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There won’t be no go areas in PIB – Dogara

Ï d ƕ Mƈ ƆƏƈ ô ƈƋ ƏƆ ƑƏƅƆ skewed to enrich elite

sentatives, Yakubu Dogara, has deContinued on page 7

Continued on page 7

Henry Omunu ƄƑƉ

ÏÏÏSpeaker of the House of Repre-

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YEARS OF JOURNALISM

ÏÏÏThe

lawmaker representing Lagos-Central senatorial district, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has written a petition against her Kogi-West counterpart, Senator Dino Melaye.

In the petition which was addressed to the acting Inspector-Gen-

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Protect me from Melaye, Tinubu’s wife petitions IGP

TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 154

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Judges disappointing govt, public – Buhari Ï d ƕ è óƅ ƏƏƑƍƐƈ ƅ Ɔ ƇƈƋƆƗ Ƅƕ ƒƆƏ ƌƆ Ɛ ƏƆ Ɛ ƍƏ ƏƆ ƈ ƍƆƆƗƈƋƕ Ɛ Ɔƕ ƑƋƗô g7 Ï ƋƋƆ Ɔ ƌƆ CƑƗ Ɔ ƏƆ ƋƋ Ɠƈ Ƌ ƓƕƆƏ Ɛ ƇƏƑ ƐƏ ƐƆ ƍƆƆƗƕ ƗƆƐƆƏƌƈ Ɛƈ Ƈ Ɛ Ɔ ƅ Ɔ Ï ój ƈ ƅƆƏƐ ƈ Ƌƕ ƆƆƗ Ɛ ƅ Ɔ ƈƇ ƓƆ ƏƆ Ɛ ƌ ƊƆ ƑƅƅƆ ƈ ƑƏ ƅ ƋƋƆƅƐƈƒƆ Ƈƈ Ɛ ƈ Ɛ ƅ ƏƏƑƍƐƈ ô Ï CƑƗ Ɔ ƓƈƋƋ Ƌ ƆƏ ƐƏƈƊƆ ƑƐ Ə Ɨƈ ƌƈ ƅ ƏƏƑƍƐƈ éƏƆƋ ƐƆƗ ƅ Ɔ Ƈ Ə Ɠ Ɛ Ƈ ƗƈƋƈ Ɔ Ɛ ƍƏ ƆƅƑƐƈ – CJN

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GAINERS AS AT 18th July, 2016 SKYEBANK

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Army g7 releases 249 suspected Boko Haram terrorists

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Abia impasse: I’ll defend my mandate with last drop of my blood – Ikpeazu g12

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

RC 103022

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Page Three Æ s

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PHOTO TIMES

Editorial Nigeria and alarming cervical cancer

I

f there is any disease mostly dreaded by Nigerian women, it is cervical cancer. Available statistics show that more than 100,000 women die every year in Nigeria from the disease, even as this is particularly tragic because the vast majority of the cervical cancer deaths in the country are preventable.

According to Professor Oladapo Walker of the Department of Pharmacology, Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State, the increasing spread of the disease is traceable to poverty of ideas and mind of the victims. The medical expert revealed that the disease has a long gestation period of no less than 20 years and normally starts with a chronic infection of the Human Papilloma Virus, type 16 or 18, which are the casilogenic ones.

Experts define cancer of the cervix as cancer of the entrance to the uterus (womb). The cervix is the narrow part of the lower uterus, often referred to as the neck of the womb and occurs most commonly in women over the age of 30. In addition, there are two main types of cervical cancer: squamous cell cervical cancer and adenocarcinoma of the cervix, even as risk factors include smoking, giving birth at a young age and having a weakened immune system.

Others include having had at least three children in separate pregnancies, long-term use of some common contraceptive pills, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and experiencing high levels of stress over a sustained period. Moreover, cervical cancercausing HPV types can be transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person.

However, women who have had many sexual partners are at higher risk of infection with HPV, which

raises their risk of developing cervical cancer, even as a link between becoming sexually active at a young age is also a factor of cervical cancer. In addition, studies reveal that women in deprived areas are more likely to have higher rates of cervical cancer. Surprisingly, less than 0.1 per cent of Nigerian women have ever had cervical cancer screening in their lifetime and less than 1 per cent is aware of the existence of this silent killer.

Incidentally, the most common symptoms of cervical cancer are bleeding between periods, bleeding after sexual intercourse, bleeding in post-menopausal women, discomfort during sexual intercourse, smelly vaginal discharge and pelvic pain. Due to this, we advise that women should regularly go for medical screening to ensure early detection, especially when they attain the age of 21 years. Cervical cancer is ranked the second most frequent cancer among women in Nigeria, and the second most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 45 years of age.

In order to reduce the morbidity arising from cervical cancer, it is pertinent that the authorities immediately map out strategies to improve women’s health, rather than wait for the capacity of the country’s health infrastructure to approach that of the industrialised nations.

One of the major challenges towards the management of this disease can be only attributed to the inadequacy of public enlightenment and poverty.

It is therefore otiose on the government to embark on mass enlightenment campaign on the dangers posed by cervical cancer to women. Now is time to reduce the burden of disease in the community through education.

L-R: President, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Mr. Rotimi Edu; Trustee, Mr. Tunde Oremule; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Group Captain, Ita David Ikpeme (rtd) and Chairman, Standard Group of Companies, Dr. Ahmed Salaudeen, during the inauguration of the Club’s Gym, donated by Salaudeen in Lagos… recently.

Children of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) displaying some of their souvenirs during the celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day in Abuja… on Monday.

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L-R: Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed; President Muhammadu Buhari; Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay; Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN); President, Commonwealth Judges and Magistrate Association Hon. Justice John Vertes and Administrator, National Judicial Institute. Hon. Justice RPI Bozimo at the opening session of a workshop on Criminal Justice Administration, Development, in Abuja… on Monday.

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Tiger Woods

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti

Muhammad Ali

No matter how good you get you can always get better, and that’s the exciting part”.

“To be honest and truthful in all endeavours is an experience, not a regret”.

“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.”

4

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Only return of Yar’ Adua’s Amnesty can end militancy in N’ Delta -UNDEDSS ÎÎÎPresident

Buhari has, once again, been implored to revive the now-comatose platform of the holistic 2009 Amnesty Dynamic that President Umar Yar’ Adua deployed, to stem the tide dangerously imploding reality of armed agitation in the Niger Delta.

The advice was contained in a statement released by the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) the region’s coalition of ethnic nationalities and civil society.

The statement, signed by

UNDEDSS Secretary General, Mr. Tony Iprinye Uranta, the Federal Government was urged to adopt the Yar ‘Adua template of 2009, by appointing a credible Special Adviser on the region and re-establishing the Niger Delta Committee/Council that operated five sub-Committees to holistically and sustainably address the challenges identified in the region.

The statement read in part: “UNDEDSS and other leading stakeholders in the region have tirelessly interfaced with very senior members of this

Administration and given them a detailed template the President should deploy now to resolve this growing insecurity in the region, which is negatively impacting all of Nigeria.

“In the light of the conflicting statements being made by too many putative representatives of both the region and the Federal Government. It is necessary, however, to state that the Niger Delta is not going to know sustainable peace via the coterie of so-called Contact Groups or Committees! And, that there cannot be

any reliable dialogue, between the FGN and the region, without a commitment to Justice and Equity by President Buhari himself” Whilst reiterating that all the FGN needs to do is adopt what the 2008 Niger Delta Technical Committee’s Report advises, UNDEDSS listed immediate actions the FGN can commence, towards reassuring the Niger Delta of its sincere commitment to Justice and Equity.

“These include the release of ten secondary schoolchildren and others detained as

I remain loyal to APC, says Saraki ÎÎÎSenate

President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Monday, restated his loyalty to the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

Saraki also reiterated his belief that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s government will redeem its elector-

al promises made during the 2015 general elections.

He spoke at the 10th Abuja Housing Show where top government officials and prominent stakeholders in the housing sector brainstormed on the theme: “Expanding Access To Affordable Hous-

ing In Africa.”

Acknowledging the presence of the APC National Organizing Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso who earlier kick-started discussions at the summit, Saraki assured that the APC government is unwaveringly committed to

the social welfare of the people while re-affirming his unalloyed loyalty to the party.

“The Senate and the National Assembly as a whole believe very strongly that we must make a difference in the housing sector,” he said.

The Senate President, re-

prisoners-of-war for many weeks since the military’s invasion of Gbaramatu Kingdom; the return of Symbols of Gbaramatu traditional worship; and, most importantly, President Buhari addressing the nation to announce that he would personally lead the revival of the 2009 Template premised on a Niger Delta Development Committee under his direct supervision, plus grant free passage to all stakeholders he is ready to directly dialogue with,” Uranta’s statement read.

acting to observations that the existing housing laws need respective amendment and repeal, charged the organizers of the Summit to take a further step by forwarding a document of laws requiring amendments to the National Assembly.

Eiye Confraternity: Four suspects arraigned in court Rachel Akomolafe

ÎÎÎFour

suspects were yesterday arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrate court sitting in Ikeja on a four-count charge bothering on conspiracy and cultism, levelled against them by the police.

Sodiq Jamiu (20), Oluwatosin Onipede (18), Gbolahan Adedeji (20) and Sodiq Akinosi (19), were arrested and arraigned by the police for conspiring to commit felony to wit : Managing unlawful society called the “Eiye confraternity”, and for partaking in the unlawful activities of the society, thereby committing offences punishable under Section 409 and 42(a)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

The suspects were also accused of displaying cutlasses, knives, battle axe and charm in public, an offence which took place on 5th July at Ilasamaja, Lagos, at 9:00hrs.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

7 News

Anti-corruption war: Judges disappointing govt, public – Buhari Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏPresident

Muhammadu Buhari on Monday decried the slow pace of corruption cases in courts initiated by his administration, saying the speed did not meet the expectations of the government and public.

He alleged that some Judges are allowing lawyers to frustrate speedy determination of the cases before them.

President Buhari stated this in Abuja at the opening of a twoday seminar for judges in the country. He said that despite the

application of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015 (ACJA), which encourages speedy trial of cases, “corruption cases filed by government are not progressing as speedily as they should.”

He said that things “certainly needs to change if we are to make success in our collective effort in the fight against corruption.”

Buhari explained that he had made the fight against corruption one of the top priorities in the hope of restoring the economy and building a new Nigeria.

He said that in the face of dwindling revenues and efforts to repo-

sitioning Nigeria’s economy, it became obligatory to swiftly tackle two ills; waste and corruption.

“I am worried that the expectation of the public is yet to be met by the judiciary with regard to the removal of delay and the toleration of delay tactics by lawyers.”

Earlier in his remark, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed has assured that judges would no longer strike out or dismiss corruption related cases on from court list for want of diligent prosecution by the government.

Justice Mohammed said that Administration of Criminal Jus-

tice Act, 2015, which is now in use had removed the issues of technicalities that had stalled the trial of high profile graft cases in the past.

The Act, he said had barred the entertainment of interlocutory applications by any court, limited the number of adjournments that a court may grant, provides for a day-to-day trial until conclusion of the case and permits trial in absentia, among others.

He also blamed lack of political will for poor prosecution of corruption cases. He added that “we are determined not to strike out Continued on page 12

Mrs Tinubu

Protect me from Melaye, Tinubu’s wife petitions IGP Continued from page 1 eral of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and dated July 18, 2016, the senator, who is the wife of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said Melaye threatened her life on the floor of the Senate last week.

She said Melaye had a penchant for violence as he had engaged in fisticuffs with his colleagues when he was in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011.

The complainant alleged that a particular lawmaker had even died after being beaten up by Melaye.

She, therefore, urged the IGP to protect her from harm.

The petition with reference numContinued on page 12

Army releases 249 suspected Boko Haram terrorists ÏÏÏThe Nigerian Army on Mon-

Overloaded bus on Alapere Expressway in Lagos… on Monday.

There won’t be no go areas in PIB – Dogara Continued from page 1 clared that the National Assembly will engage stakeholders on contentious issues as it begins work on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Speaking on Monday during the National Stakeholders Summit on Petroleum Industry Reforms organised by the House Committees on Petroleum in Abuja, the Speaker said the legislature is determined to draft a law for the industry that will be in the best interest of Nigerians.

He said: “The need to make consensus and lend a voice to long suppressed agitations in the drafting and consideration of the petroleum industry bills informed our decision to organise this stakeholders summit.

“We are optimistic that this ap-

proach will provide the crucial platform to enable us cross pollinate ideas and ventilate our positions on certain contentious issues, regardless how vexed they may be. You can be rest assured that our work at the National Assembly is to do your good intention.

“We are not unaware of the several failed attempts at redeeming the petroleum industry by our predecessors. The Petroleum Industry Bill has been down a long, tortuous, and chequered road.

“Most of us have been co-travelers on the journey to pass the bill into law, and have the requisite experience to avoid any pitfalls ahead, hence this resolve to seek proper consultations with you and build confidence amongst us.”

Lamenting that the poor manage-

ment of the petroleum industry has left much to be desired with only a few elite Nigerians benefitting from it, Dogara assured that all these issues will be addressed during the summit.

“Nigeria is one of the richest petroleum regions of the world. Paradoxically, it has never been able to maximize effectively its immense oil and gas potentials and the revenue accruing from it. The downstream operates in a state of almost continuous malfunction, and for years has been characterised by comatose refineries and an inefficient downstream.

“It operates under an inadequate legal framework, with an inefficient and poorly maintained pipeline network and depot system. The result is that Nigeria is both one of the

world’s largest producers of crude oil, and one of the world’s leading importers of petroleum products, a dependency that has enriched the elite at the expense of the increasingly impoverished masses”.

“The downstream runs on a system of subsidies until recently and uniform pricing which has proved ineffective, in addition to being administered in a very opaque way.

Shortages and inadequate supply have characterized the Nigerian downstream for over two decades and can be described as an example of system failure.

“The upstream has not fared better either. Pipeline vandalism, largescale environmental degradation, and the world’s highest levels of crude oil theft have been constants for several years.

day said it freed 249 suspected Boko Haram insurgents and their accomplices, who had been in its detention facilities in Maiduguri, Borno State.

This is just as troops intercepted and arrested a suicide bomber in the state, foiling his planned attack.

A statement through the Director of Army Public Relations, DAPR, Colonel Sani Usman, said that the suspects were released by the Joint Interrogation as approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

Usman said that those cleared and released included 169 males, 46 women and 34 children.

Further breakdown of the figure showed that 203 of them were from 18 Local Government Areas of Borno State, while 44 were from other states as follows: Adamawa 2, Jigawa 2, Lagos 1, Oyo 1 and Yobe 38. However, 2 of them were from the Republic of Cameroon.

Continued on page 12

8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Politics

Æs

BABACHIR LAWAL SGF alleged to

be destabilising CAN Tom Okpe, Abuja

Series of protests that have continued to trail the emergence of Reverend Supo Ayokunle as the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been linked to the Secretary to the Government of the

Federation (SGF) David Babachir Lawal, a source has revealed.

The emergence of Reverend Supo Ayokunle as the President of CAN has witnessed incessant protests by some Christian groups who identified themselves as Northern Christian Association of Nigeria.

The latest of the protests was staged last Thursday at the National Christian Centre, Abuja led by one Reverend Shehu Luka who demanded the outright cancellation of the election that brought

in Reverend Supo Ayokunle as CAN President.

The source who confided in selected correspondents however, advised the APC-led Federal Government to caution its officials from dabbling into the activities of CAN, stressing that doing so may come with grievous consequences.

He however, described the protest as “hand of Esau and Voice of Jacob” explaining that Mr. Babachir Lawal is the big hand behind the scene in a bid to take

charge of the Christian body for reason best known to him.

It was further alleged that the SGF had earlier wanted the ECWA President, Reverend Jeremiah Gado to emerge the CAN President, an ambition that did not sailed through, which is now been fought through this renewed campaign of street and media protest against the Reverend Supo-led CAN. The SGF was also accused of orchestrating the removal of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

As INEC prepares to conclude inconclusive polls Come July 23, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will resume another marathon exercise of conducting outstanding inconclusive elections in some states beginning with Kogi East senatorial zone. AUGUSTINE OKEZIE examines the factors that might have rendered their first attempts, inconclusive.

The announcement of a fresh date for the conduct of the suspended elections, were given by INEC in a statement it issued by its director of publicity and voter education, Oluwole Osaze Uzzi.

The elections were suspended in Rivers, Imo, Kogi and Kano states after they were reportedly disrupted earlier. INEC says its commitment to concluding the exercise by 31st July is however contingent upon meeting all the necessary conditions and activities leading to the elections being implemented early enough.

ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA

“I am pleased to see that we are now all agreed that the Federal system is, under present conditions, the only sure basis on which Nigeria will remain united.’’

Not a few Nigerians have registered their disappointment over the spate of inconclusive elections which have taken place under the watch of the Professor Mahmood Yakubu-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which some now cynically refer to as the “inconclusive” National Electoral Commission.

Speaking at recently organized roundtable on inconclusive elections in Nigeria, hosted by Independent Service Monitoring Group (IMSG) in Abuja, a civil society activist and human right lawyer, Ezenwa Nwagwu, ob-

NNAMDI AZIKIWE

No matter how old an individual may be, no matter if he is young or old, if he thinks in accordance with the times he is immortal.

served that the increasing derisive resonance and intrusion of inconclusive elections into Nigeria’s political landscape, constitutes a major political setback in our march towards stable democracy He said: “Inconclusive elections as a conversation on the Electoral Management Body appears to me, to be a disingenuous pushback of a distraught and losing political class, from the improvement recorded in the electoral process, especially given the innovations introduced to check the CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

FELA ANIKULAPO KUTI

“To be spiritual is not by praying and going to church. Spiritualism is the understanding of the universe so that it can be a better place to live in.”

PROF. YAKUBU OBAFEMI AWOLOWO

“Those who desire to reach, and keep their places at the top in any calling must be prepared to do so the hard way.”

ALEX EKWUEME

“Ours is hardly a Federation except in name”.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

9 Politics

Sheriff calls PDP’s planned convention in Port Harcourt illegal Ïd Ɠ Ƅ ƍƄƊ Ɔ M ƎƆ Ɖ ƆƍƊ ƎƆƉƉ ƼƞƟƢ Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja Former interim National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, and erstwhile Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has described forthcoming national convention of the party fixed for August 17th,this year in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, by the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee as illegal.

Sheriff has similarly declared that the crisis rocking the party would continue for as long at the the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led national caretaker committee was not dissolved.

Speaking yesterday shortly after a delegation of Abia State chapter of the PDP paid him a solidarity visit in Abuja, the for-

mer Governor insisted that he remained the authentic National Chairman of the Party till 2018.

Sheriff maintained that the proposed national convention of the PDP was illegal and advised members to stay away and await a new date for an authentic convention which would hold in Abuja under his leadership The former governor maintained that any gathering in the name of PDP convention in Port Harcourt will be illegal.

While describing PDP as the party for all Nigerians, Sheriff pointed out that a few individuals would not be allowed to pocket the Party.

The former Governor, who was accompanied by Senator Hope Uzodimma, former governor of Imo state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim,Dr Cairo Ojuogboh,Deputy National Chairman, Chief Chris Uba, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim and Hon Okey Nadozie, National Organizing Secretary,among others, vowed that he would remain the

national chairman of the party till 2018 unless those decisions reached at the Party’s stakeholders’ reconciliation meeting were met.

He made it clear that part of his conditions to end the crisis was a fresh national convention that should be held in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with a convention committee formed by 10 members apiece from his group and the Makarfi committee.

His words, “Makarfi’s Committee should resign, it does not exist in the PDP constitution; what exists is the national chairman which I am. I remain the chairman until 2018.

“Some people want to make PDP their personal property.

That will not happen; if you don’t stand on the truth, the end result will be destruction”, he said .

Sheriff confirmed that during a recent meeting at the Taraba State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, he was approached for reconciliation by the PDP governors from

Sheriff

the North east, Darius Isiaku of Taraba and Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe states which he accepted.

He added that his conditions for a unified party were based on the agreement reached at the

reconciliation meeting under the chairmanship of Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson and Senator Ibrahim Mantu,a former Deputy Sebate President which advised the Caretaker Committee members to resign.

9M& ƋƍƄƋ ƍƄ Ǝ ƃ ƃƉƏƕƄ Ɔ ƃ ƃƉƏ ƆƐƄ Ƌ ƉƉ

Prof. Jega CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

antics of the politicians’’ Since October 21, 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari named the new helmsmen for INEC, the electoral body has conducted three state elections – in Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers states with each of them registering cases of inconclusive end. Several reasons from these outcomes range from violence to the large number of voters who could not

vote for one reason or the other.

Responding to the deluge of criticisms that has trailed his performance since assuming office, the INEC boss pointed out that there were also inconclusive elections under the regime of his predecessor, Professor Attahiru Jega in Anambra, Imo and Taraba States, adding that the polls were inconclusive, mainly because of their high level of competitiveness.

While defending itself at a paper it presented at a roundtable Discussion Paper at the CSO Expert Group on Electoral Reforms Meeting Organized by the Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG), Professor Yakubu who was represented by his director for voter education, Mr Oluwole Osaze Uzzy argued that disruptions by way of violence, intimidation and bribery of poll officials and voters, will continue to promote the specter of inconclusive elections and likely hang over our process.

He said: Where there are no such disruptions or distortions by the Political class, inconclusive elections will all but be eliminated, save for elections into the office of Governor or President where no candidate meets the Constitutional criteria or in cases of natural disaster or other emergency’’.

But Nigerians hasten to remind Yakubu that three fails out of three tries cannot be anything but disappointing. He and his colleagues at the electoral body

must look inwards and improve their act because of the heavy toll that every inconclusive election exacts on all stakeholders. Each time an election is declared inconclusive, it means the taxpayer has to cough out huge sums of money for a rerun or fresh election. It also imposes great financial burdens on electoral candidates and their political parties, thus heightening the stakes for corruption when such individuals get into public office.

Moreover, each inconclusive election heightens further tension and sends the contenders “back to the trenches” and more lives and property are lost during the reruns. The damage done to the entire system is difficult to quantify.

Prof Yakubu must grapple with the challenge of late arrival of election material , lack of technical capacity of the ad- hoc staff, under age, voting, lack of adequate enlightenment of prospective voters, unfavorable terrain which are surmountable The strongest challenge con-

fronting INEC is impunity, use of violence, harming and killing Of election officials and the absence of institutional mechanism to Punish electoral offenders.

Role by security agencies It is often argued especially at round table discussions that the INEC alone cannot guarantee free, fair and conclusive elections.

The security agencies, which are usually massively mobilized for polls, must do more to secure our elections. The amount of violence and killings which take place in spite of heavy security mobilization is difficult to justify.

Security agencies must be well equipped and motivated to do their job, especially during elections Role of politicians Unfortunately ,the Nigerian political class have remained consistent in fanning the embers of inconclusive elections in the country, thanks to their desperation to win at all cost and the competitive nature the electoral contests have assumed in recent times.

Politics 10 Ondo Guber: APC releases time-table, primary election for August Tom Okpe, Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released the timetable and schedule of conduct of the Party’s 2016 Governorship Primary Election in Ondo State.

According to a statement in Abuja signed by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, the announcement was in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, in accordance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Party guidelines.

The statement said: “Sale of governorship forms commences at the Party National Secretariat from Tuesday 19th July to Friday 5th August, 2016 at N5 million while intending aspirants are expected to pay N500, 000 to pick up expression of interest form, adding that the forms are free for female aspirants”.

The statement also directed that the last day for submission of completed forms will be Monday 8th August, while Screening of aspirants will be conducted in Abuja from Tuesday 9th to Friday 12th August, 2016 for the Primary Election to hold on Saturday 27th August, 2016.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Oyo Crisis: Religious leader calls for truce Sequel to the ongoing labour crisis, the proprietor of Shafaudeen Group of Schools, Wakajaiye Ibadan, Professor Sabit Ariyo Olagoke has appealed to the stake holders in education in Oyo State who have been at loggerheads in recent time to see the need to accept the intervention of traditional rulers calling for truce on the conflict.

Olagoke made the appeal in a statement where he commended the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadan and other concerned citizens for their appeal to the state government, labour leaders and workers on the impasse.

