 48 per cent from N26.8 billion in 2014 to N13.9 billion in 2015 while profit before tax moved from N27.7 billion in 2014 to N14.5 billion in 2015, representing a decline of 48 per cent.

Stanbic IBTC banking platform upgrades to enhance IT infrastructure, operational efficiency Stanbic IBTC Bank, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, has concluded plans to upgrade its core banking platform to enhance its information technology (IT) infrastructure and operational efficiency.

The upgraded core banking system will go live today, May 16, 2016, according to Stanbic IBTC. In preparation for the switch over, during the weekend of May 14-15, 2016, all Stanbic IBTC channels were unavailable for transactions.

The cut-over window commenced at 12.00am on Saturday, May 14, 2016, and ended by noon on Sunday May 15, 2016.

Commenting on this development, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Yinka Sanni, stated that the systems upgrade is in conformity with the customer value proposition of the bank, which is to provide exceptional financial solutions to its customers.

“We will continue to focus on meeting the diverse needs of our customers in a timely and efficient manner; by availing them of a wide array of products and services that enable them to realize their personal and business goals,” he added.

In providing these leading edge products and services, he said the bank will continue to work closely with its customers and potential customers, while it consistently invests in its people and employ leading edge technology.

L-R: Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa; Ms. Adenrele Sonariwo, Founder and Curator, Rele Gallery; Kelechi AmadiObi, Ace Photographer, Ms. Olajumoke Okikiolu, Head, Product Marketing, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics and Banky W, Samsung Ambassador at start off of Samsung and Rele Gallery’s #TechMeetsArtNG initiative at the Rele Gallery, Onikan, Lagos... at the weekend.

CIBN highlights mortgage financing solutions for economic growth Ï ƇƆƂ Ɖ ƂƄƃ ƊƄ ƄƑ Ɔ ƎƆƎƏƎƄô ^ƍƄ ƆƕƄ ƎƁ ƆƍƊ Against the backdrop of enormous challenges facing delivery of affordable housing for Nigerians, the Chattered Institute of Nigeria (CIBN) has identified mortgage financing solutions as panacea for economic growth.

CIBN explained that due to the perceived and obvious infectiveness of the existing housing financing frameworks, there is the need for a re-think of the approaches used hitherto in order to achieve the objectives of the housing policy.

Speaking at the institute’s 2016 Presidential Valedictory Address in Lagos at the weekend, with the theme: ‘Rethink

Nigeria’s Mortgage Financing Policies For Sustainable Development And Global Competitiveness’, the immediate past President/Chairman, CIBN, Otunba (Mrs) ‘Debola Osibogun, noted that Nigerian housing policy reforms have been confronted with the challenge of how to strike a delicate balance between market liberalisation, government intervention and the financial mechanism in the housing delivery process so as to achieve the objective of providing decent and affordable housing for Nigerians.

According to her, in order to achieve more housing delivery from the funding angle, within

the context of innovative financing initiatives and tested good practices, a proper rethink of our mortgage financing framework and housing delivery styles should take the following seriously: “Institutional/Establishment /Employer; Public Private Partnership; Deployment of Pension Funds for financing mortgages; Promotion o the concept of Mutual Housing Associations; Encouragement o subsidised of building cooperatives”, she explained.

She further noted that mobilization o foreign private capital lows to co-finance housing infrastructure in the spirit o

the South-South partnership on infrastructure, adding that increase in the fiscal space through efficiency gains can also be a veritable source o government funding at all levels in funding housing delivery.

While given her recommendation on how housing delivery could be enhanced, Osibogun, advised government and employers to act as guarantors or house owners.

“Government should also encourage the idea o collapsible or mobile houses as is done in order parts o the world. There is need to encourage commercial banks to get more involved in housing delivery”, she said.

Thought Leadership B4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

Top 10 business risks in 2016 The economic outlook is currently challenged due to our vulnerability to the continuous decline in the price of crude oil, volatility in the stock markets, tight monetary & fiscal policies, rising inflation, currency depreciation, insecurity & insurgency across the country. All these together with increased regulatory pressure have created ripples in the hearts of many Nigerian businesses.

Consequently, the Risk Consulting practice of KPMG Nigeria conducted a Risk Management survey (‘the survey’) aimed at identifying the key risks that stakeholders believe will impact organisations in the non- financial sector in 2016. The survey was used to obtain and aggregate the perspectives of several Executive Directors and Senior Management Staff on the key risks likely to affect businesses in the manufacturing, energy and telecommunications sectors. The rich and diverse representation of our respondents helped us to reach logical conclusions on the top 10 risks including capturing notable differences in viewpoints.

The survey results were synthesized into this flagship report which seeks to enable companies to compare their own views on the key risks with those of their peers. The report also aims to provide an empirical foundation, against which results of subsequent risk surveys can be compared, to monitor trends and key changes in risk rating over time.

The need for organisations to strengthen their risk management practices cannot be over-emphasized, as the results of the risk management survey show that the business environment in 2016 will be quite challenging for all sectors of the economy. However, with the right risk management strategies, organisations stand a chance of transforming risks into a competitive advantage and sustaining their performance in the face of significant changes in the operating environment.

This report presents the top 10 risks for businesses operating in the non-financial sector of the Nigerian economy in 2016. In or der to achieve the objective (which is to enable companies compare their own views on the key risks with those of their peers), the Risk

Consulting practice of KPMG Nigeria deployed a web-based survey to risk decision makers

and obtained responses from more than 70 Senior Executives and Management Staff

across various organisations.