“With all sense of patriotism and humility, I feel that this is time to go to our core values. The Alaafin Of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji Ajeoguguniso and other prominent leaders have intervened on the matter and spoke to all the parties. They should be respected”, he said.

“Both the government and the workers, particularly the teachers should realise that the prolonged closure of schools would have its repercussions on results of our students in public exams being conducted by NECO, WAEC and

NABTEB “Besides ,we should please go back to the era of normalcy like the 80s when school curriculum was smooth and better that one could say when schools would resume and go on vacation. The trend now is discouraging and frustrating”, he pointed out.

Olagoke, a former Dean School of Engineering, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro noted that the closure of public Schools was forcing parents to send their children and wards to private schools which have less qualified teachers to train them.

He appealed to the state government to passionately consider the payment of about three months out of the salary arrears to enable teachers go back to classrooms adding: “the interest of our children should be seriously considered on this imbroglio” Olagoke urged the stakeholders to remember that pupils in Oyo and Osun were being pulled down the education ladder when compared with their counterparts in other parts of the country adding” “our destiny is in our hands.

Let there be peace and positive change in our school curriculum”.

AJIMOBI

Oyo State Governor

SGF alleged to be destabilising CAN

Lawal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), John-Kennedy Opara, on the excuse that some northern Christians are complaining.

John-Kennedy Opara was replaced with Reverend Isaac Ambi of ECWA Church Kaduna

South DCC, and SGF David Lawal is a member of ECWA who was accused of supporting the candidature of Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Gado the present ECWA President for the CAN Presidency.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria, Barrister Danladi

Yerima has distanced the Northern CAN from the series of protests against the leadership of Reverend Supo Ayokunle declaring that the Northern Christians are 100% behind the new leadership of CAN. Yerima, who described as unfortunate the action of those elements who have decided to make themselves willing tools to fight and destabilise the church for whatever reason best known to them urged them to repent from such act.

Danladi Yerima whose leadership spanned the Nineteen Northern States and Abuja spoke to our correspondent in a telephone interview where he denied the involvement of its Youth Wing in any protest against the Reverend Supo led CAN stressing that they were together on Friday with the Youth Leader of the Northern CAN and no protest issue was discussed.

According to him, “Election has been held and we have elected our leader to lead us and would support him 100%; In fact if there is anything like 101% we would give him.

When asked if he is aware that some top government functionaries are behind the series of protests, Yerima said, “So we heard, as you were told we also heard that some Christians in government are behind this, but it is unfortunate if you are a Christian and you choose to fight the church.

“If you are fighting the church, you are fighting God and be ready for the consequences,” he said.

It would be recalled that the General Church Council of the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA in April unanimously endorsed the ECWA President, Rev. Jeremiah Gado to vie for the position of the president of the Christian Association of

Nigeria, CAN, and prayed for his success in the election.

In a communique issued in Jos at the end of its 63rd General Church Council Meeting, the Council observed that the ECWA/TEKAN bloc of the association has never occupied the seat of the association’s presidency and in line with CAN’s rotational principle; Rev. Gado should vie for the seat.

However, Reverend Supo Ayokunle emerged CAN President amidst protest from the same ECWA/TEKAN bloc raising allegation that the election is marred with irregularities, and some elements of illegalities and impunity, but the allegation was dismissed by other blocs who participated in the election describing the allegations as unfounded lies.

Efforts to reach the SGF, David B. Lawal proved abortive as he was said to have traveled to Lagos at press time.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

11 News

FG, local firm move to boost snail breeding for export Fadoro Oluwaseyi

ÏÏÏThe

L-R: Manager, Public Relations, Etisalat Nigeria, Chineze Amanfo; Minister for Communications, Barr. Adebayo Shittu and Head, Environmental Compliance & Public Relations, Etisalat Nigeria, Oluseyi Osunsedo after presentation of Friendly Operator of the Year award to Etisalat during the Nigerian Telecom award in Lagos… recently.

Delta PDP, APC in war of words over Okowa’s performance Nosa Ogiugo Asaba

ÏÏÏA frightening war of words

over Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s performance in the last one year has erupted between Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).

Expectedly, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in the state, Chief Hyacinth Enuha, had last weekend criticised the performance of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as shoddy and fell short of expectation, adding that come 2019, All Progressives Congress will take over the state.

But in swift reaction on Monday, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, described the APC chieftain’s position on Okowa’s-led administration as a ruse and calculated attempt to divert attention of a

Kidnapping: Lagos places security agencies in red alert

focused government.

Emphasising that Chief Enuha is a political liability who loafs around in Delta North, Osuoza recalled that Chief Enuha, as former PDP member in the state had tried unsuccessfully to hijack the political structure and stifle the emergence of the vibrant and progress political vision in his constituency, only to be disgraced out of contention.

The PDP Publicity scribe said: “After Enuha efforts failed to produce good results in his attempt to hijack the political leadership of his constituency, his egocentric greed for domination, autocracy and dictatorial tendencies ended in monumental humiliation.”

Noting that Enuha had been seeking political relevance in different political platforms including the Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN), and at pres-

ent All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Osuoza said his ploy to foist negative political imprimatur on the electoral landscape has continued to fail.

He, however, explained that PDP though not averse to constructive criticism based on empirical facts, added that such criticisms should be committed to facts as succinct evidence.

He said: “Such hallow and shallow attempts like that of Chief Enuha’s comments portend evil, Okowa’s courageous and visionary leadership in the last one year, flies in the face of season, especially given the fact that dispute the very harsh economic realities, Okowa has not only initiated and empowered over 17,000 Deltans via job creation like the YAGEP, STEP, PPSP, the Micro-Credit Scheme, but has also embarked on providing enduring infrastructural facilities.”

ÏÏÏThe

heinous crimes and their accomplices.

In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello, the state government said it is alive to its core responsibilities of protecting the citizens as the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will not shirk from its function of protecting the lives

Lagos State government, on Monday, assured residents of the state that it was working hard in conjunction with security agencies to address the recent cases of kidnapping and armed robberies in some parts of the state, just as it disclosed that security intelligence has revealed useful leads towards identifying notorious syndicates behind the

Minister for Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh,and others are expected at the maiden investment forum in Lagos to train breeders on how best to rear special a specie of snails for consumption as well as export purposes.

Chief Executive Officer of Wolegate Global Resources Ltd, Prince Adewole Adeyanju, organiser of the investment forum, while disclosing, said the company, in partnership with the federal government was set to revolutionise snail breeding business in Nigeria and Africa in general for maximum profit to investors.

The investment forum, where over 100 participants are expected, will have a practical and interactive session on the product on how to do snail breeding differently. It is scheduled to hold at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Conference and Exhibition Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, this week. Other top government functionaries, agricultural industry players are expected at the one day event.

According to Adeyanju: “In line with the Federal Government emphasis on using agriculture as the vehicle to drive the country out of its current economic downturn, WGRL has discovered a unique method that will wake up snail farming and make it lucrative and sustainable as a business venture in the country.

“The company, a franchisee of Touchstone Snail Technologies Limited Cyprus, is introducing a new technique with which Nigerians can rear and earn great profit within a nine-month growth circle against the usual three years of harvesting, using a special specie of snail, Helix Aspersa Muller, and a more creative farming method, called “Curtain Method.

“With its introduction into Nigeria, we are set to revolutionise snail breeding, make it a highly sustainable agro allied business

and property of its citizens in every part of the state.

The government, while reassuring citizens of their safety in the state, said it was collaborating with security agencies to put in place upgraded security measures that will guarantee safety of lives and property.

“We would like to inform Lagosians that we are saddened by the

for export and a job creation mechanism.”

Therefore, Adeyanju stated, the company has concluded arrangements to train over 100 prospective breeders on how best to rear the special specie of snails for greater yields and how to sell their products easily for profit maximization.

He explained that the company would purchase all the Helix Aspersa Muller Snails reared and produced by farmers/investors using the Touchstone’s technique at a very competitive price and will like share this knowledge and experience with all Nigerians. To do this successfully, “We are organizing an Investment Forum where participants will have a practical and interactive session on this innovative method of snail breeding and how to earn great return on your business or investment.”

Adeyanju noted that snails are ideal food for man for mankind because of their nutritional value and high health enhancing properties. They are a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals and are ideals in fighting cancer and preventing heart disorders. A snail is naturally parked with vitamins E, A, K, and B12 and very low in calories and fat. These great benefits of this gentle and harmless creature make it important to me.

He stressed that unfortunately, snail breeding is still at its lowest ebb in Nigeria because of the long period of rearing, saying the local snail takes an average of three years to be ready for harvesting.

Buhari

recent cases of kidnappings that appear not to be unrelenting. But we wish to assure that the government will not fold its arms and allow a few evil doers to prosper at the expense of innocent citizens.

“We are working together with both Federal Government and Ogun State government in particular in the volatile areas that have been identified.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Abia impasse: I’ll defend my mandate with last drop of my blood, says Ikpeazu ÏÏÏGovernor

of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu who is currently in a legal battle to retain his seat, has vowed to defend his mandate with the last drop of his blood, even as he described as unprecedented the ambition of Mr. Uche Ogah, who has been issued a certificate of return as governor on the orders of an Abuja court.

Dr Ikpeazu stated this while responding to remarks by a group from Umuahia South, led by the former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, who paid him a solidarity visit.

Addressing the crowd, Ikpeazu maintained that he was sure that the appeal court judgment will favour him.

The governor questioned the rationale behind Justice Okon Abang’s judgement which sacked him from office over tax issues and ordered that Ogah be sworn in, maintaining that as a public servant his tax was deducted at source.

He further frowned at the speed with which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave certificate of return to Dr Ogah, adding that there was more to it.

He said it was most unfortunate that Ogah who never participated in the election or campaigned would want to rip where he did not sow.

“I can’t forget the stress we went through during the campaign. We

visited all the LGAs, there were some LGAs we visited four times before election and someone from nowhere wants to rip where he did not sow, I will defend the mandate with the last drop of my blood.”

Ikpeazu recalled that for months he went through the hurdles of tribunal up to Supreme Court after which judgement was given to his favour, and vowed to fight on till justice is won.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, said they were in government house in solidarity to support the governor and to assure him that the people of Umuahia South were solidly behind him.

He disclosed that having studied what transpired and the despera-

tion to swear in Dr Ogah, they had come to the conclusion that no man born of a woman will remove him.

Reading the nine-point communique signed by major stakeholders, the Transition Committee Chairman of Umuahia South, Barr Randy Ukawoke said Dr Ogah’s desperation to enter government house is better described as civilian coup. He however expressed happiness that all his efforts failed.

He said, “We have come to affirm our support to you, to tell you that you were elected legally in line with PDP and the electoral law, we are against Justice Abang’s ruling and also condemned the manner INEC hurriedly gave certificate of Return to Ogah.”

Protect me from Melaye, Tinubu’s wife petitions IGP Continued from page 7 ber SOT/Vol.2/135, read in part: “I am Senator Oluremi Tinubu, representing Lagos-Central senatorial district of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“During the proceedings of the Senate on Tuesday, July 14, 2016, I had cause to contribute to a matter of national importance. Apparently dissatisfied with my contributions, Senator Dino Melaye threw caution to the wind, resorted to vulgar abuse of my person and wanted to assault me.

“It was the timely intervention of a number of my colleagues which prevented Senator Melaye from unleashing physical attack on me.

However, as the leadership of the Senate did not call him to order (sic) in the circumstance, he proceeded to threaten my life without any provocation whatsoever.

“In view of Senator Melaye’s antecedent, particularly in the House of Representatives, where a brawl led by him had led to the untimely death of a member, I have decided not to ignore this threat to my life.

Therefore, I am compelled to urge you to use your good office to provide me with adequate security.”

Anti-corruption war: Judges disappointing govt, public – Buhari Continued from page 7

L-R: Director, Health and Nutrition, Dangote Foundation, Dr. Azeez Oseni; Representative of Old Peoples Home Abuja, Dr. Ifeyinwa Obegolu and Representative of Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mrs. Elegbede Irene Adebole, when Dangote Foundation presented food items to the needy in Abuja…. on Monday.

Army releases 249 suspected Boko Haram terrorists Continued from page 7 The Army spokesman said that the released persons were handed over to Borno State Government through the Commissioner for Local Government by the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu.

He said that each of the freed persons was given a token of N3, 000.

Usman said: “Yesterday (Sunday), a total of 249 cleared suspected Boko Haram terrorists and accomplices were released… as approved by the chief of army staff in Mai-

duguri. Each of them was given a token of N3,000 (naira, $10.4, 9.4 euros)”.

However, he said the two foreigners were handed over to the Borno State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service.

The Army spokesman said that the Commissioner had advised the released persons to remain law abiding and go about their lawful businesses.

He was said to have also commended the effort of the military in the fight against terrorism and insurgency and respect for human rights as manifested in the pains-

taking efforts that led to their clearance and subsequent release.

Also, the Army spokesman said that troops of 101 Battalion, 7 Division Garrison on foot patrol along with some elements of Civilian JTF, on Monday, intercepted a suspected male suicide bomber at Sabon Gari Jidari.

“The suspect carrying primed Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) concealed in a blue stabiliser casing gave his name as Yusuf Tasiu.

“He was dispossessed of the explosives while the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Devices expert

safely detonated it. The suicide bomber is currently being interrogated”, he said.

In a related development, the DAPR said that Vigilante group at Njidari village, South East of Damboa, conducted clearance operations against suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ hideout close to Ngwalimeri village, east of Bale in Borno State.

The vigilante, he said, destroyed the camp and recovered 1 AK-47 rifle with registration number 565203224 with locally fabricated 5 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunitions and a pair of military uniform.

or dismiss or discharge and acquit accused persons without trial.”

Judges determination, justice Mohammed, explained why these cases remained on the list for many years in the past.

He further disclosed that “most Judiciaries have designated judges and/or courts that are dedicated to the hearing and determination of economic crimes and corruption matters.”

These measures, he said were taken by judiciaries to hasten the hearing of corruption cases, given its prevalence, seriousness and potential impact on our dear Country.

Justice Mohammed said he sees corruption as a threat to the legitimacy of constitutional governance and democracy, which no single magical solution can effectively eradicate.

“Hence, we must do our part and act now. Our actions must be concrete, ethical and time-bound, as are necessary to ensure an efficient and effective justice system.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

13

Opinion 14

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Buhari and non-negotiability of Nigeria’s unity

I

William Bozimo

n recent years, the wobbly unity of Nigeria’s corporate existence had come under some stress and scrutiny.

It was during the ‘Gowonic era’ when he faced a trying civil war on his hands between 1967- 1970, as the secessionists led by Col. EmekaOdumegwuOjukwu led his people, majorly the ethnic Igbos East of the Niger along with a few minority groupsEfiks, Ibibios, Izons, Kalabaris, Ikwerres, Ogonis et cetera, were being heralded into a brand new Republic of Biafra out of Nigeria.

And during those hectic fratricidal wars Gowon came with the quotable quote for all times ‘TO KEEP NIGERIA ONE IS A TASK THAT MUST BE DONE’ Since General Yakubu Gowon led the war to a conclusive conclusion, where he pronounced another quotable quote- ‘There is no winner or a vanquished’ which over the years had proved to be untenable.

A war in which the secessionists surrendered in the killing fields of Ulli-Ihialla, after the Biafran leader fled into voluntary exile in Ivory Coast hosted by President Boigny.

Colonel Phillip Effiong signed the surrender papers to Brigadier General Olusegun Obasanjo, thus bringing the civil war to an end of sorts.

Since that historic surrender, members of the Nigerian military had always agreed to continue to keep Nigeria as one entity.

I think it benefits those most to have it that way as some 2 million lives died on both sides of the great divide.

Fortuitously, soldiers had always found themselves in power since the end of the civil war and whether they were out of power in uniform as soldiers, or heads of government by some other means through routine mini- coups of sorts, or sponsorship of civilian participatory democratic regimes.

For example, Gen. Obasanjo was bankrolled by top echelons of the retired military corps to become a civilian President in 1999.

Any attempt at dismemberment of the country by any section had always been opposed by former rulers- Gowon, IBB, OBJ and now Buhari.

If you ask, there is a common tread binding them together and they feel it will take another catastrophic civil war to actualise the breaking down of the walls of Nigeria so that each group can go its separate ways.

When former rulers proclaim from the roof tops- “One Nigeria” and non- negotiability of the country, they had seen what it took

Buhari them to unite the country- blood and tears.

Many groups and even important public figures had been seen or heard to be calling for re-negotiating the unity of Nigeria.

The most recent call was from Professor Wole Soyinka, who is seen in many circles a conscience of the country had found himself being victimised by some former military rulers like Gowon during the civil war years as he was slammed behind the prison walls for trying to hobnob with Col. EmekaOdumegwuOjukwu in the East.

The Nobel Laureate, a poet, playwright and public commentator, recently threw the bombshell that Nigeria’s Sovereignty was negotiable. His comment stirred and ruffled some dangerous feathers and true to type, President Buhari came out forcefully to restate what all former military rulers had kept on saying and reminding Nigerians they fought a war to keep the country together. And perhaps, suggesting, they might lace their

military boots, even from their luxurious and cozy retirements, to go to war to keep the nation together one more time.

All former generals seem so persuaded and it seemed their entire life depended on their ‘Keeping Nigeria One’.

Patriotic feeling, I guess or a lot at stake?

Hence, when President Buhari echoed the binding ties that bound all the Generals together at the Sallah breaking of Fast, he was not just mouthing a familiar line.

A quick response to the Wole Soyinkan call which is being echoed in the mangrove creeks of the oil producing wetland by the ‘Avengers’ whose blowing up of oil and gas pipelines seemed to have come to stay for better or for worse.

One of the ironies is that the colonial power- UK that forcibly amalgamated Nigeria’s Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914, is seen poised to be disintegrating piecemeal since it exited from the European Union(EU)

(through a successful referendum – 56% and 48% voted for the exit) , it appears, the United Kingdom might be facing total separation jinx .

Scotland is also headed for another referendum to exit the UK and soon, even the Northern Ireland might be urging its people to join the Republic Ireland.

Many politicians and historians feel after 100 years of amalgamation since 1914, Nigerians could feel free to go their separate ways and each group answering their fathers’ names.

Is Nigeria negotiable or let the patch- work by Lord Lugard of the NIGER AREA stick for good?Time, the healer of wounds and pains, can only tell.

For the Soyinkas’ of this country and the new militants – AVENGERS of the Niger Delta argued that let each group find his own space and country with their resources as there is no fiscal federalism in Nigeria, their area that produces the Black Gold be allowed to create a little country of theirs along with the huge resources that had kept Nigeria afloat, while their areas remain permanently scarred through oil and gas exploration and gas flaring, day and night.

The bombing of oil facilities had taken some three months or so and apparently, there is no end in sight.

In this seemingly endless blowing up of oil facilities, The British Shell and US Chevron seem hardest hit by these acts of violence in the creeks.

With the sun setting on the ‘Great Britain’ of yester-years, that was the imperial power ruling the waves and the oceans as a former colonial master of Nigeria, what role can it play? For the US, Chevron does not seem to have an answer to the bombings and how to create new cities and towns out of the many years of exploitation of oil and gas resources in the Niger Delta. It is a challenge for the two big industrial powers and it is not beyond them to rebuild the shanties and modern roads and hospitals for the communities in the Niger Delta.

Recently, the US agreed to supply 12 helicopters to the Federal government to deal with insurgencies and general spread of terrorism across Nigeria.

In the place of supplying these war machines, the US must go beyond life threatening agendas in Nigeria and be creative in making the environments of their crude imports to be conducive for their oil workers and the indigenes who have suffered many years of neglect and deprivation.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

15 Opinion

Minimum wage and plight of pensioners

I Polycarp Onwubiko

t is very intriguing for the APC-led federal government to have cajoled the organised labour unions into believing that a new Minimum Wage would be plausible within the context of the parlous economic condition in the country. The reality is that such a gargantuan economic burden will never be possible without restructuring of governance and diversification of the economy to reinvent true and fiscal federalism.

It is illusory for the APC-led federal government to go with the impression that assuaging the agitation for a new minimum wage due to the runaway inflation in the country and tackling the plight of pensioners would be possible by separating restructuring of centralised federalism from diversification of the economy. The Hon. Minister for solid minerals and development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has been advising state governments to generate additional revenues to supplement the dwindling monthly receipts from the federation accounts.

At times, one wonders whether government operatives at the federal level believe that other Nigerians are daft. Obviously, the minister has been economical with truth so as to dance to the tunes of President Muhammadu Buhari .The President has never

left anybody in doubt that he does not want to hear about restructuring of governance.

Fact remains that the Nigerian economy cannot be diversified to create massive employment if the National Assembly has not abrogated the laws that prevent the federating units from exploring and exploiting the mineral and natural resources within their domain. It was the devious agenda of the feudal caliphate through the military jack-boot that led to the vicious law.

It is painful that the patently tacit covenants supposedly reached by the coalition of political parties that birthed APC have wittingly allowed the obviously parochial programmes of the North to be perpetuated on Nigerians. Politicians from the southwest geo-political zone who were in the ACN believed in restructuring to reinvent true and fiscal federalism.

Recently, the vice-president, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo declared that what Nigeria needs is diversification of the economy and not restructuring.

The angst of well-meaning Nigerians was aptly reflected in the write-up of Ocherome Nnanna [Vanguard July 14, 2016] where he said: “But Osinbajo’s unsolicited disavowal of restructuring and true federalism, and his trumpeting of mere “diversification” of the

economy appears to have made it clear that the Tinubu political group has abandoned Awoism in order to be accommodated within Buhari’s caliphate presidential dispensation…

It is a sell-out. This is a clear political apostasy for a political leader whose core political platform he climbed on the back of Awoism to buy over southwest electorate”.

The vice-president unwittingly contradicted himself by saying in another forum that he backed state police and resource control.

It is unrealistic for the federal government to talk about new Minimum Wage without resource control. Again, it would futile to talk about new Minimum Wage when over 27 states can no longer fulfill their monthly obligations on salaries and pensions.

The plight of pensioners in the three tiers of government has been crying to high heavens and there is no sign of solution in the states.

However,the Minister of Labour, [Dr.] Chris Ngige expressed the federal government’s readiness to fully comply with the provision of the Constitution that makes review of pension compulsory. While receiving the leaders of the Association of Contributory Pensions of Nigeria in his office he said: “The Constitution is clear in Section 173[3] on how pension

should be administered. It should be reviewed every five years or upon an increment in salary.” Dr. Ngige was the only governor in his tenure that adopted and implemented the harmonised 150% and 142% increases in pension rates respectively. Sadly,his successors who their attention were drawn to the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission Circular No. SWC/054/S.164/29 of August 5, 2010 shockingly demonstrated supercilious demeanour on the lamentations of pensioners to harmonise their pension peanut since 2011 when the current Minimum Wage came into effect It is baffling that the last bail-out fund was not used to ameliorate the plight of pensioners, even when some governors left the impression that all is well with their workers and pensioners. The case of Anambra State is pathetic, whereby the pensioners were had been subjected to four harrowing verification exercises from 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016, yet the pensions have not been harmonised. The total cost of the harmonisation is not up to N10, 000, while the immediate past and present governors have been spending billions on private and federal government institutions ostensibly for elections purposes.

Mr. Onwubiko wrote from Awka

Launching made-in Nigeria products globally

T Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu

he downward trend in Nigeria economy occasioned by the dwindling prices of oil has generated efforts to salvage the ailing economy.

In this vein, government is making efforts to promote made-in - Nigeria products.

Promotion of the Nigerian brand in terms of products and services would guarantee sustainable employment and turn around the economy.

Fortunately, we can achieve this .Our large population, as well as abundance of natural resources place us in a strong position to play both continental and global roles.

In line with the federal government efforts, the Made In Nigeria Entrepreneurship Conference, tagged MINEC 2016, with the slogan “From Local, To Global”, is designed to attract international patronage and partnership. Few days from now, Aba, one of the commercial-hubs of the country, will host the South East edition of the conference.

No doubt, consistent capacity building, trade information, introduction of simple good corporate governance with relevant knowledge to SMEs for promoting locally made brands are required to build consistent brands. Against this backdrop,

the conference targets Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs, traders, artisans, women, agro- business SMEs, producers, and manufacturers to mentor and build their capacity.