Based on the average scores across respondents, we ranked

the risks from highest to lowest. The list of the top 10 business risks in 2016 is as follows:

Key Findings:

Please feel free to download a free copy of the report on the KPMG Nigeria website: www.kpmg.com/ng/en/issuesandinsights

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

B5 Insurance

African insurance markets are robust, yet penetration remains low – Survey Stories by Kayode Adelowokan The African Insurance Organisation (AIO) has launched its first Africa Insurance Barometer (AIB) at the occasion of the 43rdAIO Conference & General Assembly in Marrakech.

According to the survey, which is based on in-depth interviews with 28 senior executives from regional and international insurers, reinsurers and brokers, the African insurance markets benefited to some extent from the economic boom of the past years.

The survey added that regulation improved and insurance gained in relevance. However, insurance penetration, the share of

insurance premiums as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP), is still exceptionally low.

Going forward, the majority of the interviewees polled predict that Africa’s insurance markets with annual premiums of US$ 69 billion will grow in line with the continent’s GDP or even faster.

“The AIO aims to contribute to advancing Africa’s insurance markets for the benefit of our member’s organisations and also the overall economies and societies, in which we operate,” says Prisca Soares, Secretary General of the African Insurance Organisation.

“The Africa Insurance Barometer offers a succinct summary of the key regional insurance

market data and highlights the relevant trends and developments of our industry.

We thereby provide greater transparency of the African insurance markets, while facilitating and encouraging an informed dialogue about its opportunities and challenges.”

The growth and expansion of Africa’s insurance markets is closely linked to the economic boom that the region experienced in recent years. While investments into infrastructure and construction grew and the affluence of Africa’s population improved, insurance’s relevance increased.

The insurance market’s robustness improved significantly, partly due to tighter regulation

and also enhanced distribution of insurance products through bancassurance and mobile phone distribution. Insurance penetration remained exceptionally low.

In some countries it only amounts to less than 1% – well below the global emerging market average of 2.7% in 2014, demonstrating the enormous growth potential within the industry.

But, according to the interviewees, Africa’s insurance markets still suffer from a shortage of skilled and experienced insurance professionals and a lack of awareness of the benefits of insurance.

In addition, excessive competition and insufficient product differentiation hamper the market’s growth potential.

L-R: Out-going Director General Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mr Kolawole Ahmed; Commissioner for Insurance, Mohammed Kari; Chairman of Prestige Insurance Brokers Limited, Prince Feyiseyo Soyewo and Director General Alpha Assurances, Mr. Youness Rhallam at the opening of the on-going 43rd AIO conference holding in Marrakech Morocco.

12 states to adopt insurance into secondary schools curriculum No fewer than 12 states of the federation, have kickstart the process that would lead to adopting insurance as a subject into secondary schools curriculum, Daily Times learnt over the weekend.

This was made possible through an insurance advocacy programme embarked upon by the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, CIIN, an educational arm of insurance industry, whereby, it is persuading states governments through their Ministry of Education, to include and implement where it exists, the teaching of insurance in schools.

Before now, only few secondary schools offer insurance subject, while the number of students doing the subject in WAEC and NECO is abysmally low.

With this development, it is expected that students are better informed on insurance and can now chose it as a career, which will boost insurance education and acceptability.

Confirming this development at a media parley in Lagos to announce his imminent retirement, the Outgoing Director General of CIIN, Mr. Kola Ahmed, said: “As regards our insurance advocacy programme, we have reached out to students in secondary schools.

We have done this in 12 states and each state we went, we have given the schools in those states free insurance textbooks.”

PenCom recovers N9.2bn from pension defaulting employers The National Pension Commission(PenCom) has recovered N9.2 billion from employers, who are defaulting in the remittances of their employees’ pensions.

Daily Times gathered that a sum of N5.655 billion was recovered as at 31st December 2015, which is the principal contribution and N3.633 billion was

penalty for defaulting in the payment of the pension contributions of their workers.

According to a document, PenCom said upon noticing the rise in the rate of pension default, it engages eligible recovery agents under agreed terms and conditions in Pension guidelines, adding that the commission appointed 173 accounting and law firms

on a ‘no recovery, no pay basis’.

The defaulting employers, it stressed, were identified through the returns submitted by the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and were assigned to the agents, disclosing that the recovery of outstanding contributions was effective from January 2005.

While regular remittance of contributions is an important as-

pect of compliance with the law, he said the monthly remittance by private sector has gradually improved and the returns for the month of December 2015 indicated that N45 billion (or 70 per cent of the total expected remittance) was remitted to 1,607,361 RSAs. The engagement of recovery agents in 2012, it pointed out, contributed in the improvement

of the amount of average monthly remittance of pension contributions from N35 billion in 2011 to over N55 billion in 2015.

Through these efforts, PenCom said the pension assets of the industry have grown steadily from N110.69 billion in 2006 to N5.302 trillion in December, 2015.

In the same vein, the membership of the various pension

Lagos alerts retirees on pension fraudsters

The Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission, LASPEC, Mrs Folasade Onanuga, has alerted retirees to beware of pension fraudsters who deceive retirees into believing that there are balances to be paid to them and make demands on them.

Onanuga, who gave the admonition at the 26th

Retirement Benefit Bond Presentation in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, added that some retirees have fallen victim of these fraudsters in the past, calling on retirees to ignore any call mandating them to pay certain amount before they could access their pension entitlement.

She urged pensioners to make judicious use of their pension

benefits to establish themselves in business they are competent in, saying, retirees must carefully take decisions on how the funds will be utilised.

She reiterated the fact that in the not too distant future, all retirees will receive their entitlements.

At the event, a total sum of N1, 080 billion were paid

through bond certificates to 260 retirees from the Mainstream, Local Government, SUBEB, TEPO and Parastatals of Lagos State Government, under the Contributory Pension Scheme(CPS).

This sum, was for the entitlements of the benefiting retirees for the month of April, 2016.

Capital Market B6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

OANDO completes full acquisition of OER minority shares Oando Plc., has given notification of the full acquisition of the outstanding minority shares of Oando Energy Resources Inc. (OER). OER is the exploration and production subsidiary of Oando Plc., listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX).

The notification which was filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange explained that the closing of its going private arrangement transaction, pursuant to which Oando E&P Holdings Limited (the “Purchaser”), a private company incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oando PLC, has acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of OER (the “Com-

mon Shares”), excluding the Common Shares held by Oando PLC, those held by M1 Petroleum Ltd., West African Investment Ltd. and Southern Star Shipping Company Inc. (collectively, the “Institutional Shareholders”) and those held by certain shareholders who are officers, employees or service providers to OER (collectively, the “Management Shareholders”) (such Common Shares, excluding those of Oando PLC, Institutional Shareholders and Management Shareholders being the “Minority Shares”), pursuant to a plan of arrangement (the “Plan of Arrangement”) for cash consideration of US$1.20 per Minority Share (the “Consideration”).

Commenting on this transac-

tion, Pade Durotoye, CEO Oando Energy Resources said: “The completion of this transaction brings us to another pivotal point in our journey as OER. We listed this organisation on the TSX in July 2012 and have enjoyed the benefits of being a listed company in this jurisdiction, having always conformed to the highest reporting and corporate governance standards of the exchange. However, as a result of the downturn being experienced in the global resource market and the current dip in investor interest in the sector, we have decided to delist our entity in line with cost saving strategies to optimize shareholder value. We retain the option of a future listing whenever we believe there is a more conducive market.”

L–R: Bola Adeeko, Head, Corporate Services Division, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Seyi Shay; Burna Boy, Nigerians Recording Art and Olumide Orojimi, Head, Corporate Communications, NSE at the 2016 NSE Corporate Challenge Closing Gong Ceremony at the Exchange on Thursday.

Summary of activities on NSE ASI

26,441.03

DEALS

5,523.00

VOLUME

567,590,938.00

VALUE

3,575,325,771.01

CAP

9,098,709,012,861.16

Ecobank Group appoints Amin Manekia as Group Exec, Corporate & Investment Banking Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), parent company of the Ecobank Group, has announced the appointment of Mr. Amin Manekia as Group Executive of its, Corporate & Investment Banking business. Mr. Manekia steps into the position vacated in late 2015 by Mr. Charles Kié, who moved to become Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria.

The information which was obtained through the Nigerian Stock Exchange noted that “Mr. Manekia’s appointment as Group Executive of Ecobank’s Corporate and Investment Banking business will take effect from 4 July 2016. He will report directly to the Ecobank Group CEO and will be responsible for the following business lines: Corporate Banking Group; Transaction Service Group; Investment Banking Group; Fixed Income, Currencies & Commodities (Treasury); and Securities, Wealth and Asset Management.

Amin Manekia holds a degree in Business Administration and Finance from Boston University School of Management. He is a national of Pakistan, who joined Ecobank with 28 years of international corporate banking experience. It includes an excellent grounding in transaction banking, commercial banking, credit

risk, and general management.

His career spans various business and regional leadership roles across different parts of the world, notably the United States, Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Mr Manekia was most recently with Citigroup, where he spent 25 years of his career. He joined Citigroup directly from university in the United States in 1988, moving to South Africa earlier this year as Managing Director and Africa Head for Citi Securities & Banking. In this role, he successfully led Citibank’s Institutional Clients business.

Before his move to South Africa, Mr Manekia spent two transit years at the Samba Financial Group in Saudi Arabia. There, he was the executive responsible for rebuilding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s corporate banking portfolio following the financial crisis.

Prior to this, he held various positions with Citibank in different businesses and regions. These included his Nairobi-based role as Managing Director & Banking Head for East and Southern Africa, with business management responsibilities for corporate banking for that region. In 2007, he was the Commercial Banking Head across Citibank’s Africa platform.

Oil stocks spur NSE ASI growth by 2.88% WoW Trading activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) continued on a bright note last week as The NSE AllShare Index (ASI) and Market Capitalization appreciated by 2.88 percent and 2.92 percent to close the week at 26,441.03 and N9.099 trillion respectively, compared to the 2.55 percent appreciation of both ASI and Market capitalisation to close at 25,701.60 and N8.841 trillion recorded in the previous week.

The week’s gains were spurred majorly by a 5.12 percent (WtD) increase in the Oil/Gas Index following the announcement on deregulation of fuel imports.

All other Indices also finished higher during the week, with

the exception of the NSE Industrial Goods Index that declined by 1.15 percent.

Last week, Fifty-four (54) equities appreciated in price, higher than Forty (40) equities of the previous week. Seventeen (17) equities depreciated in price, lower than twenty-five (25) equities of the previous week, while one hundred and eighteen (118) equities remained unchanged lower than one hundred and twenty- four (124) equities of the previous week.