The MINEC Platform is an initiative of a consortium of different technical partners with relevant skills in the development, establishment and management of Small and Medium Enterprises. Each Partner Representatives has over 15years practical experience with local and global exposures covering Manufacturing & Production; FMCG, Brewery, Aviation, Franchising, Small and Medium Enterprises, Entrepreneurship Development; SME Content Development, Agri-Business, Branding, Marketing and Routes-to-Markets strategies, Product & Service, development of simple online-selling Applications that optimises Social Media advantages in marketing.

MINECng is dedicated to providing customised platform that consistently and dedicatedly promotes Made-inNigeria goods, promoting made-inNigeria brands to the global markets using social media platforms.

Other objectives are to provides accessible and regular information and updates about trends in technology, trade, foreign exchange policies, SMEs, Entrepreneurs, and loans to SMEs through routine seminars and

social media; provision of routine mentoring programmes to SMEs and Entrepreneurs that are industry based; provision of capacity building on basic office book-keeping, writing basic business plans and simple business management tips.

The conference will cover areas such as CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP: KEY TO SME DEVELOPMENT & MANAGEMENT ;ROLE OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN SME DEVELOPMENT;IMPERATIVES OF CORPORATE & GOOD GOVERNANCE ;SELLING MADE-IN-NIGERIA GOODS LOCALLY;THE PLACE OF BRANDING (PERSONAL, PRODUCT AND CORPORATE) FOR MADE-IN-ABA GOODS;GETTING INTERNATIONAL BUYERS FOR NIGERIA BRANDS ;LEVERAGING ON ICT, NIGERIA SME TOOLKITS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND INTERNET TO SOURCE FOR INTERNATIONAL BUYERS;WHAT EXACTLY DOES AN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSMAN NEED FROM MADE-IN-NIGERIA GOODS PRODUCERS, among others.

There is no other as auspicious time for this programme than now.

Also, the choice of Aba as the takeoff point for the conference is apt.

Unarguably, Abia has comparative advantage in leather and garment cluster in Aba. There have been consis-

tent calls for the federal government to issue a directive to military and para- military outfits in the country to procure their wears from Aba. In 2013, when former Senate President, Sen. David Mark declared the first Made-in-Aba Fair open in Abuja, he urged the Federal Government to ban importation of all goods that Nigerians have the capacity to produce locally.

Describing Aba as the” catalyst of industrial revolution in Nigeria’’, Mark said government should henceforth discourage importation of foreign goods because Nigeria has no business importing those goods which do not measure to the quality being produced in the country.

While commending the people of Aba for doing the nation proud through the spirit of enterprise and innovation demonstrated in quality products and goods made available through local skills, he said ‘We have no business importing military boots when what is produced here locally is more superior to that which is brought into the country.

“We have no reason to import ballot boxes for INEC. This locally made ballot box is actually better than the one INEC has been importing. Let us ban all that we can ban to ensure a quick take-off of our industrial sector.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

WADA: Russian League hit by doping scandal A

n independent commission set up by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has reported “at least one” foreign footballer in the Russian League had a positive drugs test hidden as part of a system of statedictated doping cover-ups overseen by the Russian Ministry of Sport.

Richard McLaren, appointed by WADA to lead the independent commission, revealed his findings

at a media conference in Toronto on Monday and stated Russia had a system in place to cover up positive tests in “many sports”.

While much of the revelations focus on irregularities during Russia’s hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games and track and field offences – Russia was banned from international competition by the IAAF last year – McLaren’s report claims Vitaly Mutko,

the country’s Minister of Sport and president of the Russian Football Federation, was directly responsible for ordering a positive test given by a player in Russian domestic football to be hidden.

Mutko was an influential figure in Russia securing the hosting rights to the 2018 World Cup and came in for criticism during Euro 2016, when he played down violent clashes involving

Russia supporters before and after his nation’s 1-1 draw with England in Marseille.

WADA later released a statement containing a series of recommendations, one of which was that “the FIFA Ethics Committee looks into allegations concerning football and the role played by a member of its Executive Committee, Minister Vitaly Mutko.”

Page 17

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Le Guen named Eagles’ Technical Adviser ANDREW EKEJIUBA

T

he Technical and Development Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday named Frenchman Paul Le Guen, 52, as the new Technical Adviser of the Senior National Team, Super Eagles. He will be assisted by Nigerian Salisu Yusuf, who takes the role of Chief Coach. The appointments are subject to agreement of contract terms with the NFF Executive Committee.

New Eagles’ boss Le Guen steered

Mutko

the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun to the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals.

He played for Brest, Nantes and Paris Saint Germain and won 17 caps for France, before coaching Rennes, Lyon, PSG (in France) and Glasgow Rangers (in Scotland). He also coached Oman.

Yusuf, capped at U-20 level by Nigeria, called the shots in interim capacity for two international friendly matches in Europe at the end of May, which the Eagles won.

Spokesman of the Committee, Paul Bassey, revealed after the meeting

at the NFF secretariat on Monday that Enugu Rangers gaffer Imama Amapakabo and former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper and skipper Alloy Agu, who served as assistant coach and goalkeeper trainer for the games against Mali and Luxembourg in May, retain their places in the technical crew.

The new crew’s immediate challenge is a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania in the first week of September – a dead rubber, but which would serve as ample preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying

Damiao backs Brazil for Olympic soccer gold

L

Le Guen

match away to Zambia on October 3.

The Committee has also recommended to the NFF Board, the appointment of one–time Super Eagles’ assistant coach Bitrus Bewarang as the new NFF Technical Director. Bewarang, who is president of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, will replace the late Coach Shaibu Amodu.

There is also a recommendation that former Super Eagles’ defender Nduka Ugbade be restored to the U-17 National Team as assistant to Coach Manu Garba.

eandro Damiao - Brazil’s star of London 2012 has backed the country to triumph on home soil at the Rio Olympic Games.

Olympic gold remains the one major honour to elude the five-time World Cup winners, who finished second in 2012 with Damiao scoring on six occasions.

Barcelona star Neymar also part of the 2012 squad - will lead his country in the men’s football tournament next month and Damiao is confident the hosts will prevail this time around.

“I had that opportunity to win gold but, unfortunately, we did not win,” he told reporters. “But now we have another chance, at home.

“Brazil are under immense pressure to win, but I think we have great players. Brazil will always field great teams but unfortunately last time we lost the final to Mexico and had to settle for silver.

“I’m sure that we will win because we have great players. I will be cheering for them.”

Discussing Brazil’s Neymar-led forward line, Damiao added: “They are great strikers and I think they are just as prepared as I was when I managed to score enough goals”.

Flying Eagles arrive Lagos for Sudan tie VICTOR THOMPSON

N

FF 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, who is also Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, on Monday led a high powered delegation that included President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Alhaji Tade Azeez and other chieftains of the

Lagos State FA, to receive Nigeria’s U-20 National Team delegation on arrival in Lagos.

The delegation landed at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport around 10.30am for the final leg of their 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture with Sudan, coming up at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Saturday.

A 35-man delegation comprising of 28 players and seven officials got their first taste of Lagos hospitality from the VIP reception after which they were cheered by some passengers at the airport lobby.

The team was later driven in a convoy to its hotel accommodation in Surulere, and had lunch before the first training session that lasted

two hours at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Coach Emmanuel Amuneke later addressed the players advising them to remain focused and dedicated to the task ahead. He warned them not to be complacent against their visitors on Saturday, stressing that the fixture is not won until after the second leg has been played.

Damiao

18

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

EXTRATIME

TRANSFERS…TRANSFERS…TRANSFERS…TRANSFERS…TRANSFERS…TRANSFERS…

Liverpool close to

Klavan deal

Klavan

L Napoli firm

on selling Higuain

iverpool are close to signing centre-back Ragnar Klavan from German side Augsburg, according to reliable sources.

The Reds are expected to pay £4.2m plus add-ons for the 30-year-old Estonia captain, who played in both legs of last season’s Europa League tie against Liverpool and would become Jurgen Klopp’s fourth summer signing.

Klopp is in the market for a defender with Kolo Toure no longer at the club and Mamadou Sakho set to miss the start of the Premier League season as he recovers from an Achilles injury.

Joel Matip was brought in on a free transfer earlier

above £78.5m N Candreva set apoli will not sell striker Gonzalo Higuain for anything less than his £78.5m release clause, according to sources.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis spoke to Juventus president Andrea Agnelli on Monday at a meeting of Serie A club officials.

Higuain has a £78.5m (94m euros) release clause in his contract, a figure Juventus are willing to meet by offering cash as well as players.

If Napoli reject the players offered, it is understood they would allow the Italian champions to pay the release clause over a two-year period.

Report from Italy revealed that the players Napoli would consider are Simone Zaza, Roberto Pereyra, Stefano Sturaro and Daniel Rugani.

Napoli are also aware of interest in Higuain from Arsenal, but there has been no contact from the Gunners over a deal for the 28-year-old.

Higuain, who joined Napoli from Real Madrid in 2013, has two years remaining on his contract in Naples. He ended the 2 0 1 5 / 1 6 season as the top scorer i n Serie A with 36 Higuain Ibrahimovic goals.

to quit Lazio Antonio Candreva looks increasingly likely to leave Lazio after the Italy international’s agent revealed his client was ready for “a new challenge”.

Napoli and Inter have both reportedly failed to complete deals for

Candreva in recent weeks, although the 29-year-old winger is seemingly undeterred in his desire to leave Stadio Olimpico, where he had an initially difficult relationship with fans following his 2012 move from Udinese.

this summer and started Sunday’s friendly at Wigan alongside Dejan Lovren.

Matip was replaced towards the end of that game after a foot problem recurred, but Klopp does not expect the injury to disrupt the Cameroun international’s preseason.

Sadio Mane - a £36m signing from Southampton and German goalkeeper Loris Karius are the other new arrivals at Anfield as Klopp prepares for his first full season in charge.

The Reds’ Premier League opener is away at Arsenal on August 14.

Kaiserslautern

keen to lure Klose Kaiserslautern chief executive Thomas Gries is keen on bringing Germany’s all-time leading scorer Miroslav Klose back to the club.

Veteran striker Klose left Lazio after five years in the Italian capital at the end of last season, but

the 38-year-old is keen to continue his playing career. Klose made his breakthrough into the German national team while at Kaiserslautern, scoring 53 goals in 147 games before joining Werder Bremen in 2004.

Spurs in talks for N’Koudou M

arseille want to find a replacement for Georges-Kevin N’Koudou before sanctioning a move to Tottenham, according to sources.

The two clubs are in talks over a deal for the France

has been of for some time.

Under-21 winger, who interest to Spurs

N’Koudou caught Tottenham’s attention while they were scouting Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi, who joined Chelsea last month.

It is understood Marseille have asked about taking Spurs’ young Cameroun international Clinton N’Jie on loan as a replacement for the 21-year-old, but this is proving a sticking point in negotiations.

N’Jie, who signed for Spurs from Lyon last summer but has hardly played due to injury, wants to stay and fight for his place and Spurs still have high hopes for a player that cost them £12m.

Ideally, Spurs would like to keep N’Jie and sign N’Koudou, with reports in France suggesting a fee for N’Koudou’s transfer has been agreed at £10.8m.

N’Koudou

yne

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

EXTRATIME

Hull’s Odubajo out for six months

Deschamps

I’ll be

Newly-promoted Hull City have been dealt a major blow with the news fullback Moses Odubajo has been ruled out for up to six months with a knee injury. Odubajo ruptured his medial patellofemoral ligament during the pre-season friendly at nearby Grimsby Town last week and subsequent tests have revealed the extent of the damage.

Ibrahimovic

‘God of Manchester’ - Ibrahimovic

Z

latan Ibrahimovic says he will be the ‘God of Manchester’ after responding to Eric Cantona’s welcome message.

Cantona, who was nicknamed ‘The King’ during his time at Manchester United, claimed Ibrahimovic could become a prince at Old Trafford after joining the club on a free transfer earlier this month.

However, the Swedish

striker was not happy with that assessment and responded as only he can.

“I admire Cantona and I heard what he said,” Ibrahimovic stated.

“But I won’t be King of Manchester. I will be God of Manchester.”

Cantona, who scored 82 goals in 185 appearances during four and a half years at United, welcomed Ibrahomivic to the club and even

offered him the iconic No 7 shirt in a video for Eurosport.

Cantona said: “I have a personal message for Zlatan: You decided to go red. It is the best choice you ever made.

“When you walk into the Theatre of Dreams. When you can feel the ghosts of the legends that have been here before. When you score that first goal right in front of Stretford End. When you hear the

crowd chanting your name.

“When your heart beats so strong that it bursts out of your chest. When you feel that you will love them as much as they will love you. You will know, my friend, that you finally made it home.”

Ibrahimovic is expected to start training with his new team-mates this week but it is unknown whether he will be in Jose Mourinho’s squad for the trip to China.

Man jailed after Mourinho burglary bid

A man arrested near Jose Mourinho’s London home has been jailed for attempted burglary. The incident happened on July 10 while Manchester United manager Mourinho was watching TV as his native Portugal won Euro 2016 with an extra-time victory over France. Gabor Roman, 25, of no fixed address, was sentenced to four weeks in prison when he pleaded guilty to attempted burglary after his arrest.

Cuadrado gets chance to impress Conte

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte says winger Juan Cuadrado will return to the club after a season-long loan at Italian champions Juventus. The Colombian, who moved to Italy last August after failing to make an impact in his first season at Stamford Bridge, scored four goals in 28 league matches last season to help Juventus to a Serie A and Coppa Italia double.

I’m like Ranieri: Vardy, Musa Mourinho boasts can be new Fergie!

L eicester City signing Ahmed Musa believes he is similar to team-mate Jamie Vardy with his speed and work ethic.

The Nigeria international joined the Premier League champions from CSKA Moscow in a deal reportedly worth a club-record £16.6million.

Musa

Musa scored 13 league goals in Russia last season and compared his style to that of Vardy, the 2015-16 player of the season after netting 24 times.

“I was a goalie between 10 and 12, but changing was the best decision of my life because I would never have been good enough to become a professional goalkeeper,” he said.

“It was difficult at first but then you get used to the fact you are not very big.

A lot of people used to tell me, ‘Musa, you are too small to be a striker.’

“But I said: ‘It doesn’t matter what size you are, it’s what you can do that matters. I think I am like Jamie Vardy. I have speed, I like to work hard, we are similar in lots of things.

“Am I faster? I can’t say yet, I have never played with him, but I am looking forward to finding out. I’m looking forward to playing with Vardy.

J

19

ose Mourinho can become the new Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, according to Claudio Ranieri, who says Leicester should be 6000/1 to retain the Premier League title.

Ranieri and his players defied odds of 5000/1 last season to muscle in on English football’s elite and win a first top-flight title in Leicester’s 132-year history.

But the Italian believes City should be even bigger outsiders this time around given the commitments of a debut Champions League campaign and the arrival of new managers at three of the league’s biggest clubs.

Ranieri’s compatriot Antonio Conte has taken over at Chelsea, while Mourinho and Pep Guardiola

are now installed on opposite sides of the Manchester divide.

“Mourinho can be the new Ferguson,” Ranieri said in an interview with reporters.

“He will not stay 26 years, but he will leave his imprint.

“Antonio and Chelsea are made for each other. Guardiola seems to be the right man in the right place.”

On Leicester’s aims for the season he said: “The basic concept is to start from scratch. We have won the title, we accomplished something perhaps unique, but now we turn the page.

“If at the beginning of last season the bookmakers quoted 5000/1 on our chances of the title, this time it’s 6000/1.

Mourinho

News 20

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

A’ court shift Dasuki appeal to Oct. 6 Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÏÏÏ The

Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Monday, shifted hearing of the appeal by the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd) challenging his continuous trial on unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering till October 6.

The appeal slated for hearing on Monday, was not heard as the five

member panel of justices headed by the presiding Judge, Justice Abdul Aboki ordered the Federal Government to file and serve a fresh brief of arguments in response to the appellant’s brief that was regularise yesterday.

Justice Aboki said that a day for hearing of the appeal will be communicated to the two parties as soon as the court comes back from its yearly vacation in September.

The former NSA had appealed against the rul-

ing of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who dismissed his application seeking to halt his trial.

Dasuki, in his application, had asked the court to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating him due to an alleged disregard for the court order granting him bail.

Ademola had, in his ruling said that what Dasuki ought to have done was to file contempt charge

against the Federal Government for violating the bail granted him by the court.

The Judge said that Dasuki’s motion seeking to halt his trial on the ground of disobedience to bail order was asking for too much which he said the court cannot grant.

The Federal Government had in September last year put Dasuki on trial before the court on charges of unlawful possession of firearms, money laundering and breach of trust.

Dasuki, after taken his plea applied for bail to enable him prepare his defence, which the court granted.

The court also granted him permission to go abroad for medical attention based on the application argued by his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

However, after perfecting the bail condition, he was re-arrested by the operatives of Department of State Security (DSS) and had since being kept in their custody.

L-R: President /CEO of Erisco Foods Limited, Chief Eric Umeofia; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar; President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Frank S. Udemba Jacobs (MON) and Technical Assistance to Minister of State Trade and Investment, Alhaji Aminu Dogondaji during the visit of Abubakar to the company in Lagos… recently. Photo: QUADRI OLOWOLAGBA.

NULGE decries abuse of LG funds, non-payment of salaries Mathew Dadiyya Abuja

ÏÏÏ Nigeria Union of Lo-

cal Government Employees (NULGE) has lamented that the misappropriation of funds in the State and local government’s joints account has negatively affected development of local government councils across the federation.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Times in Abuja on Monday, the Secretary General of NULGE, Comrade Joshua M. Irapakop criticised state governors for shortchanging the local governments through abuse of joint accounts and stifling

of its leadership through appointment of caretaker chairmen.

Irapakop said, “We have discovered that governors are greedy people, they don’t want this money to reach the local governments. We have continued to agitate so that this money will be reaching the local governments. If you say joint account, that is the democratic aspect of it, then where is the money. If they have allowed people to freely elect the chairmen of their choice, they cannot control them. But they will look for the people they can control and the only way they can do it is through appointment.”

He lamented that local government workers are being owed salaries ranging from 12 to 15 months while others are receiving 10 percent of their salaries for the past one year. He alleged that some governors have embarked on borrowing spree and used local government funds as collateral.

“There are some councils’ staff especially in Edo state, for 15 months they have not been paid salary. The problems are the governors. Give us our money. Is the money your own? But they have over borrowed and used local government funds as collateral,” he said.

Comrade Irapakop stated that there is nothing wrong with the system but the operators who are bent on misusing and usurping the system to their own advantage, and advocated for the scrapping of state governments so that development can reach to the grassroots.

He lamented that state governors have blocked all avenues local government can generate revenue internally. “Presently state governments are building markets and motor parks.

How do they want local governments to generate revenue? They have taken over the duties of local governments,” he said.

Amaechi receives NIMASA restructuring report, flags-off National Railway July 26 Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏ The Minister of Trans-

portation, Honourable Chibuike Amaechi, on Monday in Abuja, received the investigative report of NIMASA restructuring and reforming Committee as part of the transformation measures geared towards positioning the maritime agency in Nigeria to international standard.

The Minister on receiving the report, said that a lot of issues had led his administration to set up the committee, as a measure to ensuring that maritime industry experiences the change, which the new Nigeria leadership preaches.

According to the Minister, the working condition in the Nigerian maritime industry is dehumanising.

His words: “I visited the resource center, the NIMASA library and I was amazed of what I saw. We had to inaugurate this committee because of the urgent need and find the true story of all the millions we used to hear that comes out of NIMASA.

Amaechi

Buhari meets Mark, Nnamani, Masari behind close door

ÏÏÏ President Muhamma-

du Buhari, on Monday, met three former leaders of the National Assembly behind closed door at the Presidential Villa.

They are two former Presidents of the Senate, Senator David Mark and Senator Ken Nnamani as well as ex- Speaker of the House of Representatives and present Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari.

While Nnamadi and Masari arrived together, Mark came later and was accompanied to Buhari’s office by Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang.

Governor of Zamfara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF)

Abdulziz Yari was also seen going to the President’s office, however, it was not clear whether he was part of the meeting or he met separately with Buhari.

Although details of the meeting between Buhari and the former National Assembly leaders were not disclosed, it may not be unconnected with the frosty relationship between the Executive and the Legislature.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and two others are currently standing trial in court over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules.

Apart from the forgery case, Saraki is also facing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, for alleged false declaration of assets.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

21 Public Notice

HOPE FOR THE WORLD EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION

NIKE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

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

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

TRUSTEES: 1. VEN. AZUBUIKE MBADIWE INNOCENT UGOHA-CHAIRMAN 2. EVANG. ODICHAOBIMMA AMBROSE UMUNNA UGOHA-SECRETARY

Trustees 1, Mr John Obinna Ogbu 2, Sir Luke Okwudili Nweze 3.Mr Cyprain Ike Ugwuanike 4.Mr paschal Ekene Agbo.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO ASSIST MENTALLY DERANGED PERSONS; TO CLOTHE THE NAKED AND TO HELP THE SICK. 2. TO OFFER HOPE AND HELP TO INDIGENT PERSONS IN THEIR SPIRITUAL, EDUCATIONAL TRAINING, SKILL ACQUISITION AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. 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: THEOPHILUS NDU OKPARA, ESQ. RHINOS LEGAL (SOLICITORS) NO. I6, MBARI STREET, IKENEGBU, OWERRI, IMO STATE.

RESTORATION PATHWAY FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL

Aims.

To Promote among NIKE People, values and practices that knit the society together at the grass root Level . 2.To utilise community capacities to implement basic community developmental interventions.

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 Barr Emmanuel Ogunewe

DISCLAIMER

This is to inform the general public that MR. IDOWU ADELAJA (aka Double Chief) whose picture is beside, is no longer an employee of BLJ Global Access Properties Limited and Danuelabom Investment Limited.

Any person(s) transacting any property dealings with him or any business whatsoever on behalf of the aforementioned companies does so at his/her own risk and the above mentioned companies shall not be held liable/responsible for the outcome of his actions and inactions.

The general public should please take note.

Signed: Management

WIND OF GLORY COVENANT MINISTRY.

JESUS FOCUS BIBLE MINISTRY

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named has applied for registration with the corporate Affairs Commission Abuja under part C of the companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

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

The Trustees are: 1. Ogueri Azunna Gladius.

2. Njoku Emmanuel Ikechukwu 3. Ude Paulinus

The Trustees are : 1. Pastor Patrick Chinagorom 2. Mrs. Chinagorom Ugochi 3. Mr. Chinagorom Johnson Chukwuemeka 4. Mr. Goodway Eke

The Aims and Objectives 1. To propagate the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2.To raise end-time Gospel bearer..

Object 1. To spread the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. To help the less privileges.

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.

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 this registration must reach the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: THEOPHILUS NDU OKPARA, ESQ. RHINOS LEGAL (SOLICITORS) NO. I6 MBARI STREET, IKENEGBU, OWERRI, IMO STATE.

Signed by: Barr. Ezinwa B. Ukoha

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

TRUSTEES: 1. DR. TONY CHIMEZIE AGBARA-CHAIRMAN 2. BARR. THEOPHILUS NDU OKPARA-SECRETARY 3. DR. KINGSLEY CHIAGOZIE NDUKWU-MEMBER 4. PASTOR EMEKA-MEMBER 5. APOSTLE WONDER-MEMBER 6. PASTOR CHIDOZIE-MEMBER. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL AND HELP DEEPEN THE BELIEVERS’ RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. 2. TO RESTORE THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF THE WORD OF GOD THROUGH SOUND PARTICIPATORY CHRISTAIN EDUCATION.

DOMINION LIVINGWAY ASSEMBLY 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 N0. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE; 1. PASTOR EPHRAIM, EMEKA ISHIA - CHAIRMAN 2. PASTOR BENNET, PAUL DEREFAKA - SECRETARY. 3. PASTOR (MRS.) GLORIA DAWOYE ISHIA - MEMBER. 4. PASTOR (DR.) IFEANYI OKECHUKWU AKIRI - MEMBER. 5. MR. DONALDSON OPUENE OSENI - MEMBER. AIMS/OBJECTIVES; 1. To liberate the captives.

2. To enforce the dominion of the saints.

3. To win souls for Our Lord Jesus Christ.

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.