In the course of the week, a turnover of 1.826 billion shares worth N14.468 billion in 20,058 deals were traded by investors on the floor of The Exchange in contrast to a total of 910.659

million shares valued at N6.409 billion that exchanged hands previously in 15,023 deals.

The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.471 billion shares valued at N10.686 billion traded in 11,038 deals; thus contributing 80.58% and 73.86% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Conglomerates Industry followed with 187.026 million shares worth N313.287 million in 1,545 deals. The third place was occupied by the Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 74.728 million shares worth N2.054 billion in 3,633 deals.

Trading in the Top Three Equities namely – Ecobank Trans-

national Inc. Plc, Access Bank Plc and FBN Holdings Plc.(measured by volume) accounted for 682.553 million shares worth N6.787 billion in 2,916 deals, contributing 37.38% and 46.91% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Also traded during the week were a total of 382,448 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N10.288 million executed in 43 deals, compared with a total of 6,837 units valued at N16.316 million transacted previously in 25 deals. A total of 8,033 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N8.923 million were traded in 6 deals compared to a total of 23,903 units of Federal Government

valued at N28.385 million transacted previous week in 7 deals.

It is the opinion of analyst at Proshare Ltd that “The change in petrol policy by Federal Government towards deregulation of downstream sector and the release of funds to kick-start the implementation of budget 2016 remain the key game changer of fundamentals as this would spur improved optimistic activities across board particularly in Oil and Gas, Banking, Agriculture, Consumer Goods, and Industrial Goods sub-sectors significantly. However, the overbought posture of market relative strength index (RSI) may incite low-key price volatility in the new week.”

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

B7 Capital Market

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) 13-05-2016

Business Interview B8 Mr. Gbenga Olowo is the President/ Chief Executive of the Sabre Network West Africa and the current President of the Aviation Round Table, the body that drives Aviation safety and professionalism in Nigeria. In this interview with CHUKWUEMEKE IWELUNMO, Olowo bares his mind on the status of Nigeria’s domestic carriers and their challenges.

A national carrier by definition is the airline that flies the national flag as at the moment. Can you tell us the total number of domestic carriers in Nigeria and mention them.

The domestic airlines we have presently in the country are eight in number and they are: Arik Air, Aero Contractors, Dana Air, First Nation, Medview Airlines, Air Peace, Azman Air and Overland Airways.

It is noticed that there is decrease in the number of carriers since 2013, according to your report during the a conference held in Ghana, (The variation in the operating airlines between 2010 to 2013 is -57 percent, i.e. in the year 2010 the operators is 14 while in 2013 is 06) can you please tell us the reason behind the reduction of the carriers?

Airline mortality rate in Africa especially Nigeria is relatively high, usually 10-15 years, but often less for so many reasons.

Very difficult operating environment resulting from government policy inconsistency and lack of direction or focus to absolute lack of support from what the bible describe as dull hearing. The airlines are faced with so many operational issues without government attention. That is not all. There is no corporate governance in most of the airlines.

One man owner calls all the shots and takes a lot of unwholesome decisions. The airlines are relatively small, weak and vulnerable to competition.

With this high rate of reduction, has government ever noticed this? If yes, what have they done to curb the reduction?

Government is yet to take holistic decision to address the situation. The debate on whether to float a national carrier a la Nigeria Airways is still on going. We strongly believe however, that given the prevailing operating condition no new airline can change the face of avia-

tion in Nigeria. Early years will be glamorous but about 5 years after; same story of woes will follow. The necessary and sufficient condition for strong carriers in Nigeria is through collaboration and cooperation that should be midwifed through policy by CAA that will result to the emergence of 3-4 mega operators through pooling of resources.

Still on the lecture you delivered in Ghana in 2015, you listed the variations of decrease in fleet between 2010 and 2013 to less than 28 percent, that is, in the 2010 the number of fleet was 54 while in 2013 it was 39, can you explain the rationale or reason behind this result?

With declining fleet size, route expansion will be limited and robust schedule very difficult.

Down time for maintenance will impact negatively on schedule.

Talking about airlines’ insolvency, what is your take?

Insolvency simply put is when an individual or organisation can no longer meet its financial obligations. Do an x-ray of our airlines today; this is precariously what you find. All the airlines are owing huge debts to fuellers, workers, government and trade partners. Arik Air / FAAN indebtedness was celebrated this past week in the face of endless reconciliation and dispute of accounts with huge flight disruptions. Government should set up revenue collection agent either individual firms or banks to collect user charges of TSC, PSC, Vat, etc being collected on tickets and eroding airline revenue with several debt burden and conflict with government agencies.

In some other parts of the world, the aviation industry contributes a large part of nations’ Gross Domestic Product GDP, but in Nigeria the reverse is the case, Can you narrate in brief the major challenges of Nigeria airlines?

President Muhammad Buhari should task Transport / Avia-

Daily Times Nigeria Monday, May 16, 2016

Nigeria’s airlines problems are dour in nature – Olowo

Olowo

tion ministry to deliver at least 1% of the GDP by 2020. It is presently 0.4 percent. A grossly underperforming sector, by implication the sector will be required to grow annually at 25/30 percent and this is achievable. If we apply 5:20 rule to our airlines requesting them to grow fleet by 20 aircrafts every five years, it means three airlines by 2020 will parade a minimum of 60 operational aircrafts each, provide job for 15,000 workers and 30,000 workers with 120 aircrafts by 2025 at the rate of 250 workers per aircraft. By this rule only Arik can stand alone at the moment. Airport, Airspace and catalytic activities will also grow simultaneously. This is the only way to rescue market share from foreign airlines who must repatriate up to 95 percent of their income back to their home country in USD and continued weakening of the Naira. Truth be told, 5-10 aircraft airlines as we have it today cannot be described as strong schedule players. All the existing 7 operators should pool their resources together, operate under one AOC, harmonize their schedule and

stop the stupid ongoing competition among themselves. Then we will be having two near strong players.

Some experts and stakeholders have also attributed the problems of the nation’s aviation sector to government in the area of multiple taxation, political intolerance. As a stakeholder, do you also support their claims?

Nigeria airlines problems are duo in nature. Firstly, Government lack of policy focus & hostile operating environment.

Airline user charges for example is as high as 15 % .User charges are revenue collected for other organisations factored into the fare ( without commission ) whereas airlines are not revenue collectors. Hence IATA DG described airlines as Cash Cows. High cost of Fuel, High cost of Funds, Exorbitant Airport Rent, Airspace movement charges at home require government serious attention. On the other hand, Poor management decisions and corporate governance by the airlines owners have resulted to high mortality rate in the industry.

In building strong carriers, some analysts have recommended consolidation, do you subscribe to this? If yes, can you tell us the reason?

Stand-alone operation cannot stand the test of time. We have seen these in the past three decades that mortality rate of our airlines is 5-10 years. A very poor rate. They are usually weak, limited and unable to compete.

Tell us the role of IATA, and other international governing bodies and how they could make impact in the process of building strong carriers in the country?

IATA/IOSA member airlines operate under standard and recommended practices that are measurable and guaranty good quality service every time and all the time. A lot of synergistic benefits are also derived through interlining, code sharing and price hedging. The domestic airlines will benefit immensely if they can plug into these programs to further strengthen their operations. Some are already members such as First Nation, Arik and Aero. Others should follow suit.

Life&

Times Monday, May 16, 2016

Seyi

Law

On staying married

L2

P

Interview

L2

Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 16, 2016

Oluwaseyitan Aletile, popularly known as Seyi Law, is one of Nigeria’s favourite comedians.

He won the first ever AY Open Mic talent hunt show in 2006. Since then, he has tried to carve a niche for himself in the world of comedy. Seyi has shared the stage with the biggest names in the entertainment industry. In this chat with MUTIAT ALLI, Seyi speaks on his recently celebrated 5th wedding anniversary and renewal of wedding vows, his work, and his coming show, among others. Enjoy…

Life&

T E A M

Congratulations on your fifth wedding anniversary?

Thank you.

How will you describe the journey so far?

The journey has been great. It has been wonderful. The most important thing is, we keep thanking God for where we are, where He started the journey with us. It has been a great journey.

Why did you decide to renew your vows?

Even before I got married, I said I was going to renew my vows when my marriage is five. That is a form of recommitment to each other. Another thing is, marriage as an institution is getting difficult by the day. For me, it will be something to encourage other people that we can all still stay in love. That is why we renewed our vows and recommitted ourselves to each other. I pray that the Lord that has kept us for the five years will continue to keep us. Another things is the fact that people need to know that whether there are children in a marriage or not, the most important thing is the agreement between the two people who decided to come together. Children are secondary. It is really worth celebrating.

What are some of the challenges you have faced in the last five year?

Basically, I don’t call them challenges? I call them lessons to be learnt. We have had our ups and down in the union. We have had times we had to fight each other. We have had times we had serious disagreements but the most important thing is that, we have been able to resolve them. Every passing day is a lesson and a blessing. In my own little way, I used to tell people, the first six months is probably the toughest.

Why did you say so?

I know what I passed through in the first six months of my marriage. At that point that we thought everything would have ended, then, the grace of God kept us. We have been able to celebrate five years, despite the fact that people thought that the love will wear out when there are no children, but then, God has been faithful. I have a reason to celebrate her every day. She is so much an encouragement to me and my career.

When a woman who is your wife will look at your face and tell you, you need jokes. That is a big challenge for improvement for you. She deserved all that I could do and I have done for her.

Will you say marriage is sweet or not?

Marriage is sweet. I tell people, what you get out of marriage is what you want. There is no where it is written in the Bible that marriage will be sweet or bitter. It is your decision that makes it sweet or bitter. The moment we began to do the things that make marriage sweet, the better for us. Bitterness is not quarrel, even the instructions that God gave about marriage that husband should love their wives and wife submitting to their husband is like a contrast to what our human nature wants.

Every man wants respect, but not every man wants love, that is the truth. A man can do away with love, the same way a woman will do away with respect but they cannot do away with love. It is in a man’s nature to want respect. He can do away with love. God is asking a woman to respect and a man to give love. It is what the woman really loves. What God asked the woman to give is what men lie, respect. Sometimes, women find it hard to respect and men find it hard to love. They are like contrast. It takes submission by both parties to give what is required in marriage. That also boils down to how well we can humble ourselves. What greater level of humility is being naked in front of each other and not being ashamed of each other. If we can see that among ourselves, then we can conqueror what is expected of us.

What qualities attracted you to your wife?

The qualities have gotten better because we have grown. It

Entertainment Correspondent Mutiat Alli

What you get out of marriage is what you want

Law -Seyi

is not about increasing in age but in maturity. One of the things that endeared her to me is the fact that she is very caring.