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GLOBAL SUPPORT INITIATIVE TO ‘SAVE’ THE BOY CHILD IN AFRICA. 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 N0. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE; 1. WILCOX DANIEL OPUBO - CHAIRMAN. 2. ENGR. BRISTOL ALAGBARIYA EMMANUEL - GENERAL SECRETARY. 3. GREEN, BENEDICT IWO - ADVISER. AIMS/OBJECTIVES; 1. Saving the Boy Child from Social Vices.

2. Educating the Boy Child towards African Societal Peace and African Pride.

3. Campaign against Rape, Child Labour and Hawking.

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 ; WILCOX DANIEL OPUBO - CHAIRMAN

Signed - Barr. Gabriel Egwu.

AUCTION SALES There will be an auction sales on Motor Vehicles and other household items at the Nigeria Divisional Police Headquarters, Omoku, Rivers State. 21 days from the date of this publication.

1. ONE SCRA P MAZDA 323 REG. NO.---2. ONE SCRAP TOYOTA PASEO REG. NO. HF 598 EKY. 3. ONE SCRAP ASTRA WAGON REG. NO. AG 133 RYM. 4. ONE SCRAP M/BENZ 911 LORRY REG. NO. XD 799 GDD. 5. ONE SCRAP NISSAN BUS REG. NO. AL 447 AGL. 6. A SET OF 21” HITACHI TELEVISION, A SET OF 14” SHARP TELEVISION. 7. THREE SAWING MACHINES 8. AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS. Signed: Alh. Uballo Danu.

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THE LORD OUR SALVATION GLORIOUS MINISTRY

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 N0. 1 of 1990.

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

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE ; 1. NDUBUISI JAMES ELOBAH - PRESIDENT. 2. IKECHUKWU CHIMA - VICE PRESIDENT. 3. PIEBANI, FRIDAY GBEANYIEN - GENERAL SECRETARY. 4. ONWUDINJO, MAXY OSITA - TREASURER. 5. CLETUS EZE - ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 6. CHIMA OHIAGU - PRO.

TRUSTEES 1 PASTOR BASSEY MARY SMART 2 SIS AKINDOJU MODUPE ESTHER 3 SIS ALEGE TEMITOPE SALOME 4 SIS IMA EDET OKON 5 BRO AYANDARE OPEOLUKAYODE

Trustees: 1. AKINDOJU AKINTAYO - CHAIRMAN 2. OLAGUNJU TEMILOLA - SECRETARY 3. AKINDOJU JOY NENE TREASURER 4. OLAGUNJU OLAWALE ALABA 5. AKINDOJU SHILEOLA SAMUEL 6. AKINDOJU KOLAWOLE DAVID 7. AKINOLA TEMITAYO CHRISTIANA

AIMS To win souls for christ Jesus.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. We aim to provide helping hands to those who are in need and those who have no or fewer advantages in the society 2. The charity is aimed to provide food, shelter and clothing for the helpless, homeless, orphans and widows..

AIMS/OBJECTIVES; 1. To foster peace, unity progress and love among members.

2. To install moral rectitude among members and ensure collective responsibility in times of need.

3. To guide and pursue the interest of members.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this Publication.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B. 198, Garki, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED ; NDUBUISI JAMES ELOBAH (PRESIDENT

Signed PASTOR BASSEY MARY SMART PRESIDENT

THE EARCARE FOUNDATION.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part ``C`` of The Company and Allied Matters Act 1990.

NAME OF TRUSTEES 1. ADERINOLA OLOPADE MEMBER 2. MR. OLAMIDE TEMITOPE DANTIS SECRETARY 3. MR. ADESANMI ADEGOKE MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. We Aim to campaign for the well-being and improve healthcare for deaf people.

2. Creating awareness in the public for the healing impaired through education and advocacy.

3. We aim to bridge the gap between the hearing impaired and hearing community Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication Signed Secretary

GREAT COVENANT DIMENSION MINISTRY INT`L The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

NAMES OF TRUSTEES 1. SOLOMON MADUEKE ANI 2. ANGELA NDIDI ANI 3. SIMEON OBIORAH EZEDINACHI 4. KOSISO GIFT ANI AIMS TO THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WORLDWIDE. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication Signed Secretary

AMAZING MINDS CHARITY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

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

Signed: Secretary, ACCTIONEER .

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

NAMES OF TRUSTEES 1. ERUGO IHEDIEGWU HENRY PRESIDENT 2. APOSTLE GABRIEL IKALA VICE-PRESIDENT 3. ODIKAESIEME CHRISTIAN IFEANYI TREASURER 4. ODIASE EGHOSASERE (SECRETARY) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To join hands together as a team or a force as co-laborers to bring the glory, power and kingdom of Jesus to the world-through networking, love and total involvement in an apostolic world evangelism.

2. To use the avenue to bring a restoration of the unadulterated and an undiluted word of God to the church through teaching, preaching, mentoring and disciplining one another in an apostolic and prophetic foundation.

3. To use the body as a string pillar a guide as God will give us grace in order to stand and accommodate, help and lead younger ministries who affiliate with the network.

4. To use the avenue as a means to be our brother`s keeper and also an avenue to lift up one another`s hand in the work of the ministry.

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

Public Notice 22 ANGELA NGOZI ORAUKWU I, formerly known and addressed as ANGELA NGOZIKA ORAUKWU, now wish to be known and addressed as ANGELA NGOZI ORAUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IFURUEZE LEONARD SUNDAY I, formally known and addressed as OKORO SUNDAY now wish to be known and addressed as IFURUEZE LEONARD SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General Public Note.

EDNA JOY PARMA I, formerly known and addressed as EDNA JOY, now wish to be known and addressed as EDNA JOY PARMA. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OLUWADAMILARE MARTINS JUNIOR

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

CORRECTION OF NAME

MUFTAU OLUWAFEMI YAKUBU

THAT MY NAME WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN AS AZEEZ OLABISI NINIOLA MY CORRECT NAME IS AZEEZ SHUKURAT OLABISI, ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

I FORMER LY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS AMINULLAHI OLUWAFEMI YAKUBU NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MUFTAU OLUWAFEMI YAKUBU ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

UMEH OBIAGERI MARTHA

CHRISTIANA EKAETTE INEN

CHUKWU VERA CHIAMAKA

I FORMER LY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS ABDULKADI BLESSING NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS UMEH OBIAGERI MARTHA ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

I, formerly known and addressed as CHRISTINA JACOBS wish to be known and addressed as CHRISTIANA EKAETTE INEN. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

ODINIRUKA BARTHOLOMEW UCHENNA

OLUFUNMILAYO IBUKUNOLU AKINYEMI I formerly known and addressed as OLUFUNMILAYO IBUKUNOLU ADENIYI now wish to be known and addressed as OLUFUNMILAYO IBUKUNOLU AKINYEMI. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly known as TUNDE MARINS JUNIOR now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWADAMILARE MARTINS JUNIOR All former documents remain valid. general public please take note

I, formerly known and addressed as ODINAKA BARTHOLOMEW KENNEDY now wish to be known and addressed as ODINIRUKA BARTHOLOMEW UCHENNA. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

RAIMI SADE FATIMOH

SALIU UMAR OMEIZA

OLAYINKA OLATUNBOSUN ISRAEL

I FORMER LY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MURAINA WALIYAT NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS RAIMI SADE FATIMOH ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

I, formerly known and addressed as ESTHER B. LIVINUS, now wish to be known and addressed as IKALATE ESTHER BIOBELEMOYE . All former documents remain valid. General public should take note

That I Am The Same Person Bearing Okorie Ogbonnaya Paul And Paul Ogbonnaya Okorie All Former Documents Remain Valid General Public Should Take Note

I, formerly known and addressed as PRINCE AGBAMU JOSIF wish to be known and addressed as SUNDAY AGBAMU JOSH. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OTOJI SUNDAY OTOJI , now wishes to b known and addressed as ODAH SUNDAY OTOJI. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public should take note.

UBOR FLORENCE

MRS. EKEKE CHINYERE GIFT

CORRECTION OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as OMA ADA FLORENCE, now wish to be known and addressed as UBOR FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note .

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. OKAFOR CHINYERE GIFT, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. EKEKE CHINYERE GIFT . All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note .

My Name Was Wrongly Written As Showunmi Dayor My Correct Name Is showunmi Adedayo All Former Documents Remain Valid General Public Should Take Note

FESTUS ODIKAS AWARA

OKAKA FAITH EBERE-CLARA

MR. AMIDU SULEIMAN

I, formerly known and addressed as AWARA ODIKIBELEFAA JOSEPHUS now wish to be known and addressed as FESTUS ODIKAS AWARA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note .

I, formerly known and addressed as AKUKWE FAITH EBERE-CLARA, now wish to be known and addressed as OKAKA FAITH EBERE-CLARA . All former documents remain valid. General public should take note .

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

The Trustees are : 1. Atokolo Onalo 2. Oyigu Elijah Onuche 3. Alikali Mohammed Okala 4. Arome Andrew Andy 5. Mariam Akowe The Aim and objective: 1. To unite the old students of the Biraidu community school in other to provide the needed development that will keep pace with time Any objection to this registration must reach the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

LAPAI OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees are 1. Adamu Tanko Paiko - Chairman 2. Abdullahi Ndeji 3. Barrister Mohammed Suleiman 11 - Secretary 4. Shebi Mohammed Inuwa 5. Mamudu Alhaji Muhammad 6. Alhaji Haruna Ndaiji 7. Alhaji Mahmud Abdullahi 8. Suleman Mohammed Gabi 9. Fatima Talatu Ibrahim 10. Lawal Mohammed Yahaya The aim and objectives: 1. To work for the progress and development of schools within Lapai LGA, especially the present Muhammadu Nobody Secondary school, Lapai 2. To assist indigent students and improve on the school’s infrastructure Any objection to this registration must reach the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

CHIOMA CHIGBO UDODIRIM OGUAMA

I, formerly known and addressed as, OGUAMA CHIOMA UDODIRIM, now wish to be known and addressed as, CHIOMA CHIGBO UDODIRIM OGUAMA. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

ODAH SUNDAY OTOJI

BIRAIDU COMMUNITY SCHOOL OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

DANIEL TITUS JONATHAN

I formally known and addressed as TAMERE ELIZABETH AKINFENWA now wish to be known and addressed as TAMARANUERE INGBAIFEGHA AKINFENWA ELIZABETH All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

I, formerly known and addressed as OKAFOR VERA UCHENNA , now wishes to b known and addressed as CHUKWU VERA CHIAMAKA. All documents bearing my former name remain valid. The general public should take note.

SUNDAY AGBAMU JOSH

I, formerly known and addressed as MR. AMIDU SULE, now wish to be known and addressed as MR. AMIDU SULEIMAN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note .

I FORMER LY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS PATIENCE PHILIP UDOH NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS UMOH PATIENCE ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

TAMARANUERE INGBAIFEGHA AKINFENWA ELIZABETH

I, formerly known and addressed as TITUS DANIEL ADAMU now wish to be known and addressed as DANIEL TITUS JONATHAN All former documents remain valid. general public please take note

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

IKALATE ESTHER BIOBELEMOYE

UMOH PATIENCE

ADVERT SPACE FOR SALE BADMUS KAMORUDEEN OLAJIDE I was formerly known and addressed as BADMUS OLAJIDE MOYOSORE. Now wish to be known and addressed as BADMUS KAMORUDEEN OLAJIDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public to take note.

PAUCITY TO PROSPERITY FOUNDATION. The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ADEDOYIN ADEDEJI 2. SAMUEL OBODEH 3. ADEFOLAKE BANKOLE 4. ITUNU ADEDEJI 5. ARAMIDE ADEDEJI. THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN TO LEARN AND ACQUIRE SKILLS. 2. TO EMPOWER YOUTHS THROUGH AWARENESS AND SENSITIZATION PROGRAMMES. 3. TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO YOUTHS FOR SKILLS ACQUISITION AND TRAINING. Any objection to this registration must reach the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

POTENT CHARITY FOUNDATION

I FORMER LY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SALIU IMORU NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SALIU UMAR OMEIZA ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

JEJE JEESSE BAMIDELE

I, formerly known and addressed as OLUYEMI BAMIDELE, now wish to be known and addressed as JEJE JEESSE BAMIDELE. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OKOYE CHINEDU EVARISTUS

I formally known and addressed as OLAYINKA AHMED OLATUNBOSUN now wish to be known and addressed as OLAYINKA OLATUNBOSUN ISRAEL All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

MRS. CHUKWUEMEKA OGHENERO

I, formerly known and addressed as MISS. GOODNEWS OGHENERO, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHUKWUEMEKA OGHENERO. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note .

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly known and addressed as OKOYE CHINEDU FRANCIS now wish to be known and addressed as OKOYE CHINEDU EVARISTUS. All former documents remain valid General public take note.

This is to inform the general public that ODIBOYE MACDONALD and DABO HARRY refers to One and the same person But now wish to be known and addressed as ODIBOYE MACDONALD . All Former documents remain valid. The general public should take note.

OLUWASEUNIYI TEMILOLAOLUWA EUNICE

ADEBIYI ABIOLA ABIDEEN

I was formerly known and addressed as JENYO IDOWU EUNICE Now wish to be known and addressed as OLUWASEUNIYI TEMILOLAOLUWA EUNICE All former documents remain valid.

General public to take note.

JOLAOLUWA MICHAEL OLUSESAN I, formerly known and addressed as JOLAOSO MICHAEL OLUSESAN JOHN, now wish to be known and addressed as JOLAOLUWA MICHAEL OLUSESAN. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

I was formerly known and addressed as ADEBIYI ABIOLA ADEWALE Now wish to be known and addressed as ADEBIYI ABIOLA ABIDEEN. All former documents remain valid. General public to take note.

MUDA MARUFF I was formerly known and addressed as MUDA MARUFF RAJI Now wish to be known and addressed as MUDA MARUFF All former documents remain valid.

General public to take note.

ABU SUNDAY VINCENT

ODUME JOHN AKO

I, formerly known and addressed as, ABUBAKAR SUNDAY VINCENT, now wish to be known and addressed as, ABU SUNDAY VINCENT. All former documents remains valid. General public should take note.

I am formally known and addressed as ODUME JOHN AGBARA, now wishes to be known and addressed as ODUME JOHN AKO. All former documents remain valid,. General public should take note.

ALL POWER GOSPEL MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to the Corporate affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act 199 0.

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

Trustee’s name 1. Uba Prince.

2. Uba Blessing Ukachi.

The Trustees are : 1. Vincent Osane Mbaedee 2. Comfort Barinua Mbaedee 3 Baritore Bale Mbaedee 4. Kirikiri Jolly Barineka 5. King Nkpobe Bilo

Aims/Objective 1. To provide and render assistant to the less privilege one in the society .

2. To provide welfare for the widows, orphanage home, the aged and the down trodden.

3. To charitable works that will benefit those that could not afford good education in the society.

The Aim and objective: 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

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.

Any objection to this registration must reach the Registrar-General of Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Sign. Atule Enedomoh & Co. Suite A20, Grand Ibro Hotel, wuse zone 5 Abuja..

Signed: Secretary

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

23 News

Scarcity of Aviation fuel crumbles airlines operations Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

ÎÎÎAviation

fuel scarcity that almost crippled the industry continued on Monday as Arik Air said it was grappling with flight schedule disruptions due to the severe scarcity of Jet A1 across the country.

Since the beginning of this year, Nigeria has been grappling with inadequate supply of aviation fuel and consequently the disruption of flight operations.

For the past week, the airline and many other airlines had to face another round of aviation fuel scarcity which got worse over this weekend leading to many flight delays and

cancellations.

Arik operates an average of 120 daily flights requiring about 500,000 liters of fuel daily.

Spokesman for the airline, Banji Ola, said due to the large number of domestic and international flights, it was the most impacted by the inability of oil marketers to meet its daily fuel requirements on a timely and consistent basis.

This, he said, had forced the airline to postpone flights while waiting for the fuel marketers to source and deliver the product. On many occasions, despite all efforts in engaging the marketers if fuel could not be sourced, the flights may eventually

be cancelled causing not only revenue loss for the airline, but, also, inconveniencing or stranding the passengers.

He said Arik Air had identified supply and infrastructural challenges of the marketers as some of the key factors responsible for the epileptic supply of aviation fuel.

“At the root of the fuel supply crisis is low stock due to the inability of marketers to source for the foreign exchange to import more Jet A1 fuel into the country. There is also a distribution challenge as the discharging of vessels bringing Jet A1 and other petroleum products are done in the same jetty and loading various

trucks for distribution to cities like Kano or Abuja takes considerable effort and time.”

Ola explained that the situation in the north was even more difficult since the product takes longer to be delivered due to the trucking distance. Oil marketers have also resorted to trucking of aviation fuel to the airports because hydrants are not consistently available at the airports.

Arik Air has also stated that it was working on a longer term plan which would be finalised in the coming months to mitigate this situation and to be in a better position to address such supply shortages and delays.

“While the Federal Government

and oil marketers are working hard to address the supply and distribution challenges, we appeal to our guests to bear with us as they may experience flights delays and cancellations because of the prevailing scarcity of aviation fuel across the country.”

Marketers have assured that the situation would improve this week as they are expecting delivery of additional stock.

He stated that where flights were likely to be delayed or cancelled, Arik Air would notify passengers through SMS and do all possible to accommodate passengers on the first available alternate flight.

Niger to engage Forest Guards to beat encroachment

Ban importation of rice, Ikpeazu urges FG

Pita Chikwem, Minna

Sunday Nwakanma Umuahia

ÎÎÎWorried

by the indiscriminate encroachment of forest reserves in the Niger State by land speculators, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has approved the re-engagement of Green Guards to protect the forest and its economic values.

The State Commissioner for Environment and Solid Mineral, Dr. Aliyu Mohammed Tangwagi, disclosed this to newsmen in Minna.

He said the governor approved the re-engagement of the 520 former casual guards employed under the defunct Sure-P initiative in order to protect forest belt of the state from being illegally taken over.

“In the face of indiscriminate encroachment of our forest reserve and the illegal felling of trees without conscious efforts to replace fell trees, Mr. Governor has approved the return of the Green Guards. This is to bring sanity into our forest and protect our environment from deforestation.

Gov. Sani Bello

ÎÎÎThe view that agricul-

New Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Usman (right), former Managing Director of NPA, Malam Habib Abdullahi during the handover ceremony in Lagos… on Monday.

Nigerian cities can only survive if LGs are granted full autonomy –NRCN ÎÎÎThe need to restructure

the country with full autonomy for Local Government Areas has again been emphasised in view of its importance at ensuring that cities in the country were resilient enough to withstand modern day natural and economic crisis, which, if not planned for, could leave behind far reaching consequences.

This was part of the communiqué issued and made available to newsmen in Kaduna, on Sunday, after a stakeholders workshop organised by the Nigeria Resilient Cities Network (NRCN) which was held at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

According to the communiqué, which was jointly signed by the NRCN Team Leader and Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF) Sector Leader on Effective Cities, Michael Mutter and Director, ABU Directorate of Advancement and NRCN National Policy Advisor, Professor Adamu Ahmed, autonomy for local governments would promote service delivery to cities.

It read in part: “We shall promote the idea and practice of effective local governance for cities, through State, Local Government, Business and Community agents and agencies. In particular, we will seek more

effective local authority and service delivery to the cities.

“We shall actively promote and advocate on behalf of cities at the highest levels in Nigeria and internationally; their establishment as distinct entities, with adequate provisions, sense of ownership and effective management.

“We will draw attention to the precarious condition of our cities and their importance as economic centres, coupled with their vulnerable status in an age of multiple challenges,” it stated.

The communiqué emphasised that efforts would be intensified at integrating informal areas within cities, with a view to mak-

ing them included in development frameworks.

“In our respective cities and jurisdictions, we shall actively pursue and support measures to integrate informal and unplanned areas into the formal planning and development frameworks of our cities.”

It explained that NRCN would advocate and promote the incorporation of resilience strategies in urban plans and economic development for Nigerian cities through peer learning, where they would commit to the principle and practice of collaboration, knowledge sharing and mutual support through peer learning and review.

ture should be a new vista for development in Nigeria has gingered a call on the Federal Government to ban the importation of foreign rice.

The Abia State Governor, Hon. Okezie Ikpeazu, made this call on Monday in Umuahia when the Board Chairman of Non-Oil Export Promotion Council, Uloma Olewengwa, leading others, paid him a visit, stating that there was the need for stakeholders in agriculture to think seriously about products from Nigeria.

Ikpeazu said Nigeria should not be spending $2 billion daily purchasing rice when the local variety exists in the country, pointing out that as long as Nigeria continued to celebrate foreign rice, the economy will continue to have problem.

Gov. Ikpeazu

News 24 ‘One Chance’: FCT impounds 68 illegal commercial vehicles Idu Jude Abuja

ÏÏÏIn its efforts to stem the use

of illegal commercial vehicles to perpetrate criminal activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) called ‘One-Chance’, and to also keep the environment clean, the FCT Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection has impounded 64 unpainted taxis and four Siena buses in Abuja.

The Chairman of the FCT Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection Agency, Squadron Leader Abdullahi Adamu Monjel (retd), made this disclosure last weekend in his office at Area 11, Garki I District, Abuja.

The Chairman revealed that some of the vehicles were, however, impounded for illegal parking, to bring sanity to the motoring public in the Federal Capital City, Abuja, since there are designated parking areas including On-Street Parking.

According to him, the Task Team in the preceding week arrested seven drivers whose vehicles were amongst the ones also impounded to face appropriate sanction and also to serve as deterrent.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday July 19, 2016

Senator, Rep fault Lalong on grazing, ranching policy Chijioke Kingsley Jos

ÏÏÏSenator

representing Plateau Southern Zone in the National Assembly, Senator Jeremiah Useni and House of Representatives member Langtang North and South constituency, Hon. Beni Lar, has disclosed that Governor Simon Lalong did not invite them for the meeting he held with the National Assembly members from Plateau State over the grazing ranching policy.

JT Useni stated this on Monday in Jos, at a stakeholders meeting for the Plateau Southern Zone.

According to him, “I was not invited at the meeting Lalong

had with the NASS members from Plateau State and Hon. Beni Lar was equally not invited and we don’t know why the governor did that.

“We organised this stakeholders meeting for all people in the southern zone, the governor is from the southern zone but as you can see, the governor is not here, even the so called Commissioner for Water Resources who went and said Langtang North had given land for grazing reserve is not here.

“Who is Lalong to go and say that Langtang North had given their land? I don’t know why the governor will do such.

“He should have sent somebody to come and brief us.

We called a meeting of Senators representing the southern zone and stakeholders from the zone, not a meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“As you can see the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Solomon Dalung is here, but the governor cannot be found.

“I only won election under the platform of the PDP, just like the governor won under the All Progressive Congress (APC) and that does not make him an APC governor, he is the governor of Plateau State, irrespective of party affiliations and he is from this zone”, Sen. Useni said.

Recall that Governor Lalong had said that some communities

Gov. Lalong

in Plateau had offered their land for the ranching programme.

Sen. Useni has refuted this claim calling on the governor to tread with caution.

Ugwuanyi cautions residents against building on waterways Moses Oyediran Enugu

ÏÏÏ

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has called on residents of the state not to erect structures on waterways to avoid the incidence of flood or erosion caused by blockage of the drainage system.

Governor Ugwuanyi made the call on Monday while inspecting the erosion site along Okigwe old federal road by Ugwuleshi Community in Awgu Local Government Area of the state, which washed out the road culvert because of blockage of the drainage caused by illegal erection of fences down the stream.

The governor who frowned at the cause of the erosion and the threat it has posed to the people of the community and its environs, promised that his administration would in spite of the present economic challenges, reconstruct the culvert not minding that it is a federal government project.

He told the people of the area to continue to support and offer special prayers for the progress of the state and the country in general, assuring them that he was committed to his campaign promises to advance good

Ondo APC women protesting against Sen. Dino Melaye for alleged assault on Sen. Oluremi Tinubu in Ondo State…on Monday. Photo: TOSIN AJUWON.

Opeoluwani Akintayo

ÏÏÏSuspected

militants on Monday morning bombed two oil installations belonging to a multinational oil exploration company in Batan, Warri South West Council Area of Delta State.

It was gathered that the incident occurred at 12:05am on Monday.