She came from a family where they are little in their home, I come from a large family but she has accommodated everybody that impresses me a lot. For everyone who has come to my home or who has known me will know that there is always something to eat when you come. There is always a welcoming atmosphere.

For the kind of job I do, you need a wife who can accommodate anybody. I am in a position of privilege right now. I grew up under strong difficulties, I passed through a lot of challenges while growing up. But somehow, God picked me up from nowhere to a place where I can be proud of. I don’t want to be the reason someone will pray that God should bless him or her because I am mocking them. But I have prayed that prayer for myself before. I prayed that God will bless me and change my situation. I also need a woman who could take up that challenge with me; she has proven to be that woman. My wife is kind to a fault. As much as I give, she gives also. I used to look at it, one of us should be the prudent one. I cannot tell her to stop giving. God has showed up for us because of the giving attitude.

Do your job as a comedian affect your home?

No, my wife is quite understanding. She met me when I just started. She has lived the journey with me. I can remember when I started, went to different events together. But now, she has left me to do what I have to do. Most of the time, I have to be the one to tell her to come with me. As we grow and change levels, there are different levels and challenges. You need a woman that can be there is the room of prayer. She has taken up that role and I have seen evidence of it. I tell everyone who cares to listen that I am no more the one doing comedy, I am not in the terrestrial, I am beginning to function in the celestial

Society Correspondent Abimbola Obatayo

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Daniel Ekiye

that

is why things will continue to amaze people.

What advice do you have for people about marriage?

I believe one of the greatest advice I have ever given about marriage is that nobody should marry into homes where there is no anchor person. A home where there is total disunity is not the right place to marry into. If you are dating somebody and there is nobody in that home you can talk to, then something is wrong. I am not sure you are getting into the right home. Whether we like it or not, African homes are built on family values. Once a home lost those values, it is difficult to succeed in such homes.

What should people expect about your upcoming show?

Last year was very huge, the only thing we can do is to improve on what we have done. By the special grace of God, we hope to get sponsors to join us this time. We will keep up our surprises. We want people to come and have something new from last years’ experience. Those surprises makes our show unique. A lot of people were not on the bill but people saw them that day. We started early last year, we will try to do that too. We will give opportunity for up and coming artistes to perform but not as much as last year. We don’t want any loose end this year. We want maximum entertainment and fun. We will have female performances. It will take place on July 24, 2016, at Eko Hotel & Suites.

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday May 16, 2016

L3 Back stage

ON Set

Movie title:

The CEO

Produced by: Kunle Afolayan Directed by: Kunle Afolayan Cast: Angelique Kidjo, Wale Ojo, Kemi Lala Akindoju, Hilda Dokubo, Peter King, Aurelie-Eliam, Nicolas Panagiotopoulos, Fatim Layachi, Jimmy Jean-Louis Location: Inagbe Beach Resorts& Leisure, Lagos.

Movie title: DJ Jimmy Jatt’s Da Yan Mo video Featuring: Olamide, Lil Kesh and Viktoh Produced by: DJ Jimmy Jatt Directed by: OMG Location: Ikeja, Lagos.

Movie title: Sister Caro Produced by: Yetunde Bakare Cast: Femi Adebayo, Wale Okunnu, Yetunde Bakare, Afeez Eniola, Odunlade Adekola, Ronke Odunsaya, Jide Kosoko

Movie title: The Injury Produced by: Joseph Amobi Directed by: Ilochi Olisaemeka DOP: Uyi Enabulele Cast: Esther Audu, Mila Fache, Micheal Edeh, Brown Igboegwu, Obay, Micheal Godson, Happy Julian-Uchendu Location: Asaba

L4

Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 16, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday May 16, 2016

L5

Nutrition L6

Daily Times Nigeria Monday May 16, 2016

Gbemisola Soremekun

Date fruit:

More than just a fruit Date palm is a flowering plant species in the family of Arcaceae and it binomial name is Phoenix dactylifera. Date fruits are tiny, reddish brown, slightly wrinkled and sweet fruit, that are to taste and hard to resist.

They are typically oval shaped with a length of 3cm and diameter of 2cm. Researchers state that, dates was originated around Persian Gulf, but their cultivation began Mesopotamia and Prehistoric Egypt, around 4000BC. The ancient Egyptian also utilized this fruit for making date wine. Date spread around Mexico and California due to the Spanish colonies during the mission San Ignacio in 1765.

The fruit English name was gotten from French, as well as Latin species name ‘dactylifera’ and ‘daktlos’, because of its elongated shape. Date is an important crop in Iraq, Arabia and Morocco.

Date are also mentioned more than 50 times in the Bible and 20 times in the Qur’an.

In Islamic culture, date and yogurt or milk, are traditionally the first foods consumed for Iftar after the sun has set during Ramadan.

Date can be dehydrated, grind and mixed with grain to form a nutritious stock feed.

Dried dates are used in feeding camels, horses and dogs in Sahara the northern part of Nigeria. Also date and peppers are added to the native beer and believed to make it less intoxicating.

Dates can take 4 to 8 years after planting before they will bear fruit, and produce viable yield for commercial harvest between 7 to 10 years. Date palm is dioeciously, having separate male and female plant.