The fresh attack happened around Camp Three, few kilometres away from the spot where the militants had attacked oil installations early this month.

Chairman of Batan community, Dickson Ogugu, who confirmed the attack, said: “We heard a double explosion at about 12:05am between Camp 3 and Kokologbene communities.”

Again, militants blow up 2 more oil facilities in Delta

A security officer attached to 3 Battalion, Effurun, near Warri, said a team of military personnel has been drafted in company of a surveillance team to ascertain the extent of damage.

Meanwhile, a new militant group, the Niger Delta Suicides, NDS, has warned that it would devastate the economy in different forms if government refused to create a genuine platform for talks with militants.

In a statement by its spokesman, Amakiri, the NDS said: “We, the Niger Delta Suicides, NDS, wish to warn the

present government and those clamoring to frustrate the efforts of Niger Delta Avengers to have a rethink and create a genuine platform for dialogue, otherwise, we will use our oil to survive and they will eat their yam.This fight is a fight by everyone, including children yet unborn. Thank God, we have successfully planted Adaka Borohs and Tompolos everywhere. So, we are waiting”.

In a related development, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has debunked the claim by the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung that he

met with the militant group at Oporoza, saying he was apparently defrauded by Niger Delta fraudsters.

Spokesman of NDA, Brig Gen Mudoch Agbinibo, while reacting to the alleged visit of Dalung to Oporoza, on Monday, said: “The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, narrated how he mer some selfacclaimed Niger Delta Avengers in Oporoza, Gbaramatu kingdom. We are here to let the public know that Niger Delta fraudsters have defrauded the Minister.”

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday July 19, 2016

25 Foreign

US calls for restraint in Turkey after failed coup

ÏÏÏThe

United States is urging Turkey to exercise restraint and act within the rule of law as it investigates last week’s failed coup, amid conflicting reports about whether a former Air Force commander confessed to being a ringleader of the attempted takeover.

The state-run Anadolu news

agency reported that 8,777 officers have been suspended and 6,000 members of the judiciary and military have been detained following the attempted coup Friday, sparking concern from world leaders who warn against actions that would damage constitutional order.

On Monday, Anadolu

quoted General Akin Ozturk, who earlier had denied involvement in the uprising against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as saying that he “acted with the intention of carrying out a coup.”

But the news agency has since taken the report down and his alleged involvement

has been denied in reports by private news media outlets in Turkey.

In Brussels Monday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he supported bringing perpetrators of the attempted coup in Turkey to justice, but warned the government against going “too far” while restoring order in the country.

Al-Qeda’s commander in Mali killed

ÏÏÏMedia sources say that Al

Qeda’s commander in Northern Mali has been killed. According to a group that monitors online extremist activity, Abu Bakr alShinqiti was killed during a raid on a Malian army barracks near the border with Burkina Faso.

The SITE Intelligence Group said on Sunday the information was according to a statement from al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, which did not specify the date or location of the raid, or report any Malian casualties.

The killed commander is said to be Tunisian.

Northern Mali was occupied in 2012 by al-Qaida and other jihadist groups before a Frenchled military operation drove them out cities and towns.

Morocco seeks to rejoin AU despite dispute with Sahrawi Republic

ÏÏÏAfter 32 years of isolation,

People kick and beat a Turkish soldier, who participated in the attempted coup, on Istanbul’s Bosphorus Bridge AP

Dlamini-Zuma to stay on as AU Chair till 2017 ÏÏÏDr

Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the outgoing Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, has officially accepted to carry on in her role until January 2017, when new elections are held to find her successor. ‘‘The Heads of State have asked us to carry on our duties till the next elections in Jan 2017. We’ll just do that,’‘Zuma confirmed during remarks at the closing ceremony of the 27th Heads of State meeting of the AU in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.

Her position puts to rest speculations about leaving despite the inconclusive elections. Former Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete’s

name had come up as an interim replacement for Zuma who is believed to be returning to local South African politics.

Although she had announced that she would not be seeking a new mandate after her first term which started in 2012, the Heads of State failed to elect a replacement for her out of three candidates on the last day of the AU Summit.

There were three candidates vying for the post; Uganda’s former vice president Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, Bostwana’s Foreign Minister Pelonomi Venson Moitoi and Agapito Mba Mokuy, Equatorial Guinea’s Foreign Minister.

Even though the Botswana candidate got 16 votes to top

the voting, it fell short of the two-thirds majority required to emerge winner. The next

Dlamini Zuma

summit is slated for early next year when the AU will hold new elections to replace Zuma

Morocco is seeking to rejoin the African Union (AU) after leaving the organisation amid a dispute over Western Sahara.

In a message to the AU summit in Rwanda, the Moroccan King, Mohammed VI, said the time had come for his country to retake its place within its institutional family.

In an interview with Africanews, Journalist and analyst with the Institute for Security Studies, Liesel LouwVaudran who is attending the summit said Morocco’s application also came with some conditions.

“Apparently, Morocco applied to be re-admitted to the AU with pre-conditions asking for AU to suspend the Sahrawi Arab Republic in the Western Sahara.

So that’s very interesting and in a way it’s sort of a victory to Sahrawi because they are able to be members of the AU together with Morocco.”

The northern Africa country withdrew from the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1984 over the admission of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as a full member of the body.

It was the only African country that was not a member.

Morocco claims Western Sahara as part of its territory, much of which it has occupied since 1975.

But the AU recognises Western Sahara as an independent state.

Morocco had insisted that it would only join the AU on the condition that the membership of Western Sahara was withdrawn or frozen.

26

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Law Æ s Abia State crisis: INEC acted rascally by issuing Ogah Certificate – Obun Takon

LAW

DESTINY OBUN TAKON Lagos-based lawyer, Destiny Obun Takon is the Principal of the Destiny Obun & Co. Legal Practitioners

Lagos-based lawyer, Destiny Obun Takon is the Principal of the Destiny Obun & Co. Legal Practitioners. He was called to the bar in 1994. Obun Takon, who celebrated his golden jubilee recently spoke on some of his experiences at the bar. He also bared his mind in this interview with PETER FOWOYO on some salient national issues.

What are some of your experiences at the bar in the last 22 years?

Yes. It’s being a long time. One has put in a lot. Thanks to God anyway, that we have come this far on this journey. The posture of my legal practice has been principally also govern by my religious orientation. I have been tutored in my faith to always have a disposition towards offering service.

When you give service, first of all, every other things you need will come. This will also afford you the opportunity of having a personal relationship with people. Then, of course, having rendered the service and it is proven that you are service oriented, people tend to rely on you more. That is also not forgetting that getting your fees

paid is a major issue in legal practice. Most clients, after service, does not want to pay. But, even at that, the philosophy of rendering service has helped me a lot. All I have been doing is to agree a fee with my clients and put it in writing so that if any of them want to be funny, I have a choice to either sue or report the matter to any other person who is aware of the agreement. With this philosophy, I have over the years been in uncountable matters. Some of which made me know that a lot of people out there are only interested in cheating others. It doesn’t matter how much help you give to them.

They are full of promises when they are in trouble, but when they are out, they begin to tell stories.

Besides, I have done uncountable

number of ‘pro bono’ cases. Even matters that only took the grace of God to pull through. Above all, I want to thank God for making me to live up to half a century on earth in a country of uncertainty, hopelessness and lawlessness.

In legal practice, my highest moment was when I see myself in court conducting trial and taking charge of the cases. I am glad at moments that I put litigants under cross-examination and they are giving out what they thought they are holding back. It makes me feel that even at my best convenient in life, it’s still what I want to do . It also gives me joy seeing the court’s judgement going in my favour at any time. My low point in legal practice, of course, has to do with a situation whereby I have

worked so hard for a client and after rendering services to the client, he is reluctant to pay my legal fee and it’s not that he doesn’t have the ability to pay. Besides, my experiences with judges who are not holding steadfastly to their oath of office, is also my lowest point in legal practice. An instance is when you know you are marshalling a great point that the judge should put down and the judge deliberately decided not to record that part. Sadly enough, if those points were noted by the judge, that would have been the end of the matter. You now found yourself in a situation where you ask the judge to either excuse himself from the matter or you petition him outrightly to the National Judicial Council(NJC). These are some of my low moments in legal practice.

How did you see the trend in legal profession where lawyers will want their children to follow their footsteps in their choice of profession? Is your father a lawyer?

No. My dad is not a lawyer. He was a civil rights activist. He was the voice of his people all through his life until he died. He was also a judge of the Customary Court in Cross-River State. My grandfather was also an activist and because of his activism called himself a lawyer. I am the only lawyer among my siblings. But, of course, I have my children who have indicated interest and are also coming up. My wife is also a 4th year law student. However, on the issue of family of lawyers, the truth of the matter is that, I am not saying because I am a lawyer, but I had always wanted to be a lawyer. I wrote JAMB three times and it was on the third occasion

that I was able to make it and beat the cut-off mark. I later got my admission into the University. So, being a lawyer for me is nothing but an indication that I am living my life the way I had wanted it.

Throughout the period I was writing JAMB, I told my people and everyone who cares to listen that I am not going to study anything other than law. So, I am fulfilled.

I am living my life. I do not want to subscribe to anyone in anyway compelling his or her child to do his bidding because he is a lawyer.

But, I am aware of influencing my children to love the profession. I believed this is what other people in other profession will like to do. But, more so, because of the nature of the legal profession as being at the centre of activism for human liberties, it positions a lawyer to be more vocal and recognized in the society than people in other professions. For instance, a lawyer is the only person that can boldly confront the law enforcement agencies. This is because he is absolutely not just knowing the law but will also want to assert his position as a lawyer. Therefore, a lawyer will always be glad to have his children doing his profession but there should be no compulsion.

How would you assess the two-year tenure of the outgoing NBA President, Mr. Augustine Allegeh(SAN)?

Well, may be, the major diffential and the signature of his tenure is what we now have as the introduction of the seal policy and the accompany fees. This is a policy where as a legal practitioner, you undergo a verification process to know if you are up-to-date with the payment of your practicing CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

fee. Your number showing that you are indeed called to the bar will also be verified. Payment for the seal will also have to be made and the seal must appear on all documents, processes and agreement prepared by you as a lawyer.

I think, this is a landmark. It has helped a lot in warding off quacks from the profession. This policy has also invariably helped the NBA in raking in a lot of money.

Above all, I think it takes somebody who has the ability to play a bit outside the books to come up with something unique as we now have in the seal policy. So, I will say that on that ground, especially, he has performed quite above average. His performance, to me is higher than most of his predecessors. What we now have is a departure from the old norms.

What is your view on the Governorship tussle in Abia State?

Let me start from the issuance of certificate of return to Dr. Uche Ogah, by INEC. I think INEC acted rascally by issuing the certificate to him. What was the urgency?

What was the rush? The commission claimed it is obeying the order of Justice Okon Abang. But, you are a Nigerian, can you tell me how many such orders in the past have INEC obeyed? You see, the thing with us is that we are always doing the right thing for the wrong reason. That is the major problem we have as people and that is what is playing out here. INEC was a party to that proceedings. Yes, the court has ordered that he should be issued with the certificate but where the litigant take steps to file an appeal and an application for stay of execution of the judgement, then INEC should have waited. It then needs not act under the guise of obeying a court’s order because it amounts to brigandage and rascality. This is because by this action, INEC was trying to extinguish the man’s constitutional right of appeal. As far as I am concerned, there are no two Governors in Abia State. Being a Governor does not just end with being issued with a certificate of return. Has he been sworn-in?

So, Ogah is not a governor. Even though, he was hastily issued a certificate of return by INEC. The Abia State High Court that stopped Ogah’s swearing-in does not sit on the appeal of Justice Abang’s judgement. What we have are two conflicting judgements of courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction.

INEC cannot even chose which of them to obey as it were because it is not a judicial body. In actual fact, there is a stalemate in Abia State and as such the law must be allowed to run its full course and both parties must see it through.

What can be done to stem the tide of conflicting judgements

by various courts of the land?

Don’t you think this is endangering our judicial system?

Yes. These conflicting judgements are endangering our judicial system. It is quite disturbing. But, one way of tackling it is through periodic conferences and seminars for these judicial officers. At these fora, the Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN) and others in charge should continue to make them see the dangers in giving conflicting judgements in order to avoid judicial rascality. It was this rascality that give rise to all these conflicting judgements. But, the thing is that judgement are usually given in line with the materials placed before the court. So, I am afraid, we might continue to have these conflicting judgements as long as people are placing materials before the court. Conflicting judgements is not healthy because it portrays the judiciary in bad light, most especially, in this part of the world that we know that graft has become a way of life.

So, giving what Nigerians know, everyone will be quick to say that judiciary is corrupt particular each time this issue of conflicting judgements reared its ugly trend.

Even though, that was not what really happened. The National Judicial Council(NJC) should also wield the big stick on any erring judicial officer.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), Prof.

Ben Nwabueze, was reported to have said that the trial of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President and others over alleged forging of the Senate rules has put the Senate on trial. Do you agree with this assertion?

With due respect to Prof.

Nwabueze, I do not agree with him that it is the Senate that is on trial.

But, I agreed with those Nigerians who believed that it is the leadership of the Senate that is on trial. I also say as I have said at other fora that these principal officers of the Senate are on trial because powersthat- be does not want them there.

I also believed that it is not open to those who are facing trial for forgery to cite reasons why they are being tried. They cannot be heard to say I’m not the only thief. If you are caught as a thief, even if there are other one million thieves, the thief that is caught is the one that is caught. He should face his trial and defend himself. However, my question is why are they being tried now for offences allegedly committed before now? Saraki is also being tried for alleged false declaration of assets. But, why are we having his trial now? Are those information not available for him to be prosecuted immediately he left office as Governor of Kwara State? If he is being prosecuted for the right reasons why was he not tried immediately his tenure end-

27 Law

AGF’s summon by Senate in order – Obun Takon

Obun Takon

“I am afraid, we might continue to have these conflicting judgements as long as people are placing materials before the court.

Conflicting judgements is not healthy because it portrays the judiciary in bad light, most especially, in this part of the world that we know that graft has become a way of life” ed as a governor? Why should it be now that he became the Senate President as against the will and dictation of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress(APC).

I and some other Nigerians know that his travails was due to how he emerged as the Senate President that is against the the plans by the APC. But, for them, like I said, they have to face the law and defend themselves. If the other members of the Senate preferred by the leadership of the APC has emerged, Saraki’s trial would never have happened. We will not be hearing about any forgery suit against him. That is the truth and that is my opinion. But, as far as I

am concern, the Senate is not on trial but its leadership.

How do you see the Senate’s invitation of the Attorney General of the Federation(AGF) on the trial of Saraki and others over alleged forgery?

Well, the summon is in order because the AGF is compellable and summonable. But, of course, they want to ask him why they are on trial. They are on trial because they are alleged to have committed offences. Therefore, the AGF is not doing anything wrong legally by signing charges or preferring counts against them. He is only acting in his capacity as the AGF. So, as far as I am concerned it depends on what the Senate has asked the AGF to come and explain. Also, because a matter is in court does not preclude any discussion on it. It depends on the context of the discussions or the issues. That is why as a Judiciary Correspondent, you can write about the matter, even as it is in court. You can even seek lawyers opinion on the issue. So, the AGF is being invited by the Senate to come and say, they are on trial and charges were preferred against them because they were alleged to have committed certain offences. He can equally tell them that he is not a judge but only doing his part as the Chief Law Officer of the country. These are the allegations against you. These are the evidences that were gathered.

These charges were filed so that the court can make pronounce-

ment on the issue. I think that is good enough explanation for the summon.

What is your view on the letter written by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to the international community over his trial?

Well, I do not see what is erroneous in the letter because the world is a global village now. What happened in one nation seems to have a spiral effect in several other nations and even the world at large.

Nigeria is a major oil producing country. Nigeria is also a member of the Commonwealth and the African Union. We have also signed a lot of treaties and declarations.

So, as it is, if Ekweremadu feels that his trial is politically motivated and as he said that his trial is capable of truncating democracy in Nigeria, he can write to the international community to intervene. He has written and I do not know the content of his letter, but he must have given his reasons as to how he thinks his trial might truncate Nigeria’s democracy. It could be that there is substance in the letter but this will depend on what he alleged. If at the end of the day there is substance in the petition, the United States, for instance, can call President Buhari and ask him questions. Can you imagine if the man write in his letter that his trial is capable of bringing war in Nigeria and he gives his reason? Do you know that the international community will consider the effect of war on a country as large as Nigeria on the rest of Africa? The world is in crisis today because of the refuge status of Syria. So, the international community will always look at the larger picture. If there were to be internal strife in Nigeria, the likely spiral effect on the world will make the international community ask questions. So, to answer your question specifically, I do not see anything wrong in what he has done because it doesn’t mean what is happening in court will be affected.

How do you view the appointments made so far by President Buhari? People are saying that these appointments were not in conformity with the Federal Character Principles. Do you agree?

Yes. I agreed with people’s opinion. When he gave us the list of the first set of Ministers, everyone was agog as to what is happening. Then, the President said he is going to balance out. But, I am shocked with the subsequent appointments.

28

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Tech Times Æ s

Broadband Commission charges world leaders to harness ICT4D to drive SDGs g 31

Glo offers new prepaid subscribers 8 times recharge value

g 29

Shittu reiterates need for ICT University

g 29

Experts applaud import of currency devaluation on ICT Industry, others Stories by Tony Nwakaegho With the recent Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) move with the Naira against the dollar, some experts said it been liberalized in the market and that has caused significant increase in confidence even as international potential clients that they were coming but held back have reengaged to that wind of change to boost local content.

Speaking to Daily Times , Ayotunde Coker, MD Rack Centre, Lagos cited that his company international potential clients for instance have finally re-engaged in two or three day of that change, while the Naira has actually appreciated because the parallel market now is moving closer to the official market.

“It is like the real currency is being actually devalued for sometimes now if you listen to the industry commentators in the parallel markets because the official market was being reserved for more specific things. With the recent CBN move what has actually happened by and large is the Naira has been liberalized in the market and that has caused significant increase in confidence even with our international potential clients.

“The Naira has actually appreciated because the parallel market now is moving closer to the official market. If it finds its own market value then we can get on with business understanding what the market value is. As long as it is creating the level of confidence with investors and other international players that want to consume

our services, we bring them here and that is positive for us. That means we will be bringing in foreign exchange.

“It helps us also because in the core infrastructure we provide dollar related commitment as we develop the level of our IT. By and large, the changes that have happened are significantly positive for us in terms of how we move forward because it generates confidence and if you continue to imbed that confidence in terms of how people see doing business with Nigeria companies, the best for everyone. So we are seeing a change and a positive change even in Nigeria in terms of sentiments in the market,” he said.

Coker explained that it has been affecting the issue of importing infrastructure CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Nigeria missing in WEF’s rank of top 10 African ICT nations -Report Despite the various initiatives being undertaken by the private and public institutions to transform Nigeria to a digital economy, the country’s profile is missing in the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2016 global report on information technologies, dubbed: “Innovation in Digital Economy,” The World Economic Forum in its 2016 global report assessed countries that integrate ICTs in their socio-economic development, and going by the template of the report,

SHITTU

integration relates to the use of ICTs by the government, companies and populations.

In Africa, Mauritius, though 49th in the world, remains the most advanced. The island is followed by South Africa (65th worldwide), Seychelles (74th), Morocco (78th), Rwanda (80th), Tunisia (81st), Cape Verde (85th), Kenya (86th), Egypt (96th), Namibia (99th) and Botswana (101st).

Last in line are Benin (128th), Swaziland (129th), Liberia (130th), Malawi (132nd), Guinea

(134th), Madagascar (135th) Mauritania (136th), Burundi (138th), and Chad (139th).

The report also showed the performances of nations in the emerging and developed climes compared with the level of ICTs integration in Africa. while Singapore and Finland, respectively recorded first and second in WEF’s report, reached 5 on a scale of 7 in terms of ICT’s impact on the economy, African countries float around 2.9 points average.

I n developed economies, while populations, then companies and government, in that order, are the one to rely on ICTs most, in Africa, it is first the government, then companies followed by populations that use the technologies.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Stories by Tony Nwakaegho Adebayo Shittu, minister of Communications, has reiterated the need for the establishment of an ICT University in Nigeria, which will be first of its kind in Africa.

According to Shittu, the ICT University will be a pool that will provide manpower for and train human capital development for a fledging ICT in Nigeria.

The minister disclosed this while receiving the members of the Editorial Board of Kakaaki Magazine that visited his office to present him an award as the Democracy Man of the Year 2016.

“We are working on an ICT University which will be the first in Africa. It will train high calibre personnel that will service the ICT industry,” minister said.

He disclosed that the recently compiled ICT Roadmap 2016 will soon become operational.

The Minister added that as part of the implementation of the ICT Roadmap, some activities, seminars and sensitization programmes will be rolled out in the next few weeks.

“By the time the Roadmap must have been in operation before the end of next month, most of what we are doing here will be known to Nigerians.

Every Nigerian is affected by what the telecoms industry is doing,” Shittu said.

The Minister affirmed that although the ICT industry is a new terrain for him, yet he was able to achieve certain feat since assumption of office because of the clement working relationship he has with the

29 Tech Times

Shittu reiterates need for ICT University

SHITTU Permanent Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, the directors and other management team in the ministry.

Commenting on his working bond with the Permanent Secretary, he said,” I love my working relationship with the Permanent Secretary.

We are two great minds that love challenges. In fact, it is a marriage made in heaven. And we both work harmoniously with the directors. I love working with each and every

Minister of Communications one of them”.

Shittu expressed his appreciation to the Kakaaki team for finding him worthy of being honoured as the Democracy Day Man of The Year 2016, and urged the organisation to continue to partner with the ministry and its agencies.

He added that his office is open to any constructive ideas.

“We are receptive of ideas”, he quipped.

Presenting the award and magazine to the minister, Chief

Tai Olusoccer, group chairman/ publisher and editor-in-chief, said the selection committee of the magazine found Barr. Shittu worthy of this year’s award because of his unprecedented achievements in the sector within a short period of time despite being a non-ICT expert.

“Out of all the names of personalities shortlisted for this year’s award, your name scored the highest marks largely because despite the fact that you are coming from a non-ICT field, you were able to achieve the mileage you have so far reached in propelling the ministry. So, the award is a deserved one for you, sir,” Olusoccer said.

Olusoccer also attributed the minister’s achievements within a short pace of time to his cordial working relationship with the Permanent Secretary and commended what he described as an unblemished synergy between the minister and the Permanent Secretary and the cooperation of the directors in moving the ministry forward.

The publisher said that Kakaaki Magazine which has been profiling reputable Nigerians in both the public and private sectors in the past 13 years dedicated this special publication to chronicling the achievements of the minister, the ministry and its key officials as well as activities of agencies under the supervision of the ministry since the inception of the present administration.

NITDA inaugurates e-Nigeria 2016 local organising committee

sectors.”

The eNigeria 2016 is scheduled for 22nd -24th November, 2016 at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja. It is expected to attract key players of the Nigerian innovation ecosystem and foreign L-R: Mr.Kehinde Oladipo- Head of Administration(NCC); Mr. Godwin Kienka- Director International Tennis stakeholders together to share Cross section eNigeriaDalungLOC members after the inauguration ceremony Academy; Barr.ofSolomon Minister of Youths & Sports; Mrs. Iyabode Sholanke-Director, Special experiences, identify challenges (NITDA)(NCC) in Abuja, recently.

Duties and propose strategies for using innovation and The National Information defining and accelerating national ICT-enabled entrepreneurship to diversify the Technology Development economic growth.

Agency (NITDA) has officially Dr Olatunji who was represented economy and create jobs.

One of the highlights of the inaugurated the Local Organising by the deputy director of Corporate Committee (LOC) for the 9th Strategy and Research, Mr. eNigeria 2016 is the section eNigeria Conference and Expo, the Mohammad Idris Yelwa said: “It is on Startups and Innovation to flagship ICT event organised by in this line that this year’s theme underscore NITDA’s new workNITDA under the patronage of the is ‘Leveraging on IT Innovation thrust to promote Nigeria’s startup Ministry of Communications. for Economic Diversification’ to innovation ecosystem across all The acting Director General identify with the current goals the country’s zones and also attract of the NITDA, Dr. Vincent of the Nigerian government to potential investors into this vital Olatunji, while inaugurating the diversify the economy; cope with growth segment of the global ICT 2016 eNigeria, said the event the rapid dwindling revenues from economy.

“We are inviting innovation has gone full circle to become the oil sector; and create a new vista the clearinghouse for adopting of revenue directly through ICT or efforts from within Africa to relevant ideas and innovation for by using ICT to aid other non-oil come peer with local innovation

efforts and also inviting global stakeholders, particularly angel investors and promoters of innovator hubs to be part of the 2016 eNigeria as we in NITDA firm up to promote the national agenda on economic diversification,” said Olatunji while tasking LOC members to ensure a successful event.

Olatunji said eNigeria has become a flagship conference and expo and this year, the NITDA plans to have global and local players with strong startup-pull such as Uber, Facebook, Jumia, Konga and the likes to join the league of participants at the event. NITDA , he said will also be leveraging on its local and international collaborations such as its partnership with the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) organisers of Gitex Technology Week to thicken the quality of participation at eNigeria.

Glo offers new prepaid subscribers 8 times recharge value The acclaimed game changer in Nigeria’s mobile market and the grandmasters of data, Globacom has launched ‘Glo Jollific8” (Jollificate), a tariff plan specially designed to give new prepaid customers eight times more value on every recharge made on the company’s network.

“Glo Jollific8,” which offers the subscriber 8 times more value on every recharge from N100 and above, also gives additional benefits including access to call all local networks, browse, upload, download and stream internet content freely. It also gives subscribers free data that can be gifted to other subscribers.

Globacom, in a statement described the prepaid plan as the best offer designed to exceed the expectations and communication experience of Nigerians. The company said “Glo Jollific8” has increased the capacity of subscribers to call and text their loved ones as well as browse the internet to keep abreast of latest happenings on the information super highway.

Under “Glo Jollific8”, every recharge gives free data and voice benefits. For instance, N100 recharge gives N800 value for voice and 50MB data in addition to free 10MB which is worth N50. This brings the total package accruable to N100 recharge to N850; while N200 recharge attracts benefits worth N1,600 with embedded 100MB data and additional free 25MB of superfast data to bring the overall value offered to N1,700 for just N200.

In the same vein, a N500 recharge gives N4,000 value for voice and 250MB of data and another 50MB data worth N200 for gifting. This brings the value to N4,200 while N1,000 recharge attracts N8,000 octuple bonus that has 500MB and additional 100MB of data worth N400 for gifting to bring the total bonus to N8,400.

Subscribers who recharge with N5,000 will get N40,000 as 8 times bonus which comes with 2,500MB and an additional 500MB data worth N2,000 for gifting to bring the overall value to a whopping N42,000.

Tech Times 30

NCC adduces reason why it invests in sports Stories by Tony Nwakaegho The Nigerian C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commission (NCC) said that it is investing in sport, especially Lawn Tennis because of the special consideration that sport is capable of creating wealth for the nation.

The Executive ViceChairman of the NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta stated this in his speech at the launch of the 2016 Edition of the NCC Tennis Cup held at the

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

NIPOST to promote patronage of buynaija goods– Balama

L-R: Mr. Kehinde Oladipo, Head of Administration(NCC); Mr. Godwin Kienka, Director, International Tennis Academy; Barr. Solomon Dalung, Minister of Youths & Sports and Mrs. Iyabode Sholanke, Director, Special Duties (NCC) in EKO club, Lagos, recently.

Ikoyi Cub in Lagos.

“Investments in Sports will help our youths to be engaged, become world class players, creates employment opportunities and ultimately create wealth for the nation,” Danbatta declared.

Professor Umar Danbatta who was represented by Mrs. Iyabode Sholanke-Director, Special Duties at NCC, noted that the NCC Tennis cup is a nationwide tennis league that promotes healthy competition in the game of lawn Tennis

across the country, adding that the Commission aims to positively engage tennis Players and provide a platform for them to excel.

The Minister of Youths & Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung, who was the Guest of Honour, in his brief remarks thanked the Commission for investing in the game of lawn tennis in Nigeria. ” let us invest in Youth development so that we can save tomorrow,” he said.

Ten teams will participate

in the tournament compared to eight teams of the 2015 edition.

The groups were divided into Blue and White Groups representing the brand colours of the NCC. The winning team will go home with seven million Naira; Runner-up team-five million Naira; Third place Team-three million Naira while the fourth place team goes home with two million Naira.

The Commission also received award as the Outstanding 2015 Tennis Sponsor.

Etisalat sets up ‘Fight Malaria’ clubs in schools

As part of its commitment to the fight against the scourge of malaria in the country, Nigeria’s customer centric and innovative telecommunications company, Etisalat, has announced plans to set up ‘Fight Malaria Clubs’ across Secondary schools in Nigeria.

The ‘Fight Malaria Clubs’ initiative will be established in Etisalat adopted schools across the country and is designed to educate secondary students on what it will take to eliminate the prevalence of malaria in Nigeria.

The company statement disclosed that the establishment of these clubs will help to meet the strategic priorities and approaches that will facilitate the dissemination of advocacy tools and information for empowerment against malaria.

These approaches will include regular activities which will be organised for the students such as training sessions, conferences talks by experts, internal and external competitions which will be used to disseminate information to the students.

Speaking on this initiative, Ikenna Ikeme, Director,

L-R: Bassey Ette, Manager, Regional Legal Services; Ihechukwu Charles,Specialist, Environment Compliance; Chiweta Uraih, Specialist, Corporate & Social Responsibility; Uchechukwu Nwokolo, Officer, Regional Legal Services; Christian Kanu, Account Manager, Enterprise Sales (SME & Specialized Channels) during the distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets by staff of Etisalat Nigeria held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently.

Regulatory & Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria said, “We have chosen to begin with two of our adopted schools; Akande Dahunsi Memorial Junior and Senior Secondary School and they will serve as a pilot for the project. We have

also identified an implementing partner to drive this project and plan to roll out subsequently to our other adopted schools soon”.

According to him, Etisalat decided to set up these clubs in order to establish fundamental change in attitudes, and

understanding of the harmful effects of malaria which result in the high rate of deaths in Nigeria.

“The purpose of the Fight Malaria school clubs is to help create change in behaviour in households, through informing and educating school children on how to control malaria,” he concluded.

With the establishment of the clubs, Etisalat will work with the schools to train the students, helping them acquire skills in using technology and other means to fight malaria, for personal and community impact. They will also learn how to implement malaria prevention programmes in their various homes, surroundings and community at large. Vital to this will be the mobilization of their peers and other community members to take action that will help to prevent and control malaria; and by leveraging technology (social media and blogging) they can also promote malaria prevention messages.

Etisalat Nigeria’s Corporate & Social Responsibility interventions are built on a tripod of Health, Education and Environmental sustainability.

Dr. Richard Balami, acting postmaster general of the Federation has declared that the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) will collaborate with the BUY-NAIJA PROJECT management team to promote large scale patronage of Made-inNigeria products and services by Nigerians.

Balami made this known when the Buy-Naija Management Team recently paid him a courtesy visit at the NIPOST Corporate Headquarters, Abuja.

Balami who commended the Team for the initiative, describing the Buy-NAIJA Made in Nigeria idea as very timely and in tandem with NIPOST e-Commerce programme aimed at collaborating with stakeholders in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to showcase the qualities of products of the enterprises.

Commenting on NIPOST delivery capacity, the acting Postmaster General disclosed that postal services have some unique advantages including its extensive delivery network, adding that his management has started exploring this network and can be fully utilized by incorporating new technologies to reduce cost, improve quality and increase consistency.

He also expressed his Management’s appreciation to BUY -NAIJA PROJECT Team for considering NIPOST as worthy partners in the promotion of Made-in-Nigeria goods, stressing the fact that the NIPOST remains the universally accessible channel through which economic, social, financial and digital opportunities can be extended to the broadest range of the population.

According to him, NIPOST will continue to support all wellmeaning efforts of the Federal Government and agencies aimed at reducing the hardship currently experienced by Nigerians as occasioned by a down turn of the economy.

On his part, Apostle William Iheanacho, chairman of the Team, disclosed that the BUYNAIJA PROJECT is a campaign initiative of the National Industrial Revolution Plan of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to institute a culture of patriotism on Nigerians to love and patronise goods and services made in the country.

Apostle Iheanacho stressed that the visit was to seek a strategic partnership with NIPOST for a seamless execution of the Team’s mandate of promoting patronage of Madein – Nigeria goods and services

by Nigerians using NIPOST widespread as leverage.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

31 Tech Times

Broadband Commission charges world leaders to harness ICT4D to drive SDGs Stories by Tony Nwakaegho The Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development has charged world leaders to harness Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) to drive Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Commission gave the charge at the end of its recent High-Level Policy Forum (HLPF) in New York, attributing ICTs as uniquely powerful tool to drive global development, generally in driving the SDGs. The Commission in a press statement also made available to the Daily Times insisted that policymakers, the private sector and other partners should make deployment of broadband infrastructure a top priority in strategies to accelerate global development and progress towards the SDGs. The statement is to be presented to the 2016 Highlevel Political Forum on Sustainable Development meeting in New York City, from 11-20 July to guide global efforts on the achievement of the SDGs. The Commission outlined the numerous ways broadband could improve global sustainable development to

ZHAO include addressing basic needs such as education and access to information; helping lift people out of poverty through e-commerce opportunities and job growth; improving health services; monitoring climate change and planetary processes, and

Experts applaud import of currency devaluation on ICT Industry, others CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

because they ensure that at the Naira point of view they make the dollar commitments because the company import a lot of the core infrastructure that they have.

“One of the things we do here is that we have a significant amount of Nigerian content value add because we have the infrastructure we put it together and we deliver it to consumers both locally and internationally.

That values add is part of the total value package, so we are full of exposure. Any economy will import the components of its finished product.

“Even BMW in Germany doesn’t make everything in

Germany; some BMW components are made in UK. They assemble it in Germany as German IP (intellectual property) to sell and that is the same thing we are doing here. We have a combination of input prices that are dollar related.

“We add the Nigerian intellectual property on top of it plus cost scale that we add and we are able to sell into the economy.

Increasingly you will find that with the location of the Rack Centre and as we are establishing our business here, we will export our services elsewhere, but we already have some international players here, who are buying our services internationally.

“I don’t want to be a purveyor of doom that naira has devalued. Look

bridging the digital gender divide.

“The theme of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development is ‘Ensuring that no-one is left behind,” said Houlin Zhao, ITU SecretaryGeneral.

ITU Scribe stressed that

Broadband Commission outlined the fundamental role broadband technology could play in helping the world achieve its most pressing sustainable development goals.

“Let us all grasp this vital opportunity to strive for a world where every citizen enjoys the opportunities and benefits of universal, affordable and inclusive access to ICTs,” he stated.

According to him, this will be the first HLPF that examines efforts at national, regional, and global levels to put policies and measures in place that will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Since the global community unanimously adopted the goals at the SDG Summit in New York, last September they have become the development ‘gold standard’ for countries, the business community, civil society and local governments around world.

The HLPF also offers an opportunity for the UN to highlight the important work all members of the UN family are doing in support of the Goals.

This year’s HLPF consists of a five-day Expert-level Meeting and a three-day Ministerial Meeting from 18 and 20 July.

at what happened to the pound it has come down to I40 to 132 dollar to the pound. In actual fact over the last two years the pound has gone down from about 160, 165 to the dollar to 132 to the dollar now. Let’s see every aspect of it as opportunity; the UK imports more than it exports, actually similar to Nigeria. But the way they see it is this, with the value of the currency now it makes it a market where people are more likely to manufacture in because it is cheaper so that they can export.

“So net-net you will find that the economy will be shifting from net import to net export. So why can’t we see that in the same light. The dollar was comparatively weak, last year it strengthened. When dollar is weak Americas stay at home to do staycation, they don’t go abroad. So there isn’t anything so hugely unique about Nigeria that we will say it is doom as long as the currency is very well managed and there is confident and we have the instruments that can be used for people to hedge their dollar commitment or Naira commitments, then its fine. People also hedge their prices to oil, like the airlines. The reason some airlines don’t want

to reduce price was because they were hedged to a certain price.

As soon as they came out of their hedges they could reduce price of flight because of cheaper oil.

We need to put the valuation of the naira in perspective, let’s do the right thing. Let’s have right confidence, just to do it at the same international standard and that will give us a diversified economy and we will be fine.”

On his part, Prof Adesola Aderounmu, President Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) informed Daily Times that the CBN policy is very good now for the ICT industry since stakeholders in the sector have been talking of local content.

“You will be forced to look inward and make use of what you have to solve local problems,” he added.

Mr Jide Awe, Chairman NCS Conference, stated that “the situation is really challenging. It is an opportunity to leverage on local content initiative of the federal government structural adjustment of the economy and encourage manufacturing of products needed by Nigerian in Nigeria.”

ITU SecretaryGeneral

Experts to increase cyber security awareness campaign to universities Cyber experts under the aegis of Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN) have concluded plans to increase awareness campaign on cyber security to universities and tertiary institutions in the country.

The CSEAN’s seminar themed: “STOP THINK CONNECT” is aimed at educating Internet users in Nigeria on vigilance and practice of safe online habits.

Remi Afon, president, CSEAN, through a recent statement issued in Abuja and made available to the Daily Times said also that this will positively transform public and private sectors collaborations toward cyber security.

He highlighted that, “STOP. THINK. CONNECT. primary aim is to educate all Internet users in Nigeria to be more vigilant about practicing safe online habits; to ensure that Internet safety is perceived as a shared responsibility at home, in school, in the workplace, and throughout our communities” He recalled that a similar campaign was launched in January 2015 during the CSEAN annual Cyber Secure Nigeria Conference in Abuja.

According to him, the awareness has since been spreading through social media, symposium and lectures in secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

The statement reads in part: “CSEAN intends to launch the campaign in all tertiary institutions and secondary schools in Nigeria.

“The association recently kick started the higher institution campaign in two Federal Universities namely Federal University of Technology Minna and University of Abuja and has lined up ten other Universities for awareness campaign before the end of the year. However, the Vice Chancelor of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai in Niger State, Professor Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, recently declared open the cyber security campaign in the university hosted by the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CSEAN) at the New Auditorium, opposite the University Library.

CSEAN President, Mr. Remi Afon, in a press statement stated that Maiturare was joined during the occasion by CSEAN Vice President, Dr. Ismaila Idris who led CSEAN’s Team to the event.

“CSEAN is presently a partner of STOP. THINK. CONNECT. a first-ever global public awareness campaign developed to help all Internet users keep their data, personal information, communications, and transactions safer and more secure online.

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. email: info@dailytimes.ng Tel: 018447948.

DAILY EDITOR: BIODUN DUROJAIYE

TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2016

VOL. 2. NO.154

Price: N150

Le Guen named Eagles’ Technical Adviser P 17

News Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. Advert Hotlines: 08086296714

P

Pinnick

NFF secures

company to pay Le Guen, others — Pinnick

Iheanacho adapting to

change under Guardiola M

anchester City are adapting to “a different way of training” under Pep Guardiola, according to teenage Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho.

Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola has taken up the reins at the Etihad Stadium, with League Cup holders City aiming to bounce back from a disappointing fourthplace finish in the Premier League last time around.

Nigeria international Iheanacho was one of the success stories of City’s final campaign under Manuel Pellegrini, with 12 goals in all competitions, and he is now getting to grips with Guardiola’s famed style ahead of Wednesday’s opening pre-season friendly against Bayern.

“Guardiola is a good manager, everyone knows that,” Iheanacho told reporters.

“He’s bringing fresh thoughts and his own

style. Everything is different and everyone is adapting to what he’s teaching us.

“We need to understand what he’s telling us and what he wants to bring to the team.”

The 19-year-old retains a healthy respect for Pellegrini, feeling indebted to the Chilean for being allowed to make a first-team breakthrough among a squad packed with bigmoney signings.

“He gave me that chance to play in the first team and to come and show what I can do,” he explained. “I will always be grateful to him, anywhere he is and anywhere he goes.

“I wish him good luck and I pray that he gets a good offer anywhere he goes. He is a great manager and he will continue to be great.

“Last season was great for me and there were some good highlights. Scoring my first goal against Crystal Palace and playing against Real

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick has confirmed they have secured a company that will pay new Super Eagles coach, Paul Le Guen, as well as four other national team coaches.

Cash-strapped NFF have been known to owe national team coaches for several months, but Pinnick has now said this will not be case anymore after they clinched a sponsorship deal that will cover the salaries of the coaches and their other entitlements.

“The first thing we did after we were ousted from the Nations Cup was to ensure we got a partner who will pay for five national team coaches,” the NFF boss stated.

“We sent a request to the company and the request was granted.

“But the company feels strongly that we keep everything private and at the appropriate time they will tell the world what they are doing for Nigerian football.

“We want to avoid past mistakes and don’t want a situation of whether we are owing or paying the salaries of the coaches.

“We want to bring the best coach to qualify us for the World Cup. “We are very, very desirous of qualifying for the World Cup. We have done everything to qualify for the World Cup.” Meanwhile, Frenchman Paul Le Guen, 52, was on Monday appointed as the new Technical Adviser of the Senior National Team, Super Eagles by the Technical and Development Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

He will be assisted by Nigerian Salisu Yusuf, who takes the role of Chief Coach.

Extra Time gathered that the appointments are subject to agreement of contract terms with the NFF Executive Committee.

Madrid in the Bernabeu, those were good feelings.”

Iheanacho’s clinical finishing ability has him marked out a s a natural striker but he insists h e is capable of filling a number of roles across the forward line - a quality that should be well-suited to Iheanacho Guardiola’s fluid brand of attacking football.

M

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

BoI, Ecobank sign pact on financial Page B2 inclusion for SMEs

Naira hits record low of N365/$1 at parallel market Page B3

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Long, tough road ahead of new NPA MD, Page B7 Usman

Entrepreneurship, panacea for job creation, says Boroh Mathew Dadiya ƂƏƇ

The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta/ Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd) has said that

entrepreneurship remains the driver of every economy, pointing out that “promoting the creativity and innovative capacity of young people by identifying competences and skills acquired through non-formal and informal learning“ enhances their

employability.

Speaking during the graduation of 91 amnesty delegates in Warri, Delta State, Boroh, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Colonel Adis Abel (rtd), said an entrepreneurial mindset enhances a young person’s em-

ployability, just as entrepreneurship has capacity to open up new markets, improve productivity, create new jobs and wealth.

He therefore urged the ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region to take advantage of the trainings and subsequent business

packages and make good use of the opportunities at their disposal as part of the ongoing sustainable reintegration phase of the programme.

Gen. Boroh maintained that Small and Medium Sized EnterCONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Kogi reappoints Skye Bank as lead collector of IGR

NB PLC L-R: Mr. Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River State and Chairman 3rd Nigerian Beer Symposium; Mr. Nicolaas Velverde, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Breweries Plc and Mr. Ted Mukoro, former Creative Director, Lintas Advertising and Keynote Speaker at the 3rd Nigerian Beer Symposium… recently in Lagos.

Court rules on conditions for industrial strike actions Joy Ekeke The National Industrial Court has spelt out the conditions that must be met by the organised labour before embarking on an industrial action.

The court sitting in Abuja listed the conditions as it delivered judgment in case brought against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) by the Federal Government.

The FG has sought the court to intervene and stop the unions from embarking on a nationwide

indefinite strike, called by labour leaders over hike in fuel price.

In the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Kanyon, he stated that workers are entitled to strike actions The court further held that Nigeria is a member of the ILO and ILO recognises strike actions as a negotiation tool by workers.

The court listed conditions for such strike to include, “The obligation to give prior notice and to give room for negotiation.”

The court also held that the issue over the increase in petroleum products was not a trade dis-

pute but outside and that workers have right to embark on strike to drive home their demand provided those in essential services are excluded.

Femi Falana, SAN & Co. represented the NLC while Kayode Ajulo & Co. represented TUC. The federal government was represented by Mr. Dayo Apata, the Director of Civil Litigation.

DailyTimes recalled that the National Industrial Court has restrained the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) from going on its planned strike on Wednesday, May 18th 2016, pending the hear-

ing and determination of a suit brought before it by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

The Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, had dragged he NLC to the Industrial Court, seeking an order of the court restraining the NLC from proceeding with the planned strike.

He had sought the order on the ground that the strike would paralyse the nation’s economy.

The AGF wanted the court to decide whether the NLC complied with conditions precedent in law before threatening to embark on strike.

Ï ƅƎƄƍ G Ƌ ƍƎ ƄƍƄƕ Bank on business devt Less than a week after Lagos State Government directed all its Agencies, Ministries and parastatals to increase business relationship with Skye Bank, another State of the federation, Kogi State has re-appointed the Bank as its lead collecting Bank for the State Internally generated Revenue and services.

The news of the re-appointment of Skye Bank was contained in a letter signed by the State’s Accountant General, Alhaji Momoh Jibrin and addressed to the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Bank, Tokunbo Abiru.

Dated July 18 with reference number KSG/TRY/2/S.07/VOL. II/20, the four paragraph letter titled: Re-appointment as Lead Collecting bank for Kogi State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Services lauded the track record of the Bank in meeting its obligations and responsibilities which informed the decision of the State government to re-appoint the lender, even as it promised continued patronage of Bank by the state.

It stated: “We wish to inform you of the State Government’s decision to re-appoint your bank as lead collecting bank for the Kogi State IGR and services. Please accept the assurance of the state government’s highest regards and continued patronage.

Kogi State, popularly referred to as Confluence State, have in its labyrinth confluence of River Niger and River Benue with its capital, Lokoja, being the first administrative capital of modernday Nigeria.

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

FBN Capital signs firsttime Research MoU with Oxford Business Group

IATA, FIATA sign new air cargo programme Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) have signed an agreement to implement the IATA-FIATA Air Cargo Programme (IFACP) to replace the existing IATA Cargo Agency Programme.

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of IATA, Tony Tyler signed for the international organisation while the President of FIATA, Huxiang Zhao signed for the association.

Over the decades that the IATA Cargo Agency Programme has operated, IATA Cargo Agents (freight forwarders) have evolved from being “selling-agents” for airlines to being their “purchasing-customers”.

In consideration of this evolution, in 2012 IATA and FIATA joined forces to review, refine and re-engineer the existing Agency Programme.

The new programme moves decision-making on the rules governing the airline-forwarder relationship away from an airline-led conference to a governance body – the IATAFIATA Governance Board (IFGB) – jointly managed by forwarders and airlines, which reflects today’s market conditions.

Entrepreneurship, panacea for job creation, says Boroh CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

prises (SMEs) are the backbone of any economy, as they represent the most important source of new employment and wealth creation, pointing out that societies that value and reward entrepreneurial behavior, such as calculated risk taking and independent thinking, promote a propensity to develop new solutions to social challenges.

According to Gen. Boroh, his office will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region are sustainably reintegrated through provision of sustainable livelihood opportunities for the beneficiaries, with a view to setting up small businesses for them as they eventually exit the programme.

While commending the trainees for their discipline and good conduct throughout the training period, the Amnesty boss noted that the delegates stand out among their peers because of their exceptional good behavior and self-discipline.

L-R: General Manager, Human Resources, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Alhaji Kola Hassan; 2016 Lagos State One-Day Governor, Master Olaseinde Oluwafemi; Group Public Relations and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju and Head, Digital Marketing, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Kenneth Iruonagbe during the courtesy visit of the One-Day Governor to Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Lagos, recently.

BoI, Ecobank sign pact on financial inclusion for SMEs The Bank of Industry (BoI) and Ecobank Transnational Inc (ETI) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build strong Small and Medium Entrepreneurs through financial inclusion in Africa.

During the signing of the MoU in Lagos, the Acting Managing Director of BoI, Mr Waheed Olagunju, said that the partnership would integrate the continent and diversify the nation’s economy.

Olagunju said that ETI believed that Nigeria was an important market to start the programme and decided that BoI should be its partner for the initiative in Nigeria.

According to him, financial inclusion is vital to achieving inclusive growth for every Nigerian.

“Between 2010 and 2014, Nigeria’s economy was among the 10 fastest growing economies in the world with an average GDP of 5 to 7 per cent, but however, the poverty indices did not match the rise in GDP. “We did not achieve inclusive

growth and unemployment has continued to rise.

“One of the factors responsible is lack of inclusive growth because there has been no financial inclusion,” said Olagunju.