The best way to store date is storing them in a cool and dry places. You can also refrigerate them by putting them in airtight container, and they can last for months. Date can be eaten the way it is, there are some date dishes such as, date kheer, date laddu, date nut, date pudding, date chocolate etc. The benefit of date include relief from constipation, intestinal disorder, heart problems, anemia, sexual dysfunction, diarrhea, abdominal cancer and many more. Date are rich in several vitamins, minerals and fiber too.

Nutritional values of dates 1.

They contain health benefiting flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants known as tannins.

Tannins are known to possess anti-infective, antiinflammatory, and anti-hemorrhagic (prevent easy bleeding tendencies) properties.

2.

They are moderate sources of vitamin-A (contains 149 IU per 100 g), which is known to have antioxidant properties and essential for vision. Additionally, it is also required maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin A is known to help protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.

3.

They compose antioxidant flavonoids such as ß-carotene, lutein, and Zea-xanthin. These antioxidants found to have the ability to protect cells and other structures in the body from harmful effects of oxygen-free radicals. Thus, eating dates found to offer some protection from colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers.

4.

Zea-xanthin is an important dietary carotenoid that selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea, where it thought to provide antioxidant and protective light-filtering functions. It thus offers protection against age-related macular degeneration, especially in elderly populations.

5.

Dates are an excellent source of iron, carry 0.90 mg/100 g of fruits (about 11% of RDI). Iron, being a component of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, determines the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

6.

They are an excellent sources of potassium.

100 g contains 696 mg or 16% of daily-recommended levels of this electrolyte. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that help regulate heart rate and blood pressure. They, thus, offers protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases.

7.

Date fruits are also rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, copper, and magnesium.

Calcium is an important mineral that is an essential constituent of bone and teeth, and required by the body for muscle contraction, blood clotting, and nerve impulse conduction.

Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.

Copper is required for the production of red blood cells. Magnesium is essential for bone growth.

8.

Further, the fruit has moderate levels of B-complex group of vitamins as well as vitamin K. It contains very good amounts of pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), niacin, pantothenic acid, and riboflavin. These vitamins are acting as co-factors that help the body metabolize carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Vitamin K is essential for many coagulant factors in the blood as well as in bone metabolism.

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday May 16, 2016

L7 Wellness

Anthony Onjeh

Natural remedies for

Eczema It is important to remember that the skin is one of the four major excretory organs of the human body (bowels, kidneys, lungs and skin). Being that it is the largest of these excretory organs, it is very important that we nurture it every day. When we see eczema, it should be a telltale sign that there is a shift needed inside our body.

What is eczema?

The term eczema is broadly used for a range of persistent skin conditions. These include redness, swelling, itching, dryness, crusting, flaking, blistering and temporary skin discoloration.

Eczema triggers Harsh soaps and detergent, Solvent, Lotions, Rough wool clothing, Sweating, Low humidity, Occlusive rubber or plastic gloves, Rubbing staphylococcal b a c t e r i a , repeated wetting and drying of the

skin

How can you treat it?

Typically the health of the gut and the liver are the first place to start. If these are managed properly, usually the skin clears up. In the gut, the imbalance is often linked to inflammation and Candida. Reducing or eliminating inflammatory foods and those that break down to simple sugars which candida and other non-beneficial organisms feeds on is a must. Doctors often recommend steroids which are the type of steroids used for eczema.

Steroids have many functions in the body, but among other things, they are very effective at controlling inflammation.

For many people, using steroids have side effects such as stretch marks and spider veins after prolonged use. The good news is that there are other things you can do to ease the itching, dryness and skin changes.

Implementing a few natural remedies may make significant difference in how your skin looks and feels. Some of them are:

Use Avocado and aloe Vera They can be used topically to help moisturize and heal the skin. Mix together into a paste and apply to your skin for 20

minutes and gently wash off with warm water.

• Avoid pasteurized dairy products as they can be overly acidic, lower the immune system and aggravate skin conditions like eczema and acne.

• Coconut oil: Use cold pressed, organic, extra virgin coconut oil for your cooking daily.

• Eat healthy; fresh juices, fruits, salads, and lightly steamed vegetables.

• Magnesium Baths, for some people with eczema, soaking in water makes it worse.

For those who tolerate it, magnesium baths and other types of detox baths can be helpful in skin healing. I regularly add a cup of Epsom salts or magnesium flakes and a few tablespoons of Himalayan salt to my kids baths. When I have the time, I take relaxing baths in this mixture also. When I can’t take the time for a bath, magnesium oil also helps. Amazingly, I notice the benefits o f

transdermal magnesium (baths or magnesium oil) much more quickly than when I take internal forms of magnesium. My favorite magnesium bath recipe is:1-2 cups of Epsom salts or magnesium flakes (magnesium flakes are absorbed much more easily)1/2 cup Himalayan or Sea Salt1/2 tsp. of natural vanilla extract10-15 drops of essential oil of choice like lavender and mint • Apply Vitamin E oil, especially natural D-alpha tocopherol with mixed natural tocopherol. You can open gel capsules to extract the oil.

• Avoid caffeine as it can aggravate eczema. Drink water instead, hydration is important.

• Eat foods rich in Omega 3 like salmon and walnuts.

Using these natural healing remedies does not mean you will experience results overnight, but over time when you adopt these remedies as part of your lifestyle, your skin will follow suit.

L8 TV guide

Daily Times Nigeria

Monday May 16, 2016

Showing on

Showing on

102 M-Net EDGE Channel

112 Studio Universal

01:00

05:20

Mon, 16 May | 16L

Mon, 16 May | 13

‘S3/E4 - Chapter 30’. Kevin Spacey stars as the ruthless politician Frank Underwood in this multiple Emmy award winning drama.