He said that the bank would leverage on the partnership to broaden its reach in providing financial support and capacity building to more Nigerian SMEs. Olagunju added that the partnership would open wider market for many of the SMEs dealing in exportable products.

Mr Patrick Akinwutan, Group Executive, Consumer Banking of ETI, said that financial inclusion was crucial to the bank for it to contribute to Africa’s economic development.

According to Akinwutan, for Ecobank, financial inclusion means making it practical for every Nigerian to have access to support and be able to take their financial destiny in their hands.

He said that ETI would leverage on technology to surmount the geographical impediments and drive the initiative to success.

A report by the global publishing firm Oxford Business Group (OBG) will examine the Central Bank of Nigeria’s monetary policy, reviewing the country’s recently-revised foreign exchange policy alongside broader efforts by the government to stimulate growth.

The Report: Nigeria 2016 will include analysis of the country’s new floating foreign exchange policy, which was enacted in June by the central bank. The decision to allow the naira to float marks a distinct change from previous policy, which in the face of dwindling reserves had led to a widening gap between official and black-market exchange rates for the naira against the US dollar.

CBN’s intervention in forex market will protect Naira – Owonifari A Chartered Accountant and the Principal Partner/CEO of Victor Owonifari & Co., Mr. Victor Owonifari, has described the intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the interbank forex as a right step in the right direction that will go a long way in putting the naira in a vantage position when compared with other currencies of the world.

Owonifari, who said this early in the week at Ikeja, Lagos during an interactive session with newsmen, noted that the market should be allowed to operate freely and find its equilibrium, but

Owonifari

as the regulatory body, the CBN should intervene once in a while to curb excesses and supply shortfalls, thereby protecting the naira.

He further stressed that as the apex bank had repeatedly informed Nigerians that it allowed for flexibility to come into play and was prepared to intervene only when necessary to prevent volatility in the forex market; the new system was expected to operate as a single market structure through the interbank and autonomous methods.

The financial expert, however, added that the recent devaluation of the naira to the US dollar increased the cost of imported goods, thereby making Nigerians to pay more for imported goods without a corresponding increase in quality and quantity.

Owonifari also noted that the increase in the pump price of petroleum products and prices of household commodities in the early part of the year was partly responsible for the sudden rise in inflation rate by 15.10%, which was above what it was same period in 2015.

Fitch reaffirms Stanbic IBTC’s triple A rating Despite the current economic headwinds confronting Nigeria, Fitch Ratings, the global leader in credit ratings and research, has re-affirmed the AAA(nga)’ ratings of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, a testament to the financial institutions’ strong fundamentals and stability.

Stanbic IBTC was given a simi-

lar rating last year after a thorough examination of its credit process and financial results.

The institution’s diversified loan portfolio was reviewed with its impact on various sectors of the economy taken into account.

Among economic sectors impacted by the bank included agriculture, construction, real estate and infrastructure; electricity

and other utilities; consumer credit; manufacturing; oil and gas and general commerce. Others were downstream oil and gas, transportation and communication, among others.

The national rating provides a relative measure of credit worthiness for rated institutions in Nigeria and the AAA national rating is assigned to an institu-

tion with the lowest relative risk.

In the ratings release, Fitch also maintained a stable outlook for Stanbic IBTC Holdings.

In its report, the rating agency also reviewed the capital adequacy of Stanbic IBTC in compliance with regulations and concluded that it was adequately capitalised with capital adequacy ratio above the regulatory requirement.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

B3 Money Market CBN’s improved capacity building makes Microfinace Banks better managers – Operators

NSE

L – R: Oluwaseyi Abe, President, President, Chartered Institute of Stockbroker (CIS) and Ade Bajomo, Executive Director, Market Operation and Technology, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) at the Closing Gong Ceremony at the Exchange Friday.

Naira hits record low of N365/$1 at parallel market Stories by Motolani Oseni The Nigerian currency, the naira depreciated to a record low of N365 against the United States dollar at the parallel market on Monday as the supply of the greenback waned at the foreign exchange market.

This is as foreign exchange dealers have introduced a maximum resale premium on dollar trades on the interbank market to boost liquidity after the naira touched a record low in thin trade on Friday.

The naira traded without a predetermined premium - or spread - on Friday, a trader at one of the 15 primary market dealers, told Reuters. Traders under the umbrella of the Financial Market Dealers Association (FMDA) set the spread at a ceiling of 0.50 naira per dollar on Monday, he said.

The naira tumbled 4.3 percent to N295.25 per dollar on Friday before recovering slightly to close at N290.

On Monday the first trade of $780,000 occurred at N292.40 naira to the dollar at 1116 GMT, more than three hours after the market opened. Another trader said activity was slow pending intervention by the central bank.

The naira depreciated in all the segments of the foreign exchange market last week due to shortage

of dollars.

Meanwhile the interbank foreign exchange market will experience the maturity of $697 million one-month forwards contract sold by the CBN on Monday June 27th 2016. Last week the naira depreciated in the interbank spot market

by Seven percent to N283.37 per dollar from N282.02 per dollar the previous week.

Traders were permitted to set their own spreads on Friday to try to attract liquidity, he said.

With primary dealers required to resell 70 percent of any dollars bought from the central bank on the day of purchase, low turnover on the interbank currency market has the effect of driving down the value of the naira.

Any resale of dollars must be backed by a specific customer order to avoid currency speculation The central bank said last month when unveiling currency reforms that the naira would

trade with no pre-determined spreads.

It ditched its 16-month old peg on the naira in June to allow the currency to trade freely on the interbank market but thin liquidity has hampered activity, traders say, leaving the central bank as the main supplier of hard currency.

Other past suppliers of dollars, including oil firms, are now selling part of their hard currency directly to petrol importers under an arrangement with the government, traders say.

The central bank governor flew to Britain and the United States last week to try to lure back investors scared off by the plunge in oil prices and resulting financial turmoil.

Some $697 million the CBN sold in one-month forward contracts fall due later this month, traders said, with contracts for July delivery quoting the naira at N279.

Microfinance Bank Operators have identified various capacity building trainings organized by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as a of the major source of the improved state of the Microfinance Bank industry in the country, which they said has made operators a better managers.

They said that this has also helped in driving the industry and articulate the function of Micro-finance Bank operation in Nigeria.

The Managing Director, Glory Microfinance Bank, Mr. Ajao Moses, said the capacity of the industry has been strengthened through lessons learnt by managers of Microfinance Banks MfBs, in the dictates of their duties, as operators now understood what it entails to manage a microfinance

banks.

He stressed that the active poor are reached to the point of sustaining their financial and social needs, adding that the action of the regulatory body will also reposition the industry for a brighter future.

Moses pointed that banks are now managing these institutions as they ought to be, a development that will elevate Nigerian microfinance industry among the top markets in the world.

According to him, “As a MfB, we have professionals that handle the business, unlike before, where people with low educational status, were the one manning those institutions, especially, under community banking era. Now, there are standards and qualification you need, to become a management staff of a MfB.”

Briefs The nation’s annual inflation accelerated to 16.5 percent in June, data from Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Monday, which is recorded as the highest in almost a decade and the fifth monthly increase in a row, as the crisis in Africa’s biggest economy deepens.

Nigerian inflation accelerated in June and at the highest pace since August 2010, after an increase in gasoline and electricity prices in Africa’s largest economy.

The rise reflected higher prices for electricity, transport and food, a separate index for which rose to 15.3 percent from 14.9 percent in May, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said.

“In June, the consumer price index which measures inflation continued to record relatively strong increases for the fifth consecutive month,” the NBS said.

Inflation accelerates to 16.5% in June – NBS Nigeria has seen revenues plunge with oil prices, with pressure on the naira currency helping to fuel inflation.

The naira hit 295.25 in thin trade, a month after the central bank caved in to months of pressure to remove its currency peg and effectively devalue the unit in response to falling prices for oil.

Investors have welcomed the currency float but many are still steering clear until the west African country shows signs of recovering from damage inflicted by the 16-month exchange rate peg.

Stanbic IBTC Pension advises retirees on financial security Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Mr. Eric Fajemisin, has charged workers across the country to plan for their retirement through financial security.

Fajemisin, who stated this at a pre-retirement forum organised

by Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, in Abuja, at the weekend, outlined steps to help people make a successful transition to the next stage of their lives and have the dream retirement they desire.

Fajemisin, speaking on behalf of the PFA, said, though people have the freedom to make choices about the kind of life they want to have in retirement, failure to plan

for this eventuality will however lead to unpleasant consequences.

The Nigeria’s current pension system, as enshrined in the Pensions Reform Act of 2014, he stressed, is a powerful tool with which to set future goals and create the comfort and security necessary to enjoy fulfilment in retirement.

Fajemisin, who was represented by Executive Director, Investments, Mr. Oladele Sotubo, said as people head towards retirement, a decision about the type of life they wish to live in retirement should not be made from the hip, but rather through a well-structured financial planning process.

B4 Business

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Olam International’s

investments in Nigeria and its targets future targets on this subject?

Ade Adefeko; Vice President and Head Corporate and Government Relations Olam Nigeria Ltd recently granted interview to a Turkish Publication; ANIMAL PLANET FEED ....regarding Olam International’s investments in Nigeria and its targets.

Q. First of all, how long has Olam International been operating in Nigeria? Could you please give us some information about Olam’s structure and business globally.

Ade: Olam International actually started in Nigeria in 1989 and the Nigerian subsidiary is one of the largest investors in the country with over a billion dollars in investments and operating from seed to shelf. Olam international has grown from a single product exporter to a global agribusiness leader with presence in 70 countries headquartered in Singapore. Globally we are organized into 16 platforms and comprising 47 agro commodities ..We operate 199 processing facilities in the 70 countries we operate from and manage about 2.6 million hectares of land. We source from about 4 million farmers globally. Employing 62,500 staff both direct and indirect catering to about 16, 200 customers worldlwide.

Our principal shareholders are Temasek Holdings of Singapore with 51.4%, Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan with 20% stake and the Kewaralm/Chanrai group about10%.Olam’s management 6.4% whilst other institutional investors and the Public own the balance 14%. This structure speaks to a supportive shareholders group with long term investment horizon and a diversified base.

Q. In what areas are you operating in Nigeria?

What can you say about the services you provide, your contributions to Nigeria and about your plants in the country?

Ade: Our feed mill will utilize around 180,000 metric tonnes of corn and 75,000 tonnes of soybean most of which will be sourced from the local communities. In addition, 50,000 metric tonnes of on-site storage plus a similar level of outsourced storage capacity will support food security and price stabilization which is a very important ingredient in our clime.

Ade: We operate from the upstream category in Cocoa, Cotton, Cashew, Sesame and Rice; Midstream in wheat and Rice farming and milling and lastly Downstream in dairy and juices, biscuits and confectionary, candy, wheat milling, pasta and noodles and culinary products and ingredients like seasonings and our new foray into animal feeds and protein business. Most of our products are household names ranging from MAMA’s pride for Rice and Tastee tom for tomato paste and Fresh Yo for Juices and lastly Blue boat Powdered milk and seasoning such as VEDAN amongst others too numerous to mention.

Q. Considering the areas that you operate in, what can you say about Nigeria as a market?

What is the meaning of Nigeria for Olam International? What is your target for this country?

Ade: Olam has found Nigeria to be home and since we have been in Nigeria we have invested over a billion dollars Pan Nigeria through our 17 processing locations and about 115 warehouses.

We are one of the largest employers of labor employing over 2,900 employees impacting over 600,000 thousand farmers and have been adjudged as the largest non-oil exporter out of Nigeria over the last decade .We manage as well over 30,000 hectares of farms in cocoa and rice.

We have committed this year alone 2016;425 million dollars into this economy as follows; 275 million dollars in acquiring Bua Pasta and Flour Mill and 150 million dollars into the Animal feed and protein business.

Q. Olam International is intensely working in Nigeria. Is there any other project of such scale in the country you will like to speak to us about?

Adefeko Q. Recently, you have started an investment for animal feed mill, poultry breeding farms and a hatchery in Nigeria and laid the foundation for these, could you please give us some information about the target and scope of these investments?

Ade: We recently had the groundbreaking of our Animal feed, poultry breeding and hatchery in Northern Nigeria and the investment outlay is about 150 million dollars if you include the integrated poultry and feed fish mill in Kwara state.

We seek to achieve three major things; enable the development of Nigeria’s poultry sector and this will be done by producing at full capacity every week over 1 million high quality layer (for eggs) and broiler (for

meat) and a feed mill capacity of 300, 000 tonnes, spurring local feed production and thirdly developing partnerships with local communities to improve nutrition and minimize environmental impact.

Q. What can you say about the investment budget, technologic infrastructure and production capacity of these plants?

Ade: Like I said earlier the investment outlay is 150 million dollars which will make this investment the largest in Nigeria and possibly West Africa.

Q. What will these plants bring both to Olam International’s presence in Nigeria and to the country? Could you give us some information

about the importance and gaining of these investments for your company and the country?

Ade: This investment will help support domestic protein production as imports of frozen poultry and fish are being phased out progressively by the government. It might interest you to note that the commercial animal feed market is expected to grow at 10% per year for the next 5 years and we are keen on taking advantage of that.

Q. Could you tell us from where you will supply raw material for the feed plant to be installed?

Is the production capacity for feed raw material sufficient in Nigeria currently? Could you tell us about your works and

Ade: I will like to speak about our investment in Rice farming and milling .In 2011, we identified 10.000 hectares of land in Rukubi Nasarawa state and thereafter invested over 100 million dollars in the commercial mechanized farm and mill with a capacity of 105,000 tonnes and the largest in Nigeria and Africa. We are unarguably in Nigeria the largest player in the RICE VALUE CHAIN and currently support over 4,000 farmers in an outgrower scheme that spans Nasarawa, Benue, Taraba and Niger states and we hope by 2018 we will have increased this with support of the CBN anchor borrowers programme to about 16,00 farmers. .

Q. What would you like to add?

Ade: On a final note, as a company operating from seed to shelf and born in Nigeria but with a global footprint, we are committed to Nigeria over the long term particularly in the area of food security and overall economic prosperity and helping to unlock mutual value in the country. Again, nothing else best demonstrates this than the meaning of our name OLAM which is a Hebrew word for TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES and this is what we have been doing in the last 26 years and still counting...

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Principal business activities in Nigeria include: •

•

Unlocking mutual value in Nigeria

• • • •

Sourcing and procurement, grading, processing and export of agricultural products such as cocoa, cashew, sesame and cotton Local farming, importation, distribution and milling of rice Wheat milling with Olam group company Crown Flour Mills Biscuits, candy and confectionery with OK Foods Ltd Juice and beverages with Ranona Nigeria Ltd Breakfast foods and kitchen ingredients with Caraway Foods Ltd

Olam’s total investments in Nigeria, including working capital exceeds $1 billion across it’s various businesses, and has contributed to the agricultural development of the country, for example through:

Olam Group in Nigeria is a leading agri-business company, working along the value chain from growing and sourcing raw commodities, to processing, exporting and distribution, and the manufacturing of consumer packaged foods.

1. Enhancing domestic food security through the continued development of a 10,000 ha rice farm and fully integrated mill in Nasarawa State, supported by an outgrower programme which will be scaled up from 4,000 to approximately 20,000 farmers. This supports the Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda through delivering a high quality product for the domestic market that can compete with imported rice whilst driving rural prosperity.

2. Pioneering domestic sesame hulling and sesame exports. Olam was the first entrant into the Japanese import market in 1995, and has invested in state of the art processing facilities in Lagos and Ogun States, which employ close to 1,000 workers.

Olam in Nigeria – 26 years Olam Nigeria is a fully owned subsidiary of Olam International Limited, the global company that began sourcing its very first product – cashews – at the farmgate in Nigeria in 1989. Olam is one of only a few companies that originated in Nigeria to have grown into a truly global multinational – the group is now operating in 70 countries worldwide. In Nigeria, Olam has been the largest non-oil exporter for the last 10 years.

In the past 26 years, Olam Group in Nigeria has expanded from cashew into cocoa, sesame, cotton, rice, wheat milling, biscuits, confectionery, dairy products, noodles, beverages and kitchen ingredients such as tomato paste and seasoning. Olam’s success in Nigeria has been based on delivering value to farmers, customers and consumers through best in class operational capabilities and a long-term commitment to develop Nigeria’s agricultural supply chains.

A partner for growth With offices and operational units across all geopolitical zones of the Nigerian Federation, Olam in Nigeria has a wide and growing network of farmers, suppliers, wholesalers, local buying agents (LBAs), customers and service providers. Today, these networks encompass approximately 500,000 farmers and have created tens of thousands of jobs in indirect employment.

NLC mulls declaration of state of emergency over unpaid salaries The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it may soon consider declaring a state of emergency in states where workers are being owed for months.

The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said that the congress would meet with all its state councils to encourage them to respond effectively to some of the challenges in the states.

“We may declare a state of emergency in the area of nonpayment of salaries and we are going to have a meeting with all our state councils to respond effectively to some of these challenges.

“We want to take stock of exactly what the issues are and we will also put appropriate employers on notice.

“We will declare a state of emergency because workers should not be made to bear the brunt of the challenges because they are not responsible.

“When the economy was good they did not enjoy, now that there is a challenge, they are the worst-hit, it should not be so; these are our arguments.

“But when they are taking such decisions, they also have to be very balanced in taking such decision, it should not only apply to workers.

“Political office holders are still collecting their money even though they are proposing the reduction; they are still collecting the security vote we are talking about and they are still issuing bogus contracts.”

He said most countries that had experienced economy recession, had to take all interests into consideration before deciding to either cut salaries or stop payment of workers.

Wabba explained that salaries were not an allocation to workers, but remunerations earned in line with international best practices and in consonance with Convention 138 of the International Labour Organisation.

“Salaries of workers are not an allocation; therefore, the pronouncement by some of these governors, I think it is something that needs to be condemned. “We are condemning it in strong terms; how much is N18,000?

B5 Business educational materials, creating borewells for safe water, building a police station and school, development of local roads and the installation of solar-powered lighting.

3. Investing in the development of a state of the art cocoa processing facility in Akure, which employs 500 workers.

4. Developing a cotton ginnery in Zaria Kaduna state with an annual capacity for 30,000 metric tonnes of lint.

5. Developing hatcheries to produce day-oldchicks, an integrated poultry farm and animal feed mill in Chikpiri Gabas Village, Gwagwada Kaduna. The feed mill will utilise around 180,000 MT of corn and 75,000 MT of soybeans, spurring growth of local crops and contributing to the development of the Nigerian poultry and aquaculture sectors by providing competitively priced inputs and technical support to local poultry and fish farmers, thereby improving productivity and returns for the sector.

Growing Responsibly Olam is committed to responsible growth, and we believe that it is only by doing business in a sustainable way that long-term value for stakeholders can be delivered.

Our initiatives in rural communities are one aspect of this and, in 2010, the Olam Livelihood Charter (OLC) was launched to set a benchmark for projects that incorporate all eight charter principles of finance, improved yield, labour practices, market access, quality, traceability, social investment and environmental impact.

Martha, rice outgrower “By replacing the old seeds being planted year-after-year with quality seeds provided

by Olam at subsidised rates, we took first step towards sustainable agriculture.

Subsequent training sessions followed by regular crop monitoring and on the field advice by field staff further helped to lay a strong foundation for a good harvest.

Hassle-free purchase with immediate payment at a collection centre, helped me to get a motorcycle this year. In addition, the association with Olam is providing us a platform to get in touch directly with the other major input companies and to interact with their staff at our door steps. With all such initiatives for farming community, we have developed personal relations and look forward for mutually beneficial association year-after-year.”

Three of Olam’s OLC initiatives are in Nigeria, where Olam works with cocoa, rice and sesame smallholders in collaboration. These and other initiatives provide zero interest financing and agri-inputs, training on Good Agricultural Practices and labour practices, as well as social investment in the community, such as providing

Visit our website www.olamgroup.com and follow us on Twitter @Olam For further information please contact the office on T: +234 10955555 or email nigeria@olamnet.com

Key Olam Group Nigeria Facts The ‘birthplace’ of Olam in 1989

Industry leadership

Partners

Over 2,900 employees

Board member of Better Cotton Initiative and World Cocoa Foundation Member of Fair Labor Association and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Signatory of the UN Global Nutrition for Growth Compact and UN Guidelines on Sustainable Land Tenure

USAID Rainforest Alliance UTZ TechoServe Action Health Incorporated Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme

Over 6,000 contract workers 18 factories 115 warehouses Approximately 500,000 farmers

Products Upstream: cocoa, cashew, sesame, cotton and rice, Midstream: wheat and rice Downstream: biscuits, candy, confectionery, juices, beverages, rice, breakfast foods and kitchen ingredients

Awards and Accolades

Olam Livelihood Charter Nigeria Highlights

UNDP World Business Award 2008 ICC World Business Award 2010 Africa Business Award for Excellence in CSR 2011 Presidential Export Awards Best Non-Oil Exporter of the Year 2010, 2011 and 2012

OLC products: rice, cocoa and sesame Total farmers involved: 12,275 185, 399 seedlings distributed Market access: US$ 33,636,663 total farmer income

FG, US agree on new labour and trade relationship Stories by Joy Ekeke The Federal Government has agreed to go along with a United States of America proposal for deepening its bilateral trade based on fair labour practices in the country.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, affirmed this when he received the Political Officer in the U.S. Embassy, Mr Marlin Hardinger, in Abuja.

This was contained in a statement by Mr Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director, Press, Ministry of Labour and Employment, on Saturday in Abuja.

Ngige said that the decision by the U.S. to tie her trade relations with Nigeria to fair labour practices was a big boost to the country’s international trade.

“We appreciate the American government for taking this step.

It is pleasing to note that you are synergising with the International Labour Organisation to make this workable.

“This is really a big boost to

Ngige

trade not only in Nigeria, but in the entire continent of Africa.

“I have often thought of the work ability of trade without productivity and its implication for a developing country like ours. The decision of your government to tie the two is re-awakening and important to us.

“Though trade relations between our two countries have receded following the decision of your country to stop the import

of crude from Nigeria, we have a vast agricultural product base which can find ready market in the U.S. “It is distressing, however, that even trade in this area is equally on downward swing,” he said.

He said that the primary focus of the Federal Government currently was to give quality life, including gainful employment and infrastructural development, to the people.

“What we are looking for is a Nigeria that is prosperous and stable enough to remain a rallying point in the comity of nations and not necessarily a supper power.

“We will partner you in this effort,” Ngige said.

The statement said that earlier, Hardinger had said that the purpose of his visit was to encourage, correct and adjust trade efforts across Africa and the U.S. He said that the process officially began in 2000 and was renewed in 2015, adding that promoting trade and economic growth was integral to proper running of an economy.

Capital Market B6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Skye Bank lead gainers after 55 percent loss in last 7 days … As Equities market sheds 0.25% Afolabi Adesola Stocks of Skye Bank Plc has risen by 10 percent to close at 66 kobo per share for the first time after the CBN intervention which took place on July 4th, on account of increased demand. However, the Nigerian equities market reversed previous session’s positive trend as lead indicators of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) dropped 0.25 percent in contrast to 0.36 percent gained during Friday’s session.

The NSE All Share Index (ASI) which opened the day at 28,805.45 points closed at 28,733.90 points following a loss of 71.55 points.

Market capitalisation also lost N24.6 billion to close at N9.868 trillion compared to a gain of N35.2 billion to close at N9.893 trillion recorded previously.

Law Union and Rocks Insurance Plc led the days 29 losers as it dropped 8.33 percent or 5 kobo to close at 55 kobo per share, Lafarge Wapco Plc fell by 5.08 percent or N3.38 to close at N63.22 per share, while Arbico

Plc lost 4.96 percent or 25 kobo to close at N4.79 per share.

Unity Bank followed with a decline of 4.90 percent or 5 kobo to close at 97 kobo per share and Vitafoam Plc dropped 4.89 percent or 17 kobo to close at N3.31 kobo per share.

On the other hand, Skye Bank Plc led the day’s 10 gainers with an appreciation of 10 percent or 6 kobo to close at 66 kobo per share, Forte Oil Plc appreciated by 8.11 percent or N14.62 to close at N194.90 per share, while NPF Microfinance Bank Plc added

4.26 percent or 4 kobo to close at 98 kobo per share.