Claire Underwood struggles to salvage her Mideast peace plan in this episode.

101 M-Net West

A has-been divorcé basketball coach is asked to run the local high school girls basketball team. He finds an unexpected chance to get back on his feet again.

Emma Roberts, Rob Corddry, Sam Rockwell. (2009) James C. Strouse.

120 BBC Entertainment

118 Telemundo

128 SONY MAX

00:05 New Tricks 01:00 The Cube 01:50 Come Dine With Me 02:40 Downton Abbey 03:30 EastEnders 01:10 The Imposter 03:00 The Double 05:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 06:00 Modern Family 06:30 Blue Bloods 07:30 The Fixer 08:30 Moms’ Night Out 10:30 2 Broke Girls 11:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 12:00 MasterChef Australia 13:00 Nashville 14:00 Arrow 15:00 Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. 16:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 17:00 The Goldbergs 17:30 MasterChef Australia 18:30 Grey’s Anatomy 19:30 Mysteries Of Laura 20:30 Elementary 21:30 Carte Blanche 22:30 A Good Marriage 23:04 Strike Back 22:30 Mob City 23:00 Strike Back 23:50 Rome

04:00 EastEnders 00:30 The Impostor 01:20 The Impostor 02:10 The Impostor 03:00 The Impostor 03:50 The Impostor 05:20 The Del Monte Dynasty 06:10 Labour Of Love 07:00 Part Of Me 07:50 Queen Of Hearts 08:40 The Impostor 09:30 Forbidden Passions 10:20 Labour Of Love 11:10 Part Of Me 12:00 Queen Of Hearts 12:50 The Impostor 13:40 Forbidden Passions 14:30 Labour Of Love 15:20 Part Of Me 16:10 Queen Of Hearts 17:00 The Impostor 17:50 Forbidden Passions 18:40 Labour Of Love 19:30 Part Of Me 20:20 Queen Of Hearts 21:10 The Impostor 22:00 Forbidden Passions 22:50 Labour Of Love 23:05 Would I Lie To You?

04:30 EastEnders 05:00 Spy 05:25 QI 00:45 Perils Of The Sentimental Swordsman

06:00 The Thin Blue Line 06:30 EastEnders 07:00 Antiques Roadshow

16:30 Deal Or No Deal

02:15 Most Shocking

08:00 The Weakest Link

17:10 The Cube

03:10 Most Shocking

08:50 The Chase

18:05 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

04:05 Exposed

19:00 Celebrity MasterChef

05:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak

20:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA

05:25 Exposed

21:00 Hell’s Kitchen USA

05:50 Exposed

21:50 The Graham Norton Show

06:15 Video Zonkers

22:45 Would I Lie To You?

06:40 Repo Games

23:45 Tanked

07:10 World’s Wildest Police Videos

09:35 Total Wipeout UK 10:30 The Cube 11:20 New Tricks 12:20 Top Gear 13:10 Come Dine With Me 14:10 Total Wipeout UK 15:10 The Weakest Link 16:00 EastEnders

155 AfricaMagic World

00:05 President For A Day 01:10 Sequence 02:00 Jara 02:30 Jara 03:00 Good Morning Africa 04:05 53 Extra

08:10 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 09:10 South Beach Tow 09:40 Most Shocking 10:40 Most Shocking 11:40 Video Zonkers 12:10 Repo Games 12:40 World’s Wildest Police Videos

154 AfricaMagic Family 04:50 Perfect Union 06:00 Good Morning Africa 07:00 Star Gist 07:25 Vanity’s Last Game 08:30 Living With Trisha 09:25 The African Child 10:00 Good Morning Africa 11:00 Tinsel 11:30 Star Gist 12:00 Music Block 13:00 At Home With Joselyn Dumas 14:00 Prem 14:30 Goge Africa 15:00 Family Ties 15:30 At Home With Michelle Attoh 16:30 Living With Trisha 17:30 Comfort Zone 18:00 Meet The Adebanjos

04:30 Exposed

13:40 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 14:40 South Beach Tow 15:10 Exposed 01:00 Series TBA 02:30 Good Morning Africa 03:30 Good Morning Africa 04:30 Prem 05:00 Good Morning Africa 06:00 My Good Will 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 So Wrong So Wright 10:30 So Wrong So Wright 11:00 Lies That Bind 11:30 Lies That Bind 12:00 Jara 12:30 Jara 13:00 Series TBA 14:00 53 Extra

14:30 53 Extra 15:00 Kakibe Ki 15:30 Noose Of Gold 16:00 Foot Print 16:30 Lies That Bind 17:00 Lies That Bind 17:30 Star Gist 18:00 Star Gist 18:30 Star Gist 19:00 Prem 19:25 So Wrong So Wright 20:00 Secret Adventure 22:40 Series TBA 22:55 Series TBA 23:45 Why Stop Now? 18:30 So Wrong So Wright

15:40 Criss Angel Mindfreak 16:10 1000 Ways To Die 16:40 Video Zonkers 17:05 Repo Games 17:30 World’s Wildest Police Videos 18:30 South Beach Tow 19:00 Disorderly Conduct: Video On Patrol 20:00 Max Knight: Ultra Spy 21:30 Poorman’s Bikini Beach 22:00 Kenny vs Spenny 22:30 Tool Academy