Africa Prudential Registrars followed with an increase of 3.56 percent or 11 kobo to close at N3.20 per share and Access Bank Plc gathered 3.33 percent or 18 kobo to close at N5.58 per share.

At the end of stock trading for the day, investors traded 315.6 million shares worth N1.7 billion in 3,976 deals in contrast to 272.5 million shares worth N1.7 billion exchanged in 4,078 deals previous session.

0.25 % Nigerian equities market reversed previous session’s positive trend as lead indicators of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) dropped 0.25 percent in contrast to 0.36 percent gained

Unilever declares N1.1 billion as first half profit ... As O.K. Pinnick resigns from board Unilever Plc has declared a profit after tax of N1.1 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2016 from N85.6 million posted in prior six months, representing a 1,177.9 per cent increase.

The unaudited interim financial statements posted on The Nigerian Stock Exchange official website, showed that the group’s profit before tax also rose by 1,480 per cent to N1.5 billion from N94.1 million recorded in six months ended June 30, 2015.

Despite of a 16 percent increase in Cost of sales to N22 billion for the period ended 30th June 2016 from N19 billion recorded in the corresponding pe-

riod of 2015, major contributors to the company ascent in profitability include 12.4 percent increase in revenue from N28.7 billion to N32.3 billion, 62.1 percent increase in Finance income of N220.9 million from N136.3 million recorded for the corresponding period of 2015 as well as a 44.4 percent reduction in finance cost to N894.9 million as against N1.6 billion recorded in six months ended June 30,2015.

According to the company, trading conditions remained difficult in the second quarter of 2016 with prevailing tight consumer wallets and rising costs.

However, Unilever Nigeria said it “has continued to optimize its

planning capabilities and demonstrate resilience in navigating the difficult operating terrain.

H1 performance has been delivered in the midst of multiple challenges including foreign exchange devaluation amongst others.”

In a statement released by the company, Unilever Nigeria assured shareholders of continued focus on key business drivers to ensure sustained growth in the company’s operations to improve returns on shareholder investments.

“Although the challenges in the operating environment are yet to abate, we have continued to see sustained momentum

behind recent cost and operating efficiency initiatives taken

by Management. We remain focused on driving cost & operating efficiencies, growing market share across key categories and reinvesting behind our core brands”.

Oando targets long term profitability ... Advises stock market on naira devaluation impact In keeping with corporate best practice and to assuage investors’ concerns, Oando Plc has moved to swiftly issue an earnings guidance, to report materially lower earnings for the second quarter of 2016 due to the impact of the Naira devaluation against the US dollar (“USD”), resulting in unrealized foreign exchange losses. The announcement is based on the company’s unaudited financial statements for the period ended 30th June 2016.

According to a statement issued by the company, “the impact of the Naira devaluation by the Central Bank of Nigeria is expected to amount to an unrealized foreign exchange loss arising from USD denominated liabilities, outstanding bank trade facilities as well as vendor payables. As at the time of the devaluation the company had USD denominated borrowings of ~$260 Million in our Naira dominated earnings businesses, consisting of ~$68 Million in core loans, $89 Million in bank trade facilities, ~$83 Million in Asset Financing and $21 Million in other payables. A circa 40 percent devaluation in the value of the Naira against the US dollar from the bank rate of N199.00:$1.00 to N280.00:$1.00, has effectively resulted in these significant foreign exchange losses which we have prudently booked into our financial statements.”

The Group also recently agreed a N70.5 billion recapitalisation of its downstream business with Vitol, the world’s largest commodities trader and Helios Investments Partners, a premier West African focused private equity firm. Oando’s restructuring is a microcosm of the global landscape with foreign exchange pressures leading to fiscal austerity and consolidation in many petrocash economies.

Summary of activities on NSE ASI

28,733.90

DEALS

3,976.00

VOLUME

315,577,713.00

VALUE

1,724,879,069.28

CAP

9,868,640,668,113.07

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

B7 Business Feature

Long, tough road ahead of new NPA MD, Usman As Ms Hadiza Usman takes over the mantle of leadership as new Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, BABAJIDE OKEOWO in this report takes a look at the daunting task ahead of her.

Not many saw it coming, but when it came, it did with a shock. President Muhammadu Buhari last week Tuesday announced Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, a co-founder of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign as the Managing Director of The Nigerian Ports Authority.

As news of her appointment continued to generate reactions, realisations of the task ahead of her began to unfold.

First to give her a teaser of the task ahead of her is the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Kirikiri Branch who has called on her to look into the plight of the large number of tally clerks and on-board security men who were sacked by the authority recently.

The president of the branch, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju said though the case was already in court, he pleaded with the incoming Managing Director to use the milk of kindness in her as a woman to resolve the lingering impasse, adding that the laid off workers are not finding things easy.

“The issue of my people that were sacked; the tally clerks and the on-board security men is a paramount one. We have gone to the presidency and to everywhere to no avail, but coming on board now as a good mother because every woman always have sympathy for her children, I believe she will have a rethink’ he said.

The controversies surrounding port concessions are yet to go away and the questions on many stakeholders’ lips are has Nigeria fared well in the last 10 years when its seaports were concessioned to private terminal operators? The answers are neither here nor there.

Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi at a recent stakeholders meeting in Lagos did not veil his dissatisfaction with the state of the nation’s seaports.

“Let me ask you all: Are you people happy with how things are at the ports today? If you people are, I am not. I’m not impressed.

Again, have we really fared better

in terms of modernisation and infrastructure since the ports were concessioned in 2006?

Have you not been to ports in countries like Dubai or Egypt? Is this how they are? We hear of billions of naira investments and yet the ports are almost the way they were in 2006.

Similarly, President of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) and member of the Presidential Committee on Port Reforms, Lucky Amiwero, is not impressed with the ports concessions “That 2006 concession exercise was done wrongly. It was not backed up by any law. What they did was mere lease agreement, which was mainly for land. A true port concession should adopt the landlord’s model, which has various components like marine, port operation and regulation. Going forward, there are issues to address like traffic, tariff, infrastructure, labour among others. They are fed into the concession. But all these were lacking in the 2006 concession agreement. There was no regulator and, therefore, no law.

This created private sector monopoly. Compare our charges to others in the sub-region. We’re the highest and yet with processes and procedures that are not competitive. So, to me, there is little success so far. So, if some concessionaires’ tenures have expired, let them hand over to NPA. They are not to be there forever. There is a transfer process in concession or PPP. Their own is Build, Operate, Own and Transfer (BOOT).

We need to re-assess the agreement. Experts should come in and assess to know how things truly are”, he stated.

Despite the reservations expressed by the minister and the key maritime expert concessions arrangement was extended.

According to a recent World Bank study that compared charges in Nigerian ports and other sea terminals in West Africa, the results showed that Nigerian ports are the costliest to operate in with-

Ms Hadiza Usman in the sub-region. For instance, the terminal delivery/ labour charges in Nigeria stands at N62,682, while it is N9,655 in Ghana and N24,000 in Benin Republic. In Senegal, the charge is dependent on weight and volume of cargo.

For cargo dwell time, Nigeria still records the highest in SubSaharan African with 20-28 days.

Togo is 18 days, Benin Republic-10-15 days, Ghana (Tema Port) 15-21 days, Kenya (Mombasa port) nine days, South Africa (Durban) four days and Zambia seven days.

Port’s poor access roads is another headache Ms. Hadiza Usman will have to deal with as she resumes duty as NPA’s MD. Already, the poor access roads have largely contributed to the gridlock to Nigeria’s premier port situated at Apapa. Stakeholders have not ceased to use every forum to lament the huge losses incurred as a result of the poor traffic in Apapa.

It must be noted that the protracted gridlock on Apapa ports roads, which has continually worsen is taking a toll on the federal government and relevant stakeholders with daily revenue loss hitting over N5 billion.

New Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority That the access roads to the nation’s seaports situated in Calabar, Onne, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Sapele, and Warri are in deplorable condition is an understatement. Instead of improving, the roads are getting worse every day.

Besides hampering free movement of goods and humans with tanker drivers converting major access roads into Apapa ports to parking lots, containers which ought to have been cleared and evacuated from the ports still litter various terminals accumulating demurrage in the process.

The new helmsman at NPA must not fold his hands and watch things deteriorate further. She must act fast to arrest the chaos in the nation’s seaports.

Another area she will need to focus on is the drop in cargo traffic into the country. The worst hit, are the break bulk and roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) terminals. While the RoRo terminals were built with specialised equipment to handle vehicles, particularly used ones popularly called tokunbo, the bulk terminals were specially built to handle bulk cargoes such as wheat, rice, salt and sugar.

The auto policy of the Federal

Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy on foreign exchange are fingered as factors that contributed to the low volume of cargo coming into the country.

Many importers are now finding it difficult to source foreign exchange to bring in their imported goods into the country, a development, which has reduced operations of these terminals to only between 30 percent and 40 percent capacity.

Industry stakeholders attributed the low ports operation to reduction in the number of ships that call at the port due to the decline in the volume of imported cargo.

There is also no doubt that there are banana peels in the NPA. For her to succeed, she must do everything possible to identify and avoid these banana peels. One of the ways to avoid the banana peels is to keep sycophants within and outside the authority at bay. These are the people who choose to always tell her what she chooses to hear in a bid to protect their own overt or covert interests in the short or long run. They will never tell her what she is doing wrong and the need for it to be amended.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, July 19, 2016

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B8

Life &

Times Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Common phrases you don’t realise are actually abusive

L3

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Boost Your Confidence

L7

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A luko Lilian Amah

The relentless thespian L2

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Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday July 19, 2016

Piracy should be criminalised -L il ia n A m a h

I think for now, I would still say Out of Bounds. It was the most challenging for me because it was a totally new thing and I was playing in front of the great RMD and being directed by Uncle Tade Ogidan who are legends in the industry. I give it to them because they were awesome. The director was very calm and Uncle Tade particularly, is a very gentle, soft-spoken person and drew out the best in me, which I found very encouraging, so that helped me a lot. It remains the most challenging because I also challenged myself; I went into that character, which I don’t think I have ever after gone so much into a character like that.

Aluko

What is the greatest lesson that life has taught you?

The greatest lesson life has taught me is patience; with patience, you can achieve anything.

The name Lilian Amah Aluko is already a household name in the movie industry; she is one of the most respected actresses considering her acting prowess and delivery. Having been in the industry for over two decades, the talented actress is also a writer and has continued to display her writing skills in literature, having several novels to her credit. In this interview with MUTIAT ALLI, she shares her views on piracy, why it should be made a criminal offence, and her love for good books amongst others. Enjoy…

Considering the damages already done to major movie projects in the country, what would you as a major producer, opine could be the solution to piracy in the Nollywood industry?

The way forward for filmmakers; we are actually working on forming a strong pressure group, which is something Fidelis Duker, the CEO of Abuja International Film Festival started. It’s about a conference in Nollywood – I’m just throwing out things that came up on the phone. Now that the MOPICON bill has been passed; it is the bill that will empower the industry, because it gives legal backing to the things we want done. Before the bill was passed, the fine for the current anti-piracy law is twenty-five thousand naira. For crying out loud, it is ridiculous! So anybody can pirate then will you take them to court, what happens? That is a slap on the right of any entertainer; pirates make millions from our product, pay the fine and then walk away.

So until we can get the MOPICON bill signed into law; that gives legal backing to what we are doing. However, truth be told, you cannot control piracy all over the world, you can’t eradicate it; you can only try to reduce it. Our industry has been a laughing stock because we are not united, so we are trying to unite so that we can speak with one voice.

What word do you have for your fans, aspiring producers or actresses out there, who are looking up to you as a role model?

I’d first say thank you to them because they make us what we are, and then I’d say to them: be true to yourself, bring integrity to play in everything you do. You may not be a success immediately, but ultimately, you will get to your destination.

piracy should be made a criminal offence; do you think it is necessary to do that?

How do you relax?

Reading; I read a lot and everything, everywhere I go. So for me, relaxing is reading, and I don’t like doing e-book because when I read a book on my I-pad, I don’t get satisfaction because I have to flip the pages. So I prefer hardcopy, and at the end of every day, no matter how tired I am, I read at least a chapter of whatever current book I’m reading.

It should be criminalized because it is destructive. It is a crime just like any other white collar crime. Piracy needs to be confronted head-on. Nollywood is the second largest earner for Nigeria and it has the potential of being the largest.

As you can see, with the decline of oil in the world market, Nollywood has the potential of becoming the largest income earner for the country. So the pirates are stealing not only from the practitioners, they are stealing from the country.

What does style mean to you and how long do you prepare for an event?

Acting for you, how did it all start?

On a daily basis, I don’t even make up, I just apply lip-gloss. All I take time to do is I try to decide the night before, what I’m going to wear so that I’m not wasting time in the morning. In the morning, I just throw on my dress, apply white powder and go.

But when it’s a function, especially if it is a red carpet function, I try to pull out the stuffs as much as I can.

I started acting in 1996 with RMD (Richard Mofe Damijo) in the movie, ‘Out of Bounds.’ I saw the notice of audition in a paper a friend bought and I went for the audition and was chosen. The movie is still my most challenging because I was new then; I had to challenge myself to play it even before the great RMD and Tade Ogidan, the producer. It also brought me two awards: the TEMA and REEL awards”.

Which role amongst all the roles you have played in the movies you have produced, would you say was the most challenging?

Who is your best author and what book are you currently reading?

Lilian

Life&

T E A M

Some people are of the opinion that

Entertainment Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Society Correspondent Abimbola Obatayo

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

Graphics Daniel Ekiye

I’m reading Patricia Cornwell’s Dust, she’s a fiction writer. I read a lot of her books. For me, there is nothing like best; every author brings something different with a new experience, so I read a lot of authors. This is what I’m currently reading; Patricia Cornwell’s Dust.

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday July 19, 2016

L3 Relationship

Sunatan Iregbeyen

Common phrases you don’t realise are actually

Books and movies from “Twilight” to “50 Shades of Grey” teach society to buy into the idea that dependent and harmful relationships are the epitome of love. Because of these complicated versions of romance, it can be challenging for people to recognise emotional abuse.

However, anything that causes the victim to feel degraded, guilty, invalidated or humiliated may be a result of emotional abuse. While this list does not include every form of emotional abuse, nor indicate a partner is abusive, the following may help you evaluate whether your relationship is suffering from emotional abuse.

“Get over it” Rather than validating feelings, this phrase implies that the person who needs to “get over it” is over-reacting. This is a form of gaslighting-a type of abuse where the abuser makes the victim feel like they are crazy.

You are entitled to your feelings and to express them. Your partner should not disregard them.

“You don’t need to know” Communication in an exclusive relationship is definitely on a need to know basis—meaning, if you feel you have a need to know you should know.

Your partner shouldn’t define that for you because, really, healthy relationships are not built on secrets.

“I love you, but …”

If your partner expresses love to you but tacks on a caveat, they don’t really love you. Rather than building you up as expression of love should, it decreases your self-esteem, leading you to believe that your abuser is the only person who could “put up’ with you.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about” Another form of gaslighting, this form of abuse makes it seem like you don’t what you are talking about. Someone who loves you will try to your point of view instead of disregarding it.

“It’s for your own good” Abusers may try to make you feel as though they’re trying to help you. However, what they’re doing is really for their own good. It also places the abuser in the place of authority, which can make the victim feel dependent on the abuser.

“Your problem is …”

This phrase masquerades as constructive criticism, alerting you to your issues so that you can improve. However, abusers use this phrase repeatedly to destroy the victim’s self-esteem by making hyper-aware of their flaws.

“It’s your fault” While at times you need to accept responsibility for your actions, you shouldn’t feel persistently guilty. No matter what, your partner is responsible for his or her own actions. You are not the cause of their actions. They should not make you feel guilty for things that they did.

L4

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday July 19, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday July 19, 2016

L5

L6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday July 19, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Eyola

eyola@aol.com

1ne

To feel, act and appear confident is an art that can be mastered. Be confident...

2wo

In your own skin. Look in the mirror and compliment yourself on all your best features, each and every day. Take care of your body, from head to toe, paying attention to hygiene, your health and of course pampering yourself from time to time. Avoid perfectionism, don’t compare yourself to others and walk with around with a smile – you’ll appear both confident and attractive.

3hree

On your first date. Put yourself in a good mood before your date. Wear your favourite feel-good outfit. Pamper yourself – a new haircut, a manicure, whatever rocks your boat. How you look can make a huge difference to how you feel. Dance to your favourite music, have a few giggles with close friends. Be yourself and have no expectations of what will unfold. Enjoy the company of your date regardless of whether you are attracted to them or not. And most importantly, SMILE.

L7

Boost Your

Confidence

4our

In the bedroom. Throw your insecurities out the window and stop comparing yourself to celebrities and models. Replace magazines that make you feel insecure with images by Italian artist Botticelli. His paintings celebrate the female body – cellulite and all. Remember that most women who grace our television screens and the pages of magazines are not ‘real’. They have been retouched or sat for hours on end, lending their hair, skin and body to contouring professionals, prior to their photo-shoot or TV appearance.

Love your body and remember that your partner only becomes aware of your insecurities when YOU point them out. Otherwise, they’re none the wiser.

5ive

At work. Eliminate self-doubt and negative self-talk. Dress for the position you would like to be in, not the position you are currently in. Enhance your skills by enrolling for short courses in your spare time. Focus on your success and pick yourself up each time you fall. Dust your shoulder and learn from your mistakes. If you have a tricky or scary telephone call to make, stand up. Being upright, with your feet firmly planted on the floor, will give you a sense of decisiveness and clarity.

6ix

While networking/at a sales pitch/at a job interview. Before the big day, practice, practice,

practice. A good way to do this is by filming yourself so that you can take notes of habits you should avoid and improvements you can make. Get into the habit of giving yourself a pep talk just before entering the room. Try repeating these words to yourself on your way to the event or venue: ‘I am not nervous, I am excited. I am a success.’

7even

At a reunion. Reunions of any kind can be rather daunting, especially because people usually attend for two reasons: to show off their success and to measure other people’s successes (or failures).

Ignore the ulterior motives of others and go with the intention of having fun. If you’re feeling extremely nervous, take a trusted close friend with you.

Smile, look sexy and be honest and proud of your achievements. If the experience takes you back to that scared, bullied, 10-year-old you once were, exercise the freedom to walk away.

8ight

At a party. Stand up straight, smile, compliment people and mimic the body language of the person you are attracted to. Giving compliments and mirroring

someone else’s body language are great ways to bond and make others feel comfortable in your presence. Also, make sure that you’re well groomed and wearing you favourite knock-‘em-dead outfit.

Follow Eyola on Facebook: /Eyola and Twitter: @ WorldEyola.

L8 TV guide

Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday July 19, 2016

Showing on

Showing on

Movies ACTION+ Channel 106

Movies Comedy Channel 104

11:20

18:00

Tue, 19 July | PG 16

Tue, 19 July | PG 13

Gru, the world’s most lovable villian, and his minions are back in this Oscar-nominated adventure.

This time Gru is recruited to help bring down a bad guy. Benjamin Bratt, Kristen Wiig, Russell Brand, Steve Carell. (2013) Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud.

Andrew Garfield returns for a second round of web-slinging action. Dangerous new enemies and family secrets weigh heavily on young Peter Parker as he struggles with his destiny. Jamie Foxx, Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone.(2014) Marc Webb

101 M-Net West

23:30 Chicago PD 00:30 The Real Housewives Of Atlanta 01:30 The Longest Week 03:00 Other Plans 04:25 Away And Back 06:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 07:00 MasterChef Australia 08:00 The Big Bang Theory 08:30 The Last Ship 09:30 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 10:30 Begin Again 12:30 The Middle 13:00 MasterChef Australia 14:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 15:00 Code Black 16:00 Blue Bloods 17:00 Made In Hollywood 18:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 19:00 Mom 19:30 MasterChef Australia 20:30 Chicago Med 21:30 Chicago Fire 22:30 Chicago PD

23:40 The Face Of Destiny 00:30 Elena's Ghost 01:20 Broken Angel 02:10 Broken Angel 03:00 The Face Of Destiny 03:50 Fearless Heart 05:20 Elena's Ghost 06:10 Husband For Hire 07:00 The Face Of Destiny 07:50 Fearless Heart 08:40 For Love And Justice 09:30 Cruel Love 10:20 Husband For Hire 11:10 The Face Of Destiny 12:00 Fearless Heart 12:50 For Love And Justice 13:40 Cruel Love 14:30 Husband For Hire 15:20 The Face Of Destiny 16:10 Fearless Heart 17:00 Broken Angel 17:50 Broken Angel 18:40 Husband For Hire 19:30 The Face Of Destiny 20:20 Fearless Heart 21:10 Broken Angel 22:00 Broken Angel 22:50 Husband For Hire

152 AfricaMagic Epic

23:17 Mary And Martha 01:01 Behind The Scenes: The Place

01:10 Royal Guard 03:13 Forest King 05:10 Twins Of The Rainforest 05:38 Behind The Scenes: Secret Room 06:03 Secret Adventure 08:43 Behind The Scenes: October 1st

09:11 Behind The Scenes: The Place

120 BBC Brit Entertainment

118 Telemundo

09:20 Igbotic Love 11:19 Igbotic Love 13:13 Healthy Snacking 13:25 Implication 15:29 Above Implication 17:50 Behind The Scenes: Next Dean 18:00 Africa Rising: Behind The Scenes 19:00 The King Is Coming 21:21 The King Is Coming

23:22 Moone Boy

11:10 Would I Lie To You?

23:47 Moone Boy

11:45 QI

00:12 An Idiot Abroad

12:15 The Cube

00:58 The Cube

13:05 Top Gear

01:46 Police Interceptors

14:15 Police Interceptors

02:33 Ben And James Versus The Arabian...

15:05 Undercover Boss USA

03:25 Undercover Boss USA

16:30 QI

04:12 Pointless

17:05 Pointless

05:00 The Cube

18:00 Top Gear

05:45 Would I Lie To You?

19:00 Youngers

06:20 QI

19:30 QI

06:55 Police Interceptors 07:40 Top Gear

20:00 Travel ManThe Graham Norton Show

08:45 Pointless

21:05 Top Gear

09:35 Undercover Boss USA

22:05 Very British Problems

15:55 Would I Lie To You?

10:25 Ducks Quacks Don't Echo

155 AfricaMagicWorld 23:15 Music On Africa Magic 00:15 Behind The Scenes: The Place 01:15 Good Morning Africa 02:15 53 Extra 02:45 Star Gist 03:15 Star Gist 03:45 Jara 04:20 Jara 05:00 Goodmorning Africa 06:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 07:00 53 Extra 07:30 Star Gist 08:00 Jara 09:00 Good Morning Africa 10:00 Lies That Bind

10:28 Lies That Bind 10:53 Lies That Bind

11:20 Lies That Bind 11:41 Behind The Scenes: Broken 12:00 Deal Or No Deal SA 13:00 Music On Africa Magic 14:05 Music On Africa Magic 15:00 Music On Africa Magic 16:00 Star Gist 16:35 Deal Or No Deal Sa 17:25 53 Extra 18:00 Jara 18:30 Tinsel 19:00 Lies That Bind 19:30 Lies That Bind 20:00 Princess Tyra 18:00 Star Gist

128 SONY MAX

23:00 Most Shocking 23:45 World's Wildest Police Videos 00:35 World's Wildest Police Videos 01:25 Enemy Territory 02:55 Sexy Car Wash 03:20 Sexy Car Wash 03:45 Video Zonkers 04:10 South Beach Tow 04:35 South Beach Tow 05:00 World's Wildest Police Videos 05:45 World's Wildest Police Videos 06:35 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking 07:25 Video Zonkers 07:50 South Beach Tow 08:15 South Beach Tow 08:40 Most Shocking 09:35 World's Wildest Police Videos 10:30 World's Wildest Police Videos 11:30 Baywatch 12:30 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking 13:30 South Beach Tow 14:00 World's Wildest Police Videos 15:00 World's Wildest Police Videos 16:00 Most Shocking 17:00 Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking 18:00 South Beach Tow 18:30 South Beach Tow 19:00 Baywatch 20:00 Extreme Reality Clips 20:30 Rude Tube 21:00 Rude Tube 21:30 Freakshow 22:00 Sexy Car Wash 22:30 Sexy Car Wash